“I’ll put one of my men on it tomorrow.”
He heard a choked sob from the other end of the line. “Thank you.”
***
She hung up the phone, relieved that at least he had listened to her, even if he hadn’t taken her seriously. She wished she could go looking for Todd herself, but she didn’t know where to start. If Erich were still a part of her life he would have been a help, but right now that was impossible. What had happened at Bacchanal had made things worse.
How could she explain to anyone that for the first time in her life she felt as if she had to finally make her own decisions? That was so important to her. All her life someone else had been in control of her life. First her parents, then Virginia, then Phillip. He was the worst of all, insisting on knowing everywhere she went and everyone she saw. Erich wasn’t like that, but still. She needed this time to herself, though someday she would have to tell him about the baby. No. She didn’t have to. That wasn’t right. She wanted to.
She knew she was being selfish, not letting him know. This was Erich’s child she was carrying. He had the right to share this pregnancy, to watch her belly grow, to share in the first flutter of life. She remembered feeling those first movements with Todd and how incredible they had been. No one had been there to share that with her either. Phlliip had either been off on some movie set or with another woman. This time was different. This time the father of her child was the man she loved. So why was she doing this to them?
The truth was she was being stubborn. She wanted him to be with her because he wanted to, not because she was pregnant. It was going to be difficult to hide this pregnancy much longer. She would start showing soon. Then what? It wasn’t just Erich she needed to worry about. How would she keep it from Virginia?
The phone rang and she picked it up reflexively. Erich. When she heard his voice tears welled up in her eyes.
“I want to see you,” he said, his voice gruff. “We can’t go on this way any longer. If I knew what I’d done to make you so angry I would fix it, but I don’t.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? You accused Virginia of kidnapping my son. How could you even think such a thing might be true?”
“Laura,” he said, sighing deeply. “Listen. The truth is, there’s a lot of circumstantial evidence against her. It might not hold up in a court of law, but the police should be investigating her. The trouble is her relationship with the police commissioner has made that impossible. No one in the department will touch her.”
“You know that for a fact?”
“If anyone even tried to investigate her, he’d answer to Commissioner Jaeger.”
Laura fought back tears. She didn’t believe him, but she didn’t want him to know how much it hurt to hear his voice. It reminded her of how much she still loved him.
He changed topics. “Peter told me you and Dorothy have become good friends.”
“Yes, she’s a wonderful person. I enjoy her company.” She didn’t tell him that she had plans to meet Dorothy for lunch later that day.
After an awkward pause, Erich let out an exasperated breath. “Laura, why won’t you see me? I can’t believe what I said about your aunt has destroyed our relationship. That’s not right. I won’t believe it.”
“Believe whatever you want,” Laura snapped. She hung up the phone and burst into tears.
A couple of hours later, she walked down the steep flight of stairs leading to the Village Vanguard. The Vanguard had opened about six years earlier as a small theatre. Over the years it had gained a reputation for serving some of the best coffee and sandwiches in the city. She loved their taleggio cheese with heirloom tomatoes on a Kaiser roll. Laura was tremendously relieved to be at the end of her first trimester. She’d really missed eating.
During the evening the Vanguard often hosted up-and-coming singers, and the owners were gaining the reputation of discovering some amazing talent. When they were first married, she and Phillip had gone there, but he’d said everyone was too scruffy for his taste. Because of that, she didn’t have to worry about seeing him there, which was a relief. He still called her a few times a week to talk about the investigation, but he had stopped asking her to come back to him.
She found a table and waved at Dorothy when she saw her by the door. It was the first time they’d seen each other in weeks. Dorothy was so far along in her pregnancy she looked as if she had a basketball in front of her. Laura grinned.
“Yes, I know,” Dorothy said wryly. “And I still have two months before my due date. Peter swears I’m carrying twins.”
Laura watched her friend squeeze into the seat.
“Don’t you dare laugh at me, Laura Kingsley!”
“I’m not laughing. Really I’m not.” I’ll be in the same boat pretty soon, she thought. “What does the doctor say? Does he think it’s twins?”
“No, he only hears one heartbeat. I didn’t feel this way the first time, though. I’m constantly tired, my back hurts and I have no patience with either my husband or my son.”
Laura wanted to commiserate but caught herself in time. “Peter should understand and try to help you as much as he can.”
“You know how men are,” Dorothy said, then paused and gazed at Laura. “Laura, Erich is miserable without you. He’s a broken man. Don’t you know how much he loves you? Peter and I are worried about him. Why won’t you see him? Talk to him. If you do I just know the two of you can straighten things out.”
“I can’t. I’m not ready. He has to stop saying things about my aunt.”
Dorothy glanced over the menu then put it down. “But what if he’s right about her?”
