The Man Next Door
Ellen James
Ellen James writes with warmth, wit and style. I look forward to each new book.Debbie MacomberMichael Turner is the man next door and he's got problems!He's an ex-cop turned P.I., who's pretending to be a writer.His partnernormally the most rational of womenis pretending she's pregnant.His eleven-year-old sonwhom he lovesisn't pretending anything, but then, the boy's barely talking to him.His fatherwhom he loathes (no pretense here)is back in town.And to top it all, he's becoming dangerously attracted to the woman next door, a woman he's been paid investigate, a woman who just might be pretending that she hasn't murdered her husband.
Table of Contents
Cover Page (#ud6359783-a5d0-5bfe-95c1-25e69d203a19)
Excerpt (#uf53369cf-36b9-5b46-9601-e84a7c2ad870)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (#u503a45ac-579f-5305-93da-e28f5c6bdc2a)
Title Page (#u3b68787c-3b17-56ca-b07e-5aef66f882e4)
CHAPTER ONE (#u7dd8ea11-5899-52ed-a4f7-b46281b89c28)
CHAPTER TWO (#u63ae98d1-f33f-5dab-8d50-e14adfc283c4)
CHAPTER THREE (#ud87d0d55-8b3c-5785-a8e8-b8eb8637a3ef)
CHAPTER FOUR (#u5e6be1f2-4dfe-541e-8668-3688a9f25a28)
CHAPTER FIVE (#u2a023f12-3d27-559e-9f17-848d3a30a549)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Bennett casewe have a problem.
Donna, his partner, stared at him. Mike, I dont like the sound of this. You didnt kiss her again, did you?
Kiss her? he muttered. If only it was that simple.
Tell me that what Im thinking isnt true. For crying out loud, you cant be involved with this woman! Do you realize how crazy that is?
Hed asked himself the same question plenty of times since awaking that morning. Were not involved in the strictest sense of the word, he said. She told me to go to hell before breakfast.
Theres more, isnt there?
She knows were investigating her.
Mike! You just blew the case.
Except for one thing. I dont think Kim Bennett killed her husband.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ever since winning a national shortstory contest when she was in high school, Ellen James has wanted a writing career. The Man Next Door, Ellens fifth Superromance title, is actually her thirteenth romance novel, so Ellen obviously has her wish. Ellen and her husband, also a writer, share an interest in wildlife photography and American history.
The Man Next Door
Ellen James
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_cc484795-5734-5e21-a8ee-6c5d6cf1c770)
SHE FELL IN LOVE the first moment she saw him. He had curly brown hair tumbling over his forehead, dark brown eyes and knobby knees. His hands were tucked into the pockets of oversize shorts, and his hightop sneakers engulfed his feet, giving him a gangly look. He appeared to be all of ten years old. The expression on his young face wavered between trepidation and defiance.
Kim was careful to keep her own expression deadpan. She stood on the lawn beside her livingroom window, studying the shattered glass. She waited for the boy to speak, figuring that sooner or later hed have to explain himself. Surely it had taken courage for him to approach her; most kids would have run into hiding after breaking the neighbors window.
The ball wasnt supposed to do that, he said at last, making an obvious effort to keep his voice gruff.
I see, Kim said. It just sort of flew over hereon its own.
He shuffled from one foot to the other. Now he looked gloomy, as if determined to face the inevitable however much he dreaded it. Yes, he did possess a certain courage.
Kim supposed she could lecture him, but somehow she didnt have the heart. He seemed vulnerable in his baggy shorts and toobig Tshirt, as if lost inside his own clothes. Yet he would probably hate anyone thinking he was vulnerablethat hint of cocky defiance never quite left his face.
I should have had a son like this. The thought dismayed Kim, and she tried to battle the regret that swept over her. She reminded herself how impossible, how painful her marriage had become in the end. She ought to be grateful she and Stan had never had children. It would have been a disaster for everyone concerned.
But still the regret stayed with her, brought to life by this tousledhaired kid whod broken her front window. She didnt want to feel like this, didnt want the inconvenient tenderness he seemed to inspire. She moved away from the window and picked up her garden shovel.
The boy watched her closely, as if he still expected a lecture and couldnt leave until it was over with.
We only moved in two days ago, he said, perhaps hoping that would exonerate him.
Kim glanced across at the house next door. She knew shed retreated inside herself these past few monthsever since Stans death. Shed been only vaguely aware of new neighbors moving in. I havent met your mother yet, she said reluctantly.
The boy poked his toe at the ground. My moms not here. Shes in England. I have to stay with my dad. But just for the summer.
From behind Kim, another voice spokea mans voice, deep and unfamiliar.
Dont make it sound like a prison sentence, Andy.
The boy turned. Dad, he mumbled with a marked lack of enthusiasm.
Kim turned, too, and studied the childs father. The family similarities were striking; this was the man the boy would become. He was tall, lean in a way that hinted at strong muscles. He had dark rumpled hair and brown eyes the color of toffee. But they werent soft eyes; there was a hardness to them, something that put Kim on guard.
Michael Turner, he said. Your new neighbor. I believe youve already met my son. He gave only the briefest of smiles, just enough to hint at a few attractive crinkles around his eyes. Laughter lines, perhaps? Except that he didnt look like the kind of person who laughed readily.
Kim realized she was staring. But she didnt smile back at him. These past few months, shed lost the knack of smiling.
Yes. Andy and I have met, she said.
The boys gaze traveled guiltily toward the broken window. Michael Turner stepped over to inspect the damage.
Guess youd better explain, son, he said calmly.
Andys young face grew belligerent. You can see what happened, he muttered. Whats to explain?
Michael Turner drew his brows together and regarded Andy. His face was as expressive as his sonsKim caught a glimpse of exasperation and puzzlement in his dark intent eyes. But she saw something else there. She saw the love. In that instant, she sensed that this was a man who cared very much for his son. In the same instant, she realized that Michael and Andy Turner didnt know how to talk as father and son. They stood warily apart, as if unsure how to take the first step toward each other.
Kim gripped her shovel. Why did she feel such protectiveness toward a child shed only just met? And why did she want to tell Michael Turner that he ought to exercise his laughter lines a little more?
Kim pushed the shovel into the ground, wishing she could get back to work and forget about the two Turner males who had intruded on her life. But they would not be ignored. They remained in her yard beside the broken window.
Andy, Michael Turner said, you have an apology to make.
Andy stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets. Again he managed to look both stubborn and unsure at the same time. He didnt say anything, glancing covertly at his father now and then. Michael Turner gazed back steadily at his son. In the end, the man won out over the boy. Andy grudgingly addressed Kim.
Im sorry, he mumbled.
Kim leaned on her shovel and considered the situation. After a moment she shook her head.
Apology not accepted, she pronounced.
Both Turners stared at her. For this moment at least, they seemed united in their surprise at Kims words. Then Michael Turner frowned.
Son, he said, I think youd better run along home.
Andy hovered for a second or two. Kim suspected it had become a habit with him not to obey his father right awayperhaps as a point of honor. But at last he began sidling across the yard. He seemed about to go sprinting off when he gave Kim a glance. She felt it more than evera quick unreasoning affinity with this boy. And, from the brightness in his eyes, she knew he felt it, too. Then he turned and finally did go sprinting off, his toobig sneakers thumping over the grass. He reached the house next door and promptly disappeared around the side.
Kim took a deep breath. What was wrong with her? The boy had a mother, whether or not she happened to be in England. Kim was just the neighbor lady. If she had any misguided maternal instincts, she ought to forget about them.
She gripped her shovel again, but it seemed she still had Michael Turner to deal with.
So it wasnt the best apology in the world, he remarked. But it was an apology.
Not good enough, Kim said.
Ill repair the window.
Well, thats the point, she said. Dont you think Andy should be the one who does the repairing?
Michael Turner looked thoughtful. Are you telling me Im too lenient with my son?
Kim shrugged. I wouldnt know. Ive barely set eyes on the two of you. Im just telling you what my terms are.
He examined her with disconcerting thoroughness. So were negotiating, he said.
Something like that. Kim paused. She didnt like the way her gaze kept returning to this man, drawn by some enigmatic quality in him. He gave a disquieting impression of restrained power. Andy mentioned that your. uh, wife is out of the country. Maybe hes acting up because of that, who knows, but
Exwife, Michael Turner said impassively. And yes, Andy isnt too happy about being left with me for the summer. I think he made that pretty clear.
Kim wondered irritably why she was poking into Michael Turners personal life. Against her will, she found herself studying him more carefully. She supposed you could call him handsome, what with his strong features, his dark eyes under dark brows. You could certainly call him virile. But surely that was another knack that Kim had lost somewhere along the waythe ability to appreciate a goodlooking man. She didnt think shed be getting that one back anytime soon. All she felt right now was the dull, heavy emptiness that had become too familiar.
Kim glanced away from him. She focused on the bush shed been trying to unearth when that ball had come flying into her yard. Digging her shovel into the ground, she stood on top of it, centering her weight. Just a little more, and maybe shed finally get somewhere.
Youre doing that all wrong, Michael Turner said. The way youre tussling with that thing, youre liable to hurt yourself.
Kim wiped away a trickle of sweat with her gardening glove. I can manage.
Perhaps. But the bush cant.
She glanced at him sharply, unable to detect any humor in his expression. I dont usually attack shrubs, if thats what youre thinking. But this is a special case. She regarded the bush once more. It was an evergreen, limbs shorn naked except for three round tufts of greenery on top. The thing had always made Kim think of a spindly cheerleader waving pompoms in the air.
Michael Turner studied the bush, too. Sure is ugly.
Well, you understand then. It has to go.
Understand? he said, with a tinge of impatience. I understand that whoever trimmed it had a lousy eye and even worse execution.
My husband trimmed it, she said in a stern tone that surprised even her. Yet another reason why the damn things got to go.
Michael Turner continued to study the bush in a brooding manner. Its ugly all right, but what the hell. Ill take it off your hands.
You cant possibly want it, she protested.
A flicker of dissatisfaction showed in his face, as if hed had enough of both Kim and the bush yet a sense of duty impelled him to stayperhaps because his son had broken her window.
Youre right, he said gruffly. I dont want.it. But Ill take it, anyway.
Kim was intrigued in spite of herself. Ive heard of people taking home stray dogs, but stray shrubs? She glanced across at the rambling twostory house next door, impressive with its redtile roof and carved balustradesvery upscale for all that it was a rental. The yard had long ago been turned into a neatly maintained rock-and-cactus garden. You wouldnt have a place to put it over there. The owner doesnt like mess.
