The Bad Daughter(54)

Robin nodded. The doctors had had to give Cassidy a sedative to calm her down after their father’s seizure. She was still asleep when they’d left the hospital.

“Speaking of Cassidy,” Melanie said, “what the hell was Kenny Stapleton doing in her room this morning?”

“I assume he was checking in to see how she’s doing.”

“You don’t find his concern a little…troubling?”

“Should I?”

“You’re the therapist. You tell me.”

“I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”

“Then let me ask you, Blake,” Melanie said. “As a man, what do you think of a boy Kenny’s age being this concerned about a twelve-year-old girl? I know the sheriff finds it odd.”

“Under the circumstances, it doesn’t seem that unreasonable.”

“Well, Tara wasn’t too happy about his always hanging around,” Melanie said. “I can tell you that.”

“I thought he came to see Landon,” Robin said.

“So did I,” Melanie agreed. “Now I wonder.”

“Is he a suspect?” Blake asked.

“The sheriff doesn’t think so. It’s not like he had anything to gain. And he doesn’t match the description Cassidy gave of the men she saw in the house that night.” Melanie shrugged, as if she was already bored with the topic. “I’m hungry. Anybody feel like Chinese food?”

“Seriously?” Blake asked.

“Actually, yes,” Robin said, surprising herself. “Chinese food is exactly what I feel like.”

“Turn right at the next corner,” Melanie directed Blake. “We’ll go to the Golden Dragon over at Main and Union.” She checked her watch. “It’s after two. The lunch crowd should be gone. I don’t think we’ll be bothered.”

“Should we call Landon?” Blake asked. “See if he wants to join us?”

“Landon hates Chinese food. Turn here.”

“What exactly does he do all day?” Blake asked.

“He keeps busy.”

“Doing what?”

“What difference does it make?”

“He likes to draw,” Robin offered.

“How would you know that?” Melanie asked.

“I came across some of his pictures in a box in the mudroom.”

“Why would you be going through the boxes in the mudroom?”

Robin’s eyes appealed silently to Blake for help.

“Where to now?” he obliged by asking as they crossed Highway 647A.

“Go straight till we hit Union,” Melanie said. “You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a parking space.”

They didn’t. Blake found a spot about half a block from the restaurant and they exited the car, walking briskly down the tree-lined street.

Melanie was right—the lunch crowd had pretty much cleared out, although a few stragglers remained. They glanced up when the front door opened. Robin saw a woman at one table immediately reach for her cell phone.

Don’t be paranoid. Just because she’s reaching for her phone doesn’t mean it has anything to do with you.

A smiling hostess with shiny black hair and a handful of menus approached and directed them to a booth at the back. They passed the table with the woman whispering into her phone. She turned away and covered her mouth as they walked by. Her male companion was studiously rearranging his cutlery and didn’t look up.

Robin slid into the seat beside Blake. Everything about the restaurant was exactly as she remembered—the deep red walls, the red leather booths, the middle of the room crowded with small square tables for two, a mirrored bar opposite the front door, colorful Chinese lanterns and green plastic vines laden with white plastic flowers scattered among unframed pictures of frolicking panda bears.

“The decor may be a cliché, but the food’s great,” Melanie said, taking a seat opposite them. “Not fancy, mind you.” She waved away the hostess’s offer of a menu. “I’ll have the wonton soup and the beef chow mein.” Melanie nodded at Robin. “She’ll have the lemon chicken with extra sauce. Right?”

“I’m surprised you remember.”

“Hard to forget. It’s all you ever ordered.”

“Lemon chicken sounds good,” Blake said. “Anybody for an egg roll?”

Both sisters raised their hands.

Blake’s cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket. “Sorry about this. I’ll be right back.” He stood up and headed for the door.

“Good-looking man,” Melanie said, watching him leave. “Kind of reminds me of Dad.”

“He’s nothing like Dad,” said Robin, fresh stirrings of anxiety circling her heart.

“You sure about that?”

Robin leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, keeping them closed until she felt Blake returning to his seat.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” Robin said. “What about you? Problems?”

“Good news for a change. Looks like the deal I’ve been working on is finally wrapping up.”

“What kind of law do you practice?” Melanie asked.

“Corporate and commercial.”