Roman's Heart

by Sharon Sala

  Roman sat without eating, still trying to work through what it was that kept niggling at him. How frightened you must have been when you fell out of—

  Roman looked up, fixing Gordon with a calculated stare. All along, everyone had been assuming that Holly jumped from the plane. After all, she was wearing a parachute, which indicated planning on someone’s part. But just now, Gordon said, “When you fell...” Those were two entirely different means of leaving a plane.

  “Say, Gordon, exactly why did the plane go down?” Roman asked.

  Startled, Gordon looked up. “Why, urn, I was coming from the cockpit when I heard—”

  Davis frowned. “I thought you told me you didn’t know what happened,” he said. “You said there was an explosion and then you blacked out, remember?”

  Gordon blanched. Caught. Caught in his own lies. “Of course,” he said quickly. “I was about to say, when I heard an explosion. I’m sorry to say I don’t know anything else.”

  “Then why did you say Holly fell out?” Roman asked. “She was wearing a parachute, which indicates some sort of planning. And it’s my understanding that no one else had one on. Why would she fall out if she’d been planning to jump?”

  In the act of taking a bite of her food, Holly heard that same voice from her past.

  Here. Put this on and be quiet. He’ll hear us.

  Staring at Gordon, she laid down her fork.

  “Yes, Gordon. Why was I wearing a parachute? Why would you say I fell?”

  Tiny beads of sweat began popping out on Gordon’s forehead and above his upper lip. He shrugged and tried to smile.

  “I’m sorry if I misled anyone,” he said quickly. “It was just a figure of speech. As I said, I was in the cockpit with the pilot just prior to the incident, so I have no way of knowing why Holly was wearing a chute. I guess I just assumed she fell out during the explosion.”

  He was too nervous, and both Holly and Roman knew it. But why he would lie was beyond them. It was a small plane. They’d been on the same flight. Unless it had to do with the money in some way, this made no sense.

  “Enough talk about that horrible event,” Davis ordered, and the conversation moved to another topic. “On a different note, I saw in the paper that the police are still investigating Julian’s murder.”

  “Who’s Julian?” Holly asked.

  Davis quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting, sweetheart. Carl Julian was the manager of a downtown casino. He was murdered in his office a day or so before your accident.”

  “Did I know him?” she asked.

  Gordon spoke quickly, too quickly for Roman’s peace of mind.

  “No! No, you didn’t.”

  “But that’s not so,” Davis said. “She did know Julian. They chaired a fund-raiser together last year. A charity event for a local homeless shelter, I think.”

  Gordon hoped he didn’t look as aghast as he felt. Everywhere he turned, his life was becoming more and more immersed in the Benton web.

  “Sorry, Holly, I didn’t realize. I suppose that was before we met.”

  “How awful for his family,” she said.

  “He doesn’t have any,” Gordon added, and then realized he’d given away too much knowledge about a subject he wasn’t supposed to know anything about.

  “That’s true,” Davis said. “He wasn’t married. But he was a decent enough man. I heard the police had exhausted all of their leads.”

  Good, Gordon thought. At least one thing was still in his favor.

  No one else at the table noticed the faux pas except Roman. He made a mental note of it, but let it slide without comment. Somewhere within all of this mess was the answer to the mystery surrounding the money. The sooner he found it, the better off everyone would be.

  It was just after midnight when Holly heard footsteps in the hall outside her bedroom door. She’d been in bed for hours and trying without success to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind filled with images she couldn’t identify. While she supposed it was flashes of her memory trying to return, instead of elation, she felt nothing but frustration. If her body was bound and determined to flood her mind with bits and pieces of her past, the least it could do was furnish subtitles to match.

  The footsteps continued, and she thought nothing of them until they stopped just outside her door. She rolled over in bed and sat up, watching in sudden horror as the doorknob began to turn.

  “Who’s there?” she called, and the moment she spoke, whoever it was quickly hurried away.

  The safety of her bedroom had suddenly become more of a jail than a refuge, and she got out of bed in a panic. Without grabbing a robe, she ran toward the door. Holding her breath, she eased it open just enough to make sure the hallway was empty. That was all she needed to know. She headed toward Roman’s room, telling herself that as soon as she got there she’d be safe.

  The same moment she burst into the room, Roman rolled over. He was out of bed and at her side within seconds.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Holly couldn’t quit shivering, although now that the moment had passed, she kept telling herself she’d made a big deal out of nothing.

  “Someone was outside my room,” she said. “When I called out, they ran away, as if I’d surprised them by not being asleep.”

  Roman shoved her toward his bed and then grabbed his pants, yanking them on in a rush.

  “Stay here,” he said. “Lock the door behind me when I’m gone and don’t let anybody but me back in here.”

  His behavior startled her. “But, Roman, maybe I was just—”

  He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Someone’s missing a million dollars, remember? As you pointed out, people have been killed for a whole lot less. You stay here and do what I say. I’ll be back.”

  Now she was afraid. She’d let herself believe that the money was somehow going to explain itself and then disappear. And when Roman suddenly pulled out a gun and started toward the door, she grabbed him.

