Dangerous Relations (8 page)

The sound of quarreling voices assailed their ears, though the two people going at it
weren't in sight. Curious, Ardin pushed the wheelchair along the narrow path leading to the rock
garden. On a bench, partially obscured by a weeping willow, a beefy, red-faced man and a
diminutive white-haired woman were going at it hammer and tongs. Ardin started to move on, but
her mother pressed her hand, and she stopped.

"It's Renata and that blasted nephew of hers," Vera said softly. "Move up a bit, so I can
hear."

"Mom, I don't think--"

Her mother tightened her grip. "Ardin, just do it without a lecture. Please."

Against her better judgment, Ardin pushed the wheelchair a few feet along the path. She
didn't want to be caught snooping, but she soon realized there was no danger of that. Renata and
her nephew were too caught up in their argument to notice. His voice grew louder with each word
as, overriding her interruptions, he enumerated his aunt's several fainting spells and instances of
forgetfulness within the past six months. When he was done, Renata snorted.

"Let's see how fit
you
are when you're eighty-nine." Her bony finger prodded
his bulging middle. "If you make it with this package of lard you carry around everywhere
you go."

Vera let out her own little chuckle, and Ardin squeezed her shoulder, warning her to be
quiet.

The large man was clearly angry. "Aunt Rennie, you're in no condition to oversee your
properties and holdings. Once you give me power of attorney, you won't have to worry about a
thing, I promise you."

The old woman leaned forward until her face was inches from his. "Over my dead body,
Marshall! And don't call me Rennie. I detest your little nicknames."

"But
why
, Aunt Rennie--I mean, Aunt Renata? I'm your lawyer." He gave a
little laugh, "One of them, anyway. As well as your own flesh and blood."

His aunt drew back. "Because I'm beginning to wonder just how competent you
are. I asked you to handle a simple, straightforward transaction--to deed a gift to the
county, for God's sake--and you claim it's taking months.
Months,
Marshall?"

The excuses poured glibly from his mouth. Vera gave a nod and Ardin moved on. Outside
her mother's building, Ardin put the brake on the wheelchair and sat down on a bench.

"What was all that about, Mom?"

"Renata Kellering's the one friend I've made in this place. See that?" She pointed to the only
modern structure on the far side the lawn, its many windows glinting in the sun. "She donated the
money for that building and occupies a suite on the top floor. She's wondering if she can trust
Fatty-boy as far as she can throw him."

"But Mom, if she's suffering from fainting spells and disorientation, it might be a good idea
if she gave a relative power of attorney."

Vera waved a dismissive hand. "Are you kidding? Even if she zonked out every other day,
Renata's still the smartest woman I ever met. Smart enough to amass close to a billion dollars in
real estate after her husband died."

"Oh!"

"Oh is right. And she's a good judge of character." Vera eyed her slyly. "You saw her
nephew. Would
you
hand over your fortune to the likes of him?"

"No," Ardin admitted. "But I hate to think that's because he's the least attractive man I've
seen in weeks."

Vera threw back her head and laughed till tears rolled down her cheeks. When she could speak,
she said, "Ardin, dear, grow up. Learn to trust your gut. You'll be a lot better off."

Ardin ran through her TO-DO list as she drove to her mother's apartment. She'd pack up
some of her things for her stay at Aunt Julia's, and then call Brett to say she had too much to do and
couldn't go out with him and Leonie. It really didn't matter what excuse she made up. He wanted
Leonie, and now he'd have her company all to himself until the following morning.

She brushed aside the memory of their kiss. They'd both succumbed to a moment of fancy,
and now it was history, never to be repeated. They were adversaries. They both wanted to adopt
Leonie, only Brett didn't know her intentions. He wouldn't find out, either, until after the will was
probated.

At the intersection of Main Street and Tara, she pulled into the turn lane. It was lunch hour
and the traffic moved toward her in a steady flow. Ardin mused how her life was veering off into a
new, totally unexpected, direction.

She'd be a great mother to Leonie and teach her millions of things. To bake brownies, and
play gin rummy. At night she'd brush her hair and help her with her homework. She grinned,
picturing Leonie living in Manhattan. How she'd love going to museums and shows, and big
department stores. And how relieved Tom was going to be when she called to say she'd be back on
the job in a couple of weeks.

