Liddie’s eyes were closed when she heard the Land Rover stop again. When she opened them and looked around, it was apparent that they’d reached their destination.
It was a camp – a very primitive one. Somewhere, she now knew, in the middle of a Malaysian rainforest. Torches, scattered about to light up the area, rose high from the ground and burned through the mist. There were four small cabins, two on the right and two on the left. Garrett had stopped the Land Rover in front of the first cabin on the left. In the distance, maybe fifty or sixty yards away, Liddie could barely make out the front of two barn‑like structures.
It wasn’t raining hard, and Liddie was thankful for that. It gave her the opportunity to stretch and walk around. She breathed deep. It was cold and wet, but the air was so much better outside of the SUV.
Five strange men came jogging out of the cabin. They didn’t smile or say anything to acknowledge her. Liddie immediately began to panic and took a step back.
“Relax, they’re employees,” explained Parker. He didn’t introduce her. The men started grabbing at the luggage and carrying it away. Her suitcase, and the coat bag that held her party dresses, went with Parker’s bag into a cabin on the right.
“Are there other women here?”
Parker laughed. “Women? Out here?” He looked at Garrett. “Not exactly a place women appreciate, is it Wade?”
“I wouldn’t think so,” Garrett replied.
“So, why am I here, Parker?” Liddie asked. “What the hell am I?”
Parker placed his arm around her. Dirt that had caked up on his skin rubbed off on her. “Oh, don’t look so worried, Liddie. You’re here to help me get work done. Shouldn’t take more than a day or two. After that, we’ll see.”
The five men returned to the SUV and Garrett tossed one of them the keys.
“Parker!” exclaimed Liddie, “Where are they going with the car?” She looked around and didn’t see another one anywhere.
“Don’t worry about it. They’ll be back in a day. We’re fine here.”
It was so dark. Liddie squinted to see the buildings in the distance. Maybe they were garages. She hoped so. The thought of being in such a remote location with no transportation worried her even more.
“Paco!” barked Parker.
The thug came forward and handed his boss what Liddie recognized was her laptop case. Parker handed it to her.
“See,” he comforted. “No one was ever keeping it from you. Now, let’s get you settled inside.”
Liddie took another quick look around before following Parker into the cabin. She shivered and looked around for Garrett. He was walking to a cabin across from them. He turned back, but only for a second. Liddie felt abandoned.
“You call this a vacation, Parker?” She slapped at something that stung her arm. “I don’t even want to think of the bugs around here. “
He laughed. “You’ll get the occasional bug bite, no doubt about that. I did have them spray the camp before we came. It shouldn’t be too bad.” He nodded toward the cabin. “Let’s go in. This is where we’ll be living.”
Liddie pushed the dread aside and turned her attention to the bare‑bones shelter. A battery‑operated lantern and some candles were already lit and scattered for light. There was no electricity. The soft glow of the candle flames gave the primitive cabin a romantic aura. There wasn’t much furniture, but what was there looked comfortable enough. A few pieces of weathered patio furniture sat in what served as the living room, and there was a makeshift kitchenette area to the left, with jugs of water and hot plates. Liddie spotted a small fridge and a portable heater in the corner.
“How can you have appliances out here?”
“Battery generators,” explained Parker and pointed to the wall. “Outside each cabin. There’s also two outhouses with pit toilets, one for each set of cabins.” He pointed somewhere off to the side, “We’ve got a decent water reserve in the back as well, so you won’t go dirty.”
He smiled. “Pretty awesome, don’t you think?” He led her to the bedroom where a full‑size mattress sat atop a cheap, wired bed frame. A huge tent of mosquito netting hung from a nail on the ceiling.
Her heart sank at the sight of it. “This is your idea of a vacation, Parker?”
He laughed. “Where’s your sense of adventure, Liddie? You always said you wanted your life to be as exciting as mine.” He held his arms out. “Welcome to my world.”
There was a knock at the cabin door. A moment later, Garrett walked into the bedroom with a medical bag.