He nodded. Id already guessed as much. When I signed the lease, she threatened a lawsuit if I spill anything on the carpets.
Kim hesitated, but then she spoke. The owner also happens to be my mother-in-law.
She mentioned that, too.
Nobody could accuse Michael Turner of being loquacious. If he was curious about anything, he didnt let on. Kim suddenly felt a discontent she couldnt explain, and she jabbed her shovel into the ground again.
For eight years, Ive looked at this damn bush, she muttered. Thats about to change.
He didnt answer. With seemingly little effort, he managed to walk over to her and relieve her of the shovel. Kim felt a stirring of unease. Yes, there was an aura of power to this Michael Turner, as if he was accustomed to taking what he wanted.
Shed known, of course, that Sophie had been looking to rent the house next door. The last tenants had been a pleasant older couple, but theyd moved out more than a month ago. Her new neighbor, this Michael Turner, started digging around the shrub, every motion efficient and methodical. No show of brawn here; he was just getting the job done. Kim suspected he was the type of person whod always get the job done, whatever it happened to be. As he worked, his dark hair curled a little over his forehead. The way it refused to stay properly in place implied a certain unruliness.
Silently she cursed Sophie for renting to this man and his son. Of course, shed been cursing her motherinlaw for one reason or another these eight long years. Why should that change even now?
Kim felt a bitter sensation inside. She couldnt let herself think about Stan and all the rest of it. She couldnt let her anger out, that was for sure. Because if she ever started to let it out, who knew where shed end up?
Meanwhile, this stranger was digging up a bush in her front yard.
It was therapy, Kim said.
Michael Turner glanced at her, although he kept on working. It was remarkable how much progress hed made in just a few minutes.
Digging up the damn bush was therapeutic!
He glanced at her again, his dark eyes unreadable. And then, silently, he handed the shovel back to her.
Thanks for your help, she said.
He gave another faint smile. Why say it if you dont mean it?
Something to do with being polite. She worked the shovel into the ground.
Forget polite, he said. Youre not very good at it, anyway.
Kim wished she could start over with the man, maybe something on the line of Hello, neighborgoodbye. She dumped a shovelful of dirt beside her.
Funny, but my mother-in-law has a similar complaint about me. Says Im not nearly well mannered enough.
Do you listen to her?
Once again Kim couldnt detect any humor in his expression, just that hardness shed already sensed. Michael Turner, a man of stony edges.
Mr. Turner, she said, its been nice getting acquainted, but
Youre pretending to be polite again.
Shed scarcely met the man, but already he chafed at her nerves. It almost seemed as if he was doing it deliberately, to get a reaction from her. Kim wielded her shovel more forcefully.
Not very many people rent in this neighborhood, she said. Everyone here likes to think of themselves as the silkstocking type. Pride of ownership, the whole bit. Pretty snobbish, unfortunately
Why dont you come right out and ask what Im doing here? he suggested. The mildness in his tone sounded deceptive.
Hey, nobodys too sure I belong in this neighborhood, Kim said. Ive lived here eight years, and they still dont know whether to accept me or not. But thats beside the point. Im just saying you seem more like the homeowner type yourself.
Really.
Yes, really. She was lying. For all that he was a father, Michael Turner didnt look like the kind of person who would settle down behind a white picket fence. He had a watchfulness about him, like someone who always had to be on his guard, someone who perhaps wouldnt stay in any one place for very long. Certain details about him she couldnt seem to fit anywhere, such as that he was home in the middle of a weekday. Other men on this street worked long hours as lawyers or business executives to afford the lifestyle of the neighborhood.
Okay, Kim said, giving in with a sigh. What are your credentials, Mr. Turner? Whats your. line of work?
He paused just a second before answering. Im a writer.
He didnt look like a writer, Kim thought. It seemed too tame an occupation for him.
What kind of writer?
Again the slightest pause. Mystery.
That made sense, anyway. Well, Kim said inadequately. Sounds.interesting. Not that Im trying to be polite.
He remained inscrutable. As long as were swapping credentials, its your turn.
Kim realized shed forgotten to shovel, so she got to it again. I dont have any credentialsunless you count my marrying into the Bennett clan. Not that the Bennetts count that in my favor. She didnt want to talk anymore. She just wanted this wretched bush out of her life. She toiled away, exposing the roots. They looked stunted, shriveled, as if they hadnt found enough nourishment in the dry Arizona soil. Kim almost started to feel sorry for the bush, and that worried her. Shed always hated itwhy change her mind now?
She was hoping Michael Turner would simply turn and walk away; surely shed made it clear she wasnt one for cheery conversation. But he just stood there, observing her as if he couldnt believe this was how she handled a shovel. Kim was annoyed, yet she also felt something elsea skittering awareness along her spine. She didnt think she could ever relax around a person like Michael Turner. She certainly wasnt relaxing now.
The heat of the sun pressed down on her, and his gaze pressed on her, too. At last she stopped attacking the bush and stared back at him in exasperation.
Let me guess, she said. Youre going to remind me that Im doing it all wrong.
His expression was serious. I just wondered if it was workingthe therapy part.
No. Its not. She jabbed the shovel into the ground and kicked it, stubbing her toe. She held in an expressive oath. So much for sneakers. Next time she worked in the yard, it had better be boots.
Michael Turner came over next to her, just as he had before, and took the shovel.
Maybe its time for a different tactic, he said.
His nearness was disconcerting. Not that it lasted long, though. He moved a few steps away and resumed his own shoveling.
I was doing just fine Kim began.
I dont think so, he said. Id say you were digging at more than this bush. Somethings obviously bothering you. Maybe you should figure out what it is before you really hurt yourself.
His confident attitude was irritating, but what could he possibly know about her? Im not trying to get out my aggressions, if thats what you think, she protested. Its not like that at all.
Somethings got you riled up. He continued deepening the trench around the bush. Kim frowned at him, wondering why she felt the need to justify herself to this man. But then she just let him dig. She sat down on the low adobe wall that surrounded her yard, pulling off her gloves and smoothing the damp hair away from her face. Boots werent the only equipment she needed. A gardening hat might be in order, the floppy straw variety. Kim was learning as she went along. After Stan, it was all learning.
Again the anger stirred inside her, unpredictable and treacherous. Taking another deep breath, she centered her gaze on Michael Turner. He seemed comfortable working, in spite of the heat. Hed rolled up his shirt sleeves, his arms the natural tan of someone who didnt fear the sun.
Shouldnt you be off writing a scene or whatever? she asked.
Itll keep.
She ran her hand over the rough surface of the wall. Whats it about? Your latest mystery, I mean.
He stopped shoveling for a minute, his dark eyes on Kim. A woman, he said.
She wished his gaze wasnt so intent. Thats not saying much. What kind of woman? Who is she? Michael studied Kim for a long moment. She has brown hair. Not just browntheres some blond mixed in. Goldbrown, Id say. And blue eyesvery blue. She likes wearing Tshirts and khaki shorts.
Kim stiffened. She didnt have to be a genius to realize Michael Turner had just described her. Amusing, she said after a short pause. But now tell me what your heroine really looks like.
I did tell you. He went back to shoveling.
Kim thought about the way hed looked at her just nowso analytically, yet with a spice of masculine appreciation. Thered been something else in his gaze, too, something she couldnt define. It sent a disturbing ripple through her.
You cant just do that, she said.
Do what? He went on working imperturbably.
You cant make your heroine look like. me.
He glanced at her. You make it sound as if you have a patent on goldbrown hair and blue eyes. And freckles.
Immediately she felt selfconscious. There arent that many freckles.
Whats wrong with freckles? he asked in a reasonable tone.
Somehow theyd gotten offtrack here. Mr. Turner, you must be a peculiar sort of author. Youre writing about some woman, and you dont even know what she looks like.
I just described her. That should do. He sounded oddly grudging, as if he didnt want his heroine to give him too much trouble. By now hed dug all the way around the bush. He began rocking it back and forth, chopping at the roots underneath with the tip of the shovel until eventually it came free of the ground. As he pulled it up, Kim saw the dirt clotted to the sickly roots.
It needs to be put out of its misery, she said. Theres no point in trying to save it.
Lost causes are my specialty, he remarked sourly.
The whole situation seemed absurd to Kim. Shed just wanted to get rid of the damn evergreen. Now, because of Michael Turner, she felt guilty, as if she hadnt given the bush a fair chance.
Mr. Turner, she began, and then stopped herself. She didnt even know what she had to say to the man.
Gardening is supposed to be therapeutic, he told her. I dont think you have the hang of it yet, but if you need any tipsIll be around. He started back toward his own yard, only to stop. Dont worry about your window. Ill take care of it. Andy and I will take care of it, he revised. Then he did walk away, carrying the bush with him, its tufty green pompoms wagging pathetically in the air.
Kim watched until Michael Turner disappeared around the back of his house, taking the same route Andy had earlier. When she could no longer see him, she surveyed the damage around her: the shattered front window, the gaping hole in her lawn. She wished the two Turner males hadnt moved in next door. Of course Kim had wished for a lot of things latelylike a divorce, instead of a murdered husband. Not that wishing had done her any good.
She stared at that raw hole left in her onceneat yard. It made her feel regretful, but only for an instant.
Surely the time for regrettingand wishingwas past.
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_4a4452ce-49e1-5b66-b677-6698d13dc1bb)
MICHAEL SAT in his Jeep across from the public library. He took a sip from his Coke, but the ice in the cup had melted a long time ago. It was a hot, oppressive afternoon, nothing unusual for a Tucson summer. Idly he glanced at his watch again. Kim Bennett had been in the library for an hour and twentytwo minutes.
Michael considered what he knew about her so far: Kimberly Marie Lambert Bennett, born in Pinetop, Arizona. Her parents had owned a small restaurant, but her mother had died under questionable circumstances when Kim was twenty. Kim had moved to Tucson immediately afterward, taken a secretarial job at Bennett Investing, Inc., and married the boss three months later. Now, at twentynine, she was the very wealthy widow of Stanley Evan Bennett.
Those were only the dry, straightforward facts, of course. Michael had always been interested in the less tangible aspects of a casethe thoughts and emotions of a suspect. Those were hidden; you wouldnt find them on a computer data base or in a file on someones desk. You had to speculate, use your imagination, ponder a little. And Michael had definitely been pondering Kim Bennett.
This morning he hadnt met her exactly the way hed intended; your sons pitching a ball through the neigh bors window was one of those unforeseen events of parenthood. Hed had no alternative but to follow Andy across the yard and introduce himself. Right away hed been able to tell that something was bothering the widow Bennett. Shed handled that shovel as if shed wanted to bury something, not merely dig up a bush. Thered been a haunted look in her eyes. He didnt need to be a detective to have seen that much.
