Willow Pond (18 page)

“I eat early so I can shower and get ready for work.”

“At least you can join us on the weekends.”

Maggie closed the door behind her before Mary could get another word out.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Erich was just tugging on his jacket, ready to leave for work, when he heard a ferocious knocking on his apartment door. He tugged the door open and found himself face to face with three men, all of whom he knew to be members of the gang of bootleggers he had been trying to infiltrate. He stood frozen for a moment, not knowing what to do. He was entirely aware they could just kill him right then and there.

The men pushed into the room and the youngest of the three kicked the door shut. The other two shoved Erich toward the sofa, and when he landed on it one of the men practically sat on top of him. In the next instant Erich flinched, feeling the cold pressure of a gun to his head. He squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed hard, certain he was about to die.

Then the pressure was gone. Erich’s eyes popped open and slid to the right. The gun now sat patiently on the couch between him and the bootlegger.

“Hans Kohl or Erich Muller?” the bootlegger demanded.

Erich didn’t answer, and the bootlegger sneered his displeasure. “Did you really think we wouldn’t find out who you were?” The man chuckled. It was a low, nerve-wracking sound. “You know something? It just so happens who you are is gonna save your life.”

Erich glanced up. The other two bootleggers were sitting at the kitchen table, drinking the coffee he’d just prepared. They were watching him and chuckling. He had never felt more inept in his whole life.

“I don’t understand,” he managed, hoping he hadn’t said the wrong thing.

“You don’t understand?” one of the men asked. He looked like the oldest of the three. He was stockier, with more gray around the temples. “Let’s see if I can explain it to you. It would be so easy for us to take you for a one way ride and get things over with. Do you know what that means?”

Erich nodded, then realized he was no longer quite as frightened as he had been. Maybe it was because the three men who now surrounded him looked angry, but not murderous. Or maybe it was because the whole situation was nuts, just like Dan and Peter had said. Whatever the reason, Erich had to follow this thing through to the end. To do that, he couldn’t show any fear.

“I’ve heard about those kinds of car rides. To be honest, I’d rather skip that,” Erich said. “I really have to get to work so …”

“You may be late,” the bootlegger with the gun said. “But I got a feeling you’ll come up with a good excuse. Remember what I said before about who you are being the one thing that saved your life? Well, here’s the thing. You’re also going to save your girlfriend’s life and get the cops off our backs.”

“Laura?” Erich asked, feeling suddenly sick. “Is she in danger?”

“She will be unless you do what we ask you to do.”

Erich glanced from one bootlegger to the other, wondering whether he had ever seen any of them before. He had met others in Montauk and at the Canoe Place Inn, but no. These three hadn’t been there.

“What do you want me to do?”

The man chuckled. “This isn’t something we want you to do. This is something you will do.”

“What if it’s something I don’t think is a good idea?”

This time all three men laughed. “You’ll do it anyway. If you don’t, well, it’s sad to think of something so beautiful as dead. So sad.”

A chill spread like ice through Erich’s body. “What do I have to do?”

“We want you to get the cops off our trail. We didn’t kidnap your girlfriend’s kid, and you’re a bigger fool than you seem if you think we did. We don’t kidnap babies for ransom, and we ain’t got no idea who did. We want you to put the heat on someone else. Virginia Kingsley would be a good choice. Everyone thinks she was involved anyway.” The man narrowed his eyes and put his face right in Erich’s so he couldn’t avoid his hard stare. “So, Hans Erich, you have seventy-two hours to get the article in the paper and on the newsstands. If you don’t, you won’t get an opportunity to kiss your girlfriend goodbye.”

When Erich walked into the newsroom of the Herald Tribune an hour later, he headed right into Daniel Spencer’s office and told him everything that had happened.

“I told you you’d never get away with that crazy plan,” Spencer said. “So did Bergen.”

Erich glared at him. “Did you hear what I said? They threatened Laura. All I want to know is if they’ll run the article. Well?”

Spencer tapped his pencil on the desk, thinking. “We can’t run anything if you out and out say she’s guilty. The best you can do is hint at it.”

