Insidious (36 page)

On the way to our waiting area, Val explained that our mother had an array of injuries. They’d know more about her internal injuries once all the scans were complete; however, early tests indicated damage to her spinal cord and possible traumatic brain injury. Apparently, she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and flew forward upon impact. The only thing that saved her from going through the windshield was the airbag; however, that caused other problems. Once we sat, I asked the question that had been on my mind since I received the call. “Do you really think she was drinking?”

Val closed her eyes. “I don’t want to. I mean, she didn’t go back to drinking even when Randall died. Why would she drink now?”

I stood and paced. “She wanted to come to my apartment yesterday. If I would have said yes…”

“Stop that. If Marilyn Sound decided to pick up a bottle of vodka, she and she alone is the person responsible: not you. You’ve been blamed for too many things in your life. This is not one of them. Don’t think that way.

“All I can say,” she continued, “is thank God she didn’t harm anyone else. As a doctor I see too many innocent people hurt and killed by drunk drivers.”

“That’s just it,” I proclaimed. “I don’t think she would do this.”

Val looked at me dubiously.

“I know. I’m not the one who usually sticks up for Marilyn. I just don’t feel right about this.”

“Vik, the sobriety test didn’t lie. I didn’t want to believe it either, but I could smell it on her. Also, they’ll be doing more blood draws here to verify it. We’ll know more when they report to us.”

My purse vibrated. I looked at my phone. Travis. His text was simple and to the point:

“WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?”

I hit the CALL button. “Val, will you explain to Travis where we are? I don’t even know. I wasn’t paying attention.”

She nodded, and as I was about to hand her the phone, his deep voice came through the receiver and echoed through the small room. “Don’t fucking tell me you left the hospital?”

Val’s eyes widened.

I grinned. “He has a way with words.” I spoke into the phone. “We’re in some waiting room. Perhaps you could keep your opinions to yourself and speak with Val. She’ll explain where we are.”

His tone morphed back to the one I’d heard for a decade. “Thank you, Mrs. Harrington, I’d be happy to speak to the good doctor.”

Shaking my head with a grin, I handed Val the phone. While she explained our location to Travis, I wondered about the boys. Marcus was at the University of Miami, but what about Lyle? In order for Marilyn’s blood alcohol level to be as high as it was, she would have needed to consume a substantial amount. Was she drinking before he left for school?

Val handed me back my phone. On the screen I saw BRODY PHILLIPS. I turned it off and placed it back in my purse. When I turned toward Val, I could tell by the look on her face that she’d read the name. I shrugged. “He’s one of the attorneys at Craven and Knowles. It probably has to do with Stewart’s will. I’ll call him back later.” Changing the subject, I spun my large yellow diamond and asked, “Val? How much alcohol would it take to get to a .38 percent? How many drinks?”

She momentarily closed her eyes. “It depends on how quickly she drank and if she’d been eating. But on average a drink is considered one and a half ounces, of hard liquor at least. They said there was a vodka bottle in the car. To reach .38 would probably take at least ten drinks and that would be if she drank them quickly. If she’d been drinking for a longer period of time, it would take more. The body processes about half an ounce an hour.”

“Ten! So like fifteen or more ounces of alcohol? A coke can has twelve ounces. You’re talking more than that.” I shook my head. “For someone who hasn’t drunk a drop in over twenty years… don’t you find this weird? Has anyone spoken to Lyle? Was she drinking when he left for school?”

“No.”

We both turned at the sound of our brother’s voice as he, Marcus, and Travis entered the small room. Val and I rushed toward the boys, as Travis explained, “I found these two wandering around downstairs. I thought they should be with you.”

“Thank you, Travis.”

When Val finally released Lyle from her embrace, we could see his red blotchy face and hear the pain in his voice. “Val, you’re a doctor. Why aren’t you in there with her? She has to be all right.”

My heart broke for our youngest sibling. He’d lost his father. Even I didn’t want him to lose his mother. Again, Val embraced Lyle as Marcus reached out and squeezed my hand.

