Her stomach was still tied up in knots, her body slow to catch up to the good news.

  “I think that would be a good idea.”

  “Take your time.” Kira laid a gentle hand on her back. “We’ll all be here.”

  “I know. It’s so good to see you. I wish it wasn’t in these surroundings.”

  “Same here,” Kira agreed with a wry smile. “But you made it. Rue said you have an amazing buffet at the hotel that I’m really curious about.”

  “It is pretty good. All right, let’s all get out of here.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Trust me?” Rue said. They had gone up to their room while Kira was waiting for them in the hotel lobby. “I know you’re exhausted. I am too.”

  “It’s fine. I’m really glad to see Kira.”

  “Good. I’ll wait here for you.”

  Before Joanna headed for the shower, Rue pulled her close.

  “Hey. I’ll be just in there for a few minutes.”

  “I know. It’s silly, right? I wasn’t the one they interrogated, but…this was the first time in a long time we spent most of the night apart. I hated that.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Joanna said. She kissed the top of Rue’s head and then gently disengaged herself from the embrace. “You can go to the breakfast room with Kira. I’ll hurry up.”

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Her body was still in fight or flight mode, which Joanna didn’t mind. It kept the breakdown away for the moment—she didn’t yet have the time or the safe space to indulge in it.

  Someone was murdering people in her vicinity, and showing her that if it wasn’t for influential friends she was lucky to have, she could go down for those crimes. Those murders—and one attempted—had started when she began asking questions. About Mary. About the stalker.

  It wasn’t a surprise that Lawrence would dismiss a woman’s fears about a man crossing lines, but why would he pretend it had been him?

  She dressed quickly, and then went down to the breakfast room where Rue and Kira sat in a booth, together with—

  “Mom!”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here earlier today,” Mary said. “I’m so glad you’re here. What a ridiculous idea to think you could have harmed Dr. Hollister.”

  “Do you have any idea who did?” Joanna asked, before she sat. She hadn’t missed the flash of alarm on Mary’s face.

  “No, and let’s not talk about this now.” She reached out to take Joanna’s hand. “I know I disappointed you so many times, but I hope now that you have tickets to go home, we can just spend the morning together?”

  “Let’s make a toast,” Kira suggested. “To unbreakable women.”

  It wasn’t until then that Joanna realized there were four mimosas on the table. She’d be the first wanting to escape reality for a little while. Across the table, she caught Rue’s apologetic glance, and she realized that the words “Trust me” had encompassed more than this little gathering.

  Tickets.

  “I can do that,” she said, raising her glass.

  The brittle feeling inside didn’t go away.

  * * * *

  Rue watched Joanna and Mary standing at the buffet, relieved that Joanna’s body language was more relaxed than earlier. She couldn’t let her out of her sight either.

  “Don’t worry, you did the right thing,” Kira assured her. “She has a hard time putting herself first, so every once in a while, someone else has to do it for her.”

  “I’m selfish, too,” Rue admitted. “I never wanted to come here in the first place, but Joanna had no choice. So I’m here. We didn’t know that she’d get to meet her mother.”

  “And that too, seemed to have gone better than expected.”

  “In some ways.” Rue sighed and took another sip of her mimosa. The second one. “If you don’t count the dead bodies. It’s like we’re cursed or something.”

  “Listen to me, Rue,” Kira said firmly. “No one’s cursed. All of us had some serious crap happen to us, but we’re not cursed. We’re survivors.”

  “I guess you’re right.” Rue realized she was choking up. She wasn’t going to spoil the perfect celebration. The tears she’d cried at her parents’ house had to be enough.

  “I know I am. I wish you’d enjoy the city a little bit more, but I’m happy for you, and the life you’ve built. You two of all people, deserve it.”

  “Let’s hope Joanna is as ready to go back to it as I am.”

  * * * *

  “You and I both know this is all connected somehow. Dad told me where to find you, and he pointed me towards Dr. Hollister. Now Hollister and your crew member are dead, and a friend of mine’s in the hospital. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

  “You heard what your other friend said. We’re unbreakable.”

  “This is no joke, Mom. Hollister told me you and Dad gave him consent to talk about your medical history.”

  “He said that?” Mary laughed. It didn’t sound happy. “Not that it’s a surprise.”

  “They clearly didn’t have your best interests in mind. Why didn’t you sever all ties with him? You did with me.”

  Somewhere in there lay the key to something more sinister than she might have imagined before. Or she was losing it.

  “I love you. I’ve always loved you, and it breaks my heart that you have plenty of reasons to doubt me. But that’s the truth. I would have taken you with me if there had been any chance.”

  “What made you think there wasn’t? Lawrence certainly didn’t have use for a child.”

  The regret in Mary’s expression was genuine. Still, her explanation didn’t make much sense—or did it?

  “He didn’t want me around you. He was willing to go to great lengths to make sure of that.”

  “Because you cheated on him?”

  “I did, once,” Mary said without hesitation. “I was young, naïve, and stupid, thinking this could give me any kind of leverage…and perhaps I believed it too, that if I stayed, you’d be tainted. That were was something about me that needed to be contained.”

