Insidious

by Aleatha Romig

  A cold sheen of perspiration chilled my skin. He was bullshitting me and I knew it. I also needed more information. “That is ridiculous,” I proclaimed. “I don’t believe you. My birthday is my birthday: it always has been.”

  Parker leaned back in the chair. “You may think it sounds ridiculous, but I can see it in your eyes. You have at least an inkling that I’m right.”

  “I’m not fucking signing my life away again on an inkling. I need proof.”

  Parker scanned me from breast to head. “Very well, I’ll get you proof.”

  “Who else knows about this?”

  “Stewart knew.”

  “Anyone else?”

  “Besides your parents, no, not yet,” he declared confidently. “The attorney who created the counterfeit birth certificate is no longer alive. The original and a copy of the forged one were found in the bowels of a storage unit. However, don’t misjudge me. I will share what I know, and when I do, the US government will be the least of your worries.”

  I swallowed my disgust. “Parker, I don’t believe you. However, I’ll give you the chance to show me your proof. If what you say is true, it could undoubtedly have far-reaching implications. What can I do to help you see my side of this?”

  His eyes glowed as he stared at my breasts. “I can think of a lot of things. Once you sign that contract, you’ll see that I’m much more imaginative than your deceased husband.”

  “When can you get me the proof?”

  “I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.”

  I nodded. “All right, here tomorrow—”

  “No, Victoria. What you’re experiencing right now is called a power switch. You’re no longer the one calling the shots. I personally prefer you blindfolded and mute, but for what I have in mind, it will be more fun if you can see. I think it will help build the anticipation.”

  I didn’t reply.

  “See how well behaved you can be.” He stood, walked toward me, and caressed my cheek. It took all my self-control to not flinch. “I never expected to receive this opportunity. Ever since I saw you in my office on that fateful morning years ago, I’ve wanted to be the one to give you the instructions, to be in control of your fucking, your coming, and your going. I know from experience that you’ve grown in your expertise over the past nine years. I’m confident that in no time at all, this bargain-basement cock can teach you to be more respectful of your friends.” He fisted my hair and pulled my head back. “Didn’t you enjoy that term: friends? Look at me.”

  I did.

  “Stewart liked the term friends. I believe you’ll learn that respect I mentioned sooner rather than later. If you don’t, not all of our visitors will be as friendly.”

  I waited for the taste of blood as I bit my tongue and listened to his power switch. However, before he could continue, the phone on my desk rang. He didn’t release my hair as we stared, hearing the second and then the third ring. Finally, I asked, “May I answer my phone?”

  His slimy grin grew, showing his too-white teeth. “You see,” he said as he released my hair. “You’re a quick learner. Tomorrow, two o’clock, at the warehouse.”

  I nodded as I picked up the phone, suddenly thankful for whoever was on the other end. “Yes, Kristina?”

  “Mrs. Harrington, there’s an Officer Shepard on the line. He said it was urgent.”

  Oh my God. Did they find something out about Stewart’s cause of death?

  “Put him through,” I said cautiously as I turned toward Parker, covered the receiver and said, “It’s the police. They said it was urgent.”

  “Put them on speakerphone.”

  I gave him a puzzled look.

  “Hello, Mrs. Harrington…” The voice came through the handset.

  Parker whispered near my ear. “Speakerphone, cunt, I’m your attorney. I need to hear.”

  I hit the button and said aloud, “Yes, this is Mrs. Harrington.”

  “Ma’am, I’m so sorry to bother you at this time.”

  “Yes, it is a difficult—”

  “Mrs. Harrington, your mother is on her way to Memorial Hospital. I’m sorry to inform you that she was in a serious automobile accident.”

  I couldn’t process. I’d been thinking about her ever since our conversation yesterday. I’d been meaning to call her, wanting for the first time to call her. This couldn’t be happening, I asked, “Excuse me, what did you say?”

  Parker spoke, “Officer, this is Parker Craven, Mrs. Harrington’s attorney. Can you tell us any more about Mrs. Sound?”

