“Oh, yes,” Star said. “I’ve gotten to know Ethan quite well. He’s an engaging little boy. I think of him almost as though he’s my own grandson.”
She wondered whether Star was taunting her, reminding her that all those years Mama had been kept from Ethan, this woman had been in his life. Aubrey tried to keep the anger out of her voice, and asked lightly, “Do you have grandchildren yourself?”
Star seemed taken aback, then said, “I’m afraid I don’t have that blessing.”
“But you have children?”
Star nibbled on a cracker with a piece of cheese. “I do. I have a daughter.”
Aubrey picked up on Star’s discomfort. This was something new. Some skeleton in her closet? “I don’t mean to sound like I’m prying,” Aubrey said. “It’s just that you and my dad have been together for eight years, and we’ve never had a chance to get to know each other.”
Star gave her a little smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s never too late to start.”
“Does your daughter live near you in LA?”
Star took another sip of wine. She could have been thirsty, or she could have been avoiding the question. The air conditioner kicked in with a cough, then made a humming noise.
Her father sat forward on the sofa. “Janice lives in Atlanta, Aubrey,” he said loudly, possibly to be heard over the A/C, but Aubrey picked up an edge of impatience.
“Oh,” Aubrey said. “So you’ve met her, Dad?”
Star put a hand on his arm. “It’s okay, Larry.” She turned to Aubrey. “Unfortunately, my daughter and I haven’t spoken in years. It’s been very difficult for me, which is why I understand how your mother must have felt being estranged from your brother and his family.” She stood up. “I’m afraid you’ll have to excuse me, but I’m feeling a migraine coming on. We haven’t had much sleep, and I imagine you haven’t, either.”
Her father started to stand.
“No, no, don’t get up, Larry. Talk to your daughter. You get to see each other so infrequently that I’m sure you’d like to catch up.”
Aubrey watched her glide across the terrazzo floor and go into the room that was probably the bedroom.
“So now you think Star is involved?” her father said in a low voice. His arms were folded across his chest. “Because you couldn’t be more wrong.”
“I was just making conversation. You’ve been telling me to get to know her.”
“Star is one of the kindest, most selfless people I’ve ever known,” he said. “Did you know she’s been your mother’s biggest advocate all these years? She’s the one who pushed me to get Kev and Kim to let your mother see Ethan. Star knows how painful it is when your children don’t want you.”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to come across as if I’m accusing anyone.” Even if Star’s intentions were selfless, it infuriated Aubrey that her father continued to defend her.
She got up to leave. “But I’m going to keep asking questions until we find Ethan. And if you care about him the way you say you do, then you’ll start asking questions, too.”
CHAPTER 16
Diana watched Jonathan pour her a brandy and one for himself. Then he took off his overcoat and sat down beside her on the white-leather sofa.
Her hands trembled as she held the snifter.
“My poor darling.” Jonathan got up, went into the bedroom, and came back with a crocheted afghan Diana had never seen. As he wrapped it around her shoulders, she wondered whether his dead wife had made it. “I should have come sooner,” he said. “There was no need for you to try to deal with this by yourself.”
The lenses on his horn-rim glasses were scratched and pockmarked with age. He was still wearing his suit jacket, though he had loosened his tie. Blue-and-gray stripes.
It was one of the ties she had bought him for the judgeship interviews, because all his old ties were too wide and out of fashion.
He had laughed when she’d given him the box of ties. Thank you, my darling, he’d said. But this is where we draw the line in you trying to change me.
And she had replied, I would never dream of changing you. I love you, even if you are hopelessly outdated.
“Someone wants me to kill you,” she said softly.
He blinked his hazel eyes rapidly and frowned.
“There was a note,” she said. “Someone left it in a greeting card at my house this afternoon. It said that Ethan would be returned unharmed if I killed you.”
“Good God. Have you shown it to the FBI?”
She shook her head. “It said not to tell the authorities or they would kill Ethan.”
His eyes wandered around the room, though he didn’t seem to be looking at anything. His face was paler than usual, the freckles more pronounced. “It doesn’t make sense,” he said finally. “I can understand there are people who would want me dead, but why involve you and Ethan? Why not assassinate me directly?”
She took a sip of brandy, hoping the burn would deaden her nerves. “The only explanation that makes sense is that I’m the primary target. Someone wants to hurt me as deeply as they can by forcing me to choose between two people I love.”
He stared at his glass. Age spots covered his hands, and a few golden hairs grew between his knuckles, which were knobby from arthritis. “Do you think it’s the Coles?”
“Possibly,” she said.
“But how do they know about Ethan? Or about me?”
“They could have been stalking me. Maybe they’ve been watching my house and saw Ethan arrive. And they could have read about our engagement in the profiles that came out after you became a contender for the Supreme Court nomination.” She took another drink. “But there are others who may have motives against both of us.”
“But you just said you believe you’re the extorters’ target.”
“Primary target. We shouldn’t rule out that they may also want to eliminate you.”
“True,” he said. “So who might be out to get both of us?”
“The Simmers?”
He raised an eyebrow. “You think they have some grudge against me?”