Page 102 of Inferno
“But I can make you happier.”
And with that, she threw herself into his arms.
Prissy stared out the window at the nondescript office building she’d been parked outside for the past five minutes.
She’d been on her way home from running errands that afternoon when she’d passed Stan’s truck on the road. Some instinct had compelled her to turn around and follow him at what she hoped was a safe distance. When he’d turned into the parking lot of a small medical center, she was puzzled. He hadn’t mentioned having a doctor’s appointment today, and his physician’s office was on the other side of town.
So what is he doing here?Prissy wondered for the umpteenth time since her arrival.
She felt like a fool—a paranoid wife who’d stooped tostalkingher husband around town to catch him in the act of cheating.Which made no sense.She’d genuinely believed Stan when he swore to her that he wasn’t having an affair. She trusted him, so she had no reason to be spying on him like this.
She should start the car and leave right now.
But something kept her rooted to the spot.
And then, suddenly, she saw movement in an upper window that faced the parking lot. A woman had appeared.
But not justanywoman.
Dr. Gilliard, Prissy realized with a jolt.
As she watched, the doctor peered outside for a moment,thensuddenly drew the blinds closed.
Prissy’s stomach lurched, and a cold sweat broke out on her skin.
Not wasting another second, she flung her door open and lunged from her minivan.
Her tan trench coat flapped in the wind as she hurried toward the building and entered the lobby. Crossing to the building directory, she scanned the board until she found the entry she was looking for.
DR. ERIN GILLIARD,PSY.D.,LPCC, SUITE 529
Pivoting on her heel, Prissy strode to the elevator and impatiently pressed the call button. As she waited for the cab to arrive, she paced back and forth, her boot heels clicking sharply against the linoleum floor, her mind racing at warp speed. She couldn’t fathom any reason that Stan would be secretly seeing a psychologist. But if he wasn’t being treated by Dr. Gilliard…the alternative explanation was unbearable.
When the elevator finally arrived minutes later, Prissy boarded quickly,thenhad to grit her teeth and wait with forced patience as an elderly couple followed her into the cab, moving slower than molasses. On the second floor, they disembarked at the same maddening snail’s pace.
When the cab stopped on the third level to admit a passenger who’d mistakenly thought the elevator had been going down, Prissy wanted to scream with frustration.
It seemed an agonizing eternity before she finally reached the fifth floor. The moment the elevator doors opened she leaped out,thenfollowed the numbered sign to Dr. Gilliard’s office.
Stepping into the suite, she saw that the tastefully furnished reception area was empty.
Relieved that she didn’t have to deal with a gatekeeper receptionist, Prissy started down the narrow corridor, her heart thundering against her ribs.
Reaching a closed door near the end of the hallway, she paused, momentarily paralyzed by fear and dread as she wondered what she would encounter on the other side.
What if Stan’s not even here?herconscience challenged.What if Dr. Gilliard is with another patient, and you make a fool of yourself by barging into her office?
Hearing voices from within the room—one of whichdefinitelybelonged to her husband—Prissy burst through the door.
She gasped, stunned at the sight of Dr. Gilliard kneeling between Stan’s legs with her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Prissy didn’t think, just reacted.
Marching furiously across the shadowy room, she snatched a handful of Dr. Gilliard’s long hair, making her screech in pain. Viciously tightening her grip, Prissy dragged the woman away from Stan and flung her to the floor like a cheap ragdoll.
As Stan jumped up from the sofa and reached for Prissy, her mother’s voice ran through her mind.Short of catching him in the act…
“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?” she screamed, her chest heaving as she divided an outraged glance between her husband and the doctor, who had scrambled to her feet and was tugging down her dress.
