Dying for Mercy Read online

  Mary Jane Clark

  Dying for Mercy

  Once again, for Elizabeth and David.

  And for Steve Simring, who helped me solve my own puzzle.

  Contents

  Prologue

  The moonlight trickled through the glass roof. He pulled a…

  Sunday October 4

  Chapter 1

  You look pretty, Mom.”

  Chapter 2

  Everything had to be perfect tonight.

  Chapter 3

  As the sun set over the Ramapo Mountains, the man…

  Chapter 4

  After Innis finished his task, he found his wife standing…

  Chapter 5

  Eliza sat back and looked out the window at the…

  Chapter 6

  The party guests were arriving, and Valentina and Innis Wheelock…

  Chapter 7

  The car inched along the crushed-stone driveway, behind the other…

  Chapter 8

  There you go, sir,” said Bill O’Shaughnessy as he put…

  Chapter 9

  As they took their place on the buffet line, a…

  Chapter 10

  Close to one hundred well-dressed and well-connected guests gathered in…

  Chapter 11

  He was fairly certain that he had slipped out of…

  Chapter 12

  Why was Innis creeping about late at night, on his…

  Chapter 13

  I have been all things unholy. If God can work…

  Chapter 14

  Eliza was standing by the fireplace admiring the beautiful carvings…

  Chapter 15

  Excuse me. Pardon me.”

  Chapter 16

  In their final conversation in his study, Innis had said…

  Monday October 5

  Chapter 17

  B.J. D’Elia groaned. “These hours kill me.”

  Chapter 18

  Eliza Blake’s voice announced the top stories of the morning.

  Chapter 19

  Snapping off the television set, Susannah Lansing got out of…

  Chapter 20

  They got off to school all right?” asked Annabelle.

  Chapter 21

  Throughout the broadcast, whenever she wasn’t on camera, Eliza checked…

  Chapter 22

  Lacing up his athletic shoes, Zack Underwood was determined to…

  Chapter 23

  Eliza paced her office, stopping to look out the huge…

  Chapter 24

  Listening to Mike snoring beside her, Annabelle could not get…

  Chapter 25

  With the midterm elections fast approaching, political guru Peter Nordstrut…

  Chapter 26

  The hybrid sedan stopped in the driveway.

  Chapter 27

  Valentina Wheelock stood inside the walk-in closet and stared unseeingly…

  Tuesday October 6

  Chapter 28

  Nobody locks their doors in this park. Anybody could just…

  Chapter 29

  The cab dropped Annabelle off in front of the Broadcast…

  Chapter 30

  The clock screeched, rousing Eliza from a deep sleep. She…

  Chapter 31

  Eunice showered and dressed in her basement apartment before going…

  Chapter 32

  What took you so long?” asked Unity as her husband…

  Chapter 33

  Cleo had slept later than usual, allowing her father to…

  Chapter 34

  There was hot coffee waiting, and an empty cup on…

  Chapter 35

  Linus Nazareth strode right past Paige’s desk without acknowledging her…

  Chapter 36

  Standing on her terrace in her cashmere robe, her short…

  Chapter 37

  As the hybrid sedan crossed over the George Washington Bridge,…

  Chapter 38

  Peter was watching MSNBC on his office television set and…

  Chapter 39

  The walls of Zack Underwood’s office were decorated with old…

  Wednesday October 7

  Chapter 40

  Reporters, producers, and camera crews were staked out in front…

  Chapter 41

  Even without an invitation, Susannah was determined to attend Innis…

  Chapter 42

  It’s going to be okay, Mother,” said Russell, patting her…

  Chapter 43

  His palms were clammy as he waited for his turn…

  Chapter 44

  Leaving the dimness of the church, Eliza squinted as she…

  Chapter 45

  As Eliza was driven inside the gates of Tuxedo Park,…

  Chapter 46

  The gold walls, the rose-based Oriental rug, the drapes printed…

  Chapter 47

  Was that what the great Innis Wheelock meant when he…

  Chapter 48

  At one of the round tables, there was an empty…

  Chapter 49

  Eliza finished her coffee and looked around the ballroom. She…

  Chapter 50

  Once the last of the luncheon guests had departed, Russell…

  Chapter 51

  Chief Clay Vitalli reviewed the security logs, checking to make…

  Chapter 52

  Once Bonnie had let her know that there was a…

  Chapter 53

  When he arrived at his office in town, Zack returned…

  Chapter 54

  As she walked through the front door, Eliza was greeted…

  Chapter 55

  Unity was grateful that they’d had such a big lunch.

