The Replacement Wife by Darby Kane

Author:Darby Kane [Kane, Darby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2021-12-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Three

Elisa had avoided their calls and visits, letters and emails. Now she stood at the door to the office of Ashburn and Tanaka, the private investigators, and tried to get her brain to signal her hand to turn the doorknob.

Three minutes later—she knew how much time had passed because she felt every second tick down inside her—she heard footsteps on the other side of the door before it opened. A woman stood there. She wore a navy pantsuit with what looked like a regular cotton T-shirt underneath. She was one of those women whose age was difficult to peg. Probably fortyish, with long black hair.

“There’s a camera right there.” The woman pointed toward the far wall. “While it comes with the job to see people mill around out here, you’re starting to make my assistant really nervous.”

“Sorry.”

Elisa meant to bolt. Just take off down the hall and get to the elevator or the stairs, whichever came first, but her legs refused to move. This new habit of being locked in her body made life impossible. Her brain would whir to life, spinning with panicked scenarios, but her body froze. This new “normal” had started with the shooting and crept up on her numerous times since when her anxiety spiked.

“We can talk out here, but you might be more comfortable inside,” the woman said.

“Do you know who I am?” It was a silly question. Of course she didn’t.

“You’re Elisa Wright.” The woman smiled. “I’m Shelby Tanaka.”

One of the names on the business card. Not what Elisa expected but she didn’t know why other than she’d seen one too many television shows where the private investigator was a fifty-year-old alcoholic white guy. She’d never met a real-life investigator, male or female, Asian or not.

“You’ve been looking for me,” Elisa said, stating the obvious.

Shelby didn’t force contact. She closed the door, giving them privacy in the empty hallway, and leaned against the wall. “I know our repeated contacts can be annoying, but we really do just want to talk with you.”

“About?”

“Maxine Webber.”

That part was not a surprise. “I mean, I know you’re asking about the shooting and what happened to her, but why?”

Shelby folded her hands together in front of her. “There’s a question about your former employer’s liability for the shooting. Questions about what the hospital knew or should have known and when, and what safety measures should have been put in place to protect Maxine and everyone else who works there.”

She spoke so clearly, So matter-of-fact. No judgment. No pressure. The lyrical sound of Shelby’s voice lulled Elisa into believing this whole mess might just be okay. . . . or almost did. “Maxine was killed on the sidewalk outside of the office.”

“I know. I also know the hospital fought your worker’s compensation claim and lost.”

She probably knew way more than Elisa did about the business, people, and building where she worked for years. Which left the obvious question. “Is this because the hospital wants me to sign some sort of agreement?”

“No.

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