“You wrecked the car?” was my first assumption and as soon as I said it, I inwardly recoiled. I had witnessed this event several times between my mother and father, and the bastard’s reaction had always been anger, even though he could have afforded a thousand cars from his pocket change.
Auggie shook her head, her eyes wide and filled with a look I’d never seen before.
“Is it Ford?” Terror seized me and I’d started toward the nursery when she grabbed my arm.
“No, he’s fine. You can stop guessing. You’ll never get it right. Sit down and take off your jacket. We need to talk.” Her alarm heightened my protective senses and I relaxed somewhat to consider what she was feeling. As usual, she physically took my breath. Her waist-length mahogany hair was almost pelt-like in richness. Giving birth had only made her young woman’s body more full and ripe. If it weren’t for whatever had her so upset, I would have swept her to the floor and taken her right then.
“Very well,” I answered patiently and for her benefit, made a show of removing my jacket, loosening my tie and popping out the cufflinks to fold my sleeves up my arms. The effect was intended to look like we were getting down to business, but its mockery seemed lost on her.
“Auggie, what is it? This isn’t normal for you to get this shook up.” I sat on the sofa and faced her, taking her hand in mine. “Tell me what’s up,” I encouraged her.
Before she could say a single word, she threw herself around my neck and clung to me, almost like a small child seeking a parent. This totally alarmed me. “Auggie, tell me!”
“I was with the baby when someone came to the door. Betsy was outside hanging up the sheets, so I answered. It was a man, Worth.”
Tensing, I asked, “What man and what did he want?”
“Worth, there was something familiar about him, but I couldn’t place it. I was so focused trying to figure out where I knew him, that I almost missed what he was saying.”
“Which was?”
“He asked for you. By name. I told him you were at the clinic and he could find you there. He said ‘no’ and that this was a personal matter. I told him I’d let you know he was here and asked his name.” At this point I could tell Auggie was too overwhelmed; her sentences running together like a child who can’t wait to divulge everything at once.
“Well?” I asked the question slowly, hoping it would calm her.
She had, however, one more bombshell to explode. “Worth, he said his name was Linc LaViere.”
As her words penetrated, the alarm I’d felt at her obviously being so upset changed to anger. I cocked my head and almost snarled. “That’s not funny, Auggie.” I let go of her hand and was about to stand up when she grabbed my arm.
“I’m not kidding, Worth! So help me God, why would I make something like that up? That’s what he said. But what’s worse is when I realized why he looked so familiar. He had my eyes and was built just like you. Your jaw and your nose. To someone who doesn’t know you well, they could mistake him for you.” She was obviously shaken by all this. “I don’t think he was lying, Worth. I really—”
“Linc is dead,” I cut her off. “You know that. I saw him in his casket. Don’t be ridiculous!”
“Don’t shout at me! I don’t know who it was, but I know who he said he was. There’s a resemblance, dammit. Just don’t shout at me!” She began to cry. It was rare that she cursed.
“Auggie, look, I don’t know what’s going on, but I do know this isn’t an issue between you and me. You understand?” I set aside the irritation and hugged her against me. “Look, I’ll call Bill Daughtery. He’s done some investigative work for me in the past. He’ll check it out. Did the guy leave a number or address?”
She sniffled and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “He said he’s at the Hilton and wants to talk to you.”
“Jesus!” I swore, my mind scrambling for options. My professional training urged me to relax and give the situation thought before taking action. The LaViere in me was preparing strategy for a fight. “Sit tight and I’ll be right back,” I ordered and grabbed my jacket as I headed for the bedroom. I tapped Bill’s number and he answered on the first ring. He knew by the caller ID it was me.
“Worth! Good to hear from you,” he greeted, even though he was aware that when I called, it was generally not to invite him to a game of golf. What he did know, however, was that he was about to be well paid. “What’s up?”
“My dead brother apparently showed up at my door today.”
There was a long pause, then, “Have you been drinking?”
“I wish.” I groaned and briefly explained the details of the unexpected visitor.
There was a crackle on the line as Bill exhaled deeply. “So the brother who was killed in a car accident when he was sixteen years old showed up? Does Auggie’s mother know?”
“Hell no,” I said quickly. “I don’t want her to.” I shuddered, thinking about that conversation. My father and Auggie’s mother had an affair decades ago. Linc was the result. When their secret was exposed and I discovered the truth, my father took his own life while the rest of us attempted to pick up the pieces.
“Things still bad on that front?” he asked and I knew he’s talking about Auggie’s relationship with her mother.
“Actually, things are better since Carol was tossed out. Auggie’s dad is doing well since that bitch is no longer in his life.” As it turned out, Linc’s existence wasn’t the only secret Carol Langford had attempted to keep. She was also screwing her psychologist, my former business partner, and seemed to have forgotten all about the pre-nup that gave her nothing should her marriage to Auggie’s father dissolve. In my opinion, the cheap apartment on the west side of town was still more than she deserved.
“What do you need from me, Worth?”
I shook my head, still trying to process it all. “I don’t know who this guy is, Bill, but there aren’t very many people who know about Linc’s birth.”
“Stay calm. There are guys out there who go through all those genealogy records online. They take a bit of information that sounds plausible and then scam people. I see it all the time. I’d say forget about it. How’s that little one?” he asked, and I knew he was trying to change the subject to calm me down.
“He’s fine, Bill, thanks for asking. Listen, do you think I should go down to the Hilton and talk to this guy?”
“Not alone. Wouldn’t be a good idea.” He must have heard my breath of indecision. I wasn’t the type of man who let others make my decisions. He sighed, “Yeah, I know what you’re going to ask. Let me drive over there in an hour and meet you. That work?”
“Thanks, Bill. I’m sure you’re right, but I know Auggie won’t settle down until we can prove the guy’s a phony,” I said. “See you there.”
I changed into khakis and a light sweater, and as I came down the stairs, Auggie was waiting. “Honey, can Betsy stay with Ford?”