Redemption (Desire Never Dies)

by Clara Grace Walker

  It was quiet today, but she sensed the quiet was more like the calm before the storm. Her retirement job, which once appeared destined to consist mainly of catching cheating spouses, was about to get interesting. Danny sat in a chair on the opposite side of her desk, and she’d bet the man couldn’t stop wringing his hands if someone offered him a million dollars for the effort.

  “I don’t like it, Sarge. All the spy gadgets in the world aren’t going to help Nick if they’ve taken his belongings.”

  She nodded, meeting his concerned stare with one of her own. “I don’t like it either. Any place that secretive is up to no good.”

  “How you figure we’re going to get any information from him if we can’t talk to him? Or even Jamie without our conversations being monitored?”

  She’d been puzzling that herself since Danny’s brief call from Jamie yesterday. CRC tactics were severe. Confiscating electronics from patients and family members. Placing calls through an operator on premises. Probably monitored. What kind of rehab place did that? No reputable one she’d ever heard of.

  Sarge rubbed her temples. She’d gone four years without a migraine. Unfortunately, her lucky streak was about to end. “Jamie sound okay when you spoke with her?”

  Danny frowned. “She did her best to sound casual, explaining all the CRC rules and such, but I know her well enough to know she was nervous.”

  “She’s probably got cause for that. They’re obviously a bunch of whack jobs. I just hope they’re not busy brewing up some kind of kool-aid.”

  The responding tight-set to Danny’s jaw confirmed she wasn’t the only one worried about it. “We’d better do our best to work the investigation on our end, before someone decides to go all Jim Jones over there.”

  He continued wringing his hands until she was tempted to grab a ruler and play Catholic school teacher on his knuckles. “You manage to get the run-down on how many folks are over there? And put your hands at your side, will you? You’re driving me crazy with all that anxious energy of yours.”

  Danny frowned, but did as requested, resting his hands on his knees. “Yeah. James is clever like that. Said she wanted to make sure I had details for the Mindy LePage love triangle story.”

  Sarge raised an eyebrow. “Love triangle?”

  “Yeah. Earl Grayson is there visiting Mindy. And Vince Allan just checked in as a patient.”

  “The love triangle you spoke of?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You manage to get any intel on the staff?”

  “She said Patty, who works the front desk and does the seminars, is nice, and Nick likes his therapist Belinda. She also said there’s plenty of security guards on site, so we shouldn’t worry about anyone’s safety.”

  “Security guards?”

  “That’s what she said.”

  Now she’d heard everything.

  “I don’t like it,” Danny said. “I don’t like Nick being there, and I especially don’t like his family being there.”

  “I don’t like it either. What do you make of CRC having all those celebrities there? You hear anything from the rumor mill about that?”

  Danny stroked his chin. “Word is Anthony Howard’s offered Vince Allan a record deal.”

  “The same Anthony Howard who got guardianship of Mindy LePage and stuck her at CRC?”

  “That would be the one.”

  “There’s an interesting lead for us. Maybe we should be digging into Anthony Howard’s background. Find out what his connection is to CRC.”

  Danny nodded. “We should start with Ruby van Ketchum. She pulled her clients from Anthony’s record label a year ago. Might be interesting to know why. Feel like taking a road trip?”

  “She in LA?”

  “No. Palm Beach. Let’s take your car. Not sure my truck will make it all the way to Palm Beach anymore.”

  Sarge reached for her purse. “Let’s go. And good grief, Ventura. Buy a new truck.”

