Too Little, Too Late (33 page)

Almost two weeks went by before his investigator tracked them down to a boarding house near LAX. For the next few days, he lived in his car refusing to go home for fear that Maria would disappear from his life while he slept. He learned that their daughter worked nights and came home in the early morning. One evening, Maria suddenly appeared alone on the steps of her boarding house and Leo instinctively knew his opportunity had arrived. It was simply a matter of coaxing her into his car with a candy bar. Unfortunately, he had been unprepared for the media blitz afterwards that had covered her disappearance. He had been forced to drop her off on Hollywood Boulevard later that night. Four more times he had picked her up and four more times he’d dropped her off, knowing that the police would be looking for her. The little time he spent with her only made him yearn for something more permanent and he realized the opportunity had finally arrived when he saw the girl leave Maria sleeping on a park bench one day.
 

He took her home but then realized it was too risky so he took her to the lodge. For several days, he watched the news intently but there was no announcement of her abduction, no manhunt. It looked as if the girl had given up on Maria and she was finally going to be his to keep.
 

The months that followed with Maria were idyllic and the happiest he’d ever known. He spent hours every day just watching her, her wonderment and innocence captivating him. She would spend hours outside, watching the bugs on the plants or a caterpillar crawl along a leaf. She would jump if a neighbor’s dog barked but loved to play with one of the stray cats, if it happened to come by. She allowed him to occupy space in her simplistic world. He would dress her every day and made sure she brushed her teeth. He loved brushing her silky blonde hair, finding the ritual both titillating and soothing at the same time. If she didn’t want to wear clothes, he wouldn’t force her to wear them. Everything about her was free and natural.
 

The vertical scar from her navel to her pubic bone bore testament to the manner in which their daughter had been born but that did little to detract from her frailty in his eyes. She was a paradox of wanton innocence, enticing him to reach over to spontaneously stroke the silky hair between her legs or to suckle on one of her nipples, chortling happily when he did. If his days with her were bliss, then their nights together could only be described as ecstasy. Her body was always willing and sensual, unfettered by the restraints of modesty or embarrassment. He was insatiable and if he accidentally hurt her, he was quick to soothe her tears. Like a child, her tears and smiles were constant, bringing to his life contentment and joy.
 

Unfortunately, his contentment was short-lived. She’d found his lighter while he was sleeping one day and had set fire to the sofa. Waking up to a room full of smoke, he was quick to put out the fire but had to open the door to let the room clear of smoke. Maria had wandered off while
he was dragging out the charred sofa. By the time he noticed her absence, she was long gone. Sick with grief and anger, he had spent months trying to find her without success. He had kept tabs on the girl but Maria never showed up there either. It was as if she’d vanished into thin air.
 

The day Maria left him, he had ceased to live and the day she showed up at his front door was the beginning of the end for both of them.
 

Kate was coming out of the hospital gift shop when she heard her name being called.

“Mrs. Stanton!”

Turning towards the sound of the voice, Kate watched as a very pregnant woman came towards her. Although Kate had only met her once, she immediately recognized Carolyn’s friend, Rina Lyons.

“Hello, Rina,” Kate greeted her coolly.

“I’m glad I bumped into you,” the younger woman told her. “I wanted to tell you how sorry I was about your granddaughter.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.” An awkward silence ensued.

“I just came from seeing Eric. He told me that Karen’s expected to make a full recovery.”

Kate nodded curtly, her eyes traveling to Rina’s belly. “When are you due?”

“In three weeks.” Rina automatically rubbed the side of her stomach.

Kate looked at her watch pointedly. “I really must to be going. My granddaughter’s chomping at the bit for some new magazines to look at.”

Rina impulsively put her hand on Kate’s arm. “Actually, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about if you’ve got a minute.”

“I don’t think it’s a good—”

“Please,” Rina implored, giving Kate an embarrassed smile. “I promise it won’t take long.”

Kate just wanted to go home and lie down. Esther’s funeral yesterday had taken a lot out of her but after seeing the silent entreaty in the other woman’s eyes, she relented. “All right then. The cafeteria’s just down the hall. Why don’t we get a cup of coffee?”

