Slice and Dice (34 page)

M:
That’s not necessary, Laurie. I believe you. You’ve been a huge help. Please, just one word of caution. Don’t tell anyone about this interview. Researching a book is a very sensitive time for both me and those I talk to. I’d like you to keep this under your hat until the book comes out. If anyone in the Buckridge family contacts you —

Lippert:
Will they?

M:
I doubt it, but you never know. The best thing to do is to just refuse to talk to them. Make that clear and unequivocal.

Lippert:
If I have to, I’d lie. I really want to see the truth finally get told, especially after keeping it inside me all these years. But I don’t want to deal with Connie Buckridge. I’m still a little afraid of her.

M:
I understand. Again, many thanks.

End of E-mail to Pluto

A few personal commentsfor myjournal.

It was awful — truly horrible — spending even one night without my laptop and my journal. I drank enough brandy to put myself into a coma, but the gash on my ear still hurt, pretty much all night. Normally, if I can’t sleep, I get up and work. All I had to help me while away the hours was the TV and my wounded pride. This morning, however, at least the cut felt better. I changed the bandage before Bram arrived. I didn’t want to have him fuss over it — or me. After last night, I didn’t want him that close ever again. All a woman can do is try, I guess, and that s what I did. I think he’s making a big mistake. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find that Sophie and Nathan are having an affair — or will be in the near future. But he’ll have to deal with that on his own. Once someone says no, I’m gone.

One more comment. I know that Bram may be upset when he finds that I’ve left the Ardmore Suites, but I can’t chance remaining in St. Paul any longer. When I first arrived in Minnesota, I wanted to stay at the Maxfield so that I could watch the Buckridges up close. But now that my cover is blown, and my life has been threatened, I have to get away. Perhaps I should have left sooner, but the fact that I’d hired a bodyguard lulled me into a false sense of safety. If I’d had any real idea of how dangerous Constance Buckridge would turn out to be, I would have done many things differently. But hindsight doesn’t help me now, or more important, it doesn’t help Rafferty. I feel terrible — and partially responsible — for what happened, and I intend to see that whoever planted that car bomb pays a price I may stay in Elk River tonight or find something in Minneapolis. Bram helped me when I needed him most, and I’ll be forever grateful. But for now I have to disappear, and that means from him as well. I left him a note. When he comes by the Ardmore later tonight to check on me, he’ll receive it. I hope he isn’t too angry. Why should I care, right? I shouldn’t, damn it all, but I do. Lucky me. Thirty-seven years old and carrying a torch for a married man who happens to love his wife. Pathetic.

Sophie tossed and turned all night. For some reason, Bram was sleeping almost as badly as she was. He’d been in a foul mood ever since he’d walked in the door, late for their dinner date with two old friends from Sophie’s days at
Squires Magazine.
He didn’t seem to be directing his ill humor at her, so she figured it was probably a work-related problem and he’d talk about it when he was ready.

Sophie had arrived home from New Fonteney shortly after six. She went straight up to Arthur and Constance’s suite to tell Arthur that she’d found Nathan and he was okay. After reading the interview with Laurie Lippert, she finally understood what had caused that highly charged family scene. It was a startling revelation, one that no doubt rocked the family to its very foundations, but she wasn’t sure she believed it.

Perhaps this Lippert woman had a grudge against Constance or maybe she just saw the opportunity to get her name in print — in a big way. Sure, she sounded sincere. It all sounded plausible, but that didn’t mean it was the truth. Then again if it was accurate, if Constance had slept with her brother, it was just the kind of dirt Marie Damontraville was looking for. And that meant it wouldn’t be long before the story was published for all the world to see. Sophie thought it would be best, however, not to let Arthur know, at least for now, that she’d read the interview.

Arthur thanked her profusely for finding Nathan. He said again how worried he was about him. When Sophie asked where Constance was, he nodded toward one of the bedrooms but offered nothing more. He was obviously in no mood for a chat. Before she left, he asked for directions to the monastery. She assumed he intended to drive out to talk to Nathan. She didn’t mention how drunk Nathan was likely to be because she didn’t think he should be alone tonight. Arthur might be the last person on earth Nathan wanted to see, but perhaps, in some convoluted way, he was the best person for the job.

Sophie still wanted to talk to Emily about the Buckridge Culinary Academy, specifically office 404, but after what the poor woman had just gone through, it wasn’t the right time. Paul was another possible source of information, but he’d never been all that friendly to her, and he, too, had just suffered a major emotional blow. Her questions would have to wait. Not that she would put them on hold for long. A man’s life was at stake. She thought about going to the police and telling them what she knew, but since her information implicated Nathan, she wanted to wait until she knew more. She didn’t want circumstantial evidence to convict another innocent man.

After dinner, she and Bram walked back to the hotel and turned in early. Bram didn’t feel much like talking. He’d been his usual charming self at the restaurant, but once they were alone, Sophie sensed his fatigue. And because she had so much on her mind, engaging in their normal banter would have been a struggle. She was actually grateful for Bram’s pensive mood.

When the alarm finally went off at seven
A.M.
, Bram stayed in bed while Sophie showered. As he was getting dressed, she prepared a light breakfast of whole-wheat toast, fresh melon, and yogurt. Whatever problems he’d had on his mind last night were still on his mind this morning. Over breakfast she made a few tentative stabs at getting him to talk about it, but he changed the subject each time. Before he left for the station, they stood at the front door and kissed goodbye.

“Everything’s okay, isn’t it?” she asked. She couldn’t let him go without reassurance that he hadn’t found out about her and Nathan. It was hard to accept that for the rest of her married life, a sword would be hanging over her head — a sword she’d hung herself. “Have I done something to upset you?”

