“Jimmy Mac!” She pounded on the door to his quarters, her fists stinging as they struck the wood. He came to the door in a flannel, three-quarters nightshirt and a plaid, Santa-style cap, his eyes groggy with sleep. Any other time, Julianna would have teased him about his sleeping attire, but not tonight. He squinted at her, then came wide awake when he saw the fear on her face.
“Girl, what is it?”
“Mother and Father!” She was panting, her breath hanging in the air. “They’ve been in an auto accident, Jimmy Mac. I have to get to the hospital.”
“I’ll drive you.” He reached to grab the keys off a hook next to the door.
“No, Cassie is midwifing at the hospital tonight, so I need you to watch Mari,” she said. “I can drive myself.”
“I’ll watch the baby,” he said. “But you ain’t driving yourself. Chester’ll take you.”
She nodded and started back for the house, calling as she ran, “Have Chester pick me up out front!”
Back inside Dreamland, she hurried out of her gown and into some clothes, not even noticing what items she was yanking from the closet. Jimmy Mac came inside and waved her on as he settled down in the rocker beside Mari’s crib. “Give ’em my best,” he said, “and tell Miss Audrey I’m puttin’ out more pansies tomorrow. The purple and yella ones she likes so much.”
Julianna smiled through her fear then hurried out to the waiting car. Chester drove fast, first along the country roads leading away from Dreamland and then through the city streets, all quiet and uncluttered in the dark hour. It was probably the quickest trip Julianna had ever made to town, but it seemed to be taking so long, so very, very long.
She dropped her head and prayed.
When they turned into the hospital entrance, she was opening the door before the car was stopped. Chester screeched to a halt before the emergency entrance and she jumped out then ran inside to the nurse sitting behind the admissions desk.
“My parents,” she gasped. “Richard and Audrey Sheffield. They were in a car accident.”
“I’ll tell the doctor you’re here.” The nurse rose from her chair and briskly disappeared behind a door, leaving Julianna in the waiting room to wring her hands. Within minutes, though, a doctor was walking toward her. She didn’t want to look at his face, terrified at what she might read from it.
We did everything we could . . .
No, she wouldn’t think that way. Not until she had to.
The doctor extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Dr. Lambert.”
“Julianna Drakeworth,” she said. “My parents are the Sheffields.”
He motioned toward a couple of vinyl chairs sitting against the pale-green wall. “Let’s have a seat.”
Stomach twisting, Julianna did as Dr. Lambert suggested. Sweat drenched her forehead and filled her palms. She took a deep breath before hearing what the doctor had to say.
“Your parents are very lucky.”
Relief. Complete relief. It washed over her like a rainstorm on a stagnant day, loosening the knot in her stomach, freeing the tension in her shoulders.
“Your father suffered the worst—a broken leg and a ruptured spleen. He’s in surgery to remove the spleen, and we expect a full recovery. I have to tell you, though, had a passing motorist not come by and noticed part of a guardrail was missing, well, your father might have died from internal bleeding.”
She shuddered at the thought. To lose her father now, just when he seemed to be trying to find his way to her. It would be a tragedy to never know what might have been.
“Your mother is pretty banged up and has a concussion, but she can probably go home in a couple of days.”
“Thank you,” Julianna said. “For everything. When can I visit them?”
“Oh, you can see your mother tomorrow during regular afternoon visiting hours. As for your father, possibly tomorrow night.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said. “Really good news.”
Dr. Lambert smiled as he stood up. “It’s the kind of news I like to give family members. Working with emergency cases, I sometimes have to relay the opposite.”
Still seated, Julianna looked up at him. “Do you have any details about the accident? I mean—what happened exactly?”
He shook his head. “I just see them after they get here,” he said, “but the police should be able to shed some light. You can also go straight to the source tomorrow and ask your parents.”
“Yes, I can.” She smiled, knowing how blessed she was by that.
Dr. Lambert excused himself, leaving her in the waiting room. She leaned her head against the wall, eyes closed, and was thinking of all that had happened in the past hour when a voice broke the quiet.
“Excuse me, miss? Ma’am?”
She opened her eyes, seeing a police officer standing before her, a notepad in hand.
“Are you a relative of the couple in the car accident?”
“Yes.” She sat up straight. “I’m their daughter. Can you tell me what happened?”
“We aren’t completely sure,” the policeman said. “From all appearances, it looks like they ran off Sugar Branch Road, hit a guardrail, and went down the gorge.”
“Who was driving?”
“We’re not sure of that, either,” he said. “They were both thrown from the car and rolled a good bit, so we won’t know until we talk to them.”
Julianna winced at the description he gave. She said, “It was probably Father behind the wheel. He usually drives when they go out.”
The officer sat in the chair beside Julianna, his forehead creased with concern. “Your mother was conscience for a few minutes in the ambulance.”
Julianna’s back stiffened. “Did she say anything?”
“Yeah, she told the attendant that another car was involved.”
“Another car?” Julianna was startled by the revelation.
“There’s no physical evidence that there was, but . . .”
“But what?”
