The Marriage of Nathan West

The Gossip

Deborah was waiting for her at the end of the hallway looking positively gleeful. She caught sight of Nathan in the hall behind Maxie and raised an eyebrow at the two of them. Maxie took her arm and steered her towards the exit.

"Chelsea is here," Maxie muttered. "Nathan wants us to leave."

"Just as well," Deborah replied. "We need to talk and we won't be able to with Cassie Kirkland around." Deborah hailed the maitre d' and asked for a car to take them back to her penthouse apartment. Once they were in the car and settled, Deborah turned to Maxie and said in a sympathetic tone, "I'm sure that was difficult for you to leave him there with Chelsea, dear, but we must remember the task at hand."

"I know," Maxie answered, watching the city traffic with a sad eye. "I wasn't expecting to see him, that's all. He's always been there for me since the day we met. He's always so strong and noble. I haven't always appreciated him either. I love him, Deborah. I cannot let him do this."

"I know." Deborah patter her hand affectionately. "Now, chin up. I have good news for you."

"I can use it right now."

"Good. I think I have an idea who Scott was cheating on Chelsea with."

Maxie leaned closer expectantly. "Who?"

"Cassie Kirkland herself!" Deborah grinned in triumph. Maxie frowned, tapping her fingers thoughtfully on the door arm rest. "What?"

"Cassie Kirkland? Are you sure?"

"I've known Cassie Kirkland all my life, Maxie. I think I can tell when the woman is lying to me," Deborah remarked coldly.

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you," Maxie said trying to appease her. "You said you could tell when Cassie was lying. She didn't come out and admit it to sleeping with Scott?"

"Of course not!" Deborah's feathers were still ruffled over Maxie's doubt. "Cassie Kirkland is a well bred lady. She wouldn't admit to something so salacious as an affair. Besides, she's always been very careful when it comes to herself and her family."

That was an interesting observation, Maxie thought. She left it for the moment and asked, "What exactly did she say to you?"

"Well, after you left, she asked if I thought it was such a good idea to be seen with someone accused of murder. I told her I didn't think you were capable of it and I didn't think you had done it. Then I added that you had no reason to kill Scott but that someone else probably did. She asked who and I mentioned hearing that Scott was seeing someone besides Chelsea. You should have seen her face, Maxie. The woman turned to ice."

"But she didn't say it was her?"

"No. But I know Cassie Kirkland. Even if it wasn't her, she knows who it is and won't say. I tried to get her to open up about it but the whole thing was strange. Cassie likes to gossip. We're birds of a feather in that regard," Deborah said with a small smile. "She wouldn't even talk about it. Clammed right up when I asked who she thought it could be. And that is so unlike her. The last time I saw her stifle gossip was when it had to do with her husband." Deborah leaned back and settled into gossip mode.

"That man cheats like a fiend and Cassie lets him get away with it. He was seeing some model who couldn't keep her mouth shut and Cassie went after that poor girl right away. She didn't care that he was sleeping with an 18 year old but she certainly didn't want everyone else to know! If you were in her circle, you were absolutely forbidden from talking about it. I don't know why, but she loves that man."

Maxie nodded thoughtfully, turning back to the window. If what Deborah said about Cassie was true and she did know who was sleeping with Scott, why wouldn't she gossip about it? Unless, as Deborah implied, it was someone she loved. That phrase echoed in Maxie's head for a minute. Someone she loved...someone Cassie Kirkland loved... Maxie gasped as her thoughts focused. Cassie Kirkland knew exactly who it was and was trying to protect them just like she protected her husband. Maxie turned back to Deborah with a triumphant grin of her own.

"I think I know who Scott was sleeping with!"