  Chapter 25

  Vince, slouched in the small couch in Belinda’s office. Merely looking at him brought the kind of dampness to her thighs she hadn’t experienced since she’d first stepped through the doors at CRC. Though dressed in standard CRC clothing, a white t-shirt and yellow shorts, he managed to look laid back and sexy. He’d rolled the sleeves of the t-shirt up to his shoulders and let the waistband of the shorts hang low on his hips, giving a sort of grunge look to the apparel. His dark blonde, shoulder-length hair, he’d tucked behind his ears, and despite CRC rules calling for proper grooming, he sported a light growth of fuzz on his chin and upper lip. She hadn’t bothered to correct him on the breach of CRC protocol. The growth of the beard and mustache made her want to kiss him. While gazing at Vince, allowing fantasies to play in her thoughts, she considered Shirley’s directive. Being told to play matchmaker between Vince and Mindy angered her. Vince was earnest in his desire to get clean and re-build his career. He didn’t need Mindy and all her drama dragging him down.

  “Tell me more about your relationship with Mindy,” she said, bringing up the subject for the second time.

  Vince gave her the same blank stare he’d used when she’d brought up the subject before.

  “Man, she is toxic. She’s destroyed her reputation in the press, and her career, too. And she’s not fucking things up for me. I’ve got a record deal in the works, and I’m focusing my energy on that.”

  “You said in group she needed to get cleaned up before you’d get back together with her.”

  His gaze travelled the small dimensions of her office, from the tree-covered view through the wall behind her, to the side wall holding a shelf of Shirley’s books, to the door behind him. He bit his lip nervously and Belinda got the feeling he wanted to talk, but didn’t feel comfortable doing so.

  This was never going to work. Vince wasn’t at all excited about reconciling with Mindy. Mindy definitely wasn’t interested in him. And it would be just as well if the two of them never saw each other again.

  Belinda allowed a small sigh. When she’d first come to CRC for help with a prescription pill addiction, she’d thought Shirley was the smartest person she’d ever known. Everything she said seemed to make sense. Belinda had never questioned her. Never even thought to. Kicking her drug dependency had been all the proof she’d needed that Shirley was right. Now, however, she had doubts. Vince and Mindy were obviously not a case of true love. Mindy and Earl; now that was true love. How could Shirley have gotten it so wrong?

  “It’s just the two of us in here,” she said. “And I promise whatever you say will remain our secret. What’s really going on with you and Mindy?”

  He smiled, throwing up one shoulder. “Fucking nothing, man. That whole relationship was nothing but convenience. She was using me to get over Earl, and I was using her to jumpstart my career. Turns out though, best way to jumpstart my career is to be done with her.”

  “How so?”

  “I don’t know all the whys and the whole thing. I just know Anthony offered me a record deal if I came here and got cleaned up.”

  That much made sense. Anthony had been here for a gambling addiction six months ago. Shirley urged CRC followers to make referrals. “What does that have to do with Mindy?”

  Vince threw his hands in the air. “Fuck if I know. Strangest fucking thing. Something to do with keeping Mindy and Earl from hooking back up. Anthony said I had to make it look like I was trying to get back with her, but to make sure she knew it wasn’t happening. Anthony thinks neither one of us can stay clean if we keep hanging out together.” He paused and added, “He’s probably right about that.”

  “None of this makes any sense.” It had to be Shirley who wanted Mindy with Vince instead of Earl. But why? Belinda got up from behind her desk, walking to the couch where Vince sat. Kneeling before him she took one of his hands. He had nice hands. Large, warm, soft hands. She wondered what else on him was large. “You’re right to stay away from Mindy, Vincent. You need to think about yourself. I think you should conc
ern yourself with your recovery and your career. You don’t need someone like her in your life.”

  He smiled, sliding his fingers around hers. “No one calls me Vincent. Except my mother.”

  Arousal urged Belinda closer. She placed her free hand on the inner part of his thigh. “I’m sorry. Do you prefer Vince?”

  “No. I kind of like you calling me Vincent.”

  “Okay.” Despite every admonition not to express emotion when dealing with patients, she smiled. She thought about having sex with him. Not even making love, but just flat out fucking him. “Why don’t you tell me what you’d like to talk about, Vincent?”

  He arched a brow. “Anything at all?”

  “Anything. This is your hour. Do whatever you’d like.”