A horn honked, shaking Ardin from her reverie. She jerked forward and realized she
needed to turn. Flustered, she made a left, the driver behind her close on her tail. When she slowed
down to straighten her wheels, he flashed his brights. She accelerated, but not fast enough to please
her pursuer. His horn sounded in sharp, angry jabs.

Who is this jerk?
Ardin peered into her rearview mirror. Her heart nearly
stopped when she recognized Corey, a maniacal grin on his face. She sighed with relief
when he made a sudden right turn, his wheels screeching. She drove slowly to her mother's
building, and sat in the car, hugging herself to stop her trembling. It was minutes before she
was calm enough to go upstairs.

Her cell phone started ringing as she unlocked the door to the apartment. Ardin's heart
pounded like a jackhammer. She hoped Aunt Julia hadn't taken a turn for the worse.

"Ardin, hi. It's me, Brett."

As though she wouldn't recognize his voice. "Hi, Brett," she said between huffs of
breath.

"Hey, are you all right?"

"Yes. No." She decided the truth was easier. "Corey was tailgating and honking his
horn just now. I've no idea if he set out to follow me or just
happened
to end up
behind me."

"Hmm. Lunchtime? In broad daylight? I'd opt for the second, the SOB."

Ardin grinned, feeling much of her tension dissolve. Having Brett on her side helped keep
things in perspective.

"I heard what happened to Julia last night," he said. "I'm awfully sorry."

"Thanks. You caught me at my mom's, packing some of my things to take to Aunt Julia's. I'll
be staying at her house to look after Leonie."

"So I've heard. Frank told me."

Annoyed, Ardin said, "That man has his nose in everyone's business."

"Hey, Ardin, calm down. He told me when he happened to call--to ask if I've made up my
mind about his proposal--which I haven't."

"Oh," Ardin said, instantly contrite. Then she remembered. She had to beg off for the
evening. "Brett, I'm sorry--"

His voice cut across hers. "Someone broke into my house this morning. Between eight and
noon, when I went home to get something."

A feeling of dread crept up her spine. "Oh, no. How?"

"By jimmying open the den door. I've repaired it."

"What about the security system?"

He gave a mirthless laugh. "Unarmed. I don't usually set it, but, believe me, I will from now
on." As though reading her thoughts, he added. "Don't worry about Leonie. She'll be perfectly safe.
You can trust me on that."

"I do," she admitted. "What did he take?"

"Nothing that I've noticed. He went through Suziette's things. Hardly touched mine."

Ardin gasped. "Do you think it was the murderer?"

"Could be Leonie's father searching for telltale papers. Hang on a sec." She heard someone
ask Brett a question, and a muted silence when he must have clasped a hand over the receiver.
"Ardin, let's talk about this later, okay? Are you going back to Julia's when you're done there?"

"Might as well." Now was her chance to say she wouldn't be seeing him later. But
she
wanted
to see him, darn it, and the words wouldn't come.

"I'll pick you up a quarter to four, and then we'll swing by the nursery school."

He hung up before she could change her mind. Glee vied with guilt as she packed up
her possessions.
I may as well go out with them and enjoy myself. After next week, he'll never
speak to me again.
She shivered at the thought of Brett's fury, and wondered what form it
would take.

* * * *

"Watch me, Daddy! Watch me, Cousin Ardin!" Leonie shouted above the rock music
blasting through the Six And Under indoor playground. "No hands!"

It took all of Ardin's self-control not to scream, "Hold on to the sides!" as Leonie raised Mr.
Bonkers overhead and zoomed down the curvy psychedelic-colored slide. She tumbled onto the soft
landing area, and quickly scrambled to her feet.

"Terrific!" Ardin called out cheerfully, pretending she hadn't been expecting broken
bones.

Leonie sent them a wide grin. "Daddy, I'm going up again."

"Fire away, Miss Sugarplum!" Brett grinned. "She's absolutely fearless." He sounded as
proud as if Leonie had just chased off a grizzly bear.

He turned back to watch Leonie, and Ardin, assured that Leonie was in no danger,
drank in his rugged profile. He was incredibly sexy in his chinos and bottle-green collared
polo, the opened two buttons revealing a tantalizing glimpse of his marvelous chest. She
felt the urge to open the third button and rub her hand against his bare skin.
Whoa,
girl
, she told herself, and turned to watch Leonie land, this time standing.

