“Which is basically what he told us. That he was working.”
“Yeah. Like I said earlier, maybe he just needed to hear himself say it, but there’s a chance he reallywasworking and went to that park for another reason besides sex. I’m sharing everything I know with the cops, and I’m going to go up there tomorrow and have a look around.”
“You think he met with someone who ended up killing him?”
“It’s possible.”
“Something related to my investigation? I’ve never evenheardof that park before.”
“Look, we have a bunch of cases going at the moment, which means Kurt was sometimes dealing with more than one during a single time frame. He could have been meeting someone in regard to another case but making calls on the drive about yours. That said, I think it pays for you to be careful.”
“How?” I ask, my panic ballooning. “How do I be careful?”
“I’d keep a low profile for now. If you do have to go out, travel by cab. Don’t go anyplace unfamiliar. And get your husband to accompany you if you can.”
My husband, the man I don’t seem to know anymore.
I thank Williams for his advice, and after we hang up, I stand motionless in the middle of the bedroom. From a distance I hear a paper bag tear open and containers being plunked down on the counter. Then the pop of a cork from a wine bottle.
I’m not sure what terrifies me more: the idea that I’m possibly responsible for Mulroney’s death and the killer is after me as well. Or that my husband might be involved with another woman.
But there’s one thing Idoknow for sure. I have to get out of here. This apartment. And the city, too.
27
SESSION WITH DR. ERLING
Can you see me okay, Ally?” Dr. Erling asks. We’ve just begun our Saturday Skype session and I’m looking at her from my laptop. She’s sitting at a desk, and from the carved wood bookcase behind her, I can tell she’s in her home office in Larchmont.
“Yup.”
“This isn’t an ideal way to meet, I know, but it’s good we’re able to connect this weekend.”
I nod, agreeing. It’s definitely not the best way—she seems almost two-dimensional—but I really needed the session. I notice that my heart’s already starting to race a little. Maybe it’s because of how much I have to unload—in less than an hour.
“Are you Skyping from your apartment?” she asks.
In a rush, I tell her no, I’m not there. That I took an Uber to New Jersey this morning, and I’m currently sitting in the den/library of my brother Roger’s house.
“My sister-in-law is on some kind of girls’ trip to Floridathis weekend,” I explain, “but she comes back on Monday and then I don’t know. I mean, I really don’t have a clue where I’m going to be after that.”
Erling’s brow knits slightly in confusion. “Why don’t you have a clue where you’ll be?”
“I’m not sure what my options are. I don’t want to be in my apartment right now—even in the city. God, I don’t know where to start.... I’m pretty sure Hugh’s cheating on me. I kept thinking that the reason he seemed so detached lately was because he was worried about me and also because of this colossal case he’s in the middle of, but I started to hear these warning bells. So I checked his phone.” Before she can react, I continue. “I’ve always been respectful of Hugh’s privacy, I really have, but I had to know—and it turns out he’s been in touch with this woman named Ashley from law school who he told me he barely knew.”
“Did you ask Hugh to explain why he’d been in contact with her?”
“No, and I know that makes me seem like a total wuss. But I don’t want to confront him yet, not until I have proof beyond something I found snooping. Right now, all I have to go on are the calls.”
She does the pregnant pause thing, studying me but not speaking, as if encouraging me to fill the void.
“I know what you’re thinking,” I say. “That maybe she simply wanted to network or pick his brain about her career. But Hugh knows I’m not the superjealous type, and if he’d told me he’d run into her and they met for a drink so he could help with her job search, I’d be fine with that, I reallywould. But the fact that he said they weren’t in contactmeanssomething, I’m sure.”
“This must be very distressing for you, Ally.”
It feels good to hear her say those words, to acknowledge what I’m experiencing. Roger’s in the loop now, and I know he’s in my corner, but I can’t lay itallon him.
“I think it’s even worse because I never saw it coming,” I say. “I knew there was a strain in our relationship because of the baby discussions, but I thought we could work it out. And I certainly never imagined Hughcheatingon me.”
