Cold Vengeance - Lincoln Child [90]
Esterhazy was intrigued. Her movements, her pattern of speech, her very being seemed to echo an earlier, more dignified era. She could almost have been inviting them in for cucumber sandwiches and rose hip tea. She did not look at all like a crazed baby-killer locked in a mental ward.
“Please sit down, Constance,” Dr. Ostrom said. “We’ll only stay for a minute. Dr. Poole here happened to be in town and we thought you might like to see him.”
“Dr. Poole,” Constance repeated as she took her seat. She looked again at Esterhazy, a hint of curiosity kindling in her strange distant eyes.
“That’s correct,” said Felder.
“You have no recollection of me?” Esterhazy said, modulating his tone to one of benevolent concern.
Constance frowned slightly. “I’ve never had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, sir.”
“Never, Constance?” Now Esterhazy added the faintest trace of disappointment and pity to his voice.
She shook her head.
Through the corner of his eye, Esterhazy noticed Ostrom and Felder exchange a brief, significant glance. It was working out just as he’d hoped.
Constance looked at him rather more searchingly. Then she turned toward Ostrom. “What gave you the impression that I would like to see this gentleman?”
Ostrom colored slightly, nodded to Esterhazy.
“You see, Constance,” Esterhazy said, “I treated you once, years ago, at your, ah, guardian’s request.”
“You’re lying,” Constance said sharply, rising again. She turned to Ostrom once more, confusion and alarm now becoming evident in her expression. “Dr. Ostrom, I’ve never seen this man before in my life. And I would very much like you to remove him from the room.”
“I’m very sorry for the confusion, Constance.” Ostrom looked quizzically at Esterhazy. In return, Esterhazy indicated with a slight gesture that it was time to leave.
“We’ll be going now, Constance,” Felder added. “Dr. Poole has asked for a moment of your time alone. We’ll be right outside.”
“But—” Constance began, then fell silent. She shot a glance toward Esterhazy. He was momentarily taken aback by the hostility that freighted her gaze.
“Please be quick, Doctor,” Ostrom said as he unlocked and opened the door. He slipped outside, followed by Felder. The door closed again.
Esterhazy took a step back from Constance, dropped his hands to his sides, and adopted as nonthreatening a stance as possible. There was something about this girl that set off warning bells in his head. He would have to be careful—consummately careful.
“You’re right, Miss Greene,” he said, his voice low. “You’ve never met me before in your life. I’ve never treated you. That was all a deception.”
Constance just stared at him from behind the desk, suspicion radiating from her in tangible waves.
“My name is Judson Esterhazy. I’m Aloysius’s brother-in-law.”
“I don’t believe you,” Constance said. “He never mentioned your name.” Her voice was low and utterly neutral.
“That’s just like him, isn’t it? Listen, Constance. Helen Esterhazy was my sister. Her death in the jaws of that lion was probably the worst thing that ever happened to him—except maybe the deaths of his parents in the New Orleans fire. You surely know him well enough to know he is not one to speak of his past—especially a painful one like this. But he asked me to help—because I’m the only one he can really trust.”
Constance said nothing, merely staring at him from behind the desk.
“If you doubt me, here’s my passport.” He removed it, opened it for her. “Esterhazy’s not a common name. I knew Great-Aunt Cornelia, the poisoner, who lived in this very room. I’ve been to the family plantation, Penumbra. I’ve gone shooting in Scotland with Aloysius. What more proof do you need?”
“Why are you here?”
“Aloysius sent me here to help get you out of this place.”
“That makes no sense. He arranged for me to be here, and he knows I’m perfectly content.”
“You don’t understand. He didn’t send me here to help you—he sent me here because he needs your help.”
“My help?” Constance said.
Esterhazy nodded. “You see, he has made a terrible discovery. It seems his wife