‘For a price,’ Michael pointed out aridly. ‘I’ve been paying him to employ the little bastard.’
‘Still, you must admit that working there has been a boost to Austin’s self esteem.’
‘I “must admit” not one damned thing when it comes to Austin, Dr McKenna, other than to acknowledge that I’ve been cursed with being responsible for him my entire adult life – and shall continue to be until the day I die.’
‘I thought Austin was doing very well after his stay at McLean this summer,’ she said. ‘He was taking his medication, showing up for his sessions. He was even talking about going back to work at the A&P.’
‘So what happened?’ Captain Rundle asked her.
‘What always happens,’ she said with a sigh of resignation. ‘As soon as he starts feeling good he stops taking his medication. Doesn’t think he needs it anymore. And then, inevitably, his demons return.’
‘Hence my full-time security detail, because Austin intends to murder me some day,’ Michael stated with utter certainty. ‘He just hasn’t tipped his hand as to how or when. It’s his way of tormenting me. He hates me, you see. You’re probably asking yourself why. I’ve been asking myself that very question for the past forty years. I don’t know why. I only know that I’ve never had a moment’s peace in my entire life. I’ve never married. Never so much as gone out on a date. I’m too afraid of what he might do to any woman to whom I show the slightest interest. So I live a bachelor’s life in a home that could easily be mistaken for a high-security prison. I manage the family’s financial affairs. And I manage my acute anxiety and panic attacks as best I can by taking the combination of drugs that my physician has prescribed.’ He glanced down at his trembling hands. ‘As you can see, they’re not wholly effective, but I’m at maximum dosage. He told me I’ll risk liver damage if I exceed it.’ Michael paused, breathing raggedy. ‘But that’s enough about me. We’re here to discuss Austin. My team will reel him in, as I said. After that, the ball is in Dr McKenna’s court, though his recent behavior would seem to indicate that he needs to be re-admitted to McLean.’
‘We’ll see,’ she said placatingly. ‘Let me have a sit down with him.’
‘I think that settles things for now,’ Deputy Superintendent Mitry concluded. ‘We’ll give you your kitchen back, Mr Hoag. And, as Captain Rundle said, we’ll keep a trooper parked at the foot of your gate until Austin has been found. If you spot him hanging around, do not hesitate to let us know.’
‘Of course.’
He got up from the kitchen table, as did Captain Rundle, Resident Trooper Conley and Colin Fielding, the governor’s man. Michael Talmadge stood up as well, slowly and gingerly. They all filed out by way of the mudroom door. Pete Tedone and Annabeth McKenna stayed behind with me at the table. We sat there in silence as one car after another started up and headed off down the long gravel driveway.
Pete ran a hand over his gleaming dome. ‘If I were you, my friend, I’d pack up and go back to New York right now. Just get the hell out of here.’
‘No one chases me off of my property. Well, Merilee’s property.’
‘Do you have a gun?’
‘No.’
‘I have a spare in my glove compartment. If you’re going to insist on staying I’ll loan it to you.’
‘I’d rather you didn’t. I hate guns.’
‘Why?’
‘Because they go off.’
He puffed out his cheeks. ‘I forgot what a pain in the keester you are.’
‘I must be slipping. Most people remember right away. Besides, the resident trooper said that Austin’s gun is basically a toy, remember?’
‘Lots of people said lots of things. I’m not sure how much of it I believed. We’re dealing with a billionaire fruitcake here. Listen, if you get so much as a whiff of him I want you to call me right away. You’ve already managed to piss him off once. There’s no telling what he might do. Promise me you’ll call me?’
‘I’ll call you, Pete. Scout’s honor. And thanks for your help.’
‘No problem.’ He turned to Annabeth McKenna and said, ‘Nice meeting you, Doc.’ Then he barged his chesty self out the mudroom door and drove off.
She seemed in no particular hurry to leave.
‘Can I offer you some coffee?’
‘That would be lovely. Please forgive me if I seem a bit awestruck. I’m a huge fan of your novel, Our Family Enterprise. I’ve read it three times.’
‘Really? That puts you in very select company. The only other person I know of who’s read it that many times is my mother, and her I’m not so sure about.’ I put the coffee on and called out, ‘You can come out now, Lulu!’
I could hear her nails on the old oak plank floor as she came inching in warily from the bedroom and stretched out on the kitchen floor, eyeing Annabeth suspiciously.
‘Your dog doesn’t seem to like me.’
‘No, it’s nothing like that. She’s just very protective of me.’
‘Do you give her reason to be?’
‘Afraid so. Trouble is not my business, but it manages to find me no matter how hard I try to avoid it. I’ve spent the past decade ghosting celebrity memoirs. Rich, famous people have a lot of dark secrets and a whole lot of enemies. I’ve had more than my share of close calls. In fact, if it weren’t for Lulu I would have ended
