“Ridge is fine.”
“Ridge, then.” She tilts her head. “I have to admit, you’re making me nervous. Is everything okay? Is Raj all right?”
“He’s fine. I’m just following up on a few things from a conversation I had with him yesterday. It is standard procedure. Just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. I wanted to confirm a couple of details about his whereabouts last Wednesday evening.”
“Wednesday.” She thinks about it. “That was a quiet night for us. He had the early shift on Thursday, so we ate dinner around seven, watched an episode or two of something, and went to bed around nine. Maybe a little after, but not by much. I was really sleepy.”
The story matches Patel’s almost word-for-word.
“You both went to bed and slept until the morning?”
“Yes.” She nods.
“Could your husband have gotten up later in the night? After you were asleep. Could he have left the house without you knowing?”
She shakes her head almost before I’ve finished the question.
“No, I’m sure I would have woken up. Besides, why would he get up and leave the house?” She pauses. “He didn’t, I’m sure of it.”
“Has he been acting strangely lately?”
She lets out a long breath.
“Yes, actually. He’s been a mess this past week or two. Not sleeping. Snapping at the kids over nothing. He came home yesterday and bit my head off over a load of laundry, which is so unlike him. He apologized about ten minutes later, of course. He felt awful.”
“Do you know what’s behind it?”
“Work.” She says it without missing a beat. “The situation between the islands has put everyone at the hospital on edge. If things keep moving in this direction, the surgical workload there will drop dramatically. And Raj is acutely aware of that. He has talked of nothing else since the bomb dropped about the vaccinations. He’s terrified he’s going to lose his position. We have two kids in private school and a mortgage on this place that isn’t small. I don’t work. He carries everything.”
“That makes sense.”
“And then on top of all of that, Dr. Keller…” She trails off and shakes her head. “He’s beside himself about Robyn. Truly beside himself. He has the highest regard for her. He often says he wouldn’t be where he is today if it weren’t for her. She brought him on. She mentored him. He insists she’s innocent. He’s said it to me a dozen times since she was arrested, Ridge. He thinks you people have it wrong.”
I keep my face flat.
“That’s been said to me a few times today.”
“Well. I just thought I’d add my voice to the chorus.” She gives me a small apologetic smile. “Even though I know it’s not my place.”
“It’s appreciated.” I smile. “Off the record,” I say, leaning back a little. “I noticed those loafers you got him for Christmas. The Italian ones. I really like them. I told him as much yesterday.”
Her whole face brightens.
“You noticed?” Her hand comes up to her chest. “Oh, they are gorgeous, aren’t they? The craftsmanship is unreal.”
“They’re great. I wanted to ask you where you got them. I’d love to grab a pair next time I’m on the Mainland.”
“They’re from this tiny boutique in New York. I’ll get you the details. I’d have to look it up. It’s a family-run place. Tucked in off one of the side streets in SoHo. Most people walk past without realizing it’s there.”
“Could you message me the name and address?”
“Of course.” She nods. “I have your number.”
“Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
I let a beat pass. I decide to test my theory, as crazy as it is.
