A Tangled Web

By Linda Johnson

Cathy Nelson is young, successful career woman and mother who is mortified when her husband, Adam, trades in a prestigious research career to become a high school science teacher. But as unhappy as Cathy is, she is reluctant to taint her image with a messy divorce. However when Cathy embarks on a steamy affair with a co-worker, she becomes desperate to end her marriage.

The breaking point comes when Cathy learns that her company is about to go public. When Cathy tells Adam about her company’s plans, her husband threatens to expose the life-threatening side effects with the drug that had surfaced in his research. If he reveals what he knows, Adam could derail the IPO and destroy her career. Cathy is left with no choice in her mind but to kill her husband.

Toni Ambrose is a young, but relentless detective, assigned to the murder case. Her instincts tell her that Cathy is guilty and she defies her superiors to doggedly build a case against this black widow disguised as a grieving wife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Johnson
• Release date: Nov 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465897305

Linda Johnson

Linda is a healer living in the English countryside and works with both people and animals helping them each on their individual journey. Animals have always been a big source of love and support to her in a life that, as for most people, has had challenges along the way, and she gets much happiness now from being able to help animals in return, especially horses. Linda is also looking forward to working with animals and children together to encourage children’s appreciation of the natural world and to give them the opportunity to discover that animals can be our teachers and guides and that they are connected to us all. www.thehavenofhope.co.uk

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Prologue

Chapter 1

Adam Nelson’s body writhed in pain, his face covered in sweat, his fists clenching the bed sheets. His mouth opened and a low, rumbling groan filled the room. Cathy leapt from the guest chair and ran to the hospital bed, grabbing the nurse’s call button. Her thumb was poised over the button as she watched her husband’s body slacken, and heard a soft sigh replace the groan. She checked to make sure he was still asleep. Then she replaced the call button and walked back to her chair. For the past several hours, she had felt like a marionette controlled by a manic puppeteer who yanked her up and down out of her chair, back and forth to her husband’s bedside.

Just as Cathy started to doze off, the pre-dawn light crept into the hospital room. The vinyl chair made sucking noises as she pushed herself up onto unsteady legs. Half-asleep, she stumbled to the steel-framed window and peered down at the hospital parking lot.

Even at this early hour, she saw a steady stream of activity: cars looping up and down the rows, as their frustrated drivers searched for vacant parking spaces; hospital personnel marching briskly, eager to face the new day; visitors walking hesitantly, their faces consumed with worry, dreading what they might find waiting for them on the other side of the hospital doors.

Cathy grabbed the pull cord dangling next to the window and yanked it down. As the blinds slammed shut, the pale pink light receded so that the room was plunged into a lifeless gray. She turned from the window and glanced toward the hospital bed, checking to make sure she had not disturbed her husband. But Adam lay still, his eyes closed, his breathing shallow but steady.

The door opened and Dr. Melanie Vreeland strode into the hospital room, her open lab coat fluttering at her sides. Her flaming red hair and blue eyes commanded attention. Good morning, Cathy, the doctor said. Have you been here all night?

Yes, Cathy whispered. I didn’t want to leave him. My parents drove in yesterday. They’re staying at our place with the baby.

Adam began to stir, the voices evidently waking him from his restless sleep. Hey, Doc, he said weakly. Then he turned to Cathy, forcing a smile as he reached for his wife’s hand. Hi, honey. Are you still here?

Of course, Cathy replied. I was just telling Dr. Vreeland that I didn’t want to leave you last night.

Are you feeling any better? the doctor asked.

A little, Adam said. I’m not sure I could run a marathon, but maybe a 5K if there were enough sick bags at the water stations.

Dr. Vreeland smiled. Sure. I could have the nurses wheel you down to the parking lot so you could run a few laps.

Adam’s smile turned into a wince. Any luck with the tests you ran yesterday? he asked.

Not yet, but we haven’t given up, Dr. Vreeland replied. I’m going to send the nurse in to draw some more blood. And we’re going to try you on a liquid diet today. We have to see if you can start keeping things down. If you can, we’ll be able to remove the IV.

That’ll make running my 5K a lot easier. I was concerned about dragging around this IV line – it’d probably cost me first place.

The doctor laughed out loud this time. I can just picture you running in your hospital gown, back flap open, IV in tow. You’ve made my day, Adam.

