Dangerous Relations Page 3

  "Thanks, Mrs. Katz," Ardin told her. "I'll bring back the vase as soon as I find something to put the roses in."

  She walked the old woman to the door and closed it firmly, before opening the sealed message. The handwriting was large, sprawling and masculine:

  Sorry I flew off the handle last night. Your news about Suziette's will was one more shock on top of everything else. Still, that's no excuse for my behavior. Let me make it up to you with dinner tonight. I'd like us to talk before you leave Thornedale.

  Always, Brett.

  A grin spread across her face. No one had ever sent her a dozen roses before. Corey had sprung for a bunch of carnations the day her sprained wrist was x-rayed. But red roses and a dinner invitation! The image of a candle-lit dinner arose in her mind. Not that she'd go, of course. She had better sense than to get involved with Brett Waterstone.

  The phone rang, jarring her back to the present.

  "Ardin!" her mother demanded. "Where are you? Half the afternoon's gone, and you're nowhere in sight."

  Ardin opened the kitchen cabinet and took down the two flowered mugs her mother had asked for.

  "I'm leaving right now. Be there in ten minutes." She hung up before Vera could toss out another complaint.

  Before driving to the assisted-living residence, she stopped at the greengrocers in town to buy a bunch of the red grapes Vera loved. As she walked along the path toward the three brick buildings, she sighed. If only the place didn't look so stark and dreary, like the institution it was.

  She wrinkled her nose at the disinfectant odor as she opened the glass door of the middle building. As always, the sight of old people shuffling with walkers along the florescent-lit halls filled her with dismay. Her mother wasn't old--only fifty-eight--but years of hard drinking, severe arthritis, and unsuccessful hip surgery had worked together to keep her wheelchair-bound most of her waking hours.

  Vera had fought Dr. Addison when he'd insisted that she come here after her last bout in the hospital, but common sense had forced her to accept her only viable option. Despite her ailments and disabilities, Vera's indomitable will remained unbowed. She still tried to manage her own life and that of her only child. One of the many reasons Ardin had chosen to live in Manhattan.

  At least her studio apartment seemed cheerful enough, adorned with the few items of furniture Vera had brought from home. Ardin bent down to kiss her mother's cheek. She set down the mugs and handed her the bag of fruit.

  "Mmmm, thanks, dear," Vera said, as she stuffed her mouth with grapes. "They're sweet, just the way I like them. How's Julia doing? I called last night but she couldn't stop crying, so I said I'd call again in a few days when she'd calmed down some."

  "Good idea," Ardin agreed. Her mother's straight-forward practicality was a relief after her morning with Aunt Julia. "She felt better after she napped."

  Vera devoured another handful of grapes. "Who I feel bad about, is the little angel. Suziette wasn't maternal, but she was the only mother Leonie had. Frankly, Julia hasn't the strength to take on that child full-time." She smiled. "I thought her handsome stepdaddy was planning to adopt her."

  "Oh, he wants to, all right. Now more than ever. But there's the small matter of Suziette's will."

  Vera's steel-gray eyes met Ardin's. "Am I to understand that you and Brett had a little chat about this?"

  Ardin felt the blood rush to her ears. "Actually, we did, last night. He was upset when I told him Suziette had made Aunt Julia Leonie's guardian."

  Her mother shook her head. "Dead or alive, Suziette screws everything up."

  "Mother!"

  "Well, she does. The only sensible thing she ever did was marry Brett Waterstone, and she made a mess of that in no time."

  Ardin's mouth fell open. "How do you know?"

  "Julia. How do you think?"

  Aunt Julia must know about Suziette and Corey.

  Vera pursed her lips, as if debating whether to say more. "Julia did swear me to secrecy, but there's no harm in telling you, now that Suziette's dead."

  "Tell me what?"

  Vera rolled her wheelchair forward until her mouth was inches from Ardin's ear. "She was carrying on, not a month after the wedding, with that Greek Adonis--what's his name? Her personal trainer over at the gym."

  "Her personal trainer? You don't mean Dimitri!" Ardin nearly fell off her chair in shock. "How does Aunt Julia know?"

