by Sharon Sala
Gordon’s face paled, and then a few moments later, flushed a high color of red.
“Uh, we’ve got a... There’s a place we always went to.... It used to belong to—”
A maid came into the room, interrupting Gordon and unintentionally saving him from having to proceed.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Benton, but there’s an emergency phone call for Mr. Justice,” she said:
Roman stood. “Excuse me,” he said, and left.
Gordon stood, taking the opportunity to escape Davis’s third-degree. “And I’m afraid I must be excused, as well. I’ve got several calls to make. I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me.”
Holly watched both men exit and knew that her father deserved more than he was getting. When they were finally alone, she leaned forward.
“Dad, I know you’re not stupid. And yes, something is going on, but I’m not sure what. All I can say is, Roman assures me that it will be over by tonight. I trust him. Will you trust me?”
Davis made himself relax. “I don’t like this one bit,” he muttered.
Holly reached for his hand. “Look at this from my point of view. I not only don’t like it, but it scares me to death.”
Davis frowned. “What do you mean, scares you? You’re safe here. You have nothing to be afraid of.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s not true. In fact, Roman and I are convinced that there’s something I should be remembering... something that had to do with the crash.”
“I don’t understand,” he said.
“Neither do I.” Then she, too, stood to leave. “Just make sure you’re home for lunch, okay?”
Davis’s frown deepened. “After what you just said, and the way everyone was behaving, I have no intention of setting foot out of this house. I’m not trusting your safety to anyone else until I know what’s going on.”
“It’s your decision,” she said. “But please know that if you need to, ’you could trust Roman Justice with your life. Believe me, I know. I already have.”
She walked away, leaving her father to make what he chose out of the remark.
Gordon made it to his room without further incident, but the moment he got inside, sat down on the bed and started to shake. It would seem that Billy had the right idea all along. Everything was starting to come undone. Maybe it was time to leave. He’d been so certain that by staying close to Holly Benton, he would find a way to get back his money. But he could see it just wasn’t going to work. Her memory was coming back faster than the headway he’d hoped to make. And so he sat, stewing in the juices of his own mistakes and planning his next move.
The longer he sat, the calmer he became. It’s his fault, Gordon thought. If Roman Justice hadn’t appeared on the scene, everything would have worked out all right. He’d had Benton’s confidence, and simply by being under the same roof as Holly, he would have been able to gain hers, as well.
He stood and looked around the room. It had served its purpose, but now it was time to retreat. Several days ago, he’d noticed a small Pullman-type bag in the back of his closet. He didn’t have many belongings here. Whatever it would hold would be all that he would take. If he had to leave something behind, he could always buy more. At least he still had the ten thousand in the bank. It would be enough to get a new start.
And then something hit him, and he wondered why he hadn’t thought of it before. Billy! How had he managed to buy a plane ticket? What money he’d had on him had been lost in the crash.
“No, no, no. Please tell me no,” Gordon mumbled as he reached for the phone.
A few minutes later, he slammed it down in disgust, unable to believe what he’d learned. Granted the account had been in both their names, but who would have believed the little weasel had the gumption to take advantage of him like this? Within the space of minutes, the ten-thousand-dollar nest egg Gordon thought he’d had was down to five. Billy had taken his half and run.
He yanked the bag from the closet and tossed it onto the bed, then began emptying the drawers of his belongings and dumping them inside. Something hit the side of the bag with a thump, and he frowned, wondering what it was that he’d heard. Underwear didn’t thump.
As he dug through the pile, his fingers closed upon an oblong plastic box, and the moment he felt it, he remembered the drugfilled syringe. Using it on Holly that night would have been the perfect answer. She would have talked her head off and the next morning not remembered a thing. Gordon’s hand clenched around the box. If she’d only been asleep, his troubles would already be over.
He dropped it to the side of the bag and continued to pack. But every time he tossed something else inside, he looked down at the box. By the time he was through, he’d convinced himself to give it one more try. Instead of leaving now, he would do it tomorrow. That would be the better plan anyway. He still had to close out his account at the bank. And there was always the chance that he’d have to travel to another location to retrieve his money. No need buying a plane ticket until he knew where he needed to go.
He laid the box on top of his clothes and then zipped the bag shut before stowing it out of sight. The fewer who knew about his plans to leave, the better. He glanced at his watch. It was just past 10:00 a.m. He grinned. Plenty of time to get to the bank and then back here for lunch. Keeping to a regular schedule within the family was the best way to maintain his innocence. If Holly started remembering too much, too soon, he could always claim that she was imagining things. After all, if he’d tried to murder her, wouldn’t he have been long gone? Innocent people didn’t have to run.
Pleased that he had all the answers worked out, he called a cab. A short while later, he announced to Holly and her father that he was making a quick trip to the bank and would see them for lunch. He didn’t give a thought to the fact that Roman was nowhere in sight, nor would he have suspected himself of being followed. He was too locked in to the fact that his cover was impenetrable.