  “Sir, Mrs. Sound is on her way to the trauma center at Memorial Hospital. I recommend that Mrs. Harrington go there immediately.”

  “Thank you, officer. We’ll leave immediately,” Parker replied.

  “Mrs. Harrington, you should know that we did a field sobriety test. Your mother’s blood alcohol content was .38 percent. Thankfully, no one else was involved in the accident.”

  Covering my mouth, I gasped. “No, officer, that isn’t possible. My mother is a recovering alcoholic. She hasn’t had a drop of alcohol in almost twenty years.”

  “Ma’am, I’m sorry. She did today. Please get to Memorial.”

  It wasn’t even eleven in the morning. This wasn’t right. Why would Marilyn decide to go on a binge early in the morning? She wouldn’t. I knew that.

  When I didn’t respond, Parker did. “She will, sir. Thank you.” He leaned over me and disconnected the line. “I’ll drive you. Let’s go.”

  “No,” I shook my head. “I’ll be at the warehouse tomorrow, if I can.”

  “You will. Unless you’re the one in the hospital, you’ll be there.”

  I closed my eyes. “Yes, Parker, I’ll be there. Bring your proof.” When he narrowed his eyes, I rephrased, “Please bring your proof. Right now I need to get to my mother.”

  “You’re in no condition to drive.”

  Now he’s worried about my condition? Asshole! “I won’t drive. Travis will drive me.”

  Parker’s jaw clenched. “We’ll discuss Mr. Daniel’s employment future after tomorrow.”

  I nodded. He was fucking crazy if he thought this was the way it was going to be. Nonetheless, I could play the role. I’d been taught well.

  Though everything within me wanted to run for the door, I sat unmoving, respectful, and complacent, while Parker slowly gathered his things, including the copy of his new contract and placed them in his briefcase. The motherfucker probably never thought I’d made a copy. When he turned to leave, he quipped, “Until tomorrow, Victoria. Best regards to your mother.”

  Fucker!

  My cell phone rang and the screen flashed: VAL.

  VAL MET ME as I rushed from Travis’ SUV and ran into the emergency room. The crowd of people didn’t register as I looked at my sister’s face. She was a doctor; she was supposed to be better at hiding her emotion.

  “Oh my God,” I said, as sobs erupted from my chest. “Is she dead?”

  Val wrapped her arms around me. “No, she’s alive, barely.” She led me through doors, down hallways, and to an elevator. Next, we walked through more doors and hallways. Finally, we arrived at a small private room with chairs, a fish tank, and too many fake plants. “They know we’re here. The nurses will keep us updated as she’s in surgery.”

  On the way to our waiting area, Val explained that our mother had an array of injuries. They’d know more about her internal injuries once all the scans were complete; however, early tests indicated damage to her spinal cord and possible traumatic brain injury. Apparently, she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and flew forward upon impact. The only thing that saved her from going through the windshield was the airbag; however, that caused other problems. Once we sat, I asked the question that had been on my mind since I received the call. “Do you really think she was drinking?”

  Val closed her eyes. “I don’t want to. I mean, she didn’t go back to drinking even when Randall died. Why would she drink now?”

  I stood and paced. “She wanted to c
ome to my apartment yesterday. If I would have said yes…”

  “Stop that. If Marilyn Sound decided to pick up a bottle of vodka, she and she alone is the person responsible: not you. You’ve been blamed for too many things in your life. This is not one of them. Don’t think that way.

  “All I can say,” she continued, “is thank God she didn’t harm anyone else. As a doctor I see too many innocent people hurt and killed by drunk drivers.”

  “That’s just it,” I proclaimed. “I don’t think she would do this.”

  Val looked at me dubiously.

  “I know. I’m not the one who usually sticks up for Marilyn. I just don’t feel right about this.”

  “Vik, the sobriety test didn’t lie. I didn’t want to believe it either, but I could smell it on her. Also, they’ll be doing more blood draws here to verify it. We’ll know more when they report to us.”

