Let Me Call You Sweetheart Part 21

She should have called and said good night to Robin before she left her office, she realized suddenly. Why hadn't she? Kerry ate quickly and got back in the car. It was twenty of eleven, much too late to call. She was just pulling out of the lot when the car phone rang. It was Jonathan.

"Kerry," he said, his voice low and taut, "Robin is in with Grace. She doesn't know I'm calling. She didn't want me to worry you. But after she fell asleep she had a terrible nightmare. I really think you should come over. So much has been going on. She needs you."

"I'll be right there." Kerry switched the turn signal from the right to the left one, pressed her foot on the accelerator and rushed to get to her child.

It was a long and miserable ride from New Jersey up the thruway to the Catskills. An icy rain began falling around Middletown, and traffic slowed to a crawl. An overturned tractor trailer that blocked all lanes caused an extra hour to be added to the already torturous trip.

It was a quarter of ten before a tired and hungry Geoff Dorso arrived at the Ellenville police headquarters, where Jason Arnott was being held. A team of FBI agents was waiting to question Arnott as soon as he had had the chance to speak to Geoff.

"You're wasting your time waiting for me," Geoff had told them. "I can't be his lawyer. Didn't he tell you that?"

A handcuffed Arnott was escorted into the conference room. Geoff had not seen the man in the nearly eleven years since Suzanne's death. At that time, he had been considered to have a relations.h.i.+p with Suzanne Reardon that combined friends.h.i.+p and business. No one, including Skip, ever suspected that he had any other interest in her.

Now Geoff studied the man closely. Arnott was somewhat more full-faced than Geoff remembered, but he still had that same urbane, world-weary expression. The lines around his eyes suggested deep fatigue, but the turtleneck cashmere s.h.i.+rt still looked fresh under his tweed jacket. Country gentleman, cultivated connoisseur, Geoff thought. Even in these circ.u.mstances, he certainly looks the part.

"It's good of you to come, Geoff," Arnott said amiably.

"I really don't know why I'm here," Geoff replied. "As I warned you on the phone, you are now connected to the Reardon case. My client is Skip Reardon. I can tell you that nothing you may say to me is a privileged communication. You've had your Miranda warning. I am not your lawyer. I will repeat anything you say to the prosecutor, because I intend to try to place you in the Reardon house the night of Suzanne's death."

"Oh, I was there. That's why I sent for you. Don't worry. That isn't privileged information. I intend to admit it. I asked you here because I can be a witness for Skip. But in exchange, once he is cleared, I want you to represent me. There won't be any conflict of interest then."

"Look, I'm not going to represent you," Geoff said flatly. "I've spent ten years of my life representing an innocent man who got sent to prison. If you either killed Suzanne, or know who did, and you let Skip rot in that cell all this time, I'd burn in h.e.l.l before I would raise a finger to help you."

"You see, now that's the kind of determination I want to hire." Arnott sighed. "Very well. Let's try it this way. You're a criminal defense attorney. You know who the good ones are whether they're from New Jersey or elsewhere. You promise to find me the best attorney money can buy, and I'll tell you what I know of Suzanne Reardon's death--which, incidentally, I am not responsible for."

Geoff stared at the man for a moment, considering his offer. "Okay, but before we say another word, I want to have a signed and witnessed statement that any information you give me will not be privileged, and that I can use it in whatever way I see fit to a.s.sist Skip Reardon."

"Of course."

The FBI agents had a stenotypist with them. She took down Arnott's brief statement. When he and a couple of witnesses had signed it, he said, "It is late and it has been a long day. Have you been thinking about what lawyer I should have?"

"Yes," Geoff said. "George Symonds, from Trenton. He's an excellent trial lawyer and a superb negotiator."

"They're going to try to convict me of deliberate murder in the death of Mrs. Peale. I swear it was an accident."

"If there's a way to get it down to felony murder, he'll find it. At least you wouldn't face the death penalty."

"Call him now."

Geoff knew that Symonds lived in Princeton, having once been invited to dinner at his home. He also remembered that the Symonds phone was listed in his wife's name. Using his cellular phone, he made the call in Arnott's presence. It was ten-thirty.

Ten minutes later, Geoff put the phone back. "All right, you've got a top-drawer lawyer. Now talk."

"I had the misfortune to be in the Reardon house at the time Suzanne died," Arnott said, his manner suddenly grave. "Suzanne was so wildly careless of her jewelry, some of which was quite beautiful, that the temptation proved too great. I knew Skip was supposed to be in Pennsylvania on business, and Suzanne had told me she had a date with Jimmy Weeks that evening. You know, odd as it may seem, she really had quite a crush on him."

"Was he in the house while you were there?"

Arnott shook his head. "No, the way they had arranged it, she was to drive to the shopping mall in Pearl River, leave her car there and join him in his limo. As I understood it, she was meeting Jimmy early that night. Obviously I was wrong. There were a few lights on downstairs when I got to Suzanne's house, but that was normal. They came on automatically. From the back I could see that the windows of the master bedroom were wide open. It was child's play to climb up, since the second-story roof of that very modern house slopes almost to the ground."