  “If you say so.” Still holding her hand, Vince pulled her to the couch. “I’d like to talk about banging you. Well, not really talk about it. I’d just like to do it.”

  Belinda opened her mouth and found her lips swallowed by his kiss, his tongue whipping inside her mouth. She responded at once. She liked her men bold, and just a little aggressive. “I’d love for you to fuck me, Vincent. Shirley can take her stupid rules about sex and stuff them.”

  Vince pulled back from the first kiss and dove in for the second. He tasted like the spearmint gum he’d been chewing when he came into the room, like every teen girl’s fantasy, including hers a decade ago. “Oh my.” Straddling his lap, she thrust her hips against his and crushed her breasts against his chest. “Vincent.” She pulled back just a little. “I wasn’t really expecting that, but I sure was hoping for it.”

  A seductive smile slid across his face. I’ve been wanting to pull that bun out of your hair and strip you out of that pantsuit since I first saw you.”

  “You have?”

  “Yeah.” He looked her up and down, starting at her face and ending at her crotch. “I’ve always had this fantasy about banging those chicks in the Robert Palmer video. You know the one I mean? Simply Irresistible?”

  “Yes.” She’d seen it once on YouTube. “You think I look like one of those women?”

  “Mmm. Hmm.” He licked his lips, looking at her like he was the Big Bad Wolf and she was in a straw house. “What do you say, Miss Belinda? Care to make my dreams come true?”

  She smiled back. It had been a long time since she’d had any fun. Shirley ran CRC like a military encampment. “Do you want the full fantasy of undoing my bun and taking off my clothes? Or shall I help?”

  “I’ll do it.”

  She stood and turned around, allowing him to unpin her hair, then waited patiently while he took off her clothes, taking deliberate time. After unhooking each button, he would look up at her and smile. When he’d undone the eighth and last of her buttons, he slid the blouse off her shoulders, then bent over, suckling her breasts through the cotton fabric of her brassiere. Cool air, blowing in through the vents, peaked her nipples. Vince removed the bra and continued his inspection while she stood topless in front of him. Rubbing his thumbs over her nipples, he smiled. “You should wear skirts instead of slacks.” He slid down her zipper. “And wear some make-up. Then you’d look just like my Robert Palmer video chick.”

  Belinda sighed. “Shirley doesn’t like skirts. Or make-up. Or unnecessary forms of adornment.”

  Vince rolled his eyes. “Shirley’s stupid.”

  “Let’s not talk about Shirley anymore.”

  He pulled down her white, cotton panties and stroked her inside, using two fingers to draw her wetness out. “No problem.”

  Damp with excitement, Belinda jutted her chest forward, allowing his mouth to find her breast. Swaying urgently to and fro, she closed her eyes and focused on the warm feel of his hands kneading her body and the moist suckling of his mouth, teeth scraping gently over the buds of her nipples. She’d been celibate for far too long. “Vince,” she groaned. “You have to fuck me. Please.”

  He dragged his mouth from her breast, pulling his t-shirt over his head and stepped out of his shorts, revealing his plump, hardened shaft. Belinda pushed him down into the couch and straddled his hips, lowering herself onto him. Sinking his erection inside her, she sighed. “Vincent, you and I are going to require many more individual therapy sessions.”

  Chapter 26

  Shirley looked up as Arthur stepped inside her office and set down the telephone she’d been holding. “There you are. I was just about to call you.”

  He pushed a lock of sweat-dampened curls from his face. “Ryan said you wanted to see me?”

  “I do.” She motioned for him to take a seat and pulled up the small fan she kept underneath her desk, setting it on the shiny wooden surface and turning it on high. “I don’t understand this weather,” she said. “I thought we’d be getting a break from all the 90 degree days by now.”

  Arthur stared impassively. “This is Florida. Not Missouri.”

  “It wasn’t like this when we first moved here.”

  Arthur shrugged. “We may have to start keeping the a/c on at night, too. Leaving the windows open isn’t really helping.”

