Youre too hard on yourself, kitten.
Carls use of his favorite endearment for her brought stinging tears to her eyes. She blinked them back, refusing to go soft. Not now, when staying tough was more important than ever. Im just honest, Carl. Too much has happened to me, you know? I dont have anything left to offer anyone.
The sad look in his eyes hurt her, so she turned away, her gaze settling on the sparkling water of the lake. Cooper Cove Marina was on the park side of the lake, just out of sight beyond the curving point of land barely visible to the east. Sam Cooper and his daughter were probably still in the backyard with Norah, trying to get to know each other again after such a long absence. I think Norah Cabots trying to be a mother to Maddy, she said aloud, remembering the womans tentative overtures to her daughter. Shes just not good at it.
You dont think her hearts in it, do you?
Im not sure Im qualified to judge.
Sure you are. Youre a cop. Carl gave her another gentle nudge. What does that cops gut tell you?
That Norah Cabot likes Maddy more than she expected to, but she doesnt feel like Maddys mother. She probably never will. Kristen toed the dirt in front of the stone bench. Some things you can never change, even if you want to.
Carl was silent for a long moment. When he next spoke, it was in a low, serious tone. I think you should go to Darden to see your mother.
YOU WANTED TO TALK TO ME? Norah settled into one of the armchairs in her room at the Sycamore Inn. Challenge burned in her green eyes as she waved at the seat across from her. So talk.
Sam ignored the invitation to sit. Your fiancé is in a tough Senate primary battle with Halston Stevens. I know Stevens well enough to know he and his handlers will be looking for any dirt they can find on Stilson.
Graham is a puritan. Theres nothing to find.
What about his fiancée, the woman who abandoned her three-month-old child to pursue her career?
Norahs eyes flickered at his hard words, but she shrugged. Its not like I dropped her in a Dumpster somewhere.
This time, he was the one who flinched. God, Norah.
You think I came here to meet Maddy so that when someone asked, I could say, Oh, I was just down in Alabama last week, visiting my adorable little girl. See-this is her latest photo. Doesnt she look just like me? Norah leaned forward. Does it really matter why I came? Does it change anything?
Did you engineer this excuse? Did you hire someone to threaten my daughter?
Our daughter.
My daughter. Anger burned at the back of his throat. Norah, I have never tried to keep Maddy from you. Ive always said you could see her whenever you want. But so help me, if you had anything to do with what happened the other night-
Norahs eyes grew shiny, and her lower lip trembled, catching him off guard. God, Sam, I know I was a terrible wife and even more useless as a mother, but if you think I could do such a thing- She stopped short, licking her lips. I suppose you think that a woman who could turn her back on her child would be capable of anything.
I just want to understand why youre here.
Because I was curious, all right? She looked down at her hands. When the police called, and then you left a message right behind them, I realized my daughter could have died the other night, and Id have to live with the fact that Id never really known her. You know, a three-month-old didnt even seem like a real person, but a four-year-old-I just-I didnt want to have regrets.
Sam stared at her, not sure whether or not he could believe her. There had been a time when hed thought he knew her better than anyone else in the world.
Clearly, hed been fooling himself. He was beginning to think hed never really understood her at all.
I didnt do this, Sam. I swear that to you. Norah leaned toward him, placing her hand on his arm. Her fingers were cool and light. But Ive been thinking about it, and I may have an idea who did.
KRISTEN LOOKED UP AT Carl Madison, horrified. Had he really said she should go see her mother? No, Carl.
Youve never faced her. Not in all these years. Though his expression was gentle, his gray eyes were hard, like pieces of flint. I think its time.
I dont owe her anything.
You owe it to yourself.
She shook her head, rising to her feet. Were not going to talk about this, Carl. If thats why you came here-
I came here to see about you. Period. Carl rose and stood in front of her, reaching out one hand to tip her chin up, making her look at him. Im on your side, kitten. Always.
I dont want to go see her.
Okay. He let his hand drop to her shoulder and gave her a soft squeeze. Let me take you to Brightwood for lunch.
She managed a real smile. Helen would kill me if I let you step into that diner. Think of your cholesterol, man.
She has you trained, I see. Carl slipped his arm around her shoulder and walked with her to where shed parked her Impala. He opened the car door for her, lingering as she slipped behind the wheel. His expression grew serious. Kristen, if you want out of this Maddy Cooper assignment, Ill arrange it. I shouldnt have pushed you into it.
I dont want to go see her.
