Guilt by Silence

Author:Taylor Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

13

Mariah circulated through the party for a while, but her heart wasn’t in it. Leaving Chaney in a group debating the subject of media responsibility, she went in search of Lindsay to say good-night. Carol was sitting on a chair in the corner of the living room, rocking her sleeping baby, and Mariah’s daughter was nowhere in sight. She moved from room to room until she finally discovered Lindsay in the den with Stephen Tucker. The two of them were hunched over Frank’s computer, eyes transfixed on the screen, their faces bathed in its flickering bluish glow. Lindsay’s hand was toggling a joystick to direct the action on the monitor.

“There you are, you two.”

“Hi, Mom,” Lindsay said, glancing up brightly. “Look at this, it’s Stevie’s new game. He’s letting me test it!”

Stephen sat up straighter in the chair and watched Mariah approach, his eyes dropping to her bandaged hand. When he looked up, Mariah met his frown. She smiled and waved her hand, attempting to make light of the injury. She had spotted Stephen earlier, deep in conversation with Frank’s secretary, and Pat’s anxious glance in Mariah’s direction had left no doubt as to what they had been discussing.

Lindsay sat back, beaming at the medieval parade of dragons, knights and wizards on the screen. “This is even better than Wizard’s Wand,” she said excitedly. “Wait’ll my friends hear about it!”

“Sounds like you’ve got a hit on your hands, Stevie,” Mariah said. Lindsay nodded in rapid agreement. From the girl’s rapt expression, Mariah could see that Stephen had moved up into a category usually reserved for rock stars in the adolescent hierarchy of idols—a plump and unlikely heartthrob, maybe, but no less a hero for that.

The hero blushed profusely, the effect vaguely purplish under the computer’s blue light. “Still a few kinks to work out,” he mumbled. He glanced at Lindsay and his discomfort was apparent. Mariah thought back to the boys on the school steps with their skateboards and wondered whether, if he were younger or she ten years older, Stephen, too, would be doing handstands to earn the approval of those pretty dark eyes. The next few years are not going to be easy, she thought ruefully, regretting that David wasn’t going to be there to intimidate the inevitable parade of suitors.

After watching the game for a short time, she kissed Lindsay good-night. Stephen followed her out into the hall.

“You’re all right?” he asked. Mariah nodded. “Did it have anything to do with that operation in Vienna?”

She glanced around quickly, then shrugged. “I’m not sure, but your dad and some other people are looking into it. I didn’t tell anyone about the file,” she added, noting his sudden tension, “and I won’t, Stevie, I promise. But now I’m really grateful that you got it for me.” He looked dubious.

“Mariah?” They turned to see Paul Chaney coming down the hall. “Hi,” he said. “Sorry to interrupt. I was just escaping a conversation in there that was showing signs of turning into a lynching.

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