“Well, these days there are things like restraining orders and laws to keep them away from you,” Jonathon crossed the room and perched on the edge of the sofa at her side. One hand raised and pulled the knot in his tie free before opening the top two buttons of his shirt. She continued to just stare at him, even when he lifted the sandwich and held the corner of the half slice to her lips. A slightly crooked grin formed when she opened her mouth and took a bite, chewing silently. “Good girl.”
“I think I’ll be going now,” Frannie announced with several long strides to the door. “Cassidy will be here in about half an hour.”
“You know this doesn’t concern the resort…and it would be better…”
“You’re not going to convince us to just pretend you don’t exist,” Frannie told her with a shake of her head. “We have a great team, Molly. And an even more amazing reputation in only two years. Logan and Cade aren’t concerned about the reputation. And you know Mac…he’s more interested in bringing down the people running the school you were in. The brain power behind a solution is incredible and we’re your family now…for better or worse. Nice meeting you, Jonathon Shepherd. I’m sure we’ll meet again.”
“She works in the health center?” He asked, offering another bite of the sandwich and not surprised when she took it from him before biting down.
“She’s a natural practitioner and midwife.”
“Why won’t you talk to me, Molly?”
“All the dark secrets that make up what is me?” She shrugged dryly. “Maybe you should learn to read cues better. We had a nice time…”
“Don’t even try that, Molly. We shared a hell of a lot more than nice sex. It was hot and sweaty; erotic and passionate and it will be again,” he promised, leaning close and capturing her gaze with his own. He watched the nervous swallow, her tongue coming out to coat her lips with moisture. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t know what’s going on between us, but it’s not like anything I’ve ever felt. I’m also egotistic enough to know you were there with me, Molly. Thinking of where we’d go after the weekend ended.”
She turned from his gaze, staring into the light rain falling at the same time day was fading outside. “I did…I wondered if I was crazy to think there was a tomorrow for us.”
“Tomorrow doesn’t stop because we discover obstacles, Molly. We’re stronger together than any obstacle,” Jonathon reached around, his hand circling her chin and bringing her gaze back to his. “You have to eat. And I’m asking you to let me help with this. Whatever has you frightened, we can work through together.”
Molly turned away again, her fingers picking at the sandwich and nibbling the pieces. “I don’t believe it’s right. You…the people in the resort…old friends and new friends…”
“Alright, tell me why it’s wrong.” He stood up and moved to another chair, rearranging it until he could see her, no matter which direction she turned. Then he saw the lone tear easing over her cheek and gently brushed it away with his thumb.
Both of them jumped slightly when the knock came on the door. Jonathon pushed the plate a little closer with a glance that told her to finish the sandwich before standing up and crossing to open the door. His head tipped politely as Cassidy entered.
“I talked to Frannie on the way over here, Molly. She’s worried about you.”
“They shouldn’t have been able to find me. I think I honestly thought they were all gone. And definitely moved on to other projects. I never thought they’d bother people I know. I never believed anyone would look for me,” Molly took a reluctant bite of the sandwich, the melted cheese over the turkey pulled slightly. “I really don’t know what they want specifically. I don’t know the younger man with him. I only remember James Harrison. He was one of their primary recruiters and researcher. He worked with the different teams,” the smile she offered was trapped in her memories and cold. “Motivation. At first it was like friendly competitions. But that changed after about a year. I think when I first got there, it was new,” she continued picking at her sandwich, now on the second half. “It felt exciting. There was so much new stuff. So many things to get lost in…I remember sleeping solidly for the first time in ages without things bouncing around in my head looking for solutions.”
Cassidy sat in the chair Jonathon had moved, watching Molly closely.
“Do you understand why it’s important to the resort, Molly? First, it’s sounding like it’s something that shouldn’t exist to begin with. Not that it’s our business, but if it involves our people, then it has to be handled,” Cassidy hung her head for a minute. “Let’s just say it’s a point up for debate at the moment. We don’t have intentions of trying to save the world. Unless it impacts our corner and possibly our children.”
“Intelligent isolationalism,” Molly said with a sigh. “I never intended to bring this to Logan’s door, Cassidy. This project…this is so important to so many people.”
“I know about Isabel, Molly,” Cassidy said carefully. “I know about the school in Utah.”
“Isabel…” Molly smiled for the first time since she’d run into Harrison again. “She was held in a different wing. They thought they could harness the psychic ability she has,” a chill went through her body, her fingers tightened on the plate resting on her knees. “The others in that wing…too many of them…autistic…developmentally disabled…they were conducting experiments on them. Their parents…I’d listen at the grates to the rooms…it was an old building…the parents were glad to be rid of their care. They couldn’t afford them and didn’t know how to deal with them. So Harrison and his team would find people, select ones that they believed could be studied. One scientist on the team believed with the proper cortical stimulation, they could be forced to solve problems…like jump starting a car.”
“They used them for experiments,” Cassidy whispered in disbelief. “Are they after Isabel, too?”
“I don’t think so. They never knew her real name at all. Her uncle didn’t want to be tracked once he had the money and told them her name was Caroline. I’d met Isabel before I was placed there,” Molly explained. “At a computer class at the university in Southern California. There were three that year, classes…and most of the people they’ve contacted would have been from there.”
