Sunlight shot streaks of light through the sheltering foliage laying tints of amber over his dark auburn hair. He savored the coolness lapping against his heated body, thankful to find this small bit of relief in the harsh environment. He waited until the water had completely saturated his clothes before he removed each garment.
Gritting his teeth against the more painful areas, he began to gingerly scrub the grime from his aching body using his briefs as a washcloth. He scowled at the sight of the bruises and lacerations scattered over his skin.
“Nice going Orlando, you sadistic S.O.B. Thanks to you and your brute squad my skin looks like a rotten piece of fruit.”
As soon as he finished bathing he took on the task of washing his clothing. He was in the process of draping everything on a nearby vine to dry when he realized some of the adults had come to the pool and stood on the bank watching him. His height, broad shoulders, and long muscular legs made a striking contrast to the smaller, more delicately built native men.
He experienced a twinge of self-consciousness when a couple of young women pointed at his genitals and giggled behind their hands. Flushing with unexpected modesty, Josh turned and waded back into the water to conceal his nakedness.
The children swam around him beneath the water, their heads popping up like corks bobbing to the surface. The others joined them in the water and Josh soon forgot he was naked and surrounded by people all bare as the day they were born. The adults splashed him and each other with a childlike innocence that made him laugh.
He lingered for several minutes enjoying their playfulness until he realized Marie might be awake and looking for him. Josh wanted to get her into the water. For a few precious moments he’d been able to forget about their nightmare and he wanted that for her, too. He pulled on his khakis and boots, but left the rest of his clothes scattered on his makeshift clothesline before retracing his steps back along the path.
She was awake, but resisted his efforts to make her leave the hut.
“Please, Marie. The water will make you feel better,” he coaxed, as he gently tugged her to her feet.
“I’m not going to feel better until I’m away from Orlando,” she insisted, but gradually allowed herself to be led away. “I took pleasure in my job when I was here before. That’s why I wanted to come back, but not like this. He’s ruined it for me.”
“You mustn’t let him take away something that was so important to you.”
Her eyes darted around the enclosed area as soon as they arrived at the pool. “What if the ransom doesn’t get paid? What if no one comes? We could end up dying.”
He pulled her to him.
“They’ll come,” he insisted. His nose twitched at the combination of unpleasant odors that clung to her. “Let’s get you into the water.”
She stepped back and would have fallen had he not grabbed her.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know. I feel dizzy and I ache all over, especially my head.” She pressed fingertips to her temples. “God, I hope I’m not coming down with some jungle crud.”
Josh forced down the shiver of dread her words brought and helped her out of her soiled clothes. He did his best to shield her from staring eyes and waited for her to wash herself, but she simply stood there until he took her passiveness as a signal to take charge.
He kept his hands as impersonal as possible. Marie allowed him to bathe her, accepting his help like a docile child and for the first time in his adult life Josh touched an attractive naked woman without any thought of making love to her. The others watched in silence seeming to understand that Marie was too fragile for their earlier frivolity.
Josh brushed a tangle of wet hair away from her face.
“Feeling any better?”
she leaned against his chest and “I just want to go home.”
He didn’t want to think about it, but the fear that she may be ill and they might not get away or that he wouldn’t see Catherine again felt almost unbearable.
“I know.”
>>>>dreams<<<<
Douglas stormed into the conference room and practically hurled himself into a chair. He leaned forward and scowled at the group of men that lined either side of the long conference table.
“Well?” he queried in a voice that snapped like a whip.
Hamilton took the lead. “A rescue team is being put together as we speak and . . .”
Douglas sliced through his words.
“You mean they haven’t started looking yet?”
The other men exchanged uneasy looks and shifted in their chairs. “It takes time to find the appropriate people for this kind of thing, Mr. Marsh,” one of them ventured.
“Don’t give me that crap. We’ve got enough influence to get things moving a hell of a lot faster.” He jerked to his feet nearly knocking the chair over in the process. “Get your asses in gear!” he demanded with a blistering glare and slammed out of the room.
Hamilton quickly pushed back his chair and hurried after him. “Excuse me sir, I know you want to keep things as quiet as possible, but families should be notified.”
Douglas pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.
“Get me their numbers; I’ll make the calls.”
>>>>dreams<<<<
Catherine and Tom were spending the day at the beach. A balmy breeze blew off the water and skimmed over the dry sand scattering a few granules. The sky, dotted with small popcorn shaped clouds, molded itself to the land like a pale blue cloth draped gracefully along the horizon. Gentle waves rolled into shore delivering jagged lines of frothy bubbles before rippling back leaving the sand slick and shiny in its wake.
Catherine looked at Tom, as he stared out to sea.
“You’re awfully quiet.”
“I was thinking how far away Josh is.”
“More than miles separate us. I know he felt he had to go, but it still baffles me.”
“Josh has always been an adventuresome guy. Even as a kid his inquisitive nature drew him into situations that the rest of us avoided either out of fear or common sense. He thrives on new challenges – new places.”