  The gray eyes gleamed with mischief. "She overheard Suziette set up an appointment for a session at the gym and some hanky-panky afterwards."

  Dimitri. Corey. Being married hadn't stopped her cousin from making the rounds. She realized her mother's mind was running along the same lines when Vera mused, "I wonder which one of them killed her."

  "I don't know." Ardin shivered as the fear lurking in the back of her mind surfaced. Her mother's unflappable nature allowed her to speak it aloud. "You don't think it was Brett, do you? I mean, he says he has an alibi, but he must have been furious when he found out Suziette's true colors."

  Vera stared at her in total amazement. "Are you out of your skull? Brett's a good person from a decent family. The two of you used to play board games for hours at a time. Or have you forgotten?"

  "Mom, that was centuries ago."

  "Brett hasn't changed. He's the sort of man I'd like for a son-in-law. Brett isn't Suziette's killer." Vera shook her head in disbelief. "Whatever put such a ridiculous thought inside your head?"

  "Suziette had black and blue marks on her arms when I saw her two weeks ago." There, she'd said it aloud. Got it off her chest.

  To Ardin's great surprise, Vera threw back her head and laughed until tears filled her eyes. "Probably the results of passionate lovemaking."

  "And," Ardin persisted, "Suziette withheld information Brett needed in order to adopt Leonie."

  Vera shook a finger in Ardin's face. "Stop thinking like a lawyer and consider the child's best interests."

  "I am, which is why I don't want to send her off to live with someone who might have murdered her mother."

  Vera's eyes took on a crafty gleam. "Ardin, you're as smart as a whip, but you've no common sense when it comes to people. Right now you should be helping that poor fellow and the little angel every way you can."

  "Oh, he'd like that, all right," Ardin said. Then added, forgetting to watch her words, "I suppose that's what he wants to talk about over dinner."

  "Dinner?" Vera grinned. "Honey, that's the best news I've heard all day."

  "I didn't say I'd go," Ardin pointed out. But she would go, she suddenly decided, and hoped her mother couldn't hear the pounding of her heart.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The afternoon had been full of surprises, Ardin mused as she drove home. In eight months of marriage, Suziette had taken yet another lover--Dimitri. Her cousin had had the morals of an alley cat. The fact that both her mother and Aunt Julia had known about the affair was almost as astounding. Clearly Aunt Julia knew more about Suziette's nature than she let on.

  She chuckled as she recalled Vera's wholehearted endorsement of Brett, her proclamation that he was incapable of harming Suziette. The truth was, she'd enjoyed her mother's lively company. The hour-and-a-half visit had flown by. Vera hadn't been an attentive or especially caring mother while Ardin was growing up, but a bond had developed between them these last few weeks.

  The red light changed and Ardin accelerated. She would accept Brett's invitation to dinner. Not because he was heart-stoppingly gorgeous, or because her mother considered him a great catch. They had to discuss Leonie's future. Brett loved the little girl and Leonie missed her daddy. Even Aunt Julia was well aware of that.

  Brett could challenge the will. A judge might very well decide he came the closest to being the only parent Leonie had, especially if Leonie had her say. On the other hand, a judge might honor Suziette's wishes regarding the matter.

  She continued to speculate as she followed the line of cars down Main Street. Why had Suziette named Aunt Julia as Leo
nie's legal guardian? Was she afraid of Brett? Or had she sensed he was planning to divorce her and probably move back to Florida, while she wanted to make sure Leonie grew up in Thornedale?

  None of it made any sense. Suziette wasn't the kind of person to concern herself with wills and the future. Unless she had reason to believe her life was in danger.

  Frustrated, Ardin frowned. She'd never find out what Suziette had been thinking because her cousin wasn't around to explain.

  Even though they were first cousins and only two grades apart, they'd never been close. Suziette had considered her a nerd who'd rather read than party, while she regarded Suziette as self-centered, deceitful, and man-crazy. Since fourth grade, Suziette had had a string of boyfriends whom she changed as often as she changed the color of her hair. In her twenty-six years, Suziette had managed to provoke, infuriate, or entice all who crossed her path. Still, that didn't explain why someone had been compelled to end her life.