You could make my day if one of these tests could tell me what I’ve got. You think next time I see you, you’ll have an answer?

I wish I could promise you that, Dr. Vreeland said. Most likely you’ve got some type of viral infection, but so far we haven’t been able to nail it down. And if it’s not viral, it could be a host of other things. We just have to keep treating your symptoms and running more tests until we figure it out.

I know there are hospital rules, but is there any way that Cathy could bring our daughter in to see me today? Adam asked. Getting a dose of her would be the best medicine you could prescribe.

The doctor shook her head. I think we’d better hold off on that. Until I can be certain you’re not contagious, I don’t want to take the chance of exposing your daughter. The immune system of a one-year-old is not very robust.

How about Cathy then? Adam asked. Is it safe for her to be here with me?

I’m not going anywhere, Cathy said determinedly, looking at her husband. You remember those vows we took… in sickness and health. I’m staying right here.

She turned to the doctor. These new tests you mentioned. What are you testing for?

Well, with Adam’s symptoms, there are all sorts of possibilities. We’ve already eliminated a lot of the most common illnesses we’ve been seeing lately. So now we’ll have to start digging deeper. I’m not giving up until I have an answer.

Dr. Vreeland scribbled a couple of notes on Adam’s chart and turned to her patient again. I’ve got to finish up my rounds now, but I’ll be back to check on you later. Let the nurse know if you start vomiting again or if the stomach pain gets any worse.

After the doctor left, Cathy turned to her husband. I’m going to run down to the cafeteria and get some breakfast. While I’m down there, I’ll call Mother and Daddy and see how Abby’s doing. She should be up by now.

You really should go home, honey. Spend some time with her, Adam said. I’m probably just going to fall asleep again as soon as the nurses finish poking me.

I’ll run home this afternoon, Cathy promised. Right now, Abby’s in good hands and you need me more than she does.

She stepped into the shoes that she had kicked off during the night. She combed her fingers through her hair and tried her best to smooth the wrinkles from her slept-in clothes. As she passed by the bed, she reached down to stroke Adam’s arm. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I love you, honey.

Cathy left Adam’s room and took the elevator down to the hospital lobby. As she passed through the hospital doors, she began to search for a secluded spot away from the bustling entrance. She walked to an empty bench nestled into a landscaped area of potted plants, a quiet oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle. As she sat down, she opened her cell phone, powering it on. She hit a speed dial button and then heard a groggy male voice, thick with sleep, answer.

It’s me. Cathy spoke rapidly, a note of panic creeping into her voice. He’s still alive. And the longer he’s here, the riskier it is. The doctor’s running all sorts of tests to figure out what he’s got. She paused and took a deep breath to regain her composure. When she spoke again, there was steel in her voice. We need to end this thing.

Part One

Chapter 2

One month earlier

The baby’s cries pierced the quiet morning like a knife. Adam turned to see his wife roll over and tuck her head under her pillow before hoisting himself out of bed. Wearing his flannel pajama bottoms and an old T-shirt from his college intramural basketball days, he padded down the hall to Abby’s nursery.

His wife had decorated the room in an underwater theme, explaining to Adam that the environment would replicate Abby’s time spent in the womb swimming in embryonic fluid. Although he had been a little skeptical, the final result was soft and soothing. The walls were painted a pastel blue, dotted with stick-on fish and other sea creatures. There were wispy green sea plants rising up from the baseboards, and a smattering of stick-on sea shells interspersed between the plants. The mobile hanging over the crib continued the theme, with gaily colored fish swimming around in circles.

As soon as Adam lifted Abby out of the crib, her cries stopped. Dad’s here, Princess, and he’s hungry as a bear. He growled at her playfully, lifting her higher and pretending to nibble at her bare belly.

Dada, Abby squealed, flashing her baby-tooth grin. For a moment, Adam just held her up and looked into her giggling face. She had inherited her mother’s cheekbones and patrician nose, but her laughing green eyes and lopsided grin were straight from his own gene pool. Her few wispy fly-away hairs were a cross between her mother’s blond and his sandy brown.

Adam changed his daughter’s diaper, going through the motions by rote. Then he lifted her into his arms again, carrying her over to the window. He looked out onto their quiet street in Smithfield, a western suburb located about thirty miles outside of Chicago. He could see the sun rising on what looked to be a beautiful November day.

