arrived in St. Markâs. Am I right, or am I being presumptuous?â
âYouâre right; I was going to ask you. I had a ring, even.â
âI think I felt . . . a little panic about that, as if I werenât really ready to be your wife. I think that may be why I missed the first flight. The snowstorm was something of a relief, Iâm afraid.â
âYou were a free woman,â Stone said. âYou didnât have to marry me.â
âThen Vance arrived in town, and although weâd known each other before, something was different this time.â
Stone recalled that Arrington had been with Vance, at a dinner party, when they had first been introduced.
âWe spent all our time together, working on the interview, which turned into a very long conversation about everything in the world, and before I knew it, we were in love. I canât explain it; it just happened.â
âItâs like that, sometimes,â Stone said.
âDo you hate me for it?â
âI could never hate you.â
âOh, Iâm so relieved,â she said, squeezing his hand. âI donât think I could be happy without you in my lifeâas a friend, I mean.â She blushed a little.
âI feel the same way,â Stone said. âAnd itâs because Iâm your friend that I have to tell you some things, now.â Stone took a deep breath, looked directly into her large eyes, and told her.
Nine
Â
Â
Â
A RRINGTON STARED AT STONE AS HE SPOKE, HER EYES wide and unblinking. Gradually, tears rimmed her eyes, then spilled down her cheeks. She seemed unable to speak.
Stone stopped talking for a moment. âDo you remember any of this?â he asked.
She shook her head, spilling more tears.
âWhatâs the last thing you remember before Saturday?â Dr. Judson asked.
She closed her eyes tightly. âSomeone cutting the grass,â she said.
âAnd what day was that?â
âIâm not sure. I had a brief conversation with . . . Geraldo, his name is. I asked him not to cut the grass quite so closely. We agreed on two inches; I remember that.â
âDo you remember what plans you and Vance had for Saturday night?â Judson asked.
She shook her head. âIâd have to look at the book.â
âWhat book is that?â
âThe book that Vance and I keep our schedules together in. I have my own book, too, for things I donât do with him, and he has his own book that Betty keeps.â
âAnd who is Betty?â
âBetty Southard, his personal assistant; she works in his office at the studio.â
âWhat were you doing immediately before you spoke to Geraldo?â the doctor asked.
âI was cutting flowers in the garden,â she said.
âAnd what did you do after you finished cutting the flowers and speaking to Geraldo?â
Her shoulders sagged. âI donât remember. I suppose I must have gone back into the house, but I canât remember doing it.â
âWhat jewelry had you planned to wear Saturday night?â Stone asked.
âDiamonds,â she replied. âIt was black tie.â
âWho was the host?â
âWhat?â
âThe host of the dinner party?â
âWhat dinner party?â
âThe one on Saturday night.â
She looked lost. âI donât remember.â
âDid you take your jewelry out of the safe?â
âI donât know.â
âWhat is the last thing you remember Vance saying to you?â Judson asked.
âHe said I should wear the diamonds. He was taking his jewelry box out of the safe; I remember that.â
âWhat else was in the safe?â
âI remember who was having the dinner party,â she said. âIt was Lou Regenstein.â
âDid you enjoy the party?â Judson asked.
âI donât remember the party,â she said.
âArrington,â Stone said, âdoes Vance
Jane Hunt
Jonathan Maberry
K. Sterling
Tara Fox Hall
James Kakalios
Jacquie Rogers
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley
Elizabeth Moynihan
Shiloh Walker
Mary Balogh