20
Obviously exasperated, Acacia has decided we both need a drink. I insist on doing the honors. I prepare a finger of bourbon for each of us and return to where she waits.
I feel as if we have reached an understanding even if I am the only one who fully comprehends what it means. She’s working for the enemy. I know it, and nothing she says can make me believe otherwise. If I’m lucky, I can confuse this minion just a little before the next move is initiated.
It’s a less-than-ideal situation.
I remind myself I have always had less-than-ideal-situations. This one is really no different, just trickier because of my temporarily weakened physical condition.
Acacia lifts her glass. “To finding the truth.”
I lift my own but say nothing, then take a small sip. The slight sting and feeling of warmth carries the promise of relief. But I can’t afford to overindulge in this sort of relief.
She takes another sip from her glass, then says, “I think we need to formulate a plan.” She makes a face as if realizing something important. “I can’t believe you came here unarmed and ill prepared under the circumstances.”
“We don’t own guns,” I say. I offer nothing in response to her suggestion I am ill prepared. She has no idea.
“First we need to get Olivia back to the city.”
I barely suppress a gasp. Yes I have considered this myself, but I also recognize this is what the enemy would expect me to do. Besides, she has just made a huge misstep. “After what you’ve suggested about Phillip, why in the world would I send her to him?”
Acacia studies me for a moment, her face blank as she sips more of her drink. Likely looking for a way to justify her claim. “Is Phillip a bad father?” The question is asked bluntly with no discernable nuance.
This I suspect is a trap. “He’s a good father,” I admit. His work takes precedence more than I feel is proper for a father, but otherwise he does well. He loves Olivia. I have never doubted that fact. “But how can I trust him after what you’ve told me? Unless, of course, you lied.”
The slightest hint of a smile tilts her lips. She’s enjoying this. “Just because he has plans to undermine you doesn’t mean he would ever harm his child.”
I want Olivia safe above all else. I can’t deny that keeping her here was not well thought out.
I suppose there is really no way around the move no matter how it grieves me.
But if I call Phillip now—after shooing him away—I need him to believe that Olivia talked me into it.
And for that I need a very good excuse. Otherwise he will recognize something is up.
Not to mention I will need to take some sort of countermeasure in the unlikely event Acacia is being truthful about his part in this.
“If the trouble is here,” Acacia goes on when I say nothing, “Olivia should not be. The upside to that strategy beyond Olivia’s safety is that you and I can focus fully on the threat.”
Isn’t that nice? She’s on my side now, is she? The scenario she presents is nothing more than a play to regain some semblance of trust. Silly, silly girl. Does she think me a fool?
My cell vibrates, and I slip it from my back pocket. I check the screen, then glance at Acacia as I stand. “It’s Catherine. I have to take this.”
Acacia keeps her seat as I head to the kitchen. Catherine is Phillip’s mother, but this isn’t her. It’s the PI, Archer.
I wait until I’m at the wall of windows overlooking the lake before I answer. “Hello.” I turn to face the doorway that leads into this room from the entry hall. “Is everything all right?” I ask this in case Acacia has sneaked close enough to listen.
“Is someone nearby?”
“Yes. I’m glad you called.”
“Got it. So I have news for you about your employee.”
I brace for the worst. “Great,” I say.
“Her real name is Alicia Hopkins from Long Island. Managed to graduate high school by the skin of her teeth. Spent too many school days and all her free time working with her father, the veterinarian. She’s the youngest of four.
Mother deserted them when she was twelve.
Her father died four years ago. She tried to take over the clinic by doctoring his papers to show she was the veterinarian.
When her siblings and a number of clients filed complaints and lawsuits, she disappeared. Been missing ever since.”
Dread creeps through me. “I think that’s a fine idea. I really do,” I say, keeping up the subterfuge.
“As for the boyfriend,” he goes on, “we got a hit on his prints, which led us right to her, as I hoped it would. He listed the veterinary clinic as a former workplace where he was a custodian. His name is Brian Miller, thirty. A real jewel of a guy. His rap sheet includes possession of methamphetamines, petty theft, and assault. These are not nice people, Julia. If one or both are close to you, you could end up like Eleanor.”
I swallow around the lump in my throat. “I understand. What about Phillip? Is he okay?”
There’s a moment of silence. “You have reason to believe Phillip is somehow involved?”
“Possibly. I’m a little worried.” My heart is thundering now as all the suspicions I’ve lived with the past few weeks coalesce into a confirmed threat.
“I’ll have another look, but I don’t believe that’s the case. You said he was extremely close to Eleanor. Why would he associate himself with the people who probably killed her?”
A very good point. “You’re right.” I haven’t seen or heard a peep from Acacia, but I can’t be sure she’s not skulking around listening.
“I’ll forward this report to your email so you can read it yourself for all the particulars, and when I have more, I’ll call,” he says. “Look, Julia, whatever you’re doing, be careful.”
