have to know that she hadn’t been unfaithful to him. Not willingly, at least.
Once she had her resolve, Madeline shifted into high gear. She sent a text to Jane canceling their tennis game, pleading exhaustion. She took a quick shower, then took pains with her hair and makeup. She wanted to present the image of a calm, pulled-together ally. She wanted Steven to see her as an asset again, not as the enemy.
She carefully chose her clothing, going for non-flashy neutrals, elegant but understated shoes, gold earrings and bracelets instead of diamonds. She looked the epitome of style and grace as she rang Hughes and told him she was going out and would need him to bring the car around—the BMW sedan, not her Porsche Carrera. She was going to appear upstanding and irreproachable in every manner. Her marriage was riding on it.
TWO
Madeline slowed down as she scanned the lot behind Steven’s building for a parking place. All were taken, as she feared. She crept further down the street, spotting a space on the opposite side of the one-way street. She pulled forward and reversed into the spot.
Once parked, she drew a deep breath and silently rehearsed her plea one last time. Steven, I need you to hear me out—I need to tell you what happened to me after you left The Edgecliff Saturday night. I believe someone is deliberately trying to ruin our marriage or your reputation, and I think these photos are proof…Steven, I think I was raped…
This last thought made Madeline perspire all over. She turned the key in the ignition and cranked the A/C to full blast. She drew in the cool air and tried to fight back the tears. The possibility of having been drugged and raped had been completely overshadowed by Steven’s rash conclusions.
Ordinarily, being the victim of a sexual assault would’ve out-ranked other worries. But making Steven see that she’d never cheat on him, under any circumstances, was her top priority. If she could get through that, maybe she could face what she didn’t have the courage to accept now. But that would have to wait. Saving her marriage was the most immediate challenge.
“Okay,” she said, nervously inspecting her makeup in the visor mirror and steeling herself for battle.
As she was checking the passenger’s side-view mirror for traffic, she spotted Steven standing in front of the back staircase. Just as Madeline was about to seize the moment, a man crossed the street to join him.
As Madeline craned around to get a better look, both men glanced discreetly up and down the street before Steven pulled a slim envelope from his jacket pocket and handed it to the man, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. The man skimmed through the contents quickly, then offered his hand to Steven. After a brief handshake, the man started up the street and Steven went up the rear staircase.
Madeline waited for the man to pass, watching as he made his way up the street. She had been anxious to go after Steven, but the exchange she just witnessed struck her as highly unusual. As the man darted across the street ahead of the traffic, Madeline put her head down.
Once the man reached the sidewalk a couple cars ahead of her, Madeline slid out of the driver’s seat and casually began to follow him at a safe distance, her footsteps absorbed by the sound of passing traffic. When he turned left at the corner, Madeline rummaged through her large handbag, keeping her face down until the man was out of sight. She waited a few seconds before following him down Sola Street.
She was half a block behind him when he paused to let traffic pass before crossing Anacapa Street. Once he turned left and was out of her sight, she started running, only slowing as she neared the corner. She reached it just in time to see the man slip a key into a lock and disappear through the door.
Madeline stepped behind a tree for cover as she snuck glances at the old Craftsman home-turned-office. Her heart stopped as she read the business name
Once she had her resolve, Madeline shifted into high gear. She sent a text to Jane canceling their tennis game, pleading exhaustion. She took a quick shower, then took pains with her hair and makeup. She wanted to present the image of a calm, pulled-together ally. She wanted Steven to see her as an asset again, not as the enemy.
She carefully chose her clothing, going for non-flashy neutrals, elegant but understated shoes, gold earrings and bracelets instead of diamonds. She looked the epitome of style and grace as she rang Hughes and told him she was going out and would need him to bring the car around—the BMW sedan, not her Porsche Carrera. She was going to appear upstanding and irreproachable in every manner. Her marriage was riding on it.
TWO
Madeline slowed down as she scanned the lot behind Steven’s building for a parking place. All were taken, as she feared. She crept further down the street, spotting a space on the opposite side of the one-way street. She pulled forward and reversed into the spot.
Once parked, she drew a deep breath and silently rehearsed her plea one last time. Steven, I need you to hear me out—I need to tell you what happened to me after you left The Edgecliff Saturday night. I believe someone is deliberately trying to ruin our marriage or your reputation, and I think these photos are proof…Steven, I think I was raped…
This last thought made Madeline perspire all over. She turned the key in the ignition and cranked the A/C to full blast. She drew in the cool air and tried to fight back the tears. The possibility of having been drugged and raped had been completely overshadowed by Steven’s rash conclusions.
Ordinarily, being the victim of a sexual assault would’ve out-ranked other worries. But making Steven see that she’d never cheat on him, under any circumstances, was her top priority. If she could get through that, maybe she could face what she didn’t have the courage to accept now. But that would have to wait. Saving her marriage was the most immediate challenge.
“Okay,” she said, nervously inspecting her makeup in the visor mirror and steeling herself for battle.
As she was checking the passenger’s side-view mirror for traffic, she spotted Steven standing in front of the back staircase. Just as Madeline was about to seize the moment, a man crossed the street to join him.
As Madeline craned around to get a better look, both men glanced discreetly up and down the street before Steven pulled a slim envelope from his jacket pocket and handed it to the man, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. The man skimmed through the contents quickly, then offered his hand to Steven. After a brief handshake, the man started up the street and Steven went up the rear staircase.
Madeline waited for the man to pass, watching as he made his way up the street. She had been anxious to go after Steven, but the exchange she just witnessed struck her as highly unusual. As the man darted across the street ahead of the traffic, Madeline put her head down.
Once the man reached the sidewalk a couple cars ahead of her, Madeline slid out of the driver’s seat and casually began to follow him at a safe distance, her footsteps absorbed by the sound of passing traffic. When he turned left at the corner, Madeline rummaged through her large handbag, keeping her face down until the man was out of sight. She waited a few seconds before following him down Sola Street.
She was half a block behind him when he paused to let traffic pass before crossing Anacapa Street. Once he turned left and was out of her sight, she started running, only slowing as she neared the corner. She reached it just in time to see the man slip a key into a lock and disappear through the door.
Madeline stepped behind a tree for cover as she snuck glances at the old Craftsman home-turned-office. Her heart stopped as she read the business name
Similar Books
Never Laugh as a Hearse Goes By: A Penny Brannigan Mystery
Elizabeth J. Duncan
Vulgar the Viking and the Rock Cake Raiders
Odin Redbeard
Breathless
Anne Stuart
Champions of the Apocalypse
Michael G. Thomas
Virtually Real
D. S. Whitfield
Carolina's Walking Tour
Lesley-Anne McLeod
Revolutionaries
Eric J. Hobsbawm
The Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries 1-3
Alexie Aaron