  My purse vibrated. I looked at my phone. Travis. His text was simple and to the point:

  “WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?”

  I hit the CALL button. “Val, will you explain to Travis where we are? I don’t even know. I wasn’t paying attention.”

  She nodded, and as I was about to hand her the phone, his deep voice came through the receiver and echoed through the small room. “Don’t fucking tell me you left the hospital?”

  Val’s eyes widened.

  I grinned. “He has a way with words.” I spoke into the phone. “We’re in some waiting room. Perhaps you could keep your opinions to yourself and speak with Val. She’ll explain where we are.”

  His tone morphed back to the one I’d heard for a decade. “Thank you, Mrs. Harrington, I’d be happy to speak to the good doctor.”

  Shaking my head with a grin, I handed Val the phone. While she explained our location to Travis, I wondered about the boys. Marcus was at the University of Miami, but what about Lyle? In order for Marilyn’s blood alcohol level to be as high as it was, she would have needed to consume a substantial amount. Was she drinking before he left for school?

  Val handed me back my phone. On the screen I saw BRODY PHILLIPS. I turned it off and placed it back in my purse. When I turned toward Val, I could tell by the look on her face that she’d read the name. I shrugged. “He’s one of the attorneys at Craven and Knowles. It probably has to do with Stewart’s will. I’ll call him back later.” Changing the subject, I spun my large yellow diamond and asked, “Val? How much alcohol would it take to get to a .38 percent? How many drinks?”

  She momentarily closed her eyes. “It depends on how quickly she drank and if she’d been eating. But on average a drink is considered one and a half ounces, of hard liquor at least. They said there was a vodka bottle in the car. To reach .38 would probably take at least ten drinks and that would be if she drank them quickly. If she’d been drinking for a longer period of time, it would take more. The body processes about half an ounce an hour.”

  “Ten! So like fifteen or more ounces of alcohol? A coke can has twelve ounces. You’re talking more than that.” I shook my head. “For someone who hasn’t drunk a drop in over twenty years… don’t you find this weird? Has anyone spoken to Lyle? Was she drinking when he left for school?”

  “No.”

  We both turned at the sound of our brother’s voice as he, Marcus, and Travis entered the small room. Val and I rushed toward the boys, as Travis explained, “I found these two wandering around downstairs. I thought they should be with you.”

  “Thank you, Travis.”

  When Val finally released Lyle from her embrace, we could see his red blotchy face and hear the pain in his voice. “Val, you’re a doctor. Why aren’t you in there with her? She has to be all right.”

  My heart broke for our youngest sibling. He’d lost his father. Even I didn’t want him to lose his mother. Again, Val embraced Lyle as Marcus reached out and squeezed my hand.

  “I can’t be in there,” Val explained. “They don’t allow that. It’s too difficult. Doctors need to think with their head and not their heart.” She looked Lyle in the eye. “But don’t worry. The doctors here are the best. She’s in great hands.”

  “Lyle?” I asked. “What did you mean when you said no?”

  “I meant,” he said after wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, “she wasn’t drinking. She was fine, like normal, when I left.”

  “What time did you leave?” Travis asked.

  “School starts at nine. They just changed it this year. It used to be earlier.”

  My eyes darted to Travis.

  “Mrs. Harrington, may I speak with you?”

  “Yes.” I turned to the sea of gray and green eyes and said, “I’ll be just outside.”

  Once we were in the hall, Travis and I walked around the corner and found a secluded corner. “What are you thinking?” Travis asked.

  “Someone did this to her. Why?”

  He started to reach for my hand and stopped. “This is a warning. This was what I was talking about. Those people want your attention.”

  “They’ve fucking got it. But who and why?”

  “We need to reestablish the communication that Mr. Harrington had.”

  I looked down and whispered, “At the warehouse?”

  Travis’ large hand captured mine. “You’re shaking.”

  I didn’t fight his touch. It was warm and reassuring.

  “I’m cold.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re scared and I don’t blame you. These are dangerous people. But I’ve been thinking about this. I think there are two different things happening. I could be wrong, but I don’t think that the people at the warehouse, the friends… I don’t think they would stoop to these tactics.”

