He pushed Stephen toward Veronica, who was on the opposite side of the room, and turned to Shannon.
“You have my permission to become mildly inebriated,” he said.
“Thank you,” said Shannon. She wandered over to the bar.
Josh waited for an explanation. He wasn’t particularly surprised to learn that Richard had gone to prison for the debacle with Peterson, but he was stunned by Graham’s remarks about his grandmother. His parents had told him she had died from something so mundane that he couldn’t even remember what it was.
Richard sat down with a deep sigh.
“That was brutal,” he said. “Practically a fight to the death.”
“You got the worst of it,” said Josh, “and now he knows you have the notebook.”
“That’s precisely the point,” said Richard. “I wanted him to know. Why do you think he invited our family to the wedding? Not for innocent reasons, I can assure you. He wanted to get me out of the house. He was hoping for an opportunity to break in and steal everything related to Peterson’s research.”
“During his own wedding?” said Josh.
“Not him personally,” said Richard. “Peterson never worked alone.”
“Whatever,” said Josh. “Here’s an idea: if the notebook is so dangerous, maybe you should destroy it, especially since you obviously don’t need it anymore.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” said Richard. “I do need it, for leverage, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep it safe.”
Josh didn’t reply. He remembered his father’s warning and wondered if Richard was manipulating him. On the other hand, his parents had lied to him about his grandmother, if Graham’s assertions were correct, so maybe they weren’t reliable either. He felt like Graham was the only person in the world who was willing to tell him the truth about his family. He wondered what else Graham knew.
“You don’t trust me,” said Richard. “I don’t blame you. You’re smart enough to think for yourself, and I haven’t done much to earn your respect. It’s the same old story: my pride has gotten in the way. I shouldn’t have to justify myself to you—but maybe it wouldn’t be so difficult if you weren’t so much like your dad. I keep forgetting who I’m talking to, and it’s throwing me off.”
Josh heard the regret in his voice.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “At this point, I don’t think there’s anything you could say that would convince me. I need to figure this out on my own. If you’re willing to keep an eye on the others for a while, I could use some fresh air.”
Ignoring Richard’s protests, he left the ballroom and went down the steps that led into a courtyard behind the house. The storm had passed, leaving the world as cold as ice. Josh shivered as he gazed across the neglected gardens and dead fountains that stretched in front of him. Beyond the gardens, a private marina lay in the deepening shadows. A battered sailboat with two empty masts floated on the water.
While Josh stood there, he heard a motorboat chugging along from the direction of the river. The sound grew steadily louder, and as he waited for it to fade away as it passed him and proceeded to its destination, he concluded it was idling in the marina. He decided he didn’t want to be noticed by the occupants of the motorboat. Feeling rather ridiculous, he crouched down behind a hedge growing beside the house and waited to see what would happen.
The sound suddenly died. A moment later, Josh saw the squat figure of a woman trudging up the winding path toward the house. A cigarette protruded from her mouth, its cinder glowing in the darkness. The stench of flavored tobacco filled the air. She was met by Owen. Josh knew who he was because Richard had pointed him out during the ceremony. The woman removed the cigarette from her mouth and tossed it on the ground.
“Where’s Graham?” she said.
“He’s celebrating,” said Owen. “Despite my doubts, I think he really loves that woman. I’m surprised you made it in this weather, Sophie. You could have waited until tomorrow.”
“The boss is tired of messing around,” said the woman. “I could have refused, but I didn’t want to make a scene. It’s been crazy ever since Graham left. That stubborn little brat won’t listen to a word I say.”
“That bad, is it?” said Owen.
“You have no idea,” she said. “I’d like to shut him up once and for all, but the boss is playing favorites, and blood is thicker than water. Apparently, I’m interfering with the plan, whatever that means. I don’t care anymore. I’m done being nice. When I get back, I’m going to knock some sense into him.”
“Maybe that won’t be necessary,” said Owen.
“That’s the idea,” she said. “The boss seems to think it’ll work, but I’m not convinced. Don’t get me wrong: murder is obviously preferable to babysitting. If it weren’t, I wouldn’t be here. I’m just not sure it’s worth the risk.”
“How are you going to do it?” said Owen.
“I haven’t decided yet,” she said. “The boss gave me some options. I’ll run them past Graham and see what he thinks. It won’t be fancy, but I’ll make it special. That’s the least I can do for an old friend.”
She spat on the ground, wiped her mouth on her sleeve, and took out another cigarette.
“Let me show you where you’ll be staying,” said Owen. “Once you’ve had a chance to settle in, I’ll tell Graham you’re here. He’s been asking about you all night, and the sooner you talk to him, the sooner he’ll calm down.”
They walked past Josh and went inside. Josh finally admitted to himself that Richard had been correct about at least one thing: Hamilton Estate was a sanctuary for evil. To make matters worse, Graham had at least two accomplices, and they were planning a murder. He got to his feet and gazed at the house, chilled to the bone. As he watched, a light blinked on upstairs and Sophie’s silhouette materialized behind the curtains. Josh was afraid she might look out and see him. He turned, hurried up the steps without paying attention to where he was going, and ran into Graham.
