Peril in Paperback (25 page)

“No, there’s someone out there.”

I was grateful for his presence. Even though I would’ve gone outside alone to investigate, I felt safer with Gabriel. Who wouldn’t?

He nudged me away from the door and yanked it opened. Freezing air rushed into the house and I pulled my vest tighter around my pajama top.

Two women stood at the bottom of the stone stairs.

“Thank goodness,” one of them said. “May we come in?”

The other one frowned. “We’ve been ringing the bell for a while.”

“Must not be working,” Gabriel said, and stepped outside to usher the two women up the slippery steps and into the foyer.

First to walk inside was a dark-skinned, middle-aged woman. She wore an expensive trench coat over nice slacks and carried a bundle of pink fleece in her arms. I assumed there was a baby in there somewhere, although I couldn’t see one.

The second woman was a uniformed cop carrying a briefcase.

I moved to close the door but peeked outside first. The snow had stopped falling and someone, probably Ray, must have cleared off the circular drive. In front of the house an SUV was parked, exhaust fumes pouring out the tailpipe in a thick cloud.

“Your car’s still running,” I said.

“Just a precaution,” the one holding the pink bundle in her arms said. “It’s warm inside the car.”

“I’ll shut it off,” Gabriel said.

“Thank you.”

He dashed out into the cold and a moment later I heard the car door slam shut.

“How did you get through?” I asked. “According to the police, the roads are supposed to be closed.”

The woman grinned. “My Land Rover drives through anything.”

“Good to know.”

Gabriel hurried back inside and shut the door. I led everyone down the hall and into the Blue Room, where we’d taken Kiki the night before.

“Some place you got here,” the cop said, looking around at the impressive elegant blue-toned furnishings and up at the glittering chandelier.

“What’s this all about?” Gabriel asked.

“Can I get you something to eat or drink?” I said at the same time.

“That would be wonderful,” the older woman said in a grateful voice as she sat down on the settee. Leaning back, she rested the baby against her chest. “We’ve been traveling for hours. Thought we’d have to spend the night in Truckee, but the snowplows cleared the roads around ten o’clock and we took a chance.”

“Why?” I asked, then added, “Sorry. But what are you doing here?”

Merrilee came into the room just then, still fumbling to tie her bathrobe around her waist. “I heard voices. Oh, is that a baby?”

“Merrilee, thank goodness,” I said. “Could you arrange for a little food and something hot to drink for these ladies? They’ve been on the road for a while.”

“Of course.” She turned to the older woman. “Does the baby need anything?”

“I have a bottle if she gets fussy.”

“Okay.” She rushed out of the room on a mission to take care of her guests.

“Sit, please,” I said.

The cop sat down next to the other woman and placed the briefcase on the floor between them. Gabriel and I took the two chairs opposite the settee.

Things still seemed a little surreal to me as I watched the older woman pass the pink baby bundle to the cop to hold. She grabbed the briefcase and opened it on the coffee table.

I had yet to actually see a baby inside all that fluffy fabric, but I knew there was one in there. I’d heard the crying. But what were these women doing here and why had they brought a baby with them?

“My name is Sandra Parish,” the older woman said. “I
work for Child Protective Services in San Francisco. Please call me Sandra.”

“I’m Officer Angela Rodriguez,” the policewoman said. “Just along for the ride.”

“Oh no,” Sandra said quickly. “That’s not true at all. Officer Rodriguez is the reason I’m here, and I’m very grateful to her. She saved Lily’s life.”

The baby fussed and Rodriguez immediately handed the baby back to Sandra, who bounced the child lightly against her shoulder. The baby quieted instantly. It was warm enough that she removed the thick down blanket from around the baby, and I could see her pretty little face.

And I knew it was just a coincidence, but Lily looked just like the baby Grace had described in her book. The pale patch of blond hair; dark blue eyes; unblemished skin; tiny pink lips; and a button nose.

“I assume this is Lily?” Gabriel said as he stood and reached for the baby.

“Yes.” Sandra smiled as she relinquished her precious pink cargo. Gabriel held the baby against his chest and the two visitors sighed audibly. Was there anything more moving to women than the sight of a strong man holding a tiny baby?

Merrilee walked into the room carrying a tray with crackers and cheese and a small pot of tea. She set everything on the coffee table and poured tea for the two women.

