The Wife Stalker(28)

There were hundreds of photos to go through, mostly of Mia with friends and a number with her dad, but I didn’t see any of her stepmother. Just when I was about to give up, I came across a photo that had been taken in a parking lot, perhaps after another school concert. Mia was standing between Matthew and Pamela but leaning toward her father, so it looked more like a picture of the two of them with Pamela awkwardly standing on the other side. Matthew was looking at his daughter adoringly, but large sunglasses hid Pamela’s eyes. Again, it was hard to be certain, but she looked an awful lot like Piper. I examined it again and realized I’d almost missed a telling detail—Pamela’s hands were clenched into tight fists.

I sat there, staring at the screen for a long while, before taking a few screenshots and emailing them to myself.

Walking back into the living room, I pulled Molly aside. “Is it possible for you to stay a few more hours? I can pay you for the extra time.”

She nodded. “Yes, how long do you need me?”

“Just until around six?”

“Okay.”

“Mom, I’ll be back,” I told her. “I have another errand to run. But Molly will be here.”

My mother shook her head. “You just got home. Fine, pick me up some Oreos while you’re out, will you?”



The half-hour drive to Leo’s office gave me time to think about my phone call with Stelli yesterday. Crying, he’d told me that Piper was now having dinner with them every night. She’d even started cooking for them, giving Rebecca some evenings off. Leo was doing everything possible to cut me out of his life and “move on,” as he put it, but as far as I was concerned, as long as the children were affected, then it was still my business. And until I knew what Piper was up to and why she’d hidden who she was, I couldn’t be sure any of them were going to be okay.

My thoughts were churning, and I became more certain with each passing minute that Piper was indeed the mysterious Pamela. But why? Why would she have needed to lie about her past or change her name after an accident? It didn’t add up . . . unless it wasn’t an accident.

When I got off the elevator on his floor, I strode quickly down the hall and stopped at the desk where his assistant sat.

“Hi, Missy. Is Leo alone? I really need to speak with him.”

She smiled at me. “Hi, Joanna. How are you?”

“I’m okay, thanks.”

“Go on in, he’s not in a meeting.”

He looked up as the door opened, and his expression soured. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to speak with you. It’s important.”

He shook his head. “Shut the door, and sit down.”

I took a seat in front of his desk. “Has Piper moved in with you and the kids?”

“What business is that of yours?”

“If they’re upset enough to tell me about it, it’s my business. Stelli told me she’s there every night. He doesn’t like it.”

Leo’s face darkened. “He’ll adjust.” He leaned back in his chair, seeming to consider something, then exhaled. “Look, I may as well tell you, though the children don’t even know yet. I’ve asked her to marry me, and she’s said yes.”

My mouth dropped open, and I broke out into a cold sweat. “You can’t marry her. You just met her.”

He shrugged. “Sometimes you just know.”

How had she fooled him so completely? “No. Listen. I learned something. She’s not who she says she is.”

“What are you talking about?”

I told him about the man I’d seen downtown. “I can show you.” I fumbled as I tried to pick up my phone, tapping on the first of the two screenshots I’d taken. I handed the phone to Leo. “See? Her name is Pamela Dunn, and she was married before. Her husband and her stepdaughter died under suspicious circumstances. Stelli and Evie are not safe. You’re not safe!”

He looked at me as though I’d lost my mind. “Joanna, you need to get some help. I’m not interested in your crazy conspiracy theories.”

“She’s lying about her background. Do you even know where she’s from?”

He stood up. “I know everything about her background, and I don’t intend to discuss it with you. I want you to leave.”

“I won’t allow you to put Stelli and Evie in danger.”

His face turned bright red. “I want you out of here now. If you come here again, I’ll file a harassment complaint. You won’t like the consequences.”

Tears blinded my eyes as I rose and ran from the office, grateful that Missy wasn’t at her desk to witness my humiliation. I knew how ruthless Leo could be when there was any obstacle in his way—and right now, that’s how he saw me.





21

Piper




Piper walked along the short finger pier that jutted out from the main deck to Leo’s boat, a trickle of perspiration running down her back. It was a hot and muggy August day, the air heavy and still, without even the slightest hint of a breeze. She had forgotten how oppressive the summers were on the East Coast. California weather had spoiled her.

“Good morning! We’re all set to go,” Leo called from the deck.

Evie stood next to him and waved at her. “Hi, Piper. I have my bathing suit on. Look.” Evie unzipped her terry-cloth cover-up to reveal a turquoise bathing suit with a mermaid on the front.