Roman had Holly by the hand as they came down the stairs. “Where did your father go?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “He was still in the library when I left him.” She sighed. “I feel badly about keeping the truth from him.”
Roman squeezed her hand lightly for assurance. “I know, baby. But it won’t be much longer now. That phone call I had earlier was from Royal. He and Ryder are on their way. They should be here around eleven.”
“And then what?” she asked.
“We made a plan. When they get here, all you have to do is follow my lead.”
She glanced nervously around, making sure they were alone. “They’re bringing the money?”
He nodded. “They’re going to make quite an entrance.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice so that he wouldn’t be overheard. “This is what I want you to do.”
She listened, her eyes widening with each word that he spoke. Only after he had finished talking did she realize she’d been holding her breath.
“Think you can do that?” Roman asked.
She nodded. “I’ll do anything it takes to get this nightmare behind me.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug.
“That’s my girl,” he said softly.
“And don’t you forget it,” she said.
A shadow appeared in his eyes, as if an old ghost had just crossed his path.
“I don’t willingly lose...or forget...what’s mine.”
Before she could speak, he’d captured her mouth beneath his, drugging her senses and her speech with a hard, swift kiss that stole the rest of her breath.
Her hands were shaking when he turned her loose.
“Trust me, Holly. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She laid her hand against the beat of his heart. “I can do that, but it’s time for you to trust me, too. There’s only one thing I know for certain, and that is I would not wish to spend another day on earth without you in my life.”
The expression on her face shattered his reserve. He pulled her
off the last stair and into his arms.
Her heart was in her throat as he dragged her beneath the stairs and then pressed her up against the wall.
“Roman, someone will see.”
“To hell with someone,” he whispered, and wrapped his arms around her, then lifted her off her feet. “Right now, I have this overwhelming need to be deep inside you and am having to settle for this.”
Her arms were around his neck, her feet dangling inches from the floor. She was holding on for dear life...and her love. She leaned forward, brushing the surface of his mouth with the tip of her tongue.
“Then take what you need, Roman Justice, because I couldn’t refuse you if I tried.”
He lowered his head. A soft, unintelligible groan slipped out from between his lips, and then he got lost in her spell. A few moments later, a sound came crashing down the hall, followed by a flurry of excited voices. With reluctance, Roman tore himself free and set her gently back down to her feet.
“Sounds like something just broke,” he said, tracing the edge of her mouth with his finger. “But as long as it’s not my heart, I don’t give a good damn.”
She grabbed his hand and lifted it to her mouth before pressing a kiss into the palm.
“If it does,” Holly whispered, “it won’t be because of me.”
“Then I’m safe,” he said. “Because you’re the only one who could do it. Now, let’s go find your father. I need to let him know what’s going to happen.”
“Are you going to tell him about the—?”
“This has been your call from the first. It’s not up to me. It’s up to you. Do you want to?” Roman asked.
She thought for a moment and then nodded. “I think it’s time.”
“Then let’s do it,” he said.
When they walked into the library, they found Davis Benton standing at a window overlooking his estate. His shoulders were slumped, his expression grave.
“Dad.”
He turned. “I wondered where you were.” He eyed Roman without commenting on the fact that they were hand in hand. “Please, have a seat,” he said.
“I’ll stand,” Roman said as he sat Holly down.
“More secrets?” Davis asked.
Holly heard the despair in his voice. “Don’t be angry with Roman, Dad. He’s only done as I asked.”
Davis dropped into a nearby chair. “Anger isn’t what I’m feeling.”
Holly leaned forward. “Please, just hear us out. We don’t have much time, and it’s very important.”
He frowned. “What do you mean, you don’t have much time?”
Roman interrupted. “Baby, let me.”
Holly nodded, relieved to have someone else trying to explain something she didn’t understand herself.
“Then talk,” Davis said.
Roman nodded. “I’ve been following Gordon Mallory, almost from the first day I arrived.”
Davis straightened. “What on earth for?”
“Because we don’t believe he and Holly were ever going to elope.”
“Then why would she have been on that plane?” Davis asked. “She called me herself only hours before takeoff to tell me she was going with him.”
Wait for me. This won’t take long.
Holly stiffened. She could see herself getting out of a cab and walking across the tarmac to a waiting plane.
“I had changed my mind,” she said suddenly.
She had their attention.
Roman had seen that faraway look on her face before. He knew that she’d just had another flash of memory.
“What are you remembering?” he asked.
She blinked, and the image was gone. There was a stunned expression on her face. “I told the cab driver to wait. I told him I’d be right back. My God, Roman, I wasn’t going to go! Then why did I get on that plane?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, but you do,” he said. “When it matters, you’ll tell us.”
She slumped back into her seat. “Where have I heard that before?”
He touched her lightly on the shoulder. “Easy does it, Holly. We’re with you all the way.”
Davis leaned forward. “He’s right, sweetheart. Whatever’s been happening, you must know you’re not alone.” Then he looked up at Roman. “So why the need to follow Mallory? Other than the fact Holly can’t remember why she went, what’s the big mystery?”
