Authors: Fern Michaels

What You Wish For (15 page)

BOOK: What You Wish For

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If the nurse had tried to use Isabel's computer for some reason, she would have been thwarted almost immediately, since she didn't know her password. The moment the computer booted up it asked for a password. Suspicious by nature, Isabel discounted the nurse's searching the shelf for a book for forty minutes that would lull her to sleep. No, she was interested in the computer for some reason.

Isabel swung her legs over the side of the bed and grappled for the walker. This time she slid it, shuffling her way to the study, where she knew the room by heart. The first thing she did was to draw the heavy draperies so no light would shine through. Then she closed and locked the study door. She turned on the computer, waited for the password line to appear. She logged on and sat back to wait. She typed furiously and waited again until the last entry sprang to life. Isabel looked down at the last entry, 5:02. Her suspicions were right: the nurse had tried to use the computer. The question was why.

Isabel sat quietly, her mind racing. Every possibility under the sun surfaced. Most she rejected; others she gave serious thought. Was the pretty, cheerful nurse a spy of some sort? Who would she be spying for? Gerry and Artie would laugh their heads off if she even mentioned such a thing and say she watched too much television, when in reality she rarely watched television, much preferring a good book.

Isabel closed her eyes to bring her night table into view. Bottles of prescription drugs and a pitcher of water. At least six different vials. Her eyes narrowed. As long as she was running with all these crazy thoughts, she might as well run a little further. Telephones. There were extensions in every room in the house, even the bathroom and the garages. Since she was becoming so paranoid, she would call the phone company that day and change the situation. If necessary, she would get a switchboard. Only private lines in her office and bedroom so no one could listen in. Maybe she should disconnect the intercom system, too, in case she forgot to turn it off in one of the rooms. Fear gnawed at her insides.

What did she really know about the young, cheerful nurse? Nothing. When she'd been admitted to the hospital after her fall, she'd been out of it for a few days. When she'd been more alert, the nurse was just there, sitting on a chair, knitting. Gerry said he'd hired her. Probably from some nurses' registry. She'd never been an alarmist, but she was alarmed now, right down to the tips of her toes.

“I'm a veritable sitting duck. Or else I'm losing my mind,” she grumbled as she turned off the computer. She parted the drapes looking to the horizon. Pale pink and lavender signaled the start of a new day. The light of battle glittered in Isabel's eyes as she yanked at the drapes. The new day spread before her.

Ninety minutes later, Isabel was seated at the kitchen table finishing her breakfast. Promptly at seven o'clock, Maggie Eldridge entered the kitchen, a huge smile on her face. “I was going to bring breakfast to your room, Miss Tyger.”

“I'm not an invalid, Miss Eldridge. I need to be up and about. I need to return to my life and do what I can.”

“What
do
you do, Miss Tyger? You never said,” the nurse said, pouring coffee.

“I sit on various boards, take care of the toy business, my charities, e-mail my friends, that sort of thing,” Isabel said blandly. “Tell me about your evening. Did you have a good time?”

“A wonderful time, but I felt guilty leaving you alone.”

“You shouldn't feel guilty since I wasn't alone. My housekeeper was here.”

“How did you sleep last night?”

“Like a log.” Isabel smiled. “How about you? Are you used to the bed yet?”

“You were sound asleep when I came in. I did check on you as I promised. I, too, slept like a log. I never have trouble sleeping. The bed is fine.”

“Where did your beau take you?”

“To a lovely Chinese restaurant and then we rented two movies to watch. We had some wine, cheese, and fruit, at which point I had to leave just as it was getting interesting.” Isabel clucked her tongue to show what she thought of that statement. “I was in by twelve-thirty.”

“Those sleeping pills must have really knocked me out. I didn't hear a thing.”

“That's why the doctor prescribed them. You need your sleep. How are you feeling this morning?”

“Quite wonderful.”

“Are you ready for your bath and a massage?”

“Absolutely,” Isabel said.

“Tell me what you ate for breakfast. Some of your medication has to be taken after a meal. We don't want to do anything wrong here.”

“I had fat-free yogurt, half a grapefruit, and two slices of toast with low-sugar jam and herbal tea.”