“God, no,” he said, kissing her again and then holding her tight. “It’s not you. It’s a friend. I think this person may be in some serious trouble and I don’t know how to help.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, feeling herself relax in his arms. “Is it a close friend?”

“Sort of,” he said after a few seconds. “I guess I care more than I thought I did.”

“You’ll think of something.”

“I hope so.” He backed up. “Say, Soph? Have you found out yet when the Buckridges are leaving town?”

She was instantly on guard again. “No.”

“Could you?”

“I could try. Why?”

He paused for a moment, then continued. “There’s something important I want you to read tonight. And don’t give me any excuses about having to work late.”

“Is it about Nathan?”

“It’s about his whole family.”

“Come on, Bram. I can’t wait until tonight.”

“I’m taping an interview with Governor Ventura in less than an hour. I can’t stay. But remember your promise to stay away from Nathan.”

Sophie wasn’t sure she’d ever made such a promise, but she didn’t want him to worry. “I’ll be careful.”

“Good. That whole family is a disaster, Sophie. Stay away from all of them.”

She scrutinized his face. “Why would you say something like that?”

“I’ll let you see the proof tonight.” He gave her one last peck on the cheek, then hurried down the hall to the elevators.

As she cleaned up the breakfast dishes, she wondered what information he could possibly have on Constance Buckridge and her family and where he’d found it. If he’d somehow gotten ahold of a copy of the Lippert interview, well, sure, it made some awful accusations about Constance and her brother, but they posed no danger to Sophie. And what could he have on Nathan other than his general antipathy toward one of Sophie’s ex-boyfriends?

Pouring herself another cup of coffee, she took it into the living room. She was about to sit down on the couch when she heard a knock at the door. She immediately thought of Nathan. Although she had mixed feelings about seeing him this morning, she still hoped it would be him. When she answered the door, she was surprised to find Constance standing in the hallway.

“Are you alone?” she asked, smiling at Sophie with that same open yet mischievous look millions of TV viewers had come to know and love.

“My husband just left,” she said, holding the door open. “Come on in.” Surely Bram had to be wrong. Constance might be many things, but she wasn’t dangerous. At one point in her life, Sophie had thought of Constance as her ftiture mother-in-law. They’d even been fairly close. Of course, all that had ended when she broke it off with Nathan.

As Constance entered, her eyes fell on Ethel, who was snoozing on her pillow under the dining room table. “So that really is your dog,” she said, crouching down to get a better look.

“Afraid so.”

“I’ve seen her downstairs on her pillow in the lobby. She makes an unforgettable hotel mascot.”

Ethel’s eyes opened slightly, sensing that she was being talked about.

“She’s old,” said Sophie, “but young in spirit.”

“She’s not a terribly active animal.”

“No. She’s always been far more cerebral, if you know what I mean. Guarding tennis balls and examining bugs represent the limit of her athletic accomplishments.”

Ethel yawned, smacked her jaws a couple of times, then closed her eyes.

“I guess I’m not very interesting,” said Constance.

“Oh, don’t take her apathy personally. She’s apathetic about most everything.”

“Except tennis balls and bugs.”

“And cookies. She has standards.”

Constance watched her a few more seconds, then stood up, straightening her belted sweater and wool slacks. “We’ve hardly had a chance to talk since you came to Kitchen Central with Nathan last weekend. I thought it was about time I remedied that. Did I come at a bad moment?”

“No, not at all.” She led the way into the living room. After everything that had happened yesterday, Constance looked none the worse for wear. Sophie figured her reasons for dropping by extended beyond mere sociability, so her natural curiosity lucked into high gear. “Can I get you something to drink? Some coffee?”

Constance patted her stomach as she sat down on the couch. “No thanks. I just finished breakfast and I’m stuffed. Both Arthur and I have really been enjoying the Fountain Grill.”

“It’s a great cafe,” agreed Sophie, sitting down opposite her. It felt funny talking so casually after what she’d just learned. Perhaps, somewhere in the back of her mind, she did believe Laurie Lippert. At the very least, the woman’s accusations colored the way she looked at Constance now. “So what’s it like being back in Minnesota after all these years?”

“It’s been profitable in terms of the book tour. I’ve done almost a dozen interviews, four bookstores, several radio shows, and a couple TV shows. Can you believe that this is the first time I’ve spent any real time here since I moved out east?”

“Nathan mentioned that. I assume Minnesota holds some bad memories for you.”

Constance turned her attention to a tall white vase of bright yellow daffodils sitting in the center of the coffee table, then glanced admiringly around the room. “Yes, a few. Nobody really wanted to start the tour here except for Nathan.”

“Because of New Fonteney?”

She nodded. “It just wasn’t the right spot for us. I know he’s disappointed, but Paul pretty much runs the culinary academy and he was against it.”

“Perhaps Nathan could be in charge of this branch?”

“You know, when we first started up the school, I wanted Nathan to run it, but he turned me down flat. I suppose, in the long run, Paul was the better choice. He’s a lot like his father, a natural at business. Nathan is more artistic and more introspective. Perhaps that’s why I love him so much. Oh, he does some guest lectures occasionally. He’s quite a brilliant chef, you know. I’d love him to do more teaching, but he seems to need his freedom right now. That’s why he likes running around the country making sure the restaurants we own are up to snuff. Kenneth Merlin, my son-in-law, handles most of the business details, but Nathan is in charge of the culinary integrity at each site, and that’s every bit as vital to me as the financial bottom line.”

Sophie nodded, sipping her coffee. Everything Constance said was interesting, but she wished that she’d get to the point. “You look well. Stardom must agree with you.”

Her smoothness faltered. “Celebrity has its ups and downs. Speaking of which, I, ah … I understand you came to the door yesterday during a family meeting.”