  She didn’t answer. She hated unnecessary expenditures of money. Instead she pulled out the file on Nicholas Beck and slid it across the desk. “This one’s going to be a problem. He’s asked three times for his phone already. Claims he needs to keep in touch with his office. And he keeps asking for his luggage. Says the CRC wardrobe doesn’t fit him properly.”

  Arthur’s face remained blank. “Tell him no.”

  “Mr. Beck isn’t very good at taking no for an answer. See if you can find any physical ailments that might lead to his death from natural causes.”

  Arthur shook his head. “Shirley, we’ve got to be careful. We got lucky with Regina. And luckier still Pauline’s aunt hasn’t called. I don’t think we should keep taking chances.”

  “You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.” Arthur worried too much. “You heard the part where I said to make it look like natural causes, didn’t you?”

  “That’s not as easy as you think.”

  Arguments were not what she wanted. She turned the fan to face her full on, letting the breeze cool her sticky face. “If it was easy to kill someone and make it look like natural causes, anyone could do it. I’m asking you because you have specialized skills and knowledge.”

  He took the folder reluctantly, holding it in front of his chest. “I’ll see what I can do, but don’t hold your breath. The man’s physical was perfect. Low blood pressure. Low cholesterol. Normal EKG. No chronic conditions. Nothing.”

  Shirley exhaled her deflated hopes in a long breath. “How is that possible? The man’s fifty-years-old. Everyone has something wrong with them by that age.”

  “Not him. He’s obviously taken care of himself. When I went over the nutritional and physical requirements of the program with him, you know what he said? ‘In other words, continue my normal regimen.’ That’s what. You’ll have to work hard at converting him.”

  “I’m sure Pauline thought having someone who owns two newspapers here would be a prize; showering CRC with all kinds of praise and accolades. But if he doesn’t take to the training, it could be a disaster. He’ll be converted, or he’ll be dead.”

  “It would be best if we could convert him,” Arthur said. He stared across the desk, biting his lower lip. “In the meantime, I’ve obtained the information you asked for regarding Mindy LePage’s birth.”

  Shirley leaned forward. “And?”

  “And she wasn’t adopted.”

  “No? You’re sure?” The news deflated her.

  “I’m sure. Her mother gave birth at Cedars-Sinai at the age of twenty-three, minus a husband. Father is listed as unknown.”

  “Hmmm.” Shirley thought a moment. “Doesn’t sound like anything that would account for her reaction to Scott.” It certainly explains why she’s such a slut though.” Shirley typed Mindy’s name in the search engine on her computer. Pages of results popped up. She’d searched through them alrea
dy. There wasn’t too much about the girl that wasn’t public knowledge, but something like an adoption, that could have been kept quiet. She’d been relying on her brother to dig up information the press wouldn’t have access to. “There must be something else,” she said. “Keep digging until you find it.”

  “I’m not a private detective,” he huffed. “My ability to find out information is limited to medical records.”

  “Then dig up the medical records on her and everyone in her family. Check with the other hospitals in the area.” She hated snapping at him, but sometimes he left her no choice.

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “I have faith in you, Arthur. Don’t disappoint me. And don’t forget whose secrets I’m protecting.”

  “Of course not, Shirley. I’ll do my best.”

  She hated seeing the dejected look on his face as he left, but sometimes he needed to be motivated. She’d make it up to him later, after he’d taken care of his responsibilities. She needed to convert Nicholas Beck and she needed to destroy Mindy LePage. And then there was Earl. Wonderful, dreamy Earl. He needed to fall in love with her.

  Picking up her walkie-talkie from the desk, she buzzed Rory. “This is Ms. Cantwise. Please send Mr. Grayson over here. I have an important matter to discuss with him.”

  “Mr. Grayson?” He sounded puzzled.

  “Yes. Mr. Grayson. Bring him here to see me. Now.”

  “Yes, Ms. Cantwise.”

  She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes and started counting, but nothing calmed her nerves completely. She couldn’t wait for Earl to kiss her.