Dead to Her(77)

“It’s so awful. Who would have thought coolant could do such terrible, agonizing things to a human body? His kidneys are failing. His liver is very damaged and the specialists are running tests to see how much. He’s lost his sight and is in a coma. There may even be brain damage. An ounce more in that drink and he’d have been dead or a deaf-blind vegetable for sure. But still, the next twenty-four hours are crucial.” Her face trembled as she fought back more tears. “But even if he lives, he will never be himself again. Not fully recovered.”

“Did the doctors say that?” Jason asked.

“Not in so many words. Not yet. But they did say that if he made it through the next few hours then they’ll have to evaluate the extent of the long-term damage. He may need constant care, even if he can be discharged.”

“That’s so awful,” Marcie muttered. Why had she come here? These were details she didn’t need. “I can’t help but think he’d rather be dead.”

“That decision is in the lord’s hands. If he lives, even if he lives like this, the lord must have a purpose for him.”

“I guess so,” Marcie said. “Do you want me to go get you some coffee or breakfast?” Anything to get out of the room. The sight of William, so ruined, was making her skin crawl.

“I’m fine,” Elizabeth said. “Really. The nurses have gotten me so much coffee this morning I’ll probably never sleep again. I’m still in shock I guess, like everyone else. I can’t believe that something like this could have happened.”

“The police are preparing to charge Keisha,” Jason said. “That’s what Noah told us last night.”

“I heard. That’s shocking too. I don’t understand why she’d have done something so obvious. Maybe she panicked when he said he was ending it. The postnup stopped her getting his money in a divorce but she stood to inherit plenty if he died. And I mean a lot.”

“From what the police say, she nearly got away with it,” Jason said. Marcie didn’t like the gossipy tone in either of their voices as they talked, so she left them chatting and went to the restroom, where she could breathe freely without thinking she was sucking in William’s poisoned air. She took far longer than she needed washing and drying her hands, scrubbing herself clean until her skin was pink and raw, and when she finally returned, Jason was thankfully making their excuses to leave.

“I’m heading home myself in thirty minutes or so, after I’ve seen the doctors again,” Elizabeth said. “I’ll get some rest and take a shower. I have to check how things are at the house too. The police . . . I expect they’re still looking for the syringe she used. I dread to think what kind of mess they’re making. Zelda will be going quietly crazy. You know she likes to keep that place spotless.”

“We’ll come see William again soon,” Marcie said, leaning in to give the dumpy woman a polite half-hug, hoping that Jason didn’t drag her back too quickly. This room, with William in it, felt as if it had absorbed all the rot of her past and Jason’s present. It was hellish and too warm and cloying. It was trying to suffocate her. She’d be happy to never come back ever again. She would, of course. Appearances had to be maintained.

It was only when she went to sign them out on the visitors’ register that Marcie idly scanned down the other names as she waited for Jason to come back from the men’s room. She saw it halfway down. A visitor for William Radford at 3 A.M. Jacqueline Marshall.

Jacquie.





47.

It was amazing how such a big house could still feel claustrophobic with only two people in it if the atmosphere was right, or perhaps more accurately, wrong. Marcie had tried to sleep while Jason retreated to his study to carry on doing whatever it took to right the mess he had put them in. As the day ticked around to evening, she’d offered to go pick up some Chinese takeout. Anything for some fresh air. To be out. Away from him and his I’ll make it up to you, it will be a fresh start for both of us bullshit.

She drove slowly around the city, not heading straight to the restaurant, instead giving herself some time alone with her thoughts. She wished she could speak to Keisha and find out exactly what had happened. In so many ways, Marcie hoped it was all true. That Keisha had tried to kill William. It would make everything a whole lot smoother. If William died and Keisha was guilty, then Jason would automatically be senior partner and take over running the firm, probably without the hassle of a buyout, and then there would be a new king and queen in town. A new Magnolia.

It would also be easier to try to get back on an even keel with Jason if Keisha wasn’t around. If Marcie didn’t have to see her, then maybe the spell Keisha seemed to have her under would finally break. She thought about her too much. The feel of her. The touch. Even in the midst of all this madness, there was an animal hunger at her core that Jason’s touch couldn’t satisfy, especially now that Keisha was so definitely out of reach.

Jason. What was she going to do about him? She burned with resentment and anger at his lies and deceit, but she needed to be nicer to him, at least until they were past this immediate crisis. And after that? Would she divorce him? Would he divorce her? Was he simply being nice to her because she knew? Or maybe he was right—maybe now that they’d stripped down to their bare secrets in front of each other things would be better. She wasn’t sure it worked that way somehow. That’s why secrets normally stayed secret. Secrets broke things. For now though, she’d play the game. Whatever the hell the game was.