Graham gave a startled yelp.
“I’m sorry,” said Josh. “I didn’t see you.”
“A common problem of mine,” said Graham. He sidled around Josh so he could have an unrestricted view of the marina and squinted into the mist. “Tell me, have you noticed anything strange out here?”
“Like what?” said Josh.
Graham shrugged.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Hamilton Estate is a peculiar place.”
“It’s just an old house,” said Josh. “It seems normal enough to me.”
“Is that what your grandfather told you to say?” said Graham.
Josh was too surprised to reply. Graham laughed.
“Yes, I know who you are, Josh,” he said. “We haven’t been officially introduced, but your family occupies a special place in my heart. I apologize for making your grandfather so uncomfortable earlier. Social nuances are sometimes lost on me. I’m delighted to meet you, but I can’t help wondering—what are you doing out here?”
“Nothing,” said Josh, trying desperately to come up with an explanation that would convince Graham. His mind went back to the beginning of the reception when his biggest concern had been trying to comprehend his feelings about Lisa. “You see, there’s this girl. I didn’t think I liked her, but now I’m not so sure.”
“Ah,” said Graham. “That explains everything. Unrequited love is an excellent reason to mope around in the dead of night. I sympathize. It’s awful when the object of your affections fails to reciprocate your devotion. The only solution is to wander out into the lonely darkness and reflect upon the cruelty of the world. I’ve done the same thing myself on many occasions.”
Josh couldn’t tell if Graham was commiserating with him or mocking him, but either way, he was glad the conversation had drifted into trivial territory.
“How did you know Molly was special?” he said.
“Molly?” said Graham.
“That’s her name, isn’t it?” said Josh.
“Yes, of course,” said Graham. “Well, I wasn’t sure at first, but then a voice came out of nowhere and told me I was going to marry her. I’ve been hearing voices my whole life. You probably think I’m crazy, but I’m not. There’s a perfectly logical explanation for the whole thing. It’s actually very convenient.”
“What is?” said Josh.
“Not having to think for myself,” said Graham. “It’s a great relief. You’ll understand when you’re older. In the meantime, try not to be too hard on yourself. There’s no shame in being conflicted about love. It’s a long road with no guarantee of happiness at the end. Maybe you should confide in your parents. I’m sure they could give you some good advice. They’ve somehow managed to stick it out, through the good and the bad. You and your siblings are incredibly lucky to have them. Isn’t it nice when families get along?”
“Yes,” said Josh in bewilderment. “It is.”
“It’s a shame about your grandfather,” said Graham. “I can’t help feeling he’s the odd man out. It’s sad, but it’s not very surprising, considering what he did to your father.”
“What are you talking about?” said Josh.
“Don’t you know?” said Graham. “A long time ago, when your father was at college, there was an explosion at the library where he was studying. It was an accident, of course. The ceiling caved in, and everything caught on fire. Your father was badly burned. He was taken to the hospital, but he wasn’t expected to survive.”
“That’s not true,” said Josh in disgust. “My parents would have no reason to keep something like that a secret.”
“Haven’t you ever wondered why your father stays safely on the sidelines of your life, cheering you on, but never participating in any of the fun?” said Graham. “He doesn’t want you to realize how hopelessly impaired he actually is.”
“But he’s not,” said Josh. As the words left his mouth, doubt entered his mind. What if Graham knew something he didn’t know? It would explain a lot of things. He suddenly remembered an incident from his early childhood, and his blood ran cold. He had asked his father to play baseball with him, and his mother had scolded him as if he had done a terrible thing. He had never made the same mistake again.
“Have you ever been to a burn unit?” said Graham. “It’s truly dreadful—seared flesh and cracked skin and charred bones. The only thing worse than how it looks is how it smells, and the only thing worse than how it smells is how it sounds. The screaming is so disturbing that it echoes in your head long after you leave, like the howls of sinners in hell. Your father was there for a month.”
“That’s not possible,” said Josh.
Graham seemed to have forgotten about him.
“The pain itself isn’t even the worst part,” he said. “It’s the realization that the only way to survive is to allow the agony to continue. Can you imagine the state of mind created by unavoidable torture? When you have nothing left, you derive strength from other people. Unfortunately, your father had no one to suffer with him. Your grandfather abandoned him there at the hospital. Do you want to know why?”
Josh was too horrified to speak.
“There’s nothing more disturbing than the logic of a twisted mind,” said Graham. “Your grandfather blamed Peterson for what happened to your father, even though there was no evidence to implicate him. It was tragic. He cared more about being right than about supporting your father, so he went away to prove his ridiculous theory. He failed, of course. How could he succeed when the whole thing was a figment of his imagination? When he returned, your father disowned him. They didn’t speak again for more than twenty years.”
“Why are you telling me this?” said Josh.
“Because you deserve to know the truth about your family,” said Graham. “Forgive me for being presumptuous, but when I spoke with your grandfather earlier, I realized he’s been lying to you all along. So have your parents. I’m sure they did it out of the goodness of their hearts, but it’s getting a bit ridiculous, if you ask me. You’re not a child anymore. Besides, secrets tend to do more harm than good. Oh, that reminds me: I need to talk to someone. Please excuse me.”