I grunt a sound of agreement. The call ends, but I don’t say goodbye. Instead, I immediately call Catherine. As soon as she answers, I dive in as if this is a continuation of the same call.
“Would you mind seeing after Olivia for a few days?”
“Julia? I thought you were at the lake house. Phillip said . . .”
I tune out the rest as my mind whirls with what I’ve just learned. Acacia is quite possibly right about one thing: Olivia might not be safe here.
As soon as my mother-in-law pauses for a breath, I say, “I just need some extra quiet time. Phillip can pick her up tomorrow and keep her over the weekend. But he’s so busy, I thought if you stayed at the house, too, he would feel free to do whatever he needs to.”
“Of course, dear, I would adore spending the weekend with my precious granddaughter and my son.”
“Thank you.” Relief swims through me. “I’ll arrange everything with Phillip.”
I end the call, take a breath, and head back to the living room. “Catherine is going to stay at the house and take care of Olivia. You’re right, I’ll feel better with her back in the city.”
Acacia nods. Finishes off her drink as if she hasn’t moved a muscle this whole time. “Good plan. Once Olivia is back in the city with her father, we can rattle a few cages.”
She says this as if she has it all figured out. As if she has a fucking clue what she’s talking about. I think of what Archer just told me, and I want to tear this woman apart. I want to torture her until she admits the truth.
I settle on the sofa once more. “Meaning?” I decide to play clueless, hoping she will inadvertently name her benefactor.
“Nudge the people who might have a stake in this.” She turns her hands up like I should get it.
“Rick, for example. He was involved in the investigation. Maybe tell him that you feel you really need to find the truth about the person who did this to you. Urge him to prompt the FBI to reopen the case. Maybe reach out to all his contacts from back then. If the Judge is still out there, maybe this could provoke a reaction.”
She goes on when I don’t immediately respond to her plan. “Then there’s Helen. She has access to the house. Someone could have paid her to do all kinds of stuff.”
Wow. Acacia or whoever she is really has this thing all plotted out—in her mind at least. We are definitely not going that route.
And yes, Gil, the delivery guy did say someone else was at the house—someone Helen didn’t tell me about.
But I’m reserving judgment for now. I have no reason not to trust Helen.
Although I do wish she would return my calls.
“We could follow Helen,” I offer to show I’m engaged. “If she’s in this, then someone is paying her. She has worked in the area for a long while. I can’t see her throwing all that away unless she’s more deeply invested in this because the payoff is far larger.”
I wonder if this little schemer will pick up on how my thoughts about Helen mirror her own actions? And, for the record, my plan is far less complicated. Go with the flow and see what happens.
The best strategists agree that simple is always better. Particularly when setting a trap for the unsuspecting.
“Agreed, and after we stir the pot as I suggested, then we wait,” Acacia says. “And see what rises to the top.”
Her words and the way she looks at me make me shiver. “It’s late,” I say. “I should call Phillip and arrange for him to come. Then we both need to sleep on our plans.”
I pick up my phone and check the calendar. I see the perfect excuse for Olivia returning to the city. I smile and tap Phillip’s name. When my husband answers, I’m ready.
“It’s me. I only just realized that Leona Call’s birthday party is on Saturday. Olivia cannot miss that. I’m sorry, but you need to pick her up tomorrow. She can stay the weekend with you.”
“You couldn’t have thought of this when I was there?” He sounds grumpy and distracted as if I interrupted his beauty sleep or something else I don’t want to know about.
“I’m sorry. But she’ll be devastated if she misses it. You know how kids are these days. She will never live it down.”
“I suppose I need to take her shopping as well.”
“Taking a gift to a child’s birthday party is seen as expected, so, yes, I would think so.”
“I’ll be there at ten. Please see that Olivia is ready. I’ll need to get back if we’re going to shop. I have a Zoom call at five.”
“Don’t worry,” I add, “I spoke to Catherine. She wants to spend the weekend with Olivia.”
He sighs. “Thank you. That will be helpful. See you at ten.”
“See you then.” I end the call and put my phone away.
“He’s coming?” Acacia appears eager to confirm his response.
“He is. By ten.”
“Good thing. The weather forecast shows we’re in for some rough weather the next couple of days. It starts later in the day tomorrow. So early is good.”
I expect it will be a stormy weekend in more ways than one. It’s good that Olivia will be in the city.
I push to my feet. “I’ll see you in the morning.” I plan to slip into Olivia’s bed and sleep with her. Perhaps I should pull a piece of furniture in front of the door. Who knows? The woman could decide to kill me in my sleep. She’s spiked my drink or food at least once since we got here.
Except I’m not really worried about her murdering me—at least not yet. It’s the same reason I wasn’t worried about my daughter’s safety. You see, there is one thing I know with complete certainty. The endgame I suspect of this dastardly scheme requires me to be alive.
They cannot under any circumstances get what they want without me.
“Night,” she calls after me.
I wonder if she recognizes that everything is different now.
I see her clearly. Soon she will see me just as clearly.