“Vanessa was part of the final rift, yes.”
“Then why should I believe anything you’ve told us?”
“In other words, I could be making all this up in the hope of crushing David Merritt’s presidency.”
“The thought crossed my mind,” Daily admitted with his characteristic candor.
With more composure than Barrie would have expected, Gray said, “I didn’t start this. I didn’t seek out Miss Travis with a hot story. She came to me with questions about the baby’s death, questions that mirrored my own suspicions.”
That came as a surprise and made her angry. “Why didn’t you tell me that? You led me to believe that you thought I was the worst kind of opportunist. You—”
“Let the man talk, Barrie,” Daily said. He looked at Gray. “What aroused your suspicions?”
He rose and began to pace while he talked. “Vanessa can be charming and sweet. But she can also be the most exasperating, self-centered, manipulative creature God ever made. She’s strongly influenced by her father and by David, but I’ve seen her turn their machinations to her advantage, and without them realizing it.”
“You’re not painting a very favorable picture of her. In fact, the woman you’ve just described fits my earlier impressions of her,” Barrie admitted.
“My point is that, despite her problems, I know Vanessa wanted a baby more than she wanted anything,” he said. “I know that with certainty. She was willing to go through anything to have a child, even though doctors discouraged pregnancy because of her illness.”
“Illness?” Daily looked at them quizzically.
“She’s manic-depressive,” Barrie explained, then told him what Gray had told her.
“Son of a gun,” Daily said, dumbfounded.
“It’s a pity she hasn’t made her condition public,” Barrie remarked. “Thousands of people could have benefitted from knowing about it. Other patients would have been encouraged by her ability to live a full and rewarding life in spite of the illness.”
“Until recently,” Gray said.
“Right,” Barrie agreed.
“She should not have been left alone that night.”
“It was reported that the White House nanny had requested the night off to handle a family emergency,” Daily reminded them.
“Her request was made in advance. The question is: Why wasn’t there a stand-in nanny?” Gray said. “Why was Vanessa left alone to care for the baby, with only David and Spence as backups in case of emergency, when everyone concerned knew that Vanessa was often incapable of handling emergencies?”
“Being manic-depressive, Vanessa would have far more than the normal feelings a woman experiences following the birth of a child. Feelings of resentment, inadequacy, entrapment, and so on.” Barrie looked at Gray. “That’s why you didn’t share your suspicions with anyone, isn’t it? You wanted to protect her.”
“I was protecting her with my silence, but not in the way you mean. You see, I don’t agree with you. Vanessa did not smother her baby.”
“I’m confused,” Barrie said irritably. “You agree that he didn’t die of SIDS.”
“Correct.”
“That makes no sense,” she said softly. “If Vanessa didn’t smother him, then who…”
The argument died abruptly on her lips. She glanced at Daily, who had been following the discussion. Their eyes connected, held, and she saw that his sudden realization matched hers.
She swung back to Gray. “Merritt?”
He nodded.
“But why?”
“What would make a man hate a three-month-old enough to kill it?”
She did not need to think about it. “If the baby wasn’t his.”