Deadly Payoff

by Valerie Hansen

  Shaun eyed her. “Juliet? Your baby sister? Wait a minute. Ronald isn’t her father?”

  “No,” Delia said. “Mother was having an affair with a college professor named Arthur Sinclair before Juliet was born. That was why my father was so angry. He and Mother had a terrible fight about it when Juliet was only a few weeks old.”

  “You’d told me something to that effect years ago but you’d never mentioned the underlying reasons.”

  “Well, that was why. Mother drove off one night in the middle of a storm and we never saw her again. Father told us she’d had a fatal auto accident. It was only recently that we learned he’d gotten a divorce and lied about what had really happened to her so we’d forget her. He didn’t think she’d ever have the nerve to show her face in Stoneley again, especially after he got her to sign away her parental rights.”

  “Wow.”

  Shaun continued to scan the records. “Look at this. I don’t know much about medicine but it seems to me your mother was kept pretty full of drugs. It’s no wonder she didn’t improve.”

  Delia looked at the doctor. “You saw to that. You and Genie. Right?”

  “You should know,” Brooks said dully.

  “Genie hated my mother. She couldn’t even stand to see a photo of her. That was why she poked the eyes out of the snapshots in her apartment.” Delia regarded him solemnly. “How could a medical professional like you fall for a woman like Genie who was so obviously mentally unbalanced?”

  “Love has nothing to do with sanity,” he said.

  Beside her, Delia heard Shaun mutter, “That’s the first intelligent thing he’s said so far.”

  Shaun gave up before Delia did. He shut the top folder in his dwindling pile, pushed back from the desk and stretched. “All this stuff reads alike. It’s just vital signs and more medication, month after month, year after year.”

  She sighed. “Here, too. I was hoping…”

  “I know.” Getting to his feet, Shaun leaned over the desk so he was eye to eye with the doctor. “This is your problem, too, Doc. What are we missing, huh? Maybe we should bring in the authorities after all and let a professional go over your records. All of them.”

  “My records are in order.”

  “Are they? What about the financial side of things?”

  “There’s nothing irregular there, either.”

  “Suppose we take a look.”

  “I see no reason to accommodate you further,” Brooks said.

  Shaun had been afraid the doctor would regain some backbone once the shock of hearing about Genie’s death wore off. Apparently, he had.

  “Look,” Shaun said. “We’ve already seen patient records that were supposed to be kept confidential. What can it hurt to humor us and get this over with?” He stood, leaned over the desk again and arched an eyebrow. “You do want to get rid of us, don’t you?”

  “Nothing would make me happier,” Brooks said. “All right. Follow me.”

  Delia was hesitant to leave the stack of folders. They were the only tangible thing she had to prove her mother’s continued existence. Still, she knew she couldn’t take them with her. Hopefully, Trudy’s time spent in a place like this was a thing of the past, and they could all start over. If they ever found her.

  Brooks led the way back into Mrs. Greeley’s office. She looked surprised to see him as well as decidedly unfriendly toward his companions.

  “I want you to pull up the Trudy Blanchard payment records,” the doctor said.

  “All of them?”

  “All of them, as far back as the computer goes.” He glanced at Delia. “If you need more, it will necessitate a trip to the basement. When your mother first came to us we kept our files on paper. There are stacks of boxes you’d have to go through.”

  “Let’s start here and see what you have,” Delia said, putting her purse on one of the chairs beside the desk. She knew better than to trust Brooks or his staff enough to follow any of them into a dark, secluded basement, even with Shaun to protect her.

  Mrs. Greeley quickly accessed the payment records. “As you can see,” she said primly, “the payments were made regularly.”

  Delia leaned over and peered at the screen. She didn’t know what she was looking for but she was out of options. If they didn’t find any clues in this file, they might as well give up—and Delia was not the kind of person to do that.

  She pointed at the screen. “What does this number mean?”

