Love at First Sight Part 15

Jack shrugged. He'd heard a little about Vandermullen. Enough to think that could have been the case. "Look, for all we know the baby died at birth. No mystery." That didn't, however, explain Liz's ad but then he wasn't sure any of them could explain Liz's last days let alone hours. They may never know what happened.

"Oh, Jack, the man Liz met at the hotel could be the mystery man she saw with her baby," Karen said. "If he is and the girl's alive, then he might know where she is."

"I think Karen's right," Denny said. "I think Liz got into more than the wrong bed."

Jack moaned. He was looking for Liz's killer. If she really had been looking for her child, then the two paths might have crossed.

"We may never know who that man was," he said to Karen. "Or where your daughter is-if she's still alive," he added for Denny's sake, hoping all the time that he was wrong about that. she's still alive," he added for Denny's sake, hoping all the time that he was wrong about that.

His friend didn't say anything for a moment. Jack knew Denny had a plan and that he wasn't going to like it.

"You're probably right, Jack," he said finally. "But there is at least one person who knows the truth. Dr. Carl Vandermullen."

DR. CARL V VANDERMULLEN had a large upscale home in Rattlesnake Canyon just minutes outside of Missoula. had a large upscale home in Rattlesnake Canyon just minutes outside of Missoula.

Going anywhere near the doctor was a form of professional suicide that wasn't lost on Jack. Baxter would get wind of it. Although Missoula was the third-largest city in Montana with a population of forty-three thousand, the entire state was like a small town when it came to the speed with which gossip traveled.

Bringing Karen along was an even worse plan. But low on options, Jack wasn't about to leave her unless he absolutely had to. At least with him, he knew she was safe. He also wanted to gauge Vandermullen's reaction when he saw her.

But the real reason Jack drove to the palatial home of the good doctor was for Denny. To find out what he could about the baby. And for Karen. There was still a killer out there who wanted her dead. If Vandermullen had any of the answers, Jack planned to get them.

As he pulled down the long stately drive into Dr. Vandermullen's, Jack looked over at Karen. She seemed quite happy sleuthing with him, even knowing her life was at risk. It startled him to realize it was because she trusted him. Worse yet, he liked it. Too bad he wasn't trustworthy, he thought as he parked the Jeep, cut the lights and sat for a moment waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark.

A silver Mercedes convertible was parked in front of one of the three windowless garage doors. Jack wondered if a large, dark, newer American car was parked in one of the garages.

He'd borrowed Denny's gun and holster and felt less naked than he had since his recent suspension. But even with the pistol pressed against his ribs, he felt vulnerable. It was this case. It had taken too many twists and turns. At first he'd thought he was chasing a secret lover who'd killed Liz to keep her from ratting to his wife about their affair.

But now Jack wasn't sure who he was chasing or why. All he knew was that it felt more malevolent. More dangerous. And he felt more for Karen, a woman he feared was in worse danger than he knew.

"Ready?" he asked her softly.

She nodded and straightened, looking as if she were ready to take on evil single-handedly.

He smiled, realizing that the more time he spent around her, the more he liked her. She was sharp-witted, smart and entertaining company. His only concern, other than that fateful moment when her memory returned, was staying out of bed with her. The more time they'd spent together, the more Jack wanted her. Each hour, it was becoming increasingly difficult not to make love to her.

"Let's go," he said and climbed out to open her car door for her.

Vandermullen opened the large carved wooden door, dressed in slacks, a polo shirt and boat shoes. If he was surprised to see either of them, he didn't show it.

"Why, h.e.l.lo," he said, glancing from Jack to Karen, apparently recognizing them both. "And to what do I owe this honor?"

He sounded as if he might have had a few bourbons but he didn't seem in the least antagonistic to find a cop and a star murder witness on his doorstep. His only reaction to Karen was to leer for a moment.

"We wanted to talk to you," Jack said. "In a strictly unofficial capacity."

"Well, then you'd better come in and have a drink," he said, seemingly amused, as he led them into a huge living room.

When Jack was seated on the couch beside Karen, the doctor took their drink orders. The air held the sweet distinct scent of bourbon and Vandermullen's gla.s.s had left a half-dozen wet ring marks on the gla.s.s coffee table.

Under normal circ.u.mstances, Jack would have declined a drink but he figured Vandermullen would feel more comfortable not drinking alone.

"Sure. Scotch if you have it. On the rocks." Jack looked to Karen.

"I'll take a beer," she said. "Bottle if you have it."

No white wine. Not even a light beer in a gla.s.s. His Girl Next Door was just full of surprises.

Vandermullen seemed to find her choice of drinks delightful. He brought her a cold beer. "I a.s.sume you don't want a gla.s.s?" he said, smiling down at her.