“I can’t be in there,” Val explained. “They don’t allow that. It’s too difficult. Doctors need to think with their head and not their heart.” She looked Lyle in the eye. “But don’t worry. The doctors here are the best. She’s in great hands.”

“Lyle?” I asked. “What did you mean when you said no?”

“I meant,” he said after wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, “she wasn’t drinking. She was fine, like normal, when I left.”

“What time did you leave?” Travis asked.

“School starts at nine. They just changed it this year. It used to be earlier.”

My eyes darted to Travis.

“Mrs. Harrington, may I speak with you?”

“Yes.” I turned to the sea of gray and green eyes and said, “I’ll be just outside.”

Once we were in the hall, Travis and I walked around the corner and found a secluded corner. “What are you thinking?” Travis asked.

“Someone did this to her. Why?”

He started to reach for my hand and stopped. “This is a warning. This was what I was talking about. Those people want your attention.”

“They’ve fucking got it. But who and why?”

“We need to reestablish the communication that Mr. Harrington had.”

I looked down and whispered, “At the warehouse?”

Travis’ large hand captured mine. “You’re shaking.”

I didn’t fight his touch. It was warm and reassuring.

“I’m cold.”

“No, you’re not. You’re scared and I don’t blame you. These are dangerous people. But I’ve been thinking about this. I think there are two different things happening. I could be wrong, but I don’t think that the people at the warehouse, the friends… I don’t think they would stoop to these tactics.”

I nodded. “All right. Who are the others?”

“Why did you ask me about the Albinis?”

“I heard the name and was curious?”

At first, Travis didn’t speak, but his dark eyes narrowed. “Then I suppose it is just a coincidence.”

“What?”

“That it was Niccolo Albini who was at Dr. Conway’s apartment the other day.”

My gray eyes snapped to his. “Tell me why you think the Albinis would want to talk to me, or get my attention.”

Travis turned toward a sound in the hall, then reached for my shoulders and shifted so that he was between me and the noise. I watched around his shoulder as two women in scrubs passed by. Once they were gone, he replied, “I’ve been trying to figure that out since the night at Dr. Conway’s. I think it has something to do with the business. Mr. Albini’s family had an agreement with Mr. Harrington. Now that you have the ability to make decisions, they want your support.”

“They try to kill my mother to get my support?”

Travis shook his head. “I know… it doesn’t make sense. We’re missing a piece of this puzzle.”

“What about Parker?” I asked.

“After what you told me he said, if he produced documents to nullify your marriage, he would be in a position to make those business decisions.”

I thought about that for a moment. “How does this all work? I mean, did Stewart pay them?”

“No, they paid him for the cover. They paid him a lot.”

“So if Parker proves that my marriage is invalid, he stands to profit?”

“Yes,” Travis agreed. “But if he gets you to sign the contract, he can keep people like Keene happy and also convince the Albinis that he’s in control of your decisions. My assumption would be that the payoff would never see your bank account. It’s really the best-case scenario for him. That way if the shit ever does hit the fan, his hands are clean. You’re the one with the business dealings that need to be explained.”

I peered again around Travis to see a tall man with dark but graying hair, and dark eyes staring silently in our direction. With his nice black suit and shiny shoes, I knew he was the man who’d been to Val’s apartment. “Travis?”

There must have been something in my voice, because immediately Travis followed my line of sight, and spun around. Instantly, he became a wall, standing between me and the rather handsome yet imposing stranger. “Mr. Albini,” Travis said with a nod.

Who was this? My uncle? The one who told my mother to have an abortion?

“Mr. Daniels,” the tall gentleman replied. “I heard about Mrs. Sound’s unfortunate accident. I came to offer my support to Mrs. Harrington.”

Support?