“Your mother said that the other car being there wasn’t like an accident. She said the other car popped on its lights and shot across the bridge, like it had been waiting for them.”
Julianna felt herself turn clammy. Speechless for a few seconds, she looked helplessly about the room, as though the empty chairs might suddenly speak up and offer an explanation. Barely finding her voice, she stammered, “I . . . why, I can’t imagine. It sounds like a movie scene.”
“Do your parents have any enemies?” The officer wanted to know. “Somebody who’d want to hurt them?”
She didn’t even have to think about it regarding her mother. Her only enemies were a few bickering women at the country club who might not like her choice of doilies.
“What about your father?”
“Father can be a hard businessman. I’m sure he’s angered people over the years, but not enough to do something like this.”
The officer tapped his pencil on the notepad, then stuck it behind his ear. “All right then. The doctor said we can talk to your father in a few days and to your mother tomorrow. In the meantime,” he pointed to the badge on his shirt, “I’m Officer Jackson. The smallest detail can be invaluable, so if you think of anything that might help us . . .”
“I’ll call,” Julianna promised. “You can count on it.”
“Thanks, and good night to you.” He tipped the brim of his hat. “Glad your folks are going to be all right.”
After he left, she walked outside and waved to Chester, who was parked by the curb, about to nod off, his head bobbing toward his chest. When Julianna reached the car, he jerked awake, head snapping back like a soldier ordered to attention.
Feeling much better than when she had first arrived at the hospital, Julianna laughed and ran to the car, where she tapped on the window and said, “They’re going to be okay, Chester, but I’m going to stay awhile. Father is having surgery.” She explained their conditions then told Chester to go home, that she would call later. The long-time servant shook his
head and told her he would stay.
Sitting in the waiting room, though, her spirits plummeted as she recalled everything Officer Jackson had told her about the accident.
There was a frighteningly familiar ring to it. One that took her back to the sandy road in Ambrose Point, where Leyton had suddenly sped up behind her car.
Her breath caught. If he suspects that Father might be on to him . . .
Then she remembered Atlanta and the convention. It was a good thing for Leyton that’s where he was last night.
Julianna had to face Polli without the boost of her morning coffee. She was heading for the kitchen to make a cup when she came upon Polli sitting at her desk, looking bewildered.
“Where is everyone?” she asked when she saw Julianna. “This place is nearly deserted.”
Julianna ran a hand through her mussed hair. She had slept little last night, and it showed. “Oh, Polli, you don’t know yet, but my parents were in a car accident last night. They’re both in the hospital.”
“Ooh, that’s bad” was all Polli said. No inquiry into their well-being, not even a condolence.
“They should both recover,” Julianna said as she continued to the kitchen, wondering if Polli cared. Father had come out of surgery around three in the morning and was resting comfortably. She and Chester had left then, returning to Dreamland, where Julianna collapsed into bed, feeling like she could sleep for days. Her rest was fitful, though, despite the fatigue, and now Mari was awake and ready to start the day.
She poured herself some coffee and made a bottle for Mari. Carrying both, she was starting up the staircase when Polli called from her desk. “I guess this means I get the day off?”
“What?” Julianna stopped, one foot on the bottom step and the other braced on the floor.
“Well, you know, what with my boss being out and all.”
“Your boss is in the hospital,” Julianna said, so irritated that her hand tensed, causing the coffee cup to rattle on the saucer. “You could at least inquire about him.”
Polli shrugged, her face a blank. “If he was bad off, I figured you’d have said something.”
An exasperated half-laugh found its way from Julianna. Shaking her head over what seemed like a lost cause, she began to climb the steps. She paused at the turn and called to Polli. “Go ahead and leave, but do something first.”
“What?” It bordered on a whine.
“Call and cancel my father’s appointments for today.”
“Fine,” Polli grumbled as she reached for Richard’s appointment book. That was the last thing she felt like doing, what with being so sleepy and all. She had fretted all night about finding Leyton at home, had picked off her nail polish as she wondered when he might try to call her.
She was about to pick up the phone when it rang. She snatched the receiver and answered, “Mr. Sheffield’s office.”
“Good morning, Paulette.”
“Well, hi,” she said, so relieved that he had called. Even though they weren’t face-to-face, she couldn’t stop her hand from reaching up to smooth her hair. “How are you?”
“Bored. This convention is miserable.”
Her hand stopped patting and rested on the crown of her head. Maybe she hadn’t heard him right.
“What?”
“This convention is miserable,” he repeated. “I’m glad it’s nearly over.”
“Oh.” Hurt by the lie, it was all she could come up with.
“Are you okay, Paulette?” he asked. “You sound like a wounded puppy.”
No, I’m not okay, you lousy liar. You don’t know if that convention’s boring. You don’t know ’cause you aren’t even there. You’re sitting at home and I know it because Mitzi and me went by last night and saw your fancy car. Mitzi’s right about you married guys. Right as rain. That’s what she wanted to say, but she just couldn’t. Since when did Polli Raffton stand up to any fella, and especially one like Leyton? She didn’t want to be difficult.
