Returning home was worse. His sister stayed for a couple of days, but emptiness echoed in the halls, as well as his heart. Even though Judi had seemed preoccupied and somewhat distant several months before her death, she had still managed to fill the house with her presence. At the time he had been glad when Judi finally found something to occupy her time besides obsessing about his political career. She’d almost become needy. Then she was gone. Poof!
The North Shore Condominiums sign came into view and Nathan slowed the cart.
“To the left,” Judi directed unnecessarily. Nathan knew exactly which condo she rented. She pointed to the numbered parking spaces. “Pull into forty.”
Nathan did as directed.
Taking a deep breath, he clicked off the ignition and turned to her. “Shall we?”
Her expression looked anything but ready, and if he knew her as well as he thought he did, the mix of petulance and dismay meant the woman hadn’t come up with a workable escape plan.
Nathan slid out of the seat and joined her on the other side of the cart. Together they walked wordlessly toward the Cape Cod–style two-story building. He trailed slightly behind as they ascended the open but roof-covered steps. Judi stopped at the top to search inside her purse, finally producing a set of keys. She gave him a brief look of ill-concealed dread when he reached the landing, a sort of last-chance-no-clemency-firing-squad resignation. She was right where he wanted her. This should have pleased him. It didn’t!
He just hoped she couldn’t read his own apprehension at what lay ahead, his own insides quaking at the results—maybe even more than hers. Always stay on top of the opponent—or be crushed, his father had always said. The advice seemed ripe for the picking right now. And at present, he’d need all the help he could find.
Judi tried to still her trembling fingers as they clumsily fumbled with the door key. What was she going to do? She could feel Nathan’s bigger-than-life presence right behind her—smell the all-too-familiar hint of his aftershave. How well she remembered the expensive Blue Blood scent he always wore with his power suit. Blue Blood was as much a part of the uniform as the shirt and tie. The rich sapphire, genie-in-a-bottle form sat just to the right of Nathan’s solid silver catchall tray on his very masculine, solid oak dresser. Why should she remember the scene so vividly?
She tried to beat down the memories and eruption of nerves assailing her.
The dead bolt lock finally gave way and slid back. With a brief moment of hesitation, she turned the knob and let the sizable white door swing open.
Swiftly she walked through the entry, eager to move away from his nearness and into the safety of her home. The contemporary bright array of two cozy matching chairs, a sectional couch, and mission-style end tables filled the room with comfort. The wild grape scent from a previously burned candle still lingered in the air. This was her sanctuary. Bay Island had certainly profited from the bustling tourist trade, but its popularity resulted in skyrocketing property values. If not for the generosity of a church member, she couldn’t have afforded the rent, let alone the furniture, on a secretary’s salary.
The front door clicked closed and Judi instantly swung back around.
Nathan was slowly advancing into the room. She couldn’t help noticing how tall he was or how his expensive leather shoes sank into the plush carpet. What a silly thing to note when her life was on the line. But it was hard not to be aware of Nathan—it had always been that way. He wasn’t handsome in the drop-everything-and-look fashion where one might pick him out of a crowd, but it only took a brief introduction to suddenly transform him into a rugged conqueror of the world and female hearts. Yes, he did have power in that way—and he didn’t even know it.
Nathan seemed to take in the surroundings before finally turning his attention to her. He remained silent, his gray eyes holding hers.
Judi frowned, a suffocating trepidation taking over. She quelled the feeling and walked to the sliding glass door leading to the balcony overlooking Lake Erie. Quickly she slid it open and turned back to him. He hadn’t moved.
“Let’s talk out here,” she suggested, stepping out onto the deck. Already the open air made her feel less confined. She waited patiently as he walked slowly to the opening and glanced out.
He took in the sights before coming out onto the deck. With a measure of unnerving determination he slid the door closed behind him. “Whatever you want.”
Judi tugged firmly on one of the padded, heavy wrought iron chairs and moved it out from the table. The uneven scraping of the chair’s hefty feet across the wood deck cut through the air. She motioned for Nathan to sit. “May I get you a soda or ice water?”
He shook his head and sauntered toward the edge of the deck. She could almost understand his fascination. The condo was a great find with a beautiful view. The deck was rather large and octagon shaped—big enough for patio furniture, a gas grill, and a large stack of wood.
She watched as Nathan rested one hand on the decorative braided rope draped between each deck post, giving it a nautical look. He seemed deep in thought, and she took his distracted moments to calm herself. He might be deliberately stalling to build tension for some dramatic moment he’d planned. For the umpteenth time she wondered why he’d tracked her down and followed her to the island after more than two years.
She could only imagine what was going through his mind as he looked so intently at the rhythmic waves washing partway up the dark, sandy beach. With the glorious summer sun reflecting and sparkling off the lake, it seemed almost criminal to mar the day with such foolishness. Even the weather appeared to be asking for tranquility. As if on cue, a cool breeze wafted across the deck, making the temperature much more comfortable.
Judi brushed back a strand of hair with a shaky hand. And she waited. Finally he turned and his gaze flickered back over to her.