  People were shocked and upset by the deed, but no one seemed especially outraged or concerned about finding her murderer. It was almost as though they thought Suziette had played fast and loose, and ended up getting what she deserved.

  Only she didn't deserve to be killed. Tears welled up in Ardin's eyes. Her cousin had more than her share of faults, but she'd been a high-spirited, beautiful woman cut down in her prime.

  "I'll see to it her murderer's found and put away for life!"

  She had no doubt the killer was a man. Only a violent, power-hungry male would strangle a woman. Ardin shivered. And they'd better find him ASAP. Because until they did, there was nothing to stop him from killing again.

  * * * *

  The two policemen outside her mother's apartment building fell silent as Ardin stepped out of her car. Her heart sank when she recognized Detective Rabe. His hunched shoulders and penetrating stare were those of a predatory bird. A hawk, perhaps, considering her for his dinner.

  Detective Rabe had brought them the news last Thursday evening. After Aunt Julia had been given a sedative and settled in her bed, he'd insisted on talking to Ardin. It wasn't his questions as much as his insinuating manner that had set her on edge and put her on the defensive. The way Corey used to--it suddenly occurred to her--when he'd accuse her of having done something absurd, like coming on to his friends at a party.

  She waited for Detective Rabe to say something, but he remained silent, his dark, beady eyes gazing off into the distance as she approached. The beefy young officer spoke instead.

  "Mrs. MacAllister?"

  "Ms. Wesley," she corrected. "My maiden name is my legal name, as Detective Rabe knows."

  She glared at the detective, but he continued to ignore her. Ardin was annoyed with his little act. He was obviously in command. She swept past them and entered the small lobby. They followed her inside.

  "Sorry, Ms. Wesley. I'm Officer Devine. We'd like to ask you a few questions concerning the murder of your cousin, Suziette Waterstone."

  "I've already told Detective Rabe everything I know which isn't much, as I don't reside here in Thornedale. I wasn't close to my cousin. She certainly didn't confide in me."

  She jabbed the elevator button and the door opened. Hoping they wouldn't follow, she stepped inside.

  "You may not reside in Thornedale, but you were here last week when Mrs. Waterstone was murdered."

  Rabe's words implied hidden motives and agendas. Guilt. Ardin froze, too stunned to answer. They couldn't possibly imagine that she'd killed Suziette!

  Officer Devine peered inside the elevator. "May we come upstairs and talk about it?"

  A teenaged boy walked past. He stopped whistling to gape at Ardin and the policemen.

  She seethed, knowing they were manipulating her by deliberately placing her in an embarrassing situation. She had no information that could possibly help them solve Suziette's murder, but she saw no point in arguing about it.

  "Suit yourselves, though I've nothing new to tell you."

  They entered the elevator.

  "You never know, Ms. Wesley," Rabe said. "There's no telling what small item of information might send us off in the right direction."

  Upstairs the two policemen looked around the nearly empty apartment.

  "I've just moved my mother into an assisted-living residence. I'm driving back to Manhattan on Friday," Ardin said. The last part came out defiantly, as though they'd told her she couldn't leave Thornedale. "We can sit here."

  She led them to the dinette table. Too late she remembered the roses.

  Rabe's eyes fixed on them like a bird sighting a worm. "Lovely flowers," he said. "I bought roses for my wife for our twentieth anniversary. What was the occasion?"

  Rabe's line of questioning led straight to Brett. Having tunnel vision, the detective would assume the roses meant that she and Brett were romantically involved. Had been romantically involved before Suziette's murder. Should she lie? Remain silent?

  "They're simply--a gesture."

  Officer Devine laughed. "I'd say. What does a dozen roses cost--twenty, thirty bucks? Not to mention the vase."

  "The vase belongs to my mother's neighbor. Now if you have any questions regarding my cousin, I'll be happy to answer them."

  "Who sent you the roses, Ms. Wesley?" Rabe said.

  Ardin poured herself a glass of water and took a sip before answering. "That, Detective Rabe, is none of your business."

  "Ms. Wesley?"

  Ardin took a deep breath. "What does it matter? They have nothing to do with Suziette's murder."

