No longer on the defensive, Susan Kerr was back to taking care of
everybody. She was jotting down a phone number from the Rolodex on her
kitchen counter. 'I can also print out a list of all of the donors I
know about for the hospital project.'
'Sure,' I said. 'I've got one already, but yours might be more
up-to-date.'
'And I've got a bunch of Herbie's old files and books and things
downstairs if you've got any interest in them. Who knows, maybe he's
got something on Gunderson, right?'
She started toward the basement, and as I trailed behind her down the
stairs, I wondered when the tide had shifted. Talking to Chuck, I had
been convinced that I would be leaving this house with a cooperating
witness, armed with the substantiated facts I'd need to build a case
against Gunderson and whoever else was involved. Now, I was tiptoeing
through Susan's basement, trying not to lose one of my fancy new shoes
in the construction chaos, on my way to leaving with nothing but yet
another pile of documents. How did that happen?
I checked out the basement while Susan began dredging through some old
file cabinets in the corner, pulling out piles of paper and stacking
them next to her. From what I could tell, she was completely
refinishing the place into a home gym and a walk-in wine cellar.
'Wow,' I said, peeking in. 'There must be room in here for a thousand
bottles.'
'Twelve hundred actually. Go ahead. Check it out.'
I stepped into the room, stroking the smooth mahogany cubbies. 'This
is amazing,' I said.
'Ridiculously over indulgent she said, looking back at me. 'But Herbie
and I had always talked about it, and since I was redoing the basement
anyway, I figured it was time to go nuts. Cute shoes, by the way.'
I looked down at the pointy-toed mules Grace had convinced me to buy
the other night. They weren't exactly practical, and I was still
figuring out how to walk in them, but they were definitely cute.
'Thanks. Nordstrom anniversary sale,' I said, still proud of my little
purchase.
'Best sale of the year.' She was stacking more and more documents next
to her, and I was wondering how I'd ever carry them out, let alone read
them. 'Clarissa and I always went on the very first day. Annual
tradition.'
'So what happened this year?' I said, running my fingers up and down
the mahogany stemware shelves.
'Nothing. We splurged just like always.'
'Well, you must not have gotten enough, if you went back again last
Saturday.'
'Right,' she said, after a second. 'But we did that half the time
anyway. You know, you exercise a little bit of willpower, but three
days later you've just got to go back and buy everything you left
behind.'
It all sounded good, but I'd registered that telling pause. Susan was
lying.
I quickly changed the subject. 'So do these things really help keep
the wine fresh, or is it just for show?'
'A little bit of both.' I half listened to her explanation about air
seals, ventilation systems, and temperature controls, but I was still
trying to figure out why her pregnant pause about the Saturday
afternoon trip to Nordstrom seemed so meaningful. Still playing with
the smooth shelves, I realized what I'd been missing all along. I had
assumed a lecture from Duncan was the worst thing that could happen to
me by confronting Susan Kerr, but I'd been wrong. I needed to get out
of here. Immediately.
But I was too late. The door swung shut behind me, and I heard a lock
slip into place. 'Sorry, Samantha, but you've got shitty timing. Ten
minutes later, and I would've been on my way to the airport. But, as
it turns out, I've got a flight to catch, so you're going to have to
wait right here.'
I banged the palm of my hand against the door. 'Susan, don't do this.
My God, you just told me this room was airtight.'
'And it is. But you haven't given me a lot of choices here. And don't
try to tell me that if I open the door you'll let me go.'
'You're scaring the shit out of me!' I yelled into the door. 'I
promise, I will let you go. I'll wait two hours before I tell anyone.
You're talking about my life.'
'Forget it, Sam. We both know that's not in your nature. Hell, if you
were that easy, I could have just paid you off and I wouldn't have to
run.'
'Don't run, Susan. We can work out a cooperation agreement. You can
