Search for Contentment

by Marlene Bierworth

  “Thank you for bringing Melanie across my path today, and I ask a blessing upon her life. Strengthen Chrissy as she works tonight in her chosen career. And bless the hands that have prepared this food to nourish my dinner guest’s obvious hunger pangs. Amen.”

  Melanie lifted her head to find Trevor staring at her with a mischievous grin on his face. If a girl couldn’t trust a man with such high principles, who, in this world could she trust? Her nagging suspicions transferred to the background, and she relaxed.

  “I haven’t eaten all day. When we were kids, my brother always said my face told all of my secrets.”

  “Not a good quality for law enforcement,” Trevor said.

  “I’ve outgrown my transparency – at least, I hope I have. I’m a different person when in uniform, so don’t mess with me while I’m on duty.”

  Trevor raised his hands in mock surrender. “Never my intention to cross to the other side of the law, Officer Baxter.”

  Another layer of doubt disintegrated and her heart longed to unload on this man. The strain of the last two days lay heavily on her shoulders. “Glad to hear that,” she muttered.

  “I’m afraid the little girl in you is shining through,” Trevor said as he reached for her hand, which was clutching her napkin within five, white-knuckled fingers.

  Melanie bit her lip and blurted, “Mr. Knight, I am struggling with trust issues at the moment.”

  “Toward me? I’ve given you no reason to doubt my authenticity.”

  “True, you haven’t. In fact, quite the opposite.” Melanie bit her lip and pulled her hand out from under his.

  “Yet doubt still holds you back,” Trevor said. “You can feel free to tell me what’s on your mind. In my line of business, my genuineness is often questioned, but you can rest assured, the relationship I wish to explore with you has no negative ulterior motives.” He passed her one of the small plates the server had left. “Fill your plate with appetizers. Trust always works better on a full stomach.”

  “Thank you.” She chose one of every choice on the platter and began to eat. She’d love to have popped the small portions at a rapid pace, but she forced a show of manners. No use for the man thinking her totally rebellious of her proper upbringing.

  As nutrition did its job to ease her headache and jitters, Melanie relaxed in the quiet of the moment. Trevor appeared fixed on the sunset and she turned to look.

  “The view is new every time it falls below the horizon.”

  “The Creator has an endless supply of originality.”

  “Yes.” Maybe she could test the waters in the area of faith instead of diving into the nightmare concerning Chrissy. “My parents were strict church-goers while I was growing up. I didn’t mind – seemed that’s where all my friends hung out. But as I matured, I expected to see some of the teachings at work at home, but try as I might, none surfaced. I concluded religion was all for show and wanted no part of it.”

  “I would’ve run from that form of religion as well,” Trevor said.

  “And yours is miraculously different?” she said, sarcastically.

  No sign of condemnation etched his features. “Mine is not man-made, and it doesn’t depend on service, status, or church membership.” He leaned back in his chair and sipped from his glass of juice. “I experienced much the same as you while growing up, but as a man, I discovered the narrow path Jesus had provided for the redemption of our souls and I could actually enjoy a relationship with the Son of God. This brought my faith to a whole new level of understanding.”

  “Sort of personalized it?”

  “Yes, and isn’t that what we all crave?” he asked.

  Without answering the question, Melanie said, “I’m happy for you.”

  “He didn’t die just for me. You can be part of the family, too.”

  “Afraid I’m damaged material.”

  “Come as you are, that’s His motto.”

  Thankfully, the main course arrived, and Melanie exhaled a wave of relief. She cut into the medium-rare steak and pushed a piece into her mouth with a fork. “Now, this is something I’ve been craving for a long time.”

  “What time should I come calling on Chrissy tomorrow morning?” Trevor asked innocently.

  Melanie almost choked. “About Chrissy…” She watched his eyes darken at the sudden dread in her tone, and she turned away to scan the patrons closest to them, figuring any scum interested in her wouldn’t be found dining in such elegance. Suddenly, a new idea presented itself: rich scum could be here.