After his cursory check of the weather, Adam carried Abby into the kitchen for breakfast. He hit the wall switch and overhead lights illuminated the room, revealing polished cabinets, gleaming appliances, and spotless countertops. He marveled that, in spite of having a demanding career in pharmaceutical sales and being a mother to an active one-year-old, his wife was a meticulous housekeeper. He helped Cathy with some of the cleaning, although he suspected that she thought he mostly got in the way. More than once she had told him that she liked to clean. She found housework therapeutic -- a concept totally lost on him.

As he put Abby into her high chair, Adam could hear Cathy turning on the shower water. What would you like to eat today, Princess? How about some applesauce to start with, and then some of my world-famous, award-winning oatmeal? He reached into a cabinet filled with baby food jars and located the promised applesauce.

Adam scooted a chair in close to Abby, popped open the jar, and began to feed her. Although she had started to feed herself with a fair amount of sloppy success, Adam wasn’t ready to relinquish this special bonding time. Abby giggled as he pretended the spoon was an airplane winging its way to her mouth. Coming in for a landing! he sang to her. Abby clapped her hands and opened her mouth wide.

When she finished the applesauce, Adam went to the cabinet and took out a couple of packages of instant oatmeal. Breakfast of champions, little Abby girl. It’ll make you grow hair on your chest. He smiled, raising his eyebrows. Well, maybe a little more on top of your head would be nice.

A half hour later, Adam and Abby were finishing their oatmeal and giggling at the cartoons coming from the kitchen TV. They both looked up as Cathy stepped into the kitchen, looking impeccable as always. Her shoulder length blond hair was cut into this season’s trendiest hairstyle. Her makeup was expertly applied, enhancing her porcelain skin, delicate features and Caribbean blue eyes. She wore one of Adam’s old, discarded work shirts over her suit to protect it from any stains Abby might send her way.

Hi, sweetie, Cathy said to the baby as she leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. How’s my little girl? Her high heels made clicking noises on the tile as she walked over to the coffee maker. After pouring herself a cup of coffee, Cathy pulled a yogurt out of the refrigerator and turned to Adam. What’s your schedule like today? she asked.

The usual, he said. I should be able to pick Abby up around four, unless any of the kids need to meet with me. With his job as a high school science teacher, Adam’s routine included picking his daughter up from day care after school. How about you?

I should make it home around six, if I don’t get scheduled into any last minute meetings. John’s been on a rampage lately about sales being lower than projected for the year. He’s driving us all nuts. I’ll just have to call you this afternoon and let you know how it’s going. If I’m going to be late, there’s some leftover chicken.

Adam stood and cleared the empty oatmeal bowls, carrying them to the kitchen sink. He gave them a quick rinse and stacked them in the dishwasher before heading off to take a shower.

After getting dressed for work, Adam walked into the office, knowing he’d find Cathy at her desk. He gave her a quick kiss and then turned to the playpen. He lifted Abby up and circled her around in the air, as she giggled with delight. Goodbye, Princess. I’m going to miss you today. But when I get home, I’m going to have a big surprise for you. He looked at Cathy, expecting the obvious question, but she was hunched over her computer, oblivious. He put Abby back in the playpen, turning reluctantly to leave for work.

Chapter 3

Cathy barely noticed Adam’s departure as she sat staring at her computer screen and firing off email replies. When she finished, she walked to the playpen and lifted Abby up. Balancing her daughter in one arm, she gathered her briefcase and purse and moved toward the front door, anxious to start her workday.

Let’s go, sweetie. Mommy has some fires to put out.

After dropping her daughter off at day care, Cathy drove the ten miles to work and pulled her Toyota Corolla into the Townsend parking lot. Grabbing her briefcase, she approached the front entrance of the pharmaceutical company. The gleaming steel building stood twelve floors tall, an imposing high-rise by suburban standards. With every footfall, she could feel a rush of adrenalin surging through her.

She rode the elevator to the eighth floor, where she had a large office with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a pond. She remembered her first office, when she landed a job at the company after graduation: a cramped cubicle, where she regularly overheard phone conversations of three other co-workers. Over the twelve years she had been at Townsend, she had worked her way up, both through the company ladder and to a succession of increasingly nicer offices.

