After her visit to Roman Manchester’s office the day before, Avery had stopped at the Strand Bookstore to pick out a couple Natalie Ratcliff novels. She found two shelves of the woman’s books and went back to her hotel with a bagful of paperbacks. Despite that she was chasing a story and had plenty of work to do, Avery got sucked into one of Natalie’s novels. The protagonist—a portly private eye named Peg Perugo—investigated the shady dealings of a good-looking ER doctor, discovering in the process that good sex trumped Medicare fraud. The story was silly and sophomoric, and kept Avery up until 2:00 a.m. before she forced herself to close the book and get some sleep.
In the morning Avery did some quick Internet snooping and learned that Natalie Ratcliff split her time between New York and North Carolina. She treated herself to a lavish month-long vacation to the Greek isles each year to finish her new book. She was married to an executive at a cruise line, and had three children—two were grown and on their own, one was still in college. She had practiced medicine for eight years before she quit to write novels. She lived on the twenty-second floor of One 57, and her apartment door opened as soon as Avery exited the elevator.
Avery saw the woman laugh and shake her head. “Avery Mason is in my elevator. Is this really happening?”
“I should be asking the same question. The Natalie Ratcliff, taking a meeting with me.”
“Like I’d ever turn it down,” Natalie said. “I’m a huge fan. Please, come in.”
The apartment was large, beautiful, professionally decorated, and offered a clear view of Central Park. It was a view Avery remembered from her childhood. Off the living room was a giant mahogany-studded office outlined by yawning French doors. Avery saw framed covers of Natalie’s novels hanging on the walls, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined with her titles. Avery spotted Baggage, the slightly trashy and mindless novel that had kept her up most of the night.
“I have to admit,” Avery said, “I hadn’t read any of your novels when I talked with you, but I picked a few of your books up yesterday and got hopelessly sucked into one of them last night. Couldn’t put it down. So you can count me as a new fan.”
Natalie put her hand over her heart. “Now, that’s about the biggest compliment I’ve ever received. Avery Mason, a fan of my books. Thank you.”
Avery pointed to Natalie’s office. “Baggage. Honestly, I couldn’t stop reading it. Kept me up way too late.”
Natalie smiled. “That’s one of my favorites. It’s my first, so I guess it has to be my favorite since it started everything. Thanks for the compliment. Really, it’s a thrill to hear that you’re reading one of my books. I’m a huge fan of yours, and just love American Events. The minivan episode? I thought I’d have a heart attack watching you sink to the bottom of that pool.”
“You and me both.”
They laughed like old friends.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“No thank you. I don’t want to take too much of your time, I know you’re busy. I wanted to talk with you about Victoria Ford. I’m sure it’s shocking when the past comes back to us so viscerally.”
Natalie nodded and pointed at the dining table. Avery sat down.
“It was quite a shock to hear the news,” Natalie said, sitting across from her. “But I was happy for Emma. A little closure will do her good.”
“Emma is a rock. I had the pleasure of meeting her the other day. Do you know her well?”
“I’ve known Emma for years. We still keep in touch. Victoria was such an important part of each of our lives, her absence has sort of been a magnet that draws us together. We see each other once a year to catch up.”
“If I’m able to get this project about Victoria up and running, I’ll need to interview as many friends and family as I can find. I want to tell Victoria’s story—who she was and what she was about—before I get into her death and the events that immediately preceded it. I’m hoping you could fill in some details for me.”
“It would be my honor. Victoria was a dear friend.”
“Let’s start there. How close were you with Victoria?”
“We were best friends.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning if she called and said she was in trouble, I’d show up with body bags and an alibi.”
Avery laughed.
“Sorry,” Natalie said. “That’s the fiction writer coming out in me.”
“No, we all need friends like that.”
“Victoria and I were close. She was like a sister to me.”
“How did you meet? Give me some details.”
Natalie nodded, deciding, Avery suspected, where to begin.
“Victoria and I went to college together. She was a finance major, I was a biology major. We were roommates freshman year and just clicked. We stuck together for all four years. After college I went to medical school here in New York. Victoria entered the financial world. We stayed close during all those years, and never really drifted too far apart even as we both became busy with life. I was getting through medical school and residency, and she was starting her career. I got married and had kids. Vic got married and talked about having kids. My husband and I used to see her and Jasper for dinners and that sort of thing. Not as often as we wanted, but that’s the way life works.”
“Just a curious fan girl question. You went to medical school but now you write books. How did that happen?”
Natalie smiled. “I’m not really sure. I’ve always loved to read, since I was a young girl. Writing was something I dreamed of doing someday but never figured I’d actually get around to. But finally, I sat down one day and did it. The fact that the first manuscript actually sold is still mesmerizing to me. That I had it in me to write another still shocks me just the same.”
“And another and another,” Avery said. “You are quite prolific.”
“I’ve had a good run and have been terribly lucky.”
“I’m assuming your love of reading and writing also brought you and Victoria together? Emma tells me that she, too, was interested in writing.”
“She was. Much more than I ever was, in fact. We both talked about it in school. You know, writing a book someday. Danielle Steel style. But the realities of life got in the way and we both put those dreams on hold as we started our careers.”
“And look at you now. A legitimate powerhouse in publishing,” Avery said. “Life has a way of coming full circle, doesn’t it?”
“I suppose it does.”
Avery pulled out a yellow legal pad and scribbled some notes. “Were you in touch with Victoria after Cameron Young’s death?”
“Not much. That was obviously a tough time in Victoria’s life. I reached out to her, but she didn’t return my calls. I knew she was busy mounting a defense and, you know, everything that goes into that.”
“Did you speak with her at all about it?”
“Briefly. She had called once to ask if she could borrow money in case she needed it. The cost of her defense was going to be astronomical.”
“But that was it? Nothing about the case or . . . her involvement with Cameron Young? Or . . . if any of the accusations against her were true?”