The Wife Who Knew Too Much(35)

“What happened next?” the wife asked, her mouth hanging open.

“I turned the knob, but the door was locked from the inside. I ran back to the bedroom to get Edward. He was passed out, and I couldn’t rouse him. I did tell him about it the next day, but then we went to Asia for a trip that lasted six weeks. By the time we got back, the renovation of the west wing had been completed. And I never heard the crying again.”

“You never told me that before,” Connor said. He looked angry.

“Oh, it’s just an old story.”

“And you never followed up? What happened to the kid? Weren’t you worried?” Connor said.

“I don’t think the child existed. That’s why I say the house was haunted.”

“Is that really how it happened, or are you—”

“What? You think I made it up?”

“It’s a great story whether it’s true or not,” the wife said. “We’re going to hit the caviar bar. Wonderful party, Nina, thank you.”

They double-cheek-kissed. When they were gone, she whirled on Connor.

“You embarrassed me in front of my guests.”

“Come down to the beach with me. We need to talk.”

He pulled her in the direction of the terrace steps, but she didn’t want to go. Not with him. Not tonight. She dug her heels in.

“No.”

“What’s going on, Nina? Did I do something wrong? You’re avoiding me, I can tell.”

“There are three hundred people at this party. I lost you in the crowd, that’s all.”

“All night? The party’s almost over, and you never once spoke to me.”

“Is it really that late? I lost track of time. Excuse me, I need to go consult about the fireworks display.”

She took a step in the direction of the bandstand. He blocked her way. She looked around for anyone from the security team. They were MIA when she needed them most.

“Did you tell security to follow me?” he demanded.

“There’s nobody following you, Connor.”

“Then how come every time I turn around, one of Steve Kovacs’s goons is behind me?”

She swept her arm around the tent. “Where? I don’t see anybody.”

He didn’t answer. She moved, and again, he blocked her.

“What are you doing? You’re scaring me. Stop it, or I will call security,” she said.

He backed off a step.

“I’m sorry. I apologize. I’m feeling hurt. If there’s nothing wrong between us, show me. Come down to the beach. Or let’s go upstairs. Sneak away, like the first time. I miss us.”

That got to her. She tried to tell herself that it was an act, designed to get her to let her guard down. But when he leaned in to kiss her, she let him. The kiss was intense, full of anger and hurt and mistrust, and Nina thought, This will be the last time.

“You see?” she said. “Nothing’s wrong. Let me go, darling. I need to deal with the fireworks. I’ll look for you on the beach during the fireworks display.”

His phone rang in his pocket. That seemed to distract him.

“You promise to meet me there?” he said, reaching for it.

“Yes, but if we don’t find each other, meet me in my office when the party’s done.”

Me. And my bodyguard.

Connor nodded and walked away, answering his phone as he went. She felt a twinge, wondering who he was talking to. She’d have to let go of the jealousy. The next time she saw him would be to end their marriage. With security present, to ensure her safety.

To make sure of that, she texted Kovacs, letting him know that she was not happy to have been left vulnerable during the party, and that he’d better come find her on the terrace, ASAP.

The pyrotechnic consultant waited near the bandstand. He was a short, grizzled man in his sixties who’d been doing this for forty years. They stepped out from under the tent to assess the weather. The storm had moved out to sea, but the surf still pounded wildly. The sky was an eerie yellow, full of clouds and backlit by a full moon. The fireworks would be muted, swallowed by clouds. The alternative was to cancel the display and pay for it anyway. After some discussion, Nina decided to go forward. She mingled with her guests, relieved for the distraction, until the consultant gave the signal that the fireworks display would begin.

Up on the bandstand, the lead singer handed her the microphone.

“Thank you for braving the storm to come out tonight,” she said, looking out over the crowd. “I hope you got to eat, drink, and be merry. And now that the rain has stopped, I’m thrilled to announce that the show will go on. Down to the beach for fireworks!”

A roar of approval went up from the crowd. People began surging en masse toward the stairs. Nina stepped off the bandstand just as Steve Kovacs came up to her.

“Where have you been? Connor nearly dragged me off, with nobody from your team in sight. And what happened to your lip?”

He looked like he’d been slugged in the mouth.

“We’ve been dealing with trespassers all night. One of them gave me some real trouble, and he’s still at large. He was with a woman who—”

“Leave them to the police. We have more important things to deal with.”

“But, Mrs. Levitt—”