“Oh no. Not you, too. I’m telling you he’s wrong. I know her and I know she’s no angel, but she’d never do anything to hurt either me or Todd. She loves us both too much. No. What it comes down to is Erich and I don’t understand each other. I wish we did, but we don’t. He refuses to see my point of view and I’ve already been married to one man like that. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Chapter Forty-Four
A few days before Easter, Virginia sat at her desk in the living room of her brownstone, finalizing plans for Bacchanal’s annual New Years Eve party. She glanced up when someone knocked on the door, but when she opened it, no one was there. They’d left an envelope in the mailbox, though. She stepped back inside and used her letter opener to slice it open and reveal a note. She’d received quite a few of these little anonymous nuggets recently.
Whoever had written it claimed to know who had kidnapped Todd and where he was. This time they’d included a lock of what they claimed was the little boy’s hair. She doubted it was important, but she’d take it to the police so they could compare it to the lock Laura had. Then again, she didn’t know why she should bother. The whole police investigation was little more than a farce. That inept detective, Ben Wilson, didn’t have any idea what he was doing.
She hadn’t seen her niece in nearly two months, and she missed her very much. Every time Virginia called, Laura didn’t want to talk. If she suggested they get together for lunch or something, Laura came up with one excuse after another. Many of the excuses were so ridiculous Virginia wondered if Laura were trying to hide something from her. She’d made it very clear she didn’t want to see her. Virginia had even gone unannounced to her apartment once, but Laura had refused to let her inside.
She’d had enough of Laura’s nonsense. Whatever was going on, Virginia needed to know. She showered quickly, changed into black slacks and a white blouse and headed out to her Packard. The traffic was terrible. Forty-five minutes later she pulled up in front of 12 Patchin Place, pleased she had been able to find a parking space.
When she rang the doorbell, no one answered for several minutes. She waited, wondering if Laura were even home. Then the door opened, revealing a hugely pregnant Laura, who stared open-mouthed at her aunt. Suddenly everything fell into place. Especially Laura’s reluctance to see her and Erich. She wondered briefly if the baby
were Phillip’s or Erich’s but quickly dismissed the idea. It had to be Erich’s.
Laura’s lips were pursed tight, her brow drawn down in a furious scowl. “You should have respected my wishes.”
“I couldn’t, honey,” she said, trying to disguise her shock. “I missed you too much. Let me come in?”
Grudgingly, Laura opened the door the rest of the way and let her inside. They headed into the living room and sat on the flowered chintz sofa. Virginia faced her niece, staring at her anguished profile. Laura stared straight ahead, studying a painting on the wall which her mother had commissioned when Laura and her sister were little girls.
“Laura, what’s wrong? What’s going on? Erich called me last week, you know. He wanted to know how you were. He’s all torn up.”
Laura glared at her. “Why can’t you mind your own business?”
“Oh, Laura. This is so unlike you. Please talk to me. When’s the baby due?”
Laura sighed and the armor holding her together melted away. “In a few weeks. Did you know tomorrow is the first anniversary of Todd’s kidnapping? What do you expect from me? That everything should be just fine? Well, it’s not. I’m terrified for this baby I’m carrying. I’m terrified that someday, when he’s smiling and toddling around and loving me, he’ll be kidnapped. What happens if he disappears, too?” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I can’t go through that again.”
“Laura, come on. The likelihood of that happening is almost nonexistent.”
“How can you be so sure? Oh, everything seems so wrong. I don’t know what to do.”
“That’s because you’ve been trying to cope with everything all by yourself. Why don’t you put your feet up? Get some rest. I’ll fix us some lunch. What are you in the mood for?”
“Tomato soup and grilled cheese. It’s what I crave all the time,” Laura said, lying back on the couch.
Virginia covered Laura with a light blanket then went into the kitchen, chuckling to herself. It had been so long since she’d prepared a meal for anyone she didn’t know if she’d be able to. But she managed to find the ingredients she needed. Before too long, soup simmered on the stove and sandwiches sizzled in the frying pan.
If she had known Laura was pregnant she would never have agreed to stay away. She was certain Erich never would have, either. That was a dilemma. Erich was about to unknowingly become a father. He had the right to know. But Virginia didn’t want to go against Laura’s wishes even though the way she was acting made no sense. Laura and Erich loved each other. They belonged together.
“Laura,” she said, sitting beside her on the sofa. “What are your plans for the baby? Are you planning to keep it?”
Laura stared at her in shock. “What? Why would you even ask that? Of course I’m keeping the baby. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Have you thought about how much trouble you’re going to have raising a child as an unmarried woman?”
Laura frowned, looking puzzled. “A little. I wonder if it will affect the baby. That’s what I should be worried about, isn’t it?” Her frown hardened. “But I will absolutely not be forced into going back to Phillip.”
“Laura. I can’t believe this. How thickheaded can you be? Unless the baby is his, which we both know it isn’t, the only consideration you should give Phillip is to ask him for a divorce. Is the baby Phillip’s?”
Laura’s silence gave Virginia the answer she’d expected. “Laura, I’m going to tell you something about myself that I’ve never told anyone. The only people who knew this story were my parents.” She took a deep breath. “When I was sixteen I met a man who was ten years older than I was. We fell in love. Everything was fine until I discovered I was pregnant. Soon after that, I learned the man I loved was married.”
