Fatal Identity

by Joanne Fluke

  Rosa nodded. “I’d better order a pot of hot chocolate. The twins’ll be chilled to the bone when they come in. You’re right, Miss Marcie.”

  “About what?”

  “Rick takes after his mother, and Trish takes after you. Trish would fall flat on her face if she didn’t have two strong men to hold her up.”

  They’d had dinner at a wonderful little restaurant Jerry had shown them, and then they’d all taken in a movie. The twins had been so tired from the exercise and fresh, crisp air, they’d gone straight to their room the moment they’d come back to the ski lodge. Rosa had stayed in the lounge for one drink, and then she’d gone up to bed, too. Jerry, Marcie, and Brad had lingered over one more hot buttered rum, and then they’d retired to rest up for skiing the next day.

  When they were sure that everyone was tucked in for the night, Brad had come to Marcie’s room. And they’d spent a wonderful hour together, making love and talking about their future. Marcie sighed happily as she rolled over and nestled her head in the crook of Brad’s arm. She could hardly wait until they were married, and they could sleep together without worrying that someone might find out.

  “We’re going to have a good life. You know that, don’t you, Marcie?”

  “Mmmm. I do.” Marcie kissed his bare chest. “But I’m not sure about those separate bedrooms. I want to sleep with you every night.”

  Brad laughed. “Then we’ll take down the door. Or maybe we’ll do some remodeling. Whatever you like.”

  “I like this.” Marcie nuzzled him and traced wet patterns down his chest with her tongue.

  “Hey! You’d better stop that, or we’ll never get any sleep. I think you have a problem, Marcie. You’re insatiable.”

  “I’m just trying to make up for lost time. What’s the matter? Are you tired of me already?”

  “Impossible.” Brad chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair. “You might put me in a wheelchair if you keep this up, but I’ll never get tired of you.”

  “Did you get tired of Mercedes?” The moment she’d asked the question, Marcie regretted it. “Forget it, Brad. I really don’t want to know.”

  “Now, why would you ask something like that?” Brad sat up and clicked on the bedside lamp.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. It’s just . . . never mind.”

  Brad looked very serious. “No, Marcie. I want to know why you asked me that question. You have to trust me enough to tell me if something’s bothering you.”

  “I just . . . well . . . I heard a rumor at the studio. I know I shouldn’t believe rumors, but . . .”

  “What was it?”

  Marcie sighed deeply. She’d opened a can of worms, and now she had to tell him. “Someone told me that you and Mercedes were having problems with your marriage.”

  “Well, it wasn’t all roses, but we loved each other, and we were working things out. What did you hear?”

  “That Mercedes was worried about the way you were handling her investments.”

  Brad nodded. “That’s true. Mercedes didn’t have a head for business. She thought everything should pay off right away. And she wanted me to put all her money in something safe, like municipal bonds.”

  “It’s a good thing she didn’t ask you to invest in the city of New York!”

  “Precisely!” Brad laughed and patted her again. “But the New York situation was unusual, Marcie. Generally speaking, munis are very safe investments.”

  Marcie nodded. “They’re safe, but they don’t yield very much.”

  “True. And that’s exactly what I told Mercedes. I suggested a mixed portfolio. She had a base of munis, just to be on the safe side, some medium-yield stocks to bring in a higher rate, and a small portion of high-risk ventures that we hoped would pay off.”

  “That sounds reasonable.” Marcie smiled at him. “Of course, I don’t know that much about investments, but that’s what I’d want.”

  “It worked out great the first year. The risks really paid off, and she made a bundle. But then the interest rates started to drop, and she got worried. She wanted me to sell off all her high-risk stocks and reinvest the cash in Certified Deposits.”

  “Certified Deposits?” Marcie looked puzzled. “But why did she want to do that? She still had a safe base of munis, didn’t she?”

  Brad nodded. “You bet! I explained that CD’s were at an all-time low, and it would be foolish to buy them right then. But she panicked. And we fought over it.”

  “Who won?”