  In some strange way, Joanna could sympathize.

  “But it’s all over. Dr. Hollister is gone, may he pay for his sins wherever he is now. You and I both have a life. Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

  “I still have friends with the police. They could—”

  “No, Joanna. I’ll be all right. And I know, with Rue by your side, you will be too.”

  “The stalker…”

  “Whoever he is, he kept his distance for many years. I don’t think anything will change.”

  “I hate leaving you alone.” Her censors were down. Mimosas might be the reason, or the night she’d spent at the police station. Mary didn’t comment, or perhaps she was wondering if Joanna had a better understanding of her dilemma now.

  “Joanna. Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  She turned around to see Theo standing in front of her.

  “If you let me eat, yes. I haven’t had the chance to try any of this yet.”

  She watched as Mary picked up her plate and went back to their table.

  “Okay, what do you need from me? And by the way, thank you for helping me out.”

  “I wish I could take the credit,” Theo said. “Vanessa directed all of this from her hospital bed.”

  Of course she did.

  Unbreakable women. There was some truth to that.

  * * * *

  “Rue tells me you’re going home.”

  Apparently.

  “Is there a problem with that?” Her nonchalant tone easily belied the abyss of fear that came with the question. He couldn’t know. Joanna hadn’t known until the moment she said it out loud.

  “No, not with you traveling. You’re free to go wherever you want.”

  “But?”

  “Isn’t there something that’s bothering you? I mean I understand you’re tired of it all, but there are still a lot of questions regarding your mother.”

  “Tell me about it. There are plenty that she and Lawrence don’t want to answer. I can’t force them.”

  “True.”

  She followed his gaze to the table where Rue, Mary and Kira were engaged in a conversation.

  “You know something I don’t.”

  “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “Allison has been working on this more. I’ve tried to spend time with Vanessa.”

  “That’s understandable. I’m sure you’ve been trying to figure out how those incidents were connected.”

  “Your mother got married young. She got overwhelmed, there was talk of affairs, Lawrence wouldn’t have it. I’m right so far?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  “You thought she had left, but instead, your father involved Dr. Hollister. He got her committed and threatened her in case she wouldn’t do as he said—leave you with him and continue her career, but under his watch.”

  “Sounds like the controlling bastard he is,” Joanna said dryly.

  “Did she tell you about the band member who died under mysterious circumstances? That was before she left your father.”

  “Yeah, so, it was a long time ago. People die.” She managed a fairly calm tone despite the blow his words delivered. People seemed to have died often around Mary. She wasn’t sure if she could deal with this at the moment, fatigue setting in full force. And new worries. She could feel herself tremble. She needed to sleep, without nightmares.

  “Don’t you think it’s strange that so many of these deaths seem related to Mary somehow?” Theo, predictably, asked.

  Joanna shook her head as if she could make the implication go away. “I think we’re all getting ahead of ourselves. It’s been hell with Grace and her boyfriend on the run. For all of us. Let’s not mix up things, shall we?” The uncomfortable realization was starting to set in: Theo wasn’t just coming here on a hunch.

  “Do you trust her?”

  “That’s a big word. Whatever the circumstances, she did run out on me when I was ten years old. She might have had a reason. I still trust her more than Lawrence, why?”

  “The crew member, the psychiatrist, and a band member.”

  “You think there are more? That’s ridiculous. Mary might have made mistakes. I’ll be the first to admit that, but she’s not a killer.”

  “I know there are more,” he said. “And I don’t think she is, but she might not have told you the whole truth either.”

  “So you think that she knows something? That she’s scared of someone? There is a lot of talk about that stalker, but every time I try to get to the bottom of it…”

  “Someone else gets hurt,” he finished grimly. “I know you’d like to put all of this, your life here, behind you, but I keep coming back to your family.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you, Theo. Have you asked Vanessa?”

  “Forget about it. She doesn’t know anything.”

  “She knew about the stalker.”

  Theo’s expression told her he was as frustrated as she was.

  He asked the million dollar question: “Why, in all this time, has no one tried to find that stalker if everyone knew about him?”

  Because Lawrence Mitchell had told them it was a hoax, Joanna answered in her mind. Did she have to look at her father in a different light?

  * * * *

  Mary had made sure that Lawrence wouldn’t be there when she came to the house. His presence still had the same effect on her it had since a short time after their marriage—she felt trapped, like she couldn’t breathe. Perhaps this was a futile mission, but she had to try.

  Joanna and her wife-to-be would leave in a few days. They’d be safe. Vanessa Young had her own people to look after her. There was still someone else she was worried about. Even if that person didn’t give a damn.

  Renée Madison regarded her with the same pitying expression she had reserved for women who didn’t agree with her. So, most women. But Mary hadn’t come here for a political discourse.

  “What do you want? Lawrence isn’t here.”

  Behind the less than polite tone, there was still a hint of concern, that one day, Mary would want Lawrence back, and that he’d take her. Women like Renée would never admit it, but they didn’t trust the men in their lives.

