Now, my hand was really vibrating and stinging, my palm and area between my thumb and index finger were red and sore. But, my teacher was pleased with my performance and, to be honest, I was pleased that I accomplished what I determined to do.
Then it was show-offs turn. His target was further away and he used two Glock-31 pistols drawn from his holsters at the same time, firing both guns simultaneously. He obliterated the paper target.
After our lesson was finished, we picked up all the items and climbed back on the four-wheeler.
“So,” I said, leaning forward before he hit the key, “How long would it take for you to teach me to be as good as you?”
He frowned for the first time since we had begun our adventure. “You don’t want to become as good as me.” Some of the light heartedness of our afternoon dimmed. He cranked the four-wheeler and I slipped my hands around his waist, securely below his guns. All too soon we were back at the house.
He was putting the four-wheeler away, when I asked for another shooting lesson. His frown deepened, “I just want you to be able to protect yourself if you have to, Leese. I’m not trying to turn you into something bad.”
“You aren’t turning me into something bad,” I rebutted. “I just want to learn more—I want to be able to fire two guns at once, like you do.”
“You don’t have the arms for that,” he snapped. “How did you think I got these muscles?”
“You work out,” I stated plainly.
“Yeah, I do. But most of my workouts are from holding two Glocks perfectly steady while shooting. You don’t need to learn more.”
“Isn’t there a possibility that something might go wrong and I’ll end up facing whoever the other person is alone?”
“The only way that will happen will be if he takes me out of the way first.”
“But it could happen, and then I would need to know all the extra things you know, but didn’t want to teach me. It would just be me with the knowledge to point and shoot.” I wasn’t going to let this rest. I wanted to know more.
“Leese, almost everything I know is about killing someone. I want you to know how to protect yourself, not how to murder another person. It’s something you’ll never need to use.” His volume was rising and I could tell he would be angry with me in a matter of moments.
By this point we were standing next to the Trans Am, and I let my fingers trail down the hood as I continued. “Did you know that I can take this car and slide it into a parallel parking space at about thirty miles-per-hour? It’s something I’ll never need to do out in the real world, but I learned how to do it, and do it well.”
“What’s your point?” That temper was starting to pulse up his neckline.
“I’m never going to go out and purposely look for someone to kill, just like I’m never going to be looking for a parking space at thirty-miles-per-hour, but having the knowledge isn’t bad. If this morning had been different and you hadn’t taken that gun away from David, what would have happened if I had to face him?”
“He would have blown you away before you even knew what was happening.” He sighed deeply, pulling me to him in those steel bands that he uses as arms and leaned his face next to my ear, “Everything in my life—everything—is corrupt. I’ve only known one glimpse of innocence and that glimpse is you. I don’t want to corrupt you. That’s why I agreed to be a gentleman, and that’s why I haven’t grabbed that impetuous mouth of yours with my own and taught it how to respond to a man. I’ve never had to use as much strength in my entire life as I have in these last nine days.”
“You aren’t corrupting me,” I whispered. “Everything happens for a reason. I just want to know more, but if you feel that strongly about not showing me, then I’ll stop asking.”
“I don’t know, maybe you might get some crazy idea like trying to go after your step-father by yourself.”
I think my face was one of utter revulsion, “I could never—I hate what he’s doing but—but he was like my dad and he is Kimmy’s dad. I couldn’t take his life!”
He finally smiled, “That’s my girl. That’s what I needed to see and that’s what I needed to hear. I’ll teach you some more tomorrow. We’ve got dinner reservations tonight at Brennan’s.”
“You realize my wardrobe isn’t high fashion?” I said, reminding him that I only had a limited amount of clothing.
“The dress code isn’t strict, and I think you’ll look perfect in whatever you put on.”
We went in and got ready. I wore one of the gauzy calf-length skirts with a white, mid-sleeve cotton top. My bruise was still apparent, but it had lightened to the point that I could tell it would be gone in just a few more days. I pulled the top of my hair back into a pony-tail and left the rest loose. He, once again, had that natural chic look, which made it hard for me to think of him as Evan. I wondered when he would tell me to stop calling him by his false name, but he hadn’t so far.
When it was time to leave, I walked to the Trans Am, but he headed to garage door number one, put in the key and turned the handle to open the door. “I thought we’d take something with a little more horsepower.”
The door went up, and, even though it was under a car cover, I could tell it was a Corvette. When the cover was removed, it was a gleaming silver Corvette Z06. I know my eyes illuminated at that very moment and I said the first thing that came to my brain, “Can I drive?”
“No,” was the merciless reply. “This has more horsepower than your Porsche and it goes from zero to sixty a full four-tenths of a second faster than your car.”
I think I was salivating. I looked at him with a pleading glance. “Four weeks and five days of life left and you’d deny me a chance to drive your car?”
“That’s not fair,” he stated flatly.
I tried that bat-your-eyes thing that Jewels had shown me.
“NO!” He marched to the passenger’s door and held it open for me.
I even considered tearing up to see if that would sway him, but that was just too mean, so I reluctantly slipped into the comfortable passenger’s seat.
