by Elaine Meece
Megan only prayed the back door wasn’t locked. With Dan being out, Ruth probably had left it unlocked. “If you change your mind, I’ll be awake.”
“Why is it all pregnant women are so damn horny?”
“Our hormones are raging.” She hated him, and tonight he had blood on his hands. Connie’s blood. Hopefully, he wouldn’t visit her tonight. She turned and tried the doorknob. The door opened, and she slipped inside the dark kitchen, then ran head on into Ruth. Would she notice the dirt and blood on her dress? Megan’s heart raced. Wife number one wasn’t as easily fooled as Dan.
“Where have you been?”
Megan sighed. “I got up to make sure everything’s all right.”
“And is it?” Ruth asked.
“Dan said everything is fine and for me to go back to sleep.” She walked off without waiting for Ruth’s reply. “Goodnight.”
On the way to her room, she stopped at the bathroom and cleaned up. Once in her room, she put on a clean garment and gown, then hid the soiled dress. She lowered the open window and climbed in bed. When she thought of Connie, her heart ached. She prayed Libby had managed to get in the house without being caught.
♦♦♦
Just as Libby reached the house, Hawkins drove up. Rather than go inside, she darted into the barn. She shooed the dogs away that had followed her. “Go. Get out of here.”
Inside the barn, the horses neighed.
“Shh,” she whispered, trying to calm them. “Settle down.”
The truck parked outside the barn. The dogs barked.
She opened the stall, eased inside, and closed the gate, letting the latch slide into place. The large gray gelding eased over to her, looking for an apple.
“Sorry, boy. I don’t have one with me.” She stroked his neck.
Hawkins stood in the doorway.
She eased down to the ground and crouched in the corner.
The big gelding neighed and stepped about.
Libby feared he’d stomp her, but if Hawkins caught her, she would end up dead.
Hawkins walked up and down the barn, shining a flashlight in each stall.
As he neared the one she was in, she eased back avoiding the beam of light. The gelding shuffled his big feet around.
Libby’s heart leapt as the light caught the tip of her dress. She jerked it out of the beam and held her breath, praying he hadn’t seen it.
♦♦♦
Saturday morning, Annie woke around 10:00 a.m. to find two little faces staring at her. She recalled the previous evening. It had been wonderful. It hadn’t taken much persuasion to get her out of the Hello Kittie pajamas. It wasn’t until six a.m. that she’d moved to the sofa.
“What time is it?” she asked the boys.
“Breakfast time,” Gabe said. “Daddy’s cooking pancakes.”
She sat up, pulled her hair up, and rubbed the back of her neck. It ached from not having a good pillow. “Sounds good. Let me grab my clothes and get dressed.” She glanced over at Shawn. “You don’t look very happy this morning.”
He shrugged but still wore a scowl.
Something had the kid bent out of shape.
Though Brice claimed the boys wouldn’t wake up, Annie had a terrible suspicion, Shawn had discovered her in his dad’s bed.
Another problem she and Brice faced was Zurtel’s policy concerning executives involved with employees. It wouldn’t take Cynthia long to figure out their plan had gone in a more intimate direction⸻like under the covers.
At the breakfast table, Shawn continued to pout and flash angry glares at Brice and her.
“What’s wrong with you? Someone steal your cover?” Brice asked Shawn.
“Nothing!”
“Tell us a knock knock joke,” Brice suggested
Instead of looking thrilled, he snarled and pouted more.
“What’s wrong?” Brice asked.
“You lied, Daddy.”
“What about?”
“You said you’d marry Mommy again and come home. You said Annie was going to help make that happen.”
Gabe’s face grew sad. “You’re not coming back?”
Brice sighed. “I don’t think your mom and I can love each other the way we did. Too much has changed.”
Shawn pointed to Annie. “It’s her fault.”
Annie swallowed hard, the pancake sticking in her throat.
“That’s not fair,” Brice said. “You’re not pinning this on Annie or me. Your mom left me for Hayden. If you want to blame someone, blame them.”
