‘There wasn’t anything wrong with the advice you gave her,’ said Shelby, pushing herself up from the chair. ‘It made perfect sense, what you said to Chloe.’
Barbara looked up at her ruefully. ‘Is that it?’ she said.
‘I can never thank you enough,’ Shelby said.
‘I should have kept my mouth shut,’ said Barbara woefully. ‘I never learn.’
NINETEEN
A spring day in Gladwyne was the definition of fair. Cherry blossoms floated on the trees and every curb and yard was planted with pink and yellow and violet-colored blooms. If Shelby hadn’t been in such an agitated state, she might have stopped just to enjoy and be dazzled by the beauty of it. But flowers were the last thing on her mind. She had only been to Lianna and Harris’s home once before, and that on a day when she was distraught, so she had to pay attention to her directions.
Shelby pulled into the Janssen’s driveway behind a couple of other cars. As soon as she saw the other cars, all expensive, late-model sedans, she realized her mistake. She had not bothered to call first – she wanted to ambush Lianna with this accusation. She had not considered the possibility that perhaps Lianna was teaching a class. Well, she thought, this was more important.
She went up and tried knocking on the front door. As she expected, there was no answer. She went around the house to the carriage house that Lianna used as a yoga studio. She looked in the window and saw that there were, indeed, several women on their mats, and Lianna at the front of the room, svelte despite her slightly rounded belly, leading the group in a catlike stretch. Shelby opened the door to the studio and stood there, looking in, but not speaking.
Lianna looked up at her and frowned.
‘I need to talk to you,’ said Shelby, her voice jarring in the peaceful silence.
Lianna glanced at her students and then put up five fingers. ‘Can you wait five minutes? Five minutes. We’re cooling down.’
Shelby withdrew, unsmiling, and returned to her car. She opened the door and sat down in the front seat. While she waited she gazed at Lianna’s garden. The yard was a dazzling tribute to Lianna’s green thumb. She had her own gardening business when she first married Harris, but had apparently abandoned that in favor of teaching yoga classes. Obviously, she still practiced her gardening skills on her own yard. ‘She’s good at everything she does,’ Chloe had said once, in utter discouragement. Shelby wasn’t sure whether it was a tribute to Lianna’s many gifts, or her inability to concentrate, that she seemed to have done a dozen different kinds of work between her marriage to Rob and to Harris. Then again, she wasn’t feeling very kindly disposed toward Lianna at this particular moment.
The yoga students, all women over thirty, with expensive haircuts and watches, dressed in workout chic, began to emerge from the carriage house and disperse toward their expensive vehicles. The driveway was wide enough so that they could edge out past Shelby without her moving. Ordinarily, she might have backed out to make it easier. She did not feel cooperative at this particular moment.
Shelby walked back to the studio and opened the screen door. Lianna was pressing a towel to her arms and forehead. Unlike the other women, she wore a faded, stretched-out leotard, and pulled her hair up in a messy clip. Her perfect features were devoid of make up. ‘Shelby,’ she said. ‘Is it Rob? Has anything happened?’
‘Only in a manner of speaking,’ said Shelby.
‘I called the hospital this morning and they said he was holding his own.’
‘There’s no change. As far as I know.’
‘I’m going to take Molly up there after school. She wants to spend every spare minute with him. Whew, I need a drink. Come over to the house,’ she said in her engaging manner. As Shelby followed her across the lawn to the back door, she felt a sad sympathy for her own daughter, who had been so intimidated by this woman. There was something preternaturally graceful about her, as if she had never made an awkward move or a false step in her life. Of course, Shelby reminded herself, that was clearly not true.
Lianna went to the refrigerator and poured them each a glass of ice water. She took them out to a sunroom beyond the kitchen, indicating that Shelby should follow her. Lianna sat down in a wicker chair and pointed to the one opposite her.
Shelby shook her head. All the way over here, she had tried to think about how she would phrase her accusation. She found it difficult to begin.
‘What’s the matter?’ said Lianna.
‘Was Rob here last night?’ Shelby asked.
The expression in Lianna’s eyes went from curious to vaguely guilty. ‘Why do you ask?’ she said stiffly.
