Death's Door (35 page)

Her mother gazed at her in shocked surprise. “Haven’t I always told you the truth?”

“Yes, of course.” It was true; her mother rarely dissembled. Only at the end, when her father was near death, had her mother insisted he was going to make it. Maybe it hadn’t been a lie, Madison decided. Her mother had honestly believed a miracle would happen. “Is Daddy my biological father?”

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she heard furious barking. Aspen. In the excitement of seeing her mother, she’d forgotten him. There wasn’t even a window down in the car.

“Oh my gosh.” She jumped up. “That’s my dog. I forgot him in the car.”

“Bring him in. The boys won’t mind.”

Madison went to the side door that led out of the study to the driveway. She squinted at the darkness and stood there a moment to let her eyes adjust. Aspen was still barking. He rarely barked, she realized. Usually, it was at a neighbor’s orange cat that had the audacity to come near the guesthouse.

The driveway was lined with mature trees and tall bushes. Shadows overlapped each other, and she thought she saw something move. Probably another cat was retreating into the bushes to get away from Aspen’s frantic barking.

Paul’s voice warning her to be cautious sounded in her head. No one knew she was here. Unless she’d been followed. No way. She’d looked in her rearview mirror as she left Corona del Mar. No one had been around, not even the guard. He’d probably been patrolling the other side of the property.

A twinge of guilt crept through her. She’d switched off her cell phone. She didn’t want to be interrupted while she had this discussion with her mother. Paul would call the minute he saw her note. And he’d be furious.

“Wait a sec,” her mother said. “Let me turn on the lights. The cobblestones are uneven. You don’t want to fall.”

A few seconds later, floodlights illuminated the driveway, which was cobbled with lacy green baby tears growing between the stones. The boys really had a flair. If she ever had enough money, she’d hire them. She walked up to the car and opened the door for Aspen. He bounded out, tail wagging.

“Come on, boy. Meet my mother.” She walked back to the side door. “Mom, this is Aspen.”

Her mother stroked Aspen’s silky blond head. “Oh, you’re handsome.” She turned to Madison. “Have you had him long? You didn’t mention him when we last spoke.”

Madison explained about finding him at Erin’s home. She also told her that the retriever had been liberated from a cosmetic firm testing products on animals. They sat down again with Aspen settled at her feet.

There was a moment of silence before Madison’s mother said, “You were asking about your father.”

Name the only place on earth where alligators and crocodiles live side by side.

M
ADISON INHALED
a deep breath. So much depended on her mother’s answer. “Was Daddy my biological father?”

“Yes, he was. Why on earth would you think he wasn’t?”

“There were records at a place called New Horizons Clinic. They had your name on them, and there was this interview for screening—”

“How did you know?” her mother asked, obviously stunned that Madison knew any of this.

“The Holbrooks uncovered the records.”

“I did go there,” her mother admitted in a low voice etched with emotion. “I never told your father about it. We were having trouble getting pregnant. I took every fertility test imaginable.”

“Was there a problem?”

“Not with me,” her mother said. “It turned out Zeke had a low sperm count. He said it would happen with time. Several years went by and nothing. I thought maybe I should do something.”

“Without telling Daddy?”

Her mother looked away and sighed. “Yes. I knew he wouldn’t approve. He kept saying we would get pregnant. He was right. We did. You came along. I never followed through with New Horizons.”

Another weight lifted. No one would believe her, but she’d always known in her heart of hearts that Zachary Connelly was her father. A warm glow sang in her veins.

It took Madison a few minutes to explain to her mother about Paul finding her and the Holbrooks believing she was related. She explained about Chloe and the ID theft and how she was living in the Holbrooks’ guesthouse and now going to work for him.

“My word! This is amazing. Well, I’m afraid Mr. Holbrook will be disappointed. You aren’t related to him. Odds are you’re not a match.”

“I knew. I knew all along. Daddy was truly my father. No one would listen to me because that clinic had your name down as receiving his sperm.”

Her mother drew a deep breath. “I’m not surprised my name was down. The clinic was very expensive. I borrowed the deposit from the boys. When I became pregnant, I went to the clinic and asked for my deposit back. They said it was nonrefundable. I was furious. A friend told me there was a waiting list by that point.”

“Was the friend Erin’s mother?”

“Yes. Susan told me. How did you know?”

“Go on. I’ll explain in a minute.”

“I sold my name to another woman.”

“Wait a minute,” Madison said. “Didn’t the clinic know exactly who you were?” Her mother was beautiful even now, but when she’d been younger, she’d been a knockout. People didn’t forget her.

“They did, but New Horizons had two locations. One was in Miami, while the other was in Boca Raton. I contacted a woman Susan knew and she willingly purchased my spot. I told her to go to the Boca clinic and say she’d moved there and have the records transferred. I read that later they closed the Boca clinic and just operated out of the Miami office.”

