White Lies (The Arcane Society #2)(47)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

“Sure.” Archer snorted. “In my day, we had other words for it, though.”

“Believe it or not, this isn’t just about the fact that I’m attracted to your daughter, Glazebrook. What I don’t like is her connection to McAllister’s murder.”

“I don’t like it, either. What’s that got to do with this?”

“It all comes down to one thing. Given the low crime rate in this burg, what are the odds that she would find the bastard’s body if she wasn’t the one who murdered him?”

“Not good,” Archer admitted. “That’s why I tried to point you in another direction. But I don’t see any way there could be a link between whatever the new cabal has going down here in Stone Canyon and my family.”

“I don’t have all the answers yet, but McAllister was involved in this mess somehow. I can feel it.”

Archer was quiet for a couple beats, looking thoughtful.

“Instinct?” he asked finally.

Among the members of the Society, instinct carried a lot of weight.

“Hunter’s instinct,” Jake said.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Clare was in the kitchen when she heard the sound of a car in the drive. Hoping that it was Jake returning from the early Sunday morning golf game, she went down the hall to the front door and peered through the peephole.

Myra got out from behind the wheel of a sleek Mercedes and walked determinedly toward the front door.

Clare wondered if she could get away with pretending she was not at home. But even as that plan popped into her mind she saw Myra glance at the rented compact sitting in the drive.

Resigned, Clare opened the door just as Myra put her finger on the bell.

“Good morning,” Clare said, summoning a polite smile. “If you’re here to see Jake, he’s not home. He’s out on the golf course with Archer.”

“I’m aware of that,” Myra said evenly. “I came to talk to you.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Clare said. “You and I don’t get along very well, remember?”

“I need to discuss something with you,” Myra said through set teeth.

Clare gave up. “Okay.”

Myra moved past her into the hall and looked around with absent curiosity.

“First time you’ve been here?” Clare asked, closing the door.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. Jake and Archer have met here on a few occasions to discuss business but I’ve never been in this house. I got the impression that Jake is a very private person.”

“He is. Let’s go into the front room. We can talk there.”

Clare led the way down the hall and motioned Myra to one of the dark leather chairs.

Myra sat stiffly. She kept her purse on her lap. Probably worried I might steal it, Clare thought.

She sat down across from Myra. “Is this about Archer’s plan to establish a charitable foundation?”

“Was it your idea?” Myra demanded in a tight, accusing voice.

“No. It came as a complete surprise to me. I had a feeling you wouldn’t be pleased.”

“He wants you to run it.”

“I know,” Clare said.

“Are you going to take the job?”

“I’ve told him that I don’t want it. But I am considering offering my services as a security consultant.” Clare gave Myra a megawatt smile, hoping a little humor might diffuse the tension. “For a hefty fee, of course. I figure the Glazebrooks can afford me.”

“I see.” Myra did not look amused.

So much for humor.

“You’re going to have a problem with that, aren’t you?” Clare asked.

“As far as I’m concerned, you have caused nothing but trouble since the day you showed up here in Stone Canyon.”

“It’s not like things were going so awfully well before I arrived on the scene,” Clare said quietly. “At least not for Elizabeth.”

Myra flushed a dull red. “Elizabeth was severely depressed for a while. It affected her marriage, and you took advantage of that to move into our lives.”

“You’re wrong, Myra. Brad was poisoning Elizabeth. The man was a total sociopath. He married her to get control of Glazebrook, Inc.”

“We were acquainted with Brad for several months before he married Elizabeth. We would have known if Brad was evil.”

“No one, with the possible exception of Valerie, knew what he was capable of, and given that she was his mother, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she refused to see the truth.”

Myra’s fingers clenched around her purse. “For your information, not only did Archer have the Glazebrook, Inc., security department run a background check on Brad before the marriage, he also had a search done in the genealogy records at Arcane House. There was no indication whatsoever that Brad McAllister was anything but what he seemed to be.”

“Then someone missed a few things.”

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you? You’ve got Elizabeth convinced that you’re her best friend. Archer plans to make you the director of his new foundation. Now you’ve started an affair with Jake Salter, one of the few men Archer trusts.”

“Myra, please—”

“I don’t know what you’re after,” Myra whispered. “It isn’t just money, is it? You know Archer will make sure you get that. He feels a responsibility for you. So why are you here? Damn it, what do you want from my family?”

Tears spilled down Myra’s face. She groped in her purse, found a tissue and blotted her eyes.

A rush of guilt splashed through Clare. She got to her feet. “I’ll be right back.”

She went into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of Jake’s favorite spring water. She opened it, poured the contents into a glass full of ice and carried the glass back out into the living room.

“I’m sorry,” Clare said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Myra stopped sniffling into the tissue. She took the water without a word, swallowed some and lowered the glass.

“I swore I wouldn’t cry,” she whispered.

“It’s okay,” Clare said. She sat back down. “We’re women. It’s allowed. I realize that every time you look at me the past slaps you in the face.”

“I am aware that I have no right to blame you for what your mother and Archer did all those years ago,” Myra said.

Startled, Clare gave her a tentative smile. “Thank you for that much. I did promise myself that I would never intrude on your life. If I hadn’t been so sure that Elizabeth needed help before now, I wouldn’t be here.”