“Even when there could be danger involved?” she asked while drawing little circles in the sand with her fingertip.
“I don’t think it occurs to him. I’ve never seen him be fazed by anything. When we were kids I used to think if I hung around him long enough I might be able to absorb some of his nerve by osmosis. I can’t help envying him his courage, even if I don’t always agree with everything he does.”
“If you ask me, I think his actions come more from egotism than bravery. I don’t know how you and his family have continued to tolerate his narcissistic behavior.”
“He doesn’t give us a choice. Josh is what he is. I guess it sounds kind of weird to you, but that’s always been part of what makes him so fascinating.”
“I don’t understand that kind of logic. If you walk on a tightrope long enough the odds are you’re going to fall off sooner or later.” She bit her lip. “I’ve been having bad dreams about Josh. I’m afraid something has happened to him; something terrible.”
“They’re just dreams, Catherine. Don’t try to make anything more out of them.”
>>>>dreams<<<<
Tom tried to dismiss Catherine’s strange premonition as he drove home, but being stuck in traffic gave him too much time to think. He stared impatiently at the endless lines of vehicles, as they crawled along like sluggish speckled snakes. He had a feeling there must have been an accident up ahead that he couldn’t see yet.
Coming from a small town in northern California where four cars in a row was considered heavy traffic, he’d learned to put up with the delays here in the more populous southern part of the state. He’d taken a helicopter ride right after arriving and thought how the freeways reminded him of giant spider webs with vehicles stuck like insects.
By the time he finally let himself into his apartment and took Douglas’s call, he listened to the
message with a kind of fatalism. Tom couldn’t imagine what bizarre twist of fate had made Catherine sense that things had gone wrong for Josh before the rest of them had received word, but now he was going to have to let her know she’d been right.
Without hesitation he drove back to her apartment where he vigilantly stood in her living room waiting for the impact of his words to sink in. He watched her struggling to grasp his words, as shock became disbelief and disbelief slowly turned into desperate optimism.
“Kidnapped?” She frowned, creating tiny lines in her smooth forehead. “I don’t understand how this could happen when he was with a team. He’s going to be all right isn’t he? I mean, the people he’s working for are going to get him back, aren’t they?”
“They’re doing everything they can.”
>>>>dreams<<<<
“I knew something was going to happen to him, but he wouldn’t listen to me.” Her hand pressed against her stomach. “No one ever listens,” she muttered.
He pulled her gently against him.
“Hey, Josh is tough. He’ll get through this.”
She leaned into his body and began to cry.
“Please don’t cry, Catherine,” her name slipping from his lips in a broken whisper, as the warmth of her tears slowly soaked into his shirt.
They clung to each other sharing their distress until her sobs had dwindled to soft hiccups. He eased her onto a nearby chair.
“I’ll go make some coffee. Okay?”
She sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes.
“Yes, all right.”
He poured out two cups and added extra sugar to Catherine’s thinking it might somehow help. He carried them to the living room.
“Here you go. Careful, it’s very hot.”
She took a cautious sip.
“Does Josh’s family know what’s happened?”
“No. He always gives my number for emergencies when he takes off. I’m flying up there tomorrow afternoon. I didn’t want them to hear the news over the phone.”
“Would you mind if I went with you? I realize it’s not the best timing considering the circumstances, but I’d like to meet them.”
“I’d be glad of your company.” He realized too late that his quick answer hadn’t given him a chance to think about what repercussions her visit might create.
She drank from her cup again and set it aside. “I don’t want to be a nuisance, but would you mind if I went home with you now? I’d rather not be alone tonight.”
“Not at all. I’ll take care of our cups while you get ready.”
Tom had trouble understanding how Josh could leave her. If she was his woman he wouldn’t be able to tear himself away. He’d told Josh as much before he’d taken off, and that’s when Josh had asked him to look after Catherine. He’d said it in a joking way, but Tom hadn’t wanted to pass up the opportunity to be around such a beautiful woman.
He took their cups to the kitchen, poured what was left of the coffee down the sink, and rinsed them out. He stood there staring into space, trying to absorb the fact that his best friend could at this very moment be trussed up like a hog ready to go to slaughter. The disturbing image made his hands grip the edge of the counter, but he forced himself to clamp down on his inner turmoil when he heard Catherine coming.
“You travel light,” he said pointing to the small duffle bag in her hand.
“Are you sure it’s okay if I go with you? I invited myself before I asked if you have a place for me to sleep.”
His pulse raced at the idea of what it would be like to have her share his bed, quickly followed by a deep sense of guilt that made him ashamed.
“I’ll take the sofa. I don’t relish the idea of being alone tonight, either. Go get a jacket and I’ll help you lock up,” he said and took the bag from her, as they walked out of the kitchen together.
Chapter Six
Tom ran a damp palm down the side of his jeans before accepting Josh’s brother-in-law’s vigorous handshake. He resembled an enormous teddy bear with his wide body, oversized limbs, and small black eyes peering out of a large head.
