Author Anon

“You look awful,” says Michael, examining Amanda’s puffy face.

“Thanks a lot,” says Amanda, turning away. “Perhaps, you haven’t seen the papers.”

“I should have warned you not to pay attention to the papers,” says Michael.

“Not pay attention to them?” asks Amanda. “How could I not? They have a big picture on the front of you kissing me. How in the world did they get that?”

“It doesn’t matter,” says Michael.

“Of course it matters,” says Amanda. “They paint me as some sort of femme fatale. It even mentions that David and I had been seen together. It won’t be long before the police start questioning my relationship with him. And even if I deny it, they won’t believe me. Plus, you have Nicholas defending me to the papers and all my male colleagues backing me up. Trying to play my innocence up isn’t working. They think it’s a hoax.”

Michael grabs her by the arms and kisses her hard. She stiffens in surprise but soon relaxes into the kiss. Michael gently releases her. “I’m not going to apologize for that kiss. It was better than slapping you. Now, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Feeling somewhat dazed, Amanda is ready to give in. “What?”

“It’s a long story. Someone dropped off a baby on my doorsteps this morning, and since you’re not working I was hoping you’d be able to babysit.”

“What?!” asks Amanda. “Whose baby is it?”

“It’s supposed to be mine.”

Hurt and confused, Amanda turns away. “Oh. I didn’t know you had a child.”

“I don’t,” says Michael, with feeling.

“But you said-”

“I said it’s supposed to be mine. But I don’t believe it.”

“Was a paternity test done?”

“Yes and it was a positive match. But that doesn’t mean anything.”

“How can you say that? If you did the deed and the test proves you’re the father, how can you deny it?”

“You don’t know the full story, so don’t judge me so harshly.”

“Then enlighten me,” says Amanda.

“Now is not the time,” says Michael. “Besides, the child’s in the car?”

“Then bring him in! How can you leave him out there like that?”

Michael goes out to the car and returns with Lucas.

“How old is he?” asks Amanda.

“Three,” Michael responds. “And he doesn’t talk much.”

“Hi, there. I’m Amanda,” she says, unwrapping the child. She gives a start when she sees his red hair. “He’s so small and thin.”

“Yes, he is,” says Michael. “And I can’t understand why he would look so malnourished. I was always timely with child support.”

“You paid child support even though you didn’t believe he was yours?”

“I had no choice. It was ordered by the court and I couldn’t defy them. Besides, I requested a repeat test, which was granted, but his mother ran off. I should have tried to locate them immediately, but other concerns pushed it to the background for a time.”

“Has he eaten?” asks Amanda. She turns to the boy. “Are you hungry?”

Lucas nods and Amanda leads him to the kitchen. “What would you like?” she asks. When he doesn’t answer, she pours him some cereal. Lucas proceeds to eat with relish while Michael and Amanda watch, astonished.

“Why don’t you tell me his story while he eats?” Amanda probes.

Michael sighs and hesitates. “His mother was the prettiest girl in town,” he begins. “I was infatuated like every other boy here, but I was much less experienced. I never knew she had gone through practically every guy in town before she came to me. I wanted to take things slowly and that frustrated her. I realized later that her frustration arose from the fact that she needed an easy dupe and fast. Because she couldn’t get me to sleep with her, she doped my drink one night, and the next morning, I found her in my bed. From then on, she wanted to rush into something more serious, but I didn’t. I broke it off with her.”

“How did you know-”

“That she was using me? First of all, I know my drink was drugged because I hadn’t even finished one drink that night and I was knocked out. I don’t even remember what happened, much less whether or not I really did sleep with her. Afterwards, when he saw what was happening, David kept giving me sly looks and making comments about how good she was in bed. That was when I first realized I was one of a long string of men in her life. He,” Michael nods at Lucas, “was born seven months after my supposed ‘deed’. One look at him and you’d know he’s David’s son.”

Amanda gives him a quick look. “What?” he asks.

“Nothing.”

“So now you understand why I don’t believe he’s mine.”

“But what about the paternity test?”

“I wouldn’t put it past her to offer her favors to someone to fake the test or whatever.”

“What’s his name?”

“Lucas.”

“Lucas? So his mother is-”

“Stephanie Van Ness.”

“Yes, I recall her mentioning Lucas. So Stephanie and David. But why-” Amanda breaks off abruptly.

“Why what?”

“I was wondering why she didn’t just go after David? Stephanie and David. Hmm. She’s blonde and fairly tall in high heels.”

“Which she never goes without.”

“Could it be possible she went out to see him that day and the neighbor saw her and thought it was me?”

“If that’s the case, then something’s scared her and she ran off, leaving Lucas with me. She had made some excuse about him being too sick to be put through another paternity test. Let me call Nicholas.”

——————————————————————————————–

“I can’t find my sketches,” says Belle. “I know I put them back in my drawer.”