But the questions still remained unanswered. What was it that made Kim Bennett look tormented? Sorrow, grief over a dead husband? Or was it guilt? Had she killed him, after all?
Michael shifted position, taking another sip of Coke. Wealthy widowmurderermaybe both. Not to mention loyal patron of the local library. Shed been in there almost an hour and a half now.
Michael pictured her: sunstreaked hair, vivid blue eyes, dusting of freckles across her pretty nose. An attractive woman, Kim Bennett. Very attractive. Maybe even beautiful.
He reminded himself that she was just a case he was working on. He didnt need to get carried away. Maybe he really could do with more of a social life. Since the divorce, he hadnt dated a lot. Okay, make that no dating. He was out of practice with women, and maybe that was why Kim Bennett looked so good to him. He sure as hell hoped that was the only reason.
Just then his partners van pulled up; she was right on schedule. After a moment Donna climbed out, moving slowly. Her blouse billowed over the bulge of her stomach, and she walked with that telltale waddle of a pregnant womanas if her back ached and her feet were made of stone. Opening the passenger door of the Jeep, she slid in beside him. She didnt say anyting, just sat there for a second or two, her hands resting on the swell of her stomach. Then, with a grimace, she reached under her blouse, pulled out a small weighted pillow, alias baby, and tossed it into the back seat. Michael observed her gravely.
So, he said, still havent told her, have you?
Donna gave him a withering glance. Does it look like Ive told her?
He didnt say anything. Donna let out an explosive sigh.
What kind of idiot am I, anyway? she muttered.
Again, silence was the only diplomatic answer. Donna gave another sigh, a heavy one.
Think about it, she said. Is this the act of a rational woman? Pretending to be pregnant for my blasted mother-in-law?
Michael settled back in his seat. Hed been through this before.
And for that matter, Donna said, what kind of man did I marry? What kind of man, just out of the blue, tells his mother that his wife is expecting when she isnt?
Michael almost felt sorry for Brad. The guy was going to pay for this one, big time.
Okay, so she wants a grandkid. Is that any reason to invent one? Heck, why not just tell her Im having triplets!
Michael swirled the Coke in his cup. He sure couldve used some more ice.
Donna groaned. For crying out loud, I dont even know how pregnant Im supposed to be. Four months? Five months? Three?
Michael thought it over. Id say that pillow is a good five months along.
Donna scowled at him. Oh, I could throttle Brad! Mom, guess what, were pregnant. Hah. Whats this e stuff? I dont see Brad carrying a pillow around in his pants, do you?
No, Michael said solemnly, I dont.
She rubbed her hands through her hair. Just tell me. What kind of idiot am I to go along with this for even a minute? Id really like to know.
Michael finished his Coke. Perhaps it was time for a real answer. Id say you were just trying to be nicein the beginning, at least. Trying to spare the feelings of an aging woman who dreams about grandchildren. As for now, thoughId say you have a husband who doesnt know how to stand up to his mother. And Id say youre starting to get into this pregnancy thing, too. You already have the walk downthats a good touch.
She stared at him. You cant possibly think Im enjoying myself.
Michael wished he could stretch out his legs more. Such were the hazards of a stakeoutsore butt and muscle cramps. Maybe youre just trying it on for size, he told Donna. Trying to figure out what it really would be like to have a kid.
She looked peeved. Thats ridiculous. Brad and I dont want children. Not for a very long time, anyway. Suddenly she didnt seem to want to talk about it anymore. She snatched up Michaels log sheet and scanned it.
Exciting day, I see. Ms. Bennett went to the grocery storethe bagel shop. the drycleaners. My, sure signs of criminal activity. And now shes at the library of all places. Scary, indeed. Should we call for backup?
This was the Donna he knew best: sassy, sarcastic, outspoken. He settled more comfortably in his seat.
You forget, he said, we no longer have backup. Its just you and me.
Donna plopped her feet on the dashboard. I do forget sometimes, she admitted. You cant be a cop for ten years and not have it ingrained. Sometimes I actually miss the uniform.
Donna always had liked the uniform. Even after shed made detective, shed grumbled about having to give up her cap and her billy club.
Michael gazed across at the library. Maybe Kim Bennett liked to read. Or maybe shed just wanted to get out of the heat. Either way, shed been in there awhile.
Sometimes it still seems strange, Donna said. You and me private investigators. Doesnt it seem strange to you?
The back of his shirt was damp, sticking to the upholstery. Its a job, he said.
Were selfemployed, anyway. And the moneys good. We make a whole lot more than we used to.
Cant argue with that, he said briefly. People were willing to pay exorbitant sums to have their husbands or business partners or employees tailed.
You know, Mike, you never talk about the old days, Donna remarked. Its very annoying. Who else am I going to reminisce with?
Theres no point in looking back, he said after a moment.
You do miss being a cop, she persisted. I wish youd just admit it.
He moved restlessly. This was Donna, too: always wanting to dredge up memories. But hed left the police department because it was the only wise choice. Now it was up to him to make his new life work. Hed damn well make it workand that meant leaving a whole lot behind.
Okay, so youre telling me to mind my own business, Donna said imperturbably. But someday youll have to talk about it. The good parts and the bad, too.
Give it a rest, he said.
And people think Im touchy. She swung her feet down from the dashboard and grabbed her pillow from the back seat. Clutching it to her, she glared at Michael. Dont say anything. Just dont.
He lifted his hands. Not a word.
Still glaring at him suspiciously, she opened the door of the Jeep. Its time for me to clock in. Ill take over and do a wonderful job of following Ms. Bennett. Too bad she never goes anywhere exciting.
Maybe shell surprise us, Michael said. He had a feeling the lovely widow Bennett might be full of surprises.
Donna started to climb out, but then stopped. Mike, she said, do you really think she did it? Do you think she killed her husband?
Again a picture of Kim Bennett materialized in his mindher blue eyes the color of shadow over sea, the reckless tumble of her hair about her shoulders. but, most of all, the haunted expression on her face.
I dont know, he said at last, reluctantly. I sure as hell dont know.
A SHORT TIME LATER Michael pulled up at the community center. It was an older building in downtown Tucson, adobe walls stuccoed a startling shade of lavender. The place wasnt easy to miss, you could say that much for it. Built onto the side was the new brick gym funded by the Police Athletic League. It seemed an unlikely combinationlavender adobe and redbrickbut Michael had been right in the middle of those fundraising efforts, and he liked the way the place had turned out: oddball, perhaps, but sturdy. Maybe he wouldnt admit as much to Donna, but hed missed being around here this past year.
He got out of his Jeep and walked along the border of palm trees until he reached the gym entrance. He hesitated for just a moment, then pushed the door open and went inside.
He saw Andy right off, sitting on the bleachers, in a huddle with a couple of his friends from the old days. Andy seemed distracted, as if only pretending to listen to the other kids. As usual, he wore a vaguely tense expression. But why should an eleven-year-old look tense? It was a question that had been bothering Michael more and more lately. He wanted his son to be happy. carefree. Wasnt that what childhood was all about? Perhaps Michaels own longago childhood hadnt measured up, but that was all the more reason he wanted something good for his son.
When Andy glanced over and saw Michael, his expression changed. It went from tense to guardednot much of an improvement. He slid away from the bleachers and crossed the gym. He moved at a normal pace, but somehow gave the impression he didnt want to be walking toward his father. Maybe it was the way he dragged his duffel bag along the floor.
Hey, Dad, he said when he reached Michaelnot the most enthusiastic greeting a father had ever heard.
Howd it go this afternoon? Michael asked.
It was okay. I guess. Again, Andy spoke with all the enthusiasm of Daniel to the keeper of the lions. Michael had the urge to reach out his hand and rumple Andys hair, the way hed done when his son was younger. But he knew instinctively to stay the impulse.
You guys get in some basketball? he asked, instead.
I suppose so. if you wanna call getting our butts kicked forty-four-zip playing basketball. The court was tied up, so we had to play against four older kids. It really sucks, being short.
His son, a cynic at age eleven? Butts. sucks. Your mother would have my head if she heard you using language like that when Im in charge.
Andy looked embarrassed. Its not, like, a problem or anything. I was just. you know, talking. Besides, you talk a lot worse than I do.
So maybe well make a deal, Michael said reasonably. I clean up my language, you do the same with yours.
Andy didnt seem particularly thrilled with the prospect, and he said nothing in reply. Still dragging his bag, he shuffled out the door of the gym.
Michael followed his son to the Jeep and watched him climb into the passenger seat. Then he went around and got into the drivers side. Starting the engine, he glanced over at Andy.
Fasten your seat belt, son.
This things got air bags, doesnt it, Dad? Andy muttered. A second or two later he snapped the belt into place, but he managed to make it seem a gesture of defiance.
It hadnt always been like this. Thered been a time, before the divorce, when Michael and Andy had shared a quiet, comfortable camaraderie. So much had changed since thentoo much. Michael felt the grim edge of regret. For Andys sake, he would go back and do it over if he could. And he wouldnt make the same damn mistakes.
Michael pulled out into the traffic. Andy leaned toward the dashboard and turned on the radio. He switched from one frequency to another until he came to the oldies station. He cranked that one up on high and slumped back in his seat. Andys logic was all too apparent: find Dads favorite music, blast it through the speakers and hope itd keep him occupiedanything to avoid the need for conversation.
Michael reached over and turned the music down. How was it today, being back?
Nothings different, Andy mumbled. Dougs still a jerk. Erics still a whiny ass.
We have a deal, remember? Michael reminded him. Watch the language. Besides, you always used to like Doug and Eric.
No, I didnt. I just had to hang around with them because their dads were cops, too. But youre not a cop anymore. So why do I have to go down to that shstupid community center?
Theyd reached a stoplight and Michael studied his son. He saw the belligerence in Andys expression, but also the uncertainty. Andy was probably wondering if hed pushed it too far this time.
I thought maybe youd have fun, Michael said.
Im not going again, Andy muttered.
The light turned green and Michael pressed his foot on the gas. Hed hoped that Andy would enjoy seeing some of his old friends, but maybe that was unrealistic. Andy had started a new life when hed moved across town with Jill. Another school, another neighborhoodthose were big adjustments. And Michael knew firsthand how difficult it was to try visiting a life youd left behind. Whenever he dropped in at the station house, he felt like an outsider, even with guys whod been his closest friends for years. Michael had taken to dropping in less and less.
