Tonight You're Mine (33 page)

“He was afraid you were going to kill him, so he killed himself first? That doesn't make sense.”

“No, I guess not.”

“Besides, he thought you were dead. We
all
did.” Nicole reached up and touched his face. “Paul, I'm so sorry. You had such a fabulous life until I came into it.”

Paul looked at her tenderly. “I have quite a few regrets about my life, but meeting you isn't one of them. I feel the same way about you as I did the last time we were here. Do you remember that day?”

“It was sunny and beautiful. We talked endlessly. We took pictures of each other. I knew that day that I loved you. Yes, Paul, I remember. I'll remember it forever.”

Slowly Paul's face lowered over hers. The kiss was gentle and tentative at first, then increasing in passion. Nicole's mind spun back fifteen years, and suddenly she felt as if she hadn't been kissed since Paul said good night to her at his door before she left his house that last night. A wave of love that she'd been trying to suppress for so long washed over her and she returned his kiss with equal passion, her slender body seeming to melt into his, their souls seeming to meet the way they had the very first time they kissed. “Some loves are forever,” Alicia had said. She was right Her love for Paul had never died.

She wasn't sure how long they kissed before Jordan abruptly stood up and growled. Paul broke away from Nicole, who felt weak and disoriented. “What is it, girl?” he asked the dog.

She stood rigidly, gazing out onto the vast, unlighted grounds. “Paul?” Nicole's voice quavered.

He continued to hold her. “Jordan.” The dog glanced at him, then focused again on the grounds. “Someone is out there.”

“Oh, God,” Nicole said. “What should we do?”

“We stay calm.”

“Go inside,” Nicole ordered, her wits coming back to her. “The first room is still intact. Go in there. I'll see who it is.”

“I'm not leaving you alone.”

“Hey, lady!” a voice shouted. “I'm not waitin' no more. If you're out here, come on. I'm leavin'.”

The pent-up air fled from Nicole's lungs. “It's the taxi driver. I told him to wait.”

“Then go,” Paul said. “I can't have you stranded out here.”

“But when will I see you again?”

“Soon.” He kissed her, a quick, hard kiss on the lips. “I love you,
chérie
. As always. Now
go
.”

In an instant he and Jordan had disappeared like ghosts inside the unfinished church. Nicole sat for a moment, overwhelmed by the meeting, the kiss, their abrupt disappearance.

“Lady, this is your last chance!” the man yelled. “I'm goin' back to the cab now.”

Nicole jumped up and ran into the open, spotting the man almost immediately. He was only about fifty feet away. “Wait!” she called to his retreating back. “I'm coming.”

He turned to look at her, his heavy face annoyed. “Well, at last. You're gonna have a helluva fare, you know.”

“That's all right,” she said breathlessly, catching up to him. “It was worth it.”

1

After Nicole had returned home that night, she couldn't sleep. Well, that was nothing new, she thought as she lay on the bed. And tonight it really didn't matter. She felt energized, even lighthearted. She still didn't know who was committing the murders, she was still under suspicion by the police, but she knew that Paul was innocent and that he still loved her.

“He still loves me,” she said aloud, touching the cross hanging from the chain around her neck. She wished she had someone to tell. At one time she could have told Carmen, but not now. Not even before she'd slammed out of the house on Sunday. Carmen was too determined to believe that Paul had killed Zand and Magaro. But Lisa said maybe Carmen had actually been the killer. It was true Zand's death had given her Bobby. The question was, would she have killed to have him?

When the alarm went off the next morning, Nicole was still awake and staring at the ceiling, trying to find answers. But she couldn't. All she knew was that she believed with all her heart in Paul's innocence.

When she left for school, she felt better than she had for weeks. When a sad-eyed Nancy stopped her before she got to her office, she had to camouflage the improvement in her spirits.

“Nicole, I'm so horrified by what happened to Avis!” Nancy said. “When I was at her house earlier in the day, she was dead in her backyard. If only I'd gone on around.”

“It wouldn't have made any difference,” Nicole said gently, aware that Nancy did not know all the details of Avis's death. As with Dooley's death, the police were withholding that information.

“Yes, I guess you're right. It wasn't suicide, though. Your friend with the police—did he tell you if they have any suspects?”

Yes, I'm the prime suspect, Nicole thought. “He didn't say.”

Nancy sighed. “I can't help feeling this has something to do with Avis's behavior lately. She's been saying the most awful things to just about everyone, and I'm sure there have been other incidents like the one with you in the parking lot yesterday. I begged her to get help—”

“Nancy, you were a good friend to her. You did all you could. Don't torture yourself.”

