The Stepchild

by Joanne Fluke

  “That’s good,” Harry mumbled, taking his feet off the desk at last, and leaning forward to face Vivian. God, she was a beautiful woman. What a perfect wife for Doug.

  “I took a little trip up to San Francisco yesterday,” Harry said, stringing the hook. “While I was there, I stopped by to see how Kathi was getting along.”

  “Oh?”

  “At first, I was a little worried about her.” Harry cast out the line. “She looked a little under the weather.”

  Harry took time to light his cigar, carefully considering his next words. He had to be very careful how he phrased this. He didn’t want to alarm Vivian; he only wanted to see if she reacted to his precisely phrased comments.

  “She said she hadn’t been sleeping too well. Nightmares over midterms and stuff like that,” Harry went on, watching Vivian through half-lidded eyes. “You know how it is with college girls. She’s probably been running around all night and trying to study all day.”

  He definitely had Vivian’s full attention now. She was hanging on his every word.

  “Anyway . . . she decided not to stick around Berkeley during the break,” Harry continued. “She said she was going to visit a girlfriend of hers, Sheri something or other. Said you’d know who she meant.”

  The moment the words left Harry’s mouth, he wished that he could call them back. There was near panic in Vivian’s eyes now, and he could see the effort she was making to control herself.

  “Sh-Sheri?” Vivian repeated, choking over the name. “Oh! Well . . . perhaps it’ll do her good to get away for the break. Of course, Doug and I are disappointed that she’s not coming home, but things are pretty hectic around here. She’ll be better off getting away from things . . . getting away from anything connected with politics. Kathi’s been under a strain lately, helping out with the campaign on campus and being involved with that Child Care Center. She’s getting a 4.0 this semester so far, and that takes a lot of work too. She’s working too hard, Harry. I-I’m glad she’s spending the break with a f-friend.”

  Vivian’s mind was whirling a million miles an hour. Sheri? Surely Kathi couldn’t mean what it had seemed at first! Perhaps Harry had got the name wrong. He must have! Either that, or she’d met a new friend named Sheri. She had to get to a phone right away to call Kathi!

  “You know . . . I must be getting old or something.” Harry sighed, reeling in the line. “Doug called just a couple of minutes ago, and I completely forgot to tell him I’d seen Kathi. I should have told him.”

  “Oh! I-I’ll tell him, Harry!” Vivian said hastily. She had to keep Harry from discussing Kathi with Doug! This had to be handled very carefully, and her mind spun crazy circles as she grasped for an excuse that would sound reasonable to Harry. “I really wouldn’t mention that you’d seen Kathi, Harry,” Vivian said. “He’d get very upset that Kathi hadn’t called him herself to say she was going to visit a friend.” Vivian gave a little laugh that sounded terribly hollow to her. “You know how Doug’s been lately,” she went on. “He’s making mountains out of molehills, and he gets so terribly nervous when Kathi travels. You should have seen him when Kathi and I went to Europe a few years ago. He spent a fortune making transatlantic calls to make sure we were all right. He’s simply on pins and needles when it comes to Kathi, and it’s worse now that the pressure’s on. I’ll tell him, Harry. He might think there was something wrong if you mentioned that you saw Kathi. You know how worried he can get about her.”

  The words rushed past Vivian’s lips so quickly, that Harry could tell she was almost hysterical. He’d better drop this one in a hurry. He didn’t want Vivian to go off the deep end on him, too. He needed her for the campaign. It might have been a big mistake, mentioning Sheri, but at least he’d found out something. Vivian was hiding something from him, and she obviously was hiding it from Doug too.

  “Yeah, you’re right.” Harry sighed, leaning back in his chair again, seemingly accepting the wisdom of Vivian’s words. “You’re absolutely right, Viv. Maybe it’s best that I don’t even mention I saw Kathi. He might think there’s something wrong when there’s not.”

  “Exactly!” Vivian replied, a little too vehemently. “I think it was very nice of you to stop by to see her, but if you mentioned that she looked in the least bit tired or run-down, Doug would be convinced that she was really ill. Kathi will be fine, Harry, with a little rest at her friend’s house. She’s probably just been studying too hard. She knows how important her grades are to Doug.”