Maybe well join a pool, he said now. Get in some swimming together.
Its not like you have to entertain me or anything, Andy said in a low voice. I can make do on my own.
Ive been looking forward to spending time with you, Michael answered. He paused, then went on, Andy, I know things have been. difficult. But now that youre spending the summer with me
Its no big deal, Andy said quickly. The only reason Im staying with you is ause Mom had to go on that lousy trip. Its not like its supposed to be this way.
Michael wished he knew the right wordsones that would convince Andy exactly how much this summer really did mean.
Your mom wanted to take you along, he said at last. Im the guy who convinced her you should bunk with me, instead. Itll be a whole lot better than just seeing you on the weekends.
Sure, Andy said. Id much rather stay in this crummy town than be at some castle in England. Who wouldnt? Again the defiance mixed with uncertainty. But Andy had to know hed pushed it too far this time. And where the hell had he learned that sarcasm?
Easy, Michael told himself. He realized his son was testing him. The worst thing he could do right now was show anger. He and Andy would have to take this a little at a time, figuring things out as they went along. The answers just werent readily apparent.
Michael grimaced to himself. When hed been a police detective, hed faced plenty of unanswered questions. It had taken a mix of imagination and careful procedure to chase down the answers. He supposed he used that same combination in his new work as a private investigator. But when it came to his son these days, Michaels imagination seemed to fail him, and he didnt know what procedures to use. He was damn well lost.
It had been almost a year since the divorce, a year of picking Andy up every three out of four Friday afternoons and delivering him back to Jill every three out of four Sunday evenings. An arrangement like that wasnt exactly conducive to fatherson bonding. But then Jill, a graduate student in art history, had received a grant to study in England over the summer. Shed planned to take Andy with her, until Michael had suggested a different idea: Andy could live with him for the three months shed be gone.
Jill, of course, had taken her time making a decision. But at last, with a great show of reluctance, shed agreed to leave Andy in his sole care while she went off to England. Michael had taken her to the airport a couple of days ago, listening all the while to a litany of instructions. Jill had conveniently forgotten that during their marriage hed been a capable enough father. It was only more recently that he seemed to have lost the parenting knack.
But here they were now, he and his son. Their time together had only just begun, and already the discomfort between them had grown. Not to mention that Andy had already made it clear he was going to be a smart ass.
Smart aleck, Michael amended. Hed made a deal with Andy, and hed damn welldarn wellhave to clean up his own language.
After a short while they turned into the secluded neighborhood where theyd be spending their summer. Lush orange trees lined the streets, and the large houses were built in quaint Southwestern style, with thick plastered walls, deepset windows, bright shutters, here and there a ramadaa rustic wooden porch covered in vines. Inside, however, would be all the modern conveniences. The people who lived around here werent the type to do without walkin closets, Jacuzzis and sunken tubs.
Michael pulled up at the house he and Andy were sharing. It was much too big for the two of them. Too big, too plush, too everything.
Well, here it is again, he said, his jocular tone not quite coming off. Home, temporary home.
Andy glanced at the place skeptically. Yeah, right. Whatd ya do, Dad, rob the First National?
Michael knew he had to be careful about what he said next. There was only so much he could tell Andy, but he disliked lying to his son.
Its only for the summer, he said. You know I dont live like this all the time. Involuntarily his gaze went next door. Kim Bennett hadnt returned yet. Without her Jaguar parked in its usual spot, he had a clear view of her house and could see the cardboard shed taped up over the broken windowpane. Michael had already checked around, trying to locate someone who could deliver just the right glass. So far no luck.
Andy followed the direction of his gaze. That lady lives all alone, he said.
Kim Bennett definitely seemed the solitary type. Maybe she likes it that way, Michael said.
Andy didnt say anything for a long minute. The two of them just sat in the Jeep, sharing the same space but nothing more. The tension between them remained.
What the hell are we doing here, anyway? Andy muttered.
Andy
What the heck are we doing? He managed to sound surlier than ever.
I thought I already explained all that, Michael said. Im housesitting for an acquaintance. Meanwhile, you and I might actually have a good time together once you take off the boxing gloves.
Andy didnt look convinced. He just looked suspicious. Michael wondered what Jill would say if she knew he and Andy were living next door to a murder suspect. On second thought, he knew exactly what Jill would say.
But Michael had realized that if he didnt see Andy for three whole months, the distance between them might become irrevocable. That was a chance he just couldnt take. If it meantAndy getting a little too close to his work, that couldnt be helped. After all, one of the reasons Michael had quit the police department was so he could spend more time with his son.
Andy, he said now, it really can be a good summer. Just give me a break now and then, and Ill do the same for you. And. be careful, like we discussed.
I know the routine, Andy muttered. Im not supposed to tell anybody you used to be a cop or that now youre a spy.
Private investigator, Michael amended.
Yeah, well, what does it matter, ause I cant tell anybody. Andy made it sound as if he wished his dad had an ordinary job, like an accountant or a salesman.
Andy, I want you to be careful in other ways, too.
Like what? he asked, looking more skeptical than ever. Michael considered telling him the truth. Dont get too close to the pretty lady next door, because she may very well be a murderer. But for Andys own protection, Michael couldnt go that far.
Just stick close to me and do what I tell you without putting up a fight all the time.
Andy had that expression on his face again: willfulness, perversity and, underneath, an undeniable wariness. Why should any kid be wary around his own dad? That was what got to Michael the most.
You know, he said quietly, you could try at least a little, Andy. Im not the bad guy here.
Andy kept his mouth clamped shut. The belligerence didnt leave him, but he truly was small for his age, and at this moment he looked much too fragileall spindly arms and legs, ears poking out beneath his curly hair, an undersize kid struggling to protect himself with a cheeky attitude he couldnt quite pull off.
At last Michael could no longer resist. He reached out and placed his hand protectively on Andys shoulder.
Im on your side, son.
Andy pulled away. He still didnt say anything, just stared straight ahead with that stubborn tilt to his chin, but the message came through. At eleven years old, he didnt want anything to do with his father.
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_3bf0529b-30d9-5284-b6d5-54445832cc3c)
BEFORE SHE COULD LOSE her nerve, Kim walked right up to Michael Turners front door. She rang the bell not once, but twice, as if to demonstrate her own courage. Unfortunately she didnt feel courageous. She just felt foolish.
No answer cameno Michael Turner appeared. Maybe it wasnt too late for Kim to change her mind, after all. She hovered on the porch, considering the possibility of dashing back to her own house. Shed actually started down the porch steps when she heard the door open behind her.
She turned around slowly. And there he was, leaning against the jamb, his pose relaxed yet still managing to convey a certain watchfulness. Shed met him only this morning, yet she found herself learning his features all over again. Her gaze lingered on the stern line of his brow, the firm set of his mouth, the dark hair curling over his forehead.
Ms. Bennett, he said. Let me guess. You want your bush back.
Kim flushed. Of course not. Although I dont know why on earth you took it or what youre going to do with it.
Apparently he didnt care to enlighten her. He just stood there leaning in his doorway, observing her with subtle amusement. He didnt smilenothing so overt as thatbut still she had the uncomfortable suspicion he found her humorous.
She heartily regretted the impulse that had brought her over here. She knew she ought to make up some excuse or other and then return as quickly as possible to the safety of her house. But a contrary pride made her stay where she was. At last Michael stood aside from the door.
Come in, he said.
Kim hesitated only a second or two. If she was going to make a royal fool of herself, she might as well go all the way. She brushed past him, stepping inside the house.
Evening light spilled over the Mexican tiles of the entryway and burnished the oak floors of the living room beyond. Kim had been in the place a few times before, calling on the previous tenants. The furnishings were the samesofa and wall hangings in desert hues of sage and siennabut already Michael and Andy had managed to leave their own imprint: books scattered on the carved chest that served as a coffee table, a single shoe cast off by itself in a corner, a shirt dangling from a chair post. It seemed the two bachelors were settling in.
Wheres Andy? she asked.
Michael gave her a look of mock disappointment. You only came to see my son?
Not exactly, she said, feeling even more ridiculous about coming over here. What had gotten into her? Usually she was so much more selfassured. All those years of playing hostess at Stans dinner parties had at least taught her to pretend sophistication. Why was she unraveling now?
Michael spoke. After supper, a few kids from the neighborhood came by and invited Andy for a game of kickball. Maybe hell make some new friends.
Just as she had that morning, Kim sensed Michaels concern for his son. She heard it in his quiet tone and saw it in the troubled expression that crossed his face.
Some nice kids live on this block, she said. Im sure Andy will do fine.
Parenthood doesnt make you sure of anything, he answered.
I guess I wouldnt know. Kim tried for a light tone and failed. Stan and Iwe never had children. Now her dead husbands name seemed to weight the air. It brought too many memories with it, such as the humiliating reason she and Stan hadnt become parents. Futilely Kim tried not to remember all the secret shame. The silence only grew heavier.
Michael Turner didnt make things any better. He didnt ask for explanations, didnt try to cover up the empty spots in the conversation. He stood there, regarding her silently. But that couldnt be a hint of compassion in his eyessurely not.
Do you know about Stan? she asked, her throat tight. About the way he died. When my motherinlaw rented the house to you, she must have said something. She cant stop talking about him.
Michael didnt speak for a moment. Then he nodded, almost with reluctance. Yes. She told me.
Maybe it was pity she saw in his expression. She couldnt tolerate that, and she needed somethinganythingto distract her. Operating on a hunch, she crossed the living room, found a button under one of the wall hangings and pressed it. Smoothly and soundlessly, a portion of the paneling opened up to reveal a bar, complete with pitchers, decanters, ice bucket and tongs. She glanced at Michael.
I have one just like it, she said. Both these houses were built at the same time, and I always wondered. Well, the people who lived here before were a very sedate older couple. I couldnt very well ask them if they were hiding liquor behind the wall. Kim listened to herself, feeling more absurd than ever. Im trying to say that I dont usually go snooping around the neighbors
Dont let me stop you, Michael said. Your mother-in-law said something about a bar, but I never did find it. He stepped next to her and picked up a bottle of vermouth. Care for a drink?
Thats not why I came, she said.
Have one, anyway. He took ice from the small fridge, mixing vermouth and whiskey. Kims gaze lingered on him again. This evening he wore a polo shirt and jeans, and they subtly emphasized his lean yet powerful build. He finished the drinks and offered her onea Manhattan. Automatically she reached out and took it from him. As she did so, her fingers brushed his. That accidental touch evoked a flicker of warmth inside her, like the quick flare of an ember before it died. Kim had to remind herself that shed lost the talent for appreciating a goodlooking man. That wasnt going to change just because Michael Turner had moved in next door.
