‘Not really. Oh, there are moments when something seems familiar, but I don’t know whether it’s a memory trying to surface, or because I’ve been back long enough to start to get into a routine. I’ve been hoping you could tell me … help me … but it isn’t easy to get in to see you.’
‘Ah, yes. But Richie is not here now. Bud has just called him away on some problem. I had wondered when he claimed that it was so urgent.’ She gave me a sharp look. ‘You were always a favourite with Bud. With most of the men.’
‘But not the women?’
‘
Pah!
’ she spat. ‘They do not like anyone, not even each other. Least of all, each other!’
‘Jealousy?’
‘The place reeks of it! Writhes with it! Have you not noticed? I thought you had only lost your memory — not your wits!’
‘I appreciate the vote of confidence, but we haven’t much time. Let’s get down to business.’
‘Vanessa —?’ She looked at me uncertainly. I had spoken too sharply, too forcefully. ‘Vanessa, you seem … different.’
‘One can’t stay an ingénue for ever — and murder attempts
do
tend to concentrate the mind. Or even what’s left of it.’
‘You believe someone tried to kill you?’ She nodded slowly. ‘I would not say you were wrong. But, if you remember nothing, what can be done?’
‘And not just me,’ I said. ‘What about Kiki?’
‘Kiki?’ She shrugged. ‘These girls — they come and they
go. They arrive believing that fortune has favoured them — that Everett is in their thrall, that it is only a matter of time before he gives them everything they want.’ She watched intently for my reaction.
I did not think you were so greedy
, she had said once. Knowing what I now knew, I suspected that that must mean Nessa had signed a pre-nuptial agreement before the wedding. Just the sort of thing Nessa would do — throw away her chance of a fortune if — when — the marriage hit the rocks. I couldn’t believe it would last. Obviously, neither could Oversall.
‘And slowly they understand that they are just another distraction …’ Madame continued, disappointed by my lack of reaction. ‘An amusement … a toy. So they get angry, very angry, and rush back to their former lives.’
‘I don’t think Kiki left in a huff,’ I said. ‘I think she left in a coffin.’
‘You have reason to think this?’ I’d seen ventriloquists move more facial muscles than Madame did as she asked. ‘Apart from your own experience?’
‘All I know about my own experience is hearsay,’ I reminded her. ‘And so is everything I’ve heard about Francesca …?’
‘Kiki …? Francesca …?’ Madame sighed. ‘So many questions. Always questions, Vanessa. Why could you never leave well enough alone?’
‘Well enough?’ I was suddenly furious. ‘Well enough for whom? Certainly not for them! Nor for me — if someone had had their way.’
‘So now you ask.’ Madame nodded sadly. ‘For Francesca, for Kiki, for yourself. So many questions. And who is there to answer?’
‘I was hoping you would.’
‘Why should I know these things?’
‘I think you know a great many things. And I think it’s time you told them.’
‘Time? We are all prisoners of time … and with only one way to escape our captor.’
‘Madame!’ I tried to control my irritation, but lost. ‘Stop stalling!’ It was too abrupt again, too emphatic, but she didn’t seem to notice, or perhaps she was just getting used to it.
‘Madame,’ I said more gently. ‘I may not have recovered my memory, but I have found something else.’ I had her full attention as I separated the thin gold chain from the others and tugged on it, slowly bringing the gold band into view.
She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, exhaling a long regretful sigh.
‘I believe this gives me the right to some answers,’ I said. ‘The wedding certificate was with it — and it carried your name as one of the witnesses. What —?’
‘It is for Everett to say!’ She interrupted me imperiously. ‘Take me to him!’
‘Right!’ I swung her wheelchair around, through the narrow doorway, down the hall and out on to the path.
‘To the right,’ she directed. ‘There is a short cut.’
It was a nasty shock to round the corner at the end of the hedge and encounter Ivor. I resisted temptation and stopped short. I wouldn’t have minded running him down, although there was a limit to the amount of damage a wheelchair could do, but Madame was a precious cargo and I didn’t want to risk harming her.
‘Vanessa!’ He recoiled as though he had sensed my thought. Or as though he had seen a ghost. ‘What are you doing with Madame?’
T am taking the air,’ Madame informed him icily.
‘Where’s her lap rug?’ He frowned at me accusingly. ‘She’ll catch her death of cold. Take her home immediately!’
