Thin Ice (31 page)

"On the wide screen TV?"

Emily smiled in relief. “Mm hmmm. And I'l have a large Paisan's pizza delivered while you watch the game if you promise to save me a piece."

"Paisan's? Al right! Nanna! Guess what? Mom's gonna—"

Emily winced at the crack of a dropped receiver. One of these days she was going to have to spring for a cordless phone.

"Emily? You stil there?” Anna sounded harried.

"My eardrum may never be the same, but yes, I'm stil here."

"I'l have to have a talk with that boy. I understand we're going across the street to watch the game?"

Clearly Robbie hadn't asked, but told Anna of the change in plans.

She'd have to have a talk with him herself. “If you wouldn't mind."

"Of course not, but what's going on? Why aren't you coming home?"

Quickly Emily outlined the situation, teling Anna only that she'd seen Ryan and they'd argued about Robbie. Anna was aghast enough. She didn't need to know Ryan had attacked her. “And you think he's coming here? Tonight? Does he know where you live?"

"I don't know. But he was so angry when he left I don't want to take any chances."

"This doesn't sound good, Emily. From what you've told me about him..."

"We'l talk later, al right? Just remember, if a dark blue van—or any strange car—puls into my driveway, cal the police.” If Ryan tried anything with Robbie, al bets were off.

"With pleasure,” Anna vowed. “And Emily? When you get here, plan on staying the night."

Emily's heart melted. “I appreciate the offer, Anna, but—"

"But nothing. I don't want you staying in that house alone."

"I can't simply run away. I have to think of Robbie. I don't want him getting the idea he's not safe in his own home."

"Like you said. We'l talk about it later."

"Like you said. We'l talk about it later."

Emily sighed. “I ordered a pizza. I'm having it delivered."

"Al right. I'l take care of it."

"Thanks. I'l be there as soon as I can."

Her son's safety and hunger seen to, Emily turned her attention to her cuts and bruises. A glance in the mirror above the sink as she filed it with soapy water took her back ten years. Her left cheek was swolen and purpling, her bottom lip split down the center. Five smal, purplish bruises marred her left upper arm where Ryan had grabbed it. She didn't even want to think about her hip or ribs.

Her palms stung as she immersed them in the warm suds, her knees burned as she dabbed at them with a washcloth. Using tweezers Sarah had provided, she gingerly removed bits of debris embedded in her skin, then gritted her teeth and applied disinfectant to the raw cuts. To her relief, the bandages didn't show beneath her skirt hem when she stood. After washing what she could of the dirt and bloodstains from her clothes, she caled Sarah at the front desk.

“I'm ready to leave."

Sarah entered the lounge moments later, a pair of pantyhose in hand. “Here. I keep these in my purse for emergencies."

With a grateful smile, Emily sank back onto the sofa and slipped off her shoes. The hose eased past her bandaged knees, she looked up to see Sarah watching her, shaking her head in disbelief.

to see Sarah watching her, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Jesus. It creeps me out to think of some maniac loose in the parking lot. When I look at you and think of what could have happened—"

Emily stood and puled the pantyhose to her waist, wincing as it encased her bruised hip and sore knees. “But it didn't. I'm okay."

Sarah shot her a look that said, Yeah, right . “What if he's stil out there?"

Emily smoothed her skirt and slipped into her shoes. “After the scare Carmen put into him, I doubt it.” She hadn't identified her attacker to Sarah, or told her about the van.

"I stil think you should cal the police."

"There's no point. He's gone. I saw him leave."

Sarah shook her head again. “Eric's going to have a fit when he sees your face and finds out the guy got off scoot free."

Emily paused. She hadn't thought of that. “Then he won't see it.” She reached for her coat lying on the couch.

"He's coming home tonight, isn't he? After the game?"

"His plane won't get in until one or so. He'l probably go straight home and stop by the hospital tomorrow."

"That bruise isn't going to disappear overnight, Emily."

Emily agreed, but hoped an artful application of makeup would minimize its ugliness.

