Tread softly Read online

  On the drive home there was virtual silence between her and Rafe. When they reached the Highlands, she went directly to her room, not waiting for him to come into the house. She was glad to strip off her clothes and head for a warm bath. She took time to study her nude form in the three-way mirror in the bathroom. Her body didn’t look any different, but somehow she knew it was. All at once she recalled the first night that she and Rafe had made love after his return from the hospital. That night she had thought she might be ovulating, but then she had forgotten about it. There had seemed so many other things to think about that she hadn’t really considered it again.

  She stepped into the frothy depths of the round tub that could easily accommodate four people and rested her head on the foam bath pillow. If only she didn’t have Todd Leacock, Bruno, and those pictures to worry about, she could wallow in the joy of impending motherhood. For all at once she had no doubts. She was going to have Rafe’s child. Oh, he would be happy enough about it. Rafe loved children, and their earlier failure to have any had been as big a disappointment to him as to Cady. But when he found out about those pictures, he would be monumentally angry. He would consider her unfit to raise a child, his child.

  Cady sank up to her chin in suds, the sting of tears in her eyes. She would have nothing once Rafe found out. Nothing! She rose to a sitting position, causing a wave of water to wash up the sides of the tub. Damn it, she wasn’t going to go down without a fight. She would take Bruno Trabold and Todd Leacock with her, even if she never did another thing on this earth.

  With that victory uppermost in her mind, she dragged herself to bed to sink into a restless sleep. Rafe hadn’t said good night to her, she realized with a sigh just before she closed her eyes.

  Rafe was gone before she rose the next day and Cady was glad, because a sudden attack of nausea sent her to the bathroom in a rush. The sour taste left in her mouth was not totally due to the nausea, but it kept her from eating breakfast.

  Trock came to tell her that he had found Greeley and Leacock meeting at a restaurant. He had photographed them, and he had also managed to place a recorder in Leacock’s car; though he hadn’t yet retrieved the transmitter, he felt it would hold enough to implicate Leacock in wrongdoing. “You aren’t eating.” Track’s slate-gray eyes reproached her as he rubbed the ears of the bull terrier. Graf had placed his head in Cady’s lap. She knew the dog had missed her while he had been away with Trock. “I told you not to worry,” Trock accused her.

  After he left, Cady toyed with a triangle of toast and thought of her lunch with Stacy Lande.

  At five minutes before one o’clock, Cady left her Mercedes sports car in the parking lot of the posh French restaurant called Robert’s. There was a chance she’d be seen by people she knew, perhaps even Bruno, but since she and Stacy had always been friendly, she hoped that anyone seeing them would think it was just an ordinary women’s luncheon. After all, Stacy was on Rafe’s staff, and Cady had been instrumental in getting her there.

  Cady was fond of Stacy and had found her an efficient secretary. Perhaps because she was the only person in Rafe’s office actually hired by Cady, the two women had become close.

  At the beginning of lunch they had much to say to one another about people they had worked with. Cady found the catching up amusing as Stacy recounted many anecdotes about the staff.

  Stacy took a deep breath as she watched the waiter depart after pouring them more coffee. Then she looked at Cady. “I have a feeling you didn’t ask me to meet you here to have me tell you about Senator Nielsen’s Labrador running up and down the halls.”

  Cady smiled. “You’re right.” She pressed her napkin to her lips. “Stacy, I’m going to be very frank with you because I think I can trust you.”

  “You can.”

  “I’m being blackmailed.” She exhaled, watching Stacy, who sat very still and returned her gaze. “I feel sure that Bruno is behind it. Do you think he’s capable of it?”

  Stacy took a deep breath, her thirty-five years resting lightly on her designer-suited shoulders. Her blond hair might have come from a bottle, but it was well done and had a soft richness. “Yes, I do. He not only could do it, Cady, he has done it to others. That’s why I had to get away from there. We all have to compromise in some areas on the job, but working for Bruno was like working for the Syndicate.” She took a sip of ice water and looked around the elegant restaurant. “To give the devil his due, I really don’t think Emmett knew the extent of Bruno’s shady dealings. Bruno Trabold is one of the most underhanded people I have ever known, and I wouldn’t trust him around the corner.”