“Who could possibly have taken them?” asks Ashley. “They must be around here somewhere.”

“Ashley, your father wants you to take Gavin Sparks out to lunch. He thinks he is a good potential author,” says Sylvia. “Do what you can to convince him we could make a good team.”

——————————————————————————————–

“Enjoying the good life, dear?” asks Carl, on the phone.

“I don’t think you should be calling me,” says Melanie. “Especially right now.”

“Oh, yes. Tragedy strikes again. But don’t overdo the comforting little wife.”

——————————————————————————————–

“How’s Dr. Steele holding up?” asks Nicholas.

“Not too badly,” says Michael. “But I need you to check something. Stephanie Van Ness.”

“One step ahead of you,” says Nicholas. “I checked the local cab companies and one of them admitted to taking an attractive blonde out to David Golde’s place on Friday. Her name was Stephanie Van Ness. I got the address where they picked her up. Apparently, she’d been staying at a dumpy motel with a small boy and was using the owner as a babysitter. She became scared for some reason and left town, asking the owner to drop off her son at your place, so you should know about that. What’s the deal about that anyway?”

“I’ll tell you another time,” says Michael. “Do we have any leads on her? Can we get the police to go out and fingerprint the place?”

“I’ll see if Detective Daze can get on that. In the meantime, they’ve identified the gun and Detective Ute is now interviewing Blanche Albright. I’m heading out that way, if they’ll let me in.”

“I’ll meet you out there,” says Michael, hanging up. He goes into the kitchen to tell Amanda the news.

“Blanche Albright?” says Amanda, thinking hard. “I’m coming with you.”

——————————————————————————————–

When they arrive at the Copperfield house, there is a crowd outside while police guards are holding them back.

“Maybe you should stay in the car with Lucas,” Michael suggests.

“No, I think they should all get a good look at Lucas,” says Amanda. She turns her head to look at the front door of the house and sees someone looking out the window. She catches her breath.

“What’s wrong?” asks Michael.

“Rick,” she says. “He’s home.” Amanda turns pale.

“Amanda,” says Michael, gently, examing her face. “Are you going to be OK?” She nods. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

“No,” Amanda says, quietly.

They get out of the car and are met by Nicholas. Together they approach the front door. One of the reporters turns to them. “Mr. Silverman. The public would like to know, are you sleeping with your client?”

Both Nicholas and Michael turn to the reporter and are ready to pounce on him, but Amanda stops them.

“Be careful what you print or we’ll sue you for defamation of character,” says Michael.

The guards allow them through. On seeing them, Lisa rushes to Amanda.

“The police are questioning Nana,” she says. “I don’t know what’s happening.” She leads them into the living room. Blanche is sitting with her back to the door.

“If you don’t mind, Mrs. Albright,” says Detective Ute. “We’d like to search your room.”

“Do I have a choice?” asks Blanche. “What are you looking for?”

“We’ve got a search warrant, so I guess you don’t have much choice. It’s just a formality. We are looking for evidence.”

“Of what?” insists Blanche.

“Of anything. Do you deny that you own a gun?”

“I did own a gun. You found it,” says Blanche.

“Can you tell us how it got to David Golde’s house?”

“No. I didn’t know it was missing.”

“We also found some hair on the carpet and I’m going to guess that it matches yours. Have you ever been in David Golde’s house.”

Blanche is silent.

“I’m not suggesting you shot David Golde, Mrs. Albright. I was just hoping you could clarify some points. Perhaps, you took it out to Mr. Golde’s house and someone else shot him. Perhaps, someone stole your gun.”

Blanche remains silent. Detective Ute looks up to see the newcomers.

“Have you many visitors in recent weeks?” asks Detective Ute.

“Not many.”

“Who has been here?” asks Detective Ute.

“Dr. Steele and David Golde.”

“Were they always together?”

“When he came, she was usually with him. Sometimes, she came alone.”

“When Dr. Steele came, was someone always with her? Or did she have free access to the whole house?”

“What are you insinuating?” asks Rick. “Dr. Steele is a family friend.”

“Dr. Steele came and went as she pleased,” says Blanche.

“Did she and David Golde get along well?” asks Detective Ute.

“Very well,” says Blanche. “They made a great couple.”

Amanda makes as if to protest, but Michael stops her.

Lucy walks in with a crying Eileen and hands her to Lisa. Michael stares at Eileen, then slowly turns to Amanda. A silent communication passes between them. Amanda lets Lucas down and unwraps him.

Lucy turns and sees Lucas. “Oh my goodness,” she says. “He’s the spitting image of David at the same age.”

Lisa looks at Lucas and turns pale. Blanche turns around and surveys the group. She looks at Lisa, then Rick, who remains unmoved.

“Is something wrong?” asks Rick.

——————————————————————————————–

Filed under: All That Glitters