Chapter 4

Fiona carefully rolled up the fine garment and stuffed it into her bag. It wouldn't do to just waltz into Mia Couture waving the thing around if someone was looking for the woman. Instead, she entered the boutique posing as a customer until the shop was clear of other patrons.

"Madamoiselle, may I help you?" A short woman with dark hair peppered with gray stepped up beside Fiona as she examined a deep red gown made of silk. She spoke with a distinct French accent that Fiona determined had to be real. "You have such exquisite taste! That would look fabulous on you!"

"Thank you," Fiona smiled and put the gown back onto the hook on the wall, where it hung by a beautiful filigree hanger. "I'm actually not here to buy today. I have a couple of questions about a gown. You are Mia, are you not?"

"Oui. I would be happy to answer any questions you have regarding any of my gowns."

"Thank you. This is the one." Fiona pulled out the ivory lace gown and let it unfurl before her.

Mia's eyes bugged as she eyed it up and down. "Oh my, where did you get this?"

"A...friend...Can you tell me who originally bought it?"

"Oh, no no, Mademoiselle. We pride ourselves on keeping our clientele's identities secret."

Fiona frowned. "I was afraid you'd say that. Please, this may be a matter of...life or death."

"Death?" The older woman turned white and her hand fluttered to her throat. "Did something happen to Madame Romana?"

"What does Madame Romana look like?" Fiona hesitated to reveal any information, but this was the point where she had to say something to gain the woman's confidence. "My friend found a woman on the beach this morning. We don't know who she is..."

"She is a beautiful woman. Tall, fine bone structure, voluminous honey brown hair with striking blue eyes."

"Not sandy blonde?"

"No, Mademoiselle."

"I'm afraid that we aren't talking about the same woman. There must be some mistake."

"No mistake, Madame Romana Roche is one of my best customers. Whenever her husband comes to Miami on their yacht, she is by his side. They are inseparable. He often comes into the shop with her and helps her pick out a wardrobe." Mia paused and shook her head. "I...I've told you too much. I hope that Madame Roche can forgive me."

"If it saves her life, I'm sure she will appreciate it. Thank you, Madame Mia." Fiona pushed the gown back into her bag and turned to leave.

"Wait! The woman you found...she was wearing this dress?"

"Yes."

"Oh dear. Please, whatever you do, do not wash it. It must be dry cleaned!" She handed Fiona a card. "Take it to Ricardo. He dry cleans all my customers' clothes."

Fiona took the card and smiled. "Thank you, Madame Mia. I will be sure to give Ricardo my business as well." Fiona left the shop, glanced casually to her left and right to make sure she didn't have a tail, and walked to her car as if she were out on a shopping jaunt. In the car, she dropped the bag onto the seat and tucked the card into a pocket. She needed to get back to Maddie's, take a picture of the woman, and track down this lead.

Fiona pulled up to Maddie's garage and parked behind Sam's car. She took the dress with her and entered the house through the back door.

"Hey Fi, did you find out anything?" Sam stood in the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of ice tea. Fiona's eyebrow went up.

"Is she okay?"

Sam stopped pouring and put the pitcher back into the refrigerator. He stood in the middle of the room, nervously swirling the ice in his glass. "Well, she hasn't come to since I brought her here, if that's what you're asking. And she's running a slight fever." He hesitated. "While I was checking her out, I found a wound on her leg. Not sure how it happened, but I suspect it's infected, and the infection is causing her temp to rise."

"If she's that ill, Sam..."

"I know, we're gonna have to take her to the hospital. Unless..."

Fiona knew exactly what Sam was thinking, and she didn't like it one bit. "No, Sam. We can't drag Campbell into this. I promised him we would never use him again!"

"But we're not 'using' him. He'd only be doing his job." Sam held his hands out in appeal. "Come on, Fi. You know I'm right."

She blew out a heavy breath that stirred the tendrils that framed one side of her face. "Okay...okay. I'll give him a call. Hopefully he hasn't changed his number because of me!"