Standing in the Shadows (McClouds & Friends #2)(128)

Barbara's spine stiffened. "Ah. I see. Well. If he thinks that, he is very, very wrong."

"And it makes me nervous, to think of how angry he must be at your husband," Tonia said. "Sorry to bring up a painful topic, but I'm sure you don't want Erin to pay the price for that."

"Oh, but Connor would never take that out on Erin," Barbara said faintly. "He seems to really care about her. That's the impression I got."

The teapot was whistling. Tonia smoothly shouldered her out of the way and seized the kettle. "Here, let me. Sure he cares about her." She poured boiling water into the teapot. "He's obsessed with her. Did you know that he practically kidnapped her at the airport last weekend?"

Barbara sank down into a chair and frowned, bewildered. "Erin told me he went with her, but she didn't say anything about—"

"She didn't tell you all of it, and I'm not surprised," Tonia said. "He just showed up at the Portland airport, where she was supposed to meet Mueller's limo driver. She never got the chance. Connor dragged her to his car, drove her to a motel, and… well, you see the results, hmm? He got exactly what he wanted, didn't he?"

Barbara stared at her, horrified. "Erin's such a sweetheart," she whispered. "She can't bear to disappoint anyone. I hate to imagine, if she were all alone, and pressured by someone forceful and…"

"Compelling," Tonia supplied.

"Compelling." Barbara shuddered. "Oh, God. I hate to think of it."

"Exactly," Tonia said. "I see we're on the same wavelength, Mrs. Riggs. Maybe you should call around to other family members and friends, and Connor's former colleagues. Make everybody aware of the situation. Discreetly. Did you know that Connor has a family history of mental illness? His father. A sad, awful story. Paranoia, delusions, social alienation. He raised his sons up in the hills, in total isolation. No one knows for sure what happened to the mother."

"Dear God."

"Heaven only knows what that crazy man did to those poor boys," Tonia went on. "Or maybe it's better not to imagine."

"I was always nervous about his background, but I had no idea—oh, God. I have to talk to Erin. I have to call her. Right away."

"Be careful." Tonia poured Barbara a cup of tea. "She's under his spell. Don't be direct, or you'll just create resistance. We need to act quietly. Activate a support network for Erin. Soon. Like, right now."

"Yes, you are so right," Barbara said. "I'll get right on it. This instant Thank goodness you told me this. I had no idea."

Tonia smiled broadly and raised her cup. She clinked it against the one Barbara held in her trembling hand. Barbara's cup wobbled, and tea splashed out onto the tablecloth. "Go, Mom," Tonia said. "Erin's lucky to have a mother like you."

Barbara thought of the last few months. Her mouth tightened. "Hardly," she said. "But I'll do my very best for her from now on."

The doorbell rang again. Her cup clattered into the saucer, sloshing yet another brown wave of tea onto the table. "Who on earth?"

"I'll get it," Tonia offered. "You stay comfortable."

"No, that's all right."

Tonia followed right on Barbara's heels as she went to the door. Curious as a cat, that girl. Barbara had noticed that the first time she'd met her. She peered out the peephole. It was Connor's brother, Sean, and Cindy's strange-looking friend Miles, burdened with shopping bags.

She opened the door. Sean's grin coaxed an instant smile out of her. "Hi, Mrs. Riggs. I'm a taxi service for Miles, here," Sean said. "He was hoping to visit with Cindy. She doing OK?"

"Oh yes, she's much better, thank you," Barbara said. "She's upstairs. I'll call her. Come on in."

Miles's face was purpled with bruises, and he had a white bandage over the bridge of his nose. He was carrying a paper shopping bag full of videos, a saxophone case, and a big, dripping bunch of freshly picked wildflowers, mud dripping copiously from their roots. "I, uh, brought Cindy some stuff," he said. "X-Files videos, and flowers. And her sax. If she wants to, you know, like, practice." He held out the flowers to her.

Barbara smiled at him. "That's sweet, Miles. I'll call Cindy" She turned up the stairs. "Cindy? Hon? Come downstairs. You have guests!"

She turned back to Tonia. "Tonia, this is Connor's brother, Sean McCloud, and Cindy's friend, Miles.' Sean, this young lady is Erin's friend, Tonia… I don't remember your last name, dear."

"Vasquez," Tonia said, sticking out her hand to Miles, and then Sean in turn. "I'm glad to meet you."

Sean held her hand for a moment, and his face went thoughtful. "Wait a minute. I know you."

Tonia dimpled. "Oh, no. I'm sure I would remember."

"No, really. I never forget a face. Particularly not a cute one. None of us McCloud guys can. It's a weird family trait. One of the many. Hold on… it's coming to me." He scowled up at the ceiling, snapping his fingers. "Bingo!" he exclaimed. "You're a nurse! At the clinic. Right?"

Tonia blinked at him, her mouth dangling open. It was the first time Barbara had ever seen her at a total loss.