Dangerous Relations (23 page)

Leonie let out a whoop of joy as Ardin and Brett stepped into the Presleys' front hall. She
gave Brett a fierce hug, and giggled as he twirled her and Mr. Bonkers around.

When he put her down, she ran to Ardin. "I had the bestest time. Didn't I, Vivie?"

"Indeed you did." Vivie slipped an arm around Leonie's shoulders and nodded at
each activity Leonie recited.

"Don't forget the ice cream sundaes," Michelle added.

Ardin followed Vivie upstairs to get Leonie's knapsack.

"How's the happy couple?" Vivie said when they reached the landing.

"Cut it out. I'm only staying at Brett's to be with Leonie."

"Uh huh." Vivie rolled her eyes.

They entered Michelle's pink and purple room. Ardin smiled as she took in the array of toys
and dolls and modular furniture. It was exactly the kind of room she wanted Leonie to have.

"It's not easy for either of us, living in the same house, both wanting to adopt Leonie."

Vivie tsked. "She would love to have a mommy and a daddy. Simultaneously and in the
same locale."

Flustered, Ardin grabbed the knapsack from Vivie more roughly than she'd intended.
"Sorry, but you're beginning to sound like my mother. I took Brett to see her this afternoon. Now
she's his biggest fan."

Vivie winked. "Tell Vera she has to get in line behind the rest of us gals."

Downstairs, the girls were watching TV in the family room while Brett and Bill stood in the
hall discussing the condo deal. "It looks good. Great, in fact," Bill was saying. "But I'm not taking any
chances when it comes to laying out all that cash. Not with Frank MacAllister running the
show."

Brett raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

"He's been known to cut corners when it comes to compliance and following ordinances. A
great believer in taking risks and paying fines--the later the better."

"Glad you told me," Brett said, "before I hand over my money."

"No problem. I want to check out a few facts, make some phone calls. It should take a day or
two. Stall Frank." Bill grinned. "He'll bitch and carry on, but he makes it a practice to keep one week
ahead of deadlines."

Brett rubbed his chin. "Have any idea why Corey doesn't think much of this deal?"

Ardin gave a start. This was news to her.

"Corey?" Bill's eyebrows shot up. "Don't tell me you two are suddenly pals."

"Believe me, we're not. I ran into him the other day, and he made a point of badmouthing
the deal. Said I was a fool to do business with his father."

"Could be sour grapes. His money's probably tied up in his mansion of a house and the
dealership."

Vivie said, "I hear tell father and son are on the outs." She grinned when the three of them
turned to gape at her.

"We're all ears." Bill wrapped an arm around her waist.

"I caught the tail end of Betty moaning to someone about it in the library--how Corey
refuses to set foot in the same room as his father--but she didn't say why."

A child wailed. "Mommy's coming." Vivie dashed up the stairs.

After a flurry of hugs and thank you's, and promises to call. Ardin, Brett, and Leonie
climbed into the Jeep.

As they drove away, Leonie clapped her hands. "I'm so glad we're going to all be together.
Just like Michelle's family."

"Not exactly, Miss Sugarplum," Brett said.

Ardin heard the edge in his voice. A mass of butterflies flitted about her stomach. She
glanced at Brett to check out the extent of his displeasure, but his eyes remained fixed on the
road.

"We'll be together for the time being," she finally said, "because of the fire."

"Is Grannie coming home soon?" Leonie said.

"I hope so."

"Where will she live?"

"Someplace nice, I'm sure," Brett said.

Ardin gave a prayer of thanks when Leonie started a conversation with Mr. Bonkers. Brett's
sudden bad mood spread through the front of the Jeep like a pea-soup fog. She couldn't blame him.
Still, she dreaded an evening of hostile silence, broken by the occasional forced pleasantry they'd
each make for Leonie's sake.

He slowed down as they neared the shopping mall. "Do you still want to buy some clothes
today?"

"I'll shop tomorrow after I stop by Julia's."

"Suit yourself."

They drove the rest of the way without speaking. Leonie sang to Mr. Bonkers, and didn't
seem to notice. When they got home, Brett went down to the basement.

"Would you like me to help you unpack?" Ardin asked Leonie.

"Sure, Cousin Ardin."

