Exposed

by Rhonda Pollero

  Darby was too preoccupied to notice her surroundings as she drove south on Route 1 to Jupiter. Her office was in a strip mall at the intersection with Indiantown Road. She checked her watch and realized she was ten minutes late. Fear tensed her whole body. She couldn’t afford to be late to meet Sean for dinner.

  The minute she walked in the door, a chorus of barking began, although not all of the animals were into it. There was Helda’s old hound dog lying on a dog bed in the waiting area who didn’t even bother to lift his ears. Helda, her receptionist, greeted her as she came around to the back of the reception area. Darby was putting on her lab coat when Helga said, “Light afternoon, but we do have an emergency on the way.”

  Darby had a private emergency going. She loved everything about her clinic: the people she worked with and the pets she’d gotten to know over the years. They were like a family, and Darby was the one giving up everything while Sean just kept on leeching his way through life. It wasn’t fair and that made her angry as hell. She was going to have to give up everything for a man she loathed.

  Darby sighed and nodded and began rounding up the three veterinary assistants who were the backbone of her successful practice. It was killing her to know that in a matter of days they’d be out of work, but she needed and hoped she could find a replacement fast who could take over her practice. She moved that to the top of her to do list.

  Surely there was someone out there who’d want to work a half mile from a beautiful sandy beach. She put up a quick ad on craigslist and an almost immediate response made her smile.

  “Bring in the first client,” she said as she came out of her office and took a quick look at her messages. Nothing earth-shattering. Three messages were from patients with new puppies and four were from Sean. Fearing repercussions, she dialed Sean.

  “Where have you been?” he snapped.

  “Hello?” Apparently she wasn’t being followed. “I went to the bank like you told me to do. It took some time,” she explained as she fingered through her file drawer and pulled out a copy of the Trust. Too bad Sean couldn’t see what she was doing as they spoke. If he even got a whisper of what she was planning, he’d probably beat her senseless. Darby knew she was taking a risk, but Mia was worth it. She had to keep telling herself that. Knowing her baby would be safe and loved was the only way she could function, especially after Sean’s ominous email about SIDS and suffocation. She couldn’t risk a divorce with visitation. Sean was just evil enough and angry enough to kill the baby just to make Darby hurt. Well, she wasn’t going to give him that chance. “And now I have to see patients, okay?”

  “I’ll see you for dinner at eight.”

  “Okay.”

  “Darby?”

  “Yes?”

  “Say it.”

  “Say what?”

  “Tell me you love me.”

  She closed her eyes and grimaced. “I love you.”

  “You don’t sound convincing,” he taunted.

  “I love you,” she said again, trying to make it sound better.

  “Good. After dinner you can show me how much.”

  “Sean,” she sighed. “I feel like an over-inflated beach ball.”

  “I’m sure you do but I’ve been patient. I’ve given you a week to mourn, now it’s time things got back to normal.”

  She lowered her voice. “I wouldn’t have needed a week if you hadn’t killed them.”

  “Don’t blame that on me, sweetheart. You’re the one who went running to Mommy and Daddy.”

  This subject made a knot form in her stomach. Besides, she needed him to think all was normal if her plan was going to work after Mia was born. “I’m sorry. I really do have patients and I don’t want to be late.”

  “Good. From now on, I don’t want to hear you mention your parents. What’s done is done. Agreed?”

  She raked her fingers through her hair. “Yes.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  In between a well check on a German shepherd and cat with respiratory difficulties, Darby started a cover letter to go with the fax to Mr. Kavanaugh. In language somewhat resembling legalese, she wrote that if she was unable or unwilling to carry out her duties as Trustee then…she found herself stuck. She definitely couldn’t make the new trustee Sean. Especially now.

  Darby looked back on her time with Sean and an ugly puzzle took shape. She thought about the way her dog Samson had mysteriously died from ethylene glycol poisoning. When she’d found him in the garage, he was dead next to a pool of the neon green liquid, yet there had been no bottle of anti-freeze in sight. Then there was the slow but methodical way Sean had managed to alienate nearly all her friends and family. Hell, it wouldn’t be a shock to discover that he might have married her for her money.

  She realized she couldn’t name Lyssa as the trustee because Sean was sure to hunt her down, and then he’d find that the baby was alive and well. And Sean would be more likely to take baby Mia away someplace where Darby could never find her again. Her heart was breaking bit by bit as she contemplated her bleak options.

  She would miss all the firsts—first word, first steps, first day of school, all those Christmases. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks. She needed to think. And fast.

  But right now she needed to give some immunizations to a Maltese.

  She dried her tears as best as she could and went to the exam room. The poor little dog was curled at the back of her carrier, shivering. Her owner wasn’t much braver. “How’s”—she paused to read the chart—“Molly doing?”

  Mrs. Littleson smiled. “Fine until I put her in the crate. She knows a trip in the carrier usually ends up in a shot or two.”

  “Let’s see if we can’t get her to come out.” Darby reached into her pocket and laid a small trail of liver treats from the inside of the carrier onto the cold metal table. Tentatively, the tiny animal sniffed and ate her way out of the cage. As soon as she did, Darby put the crate on the floor and Molly reacted by practically leaping into her owner’s arms. “Do you want to hold her while I give the injections or would you rather one of my vet assistants do it?”