  “My lips are sealed.” Harry grinned, giving Vivian a conspiratorial wink. “The two of us are going to have to treat Doug with kid gloves, Vivian. He’s under a lot of pressure right now, and it’s up to us to make things as easy as possible on him, don’t you think?”

  “Yes,” Vivian said shortly. Pressure? She could tell Harry a thing or two about pressure right now! Doug wasn’t under half the pressure she was, but that was the way it would have to be. She could handle it . . . she’d always handled it. Doug would be protected from anything that might upset him.

  Vivian could feel the scream building up inside her as she sat in the cracked vinyl chair. She had to get away from Harry and go home where she could be alone and think. Sitting here with Harry made her desperately nervous. He looked different today, far different from the short, balding man she’d known for the better part of a year. His eyes were too wise, burning into hers like a bird of prey. He looked more like a detective on a homicide squad than a campaign manager. She had to leave. Her hands were shaking dreadfully, even though she willed them to be still. More than anything in the world, she wanted a tranquilizer.

  “Well, I’ve really got to run,” Vivian said, glancing at her watch pointedly, but not even noting the time. “I have an appointment in fifteen minutes. Was there anything else, Harry?”

  “No, but I’ll be in touch, Viv. Keep up the good work on those women’s groups. You’ve been more help than any other candidate’s wife I’ve ever handled.”

  Ordinarily, Vivian would have glowed at the unaccustomed praise. Today, she didn’t even seem to hear it. His mention of Sheri had really upset her. Now all he had to do was figure out why.

  CHAPTER 22

  Vivian climbed out of her car, leaving the keys absentmindedly in the ignition, a complete reversal of her usual caution. She had to get to a phone immediately and find out whom Kathi was visiting. Her legs were trembling as she let herself into the cool, air-conditioned house and listened for Sally.

  Vivian let out her breath in relief as she heard the reassuring sound of the vacuum cleaner coming from the family room. Sally was busy cleaning. She could slip upstairs and call Kathi, avoiding Sally completely. If she so much as let Sally see her face, the elderly maid would know that something was wrong, and then Vivian would be forced to lie about it.

  She didn’t even bother to take off her hat as she sat at the dressing table and dialed. Of course, Vivian knew she was overreacting, imagining that Kathi’s message had been some sort of signal that she had remembered. If Kathi had remembered any more about the accident, she would have called home personally. This would all be cleared up in a few seconds, just as soon as she got Kathi on the line.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, there’s no answer,” the operator said. “Most of the girls have left already for the break. Is there a message I can leave for Miss Ellison?”

  “No, no message.” Vivian sighed. “I’ll try again later, thank you.”

  Vivian longed to stretch out on the bed and sleep off her tension, but the way her heart was pounding, it would be impossible to take a refreshing nap now. She had to do something to calm herself down, and there was only one thing that would work.

  Vivian cast one glance at the large, soft bed and went on to the dresser, reaching for her bottle of pills. She shook two of the little blue pills out of the bottle and replaced it carefully in the drawer. Doug couldn’t find out that she was taking them again. It would be a dead giveaway that something was terribly wrong.

/>   She willed herself to be calm as she swallowed the pills with a small glass of water. Everything was going to be fine now. She would sleep for the rest of the day, but it was preferable to this damn nervousness. Vivian had just stretched out on the bed and closed her eyes when a knock sounded on the door.

  “Yes?” Vivian called out, pressing both hands to her forehead. Perhaps Sally just wanted to see if she was all right. She should have checked in with Sally immediately after returning to the house.

  “Mr. Doug called,” Sally reported, her words muffled through the heavy door. “He wants you to have dinner out tonight.”

  Vivian groaned. She couldn’t possibly make it now. She’d have to think of some excuse. Could she say she was too tired?

  “What time is he coming home?” she asked, holding her head a little tighter. “Did he say?”

  “He said about seven,” Sally replied. “He wanted to know if you had time to go out with an old boyfriend of yours, and then he laughed when I didn’t catch on right away that he was talkin’ about himself.”