Shawn’s face shined red with anger while tears ran down his face.
Gabe wrapped his arms around his brother.
“You’ll understand all of this when you’re older,” Brice added. “If you’re finished eating, go put your swimming suits on.”
After they’d left the room, Annie finally finished her pancakes. “I think he knows we were together last night.”
“I think he heard us talking. Before we went in my room, I checked on him. He was out like a light. Trust me, nothing wakes him up.”
“Brice, I don’t know if things will work between us. Your boys really want you back with their mom.”
He placed his hand on hers. “I don’t love Shea. For the first time in a long time, I feel alive again, thanks to you.”
By the time they reached the Conner’s home, Shawn had cheered up and hadn’t given her anymore hateful glares. He had even told a joke on the drive over.
While the boys were outside with Gina, Mallory, and Sierra, Brice and Annie met with Cynthia and Tristen in the den.
Cynthia motioned for them to sit. “Tell me about Cactus Point.”
For the next ten minutes, Annie described what Megan had written in her letters and what her visit to the commune had been like.
“That’s horrible,” Cynthia said.
“If a girl is pretty more than likely she’ll go to Hawkins.”
“Tell me about the airstrip,” Tristen requested.
Annie described it in more detail. “If I can get a letter to her through Mrs. Craven, I’ll send a map with details on the time and date to meet us. We’ll just fly in, pick them up, and fly out.”
“And straight to the FBI,” Cynthia said.
Tristen stepped forward. “Cynthia and I learned how fast a simple plan can go astray. You’ve got to go in knowing things can go South quickly. Those people aren’t going to let them escape to the outside world where their way of life can be exposed.” He turned to Annie. “What did the FBI say?”
“They went in and spoke with some of the women. No one backed up the story. They spoke to a girl who said she was my sister, but it wasn’t Megan.” Annie dropped her hands to her side. “But if someone storms the facility, Hawkins may order a mass suicide.”
“That’d be unthinkable,” Cynthia said.
Tristen pinned his gaze on Brice. “Are you willing to risk your life to save her sister and niece? You have sons to think of.”
Annie recognized the uncertainty in Brice’s eyes. No doubt, he was thinking about his sons. She held her breath, waiting for his answer.
Brice’s gaze met hers. “I promised Annie, I’d help her. I’ll take the chance.”
“Thank you,” Annie said, realizing how much Brice cared for her.
Cynthia folded her hands. “You get my jet shot full of holes and we’ll be deducting it from both of your salaries.”
“Another problem will be expecting a copilot to put his life on the line,” Tristen said. “Not to mention, Keith and Mark are flying us to Miami. They’d plan to hang out there while we’re on the cruise. And Evan is taking a training class to move up to captain.”
“I can fly without one.”
“Dad made it company policy. It also keeps our insurance at a lower rate.” Cynthia smiled. “They have a Vega I prototype ready for me to take to Miami for a trial run. I think the solution to your problem is for you to take it instead of me.”
“That’s a million-dollar
copilot. You sure?” Brice asked.
“We’ll publicize the success of your trip.”
“Smart thinking. There’s actually another problem,” Brice said, “Who’s going to run Zurtel while we’re gone?”
Cynthia folded her arms and smiled. “I know just the man for the job. It’ll give him something to do beside spend money on his new wife and play golf.”
Tristen laughed. “She’s talking about her father.”
“I’ll give him a call.”
Annie couldn’t stop the tears. “I want to thank all of you now for doing this for me, and for my sister and niece. Megan will expose Hawkins once she’s out of there.”
“Good.” Cynthia motioned toward the kitchen. “Let’s break for lunch. Then Brice and I have a little business to take care of, so if you’d like you can join them at the pool.”
“I didn’t bring a suit,” Annie said.
“I keep extra ones hanging in the bath house. They’re clean.”
“I may just get some tea and sit under the patio.”
“Suit yourself.”
Annie tried really hard not to show any affection for Brice in front of Cynthia. She really didn’t want to lose her job. Though she didn’t think it was fair that Cynthia herself broke that very rule by marrying Tristen.