  Brad sighed. “We both lost. She agreed I could keep the thoroughbreds, since they were a long-term investment, and we couldn’t get out without taking a loss. The same for the antique cars. It costs a lot to store them properly, but they’re bound to go up in value, if I hang on for a couple of years. But she insisted I sell off all her high-computer stocks at a loss. That was four months before they split and went through the roof.”

  “Oh, no!” Marcie groaned. “I think I understand now, Brad. Mercedes always was a little paranoid about money. She didn’t feel safe unless it was stuck in a savings account. And I know that’s not the way to make money.”

  “Good girl. You sound knowledgeable enough to put together your own portfolio.”

  “Oh, no!” Marcie shook her head. “I’m sure I’d make some awful mistakes. You’ll handle it for me, won’t you?”

  “Of course . . . if you’re sure you want me to.”

  Marcie turned to kiss him. “I do. I trust you completely, Brad. I just wish my sister had trusted you more.”

  “So do I.” Brad sighed. “Is that the only thing you heard, Marcie? That Mercedes and I fought about money?”

  “Well . . . I did hear something else. But I’m sure it’s just idle gossip.”

  “Look, Marcie . . . I don’t want anything you heard bothering you. Let’s talk about it right now.”

  Marcie sighed, and then she repeated what Lee had told her. “Mercedes resented the fact that you had to go out of town on business so often. She felt you were ignoring her.”

  “That was a big problem.” Brad slipped his arm around Marcie again, and gave her a little hug. “She never really understood how I operate my business. I don’t think it’s fair to advise anyone to invest in a company unless I personally check it out.”

  “That’s a very sound business practice. Didn’t Mercedes understand that?”

  “No. We made a big mistake, Marcie. We should have talked about how often I’d be gone before we were married. When Mercedes asked me to stop traveling, I told her I couldn’t do that. I promised to cut my business trips down to a minimum, and I did. But that wasn’t enough for Mercedes. She asked me to give up my business so I could stay at home with her.”

  “But you couldn’t do that?”

  Brad shook his head. “I really couldn’t. You have to understand the situation from my point of view, Marcie. I was doing well, bringing money into our family. If I’d given up my business, I would have been nothing but a gigolo, living off Mercedes’s earnings.”

  “Of course.” Marcie nodded. “I understand perfectly. I don’t like the fact that you’ll be gone so often, either. But I’ll never ask you to give up your business.”

  Brad pulled Marcie into his arms and kissed her. “You’re wonderful, Marcie. And I promise I won’t travel any more than I absolutely have to. What else did you hear? I have the feeling you’re saving the worst for last.”

  “You’re right. There’s one other thing, and I really have no right to ask you. But I heard that you weren’t sleeping with Mercedes anymore.”

  “I’m afraid that’s true.” Brad looked very embarrassed. “Mercedes just wasn’t interested in sex the last few months. She told me it was the movie, that she was too exhausted to do anything but study her lines and sleep, when she got home from the studio. And she promised me that things would change as soon as the picture wrapped, that we’d go away for a romantic vacation and rekindle the fires.”

  Marcie winced. After
the picture wrapped. That was the time limit Mercedes had set on her affair with Lee. She hated to ask but she had to know. “Do you think she . . . uh . . . had someone else?”

  “No. I’m almost certain she didn’t. Mercedes always went through a real upheaval when she worked on a film. And her part in Summer Heat was emotionally exhausting. I’m sure she was telling me the truth, that she honestly didn’t have any extra energy to spare. That’s why I’m hoping you decide not to do another picture. I want you to have plenty of time and energy for us.”

  “Then I’ll turn down Dave’s offer.” Marcie snuggled close to him. “Being with you is much more important than being a movie star.”

  As Brad lowered his head to kiss her, Marcie made up her mind. Lee would never tell anyone about his affair. And Mercedes had taken her secret with her to the grave. Sometimes you had to be strong enough to protect the person you loved from things that would hurt them needlessly. And because she loved Brad with all her heart, Mercedes’s secret was safe with her.

  Jerry woke up as he heard a soft tap on his door. He sat up in bed to switch on the light, and then he hurried to open it. His lover had promised to come, but he’d broken similar promises in the past.

  “Is it too late for you? Or shall I come in?”