"What time was that?"

"Precisely eight o'clock. I was on my way to a dinner party in Cresskill; one of the reasons for my long and successful career is that almost invariably I could furnish an impeccable set of witnesses as to my whereabouts on particular nights."

"You went into the house...," Geoff encouraged.

"Yes. There wasn't a sound, so I a.s.sumed everyone was away as planned. I had no idea that Suzanne was still downstairs. I went through the sitting room of the suite, then into the bedroom and over to the night table. I'd only seen the picture frame in pa.s.sing and had never been sure if it was a genuine Faberg; obviously I had never wanted to seem too interested in it. I picked it up and was studying it when I heard Suzanne's voice. She was shouting at someone. It was quite disconcerting."

"What was she saying?" "Something to the effect of 'You gave them to me and they're mine. Now get out. You bore me.'"

You gave them to me and they're mine. The jewelry, Geoff thought. "So that must mean that Jimmy Weeks had changed plans and arranged to pick Suzanne up that night," he reasoned.

"Oh, no. I heard a man shout, 'I have to have them back,' but it was much too refined a voice to have been Jimmy Weeks, and it certainly wasn't poor Skip." Arnott sighed. "At that point, I dropped the frame in my pocket, almost unconsciously. A dreadful copy as it turns out, but Suzanne's picture has been a pleasure, so I have enjoyed having it. She was so entertaining. I do miss her."

"You dropped the frame in your pocket," Geoff prodded.

"And realized suddenly that someone was coming upstairs. I was in the bedroom, you remember, so I jumped into Suzanne's closet and tried to hide behind her long gowns. I hadn't closed the door completely."

"Did you see who came?"

"No, not the face."

"What did that person do?"

"Made straight for the jewelry case, picked among Suzanne's baubles and took out something. Then, apparently not finding everything he wanted, he began going through all the drawers. He seemed rather frantic. After only a few minutes he either found what he was looking for or gave up. Fortunately he didn't go through the closet. I waited as long as I could, and then, knowing that something was terribly wrong, I slipped downstairs. That's when I saw her."

"There was a lot of jewelry in that case. What did Suzanne's killer take?"

"Given what I learned during the trial, I'm sure it must have been the flower and the bud... the antique diamond pin, you know. It really was a beautiful piece: one of a kind."

"Did whoever it was that gave Suzanne that pin also give her the antique bracelet?"

"Oh, yes. In fact, I think he was probably trying to find the bracelet as well."

"Do you know who gave Suzanne the bracelet and the pin?"

"Of course I know. Suzanne kept few secrets from me. Now mind you, I can't swear he was the one in the house that night, but it does make sense, doesn't it? So see what I mean? My testimony will help to deliver the real murderer. That's why I should have some consideration, don't you agree?"

"Mr. Arnott, who gave Suzanne the bracelet and pin?"

Arnott's smile was amused. "You won't believe me when I tell you."

It took Kerry twenty-five minutes to drive to Old Tappan. Every turn of the wheel seemed interminable. Robin, brave little Robin, who always tried to hide how disappointed she was when Bob sloughed her off, who today had so successfully hidden how scared she was--it had finally become too much for her. I never should have left her with anyone else, Kerry thought. Even Jonathan and Grace.

Even Jonathan and Grace.

Jonathan had sounded so odd on the phone, Kerry thought.

From now on, I'll take care of my baby, Kerry vowed.

The momma and the baby--there it was again, that phrase stuck in her mind.

She was entering Old Tappan. Only a few minutes more now.

Robin had seemed so pleased at the prospect of being with Grace and Jonathan and of going through the photo alb.u.ms.

The photo alb.u.ms.

Kerry was driving past the last house before reaching Jonathan's. She was turning into the driveway. Almost unconsciously she realized that the sensor lights did not go on.

The photo alb.u.ms.

The flower-and-bud pin.

She had seen it before.

On Grace.

Years ago, when Kerry first started to work for Jonathan. Grace used to wear her jewelry then. Many pictures in the alb.u.m showed her wearing it. Grace had joked when Kerry admired that pin. She'd called it "the momma and the baby."

Suzanne Reardon was wearing Grace's pin in that newspaper picture! That must mean... Jonathan? Could he have given it to her?

She remembered now that Grace had told her that she had asked Jonathan to put all her jewelry in the safe-deposit box. "I can't put it on without help, and I can't get it off without help, and I would only worry about it if it were still in the house."

I told Jonathan I was going in to see Dr. Smith, Kerry realized. Last night, after I came home, I told Jonathan I thought Smith would crack, she said to herself. Oh my G.o.d! He must have shot Smith.

Kerry stopped the car. She was in front of the handsome limestone residence. She pushed the driver's-side door open and rushed up the steps.

