When he held her hands, she dropped her head, hoping he would hold her in his brawny arms. He squeezed her hands, finally releasing her. “If you follow me, I’ll take you to Mrs. Whilby’s room. We can talk there.”
She found it odd the way he recommended they go to her room rather than say they’d speak with Cora. She walked by his side as he held out an arm behind her back.
“I hate to tell you even more bad news since you look like you’ve barely recovered from what has happened to you wife. I’m so sorry for your loss.” He patted her back, and she nodded, weeping silently as he handed her his handkerchief. She wiped her eyes, and as they took the elevator up to the fifth floor, she almost pulled him in close but didn’t since they were joined by another doctor and nurse.
“I have the strange feeling you have something more to tell me regarding Cora,” she said after she finished her crying fit.
When the elevator doors opened, he took her arm. “I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but since I was Mrs. Whilby’s main doctor, it’s my responsibility to tell you she passed away last night. We were in the process of calling you when you suddenly arrived.”
They stopped in front of the doorway of the room where Cora had stayed. A chunky black nurse was making the bed. Nothing of Cora’s remained in the room.
“This is a shock.” She leaned in the doorway.
Vernon folded his hands in front of him. “I thought perhaps someone here called you, and that was why you came. Such a shame that mother and daughter died within days of one another. Was she ill?”
She shook her head and hugged an arm around her waist. “She had an accident. She drowned.”
“Oh my dear, Mrs. Murnay, my deepest condolences.” He rested his hand on her shoulder. She gave him a shy smile.
“At least we know they’re both in a better place. It’s…I miss my beautiful wife so much,” she said in a hoarse whisper and wrapped her arms around the man.
“Right now it’s painful, but it will pass,” he assured above her head and patted her back.
She held him tightly, wanting to forget her pain and lose herself in a warm body. Vernon’s manly scent, with a slight smell of mint, rose to her face, and her nipples grew hard. It had been so long since she had a reaction to a man. She should feel horrible, debasing Deborah’s memory, but needed the comfort.
“You’re such a kind man.” She moved away, wiping her face. She caught the large nurse rolling her eyes, and she bit her lip, restraining herself from putting the ugly woman in her place.
When his face flushed, she smiled up at him and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“You’ll be happy to know before Miss Cora’s death, her son came to see her,” the nurse revealed as she walked over to them. “I’d never seen the woman so happy and energetic. That son of hers was such a nice young man. So polite and considerate to his mother’s needs.”
The room seemed to spin before Genevieve’s eyes. Son? What the fuck?
“Excuse me, you must be mistaken. Cora didn’t have a son, only a daughter, Deborah, my wife.”
“I know who I saw and heard. I even talked to the man.” The nurse placed her hands on her broad hips and tapped her foot. “His name is Wade, and he comes from Woodberry Creek, Georgia, a place I know very well since my family is from there. He spent a few hours with Cora, and she even introduced him as her son.”
“Mrs. Murnay, are you well?” Vernon rubbed her arm.
Black spots appeared in front of her eyes. “Why wasn’t I told this Wade had come for a visit?” she asked quietly.
“I believe your wife called to give the okay for her brother to be on the visitor’s list.”
Something is very wrong here. Deborah would’ve told me if—
A loud ringing reverberated in her ear, and she glanced between the two standing before her. “Can you tell me what Wade looked like?”
The nurse scratched under her chin. “He was a skinny thing, wearing blue jeans, a gray T-shirt, and a blue baseball cap. I also found it strange he wore a jean jacket in this heat. His hair was black and short.” The nurse snapped her fingers. “He had a nice smile and even with his scruff on his face, he had the cutest little mole near the corner of his mouth.” She pointed to her mouth where the mole would be.
She took the doctor’s arm and squeezed. The mole Wade had was in the same area as Deborah’s. “Do-do you remember what Cora and Wade talked about?” she asked the woman, her chest heaving as she put two and two together.
“Well, other than him mentioning returning to his home, he told Cora a Sharon Wade would be waiting for him. Funny how the boy has a sweetheart with the same last name as his first.”
She gritted her teeth and shook her head as the ringing grew to a sharp whistle. When Vernon spoke to her, she didn’t hear a word he said.
Deborah didn’t have a brother. She had lied…lied…she LIED.
Did that mean she wasn’t really dead? Her body still hadn’t been found—
“Mrs. Murnay!”
She snapped out of her thoughts and stared at the doctor, who held both her arms.
“What?” she asked, dumbfounded.
“Your face has become red, and your pulse is racing. Do you want to sit? Michelle can get you a glass of water.”
She moved away and fisted her hands together, seething in rage. She had been made a fool of by her lying, cunning wife.
“I need to leave. I just remembered something important.”
Both the doctor and nurse said her name, but she kept running toward the elevator. The doors opened immediately and she got in alone. Once the doors closed, she banged her fist on the wall.
That deceitful cunt had tricked her!
By the time the elevator doors opened, she found composure as she walked down the hall. When her cell phone went off, she almost didn’t answer, but when the number popped up from one of the detectives on Deborah’s case, she answered.
“Hello, Detective Penning,” she replied smoothly, hoping he told her they found Deborah’s body. If they didn’t, she would know then that Deborah was still alive.
“Hello, Mrs. Murnay. We have news about your wife’s possible drowning. The car has been located. I’d rather we talk in person—”
“I’m not near my home. I’ve gone to tell my wife’s mother she’s dead. I’m four hours away,” she said as she left the building and to her car.
“Perhaps it’s better if you hurry back soon. When we pulled out the car, we found something of interest.”
“What is it?” she asked in a hurried voice and barely acknowledged Gilberto when he held open the door for her to get in.
“A long gold necklace with a diamond attached. We were expecting to find the body, but it’s gone. Your wife’s body could have been torn out from the force of the water since the windows were broken.”