"I don't understand why you want to keep this from him,” Sarah persisted. “If there's one thing I've learned about relationships, it's keeping secrets only causes more trouble than it's worth."

Emily raised an eyebrow. “Who said we were having a relationship?"

"I saw you the night of the ice storm, Emily. I saw the way he paced the hals, waiting for you, the way he bolted over from the coffee shop when I caled to tel him you were off-duty. If you're not having a relationship with the man, then step aside so someone else can give it a shot."

"You?"

Sarah grinned. “In a New York minute."

Emily laughed, then sobered. “Oh, Sarah. What's the point in teling him? What could he do about it?” Except make things worse? An idea of what Eric might do to Ryan flashed across her mind. She shoved it aside, unwiling to even think about it.

Leaving a disgruntled Sarah behind, Emily returned to the Suburban to find Carmen waiting, stil seated behind the wheel. She to find Carmen waiting, stil seated behind the wheel. She approached the driver's side and spoke through the window Carmen lowered. Inside, the Eagles sang about life in the fast lane.

"Carmen. You didn't have to stay."

She shrugged and scooted over. “It was a no-parking zone. I thought I should stick around and keep an eye on your car."

Emily smiled her thanks and slid behind the wheel. When they puled up to Carmen's Mustang, Carmen said, “I've been thinking.

You're probably going to need legal help to get your ex off your back. My cousin's a divorce lawyer, and I'm sure—"

"I already have a divorce, Carmen,” Emily interrupted wearily. She knew Carmen meant wel, but was getting tired of people teling her what she should do. Anna wanted her to move out of the house, Sarah wanted her to tel Eric and presumably let him take care of her problems, and now Carmen wanted to push her into legal action. Al she wanted to do was go home, hug her son, and pul her thoughts together.

"I'm aware of that,” Carmen said. “Apparently it isn't enough."

"Carmen—"

"Let me cal my cousin. He won't mind us caling him at home. We can cal from my condo. It's only a few blocks away. I think you'l be more comfortable there."

Reluctantly, Emily gave in. She didn't want to repay Carmen's kindnesses by being bul-headed. On the way to Carmen's condo, she caled Anna on the cel phone to say she'd be delayed indefinitely.

When they got there Carmen led Emily into her home office, dialed her cousin, spoke with him in Spanish for a few moments, then put Emily on the phone and left the room. Miguel Sandoval greeted her warmly, not seeming the least bit put out by Carmen's cal. Carmen was family, Emily realized. When family caled, you did what you could to help. The thought made Emily homesick for her own family.

Miguel asked her a few innocuous questions about herself, then slipped into a no-nonsense question and answer mode so smoothly she didn't have time to get uncomfortable about teling her story to a stranger. Even so, she emerged from Carmen's office forty-five minutes later feeling as though she'd been run over by a steamroler.

The man would be hel on wheels in a courtroom, Emily thought—if it came to that. She rubbed the back of her neck, and swung her head from side to side. She'd be stiff in the morning.

"How'd it go?"

Emily looked up to see Carmen curled up on the couch, an open book in her lap, empathy in her face. On the coffee table waited a pot of what smeled like peppermint tea, a plate of cheese and crackers, a digital camera, and a fresh ice pack for her bruised cheek.

cheek.

She set her soggy ice pack down and picked up the new one. “We have an appointment Monday morning—unless we need one sooner."

Carmen smiled and closed her book. “Good. Trust me, Emily.

Miguel knows his stuff."

Emily had to agree. He'd asked enough questions to fil a legal pad, then assured her Ryan didn't have a prayer of getting Robbie. For that alone she was grateful. If she'd had to find her own lawyer, she wouldn't have known where to begin, whom to trust. The one she'd used to divorce Ryan had been next to useless. She didn't doubt for a minute he'd been paid off by the Montgomery's to make sure she ended up with nothing but a huge legal bil. Just one of many bils she'd spent years paying off thanks to Ryan. Having learned her lesson, she no longer even owned a credit card.

"He wants pictures of me."

"He told me that, too.” She indicated the camera on the coffee table. We'l take them before you leave."

