Dangerous Relations

by Marilyn Levinson

  "Aunt Julia, I'm so sorry. I should have come this morning."

  Julia gave her a wan smile. "It's not your fault, dear. But when I heard that fool of a nurse say the house burned down and you and Leonie were missing, I figured you'd brought her home from Vivie's for some reason, and--and I'd lost you both."

  Ardin took a puffy white hand between both of hers. "Leonie and I are perfectly fine, but the house is in pretty bad shape."

  Fat tears rolled down Julia's cheeks. "All my lovely things ruined. I'll never see them again. Who would do such an awful thing?"

  "It appears that Marshall Crewe set the fire. He was angry because I served him a revocation of power of attorney on behalf of his aunt."

  Julia wiped away her tears. "I don't know what we've done to deserve such terrible fortune. I don't think I can bear it."

  Ardin felt a mounting sense of panic. "Please, Aunt Julia, I promise it will be all right in the end."

  "Nothing will ever be right again." Julia closed her eyes.

  Brett squeezed Ardin's shoulder. She sighed, leaning back against his strong, solid frame. "Brett came to say hello, Aunt Julia."

  Her aunt's eyes fluttered open. She saw the flowers, now in a glass pitcher. "Thank you, Brett. Give Leonie a hug from her grannie."

  Ardin kissed her papery cheek. At the nurses' station, she jotted down her cell phone number and Brett's number.

  "Please call me if there's any change in my aunt's condition. And I want to speak to her doctor ASAP."

  "Certainly, Ms. Wesley. Will do."

  Outside, the sky had turned cloudy with the threat of rain. Ardin longed to return to her bedroom in Brett's house and burrow under the covers until things miraculously improved. Fat chance of that happening. She had to be prepared to handle whatever else arose. Damn! She'd forgotten to ask Julia for the name of her insurance company.

  "And now for a visit with Vera," she said, forcing a cheerful note. "Think you're up to it?"

  "Absolutely."

  His hand on her waist made her catch her breath. She gave him a rueful smile. "Why not? Things can't get any worse, can they?"

  * * * *

  "Ardin, come here!" Vera cried as she and Brett walked through the door.

  Her mother crushed her to her breast, then held her at arm's distance to study her from head to sneakers. "Thank God you're all right! After you called, I almost took a cab to Brett's house."

  "I came just as I said I would." Ardin was both touched and embarrassed by her mother's uncharacteristic show of emotion.

  "I was so worried, they had to give me a sedative," Vera said. "And Brett, how nice to see you."

  Ardin laughed at her mother's sudden flirtatious tone. She moved aside to let Vera greet Brett.

  "I hope you're looking after my daughter. She's very dear to me."

  Brett winked. "I'm doing my level best." Both he and Vera beamed at Ardin.

  "Aunt Julia's not doing well," she said, and ignored the sudden heat in her face. "They've put her in the CCU."

  "Poor thing. It's no wonder. Her life's falling apart, and her heart can't take it."

  Ardin washed the grapes and put them on a plate, which she handed to her mother.

  Greedily, Vera popped a few into her mouth. "Ardin dear, I hope you don't mind, but Renata's invited us to tea. She feels terrible about involving you with her awful nephew, and she wants to apologize."

  "She doesn't have to," Ardin said. "It's not her fault."

  "She blames herself for asking you to serve him that what-do-you-call-it paper. Believe me, she gave that lowlife a piece of her mind. She was livid because he kept denying he set the fire. Renata says he's always tried to weasel out of things. And on top of everything, he's a lousy liar."

  "I bet he attacked me, too, while I was at your place."

  "Not necessarily," Brett said.

  "What does Detective Rabe think?" Vera said.

  "I don't know." His words echoed hers.

  Vera looked from one to the other. "I see." A smile lit up her face.

  Ardin was afraid to ask her mother what she saw. She glanced at her watch. "If we're going to Renata's, we'd better leave now. We have to pick up Leonie soon."

  It felt strange walking beside Brett as he pushed her mother's chair along the path that led to the elegant building where Renata lived. It felt strange, she realized with a start, because she was enjoying herself. She said little, preferring to listen to the easy banter flowing between her mother and the man she cared for.

