Fool Me Once(37)

Silence.

“He’s been dead almost two weeks,” Judith said. “We had a funeral.”

Closed casket, Maya suddenly remembered.

It hadn’t been Maya’s decision. She’d let Joe’s family handle that one. It hadn’t mattered to her. Death was death. Let them perform whatever ritual eased their pain the most. Closed casket had, of course, made perfect sense. Joe had been shot in the head. Even with the best work a mortician could do, you probably wouldn’t want to see that.

Judith’s voice again: “Heather?”

“Yes, of course, I know, I mean, I was at the funeral. But this probate requires a death certificate, some kind of proof. It is an unusual case here. I’m having one of my associates check through the case law. Because Joe was, well, murdered, we need verification from official authorities within the police department. I was just informed that it will take a little more time to secure the proofs.”

“How long?” Judith asked.

“I really can’t say, but I hope it won’t be more than a day or two now that we are on it.”

Neil spoke for the first time. “What do you mean, proofs? You mean like proof Joe is dead?”

Heather Howell started fiddling with her wedding band. “I really haven’t gotten all the facts yet, but before we can enter probate, this . . . Let’s call it a snafu, shall we? . . . This snafu just has to be untangled. I have my best people on it. I’ll be in touch soon.”

With everyone momentarily stunned silent, Heather Howell quickly spun and left the room.





Chapter 12


It’s nothing,” Judith said, leading Maya back toward the foyer.

Maya did not reply.

“This is how lawyers are. Everything has to be just so, partially for your protection, mostly to up the billable hours.” She tried to smile at that, but it wouldn’t hold. “My strong belief is that there is just some red tape due to the circumstances . . .” Her voice faded away then, as though she was just realizing that she was talking about Joe, not some legal matter.

“Two sons,” Judith said in a hollow voice.

“I’m sorry.”

“No mother should have to bury two sons.”

Maya took her hand. “No,” she said, “no mother should.”

“Nor should a young woman have to bury a sister and a husband.”

“Death follows you, Maya . . .”

Maybe it followed Judith too.

Judith held on to her hand another moment, then let go. “Please stay in touch, Maya.”

“Of course.”

They headed outside into the sun. Judith’s black limousine was waiting. The chauffeur held the door open.

“Bring Lily around soon.”

“I will.”

“And please work it out with Isabella.”

“The sooner I can see her,” Maya said, “the sooner we can put this misunderstanding behind us.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Judith slid into the back. The chauffeur closed the door. Maya stood there until the limo was down the drive and out of sight.

When she got to her car, Caroline was waiting.

“Do you have a moment to talk?” Caroline asked.

Not really, Maya thought. She was eager now to be on her way. She had places to go. Two to be exact. First, she wanted to stop in the servants’ area again and maybe surprise Rosa. If that didn’t work, she had a backup plan to locate Isabella. Second, she needed to go to Leather and Lace and see what connection there could possibly be between this “gentlemen’s club” and her late sister.

Caroline put her hand on Maya’s arm. “Please?”

“Yeah, okay.”

“But not here.” Caroline’s eyes darted about as she said, “Let’s take a walk.”

Maya bit back a sigh. Caroline started down the stone driveway. Her little dog, Laszlo, a Havanese, followed. The dog was off leash, but really, when you owned this much land, where could Laszlo go that would be a danger? Maya wondered what it must have been like to grow up here, in a place of such opulence, beauty, and tranquility, where everywhere you looked, the grass, the trees, the edifices, everything belonged to you.

Caroline veered to the right. Laszlo stayed with them.

“My father put that in for Joe and Andrew.” Caroline smiled in the direction of the soccer pitch. “The tennis court was my domain. I liked tennis. I practiced a lot. My father saw to it that the best pro from Port Washington came out and gave me private lessons. But I never loved it, you know? You can practice all you want, and I had some talent. I was first singles in my prep school. But to reach that next level, you have to be obsessed. You can’t fake that.”

Maya nodded because she didn’t know what else to do. Laszlo walked with his tongue out. Caroline was working up to something. Maya couldn’t push it. She would just have to be patient.

“But Joe and Andrew . . . they loved soccer. Loved it. They were both great players. Joe was a striker, as I’m sure you know. Andrew was a goalkeeper. I can’t tell you how many hours the two of them would be out there, Joe practicing shots while Andrew practiced stopping them. That net is, what, a quarter mile from the main house, would you say?”

“I guess.”