She held her drink without sipping it and examined the wellstocked bargin, scotch, sherry, tonic water, even a jar of stuffed olives.
How very thoughtful of my mother-in-law, she said. Shes supplied you with everything. What did you do to get her approval?
Michael was impassive. Cant say, but I refused to flatter her. Perhaps that did the trick.
Kim shook her head. I never flatter her and it gets me nowhere. Must be something else. She paused. Are you a friend of Sophies?
Michael appeared to think this over. Would it matter? he asked as he sipped his drink.
Sophie is particular about her tenants. She wont rent to just anyone. Either youd have to be her friend or come with damn good references. Suddenly restless, Kim wandered to a window and gazed out at the courtyard, where a native garden flourishedasters, poppies, devils claw. But she couldnt delay any longer.
Mr. Turner, she said, facing him, let me get to the point. The reason Im here is thatwell, I need a date. For tomorrow night. How ludicrous the words sounded once they were out. Michael looked slightly surprised at first, then intrigued. My, he did have an expressive face. She also saw that glimmer of amusement in his eyes again.
No doubt youre thinking its a very peculiar request, she said stiffly. I dont even know you. I mean, I only met you this morning. Of course it seems peculiar. She took a sip of her drink. It was inescapable: she really was making a colossal fool of herself.
Have a seat, he said in a solemn voice. Im all ears.
She went to the sofa, sat down, then realized that wasnt going to help at all. She stood up again.
I need a date for a business function, she said defensively. Very well, a family function, too. The Bennetts always mix business and family. Its a volatile combination, but I suppose thats beside the point.
Michael continued to look both interested and quietly amused. He sat down in an armchair across from her, appearing completely at ease. To remain standing would only put Kim at a disadvantage. She perched on the edge of the sofa again.
Perhaps ate is the wrong word, she said. What I need isan escort. That sounded even worse, and she hurried on, Its a tradition, in a way. At these Bennett affairs, you never show up alone. You gather your forces, so to speak. But youre probably wondering why I dont ask someone else. Some male friend. Nonetheless. I thought of you. I mean, you dont seem the sort to be eyebrowed under the couch by a roomful of pompous, insufferable Bennetts. That was the deciding factor.
Michael inclined his head. Ill take that as a compliment, I suppose. So Im your lastditch choice?
She gazed back at him as resolutely as possible. Its just thatafter eight years of marriage, I find I dont have a whole lot of male friends. Oh, Lord. As long as she was confessing humiliating details, why not to ahead and tell Michael Turner what a miserable travesty her marriage had been? Why spare herself? Anyway, she continued more forcefully, the Bennetts thrive on despising each otherand everyone else. Family gettogethers arent exactly restful.
He swirled his drink reflectively. Sounds like this thing could be entertaining.
Kim wondered if his answer qualified as a yes or a no. Either way, shed disgraced herself enough for one evening. She set down her drink and rose from the sofa.
Ill understand if you want to pass. Its very short notice, and its true that I hardly know you, and
Tux? he asked.
She frowned at him.
Tux, he repeated. Do you want me in a tux?
Kim felt an idiotic sense of relief. Nothing quite so formal, she said. The Bennetts pretend to be casual. Mr. Turner
If Im going to be your date, he interjected seriously, dont you think youd better start calling me something else? Something less. formal.
After a second or two she tried his name. Michael. It had an intimate sound to it, and she wished she could go back to calling him Mr. Turner. But unfortunately he was right. If they were going to get through tomorrow evening with any aplomb, Michael it would have to be. Eight oclock, she said briskly. And if you need a babysitter for Andy, I know someone.
Its a good thing Andy didnt hear you say that. He hates that wordbabysitter. Hes much too old for babysitters. But I have a friend he can stay with.
Well. Then its settled. There didnt seem any more to say. Except one thing perhaps. Thank you for doing this. I know the whole things rather awkward and silly, but
Kim, he said. Quit while youre ahead.
She gazed into his brown eyes just a trifle too long. But at least now she had the sense to keep her mouth shut. She left his house without saying another word.
THE FOLLOWING EVENING, Kim stared disgustedly at the contents of her dressing room. When you were a widow of only a few months, how did you dress for adate that wasnt a date? She wondered if any of the etiquette books covered this particular situation.
Thered been a time when she had actually accumulated etiquette manuals with naive enthusiasm. Shed been newly wed, overawed that shed married into the wealthy Bennett clan. Shed wanted so much to make Stan proud of herto make the whole family proud. That was before shed really come to know Sophie or the rest of the Bennetts. Her etiquette books had been gathering dust for quite some time now.
But it was seven-forty-five, and Kim still hadnt decided what she was going to wear for this evenings ordeal. She stood in the dressing roomall mirrors and strategic lighting designed to soften any reflectionand sorted through the gowns hanging against one wall. There were so many of them, in silk, tulle, velvet, brocade. All that entertaining in the past had required an extensive wardrobe. But these days Kim had given up entertainingor being entertained. If she was showing up at the family enclave tonight, it was strictly as a stockholder in Bennett Industries. Shed do what was required, nothing moreon the arm of Michael Turner of course.
Kim rejected one dress after another. Too elegant, too fussy, too frivolous. Part of her heartily regretted that shed ever gone over to Michaels house. The other part was grateful that hed accepted her invitation. She scorned herself for being a coward, but she wasnt up to facing the Bennetts on her own. Not tonight, anyway.
Seven-fifty-two. She had all the clothes in the world and couldnt decide what to wear. At last Kim pulled a black dress from its hanger. She slipped into it and observed herself in the overabundance of mirrors. A low scooped neckline and slinky fit in satin and lacewidows weeds with a vengeance. But it was too late to try anything else. Feeling out of sorts, Kim slid on a pearl bracelet, brushed her hair one more time and picked up her black pumps. She carried them with her as she started down the thickly carpeted stairs. But shouldnt she be wearing perfume?
She retraced her steps and examined the selection on top of her dressing table. Here was every fragrance a woman could desire, yet once again she couldnt choose. She knew that whichever bottle she opened, it would remind her of Stan. Suddenly the very thought of perfume seemed too cloying, too oppressive. The scent of fresh soap and water would have to do. Besides, it wasnt as if she was trying to attract Michael Turner. This wasnt really a date.
Shed reminded herself of that a dozen times already. She reminded herself again as she went downstairs and moved through rooms that seemed silent and empty. It wasnt a date. Shed merely asked her nextdoor neighbor for a favor. Hed obliged. And that was that.
The doorbell rang. Suddenly flustered for reasons she couldnt explain, Kim peered at herself in the hallway mirror. She was no more reassured than shed been upstairs, facing those myriad reflections of herself. This mirror told the same story: her expression was severe and unsmiling. It didnt go with the damn dress.
Too late now. The words echoed through her mind as she went to open the door. Michael stood on her porch just as shed expected, but she wasnt prepared for how good he looked. He wore casual gray trousers and a linen jacket that was well tailored but ever so slightly rumpled. His dark hair curled over his forehead, slightly damp as if hed just taken a shower. He gazed thoughtfully at Kim.
I should have gone for the tux, he said.
She felt unaccountably warm with his gaze on her, but at last she managed a shrug. Trust me, you look fine. Im the only one wholl be this dressed up tonight. This fancy. Dont ask me why Im doing it.
He continued to observe her and she saw the subtle appreciation in his eyes. Maybe you want the Bennetts to sit up and take notice.
Theyll take notice, all right, she said. And when they dowatch out.
Dont let them get to you, he murmured. Because you look. fine.
Now Kim felt the color heating her cheeks. It had been a very long while since a man had gazed at her in just this way. She didnt know how to react. Whatever shed learned from her onceprecious etiquette books seemed to have flown right out of her head. All she could do was stare back at Michael, that unfamiliar warmth suffusing her skin.
Belatedly she remembered that she was still holding her pumps. She bent to slip one of them on and then realized that might seem consciously provocative. Quickly she stuffed her feet into both shoes.
They pinch, she said. I hate wearing them for very long.
Its one of the things Ive always wondered. He smiled slightly. Why do women wear uncomfortable shoes?
Because we have no sense at all. WellIm ready, she added unnecessarily. Shall we go?
He escorted her down the walk. Even though hed only come from next door, hed driven over and parked behind her cara considerate gesture. Perhaps this didnt officially count as a date, but Michael was observing the courtesies. Although his midnightblue Jeep was a rugged vehicle, it looked freshly washed and waxed. He opened the door for her, waiting until shed settled into the passenger seat before going to his own side. A few moments later hed backed out of the drive and they were on their way down the street.
Kim searched for conversation and found none. It was Michael who spoke, glancing at her with that quiet amusement of his.
I hope you have directions for me. Where are we headed?
She felt foolish, apparently not an uncommon reaction when she was around Michael Turner. To the Bennett family stronghold. my mother-in-laws very exclusive spread. Where else?
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_b0e43436-6bba-5154-9447-b80e1668b82d)
MICHAEL FOLLOWED the instructions Kim gave him: left on Vernon, right on Solano, head toward the foothills. He had to admit he was curious. In spite of his dealings with Sophie Bennett, hed never been to her spread. Apparently Sophie was careful that waynever let the hired help get too close. She was in for a surprise tonight.
As he drove, Michael glanced at Kim now and then. She sat staring ahead, only her profile revealed to him. It was an intriguing profile, all feminine strength. There was nothing weak about Kim. Take now, for instance. She was obviously tense, obviously not looking forward to this little family gettogether of Sophies. But she wasnt talking about it. She was just sitting there, staring boldly ahead, her face beautiful yet unsmiling. That dress she wore conveyed boldness, too. Hell, it conveyed more than that. It showed that Kim Bennett was womanly and desirable, regardless of the dont mess with me attitude.
Michael reminded himself to watch the road. Maybe Kim Bennett was wearing a sexy dress, but that didnt stop her from being a murder suspect. He was on the job tonight. He couldnt forget that.
They traveled in silence, and at last they turned along a secluded, winding street where the houses were hidden behind foliage and high walls. This neighborhood was even more exclusive than Kims. The people who lived here had gone beyond flaunting their wealth; they craved privacy more than anything else.
Sophie Bennetts twostory brick house, although large, was carefully unpretentiousno embellishments, no turrets or towers added for effect. Maybe that was supposed to be tasteful, but to Michael the place looked bland and impersonal, like a hotel. He parked on the drive behind a Rolls and a Jag, but he didnt get out right away. Kim didnt, either. She just went on sitting there, hands clenched tightly in her lap.
