Suspicious Origin
Page 29
Britt straightened up and stared at the car. Perhaps she ought to go over to the Carmichaels’ house to insist on an explanation. What possible explanation could there be for Vicki’s leaving the car here? Hadn’t Kevin said that they took the car and the money and left town? When Dave didn’t show up at the police station, that’s what Kevin had said. She was sure of it. She looked at her watch, and thought about her own plans. It’s none of your business, she thought. What difference did it make if Vicki and Dave had left town or not? Alec was free, and everything was all right. And she needed to get out of here. She had to get to the airport.
And then it occurred to her. Maybe the Carmichaels had taken Vicki and Dave to the airport. Maybe she’d misunderstood when Kevin said that they’d left town. Maybe Kevin and Caroline had financed some garden spot vacation, and Vicki and Dave were going to pick up the car, and the cat, when they returned.
That’s probably it, Britt thought, relieved. Kevin might have been too embarrassed to admit to giving in to that kind of extortion. But it was exactly what Vicki might demand. Britt sighed, feeling better. That made sense. She almost felt sorry for the Carmichaels. All they wanted was a baby. Vicki had certainly made them jump through hoops to get it. Well, it was none of her concern anyway.
“Kirby,” she said, “last chance to get out of here.” She was anxious to go and she wanted to at least give him a chance to get out. If he needed to get out of the cold, he could go and wail at the Carmichaels’ back door. Obviously, they knew he was still here. Waiting for Vicki to return.
Britt started to walk around the back of the car when something caught her eye. It was sticking out of the trunk on the drivers side. She stepped closer, and crouched down to look at it. At first, she couldn’t discern what it was. She took off her glove and rubbed it between her fingers. It was soft and fuzzy—a little triangle of wool. The darkness of the barn had leeched the colors but up close Britt could still make them out. Turquoise and yellow, white, orange, and green. Clumsily finished. Zoe’s scarf.
The last time Britt had seen it, it was wrapped around Vicki’s neck.
Britt gasped, and stumbled back, away from the car, staring at the tiny bit of the scarf, which had obviously been caught in the trunk lid when it was closed.
No, no, she thought, shaking her head. It doesn’t mean anything. There must be some…reason. Maybe Vicki was packing stuff in the trunk and…and she figured she wouldn’t need that scarf on a vacation in some tropical place.
That’s it, she thought. That made sense along with everything else. For a moment, Britt wished she had never entered the barn. This is none of your concern, she told herself. Now, just get out of here.
She turned to go and then she let out a strangled cry. Kevin Carmichael was blocking the doorway.
“Britt,” he said dully. He was dressed, but not for work. He was wearing a ski jacket and jeans. He still looked disheveled. “What are you doing here?”
“What?” she asked, stalling.
“I thought you left town,” he said.
It was as if he had opened a door for her. “I am leaving,” she said. “Right now. I was just on my way to the airport.”
He stared at her, his face gray.
“Just on my way,” she repeated. “I’ve got to take the car back to the rental place.” Why mention the car? she thought. Why did you have to mention the car?
“What are you looking for?” he said.
“Nothing!” Britt cried. “I came out here to pay my last respects…this is my sisters property, you know.” She took a deep breath. “I see that Vicki left her new car here. Did Alec say it was all right for them to leave their car in here?”
“Leave their car?” he asked, looking confused.
Britt didn’t want to think about his reactions. She forged ahead. “Well, they’re obviously not here. You told me they left town. And the car is still here. So I figured they must be planning on coming back for it.”
It was like trying to engage a sick child in a game. Kevin just stared at her, his eyes dull and rueful. He watched her busy movements, and remained blocking the doorway. Britt didn’t want to think about the scarf in the trunk or why Kevin was staring at her in such ominous silence. “Well, I’m sure he won’t mind them keeping it here. But that’s between you and Alec.” She looked at her watch with an exaggerated frown and approached him, murmuring, “I’ve really got to run. Will you excuse me?”
