“I hadn’t thought about the last possibility.”

“But if, and I stress the word, if, he met Suzanne after all those years, saw a plain or even a palpably homely young woman, operated on her, created a beauty and then was enchanted by what he’d done, I think we’ve got to look for erotomania.”

“What is that?” Kerry asked.

“It covers a lot of territory. But if a doctor who is a loner meets his daughter after all those years, transforms her into a beauty and then has the sense of having done something magnificent, we could argue that it falls into that category. He’s possessive of her, even in love with her. It’s a delusional disorder that often applies to stalkers, for example.”

Kerry thought of Deidre Reardon telling her how Dr. Smith treated Suzanne as an object. She told Dr. Riker about Smith patting away a smudge on Suzanne’s cheek and then lecturing her on preserving beauty. She also told him of Kate Carpenter’s conversation with Barbara Tompkins, and of the latter’s fear that Smith was stalking her.

There was a pause. “Kerry, I’ve got my next patient coming in.

Keep me posted, won’t you? This is a case I’d love to follow.”

Kerry had intended to leave the office early so she could be at Dr. Smith’s office just after his last appointment. She had changed her mind, however, realizing that it would be better to wait until she had a better perspective on Dr. Smith’s relationship with his daughter. She also wanted to be home with Robin.

Mrs. Reardon believed that Smith’s attitude toward Suzanne was “unhealthy,” she thought.

And Frank Green had remarked on how Smith had been totally unemotional on the stand.

Skip Reardon had said his father-in-law wasn’t around their house much, that when Suzanne saw him, they usually met alone.

I need to talk to someone who knew these people and who has no axe to grind, Kerry thought. I’d also like to talk to Mrs. Reardon again, more calmly. But what can I say to her? That a mobster who happens to be on trial right now was known to call Suzanne Sweetheart when he played golf with her? That a golf caddie sensed that there might be something going on between them?

Those disclosures might only nail Skip Reardon’s coffin a little more tightly shut, she reasoned. As a prosecutor I could argue that even if Skip wanted a divorce so he could get back together with Beth, it would have infuriated him if he had learned that Suzanne was running around with a multimillionaire while charging three-thousand-dollar Saint Laurent suits to him.

She was just leaving the office at five o’clock when Bob phoned. She caught the tension in his voice. “Kerry, I need to stop by for a few minutes. Will you be home in an hour or so?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll see you then,” he said, and hung up.

What was bringing Bob to the house? she wondered. Concern about the picture of Robin she’d received? Or had he had an unexpectedly tough day in court? That was certainly possible, she told herself, remembering how Frank Green had commented that even without Haskell’s testimony the government would be able to convict Jimmy Weeks. She reached for her coat and slung her shoulder bag over her arm, remembering wryly how for the year and a half of her marriage, she had joyfully rushed home from work to spend the evening with Bob Kinellen.

When she arrived home, Robin looked at her accusingly. “Mom, why did Alison pick me up at school and drive me home? She wouldn’t give me a reason, and I felt like a jerk.”

Kerry looked at the sitter. “I won’t hold you up, Alison.

Thanks.”

When they were alone, she looked into Robin’s indignant face.

“That car that frightened you the other day…,” she began.

When she was finished, Robin sat very still. “It’s kind of scary, isn’t it, Mom?”

“Yes, it is.”

“That’s why when you came home last night you looked all tired and beat up?”

“I hadn’t realized I looked quite that bad, but yes, I was pretty heartsick.”

“And that’s why Geoff came running up?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I wish you’d told me last night.”

“I didn’t know how to tell you, Rob. I was too uptight myself.”

“So what do we do now?”

“Take a lot of precautions that may be a nuisance until we find out who was across the street last Tuesday and why he was there.”

“Do you think if he comes back, he’ll run me over next time?”

Kerry wanted to shout, “No, I don’t.” Instead she moved over to the couch where Robin was sitting and put an arm around her.

Robin dropped her head on her mother’s shoulder. “In other words, if the car comes at me again, duck.”

“That’s why the car isn’t going to get the chance, Rob.”

“Does Daddy know about this?”

“I called him last night. He’s coming up in a little while.”

Robin sat upright. “Because he’s worried about me?”

She’s pleased, Kerry thought, as though Bob has done her a favor.

“Of course, he’s worried about you.”

“Cool. Mom, can I tell Cassie about this?”

“No, not now. You’ve got to promise, Robin. Until we know who’s pulling this-“

“And have cuffed him,” Robin interjected.

“Exactly. Once that’s done, then you can talk about it.”

“Okay. What are we going to do tonight?”

“Just crash. We’ll send out for pizza. I stopped on the way home and rented a couple of movies.”

The mischievous look Kerry loved came into Robin’s face. “R-rated, I hope.”

She’s trying to make me feel better, Kerry thought. She’s not going to let me know how scared she is.

At ten of six, Bob arrived. Kerry watched as, with a whoop of joy, Robin ran into his arms. “What do you think about me being in danger?” she asked.

“I’m going to let you two visit while I get changed,” Kerry announced.

Bob released Robin. “Don’t be long, Kerry,” he said hurriedly.

“I can only stay a few minutes.”

Kerry saw the instant pain on Robin’s face and wanted to throttle Kinellen. Toss her a little TLC for a change, she thought angrily. Struggling to keep her tone of voice even, she responded, “Down in a minute.”

She changed quickly into slacks and a sweater, but deliberately waited upstairs for ten minutes. Then, as she was about to come down, there was a knock at her door and Robin called, “Mom.”

“Come in.” Kerry started to say, “I’m ready,” when she saw the look on Robin’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Dad asked me to wait up here while he talks to you.”

“I see.”

Bob was standing in the middle of the study, obviously uncomfortable, obviously anxious to be gone.

He hasn’t bothered to take off his coat, Kerry thought. And what did he do to upset Robin? Probably spent the whole time telling her how rushed he was.

He turned when he heard her footsteps. “Kerry, I’ve got to get back to the office. There’s a lot of work I have to do for tomorrow’s session. But there’s something very important I have to tell you.”

He pulled a small sheet of paper out of his pocket. “You heard what happened to Barney Haskell and Mark Young?”

“Obviously.”

“Kerry, Jimmy Weeks has a way of getting information. I’m not sure how, but he does. For example, he knows that you went to see Reardon in prison Saturday.”

“Does he?” Kerry stared at her ex-husband. “What difference would that make to him?”

“Kerry, don’t play games. I’m worried. Jimmy is desperate. I just told you that he has a way of finding out things. Look at this.”

Kinellen handed her what seemed to be a copy of a note written on a six-by-nine-inch sheet torn from a pad. On it were six musical notes in the key of C, and underneath were the words, “I’m in love with you.” It was signed “J.”

“What’s this supposed to be?” Kerry asked, even as she mentally hummed the notes she was reading. Then, before Bob had a chance to answer, she understood, and her blood ran cold. They were the opening notes to the song “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”