Authors: Betty Sullivan LaPierre
"Why's that?"
"Because I don't think she's Bud's daughter."
Tom leaned forward, his brows raised.
"But Marty states she is.
What makes you think she wouldn't know the father of her own child?"
Angie got up and paced the room.
Placing her forefinger on her chin, she paused in front of Tom.
"I've thought about the situation and mulled it over in my mind a thousand times.
At first, I became furious with Bud, threw all his pictures in the trash.
Then the more I thought about it...."
Her voice quivered.
"Go on."
"That night Bud and Ken were celebrating the big contract that got the company off its feet and running, I'd just lost a baby and the doctor had me on heavy doses of tranquilizers, so I excused myself and went to bed."
She sat down opposite Tom and continued.
"Marty told me she'd joined the men in the celebration and they all got drunk.
All she remembers is Bud walking her home.
However, hours lapsed before she awoke and found herself naked and Bud, fully dressed, sprawled across the foot of her bed.
Now, what I don't understand, if they'd been making love, how come Bud was fully dressed?
I think they both passed out and nothing happened."
Tom raised his brows.
"Now come on Angie, give me a break."
She waved her hand.
"Wait, hear me out.
Then I'll listen to what you think."
He nodded.
"Okay, fair enough."
"You haven't met Melinda.
And until you do, you might not understand what I'm going to tell you.
While trying to put the picture together in my mind, Dr. Parker made a comment in his office the day Melinda went in for the DNA testing.
It set me to thinking even more."
"What's that?"
"That Melinda had none of Bud's characteristics, so she must resemble her mother."
Angie pointed a finger at Tom.
"That girl looks nothing like Marty.
But, she resembles someone else."
Tom leaned forward.
"And may I ask who?"
Angie stared into his eyes and kept her voice low.
"Ken Weber."
Chapter Nineteen
The words had no more fallen from Angie's lips when the phone rang.
She put the receiver to her ear, then her face turned pale and she shot a look of fear at Tom.
"Hello, Ken."
He immediately moved to her side.
"Yes, she's here, but she's resting at the moment.
Can I give her a message?"
Angie's blue eyes filled with concern.
"No, she won't be coming home tonight.
She's planning on staying here a few days."
She took the phone from her ear and stared at it.
"He hung up."
Tom took the receiver and dropped it on the cradle.
"He's upset."
Angie wiped a hand across her forehead.
"I'm really worried about Sandy.
She can't believe that Ken's turned into a dangerous man, yet she's scared to death of him.
I'm afraid if she goes home, he'll really hurt her or even worse.
Just look what he's done to her already.
It's awful."
Tom touched her shoulder and pointed toward the couch.
"I realize that.
I'm assigning a guard to your gate tonight.
Now, finish telling me your story."
She sat down and took a sip of her drink.
"Where did I end before the phone rang?"
"Something about Melinda resembling Ken Weber."
"Oh, yes."
She folded both hands around her glass.
"Have you ever noticed the unique color of Ken's eyes?
They're an unusual sharp, clear green.
The twins have a touch of that in their eyes, but they take more after Sandy."
She frowned.
"That's the first thing I noticed about Melinda.
Those intense green eyes.
They're almost identical to Ken's, but I'd swear they even stand out more."
She shook her head.
"They look into your very soul.
So cold and calculating.
I get a chill down my spine every time I see her."
Tom listened intently.
"I'd like to meet this woman.
In fact, I'd like to arrest her."
Angie jerked her head around.
"Why?"
Tom raised a brow.
"Because she's blackmailing you."
She sighed.
"Well, she hasn't succeeded in getting any money out of me yet.
But what I'm anxious to see are the results of the DNA tests, which should be ready any day."
"Where does this Melinda live?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure I could find out from Marty."
Tom stood and went to the bar.
"What if the tests show Bud isn't the father?
How will Marty take the news after all these years of him supporting the girl?"
Angie pushed some loose strands of hair behind her ears.
"She'll be shocked.
She truly believes Bud is Melinda's father."
"What do you think happened that night?"
"Ken was still single at the time, and quite a party boy.