Cathy had started in an entry level sales position and had risen quickly through the ranks to her current position as Director of Sales. Her latest office, a long, narrow rectangle, reflected the importance of her position. She had overheard her envious co-workers refer to her workspace as a bowling alley. Her desk sat at the far end of the office, away from the door. Not only did the location cut down on noise, she liked the sense of power she felt when visitors made the lengthy trek across the floor to meet with her.

As she sat at her desk, her hand reached out for the phone. She dialed an internal extension and smiled when she heard the voice on the other end.

Brendan MacLeod speaking.

Hi, baby, Cathy said. I just got in. As she listened to his response, she could envision the smile lighting up his face, matching the one on her own.

I missed you this weekend, she said. I’m in withdrawal. Can you come up?

A few minutes later, Brendan bounded into her office, his face beaming. The two lovers sat in the guest chairs, drinking each other in, getting their fix.

So what did you do all weekend, besides pine away for me? Cathy asked teasingly.

Brendan turned his palms up. I worked. What else? With FDA approval around the corner for Genafid, I’m swamped.

Cathy smiled, impressed by his diligence. Don’t you ever need a break?

Not really, other than sleeping and spending as much time as I can with you. I’d just as soon be in the lab as anywhere else. There’s nothing more exciting than research. Well, almost nothing, Brendan said, as he lifted his eyebrows suggestively.

I don’t know why Adam hated his job so much, Cathy said. When he first started working here, he was so excited. But that didn’t last long. He started coming home every day complaining about everything. First he talked about how isolating the job was. Then he said he hated the long hours with no results. Doesn’t that sort of thing ever bother you?

Brendan shook his head. "Not me. But then again, I can’t imagine teaching science to a bunch of high school students. Now that would bore me to death. And Adam’s been doing that for what? Three years now?"

Cathy nodded. Unfortunately, he seems to thrive on teaching. I was hoping he’d hate the school and decide to come back here. Get his old job back, working for you. You know, I’m so embarrassed when anyone asks me what he does for a living. Not to mention the salary cut he took when he quit here. I thought by now we’d be in a bigger house, a nicer suburb. We have no hope of taking on a bigger mortgage anytime soon.

Cathy leaned back in her chair, sighing. And now that we’re making do with Adam’s teaching salary, we have no money for going out anymore. We used to go out to dinner, movies, dancing. These days our big weekend excitement is to rent movies at night.

Brendan held up his hand. Don’t get me started. You know how I feel. I think you should leave him and marry me. He smiled as he reached for Cathy’s hand. In fact…how about if we meet at my place for lunch today? Give me a chance to convince you.

Chapter 4

Adam strolled into the teacher’s lounge at Smithfield High School. The room was a hodgepodge of scarred tables and chairs, a few worn sofas, and a cramped kitchen area. There was a large refrigerator, which housed the brown bag lunches of teachers who were wary of cafeteria food. The rest of the kitchen area contained a sink, a microwave, and the all-important coffee pot.

Having spent a few years at the school, Adam had come to recognize the predictable rhythm of the lounge. Mondays were deadly quiet. Teachers sat like zombies, heads lowered, arms crossed, pouring coffees down parched throats. The only movement in the room came from a steady stream of teachers shuffling back and forth between their seats and the coffeepot.

By mid-week, the teachers would be clustered in tight groups, their heads huddled together. There would be a steady hum of conversation as they buzzed about the latest school gossip. Smiles came quickly to their faces, even occasional bursts of laughter.

By Friday, the lounge resembled a frat party. The chairs and sofas would be empty as teachers mingled, chatting about their big weekend plans; the sullen faces from Monday replaced with bright eyes and wide grins.

Adam looked around the room, ready to wave or nod a greeting, but the Monday morning crowd ignored him. He spotted Tom Luna sitting alone at one of the tables, gulping down coffee, gazing off into space. Glancing at his watch, Adam hurried over and set his briefcase down. Hey, buddy, he said. I was hoping I’d catch you. Do you have a minute?

Sure. Have a seat, Tom replied. I was just trying to get a few English papers graded before class, but I’m not having much luck. You know…Monday.

Adam pulled out a chair and sat down quickly, anxious to fill Tom in on his plans.