  I nodded. “All right. Who are the others?”

  “Why did you ask me about the Albinis?”

  “I heard the name and was curious?”

  At first, Travis didn’t speak, but his dark eyes narrowed. “Then I suppose it is just a coincidence.”

  “What?”

  “That it was Niccolo Albini who was at Dr. Conway’s apartment the other day.”

  My gray eyes snapped to his. “Tell me why you think the Albinis would want to talk to me, or get my attention.”

  Travis turned toward a sound in the hall, then reached for my shoulders and shifted so that he was between me and the noise. I watched around his shoulder as two women in scrubs passed by. Once they were gone, he replied, “I’ve been trying to figure that out since the night at Dr. Conway’s. I think it has something to do with the business. Mr. Albini’s family had an agreement with Mr. Harrington. Now that you have the ability to make decisions, they want your support.”

  “They try to kill my mother to get my support?”

  Travis shook his head. “I know… it doesn’t make sense. We’re missing a piece of this puzzle.”

  “What about Parker?” I asked.

  “After what you told me he said, if he produced documents to nullify your marriage, he would be in a position to make those business decisions.”

  I thought about that for a moment. “How does this all work? I mean, did Stewart pay them?”

  “No, they paid him for the cover. They paid him a lot.”

  “So if Parker proves that my marriage is invalid, he stands to profit?”

  “Yes,” Travis agreed. “But if he gets you to sign the contract, he can keep people like Keene happy and also convince the Albinis that he’s in control of your decisions. My assumption would be that the payoff would never see your bank account. It’s really the best-case scenario for him. That way if the shit ever does hit the fan, his hands are clean. You’re the one with the business dealings that need to be explained.”

  I peered again around Travis to see a tall man with dark but graying hair, and dark eyes staring silently in our direction. With his nice black suit and shiny shoes, I knew he was the man who’d been to Val’s apartment. “Travis?”

  There must have been something in my voice, because immediately Travis followed my line o
f sight, and spun around. Instantly, he became a wall, standing between me and the rather handsome yet imposing stranger. “Mr. Albini,” Travis said with a nod.

  Who was this? My uncle? The one who told my mother to have an abortion?

  “Mr. Daniels,” the tall gentleman replied. “I heard about Mrs. Sound’s unfortunate accident. I came to offer my support to Mrs. Harrington.”

  Support?

  “As you can imagine, with the death of her husband and now her mother’s accident, Mrs. Harrington is not in the condition—”

  I stepped out from behind Travis, extended my hand, and offered Mr. Albini my firmest handshake. “Hello, I’m Mrs. Harrington. I apologize, however, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”

  “Mrs. Harrington,” Mr. Albini’s voice took on a silky strain. “You are lovely, like your mother.”

  My neck stiffened. I didn’t look like my mother, Val did.

  He went on. “My family… we were sorry to hear about your mother’s relapse and accident. I hope she will have a full recovery.”

  “So do I Mr. Albini, as do the rest of her children.”

  “Mrs. Harrington, I would like to speak to you, in the future. There are things… things I’m not sure your husband explained.”

  I stood as tall as I could, all the while accepting the strength Travis’ presence behind me offered. “My husband was very informative, and I am aware of a few things. Perhaps you can enlighten me to a few more?”

  His dark eyes shone. “It would be my pleasure.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Albini. Please feel free to contact me, or Mr. Daniels, and we’ll continue to honor Stewart’s obligations.”

  His lips twitched to a grin. “That is music to my ears. Please, please call me Niccolo. You are a lovely woman. I’m sure your parents are very proud of the woman you’ve become.”

  “I can only speak for my mother.”

  “Your father?” he asked.

  “Johnathon Conway has been a missing member of my family for as long as I can remember. Randall Sound was the only real father I knew.”

  Niccolo nodded. “My condolences, Mrs. Harrington, it seems as though your family has had a string of unfortunate events.”