“Right. Let’s get this over with.” Parker pulled his shirt up over his head as Garrett opened the bag and pulled out a few pre‑filled syringes.
Liddie started to panic and backed away. “What are you doing? What is that?”
Parker looked at her and then at Garrett with surprise. “Geez, relax Liddie. They’re vaccinations.” He made a point of squinting in pain as Garrett stuck him with one needle, and then another. “You don’t want hepatitis, typhoid…”
“Malaria, rabies…” Garrett continued.
“Or God knows what else,” finished Parker. “Buck up, Liddie. You’re living the dream.”
Garrett looked up at her as he pushed the medicine into Parker’s arm. “Not afraid of needles, are you?” he asked.
“I’m not afraid of anything,” she replied dryly.
“Whoa,” yelled Parker. “You better watch your ass, Wade.”
Both men laughed. Liddie sat down on the bed and waited as Garrett took up her arm and began the process of administering the shots. The fingers of one hand held her arm gently, and he looked into her eyes as often as possible.
Liddie took his attention as reassurance that the needles did indeed contain vaccinations. She stayed calm and accommodating, as Parker busied himself with his bags. When it came time to insert each needle, Garrett did it gently, focusing intently on the task and swiftly pulling out each needle when done.
“I didn’t know you were a doctor, too.” Liddie said when he’d finished.
“A nurse,” replied Garrett with a smile.
“Right now,” interrupted Parker, “he’s a third wheel.”
Garrett laughed. “I can take a hint.” He nodded at Liddie and turned to leave. She opened her mouth to say something and then stopped. Until she had a plan, it would be wise to keep her mouth shut.
Once Garrett left, Parker collapsed on the bed beside her.
“Finally,” he sighed. “Now, come here.”
His hands crawled up her back with the enthusiasm of a spider with a baited web.
Liddie reluctantly lay down and allowed him to pull her close. She remembered what Garrett had said in the car about convincing Parker that she still cared. If only he knew how difficult that was for her now.
Parker’s fingers played with hers as he positioned himself over her. When he brought his lips in for a kiss, Liddie suddenly turned her head.
Parker froze. “What’s this?”
Fear ripped through Liddie. She hadn’t meant to turn away, but it was how her body instinctually reacted.
“I’m sorry, Parker. I feel so lousy.” She realized her voice was high, and she quickly tried to erase the panic. “I’m not feeling all that romantic at the moment. I mean, I’m really tired and feeling sick from the ride.”
Parker lost his smile. He stared at her for a moment and then rolled over to the side.
“Put on something pretty, Liddie.”
Chapter Nine
It wasn’t a request. It was an order.
“I want to see you in something sexy,” repeated Parker. “Change your clothes.”
Liddie got up and backed away from the bed. “Why are you being this way, Parker? This isn’t like you.”
He sat up. “Liddie, as much as you’d like to think that you know me, you don’t.” He brought his hands up to his eyes and rubbed. “We’ve been playing games for the past three years. Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“Yes, but…
”
“But what?” he yelled. The pitch of his anger shot through her like a bullet. “I’ve done everything I could to keep you happy, and I’m promising to continue to do so. Didn’t you like shopping and picking out all those nice clothes?” He waved with disgust at her suitcase.
Liddie nodded. “But what happened to my cell phone, Parker? I haven’t been able to call anyone and it makes me…”
“To hell with your cell phone, Liddie!” Parker punched the bed with a fist. “Your damn cell, your passport, the hotel phone…” He swung his legs around to sit on the edge of the bed. “I’ll go get them right now if that’s the only thing that will shut you up. Is that what you want?”
Liddie looked at him with shock. He’d spit out the words before even realizing what he’d said.
“You do have my phone,” she said slowly. He just admitted to it. Of course, it was worthless here in the jungle and that’s no doubt why he offered.
Parker picked up one of his expensive sneakers and threw it hard against the wall. Liddie flinched.
“Again, Liddie, I’m going to ask you to go put on something appropriate for bed, or I’m going to have Jerry and Paco come in and strip you clean for me.” His eyes held the dare. “Is that what you want?”