  “Vet assistant,” the woman answered instantly. “I’ve had five kids and I can’t even count the number of times one of them broke something or needed stitches. I can handle that, but when it comes to my sweet baby Molly, I just can’t stand the thought of her being hurt.”

  “I understand,” Darby said. She stepped out the back door into a long corridor that was used mostly for storage. This route was also a way for Darby and her staff to move the animals from area to area without stressing them too much. “Peggy?”

  The cute redhead turned and she offered a smile. “Need me?”

  “Just for a few minutes.”

  Peggy brushed off the front of her scrubs and twisted her long, curly hair into a bun. Peggy had been with Darby for a little over five years and she was just two months away from graduating with a degree in Veterinary Science. The plan had been for Peggy to join the practice after school, and suddenly Darby got an idea. But it would have to wait until Molly was finished with her appointment.

  “Can you come to my office after we finish with Molly?”

  Peggy seemed perplexed but answered, “Sure.”

  A few minutes later, there was a knock at Darby’s door. “Come in,” she called.

  Peggy stuck her head in and asked, “Is now a good time?”

  Darby nodded. The office was simply furnished and very neat. There was a wedding picture on the credenza behind Darby’s desk and framed diplomas hung on the walls. The walls were painted beige with pale blue trim, giving the room a beachy feel. The only other photograph in the room was a framed shot of Darby and Sam on Hutchinson Island.

  Peggy appeared nervous, so over the muffled sounds of barking dogs, she tentatively took a seat, teetering on the edge as if she might need to make a fast getaway.

  “C’mon,” Darby chastised as she rubbed her belly. The baby was unusually active today. “You’re acting like I’m
going to fire you. I’m not. I have a proposal for you I’m hoping you’ll like.”

  Peggy seemed to visibly relax. “Are you okay?” she countered. “Your eyes are all red and you look exhausted.”

  Darby waved her hand dismissively. “You try to sleep with someone kicking you in the kidneys all night.”

  Peggy’s bright smile returned. “Guess that is a bit of a bitch. Why don’t you go home for the afternoon? There’s nothing on the schedule I can’t handle.”

  “Which is why I want to talk to you.” Darby sat back in her seat, trying to get comfortable in the chair. “I got an email a few minutes ago from a guy I went to vet school with. He heard I was thinking of closing my practice because of the baby and he’s interested.”

  Peggy was positively beaming. “Really?”

  Darby nodded. “Yep, but there’s a catch.”

  Peggy deflated a bit. “He gets to hire his own staff?”

  “No, nothing like that. He lives in Rhode Island and wants to make a change.”

  “That’s great!”

  “But he only wants to stay for a few months. Three, to be exact. At first I dismissed the idea, but I figured Carl could fill the void until you get your license, then you can take over.”

  “What about you?”

  I’ll be in jail. “I’m not sure I’ll be coming back after the baby. And I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t share that for now.”

  “Darby, I appreciate it, but I can’t afford to buy your business. Hell, I’ll be about seventy when I pay off my student loans.”

  Darby smiled for the first time in a while. “I’m not talking about selling you the business. I want to give it to you, no strings.”

  Peggy scratched her head. “I know this is kinda personal, but how will Sean feel about this? I mean, not to speak out of turn, but he doesn’t act like the kind of guy who would approve of you just handing over a practice you spent years building.”

  “You let me worry about Sean.” And God knows I do.

  Peggy shifted nervously. “I think you should wait until after the baby comes and you’ve talked to Sean to make this decision. Let your friend Carl come down and then we can revisit this after he has experienced a Florida summer. Darby, you can work a limited schedule. You can even bring baby Mia to work with you. You have six women here who would gladly watch over her while you saw patients.”

  That was my plan until my husband killed my parents. “Sean really wants me to stay home with her.”

  “You’re my boss, but you’re also my friend, so as your friend…screw what Sean wants. He doesn’t even go to work until noon. You could just work mornings. You have options.”

  If only Peggy knew. “I think a clean break is the best course of action.” Now was good time to enhance her plan. “Besides, I don’t know anything about babies. I’m scared to death I’ll be a horrible mother.”

  “What are you talking about? You’re compassionate and smart. You’ll figure out the whole baby thing in no time.”

  “Or, I’ll screw up royally.”

  Peggy’s brow pinched. “You won’t screw it up. Darby, I’ve never seen you scoff at a challenge. I don’t have any experience with this, but I’m sure you’ll be a great mom.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Peggy stood up. “Well, for now I’m just going to operate under the assumption that you’re coming back.” She started for the door. “By the way,” she asked with a wicked grin. “Any chance Carl is gorgeous and single?”

  “Yes on both counts.”

  Peggy let out a long sigh. “Thank you, Jesus.”

  Once she was gone, Darby hoped she had planted the seed subtly. Wiggling her computer back to life by the mouse, she stared at the screen, unsure what to do. Peggy would make a wonderful trustee except that she knew about Lyssa and would notice her absence. She couldn’t risk turning over the trust to anyone who could make the connection. What she needed was a total stranger whom she could trust. But that was easier said than done. Too bad there wasn’t a “Trustworthy Strangers” section in the Yellow Pages. Her phone buzzed and the receptionist informed her that Lyssa and Mr. Wiggles were waiting for her in Exam One.