  “The fear in your eyes is back. I’m sorry. Please, finish your meal. We’ll discuss it later.”

  She cut more chunks of meat and piled her baked potato with butter, bacon bits, green onions, and mountains of sour cream. Her brain said eat, but she couldn’t bring herself to partake. Within five minutes, she pushed the meal away.

  “Not as good as expected?”

  “It was wonderful. Thank you for inviting me.”

  “My pleasure.” He nodded at the server. “Charge the meal to room 602.” Trevor flashed his ID and reached for Melanie’s hand. “Shall we go for a walk along the beach?”

  “That sounds wonderful.” When their hands touched, a bolt of emotion shot through her body.

  Trevor had apparently felt the impact, too, for he squeezed her fingers gently before escorting her from the hotel.

  Melanie followed like a lamb being led to the slaughter, not sure why that analogy seemed to fit her submissive action. Was she not interested in finding a man to make all her happily-ever-after dreams come true, or was it more that this man would drag her back into the life she’d managed to escape?

  God never planned for us to shoulder the burdens of life alone.

  Chapter 8

  Trevor led her toward the beach in silence. She stooped to kick off her sandals, picked them up, and carried them in her free hand. As they strolled along the water’s edge, she realized that the man was avoiding instigating a conversation. Had she ever met a man so considerate? He deserved to know about his niece, and Melanie hoped it would not send him running for the hills.

  “Two nights ago, Chrissy and I had three men abduct us from the apartment. We were drugged and thrown into body bags inside the trunk of my car. I came to at the river, and while waiting for an opportunity to escape, the woman in the other bag – whom I can only assume was Chrissy – awoke and ticked off one of the men with her groaning. He shot her, and the voice silenced.”

  Trevor stopped and stared at Melanie.

  “I’m sorry, but you asked as to your niece’s whereabouts, and I’m telling you.” She gulped a deep breath of courage and continued. “After my bag was thrown into the water, I escaped, fought the current, and landed further up the shoreline out of sight. I raced through the woods, almost got recaptured, and finally disappeared to safety around a bend in the road. The assailant heard someone tripping in the bush, but he had no idea it was me or that I’d slipped away. I believe they thought I was dead, and their secret was safe.”

  Trevor’s eyes misted. Her heart went out to the broken man upon whom she’d just dumped the worse news. His weakened fingers lost the grip on her hand. “Are you saying Chrissy is dead?”

  “It only makes sense that she was the other woman in the trunk – at least as much as my fuzz-induced brain could comprehend in the moment. I overhead the men arguing, which landed one of them in the river with us. They claimed my trunk partner had refused to tell them anything and implied that I knew nothing to begin with. Obviously, we were both dispensable.”

  “You’ve suffered a kidnapping but you sit casually in the dining room as if nothing happened?”

  The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She sensed condemnation in his tone. “I am investigating a kidnapping, and if I recall, it is you who showed up in town today to hinder my plan in play. I took you up on the dinner invitation to get rid of you for the time being and because I haven’t eaten a decent meal in far too long. I knew you wouldn’t go hom
e until you saw Chrissy, so here we are, Mr. Knight.” She fired her most intimidating glare his way. “Chrissy is the main reason I agreed to come and sit casual-like, to let you in on what I know, which isn’t much.”

  Trevor groped for her hand again, but she pulled it back. “Melanie, you’ve misunderstood my reaction. I immediately feared for Chrissy’s wellbeing and snapped at you. I apologize.”

  “Oh, yes, I almost forgot: you’re her guardian – an absentee one – which allowed my roommate and friend every opportunity to become involved in…who knows what horror.” Melanie’s voice reached a high pitch. She spun around and marched down the beach.

  “Please, Melanie, forgive me,” he said once he’d caught up. “We need to work together.”

  “You are a lawyer not a detective.”