‘I want to know,’ said Shelby. ‘Did he come over here?’
Lianna pursed her lips and clinked the ice in her glass. ‘Yes, he came over here,’ she said. ‘Who told you that?’
‘Why didn’t you tell the police?’ Shelby demanded.
‘They didn’t ask me,’ Lianna said. ‘Not that it’s any of your business.’
For a moment, Shelby hesitated, trying to remember if that was true. Then she dismissed it. Lianna was splitting hairs. ‘He came over here to confront you about Molly, didn’t he?’
Lianna flushed with anger. Shelby didn’t care.
‘I know that Molly is not Rob’s daughter. And I know that he found out about it last night.’
Lianna looked at her coolly. ‘Well. I guess there is no such thing as privacy.’
‘My Chloe knew about it. She knew about it before she was killed.’
‘Oh yes. She certainly did. And told her friends about it. Fun for everyone! I can only assume that she plundered my private medical records at the office where she works,’ Lianna said indignantly.
Shelby ignored her accusation. She knew it was wrong, and completely unprofessional, for Chloe to do that, but it couldn’t compare to Lianna’s deception.
‘You had a secret. You wanted to keep it a secret.’
‘Yes, I had a secret. Now the whole world knows about it.’
‘You didn’t want Rob to know. You were desperate for him not to know. Desperate to keep Chloe from telling him.’
Lianna recoiled and shook her head. ‘Desperate? Are you kidding? We’re not even married anymore. Get a hold of yourself.’
‘You never told him,’ Shelby said accusingly.
‘I wanted to spare him the unhappiness. And Molly. I wanted to spare them both.’
‘How badly did you want to silence my daughter?’
Lianna’s mouth dropped open. ‘What the hell are you saying?’ She took a deep breath as if she were trying to control her response. ‘Are you suggesting that I had something to do with Chloe’s death? Because of this?’
Shelby stared back at her without replying.
‘Look, Shelby, I know you’re grieving, but get a grip. For one thing, I wasn’t even on that cruise. I was here, as you well know. I took care of Jeremy for you, remember?’
‘It’s possible to hire someone.’
‘Hire someone? You mean . . . a hit man? Yeah. I must have one or two of those in my phone book,’ she said sarcastically.
‘I’m not joking about this,’ said Shelby.
‘Neither am I,’ said Lianna. ‘This is about the most insulting accusation I’ve ever heard. Especially since your daughter was the one who violated my privacy, and my rights as a patient.’
Shelby didn’t care if Lianna was insulted. ‘What about Harris? Does he know about Molly? And Rob?’
‘Yes. I told him long ago. He always wanted me to tell Rob. I kept thinking I would choose the right moment. But then Chloe took it out of my hands. Apparently she shared my most personal secret with some friend of hers, who decided to tell Rob last night. Rob came over here in a rage. I was blindsided by the whole thing.’
A friend of hers. Shelby thought of Barbara, and instantly realized that Rob had been deliberately vague with Lianna. He was keeping secret the fact that Chloe was in AA.
Just then the front door opened and a voice cal
led out, ‘Hey, I’m home.’
‘We’re in the sunroom,’ Lianna called out.
Harris came into the sunroom, carrying his briefcase and loosening his tie. ‘I have to go to the hospital later,’ he said. ‘This is just a breather. Hi Shelby,’ he said, and then put his arm around Lianna’s shoulders, kissed her forehead and patted her belly. ‘How’s junior?’ he said.
Lianna looked up at Shelby with narrowed eyes. ‘A little agitated if you want to know the truth. Shelby’s here hurling all kinds of accusations. She knows about Rob’s visit here last night. And about Molly’s real father.’
Harris immediately looked guiltily at Shelby. ‘We probably should have told you last night. But it was awkward. We didn’t want to make things worse with Rob.’
‘That’s not all,’ said Lianna. ‘She thinks I might have hired someone to kill Chloe. To keep it quiet.’
Harris laughed. ‘Oh come on, honey,’ he said. ‘She didn’t mean that. You’re being overly sensitive.’
‘That’s what she said,’ Lianna cried.
