Why was I here?
I parked in front and walked up to the entrance. With Celia gone, perhaps I could get a look inside. I peeked through the glass window.
The floor was a blue-green marble, and on the reception console matching tile had been laid in a wave pattern across the front. On top of the reception console was a stack of pamphlets and a vase of red roses.
Who had given her the roses?
The center looked freshly remodeled. Where did Celia get the money to have her own center? How much did midwives charge anyway? Was she billing back to the insurance companies? I couldnt imagine she was bringing in enough money to own the building, but if she rented the center, the lease payment had to be considerable.
If she was having an affair with Alan, maybe he was helping her with the payments. Doctors made pretty good dough. He had a private practice and he lived in a nice neighborhood, big house.
By far the nicest home Id been in lately was Bruces, though, with the rooftop access and incredible view. Suddenly a thought hit me. Everything that was true for Alan could be true for Bruce.
Bruce had great income as an investment banker. And there were those odd moments Id witnessed between Bruce and Celia, at the service and then again at his house.
Maybe Bruce had killed Helene to get her out of the way so he could be with Celia, but then somehow things went wrong with Celia.
Could I run a search on his credit card? Find out where he was spending time and money? Had he bought those roses on the counter?
I made a mental note to ask Galigani about background and credit checks. Now that I was officially under his wing, he could give me database access to some specialized data providers for licensed private investigators.
From down the street, I heard a car engine. Out of reflex, I turned to look and nearly passed out. It was a yellow VW bug, Celias car.
Shoot!
What was she doing back so fast?
She parked in front of the center and hopped out of the car.
Had she forgotten something? Did she know I had been outside watching her? Had she returned to catch me red-handed?
As she walked up to the building, she said, Hello, Kate.
What do I say? What do I say? What do I say?
I smiled. Hi!
She nodded at me expectantly.
Uh . . . hi! I said again, adding a wave this time and smiling bigger.
Have you been here long? she asked.
How could I be here long, you just left!
Uh . . . no.
She reached into her gym bag and pulled out keys. What are you doing here?
I was in the neighborhood. I was curious about your birthing center.
Celia scratched her chin. Really, next time do you think youll go natural?
I laughed. Margaret practically has me convinced, I lied.
She unlocked the door and pushed it open. Why dont you come in and check it out?
I followed her inside.
I thought maybe you were here because you had some news . . . ?
News?
She shrugged. I guess I was hoping you were going to tell me that the results from the hospital were ready.
The hospital wouldnt release your results to me.
She eyed me. Really, I thought because youre an investigator, you might get the results from the medical examiner. She sat down on a waiting room chair and looked crushed. I was hoping that the results would be in and they would show conclusively that Bruce poisoned me with the same thing he used to poison Helene. I keep waiting for someone to tell me hes in jail.
Her shoulders slumped and she looked ready to cry.
What was I thinking? This woman had been poisoned. Surely if she was dating Bruce and suspected him, she would have made the affair known.
It had to be Alan.
I crouched down next to her. Celia, about that day, what can you tell about the morning? Did you see anybody else, maybe earlier in the day? Before going to Bruces house?
She sniffled and snapped to attention. Just my normal client list. She stood and crossed to the reception area. She looked at the appointment book on the counter, running her finger down a daily column. The fifteenth? Hmmm, pretty dead really. Just Evelyn came in for her appointment. Shes getting close now and coming in weekly.
Right. Evelyn had told me about the appointment.
Did you go anywhere before Bruces? I asked.
Lets see. She paced around and looked thoughtful as though she was trying to re-create events in her mind. I had the appointment with Evelyn in the morning at ten A.M. then left here and went to Bruces. Hed called me the night before and asked me to meet with him. He said he wanted to talk about the adoption.
I leaned against the arm of the waiting chair. Did you stop anywhere along the way? To get coffee? Or pick up dry cleaning?
Or see your boyfriend, Alan?
She shook her head. No. I dont typically buy coffeeits so expensive! Four-fifty for a cup? No way. She glanced down at her track suit. And dry cleaning? I dont know if anything in my closet is dry clean only.