So what’s up? Tom asked.

Adam took a deep breath. You think you might be interested in taking over my assistant coaching job this coming basketball season? I know you used to play in high school and you came to all our games last season.

Are you kidding? I’d love it! You know when I started teaching here, I talked to Mike about the possibility, but he told me he didn’t have any openings on his staff. Why are you thinking about giving it up?

I just don’t want to spend so much time after school here. The team practices for a couple of hours every day after school, plus we have another Saturday morning practice. Then there are the games and the coaching meetings. It adds up to a whole lot of hours.

I know it’s a lot of time, but would you really want to give it up? Tom asked. I hear you were quite the star when you played in high school.

Yeah, I was pretty good back in the day. Adam shrugged. I love the game, and it’s been great coaching the kids the last few seasons, but that was before we had Abby. I never guessed how much having a kid would change my life.

Adam reached around and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open and removed a photo of his daughter. Have I shown you a picture of her lately? he asked, holding it out before Tom had a chance to reply. Look at that smile. Isn’t she gorgeous?

Tom took the photo from Adam and smiled. She’s a beauty, all right. Takes after her mom, right? he teased.

Hey, that smile and those eyes are pure Nelson. Having this past summer off to spend with her was pretty cool. Every day she’d discover something new. If I coach again this season, I’m going to have to give up a big chunk of time with her. I just don’t know that I want to do that.

Well, that’s not a problem for me. My wife and I have just started talked about having kids, but I think we’re another year or so away, Tom said. A worried look crossed his face. Have you talked to Mike about me taking over your position yet? I’m not sure he’d want to replace you.

Not yet, Adam admitted. I wanted to check with you first. I didn’t want to leave Mike and the team in a bind. But if you’re willing to consider taking my spot, then I’ll talk to him as soon as possible. Are you sure you want to do it? Like I said, it’s a lot of hours.

I’m sure. There’s an extra salary for coaching, too, right?

Adam nodded. Yeah, that’s the one thing that would make me reconsider. When I got into teaching, I took a pretty big pay cut. Cathy and I had already bought our house based on my old salary. So things have gotten pretty tight. The extra money I’ve made from coaching has helped us out. Now we’re going to have to tighten our belts even more.

How does Cathy feel about that?

I haven’t talked to her about it yet, Adam replied, wrinkling his brow. I know she’s not going to be happy about the money, so I guess I’ve been avoiding it. His face brightened. On the other hand, I’m hoping she’ll see it’s better for us. She works some pretty crazy hours, so I’m the one who picks Abby up from day care. When I have late practices, she has to rush over there after work before the place closes.

Adam picked up Abby’s photo and put it back into his wallet with a smile. I’m sure she’ll be willing to give up some stuff for Abby’s sake. I mean, that’s what parenting’s all about – making sacrifices for your kids.

Well, as far as coaching goes, you can count me in as long as it’s okay with Mike. Thanks a lot, buddy, Adam said. I’ll set up a meeting with him for tomorrow.

Just let me know when. I’ll be there.

As they heard the first period bell ring, the two teachers pushed back their chairs and made their way toward the lounge door, chatting about the basketball team’s prospects for the year. At the door, they turned in different directions.

Walking toward his homeroom class, Adam smiled as a picture of Abby flashed through his mind. The minute he had picked up his newborn daughter in the delivery room, he had felt intense love wash over him. She had been born in December, during his holiday break, and he had spent hours during those first few weeks just watching her sleep, amazed by what he and his wife had created.

Adam knew he’d miss working with the basketball team this year, but he could always go back to coaching when Abby was older. These first few years were too important to miss out on. The more he thought about it, the more he was sure that Cathy would love the idea. He couldn’t wait to tell her.

Chapter 5

The booming voice woke Justin White out of a deep sleep. Where the fuck’s my breakfast? he heard his father bellow, signaling round one of his parent’s first fight of the day. Justin peered though his lank, dishwasher blond hair at his alarm clock. He groaned as he realized that first period had started at school already. He’d missed the bus and would have to bike the eight miles to Smithfield High. He dragged his body out of bed and threw on his school uniform -- some jeans, a ripped t-shirt, and a hooded sweatshirt. As he was dressing, he could hear raised voices coming from the kitchen.

"Don’t think I’m going to have