The moment he heard the car taking Maria and the boy away, Jay dialed the
detective agency he’d used to trace Delores. Four years ago, he’d wanted her
location so she could be served with divorce papers, nothing more. But now,
questions abounded.
A woman answered. “Black and Black Investigations, how can we help you?”
“Amos Black, please.”
“I’ll see if he’s free. Who should I say is calling?”
“Jay Lockley. I need his services again.”
“One moment.” A short time later, the rasping voice he remembered
reverberated in his ear. “Mr. Lockley, what can I do for you?”
Jay explained the arrival of Maria and the boy. “She brought documents
that look legit but I wonder if they’re forgeries.”
“A child you say. One who appears to be the right age?”
“Yes.”
“Let me pull your file on screen.”
Jay tapped his fingers on the table. Could the answer be easily found?
Had the detective failed to give him everything he’d discovered?
“Mr. Lockley, I’ve reviewed your former request. All you wanted was for
me to locate your estranged wife. I did and sent confirmation of her death.”
“I had no idea there was the possibility of a child,” Jay said. “These
are the papers I was given.” He listed them. “I’ll fax copies. And I’d like to
know why the child was missed.”
“Who gave them to you?”
“Maria Russo claims to be Delores’ sister and guardian of the child she
claims is my son. I need to know the truth. If he’s mine I’ll claim him in
court if necessary.”
“You could ask for a DNA test?”
“I could but I want to know more about the Russo family.” He gripped the
receiver. He was ninety-nine percent sure the boy was his. Dealing with a woman
who looked like Delores raised suspicions. He wanted to know if Maria was as
greedy and as self-serving as his dead wife had been.
Emotions triggered by memories of the days of feeling like a naïve fool
swamped him. Added to those feelings the attraction toward Maria churned his
thoughts as though they were whirled in a blender.
“Just what do you want me to do?” Amos asked.
Since he knew the man would do no more or less that he asked Jay began.
“Check the validity of the papers I’ll fax. Investigate Maria and Carlo Russo.”
“Looks like I’m taking a road trip,” Amos said. “This will cost.”
“How much?”
For a moment there was silence. “Say five grand. I’ll need to fly and
rent a car.”
“I’ll wire the money. I need the truth so I can act.” Excitement bubbled
in his thoughts. “This time I expect a detailed report of everything you learn.
Call me when you arrive.”
“Will do.”
Jay disconnected and carried the folder and papers to the studio where he
faxed the documents. He booted the computer and wired the money. As he slipped
the papers into the folder he found several pages of music. He stared. He’d
been working on these melodies just before Delores left.
Why had she taken them? Then he saw his name had been crossed out and
hers written above. Had she planned to pass them off as hers?
As he studied the notes, he laughed. The melodies, one bright and the
other dark, had fluidity and power. He propped the sheets on the piano rack.
One by one he played them. During a second pass, he jotted notes where revision
was needed. He gripped the uncompleted movie score. Yes. These melodies would
fit the score. He worked to the point where the harmony needed to be added. In
his head, he heard an orchestra.
When exhaustion forced him to halt, he groaned. He could hear the ending
and wanted to push ahead. His fingers cramped. His hands curled. Waves of pain
tore his concentration to shreds. He rubbed one hand over the other. What if
they remained frozen into claws?
Slowly, the throbbing eased. He sank on a chair and closed his eyes.
Maria. Her face appeared and he saw warmth in her dark honey eyes. He must
thank her for returning the music.
Warmth flowed over his skin. She was so like and unlike the haunted
memories of Delores. In Maria’s eyes, he’d seen none of the calculation that
had filled his dead wife’s. What he’d seen from Maria had been love for the
child and anger toward him.
His hands spasmed. Why this attraction for a woman he had no reason to
trust?
His thoughts flitted to the boy. Those green eyes, exactly the shade as
his had raised hopes he couldn’t accept. Until he knew the child wasn’t part of
a scheme for sticky fingers to plunder his purse he must remain detached.
One thing worried him. How could a woman who looked like Delores’ twin
turn discord into harmony?
His thoughts drifted to the days of his first success. A Broadway musical
with songs sweeping through the city and the country. He’d been feted and
followed by cameras and fans. One night the producer had taken him to s small
club where Delores had sung. The words and melody of one of his ballads had
flowed on her silky voice. Her smoldering glances and her lush body had
enchanted him.
He’d been naïve. A rich boy with a famous father and a mother more
interested in charities than children. He’d been ripe for seduction and hungry
for love. He’d fallen fast and hard, taken her to his apartment for a night
filled with sex. She’d stayed. He’d written songs for her with melodies
showcasing her silky voice. Their affair had erupted like earth birthing a new
volcano. A month after that first meeting, they had married.
She hadn’t given up her obsession with stardom. Not long after the
wedding she had asked him to get together with the lyricist and write a musical
for her. He’d tried but his muse had vanished.
Pregnancy should have put her desire on hold. For days she had screamed
and blamed him for carelessness. Two months later she’d left to go home and
have an abortion. She’d taken every cent from their joint accounts.
What a fool he’d been.
Jay’s hands clenched. Those days were gone. He’d found music again. He
couldn’t allow Maria or anyone to drive him into that dark place where
cacophony ruled.
The clock chimed eight times. He left the studio and headed to the
kitchen to heat one of the meals Mrs. Greene left for him. Before he’d eaten
two bites of the chicken pot pie, the doorbell rang.
“What now?” he muttered.
“Jay, where are you?”
He groaned and knew she wouldn’t leave. Even if he’d been in the studio,
Manon would invade. “Kitchen.”
Manon strode into the room with Rafe two steps behind. “Are you back to
earth?” she asked.
He shrugged. “For long enough to eat.” He wasn’t about to tell her about
his stroll through memories. “I’m alive. I’m eating. You can go home.”
Rafe opened the refrigerator and took out a beer. He gestured to Jay. Jay
shook his head. As soon as they left, he intended to return to the studio.
Rafe raised the beer. “She’s going to grill you about out dinner
companions. A beautiful woman and a delightful boy.”
Jay’s suspicions escalated. How had Maria learned about his sister’s
Monday visits to Louie’s? How long had Maria been in town?
Manon filled a glass with water. “How can you deny Jamie’s your son? What
are you going to do about him?”
Jay dropped his fork on the table. “What did she tell you? How did she
choose the same restaurant?” Though he asked, he knew the answer.
Disappointment made him groan. Maria and the boy had been in Fern Lake
long enough to learn all she could about him and his family. She was no
different from Delores.
Manon’s green eyes frosted. “She lives in the apartment complex. Louie’s
is a short walk for a small boy.” She glared. “He’s as greedy for black olives
as you are. No way can you deny he’s your son.”
Jay lifted his fork. “I can’t be sure. You only met Delores once. She
knew every trick and I bought them all. Maria is her sister. I need to know if
this is a scam.”
Rafe nodded. “Sensible. I liked her though and she will be working at the
hospital. I’m sure she was vetted.”
“I need proof of her reason for arriving in Fern Lake.”
Rafe raised his beer. “How do you plan to learn?”
“I hired a detective, the same one who brought the news of Delores’
death. Maria said the boy was delivered at the hospital.”
“Possible,” Manon said. “She does need help.”
“I offered to pay for his pre-school.”
Manon set her glass on the table. “I’m glad. Don’t lose your chance to
know Jamie by being stubborn.”