  “It’s never too late.” Jerry felt the color rise to his cheeks. He always blushed like a schoolboy when he was aroused. “Come in. Would you like a drink?”

  “No. What I’d like is you.”

  Strong arms reached out to surround him. Firm lips pressed against his. Jerry felt the blood pound through his veins, as his heart raced faster and faster. It had been a long time since they’d been together. Too long for any social niceties, like I love you, or even I’ve missed you. They were too greedy, and the fierce hunger they shared had to be satisfied.

  And then they were on the bed, clothes strewn carelessly on the chair, on the rug, tossed wildly in a corner. And their bodies were welded to each other with mutual longing, tongues licking, lips pressing here and there and everywhere to give the most pleasure, knowing each other’s bodies as well as they knew their own.

  “Now?” Jerry’s voice trembled.

  “Now.”

  “Do you want—?”

  “No. I know you haven’t been with anyone except me.”

  There was pain. Jerry muffled his startled cry in the depths of his pillow. And then there was the blinding pleasure that drove all conscious thought from his mind. He’d yearned for this feeling, every nerve end pulsing, every cell crying out for the glorious release.

  But then it changed, slowly at first, so subtly he had no warning. Harder. Rougher. Until the pleasure faded, and he cried out for it to be finished. This was more like a rape than a loving encounter. What had happened since the last time they’d been together? And why was his lover punishing him? He didn’t dare to ask. He’d seen his lover fly into a rage before, and that was something he didn’t want to experience again.

  Jerry buried his head in the pillow and endured his punishment. If he objected, he could be risking another long separation. His lover might even decide never to meet him like this again.

  At last it was over, and his lover kissed him gently, sweetly. “Sorry, Jer. I guess I got a little carried away. It’s been so long.”

  “Yes.” Jerry nodded gratefully, basking in the kindness. “I know what you mean.”

  But later, after his lover had left, and he’d bathed his bruised body, and had a stiff shot of brandy, Jerry wondered if love was worth this kind of pain. Wouldn’t it be better to find someone new, someone who really cared about him as a person? He was nothing more than a whipping boy, a pawn for his lover’s games. There was a nice man he’d met at one of the meetings. Beau LeTeure. He’d been Mercedes’s makeup man. Beau was handsome, and he was kind. And he’d just broken up with the man he’d lived with for ten years. Beau liked Jerry, and they were on the same wavelength. His lover had abused him, too.

  A billboard T-shirt he’d seen in a shop in Westwood suddenly flashed through his mind. It had read MY NEXT LOVER WILL BE NORMAL. It would be wonderful having a normal lover.

  Jerry pulled the covers up to his chin and stared up at the dark ceiling. He knew he should break off this relationship, but he couldn’t seem to gather the strength. It would be like killing off part of himself, a vital part of his history. They’d been together for too many years to separate now.

  Marcie limped into the lounge and sank down in a chair. To her chagrin, she’d twisted her ankle on the beginners’ slope. Two paramedics had taped it and carried her down the slope on a stretcher. Her injury wasn’t terribly painful, but everyone had stared at her, and it had been a very embarrassing experience.

  “Marcie!” A familiar voice called out from the bar. “What are you doing here?”

  “Sam? What are you doing here?”

  “You first.” Sam smiled as he carried his drink over to her table. Then he saw the tape on her ankle, and his smile changed to a frown. “Are you badly hurt?”

  Marcie laughed. “The only thing that’s badly hurt is my pride. It’s just a slightly sprained ankle, Sam. I was showing off for the twins, and I fell down the slope.”

  “That answers part of my initial question. You’re here with Trish and Rick?”

  “Yes. And Rosa, and Brad, and Jerry Palmer. It’s a birthday skiing trip for the twins. But what brings you to Aspen? I didn’t know you skied.”

  “I don’t. I’m here on business. One of my clients owns this ski lodge, and I’m up here a couple of times a year.”

  “Mr. Sam!” Rosa bustled up to the table. “My goodness! This is a real family gathering!”

  “It certainly is. Can I get you girls a drink?”

  Rosa shook her head. “Not for me, Mr. Sam. I just came in to check on Miss Marcie, but now that you’re here, I won’t worry. I promised the twins I’d come right back out and watch them practice their turns.”