  “But I have one of those on my payroll. My job involves digging deeper into cases, most times to unravel the truth and determine the best way to defend my clients.”

  “Really? A lawyer who cares that justice is served and not simply that his bank balance increases?”

  “That should sound prejudiced, even to you,” Trevor said, casting a disapproving frown her way.

  Melanie bit her lip and lifted her head to face his rebuke. “What could your man do to help?”

  “The same as us – investigate whether it’s Chrissy at the bottom of the river, and if so, find her killers.”

  Melanie’s shoulder’s sagged, reluctant to admit that she was too close to the case. A third-party expert would probably have better results.

  “Besides, if you go strutting around town and the wrong people see you, who’s to say you won’t end up back in the river for the final time?” Trevor said.

  “That thought did cross my mind.”

  “It pains you to ask for help, doesn’t it?” Trevor asked.

  “My father would love to know that I can’t make it on my own. He’d love for me to come crawling back home in defeat.”

  “That is a story for another time, Melanie. Please, let me keep you safe,” Trevor said. He squeezed her hand and pleaded openly with his eyes.

  Isn’t that what she’d hoped would happen? It unraveled her to gaze into his concerned face, and she wondered if the effects of his proximity were more than that for which she had bargained. Also, there was Drew to consider. She hated that her betraying brother still factored into her decisions.

  “I need to think about it,” Melanie said. “I’ll phone the hotel in the morning. Give us both time to sleep on it.”

  “You’re not staying at the apartment, are you?” Trevor asked.

  “No. I’ll call you in the morning. Good night, Trevor.” She turned back and walked toward the brightly lit Inglis Hotel, pulling out her cell phone to call a cab for the fourth time in one long day.

  While sitting on a chair at the cheap motel window, Melanie pulled back the curtain to peer outside. The stars lit up the sky but did nothing to encourage her spirit. She’d go stir crazy locked up in this room waiting for Drew to make another appearance. That night would be his final chance to come clean – if he showed his face. Tomorrow she’d move on to plan B without him.

  Her thoughts turned to Georgia. Trevor Knight had invited her into his realm of safety and she’d be a fool to cast him off. Perhaps the culprits would come looking for her in Chrissy’s family setting. The whole kidnapping had occurred after the brief visit there last week. For lack of another option, Georgia seemed as good a place as any to start the investigation.

  Trevor had expressed faith in his hired man. It would make Chrissy’s uncle feel better, knowing he and his man were on the team to help solve the mystery; a threesome was a win-win situation.

  Melanie repacked her messy bags, hid them under the bed in case Drew came back and wondered where she’d been. She’d prefer him to confess his visit to the apartment willingly, without any prompting from her, but she doubted that would happen. Melanie headed for the bathroom. Another soak in the tub would feel good, but she missed the feel-good jet sprays in her tub at home.

  She sunk deep into the hot water and forced herself to relax, clearing her mind of the clutter that would not bring order to chaos.

  When the water chilled, she stepped onto the cool ceramic floor to dry off. She held dry track pants and a shirt in her hands and wondered if she should slip into them to keep the ruse going in the chance her brother showed up. She groaned – she wanting to wear that outfit again.

  Melanie flung caution to the wind and dropped a flowery lounge dress over her head. She opened the door and her breath caught in her throat.

  “How long have you been here?” Melanie asked. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “I came in quietly, in case you were sleeping. Do you always take so long in the bathroom? You’re going to scrub your skin off if you’re not careful, or drown in a sea of your own dead skin.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Drew could say the stupidest things sometimes. “I’m sure that you, Mr. Casanova, spend your share of time grooming for the ladies.”

  “I suppose so. Probably should head in there now for a clean-up.”

  “Oh? Hot date tonight?”

  “Not likely.”

  “Where have you been all day?” Melanie asked.

  “Just tidying up some business I need to follow up in Georgia tomorrow,” Drew said.

