Stranger in the House

Review Tess Gerritsen Patricia MacDonald is now on my list of favorite authors. -- Review Product Description Eleven years after her young son mysteriously disappeared, Paul is miraculously returned, but Anna Lange and her family find their joy taking a dark turn because of Paul's odd behavior and by someone who will do anything to keep the truth a secret. Reprint. About the Author Patricia Macdonald's suspenseful, intricately plotted tales have won her a wide audience across America, as well as in France, where she is a #1 bestselling author. Her previous novels include Not Guilty, Lost Innocents, Secret Admirer, and the Edgar Award-nominated The Unforgiven. Her newest thriller, Suspicious Origin, is now available in hardcover from Atria Books. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter 1 ELEVEN YEARS LATER "How do you like your tea?" Iris asked. "It's great," said Anna. "Fresh mint. Is it from your garden?" The two women were sitting at one end of the plant-filled conservatory of the Stewarts' opulent home. The sun streamed in on them, and a breeze from the open doors riffled the leaves of the plants. Iris nodded. "Henry brought it in this morning." "I always mean to put some in my garden, and then I forget." "I'll tell Henry to dig some up for you," Iris said eagerly. "Would you? That would be great." Iris and Anna relaxed in their chairs, enjoying the sun and the breeze. Anna leaned over the glass table and picked up a pile of envelopes that were lying beside the bowl, addressed in Iris's careful hand. "What are you up to here?" Anna asked. A pained look crossed Iris's face. "Oh, we're giving a party. For the Hospital Guild. It's going to be rather a large affair, to raise money for the new cardiac wing." Anna nodded. "I read about it in the paper. I didn't know the party was going to be here." "Well, Edward is the chairman of the fund-raising committee, you know." Anna nodded, noting that Iris was clenching her hands together in her lap. "You're good at organizing things," Anna reassured her. "It will be a great success." Iris gave a small sigh. "I hope so," she said. "There's one for you in there." Iris pointed to the stack of envelopes. Anna found the envelope addressed to the Langes and smiled. "Tracy, too?" "Older children." Iris shrugged. "That was my idea, I thought they'd pep things up." "Great," said Anna. "When's the party going to be?" "A week from tomorrow. The thirtieth. I hope you're free. I'm a little late with the invitations." "The thirtieth," said Anna softly, staring down into her glass of tea. "That's Paul's birthday." She looked up at Iris. "He'll be fifteen this year." Iris's eyebrows rose slightly. For a moment she regarded her friend thoughtfully. "Is that so?" she murmured. "Well...that's good. Where's Tom today?" "With Tracy. They're playing tennis. Is Edward home?" "Oh, no. He had a business lunch today. He just bought another company. The Wilcox Company, I think it's called. They have something to do with helicopter parts." Anna stirred the ice in her glass and looked up under her eyelashes at Iris. You would never know to look at her, Anna thought, that her husband was a millionaire. Edward, whose company manufactured private aircraft, was always a model of correctness and elegance in his appearance, while Iris dressed simply and seemed to give only the minimum attention to her hair and makeup. Nonetheless, they seemed to get along together, and Anna had always ascribed it to opposites attracting. "Well, I've got to be getting back." She placed her empty glass down on the end table and got up. "Anna, I meant to ask you. How's Tracy's job at the vet's working out?" Anna frowned, thinking of her daughter. "Oh, she loves being around the animals. She doesn't get paid for it, but she seems to enjoy it." "There, you see! That's great," said Iris. "I had a feeling that all she needed was an interest." "It's helped," said Anna absently, although she felt a twinge of annoy
ASIN: 074342364X
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