The Woman Who Wanted Her Place

By the following afternoon, the hospital had agreed that Elena could leave with support, follow-up appointments, and somewhere safe to stay.

Vincent offered the mansion, a hotel, a house outside the city.

"The mansion," she said.

He looked up.

"Are you sure?"

"I don't want her to be the reason I can't go into my own bedroom."

He called ahead. Victoria's belongings were removed from the guest suite and secured for collection. Elena's room, which he had kept closed, was aired and warmed. He told the housekeeper to leave the furniture where it was.

Then he called back and asked her to open every bedroom door.

Elena noticed when they arrived.

Her fingers tightened around his as they passed the staircase.

"Thank you," she said.

He helped her into the sitting room while Margaret took Lily upstairs for a bath. Marco stood by the window, looking as though he had slept even less than Vincent.

"There's something you need to hear," he said.

Vincent waited until Elena nodded.

"After the warehouse, I authorized a medical transfer under your security code. Daniel said Elena was already in hospital and they were moving records and personal effects. I was coordinating your protection. I didn't check the vehicle myself."

Elena went very still.

"The white van?"

Marco nodded.

"You were at the gate. I saw you through the back window."

He looked as though she had struck him.

"I didn't see you."

"I know that now."

Vincent's anger sharpened.

"You used a code instead of looking."

"Yes."

"And afterward?"

"Daniel sent me the hospital confirmation. Then the death report. I believed him. I can give the investigators the logs. I'm not asking you to overlook it."

Elena reached for her water.

"Help them find the people who drove that van."

"I will."

He left without waiting to be dismissed.

Vincent watched the doorway.

"I don't know what to do with him yet," he said.

"Neither do I."

For once, neither of them tried to turn uncertainty into a decision.

They had just begun eating when a car appeared beyond the sitting-room windows.

Victoria stepped out beneath an umbrella. One of Vincent's guards stopped her on the path. She pointed toward the house with the impatience of someone correcting a servant.

Vincent rose.

Elena put down her fork.

"I want to hear what she says."

"You don't owe her a conversation."

"I know. I still want one."

He asked Marco to notify the officers handling the case, then allowed Victoria into the entrance hall, with guards at both doors. Elena sat in the adjacent room, within sight and hearing, her injured ankle supported.

Victoria stopped when she saw her.

For several seconds, her practiced expression deserted her completely.

"Elena."

"You sound disappointed."

Victoria looked at Vincent.

"I can explain what happened. Daniel told me she was receiving treatment. He said you knew."

"Is that why you grabbed Lily?" he asked.

"She was wandering around alone."

"You left marks on her wrist."

Victoria's eyes flickered toward the staircase.

He stepped into her line of sight.

"She isn't available to you."

"Vincent, please. We've had five years together."

"We had an engagement. We had foundation meetings. Don't use that to describe what you took from her."

Victoria looked past him.

"You don't know what I did for you after she was gone."

Elena's hand tightened around the arm of her chair.

"I know what you told me. You said he didn't want to see the baby. You said he laughed when you showed him her picture."

Vincent felt something hard and ugly move through his chest.

Victoria's face lost color.

"Daniel said you would come between us if you got out."

"I was his wife," Elena said.

"He was moving on."

"Because you told him I was dead."

Victoria looked back at Vincent, searching for an opening.

He gave her none.

"Where's Daniel?"

"I don't know."

"Then why did you come here?"

Her fingers twisted around the umbrella handle.

"He wants the papers from the frame. He said if I got them, he could make this go away."

Elena closed her eyes briefly.

Vincent looked at the woman who had stood at his side while he mourned.

"You came into this house to take them again."

"I came because I thought you might still listen to me."

"I am listening. Where does he want you to bring them?"

She hesitated. Through the glass beside the front door, he saw a police car turn into the drive.

Victoria saw it too.

"He'll leave without me," she whispered.

"Then this is your chance to tell the truth before he does."

She stared at him, tears gathering without falling.

"His office. Six o'clock. He has the other files there. He's clearing everything tonight."

Vincent called the investigating officer while Victoria stood between the guards.

When they took her out, Elena looked at the untouched soup on the table.

"I thought I wanted to hear her apologize."

He sat beside her.

"Did she?"

"No."

He moved her bowl closer.

After a moment, she picked up the spoon.