  “That’s what I felt. And what about Silas Greeley?” Cady leaned both elbows on the table. “You once told me that Greeley pimped those parties at Durra.” Cady bit her lip, fighting the sick feeling rising in her throat.

  “Not just at Durra. Greeley and Bruno Trabold set up situations like that for many political galas. That’s how they obtained a hold on so many legislators. I don’t think Mr. Densmore ever knew that the women brought to the parties were prostitutes controlled by his closest business associate. Once I saw Bruno’s little black book. In fact, I copied it on the sly to protect myself if he ever tried anything funny with me. Fortunately I never had to use it, but I brought the copies with me today, in case you need them.” She smiled in response to Cady’s slack-jawed look of surprise.

  “I never expected anything like this, Stacy. Thank you.”

  “Listen, I saw how you were with Rafe when he was flat on his back. Rafe was good to me; he always treated me right.” She frowned down at her napkin. “I saw how people tried to manipulate Rafe when he came to Durra… his father, who brought oil men to the house in order to pressure Rafe into not supporting a bill that would impose fines for oil spills, antienvironmental people, loggers, mining interests, and many others. Bruno harried Rafe constantly. They tried to turn Rafe into a puppet for their own uses, but they couldn’t do it. Rafe is strong and he fought back. I remember how ashamed he was about the scandal at Durra and how he never tried to excuse himself. But from that day on there was no more hanky-panky with him. Long before he met you, Cady, Rafe had become the straight, honest legislator he is today.”

  Cady felt frozen to her seat. “You mean he didn’t go to other orgies at Durra?”

  Stacy shook her head vehemently. “There were no more orgies at Durra. Neither Emmett nor Rafe would have allowed it. Oh, Bruno’s tried to get Rafe into compromising situations elsewhere, but Rafe would have none of it. If he went to a party that wasn’t totally on the up and up, he left immediately, and he ignores his father’s attempts to throw that scheming Lee Terris into his lap at every opportunity, too. This is what I tried to tell you when I came to work for you on Rafe’s staff, but you didn’t want to listen. I’m glad you’re listening now. I owe you and Rafe a lot and I’d like to see the two of you happy.”

  “Thank you, Stacy.” Cady smiled at the woman through a mist. She had believed what Bruno had said about Rafe, and she had called Rafe a liar, but Rafe hadn’t been lying to her. “And, Stacy, thanks for the little book. If I can, I’m going to ruin Bruno Trabold.” She gave the other woman a grim smile. Stacy lifted her water glass. “To justice.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Cady called Dr. Kellman and asked him to recommend a good obstetrician. Her regular gynecologist no longer took obstetrical cases. When she met Dr. Green, she was a little taken aback by his youthful appearance, but within minutes they had established good rapport.

  Cady went home overflowing with goodwill, her purse stuffed with vitamins, her mind’s eye already picturing a dark-haired boy with deep blue eyes.

  The phone was ringing as she passed the study. Her head was in the clouds when she answered.

  “You sound pretty chipper today. Have you got what we want?” Todd’s voice brought her back to earth with a crash.

  “I told you Rafe won’t be stampeded.” Cady couldn’t keep her voice from shaking.

  “No
more stalling, Cady. I’ll call you back tonight and I’ll want a firm answer about when your husband will begin blocking the environmental bill and cooperate on a few other matters.” All at once there was harsh amusement in his voice. “Look in your mailbox, Cady. There’s a package for you.”

  Cady didn’t want to open the package, but she did. There were more pictures of her, making her gag. She opened the file drawer and pushed them in with the others.

  That night at dinner Rafe seemed content to sit with her over coffee. Cady felt flustered by his presence. She needed time to think.

  “I’ll have my coffee in the library,” she said, rising.

  “All right. I’ll join you.” Rafe smiled, then reached for the silver tray.

  “There’s no need for you to bother,” Cady said quickly. Her plan to speak to Trock was rapidly becoming impossible to execute. If he came to the library while Rafe was there, she would just have to put off the man.

  “It’s no bother.” Rafe gestured to her to precede him as he easily held the heavy silver tray.