  “Roman, I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”

  “Nothing’s going to happen to me,” he said shortly. “But I can’t say the same thing for whoever the hell scared you. Lock the door behind me.”

  She did as she was told, then scurried to his bed, crawling beneath the covers and into the spot where he’d been lying, taking comfort in the fact that the mattress still held the heat from his body.

  Roman slipped into his old military mode, moving without noise and listening and looking for anything out of place. He knew that what she heard might have been nothing. But then again, there was too much at stake to ignore the least sign of danger.

  He paused outside each door, listening for sounds of life. He had no way of knowing who occupied which rooms, or how many were empty. But it was after midnight. If someone was still up, they were going to have to explain why to his satisfaction.

  Just as he was about to start downstairs, he noticed a faint light beneath the door at the end of the hall. Whoever occupied that room was about to receive a visitor. Without knocking to announce himself, he pushed it open, recognizing Gordon, but not the man in the bed.

  When Gordon saw the gun in Roman’s hands, he gasped. “What’s the meaning of this?”

  Roman stepped inside and closed the door, then walked toward the bed without taking his eyes off of Gordon. When he reached the foot of the bed, he looked down. This must be the brother.

  “I asked you a question,” Gordon cried. “You have no right to come in here like this. Can’t you see my brother is in fragile condition?”

  Roman fixed Gordon with a cold, unwavering look. “Where were you about five minutes ago?”

  Even by lamplight, Roman saw him flush.

  “I was right here,” Gordon cried. “I’ve been here ever since we retired.”

  Unintentionally, Billy Mallory gave away his brother’s lie. Roman saw the surprise, then something that looked like concern, spreading across Billy’s face.

  R
oman turned to the brother. “Is that right?”

  Only then did Billy look away, but not soon enough to hide what he’d been thinking.

  Gordon stood abruptly. “Don’t question my brother as if he was on trial.”

  “Somebody tried to enter Holly’s room. It scared the hell out of her, and I’m making certain it doesn’t happen again...not even unintentionally.”

  The warning was there. All Gordon had to do was grasp it. And grasp it he did. At this point, he knew he’d do anything to get this man...and that gun...out of their room.

  “I’m sorry I snapped,” Gordon said, trying to smile. Then he pointed at Billy. “You can understand my concern.”

  Roman’s voice fell to just above a whisper. “And you can understand mine. You know, for a man who was supposed to marry, you show damned little concern for the bride-to-be. That leads me to doubt your story. And when that happens, there’s usually a reason behind the lie. I don’t like to be lied to. And I don’t like people threatening my woman.”

  He took another step forward until he and Gordon were face-to-face. As his voice became quieter, the threat behind it became more real.

  “And I’m sure you can understand my concern.”

  Without giving Gordon time to answer, Roman turned his back on both Mallorys and stalked out of the room, shutting the door behind him with a very distinct thud.

  Billy felt as if he might throw up. “Who the hell was that?”

  Gordon’s anger was about to erupt. “That, brother dear, was Roman Justice, the man who pulled dear Holly out of the snow and saved her sweet behind.”

  “I thought you said he was a nobody,” Billy cried. “Nobodys don’t carry guns. That was a Luger, for God’s sake.”

  “So I was wrong,” Gordon said.

  Billy groaned. “Why does that not surprise me?”

  “Shut up!” Gordon hissed. “I’ve got everything under control.”

  “That’s what Captain Kirk said just before they blasted his butt into some far-off galaxy.”

  Gordon spun. “What?”

  Billy rolled his eyes. “Never mind. It was just a figure of speech.”

  “This is no time to be fooling around,” Gordon said.

  Billy glared. “Then try to remember that the next time you pass Holly’s door. You promised me you’d leave her alone.”

  “I wasn’t going to hurt her,” Gordon muttered, taking a syringe from his pocket. “It’s supposed to loosen inhibitions. I figured it might loosen her tongue, as well.”

  Billy snorted beneath his breath. “You weren’t going to hurt her, huh? That’s rich. It’s probably what Julian thought right before you slit his throat.”

  Gordon blanched, and then a dark, angry red spread up his face and neck.

  “I told you not to mention his name again,” Gordon said. “Someone could hear you.”

  “They’ll hear a whole lot more than Carl Julian’s name if you don’t leave Holly alone,” Billy said.

  “I am, I will and I don’t intend to discuss her with you again,” Gordon growled. “The way you act, anyone would think you were the one who’d been dating her.”

  Billy was too quiet. When Gordon turned to look, he saw the truth on his face. For the first time since the entire fiasco began to unwind, now he understood why.

  “You’re in love with her.”

  Billy didn’t respond, but he also didn’t deny. Gordon wanted to slap him, but it would have done no good. The damage was already done.

  “You little fool! You ruined everything for us because of a woman who doesn’t even know you’re alive.”

  “That remains to be seen,” Billy said. “One of these days, she’ll regain her memory. When she does, she will at least remember that I didn’t want her dead.”