  Beneath the banter was their unspoken alliance based on their mutual concern for her safety. Ardin was touched. Corey had rarely spoken to her mother in the past. But in those days, Vera was drunk most of the time. Ardin was different then too, she supposed. Unhappy and unloved. Now she had a career and knew exactly what she wanted from life.

  Renata was leaning on her walker at the door of her suite, waiting for them to enter her living room. As they passed her, she reached out two frail arms to hug Ardin. "Ardin, my dear, I'm so sorry. That miserable nephew of mine will pay for everything he's destroyed. In the meantime, here's a little something to buy new outfits for you and Leonie."

  The check was made out for five thousand dollars. Ardin gasped. "Please, Renata. This is too much."

  Renata waved a tiny hand. "My dear, not another word."

  While Vera introduced Brett to Renata, Ardin glanced around the beautifully furnished living room that was twice the size of her mother's studio apartment. Light streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. A woman in white sat against the wall watching them, a grim expression on her face.

  When they were comfortably settled, Renata gestured to the nurse. "This is Gert, who looks after me. Gert, I think we're ready for tea."

  Gert gave a curt nod, and went into the small kitchen. She returned with a tray covered with creamy French pastries.

  "Coffee or tea?"

  When they had expressed their preferences, Renata said, "Two coffees, one Earl Grey tea, and one lemon zinger, Gert, if you please--"

  "I can hear." Gert disappeared a second time. She returned a few minutes later with the requested beverages.

  "Thank you," Renata told her. "You can go out if you wish."

  Gert gave her a doubtful look. "Sure I can leave you on your own?"

  Renata smiled. "I'll be fine. I'll call if I need you. Do you have your cell phone?"

  Gert patted her pocket. "Ready and waiting."

  When she closed the door behind her, Renata said, "Gert doesn't have the sunniest disposition, but she's very devoted."

  She made a derisive sound. "Of course her devotion's inspired by the large salary I pay her."

  Ardin nearly choked on the bite of napoleon she'd just taken.

  "Money's nice to have, don't you agree, Mr. Waterstone?"

  "Please call me Brett, Mrs. Kellering."

  "Certainly, if you'll call me Renata."

  "Yes, ma'am," he said, his southern accent more pronounced than Ardin had ever noticed. "And yes, I agree money's nice to have--among other things."

  "What other things?" Renata's tone was light, Ardin noted, but her sharp eyes watched Brett like an owl ready to swoop down on her evening meal.

  "I'd say family, friends, and good health rank high up there, even higher than money."

  "Good for you, Brett. The trouble is, things have gotten rather lopsided for me. I lost my husband, the person I loved more than anyone in the world, so I started amassing money. Discovered I was good at buying and investing."

  Relaxing in the company of people who adored her, Ardin found herself unwinding. She sipped her coffee while Renata related the fascinating tale of how, at the age of sixty-seven, she'd turned into a moneymaking wizard.

  "And now that I'm reaching my final days, I want to give most of it away." She poured herself more tea and sipped. "Ah. Delicious. But being the ornery, rock-headed kind of person I am, I want to do it my way."

  "And why shouldn't you?" Vera said. "It's yo
ur money."

  "Why not indeed?" Renata sounded somber, but Ardin saw the twinkle in her eye. She was enjoying her audience. "It's funny about money. As soon as you make some, people come out of the woodwork and tell you why you should share it with them."

  She winked at Ardin. "Like this passel of relatives I hadn't seen in decades. They're expecting legacies, but I refuse to oblige them. The bulk will go to medical research and needy cases. And to my favorites."

  "What are they?" Ardin said, intrigued. She'd written several wills, but she'd never seen anyone derive this much pleasure planning how her money would be spent after her death.

  "I'm considering establishing a zoo where the animals truly roam free." Renata paused. Her eyes took on a dreamy expression. "But right now my pet project is my bird sanctuary."

  "Where's that going to be?" Brett said.

  Renata coughed. Her hand shook as she raised her cup of tea to her lips. "Not far from here." She started coughing again and couldn't stop. Her cup slid to the floor.

  "Ardin, do something!" Vera shouted, though Ardin was already kneeling beside Renata and rubbing her back.

  "Gert!" Renata managed to get out between racking spasms, and pointed to the cell phone on the table.

