Walker shook his head.
“Okay, General Walker. I think it may be best for you and the investigation if you were to return to Germany at your earliest convenience.”
“But, what about the thumb drive?”
“We’ll take up the search from here, General. Thank you for your cooperation.”
With that, General Walker had no choice but to leave the room.
Once Stan closed the door behind him, Scott took out his cell phone and made a call.
Grant couldn’t tell much from the side of the conversation he was able to hear, but Scott filled them both in as soon as he disconnected.
“I just ordered a protective tail to be placed on General Walker. Not only do I think that he knows more than what he just told us, but if what he told us is true, his life is probably in danger. And I need him alive to continue building a strong case.
They began to leave, when Grant turned to Scott, “What do we do next?”
Scott smiled and said, “If you two would care to join me, I’m going back to the Newcomb estate to go back through the general’s stuff now that we know what we’re looking for.”
Grant was going, and he didn’t have to ask Stan to know that he was too.
Chapter Ten
The next morning, Kelly gently placed her desk phone back into its cradle. What had she just done? Yes, she’d done it all right! She had actually agreed to meet Grant at La Mexicana tonight. It was a date! No matter what he tried to tell her, and no matter what she tried to tell herself, it was a date. Why? Why had she agreed to meet him?
Who was she trying to fool? She knew why. Grant kept saying that he was attracted to her. Well, she had to admit, at least to herself, that she was attracted to him as well. She just hadn’t wanted to admit it. She’d never felt this way before, and she was suddenly very much afraid of all these strange new emotions.
What was she going to do about them? What could she do about them? For that matter, what was she going to do about Grant? Again, what could she do about Grant?
Suddenly, she knew what she had to do. She eased herself up and out of her desk chair, then left her office. She took the long way to her grandfather’s office to avoid a chance encounter with her brother. She wasn’t ready to deal with him just then. She didn’t want to talk to him, because she was sure he’d be no help at all. But, on the other hand, she had always been able to turn to her grandfather whenever anything was troubling her. He had always listened to her sympathetically and then would help her to make exactly the right decision.
When she arrived in Martha’s office, she had to wait a few minutes while her grandfather finished a meeting with the service manager.
Once they were seated side by side on one of the sofas in the conversation pit, her grandfather took one look at her face and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He just held her that way for a short time.
Kelly finally looked up into those loving blue eyes, so very much like her own. Suddenly, she felt a peace come over her and she began telling him everything about her planned date with Grant.
Kelly wasn’t prepared for her grandfather’s reaction when she finished. He smiled broadly and said, “I’m pleased.”
“What?” She didn’t know what to think of his reaction.
He continued smiling and said, “I can see it in your eyes Little One. You may not realize it just yet, but I think you’re finally letting someone in.”
When she started to protest, he held up a hand and said, “Your grandmother and I have been praying for at least the last five years that you would finally find someone you could be happy with. You, more than most, deserve to be happy.”
She tried to show indignation but couldn’t quite manage it. “Why does everyone think that in order to be happy, I have to be married?”
This time, he laughed out loud. “I didn’t say that. I simply said we’ve been praying that you would find someone, but once you do find that special someone, we hope that you will marry him.”
Kelly shook her head and looked up into her grandfather’s eyes again. “I don’t know what to do, Grandfather.” She looked down at her hands which wouldn’t stay still in her lap. “I’ve never . . .”
He placed his large hand over hers and stilled them. “Kelly, Kelly, Kelly, just take a deep breath, relax, and listen to me for a few minutes.” When she looked back up at him, he said, “Okay?”
Kelly only nodded, took the deep breath he’d asked her to take, and waited to hear what he might say.
“Did your grandmother or I ever tell you about how we met and got married?”
She searched her memory but couldn’t come up with much. “No, I don’t remember anything, except Grandmother once said that she never looked at another man after she met you.”
He laughed his booming laugh. “And I can say the same thing about her. But it wasn’t all that simple. You do know that her father was the governor when we met at A.S.U.”
“Yes, Grandmother wanted Wayne and me to know all about our great-grandfather, even though we never met him.”
“Yes, well, he was a great politician and a good man, although more than a little intimidating for someone like me who wanted to date his daughter.”
“Did he try to keep you apart?”
“No, he didn’t, even though I expected him to do so at any time, but he never did. In fact, after we were married, he loaned me the money to buy the original franchise here.”
She thought she remembered that much, but was beginning to wonder where he was going with all this. It didn’t seem to tie in with her predicament.”
She was about to ask when he continued. “I knew who her father was, and I was so afraid of him that I couldn’t even work up the nerve to ask her out.”
This time she waited, knowing he would continue once he collected his thoughts.
“So, she finally grew tired of waiting on me, got right in my face and said, ‘Are you going to ask me out or not?’ Well, I’ll tell you that shocked me to no end. And the rest, as they say, is history.”
Kelly laughed in spite of herself. “But, Grandfather, how does all that apply to my situation?”