When they brought their coffees over to a vacant table and sat down, Rina seemed reluctant to begin. “I’m sure you heard that Caro and I had a falling out over the baby I’m carrying for Eric and Brooke.”

Kate looked up from her steaming coffee, deciding to be candid. “This is between you, Caro, Brooke and Eric. What the rest of us think is of no consequence.”

Rina nodded. “I just wanted you to know there was no ulterior motive for my not saying anything to Caro about the baby.”

Kate stiffened slightly. “Again, that’s between you and Caro.”

Rina looked miserable. “The truth is, I was too ashamed to tell her.”

Kate was taken aback. “I don’t understand.”

“Eric needed a surrogate and I needed the money.” Rina wrapped her fingers around the coffee cup, as if drawing strength from its warmth. “I lost my skincare business last year. You know how it is – a couple of bad decisions take their toll, and with research and development costing a fortune, not to mention the infomercials – well, I just couldn’t hang on anymore. Anyway, to make a long story short, I bumped into Eric and Brooke one day at a restaurant in Brentwood. We talked for a while and when Eric suggested the surrogacy, it seemed like the perfect solution to both our problems.”

“But I don’t understand why you couldn’t tell Caro. I’m sure she’d understand about your business going under.”

“I didn’t want to tell her because I knew she’d want to help and I couldn’t bear the thought of it.” Rina pushed aside her cup in agitation. “Caro’s been bailing me out since we were kids. That’s just the way she is.”

Although Rina didn’t get into any specifics, Kate knew she was referring to the scandal that had ripped her world apart when both Rina and Caro were in their first year at Concord Academy. Several leading New York businessmen were indicted for insider trading, among them Rina’s father. Clinical studies on the trial drug, PX9433, had been completed with promising results and the drug had been touted as the new wonder drug in the fight against Parkinson’s disease. On the eve of a major announcement about the drug in the
New York Times,
Rina’s father, Jeff Lyons, bought huge shares in PX9433 by borrowing heavily against his shares in his company. Rumors and innuendo found their way to the Securities and Exchange Commission, who was quick to investigate. Rina’s father and three other company directors were eventually indicted. Shortly after the indictments, one of the clinical trial patients died from PX9433, sending stock prices plummeting and rendering Rina’s family virtually penniless overnight.

The ensuing trial received heavy media coverage. The tabloids were quick to follow when Rina’s mother, Celeste, sued Rina’s father for divorce. Rina was only able to stay in school after Caro convinced her grandfather to pay for the remainder of Rina’s tuition. Rina’s father had been found dead shortly after that, the victim of an apparent suicide.

“You still should have told her,” Kate insisted. “In fact, you owed it to Caro to tell her.”

Rina rubbed her forehead tiredly. “You’re probably right but it’s too late now.”

“Not really.” Kate smiled at her. “All you have to do is pick up a phone and talk.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“Most things in life are,” Kate told her sagely. “We just tend to complicate the issues.”

“Maybe you’re right. I promise I’ll at least think about it.”

“Good.” Kate glanced at her watch. “Now I really do have to get going.”

“Just one more thing,” Rina told her. “I wanted to do something special for Eric and Brooke. You know, kind of as a baby gift.”

“I’m not sure how I can help you with that,” said Kate, frowning.

“Caro once told me that the bassinet both she and Karen slept in as babies had been in the family for a long time.”

“That’s right.”

“I was thinking of re-doing it to give to Eric and Brooke for the new baby,” Rina told her.

“I’m sure they’d like that.”

“The only problem is, I can’t ask Caro where it is, given the circumstances and all—”

“You’re in luck because that bassinet ended up in my attic years ago.” Kate stood up. “You can stop by my house and pick it up when you’re ready.”

Rina looked relieved. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“Yes, you can,” said Kate, giving her a pointed look, “by calling Caro.”