“As you can imagine, with the death of her husband and now her mother’s accident, Mrs. Harrington is not in the condition—”

I stepped out from behind Travis, extended my hand, and offered Mr. Albini my firmest handshake. “Hello, I’m Mrs. Harrington. I apologize, however, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”

“Mrs. Harrington,” Mr. Albini’s voice took on a silky strain. “You are lovely, like your mother.”

My neck stiffened. I didn’t look like my mother, Val did.

He went on. “My family… we were sorry to hear about your mother’s relapse and accident. I hope she will have a full recovery.”

“So do I Mr. Albini, as do the rest of her children.”

“Mrs. Harrington, I would like to speak to you, in the future. There are things… things I’m not sure your husband explained.”

I stood as tall as I could, all the while accepting the strength Travis’ presence behind me offered. “My husband was very informative, and I am aware of a few things. Perhaps you can enlighten me to a few more?”

His dark eyes shone. “It would be my pleasure.”

“Thank you, Mr. Albini. Please feel free to contact me, or Mr. Daniels, and we’ll continue to honor Stewart’s obligations.”

His lips twitched to a grin. “That is music to my ears. Please, please call me Niccolo. You are a lovely woman. I’m sure your parents are very proud of the woman you’ve become.”

“I can only speak for my mother.”

“Your father?” he asked.

“Johnathon Conway has been a missing member of my family for as long as I can remember. Randall Sound was the only real father I knew.”

Niccolo nodded. “My condolences, Mrs. Harrington, it seems as though your family has had a string of unfortunate events.”

“I really must get back to my siblings.”

He extended his hand. “Yes, you do that. We will talk. Let me say, I’m pleased with your promise to continue our arrangement.”

After again shaking his hand, I replied, “My husband was known for his good business sense. I see no reason to make any abrupt changes. I do hope that I won’t be sidelined by any future unfortunate events.”

“Mrs. Harrington, the Albinis help those who help the Albinis. We will talk.”

“Yes, Niccolo, we will. Now if you’ll excuse me.” I nodded and stepped around my uncle.

NEITHER TRAVIS NOR I discussed the hallway meeting until after my mother was through surgery, recovery, and into a room. It was dark by the time we finally left the hospital. Once we were in his SUV, I checked my messages. There were multiple text messages from Brody. I’d told him about Marilyn and he’d offered to come to the hospital. It was more than I could deal with; instead, I asked him to come over to the penthouse once I got home.

“I need to text Brody to have him come to the apartment.”

“Really, Mrs. Harrington, it’s late. You’ve agreed to go to the warehouse tomorrow. Can’t you wait until then to get fucked?”

My head spun toward Travis. His jaw was clenched and his knuckles blanched.
What the hell was his deal?

“It’s not what you think,” I replied, keeping my voice calm. “I’m going to ask him to write up another contract, one with your name.”

“Why? You surprised the shit out of me in the hallway. You keep that hard-assed businesswoman shit up and you don’t need Craven or me.”

“Not for the Albinis, but I do for Keene and Craven and whoever else wants a piece of me.”

“You’re willing to put my name on it?”

“I am, but as your employer, it’s never happening.”

“As the proprietor of the contract…” he began.

“I don’t give a fuck. We’re going to work this shit out somehow and bring this to an end. The way I see it is that if he forces me to sign his contract, it won’t be valid if I’m already under obligation from another contract. I’m just not letting him know that until I get his proof.”

“That’s fucking genius.” Travis lifted his chin and peered momentarily in my direction. “You know, what you did this afternoon… you may have played this perfectly.”

“How so?”

“I’m sure that Craven never suspected that you’d have the balls to work directly with Niccolo.”

Shaking my head, I tried to sort everything out. “I’m standing by my accusation that someone besides Marilyn is responsible for her accident. I don’t think she willingly drank fifteen ounces of alcohol in, what? Less than two hours? According to Lyle there wasn’t even any alcohol in their house. That would mean she’d have had to go buy it and basically guzzle it. I don’t get it. Why would the Albinis try to kill my mom? If Niccolo is going to walk up to me and talk to me in person, why hurt her?”