“See, now you're getting it.” The nurse beamed.

Isabel wondered what this smiling, lying woman would think if she'd told her she ate two eggs, four slices of bacon, and then swilled down three cups of coffee. “No, no, I can do it myself. I think I'm ready for the pronged cane.”

“We can try it, but I don't think so.”

“I'm not getting a sponge bath either. I'm taking a shower.”

“All right,” the nurse said agreeably. “I'll stand outside the shower and wait.”

“Suit yourself,” Isabel said, swinging her walker around in a wide sweep, narrowly missing the blue-eyed nurse.
Lying little shit,
she thought.

Isabel made her way to her bathroom. “You can wait here in the dressing room. I prefer to do this myself if you don't mind. If I need you, I'll call for you.”
Vanity, thy name is woman
, she thought as she struggled out of her nightgown and robe. She burned with humiliation each time she had to view her naked body. Yet Gerry didn't seem to mind her gimpy leg, her rolls of fat, a protruding stomach, and pendulous breasts. An ugly body, she'd once heard her father say when she was little. As soon as she learned the meaning of the word
ugly,
she'd learned to dress to cover what she considered her flaws.

Inside the shower, Isabel sat on a round plastic bench that had rubber suction cups on the legs to keep it in place. The warm steamy water felt wonderful, soothing and comforting.
Lying little shit. What is she up to?
How far off the mark would she be if she told Artie and Gerry she thought the young nurse was seeing Daniel Ward? Not far off, she decided.

“Are you all right, Miss Tyger?”

“I'm fine. I love the feel of warm water. Tell me more about your evening. I love to hear about young people's romances. Are you sleeping with him?”

“Miss Tyger!”

“Well, are you?”

“When I have the time. That's rather personal, don't you think?”

So is trying to use my computer and lying to me.
“No. What does he do? What's his name? Maybe I know him.”

“I doubt that. He does consulting work. He's also a computer troubleshooter.”

“I know everyone in San Jose. Who is he? Why don't we invite him to dinner?”

“He's much too busy. He more or less has to fit me into his schedule as it is. I don't find that romantic at all. His name is Donald McDermott. Do you know him?”

“No!” Isabel shouted to be heard over the running water.
I bet I know his real name
, she thought nastily.
Lying little shit.

Isabel stood up and stepped out of the shower, letting the water continue to run. She managed to dress herself, but she was exhausted when she was finished. She turned off the water just before she called out, “I'm finished.”

“Goodness, I'd hate to have your water bill.”

“I'm rich. I can afford it,” Isabel said, staring intently at the nurse to see her reaction to her blatant words.

“That's what Donald said. I had no idea you were the person who owns the toy company. What's it like to be rich?” the nurse asked.

“It's a better feeling than being poor. I give away more than I keep. There are a lot of needy people out there who require my help.”

“Donald said you donate a lot of time and money to battered women's causes. He said he read about you in some newspaper. I didn't know any of that. I moved here to San Jose when the cold weather back East got to me. I can't ever imagine letting some man use me as a punching bag.”

“That's what they all say in the beginning,” Isabel snapped.

“Maybe I'll donate my weekends at one of your shelters. I like to give back a little.”

“There's no need. Believe it or not, we have all the volunteers we can handle. Can you withstand an investigative check of your background from the day you were born? And everyone in your immediate circle?”

“Of course,” the nurse snapped. She smiled to take the sting out of her sharp retort.

“I need you to do a few things for me. I want you to go to the bookstore and pick up some new novels I ordered. I also need some toothpaste and shampoo. While you're in town, you can pick up my dry cleaning. I'll be fine. I'm going to sit here and finish my last book.”

“Miss Tyger, I mean no offense, but I am not an errand girl. I'm a nurse. I don't think your doctor would approve of me leaving you alone.”

“It goes with the job. Take it or leave it. I don't much care what that doctor thinks. I thought we were clear on that. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking I'm a fool.”

“Goodness gracious,” the nurse said, flustered. “Wherever did you get an idea like that? Are you sure you slept well last night?”

“From you, that's where. I said I slept like a log. Now, are you going to run my errands or not?”

