Dangerous Relations Read Online Free PDF Page A

the rounds. She
realized her mother's mind was running along the same lines when Vera mused, "I wonder which
one of them killed her."
    "I don't know." Ardin shivered as the fear lurking in the back of her mind surfaced. Her
mother's unflappable nature allowed her to speak it aloud. "You don't think it was Brett, do you? I
mean, he says he has an alibi, but he must have been furious when he found out Suziette's true
colors."
    Vera stared at her in total amazement. "Are you out of your skull? Brett's a good person
from a decent family. The two of you used to play board games for hours at a time. Or have you
forgotten?"
    "Mom, that was centuries ago."
    "Brett hasn't changed. He's the sort of man I'd like for a son-in-law. Brett isn't Suziette's
killer." Vera shook her head in disbelief. "Whatever put such a ridiculous thought inside your
head?"
    "Suziette had black and blue marks on her arms when I saw her two weeks ago." There,
she'd said it aloud. Got it off her chest.
    To Ardin's great surprise, Vera threw back her head and laughed until tears filled her eyes.
"Probably the results of passionate lovemaking."
    "And," Ardin persisted, "Suziette withheld information Brett needed in order to adopt
Leonie."
    Vera shook a finger in Ardin's face. "Stop thinking like a lawyer and consider the child's
best interests."
    "I am, which is why I don't want to send her off to live with someone who might have
murdered her mother."
    Vera's eyes took on a crafty gleam. "Ardin, you're as smart as a whip, but you've no
common sense when it comes to people. Right now you should be helping that poor fellow and the
little angel every way you can."
    "Oh, he'd like that, all right," Ardin said. Then added, forgetting to watch her words, "I
suppose that's what he wants to talk about over dinner."
    "Dinner?" Vera grinned. "Honey, that's the best news I've heard all day."
    "I didn't say I'd go," Ardin pointed out. But she would go, she suddenly decided, and hoped her
mother couldn't hear the pounding of her heart.

CHAPTER THREE
    The afternoon had been full of surprises, Ardin mused as she drove home. In eight months
of marriage, Suziette had taken yet another lover--Dimitri. Her cousin had had the morals of an
alley cat. The fact that both her mother and Aunt Julia had known about the affair was almost as
astounding. Clearly Aunt Julia knew more about Suziette's nature than she let on.
    She chuckled as she recalled Vera's wholehearted endorsement of Brett, her proclamation
that he was incapable of harming Suziette. The truth was, she'd enjoyed her mother's lively
company. The hour-and-a-half visit had flown by. Vera hadn't been an attentive or especially caring
mother while Ardin was growing up, but a bond had developed between them these last few
weeks.
    The red light changed and Ardin accelerated. She would accept Brett's invitation to
dinner. Not because he was heart-stoppingly gorgeous, or because her mother considered
him a great catch. They had to discuss Leonie's future. Brett loved the little girl and Leonie
missed her daddy. Even Aunt Julia was well aware of that.
    Brett could challenge the will. A judge might very well decide he came the closest to being
the only parent Leonie had, especially if Leonie had her say. On the other hand, a judge might honor
Suziette's wishes regarding the matter.
    She continued to speculate as she followed the line of cars down Main Street. Why had
Suziette named Aunt Julia as Leonie's legal guardian? Was she afraid of Brett? Or had she sensed he
was planning to divorce her and probably move back to Florida, while she wanted to make sure
Leonie grew up in Thornedale?
    None of it made any sense. Suziette wasn't the kind of person to concern herself with wills
and the future. Unless she had reason to believe her life was in danger.
    Frustrated, Ardin frowned. She'd never find out what Suziette had been thinking
because her cousin wasn't around to explain.
    Even though they were first cousins and only two grades