  Chapter 56

  For the third time in a row, Peter served the…

  Thursday October 8

  Chapter 57

  It was midmorning when the first wire-service story ran about…

  Chapter 58

  On the ride out from Manhattan, Annabelle and B.J. came…

  Chapter 59

  After dropping Aurelia back at Underwood’s office, Annabelle called the…

  Chapter 60

  Aurelia Patterson was in tears when she finished taking inventory…

  Chapter 61

  Eliza was in her office talking with Margo Gonzalez when…

  Chapter 62

  He had tried to put her off—evading her questions or…

  Chapter 63

  Spreading the collar of his white shirt on the ironing…

  Chapter 64

  The tennis house, with its white columns and piazza, was…

  Chapter 65

  After dinner Russell went back to his Columbia University residence…

  Chapter 66

  It was Janie’s last evening before going off to Hershey…

  Chapter 67

  I didn’t have lunch today, or dinner either,” said the…

  Chapter 68

  One of the things that never ceased to amaze Clay…

  Chapter 69

  Each laminated page of the turquoise-leather photo album taken from…

  Friday October 9

  Chapter 70

  In the moments after the alarm clock sounded, Eliza moved…

  Chapter 71

  The successful Middle East peace talks and the president’s arrival…

  Chapter 72

  Finished with morning prayer, Father Gehry closed his breviary. He…

  Chapter 73

  Knowing that he’d already blown off his nine o’clock class,…

  Chapter 74

  Doubting that Aurelia Patterson was going to call and volunteer…

  Chapter 75

  Mack appeared at the doorway, hol
ding his index finger up…

  Chapter 76

  Fitzroy had been very quiet all morning, and Unity was…

  Chapter 77

  The carriage house on Clubhouse Road was one of several…

  Chapter 78

  Wrapped in a heavy sweater against the chill late-afternoon air,…

  Chapter 79

  It could not be allowed to happen.

  Chapter 80

  Aurelia slapped the side of her thigh.

  Saturday October 10

  Chapter 81

  Slipping from bed as quietly as she could, Eliza put…

  Chapter 82

  Valentina answered the door herself.

  Chapter 83

  After thanking Valentina for lunch, Eliza and Mack headed to…

  Chapter 84

  They went back to the carriage house. Eliza spread the…

  Chapter 85

  When he heard Eliza Blake’s words transmitted via the listening…

  Chapter 86

  Midnight stayed with his mistress all through the night. At…

  Chapter 87

  What’s the matter?” asked Fitzroy. “What was so important that…

  Chapter 88

  Eliza called the Cohens to see how the trip was…

  Chapter 89

  There they were, laughing and leaning against each other.

  Chapter 90

  Let’s take the long way home,” said Eliza, edging a…

  Chapter 91

  What if the job wasn’t complete? What if Eliza and…

  Chapter 92

  Eliza climbed up, grabbing hold of rocks and branches to…

  Chapter 93

  The moonlight reflected off the roof of the Volvo. It…

  Chapter 94

  Crouched in the darkness, Eliza heard strange pinging sounds, metal…

  Sunday October 11

  Chapter 95

  Sitting alone in the waiting room at Good Samaritan Hospital,…

  Chapter 96

  After the sun came up, the Tuxedo Park police, led…

  Chapter 97

  We all wanted to come,” announced Annabelle when she arrived…

  Chapter 98

  Clay came home to grab a cup of coffee and…

  Chapter 99

  The surgeon finally emerged.

  Chapter 100

  She’d been so excited she hadn’t been able to sleep…

  Chapter 101

  They think he’s going to be out for quite a…

  Chapter 102

  News that someone had tried to kill Eliza Blake and…

  Chapter 103

  Easing herself out of the bathtub, Eliza dried herself carefully.

  Chapter 104

  Blue and white balloons decorated the fences surrounding the tennis…

  Chapter 105

  Cleo Vitalli finished her tennis game, a broad grin on…

  Chapter 106

  Eliza was tired, sore, and having a hard time keeping…

  Chapter 107

  Chief Vitalli got out of the police vehicle and headed…

  Chapter 108

  As soon as she saw the car drive up, Eliza…

  Chapter 109

  Clay reached out and grabbed Russell by the collar of…

  Chapter 110

  While we’re in here, we really should get some shots…

  Chapter 111

  As they drove out the front gate, they passed the…

  Chapter 112

  The leather strap used to kill Zack Underwood represented the…

  Chapter 113

  Sunday was always a long day for Father Gehry, and…

  Monday October 12

  Chapter 114

  Hearing noise coming from the other twin bed, Unity rolled…

  Chapter 115

  Confronting him with the information about the staged murder scenes…

  Chapter 116

  Ever since the maintenance man retired some four years earlier,…

  Chapter 117

  With minutes to go before the broadcast concluded, the story…

  Chapter 118

  Valentina knocked softly on the door of her son’s room.

  Chapter 119

  Eliza, Annabelle, and B.J. made a stop at Good Samaritan…

  Chapter 120

  Susannah couldn’t be happier about the way things had gone…

  Chapter 121

  Good morning, Bonnie,” said Eliza as she stood at the…

  Chapter 122

  It was a glorious Indian-summer day, clear and warm.