He laughed loudly again. “What I’m trying to tell you, Little One, is that you have to do as your grandmother did, and follow your heart.”
When she continued to give him a puzzled look, he said, “Kelly, you need to stop and think about this. What do you feel in your heart for this young man?”
This question, at least, she knew she could answer. “That’s just it. I don’t know what to think about him.”
He held up his hand and said, “Okay, maybe I should rephrase that question. “How do you feel when you are around him?”
She was beginning to see where he was going now. “I guess you could say that I feel confused, even a little jittery.”
“Go on. What else?”
This was not easy for her, even, or especially, with her grandfather. “I guess I’ve begun to feel somewhat excited to see him.”
He clapped his hands together. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Okay, I assume that almost every time you’ve been around Grant Thompson, his partner was there too.”
“Yes, except for yesterday, that’s true.”
“Okay, have you ever felt any of those feelings about his partner?”
She could only shake her head just as she realized what he was getting at. Yes, it was true. She had never felt this way around any other man. “Then, what does that mean?”
She didn’t realize she had spoken aloud until her grandfather laughed and answered her. “It means, Little One, that, just as I said a few minutes ago, you are letting Grant Thompson in, just a little at a time.” He blew out a breath and wrapped his arm around her shoulders again. “It hasn’t hurt yet, has it?”
She shook her head and he said, “Then keep going and see where it will lead.”
She stretched up and kissed him on the cheek and his mustache tickled her cheek. “Thank you Grandfather. I knew you
could make sense out of all these mixed emotions I’m having.”
He laughed again. “Do you think you know what to do now?”
She actually blushed, again. This was getting to be habit forming. “No.”
He drew her closer in his embrace. “Just let your heart lead the way, Kelly.”
She tried to smile as she stood to leave.
“By the way,” he said as he also stood. “From what I have been able to learn and observe of this Grant Thompson, I’m still convinced that he just might be a fine young man.”
Kelly turned back to face him. “You don’t think there’s anything wrong with us seeing each other since he is actually my step-brother?”
He laughed one final time. “No, Little One. I see no problem there. The only time that could ever be an issue would be if you grew up together in the same household. Then you would be looked upon as more like sister and brother.”
Kelly left her grandfather’s office feeling much better in one way, but more nervous than ever in other ways. She just didn’t know what to expect tonight with Grant.
* * *
Grant was beginning to lose his patience. If Alison raised her voice at him one more time, he wasn’t sure what he’d do.
“Look, Alison, you had your chance to be there Tuesday night the same as Sybil and me.”
Alison shook her head causing her long blond hair to fly all around. “That’s just it, Grant. I wasn’t there and I don’t think I want to be around her either. She’s a stranger to us, Grant.”
“Yes, but it wasn’t her fault.” He blew out an exasperated breath. “Don’t you remember me telling you that Harry left a letter for her explaining why he kept knowledge of us from her?”
“Yes, but how do we know that she truly has amnesia and doesn’t remember us?”
Grant grabbed Alison by both wrists as her hands were waving in front of his face. “Look Alison, I’m only going to say it one more time.”
When she relaxed in his grip, he released her wrists.
“I’m a detective, remember? I question people all the time. Some are lying to me and some aren’t. I have to know the difference. And I’m sure that Sarah is telling the truth.”
Alison plopped down in a chair for the fourth time. “I just can’t think of her as my mother. I just can’t.”
“I know, Alison, it’s hard for me too. But I promised Kelly that I’d try to make Sarah feel like I’m accepting her.”
She popped back up to walk around Grant’s tiny living room/dining room combination. “I don’t know if I can try. I just can’t promise anything right now.”
She seemed to think for a moment then said, “Kelly? It sounds like you’re getting awful friendly with our newly discovered step-sister already?” She emphasized step-sister.
Grant scooted over on the sofa and patted the spot next to him. “Alison, I need to tell you something.” When she ignored his silent invitation, he said, “Please sit down so I can talk to you without feeling like I’m in a shooting gallery.”
Alison reluctantly sat down beside him, but as far from him as she could get.
“What is it that you need to tell me that’s so important?”
Grant ran his hand through his hair. “It’s about Kelly.” He waited to see if that would get a reaction from his sister. When she only gave him a puzzled look, he continued. “Alison, I’m very attracted to Kelly. I want to get to know her on a different level.”
She started to jump up again, but Grant was ready for her this time. He leaned toward her and placed a hand on each of her shoulders to hold her down.
She turned to face him so quickly that her hair flew into his face. Grant just smiled and made a swipe at it. This was nothing new to him. It had happened hundreds of times over the years. In fact, he had grown quite used to it happening.
“What do you mean? No, I think I know what you mean. You’re attracted to her aren’t you?”
He nodded. “Yes, very much.”
Alison laughed or was it more of a giggle? “I’m not surprised. I’ve noticed the way your face gets when you talk about her.”
