Hide & Seek - James Patterson [71]
We stopped to talk over a mossy stone wall. J.C. probably knew more secrets about the residents of Bedford than anyone around, but his discretion was as much responsible for his keeping his job as was his skill, so our talk was of seasonal flowers and the approaching summer. Harmless small talk, but it hit the spot, and took my mind off my problems, if only for a little while.
I remembered something I’d been meaning to ask somebody at the club, or maybe something I’d been afraid to bring up before.
“Sometimes at night I’ve noticed lights on in the club. I’d say around one or two in the morning.”
J.C. thought about what I’d said, then shook his head. “That’s not possible. No, I’m afraid not, Mrs. Bradford.”
“I’ve seen the lights. I’m positive that I have.”
“No, ma’am. I don’t think so. Couldn’t be. The club closes at eleven. Always. That’s the golden rule.”
I thought of arguing with him further, but gave up. If J.C. didn’t want to talk, he wouldn’t talk.
He tipped his ballcap, a blue one that read “N.Y. Giants.” “Got to get back, plenty of work to do. You have a pleasant day, Mrs. Bradford.”
I watched J.C. make his way back toward the large estate house of the club.
Strange, I thought. Why wouldn’t he know about the lights? Or why would he lie to me?
I finally went back to the house determined to talk to Will that morning. It had to be done, however painful for both of us. This seemed like as good a day as any.
Jennie and Allie were toasting Pop-Tarts in the kitchen. They were both dressed. Jennie looked ready for school, which pleased me.
“Is Will up?” I asked, trying to make it sound as though it were not a big deal, nothing special.
“You just missed him, Mom,” Jennie said. “He had to go to the city on business. Said he’d be back around four.”
I groaned. Will was almost never out of the house this early. Just my luck.
This was the day.
CHAPTER 84
WILL DIDN’T COME home at four that afternoon. He still hadn’t arrived at seven-thirty when we sat down for dinner.
Or at ten, when we went upstairs to get ready for bed. He never called to say he’d be late, or maybe that he wouldn’t be coming home at all.
I lay in bed with the lights off, but my eyes wide open. I was blaming myself, and I knew I shouldn’t do that. Will had been so incredibly romantic and sensitive in the beginning of our relationship, and then he had just switched it off. Completely.
I wondered if he was having an affair now, or maybe more than one. I guess I shouldn’t have cared about that, but I did.
I don’t know how I finally got to sleep, only that I did.
“Damn! Damn it to hell!” I heard.
Will’s curses woke me. He was inside the bedroom. He was home.
I could see him standing near the door, examining his toe. He’d stubbed it in the darkness. Well, good. Serves him right.
The bedroom door was half-open and light from the hallway silhouetted his body. His face remained in shadow.
He turned to look at me, but I pretended to be asleep. I held my breath. Then he crept out of the room.
He pulled the door awkwardly behind him. The door slammed shut. More of his stupid head games? Damn him.
I looked at the luminous face of the bedside clock: 12:45.
Where had he been tonight? Maybe I should get up and talk with him now, while the kids were asleep.
I got up, walked to the window, and looked outside. I saw Will. What was he doing? Where was he going down there?
I put on my robe and left the bedroom. The hallway was dark. On his way out, Will had turned off the night light we kept on for Allie.
I hurried downstairs.
The lights were off in the living room and den. There was no sound, no movement.
Something seemed wrong to me! Why were the lights off?
What was he up to?
The downstairs rooms were dark and quiet too. There was no one in the kitchen, or in Mrs. Leigh’s room. Fridays were her night off, I remembered.
I went back to the foot of the stairs and peered up. Nothing to see. Was Will back inside the house?
I started to climb