T will go where I choose, when I choose!’ It seemed that Madame found him as insufferable as I did. ‘If you continue to block my way,
you
will be responsible for any
illness I may contract — and be assured that Everett will know it!’
‘I… I didn’t mean …’ Ivor backed down immediately and moved away. ‘I … I’ll just …’ He fled.
‘Hurry!’ Madame snapped. ‘He will tell! He always tells! He will send Richie to stop me. Push faster!’
Monica opened the door after I had inadvertently knocked by bumping the footplate of the wheelchair into it.
‘Madame —’ She smiled, then looked up at me and the smile faded. ‘Vanessa —’
‘Bring them in!’ Everett Oversall’s voice overrode hers.
‘Yes, of course.’ She stepped back and allowed me to wheel Madame past her.
Oversall was seated behind his desk. His eyes flickered as he took a good look at me — and then focused at a point high on my chest.
I realized I had not replaced the ring beneath the neckline of my kaftan.
Had Ivor noticed?
Was that what had sent him into retreat and not Madame’s annoyance?
‘Over there,’ Madame commanded. ‘Beside the desk.’
I placed her as directed, swinging the chair around so that she faced outwards into the room. It was then that I saw him.
Dr Brian Anderson. Standing off to one side, trying to be unobtrusive, looking as though he wished he were somewhere else. Anywhere else. Looking guilty.
I met his eyes and he flushed.
‘Vanessa wishes to speak to you.’ Madame addressed Everett Oversall, but she looked pointedly at Monica as she added, ‘In private.’
‘Of course.’ Monica inclined her head graciously, but the question in her eyes was apparent. No one answered it.
‘Oh!’ She nearly collided with Anderson as he dived for the door.
‘Not you!’ Oversall’s voice halted him. ‘You stay!’
‘Um, er …’ Anderson ducked his head and gave an awkward grimace, obviously wishing he could produce a good excuse for getting out of there. He looked at Oversall, he looked at Madame. He looked everywhere — except at me.
We all held our places in a silent tableau until the door had closed behind Monica. We waited until we heard her footsteps fading away down the corridor. Then the atmosphere changed. Not relaxed, just changed.
‘So, Vanessa,’ Oversall said. ‘Any improvement in your memory … my darling?’
Anderson winced. Madame twisted her head to look at Oversall strangely The door opened again and both Shadow and Richie advanced into the room, glaring at me.
‘I did not ring!’ Oversall stopped them with an imperious gesture.
‘You are not required!’ Madame’s gesture mirrored his. ‘Leave!’
Neither of them moved. Richie kept his eyes on Madame, his body tensed, as though he might dash forward, seize the wheelchair and sweep her away.
Shadow concentrated on me, his burning gaze the sort that made me profoundly grateful that looks couldn’t kill; if they could, I would be a heap of smouldering ashes.
Instinctively, I looked to Everett Oversall for … what? Reassurance? Protection? Whatever he had to offer his presumed wife when his son was channelling hatred and malice towards her.
‘Quite right, Vanessa,’ he said. ‘We need more discipline around here. Shadow —’ His voice whiplashed through the room. ‘Either treat your mother with the proper respect or …’ His voice fell away in some implied threat that must be too familiar to both of them to need repeating.
Shadow was in trouble — and it was my fault. Those
blazing eyes left me in no doubt of that. Nor that he would get me for it. Somewhere … sometime …
‘Shadow!’ The velvet glove was off — if it had ever been on.
‘Richie!’ He was going to brook no insubordination from the hired help, either.
They came to heel. Slowly and reluctantly. Madame nodded with satisfaction at their lowered heads, their submissive postures.
‘Shadow —’ Oversall directed. ‘Go and tell Monica that I will be joining them at dinner this evening. You,’ he added pointedly, ‘will not. Nor will Richie. I will speak to you both here in the morning.’
That was it. The silence lengthened and seemed to thicken until, slowly, Shadow and Richie turned and left the room.
‘Now then, Vanessa.’ Oversall turned to me.
‘Now then … my love,’ I riposted, one hand reaching for the wedding ring and clinging to it ostentatiously.
Anderson flinched and looked desperately from Oversail to me and back again. Madame just sat there, only her eyes moving, not missing a trick.
I wished I did have a trick or two up my sleeve.
‘Please sit down, Vanessa.’ There was a note in Over-sail’s voice that disturbed me. ‘After all, you’re still convalescent. You must take care of yourself.’
