Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [107]
The coffee table didn't boast anything personal, so Tyler got up and walked over to the desk where Ashley's computer was located. His gaze caught on an envelope on top of a stack of bills with the return address CASTLETON FAMILY HEALTH. The envelope was open, so he pulled out the bill. It was dated a month ago, an office visit, patient Ashley McKenna, physician Dr. Myra Hanover. That didn't tell him much. He turned to the accompanying letter, which was much more interesting. In the letter, Dr. Hanover referred Ashley to two different psychiatrists specializing in anxiety and depression, both located in Seattle. That confirmed his earlier suspicion that she had mental health problems. He slipped the bill into his pocket, doubting she'd miss it, since she'd obviously already paid it, and he might just need it.
Hearing Ashley, he turned away from the desk and returned to the middle of the room.
She handed him a thick manila envelope. "You can have these from last year. I have to warn you, though, that they're not action shots. There's another guy in town, Nate Raffin, who takes shots out on the water. He might have better photographs. In fact, he's doing this year's races, so you might want to talk to him."
"Thanks, I will." He took the envelope out of her hand. "How come you don't take the action shots? An experienced sailor like yourself, I can't imagine that anyone else could do a better job."
She paled at his question. "I just don't."
"Oh, that's right. You don't like to go out on the water anymore, do you?"
He could see that she remembered their first meeting at Kate's house when she'd confided her inability to get on the boat and take a picture.
"What happened to make you feel that way?" he asked, pressing deeper. He was running out of time, with Mark's threat to take Amelia and run hanging over his head.
"I ... It's a long story."
"Was it the storm? Were you traumatized? Or was it something else? Someone you left behind, perhaps?"
Her face turned completely white. "What do you know?" she whispered.
His heart sped up. Maybe it was Ashley. Maybe she was Amelia's mother and she was traumatized because she'd left her baby behind.
He started as the phone rang. Ashley hesitated. "Aren't you going to get that?" he asked.
"I'm sure the machine ..." Her voice trailed away as they listened to the message: Ashley, it's Kate. I'm at Caroline's. You need to call me or come here as soon as possible.
Tyler frowned at the concern in Kate's voice.
Ashley grabbed the phone. "Kate, are you there? What's wrong? Is Caroline okay?" She paused then said, "Why can't you just tell me now? Fine. I'll be there in a few minutes."
She hung up the phone and turned to Tyler. "I have to go."
"Is everything all right?"
"I doubt it. Things haven't been all right in a long time."
She picked up her purse and keys and headed toward the door. Tyler had no choice but to follow.
"I'll bring these back later," he said. "Maybe we can finish our conversation then."
"I won't be here later. Just leave them by the door. No one will take them." She hurried down the hall before he could say anything more. Short of running after her, there was nothing more he could do. Damn. He'd been so close to getting somewhere. Now he would have to wait.
Unless he went over to Caroline's apartment. All three girls would be there. But they would undoubtedly form a united front, he realized. He would have more success when they were apart. He would simply have to divide and conquer, one sister at a time.
Kate had tidied up Caroline's apartment, put on some hot water for tea, and checked on her sister for the third time in a half hour when there was a knock on the door. Ashley, she thought with relief. Maybe it wasn't right to burden Ashley with this problem; she had enough to worry about. But Kate needed to share it with someone who would understand. Maybe someone who could tell her that it wasn't that obvious, that she had also been fooled by Caroline's behavior.