Page 96 of High Society

“Speaking. Hello, Kimberly.”

“Do you know where my mom is?”

“I… I haven’t seen her in a few days. Why do you—”

“She was supposed to come here yesterday, but she canceled last minute.”

“Where is ‘here,’ Kimberly?”

“San Diego. I’m a senior at UC San Diego. Mom always drives down on the day of my infusion.”

“Infusion? I’m not following you.”

“For my Crohn’s disease. I get an intravenous infusion every six weeks. But sometimes I react to it. Not to be gross, but like puking and gut rot. Mom usually stays the night with me.”

“I see,” Holly says, wondering why Liisa never mentioned anything about her daughter’s illness. “Did your mother tell you about me, Kimberly?”

“She said you were helping her. That she’d gotten off the Xanax thanks to your therapy.”

“She did?” Holly can’t hide her surprise. None of it squares with her impression of Liisa as a woman driven by grievance and bitterness. “Did your mom call to tell you she wasn’t coming?”

“She texted.” Kimberly sighs. “I’m really worried, Dr. Danvers.”

Holly grips her phone tighter. “Why?”

“It was a weird couple texts. And now she’s not answering my calls. Which isn’t like her.”

“Did your mom say why she couldn’t make it?”

“No. Only that she had something urgent to do.”

“Urgent?”

“Yeah. And then she texted to say she wouldn’t be reachable for a while.”

“Did she say why?”

“No. Her last text simply said… ‘I’m sorry, Kimmie. I love you.’ ” Her voice catches. “She hasn’t replied to any of my texts since.”

Holly feels cold invisible fingers wrap around her neck. “That was yesterday?”

“Yeah, in the early evening.” Kimberly’s pitch rises. “In the text, she called me Kimmie, Dr. Danvers!”

“She doesn’t usually?”

“All the time. Except when she has something serious to tell me. Then she always calls me Kimberly. And Dr. Danvers?”

“Yes?”

“Mom has never once texted to say that she loves me.” Holly can hear Kimberly swallow. “It just… didn’t sound like her.”

CHAPTER 48

As Holly steps into her office after lunch, she’s surprised to see Detective Rivers, dressed in a sleek gray suit and royal-blue tie, standing at the desk and chatting with Tanya. She can tell by the flush in her assistant’s cheeks, which only deepens at the sight of Holly, that Tanya is likely crushing on the attractive detective.

He turns to face Holly. “Dr. Danvers, hello. Do you have a moment?”

“Absolutely. In fact, I was about to reach out to you.” She points down the hallway. “Why don’t we speak in my office?”