Harris frowned. ‘All right. All right. Let’s climb in off the ledge, ladies. We’re all stressed out these days.’ He turned to Shelby. ‘Tell me, how is Rob? Is he awake?’
‘Not yet,’ said Shelby, somewhat shaken by his matter-of-fact response to her earth-shattering news.
Harris sighed. ‘I felt so badly for him last night. When he came over I think he was really hoping to hear that it wasn’t true.’
‘I’m sure,’ said Shelby stiffly. ‘He loves Molly.’
‘And he’s been a wonderful father to her. I’m sure he would have been a wonderful father even if he had known the truth,’ Harris said, frowning at Lianna. ‘You should have had a little faith in him.’
‘OK. I know. I should have told him,’ said Lianna irritably, raising her hands as if in surrender. ‘I should have, but I didn’t. I was having an affair with a married man before I started seeing Rob. A man who was incapable of being a father to Molly.
‘Whereas Rob . . . well, he was so proud of her. I let him believe that Molly was his. I’m a bad person. I admit it. Believe me, I paid for it last night when Molly found out. She was furious with me,’ said Lianna.
‘Darling, with all due respect, you deserved it,’ said Harris.
Lianna raised her chin defiantly. ‘I did not deserve to be outed by Chloe. What she did was wrong. It’s my own fault. The minute I saw that she worked there, I should have gone somewhere else. I should never have stayed with Dr Cliburn.’
‘Well, I guess it’s normal to be curious, under the circumstances,’ said Harris.
‘Tell me you wouldn’t fire a nurse who did that to one of your patients,’ Lianna shot back. ‘I should have found another doctor. I knew it was a mistake.’
‘He’s the best,’ said Harris gravely. ‘We wanted the best.’
‘Even so,’ said Lianna.
Harris patted her on the shoulder. ‘Luckily, Molly is wise beyond her years.’ He turned to Shelby. ‘Her first thought was for Rob. She said to him right away, “I don’t care about that guy. You’re my Dad and that’s final.” It was very touching.’
Looking at him now, Shelby could understand why Chloe had always admired Harris when she worked in his office. He was a voice of calm and compassion.
‘So, yes,’ said Lianna. ‘Rob was here, he was angry and, no matter what Chloe did, I guess I am to blame. Right now my daughter thinks I’m a horrible person and I suppose I deserve that. My husband seems to be a little more forgiving.’ She gazed ruefully up at Harris, who smiled back at her. ‘I don’t know what else I can tell you. I’m actually relieved that it’s all out in the open now. I just want Rob to get well so that we can all start to mend some fences.’
Shelby suddenly felt ashamed of her own outburst. She had taken a morsel of information and jumped to an extreme conclusion. However embarrassed Lianna might have been by her secret, it was clearly not something that had to be hushed up at any cost. Shelby didn’t know whether she was disappointed, or relieved.
Shelby stood up. ‘I shouldn’t have said what I did,’ she said.
‘No, you shouldn’t have,’ said Lianna balefully.
‘My daughter’s death . . . it tortures me,’ said Shelby.
Lianna sighed and was silent for a moment. ‘I know it. I can imagine. It’s all right.’
‘No. I’m sorry. I was really out of line.’
Lianna looked at Shelby with sorrowful eyes. She placed one hand protectively on her own belly. ‘No harm done,’ she said.
Shelby took a deep breath. ‘I do think, if it’s all right with you two, that I will call the police and tell them that Rob was here last night. Before his accident. The detective said it might be important to know where he was.’
Lianna shrugged.
‘Sure. Of course,’ said Harris.
‘I’d better go get Jeremy,’ said Shelby.
Lianna nodded. ‘I suppose we’ll see you at the hospital.’
‘Why?’ Shelby asked.
‘Visiting Rob?’
‘Oh yes,’ said Shelby, ashamed to have forgotten. ‘Of course.’
TWENTY
Shelby walked up to where Darcie stood, guarding her small charges as they clambered on the jungle gym and flew skyward on the swings. Jeremy was in the thick of it, whooping that he had a sword and he was ready to use it.
‘He seems to be doing OK,’ said Shelby hopefully.
Darcie nodded without looking at her. ‘Everything considered,’ she said. ‘How is Rob doing?’