“If that's what you want me to do, then I'll do it,” the nurse said, her smile gone.

“Good. My list is on the kitchen table. The bookstore will charge the books, so will the dry cleaner and the drugstore. Take your time. Eat lunch out.”

“Why do I have the feeling you're trying to get rid of me?”

“Because I am. I don't like people who hover over me. I'll be right here when you get back. If I get tired, I'll take a nap. Why don't you surprise your boyfriend with a pizza for lunch.”

“First you have to take your medication.”

“I already took it,” Isabel lied. “If you don't believe me, check the bottles. I told you. I'm not a fool. I know the medication helps me. I just saved you the trouble of handing it to me. Jot it down on your chart. By the time you get back my next dose will be due.”

“This is so irregular. I'm not sure you need a nurse at all.” Maggie pretended to pout.

“I agree. We'll work on that. Perhaps all I need is one of those in-home aides who come to check on you every other day. You know, they check your vital signs, help you with your bath and dressing. They stand around much like you're doing,” Isabel snapped, hoping to rattle the nurse.

“You certainly are cranky this morning. I'll be back in an hour or so. Is there anything I can get for you or do for you before I leave?”

“Not a thing. I'll be fine.”

Isabel waited until she was certain Maggie had left the grounds before she made her way to the study, where she immediately dialed a private detective service she had used before. “This is Isabel Tyger, and here is what I want you to do....”

Helen gathered the last of her belongings and carried them to the door, wondering if she would miss the small apartment that had been home these many months.

“Is that the last of it, honey?”

Helen smiled. The only time Sam called her by name was in bed. She kept on smiling when she closed the door behind her.

“Share.” Sam grinned. “I want to know what makes you smile. This is like an adventure. It's not too late, you can change your mind, you know.”

“I was thinking you only use my name when we're in bed. I know you're afraid you might slip. As long as you really know who I am, everything is okay. This is right for me. I didn't leave a forwarding address, Sam. I did notify Boots, though. They'll do whatever they have to do, and I will do what I have to do. Life will go on. It's that simple. I think the big question is, are you sure you want to move in with me?”

“Try and keep me out of your life. I'm certain. Max is certain. He's got his blanket. We're ready to rock and roll.”

“It's a good thing you own furniture. We'd be sleeping on the floor otherwise. The stuff in my apartment came with it. I'm not sure how I'll adjust to beanbag chairs and a ten-inch television set, though.” Helen smiled.

“You're gonna love it.”

Helen stopped and turned around. “It's true, Sam, I will love it. As long as you and Max are there it will be the next step on my long road to a new life. I need you to understand something, Sam. I agreed to you moving in with me because I love you. I didn't agree to it because I'm afraid or I want you to protect me. If Daniel manages to find me somehow, I'll deal with it. Me, not you. I want us to have a clear understanding on the matter.”

“I'm good with everything, honey. If things look like they might be getting sticky, we can always relocate to Vermont. I have a teaching job there anytime I want one. Tuck that in the back of your mind somewhere. Another thing, if you sense anything, if you feel threatened in any way, I want your promise you will tell me. Two heads are better than one. Mine is a little cooler in this matter than yours. Whatever you do, don't panic. That's what I want
you
to understand and agree to.”

“I do, Sam.”

“Then let's get this show on the road. Les and a few of the guys from school should have the furniture in the house by the time we get there. We can unpack the boxes anytime. Let's go to the Garden State Art Center tonight. We can hear the concert on the lawn, and we can take the dogs with us.”

“If I go, will you help me with the orders? We're two weeks behind, Sam.”

Sam grinned. He liked that we business. It meant they were a unit, a couple. She was finally letting him into her real life. “Les and the guys are going to help when they finish unloading the furniture. I can't believe it's been three weeks since that . . . you know.”

“That we made love and a week later I signed off on the program? It seems like yesterday.” Helen laughed. “I still can't believe I modeled that bustier for you.”

“I can believe it.” Sam leered. “Okay, let's go! Next stop, our new rental two-bedroom, two-bath house, complete with eat-in kitchen and wood-burning fireplace and fenced-in yard for our two adorable pets.” “You sound like a real-estate agent. I'm ready.” Helen grinned as she climbed into the front seat next to Sam. She couldn't remember ever being this happy. Never, ever. She offered up a prayer that nothing would go wrong.

