James Patterson - Honeymoon

TILL DEATH DO US PART

Chapter 86

NORA KEPT JABBING a finger at the SEEK button on the radio, jumping from one station to another all the way to Briarcliff Manor. There wasn’t a single song she wanted to hear, most of it rap crap that made her want to scream. Finally, that’s what she did! She was anxious and fidgety, and not just from all the coffee she had drunk. Thinking about O’Hara had left her wired.

When her cell phone rang she nearly drove off the road.

It’s him.

Her first thought was to call him out right there, a few choice words to let him know she knew who he really was. But as she reached for the phone, she decided no. O’Hara wasn’t getting off that easy.

Nora glanced at the caller ID. In the glare of the sun, she couldn’t make out the number. Still, she was certain it was him.

“Hello?”

“Where have you been?”

So much for certainties. The slightly annoyed voice on the cell belonged to Jeffrey. She hadn’t returned his calls the past two days.

“I’m so sorry, honey, I’ve been meaning to call you,” she said. “You beat me to it.”

He instantly warmed. “Jeez, I was getting worried, hon. I couldn’t imagine where you were.”

An excuse was needed, a good one. “It’s that same damn client of mine—the client from hell. You know, the same one who threatened to fire me if I didn’t personally pick out fabrics with her?”

“How could I forget—she cost me a weekend with you.”

Nora stayed silent, ominously so.

“Oh, no,” he said. “Don’t tell me.”

“I’m going to try to get out of it.”

“What’s she demanding this time?”

“She wants me at her house in East Hampton to look at the new conservatory. She is a good client, one of my first.”

“It’s already Friday, Nora. When will you know?”

He’s mad. He calls me Nora only when he’s pissed.

“I’ll call you this afternoon. Believe me, the thought of spending another weekend with this woman is killing me. I miss you.”

“Actually, you do sound stressed, sweetie. Is everything else all right?”

“Yes, everything’s fine.” The image of O’Hara flashed in her head. “Sometimes one person can just put you on edge, you know?”

“All the more reason to be with the one person who can make it all better,” said Jeffrey. “Call me later? I love you.”

Nora agreed and said good-bye, ending the call with an “I love you, too.”

She was satisfied with her on-the-spot Jeffrey Maintenance—but just barely. It was getting harder to keep track of her lies, which meant risk. Nevertheless, she wasn’t about to commit to Jeffrey for the weekend without having a better bead on O’Hara and what he was up to.

A minute later she arrived in the village center. She miraculously found a parking space, then stepped out and looked up at the sign above the second-floor windows.

“Centennial One Life Insurance.”

She read the name slowly, as if she’d somehow missed something the first time. She wasn’t taking anything for granted.

Not anymore, O’Hara.

Chapter 87

“HI, CAN I help you?”

Through her sunglasses, Nora stared at the cheerful young woman sitting behind the desk: mid-twenties, intelligent eyes. Overqualified for this job.

“Yes, I’m here to see Craig Reynolds. Is he in?”

She watched as the young woman hesitated ever so slightly. She has to be in on the charade. Not a bad actress, really.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Reynolds isn’t here right now.”

Nora glanced at her watch. “Is he at lunch? Maybe at Amalfi’s?”

“Actually, he’s traveling today.”

“Do you know when he’s expected back?”

“Monday, I believe,” said the young woman. “Did you have an appointment to see him? Would you like to set one up?”

“No. Craig said I should just drop by. Maybe you can help me, though. I’m looking to get a copy of an insurance policy.”

There was that slight hesitation again, a little dart of the eyes. Otherwise, the girl was excellent in her role.

“Is it your policy?” she asked.

“No, but I’m the beneficiary.”

“I see.” The young woman shook her head. “Unfortunately, I’m only able to give out a copy to the actual policyholder.”

Nora glanced down at the nameplate on the desk. “Molly, is it?”

“Yes.”

“Well, you see, Molly, that’s going to be a little difficult in this case. Reason being, the actual policyholder is dead.”

“Oh, God, I’m sorry.”

“Yes, I am, too. He was my fiancé.”

A look of recognition came over Molly’s face. “You’re Ms. Sinclair, aren’t you?”

“How did you know?”

Molly glanced over her shoulder as if to underscore the smallness of the office. “It’s just a two-person operation here. So I’m familiar with your case. Again, I’m terribly sorry.”

Nora removed her sunglasses and stared directly into Molly’s eyes. “I suppose it wouldn’t be a problem, then, to give me a copy of the policy, right?”

Molly blinked a couple of times before breaking into a smile. “Of course not. Let me see if I can locate it back in Mr. Reynolds’s office.”

As she got up and headed into a back room, Nora glanced around. It was a small office and it had all the appearances of being legitimate. There were files lying about and printed pamphlets. Still, there was something not quite right. Namely, Molly. For someone who purported to know everything going on in the office, she was winging it a little too much.

Just then she returned from the back office… empty-handed, shaking her head.

“I apologize, Ms. Sinclair, I can’t seem to find the policy,” she said.

Nora tapped her forehead. “You know what? I just realized something. Craig told me it was up at the home office in Hartford.”

“He did? Oh, well, that’s where it must be.”

She studied Molly for a second. The young woman had winged it one too many times. Apparently her “boss” had neglected to tell her that the home office for Centennial One Life Insurance was supposed to be in Chicago.

Nora slid her sunglasses back on. “In that case, why don’t I wait until Monday, when Craig gets back.”

“I’ll tell him you stopped by, though, okay?”

I’m sure you will, Molly.

Nora returned to her car and immediately took out her cell phone. The ripple effect O’Hara was having on her life suddenly felt more like an undertow. Nora pressed 2 on her speed dial. That’s what it was all about from here on out. Speed. She had to work fast and tie up all the loose ends.

“Hello?”

“Great news, honey,” she said.

“You got out of it?”

“I did. So I’m all yours this weekend.”

“Fantastic!” said Jeffrey. “I’m dying to see you.”

Chapter 88

IT WAS EERILY QUIET as the three of us walked toward our very special campsite for the evening. This was going to be great. It was going to be perfect.

“Are we gonna get in trouble, Daddy?”

I looked back at Max, the younger of my two boys. At the age of six, he was just beginning to grasp the notion of accountability. Meanwhile, it was his father who perhaps needed the refresher course. Though not in this particular instance.

“No, we’ve got special permission to be here tonight,” I explained.

“Yeah, dumbhead,” blurted John Jr. “Dad wouldn’t take us here without asking first. Right, Dad?”

At the age of nine, John Jr. had long since discovered the obnoxious joy of being the older brother.