  “It’s the code for the account Ms. Hall set up with us. All of Mrs. Blanchard’s expenses were paid out of it.”

  “There were no checks? No itemized bills?”

  “Ms. Hall was given itemized lists of charges. She approved them when she visited her sister and then we debited the account for that amount and mailed her the receipts.” The older woman sneered at Delia. “I assure you, it was quite legitimate.”

  “I’m sure it was. Aunt Genie was no fool. The thing I don’t understand is how she could afford to keep my mother locked up here for all those years.”

  “Did your father pay for it?” Shaun asked.

  Delia was quick to answer, “No. Father can be a hard man, especially in business, but he would never be a party to something as spiteful and cruel as this. He hadn’t heard from Mother since he divorced her and legally terminated her rights to me and my sisters.”

  “Maybe your Aunt Genie was wealthier than you thought.”

  “If she was, she hid it from her own parents,” Delia said. “They thought she was broke most of the time. And we know she had an addiction to gambling. Our motorcycle-riding buddy confirmed that, remember?”

  “True.” Shaun scowled and leaned closer to Delia so he could study the computer monitor, too. “What does this code mean,” he asked, pointing. “The one in the heading.”

  “Just a second. I’ll look it up,” Mrs. Greeley said. She pushed a few buttons, then scrolled down after a split screen appeared. “Here we are. It’s the firm Ms. Hall’s payments were debited to. Cymbeline Corporation.”

  Delia’s breath caught. Wide-eyed, she looked at Shaun.

  He laid his arm protectively across her shoulders. “What does it mean?”

  “It’s another of Shakespeare’s plays,” Delia explained. “A more obscure one. Imogen—Genie for short—is one of the characters in Cymbeline.”

  “Why should that upset you?” Shaun asked. “Your whole family is really into Shakespeare.”

  “Yes, but if Aunt Genie didn’t have any money and this corporation was set up just to pay for my mother’s continual torture in this awful place, that name was probably chosen by someone else who was also very knowledgeable about Shakespeare.”

  “So?”

  “So, the only ones I know who fill that requirement are the grandparents I just met, Eleanor and Stanley Hall. They run a literary press and they raised two daughters with the names of famous characters, Trudy from Hamlet and Genie from Cymbeline.”

  “But, you told me they were genuinely upset, that they were looking forward to seeing your mother again after she contacted them. Why would they claim that if they’d known where she was all along? Or if they’d been the ones paying to keep her here?”

  “I don’t know.” Delia rubbed her tired eyes. “None of this makes sense. When I told them about the DNA results, Eleanor wept like she was truly grieving.” She straightened and blinked, trying to clear her head. “Maybe she was upset because Genie had died instead of my mother.”

  “I don’t know what to say. Do you want to call them from here and ask?”

  Delia shook her head. “No. If they are responsible I don’t want to give them time to think of an alibi. And I want to be looking them in the eye when I tell them what we’ve found.”

  She squared her shoulders and retrieved her purse, thanked the hospital personnel, then turned to Shaun. “We’re done here. Let’s go home.”

  NINE

  Shaun wanted to say or do something that would lift Delia’s spirits. He didn’
t know her maternal grandparents personally but he couldn’t imagine that any parents would lock up their own child unless she were truly in need of extended hospitalization.

  It was possible that Delia’s mother had been that ill, of course, although he doubted it. The suspicious reactions of the doctor and the obvious involvement of her nefarious late aunt pretty much precluded genuine mental illness on Trudy’s part. The question was, how much of what they now knew was factual, and how much was the result of a criminal conspiracy?

  Seated beside him in the car, Delia had been silent for the past hour. He couldn’t tell if she was brooding or simply exhausted. He knew how tired he was and he hadn’t had a personal stake in their foray into the world of the infamous Dr. Brooks the way she had.

  He made a conscious decision, one he was pretty sure would make Delia angry. He was willing to risk her ire under the present circumstances. After all, what were friends for if not to step in and lend a hand when a person wasn’t thinking clearly?