He left before Josh could stop him.
Josh tried to convince himself Graham had lied about the whole thing, but the story was something he could confirm on his own, at least the part about the explosion at the college. He had never felt more lost. Usually when he needed to confide in someone, he talked to his father, but of course that was out of the question. If Graham were being truthful, any mention of the situation would remind his father of things he had spent half his life trying to forget. Asking Richard about the subject was equally unthinkable.
He finally decided to feign ignorance until he had investigated the matter further. The sinister collaboration between Graham, Owen, and Sophie was more urgent anyway. With one last glance toward the marina to make sure no additional conspirators were creeping up to the house, he went back inside.
∞∞∞
Lisa liked seeing Molly so happy. In her opinion, the wedding had been a resounding success, and she was enjoying herself far more than she had expected, despite her intuitive dislike of Graham. She couldn’t entirely banish the premonition that something horrible was about to happen, but as the evening progressed, she gradually let her guard down and found she was still capable of having fun.
Veronica had abandoned her to spend time with Stephen, but she didn’t care. As long as she didn’t have to sit with Josh and Shannon, she was content. She wandered around the ballroom until she noticed the wedding cake on its little table in the place of honor near the entrance. According to Molly, Graham had been particular about its design, and she examined it with curiosity, hoping to discern something genuine about his character.
It had three tall layers covered with white frosting, and each layer was decorated with shiny red glaze that ran down the sides. Two plastic figurines that didn’t resemble Graham and Molly occupied the top of the cake. They appeared to be standing in a pool of blood. Rose petals were scattered on the table.
Lisa reluctantly admitted that it appeared as if a murder had been committed over the cake. She wished she were back at home and looked around for her parents. Her father was standing alone at the bar, reviving himself with a drink. Her mother was nowhere to be seen. Lisa guessed she had stepped out to escape the crowd.
As she watched, her mother approached from the direction of the kitchen and strode across the ballroom toward her father. Her face was livid, and Lisa could tell she was furious. She knew there was only one thing that could make her mother react in such an unusual way. Her heart choked her, stifling the scream that rose in her chest. It couldn’t be happening. Sabrina wasn’t even there, and no one else knew.
She rushed toward her parents, but they were too preoccupied to notice her. Her mother shoved her father against the wall so violently that he almost fell.
“Nora, what’s wrong with you?” he said.
“You,” she said. “I know what you did.”
She spoke in a whisper to avoid attracting attention, but if anything, it made her voice even more menacing. Lisa was too horrified to move. She hoped with all her heart that her father would think up some sort of excuse, but she knew it wouldn’t be easy to persuade her mother. Tears filled her eyes, and her throat burned.
“You’re confused, Nora,” he said, raising his hands in a disarming gesture. “Let’s go outside and talk about this in private.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she said. “You’re a murderer.”
“Nora, it’s complicated,” he said. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I made a terrible mistake, and I’ve regretted it every moment. I’m sorry.”
“I would call the police right now, but I don’t want to ruin the wedding,” she said, practically spitting in his face. “How could you do this to me? I’ve honored you; I’ve supported you; I’ve defended you—and without thinking, you extinguished the one person who loved me for my entire life. Don�
��t you dare call that a mistake. You knew exactly what you were doing.”
“Nora, I would bring her back if I could,” he said.
“Stop lying to me,” she said. “Do you think I’m stupid? You’ve gone too far, Andrew. I want you to leave. You’re not my husband. You’re someone I never knew. Just stay away from me. I don’t want to see you at the house anymore. You can find somewhere else to live, since you’re never at home anyway.”
“But what about Sabrina?” he said.
“I won’t interfere with your little project, since it’s the only thing you seem to care about,” she said. “She can stay for as long as she wants, and you can keep on treating her. This isn’t her fault. It’s yours. You’re despicable. You’ll be hearing from my attorney next week, and if you don’t give me everything I want in the settlement, including full custody of the girls, I’ll tell the police everything you did.”
She started crying.
Lisa’s father didn’t defend himself. He shrugged and left the ballroom, slamming the door behind him. Lisa’s mother collapsed in a storm of grief, but Lisa rushed after her father. She could live with the knowledge of his crime; maybe her mother could, too, if her parents would just sit down and talk. She caught up with him in the driveway and grabbed his arm, preventing him from getting into his car.
“You can’t go,” she said. “Not like this.”
“Lisa, go back inside,” he said, trying to free himself.
“Please,” she said. “I don’t care what you did. I need you.”
He flung her away. Lisa lost her balance and fell. She was so startled that she didn’t try to get up. The sharp gravel on the driveway dug into her legs, and blood oozed out of a cut on her arm. Even though she was numb with horror, the pain allowed her to focus. She gazed up at her father’s bewildered face.
“Are you okay?” he said. “Lisa—”
He hesitated. Lisa waited for him to reach down and help her up, but he didn’t. As she watched, his expression gradually changed from uncertainty to anger.
The Patient from Silvertree: Book One in the Silvertree Series Page 13