“Daddy never knew anything about this?”

“No. I didn’t tell him. He would have been angry about it. What was the point?” Her mother touched her arm. “Baby doll, there are some things men are better off not knowing.”

“Why did Erin’s mother wait until Erin was in her twenties to tell her?”

“Erin was always a difficult child. Reclusive. Susan had expected a highly intelligent child because the father was a Mensa member and a Harvard grad, but Erin really didn’t care about school. I think her mother worried that she’d rebel even more if she knew was donor-conceived.”

“I think it’s what got her killed.” Madison went on to tell her mother about the murder of Wyatt’s offspring in the Boston area and about the death of Keith Brooks Smith. She then explained about the Chagas scare.

Her mother’s eyes darkened with emotion. “Your life is in danger, isn’t it?”

“It may have been, but when this news gets out, I’m off the hook.”

“Oh God,” her mother cried. “I never imagined—”

“Who would? This is a bizarre thing. If someone is so desperate to get rid of Wyatt, why not just shoot him?”

Her mother nodded. “This is a very sadistic person. Very.”

“A certifiable lunatic.” Madison’s body tingled with relief. She was exactly who she thought she was.

“How are you getting along without Aiden? Are you dating again?”

“I met someone wonderful. Paul Tanner. He’s a homicide detective. He’s been watching over me. You know, in case this maniac comes after me.”

“Really? That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to meet him.” Her mother hugged her. “Please be careful. I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t worry, please.” She reached for her purse, which was on the floor not far from Aspen. “I’d better call Paul and
let him know I’m coming back soon. He’ll worry, too.” She checked for messages; there weren’t any.
Maybe I can get back before Paul does,
she thought. “Let’s get together tomorrow. I’ll introduce you to Paul. And if you need money—”

“I’ll ask the boys to lend me some. They’ve already offered, but I assumed you…”

“I may be able to help you out soon. We’re working on it.” She rose. “Walk me out to the car.”

Aspen jumped to his feet and followed her to the door. The lights were still on, and they went slowly toward her Beamer. Neither wanted to part. There was so much to say, but Madison didn’t want to upset Paul. As her mother had wisely pointed out, there were some things men were better off not knowing. If she could get back before he did, she wasn’t mentioning this trip.

Aspen sprinted ahead, barking furiously. The hackles on his back were up; his tail was down low.

“Are there any cats around here?” she asked her mother.

“I guess. The boys don’t have any but I’m not sure about the neighbors.”

“Aspen rarely barks except at cats.” She watched the dog. He had his nose under the car just below the passenger door, barking for all he was worth. “I’ll bet there’s a cat hiding under the car.”

As they came closer, Aspen’s head popped up. He looked at them and began growling, low and deep in his chest, the way he had the night Garrison came to put the note on her door. Madison lowered herself to her knees and peaked under the car. Nothing unless the cat was black. Wouldn’t its eyes glow in the dark?

“What do you see?” her mother asked as Aspen continued to growl.

“Nothing. Do the boys have a flashlight?”

“Yes, in the pantry. I’ll go get it.”

Madison went around to the back of the car and tried to look
from that angle. She caught the gleam of the cat’s one red eye. A one-eyed cat in Coral Gables? Anything was possible, she decided. After all, the Everglades was the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles lived together. That was Florida for you.

Enough with the trivia, already.

The eye blinked. “Shoo! Shoo!” she shouted.

It didn’t move. Aspen was beside her now, barking again, then growling. The eye blinked again. She realized a second had elapsed. It blinked again. It wasn’t a cat. It was an electronic something.

Madison stood up and backed away from the car. She pulled her cell phone out from her purse and hit the speed dial for Paul’s number. He answered, “Hey, babe. I’m on the way there right now. Took longer than we thought.”

“Paul, did you put a tracking device under my car?”

“No, why?” She heard the alarm in his voice. “What are you doing looking under your car? Why is Aspen barking?”

Her mother came up with a flashlight and stood beside her. “I’m with my mother in Coral Gables. When I came out—”

“What in hell are you doing there? Is the guard with you?”

“No. I came by myself. My mother returned from the South Pacific. I had to see her.”

“Son of a bitch! You never listen.” He cursed again, then said, “I’m not far. Give me the address. I’ll come over.”

She rattled off the address and told him, “The thing has a tiny blinking red light on it.”

“Shit! Sounds like an explosive device. Now listen to me. Do
not
touch the car. For sure, do not put your key in the ignition.”

“Okay. I promise.”

“I’m not an expert on bombs, but one thing we’ve learned from Iraq is that they can be detonated by cell phone. Get as far away from the vehicle as you can. I’m calling the bomb squad.”

“What’s happening?” her mother asked.