Nice wheels, he said after a moment. The Bennetts cant be all that bad.
She glanced over at him almost as if shed forgotten his presence. The Bennetts, she said with a hint of disdain. Theyre nothing I cant handle. Its just that sometimes Id rather not have to handle them. I can think of better things to do with my time.
Such as?
She didnt answer. Well, were here, so we might as well get on with it. She reached for the door handle, but Michael didnt want to go inside just yet. He couldnt explain why. He just knew he liked being alone here with Kim.
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be? he asked.
She looked exasperated. Mr. TurnerMichael, that is. Youre choosing a very strange time to play twenty questions
ld;What would it be? he asked again.
She slumped back against the seat. This is ridiculous, she said, but she no longer made any move to leave the Jeep. After a silence, she spoke, her voice extra soft as if she was talking only to herself. Perhaps Id go for a hike in the mountains. And perhaps Id just keep walking. For hours
He thought it over, choosing his next words carefully. Did you do a lot of hiking when you lived in Pinetop?
The effect was immediate. Kim twisted in her seat to face him. How did you know
Your mother-in-law isnt exactly closemouthed. Seems she finds you a fascinating subject. That was the truth. But Michael saw the way Kim tensed, the distrust in her expression.
Sophie always has liked to badmouth me, especially to her friends. You never did make it clear. Are you her friend?
Again he considered his words. And again he told the truth. No. Im not.
That did nothing to ease the doubt in Kims expression. And Michael knew hed deliberately made her skeptical of him. It hadnt been the professional thing to dobut that was the problem; he didnt feel professional when it came to Kim Bennett. He just felt impatient with his job. Deception, secretivenessthose werent his style. He wouldve disliked being an undercover cop, and hed always been smart enough to admit it. So why the hell was he working undercover now? Lovely, haunted Kim Bennett made him ask that question.
As a matter of fact, she said, an edge to her voice, I did hike a lot when I was growing up. Most of the time by myself, but sometimes. sometimes my dad managed a day off and we went together. Sophie couldnt have told you that. Shed never want to admit I have rosy childhood memories. It would make me seem too. normal.
Kim had one thing righther mother-in-law would probably never say anything favorable about her. Michael reviewed everything Sophie had told him about Kim and everything hed been able to learn through his own investigation. Kims parents had owned their own small diner in Pinetop, Arizona, but for years theyd struggled on the verge of bankruptcy. It had been difficult for them to keep employees, and Kim herself had worked in the restaurant all through her teenage years. Michael was willing to wager that neither Kim nor her father had been able to take off many days for leisurely hikes.
How many of them do you have? he asked. Rosy childhood memories, that is.
Kim turned away so that once more all he could see was her unyielding profile. Enough, she said tersely. I have enough of them.
He wondered about that. Hed been doing a lot of wondering since meeting Kim yesterday. Having a case file on her was one thing. But actually sitting here next to her, sensing the vulnerability underneath her caustic demeanor, that was something else entirely.
He reminded himself that maybe she wasnt vulnerable at all. Maybe she was coldhearted, coldblooded, and shed actually killed her own husband. She certainly had motive: as a widow, she had become a very wealthy woman indeed.
Michael rubbed at a kink in his shoulder and silently cursed.
You dont want to be here any more than I do, Kim said, glancing at him. You lookdisgusted.
The Bennetts arent anything I cant handle, he said, his tone only slightly mocking.
Now she gave him a challenging look. Lets make this fair, Michael. What would you be doing right now, if you had the choice?
Somehow that didnt take too much thinking. Michaels gaze dropped to her mouth. He noticed that her lips had a determined set, but he suspected they could be soft and inviting, too.
He saw the faint blush tingeing her cheeks, and that only made her dusting of freckles seem more appealing than ever. When he captured her gaze, she didnt look away. Almost against his will, he kept imagining what hed like to be doing right now. It was a pretty safe bet she knew what he was thinking. Her flush deepened as she stared back at him. The atmosphere between them seemed to grow taut, suspenseful. Michael kept imagining.
Stop, Kim murmured, her voice just a little unsteady. And then she turned, opening the door and sliding out of the Jeep. The moment was broken almost before it had begun.
Michael felt dissatisfied in a way he couldnt explain, but he came round to escort Kim up the walk to the house. They reached the portico and Kim rang the bell decisively. She held herself stiffly, as if preparing to fend off some sort of assault. Who were these Bennetts that they could produce such a reaction in her? Michael gave in to another impulse he couldnt explain, and for just a second placed his hand on Kims arm. She gave him a skeptical look, but maybe she accepted the unspoken support he was offering her. Now he just had to figure out why he was offering it.
A maid finally opened the door, ushering them into a rather cavernous living room. The few people standing about only emphasized the space. Michael saw the pride in Kims expression, the unabashed tilt of her chin. No matter what she might be feeling inside, she knew how to disguise it with a haughtiness that was surely worthy of any Bennett.
From long experience, Michael knew how to assess a situation quickly. He did so now, observing that the people in the room were divided in two separate clusters; no easy mingling seemed to be taking place. Faces turned with covert interest, but no one made a move to come forward in greeting.
Sophie Bennett, however, materialized from another doorway and walked purposefully toward them. If she was displeased to see either Michael or Kim, she gave no sign. Then again, if she was pleased, she gave no indication of that, either. She was a plain woman, with resolute features, but clearly she knew how to work with her looks. Wisely avoiding frills of any kind, she wore a simple yet sophisticated black dress. Although high of neck and long of sleeve, it discreetly emphasized the fact that, at sixtyodd years, Sophie had kept her figure. Her thick red hair waved artfully around her face. It seemed a natural shade, almost too natural, perhaps, as if Sophie Bennett watched vigilantly for gray hairs and obliterated them as soon as they appeared. And so, although she didnt possess beauty or any real charm, she had nonetheless cultivated a striking elegance that seemed to defy time.
Kim. Sophie approached her daughter-in-law. I was beginning to think you wouldnt come.
Here I am, Kim said, still with that edge to her voice. Of course you know Michael. your new tenant.
Of course. How convenient that you could join us, Mr. Turner. She made the word convenient sound distasteful, as if he had done something underhand to get here. So far in his short acquaintance with Sophie Bennett, Michael had figured he could either be amused or irritated by her. Amusement took less effort.
I hope youre finding the house satisfactory, she went on.
Its adequate, he said, and Sophies forehead creased a fraction. It probably wasnt good form to tell Sophie Bennett that something shed provided was merely adequate. But Michael never had been one for good form. He caught Kims eye and wondered if he saw a hint of approval.
If anything is. unsatisfactory, I trust you will let me know immediately, Sophie said. Then she turned to Kim. Will you introduce Mr. Turner around, or shall I? It sounded like a command, not a question.
Ill do the honors, Kim answered. Hes my guest, after all.
Sophie stared hard at Kim, as if looking for signs of insurrection. Kim stared right back at her.
Very well, Sophie said. Make sure he meets everyone. Have a pleasant evening, Mr. Turner. And with that, Sophie turned and walked purposefully off again.
Kim watched her go. You really must be on Sophies good side, she said in a low voice to Michael. She actually put out the welcome mat for you.
That was the welcome mat? he asked dryly. She kept looking at me like I was last nights garbage moldering on the stoop.
Kim almost smiled. Almost, but not quite. I guess you dont know Sophie very well. She wouldnt bother to play hostess if she didnt like you.
Sophie Bennetts idea of playing hostess was a little limited. She was throwing this party, or whatever the hell it was, and yet she seemed to have made no concessions to her guests: no music playing in the background, no drinks being served, no plates of hors doeuvres being handed around. Apparently Sophie didnt even find it necessary to be present in the room. Shed made that brief, regal appearance of hers, then simply gone off somewhere else.
We might as well begin, Kim said. Which of the two sets of Bennetts do you want to tackle first?
Is that how theyre arrangedin matched sets? You make them sound like plates of dinnerware.
She gave him a keen glance. Actually the Bennetts do travel in setswhen they come to this house, at least. They know theres safety in numbers. Youll rarely find one of them alonenot while Sophies anywhere near.
Sophie Bennett appeared to be a formidable woman, but did she really inspire such trepidation in her family? Perhaps Kim was simply exaggerating for reasons of her own. Michael already sensed that the undercurrents between Kim and her mother-in-law were murky and complex. Add the rest of the Bennett clan, and who knew what youd end up with.
But Michael didnt want to think about Bennetts right now. He was still distracted by Kim, by the way she looked tonight. The sunstreaked ripples of her hair falling to her shoulders, the warm creaminess of her skin, the shadowed blue of her eyes.
She gazed back at him, consternation flickering across her face. Youre doing it again, she whispered fiercely.
Doing what? He imagined reaching out to touch her. Kim Bennett was the kind of woman you wanted to touch.
You know. Youre looking at me. that way. Her fingers tightened around the small black bag she carried. But he went on looking at her. He couldnt stop.
Her eyes seemed to darken as she went on gazing back at him. Now they were the color of blue just at sundown. Her lips had parted slightly, as if she meant to catch her breath. He didnt take a step closer to her, didnt make a move toward her. He didnt need to, as long as they were together like this, alone in their own private corner of the room.
He heard Kim utter something under her breath, something he couldnt quite hear. Then she turned abruptly and walked away. He followed, his gaze lingering on her. The dress she wore was cut daringly low in back, revealing more creamy skin. And more freckles.
Lord. Was he to be undone by freckles? Michael reminded himself that he hadnt been out with a woman in a whilethat was the problem. After fourteen years of marriage, hed forgotten what it was like to be on a date. Except that Kim had made it very clear this wasnt a date. And that led him to another question. Why was he acting like a damn fool around her?
He didnt have any time to ponder the matter, because theyd reached the first Bennetts: a man and a woman who made room for Kim and Michael, but only with an air of reluctance. Kim was very businesslike.
Diane, your mother wants you to meet her new tenant. Michael Turner.
She could have simply introduced him as her nextdoor neighbor, but instead, shed brought Sophie into it. Michael wondered why that bothered him. Meanwhile, he shook hands with Diane Bennett. She was obviously Sophies daughter. The family resemblance was striking: heavy reddish hair, intractable features. But Diane at least was animated.
So youre Michael Turner, she said with interest. Mother told us all about you. She said she was interviewing tenants, and that it was very discouraging. She didnt think she could find anyone trustworthy to rent the house. Are you trustworthy, Mr. Turner? Diane asked, apparentiy in all seriousness.