“What if that doesn’t satisfy those bastards? They’ll kill Laura. I have no doubt about that. And it’ll be my fault.” He slammed the back of one hand against his forehead and squeezed his eyes shut. “How the hell could I have been such an idiot?”

Spencer got up from his desk and gripped Erich’s shoulder with one hand. “Just make sure you don’t say she kidnapped the boy. You can say anything else you want, just not that. When you’re done, bring it to me and we’ll go over so it can be in tomorrow morning’s edition.”

Erich worked almost the entire day on the article. Every word had to be perfect. This was Laura’s life on the line. He rewrote it a dozen times until he was convinced he had it just right, and even then he wasn’t satisfied. When he was done, or as close to done as he’d ever be, he laid his work on Daniel Spencer’s desk. Spencer stopped what he was doing, flicked one acknowledging eyebrow at Erich, then began to read.

“Did I go too far?” Erich asked.

Spencer shook his head, studying the paper. “No. Almost, but you skirted around things enough I don’t think she can sue. However, I still think before we run this, you’d better get her side of the story.”

“You know who we’re dealing with. She’s going to threaten us again.”

“We can handle threats as long as she doesn’t take any action.”

Erich grabbed his jacket and laid it over one arm. “She might not want any more bad publicity, but Wilson’s certain she knows something. I’ve been trying to think of a way to get her to talk. I guess this is it.”

Twenty minutes later the door to Bacchanal was opened by a tall, distinguished-looking man who resembled a banker more than a hoodlum. Virginia Kingsley attracted all types of people.

The man extended his hand. “Good day, Mr. Muller. I’m Harry Davis. What can I do for you?”

Erich kept his hands at his sides. “I need a few minutes of her time.”

“Not possible right now. She asked me to be of assistance to you.”

“You’re a lot more refined than most of the guys in her organization.”

“And you’re a lot less polite than most of the people who believe they need to see her.” Despite his words, Harry smiled, and his manner continued to be mild and confident. “Now how may I help you?”

“Five minutes of her time, that’s all.”

“Mr. Muller, I dislike repeating myself.”

“Suit yourself.” Erich handed him a copy of the article. “This will be in the morning edition of the Herald Tribune. She has one hour to call if she has a problem with it. We go to press at six-thirty.”

Harry scanned the article. “She isn’t going to be too happy about this.”

“Keeping Virginia Kingsley happy is your job, not mine.”

***

By the time Erich arrived, Laura had dinner almost ready. He offered to help, but she’d already sliced the mushrooms and had the butcher cut the beef into strips for beef stroganoff, leaving him little to do.

When she went into the bedroom to freshen up he followed her. He took the hairbrush from her and began to brush her hair. “Your hair’s like spun gold. So beautiful.”

He put his lips to her neck and she closed he eyes but whispered, “Please don’t.” Their lovemaking filled her with such joy - and such guilt.

“How long has it been since we’ve seen each other?”

“It feels like forever.”

They ate dinner and cleared the table together, and she washed while he dried. She enjoyed doing little things with him and knew he felt the same way. Phillip had never enjoyed little things like washing dishes. He’d said it was beneath him, and even after they’d separated he’d wanted to hire a maid for her. Every time he’d brought the subject up she’d cut him off because she knew he was trying to control her.

When Erich went to put something in the trash, he spotted an old bouquet of roses. “Where did those come from?”

She’d forgotten to put the flowers in the garbage can outside. You’re a damn fool, she thought to herself. But she couldn’t lie.

“They’re from Phillip.”

He scowled. “Why did he send them to you?”

“I’m not sure.”

Erich hitched his hands on his hips, watching her closely. “He wants you back, doesn’t he? And the fact that you didn’t refuse the flowers makes me wonder if you’re thinking of doing just that.”

How could he think such a thing? She’d been very clear about how she felt about Phillip. And about him. “You know better than that.”

He reached for her, but she stepped away and folded her arms across her chest. His expression barely changed, but he nodded slowly, coming to some conclusion. “Just a minute,” he said, and headed outside. He went to his car and returned a few moments later, carrying a manila envelope which he placed on the table.

“I’ve avoided talking to you about your aunt because I didn’t want to upset you. But this is too important not to mention.”