“That's what my husband says. And the Avis who was my friend hasn't existed for a long time. I was so hoping this sabbatical would help. Three months. Three more months and she would have been in England doing research.” Nancy sighed again. “Oh, well, I'm handling the funeral arrangements. I doubt if you want to attend, but there will be so few people, so few flowers…”

Nicole put her hand on Nancy's arm. “I'm not sure I'll be able to attend.” I might be in jail, she thought with a shiver. “But I'll certainly send flowers. Just tell me where to send them when the arrangements are made.”

After her first class, Nicole returned to her office to find Ray and Cy Waters waiting for her. She'd been telling herself all morning to expect this—after all, Ray had told her she would probably be formally questioned today. Still, seeing Ray in an official capacity jolted her, especially after her meeting with Paul last night.

“Do you want me to go to headquarters?” she asked.

“No, Mrs. Chandler,” Waters said. “We can talk here for now.”

“All right.” Nicole closed her door. “Would you like some coffee?”

“This isn't a social call,” Waters snapped.

Nicole's gaze fluttered to Ray, but he was taking out a pen and notebook, his face impassive. “I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to make light of this,” she said.

Waters nodded. “Good. Now, we've heard you and Ms. Simon-Smith weren't the best of friends.”

Nicole sat down behind her desk. “No, we weren't. She was rather odd. She
was
close to Nancy Silver, who also teaches in this department. Nancy could tell you more about Avis's personality than I.”

“But you had a fight in the parking lot day before yesterday.”

“Yes. I'd said something last week that made her mad. I was trying to apologize, but she wouldn't listen. She insulted me, and I insulted her back, and she shoved me. Not hard—I wouldn't have fallen if I hadn't been in high heels.”

“But you
did
fall and you were furious.”

“No, Sergeant Waters, I wasn't furious. I was surprised and embarrassed.”

“If someone pushed me down like that,
I'd
be furious.”

“Well, I wasn't.”

“But you didn't like her.”

“No, I didn't.”

“Is it true that the next day you called Sergeant DeSoto and asked him to check on this woman because she hadn't shown up for work and no one could reach her?”

“Yes.”

“Hmmm.” Waters looked up at a framed print of a Degas painting that hung over a bookshelf, then back at Nicole. “Mrs. Chandler, why were you so concerned about a woman you admit you disliked?”

“Because I know she has…had mental problems. When Nancy said she might have killed herself because she thought the incident in the parking lot was going to cost her her job, and I had provoked that incident by saying something cruel when I should have simply ignored her taunting…” Nicole raised her hands. “I felt responsible. I wanted to make sure she was all right.”

“That's very noble.”

Nicole was silent. She glanced at Ray again. He had not said a word.

“Mrs. Chandler, where were you between ten and twelve night before last?”

“At home,” she said promptly.

“Did you have any visitors?”

“No.”

“Do you have any way of proving you were there during those hours?”

Ray was still gazing at his notebook. “There was a patrolman out front,” Nicole said. “He can verify that I didn't leave.”

“You could have sneaked out the back.”

Nicole could feel herself coloring as she thought of last night's secret flight. “The backyard is fenced in. I'm afraid I'm not up to jumping a six-foot fence.”

“Your prowler managed to get over it.”

Nicole's mouth went dry. “Yes, he did. But I didn't climb a rope and go over the fence that night.”

Waters wrote in his notebook. Ray wrote in his. He said he was going to give me an alibi, Nicole thought. I told him not to lie for me. But now I'm scared. Now I wish he'd say
something
. “Sergeant Waters, I believe I've said all I want to without my lawyer being present.”

“What are you afraid of?” Waters asked.

“I'm not afraid. I'm just not stupid.” She glanced at her watch. “Besides, it's time for my next class, so unless you plan to arrest me…”

“Not now,” Waters said lazily. “Ray, the lady's got a class. Guess we'd better be on our way.”

Ray nodded. They stood. “We'll be talking with you again, ma'am,” Waters added.

“Very well,” she said in a steady voice that belied her pounding heart. “But the next time my lawyer will be present.”

After they left, Nicole put her head on her desk. Oh, God, she thought. Now I know how Paul felt fifteen years ago—scared, baffled, all evidence building against him, and no one to come to his defense.

2

Nicole was just leaving her office when the phone rang. She almost didn't answer but at the last minute decided it might be something important.

“Nicole,” Ray said. “I was afraid I'd miss you.” Nicole could hear traffic noises in the background. “Where are you?”

“I'm using my cell phone. Cy's in a restaurant picking up coffee for us.”

“Isn't that what drive-through windows are for?”

“Cy likes the coffee here. You sound angry.” Nicole was silent. “You're wondering why I didn't say anything in your office today. Look, Nicole, I have to appear somewhat objective. Cy's already making assumptions about our relationship. What I wanted to tell you is you don't have to worry about an alibi. The patrolman outside your house saw you moving around inside, even saw your face at a window at the approximate time of the Smith woman's death.”