“Metuchen, here we come!”

“Do you know the town, Sam?”

“A little. It's nice. Lots of trees on the streets. Nice shopping. They have their own library and police station. You can walk to everything if you need to. It's close to Roosevelt Park. We can take the dogs for runs there. They ice-skate on the pond in the winter. They sleigh ride, too. There's a mall at the top of the hill. We're just a spit from Route 1 and Highway 27. I can drive to school in ten minutes. It's close to your shop. Ten minutes tops in driving time for you. There's a good vet you can take Lucie to, now that Dr. Lo has shut down his practice. I think we're both going to like it.”

“I think I've been blessed, Sam. The orders are coming in so fast they boggle my mind. Yesterday I had to ask my supplier for an extra delivery. And then there's you. In my life, I've never been this happy. I just wanted you to know that, Sam.”

“Me too,” Sam said, reaching for her hand. “Me too.”

Isabel Tyger walked slowly, the pronged cane slightly ahead of her as she matched her steps to the thud of the heavy cane. There was a murderous look in her eyes that matched the menacing clouds outdoors. Heavy rain slashed against the windows of the sunroom to a frenzied beat that set her teeth on edge. In her hand was a manila folder that had just been hand-delivered.

“You are doing remarkably well, Miss Tyger. I never would have believed it was possible. Another week or so, and you won't need the walker at all. And you certainly won't need me. I feel guilty taking your money as it is,” Maggie Eldridge said, setting aside the paper she'd been reading.

“Do you now?” Isabel snapped, her mind on the contents of the folder in her lap. “What is it about me that makes you feel guilty, Maggie?”

“You're doing so well. You can shower by yourself. You take your own medicine. You eat what your cook prepares. You're an excellent chess player, and you've beaten me each time we play. I'm just here to make sure nothing goes awry. I'm used to working for my money. This is a vacation for me compared to other cases I've been on. And all that free time you give me is so generous of you. As I say, this is almost as good as a vacation. Do you feel all right, Miss Tyger? You look . . .
angry.”

Isabel looked across the sunroom at the young nurse. Her eyes were so very blue and so incredibly guileless. Isabel shifted in her chair. “The truth is,” she said, whacking the envelope against her leg, “I'm
very
angry. Do you know what I have here in my hand?”

Maggie giggled. “Now, Miss Tyger, how could I possibly know what's in that envelope? It was just delivered. I saw the messenger coming up the walk a little while ago.”

“What about all the other envelopes that were delivered the past two and a half weeks? And what about the envelopes that were delivered to me while I was in the hospital?”

“I don't understand. Are you asking me a question, or are you trying to tell me something?” Isabel noted that some of the sparkle seemed to leave the nurse's eyes and voice at the question.

“Both,” Isabel retorted.

“I'm afraid I don't understand.” The guileless eyes were now wary and suspicious.

“Let me spin a little story for you. When I'm finished, you tell me if I'm right or not.”

“All right,” Maggie said, the color leaving her face. Round spots of rouge stood out starkly.

“When I fell and broke my hip, the event made the local newspapers as well as the local television news. When you were hired by a friend of mine to do private duty for me, your picture was also in the local papers. Some photographer snapped you walking into the hospital. I would imagine shortly after that your new boyfriend came into the picture. It was probably a chance meeting in the lobby or one of the local restaurants.”

“Actually, Miss Tyger, I met Donald at the laundromat. We were both trying to get the last dryer. I won.”

“He was handsome,” Isabel went on. “Very cavalier. He invited you to a movie or dinner and you accepted. You told him what you did for a living, and he told you what he wanted you to know. The truth is, you don't know anything about the man you've been seeing. Since you've been here, the information you took out of my home was meant for your eyes only. For want of a better word, I set a trap for you. You see, I know what you've been doing since the first day we got home. I saw you going through my study the first night I gave you off.”

“Miss Tyger, what are you saying? More to the point, what are you accusing me of? Why are you so interested in my boyfriend? Why are you prying into my personal life? That wasn't part of my job description.”