  Ardin handed it to Renata, who thumbed a number and returned it to Ardin.

  "Renata's having a coughing fit," Ardin explained.

  "I'll be right there."

  "Sorry," Renata said between gasps of breath. "I was enjoying your visit."

  "I'll come again," Ardin said, "when you're feeling better."

  The door flung open. Gert strode into the apartment. She felt Renata's pulse, and then lifted her as easily as if she were a child.

  "I told you it was too soon for company," she said, her tone surprisingly tender as she carried Renata into the bedroom. She must have heard Ardin clearing dishes, because her head swiveled around. "I'll see to that."

  She'd as good as ordered them to leave. Flustered, Ardin said, "Yes, of course. Good-bye."

  "Thanks, Renata," Brett called after their hostess. He guided Vera's wheelchair toward the door.

  "Poor Renata," Vera said as they waited for the elevator. "I hope she's not going to have another bout of pneumonia. In her weakened state, it could finish her off."

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Leonie let out a whoop of joy as Ardin and Brett stepped into the Presleys' front hall. She gave Brett a fierce hug, and giggled as he twirled her and Mr. Bonkers around.

  When he put her down, she ran to Ardin. "I had the bestest time. Didn't I, Vivie?"

  "Indeed you did." Vivie slipped an arm around Leonie's shoulders and nodded at each activity Leonie recited.

  "Don't forget the ice cream sundaes," Michelle added.

  Ardin followed Vivie upstairs to get Leonie's knapsack.

  "How's the happy couple?" Vivie said when they reached the landing.

  "Cut it out. I'm only staying at Brett's to be with Leonie."

  "Uh huh." Vivie rolled her eyes.

  They entered Michelle's pink and purple room. Ardin smiled as she took in the array of toys and dolls and modular furniture. It was exactly the kind of room she wanted Leonie to have.

  "It's not easy for either of us, living in the same house, both wanting to adopt Leonie."

  Vivie tsked. "She would love to have a mommy and a daddy. Simultaneously and in the same locale."

  Flustered, Ardin grabbed the knapsack from Vivie more roughly than she'd intended. "Sorry, but you're beginning to sound like my mother. I took Brett to see her this afternoon. Now she's his biggest fan."

  Vivie winked. "Tell Vera she has to get in line behind the rest of us gals."

  Downstairs, the girls were watching TV in the family room while Brett and Bill stood in the hall discussing the condo deal. "It looks good. Great, in fact," Bill was saying. "But I'm not taking any chances when it comes to laying out all that cash. Not with Frank MacAllister running the show."

  Brett raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

  "He's been known to cut corners when it comes to compliance and following ordinances. A great believer in taking risks and paying fines--the later the better."

  "Glad you told me," Brett said, "before I hand over my money."

  "No problem. I want to check out a few facts, make some phone calls. It should take a day or two. Stall Frank." Bill grinned. "He'll bitch and carry on, but he makes it a practice to keep one week ahead of deadlines."

  Brett rubbed his chin. "Have any idea why Corey doesn't think much of this deal?"

  Ardin gave a start. This was news to her.

  "Corey?" Bill's eyebrows shot up. "Don't tell me you two are suddenly pals."

  "Believe me, we're not. I ran into him the other day, and he made a point of badmouthing the deal. Said I was a fool to do business with his father."

  "Could be sour grapes. His money's probably tied up in his mansion of a house and the dealership."

  Vivie said, "I hear tell father and son are on the outs." She grinned when the three of them turned to gape at her.

  "We're all ears." Bill wrapped an arm around her waist.

  "I caught the tail end of Betty moaning to someone about it in the library--how Corey refuses to set foot in the same room as his father--but she didn't say why."

  A child wailed. "Mommy's coming." Vivie dashed up the stairs.

  After a flurry of hugs and thank you's, and promises to call. Ardin, Brett, and Leonie climbed into the Jeep.

  As they drove away, Leonie clapped her hands. "I'm so glad we're going to all be together. Just like Michelle's family."

  "Not exactly, Miss Sugarplum," Brett said.

  Ardin heard the edge in his voice. A mass of butterflies flitted about her stomach. She glanced at Brett to check out the extent of his displeasure, but his eyes remained fixed on the road.

  "We'll be together for the time being," she finally said, "because of the fire."

