For the next few hours, she alternated between putting away the groceries that had been delivered, making phone calls to tie up loose ends in Chicago, writing a quick note to Caroline, and brooding. As evening approached, the quiet in the house grew thick and oppressive. She realized her last meal had been a very early breakfast, and though she had little appetite, she began putting together a small meal from the badly stocked pantry.
The groceries that had been delivered included multiple boxes of Lucky Charms, cream-filled chocolate cupcakes, white bread, and bologna. It was either hillbilly gourmet or the dream diet of a nine-year-old boy—either way, it didn’t appeal to her. She preferred her food fresh and as close to its natural state as possible. Deciding on a grilled cheese sandwich made from Styrofoam white bread and rubbery slices of artificial cheese, she settled on the red velvet banquette to eat.
By the time she’d finished, the events of the day had caught up with her, and she wanted nothing more than to stumble into bed and sleep, but her suitcases weren’t in the foyer. She realized Cal must have put them away while she’d been exploring the house. For a moment, she remembered that awful master bedroom and wondered if he thought she was going to share it with him. She immediately dismissed the idea. He’d been avoiding even the slightest physical contact with her; she certainly didn’t have to worry about him being sexually aggressive.
The knowledge should have comforted her, but it didn’t. There was something so overwhelmingly male about him that she couldn’t help feeling threatened. She simply hoped her superior intelligence would win over his physical strength.
The colored lights of the fountain in the foyer below threw grotesque fun-house shadows on the walls as she made her way upstairs to find a bedroom for herself. With a shudder, she headed toward the door at the end of the hallway, choosing it only because it was farthest from the master bedroom.
The charming little nursery she found surprised her. Simply decorated with blue-and-white-striped wallpaper, it held a comfortable rocker, white enameled bureau, and matching crib. Above it hung a needlework prayer mounted in a simple frame, and she realized this was the only religious object she’d seen inside the house. Someone had designed this little boy’s nursery with love, and she didn’t believe it had been G. Dwayne Snopes.
She sank down in the wooden rocker that sat by a window with tieback curtains and thought about her own child. How could it ever grow strong and happy with two parents constantly at war? She remembered the promise she’d made Annie Glide to put Cal’s welfare before her own and wondered how she had let the old lady trap her into agreeing to something so impossible. It seemed even more ironic in view of the fact that he had promised nothing in return.
Why hadn’t she been wilier and ducked the old lady’s prodding as he’d done? Still, in light of the wedding vows she’d spoken, what difference did one more broken promise make?
As she rested her head against the back of the rocker she searched for a way to make peace with him. Somehow she had to accomplish it, not because of what she’d said to Annie, but because it was best for the baby.
A little after midnight, Cal sealed himself in the study to call Brian Delgado at home. While he waited for his attorney to answer the phone, he viewed the room’s Gothic furnishings with distaste, including the trophy heads mounted on the walls. He liked his blood sport to involve able-bodied men, not animals, and he made up his mind to get rid of them as soon as possible.
When Brian answered, Cal was in no mood to chitchat, so he got right to the point. “What have you found out?”
“Nothing yet. Dr. Darlington doesn’t seem to have any skeletons in her closet—you were right about that—maybe because her personal life has been almost nonexistent.”
“What does she do with her spare time?”
“She works. That seems to be her life.”
“Any blots on her professional record?”
“Problems with her boss at Preeze Labs, but that looks more like professional jealousy on his part. High-level particle physics still seems to be pretty much a boys’ club, especially with the older scientists.”
Cal frowned. “I hoped you’d have more by now.”
“Cal, I know you want this handled yesterday, but it’s going to take a while unless you want to attract all kinds of attention.”
He shoved his hand through his hair. “You’re right. Take the time you need, but handle it. I’m giving you complete authority to act. I don’t want this pushed aside.”
“Understood.”
They talked for a few minutes about the terms Cal was being offered to renew his contract with a fast-food chain, and then they discussed a proposed endorsement for an athletic clothing manufacturer. Cal was just ready to hang up when a thought occurred to him.