Betrayal (5 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
Chapter 4
“W
as Don upset that I didn't show for dinner?” Kate asked. It was after midnight. She was tired and wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. Alex had gone to dinner with Don and Debbie. She wanted to hear how the evening turned out.
as Don upset that I didn't show for dinner?” Kate asked. It was after midnight. She was tired and wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. Alex had gone to dinner with Don and Debbie. She wanted to hear how the evening turned out.
“No, he wasn't upset. He was curious, though. I told him you weren't feeling well and decided to stay home. Debbie must not've said anything to him about your argument.”
“It wasn't even an argument, really. I don't know what came over me. One minute I was ready to make her breakfast and in the next it hit me just how much I couldn't stand her. I still can't believe she'd call Emily a tramp. That was the last straw. I couldn't care less if I never lay eyes on the woman again.”
“Well, you might have to put on a show for the girls. Don and Debbie are leaving in the morning.”
“Of course, I wouldn't think of acting so juvenile in front of the girls,” Kate stated adamantly.
Alex pulled her next to him, until her head was resting on his chest. “You never act juvenile, Kate. I'm sure Deb had it coming. She's always been a bit of a bitch.” There was a time when Alex didn't think so, but that was better left unsaid. The past was prologue.
“Yeah, and I just lowered myself to her level by reacting.”
“I wouldn't get too upset about it. She wants to get the hell out of here, according to Don. She can't wait to get on that cruise ship so she doesn't have to, quote, âlook at me or those brats' for two weeks.”
“Women like her shouldn't have children,” Kate announced.
“You're probably right, but there isn't a damned thing we can do about it. On the upside, they'll be gone tomorrow, and we'll have nothing more to do than enjoy their girls.”
Kate smiled. “Yes, I guess I can make nice to Debbie one more time, just for the privilege of having the girls.” Kate thought about the future. “What'll we do when they're grown and don't want to spend their spring breaks or summers with us anymore?”
“We'll worry about that tomorrow. For now, what do you say we finish what I wanted to start this morning in the kitchen?” Alex pulled her on top of him. He traced his lips over the soft bend where shoulders met neck. Soft and smooth.
Kate sighed with pleasure. “I believe I'll take you up on that offer, Mr. Rocket.”
Later, relaxed and content, Kate drifted into a satisfied sleep.
She'd smiled so much the past three hours, Kate thought her face would crack. She was glad finally to have a moment to be by herself. Don and Debbie left without incident. Both girls seemed glad to see them leaveâ
she
certainly was. Debbie had hugged and air kissed her good-bye as always. She and Alex promised to take extra good care of the girls, as usual, then their guests were off. She'd just finished cleaning up the kitchen. She'd made a huge breakfast for everyone. Had it not been for Sara, the food and effort would've been a total waste.
she
certainly was. Debbie had hugged and air kissed her good-bye as always. She and Alex promised to take extra good care of the girls, as usual, then their guests were off. She'd just finished cleaning up the kitchen. She'd made a huge breakfast for everyone. Had it not been for Sara, the food and effort would've been a total waste.
Alex and the girls were at the kennel waiting to send off one of the pups. Gertie had approved an adoption late yesterday afternoon, so he wanted to be there for the final send-off. The family was due to arrive sometime before noon, leaving Kate free to work for a couple of hours.
She decided to go to her studio to finish a piece that she'd been preparing for an upcoming exhibition in Asheville next month. The theme was cooking, and she was extremely excited. She'd been working for three months, hoping to have her first samples of earthenware ready in time for the show. If all went according to plan, she'd have her own line of baking dishes available to the public in another year. It was something she'd always wanted to do, and after a great deal of procrastination, she'd finally made the commitment.
Kate went upstairs to change into her work clothes. Old jeans covered with paint and hardened with clay and a UNC sweatshirt constituted her usual working attire.
She left through the back door in the kitchen following a well-worn footpath. This allowed her to come and go to her studio without being seen by Alex's clients. Though once she was inside the studio, she could hear the dogs barking and playing.
She removed the key from her jeans, taking a moment to listen for Alex and the arrival of the new family. She didn't hear anything, so she assumed the buyers had yet to arrive. Maybe Alex and the girls were at Gertie's. She lived in the small guesthouse her parents had built on their property years ago. When Kate was in high school, she would occasionally spend the weekends ensconced in the private quarters with a good book and plenty of popcorn. There was nothing she liked more than to lose herself in a novel. She'd been a bookworm most of her life and still enjoyed reading when time permitted. She slipped the key into the lock, sure that Alex had taken the girls to Gertie's.
Kate twisted the doorknob and tried to push the door open. Something heavy leaned against the door, causing it to drag. She didn't remember leaving anything that could've fallen so close to the door. She gave an extra shove, and the door swung open. She stopped. Clearly this wasn't her studio. Like a sleepwalker, she stepped outside of her studio and entered again, thinking this time she'd awaken and the view would be different. Yes, it was real. Very real. Her entire collection for the upcoming exhibition was scattered in a million little pieces all across the wood floor. She pushed the door aside and stood in the middle of the room. She whirled around, trying to absorb the significance of what she saw. Her entire collection of earthenware destroyed. She walked through puddles of glass, thankful she was wearing sneakers instead of flip-flops. Stooping, she picked up several shards of red clay. There were no words. Numb, she walked across the room, hoping against hope that the three pieces she hadn't quite completed were still on the shelf where she'd left them. No, they were gone as well. Every single piece destroyed. She took in the shattered red earthenware. Months of work, ruined. She needed to call Alex, possibly the police. She walked across the room, her sneakers crunching on the debris as she made her way to the phone.