Liddie tensed up. “No,” she replied with quiet anger, realizing that it was not an empty threat. “That’s not what I want.” She stared back at him, furious and frightened.
Parker nodded. “Good. Neither do I.” He held her stare and waited.
Liddie knew she had run out of options. Parker was in control and he knew it. She grabbed her handbag off the floor. It had been a full day since she’d taken her birth‑control pill and there was no way she wanted to miss a dose now. In a panic, she put the bag on the dresser and searched.
“I can’t find my pills, Parker.” She turned to face him. “My birth‑control pills are gone. You wouldn’t want to chance it.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
“You want me to get pregnant?” she asked in amazement. “Because, I’m warning you, it’s a real possibility.” He couldn’t possibly want a child in his life. Not now.
“Get ready for bed, Liddie. If it happens, you’ll be the mother of the Maxon heir. I only plan to have one.” He grunted. “You’ve just won the fuckin’ lottery, and you’re acting like an ungrateful bitch.”
Stunned, Liddie’s eyes widened with disbelief. He’d stolen her pills.
“Is that what this is all about? You want me to be the mother of your heir?”
Parker didn’t answer, but Liddie could see the rage coming to a boil and sensed danger. She moved over to the suitcase and grabbed a T‑shirt she’d bought and a fresh pair of underwear. It was the least sexy items she’d be able to get away with.
“Can I use the bathroom?”
“Fine.” Parker barked. “Take the flashlight. Go around the back. It’s about ten feet to the left. There’s a lantern and water out there as well.”
Liddie turned to leave. She could hear the rain, but didn’t care. It was a chance to get out and away from him.
“And Liddie,” warned Parker coldly, “Don’t cry out there all night.”
****
The outhouse wasn’t as gross as Liddie had expected. Then again, it was dark. There was a barrel of, what looked to be, clean water in the corner. A basin and battery lantern sat on a makeshift table. Liddie switched on the light. The structure was twice as large as any she’d ever seen in the past – usually in campsites during her scout years. Looking around, she noticed that the wood looked newer than that used for the cabins. Recently custom built for Parker, no doubt. She looked around for spiders, bats and other bugs that were known to hang out in such places. The scariest bug found was a large spider in the far corner. Someone had obviously cleaned the place out earlier in the day.
Liddie washed up and changed clothes quickly, putting the damp jeans back on afterward. It was cold for wet jeans, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t about to be caught outside the cabin in her underwear.
She rested against one wall and listened to the rain hit the roof of the little shack. Reaching over to shut off the light, Liddie stood in the darkness, mourning the loss of her dreams, the loss of her freedom. All along, Parker’s plan had been to conceive a Maxon heir. Then what? Would he take a page from his father’s book and discard her afterward?
The idea of it made her sick and yet, what choice did she have now? Liddie wanted to cry, but held back, not wanting to give Parker the satisfaction. Somehow, she would get through this.
Thoughts of a baby came to mind, and Liddie closed her eyes. If the Maxon family even tried to take a child from her, they would…
A knock.
At first, Liddie wasn’t sure she’d heard it.
Another knock. Her whole body crumpled with the heaviness of defeat. Parker wouldn’t leave her be. Not even for a few minutes.
She put on the flashlight and opened the door. Garrett pushed himself in, grabbing hold of her arm to keep Liddie from tripping back.
“Shut off the light,” he ordered.
Liddie immediately switched the flashlight off, realizing that they might be seen through the small, screened window cut into the door.
They stood silently for a moment as the rain pounded the roof. It was pitch black, but Liddie sensed the strength of his presence directly in front of her. He was sopping wet from the downpour that surrounded them.
“You’re cold,” he noted.
Liddie felt his hands move up and down her arms, trying to warm her up. “You knew he took my passport.”
“I knew.”
“Are you going to help me?” she asked. Liddie began to shiver, and tears began to well up in her eyes. She blinked them back. “He wants to get me pregnant.”