No one else will
— was that the message he meant to convey?
‘I intend to.’ I sank into the armchair he indicated. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re more than welcome.’ He watched me steadily. ‘My love.’
I smiled at him with a blandness I didn’t feel. If he was trying to make me nervous, he was succeeding. But damned if I would show it!
‘Everett —?’ Madame looked at him uncertainly. ‘Vanessa —?’ She transferred her gaze to me.
Neither of us responded.
Anderson edged a little closer to the door.
‘Vanessa wished to speak to you, Everett,’ Madame said. ‘That is why we are here.’
‘Only speak? How disappointing. I’d hoped she might be ready to take her rightful place … by my side. Or is that what we’re going to speak about … my darling?’
I stared at him. The more he talked, the less I liked his tone. Or what he was implying.
‘What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue … Vanessa?’
Suddenly, he convulsed, bending low until his forehead nearly struck the top of his desk.
‘Everett!’ Madame cried in alarm. She, too, thought he was having some sort of fit.
I stood and started forward. Anderson, however, despite the wheezing choking noises coming from his employer, did not move to help. In fact, he backed a little farther towards the door.
Oversall straightened up and I discovered he was laughing. He was amused … toying with me —
He knew!
‘You bastard!’ Anderson couldn’t move fast enough to escape me. I caught him by the shirt front, raised him up on his toes and slammed him against that door he’d been so anxious to reach. ‘You told!’
‘Vanessa!’ I heard Madame gasp behind us. Oversall was still laughing.
‘Don’t be a fool, man!’ Anderson clawed at my hands, trying to free himself. ‘He had to know. Did you really think I could keep a desperately ill patient in the intensive care unit without anyone knowing? Without accounting to anyone? Without authorization?’
‘He authorized you to take her off the life support machine!’ That still rankled. ‘Without consulting me.’
‘I was right.’ Oversall had stopped laughing. ‘She was responding and didn’t need it any more. She’s growing stronger every hour now.’
‘She’s still far from well,’ Anderson warned. ‘It will take more time — but she’s going to make it.’
‘I want to see her.’ I lowered Anderson to his feet, but kept hold of his shirt. Take me to town! Now!’
‘It won’t do any good,’ he said. ‘She isn’t there.’
‘Where is she?’ I began to hoist him again.
‘In a safe haven,’ Oversall cut in. ‘We moved her when Kiki… disappeared. We didn’t want anything to happen to her. Not anything more.’
Something hit the back of my ankles and I lost my grip on Anderson. He scuttled away. I turned to look down at Madame — she had rammed me with the footplate of her wheelchair.
‘That wasn’t kind,’ I said.
‘Neither is your behaviour … Vanessa. Only you are not Vanessa. Almost — but not quite. Who are you?’
‘Her twin.’ I did Madame the courtesy of retaining my natural voice. ‘Her fraternal twin — Vance. I apologize for the deception, but it was necessary.’ I offered her my hand.
‘I see.’ After a long moment, she accepted my hand in a surprisingly strong grip. I had the feeling that she did see — or almost.
‘Everett —’ She swung about to face him. ‘Why did you not tell me?’
‘The fewer who knew, the better.’ Oversall looked faintly uncomfortable.
‘Oh?’ She shot him an
III speak to you later look
. ‘And Kiki has disappeared?’
‘Kiki is dead,’ I said, since it seemed no one else was going to. ‘I found her body. And
then
someone disappeared it.’
‘So? Everett?’ She looked to him for an explanation.
He shook his head. She wasn’t going to get one. Not here. Not now.
‘Everett —’ Maybe she wasn’t, but I was. ‘Or should I say Edward, brother Edward?’ For a moment, I was distracted by a sudden vision of him in a monk’s robes, stalking the cloister.
No!
I shook off the image, intriguing though it was.
Oversall didn’t operate that way — he didn’t need to do his own dirty work. Apart from that, why should he? Even if Nessa had learned something deeply incriminating about him, he had already neutralized any possible threat from her. A wife could not be forced to testify against her husband.
‘What’s your game?’ I demanded. ‘Where did Nessa fit into it? Why would anyone want to kill her? What was she doing here in the first place? Why did you —?’
‘Wait!’ Oversall held up a hand to stop me. ‘If you’re not going to stop for breath, I can’t get a word in edgewise, far less answer any questions.’