  Melanie decided to ignore the strange business excuse. Drew worked from his home computer at home, and not face to face with clients. Or so he bragged to anyone who suggested he find a real job. “You have professional contacts in this out-of-the-way hick-town?”

  “I do work, despite your lowly opinion of me.”

  “You earned every inch of that opinion.” She tired of cheering his low self-esteem or calling him up on every lie of late. “So, you’re going home to Georgia and not to the Caribbean with me?” She could lie with just as much gumption as he.

  “I’d love to, but duty calls.” The idea of Drew possessing any sense of duty almost made her laugh out loud.

  “You don’t know the meaning of duty. Try another story.”

  Drew’s savage-filled scorn caused her to recoil. “I don’t answer to you, Mel. Butt out of my business if you know what’s good for you.”

  “Are you threatening me, Drew Braxton?”

  He ran shaky fingers through the standing stubble of his bleached blond hair. “I’m sorry, sis. Really, I didn’t mean anything by it. Had a bad day.”

  “Welcome to my world.” Melanie attempted a softer approach. “Why don’t you tell me about it? I’m a good listener, and I’ve helped you out of messes in the past.”

  “Sis, you’re a cop. The bad guys don’t like cops.”

  “Are you keeping company with the bad guys, or were you referring to yourself?”

  “Stop it. You’re not going to break me. The less you know, the better. Go soak up some sun, and I’ll come get you when it’s over.”

  “You won’t come because you’ll be dead. You never were the Prince-Charming type and we both know it. I’m the cop as you so accurately stated, trained to spot the lies and bring order to the world of crime.”

  “Whatever,” he said, and headed toward the bathroom. Drew suddenly turned on his heels. “Where did you get that dress?”

  “Like it?” She twirled to lighten the mood. “I bought it a while ago. Needed something to wear on vacation.”

  “Oh, yeah. The vacation.”

  “Not going to ask where I got the money?”

  “Okay, feel free to inform me.”

  “My charge card was in my pocket. Lucky for me, right?”

  Drew was distracted and in a foul mood.

  “Figured no one will be checking to see if a dead person used her charge card,” Melanie said.

  “Lucky – that’s the way I want you to stay.” He handed Melanie his Mastercard. “Cut yours up and use mine. Your vacation is on Dad’s dime.” Drew sounded genuinely concerned for her welfare, and her sister-heart reached out
to him, while her head remained focused.

  She baited him again. “Maybe I should go to my apartment and pack a bag.”

  “No!” He cleared his throat and spoke in a calmer tone. “You’re dead, remember? The apartment might still be of interest to your abductors.”

  “I don’t think they’re looking for me. They have turned their attention to some big deal going off at the end of the month.”

  “How do you know that?”.

  Not, “Hey, that’s news to me,” but an outright accusation that she had yet to reveal that tidbit of information. But he had known, and the realization did nothing to erase her doubt where Drew was concerned.

  “Did I forget to mention it?” she said, sarcasm edging her voice.

  “This is not a game, Mel. Just go south. Do some shopping.”

  Melanie nodded. She bit her lower lip to stop any further baiting. Drew was not budging and she hated to watch him squirm. He closed the bathroom door with a firm push and shut her out.

  She grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV. The news was on. So far, her little escape in the woods had not surfaced. Obviously, the car and bodies had yet to be discovered.

  The car!

  Should she have gone looking in the area for the car?

  That would be tampering with evidence if this whole thing hit the fan at a later date.

  She should call her partner, Parker, and get him to set up a meet with the captain at the precinct. That would be the smart thing to do. She needed to ask for more leave, anyway.

  Melanie plumped up the pillows and settled comfortably on the bed; while searching for a music channel. Once peaceful tunes filled the air, she curled up on her left side and let the silent tears flow.

  The young man in the bathroom remained lost, not only to her, but to himself, as well.

  Later, when they had both settled in for the night, she told a boldfaced lie: “I booked a flight for tomorrow morning. I’ll soon be out of your hair for good.”

  “Have fun,” he murmured.