  “Nice outfit.” Sam grinned as Rosa hurried back out the door. “Where in the world did she get a yellow parka with purple and blue flowers on it?”

  “The ski shop at the mall. We all went shopping together, and she picked it out. She said it reminded her of a blanket someone sent her from the old country.”

  Sam laughed. “That pattern wouldn’t be bad on a blanket, especially if you covered it up with a bedspread. How about a hot buttered rum, Marcie? They’re very good here.”

  “I really don’t think I’d better . . .” Marcie stopped and reconsidered. She wasn’t going back out on the slopes. The paramedics had told her to stay off her ankle for the entire afternoon. “On second thought, that sounds lovely, Sam. If you’ve got time, we can watch the twins from the window.”

  Sam nodded. “I’ve got time. I’m here until tomorrow evening. And now that I know you’re here, I hope you’ll all join me for dinner. There’s an excellent Yugoslavian place about a mile from here. The owner’s another client.”

  “You have two clients in Aspen?” Marcie was surprised. Aspen was a long way from Los Angeles.

  “I have ten clients in Aspen. I used to live here before I moved to California. Excuse me, Marcie. I’ll be right back with our drinks.”

  Marcie watched as Sam walked toward the bar. It was a strange coincidence, running into Sam in Aspen. But it was a nice coincidence, especially since she couldn’t go back to join everyone else outside. She was glad Sam was here. Now she’d have someone to talk to while the others skied.

  Sam was back in a moment, holding two steaming cups. “Here you are, Marcie. The specialty of the house.”

  “Thank you.” Marcie took her cup and set it down on the table. Then she smiled at him. “”I’m really glad you’re here, Sam.”

  Sam smiled back as he sat down across from her. “So am I, Marcie. You’ll join me for dinner, then?”

  “Well . . .” Marcie frowned as she glanced down at her ankle. “I’m willing, but you may have to carry me.”

  Sam stood up and bo
wed. “My pleasure.”

  Before she could do more than gasp, Sam scooped her up in his arms and was carrying her to the window so they could watch the slopes. Marcie was slightly embarrassed. People were staring at them. But she had to admit that being in Sam’s arms made her feel comfortable and safe.

  “Miss Marcie?” Rosa came rushing in. “The twins want us to watch them . . . oh my!”

  Marcie felt a blush rise to her cheeks, and she tried to act as if being in Sam’s arms was the most natural thing in the world. “Yes, Rosa? The twins want us to watch them do something?”

  “Uh . . . yes. They’re going to ski right past the window and practice their turns.”

  Marcie frowned as Rosa turned on her heel and started for the door. “Rosa? Where are you going?”

  “Outside.” Rosa gave her a big smile. “You don’t need me, Miss Marcie. You’re in good hands now.”

  He caught a glimpse of her face, radiant as she watched the children. For one brief moment, he experienced a pang of horrible jealousy. He wanted to be there at her side, to have her turn and look up at him with the same trusting love and blind devotion. But then he decided that such emotion was entirely unsuitable for a man in his position. He knew he couldn’t have her, not really, and certainly not in the way he dreamed. It was clearly impossible.

  He spotted the housekeeper near a pine tree by the edge of the slopes, watching the children. She was a good woman, an excellent caretaker for the family. And his love was a perfect mother. Perhaps that was why she wanted to marry the husband, to form another complete family. Mother, father, two children, and housekeeper. It was neat and tidy, the perfect family circle. But the family that she dreamed of would be fatally flawed with the husband at its head.

  He wished that there were some way to tell her, to appear at her side and warn her of the folly of marrying the husband. But he could not risk exposure. He’d risked enough by leaving his sanctuary to come here to Aspen.

  He took one last look at her beautiful face, and then he forced himself to turn away. He could do nothing but pray that she would recognize the danger without his guiding hand. There was still time for her to escape the horrible fate that clearly awaited her, a fate that would be administered by his hand. The last thing he desired was to hurt her, but the battle of the red had definite rules. He could resist, and he could delay the inevitable. But eventually he would have to obey.