Harper stood in the foyer of the Fulton estate. She tugged at the cuff of her long-sleeved Dolce & Gabbana majolica blue printed top that matched her brocade shorts. Her honey eyes were still in the hallway the maid disappeared down after letting her in.

Harper let out an anxiety-riddled breath and dipped into the room at her side. The crème walls; and classic black and white family portraits complemented the taupe sofa and armchairs. The living room reminded her of the formal living room at her home—the one that was dubbed the waiting room. It was where prestigious visitors and reporters communed since her mother didn't want anyone other than family and close friends trooping through what she called her humble abode.

Harper stopped swiping his finger along the edge of the streak-free glass table adorned with lilies and a book with Norman Rockwell paintings when her ears picked up the clicking of heels.

June sashayed into the living with a gold tray of tea-filled cups and petite fours. A thought flickered in Harper's head. She heard the rumors about Dr. Fulton sneaking around with other women and she wondered why would a man with a wife and two daughters cheat.

June wasn't the finest wine on the shelf but she could still be stowed in the wine cellar. She was classic in a black knit turtleneck, a white flared skirt stopping just below the knees, and low black pumps. Her hair was swiped back in a ponytail the short pieces hung by her ears as if she was busy working hard dusting armories and waxing floors. She couldn't believe it if she didn't greet the maid on the way in.

"It's a great pleasure for you to stop by unannounced." June croaked as she placed the tray on the table, then handed her a cup.

Harper picked up on the mild irritation in her voice and didn't want to irk the woman anymore so she accepted the tea even though she had to get back to the office in twenty minutes.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I am." Harper nervously smiled as she held the fine handle of the dainty teacup.

"No." June flicked her wrist as if she was swatting Harper's words away. "It's a privilege to have a Chambers in my little home."

Harper's eyes fluttered to the stone floor in the hallway and the stairwell that led to the upstairs. The colonial manor was nowhere near a little home. Now, it wasn't as grandiose as hers but not at all was it little, which had Harper a little confused. How could Dr. Fulton afford a double-digit million-dollar house as a psychologist?

June swiped down her dress as she sat in the middle of the couch, "I saw your mother's photo shoot in Dazzle. She gets more beautiful every year. Does she age?" The fortyish woman smiled showing laugh lines at the corners of her mouth.

"Yeah, she does." Harper took a sip of the warm tea. Is that gyokuro green tea? Harper wondered as she took another sip peeking over the rim of the cup. "But it's the melanin." Harper shrugged. "It's like...Teflon to wrinkles."

June nodded. "Splendid." She dragged out the word as she watched Harper nurse the tea. June sat her hands on her lap, "What's the meaning of this visit today? How can I help you?"

"Oh!" Harper lowered the teacup from her face and wiped away the steam that misted the top of her lip with the back of her hand, "I didn't come to see you. I came for Dr. Fulton." Her eyes fluttered to the hallway. "Isn't he coming? I thought you were just entertaining me." She gestured to June.

"Umm," June muttered, her face going pale. "He's in his office...working. Umm." June slowly stood. "But I'm sure he'd love to see a former student."

"I'd love that." Harper tried her best to be delicate as she sat the teacup on the tray but she sloshed a little tea on the coffee table, which earned her a low sigh from June. "Lead the way." She gestured for the woman to proceed.

*****

The house that appeared to be unlived in with its perfectly positioned furniture and silent halls was brought alive by the piano sonata of Beethoven. Harper stood behind June as the woman pulled the sliding glass doors open, letting more music drift down the long, private hallway they had traveled.

"Honey," June called to the man sitting in the rich chocolate leather chair. The man didn't lift his eyes from the book that was resting on the mahogany desk. "Honey!" She called again, this time louder and closer to his desk.

Dr. Fulton looked up at his wife as if she was a strange being he hadn't seen before.

"John, can you turn that raucous down." She motioned to the black remote sitting beside his book. "I can barely think." She held her temples.

Harper, a classically trained cellist since the age of seven dropped her jaw at the woman's profane words, putting raucous and Beethoven in the same sentence—just scandalous.