  When she went to the exam room, Lyssa looked terrible. “I haven’t gotten any sleep all night,” she began on a rush of air. “Darby, I’m not sure I can go along with your plan.”

  The words felt like a sucker punch. Panic made her breath catch in her throat. She was working so hard at making this work, and Lyssa was the key. “Please don’t say that, Lyssa. You really are my only hope,” Darby practically begged.

  “I went online last night, and judges tend to favor custody to the mother when an infant is concerned. You can get a divorce.” She stroked the cat in her arms as she spoke.

  “Lyssa, he killed my parents because of me. What do you think he’ll do to a defenseless baby if I do something else to inspire his temper?”

  “So take the baby and run.”

  Darby let out a slow, painful breath. “You don’t know Sean. He’d find me and I’m starting to think that he only wants this baby because she comes with her own trust fund. He knows hurting her—hell, even killing her—would be his best revenge if I stepped out of line. If I get a divorce, he’ll get visitation. I’ll be forced to send my helpless baby to a psychopath. I can’t risk that. He made my parents’ deaths look like an accident. He’ll do the same thing to the baby. And then he’d probably find some way to blame me. I’ve thought about every possible scenario and the only way to keep the baby safe is to keep her away from Sean.”

  “You’ll go to jail.”

  Darby nodded. “I know.”

  “Maybe for the rest of your life.”

  “I know that, too. Just take her someplace you’ve never been. Someplace where no one would think to find you. Okay?”

  Lyssa hesitated.

  “Please?” Darby pressed. “I need to know Mia will be safe no matter what.”

  “When are you thinking of doing this?”

  “I’m not sure. But when it happens, you’ll have to be ready to go quickly.” Darby reached out and grabbed Lyssa’s hand. “Please?”

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

  “Thank you.”

  * * *

  Darby dressed carefully for her dinner with Sean. He could get quite angry if he didn’t care for her clothing choices. Unfortunately, at present, her choices were limited. She settled on a snug little black dress and a pair of heels that had her back screaming even before she finished securing the strand of pearls around her throat. She fought back tears; the pearls had been a gift from her mother on her wedding day.

  Her thoughts drifted back to that time. She hadn’t thought it was possible to be that happy. She had a man who adored her and she’d loved him by the end of their first date. She rubbed her belly. “How did everything go so wrong?”

  She’d probably have a long time to contemplate that question when she was in jail. For now, she just needed to get through the night.

  Tilefish Grille was an upscale restaurant a block west of the beach. It was done in black and gold with hints of red. Which made it unique in Martin County. Florida is a pretty casual place, but Sean had insisted that an upscale restaurant was just what the small county needed.

  She entered through the double doors and was greeted by the low sound of classical music pumped into the dining room. There were twenty-seven tables and a private room on the opposite side of the building. The hostess was nowhere to be found, so as she weaved through the tables, she acknowledged the patrons, passed the coffee station, and pushed into the kitchen.

  The smells were heavenly. Which they should’ve been, given that the chef was making six figures—the only way Sean could lure him away from Palm Beach.

  She knew immediately that something was wrong. No one made eye contact with her. She avoided the bustle of the kitchen and walked through the salad station toward the door marked PRIVATE.

  As soon as she opened the door
, she knew why the staff had been so uncomfortable. Roxanne, the restaurant’s hostess and Sean’s assistant, was curled up in his lap with her hand down his pants. At least the auburn-haired bimbo had the decency to look mortified. Sean’s expression was impossible to read.

  Darby’s back stiffened as she stepped back, closed the door and retraced her steps. When she got to the dining area, she went over to Gary, the bartender. She reached into her purse and said, “Sean is in the middle of something. Please give him this when he’s available.” She handed over the fifty-thousand-dollar check.

  “Will do,” he said as Roxanne came out of the kitchen with Sean hot on her heels.

  Anger and humiliation surged through her as Darby pivoted and went toward the front door. Sean blocked her way.

  “We have to talk,” he said softly.

  “About what? The weather? My favorite color? The hand job you were getting from your assistant?”

  “You were early.”

  He said it as if it was a rational excuse. “Sorry I interrupted,” she said blandly. She didn’t much care that he was fooling around with Roxanne, but she had to admit that having it happen in front of the entire staff was pretty humiliating.

  Sean grabbed her upper arm and squeezed tightly. “I want you to come back to my office.”

  “I want to go home, Sean.” She jerked free. “Every employee in this place knew what you were doing. They couldn’t even look at me.”

  He grabbed her a second time. “I’m not asking,” he said in that tone that chilled her to the bone. “Let’s go.”

  Darby plastered a well-practiced smile on her face as Sean’s large hand held her like a vise. The only time her resolve faltered was when she passed Roxanne, who was reapplying her lipstick. Contrary to what Sean thought, he couldn’t read her mind. If he could, he’d know that she hated him. For the past, the present, and the future.