I was all ooh’s and aah’s as he brought the engine to life and backed out onto the drive.
He looked over at me for a long moment and finally said, “On the way home, but just for a little while.”
I squealed; he laughed.
Dinner was delicious, but for me the dessert was the highlight. I’ve always liked Banana’s Foster, but, according to the restaurant, they served the original recipe. It was, down to the very last bite, scrumptious.
He called his mother just as we were leaving the restaurant, but she told him that David had stopped by to see her and that tonight might not be a good time to come over.
He made one more stop at a small grocery store and purchased a few things such as eggs, bacon, sliced ham and turkey, bread, cheese and milk. I was trying to be patient, since he said I would be able to drive the car for a little while, but I was beginning to wonder when that would happen. Just as we got near the ramp for I-10, he pulled over and, somewhat reluctantly, switched places with me.
The car was incredibly responsive. Just the slightest touch and it was eager to break all known Louisiana speed laws. He pulled out a small radar detector from the glove box and plugged it into the power supply. “Just a little. This doesn’t do anything if a cop is coming up from behind.”
I smiled and carefully maneuvered around enough vehicles that I was certain I had no officers behind me. I only wanted a few seconds of unadulterated speed. As soon as I got a clear stretch in front of me and the radar showed no problems, I dropped the petal to the floor. I only held it for about seven fantastic seconds, but I was exceeding one-hundred and forty so I felt it was time to reign in the fun and go back to almost normal speed.
I could tell that he was no longer nervous to be a passenger when I drove. He evidently had come to accept that I could handle whatever had four tires and a steering wheel. He let me finish the drive home, which was fun because there were
great curves in a few places and I got to feel the car’s excellent road-hugging ability. My only mishap was that I over-shot the driveway to his house. He had become so comfortable that he had forgotten that I’d only entered that drive once before. Fortunately, there was no one behind us and I simply backed up.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Over the next several days, we fell into a happy routine. It was a morning swim, breakfast on the patio, out to the shooting range and several nights of dinner at home. I wasn’t horrible in the kitchen; I just hadn’t done that much cooking. He, surprisingly, was good in the kitchen, so between the two of us, we were managing a decent meal each night.
But it was the lessons on the shooting range that consumed most of our days. He showed me ways to make my body less of a target if I was under fire, how to flash sight a pistol so that I took less time to aim, remain accurate but greatly increased my speed from holster to firing position. I tried the double pistol firing and it was, as he told me it would be, extremely difficult because I didn’t have enough muscle to keep the guns from wobbling wildly after each shot. I was determined to practice it, but I knew, should the time come, I’d best stick to two hands and one gun.
I asked him if we could make arrangements to have Ryan’s car shipped back to Pensacola, but he told me to be patient. I didn’t have Ryan’s home address or phone, but I did have Jewels’ number. He reminded me that the phones of my friends and pseudo-family might be under surveillance and we didn’t want to tip anyone off to my location in Louisiana. My phone had died the morning after I arrived here because I didn’t have the opportunity to get my phone charger from my bug or the one at Bev and Matt’s house. I wanted to call my mother, but he said that was absolutely out of the question since we wanted Robert to at least believe his plan was working and we would eventually discover what he had been hoping to accomplish through my demise.
My only link to my mother would be to pray every night that she had enough trust and faith in me that she would know, in her heart, I was still alive.
When Friday came around, he had planned another evening in the French Quarter. He had decided I needed to try some authentic Creole food. We sat out by the pool discussing types of foods that we’ve tried, when his phone went off. I hadn’t realized until that moment that it was the first time I had actually heard his house phone. An odd look crossed his face and then he went inside to answer it. I climbed back into the pool. I no longer had any inhibitions about being in my bikini because, after that first initial temptation of watching me in a bathing suit was under control for him, I had no more fear that he would get too enthused. I was also getting used to seeing him in his board shorts, showing off that beautiful physique for his only audience member.
The only thing that was bothering me in what was otherwise time spent in paradise was that there had been no more information coming in about who this woman was that had paid someone to kill me or, for that matter, no more information about Robert’s motives for wanting me dead as well. I knew he was staying in contact with Celeste, but when I would ask, he would tell me that there had been no progress. There were times when I questioned whether he was being truthful or not. He was becoming much better at controlling his facial reactions around me. I could tell it was practiced control because, before, I could discern his emotions easily. My time was going by too quickly and although I was in friendly captivity, I knew that status was going to have to change at some point. Sometime in the next four weeks, he would have to call his contact and let him know the job had been completed.
I continued making laps in the pool, but it seemed he had been gone a long time for a conversation. I was becoming curious as to whether he was even on the phone at this point. I toweled off and grabbed my robe, deciding it would be better to go in and find out what was going on. But, as I opened the kitchen door, he hung up the phone.
“Everything okay? Was that about me?” There were no reasons to hide questions, but I had a distinct feeling from his expression that there might be a reason to hide answers.