Dr. Fulton jabbed his thumb on the remote and the music lowered. "What is it that you need?" He scowled at the woman standing in front of his desk.

A quiet claimed the room and it made Harper uneasy for she couldn't see the faces of the husband and wife before her. Maybe this was a bad idea? She should just back up, leave this house, and let her friends have their secrets.

"You have...a visitor." June bitterly spoke as she moved to the side and gestured for Harper to come closer.

Dr. Fulton sat up in his chair, the rigid structure planes of his face softened as he placed his eyes on Harper. "Ms. Chambers..." The corner of his wide mouth ticked up in a faint smirk. "How can I help you?"

June scoffed, "I'm going to go check on the girls' lunch." She brushed by Harper barely missing Harper's bony shoulder. "Keep it brief." She spoke over her shoulder as she slid the door completely open.

"Ignore her." Dr. Fulton said as he leered at the doorway as if he could still see his wife's lithe form. "She still a little...what's the word for it..." He set his roving eyes on Harper—trailing his gaze over her lean physique. "Resentful at the moment."

Could you blame her? If my husband left me for a twenty-one-year-old redhead I'd be more than resentful...try borderline homicidal, Harper thought to herself as she watched Dr. Fulton place the bookmark in the book and close it.

"Time heals all wounds." She bestowed her wisdom. She knew it was probably lame but it was the only thing that stood out in her mind.

"I've heard that." Dr. Fulton's lips turned up in a smile. A smile Harper's friend and old Dawson roommate Trisna went on and on about.

Harper didn't understand why the girls at Dawson had a crush on Dr. Fulton. Yeah, he had handsome features with his strong break concrete jawline, thick brown man, broad shoulders, and had that intellectual sexy thing going on but he was forty-something with a problem keeping his hands to himself. She had a rule about older guys and they weren't for her.

"Ms. Chambers." Dr. Fulton's voice snatched Harper's mind away from the images of Alistair that she had stored away. "I'm glad you stopped by. I love seeing how some of my former pupils faired in the big, bad world." He clasped his hands and sat them on the desk. "Is this a therapeutic visit? Is something bothering you?" His head tilted as concern blanketed his face.

"No. No. No." She quickly waved away the notion that she needed mental evaluation. "I'm here about this." She reached into the pocket of her shorts. She handed Dr. Fulton the card Dalton gave her, the card that sent her to the man in front of her. "My friend's in trouble and he sent me to you."

Dr. Fulton scrolled his eyes over the card—once, twice, thrice before matching his gaze back to Harper, "I haven't the slightest idea what this could mean." His eyebrows knitted together, "Are you sure this isn't a prank?"

"I'm sure," Harper remembered the fear shaking through Dalton's body. "Very sure."

Dr. Fulton tapped the card on the desk. "I'm pretty sure this is a prank." He gave her a tightlipped smile before handing the card back. "Just tell your friend to come see me." His eyes quickly flicked to the file cabinet by the wall. He rubbed the back of his neck, "This friend of yours...would it happen to be Isabeth?"

"Umm." Harper slid the card back into her pocket, "I can't disclose that."

Dr. Fulton gave her a firm nod, "Well, tell Isabeth if she needs me...I'll help her with all her problems." His eyes were on Harper but she could tell his mind was somewhere else. "Anytime she needs me." He nodded again.

"Surre." Harper felt a wave of awkwardness wash over the room and the hairs on the back of her arms stood up. She glanced down at her watch not reading the time. "I should head out. My mom will be looking for me if I'm gone too long." She moved for the door. "I'll see you around, Doctor." She hurried out of the room, down the hallway, and out of the house.

Harper slid into the backseat of the Maybach her grandmother brought her, "Dunphy, take me to the Tower," She instructed her chauffeur, because Preston was spending time with his dad, she had to go make to old habits since she failed her driving test three times then wreaked her car(s) five-time.

Harper pulled her phone out of her purse and started composing a text. She read over it before sending it to Preston, "I think Isabeth and  Dr. Fulton had an affair. I'll meet you in the aquarium tonight. I've got a plan." She was satisfied with her work and tapped the send button.

What do you think Harper is planning?