Jack noticed that Carl Vandermullen wasn't a bad-looking man. Older, distinguished and in good shape, a man who would have no trouble finding another younger wife.

Karen smiled up at the doctor as she took the beer. "This is just perfect."

Jack watched her take a long drink, tilting her head back, giving him a clear view of the pale vulnerable skin of her sleek neck.

Vandermullen stepped in front of him, blocking his view. He reached up to take the Scotch the doctor offered him, aware that Vandermullen had been flirting with Karen. Suddenly Jack wanted to nail Vandermullen for the murder and anything else he could dig up on him.

"So, what is it the two of you want with me?" the doctor asked, taking a chair across from them, a large gla.s.s of bourbon on ice in his hand. But when he spoke, his gaze went to Karen and stayed there.

Karen took a sip of her beer, trying to decide how she felt about the man. There was something too relaxed about him considering his ex-wife had been murdered and he'd been hauled down to the police department for questioning. But then, she reminded herself, he just might not have anything to hide. Or was a very good actor.

She glanced around the living room. Done all in white, it had the sterile feel of an operating room-except for several splashes of bright-red color tossed about the room like bloodstains.

"I know the police have already asked you, but I wondered what you were doing at the Carlton the night of Liz's murder," Jack said. "Also, what you were doing at El Topo yesterday afternoon?"

Vandermullen studied his bourbon for a moment. "I followed Liz to the hotel because I was worried about her." He looked embarra.s.sed by the admission. "Liz always liked picking up strangers. She liked doing dangerous things like that. Going to bed with men she'd just met."

He shook his head sadly. "I followed her Sat.u.r.day night because I knew she had a new lover. I could always tell. Only this one seemed...different. I feared he truly might be...dangerous."

Hindsight was twenty-twenty, Karen thought.

"I answered the ad for the same reason," he continued. "I knew Liz had met men through the personals columns before, so I guess I'd gotten in the habit of watching them, wondering who my wife would pick this time. When I saw your ad," the doctor said, looking over at Karen, "I hoped you might know who'd killed her. No matter what happened between us, I want to see Liz's murderer brought to justice."

Neither Jack nor Karen said anything as he drained his gla.s.s and went to refill it. They both declined another drink. Karen wondered if Jack was surprised as she was that Vandermullen knew she'd been the one to put the ad in the paper. The only way he could have found out was from Captain Baxter.

It had also been clear when Vandermullen opened the door that he knew them both. Jack had told her that she'd seen Vandermullen at the Hotel Carlton. And he'd seen her. But had he also seen her at the El Topo, when according to Jack she'd almost been run down?

When Vandermullen sat back down again, he said into the silence, "I loved Liz, but the truth was, I couldn't keep her happy. Nor it seems could I protect her from herself."

He was trying to portray himself as the wounded husband who put up with his wife's infidelities because he loved her. Karen wished she could remember her meeting with Liz. Could Liz have been the woman her ex-husband was portraying her to be? Hadn't Jack told her that Liz had mentioned a jealous ex she'd recently left?

"Then you didn't see her at the Carlton Sat.u.r.day night?" Jack asked. "Nor the man she met?"

Vandermullen shook his head. "The truth is, I realized it was over. I couldn't keep trying to protect her. Liz was on her own. Just the way she wanted it."

"Then you didn't hear about the murder until the next morning?" Jack pressed.

"No, not until the police called," he said, then seemed to mull over his thoughts for a moment. "I'm quite a bit older than Liz was. Maybe that was the problem."

"Or maybe it was losing the baby," Karen suggested, surprising them all, she noticed.

"Our daughter, Joanna?" Vandermullen exclaimed.

So he hadn't known that Denny was the baby's father? Or he did and wasn't admitting it? But it answered one question. There had had been a baby at least. And it could have been Denny's. been a baby at least. And it could have been Denny's.

"Why on earth would you want to know about the baby?" Vandermullen asked, sounding upset. "It's been more than sixteen years." He downed the rest of his drink and got up to pour himself another. "It was a tragic loss for us. Liz was devastated since she was unable to have other children."

"It was a home birth?" Karen asked.

Again Vandermullen looked surprised. "Why are you asking about this now? I thought you were trying to solve her murder."

Karen shrugged. "I'm sorry, I just know that the baby was on Liz's mind. She'd mentioned the girl would be sixteen now. If she'd lived," Karen said, making it up as she went from what Jack had told her and what she and Denny suspected.

"Why would Liz mention the baby to you? you?" Vandermullen asked, appearing shocked by that revelation.

"I a.s.sume because of the girl's birthday this month and maybe because Joanna Kay is buried here in Missoula," Karen said, noticing that she was making both Vandermullen-and Jack-uncomfortable.