  “All right,” Vivian answered, trying to make her voice sound normal. That did it! She really couldn’t refuse a special invitation like that. Obviously, Doug was counting on it.

  “I’m going to take a little rest before he comes, Sally,” Vivian said, grimacing slightly. “Will you take all my calls and wake me at six-thirty?”

  “Sure will, Miss Vivian,” Sally answered promptly. “Is there anythin’ I can get for you now?”

  “Nothing, thank you,” Vivian replied, struggling to a sitting position. She had to get out of bed before the pills started working. She waited until Sally’s footsteps had receded, and then rushed back to the bathroom to try to find the old bottle of pills that must be in there somewhere. Doug had been after her for years to throw out all the old prescriptions, but she never had. And now it was a good thing she hadn’t.

  Vivian searched until she found it: DEXEDRINE 15 MG. There were only five left, and she doubted that she could get any more. From what she’d heard, Dexedrine was one of the drugs being investigated by the federal narcotics people. The date on the bottle was six years old. If only they were still strong enough to pull her out of the fast-gathering numbness induced by the tranquilizers!

  Vivian sighed. She just had to be herself at dinner. Doug would have accepted an excuse, of course, but during the past few months he’d had so little time for her. When he arrived home he was usually exhausted, and their private life together had fallen off to nothing. This dinner date was a real occasion. The least she could do was sparkle!

  Her hand was shaking as she rolled two of the pills from the bottle. She hoped there would be no adverse reaction from taking the two different drugs at once, but she didn’t think such a small quantity would hurt. She just needed a little boost to wake her up and let her be witty and charming, the way Doug expected her to be.

  After the bottle of Dexedrine was safely replaced in the back of the cabinet, Vivian flopped down on the bed again. She had a few hours before Sally would wake her. If she was lucky, she could get a little rest so that she could manage to be herself tonight.

  Vivian sighed. The blue pills were beginning to work, and she felt drowsy. The Dexedrine probably wouldn’t have any effect for a while. She could enjoy her dreamlike relaxation until the Dexedrine jolted her awake.

  Even though Vivian’s body felt heavy and drowsy, her mind refused to stay quiet. There was something very pressing she had to do—something she’d tried to do earlier and failed to complete. What was it? Ah, yes, now she remembered. She had to get in touch with Kathi. She would try again right before dinner.

  “Later.” Vivian sighed, sinking a little deeper into her relaxed state. Right now, she didn’t want to think about anything unpleasant . . . anything frightening. In a few hours she would be Vivian again—strong and competent—the Vivian who had gumption.

  She closed her eyes and saw a long, white-tiled corridor stretching out in front of her eyelids. Shadowy figures in white were floating and whispering in muted tones.

  “Not yet, ma’am. There’s no word. The doctor expects some change in the very near future.”

  Doug’s voice now. “Has she come out of it yet, Viv? Can we see her now?”

  “Not yet, darling,” Vivian answered, her own voice fuzzy in her mind. “Soon . . . the doctor promised. Soon everything will be all right.”

  But it wasn’t all right. It would never be all right now. They had been so sure, or rather, she had been so sure. She had convinced Doug, and now she had only herself to blame if everything went wrong.

  * * *

  “Miss Vivian? It’s six-thirty, Miss Vivian, and you have to get dressed for dinner,” Sally called out cheerfully. “Just open those pretty eyes of yours and splash some water on your face, so you can be beautiful when Mr. Doug gets home!”

  “Yes, Sally . . . I’m awake,” Vivian answered groggily. She pushed her legs over the side of the bed and sat up blinking. She did feel better now, but not quite good enough. Doug would probably want to stay out late and talk to the right people at the club.

  There were still three of the little green and white Dexedrine capsules left in her bottle. Vivian hesitated for a moment, and then swallowed another. That left only two for emergencies. She would be fine tonight, a credit to Doug. The Dexedrine would see to that.