“We’ve got a change of plans for dinner tonight,” he responded tersely. “I’m going out for a little while. You’ll need to stay inside. I’ll turn on the alarm, you’ll be safe.”
“Why can’t I go with you?” I asked feeling apprehensive over being left in the dark, as well as left behind.
He didn’t answer. He just turned and headed for the stairs that led to his room on the upper floor.
I hadn’t thought it wise to go up there before, but now I was right behind him. “Is there a reason I can’t come?” I persisted.
“I’d just rather you didn’t,” he answered as he reached the top step and continued on.
I wasn’t going to give in so easily. “I could come; you’d just rather I didn’t.”
He turned so sharply that we bumped into each other just before reaching his bedroom doors. “Are you coming inside while I dress?” His attitude was getting that sharp edge to it that told me he was preparing for an argument.
“No,” I shot back, giving a little sharpness of my own. “I just want to be sure…”
He rolled his eyes toward the ceiling, letting me know he was getting exasperated quickly. “Sure of what, Leese?”
“You aren’t going to—this isn’t something…”
“Spit it out!” His patience finally snapped.
My eyes began to well at his harsh tone, “You aren’t taking your stupid guns, are you?! This isn’t some kind of fight with whoever is out there, is it?” I was saying my words too loudly, but my rising emotions were pushing my volume.
His whole body stopped tensing and he seemed to relax as he took my shoulders in his hands. “No, no, it’s nothing like that. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to tell you that were having dinner tonight with—with my family.”
There was a moment of stunned silence as I contemplated every possible connotation of the word family. “You mean like…”
“My parents and my brother and sister.”
“David is going to be…” Then there was a moment of deeper understanding. “Your dad is going to be there?”
“Yeah, he wants to meet you.”
I could plainly see this worried him, as if David wasn’t a big enough worry on his own. I didn’t know much about his father, but if he harbored a similar attitude toward me as David did this might be more like a last meal than a simple dinner.
“I’ve got to pick up a few things in town and then I’ll be back.” He was completely gentle once again.
“Are they coming here?” I questioned, the nervous feeling mounted.
“No, we’re meeting at one of my dad’s restaurants. I’ve got to get changed.” He pushed open the double doors revealing a place I had not seen before.
“You’re dad owns a restaurant? I followed inside, marveling at the simple but masculine design. His bed was on a black lacquered platform, against a floor to ceiling built-in headboard of dark padded silk squares. The dressers, armoires and nightstands were also a black lacquer and his bedding was a rich, deep green like his eyes. I sat gingerly on the bench at the foot of his bed watching him open drawers and pull out his clothes.
He looked at me, apparently surprised that I was making myself comfortable in his room, shook his head and went into his bathroom. I heard his damp swimming shorts hit the floor. “He owns several, as well as numerous other businesses. I told you what he was good at, and businesses are better than banks. I have several myself.”
He returned to his bedroom, now dressed in his jeans and a button up shirt. He grabbed his shoes and joined me on the bench.
“You own a restaurant?”
“I own quite a few things that might surprise you. Although things have been quiet here recently, I’m usually, well, let’s just say I’m usually much busier than I’ve been lately.” He grabbed his wallet and keys from the night stand and then walked out of the room, expecting me to follow. He was halfway down the stairs as I exited the room.
“So w
hat do I do while you’re gone? Stay inside and watch television?”
He paused and turned, “Be good. I could unplug the house phones and take them with me, but I’m hoping by now you realize why you can’t call Jewels, or Bev or especially your house. I’m doing my best to unravel what’s going on.”
I nodded. He knew how desperately I wanted to call my mother. Every day that passed without her having heard from me, increased her pain, anguish and worry. She probably was starting to suspect that something horrible had happened to me.
“Leese,” he said pulling me from my troubled thoughts about Mom. “Please tell me you won’t try to leave. You’re safe here—for now. Promise me you’ll be here when I get back.”
“If I left,” I said slowly, “I’d ruin everything for—for both of us. I’ll be here.”
He placed a warm hand on the back of my neck and kissed my cheek. It seemed to me, on the rare occasions now that he did this, each time his lips got closer to my mouth, closer to what would at some point become our final true kiss.
The alarm was set and I watched the silver Corvette vanish down the drive. I rambled around the house, exploring what I had felt uncomfortable to see before. The house was large, perhaps five or six thousand square feet. The downstairs consisted of the guest room which I stayed in, a formal living, formal dining, family room, kitchen and a media room. Upstairs just to the right was his bedroom, two additional suites and a large den also occupied the upper floor.
I hadn’t seen inside the den before and was surprised that he left it unlocked. The big mahogany desk had a computer and a few files lying out. I shouldn’t have looked, but I felt that if he had been concerned about what I would find he would have put the items away. I sat down in the thickly padded leather chair and open the first file. It was the dossier on Evan Lewis. Everything was there; birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license, school records—and a complete history including a photo of the real Evan Lewis stapled to his middle school records. Wow, he was nothing like his imposter. He smiled from under a thick pile of strawberry blond hair, a splash of freckles across his face and crooked teeth.
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