"She told you a lot about...our daughter," Vandermullen said as he sat down again and took a drink. "Yes, it was a home birth. It's what Liz wanted. She was deathly afraid of hospitals."

"The baby died?" Jack asked.

Vandermullen nodded. "She was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck."

"How horrible," Karen said sympathetically. "How was it that the baby was born here and not in Columbia Falls?"

Vandermullen's gaze locked on hers. "This was Liz's hometown. She wanted her baby to be born here. Sentimental, I guess."

"Probably the same reason she wanted your daughter buried here," Jack said, putting down his gla.s.s as he got to his feet. "We really should be going. Thank you for your candor."

Karen stood, wondering if the temperature in the room had dropped or if it was just her imagination.

"Anything to help you find Liz's killer," the doctor said, walking them to the door.

AS THEY DROVE AWAY, Jack looked over at Karen. "Good work," he said. "Although you did make me a little nervous." More than a little nervous. She'd upset Vandermullen. With one woman already dead, Jack didn't like Karen upsetting the suspects.

Not that she wasn't already in danger. He just couldn't help feeling protective when it came to her.

Karen didn't answer. She seemed deep in thought. Probably thinking the same thing he was. About Denny's baby. How tragic for his friend. If only Liz had kept it to herself. What had she hoped to gain by telling him about Joanna now? now? It seemed so cruel. And it made Jack wonder if Liz It seemed so cruel. And it made Jack wonder if Liz had had been in her right mind. been in her right mind.

Not that he'd liked Vandermullen. Nor been sympathetic to the man's plight. But maybe it did give them a little insight into Liz in the hours before her death.

Maybe Vandermullen had been right to worry about his ex-wife. Her behavior was definitely bizarre. Telling Denny about a baby that had been dead for sixteen years. Hooking up with a complete stranger through a personal ad. Having a "relationship" with a man she knew nothing about-not even his name.

"He's lying," Karen said as Jack turned on Greenough.

"What?" he asked, swiveling his gaze to her.

"He's lying. Liz didn't hate hospitals. She worked as a candy striper in high school and wanted to be a nurse. I remember because it seemed at odds with a girl who ran with bikers and didn't show much interest in school. She used to borrow my notes in biology after skipping the cla.s.s most mornings. I'd forgotten about that." Karen looked over at him. "Does that sound like someone who was afraid of hospitals and wanted to take the chance of having her baby anywhere but in a hospital?"

He stared at her.

"If Vandermullen lied about that, then who says he didn't lie about the baby being born dead?" she demanded.

"For what possible reason?"

"I know it's been sixteen years, but he didn't seem upset enough over losing the only child the two of them would ever have," she said. "Maybe he knew the baby wasn't his. He was a doctor, for crying out loud. He could probably count up to nine months. Maybe he talked Liz into giving the baby up for adoption but to save face, let everyone believe it had died. Couldn't a man in his position fake a birth-and death-certificate?"

Her logic still scared him, but unfortunately often made a strange kind of warped sense. It fit Vandermullen. The kind of guy who'd only want his own kid with his own genes. Probably why they'd never adopted a child.

"You think Liz would go along with giving up her baby like that?" Jack asked.

Karen shrugged. "If she loved Vandermullen and knew he wouldn't accept her daughter for his own, yes. But she was bound to regret it. Maybe that's why she went to Denny with the truth. She wanted his help to find her daughter and make amends. She'd just divorced Vandermullen. It all ties together."

Jack had to admit it did tie up pretty nicely. Maybe a little too nicely. "Why did she go to the cemetery, then, if she knew there was no baby buried there?"

Karen bit her lower lip in obvious contemplation. "Because, if I'm right, then the grave has been her only connection with her daughter for sixteen years."

Like a blade of ice, her words pierced his heart. He couldn't shake that image of Liz Jones beside her daughter's grave.

"Even if you're right, we have no way to prove it," he said, always the cop. "Liz is dead and Vandermullen is sticking to a completely different story."

"There has to be a way," Karen said, her voice full of determination. "The answer is in that grave."

He looked over at her. "Don't even say it."

"Jack, you know if I'm right, Vandermullen would never let us have the grave opened and any proof we might have been able to find probably died with Liz."

He stared at her. She couldn't seriously be considering- He swerved to keep the car on the road. Boy, had his first impression of this woman been off.

"Grave robbing is a felony, Karen, and I'm a cop." A cop on suspension, but still a cop.

"Then I'll do it myself," she said.

He glanced over at her again. "I can't let you do that." But he could tell by the look in her eyes that stopping her would be a whole other matter.

"Would you take me by my shop?" she asked sweetly. Too sweetly.

But how could he deny her such a simple request? He waited while she went into the back for a few minutes. She returned dressed in all black, carrying a bag that clunked suspiciously of tools.

"Karen-"