As they passed through the kitchen, Leonie took a handful of cookies from the cookie jar.
She munched as they walked toward the stairs.

Ardin said, "Leonie honey, why don't you eat your cookies in the kitchen instead of
bringing them upstairs?"

"Daddy lets me." She stuffed the rest of the cookie into her mouth.

"Oh," Ardin said. "I guess it's okay while we stay here."

Leonie held up her toy giraffe. "This is our house and we'll stay here forever. Right, Mr.
Bonkers?"

Ardin cleared her throat. "We will for now, anyway."

It took Ardin all of five minutes to put Leonie's things away. She was startled to
discover the bureau and closet were crammed with Leonie's clothes; shelves and a
bookcase were piled high with toys and books.
This is Leonie's home
. Was her home,
until Suziette's death turned everything topsy turvy.

Leonie followed Ardin into her room. She climbed on the bed, and bounced up and down as
though it were a trampoline. Then she collapsed, giggling in Ardin's arms.

"Why do you sleep in here?"

"It's the only guest room with a bed and night table. Don't you like it?"

Leonie scrunched up her face. "Why don't you sleep in Daddy's room?"

Ardin drew in breath, too startled to speak. "Because your daddy and I aren't married.
I'm--we're just visiting."

Leonie gave her a sly smile. "But you like Daddy, don't you?"

"Well, sure. He's a very nice man."

Leonie grinned. "And he likes you, I can tell. Besides, we're a family now, and the mommy
and the daddy stay together. Like Vivie and Bill."

Flustered by Leonie's logic, Ardin tried to explain. "Brett and I are friends. I'm here just for
now."

Leonie put her small hand on Ardin's. "Please stay. I want you to stay."

Before Ardin could answer, Leonie jumped to her feet. "I'm going to find Daddy."

And I'm going to start dinner, and keep out of his way.
She prepared a salad and
tomato sauce while a package of chopped meat defrosted in the microwave. Leonie
wandered in for a glass of juice, and stayed to help set the table. When the pasta was done,
Ardin had Leonie call Brett to the table.

"Just what I wanted, a home-cooked meal!" he declared. He rested his hand on her
shoulder, sending her heart lurching against her ribs.

"Sit down and dig in."

She beamed as Brett and Leonie praised her cooking and took second helpings. She was
glad Brett's dark mood had passed and he no longer seemed angry. Perhaps they could brainstorm
later and come up with something they'd overlooked--a clue that might lead to finding Suziette's
murderer.

After dinner, she put the kitchen in order, and went into the family room. Leonie was
dozing on Brett's lap, a thumb in her mouth, the other hand gripping Mr. Bonkers.

"I think she's about had it." Brett stood up, cradling Leonie in his arms. "I'll get her ready
for bed."

Ardin opened her mouth to offer to do it, but Brett was moving toward the stairs.

He has every right to take care of her
.
After all, he's lived with her for almost a
year. This is his house.
But all her reasoning couldn't dispel her sense of loss, that
she
wasn't putting Leonie to bed.

Her spirits lifted when Brett asked her to come upstairs to say goodnight. Ardin kissed
Leonie's baby-soft cheek, breathing in baby powder and shampoo.

"Happy dreams." Reluctantly, she pulled out of Leonie's tight embrace.

"See you in the morning, Cousin Ardin."

She went downstairs to the family room, hoping to find Brett there, but the room was
empty except for the TV babbling to itself. Ardin clicked it off, then turned, startled to see Brett
standing in doorway.

"I'll say good-night, as I have a ton of paperwork to wade through before I turn in.
Contractors keep early hours."

Early was right. It wasn't even half-past eight. "Good night," she said, unable to hide her
disappointment.

"If nothing on TV suits you, there's today's newspaper and a few paperbacks."

And he was gone.
What did you expect?
An invitation to his bed for a bout of
passionate lovemaking?
She felt a flame of desire in her loins, and yearned to feel him
throbbing deep inside her.

That wasn't going to happen, she reminded herself. She gathered up several sections of the
Sunday newspaper, selected a mystery paperback, and carried them up to her room.

* * * *

Brett was gone when Ardin awoke the following morning. She got Leonie ready for school,
and waited outside with her until the school bus arrived. Back inside the large, silent house, she
poured herself a second cup of coffee. For the rest of the day she was on her own.

