In spite of the powerful engine under the hood, it still took more than three hours to reach Shadow Brook. A car I didn’t recognize was parked off to the side, but I disregarded it. I left my convertible in front of the house and ran in.
“Father?”
Olive Plum came into the foyer. “Oh, Miss Portia.” Her cheeks were colorless.
“How’s Mother?”
“Dr. Parton’s still with her.” That must have been his car parked outside. “He gave her something for her heart.”
“Mother never had a heart problem.”
“It seems she does now.” Father came down the stairs and looked me over. “Tidy your hair. If your mother sees you looking like that, she’s going to think things are worse than they are.”
I went into the powder room off the wet bar and would have sworn if I wasn’t in my parents’ house. My hair was dow