  Without announcing his plans, he stayed on Highway 88 instead of skirting greater Chicago farther to the south the way they had when they’d arrived. He knew exactly where he was going because he’d stopped in Canfield several years back to work on a construction crew that was building concession stands for the zoo.

  Delia needed a break. So did he. And he didn’t see any reason why they should hurry back to Maine. They’d been gone this long. What would one day’s respite hurt?

  Puzzled, she glanced over at him. “Where are we?”

  “I was scouting for a nice hotel,” Shaun said honestly. “It’s getting late.”

  “Umm, I guess it is. Okay. Your choice this time.”

  “How about one near a real pizza parlor instead of a quick-stop?”

  To his relief, she chuckled softly. “You do have your priorities sorted out, don’t you, Murphy? All right. I really don’t care.”

  “See that high-rise over there?” He pointed. “I recognize the name. It’s a well-known hotel chain so it should suit you.”

  “You don’t know me very well, do you?” Delia commented amiably.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because, you seem to think I’m really stuck up when I’m not.”

  “I was only judging by the place you picked last night.”

  “Oh. Well, maybe I am a little spoiled. But the way I look at it, if my father is footing the bill, we should enjoy spending his money. Lots of it.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because he owes us,” Delia said, sobering and turning to gaze out the window at the passing city scene.

  She didn’t have to spell it out. Shaun knew exactly what she meant and he agreed with her one hundred percent. Ronald Blanchard owed them more than any amount of money would fix. He’d robbed them of a future together.

  Delia could tell that the hotel was still fancier than Shaun would have liked but she was too tired to suggest he choose another. Besides, it was located next to a restaurant complex. They could park and walk to dinner. She wasn’t about to dine with him in her room again. It was too hard on her self-control. Her brain knew they were no longer man and wife but her heart kept insisting they should still be married. Therefore, rather than revisit the internal conflict that had worn her to a frazzle twenty-four hours ago, she was going to insist they eat out.

  Once again, Shaun handled their bags. Delia accompanied him to the elevator and pushed the button for their floor.

  “Can I have my own key this time?” he gibed as soon as the door slid closed and they were alone.

  “I’ll think about it.” She laughed quietly. “That was pretty funny last night. You should have seen the look on your face when you showed up back at my room because your door wouldn’t open.”

  “I wasn’t laughing.”

  “No, but you were sure full of blarney.”

  “Must be the Irish in me.”

  “Maybe. And maybe you’re just a fun guy.” She led the way into the hallway as soon as the elevator stopped.

  Shaun fell into step beside her. “Which reminds me,” he said. “I had an idea. While we’re in the area, what do you say we take a little side trip?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “We’re not far from Canfield and I happen to know there’s a world-class zoo there. I thought, in the morning, you might like to visit it and unwind a little.”

  “A zoo? What in the world made you think of that?”

  “Actually, I worked on a construction crew that was hired to spruce up the place a few summers ago. It was hot and humid then but May weather’s still pretty mild. I think you’d enjoy seeing this zoo. It’s different. Most of the animals aren’t in cages or in little areas behind moats like they are in a lot of zoos. It’s more like the wilds. And there’s a big butterfly house where you can walk right through the middle. The butterflies are close enough to touch. Sometimes they even light on you.”

  Delia didn’t know what to say. “I—I don’t know. I really should get home to Maine.”

  “And do what? Confront the grandparents you hardly know and get embroiled in another fight? I can’t imagine you’re too eager to do that.”

  “I’m not.” She paused at a room with the proper number posted on the door and turned to face Shaun. “Even if the Halls did lie to me about my mother’s hospitalization, I’m sure they don’t know where she is now. Eleanor was too upset and confused about the whole thing, especially when she didn’t see the heirloom locket among Mother’s things.”

  “Then that just leaves your grandfather Howard’s medical condition to worry about. Why don’t you phone Maine before it gets any later in the day and find out how he’s doing? If he’s holding his own or if they say he’s better, we’ll know we don’t have to break any speed limits getting you back there.”