She called the repair shop and was pleased to learn that her car was ready. "Could you have
someone bring it to me?"

"Can do. Give me fifteen minutes."

Dr. Morissey called to say Julia was still in guarded condition. "She's sleeping now and
under sedation. We want her to rest as much possible."

Ardin's breath caught in her throat. "Will she be all right?"

"We're doing everything we can to help her get through the next forty-eight hours."

"Thanks, Dr. Morissey." Ardin felt weighted down. Lethargic. She barely had the strength to
put down the phone.

Her cell phone rang five minutes later. It was Detective Rabe.

"I want to give you the heads up that Marshall Crewe is out and about as of ten o'clock last
night. He's highly agitated. Still insists he's innocent of all charges."

Ardin sighed. Worried as she was about Aunt Julia, she'd forgotten about Crewe. "Do you
think he'll come after me?"

The detective clucked his tongue. "Couldn't say. My gut tells me he won't, but I'd feel a lot
better if I could spare someone to look after you. Frankly, I'm glad Mr. Waterstone's playing
watchdog, though he's probably at work now."

"I'm glad to hear you don't consider Brett a suspect." She wasn't able to keep sarcasm out
of her tone.

"Come on, Ms. Wesley. Did I ever say I did? Do us both a favor and keep your wits about
you. Stay home, or stick to public places for now. I don't want anything else to happen to you."

Amazing. Not one innuendo or hostile comment. It was almost as though Rabe had turned
into a friend. Too bad he wasn't any further along with the murder investigation.

The garage mechanic arrived in Ardin's car. She drove him back to the repair shop, settled
her bill, and continued on to Julia's house.

The house was a disaster. A blue tarp shielded the open roof from the elements. The brick
facade was blackened. Boards covered broken windows.

Ardin walked around to the back of the house. It was in even worse condition, with
furniture scattered about the lawn, the same lawn where, less than a year ago, Suziette and Brett's
wedding had taken place.

Poor Aunt Julia. Ardin hoped the sight of her home's destruction wasn't going to bring on
another heart attack.

She unlocked the front door and held her nose against the acrid smell of smoke, still sharp
enough to draw tears. She went into the kitchen, which hadn't been damaged, and removed her
aunt's address book from the desk drawer. A few business cards were stapled to the first page. She
was glad to see one was from the insurance company. She'd call them when she returned to Brett's
house. The sooner they sent someone out to look at the house, the sooner it would be repaired.

Ardin opened the garage and carried the carton of Suziette's belongings out to her car. She
looked around, wondering what else needed her attention, when a white mail car stopped in front
of the house. Ardin went to meet the mailman who handed her a bundle of mail.

"Sorry to hear about your troubles. How's Mrs. Darling doing?"

"Not very well."

The mailman shook his head. "Tell her Jerry sends his best."

"I will, thanks."

Ardin climbed into her car and leafed through the stack of mail. There were two bills, a
ladies' magazine, and an important-looking letter addressed to her. Her heart thudded as she
ripped open the envelope from the judge presiding over Leonie's adoption.

Ardin skimmed it, and then read it again, slowly. Because of the tragic circumstances of the
mother's death and the fact that two adults were now seeking custody of the child, the judge was
calling for a meeting of the two concerned parties on Friday, at nine o'clock. Any information she
might have regarding the identity of the biological father would be useful and would help expedite
this matter.

A wave of nervous anticipation rippled through her body. It was finally happening. No
doubt a similar letter was waiting for Brett at home. His home, she quickly amended.

As she drove to the mall, she considered the various points she'd make to convince the
judge to decide in her favor. She was a blood relative. Suziette had named her Leonie's consecutive
guardian. Leonie was fond of her. She would provide a loving, stimulating home for Leonie. In
Manhattan.

Ardin bit her lip. No matter how much she talked up the cultural benefits that
Manhattan offered an intelligent, precocious child, it didn't stack up against Brett's
intention to raise Leonie in Thornedale. Unless
she
agreed to settle in
Thornedale.

No, no, no! The idea was out of the question.

So was telling the judge they thought Corey MacAllister was Leonie's biological father. Hah!
She could visualize the judge chuckling in his robes at that suggestion, coming from Corey's ex-wife
and Suziette's cuckolded husband.