Page 102 of The Night the Lights Went Out
“You shouldn’t be here,” the young woman said. “Mrs. Blackford will be upset if she knows you came.”
Instead of feeling afraid or intimidated, Merilee felt oddly free. Maybe it came from believing there was nothing left to lose. “I don’t care. Please let her know that I’m here and I’m not going anywhere until I speak with her.” Using the dog as her collateral, she latched onto his collar and moved forward into the foyer, not caring if she got rain on the black-and-white marble floors.
Puddles continued to bark and cry and nuzzle her, as if he’d been starved for attention since Dan’s death, and it empowered Merilee further to feel the anger push away some of her sadness.
“Is there a problem, Claire?” Heather appeared from the rear hallway, looking as if she’d just come back from a vacation on the coast of France rather than from three weeks of grieving a murdered husband. Despite its being November, her skin gleamed with a golden tan. Her hair and makeup were immaculate, and she was sporting a new, shorter hairstyle that flattered her face. She wore a dusty pink Chanel suit with matching pumps and was fastening a large pearl earring to her ear, making it obvious that she was on her way out. Puddles moved behind Merilee, as if seeking protection, and Merilee wished she could tell him that she felt the same way.
Heather stopped when she saw Merilee and smiled. “What are you doing here?”
“I want to find out why you’re trying to ruin my life.”
She tossed back her head and laughed, and Merilee felt herself grinding her teeth again.Where had she heard that laugh before?“So dramatic, Merilee.” She turned to Claire. “Would you mind leaving us alone, please? I’d like you to call the police now, and tell them we have an intruder. And take that dog with you. He’s scratching my floors.”
Claire gave Merilee a quick glance, then called for the dog. “Come on, boy. Let’s go back to the kitchen and get you a treat.”
The dog’s ears perked up at this last word, and even though he glanced back at Merilee twice, the promise of a treat won out. He bounded toward Claire, steering clear of Heather as she faced Merilee.
“I thought you’d already be in jail. Why are you here?” Heather asked, her face a perfect mask of righteous indignation.
“You and I both know that I had nothing to do with Dan’s death, but you’re clearly trying to frame me for it. And I want to know why.”
“You’re delusional, Merilee. You were having an affair with my husband and then you killed him when he made it clear he would never leave me for someone like you.”
As hard as it was, Merilee kept her chin raised. “Dan was devoted to you, although I can’t see why. And you killed him. Even if you get away with murder, I just need to know: why me?” She took a deep breath, trying to still the panic she felt bubbling up her throat. “Please, Heather. We’re both mothers. Can you please think about my children? About what this would do to them?”
“What about my children?” Heather screamed at her. “What about my two fatherless girls? Did you think about them before you murdered their father?”
Either Heather truly believed what she was saying or she was insane. Which made Merilee suddenly very, very afraid. The sound of cars pulling up outside made Heather relax. With a satisfied look she said, “Good. Looks like the police are here to take you to where you belong.”
Merilee understood then that everything was truly hopeless and she was no closer to an answer than when she’d driven up the steep driveway. But she wasn’t done trying. “Why, Heather? I just want to know why.”
She turned around and opened the door right as Detective Kobylt and two uniformed police officers reached the top step. “Ms. Dunlap?” he said. “You are under arrest for the murder of Daniel Blackford. You’ll need to come with us now to the station.” One of the uniformed officers began to read her her rights as he handcuffed her and escorted her to his patrol car. Another car pulled up and she recognized her attorney, Cynthia Turlington, who rushed over. “Don’t say a word, Merilee, until I get there.”
Merilee nodded, feeling only numbness. The officer put his hand on Merilee’s head as he helped her into the backseat. She was soaking wet and shivering but felt neither the rain nor the cold. Just... nothing.
They drove in silence down familiar streets as Merilee stared out the side window at the soaking, gray landscape, the stripped trees mourning the warmth of summer. She felt an affinity for them, understanding what it was like to be laid bare.
She replayed the scene in Heather’s foyer over and over in her head, hearing that odd, grating laugh and knowing it meant something. But the pouring rain clouded her vision, her panic muddling her thoughts, so all she could do was hear that laugh over and over, and wonder why.
Thirty-four
SUGAR
As Sugar bustled about the kitchen, cleaning dishes and pans and wiping counters, she kept glancing at the phone, its long spiral cord hanging limply against the wall. She hoped Merilee would call her to let her know that everything was all right and that Heather hadn’t done something awful. Although it was hard to imagine that woman doing anything more awful than she already had. Sugar’s one consolation was that it was daylight and Heather’s staff would be there to prevent any violence from either one of them.
The phone rang and she let herself sigh with relief as she dried her hands and lifted the receiver.
“Sugar Prescott? This is Cynthia Turlington, Merilee’s attorney. I just saw you at her house a few hours ago trying to delay me, so thought I’d try there first.”
Sugar decided it was better not to say anything, so she just murmured a greeting.
Cynthia continued. “Merilee wanted me to let you know that she has been arrested and is being held until her arraignment. I’m trying to make that happen no later than tomorrow, since it’s Friday, and if it goes beyond that they can hold her over the weekend.”
“That’s unacceptable,” Sugar said.
“I know, and I agree. I’m going to do all I can to make sure she’s home tomorrow. Even one day in jail is too much, but I’m afraid it can’t be helped. She would like for you to call Wade Kimball and let him know.”
“I’ll call him as soon as we hang up. Does she need bail money?” Sugar asked.
