Vanished

“That sounds like a very nice neighborhood. Is it a nice apartment?”

“Very pleasant.”

“Is it large?”

“It's big enough.”

“Is it eight rooms, with a dining room, an office for you, two bedrooms, two dressing rooms, two baths, a very large living room, and a terrace?”

“Probably. I don't know.” But his face was bright red now, to Marielle's amazement.

“Do you pay the rent for Miss Sanders's apartment, Mr. Patterson?” Marielle was staring at him in disbelief. Fool that she was she had never suspected. Brigitte had always been so pleasant to her, and so kind, and so generous with Teddy. And now, finally, Marielle understood it, and deep inside she felt angry. Brigitte and Malcolm had both taken her for a fool, and indeed she had been.

“I do not pay for Miss Sanders's apartment,” Malcolm said sternly.

“How much salary does Miss Sanders make?”

“Forty dollars a week.”

“That's a reasonable wage. But not very adequate to pay for an apartment that costs six hundred dollars a month. How do you suppose she pays the rent, Mr. Patterson?”

“That's none of my affair.”

“You mentioned that her father is a baker.”

“Your Honor.” William Palmer stood up, feigning boredom. “Where is all this going?”

“This is all going,” Tom Armour said, no longer amused, “to show that despite Mr. Patterson's poor memory, his bank statements, his checks, and his records show that he pays for that apartment.” Tom's investigators had done well for him.

“And even if he does, so what?”

“Seamus O'Flannerty, the doorman there, will take the stand to tell us that Mr. Patterson goes there after the office every evening, and frequently spends the night there. When they travel, they frequently share the same bedroom. Miss Sanders wears a mink coat to the office, and this Christmas, two weeks after the kidnapping of his son, he gave Brigitte Sanders a diamond necklace from Cartier. It is clear to me, Your Honor, that Mr. Patterson has been lying.”

“Objection overruled, Mr. Palmer,” the judge said gently, all too aware of who Malcolm was. “I'd like to remind you again, Mr. Patterson, that you are under oath. Perhaps Mr. Armour would like to rephrase the question.”

“Certainly, Your Honor.” Tom was happy to oblige him. “Mr. Patterson, allow me to ask you again, are you, or are you not, having an affair with Brigitte Sanders?” For a moment, there seemed to be no sound in the courtroom.

But before he could answer, the prosecutor was on his feet again. “That's immaterial to this case, Your Honor.”

“I don't think so,” Tom Armour stated coolly. “The prosecution has totally discredited Mrs. Patterson as a witness, and claimed that she was having an affair with my client, which is not the case. My client has been out of the country for the past eighteen years until just before the kidnapping. But the presumption is that as a rejected lover, or wounded ex-husband, Mr. Delauney would seek revenge. If, indeed, Mr. Patterson is having a long-standing affair with Miss Sanders, it is equally possible that she might seek revenge.”

“Revenge for a diamond necklace?” Palmer asked, and this time the whole courtroom roared with laughter.

“Answer the question, Mr. Patterson,” the judge said regretfully. “Are you having an affair with Miss Sanders?”

“Perhaps I am,” he said softly.

“Could you please speak a little louder,” Tom asked politely.

“Yes, yes …I am …but she did not kidnap my son.” Brigitte was looking pale in her seat, and Marielle was staring at her.

“How do you know that?” Tom Armour asked Malcolm.

“She wouldn't do such a thing.” He looked outraged.

“Neither would my client. Do you intend to marry Miss Sanders, sir?”

“Of course not.”

Tom raised an eyebrow. “Do you give all your secretaries mink coats and diamond necklaces?”

“Certainly not.”

“Does she wish to marry you?”

“I have no idea. That has never been in question.”

“Thank you, Mr. Patterson. You may step down now.” But Bill Palmer wanted to ask him another question.

“Mr. Patterson, has Miss Sanders ever threatened you, or threatened to harm your son, or take him away from you?”

“Certainly not.” He looked horrified. “She's a very polite, kind young woman.” With fabulous legs, and some skills Marielle had never dreamt of.

“Thank you. No further questions.”

Malcolm went back to his seat looking florid. And a moment later, Brigitte left the courtroom. She was mobbed by the press the minute she left, and her dress was torn when she finally climbed into a taxi, crying.