Envy(146)

Noah would come.

And when he got here, Parker would be waiting.


* * *


Eight o’clock classes were just about to convene when Maris parked her rental car in a lot reserved for campus visitors. It was the summer session, so there weren’t as many students rushing into the classroom buildings as there would be when the fall semester began after Labor Day.

Although she had never been here before, she didn’t need to be oriented or to ask for directions. The university campus wasn’t similar to the one described in Envy. It was the one described in Envy.

And it was a long way from the police station in rural Massachusetts where she had been less than twenty-four hours ago.

With Noah’s words replaying inside her head, his death was convenient, she’d driven back to New York with a sense of urgency. Using her cell phone, she had reserved her airline ticket to Nashville as she sped down the parkway, breaking every speed limit between Chief Randall’s police department and the Matherly Press offices in Midtown Manhattan.

She had planned to be in the office only long enough to consult briefly with her assistant and check her mail, before returning to Daniel’s house to pack, then to dash to the airport in time for the late evening flight.

It didn’t quite go according to plan.

Her appearance in the office had galvanized her assistant. “Thank God you’re here. I’ve been trying to reach you on your cell.”

“My battery ran out about an hour ago.”

“Don’t move.” The secretary placed a call. “Tell Mr. Stern she just came in.” She depressed the hold button. “He told me it was mandatory that he speak with you today, Maris.”

“Concerning what? Did he say?”

“No, but he’s been calling since early morning. He assumed you’d be coming in.”

“I had an errand out of town.” She hadn’t had time for a lengthy conversation with the attorney and had said so.

Her assistant apologized. “He made me swear to notify him the moment I spoke to you. He’ll be on line two.”

Maris went into her office and sat down behind her desk. And it was fortunate that she’d been seated, because the news Stern had imparted was staggering.

“Mr. Matherly had in mind to announce his decision when you returned from Georgia. I think he wanted it to be a ceremonious occasion. Unhappily, he didn’t have that opportunity, but, as it turns out, his timing for putting this into place was extraordinary.” He paused, then said, “I hope you’re pleased.”

She was deeply touched to know that her father had placed so much confidence in her. “Enormously.”

Stern had continued to go over the details with her, but the important thing she heard was that her father had entrusted her with the business that had been his life’s work. She wouldn’t take the responsibility lightly. But very proudly.

Stern had coughed delicately, then said, “It’s at your discretion whether or not to keep Mr. Reed on staff. Mr. Matherly intimated to me that having him there even in a menial position might be awkward for you considering your pending divorce.”

So he had known. Of course he had known. His timing hadn’t been as extraordinary as Mr. Stern believed. Probably Daniel had been planning this for some time, realizing that upon the dissolution of her marriage, an ugly battle for control would have been waged. Daniel had seen to it that such a battle would never take place.

“Frankly, your father no longer trusted Mr. Reed to perform in the best interest of the publishing house,” the lawyer had told her. “But, as I said, his continuance with the company is up to you.”

They had talked a few minutes longer. Maris wrapped it up by saying, “Thank you, Mr. Stern. Thank you very much.”

“No thanks necessary. I hope you’ll want me to continue in my present capacity.”

“That goes without saying.”

“I’m honored.” He paused, then asked, “Tell me, Ms. Matherly, how does it feel to be one of the most powerful women in New York?”

She laughed. “Right now? I feel very rushed to make a flight.”

Following that conversation and a swift delegation of duties to her assistant, she opted to leave her car in the parking garage near the office building and take a cab to Daniel’s house.

Where another shock had awaited her.

As she was jogging up the steps of the brownstone, a limousine had pulled to the curb. Nadia Schuller alighted before the chauffeur had time to come around and open the door for her.

“Hello, Maris.”

She was dressed in a black dress and cocktail hat that on anyone else would have looked ridiculous. Nadia had the panache to wear it.

“I understand why you don’t want to talk to me. I know you think of me as something to be scraped off the sole of your shoe. But I need one minute of your time.”

“I don’t have one minute. I’m in a hurry.”

“Please. I fortified myself with two martinis before I came.”

Maris debated it for several seconds, then reluctantly agreed to hear her out.

She had listened with dismay as Nadia told her about her breakfast meeting with Daniel. “I was told he’d had a mystery guest. You would have been the last person I would have guessed.”

“Me, too. I was floored when he called and extended the invitation. I got the feeling that he was sneaking me in while his housekeeper was out. But the real shocker came when he told me about this bogus document Noah was going to press him to sign. He then offered me an exclusive on your promotion. Congratulations.”