He reflected on the question. If Kim knew the truth about him, she probably wouldnt find him trustworthy by any definition. He caught her looking at him again, and he saw the doubt clouding her eyes. She was right to doubt him unfortunately.
Diane Bennett was veering off on a different tack. You havent met Jack yet, she said importantly. Mr. Turner, this is my friend Jack Hutchinson. She sounded as if she was announcing royalty, and gazed at Jack with reverence. He seemed a normal enough guy, balding on top, spreading around the middle but clearly doing his best to suck in his gut. He looked like the kind of person whod be happier in a pair of roomy overalls than in the suit he wore.
Anyway, Diane went on, Mother was saying maybe she just ought to sell that house next to Stansnext to Kims. Diane corrected herself deliberately, with an oddly putupon air. Mother said it was very discouraging, after all the trouble shes had with tenants
The Harveys were a perfectly nice couple, Kim interrupted with that edge to her voice Michael was starting to recognize. They never gave Sophie any trouble at all.
Oh, well, the Harveys, Diane said dismissively. I wasnt thinking about them. You knowit was the people before.
The Millers? Kim asked in a skeptical tone. They were nice, too.
Diane Bennett was starting to look peeved. The whole point is that Mother was getting very discouraged about having to rent the place again, and then Mr. Turner came along and solved Mothers problems.
They all studied him now, silently, as if contemplating the peculiar fact that someone had actually met Sophie Bennetts standards. Diane had a particularly knowing expression on her face. How much had Sophie told her? Did she suspect the real reason Michael was renting a house next door to Kim?
Subterfuge, deceptiondefinitely not his style. He tried to remind himself of all the reasons hed become a private investigator: a chance to get away from bad memories, a chance to spend more time with his son, a chance to pick his own cases. The only problem was, he regretted this case more and more all the time. Especially when he looked into Kim Bennetts eyes and saw the distrust there.
If youll excuse us, Kim said a bit forcefully, I have to introduce Mr. Turner to the others.
There was an awkward pause. Nice to have met you, too, Michael said to their pointed silence. He didnt bother to keep the irony from his tone.
Kim was already headed toward the remaining set of Bennetts, but Michael took her elbow and steered her outside, instead, onto a veranda. Night had fallen. The air still held the summer heat, but it was no longer oppressive. Michael preferred it to the artificially cool room theyd just left behind.
We shouldnt be out here, Kim said.
Do you think it will make them wonder about us?
Theyre wondering about you, she returned. Theyve already made up their minds about methey did that long ago. But youre someone new. They havent figured you out yet.
He knew what she meant to saythat she hadnt figured him out yet. Too bad he couldnt help her with that.
Lets just get it over with, she said impatiently. You can meet the others, and hopefully Sophie will get on with this ridiculous thing. She turned back toward the room, but Michael clasped her hand to stop her.
They can do without us for a few minutes.
Kims fingers moved restlessly in his, and then she slipped her hand away. There was no porch light, and he could see only the outline of her face.
Theres no good reason for us to be here. He heard the uncertainty in her voice.
You can give me your take on Diane and Jack.
Youve just met them. Isnt that enough?
Im curious, he said.
Why? Now the uncertainty was gone, replaced by outright challenge. He wished he could read her expression. He also wished he could tell her the truth, the reason he needed to know more about the Bennetts.
Smart, he told himself. Confess everything to the woman who may very well have killed her husband.
Just curious, he repeated.
Kim hesitated, then gave a shrug. Im no authority on the almighty Bennetts. Im not allowed in the clique.
Maybe you dont allow them in your clique.
She seemed to consider this. You think its my fault Im not a cozy part of the family? Once upon a time. all I wanted was to belong. Her words sounded brittle on the night air. Anyway, what can I tell you that would possibly be of interest? Dianeshe keeps talking about how she admires Jack, but she doesnt even realize yet that shes in love with him. Shed better figure it out soon, though, before Sophie ruins things againand thats really all I have to say. She sounded chagrined, as if wishing shed stopped earlier.
He thought over what shed said, searching for anything that might be of use. Diane Bennett, for all her attempts at perkiness, was as peculiarly devoid of charisma as her mother. It was a strange lack, as if some essential gene had been left out of the family makeup.
So you think shes in love with Jack, Michael said gravely.
Anyone can see itexcept Diane. And possibly Jack. For a physics professor, he can be remarkably dense. But do you really want to know about Diane Bennetts love life?
He couldnt honestly say that he did, but he knew any detail might be important. One thing was certainhe never wouldve pegged Jack Hutchinson for a physics professor.
You make it sound like Sophies botched things for Diane before.
And you make it sound as if youre very interested in the Bennetts. Kim spoke coolly, but he sensed an anger in her. Somehow hed touched a nerve.
If you despise them so much, why did you come here tonight? he asked.
She paced a few steps back and forth, as if she couldnt bear to stand still. When Sophie convenes the family, you know youd damn well better be thereto look out for your own interests, if nothing else. Thats one thing I learned from Stan at least.
Stan. The dead husband. Kim had given Michael the perfect opening, but he took it reluctantly.
Im sorry about what happened, he said.
Thats rightyou know all about it, dont you? Courtesy of Sophie.
Again he chose his words carefully. I know your husband died in a car accident. No real evidence of foul play, but the autopsy showed a high level of blood alcohol, and he wasnt known to be a heavy drinker.
Kim had averted her face as he spoke. My, Sophie was thorough in her briefing, she said in a caustic tone.
Sophie had indeed been forthcoming on the subject, but the police report had provided all the pertinent details. Michael disliked what he had to ask next. He disliked a lot of things about his job lately. Do you think it was murder, Kim?
Standing there before him in the darkness, she was very silent. But then finally she spoke, her voice tight.
Mr. Turner, youre a damn sight too curious. About Stan, about the rest of the Bennettsabout everything. And I cant help wondering why.
He wanted her to wonder. It was the closest he could come to being straight with her. He felt an unreasonable urge to protect herfrom what, he couldnt have said.
Yes, she said at last, her voice so low he barely caught the word. Yes, she repeated a few seconds later. I do think someone killed him. That was one of Stans few virtueshe hardly ever drank too much. So why that night?
She sounded innocentconvincingly so. But a person could perfect the art of sounding innocent.
Any idea who the culprit might be? he asked, though still reluctant to pursue the subject.
She stared at him in the darkness. Not that its any of your concern, but no, I dont have a clue who might have killed my husband. Satisfied?
The last thing he felt was satisfaction. But hed already noted the tension in her every time she spoke about her dead husbandand then the way she grew silent. Michael wondered about Stan Bennett. Had the guy appreciated his beautiful wife?
It was a mistake, Kim said now. I never should have asked you to come here with me. What was I thinking?
I should be here. Once more he clasped her hand, drawing her near. He felt her stiffen. They gazed at each other, but even the light spilling from the room beyond didnt chase the shadows from this secluded alcove. He couldnt read Kims expression, knowing only the warmth of her fingers curled in his.
Youre doing it again, she said almost in a whisper. Youre looking at me. that way.
Its dark. How can you tell? His own voice was low.
I just can. And you have to stop.
Michael forgot that he was supposed to be on the job tonight. He forgot about the Bennetts. He forgot everything but Kims loveliness. He brought her even nearer to him. Their bodies didnt quite touch, yet still they gazed at each other in a darkness that both obscured and enticed. And then, at last, he bent his head to hers.
CHAPTER FIVE (#ulink_43682fe7-7e5e-5234-b0e7-571c7b02bc1e)
MICHAELS CHEEK brushed Kims. Her skin was as soft as hed imagined it would be, her scent alluringly feminine. But she stood motionless, selfcontained in her silence. He wanted her response and he courted it, bringing his lips to the corner of her mouth. Did he feel her tremble or was it only his imagination?
She allowed no more, stepping away from him. He experienced an immediate sense of loss. He knew he didnt have any right to touch her, but that didnt stop the wanting.
I cant, she said after a moment, the darkness still cloaking her. He didnt ask her what she meant, just waited for her to say the rest of it.
I cant do this, she went on, a turbulence underneath her words. Its all a mistake. Bringing you here and pretending everything is normal. In this house, of all places She broke off abruptly. Slipping past him, she went back inside.
He stood on the veranda another second or two. Maybe he thought if he stayed out here, shed return to him. That was wishful thinking of course, the kind of thing he should have left behind a long time ago.
Finally he walked back into that lofty, oddly bare living room. There was minimal furniture scattered about, and he supposed it was the kind of place where architectural details were supposed to take precedence: exposed ceiling beams, high arched windows, carved moldings. The overall effect was that of a drafty church with too few worshipers. The Bennetts remained in their separate little clusters, but again faces turned toward him in interest; Diane Bennett looked particularly alert. No doubt they were speculating about what he and Kim had been doing on the veranda. He couldnt say he cared.
Kim had taken up a position alone some distance from the others. She didnt do anything to minimize her solitary status, didnt pretend to be looking at the paintings on the walls, didnt indulge in any other ruse to appear occupied. She just stood there, back straight and chin up, holding her small black bag as if it were a weapon. She couldnt have made it clearer that she wished to go on being solitary. A reluctant admiration stirred in Michael. She might as well have been wearing a sign that read No Bennetts Allowed. But did the warning extend to him? He walked over to her. The stern expression on her face told him she still regretted inviting him.
Lively party, he remarked. When does the conga line start?
His stab at humor obviously didnt impress her. Sophie has her own way of doing things, she said. I wish you had some way to entertain yourself, Michael.
Im entertained.
She gave him one of her skeptical looks. Im sure youd much rather be home working on your novel.
Im a little stuck, he said. In a manner of speaking, that was true.
Ive heard about writers block. Is that your problem? She glanced at her watch as if hoping he wouldnt answer.
Im having trouble with my storyline.
Really. She didnt look sympathetic.
My heroine wont open up much. She keeps everything bottled up inside. Anger. frustrationwho knows what else. Shes hard to get to know.
He saw the flush that made Kims freckles so beguiling. She gazed back at him steadily. Maybe you should write yourself another heroine.
No. Sorry.wont do. This ones too intriguing.
But youre not getting anywhere with her, Kim said.
Not yet.
A flicker of some unnamable emotion showed in her eyes. But neither one of them had a chance to say anything more. Coming toward them was the second set of Bennetts: a fortyish couple, the man distinguished in bearing, the woman a pale blondetoo pale, maybe, her prettiness seeming almost bleached away.