Bud and I even suspected that he might have a thing for Marty.
Nothing serious, mind you.
Ken had his sights set higher than a housekeeper, that's for sure."
She stood and hugged herself as she paced.
"Bud supposedly walked Marty to the cottage and I think he passed out on the foot of her bed.
When he didn't return to the house, Ken went looking for him and found them both conked out.
He took advantage of the moment and left."
Tom nodded.
"It's plausible.
But I think your best bet is to wait for the test results."
He wagged a finger at her.
"However, let me warn you.
I'm not going to stand by and let that woman blackmail you, whether she's Bud's daughter or not."
Angie sat back down on the couch.
"Don't worry.
I won't let it happen."
She reached for her drink and accidentally knocked it off the table, shattering glass across the floor.
"Oh, shoot."
Tom picked up the broken pieces as she dashed to the kitchen to get a towel.
When she didn't return immediately, he followed and found her staring out the kitchen window.
He stepped beside her and squinted into the darkness.
"What's the problem?"
"Marty's letting someone in the gate."
"How can you tell?"
She pointed to the control panel.
"The light's blinking."
Tom flipped off the kitchen light.
"Go clean up the spilled drink.
I'll be right back."
He pulled his gun and slipped out the back door.
*****
It took a second for Tom's eyes to adjust to the darkness, but a full moon helped guide him around the garage and avoid the trash cans as he made his way to Marty's back door.
He ducked behind some bushes and waited until the vehicle came to a rolling stop at the cottage's entrance.
When he heard the car door slam, he peered between the hedges and could make out the silhouette of a woman hurrying to the front door.
He slipped his gun back into the holster, relieved it wasn't Ken Weber who had talked Marty into opening the gate.
He waited until the woman went inside before inching his way toward a large window that overlooked the side yard.
The window stood open a few inches and a lacy curtain covered the glass.
He could clearly hear and see the occupants inside.
Caught by surprise when the beautiful young goddess turned toward him, Tom gulped.
Her silk dress adhered to all the right curves.
Long blond hair cascaded down her back and her green eyes glistened in the light of the lamp.
This had to be Melinda.
Angie had described her perfectly.
And, yes, she resembled Ken Weber.
He watched her pull a cigarette from her purse, but before she could put it to her lips, Marty's thick voice rumbled through the opened window.
"Do you have to smoke in my house?"
Melinda threw her hands up in disgust.
"Oh, God, Mother.
You're so old fashioned."
Tom flattened himself against the wood siding as Melinda cranked the window out about six more inches.
She then whirled around and flopped down on the couch.
"When are you going to stop drinking?
That's worse than smoking.
At least I don't lose it when I smoke."
She flipped the ashes into a saucer her mother had placed on the coffee table.
Marty stood at the end of the couch, staring at her daughter.
"Why are you here?"
Melinda looked at her and narrowed her eyes.
"Because, if you're not telling me the truth, I'm in deep trouble."
Marty finally sat down on the chair opposite her.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Are you absolutely sure that Mr. Nevers is my father?"
"Of course I'm sure.
Why do you ask such a silly question?"
"Mom, I'm not blind.
I don't look anything like Bud Nevers.
What if the DNA test doesn't match?"
Her mother waved her hand in the air.
"Bud Nevers is your father.
But why are you so worried?"
Then she frowned thoughtfully and sat forward in her seat.
"What did you say to Mrs. Nevers?"
Melinda got up and paced.
"I warned her to continue the money so I could get my mother out of this hole, or I'd ruin her life."
Marty groaned and covered her face with her hands.
"Dear God."
"Well, it's the truth," the girl said, turning in a circle with her arms held out.
"Look at this place.
It's tiny, like a hole."
"I love my little cottage.
It's all I need.
I want to live here forever, but now I'll probably have to leave because Mrs. Nevers knows you're my daughter."
She let out a loud sob.
Melinda whirled around and glared at her.
"What!
You told her?"
She clenched her hands into fists.
"You stupid...."
She closed her mouth tightly and her eyes glistened with anger.
Flopping down on the couch, she shoved her hair back and lit another cigarette.