“Thanks for meeting us, Jerry.”
“Glad to. I guess you’re feeling a little homesick for the family, huh?”
“You know me,” he said ignoring Jerry’s speculative look and edged closer to Catherine. “This is Catherine Ashley. She’s… a good friend,” he mumbled.
Bushy brows shot up.
“A friend?” he slapped Tom on the back. “Well, well, well.” Huge fingers engulfed her hand. “Welcome to the boonies, Ms. Ashley.”
She could see that he obviously thought she was Tom’s girlfriend. She waited for Tom to correct the assumption, but to her surprise he remained silent.
“Please call me Catherine,” she said filling in what had become an awkward void for her.
“That’s a lovely name for a lovely lady. You two got everything you need, Tom?”
He held up their duffle bags. “Yes, we’re all set.”
“You can wait inside while I bring my truck around if you’d like, Catherine.”
“Actually, I’d rather get some fresh air after being on the plane.”
“Can’t say I blame you. I hate to fly. All those people packed inside a tin can breathing each other’s germs. Darned unhealthy if you ask me.”
They walked out of the glass and steel terminal into a pale gray day. A slight wind stirred the air with the hint of cooler temperatures yet to come. They walked to the shuttle stop and waited. Catherine couldn’t help noticing how nervous Tom seemed.
But she couldn’t very well blame him. Facing Josh’s family with such awful news was probably one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. He’d become so subdued that he let her and Jerry do most of the talking during the hour and a half drive.
He had explained during the flight that Josh’s austere mother, Ivy, had a tendency to measure and dissect people looking for weaknesses, and that he always felt intimidated by her and knew she only tolerated him because Josh wanted his friendship. Although she had two older daughters, Eleanor and Margaret, everyone knew Ivy favored Josh. She was a strong woman and could probably recover from anything, but not if she lost her beloved son.
Josh’s father, John, greeted them at the door with a welcoming handshake. He was the antithesis of Ivy, generating genuine warmth with his friendly smile.
“Good to see you, Tom. It’s been too long between visits.”
Considering the reason for his visit, Tom couldn’t very well say he was happy to be there. He camouflaged his discomfort by introducing Catherine. They followed John into the kitchen where the rest of the family sat at the table waiting. More introductions were made and time elapsed while Ivy served dinner.
They went into the living room where Tom stalled until they’d exhausted their store of small talk. Unable to wait any longer, he gathered his courage and delivered his disturbing news. His fingers dug into the sofa cushions, bracing himself for their reaction.
A collective gasp of shocked dismay rippled around the room quickly followed by Eleanor and Margaret bursting into tears, John clenching his jaw, Jerry reaching for Eleanor’s hand, and Ivy staring hard enough at Tom to make him squirm. Catherine sat quietly, as the family began to fire questions at him with Ivy dominating the onslaught.
Looking like a soldier ill-equipped for battle, Tom swallowed his unease and answered them using the limited information he’d received. Once he’d given his meager store of facts, Ivy turned her attention to Catherine with a forbidding expression.
“Did you come to prop up Tom or do you have a specific connection to Josh?”
Catherine felt her heart sink at Ivy’s brashness. She may be Josh’s mother, but right now she sounded more antagonistic than maternal.
“Josh and I met a few months ago when he was a patient in the hospital where I work. We’ve been dating ever since. He means a great deal to me and I expect to continue our relationship when he returns.”
“If that’s true, why didn’t you stop him from going to such a dangerous place?”
Shocked by the demanding question, Catherine stammered out a reply. “I . . . I tried, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“I see. Well, it would seem you obviously don’t have quite as much influence over him as your little announcement would indicate. Are you sure he didn’t go to the Amazon to get away from you?”
Resentment and temper burned in her throat.
“Excuse me?”
John came to her defense.
“For God’s sake Ivy, leave the girl alone. You know very well no one can hold Josh back when he decides to take off on one of his jaunts.”
Tom tugged Catherine to her feet in an effort to diffuse the tension filled atmosphere.
“I think it’s time we leave you to discuss things in private.”
“Yes you should, since it concerns our family. The two bedrooms upstairs on the right are ready unless of course you’ll only require one. I leave that up to you,” Ivy said ignoring Catherine’s quick intake of breath and the strangled sound from Tom.
They said a hasty goodnight and hurried away. Catherine let out a long pent up breath.
“Well, so much for wanting to meet Josh’s family. His sisters looked at me as though they’d like to strangle me, and his mother has definitely altered my perception of what I thought she’d be like. Is she always so hostile to strangers, or is it just me?”
“I told you she’s difficult.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I should have stood up for you, but I never know what to say to Ivy. I certainly didn’t expect her to grill you like that, especially the crack about us sleeping together. But don’t think she’s singling you out. She believes in being direct with everyone.”
“In general, or only when it concerns Josh? Is she jealous of me for crying out loud?” She shook her head. “Don’t answer that. I probably don’t want to know.”
Dreams~Shadows of the Night Page 4