Hello, Kim, said the woman, smiling a little hesitantly. Im glad you came tonight. You know I hate it when Im the only wife She stopped, looking flustered, but then rushed on. I mean, Im glad you came. You havent been over to visit in so long, and the kids are always asking about youafter all, youre their favorite aunt. Her voice trailed off uncomfortably.
I miss seeing the kids, too, Kim said, although her tone was guarded. Norie, Thad, Id like you to meet Michael Turner
Mothers new tenant, finished the man, shaking hands solemnly with Michael. The family resemblance was once again unmistakable; it seemed that Sophie had imprinted herself irrevocably on each of her children. Thad Bennett, however, possessed a preoccupied manner, as if too many important concerns filled his mind.
Hows the house? he asked Michael.
Fine.
Apparently even this brief answer gave Thad Bennett something to ruminate on. He had the air of a man weighed down by the significance of his own thoughts. While he was busy thinking up his next approach, his wife, Norie, jumped in.
How nice you could come tonight, Mr. Turner. These family gatherings can be so tedious. Sophie hardly ever allows any outsiders, and She stopped herself once more, looking dismayed. I mean
Dont worry. I dont mind being an outsider, Michael said.
She gave him an embarrassed smile. Believe it or not, Mr. Turner, Im usually not such a blatherer. Its just my mother-in-laws proximity that. throws me off.
Norie, said her husband on a warning note.
This, however, only seemed to inspire her. Well, why try to hide it? None of us enjoys coming here, but we all put up a front. We ought to admit it for once. She glanced at Kim for confirmation.
Kim shrugged. You wouldnt be offending Sophie. She loves to keep everyone off balance.
Thats it exactly, said Norie. She orchestrates these command performances and she wont tell anyone what theyre about. Its very disconcerting.
Norie, her husband said with exaggerated patience.
She glanced defiantly at him. I dont see you standing up to her, do I?
Kim looked beleaguered, as if she had been through scenes of this kind often before. Michael surmised that Norie and Thad Bennett were the type who had been married so long and quibbled so frequently they forgot to be restrained in the presence of other people.
Well, Norie said, who knows why Sophies dragged us all out here tonight? Ive been guessing, but I dont have a clue. When no one responded, she glanced at Kim. Any ideas? she asked brightly. She behaved as if it was her duty to keep the conversational ball rolling. Something about the woman seemed just a little off to Michael. One minute she gave the impression of being overly timid, the next she was on the verge of arguing with her husbandand the next she was forcing the conversation. She appeared to be trying on different roles, different attitudes, to see which one fit.
Sophie will let us know soon enough what she wants, Kim said after another awkward pause.
Thats just it, Norie said, speaking too quickly. Sophie always wants something from us. Something that usually leaves bad feelings afterward. Youd think at least now and then she could invite us over to enjoy some family togetherness, nothing else.
Norie, said her husband in a longsuffering tone, I dont think Mr. Turner wants to know about our family squabbles.
Im sure he can speak for himself. Norie turned her attention fully on Michael. Mr. Turner, we could use an objective opinion. Do you find us Bennetts dull. or interesting?
The woman had taken on yet another pose. All of a sudden she appeared subtly provocative, but with a hint of anxiety underneath. She seemed to be asking for reassurance of some typeas if she wanted Michael to tell her she wasnt ordinary. In a way he supposed she was flirting with him. Her husband seemed to have the same impression, and he was beginning to look vaguely disturbed. As for Kim, she had arranged her features in a carefully neutral expression, and she seemed to find it necessary to check her watch again. Michael would have given a great deal to know what she was thinking at this moment.
Im just along for the ride tonight, he said finally.
Norie Bennett seemed disappointed. Thats a nonanswer, Mr. Turner. Very diplomatic, Im sure, but I expected something more from you.
The woman had just met himwhat could she have expected? But already she was glancing about discontentedly as if seeking another audience. She no longer seemed to care whether or not the conversation kept going. And meanwhile, Thad Bennett seemed to retreat once more into the protection of his own ponderous thoughts.
Michael caught Kims eye and smiled a little. She didnt smile back, although he saw that hint of turbulence in her gaze. Was she more disgusted with him or with the Bennetts? It was difficult to tell.
Just then Sophie appeared beside themsomewhat eerily, because she hadnt made any noise, seeming to materialize out of nowhere. She proceeded to commandeer the group.
Thad, please go call Roger and find out whats holding him up. Kim, Norie, Id appreciate your popping ping into the kitchen to reassure Yolanda about her souffl. You know how she is when I have her try a new recipe. Go alngIll take care of Mr. Turner. Sophie had deployed her troops. Thad Bennett went off toward the phone, and Norie hurried in the opposite direction. Only Kim refused to budge.
Michael is my guest, she said firmly. Ill keep him entertained.
No doubt, Sophie said with the slightest hint of irony. But he also lives in one of my houses. I have a few matters I wish to discuss with him.
Kim waited another second or two, studying Michael doubtfully. Perhaps she decided he could handle Sophie on his own, for she gave a shrug, turned and walked away. Michael watched her. As always she moved proudly, taking her time crossing the large room, refusing to rush for anyoneeven her motherinlaw.
Mr. Turner, said Sophie, I hadnt expected you here tonight. Nonetheless, I commend you for working so quickly with. her.
Michael didnt care for Sophie Bennetts socalled approval. She made it sound as if hed done something slick to be here with Kim.
Dont rush to any conclusions, he said.
She raised her eyebrows just a fraction. Mr. Turner, however you choose toget close to her is no concern of mine. Just so long as you learn what is necessary.
Michael disliked this case more and more. He also disliked Sophie Bennett and her unsavor? implications. If he was getting close to Kim Bennett, it was against all his better judgment.
Theres a lot I need to find out, he said grimly.
No, Mr. Turner, Sophie returned. You need to find out only one thing. How she did it. How shekilled my son. The words were stark, more so because they were spoken so dispassionately. Michael noted that she couldnt even seem to say Kims name.
But Sophie couldnt disguise the pain that flashed in her eyes for just a moment. That she had genuinely loved her dead son there could be no doubt. Michael had sensed as much from the first time hed met her. But Sophie was tough. Shed already made it clear that no amount of pain or sorrow would get in the way of anything she intended to do.
What if Kim didnt kill your son? he asked quietly. What if it was someone elseor no one? What if it was just one too many and a winding road?
This time she betrayed no emotion at all. She might have been a statue of mourning, her grief so deep that it had turned her face to stone.
My son was murdered, Mr. Turner, and no one else had a motive to kill him, she said with absolute control. No one else profited by Stans death. Now, I hired you because you came highly recommended. I assume you will live up to my expectations.
It seemed he was hearing a lot tonight about expectations. Ill do my job with an open mind, he said. Thats the way I work. Take it or leave it, Mrs. Bennett.
Still she maintained that implacable control. As I said, you came highly recommended. I see no reason to question your capabilitiesyet. With apparently nothing further to say to him, she left again. There always seemed a convenient doorway near at hand where Sophie Bennett could vanish.
Michael remained by himself, thinking that he could use a drink about now. Too bad there didnt seem to be any in the offing. He scanned the place. Diane and Jack still huddled together, although Diane periodically craned her neck to get a look at Michael. Thad was off in a corner, using the phone. Kim and Norie were still in the kitchen, it seemed, reassuring Yolanda about her souffl. At least that boded well for food.
The doorbell rang, the sound resonating through the lofty room, and everyone seemed to crane their necks in unison. The maid came through on her way to answer the door. A few seconds later she could be heard murmuring to someone in the foyer, and then came the sound of a mans easy laughter. Finally a man came striding into the living room. He was unmistakably another Bennettsolid head of hair, those seemingly invincible features. Yet this Bennett possessed what all the others in his family lacked: charisma. It showed as soon as he spoke.
Sorry Im late, he said carelessly to no one in particular. You know how things go.
Thad stepped forward, looking displeased. Roger, I was just calling your place. If youre going to keep us all waiting, the least you could do is
You should have started without me, Roger Bennett said, his inflection making it clear no one ever started anything without him. He scanned the room, his attention focusing on Michael. He came over to shake hands.
Say, youre new, arent you? He gave an engaging grin, the kind that was second nature to people who assumed they were welcome anywhere, by anyone.
Michael Turner. Of courseour new tenant. Glad to meet you, said Roger. Hows the place? Any problems?
Not so far. Throughout the evening, Michael had been referred to as Sophies tenant, but Roger spoke of him as our tenant. A subtle distinction, perhaps, but it stirred Michaels curiosity.
Property management isnt a family specialty, Im afraid, Roger went on. Weve held on to the house for sentimental reasons. Were you aware of that?
It wasnt the type of question worth answering. And Roger was already going on, obviously more interested in what he had to say than in any response of Michaels.
It was the first place my parents ever lived together. Roger looked appropriately reflective. They were so happy with it they bought the house next door, too, hoping to create a sort of family enclave. It didnt work out that way unfortunately. My father died, and my mother couldnt bear to live there with the memories. But she hung on to it, and Stan, at least, ended up living in the house next door. Poor unlucky Stan. Roger sounded just a little smug, as if congratulating. himself for not ending up like poor unlucky Stan. Then he glanced at Michael again.
Youll have to forgive us for being gloomy tonight. Stans accident only happened a few months ago. You know about that of course?
Another question not worth answering.
It hit all of us pretty hard, Roger said. Mother especially, although she doesnt let on. He looked wistful. Stan was the youngest.
Michael never lost the impression that Roger Bennett had taken center stage in the room and was perfectly comfortable there. He didnt seem to be speaking so much about his dead brother as about himselfthe grieving but irrepressible survivor. And all the while, he conveyed that relaxed charm.
Michael never had been easily swayed by charm, and for now, he was reserving judgment on all the Bennetts. But this time it didnt surprise him when Sophie materialized suddenly.
Roger, she said in a chiding tone, weve been waiting for you.
Good to see you, too, Mother. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. Michael reflected that this was the first time he had seen any gesture of affection toward the Bennett matriarch. Sophie appeared merely to tolerate it. Maybe she wasnt easily swayed by charm, either.
I want to get started, she said. Come along. She headed out of the room, and everyone else fell in behind her. Michael wasnt sure the invitation included him, but he brought up the rear, anyway. He was on the lookout for Kim.
The procession led by Sophie ended up in a dining room with its own lofty ceiling. The vast polished table in the center was obviously a valuable antique. It had been laid with place settings and everyone gravitated toward a particular chair; Michael had the feeling that once you were assigned a seat by Sophie, you stuck to it. After a moment Kim and her sister-in-law, Norie, came into the room and took up their own posts. That left only a slight problem: no place setting had been laid for Michael.
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