  "Anything you tell us will be kept confidential," Officer Devine said. "We don't want to interfere in your love life."

  "The roses are not about my love life! They're just something a friend sent--by way of an apology."

  Rabe walked around the long side of the table and sat down. "Did your ex-husband send them?"

  "Corey? Of course not! What a ridiculous idea!"

  "Did Brett Waterstone?" Officer Devine said.

  The question churned up waves of agitation. Dumbly, she watched him remove a notepad from an inside pocket.

  "Ms. Wesley?" he said, pen poised.

  Ardin forced herself to speak calmly. "Detective Rabe, I've answered enough of your questions. Now I'd like you and Officer Devine to leave."

  Her request brought a grin to the detective's face. "Leave now, Ms. Wesley, just as we were asking you about Mr. Waterstone?"

  "Why? Are you tailing Brett? Are you assuming he's your man simply because he was Suziette's husband?"

  Detective Rabe ignored her questions and asked one of his own. "What was he apologizing for?"

  Everything she said came out wrong. Incriminating. Ardin took a deep breath. "I've nothing more to say. You may continue your interrogation in the presence of my attorney."

  "But you're an attorney," Officer Devine said reasonably.

  "A lawyer who represents herself has a fool for a client."

  "Ah, the comfort of familiar proverbs," Rabe murmured.

  Three sharp knocks had them turning toward the door. Probably Mrs. Katz wanting her vase back, Ardin thought, and went to let her in.

  * * * *

  The sound of approaching footsteps brought a grin to Brett's face. After he'd ordered the roses, he found he couldn't stop thinking about Ardin. Why? he wondered, when his visit the night before had been a disaster. Still, her pale, winsome face remained fixed in his mind like a TV that wouldn't shut off.

  At his pre-wedding dinner, he hadn't recognized Ardin when she'd approached to offer her congratulations. To his astonishment, the skinny, gangly girl he'd known had transformed into a beautiful woman--slender yet shapely, with expressive, watchful eyes. An understated beauty beside Suziette's radiant appeal. But he'd only had eyes for his future wife.

  More important, Ardin had a heart. Though their paths hadn't crossed very often this past month, he knew of the kindness she extended to Julia and Leonie when she wasn't busy looking after her mother. And last night she'd shown gen
uine concern for his pain after dropping the bombshell of Suziette's will. She was the type of woman he should have married.

  Cut it out! All the upheaval in his life was making him soft. Soppy. A male-female relationship was the last thing he needed. Besides, Ardin was a childhood friend, not someone he should be hitting on. She was a good kid who cared about other people. Cool it, buddy. Don't get carried away by a show of simple kindness.

  The trouble was, he wasn't used to someone giving a damn about what he felt or wanted.

  He'd left work early and come to the apartment, hoping Ardin would agree to see him tonight. She might think he was pushy or obnoxious, but what did he have to lose? It was now or never, since Ardin was leaving town in a few days. Either she'd have dinner with him or she wouldn't.

  "Brett!"

  Ardin stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her. Startled, Brett froze as she moved toward him. They stood face to face, so close, their bodies almost touched. He breathed in her floral perfume, the herbal scent of her shampoo, her fear.

  She quickly stepped back. "What are you doing here? You have to leave!" Her voice was low, urgent.

  "I stopped by to find out if you're having dinner with me tonight. What's wrong?"

  Ardin shook her head. "Nothing. Everything! Why don't I call you in half an hour? We'll talk then."

  The door behind her opened and Detective Rabe appeared.

  "Ah, Mr. Waterstone. Ms. Wesley didn't mention you were expected."

  Brett looked from Ardin's horrified face to the detective's and frowned. This was the same man who had badgered him for hours about his movements the day Suziette had died.

  "Hounding another innocent person?" he said, not hiding his dislike.

  "Ms. Wesley is helping us with our investigation into your wife's death."

  He looked at her. "Is that true?"

  The color rose to her ears as she said, "They were asking about the roses you sent me."

  Their voices brought Mrs. Katz from her apartment. "Ardin dear, is everything all right?"

  Paler than ever, Ardin nodded. "Everything's fine, Mrs. Katz. The police have come to talk about Suziette."