Read Online You belong to me by Mary Higgins Clark - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Higgins Clark
Tags: Fiction, General, thriller, Suspense, Psychological, adventure, Thrillers, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Mystery, Mystery Fiction, Crime & mystery, Fiction - Psychological Suspense, New York (N.Y.), Serial Murderers, Women, Crime thriller, Cruise Ships, Women - Crimes against, Television talk shows, Talk shows
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I'm going to be honest. I skipped lunch and I'm starving. Do you mind if we look at the menu right away?"
Susan decided on a salad and salmon. He chose oysters, pasta, and veal. "The pasta is what I would have had for lunch," he explained.
As the captain poured wine, Susan raised her eyebrows and shook her head. "I cannot believe that only an hour ago I was in my favorite, somewhat ragged caftan, planning a quiet evening at home," she told him.
"You could have worn the caftan," he suggested.
"Only if I was trying to impress you," she said, eliciting a laugh from Wright.
She studied him briefly as he waved at someone across the room. He was dressed in a conservative dark gray suit with a faint pinstripe, a crisp white shirt, and a small-patterned gray-and-red tie. He was attractive and impressive.
Finally she realized what it was that was puzzling her about him. Certainly Alex Wright had the authority and poise that were the product of generations of breeding, but there was something else about him that intrigued her. I think he's a little shy, she decided. That's what it is. She liked that about him.
"I'm glad I went to the cocktail party yesterday," he told her quietly. "I'd decided to stay home and do the Times puzzle, but I'd accepted the invitation and didn't want to be rude." His smile was fleeting. "I want you to know I'm grateful to you for coming out to dine with me on such short notice."
"You said you've known Binky quite a long time?"
"Yes, but only the way you know people who go to the same parties. Small ones. I can't stand the biggies. I hope I'm not stepping on your toes when I say she's an airhead."
"A very persuasive airhead," Susan said ruefully. "What do you think of that Disney castle my father built for her?"
They laughed.
"But you're still pretty hurt and uncomfortable about the situation?" he suggested. "Sorry; you're the psychologist, not me."
When you don't want to give an answer, ask a question, Susan reminded herself. "You've met my father and sister," she countered. "What about you? Any siblings?"
He told her that he was an only child, the product of a late marriage. "My father was too busy making money to court anyone until he was in his forties," he explained. "Then he was too busy amassing wealth to pay much attention to me or my mother. But I must assure you that with the human misery I read and hear about every day at the foundation, I count myself very lucky."
"In the grand scheme of things, you probably are," Susan agreed. "Me, too."
It wasn't until they were sipping espresso that Regina Clausen's name came up. Alex Wright couldn't tell her very much more than what he had said on the phone. He'd sat at the same table as Regina at a Futures Industry dinner. He found her to be a quiet, intelligent lady. It seemed impossible to think that someone with her background could just disappear.
"Do you put any stock in that call you got on the program?" he asked. "The one from the woman who sounded so nervous?"
She had already decided that she would not discuss with anyone the ring Regina Clausen's mother had given her. That ring, with the same "You belong to me" inscription "Karen" had mentioned, was the only tangible object that might link Regina's disappearance and Karen's experience with an aborted shipboard friendship. The fewer people who knew about it, the better.
"I just don't know," she told him. "It's too early to be sure."
"How did you ever happen to do a radio program in the first place?" he asked.
She found herself telling him how Nedda had introduced her to the former host. She also told him about having worked for Nedda while in law school, about quitting her job in the Westchester County District Attorney's office, and going back to school.
Finally, over brandy, Susan said, "I'm the one who's usually the listener. Enough about me. Much too much about me, in fact." Wright signaled for the check. "Not nearly enough," he said briskly.
All in all, it had been a very
Susan decided on a salad and salmon. He chose oysters, pasta, and veal. "The pasta is what I would have had for lunch," he explained.
As the captain poured wine, Susan raised her eyebrows and shook her head. "I cannot believe that only an hour ago I was in my favorite, somewhat ragged caftan, planning a quiet evening at home," she told him.
"You could have worn the caftan," he suggested.
"Only if I was trying to impress you," she said, eliciting a laugh from Wright.
She studied him briefly as he waved at someone across the room. He was dressed in a conservative dark gray suit with a faint pinstripe, a crisp white shirt, and a small-patterned gray-and-red tie. He was attractive and impressive.
Finally she realized what it was that was puzzling her about him. Certainly Alex Wright had the authority and poise that were the product of generations of breeding, but there was something else about him that intrigued her. I think he's a little shy, she decided. That's what it is. She liked that about him.
"I'm glad I went to the cocktail party yesterday," he told her quietly. "I'd decided to stay home and do the Times puzzle, but I'd accepted the invitation and didn't want to be rude." His smile was fleeting. "I want you to know I'm grateful to you for coming out to dine with me on such short notice."
"You said you've known Binky quite a long time?"
"Yes, but only the way you know people who go to the same parties. Small ones. I can't stand the biggies. I hope I'm not stepping on your toes when I say she's an airhead."
"A very persuasive airhead," Susan said ruefully. "What do you think of that Disney castle my father built for her?"
They laughed.
"But you're still pretty hurt and uncomfortable about the situation?" he suggested. "Sorry; you're the psychologist, not me."
When you don't want to give an answer, ask a question, Susan reminded herself. "You've met my father and sister," she countered. "What about you? Any siblings?"
He told her that he was an only child, the product of a late marriage. "My father was too busy making money to court anyone until he was in his forties," he explained. "Then he was too busy amassing wealth to pay much attention to me or my mother. But I must assure you that with the human misery I read and hear about every day at the foundation, I count myself very lucky."
"In the grand scheme of things, you probably are," Susan agreed. "Me, too."
It wasn't until they were sipping espresso that Regina Clausen's name came up. Alex Wright couldn't tell her very much more than what he had said on the phone. He'd sat at the same table as Regina at a Futures Industry dinner. He found her to be a quiet, intelligent lady. It seemed impossible to think that someone with her background could just disappear.
"Do you put any stock in that call you got on the program?" he asked. "The one from the woman who sounded so nervous?"
She had already decided that she would not discuss with anyone the ring Regina Clausen's mother had given her. That ring, with the same "You belong to me" inscription "Karen" had mentioned, was the only tangible object that might link Regina's disappearance and Karen's experience with an aborted shipboard friendship. The fewer people who knew about it, the better.
"I just don't know," she told him. "It's too early to be sure."
"How did you ever happen to do a radio program in the first place?" he asked.
She found herself telling him how Nedda had introduced her to the former host. She also told him about having worked for Nedda while in law school, about quitting her job in the Westchester County District Attorney's office, and going back to school.
Finally, over brandy, Susan said, "I'm the one who's usually the listener. Enough about me. Much too much about me, in fact." Wright signaled for the check. "Not nearly enough," he said briskly.
All in all, it had been a very
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