For a minute, she thought he would try to stop her, but he let her go without making any effort to restrain her. Britt’s heart was pounding as she edged past him and out into the yard. She began to pick her way back across the snow toward her rental car. She could feel his gaze on her, from the distance. Good, she thought. I’m going. This is none of my business. If there was something wrong, she didn’t want to know about it.
She didn’t know and she didn’t care, just as long as he let her get away from here. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and felt her keys and her cell phone resting there. As soon as I get to the airport, she thought, I’m going to call Alec and tell him. Because no matter how many possible explanations she could conjure, in her heart she knew that there was something very peculiar about that red car being parked in his barn. Maybe Alec should get the police out here. If there was something wrong, the police could figure it out. She didn’t want to think too carefully about what it might be. She would just get in her car, and lock the doors and get out of here.
But first things first. First she had to get away from Kevin. Britt arrived at her rental car and pulled the keys out of her pocket. She reached out to grasp the door handle. She thought for a minute of turning and waving at him, but decided against it. Just get out of here, she told herself. She pulled the door open and sighed with relief. Suddenly, she heard something rushing up on her, like the beating of wings, and she could feel the danger of it, overtaking her. Before she could look or protest, she felt herself being struck in the head, and then, all was darkness as she slid down the side of the car and crumpled into the snow.
Chapter Forty
Zoe flopped down on the visitor’s chair in her father’s office and watched with a critical eye as Lauren leaned over Alec’s desk. Alec winked at Zoe, and dictated a few last notes to Lauren. Lauren straightened up, tugged her spandex top back down over the waistband of her pants and looked from Zoe to Alec brightly. “How about you two come over to my place for dinner tonight?” she asked.
Alec looked questioningly at Zoe.
“I made your favorite, Zoe. Brownies,” Lauren cooed.
Zoe yawned and stretched. “I want to go home tonight. I’m really tired.”
Alec smiled at Lauren. “Thanks, kid,” he said. “Maybe another time.”
Lauren shot a withering glance in Zoe’s direction, picked up her papers and left the office. Zoe reached over and closed the door behind her.
“Now what’s this all about? You’re too tired to eat?” he asked.
Zoe gave him a sly smile. “Never. I’m starved.”
Alec wagged a finger at her. “That wasn’t very nice,” he said. “Lauren’s been a big help to me since Mom died and…everything.”
“Why do people always think I want brownies? I don’t even like them anymore.”
“Since when?” Alec asked. “You used to love brownies.”
Zoe shrugged. “Ugh. I ate some that Mrs. Carmichael brought us and I thought I was gonna hurl.” Zoe made a gagging expression.
“People were just trying to be nice, Zoe. Bringing us things.”
“Oh no. This was before. She brought them to me and Mom after Mom saved their house from the flood. Didn’t you have any of those?”
“I don’t know,” said Alec absently. “I don’t remember.”
“You’d remember these. Oh no, you know why. She brought them the day of the fire. Mom and I ate a couple of them, to be polite. Then she threw them out.”
“Mrs. Carmichael’s not the baker your mom was, eh?” Alec asked.
Alec studied some papers on his desk without looking up. “Why don’t you give her a call? She’s probably home by now Find out how her trip was. I’m sure she’d love to hear from you.”
“Okay,” said Zoe eagerly. “What’s her number?”
Alec checked the Rolodex on his desk and read the number out as Zoe dialed. He continued shuffling through sales reports while Zoe balanced on one foot and waited, receiver to her ear. Finally, she said, “Aunt Britt, it’s me. Zoe. Just… wanted to say hi. Okay, well, I’ll talk to you.”
“Not there?” he asked.
Zoe shook her head. “There was about a million clicks on her message machine,” she complained.
Alec frowned. “Really? Doesn’t she have that service where she can check her messages, long distance?”
“I don’t know,” said Zoe. And then she brightened. “Yeah, wait. She does. That’s right. She does. I’ve heard her call up to check.”
“So, that’s odd,” he said.
“Why?” she asked.