“Paulette? What’s going on?”
She broke from her angry thoughts. “Well, um, something’s happened to my boss.”
“What? Tell me.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Sheffield were in a wreck last night.”
“A wreck? Where?” Polli could hear his rapid breathing through the phone. “How are they?”
“Okay, I guess. They’re in the hospital, but Julianna says they’ll recover.”
“You’ve seen Julianna?”
“Yeah, just a few minutes ago, here at the house.”
Leyton was muttering something she couldn’t make out. He was clearly upset.
“So, you’re still at the convention?” Polli asked.
“Yes, but I’m leaving right now,” he said. “Tell everyone that I’m on my way.”
“Sure.” She was solemn.
“I’ll give you a call when I get into town,” he said.
She perked up a little at that. Maybe the next time they talked, he’d fess up and tell her why he hadn’t been anywhere near that convention since last night.
Next time. As long as she was going to hear from him again, it would be all right. She could put up with anything, couldn’t she? Just as long as she knew there would be a next time.
Julianna appeared in the hallway as Polli was hanging up the phone. “Oh, Polli, one more thing before you leave.”
Polli didn’t answer but only looked at her, not bothering to hide how annoyed she felt.
“Please call my hus—Mr. Drakeworth and tell him about my parents. He’s at a convention in Atlanta. I’m sure you’ve got the particulars.”
“I’ve got ’em,” Polli snapped. “Anyway, he just called. Said he’s on his way home.”
Leyton gripped the bedsheet, not believing this. He had fully expected Julianna to be making funeral arrangements. Nobody survived Ghost Gorge, nobody. It was a pit, a death trap. The first thing to suffer Leyton’s wrath was his pillow. He ripped it apart, sending a poof of feathers falling to the bed. Next, the alarm clock exploded against the dresser mirror and forever marked it with a hairline crack. He slammed the nightstand lamp to the floor, overturned a reading chair, and knocked away everything on Julianna’s dressing table in one furious sweep. Perfume bottles and night cream, nail polish and other feminine frills clattered into a heap on the floor.
He kicked the vanity table, striking it hard enough to knock loose a leg and send a shattering pain radiating across the top of his shoeless right foot.
Swearing, he hobbled to the edge of the feather-scattered bed. Massaging his throbbing foot, he glared at the wall and did something he rarely found cause to do. He second-guessed himself.
What had he been thinking? He’d been a complete fool last night, acting out of panic and desperation. Now look where it had gotten him. He should have stuck to his careful planning. That had always paid off, hadn’t it? Last night, he had sought an immediate plan for getting Richard out of the way, and what could be better than a tragic accident with a permanent end? It would have helped Leyton avoid embezzling charges, and as soon as Richard’s will was read, he could have taken full power of the Sheffield goodies that would come to him by way of inheritance. If, of course, Richard had not already erased him from his will.
Until this moment, he had not even considered that possibility. His heart stiffened at the thought. He would have to go by Dreamland, woo his way past Polli, and get his hands on the will again. Knowing Richard and his fierce protection of the family’s wealth, his first move would be to cross out Leyton as an heir, along with blocking his access to everything at the bank. Maybe that was another reason why Richard wanted him out of town. Maybe he was setting up his demise, and the police were waiting to arrest him if he showed up at the bank where he’d been making his secret transactions.
But if the will showed that his inheritance was still intact . . .
Leyton felt better, not quite as self-doubting as he was a minute ago. Maybe, just maybe, he could still get what he needed. The accident may
have bought him some time to raise cash by selling stocks and closing the accounts of his bogus corporations. He was dying to get started, but he knew he couldn’t venture out until late morning, when there had been enough time for him to make the drive from Atlanta. No one could know he was already back, no one, just in case questions about another car being involved in the accident got sticky. Suppose the good boys in blue started to suspect it was more than a case of someone leaving the scene? Suppose they began to search for people who had motive for deliberately hurting the affluent Sheffields? Well, he didn’t want any questions raised about his whereabouts, and there wouldn’t be as long as he stayed smart.
Satisfied, he folded his arms across his chest, feeling confident once more. By this time tomorrow, he could cut ties with the Sheffields once and for all. They had just become more trouble than they were worth. He couldn’t resist smiling at the thought of being free of Julianna. No more keeping up appearances.
There wasn’t a soul—not a single soul—who could bring him down. Not him, the great Leyton Drakeworth.
Polli looked up to see Julianna coming down the staircase with a diaper bag slung over one shoulder and Mari balanced on her hip.
“Oh, I thought you had left a couple of hours ago. You sounded eager to take off.”
Polli shrugged. “I decided to stay till lunchtime. You know, to answer the phone.”
Julianna smiled her appreciation. “I’m going to drop the baby and a few things off with my friend, Virginia, then I’ll be going to the hospital.”
“Okay.” Polli watched her leave then sat back in her chair, lacing and unlacing her fingers as she nervously waited for Leyton to call. There must be a reason for him lying to me, she told herself for what seemed like the one-hundredth time. A really good reason.
Seeking the Shore Page 18