Not What She Seems (22 page)

In the short drive to the hotel, the clouds thickened and the wind picked up. Steven felt the first flakes hit his face while walking through the parking lot. The threat of a snow storm improved his mood. Maybe he wouldn’t have to go to
New York
after all.

The do not disturb sign was on Emily’s door, but he knocked anyway. Connor opened the door until the sliding lock prevented it from going any further.

Steven bent down. “Hey, buddy. How are you today?”

“I’m full. I ate all my oatmeal.” Connor licked his lips.

“That’s good. Where’s your mom?”

“Just a sec.”
Connor shut the door. Steven heard the faint sound of movement in the room. A minute later the door opened.

Steven walked in glancing around the suite. A chair sat next to the door, obviously one that Connor had moved so he could let Steven in. “Isn’t your mom here?”

Connor shrugged and motioned down the hall. “She’s in the shower.”

“Oh, well I’d better—”

Emily appeared from around the corner wearing a short terrycloth robe and towel wrapped around her head. Her eyes locked with Steven’s and her cheeks flushed. She made a yelping noise, clutched her robe and shrieked, “Steven! How did you—”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize—” Heat rushed to his face and he didn’t know what else to say. “Connor let me in.”

Her eyes traveled to her son. “Connor, didn’t I tell you not to open the door?”

Connor rolled his eyes. “He’s not a stranger, Mom.”

Steven crouched down beside him. “Hey, buddy, you’ve got to do what your mother says.”

Connor looked at his mother, a slight frown on his face. “Sorry.”

Emily touched the towel on her head. “It’s all right sweetie. Just be sure you don’t do it again.” She turned to Steven, her lips pressed together tight. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go get dressed. You might as well make yourself comfortable.” She gestured toward the seat before disappearing around the corner.

Steven felt like a heel. He sat down on the couch and ran his fingers through his hair. Connor climbed up on his lap. “Are you in trouble?”

He laughed. “Yeah, buddy, I think I am.”

“You have to sit in time out?” His eyebrows scrunched together.

Steven tried to keep a straight face. “I might.”

Connor patted him on the back sympathetically. Steven grabbed the remote and flipped on the television. Connor snuggled on his lap while they watched a cartoon. Emily came back into the room, her hair wet, but otherwise put together. She went to the door and took the do not disturb sign off and hung it on the inside handle, perhaps a bit too pointedly.

Steven still felt bad for coming in when she was in the shower but decided to change the subject. “I spoke with Theodore this morning.”

Emily sat down across the room and crossed her legs. “How did that go?”

“Not so well. He told me to leave. I blurted out something about William blackmailing him and he slammed the door in my face.”

Emily’s mouth dropped. “You really said that?”

Steven grinned. “Yes. Then I went to speak with Edna. She told me Theodore had an affair with one of his housemaids and got her pregnant.”

“Oh
my gosh
, are you serious? When did that happen?” Emily leaned forward in her chair.

Connor squirmed and jumped down to the floor. Steven looked back at Emily. “Years ago, right before William was born. The house maid left town and was never heard from again. Rumor has it that Theodore paid her to leave so his wife wouldn’t find out.”

Emily ran her hand through her curls. “Well, if that’s true I can certainly see why Theodore would want to bury that information. Priscilla would kick him out in a heartbeat if she knew.”

“I bet a divorce would cost him quite a bit.”

Emily smirked. “A divorce would put him out on the streets.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Theodore married into wealth. It’s all Priscilla’s money. If they got divorced he would be penniless.”

The information sunk like lead in his mind. “That explains it then. Do you think Theodore might have killed William to keep him quiet?”

“No. He was paying him to keep him quiet. He’s
still
paying. He thinks I knew all about it.” She frowned. “What I want to know is what Samantha was paying for. I don’t buy the loan story. William was blackmailing her too.”

“She won’t talk to you.”

Emily shifted in her seat. “I’ve been thinking about that. What if I went to her, all sympathetic, and told her I knew all about what William was doing. I could even offer to pay her back the money he took from her.”

Steven folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Just listen for a minute. I could put a tape recorder in my purse. If I told her I was sorry, that I didn’t know what he was doing, she might listen to me. I could get her to confess to paying him blackmail. With the footprint in William’s blood, that might be enough evidence against her to clear my name.”

“Emily, I don’t want you to go near her. If she really killed William to keep him quiet, what do you think she would do to you?”

Her face softened, and she blinked. “Steven, I have to do
something
.”

She looked like she was going to cry, and he filled with sympathy for her. “Let’s think about it. I have to leave tomorrow morning for a business meeting. We can talk more about it when I get back.”

“You’re leaving?”

“I’m sorry. I have to.” His stomach tightened as he watched her face fall. “I’ll be back Saturday morning.”

She pressed her lips together. “That’s okay. I’ll call Vincent. Maybe he can watch Connor while I go talk to Samantha.”

Steven clenched his jaw and his gut twisted up. “Emily, I just want you to be safe.”

Her eyes flashed. “Do you think I can’t take care of myself?”

He sighed and stood up. “No, I wasn’t saying that at all.” He crossed the room to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. “You’re a very capable person. I’m simply afraid that Samantha would do anything to protect her secrets. And that includes harming you. Please, stay away from her.”

Emily blinked, seeming to take in his words.
“All right.
I won’t go talk to her.”