At the table, Annie sat by Brice. When he placed his hand on her thigh and rubbed it, she choked on her sandwich. “It went down the wrong pipe.”
“Drink some water,” Cynthia suggested.
Annie coughed hard. “I’m fine.”
“I don’t feel the least bit guilty letting the kids swim while we eat,” Tristen said. “It’s so peaceful in here.”
“I plan to serve them outside,” Cynthia added. “We have a date with Jenny.”
“Who’s Jenny?” Annie asked.
“Remember Mallory’s talking doll?” Brice asked.
“The one that kept Mallory in tears. I remember it. What’s happening to it?”
“We may bash its brain in,” Cynthia said.
“Seems a little harsh. Just give it to the Goodwill and buy her something else,” Tristen suggested.
“For right now, the doll is safe,” Cynthia said.
Mallory poked her head through the back door. “Are you ready for me?”
“Not yet,” Cynthia said.
Mallory frowned but returned to the pool.
Brice explained the doll’s true purpose.
Annie’s eyes widened. “Oh, my Heavens! It sounds like something out of a James Bond movie.”
“My first thought was to destroy it, but then Brice came up with a better plan,” Cynthia said. “I have our script written out, so we don’t slip up.”
“Lines?” Annie questioned.
“We are going to send Kayla Miller a message she’ll never forget.”
Brice chuckled. “There’s no doubt in my mind, she’s behind everything that’s happened.”
“Mallory turned Jenny on last night and talked to her about Gabe and Shawn coming over while we have a meeting. So, Jenny will be instructing Mallory to leave her near us.”
“What a sneaky bitch!” Annie said. “She sounds worse than my sister, Renee.”
Cynthia chuckled. “Now that the cat’s out of the bag, you’re welcome to stay and listen, but you can’t get us tickled. This is serious.”
Annie turned to Tristen. “Are you taking a part in it?”
“No, I’m going to join the kids in the pool.”
Annie realized they’d work better without her in the room. “I’ll take sandwiches out to the kids.”
“Thanks,” Cynthia said.
Annie carried the tray of sandwiches outside and set it on the patio table. The kids climbed out of the pool. Mallory, Gina, Shawn, and Gabe attacked the sandwiches like a hungry pack of wolves.
She passed out drinks. “I have one grape left. Who wants it?”
“I’ll take it,” Tristen said. He joined the children at the table and grabbed a handful of chips.”
“Hey, you ate inside,” Mallory said.
“And now I’m eating outside,” he said.
Gina smiled. “You’ll get fat like Grandpa.”
“Naw, I’m about to swim it off.”
“Mallory, your mom wants you inside as soon as you finish eating,” Annie announced.
After Gabe and Gina finished, they returned to the pool. Mallory rushed inside to play her role. They had all gone but Shawn.
“We forgot to ask how the wedding went last night,” Tristen said. “Did the plan work?”
Annie nodded. “It worked.”
“Are Brice and Shea getting back together?” Tristen asked.
Shawn scowled. “My dad said he didn’t want to marry my Mom.”
Annie had to find a way to divert the conversation before Shawn blurted out the wrong thing. “They did dance last night. It looked promising.”
“I wonder what went wrong,” Tristen mused.
Annie shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“It’s because of you,” Shawn said. “You were in my dad’s bed.”
Annie’s heart lodged in her throat. “I slept on the sofa.”
“No, you didn’t. I saw you come out of Daddy’s room.”
Heat flooded Annie’s face.
“Let me talk to Shawn, man to man,” Tristen said.
“You’re not going to tell Cynthia, are you? She’ll fire me.”
Tristen patted her hand. “Annie, first of all, I think the rule is ridiculous. Second, I think you and Brice would make a great couple, and third, I like you. You were a good friend to me last year when I needed one. I don’t let friends down. No matter what.”
Annie joined the girls and Gabe in the pool.