Alec shrugged. “That so many messages would still be on the machine. I guess she hasn’t got in yet. Try her at work. That’s probably where she is.”
“You have her number?”
Once again Alec read off a number and then resumed his figuring. Zoe waited until someone answered, and then she asked for Britt. After a moment, she hung up.
Alec looked at her with raised eyebrows.
“She doesn’t work there anymore,” said Zoe.
“What?”
“That’s what the lady told me.”
“Give me the phone,” Alec said impatiently. He rolled up his sleeves and sighed as he dialed and waited. He took out a cigarette and tamped it on the desk, but didn’t light it. Finally, he got through to the Donovan Smith show. “Yeah,” he said. “I’m looking for Britt Andersen. This is her brother-in-law.”
Nancy Lonergan, at the other end of the line, couldn’t conceal her surprise. “Mr. Lynch?”
“Yeah,” he said warily.
“I thought you were…When Britt called she told me…”
“That I was in jail? I was,” he said. “That’s all over. They dropped the charges.”
“Congratulations,” said Nancy. “Britt mentioned to me that you had Kevin Carmichael as your attorney. I guess he lived up to his reputation.”
“You know Kevin?” Alec asked, surprised.
“When Britt mentioned his name I knew I’d heard of him, but it took me a while to remember why.”
“I assume it was because he’s good at his job,” said Alec.
“Well, that,” Nancy drawled, “and that he married one of his clients. A woman who was tried for murdering her husband. He got her off and then he married her. It made him somewhat notorious around here.”
Alec couldn’t conceal his shock. “Caroline?”
“Was that her name? I forget. Anyway, he got her an acquittal. I meant to tell Britt when I remembered it. One of those diminished capacity defenses. Post-traumatic stress disorder I think it was.”
“Really,” said Alec thoughtfully “I’ve never heard anything about that.”
“I’m not surprised,” said Nancy. “I doubt they broadcast it. It’s not the kind of thing you want your new neighbors to know about.”
“No. I guess not,” said Alec. He felt a little guilty listening to gossip about Kevin. He would be forever grateful to him. He didn’t want to hear anything negative about him, although he couldn’t deny that he found this information very interesting. “Well, he did a great job for me.
“So it seems,” Nancy said.
“Not to mention that Kevin saved my daughters life,” he said. “He rescued her from the fire.”
“How admirable,” said Nancy. “I’m sure you feel indebted to him.”
“I do,” Alec said abruptly, curtailing the subject. “Now, what’s this about Britt not working there anymore?”
“Oh, well, I didn’t find out about it until I got in,” said Nancy. “Apparently, Donovan fired her this morning for being away too long. He was just looking for an excuse. Didn’t she tell you?”
Alec grimaced. “I thought something was up by the look on her face,” he said. “But she insisted everything was okay.”
“Oh no. I’m sure she didn’t want you to worry.”
“I feel like it’s my fault. I asked her to stay here.”
“She wanted to stay,” said Nancy. “She told me so. I’d just like to know where she’s gone,” Nancy said. “I tried her cell phone but she hasn’t got it turned on, apparently. I left a bunch of messages at her house, but so far, I haven’t heard back.”
“Hmmm…” said Alec. “Do you think she might have decided to take a trip somewhere else? Since she wasn’t going back to work?”
“It’s possible, I suppose,” said Nancy. “Not really like her though.”
‘Well, let me just check the airport,” said Alec.
“She won’t like it if you check up on her,” said Nancy. “She’s very independent.”
“She needs somebody to check up on her,” he said firmly.
“You’re right,” said Nancy, smiling to herself. “Let me know what you find out.”
Alec hung up and frowned at Zoe. “Did Aunt Britt say anything to you about going somewhere other than back home?”
Zoe shook her head.
“Let me try the car rental place. Can you wait, or do you need to eat right away?”
“I can wait,” said Zoe. “I want you to find Aunt Britt.”