“This is wonderful. Thank you,” Sandra said.

Merrilee looked at me. “Just call the kitchen when you’re finished with everything.”

“Thanks, Merrilee.”

She left, and Sandra finished her small cup of tea. “Thank you again for the refreshment.”

“There’s plenty more,” I said. “Please help yourselves.”

Rodriguez put her empty cup on the tray. “Let’s talk about Lily.”

“Yes, let’s,” Gabriel said.

Sandra coughed lightly to clear her throat, then said, “Lily’s parents, Theodore and Maris McClay, were both killed in a car accident earlier this week. Officer Rodriguez was first on the scene and acted quickly to save Lily, then called Child Protective Services to arrange for a caseworker to take charge of the child.”

“Is that you?” I asked.

“Yes. I arrived at the police department and took charge of Lily. The police and my own department both attempted to track down the next of kin, but found no one.”

I glanced at Gabriel, who was walking back and forth across the room. He looked down and smiled at the baby, whose eyes were closed. Now, what female wouldn’t want to be rocked to sleep that way?

The caseworker went on to tell us how they were able to track down the parents’ lawyer. From him, they learned whom the couple had charged with guardianship of the baby in the event of their deaths. Sandra went to the new guardian’s home, but was told that the person was out of town. Two very helpful neighbors informed her that the guardian was staying at the home of Grace Crawford near the town of South Lake Tahoe.

“And that’s how we ended up here,” Rodriguez said.

I frowned. “Who is Lily’s guardian?”
And please, God,
I prayed silently,
don’t let it be Madge.

Sandra double checked her court forms. “Her name is Susannah Stein.”

Gabriel whipped around and stared at me. My mouth fell open and I stared right back at him.

“Suzie?”

Our Suzie?

I was pretty sure I would never forget the astonishment I felt at hearing Sandra’s announcement, but I managed to snap into action. “Be right back.”

Racing up the stairs to the third floor, I jogged down the hall to Vinnie and Suzie’s room and knocked firmly on the door. After a few seconds I knocked again. And again.

Moments later a sleepy-eyed Vinnie opened the door. “Brooklyn? What time is it? Is everything okay?”

“No, Vinnie. It’s not.” I took hold of her arm and squeezed gently. “Can you please wake up Suzie and come downstairs with me?”

Her eyes widened in fear. “Is it Grace? Suzie, wake up! Something’s wrong.”

“It’s not Grace,” I said immediately. “I’m sorry I frightened you. Nobody’s…” I was about to say that nobody was dead, but that wasn’t true. Suzie’s friends, Lily’s parents, were gone. I couldn’t be the one to break that news to them. “Grace is fine.”

Vinnie clutched the lapels of my robe. “Then what is it?”

“It’s…it’s something else. Please, Vinnie, it’s important. You and Suzie need to come quickly.”

“Aunt Grace is okay?” Suzie asked, her voice groggy. She was out of bed and throwing on her bathrobe, but I could tell she was still half asleep.

“Yes, she’s fine,” I said, helping her with her robe. “But I really need you guys to wake up.”

“All right, all right,” Suzie muttered. “Long as nobody’s dead.”

Vinnie grabbed hold of Suzie’s hand. “Okay, we’re awake, Brooklyn. Sort of.”

“Come on, then.” I walked swiftly out the door and headed for the stairs.

“Can’t you tell us what’s going on?” Vinnie asked as they both jogged to keep up with me.

“You’ll see soon enough,” I said cryptically. I wasn’t about to tell them about Lily all by myself. I wouldn’t know where to start or how to say it. This was something they simply had to see for themselves.

Seconds later, we made it back to the Blue Room and I introduced them to the two visitors. Gabriel stood in the far corner of the room, holding Lily. Vinnie and Suzie were still blinking and not entirely awake, so Sandra suggested they sit on the couch while she stood and patiently explained everything all over again.

Suzie got as far as hearing that her friends had been killed in a car accident. “No!” she cried, and jumped up. “No, that’s impossible. I just saw them last week.” She turned to Vinnie. “We had dinner with them. Right? We were celebrating. Maris landed a job at Apple and Teddy was going to start grad school. They just had Lily.” She gasped. “What about Lily? Oh, my God, is she all right? Oh, my God. Oh, my God.”