  Chapter 123

  Eliza and Annabelle gathered around B.J. as he manipulated the…

  Chapter 124

  From Pentimento, Eliza, Annabelle, and B.J. drove to the rented…

  Chapter 125

  Columbus Day was a big campaigning day. There were parades…

  Chapter 126

  There were several boats floating in the water at the…

  Chapter 127

  Directory assistance provided the number for William O’Shaughnessy. He answered…

  Chapter 128

  A walk along the water’s edge, a close examination of…

  Chapter 129

  Eliza, Annabelle, and B.J. kept interested but dispassionate expressions on…

  Chapter 130

  As they left Bill O’Shaughnessy’s house, Eliza’s phone sounded. The…

  Chapter 131

  After she left the hospital, Eliza called Mack’s parents and…

  Tuesday October 13

  Chapter 132

  All of the morning shows did pieces on the “stigmata…

  Chapter 133

  The KEY News car pulled up in front of the…

  Chapter 134

  Fitzroy Heavener finally answered the phone on the fifth ring.

  Chapter 135

  Susannah stood on her balcony, looking down at Pentimento. She’d…

  Chapter 136

  Are you sure you’re going to be all right?” asked…

  Chapter 137

  It was a lesson learned long ago.

  Chapter 138

  What did happen as a result of the affair?” asked…

  Chapter 139

  Scores of newspeople waiting in the church parking lot received…

  Chapter 140

  The birds chirped and chattered as the door to the…

  Chapter 141

  Where was the clue? Where was it?

  Chapter 142

  The police officer had fielded an onslaught of reporters’ questions…

  Chapter 143

  The table was covered with sacks of seed, pellets, and…

  Chapter 144

  While the newspeople packed up their gear and filtered away…

  Chapter 145

  Eliza swung around at the sound of the voice but…

  Chapter 146

  The guard at the front gate was having none of…

  Chapter 147

  I don’t quite understand,” said Eliza, fearing that she did.

  Chapter 148

  Annabelle leaned over from the passenger seat to speak with…

  Chapter 149

  Eliza’s heart pounded as she ran through the aviary. She…

  Chapter 150

  Valentina and Susannah stopped talking when Bonnie entered the living…

  Chapter 151

  Russell held her arms against the stone floor as Eliza…

  Epilogue

  Eliza tapped on the sliding glass door of B.J.’s editing…

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Other Books by Mary Jane Clark

  Credits

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  PROLOGUE

  A FEW HOURS FROM NOW…

  The moonlight trickled through the glass roof. He pulled a large clay pot from the corner of the room and sa
t on the cold ground beside it. Then he removed his shoes and socks.

  To be accurate, he would have had to use thick nails and a lance to make the wounds—but how would he be able to hammer the nails into both his hands or maneuver the long spear into his own side? The hunting knife would have to do.

  He held the blade in his right hand first. He drew up his knees so that his feet would be as close to the rest of his body as possible. Leaning forward, he positioned the point of the knife over his foot. He closed his eyes and pushed.

  He let out a long groan while pulling out the knife. Then he quickly repeated the motion on the other foot. He tried to block his mind from the searing pain, directing his thoughts instead to the greater good that would come from this act.

  Turning his left palm upward, he held the back of his hand against the ground to steady it. The knife found its mark in the middle of his lifeline.

  He must act quickly, not knowing how rapidly he would bleed out or if he would lose consciousness. He transferred the hunting knife to his left hand, opened his right hand, and stuck the blade into his palm. There was only one thing remaining to do.

  SUNDAY OCTOBER 4

  CHAPTER 1

  You look pretty, Mom.”

  Facing the mirror, Eliza stared at the reflection of the child standing behind her in the middle of the bathroom floor. Janie was wearing her soccer uniform. One kneesock was bunched around her thin ankle, dirt smudged both her knees, and more wisps of brown hair sprang free from her ponytail than were caught up in it. Her cheeks were still slightly flushed from running up and down the school field. Turning, Eliza bent and kissed her seven-year-old daughter on the top of the head.

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” Eliza held herself back from gathering the child in her arms and holding her close. It was a familiar urge now, the desire to hang on to Janie and not let go. Almost three months since the kidnapping, and Eliza still woke up in a cold sweat many nights. How close she’d come to losing her only child, the daughter whose father had tragically died before she was even born, the little girl who was at the center of Eliza’s world.

  “I want to come with you,” said Janie.

  “I wish you could, honey, but it’s a party for adults. There won’t be any children there.”

  “But Valentina and Innis would want me to come,” insisted Janie, hands on hips. “They like me. When we went to their house that time, they said I could come again anytime I want.”

  Eliza turned back to the mirror and picked up a tube of mascara. “I know they did. And we will go there again. Remember I told you about the little house we’ve rented near the Wheelocks’? Our lease starts next week. I’m sure we’ll be able to visit Valentina and Innis when we go up there on weekends.”

  Janie’s expression brightened. “Can we go in the birdhouse?”