Nicole breathed in relief. “Why didn't Waters tell me?”

“He wanted to scare you. But Nicole, I had every intention of telling him I'd had a long phone conversation with you from about ten-thirty to eleven-thirty if it had come to that.”

“I'm glad it didn't. I wouldn't want to be the cause of problems with your career. But I wish I'd known this morning. Waters
did
scare me.”

“Sorry. I didn't find out about what the patrolman said until a couple of hours before we questioned you. I never had a minute alone to give you a call.”

“All right, Ray. I'm glad you let me know. Maybe I can stop shaking now.”

“Just relax, Nicole. I know this has been awful, but justice
will
be served.”

The phone went dead. Probably Ray had seen Waters coming back to the car. “Justice will be served,” Ray had said. She wished that made her feel better, but it didn't because she knew Ray believed justice would only be served if Paul Dominic were captured and prosecuted.

3

“Thank goodness today is over,” Nicole muttered, closing her briefcase, picking up a couple of books and her purse, and leaving the office. She knew she'd been more on target with her teaching than she had for days, but she was still exhausted.

She took the elevator down. In the large main hall, students milled around, forming into groups, laughing, picking up pamphlets someone was handing out. The place was always a scene of activity, a place to hang out between classes or just get together to socialize. Nicole passed through the crowd, nodding at familiar faces. Then her steps slowed as she saw Miguel and Lisa. Clearly they were arguing, Lisa's color high, Miguel gesticulating, his voice loud. As Nicole neared them, she heard Miguel say, “I don't know why I even bother with you!”

Miguel stalked off without ever seeing Nicole. She walked up to Lisa. “You're in love with him, aren't you?” Lisa's cheeks grew even redder. “That was a shot in the dark, but I'm right.”

“Miguel doesn't have anything to offer me. I'm with Roger.”

“And what does
he
have to offer you? I know he's nice-looking and well educated, but he's also twenty years older than you and a college professor. After he pays child support, he's not going to be able to give you the good life.”

“Not now.”

“What do you mean, not
now
? What do you think is going to change?”

“His mother can't live forever.”

“You're counting on an inheritance. Well, don't. She's furious with Roger for deserting Shelley and me.”

Lisa's eyes simmered. “I
know
that. She hangs up when he calls. But she'll get over it.”

“I wouldn't count on it. She's never exactly doted on Roger, and now she's angry with him and disappointed in him. I doubt if she gives him a penny.”

“She
would
have. She would have forgiven him. Everything would have been great.”

Her eyes filled with tears while Nicole's eyes narrowed. “I've taken one shot in the dark. Let me try another. Roger no longer wants to marry you.”

Lisa's face set obstinately. “Yes he does.”

“I don't think so. I think he realizes he made a big mistake getting involved with you. That's what you mean by ‘would have.' Things
would have
been great if he hadn't decided to throw in the towel.”

“That's not true! He doesn't
love
you anymore, Nicole.”

“I know. But in leaving his family, he tore up his life. His mother won't have anything to do with him and will probably write him out of her will, not that she had a fortune to leave, anyway. He's separated from Shelley, whom he
does
love. She's so bitter she doesn't even want to be around him. His friends don't accept you or him when he's with you.” Nicole tilted her head. “That's why he's drinking so much. He's miserable.”

“You just want him back!”

“No. If he came to me tomorrow, I wouldn't take him back. The damage is done. He's already lost everyone who meant anything to him.”

Lisa glared. “He'll feel different when
everyone
realizes what a nut you are,” she shouted. “When everyone knows all the awful things you've done lately, they'll understand why he left you. They won't blame him
or
me. His mother will forgive him, and he'll get Shelley like he wants. Then he'll be happy again.
We'll
be happy.”

“You'd like that, wouldn't you?” Nicole said slowly. “You'd like for everyone to think I'm crazy. How far would you go, Lisa? Far enough to make me look like a murderer?”

Lisa's eyes flashed at her. Then she turned and ran from the building.

4

Nicole's mind churned as she drove home. So Roger didn't want Lisa anymore. She supposed she should feel like gloating, but she didn't. She realized now that her marriage had been over long before Roger left in January. Lisa had simply speeded up the inevitable.

Besides, it was clear both Roger and Lisa had each lost what they wanted most Roger wanted Shelley and the respect of his mother and his peers. His colleagues might be more receptive to him after he got rid of Lisa, but the damage his relationships with his mother and Shelley had sustained could probably never be completely repaired. And Lisa had apparently lost Miguel, which meant he'd been lying when he said there was nothing between them. How many other things had he lied about? Carmen had said Lisa's parents sent her to college in Ohio to get her away from “some weird guy” in San Antonio. Could that have been Miguel?

Nicole stiffened. Had Miguel been watching her the last two weeks? Could all along Miguel have been both her protector and her tormentor?