"Good girl!" she called out, as Leonie came running toward them.

"Daddy, I'm going climbing. Take care of Mr. Bonkers." She thrust the plush giraffe into
Brett's hands and dashed off to the far side of the playground where children were climbing ropes,
planks, and artificial mountains.

Ardin and Brett followed at a slower pace. It was difficult to talk above the loud music and
screaming children. They watched Leonie climb the highest mountain.

I'm sure they have playgrounds like this in Manhattan. If not, Leonie could climb
the boulders in Central Park. And she'll love the zoo.

"Earth to Ardin." Brett nudged her arm, sending shivers through her body.

"Sorry."

"Noisy, isn't it?" He gave her a wry grin. "Leonie loves this playground, and I don't get a
chance to bring her often. I promise we'll eat somewhere quiet."

"Daddy! Cousin Ardin!" Leonie waved from the top of the mountain.

They waved back.

"Tell me about the break-in," Ardin said. "Did Rabe show up?"

Brett grimaced. "Would he miss the chance to give me the third degree? He grilled
me as if
I'd
staged it. I lost two hours of work time while four uniforms searched the
house. Next time I call my lawyer."

"What a moron."

"My sentiments exactly. He'll get no more cooperation from me."

Brett leaned closer, his nose brushing against her cheek. When he spoke again, his breath
tickled her ear, sending delicious ripples through her body. "Which is why I never bothered telling
him what I found."

"What?" she said breathlessly. "What did you find?"

She was both relieved and disappointed when he moved away, breaking their intimate
connection.

He looked around, as if checking to see if anyone was listening. "Suziette's charge card
statements were scattered about the floor. One blew my mind. It was for a gold and diamond
bracelet that cost four thousand dollars."

"Well, that's a hefty sum for an administrative assistant. Did you ever see this
bracelet?"

"Sure I did. When I asked where she'd gotten it, she claimed she bought it for a few
hundred dollars at an amazing sale." He shook his head, and said, "Some amazing sale. Obviously,
she was lying as usual."

"Maybe you
should
tell the police."

"Are you kidding? And have Rabe tell me
I
killed Suziette because I was
jealous someone gave her the money for the bracelet?"

"But it could be a clue!"

"Only that someone's been giving Suziette money."

"But if Detective Rabe--" she began.

"Rabe's too narrow-minded to follow up leads. He only bothers with clues that fit inside
his preconceived theory." Brett was flushed, a sure sign he was growing angry.

"Okay, forget the charge slips," she said. "Especially since the burglar obviously saw them
and left them behind."

Brett looked at her searchingly. "Then what was he after?"

"Maybe something incriminating. A document or a photo she was using to
blackmail him with. Whoever
he
is."

They stared at one another. "I wonder if it's Corey."

"Me too. Could be Suziette got some dirt on Corey, she tried to blackmail him, and he killed
her."

Brett's eyes lit up. "Let's not forget Dimitri, combination personal trainer-lover boy. Rabe
told me he'd lied about where he was on Thursday night."

Leonie came running toward them, her long blonde hair flying. She took Mr. Bonkers from
Brett. "Daddy, I'm tired of climbing. Can you give me a ride?"

"Why certainly, Miss Sugarplum." Brett turned to Ardin. "Ready to go?"

"I am if you are."

"Then we're off." Brett hoisted Leonie on his shoulders, and they headed for the exit.

Ardin had to move quickly to keep pace with his long strides. It gave her pleasure seeing
him smile, proof that he was enjoying himself.

Leonie leaned over and tugged at Ardin's ponytail. "Look, Cousin Ardin, I'm taller than you
are."

"You sure are." Ardin brushed the back of her hand along Leonie's cheek. It felt sticky from
the ice cream she'd eaten on the way to the playground. She made a mental note to wash Leonie's
hands as soon as they passed a restroom.

"Is anybody hungry?" Brett said.

"Daddy, you forgot," Leonie scolded.

"Forgot what?" He tilted his head from one side to the other. "Oh, my, how could I forget?"
Brett threw open his arms in an exaggerated gesture of surprise that sent Leonie into a fit of
giggles.