“I must be slipping. Stan said he wasn’t surprised either.” He took his hands off her shoulders. “Of course he was there to witness the first time I saw her. That was . . . . Wow!”
Alison laughed again. “Wow? What does that mean?”
“It means that when the door opened, and she was standing there, I almost lost it. Stan says I was in a trance for the next five minutes.”
She jabbed him in the ribs lightly with her elbow. “Look out, that sounds pretty serious to me too.” Then she frowned and said, “I wouldn’t go too much by what Stan says though.”
Grant stopped thinking about Kelly for a moment and said, “What is it with you about Stan anyway? You treat him like dirt most of the time, and the rest of the time you ignore him.”
Alison flipped her hair back over both shoulders. “I can’t help it if I don’t like your friend.” He noticed that she placed extra emphasis on the word ‘your.’
Before Grant could respond to that statement, she said, “What does this Kelly look like anyway?”
Grant smiled and said, “She is tall, a couple of inches taller than you. She has long black hair even longer than yours, and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.”
Alison actually giggled. “Okay, next question. How does she look at you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Does she ignore you? Does she look you in the eye when you’re talking? Does she give off any vibes that tell you she’s attracted to you too. Does she look at you like she likes what she sees?”
Grant had to think about that for a while. Then he said, “You know, Alison, you may be right. I think she does look at me that way.”
That made Grant feel much better. He looked Alison in the eye and said, “I’m meeting her for dinner tonight.”
This time, Grant wasn’t quick enough to catch Alison. She jumped up and looked back down at him. “You . . . have . . . a . . . date?”
“She doesn’t want me to call it a date. The only way I could get her to agree was by arranging to meet her at the restaurant.”
“Okay, I can understand that one.” She looked away as if in thought then turned back. “I remember you saying she limped. Have you found out what happened to her leg?”
Grant almost laughed at another one of Alison’s familiar quick changes of subjects. “Yes, she was in a car accident when she was twelve, and it shattered her left ankle so bad that the doctors had to fuse most of the bones in there.”
“Wow, that must have been painful.”
“Still is. She has this brace that keeps her weight off her ankle and she can’t walk without it.”
Alison’s frown deepened. “That doesn’t bother you?”
“What? Her ankle? No way! Like I told her, she didn’t cause it, and she can’t make it go away. Why would it bother me?”
“Back off big brother. I was only asking. A lot of guys would be turned off by that.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s what she said.” He thought back to his conversation with her about dating. “You know, she has never had a date in her entire life.”
“What?” This time she plopped back down beside him and looked him directly in the eye. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No. Remember, she was in that accident when she was twelve, and all of her high school years were taken up with a lot of operations and even more physical therapy. Then by the time she got somewhat stable, she was almost finished with college. By then, I think she was so self-conscious about her ankle that she didn’t have anything to do with guys. Still doesn’t for that matter.”
There was that giggle again. “Well, big brother, you have your work cut out for you.” She placed her hands on her hips and gave him a mock glare. “And I want you to make sure you treat her right. If anyone ever deserved to be treated right, it sounds like she does.”
Grant was surprised at the sudden protective
ness he sensed coming from his sister. For once, it wasn’t him she was protecting. “I couldn’t agree with you more. Now, will you get out of here so I can finish getting ready for my non-date with Kelly?”
Once Alison was gone, Grant’s thoughts alternated from Kelly to their failure the evening before to find anything in General Newcomb’s personal effects. Was there really a thumb drive as General Walker had said, or was it just some kind of smoke screen?
Well, he didn’t want to think about work right now. He wanted to think about Kelly.
* * *
After Alison left, Grant rushed getting ready so he could be at the restaurant at least fifteen minutes before their six o’clock appointed time to meet there. He didn’t want Kelly to have to wait even one minute for him. He was afraid that if she did, she might just leave. For that matter, he wasn’t one-hundred percent sure she’d even show up, early, on time, or late. He’d just have to wait and see.
As it turned out, wait is exactly what he had to do. Kelly was ten minutes late. When Grant noticed her walking very slowly across the restaurant toward his table, he knew he couldn’t say anything about her being late. He jumped to his feet. He could see that she was extremely nervous as she stopped in front of him. She was blushing as he held her chair for her then sat across the table from her.
He wracked his brain to come up with some way to set her at her ease as soon as possible. Then he said, “I chose a table rather than a booth. I hope that’s okay with you.”
Kelly was still blushing, and he wasn’t sure if it was due to his holding her chair for her or just the whole situation.
He had just about decided that she was simply embarrassed to be with him, period, when she said, “No, this is much better.”
She looked down at where her hands were clasped in her lap. “Actually, booths are difficult for me to get in and out of.” She looked back up at him for the first time. “But, you knew that didn’t you?”
Grant smiled as reassuringly as he could. “Yes, at least, I thought that might be the case.”
Lost Memories (Sycamore P.D. Series Book 1) Page 18