“Oh, Liddie.” Garrett reached out and found her face with one hand. When she sobbed, he grabbed her body and held it to his wet chest.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
The heat from his body warmed hers, and she felt his thumbs gently wipe away the tears from her cheeks. Her face tilted up, and the lips she preferred so much more than Parker’s circled her mouth.
Liddie wrapped her arms around him, up his back and around his shoulders. He wanted to help her. He would help her.
She lifted her hands to his head. Wet hair tickled her fingers. She felt his face and stroked the stubble that scratched gently against her open palms.
When Garrett pulled away, Liddie knew the momentary escape was over.
“You’ve got to go back to him, Liddie.”
She shook her head. There had to be a way out. “Where are we, Garrett? Can’t I hide someplace?”
“No.” He squeezed her arms gently. “There is no safe place. We’re in a very remote area. Even if you did run into the jungle there are poaching snares, and you don’t want to get caught in one of those.” He sighed. “He’d burn the camp and half the jungle looking for you.”
“But if I go back,” she choked on the words. “Garrett, I know he’ll hurt me if I don’t…”
Garrett let out a frustrated sigh. “I know, Liddie, I know.”
“Would you hurt me, too?” She suddenly asked. “Is this a game between the two of you?” Desperation gave way to anger. “I saw you with him in the plane, both of you laughing at me.”
“Oh, God, no Liddie.” He moved to grab hold of her again, when a light flashed toward the outhouse.
“He’s coming,” whispered Garrett. “Listen to me, Liddie.” He stepped to the right of the door and pulled her to him. “If he tries to hurt you, if he gets rough, if you can’t handle it… I want you to run away.”
“But…”
“Just run.” He pushed her away as Parker opened the door.
“What the hell are you doing, Liddie?” He shined the flashlight on her face, and Liddie wiped away a tear. All Parker had to do was turn to the right and he would see Garrett standing in the shadows.
“I�
��m…”
He didn’t wait for her to answer. Parker grabbed her wrist and pulled Liddie out of the shack and back to the cabin.
She didn’t look back at Garrett. Not once.
In the room, Parker grabbed a towel and started drying himself off. He grabbed another and threw it to Liddie.
The towel was clean and soft. She blotted the rain from her skin. Parker, she noticed, had put the small heater in the bedroom and the space was definitely warming up.
“You know Liddie, I wanted this to be so special for us,” began Parker. He moved over to her suitcase. “I know you bought this for me,” he lifted up one of the skimpy nighties Liddie had purchased in New York, “Yet, you don’t put it on. Instead you put on that.”
He pointed toward her jeans and T‑shirt. “What the hell’s going on with you?”
The rain had ceased for a good five minutes, but as Liddie began to speak, heavy drops began beating at the rooftop once more. In parts of the cabin the ceiling leaked, and the water formed temporary puddles on the floor. Most of it dripped through the space between the slats and into the dirt below the cabin.
“You’re not the same as you were in New York,” said Liddie. “You’ve taken my things and…”
“And what?” asked Parker aggressively.
“And you’ve gotten nasty, Parker.” She dropped the towel and turned. “I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Parker flew across the room and grabbed her. “Wait, Liddie.” He relaxed his features and took a deep breath. “Let’s chill out, okay?” He pulled her over to the bed to sit beside him. “I understand this isn’t what you expected.” His blue eyes watched her carefully. “I understand that I’ve probably moved a little too fast, and I apologize for that.”
She nodded.
“All right, then. I’m not a bad guy. You know that.” He took a deep breath and touched her arm lightly. “Let’s go to sleep. How does that sound? We’ll cuddle and wake up refreshed for a day of work tomorrow.” He withdrew his hands. “After that, we’ll talk this out and get back to the way we’ve always been. How’s that?”
Liddie didn’t want to be in the same bed with him, but couldn’t think of any way around it. She pushed her hair back. “Couldn’t I sleep in the other room?”
Wild Suspicions (Romantic Suspense) Page 11