Okay. He let his hand drop to her shoulder and gave her a soft squeeze. Let me take you to Brightwood for lunch.
She managed a real smile. Helen would kill me if I let you step into that diner. Think of your cholesterol, man.
She has you trained, I see. Carl slipped his arm around her shoulder and walked with her to where shed parked her Impala. He opened the car door for her, lingering as she slipped behind the wheel. His expression grew serious. Kristen, if you want out of this Maddy Cooper assignment, Ill arrange it. I shouldnt have pushed you into it.
She shook her head. You were right, Carl. I need to do this. I think I can get a lot accomplished from the inside.
Good for you. He gave her shoulder another squeeze, then stepped back, closing the door. He gave a wave as she put the Impala in gear and backed out of the parking space.
Reaching the highway, she headed south toward the office, remembering Sams promise to bring Norah to the station so she could question her alone. But before she was a mile down the road, her cell phone vibrated against her side. She checked the phone and found Sam Coopers phone number displayed.
She flipped the phone open. Tandy.
Kristen, its Sam Cooper. Im at the Sycamore Inn in town with Norah. How soon can you get here? The tension in his voice made her stomach hurt.
Im about five minutes away. Whats up?
I was just talking to Norah about some of my old cases and I think we may have something.
He was talking to Norah about old cases? Had he forgotten she was still a suspect? Tamping down her annoyance, she asked, What kind of something?
A damned good motive for someone to use Maddy to hurt me, Sam answered.
HIS NAME IS ENRIQUE CALDERON, Sam told Kristen the minute she entered Norahs room, eager to get her input. His son, Carlos, was here on a student visa six years ago when he raped and murdered a fellow student at Georgetown University. Two weeks ago, while serving twenty to life in a Maryland state prison, he was murdered by another inmate.
He told her about the case, how hed prosecuted Carlos Calderon despite his fathers multiple attempts to buy off judges and intimidate witnesses.
She listened carefully, her expression darkening. And since you put Carlos in jail in the first place, you think Calderon wants revenge?
Absolutely.
Kristen glanced at Norah. Were you around at the time of the trial?
Norah nodded. I heard about Carlos Calderons death soon after it happened, but since Sam was down here by then, I thought he might not have heard about it.
How lucky for him that you had, Kristen murmured. Sam didnt miss the skepticism in her voice.
Neither did Norah. What are you suggesting?
Its a place to look that we didnt have before, Sam said firmly, drawing Kristens attention back to him.
You said Enrique Calderon lives in Sanselmo, Kristen pointed out, shooting another glance at Norah. Thats quite a long reach.
Hes a man with a very long reach, Sam countered. Calderon is one of the most powerful criminals in a country with its share of powerful criminals. Hes behind much of the corruption that kept Sanselmo poor and dangerous for decades. Hes probably funding half the terror attacks El Cambio and other rebel groups are carrying out in Sanselmo right now.
Kristens brow furrowed. And hes taking time out of trying to destabilize a whole country to kidnap Maddy?
Do you have a better theory? Norah asked coolly.
Maddy said the assailant was Caucasian, Kristen added.
Maddy wouldnt know the difference between white and Hispanic, Sam said.
Kristen looked a little annoyed, but she gave a brief nod. Okay. Ill look into his current whereabouts.
Weve already got feelers out, Sam said. Norah has friends in the State Department.
Kristen looked up at him. Well go through our own channels, she insisted. If she was bluffing, it didnt show. Maybe she really did have her own channels, although he found it hard to believe a small-town Alabama police department could possibly have better intel than Norahs friends at State.
Were you the lead prosecutor? Kristen asked.
Yes, he answered.
So he would be likely to remember you by name, I suppose.
And with his son dying just a couple of weeks ago-
The timing is interesting, Kristen conceded. Ill go call this in, get the ball rolling. Tucking the folder under one arm, she pulled her phone from her pocket and walked across the room to make her call.
Sam watched her as she spoke into the phone, her voice too low for him to make out words. She looked tired, he thought, her face a little pale. Dark circles bruised the skin beneath her eyes, bringing to mind her earlier reaction to the phone call shed received at his parents house.
The memory pinged his curiosity. Who had been on the phone? What had she heard to knock her so off-kilter?
He hoped it hadnt been bad news. Shed had enough bad news in her life.
Quite the poker face. Norahs voice was low and amused.
He drew his gaze away from Kristen to meet Norahs bright green eyes. Detective Tandys or mine?