You belong to me by Mary Higgins Clark

made into a combination office and workplace. The third turquoise ring was in a box. He had finished the engraving on it only the day before.
    Three girls at once, he thought, smiling to himself. This guy does get around.
    Abdul turned, the ring in his hand, then gasped in surprise. His customer had followed him into the stockroom.
    "Did you find the ring?"
    "Right here, sir." Abdul held it out, not understanding why he suddenly felt nervous and cornered.
    When he saw the sudden flash of the knife, he understood. I was right to be afraid, he thought, as he felt a sharp pain and then slipped into darkness.
    28
    At ten minutes of three, just as her two o'clock patient was leaving, Susan Chandler received a call from Jane Clausen. She immediately sensed the tension lurking beneath the quiet, well-bred voice and the request for an appointment.
    "I mean a professional visit," Mrs. Clausen said. "I need to discuss some problems I'm having, and I feel that I'd be very comfortable talking them over with you."
    Before Susan could respond, Jane Clausen continued: "I'm afraid it's very important that I see you as soon as possible, even today, if that can be arranged."
    Susan did not need to consult her calendar to answer. She had clients coming in for appointments at three and four o'clock. After that she had intended to go immediately to Lenox Hill Hospital. Obviously that would have to wait.
    "I'll be free at five o'clock, Mrs. Clausen."
    As soon as she broke the connection, Susan dialed Lenox Hill Hospital, having already looked up the number. When she finally got through to an operator, she explained she was trying to reach the husband of a woman in intensive care.
    "I'll put you through to the ICU waiting room," the operator told her.
    A woman answered. Susan asked if Justin Wells was there.
    "Who's calling?"
    Susan understood the reason for the hesitation in the other woman's voice. The media must be hounding him, she thought. "Dr. Susan Chandler," she said. "Mr. Wells requested a tape of a radio program I did yesterday, and I wanted to bring it to him myself if he's still going to be at the hospital at six-thirty."
    From the muffled sound in her ear, she could tell that the woman had covered the receiver with her hand. Even so, she could make out the question being asked: "Justin, did you request a tape of Dr. Susan Chandler's program yesterday?"
    She could hear the answer distinctly: "That's ridiculous, Pamela. Someone's playing a sick joke."
    "Dr. Chandler, I'm afraid there's been a mistake."
    Before she could be disconnected, Susan said hurriedly, "I apologize. That was the message I received from my producer. I'm terribly sorry to have bothered Mr. Wells at a time like this. May I ask how Mrs. Wells is?"
    There was a brief pause. "Pray for her, Dr. Chandler."
    The connection was broken, and an instant later a computer voice was saying, "If you'd like to make a call, please hang up and try again."
    Susan sat for a long minute, staring at the phone. Had the request for the tape been intended as a practical joke, and if so, why? Or had Justin Wells made the call and now needed to deny it to the person he addressed as Pamela? And again, if so, why?
    Susan realized these were questions that would have to wait. Janet was already announcing the arrival of her three o'clock client.
    29
    Doug Layton stood outside the partly opened door of the small office Jane Clausen kept for herself in the Clausen Family Trust suite in the Chrysler Building. He didn't even have to strain to hear what she was saying on the phone to Dr. Susan Chandler.
    As he listened, he began to perspire. He was fairly certain that he was the problem she wanted to discuss with Chandler.
    He knew he had bungled their meeting this morning. Mrs. Clausen had arrived early, and he had brought coffee to her, planning to smooth over any irritation she might still feel. He frequently had coffee with her before the trust meeting, using the time to discuss the various requests