  “Good. I just need a few minutes with you. What I’m about to tell you won’t be easy to hear, and you might not believe me, but I need to make sure you understand what you’re in for.”

  “What I’m in for? Get a grip, Mary. I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you. He’s with me now. We’re happy.”

  “That’s what I thought, a long time ago. All I’m telling you is to get out while you can. Things might seem fine at the moment, but he will find a way to destroy your career and life if you’re not careful.”

  “You base that on what, your own inability to stay faithful to a man who gave you everything? If you’re talking about Dr. Hollister, I know the story. You were out of control, a danger to your child. I realize you told her the same lies.”

  “It’s not too late for you,” Mary insisted.

  “I don’t have to listen to you.”

  “Lawrence is not who you think he is.”

  “Funny. You’re everything he said you were. Crazy.”

  “Did he do you a huge favor, made sure you owe him? He will come to collect, I swear, and it won’t be pretty.”

  She could tell from the flash of panic on Renée’s face that she had found the pressure point. But then the fear was gone, and the other woman regarded her with the same condescending expression.

  “If you don’t leave, I’m going to call the police. Haven’t you had enough of that yet? Maybe they’ll lock you in an institution again.”

  “If you stay with him, there’s no saying where you’re going to end up. Renée. You know I’m right.”

  “Are you threatening me? You leave my house right now.”

  “I’m not threatening you. I want to help.”

  Mary hesitated for a split second, before she pulled the card out of her pocket.

  “Don’t share this with anyone, please. But if you ever need help, call this number.”

  “You’re ridiculous, Mary. Good night.”

  Mary turned and left without another word. The car was waiting for her. She had done everything she could, but she feared it wouldn’t be enough.

  Chapter Nine

  “I hope you’re not mad at me.” Rue’s tone was soft, like her touch on Joanna’s naked back. They had lost track of time, evasion, sweet distraction, until they couldn’t avoid that conversation any longer.

  “For bringing guests and making me go out for brunch? No. I’m beginning to understand that there are some answers I’ll never get from Mary. And it was nice to see Kira again.”

  “So you’ll be good with going home this weekend?”

  “I’ll be good to go wherever you are.”

  Her content sigh was muffled by the pillow as Rue leaned over and kissed her neck.

  No need for any more complications.

  It was only mid-afternoon, but they had slipped into a light sleep…

  “Come on, we need to get going.”

  Joanna didn’t want to go anywhere, and she didn’t like the frightened tone in her mother’s voice, the tight grip on her wrist. Where would they go anyway? All her books, clothes and toys were here. Mary all but dragged her down the stairs and to the front door where they both jumped when Lawrence Mitchell stepped into their way.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” he said.

  Joanna recognized the tone, the one where it was pointless to argue.

  “Let us go. I’m not going to tell anyone. I just want—”

  “Want what, Mary? Be normal? That’s never going to happen.”

  “I know things,” she said, clutching Joanna’s hand tightly enough for her to yelp.

  “I could have you locked up in the loony bin for the rest of your life.”

  Joanna bolted upright, gasping for air. Slowly, she oriented herself in the present, realizing she’d woken Rue. Her concerned gaze spoke volumes.

  Usually, they could trace the source of night terrors to a handful of predators, all of them dead. This was different. Joanna didn’t know if it was Mary’s story that had prompted the dream, or her own memory. If it was the latter, how could she have forgotten about it for so long?

  Shivering all of a sudden, she pulled the sheet around her.

  “Maybe she was telling the truth. Maybe she tried to leave with me, and he stopped her. If that’s true…I owe her an apology.”

  Rue put her arms around Joanna.

  “She still left you with him.”

  “Maybe she thought she’d be in a better position if she was free, than committed to a psychiatric hospital by her powerful husband. Wow. I knew he wasn’t a good guy, but the more I find out about him, the worse it gets. To think she never really got away from him…it’s depressing.”

  “She’s still accepting money. That’s her choice.”

  “I know…Do you think there’s a chance we could still have her at the wedding?”

  “I’m okay with it if you are.”

  Joanna hadn’t known until she said it out loud how important this was to her, and not just because she knew it would make Lawrence angry.

  * * * *

  He’d been going down the list, past and present. Hollister had been easy. Men like him always were, because they thought of themselves as invincible, and they expected everyone to bow to them. A traditionally trained psychiatrist teaming up with a successful businessman, young Mary Mitchell didn’t stand a chance.

  But there was no use in the stories of the past coming out, when she had a life now, when she could soon have a life with him. They had both waited for so long. There were only a few names left on the list, including the woman he had to keep from stirring it all up. Nothing and no one would stand in their way.

  No one was going to save Mary but him.

  He wasn’t going to share.

  * * * *

  “Your ex-wife was here earlier today.”

  Lawrence Mitchell wasn’t always generous with his attention. Renée knew it, and she was used to it. Even now, she wondered if he had heard her, but the next moment, he put his drink aside and turned his gaze on her.

 

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