Free Insidious by Catherine Coulter Page B

And then there was Glynis, in her designer clothes from head to toe, looking like a beauty queen next to a bag lady. She was divorced now, too, and adrift.
    Venus smiled at each of them and said, her voice thoughtful, “Each of you is so different, but that’s what makes all of you so very interesting. I’ve loved all of you forever, tried to make you happy, tried to stay out of your lives. And I have to ask myself: Does one of you hate me enough to want me dead? Couldn’t that person wait until I drop over myself?” Venus swallowed, then to Savich’s surprise, she lowered her head in her hands and began to cry quietly.
    Everyone but Hildi stayed frozen in place. “Mother!” Hildi pulled Venus to her, patting her back, stroking her hair, cooing like a dove in her ear.
    Sherlock watched every face react to Venus’s breakdown. She saw consternation on Guthrie’s face, a bit of contempt on Alexander’s, and Glynis’s face was a study in embarrassment. Veronica had already jumped to her feet but stopped when she saw Venus pressed against Hildi. She sank back into her chair, her expression angry and worried.
    Savich and Sherlock waited, watching Hildi fuss, watching Isabel silently press a fresh cup of tea into Venus’s hand. Was it all a performance?
    Venus took the cup of tea and slowly raised her head. Sherlock saw her eyes were bright with the sheen of tears. Then the weeping old lady became the boardroom queen again. Venus said, “I apologize for that. Now, listen. We have to face the facts as they are, children. Someone who lives or works in this house is very likely responsible for trying to kill me, someone close enough and clever enough to poison me.Whoever that is, whether they are in this room or not, I want them to know I will not let this family be destroyed.
    “I do recognize that I’m old. But you know what? I do not want to depart this earth until I’m good and ready.” She looked at each of them in turn. “Every one of you has enough money for two lifetimes. If one of you is in trouble and you see your inheritance as your only way out, you need to come to me now, and we will work it out. I will forgive you, and I promise I will do my best to fix your problems. Please, come to me before Agent Savich shows up at your door.” Venus turned her laser-beam gaze onto Alexander. “And if any of you think you’re smarter than Dillon and Sherlock, you are dead wrong.”
    Savich turned to Venus. “Have you told the family about finding Rob?”
    Savich heard a quick intake of breath from Guthrie, who stared at his mother, stunned. “What? You tracked down Rob, Mother? Is he all right? Where is he?”
    Venus gave Savich a long look and slowly nodded. “Of course he’s all right, Guthrie, and if you had cared, you could easily have found your son yourself. He’s been living in Peterborough, Maryland, for the past three years. He owns a construction company that, I might add, is running in the black this year. And he has a girlfriend. Her name is Marsia Gay, and believe it or not, she’s an artist, and very successful. Evidently Marsia worships your grandmother’s work, Dillon, which predisposes me to like her.
    “As for finding him, I simply googled his name, but before I could contact him, Rob emailed me, wonderful coincidence. We met for lunch at Primavera in Chevy Chase, neutral ground.”
    “How long has this been going on?” Alexander asked, his voice strained.
    “About three months. Alexander, your brother is thirty-one, he’s matured, and, I might add, he is stable and has his life together. Hetold me how much he’s missed all of us. He’d like to see everyone again.”
    Alexander said, both his face and his voice expressionless, “Don’t you think it’s more than possible that Rob is the one trying to poison you, Grandmother? Unlike any of us, he’s actually come into contact with low-life criminals like this Willig.”
    Venus arched a perfect eyebrow. “Then your brother would