“You’ve done quite well for yourself,” he said with a quick look at the water again. Then as quickly, he turned, walked back to the table, and swept his hand gallantly toward the chair she’d indicated for him earlier. “Why don’t you sit here?” He then nodded in the direction of the chair on the opposite side of the table facing the water. “I’ll sit over there.”
“All right,” she agreed, sitting down slowly. Although she knew of no advantage the seating arrangement gained him, there had to be a tactical angle other than a view of the lake. There was always a purpose to everything he did, some strategic gain. It made him a good lawyer and, no doubt, a good politician. Regrettably for her, it also made him a formidable adversary.
The other heavy chair made no sound as Nathan pulled it back—yet another reminder of how much stronger he was than she. He sat down and watched her for several seconds before speaking. Then he leaned forward. “I thought you loved me, Judi.”
Judi let go of the breath she’d held in waiting and let herself slowly drop farther back in the chair in wary skepticism. She had readied herself for a diversity of angles Nathan might approach in the forthcoming inquisition, but not this opening statement. Actually, it was somewhat comical under the circumstances and she almost laughed. “I could say the same thing to you.”
His eyes narrowed in obvious thought. “You’re saying I didn’t love you?” He sat up straighter. “Are you asking me to believe this entire escapade and new life is my fault?”
This time Judi couldn’t help letting a bitter laugh escape. “From those little notes you left for me, it seems all but obvious that this escapade, as you call it, is totally your fault,” she accused, shaking her head at the irony of his words. Love! What does Nathan know about love? “What I don’t understand is why you’ve come looking for me now. I did what you asked.” She spread her hands out in exasperation. “How did you put it? Oh, yes, the exact term was for me to ‘move on.’ ”
He stared at her in amazement. “Notes?” The look on his face left no doubt he’d thought she had popped a brain cork somewhere along the way. “What are you talking about? What notes?”
Judi wasn’t about to be taken in by his astonished look of puzzlement, no matter how innocent. She lifted her chin.
“Don’t play games with me. I know you were the one who wrote those eloquent but threatening notes. It might have taken me some time to decipher your scheme, but I’m not stupid. And I did as you asked; I moved on. What more did you want from me?”
Nathan lightly rapped the knuckles of his loosely fisted hand on the opaque glass-topped table. Finally he leaned forward. “Let me get this straight.” Two perplexed lines appeared between his straight brows. “You’re saying that I wrote you some kind of threatening notes and told you to disappear. Is that right?”
Judi stood to her feet. “Don’t make it sound so harmless, Nathan. You almost killed my father with your power-hungry greed.” She pointed a condemning finger at him to quiet his immediate rebuttal. “And don’t give me that what-a-pity-she’s-gone-mad look, either. I’m not the same naive, trusting woman you married.”
Nathan frowned deeply and folded his arms patiently in front of him. “I will agree with you on your last statement, but as for these wild accusations that I’m some sort of wild-eyed villain trying to kill you and your father… well, you’ll have to produce a plot more believable than that to explain your desertion.” She watched his gray eyes narrow at her. “Nice try!” He flung his hand out lazily. “And if you’re the least bit interested in your father’s welfare, may I suggest that your death almost produced what you’ve so ridiculously accused me of doing?”
“How dare you!” she said in a voice she hardly recognized as her own. For several palpable moments they exchanged measured glances. Judi moved behind her chair, clutching the cushioned back for strength. “I did what was needed to protect my father from you. Don’t come waltzing back into my life as if I’m the bad guy. If you’ve come to make trouble, I’ll go to the police.”
“The police?” He moved a hand over his clean-shaven chin. “That might not be such a bad option. What do you think?” He cocked his head questioningly toward her.
“I think you’re playing with me.” Judi stared down at him. “This is all a game to you, isn’t it? You’ve spent two years living the life you’ve always wanted and now you’ve come searching for what you’ve thrown away. What are you, Nathan, two men?”
“At the moment I seem to be only one—a conniving husband who threatens innocent women and their families.”
Judi stared at the man she had loved so long ago and willed her heart to harden. “A statement to which I cannot disagree.”
“Then we have a problem.”
Something in his tone almost touched her, but she fought any sympathetic tendencies she might develop.
“Then what do you suggest?” she asked flatly.
“Just give me a moment,” he replied, leaning back thoughtfully in the chair. “When in a pinch, I always think of something.”
four
Nathan slapped both hands against his thighs, pushed himself to his feet, and strolled over to the wood railing. This was one fine predicament. Call him a lousy husband…. Maybe a negligent spouse… But a note-toting madman who schemed to do in his wife and aging father-in-law?
What he really wanted to know was how a respectable attorney and successful state representative could suddenly plunge into a made-for-television soap opera—without even trying. Taking a deep breath, he let his gaze wander. No more than three hundred feet away were a cabana house, swimming pool, and a sand-filled volleyball court with all the picturesque quality of a vacation getaway brochure. Hardly a true portrait, though, of the current situation.