‘I called earlier. His condition is stable.’
‘The church managed to contact his parents last night. They’re in some tiny village in Indonesia. It’s going to take them a while to get to a flight. They’ll be back in a couple of days.’
‘I’m just glad they got a hold of them,’ said Shelby. ‘Rob needs them here right now.’
‘I agree.’
‘I’ve never met his parents,’ said Shelby. ‘Rob and Chloe had a very small wedding, and they couldn’t get here for it. They came once to see Jeremy, but I was in Paris while they were here.’
‘They’re very nice people,’ said Darcie. ‘Always cheerful. I remember them from when I was a little girl. They’re very tough. They’ve lived in all kinds of conditions.’
‘You’ve known Rob’s family that long?’ Shelby asked.
‘All my life.’
‘Rob must be kind of like a big brother to you,’ she said.
Darcie watched Jeremy playing. ‘Jeremy wants to go and see his dad.’
Shelby shook her head. ‘Not yet. Not while Rob’s unconscious, certainly. That will only scare Jeremy. He’s just lost his mother. If he sees his father so messed up, it will give him nightmares.’
Darcie turned and looked at Shelby with wide, blue eyes. ‘So you’re not going up there tonight?’
‘I’ll run up in the morning,’ said Shelby.
Darcie turned and looked back at her charges. ‘I’ll go tonight,’ she said.
Shelby heard a note in Darcie’s voice that took her by surprise, but she did not mention it.
‘Time to get Jeremy home,’ Shelby said.
Shelby’s phone rang as she was beginning to usher Jeremy off to the bathtub. It was Elliott Markson’s secretary calling. Mr Markson wanted to see her in his office the next morning at ten o’clock. Shelby said that she would be there. She had an idea of what this summons was about. At best, Elliott Markson was probably going to confront her about all the work she was missing, and he would surely dress her down for enlisting the help of Perry Wilcox. At worst . . .
Now that she knew that Rob’s parents were arriving and would certainly move in here with Jeremy for the length of their stay, she would be free to return to her job, if she still had one. Perhaps it was time to think about working again. All her efforts to make sense of Chloe’s accident were running into nothing but dead ends. The question was, would she have a job to go to? She had a feel
ing that she would know the answer tomorrow.
The evening routine with Jeremy proved difficult. It took all her wiles to convince the child that his father was still too sleepy for visitors, and that he was really going to be fine and they would see him soon. His usual storybook turned into three, and he wailed each time she tried to leave him alone in his room. By the time she had gotten Jeremy in bed, Shelby was almost ready to crawl into bed herself.
The doorbell rang at eight thirty, and she rushed to answer it, not wanting its peal in the night to wake Jeremy from his restless slumber. Detective Camillo, whom she had met at the hospital, was standing on the doorstep with a uniformed officer.
‘Detective,’ said Shelby, frowning.
‘May we come in?’ he asked.
‘Of course,’ said Shelby.
She stood aside as the two men entered the house and stood in the living room. Shelby invited them to sit and offered them a drink. Both men declined the drink but sat down in the living room, perched on the edge of their seats. Detective Camillo leaned forward in the chair, and rested his elbows on his knees.
‘I want to thank you for your phone call earlier today, Mrs Sloan. Once we knew where your son-in-law had been last night, it made our job a lot easier.’
‘I’m glad I could help,’ Shelby said.
‘So, since I spoke to you, there have been a few developments in your son-in-law’s case that I thought you would want to know about,’ he said.
Shelby nodded. ‘OK.’
‘I wanted to talk to you before you heard about this on the eleven o’clock news.’
Shelby was instantly alarmed. ‘Heard what? Is Rob all right? I called the hospital before dinner. They said he’s still stable.’
‘Yeah. I spoke to the doc about an hour ago. Apparently, he’ll be all right. But, we still want to charge these guys with attempted murder.’
Shelby’s eyes widened. ‘Guys? You found out who did this?’
The detective’s weary eyes glinted with satisfaction. ‘It looks that way. Actually,’ he said, ‘we caught a few breaks on this one. Which is not to minimize the excellent legwork by my squad.’
Cast into Doubt Page 15