  Cady settled down in one of the overstuffed leather chairs that stood at right angles to the fireplace, watching as Rafe set the tray on the small table between them.

  They sat in silence while Cady poured, then handed a cup to Rafe. Still they didn’t speak. Cady tried taking deep breaths to calm herself. She took a relieved breath when Rafe set down his cup and went to kneel in front of the fireplace, jabbing at a smoldering log with the poker to coax it to flame.

  When the door to the library opened and Trock entered, Cady knew at once that he wasn’t aware of Rafe’s presence in the room, even though Graf bounded forward to nuzzle his master.

  “Mrs. Densmore, I have the pictures with me and I was able to get the recorder from… ” He paused, staring at Cady’s frozen face.

  When Rafe rose to his feet, frowning, Trock took a step backward as though he would retreat. “Trock, come here,” Rafe rasped out. “What are you talking about?”

  Trock swallowed but said nothing.

  Cady stared at Rafe, seeing her whole life sweep down the sewer that Bruno and Todd had created. “He won’t answer you because I told him not to discuss this with you.” She cleared her throat, her eyes heavy as she focused on her husband.

  “Why did you tell him that?” Rafe’s voice was gentle, but his eyes had a sapphire glitter.

  “Because I’m being blackmailed.” Cady coughed the words from her constricted throat.

  Rafe let out a deep breath. “So that’s it.” He turned to Trock. “Come in and close the door.” He put out his hand for the things Trock carried.

  For a moment it looked as though the taciturn man would resist; then, at a nod from Cady, he relinquished his package.

  There was dead silence while Rafe scanned the contents, then walked to the portable tape recorder, snapped in the cassette, and switched the machine on.

  Bruno’s and Todd’s voices were quite clear. Though their words were terse, the meaning was obvious. At the end of the tape, Rafe stared at Trock, then at Cady, his hand fondling the Doberman’s head. The pit bull terrier lay quietly at Cady’s feet, watching. “I’m not as surprised as you might think, Cady. I’ve been suspicious of Bruno for quite some time now,” he said. Rafe spoke in a relaxed way. He leaned down and took a pencil-slim cheroot from a silver box on the table, then asked Trock if he would like some coffee. The man shook his head.

  “There were pictures.” Cady bit her lip. “They were going to use them to make me force you to help destroy the environmental bill and other bills that didn’t suit them.” Her voice had a grainy sound.

  “They?” Rafe looked at her through the curl of smoke.

  “Bruno… Todd Leacock… I suppose Greeley.” She sipped the scalding coffee, ignoring the way it burned her throat.

  Rafe rolled the cigar between his fingers, then looked at Trock. “Continue what you’re doing, but now report back to me as well as to my wife.” The man nodded once and left. Rafe tapped the ash from his cheroot. “I take it that the pictures were bad.” He sat down facing her again.

  “Horrible” Cady choked. “More came today.” She set the cup onto the saucer with a clatter.

  Rafe stared at her for long moments. “Get them.”

  “No.”

  “Cady, get the pictures.”

  Feeling catatonic, she rose, went to the file cabinet, unlocked it, took out the two boxes, and held them in her hands. She stared at them, knowing her life was over, that she would go on breathing but she would really be dead.

  Rafe was there to lead her back to her chair and push her gently down into it, then remove the boxes from her grasp. He opened them, perused the pictures in both boxes slowly, then replaced the tops and put the boxes on the floor at his feet.

  Cady kept her eyes on his face, even though she knew her own was bright red and her insides on fire.

  Rafe looked up at her. “That woman has a rather good body, but it isn’t quite as good as yours. The photographer should have been more thorough and gotten a woman with a crescent mole under her left nipple.” Rafe still looked at her. The muscle under his eye jumped once.

  Hope blossomed in Cady. “Rob said I should wait to tell you, that maybe we could take care of it without upsetting you with this whole sordid business.”

  “You told him? You showed him these pictures?” Rafe’s features seemed set in concrete.

  Cady felt his anger radiate around the room. “Yes. I called him… because… because I was afraid.” How could she tell Rafe of her paralyzing fear of losing him?

  “Isn’t that what a husband is for?” Rafe spat out the words as though they were poison in his mouth.

  “Yes.” Misery coursed through Cady.