Isabel knew she was on to something by the nurse's jittery tone of voice.

“Nor is spying part of your job description. What were you doing in my study?”

“Looking for a book,” Maggie said feebly.

“Bullshit!” Isabel said succinctly. “I'm going to ask you one question, and, for your sake, I hope you have the good sense to tell me the truth. If you don't, I'll find a way to prosecute you,” she lied. “You'll lose your nursing license. You're a good nurse, Maggie. I'd hate to see that happen to you.”

“What . . . what's the question?”

“Ladies, ladies, ladies, why so serious? The two of you look like you lost your last friend,” Arthur King boomed as he strode into the sunroom, his golf umbrella dripping all over the carpet.

“In a manner of speaking, we have. Maggie was just about to answer a question for me. Pour yourself some coffee, Artie. Now, Maggie, while I was under your care in the hospital, did you read the e-mails and photocopy them to give to your boyfriend, Donald McDermott?”

Arthur King choked on the coffee he was drinking. He grappled for a pile of napkins on the serving cart, his eyes on the young nurse and what she was about to say.

“Yes.”

“I can't hear you, Maggie. Speak louder.”

“Yes,” the nurse said miserably.

“For God's sake, why?” Artie demanded.

“He asked me to. I . . . I wanted to please him. They were just chatty letters, there was nothing serious in them. I even read them. I couldn't imagine what he wanted to do with them.”

“What did he tell you he was going to do with them?” Artie asked coldly.

“He said . . . what he said . . . was, he wanted the e-mail addresses so he could send out advertisements on the net. I know it wasn't right, but he said it was cheaper for him than it was to buy a list of names. I'm sorry I did it I knew it was wrong when I did it. I don't have any excuse, and if you want to fire me, I deserve it. I would like to ask some questions,” she said, bravely meeting Isabel's eyes. “Why would you hire a detective to spy on me or on Donald? Does this have something to do with industrial espionage? Is someone trying to steal your toy designs?”

“No, Maggie. Your boyfriend is trying to steal someone's life.”

“Donald? Trying to steal someone's life? That doesn't make sense. How can you steal someone's life?” Maggie sputtered.

Isabel sighed. “I'll leave it to you, Artie, to explain the situation. I need to go on the computer. Where's your boyfriend right now, Maggie?”

“I think he's home, getting ready to go on a business trip. Are you going to have him arrested? What's going on?”

“Tell her, Artie,” Isabel said as she made her way across the room. “Tell her Donald McDermott's real name and keep her here until I get back.”

In her study, Isabel sat down with a thump. She felt dizzy and faint at the nurse's betrayal. The whole program was compromised now. Wizard that he was, Daniel Ward could find out anything he wanted to know by using the e-mails and his computer skills. And there was nothing she could do to him. Nothing she could prove. Bastard that he was, he probably had something set up whereby he would pretend to do what he'd told Maggie, sell on-line names and addresses. It was done all the time. Daniel knew it, and so did she.

“This is all my fault,” Isabel mumbled. “Why did I insist Mona bring me the e-mails, the records from the shelters? Because,” she answered herself, “you have to have your damn fingers in everything. You think you're the only one who can do things right. Now you can see what that attitude and that kind of thinking has gotten you.”

The computer came to life. Isabel shifted her weight in the chair as she waited for the e-mail screen to come to life. She typed in the address for the Sassie Lassie web page and waited for the revolving envelope so she could send off an e-mail to Helen.

Would Daniel Ward's prying eyes see this e-mail? Possibly. Still, somehow, she had to warn Helen. She wrote: “I'd like to order both versions of your TTLS and TTLS2. It is imperative that you call me as soon as you receive this message as these are special-order gifts. My number is ...”

The walk down the hall to the sunroom seemed to take Isabel forever. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the young nurse in tears.

“Are you crying for what you've done, or are you crying because that jackass you thought was so wonderful is who we said he is?” Isabel snapped.

“I showed her the company picture we had taken the last year Daniel was with us,” Artie said.

“Do you have any idea what you've done?” Isabel snapped again.

“I'm sorry. I'm truly, truly sorry.”

BOOK: What You Wish For

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