Laura stared at her, not knowing what to say.
“My father, your grandfather, treated me like a pariah. He sent me away to one of those unwed mothers’ homes. You know, the ones run by the cruelest nuns in the world. Anyway, after I gave birth to my son I ran away, determined to make a life for the two of us.”
“Were you planning to raise him on your own?” Laura asked.
“Yes, but that was impossible.”
“How can you compare your situation to mine? You were a child and I’m an adult,” Laura said, sounding annoyed. “They are two completely different situations.”
“No, they aren’t. You’ll suffer and so will the baby. Why do you want to do this to yourself and your baby when you have a man who loves you and who will love the baby? I had no choice. I had to give up my baby. It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do.”
“Virginia, I can’t talk to Erich right now. And the baby isn’t the reason.”
“I don’t understand.”
Laura sighed deeply. “He believes you’re behind Todd’s kidnapping. I can’t live with that. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to live with him thinking that way.”
“What? That’s why?” Virginia asked, incredulous. She shook her head. “No. I won’t stand for you giving up your happiness for my sake. That’s ridiculous. Call him right now. Tell him about the baby.”
“I need time to think. I’m just not sure we’re right for each other. And I won’t make that mistake again.” She got up and left the room, then returned moments later with an envelope which she placed in her aunt’s hands. “It’s the divorce papers. I signed them earlier and will mail them to the lawyer tomorrow. My divorce from Phillip is almost final.”
Virginia grinned a little. “And how did that go? Did Phillip treat you well?”
Laura chuckled. “Very well. Better than I thought he would, actually. Let’s see ... well, my favorite part is he let me have Willow Pond. He kept the ranch in California and the apartment in New York, but I never cared about either one of those places anyway.”
“Are you happy he gave you Willow Pond?”
“I am. After we find Todd I’m going to take him back there. I know he was only a baby the last time he was there, but I hope he remembers the place somehow.”
Virginia put her arm around Laura’s shoulder. “I like how confident you are about finding him, how you refuse to give up.”
“I’ll never stop searching for him. My life won’t be complete until I find him.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Virginia sat on the edge of the bed and gazed down at the tiny baby nestled in Laura’s arms, all pink and white. Her downy cap of flaxen hair had gathered all the early morning light in the room.
“She is beautiful,” she said quietly. “Though I had little doubt she would be.”
Laura smiled up at her aunt. “She is, isn’t she? Thank you for being here for me, Virginia. It would have been so much harder if you hadn’t been.”
“Laura, Erich Muller has the right to know he has a daughter.”
Laura smiled down at the baby in her arms. She touched the perfect nose with her fingertip. “In time he will.”
Virginia lifted the baby from her mother’s arms and walked to the window. The sun had begun to rise, and the baby’s dainty reaction to the light was comical.
“You still want to name her Rachel?” Virginia asked.
“Yes. Rachel Amanda after my mother and grandmother.”
“I know how much that would mean to them.”
Laura’s eyes shifted from her baby to Virginia. “I’m starved. Can you make me something to eat?”
“What would you like?”
Laura grinned. “Let’s see. How about a cheese omelet with bacon, toast and a pot of tea? Then we’ll see.”
“You are hungry,” Virginia said.
Virginia cradled the baby, remembering the night Todd had been born. It seemed a lifetime ago. “Are you disappointed you didn’t have a boy?” Virginia asked.
“No. A boy would remind me too much of what I lost.” She sighed. “I can’t believe it’s been a year since he was kidnapped.” Tears filled Laura’s eyes and she brushed them away with an impatient swipe. “No. I won’t cr
y. She deserves a happy mother.”
“You’ll be a wonderful mother to her. Here.” Virginia said, setting the baby back in her mother’s waiting arms. “I’ll get your food ready.”
“Rachel Amanda.” Laura touched the baby’s cheek with her fingertip and she smiled when the tiny face turned instinctively toward her.
“Oh, you’re going to be something, aren’t you, Rachel? Pretty little thing. You look just like your daddy, don’t you?”
The next day Virginia dialed Harry’s extension. “Bring me Rudy’s personnel records, would you? I’ve got a little time to look them over.”
“Might be a few minutes, boss. I’m meeting with a couple of Owney Madden’s boys and I just heard them walk in the door. I don’t want to keep them waiting.”
“How’s the new kid working out?”
“He’s young and has a lot to learn, but he’s smart. I wondered at first if you’d just hired him to piss off that reporter, but you’ve got an eye for talent. He may be a real asset to you someday.”
“Good. When you’re done come to my office. Don’t bring those two, okay? I can’t stand them.”
“Who can? Don’t worry. I’ll make the meeting short and sweet.”
She was on the phone when Harry walked in the door half an hour later. He laid the requested folder on the desk in front of her and opened it.
“Hang on, Paul,” she said into the phone, then motioned toward the door. “Lock it, Harry. I don’t want to take any chances.” Her attention went back to the phone for a few moments. When she hung up, the look on Harry’s face made her smile.
“Paul O’Malley?” He grinned. “Are you two picking up where you left off?”
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