  Rafe took a deep breath. “I’m going to kill Bruno and that Leacock for putting you through this.” His voice was so matter-of-fact that Cady was sure she must have misheard him.

  Before she could reply, the buzzer on the phone sounded twice, signaling that the call was for her. She lifted the receiver and Rob spoke to her. “Rob, listen”— Cady gulped a breath—”I just talked to Rafe. He knows all about it.” Cady looked at her husband as he gestured that he wanted the phone. “Just a moment, Rob.”

  Cady listened through a fog as the men talked. She was aware that Rafe was talking to Rob about the necessity of getting information on Bruno. All at once she remembered what Stacy had given her at lunch the day they met. She looked at Rafe, then rose to her feet and went to the filing cabinet, knowing that his eyes were on her every moment. She held the envelope on her lap until Rafe had replaced the receiver, then she handed it to him in silence.

  He opened the manila package, lifted the thin pile of papers, and began reading.

  Cady watched, agonized, as his color fluctuated from pale gray to brick red. When he finished, his clenching hands threatened to destroy the papers altogether. Cady bit her lip, not interfering.

  All at once Rafe seemed to realize what he was doing. His long fingers pressed the papers smooth. “Well, Cady, I guess you’ve realized what a fool your husband was… is. You said you wouldn’t get rid of me until I was three kinds of a jackass. I guess now is the time.”

  “Are you going to divorce me because of the pictures? They could ruin your career,” Cady ventured, feeling shy with him.

  “God, no, I’m not going to allow you even to be touched by them. They couldn’t wreck my career, Cady. I intend to bring this out in the open and expose Greeley and Trabold and that sleazy louse Leacock. You have nothing to be ashamed of, my love,” Rafe said, his face a mask of anger. “No one is going to get away with intimidating you. I promise you that.”

  “Rafe—” Before she could speak, the phone rang again. This time it was for Rafe.

  Cady had the feeling he would be on the phone a long time. Feeling tired and wrung out, she mouthed to Rafe that she was going to bed.

  She didn’t even bother to shower, settling for a sponge bath and then falling into a drug
like sleep.

  The next day she struggled awake as though she were fighting her way through miles of black velvet. Her eyes seemed to be glued shut.

  “Open your eyes, darling,” Rafe whispered. “I have juice for you. Ice-cold orange juice, just the way you like it.”

  Cady unstuck her eyes, feeling her stomach rise into her throat as Rafe sat down on the edge of the bed and proffered the glass. “Take it away,” she said faintly, locking her mouth as she began to gag. “Ohhhh, Rafe, move.”

  Rafe stared at her as she tried to push him away. Then he placed the glass on the table and swung her out of the bed in one motion, striding to the bathroom as he wrapped her in a robe.

  “Put me down. I’m sick,” Cady groaned.

  “There you are, sweetheart,” Rafe crooned, holding her head as she retched.

  When she was finished, Rafe stripped off the sweat-soaked robe he had wrapped her in and set her gently in the tub, cushioning her head on the bath pillow, then slipping in beside her to hold her while the rub filled with warm water.

  “Were you going to tell me you were pregnant soon, or were you just going to wait and let me notice your figure rounding out?” He smiled down at her. wiping her face with a soft cloth.

  “I feel green,” Cady moaned, weak and grateful for the muscular body supporting hers. “How did you get out of your clothes so fast?” she asked dully.

  “Practice,” Rafe soothed, washing her body, his touch gentle.

  “Thank you.” Cady spoke into his neck.

  “For what, love?” Rafe’s lips feathered her cheek.

  “For taking care of me.”

  “That’s my primary mission in life. Didn’t you know that?”

  “Nice,” Cady muttered as he lifted her, dried her, then carried her back to bed. “I can get up now, Rafe. Really. I’ll get dressed and eat breakfast with you.”

  “No.” He left the room in a run.

  Before Cady could feel too sorry for herself for being abandoned, Rafe was back, a bed tray in his hands. He grinned at her. Right behind him came Mrs. Lacey with a teapot and a platter of toasted muffins on a tray, and a large jug of orange juice. “I can’t eat all that.” Cady stared at the tray Rafe set across her lap.