“Come, Aspen. Let’s go to the front of the house.” She took her mother’s arm and led her away from the Beamer. Aspen followed. “I looked under the car and saw a blinking red light. Paul thinks it might be a bomb.”

“Oh my God!”

“I think Aspen was warning me. I’ll bet he was in the car when it was put underneath. That’s why he was barking.”

“Oh, baby doll. What are we going to do?”

Her mother had never been the hysterical type, but Madison detected something akin to panic in her voice. She felt ice creep into every pore.

They stood out front near the street, under the majestic banyan tree that was artfully illuminated by tiny spotlights. When they’d reached the front of the house, Aspen stopped barking.

She was terrified now, almost trembling, but she tried not to show it. Her mother was upset enough without Madison breaking down. Someone wanted her dead. They meant business.

Paul screeched up a few minutes later in his father’s Porsche with a portable police flasher attached to the hood. He jumped out. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Aspen warned me with a lot of barking and growling. He had his nose under the car,” she managed to tell him calmly. She turned to her mother. “Mom, this is Paul Tanner. Paul, meet Jessica Whitcomb.”

Paul smiled at her mother, then said, “You have a stubborn daughter. I told her she wasn’t safe and not to leave the house.”

“She never listened to me, either.”

“I’m going to go back and check under the car myself,” Paul told them.

“Take this.” Her mother handed him the flashlight.

“Maybe I made a mistake,” Madison said, praying for this to be true. “You may be dragging the bomb squad out here for nothing.”

“Let me check. If the team shows up, send them back.”

“Please be careful,” she told Paul.

“Well,” her mother whispered even though Paul was out of earshot, “he certainly is the handsome, take-charge type.”

“The opposite of Aiden.” She put her arm around her mother. “We both made mistakes.”

A police department panel van pulled up to the curb, followed by two police cars. The sliding door on the van opened and out came two men with German shepherds. Aspen wagged his tail but the professional dogs didn’t even look his way, although Madison knew they could smell him.

“The car is around back,” Madison said, stepping forward. “Detective Tanner is back there.”

A pair of officers approached from the first squad car, one asking, “What’s a homicide detective doing here? Nobody’s dead, right?”

“He’s my boyfriend. I called him about the suspicious thing under my car. He thought it sounded like a bomb so he contacted the bomb squad.”

“Gotcha.”

The men and dogs headed up the driveway while another man and a young woman unloaded metal boxes of equipment, put the things on a cart and followed the others toward the back of the house. Two more officers emerged from the second squad car, said hello to Madison and her mother, then went after the others.

“We might as well go back into the house,” Madison said. “This might take a little time.”

They went in through the side door again. Madison waved at Paul so he would know where she’d gone. He nodded but kept watching as the team slid a tray of some kind under her car. She and her mother settled on the sofa with Aspen at their feet. Madison began talking again, as fast as she could, telling her mother about meaningless things just to keep their minds off what was happening outside.

Madison took a deep breath and reached down to pet the dog.
She had been a foot away from death. If it hadn’t been for this gentle creature’s warning, she would be in a thousand pieces.

“Are you serious about this detective?” her mother asked.

“Yes, but I’m going to take it slowly. I don’t want to make another mistake.” When her mother nodded, Madison asked about life on the sea.

“Claustrophobic. Boring. So much blue water. Endless blue water. Sometimes we sailed for over a week without seeing land.” She shrugged. “It was fun when we were in ports. There others shared their tales and gave advice. But the whole thing got to me. Scott got to me. I missed you and Miami. It’s hot and humid and crowded, but it’s home.”

They were still catching up an hour later when Paul came through the door.
Poor baby,
Madison thought. He looked exhausted. He sat in a nearby chair. Aspen rose and sidled over to him. Paul reached down and petted the dog. “Good boy. You saved her.”

“It was a bomb.” Madison’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t allowed herself to worry much until now. She’d forced her mind to focus on her mother, but now reality couldn’t be ignored. Fear and anger knotted inside her. Who was doing this?

“A crude bomb attached with a magnet. Anyone with a few tools and the Internet could have made it. Took no more than five seconds to affix the damn thing.”

“Why did it have that little red light?” her mother asked.

“It’s an optional feature that allows the device to be triggered by a cell phone, but this one would have blown you sky-high the second you turned the key in the ignition.” Paul shook his head. “Did anyone know you were coming here?”

“No, just Mom.”

“You spoke with her over a cell or a landline?”

“On my cell.” She groaned. “I totally forgot. I could have used the guesthouse phone. Mom gave the exact address over the cell.”

“See anyone following you?”

“No, and I looked. I guess about halfway here I stopped watching,” she confessed. “I mean, in the dark all the headlights look the same. I didn’t see any strange cars.” She thought a moment. “When I came up the street no one was behind me. I checked then.”

“I’d bet your cell phone call was monitored,” Paul said.

“How does that work?” her mother asked.