Steven wanted to pull her up and embrace her, but restrained himself. She hadn’t exactly been giving him any signs that she was interested. He didn’t want to push her. He took a deep breath. “Thank you.”
   

******

Richard took a drag on his cigarette. Steven came back out of the hotel alone. Good. He let the smoke swirl around the inside of his car. If he could get Steven out of the way, Emily would listen to him. Steven started his car and pulled out of the parking lot. Richard shifted into gear and took off after him.

Richard tailed Steven all day Thursday, looking for an opportunity to corner him alone. He had to be patient. The last time he acted in haste resulted in pain. The deep gash on his hand was beginning to heal but still throbbed when he clenched it.

He watched Steven go in and out of the hotel, running errands and bringing Emily food. Emily didn’t leave her room. When he tailed Steven to the airport early Friday morning, Richard changed his plans. Emily and the kid were now alone in their hotel room. He glanced at the clock.
Six fourteen
. There was a chance he could make it. When he and Emily would stay in hotels she would shower in the morning, putting out the do not disturb sign.

He felt real excitement for the first time since Emily left him. His foot pressed the gas pedal and he had to force himself to ease off so he wouldn’t attract a cop. The clock read
six forty
when he pulled back into the hotel.

Opening the glove compartment he rummaged through the junk until he found a peppermint from a fast food restaurant. He stuffed it in his coat pocket and headed to the lobby. The hotel door opened as he approached. Two police officers emerged and he spun around pulling his cap down. They passed by him, chatting about a football game.

He pulled his coat collar up and entered the building. His heart pounded as he rode the elevator. He was almost there. As he approached Emily’s hotel door, he was not disappointed. A red do not disturb sign hung on the handle. Making sure no one was
coming,
he tapped on the door with one knuckle.

Chapter Twenty Eight

Steven’s stomach tightened as the jet took off. He had a bad feeling about leaving Emily right now. She said that she wouldn’t leave her hotel room while he was away, but she wasn’t very convincing. At least he had convinced her not to go talk with Samantha.

Steven leaned back in his seat. This business deal would profit him greatly. He had the capital to turn a floundering communications network into a huge financial success, and yet apathy plagued him. The sensation was quite foreign to him. His zeal for building his empire had fizzled. All he wanted to do was protect Emily from harm, and watch Connor’s face light up to see him.

He rubbed his temples. He hadn’t felt this way about anyone before. Emily could frustrate him to no end one minute, and make his heart stop the next. He saw her face every time he closed his eyes.

The plane rocked. They must have hit a pocket of turbulence. Steven tightened his seatbelt. He wondered what Emily would do if they found her guilty.
Would she take Connor and try to run again?
But even as the thought voiced itself he knew she wouldn’t. Richard forced her to run away. She never would have done that on her own. Richard used her vulnerability to coerce her into fleeing with him.

The thought of Richard made him squirm. She was in danger as long as Richard was loose. Stapleton police put out an APB for him, but with no leads yet. He did feel better, knowing that Richard grew up in Stapleton and would be easily recognized if he showed up to find Emily. Besides, she promised she wouldn’t leave her hotel room.

******

Richard pressed his ear to the door. The muffled sounds of the television came through. He tapped on the door again, this time a little louder. The handle quivered a little, then turned and the door opened a crack.

Connor’s eyes widened.

Richard bent over, smiling. “Hi kid. Look what I brought you.” He waved the peppermint candy in front of Connor’s face. The door opened a little more.

“Candy?
For me?”
He pressed his face into the opening, watching the peppermint.

“Yes. All you have to do is open the door so I can talk to your Mommy.”

Connor frowned. “I’m not supposed to open the door.”

“Then I guess you don’t get the candy.” Richard tossed the candy up and snatched it out of the air.

Connor shuffled behind the door. He cocked his head, and smiled. “It will fit through here.” He squeezed his fingers through the crack in the door.

“Nope.
Not good enough. I have to come in, to give your Mommy a surprise too.” His legs were starting to hurt, so he stood up.

“You’re not mad at Mommy?” Connor’s face seemed doubtful.

Richard plastered a smile across his face. “No, no I’m not mad at all. I want to give her a big hug.”

Connor’s face brightened. “She likes hugs.”

“Sure she does. Open the lock so I can come in and give her a hug.” He glanced down the hall at the elevator noise. Someone was coming. “Hurry up, kid.”

“Okay.” Connor shut the door, and Richard tugged his cap down as someone got off the elevator. He pretended to search for his room key while the person passed him by. Moments later Connor opened the door.

******

Emily spent a bit longer in the shower than usual, making the bathroom too hot and stuffy. She tied a towel around her and wiped the mirror with a wash cloth.
Where did those dark circles come from?
At least Steven is out of town today.
The thought made her smile.
Like he would care anyway.

She grabbed her hair brush and attacked her curls. The heat made her uncomfortable, but after the incident with Steven she wasn’t about to leave the bathroom undressed. She slipped into a comfortable pair of slacks and buttoned up her blouse. As soon as she was covered she opened the door and went into the bedroom.

She stood at the mirror, brushing her hair. A tingle crawled up her back, and she had the feeling like someone was watching her. Unsettled, she put down her brush and went to check on Connor.

Her son sat in the middle of the floor, his eyes glued to the television. He had something in his mouth.

Emily crossed her arms. “What are you eating?”

Guilty eyes peered up at her. “Candy.”

Emily blinked. “What? Where did you get candy from? Have you been getting breath mints out of my purse?”