She dialed Gertie's number.
“Damn.” Kate thought for sure that Alex and the girls were at Gertie's. Gertie wasn't answering the phone. She always picked up when she was at home. Kate wound her way through the glass. She gave a last look before heading to the kennel. She was at a loss. Who would do something like this? And more so, why? It wasn't as though she had competitors at the exhibition. All the artisans were excited about their work, but there wasn't one of them who would go to such lengths to sabotage her work. Again, there was no reason.
Kate entered the kennel, straining to hear Alex or the girls. Nothing, except the sweet sound of puppies at play. They must be at the house. Kate looked at her watch. She'd only left the house ten minutes ago. Surely she would've passed them had they been leaving Gertie's or the kennel. The path from the kitchen led to both the kennel and the cottage.
Kate raced back to the house. “Alex, Gertie. Anybody here?” She waited. Nothing.
She went upstairs just to make sure. “Alex?” No answer.
Her hands shaking, she went to the kitchen to use the phone. She called the police to report the break-in at her studio.
“Is this an emergency?” the female operator asked.
Kate shook her head, “Uh, no, I don't think it is. But yes, wait. I can't find Alex or the girls.” She ran her fingers through her hair, suddenly alarmed even more. “No, I can't find my husband, or the kids. They . . . He must've taken them. Oh God!”
“Calm down, ma'am,” the voice encouraged.
Kate shouted into the receiver, “Just send the police, hurry!” She slammed the phone down. Did whoever broke into her studio have Alex and the girls? And Gertie, too? Were they still at the kennel, waiting for her? Maybe they were still inside her studio. She had a small bathroom near the back. She hadn't thought of going inside. There was no reason. Until now. She looked around the kitchen. She needed a weapon. She snatched a Henckels butcher knife lying on the countertop. Funny, when she'd used it that morning, she never thought she would have to treat it as a weapon. She gripped the knife in her right hand, careful to keep the blade downward. She raced out the back door, then slowed as she approached her studio. She was about to push the door open when she heard sirens in the distance. Thank God. Now, if she could find Alex and the girls. Deciding to wait for the police, she jogged down the footpath to the winding road that led up to the house. Three police cars raced up the drive.
“Here!” She waved at them, then remembered the knife in her hand. She hung on to it, just in case.
A tall, broad-shouldered officer got out of the car. He had close-cropped hair and dark, piercing eyes and wore his uniform as though it were made by a top-notch designer, exclusively for him. “I'm Officer Furdell, ma'am,” he said by way of greeting. “I was the first to get the call.”
“Someone broke into my studio. My husband is missing, and so are the kids. I was about to go back inside my studio, there's a bathroom, thought they were hiding . . .” Kate saw the police officer's eyes lower to the knife at her side. “I thought I might need a weapon. I went back to the house searching for Alex, and, well, I called . . .”
“Slow down, ma'am. Let us have a look around first.”
Kate nodded, “Of course.”
“Stay here by the vehicle.”
“Okay.”
Two more officers, both as large as Officer Furdell, sprang from their cruisers and followed his lead.
Kate couldn't believe this was happening around her. Police, her studio, and worst of all, Alex and the girls, nowhere to be found. She said a silent prayer that it was all some kind of sordid joke and she'd laugh about it later. Dear God! What would she do if something were to happen to Alex? And the girls as well. She'd promised Don and Debbie she'd take good care of them. What would they think if they knew Sara and Emily were missing? She would have to contact them soon. She had Don's cell number and would make the call. Later, when she had some news of Alex and the girls.
The sound of laughter caused her to look over her shoulder. Coming up the drive was Alex's old Ford pickup, Alex at the wheel, Gertie riding shotgun, and Emily, with three other children, in the back! Laughing. A white Lincoln Town Car followed them up the drive.
She dropped the knife and ran toward the moving truck. “Alex! Oh my God, you're alive! Where were you? What happened to the girls? The studio is destroyed!” She said this so fast, she knew it would take a few seconds for Alex to absorb.
He shifted his battered vehicle into park and jumped out. “My God, Kate, why are the police here?” He nodded toward the three patrol cars.
“There was a break-in. My studio, someone destroyed all of the earthenware I'd made for the showing in Asheville. I called Gertie, she wasn't there. Then I realized you and the girls were missing. I . . .” Her words faltered as she realized what a fool she'd made of herself. Standing in the bed of the truck were Emily and three small children. The car behind them had shut off its engine. A couple in their early thirties emerged from the car with looks of bewilderment on their faces. “Ivee, Ashleigh, Edyn, come over here, please.” Three girls, all with bright red hair and freckles, slipped over the bed of the truck, dropping to the ground.
Kate looked at them, then back at Alex. “The Taylor family?”
Alex nodded. “They were lost. They called, and I told them I would meet them at the base of the mountain. I guess I should've told you I was leaving. Gertie and Emily went along for the ride.”
Kate glance at the couple. “What about Sara? Where is she?”
Alex looked at Emily, who looked at Gertie. Gertie was the first to speak. “Sara said she wasn't feeling well and went back to the house.”
“We thought you knew,” Emily added.
“I went to the house. She wasn't there, or if she was, she must not have heard me calling.”
Or
, Kate thought,
she just didn't answer
.
Or
, Kate thought,
she just didn't answer
.
Alex motioned to the couple still standing alongside their car. They walked over to where Kate stood. “We're the Taylors. I'm Kathy, and this is my husband, Fred.” Kate shook Kathy's hand and nodded to Fred.
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