***

It was going on late afternoon when the elevator doors in the hospital parking garage opened and Kate Stanton got out. Leo had been waiting a long time, parked five cars down and one row over, the perfect position for observing her as she stopped to root through her purse for her car keys. She looked harmless enough. But then so had Maria. Why did that necklace have to appear? The necklace had changed everything.

“Do you want the last piece of pizza?” Otis asked.

Liz shook her head. “No thanks. Two slices are my limit.”

“Well, if you insist.” Taking the last piece of meat lovers, he folded it in half, like a sandwich, and took an enormous bite. Chewing with gusto, he watched Liz closely. “Okay, what gives? You’ve been miserable since I got here.”

“Sorry, Ote.” She began throwing their used napkins and paper plates into the empty pizza box. “I guess I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

“Like what?” Taking a last slurp of his soda, he got up and helped Liz take everything into her kitchen.

“Kate’s had nothing but bad luck since she hired me,” she told him. “First her granddaughter gets shot and now her friend has died. Maybe I’m a jinx.”

Otis pretended to consider the matter. “That stuff’s just lousy timing.”

“But maybe those things would never have happened if she hadn’t hired me,” Liz argued.

“Or maybe she wouldn’t have hired you in the first place if her granddaughter hadn’t been responsible for your mom dying,” Otis rationalized.

“Karen was just trying to help my mom.”

“
Excuse me?
” Otis stopped what he was doing and stared at Liz in disbelief.

“I said she was just trying to help my mother.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.” Otis took Liz’s hand and dragged her back to her sofa, pushing her down on the cushions. “For months now, all I’ve been hearing is how your mother’s death was that bitch’s fault and now you’re defending her. Why?”

“Don’t call her that.” Liz shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet his gaze. “And I’m not defending her. It is what it is, that’s all.”

“If you say so.” He was strangely silent as he got up and went back to the kitchen.

“It’s true.” Liz persisted, following him. “Karen was the one who got the necklace back after her friend had stolen it.”

“How do you know it wasn’t Karen who took it in the first place?” he asked reasonably.

“Because my mother attacked her friend, not Karen.” She looked at Otis strangely. “Why do you care so much what I think of her?”

“Because she’s nothing but a spoiled rich bitch, that’s why,” Otis told her, trying to take hold of her shoulders. “You saw her at the club with her snotty friends, acting like the sun rose and set up her ass. I just don’t want to see you getting hurt.” He looked like he was going to say something else but then changed his mind.

She pulled away from him coldly. “Thanks for your concern but I’m a big girl and can look after myself.”

“Not too well, if memory serves me right,” he snapped back.

Liz looked at him sadly. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

She suddenly felt very tired. “I think I’m going to have an early night tonight.”

“Sure.” Otis grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair and went to the front door. “You don’t have to spell it out for me.”

“Otis, wait—”

But he didn’t. Liz stared at the closed door, wanting to run after him. Feeling disgusted with herself, she went into the kitchen and finished straightening up. She’d just gotten all of the garbage together for the chute when she heard a knock on the door. Thinking Otis had come back, Liz ran to the door, an apology already forming on her lips. Throwing it open, she was surprised to find the two detectives from Hollywood Division.

“Hi,” Liz managed to say.

“May we come in?” Detective Warner asked.

Over her initial shock at seeing them, Liz stood aside to let them in. “Of course.”

The younger one, Detective Cassidy, looked around appreciatively. “Nice place you got here, Ms. Farrell.”

“Thank you,” she replied. “May I offer you something to drink?” she asked politely.

“No thanks,” Warner replied for both of them. He looked uncomfortable.

“Has something happened?”

“You could say that,” Detective Cassidy informed her. “In light of what you recently told us, we had forensics go over Paco Ramierez’s car again.”

“And?” Liz sat on the edge of her chair.

“They found this.” Detective Warner reached into his pocket and pulled out a plastic evidence bag containing a small strip of paper which he handed to her.

“What is it?” asked Liz, taking it from him.

“It was stuck to the side of the driver’s seat cushion,” Cassidy explained. “We think it may have come from a photo of some kind. We were hoping you might know what it is.”