“Say it,” Holly said. “You were right. I should have told him from the start.”
Davis’s voice was thick with frustration. “Damn it, people! Tell me what?”
“That Holly wound up with a duffel bag full of money when she bailed out of that plane.”
Davis stood. “What on earth...?”
“It’s true, Dad. It was at the foot of the tree when I finally freed myself from the parachute and climbed down. And I had a vague memory of someone shoving it at me and telling me to jump.”
“Good lord,” he muttered, and then started to pace. “But I don’t understand. Why did you feel the need to keep it a secret? It surely belonged to Gordon. Why didn’t you just—?”
“I was afraid.”
He shook his head. “Afraid? Why? What was there to be afraid of?” And then a thought struck him, and he looked at Roman. “How much money are we talking about?”
“Just shy of a million dollars.”
Davis’s legs went weak, and he dropped back into the chair he’d just vacated.
“Sweet lord.”
Roman gave his case another boost. “If it had been honestly earned, don’t you think Gordon would have been bemoaning the loss loud and long?”
Davis wiped a shaky hand across his face. “He and his brother have been living under this roof at my invitation. If you suspected something was wrong, why didn’t you say so? Why did you let it go this long?” he asked.
Holly reached out, needing to touch him when she said it.
“Because at first, I didn’t know who to trust. Not you, Dad. Not even myself.”
“What?”
Roman interrupted. “When we first met, she had convinced herself that she was a criminal and had come by the money illegally. It was only after we learned her true identity that we pretty much ruled that out.” He grinned wryly. “Davis Benton’s daughter would have no reason to steal.”
“How can you be sure it was Mallory? It could have been the pilot. Maybe it was his brother, Billy! Yes, it could be him. He’s the one who’s run off, remember?”
Roman shook his head. “I can’t explain it, but I doubt that’s the case. My guess is, Billy was an accomplice in something, but he doesn’t come across as the stronger of the two.”
Davis nodded. “You’re right. But just thinking they are involved is one thing. Do we have any proof other than guesses?”
“I did a little checking,” Roman said. “Mallory doesn’t have a real-estate license in Nevada, nor has he ever had one. And just before he and Billy left town for the supposed trip to Nassau, they gave up their apartment. If they were planning on coming back, they must have been counting on you to house them.”
“Which I did,” Davis said with a groan. “What a mess. And what are we going to do?”
“I have a plan,” Roman said. “Are you with us?”
“Anything,” Davis said. “I’ll do anything to make sure that Holly is safe.”
“Good. Now, here’s what I want you to do.”
Davis listened, and when it was over, looked up at Roman with renewed respect.
“My boy, if this works, you’re a genius.”
Roman shook his head. “It won’t be genius that traps Gordon Mallory. It will be a guilty conscience.”
“Where is he now?” Davis asked.
“In his room,” Roman said. “In fact, he’s been spending a lot of time in there today. I’d lay odds that he’s planning to leave, and soon. I followed him to a bank about an hour ago. He closed an account, in the process withdrawing a little over five thousand dollars. That’s not pock
et change, that’s traveling money.”
Davis was furious to think that he’d unwittingly housed a criminal, never mind the fact that the man had lied about his relationship with his daughter.
“For two cents, I’d like to—”
Suddenly Holly waved to her father and then put her finger to her lips, indicating silence. They listened. Someone was coming down the stairs. It could only be Gordon. They glanced at each other and without missing a beat, Davis started to laugh, as if someone had just told a joke.
Gordon walked into the library with a smile on his face. “Sounds like I’m missing all the fun,” he said.
Roman shook his head. “It hasn’t even begun.”
Before Gordon could comment upon the odd remark, Davis stood.
“You’re just in time,” he told Gordon. “We were about to sit down to lunch.” He took Holly by the arm and winked at her. “The first course is cold shrimp salad, Holly’s favorite.”
Royal pulled up to the gates of the Benton estate, rolled down the window, then leaned out, pressing the small black button on a nearby call box. Moments later, an anonymous voice came over the line.
“Yes?”
“Royal and Ryder Justice to see Davis Benton.”
“Just a moment, please.”
Royal glanced at Ryder and shook his head. “Hell of a way to live, locked behind all this iron.”
Ryder nodded as he looked around the estate. His wife had grown up almost the same way. Not behind walls and locked gates like this one, but within a world that certain members of society looked upon as fair game. The ultra-rich had their own set of problems, and in Ryder’s opinion, having the money wasn’t worth what came with it.
The gates began to open, and Royal glanced over his shoulder, checking for the umpteenth time to make sure the bag was still there.
“The sooner I get rid of that thing, the better I’m going to feel,” he muttered.
“You forget,” Ryder said. “The trouble hasn’t even started. If Roman’s theory is right, all hell could break loose after we get there.”
Royal’s eyes darkened and his jawline firmed. “I don’t pretend to know what this is all about. Just remember...we watch Roman’s back.”