Virginia? Why would Virginia’s name come up now? Laura glared at him. “What now?”

He told her about what had happened when he’d trailed her to Maine, and all about the police commissioner’s questionable involvement.

She shook her head defensively. “There isn’t something sinister in everything Virginia does, you know. Why shouldn’t she go to Maine? We have friends there.”

“Laura, did you hear what I said? A child fitting Todd’s description had been seen in at an inn in Falmouth, Maine. That’s where she was going.”

“Why wasn’t I told?”

“Ask your aunt and the police commissioner.”

“I will, but right now I’m asking you. You knew. You could have told me.”

“I didn’t want you to be disappointed again.”

“Oh, sure.” She tossed her napkin on the table. “You’re more concerned about finding more dirt on Virginia.”

His lips pulled tight and he shook his head, clearly irritated. He removed several sheets of paper from the manila envelope and handed them to her. “I wanted you to see this before it hits the newstands tomorrow.”

She read the article, feeling worse with every word. Why couldn’t he stop? When she looked up at him, her vision was blurry with tears. “I thought you cared about me,” she said.

“I do. I love you. You know that.”

“I thought you no longer considered Virginia a suspect. I explained to you why it’s impossible. I thought you understood.”

“This is news, and I’m a reporter.” His expression softened. She could tell he was having trouble seeing the hurt in her eyes. “Laura, I’d give anything for this not to have happened.”

“Is it in this evening’s edition?”

“No, tomorrow morning.”

Laura got to her feet and gripped the back of her chair. “Virginia once stayed up all night with Todd. She rubbed him down with alcohol to prevent his fever from going above 105 so he wouldn’t have convulsions. She would never do anything to hurt him.”

“She knows something, Laura. I’m certain of it.”

Her fingers hurt from squeezing so hard. “You know how much this hurts me. Why are you doing it? You wouldn’t be doing this if you really loved me.”

“I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m trying to help you. Why can’t you see that?”

“Did you ask her where she was going?”

“Come on, Laura. Isn’t it obvious? My source told me where she was going and he’s always been straight with me.”

She looked away from him so he couldn’t see the tears in her eyes. “Maybe he wasn’t this time.”

“Eighteen years on the force, two years away from retirement and they cut him off without a dime.” Erich said.

This was crazy. Why was he doing this? Laura sat back down and glared at Erich. “The N.Y.P.D. must have a reason for what they did. It seems unfair, but what do we really know?”

“Virginia Kingsley and the police commissioner did that to him. Why done you ask her what she’s keeping from you?”

It was too much. Laura gritted her teeth, ignoring the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Why don’t you ever stop?” she demanded. “What do you want from me?”

Erich’s voice was soft, earnest. Almost pleading. “I want you to see the truth. Virginia knows something about Todd’s kidnapping and she’s keeping it from you.”

“I trust Virginia.” She refused to budge. “When we find Brian Madigan we’ll find out what happened to Todd. You’ll see.”

“You and Austin are fooling yourselves. Madigan’s a petty thief, but he had nothing to do with Todd’s kidnapping.”

She shook her head. “Talk about stubborn. You refuse to even consider that I might be right. Virginia is my aunt. I know her a lot better than you do.”

They reached for the creamer at the same time and their fingers touched. She yanked her hand away, feeling her heart pound in the midst of all the confusion. Obviously, she had to stop seeing Erich. It would be a mistake for them to go on this way any longer. They didn’t understand each other and probably never would.

“I’m tired. I would like you to leave when we finish our coffee.”

“Okay. I’ll pick you up at ten tomorrow morning.”

“What for?”

“We’re going sailing with Peter and Dorothy, remember?”

She’d forgotten all about that. It seemed strange to think of something like that when all this was going on. “I don’t want to go. Apologize to them for me, will you? I’m sure the three of you will have a good time.”

He blinked, looking as if she’d just slapped him. “They’ll be disappointed.”

She couldn’t give in. It was important to be the strong one this time. She straightened her shoulders and shook her head. “There’s nothing I can do about that.” Her voice broke. “I don’t think we should see each other for a while.”