Robin was with a murderer.

Kerry did not hear the faint pealing of the car telephone as she pressed her finger on the doorbell.

Geoff tried to phone Kerry at home. When there was no answer, he tried her car phone. Where was she? he wondered frantically. He as dialing Frank Green's office when the guard led Arnott away.

"The prosecutor's office is closed. If this is an emergency, dial..."

Geoff swore as he dialed the emergency number. Robin was staying with the Hoovers. Where was Kerry? Finally someone answered the emergency line.

"This is Geoff Dorso. I absolutely must reach Frank Green. It concerns a breaking murder case. Give me his home number."

"I can tell you he's not there. He was called out because of a murder in Oradell, sir."

"Can you get through to him?"

"Yes. Hold on."

It was a full three minutes before Green got on the line. "Geoff, I'm in the middle of something. This had better be important."

"It is. Very important. It has to do with the Reardon case. Frank, Robin Kinellen is staying at Jonathan Hoover's home tonight."

"Kerry told me that." "Frank, I've just learned that Jonathan Hoover gave that antique jewelry to Suzanne Reardon. He'd been having an affair with her. I think he's our killer, and Robin is with him."

There was a long pause. Then in an unemotional voice Frank Green said, "I'm in the home of an old man who specialized in repairing antique jewelry. He was murdered early this evening. There's no evidence of a robbery, but his son tells me his Rolodex with the names of his customers is missing. I'll get the local cops over to Hoover's place fast."

Jonathan opened the door for Kerry. The house was dimly lit and very quiet. "She's settled down," he said. "It's all right." Kerry's fists were hidden in the pockets of her coat, clenched in fear and anger. Still she managed to smile.

"Oh, Jonathan, this is such an imposition for you and Grace. I should have known Robin would be frightened. Where is she?"

"Back in her room now. Fast asleep."

Am I crazy? Kerry wondered as she followed Jonathan upstairs. Did my imagination go hog wild? He seems so normal.

They came to the door of the guest bedroom, the pink room as Robin called it, because of the soft pink walls and draperies and quilt.

Kerry pushed the door open. In the glow provided by a small night-light, she could see Robin on her side in her usual fetal position, her long brown hair scattered on the pillow. In two strides Kerry was beside the bed.

Robin's cheek was cupped in her palm. She was breathing evenly.

Kerry looked up at Jonathan. He was at the foot of the bed, staring at her. "She was so upset. After you got here, you decided to take her home," he said. "See, her bag with her school clothes and books is packed and ready. I'll carry it for you."

"Jonathan, there was no nightmare. She didn't wake up, did she?" Kerry said, her voice even.

"No," he said indifferently. "And it would be easier for her if she didn't wake up now."

In the dim glow of the night-light, Kerry saw that he was holding a gun.

"Jonathan, what are you doing? Where's Grace?"

"Grace is fast asleep, Kerry. I felt it was better that way. Sometimes I can tell that one of her more powerful sedatives is necessary to help ease the pain. I dissolve it in the hot cocoa I bring her in bed every night."

"Jonathan, what do you want?"

"I want to keep on living just as we're living now. I want to be president of the senate and friend of the governor. I want to spend my remaining years with my wife, whom I really do love, still. Sometimes men stray, Kerry. They do very foolish things. They let young, beautiful women flatter them. Perhaps I was susceptible because of Grace's problem. I knew it was foolish of me; I knew it was a mistake. Then all I wanted to do was to take back the jewelry I had so stupidly given that vulgar Reardon girl, but she wouldn't part with it."

He waved the revolver. "Either wake up Robin or pick her up. There isn't any more time."

"Jonathan, what are you going to do?"

"Only what I have to do, and then only with great regret. Kerry, Kerry, why did you feel you had to tilt at windmills? What did it matter that Reardon was in prison? What did it matter that Suzanne's father claimed as his gift the bracelet that could have so desperately harmed me? Those things were meant to be. I was supposed to continue to serve the state I love, and to live with the wife I love. It was sufficient penance to know that Grace had so easily spotted my betrayal."

Jonathan smiled. "She is quite marvelous. She showed me that picture and said, 'Doesn't that remind you of my flower-and-bud pin? It makes me want to wear it again. Please get it out of the safe-deposit box, dear.' She knew, and I knew that she knew, Kerry. And suddenly from being a middle-aged romantic fool... I felt soiled."

"And you killed Suzanne."

"But only because she not only refused to return my wife's gems but had the gall to tell me she had an interesting new boyfriend, Jimmy Weeks. My G.o.d, the man's a thug. A mobster. Kerry, either wake up Robin or carry her as she sleeps."

"Mom," Robin was stirring. Her eyes opened. She sat up. "Mom." She smiled. "Why are you here?"

"Get out of bed, Rob. We're leaving now." He's going to kill us, Kerry thought. He's going to say that Robin had a nightmare and I came to get her and drove off with her.