  Delia sighed audibly. “I’m glad one of us is thinking clearly. I will call. But I won’t promise that I’ll agree to go to the zoo with you.”

  “Fair enough. All I ask is that you consider it.” He stepped back, held out his hand and smiled. “My key?”

  This time, she double-checked the numbers before she handed him one of the keycards.

  “You do like zoos, don’t you?” Shaun asked.

  “I don’t know if I do or not,” Delia said. “I’ve never been to one.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “My father wasn’t the type to take family vacations or tour places like that just for enjoyment. Not with me and my sisters, anyway. I always got the idea he thought it was a frivolous waste of time.” She pulled a face. “Of course, he managed enough enthusiasm for travel to take Alannah to Europe.”

  “I’m sorry,” Shaun said.

  Delia shook her head. “Hey, don’t feel sorry for me, Murphy. I escaped. If it weren’t for my sisters and Aunt Winnie, I’d never go back to Stoneley.”

  “Go make your call,” Shaun said flatly. “And stay away from the candy bars. When you’re ready, we’ll find a place close by and get some decent food.”

  “Sounds like a plan. See you in a few minutes.”

  They opened their rooms at the same time and Delia saw Shaun watching till she was safely inside. She noted that he was no longer smiling. They were both tired and stressed so that wasn’t too surprising. He had seemed a lot happier when he’d first suggested the trip to the zoo, though. Perhaps he was miffed because she hadn’t accepted immediately.

  She wasn’t sure whether she was going to give in and agree to go or not. The outing might feel too much like a date and that wasn’t a good idea. Not good at all.

  Then again, being away from Stoneley and temporarily carefree did appeal to her. Even if she had to pretend everything was all right, it would be nice to spend a quiet, peaceful afternoon with Shaun.

  She kicked off her shoes, reached into her purse for her cell phone and flopped on the bed to relax while she made her call.

  Shaun watched Delia close the door to her hot
el room before he stepped into his and immediately threw his duffel onto the bed with far more force than was necessary.

  Escape, she had called it. Of course. That was exactly what she had been doing when she’d agreed to elope with him in the first place. If it hadn’t been him it would have been some other gullible guy. Staying in Hawaii instead of returning to the Mainland after college was how she’d turned the tables on her manipulative father and completed her so-called escape.

  That one word, that one slip of the tongue, defined the whole state of affairs for Shaun more clearly than if Delia had taken pages to spell it out. Now, as then, he was merely the means to an end. Well, at least this time he was aware he was being used. He wasn’t a naive, lovesick kid anymore, either. He was all grown-up.

  He muttered to himself as he pulled a clean shirt from his duffel and shook out the wrinkles. Yeah, he was grown-up. The trouble was, so was Delia.

  He wished mightily that he hadn’t asked her to go to the zoo with him. The way his luck was running, she’d probably end up saying yes.

  They strolled to a nearby restaurant that advertised barbecue as its specialty. Shaun held the door for her.

  “Thanks.” Delia still had no idea why he seemed so moody all of a sudden. Hopefully, he’d tell her what was bothering him during dinner. Then again, he’d always been the strong, silent type, a man who kept things to himself instead of airing grievances the way she and her sisters usually did. In that respect he was a lot like her father.

  Delia rolled her eyes at the unfair comparison. Shaun was nothing like Ronald Blanchard. Where her father was cold, Shaun showed compassion; where her father was harsh, Shawn was forgiving.

  Except in regard to our marriage, she added ruefully. That was one subject she had yet to convince him to discuss. Perhaps the topic was best left alone. Right now, they seemed to be developing an easy friendship, a camaraderie she not only enjoyed, she cherished. If they ever broached the matter of their short marriage and its rapid dissolution, there was no telling how many raw emotions would be revealed. Delia wasn’t sure her overburdened mind and heart could take that much strain. Not right now, anyway.