Slowly he turned and leaned one hip against the post. Pursing his lips in deliberation, he aimed a probing look at Judi. His eyes rested on her light honey tan, the clearness of her bright emerald eyes, and then on the red highlights of her soft hair. The creamy strawberry coloring would take some getting used to. The pictures his assistant took didn’t do justice to the luscious coloring. The high cheekbones and full lips were the same, and if her dress weren’t so long, he would probably see that her knobby knees were no different, either. She’d always tried to conceal her knees even though he’d repeatedly told her how cute the bony protrusions were.
Women! What did he know? It was as if a woman never believed a man when he said their so-called imperfections didn’t bother him. Could it be they didn’t want to be convinced and liked to pick over their flaws?
Take Judi’s height. Even though she was beautifully tall for a woman, she was also very flatfooted—another thorn in her side, she’d always said. He wouldn’t have even noticed the lack of a proper foot arch if Judi hadn’t gone to so much trouble to show him her wet footprints on the front walk of their home one summer day while she watered the flowers. Actually, she thought it important enough to prove it again a few months later at the swimming pool just in case he missed the significance of the first exhibition.
As far as he knew, most men didn’t fuss much over their own physical flaws and didn’t have the time or the energy to fuss over their wife’s flat feet or knobby knees. Whether men were just wired differently to look past such things or if love blinded a poor fellow’s senses, Nathan could truthfully say there were more important things in life to focus on.
There was one difference in Judi’s appearance, however, he did notice. Gone were those oversized prescription eyeglasses. Most likely the thirty-four-year-old had finally taken the leap to wearing contacts, something he could never convince her to try before—not because of her looks, but for practicality. Contacts were much more sensible and convenient.
All in all, Judi did look so very different and yet the same. But for all his scrutiny, he still had a bitter problem to solve that had nothing to do with Judi’s knobby knees or nearsightedness. Too bad her intentions and motives were not as visible and open for analysis.
Did she really believe the nonsense she’d told him or was the entire tale a clever ploy to throw him off balance? If this was all a ruse, he’d have to give her points for ingenuity.
“I suppose you have proof of these allegations?” he finally asked, watching closely for her reaction. “You do have the notes?”
Indecision flitted across Judi’s face. “Do you think I’d show you the evidence if I had it?”
Nathan shrugged. “You’ve asked me to believe that you faked your death to save yourself and your family from a person who wrote you menacing notes. Since I know that I’m not the one guilty of threatening you, then I have to determine whether to believe what you’ve said, misguided as it might be, or whether you’re handing me a line to save your own skin.” He looked at her for a long moment. “Now, will you please answer the question? Did you save any of these supposed threatening letters?”
“I have every one of those letters if you must know!” Then as if challenging him, she shook her head and loosened one hand from the back of the chair to point a finger at him. “And the letters are safely tucked away. So don’t get any ideas.”
Nathan blew out a frustrated breath between his lips. “Then how do you propose we resolve this problem?” When she remained still and silent, he went on. “You seem to be close buddies with that friendly island policeman. Maybe you would like to have him stand guard while we look at the letters? We could even show the letters to him if you’d like.”
Something akin to panic sparked in Judi’s eyes, and he could see the conflicting wheels of thought churning across her face. Just as he thought! Her reaction lent credence to his previous theory that his wife was lying. If the letters were true, why hadn’t she just gone to the police in the first place? Why pull off such an elaborate charade? Wouldn’t the most obvious course of action be to contact law enforcement or someone she trusted? That’s what he would have done. And then there was this skittishness, which erupted every time he mentioned the police. There had to be something behind that, too. Maybe she didn’t want the truth to come to light.
Or was it this particular police officer? What was his name? Larr
y something—Larry Newkirk. Yes, that was it. The one who was attentive—too attentive. Don’t go there again, pal, he chided himself. That line of thought would only serve to agitate the already tumultuous waters and would be of little help with the problem at hand.
It wasn’t as if he really wanted the police involved, either. The implications of Judi faking her death would be enough to rock the Pennsylvania Statehouse right off its cornerstone and down Commonwealth Avenue. If Judi publicly accused him of threatening her, there was no limit to the extent of explosion the scandal would cause. This kind of publicity he didn’t need.
“Well?” He knew there was a trace of annoyance in his voice. “What do you want to do?”
An insolent light gleamed in her eyes, but he refused to back down and met her stare head-on. He could wait her out—all two minutes of it.
“I’ll show you the letters,” Judi announced at last, ending the standoff. Her inflection was filled with indignation, but also fear. “I don’t suppose you’d be foolish enough to pull anything funny in a bank full of people.” She looked at her watch. “Then we’ll see what you have to say when the hard proof is right in front of you. With everything in the open, maybe we can have an honest discussion and you’ll level with me as to why you’re here.”
“I’m all for honesty,” he agreed, regarding her steadily. “And if these letters really are in a safety deposit box, I would like to go read them—right now. Let’s put all the cards on the table.”
“One condition!” Judi shifted her feet and gripped the chair again.
Nathan drew an impatient breath. The woman was deliberately hedging for time and trying to stretch his endurance. He kept his voice composed and deceptively calm. “And what would that be?”
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