Suzie crumpled onto the couch. Vinnie wrapped her arms around her and Suzie sobbed into her shoulder. My own eyes were damp and so were Vinnie’s. I felt so bad for my friends. I didn’t even know Teddy and Maris, but my heart hurt for all that had been lost. This was such a tragedy, and there was more to come.

Vinnie finally looked up at Sandra. “What has happened to Lily?”

Sandra looked nonplussed, then realized that neither of the women had noticed Gabriel standing out of the way the whole time she’d been talking. Sandra motioned him forward and he strolled over to the couch.

“Lily’s right here, safe and sound,” he said quietly. “And beautiful.”

Vinnie stared. Her mouth drifted open, then closed, and I watched her stiffen as realization dawned.

The movement caused Suzie to stir. “What? What is it?”

Vinnie shook her head slowly. “Oh, my…”

Suzie looked up then. “What’s going on?”

Sandra put her hand on Lily’s back in a protective gesture. “Teddy and Maris appointed you, Susannah, Lily’s guardian if anything ever happened to them. They knew you would take good care of her. That’s why we’re here. We’re turning the baby over to you.”

“What?” Suzie shrieked.

Vinnie instantly grabbed her in a tight hug. “Shhhh.”

“Vinnie, let me go,” Suzie said, wide awake now and close to flipping out. Her eyes were red; tears streaked her cheeks. She wore an old bathrobe and her hair was sticking straight up, but she managed to look dignified as she faced the strangers across from her. “Now, look, lady. If this is some kind of a joke, it’s not funny.”

“Suzie, please,” I said, and moved closer to stand by Gabriel and the baby. I took a peek, grateful that Lily was asleep and missing most of the drama. I knew how Suzie felt. This was a huge shock and she was so stunned she probably wasn’t aware of what she was saying. So I kept my voice calm as I told her softly, “Of course it’s not a joke. Lily needs you.”

“But…” Dignity slipped and terror returned. “It’s not possible.”

“Suzie, come here,” Gabriel said gently.

Suzie’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Suzie, don’t be silly,” Vinnie said. She stood and walked up to Gabriel, who turned the baby around so that Vinnie could take her. Vinnie rocked Lily in her arms, then pushed the thick blanket back so she could see her face better. “Poor little sweet thing, so tiny and all alone. But not anymore. Suzie, come say hello to our Lily.”

Suzie shook her head, but it didn’t mean anything and we all knew it. She was helpless against both the woman she loved and the baby who needed her. Finally, Suzie sighed in acquiescence. She stood and wrapped her arms around both Lily and Suzie. They swayed together and I could hear Suzie’s sniffles as she continued to mourn her friends. After several minutes, Suzie finally opened her tear-filled eyes and whispered, “What are we going to do with her, Vinnie?”

“We will love her,” Vinnie said, and passed the baby into Suzie’s arms.

Early the next morning I dressed quickly and went to check on Suzie and Vinnie to see if they had gotten any sleep. I didn’t want to knock and wake up the baby, so I quietly opened their door. They had fashioned a temporary bed for Lily by pulling out one of the wide dresser drawers from the bureau. It was padded with sheets and it sat on the floor by the side of their bed.

The baby was sound asleep and Vinnie and Suzie were both stretched out crosswise on the bed, watching every little breath she took. They were so caught up in their new daughter, they didn’t even notice me.

Smiling, I closed the door, then went downstairs to find Sandra Parish and Officer Rodriguez finishing breakfast and about to take off for San Francisco.

Last night, Merrilee, the wonder woman, had fixed up a room for the two women to spend the night. They looked rested and ready for the long drive back to the city.

They both gave me their business cards to pass along
to Suzie and Vinnie. Then I accompanied them out to their car.

As the women drove away, the front door opened and Gabriel and Kiki walked out.

“It’s colder than I thought it would be,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself.

“Go back inside,” Gabriel said. “I don’t want you catching a cold.”

She smiled up at him and some kind of wordless communication passed between them. “Go on,” he said. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Okay, but hurry.” She scurried back inside and closed the door.

“I guess you two had that talk,” I said.

“Yeah,” he muttered, but refused to satisfy my curiosity further. Instead, he glanced around and said, “This is as good a time as any to look for signs of Fowler.”

I knew it was useless to pry, but I took it as a personal victory that he looked so happy and relaxed this morning.