  Excitement rose like a tide in Vivian’s mind as she showered quickly and started to apply her careful makeup. She could handle anything as long as she felt this good. There was nothing too big for her to tackle. She’d have to see Dr. Connors in the morning and get another prescription for the Dexedrine capsules. He wouldn’t have the gall to refuse. After all, she was going to be the wife of one of the nation’s senators!

  CHAPTER 23

  Vivian would have preferred to make the call from a place more private than the lobby of the country club, but it couldn’t be helped. She had to contact Kathi.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am.” The switchboard operator sounded bored and a trifle irritated. “Miss Ellison doesn’t answer her ring. I can leave a message for her, but most of our girls won’t be back until after the break. Are you sure she was planning on staying at the dorm over the break?”

  “No, I’m not sure,” Vivian admitted. “I’ll try again later, operator. Thank you for being so helpful.”

  “That’s quite all right, ma’am.” The operator seemed mollified by Vivian’s thanks. Now there was a hint of friendliness in her voice. “Would you like me to send one of the staff up to check her room, ma’am? There might be a note or something.”

  “No, that’s not necessary,” Vivian answered quickly. It would never do to have Kathi find out that she had checked up on her. “I’ll try to reach her tomorrow, and thank you again.”

  Vivian hung up the phone and sighed. She could hear the music floating softly from the piano bar, but her favorite songs did nothing to elevate her spirits. She had to pull herself together before she went back to Doug. He was having a good time, chatting with friends, but she was still upset about Kathi. Why hadn’t she called home herself, instead of giving that scanty message to Harry? Was there really something wrong, or was it all in her imagination?

  “Viv!” Jerry Rasmussen lurched toward her, and Vivian stifled a groan. Jerry was feeling his drinks tonight.

  “Hello, Jerry.” Vivian managed a smile. “How are things at the bank?”

  “Auditors are due tomorrow,” Jerry mumbled, slipping a beefy arm around Vivian’s shoulder, which she couldn’t quite avoid. “You certainly look pretty tonight, Viv. If that old man of yours ever kicks you out, you know where you can go to get warm.”

  “Thanks, Jerry,” Vivian said sarcastically. “I needed that!”

  Jerry gave her a sharp look and cocked his head, but Vivian was already smiling again. He shook his head slightly and backed off, ambling away toward the piano bar again.

  Vivian frowned. Now what had got into her? She was never sharp with Jerry, e
ven though he disgusted her. Jerry was one of Doug’s staunchest supporters, but tonight she simply couldn’t be bothered with fat drunks making passes. Thank God, she wasn’t married to a man like Jerry! Lord knew what Marge Rasmussen had to put up with.

  There was one more thing to try, and Vivian dialed the number quickly, knowing that if she was gone too much longer, Doug would decide to come looking for her. The phone was answered on the third ring, just as she had instructed.

  “Ellison residence, Sally speaking.”

  “Sally? This is Vivian. Have any important calls come in?”

  “No, Miss Vivian,” Sally answered promptly. “Leastwise there wasn’t any calls that were really important. Mr. Taylor called to confirm your reservation at the Heart Fund luncheon, and Mary rang up a couple minutes ago to say she was havin’ bridge at her house on Wednesday, and could I go and help her out a little. That was all, Miss Vivian.”

  “Thank you, Sally.” Vivian sighed. She felt curiously deflated, as if all the sparkle had gone out of her, leaving her as limp as a punctured balloon, despite the pills she’d taken. She had been hoping that Kathi would call from her friend’s house, even though that was unlikely. Kathi didn’t call home often, but still, Vivian had been hoping.

  “Anything wrong, Miss Vivian?” Sally asked. “Were you expectin’ a special call?”

  “Oh . . . no, Sally,” Vivian said. “Nothing special. I just wondered, that was all. If you don’t mind helping Mary on Wednesday, you can call her back and tell her it’s fine with me.”

  “Oh, I don’t mind at all,” Sally quickly assured her. “I like helpin’ Miss Mary. Do you want me to call the club if any real important messages come in?”

  “Only if it’s a call from Kathi,” Vivian replied. “Then you can have me paged. Take her number, and I’ll call her right back. Have you got that, Sally?”