Tristen walked over to some chairs and sat with Shawn. She couldn’t imagine what he could say that would make things right for the kid. Shawn had done a one-eighty from liking her to disliking her. It hurt. She wanted him to like her.
♦♦♦
Brice smiled when Mallory came through the door.
Cynthia stopped her. “Go get your doll and play with her for a moment. Brush her hair and change her clothes. Don’t act too anxious to bring her to us.”
“Got it,” Mallory said.
While they waited for Mallory to return with the Jenny doll, they discussed what they would say.
Not even ten minutes later, Mallory returned carrying Jenny.
“Hi, I’m Jenny. I want to be your friend. Hi, I’m Jenny. I want to be your friend.”
“You’ve got company, Mallory. Go entertain your guests in the pool. Take that annoying doll with you.”
“Jenny doesn’t like getting wet.”
“Then leave her and go swim.”
Mallory faced the doll toward them and set it down in a sitting position. The doll’s eyes blinked and light shined through them.
Brice looked away from the doll and focused his attention on Cynthia. “I really feel like this should be our next move.”
“But since we didn’t purchase the property from Crammer Industries, we don’t have anywhere for this equipment to go.”
“True, but you will find a location soon. The factory can go up within six months. Until then, keep everything in a warehouse. It’s all the equipment you’ll need for opening the plant.”
“And it’s in good condition?”
“Excellent. I checked it out myself. Rather than wait until the auction, call Mr. Patterson at Aero-Dynamics and make him an offer.”
“How much do you suggest?”
“Two million.” Brice had a difficult time keeping his voice from reflecting his amusement.
“That’s a lot. Shouldn’t I negotiate?”
“It will cost you three times more than that to equip the new plant. If you don’t jump on this someone will.”
“I’ll call first thing Monday morning and make the offer. What’s the number?”
“555-652-4560.”
“Got it. Next, we need to find
a location and get the plant built. Now that our problems with MX7 are over we’re ready to get things underway.” She stood and gathered her papers. “Let’s go see what the kids are doing.”
Outside, Brice and Cynthia joined Tristen and Annie. “Our mission was accomplished,” Cynthia said. She turned to Brice and did a high-five.
“You think she fell for it?” Tristen asked.
“The doll was fully activated.” She turned to Mallory. “What did she say?”
“To put her near you and Mr. Brice.”
“Come Monday, Kayla Miller will be paying big money for the purchase of old airplane scrap metal,” Brice said.
“How long will it take her to realize she’s been duped?” Annie asked.
“I’m not sure,” Brice said. “Too bad we can’t be there to see her face when she realizes what she’s purchased.”
“How much is that stuff really worth?” Tristen asked.
Cynthia and Brice glanced at each other and smiled before looking back at the others.
“Probably around ten thousand,” Brice said.
They all laughed.
“Now to dispose of the doll,” Cynthia said.
Mallory’s expression grew sad. “I want to keep my Jenny doll.”
“Would you be just as happy with her, if it didn’t connect to the Internet?”
Mallory nodded. “I just like brushing her hair and changing her clothes.”
Tristen placed a hand on her head. “Then you can keep it.” He placed his arm around Cynthia. “From now on, I’ll be more careful about accepting packages that show up out of the blue.”
♦♦♦
Annie relaxed more after the boys had been dropped off at Pamela’s house. From first impressions, she liked Brice’s sister. Pamela had offered to keep the boys overnight.
Annie hoped it wouldn’t take long to find Dan’s brother’s place. She’d looked him up on the Alabama Tax Assessor’s website and found an address. It seemed to be in the location Renee had indicated.
Brice headed down Interstate 20 toward Alabama.
“I’m glad we’re in your car. They won’t recognize it.”
Brice grinned. “Yeah, your greenie beanie is hard to miss.”
Annie laughed. “I wanted something people wouldn’t have a difficult time seeing at night. My old car had been black and got rear-ended a lot.” She flipped the sun visor down, shielding her eyes. “Shawn told Tristen what you said about Shea. He blamed me in front of Tristen. He also mentioned seeing me come out of your room.”