  "Is Grannie coming home soon?" Leonie said.

  "I hope so."

  "Where will she live?"

  "Someplace nice, I'm sure," Brett said.

  Ardin gave a prayer of thanks when Leonie started a conversation with Mr. Bonkers. Brett's sudden bad mood spread through the front of the Jeep like a pea-soup fog. She couldn't blame him. Still, she dreaded an evening of hostile silence, broken by the occasional forced pleasantry they'd each make for Leonie's sake.

  He slowed down as they neared the shopping mall. "Do you still want to buy some clothes today?"

  "I'll shop tomorrow after I stop by Julia's."

  "Suit yourself."

  They drove the rest of the way without speaking. Leonie sang to Mr. Bonkers, and didn't seem to notice. When they got home, Brett went down to the basement.

  "Would you like me to help you unpack?" Ardin asked Leonie.

  "Sure, Cousin Ardin."

  As they passed through the kitchen, Leonie took a handful of cookies from the cookie jar. She munched as they walked toward the stairs.

  Ardin said, "Leonie honey, why don't you eat your cookies in the kitchen instead of bringing them upstairs?"

  "Daddy lets me." She stuffed the rest of the cookie into her mouth.

  "Oh," Ardin said. "I guess it's okay while we stay here."

  Leonie held up her toy giraffe. "This is our house and we'll stay here forever. Right, Mr. Bonkers?"

  Ardin cleared her throat. "We will for now, anyway."

  It took Ardin all of five minutes to put Leonie's things away. She was startled to discover the bureau and closet were crammed with Leonie's clothes; shelves and a bookcase were piled high with toys and books. This is Leonie's home. Was her home, until Suziette's death turned everything topsy turvy.

  Leonie followed Ardin into her room. She climbed on the bed, and bounced up and down as though it were a trampoline. Then she collapsed, giggling in Ardin's arms.

  "Why do you sleep in here?"

  "It's the only guest room with a bed and night table. Don't you like it?"

&n
bsp; Leonie scrunched up her face. "Why don't you sleep in Daddy's room?"

  Ardin drew in breath, too startled to speak. "Because your daddy and I aren't married. I'm--we're just visiting."

  Leonie gave her a sly smile. "But you like Daddy, don't you?"

  "Well, sure. He's a very nice man."

  Leonie grinned. "And he likes you, I can tell. Besides, we're a family now, and the mommy and the daddy stay together. Like Vivie and Bill."

  Flustered by Leonie's logic, Ardin tried to explain. "Brett and I are friends. I'm here just for now."

  Leonie put her small hand on Ardin's. "Please stay. I want you to stay."

  Before Ardin could answer, Leonie jumped to her feet. "I'm going to find Daddy."

  And I'm going to start dinner, and keep out of his way. She prepared a salad and tomato sauce while a package of chopped meat defrosted in the microwave. Leonie wandered in for a glass of juice, and stayed to help set the table. When the pasta was done, Ardin had Leonie call Brett to the table.

  "Just what I wanted, a home-cooked meal!" he declared. He rested his hand on her shoulder, sending her heart lurching against her ribs.

  "Sit down and dig in."

  She beamed as Brett and Leonie praised her cooking and took second helpings. She was glad Brett's dark mood had passed and he no longer seemed angry. Perhaps they could brainstorm later and come up with something they'd overlooked--a clue that might lead to finding Suziette's murderer.

  After dinner, she put the kitchen in order, and went into the family room. Leonie was dozing on Brett's lap, a thumb in her mouth, the other hand gripping Mr. Bonkers.

  "I think she's about had it." Brett stood up, cradling Leonie in his arms. "I'll get her ready for bed."

  Ardin opened her mouth to offer to do it, but Brett was moving toward the stairs.

  He has every right to take care of her. After all, he's lived with her for almost a year. This is his house. But all her reasoning couldn't dispel her sense of loss, that she wasn't putting Leonie to bed.

  Her spirits lifted when Brett asked her to come upstairs to say goodnight. Ardin kissed Leonie's baby-soft cheek, breathing in baby powder and shampoo.

  "Happy dreams." Reluctantly, she pulled out of Leonie's tight embrace.

  "See you in the morning, Cousin Ardin."