  Gordon pivoted angrily and stalked out of the room. He was so blinded by rage he didn’t even notice the dark shadow of a man standing at the far end of the hall.

  But Roman saw everything, including the anger Gordon had taken with him. A muscle jerked in his jaw. It was the only thing that gave away his emotion. He kept trying to think of a reason to get Holly out from under this roof without causing a scene. Because as long as Gordon Mallory was here, he knew she was in danger.

  Two days later, and right in the middle of a busy intersection in downtown Las Vegas, Roman’s cellular phone began to ring. He pulled into a parking space and then answered.

  “Hello.”

  His secretary’s familiar voice came over the line all too clear.

  “Thank goodness,” Elizabeth said. “I’ve been trying to get you for more than an hour. The darned call wouldn’t go through.”

  Roman frowned. She wouldn’t have called if there hadn’t been trouble. He slumped down in the seat, trying to stretch his long legs. It was no use. Holly’s car was too damned small to stretch anything but imagination.

  “What’s up?”

  “The police just left, and Royal’s been calling and leaving messages here since early this morning. Someone broke into the cabin and messed it up. Royal said a ranger discovered it after driving by and noticing the front door was ajar.”

  Roman frowned. “Damn. I locked it when I left—I know I did.”

  “Yes, the door had been kicked in,” she said.

  Roman sighed. “That’s too bad, although I don’t know how we could have prevented it. Do they have any leads?”

  “No, but that’s not everything,” she said. Then she took a deep breath. “The police were here this morning because someone also broke into your house last night. According to what they told me, it seems to be in a similar condition as the cabin had been. They said it looked as if someone was looking for something, because there was a lot of valuable property that they completely ignored.”

  Roman sat up. “That’s no coincidence,” he said shortly.

  “After Royal talked to them about the incident at the cabin, the police are inclined to agree with you. The detective asked me if you were working on any case that might cause such a reaction. I told them you hadn’t taken on any new ones, and that as far as I knew, there was nothing pending that would indicate such behavior.” She hesitated. “Was I wrong?”

  “No, Elizabeth, you weren’t wrong. At least not about the cases. However, I’m working on something here in an unofficial capacity that does.”

  “Ohl Well, should I call the police and—”

  “No. I’ll do it myself,” he said, then he thought of the money he’d locked in the safe. “The office...was it untouched?”

  He heard her gasp. “Why, yes, but is there a chance that—”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, dear. What should I do?” she asked.

  “Call Texas Securities, tell them I want around-the-clock guards on my office, and I want it to continue until they hear from me.”

  “Yes sir,” she said, making fast and furious notes.

  “Oh, and Elizabeth...”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Under no circumstances are you to go to the parking garage alone. Better yet, just close the office until I return.”

  “But your calls—”

  Roman’s eyes darkened. “Your safety is worth more than new business. If they’re serious, they’ll call back.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll get on this right away.”

  “Good, and give the authorities this number. If they have any more questions, they can ask me.”

  He disconnected, and then stared out through the windshield. But he didn’t see the constant stream of pedestrian tourists. All he could think was that someone was looking for the money. Suddenly, the trip he’d been about to make to the newspaper archive seemed less important than getting back to Holly. Someone was getting desperate, and she could easily be their next target.

  Chapter 14

  Holly was coming out of the library with a book when Julia, the downstairs maid, called out to her.

  “Miss Benton, your hairdresser is on the phone. Do you want to cancel your standin
g, or should I tell him you’ll call him back?”

  The question took her aback. Again, she was faced with how much of her life was lost. Somewhere within the city was a hairdresser who knew more about her than she knew about herself. And when the maid spoke again, Holly realized she must look as troubled as she felt.

  “Miss Benton, why don’t I tell him you’ll call back?” Julia asked.

  Holly nodded, mouthing a thank-you. Moments later, the maid was gone, leaving Holly alone in the hall and holding a book she no longer cared to read. She laid it on a nearby table and started toward the patio, thinking that sunshine and fresh air might lift her spirits.

  As she was passing the ornate mirror in the formal dining room, she caught a glimpse of herself. There, framed in gilt and visible within the pristine reflection, she knew a moment of recognition and stopped. Her heart began to pound, and there was a long moment of anticipation as she looked down at her feet, at the white leather sandals she was wearing, and had the distinct memory of trying them on before she’d bought them.

  “Oh God, oh God,” she whispered, then closed her eyes and turned. When she opened them, she was facing the mirror and staring at the woman within.

  For a long silent moment, she stared, analyzing the dark, shoulder-length hair, the wide, sea green eyes, as well as the woman’s trembling lips. She stood without moving, waiting for that fleeting bit of recognition to expand. It never came.

  Finally, she turned away, unaware that she was shaking. And that was how Roman found her. Standing in the middle of the room and wearing a look of defeat.

  “Holly...baby...what’s wrong?”

  She walked into his arms.

  “Oh, Roman, I thought...” She sighed and hid her face against his chest, relishing the feel of the soft white linen and the hard, steady rhythm of his heart.

  “You thought what?”

  “I thought I was going to remember.”

  His grip tightened. “You will.”