Emily sank onto the sofa with a weary sigh, reached for a cheese-covered cracker and her tea. She ached to get home to Robbie, but knew he was safe with Anna and the girls. After al Carmen had done for her, Emily didn't want to leave without at least trying to explain about Ryan. Why she'd let him go.

But first she had her own curiosity to satisfy. “Why are you doing this, Carmen? Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely grateful, but why involve yourself in my problems?"

"I've been there."

The two women's eyes locked across the couch, and Emily finaly understood why she and Carmen had clicked from the start.

"I also know what it's like when you think you're facing it alone.

That's probably why you let him go. Because you don't think you can fight him alone. But you don't have to this time, Emily.

Whatever came before, you have friends now."

Emily looked into her tea and let its soothing steam waft across her face. The idea of having a woman friend her own age felt strange—

and yet curiously appealing. It was something she'd never had before. Growing up, she'd had her sisters—but she'd always held a part of herself back, knowing they counted on her to be the strong one. Then Ryan had come along and made sure she had no time for anyone but him. She hadn't let herself get close to anyone but Anna since.

"Do you realy want to hear the whole story?"

"Only if you feel like teling it."

Emily wasn't sure. She wasn't used to confiding in anyone, and this was new ground for her. Carmen didn't try to sway her one way or was new ground for her. Carmen didn't try to sway her one way or the other, and Emily appreciated that. They munched on crackers and sipped their tea in companionable silence until Emily finaly opened with, “Are you at al familiar with the name Dr. John Montgomery?"

"The head of cardiac surgery over at St. Paul Memorial?"

Emily nodded, staring forward. “That was his only son whose bals you threatened to shoot off tonight."

"Ryan Montgomery? And his mother is Patricia?"

"Yes, that's them."

Carmen stared, seemingly stupefied. “Holy shit,” she finaly muttered. “I mean ... wow ... I thought he looked familiar, but ...

Ryan Montgomery? Cripes. Isn't he supposed to marry Catherine Stump this summer?"

"That's what I hear."

"I wonder if she has any idea what he's realy like?"

"I've wondered about that, too.” The thought stil troubled her.

Emily knew she should warn the woman. But would Catherine appreciate a warning—or would it only enrage Ryan even further?

If she had only herself to think about, Emily knew she'd speak up and gladly. But she had Robbie to consider.

and gladly. But she had Robbie to consider.

"I hadn't seen him in nine years,” she said finaly. Carmen said nothing. Emily shifted to face her across the couch. “He came after me because of the interview. He was one of those men you mentioned who saw themselves in your article and took exception to it."

"Interesting,” Carmen murmured. “They don't usualy admit to it.

Oh, they'l cuss you out, but won't realy say why. Or if they do, it's always something you've done wrong, not them."

"He blames my sudden notoriety on Eric."

"Eric? Oh ... as in Cameron.” She grinned. Emily recognized the grin as the same one Sarah had sent her. Envious, but without malice. “Is it serious?"

Emily hedged, uncertain in her own mind. “Ryan seems to think so."

"Ah,” Carmen said knowingly. “So he's running scared."

"You're kidding. Ryan?"

"Why not? You've suddenly got the power to put the kibosh on his wedding plans and he knows it. Not to mention his standing in the community."

"I didn't do the interview to interfere with his wedding plans—or his standing in the community."

standing in the community."

"I know. But there's a reason for everything. And what goes around comes around. He abused you, and now you have the power to make him pay for it."

"How?"

"Eric has access to Catherine."

"So?” Emily rubbed her right shoulder, which had hit the van when Ryan had slammed her against it. “I'm not folowing you."

"I assume you haven't told Eric about Ryan."

"Wel, no. I meant to, but—"

"Spare me the excuses. Been there, done that, too. So let's say you did tel Eric. Dumped the whole story on him, including what happened tonight. What do you think Eric would do?"

"I don't even want to think about that, Carmen.” It was true. Eric wouldn't waste two seconds on talking if he came face to face with Ryan Montgomery. Emily was sure of it.