Alec nodded, and began to work the phone. After several calls, his frown had only deepened. Zoe had moved around and was sitting on the edge of his desk, her feet dangling so that she was kicking the drawers absently with her heels.
“Zoe, stop kicking that,” he said irritably. “I’m trying to think.”
Zoe stopped. “What’s the matter?” she asked.
Alec sighed, and frowned at the notes he had made. “She didn’t turn the car in. And, she wasn’t on her flight. And she didn’t trade her ticket in for any other flight.”
“What does that mean?” Zoe asked.
“I don’t know,” said Alec.
A sharp, thwacking sound penetrated the fog in her mind, and Britt came to with a blinding headache. She was bound hand and foot, her mouth covered with duct tape. The instant she realized this, her heart started to hammer and she felt as if she couldn’t breathe. Calm down, she thought. You’ll suffocate. Breathe through your nose. She tried to get her bearings in the darkness.
She could see lights, and a sign through the window above her. Mountain Lodge, she was able to read.
Suddenly, she felt herself begin to move and she realized that she was in a car, in the well behind the front passenger seat. The sound that had brought her to was the sound of the car door slamming as someone got in on the passenger side. Now the car was picking up speed and she could see stars out the window above her whizzing by. Her arms were aching, and she was at the mercy of every bounce the car took, because she could not steady herself with her hands.
She tried to pivot on her rear end, so that she could wedge herself against the door, to stop the jouncing. With every bump the pain in her head was intensified. She managed to shift herself by pulling her knees up to her chest as tightly as she could and wriggling until she was wedged against the door. As she did, she was able to see that there, on the backseat, was a baby carrier, belted in the legal fashion so that the child would be facing backward. In the moonlight that came through the rear window of the car, she saw the tiny, slumped-over profile of an infant in a snowsuit.
She heard low voices from the seat in front and she remembered. She had been getting in her car when she was struck with the first blow. She had awakened to find herself lying on a rug in a kitch
en that looked vaguely familiar. She had tried to get up and had met the fierce gaze of Caroline Carmichael. Before she could ask what was going on, Caroline was upon her, wielding something heavy. The two of them had struggled in the kitchen, upending a plant on the counter. But Britt, still dazed from the previous blow, had been unable to fend her off. And now, here she was, traveling in a car. Caroline was driving. What is happening? Why are they doing this? And then, with a chill that coursed all through her veins, Britt recalled that tiny triangle of wool, sticking out of the trunk.
“Did anybody see you?” Caroline asked.
“If they did,” Kevin said, sighing heavily, “all they saw was a man parking a rental car. There are about fifty cars just like it in the Lodge parking lot.”
“No one will even notice it’s there till spring,” said Caroline.
Britt tried to think. A rental car. Her car?
“That’s the road, I think. Look at the map,” Caroline said. Britt strained to hear the reply, but Kevin’s voice was muffled.
“Well, I say we keep going,” Caroline said sharply.
Looking up, Britt could see the top of Caroline’s head and her profile, as far down as the bridge of her nose. She had turned to glance at her husband.
Kevin murmured something in soothing tones, but Britt could not make out the words.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” Caroline insisted. “What’s done is done.”
“It’s not too late,” he said. “We can still go back.”
Caroline stared through the windshield wearing a stony expression.
“The thing is, anyone could see how it happened,” Kevin said adamantly. “Anyone—any judge would be able to understand it. I mean, what else could you do? They were trying to take your child from you. It was virtually like trying to prevent a kidnapping.”
“That’s right,” she said. “I had no choice.”
Kevin seemed to have turned away. Britt could hear him murmuring agreement, and for a moment there was silence. Then he turned back, leaning toward Caroline. “You nursed that girl through her pregnancy, dreaming about the baby she had promised you. After all the disappointments we endured. They’d already signed the papers. Well, Vicki had signed them. How were we to know about the father? And then he shows up and insists that he wants the baby and he’s going to take it back. It all came crashing down on you. All the disappointment and the worry. And the fear that they were going to walk off with your child. Any mother would have done the same thing.”