“What city was the school in, Molly? Did it have a legal name that was used?” Cassidy had her iPad out and was tapping on the screen as Molly recited answers for her questions. She let it rest on her knees and opened her phone. “Cat…I have a project for one of the investigators. A school from about 20 years back,” she gave her second in charge the names involved. “It was sometimes called an institute and the police reports on the fire that destroyed it. I want it so in-depth, I can rebuild the thing. I want to find out if there are people who remember it – town’s people. So whoever you use, make sure they interact well with strangers and don’t mind a little travel. I want impressions and anything, no matter how minute. Add James Harrison to that mix. He worked there in some capacity. I also think it might have been connected to one of the up and coming pharmaceutical companies at the time. Oh, Cat…see what kind of luck you have finding out where the current school is located. Thanks.”
“The papers claimed it was a gas leak,” Molly said softly, looking up at Jonathon through a sheen of moisture. “And it was…because I set it that way. The town thought we were all dangerous kids being held in a fairly high security rehab school. That’s what the school told them. Some of us would sneak out at night and prowl the town, talk to local kids and get information. When you’re labeled a dangerous kid, you get instant status with other kids.”
“Why didn’t you run then?” Jonathon demanded, pulling himself up sharply at his tone. “I’m sorry, Molly.”
“At first, it was a joke. It was fun. The only rule was they refused to let us go to town and play. It wasn’t overly restrictive and we had all the resources to invent and explore, including the internet. We were shown prototypes of things and asked que
stions about what we thought. It was, for the first year, a really good school. Then I found the other half,” her voice shook. “And I met Isabel and some of the others there. I finally accepted that all parents aren’t the same but there sure were a lot like my own.”
“Isabel had really good parents and a great aunt that she grew up with. Then her uncle was declared a guardian when…everyone she loved died,” Molly explained simply. “She was an escape artist. She taught us all sorts of things, especially how to use what was around us, not worry about what we didn’t have.”
“I destroyed all the computer files, then all the paper documents we could find,” Molly stared toward the rain drenched patio doors. “Isabel had been gone a year or more then…we got everyone out we could. Some refused to go…I…we…hadn’t planned on that and it was too late to stop it once the gas was turned on full and the candles set. I knew they’d put me in prison if they ever found me and I didn’t care. None of us cared about them…the trainers and teachers…the doctors and nurses that worked there.”
Jonathon took the almost empty plate and slid it onto the table before sitting at her side and pulling her over his lap, cradling her against his chest. For all of one second.
Chapter Eighteen
Molly scrambled. Seriously scrambled until she stumbled and bounced off the edge of the sofa to land on the floor.
“Stop that. I’m not a child. I don’t need coddled or…or shielded. This is my problem and I brought it here. I’ll handle it,” she spun away from the stark surprise on his face and collected the plate and remnants of her sandwich. “I’ve given you everything I know.” She moved into the kitchen, grateful for the wide counter between then when she realized he’d stood up and moved to the divider.
His knuckles were almost as white as the counter when he gripped the edges.
“What was the last thing you worked on, Molly?” Cassidy remained in the chair, but turned it to face the pair of them. “I know it was a long time ago, but there has to be some crazy reason they’re so hot to find you suddenly.”
She leaned against the counter, arms spread and head dangling between them. The intricate braid she’d woven that morning looked a little worse for the wild day. Her head shook slightly.
“I don’t know, Cassidy. I don’t know. I need to think. That’s all I asked for, some space to think before you all converged like a major storm. Just let me think,” she begged gruffly. “I don’t know how they found me…I don’t have a clue why they were even looking.”
“They found you from one of the publicity pieces,” Cassidy felt the heat strike her cheeks when Molly raised her head and stared. “You were with a lot of the new people for the health center, Molly. Photos were taken by several papers of the new physicians joining the health center. I’m sorry.”
“It never dawned on me to stop it,” she said with a tired sigh. “I’ll think about the question, Cassidy. I have your number…and I promise to call if I remember.”
“I have my people watching. I have our cameras set for recognition, Molly.”
“You know…I shouldn’t have panicked. I should have invited them to lunch and pulled information from them to find out what they want,” she slapped two hands on the solid counter. “I’m not a kid, but when I saw him…I was right back there again.”
“That’s not your fault. You’re being a little hard on yourself. For the moment, you should be able to relax. Work and have fun and stop worrying,” Cassidy stood up and walked to the door. “Just don’t run, Molly. We’d miss you. I’ll be in touch if I have more questions.”
“Thank you, Cassidy. And…thank Logan and Cade for me…this isn’t something they banked on when they started this,” Molly saw Cassidy smile and then she was gone.
“I don’t know what to say to you, Jonathon.” Molly stayed on the opposite side of the counter, her gaze locked on the thumbs of the hands he had wrapped around the edge.
“Hmm…how about…I’m not sorry I hit you with my wing. I am sorry I thought I wasn’t important enough to discuss my problem with you because having you in my life is as vital to me as breathing.” Jonathon stared at the slightly bent head that rose just a little until a pair of dark eyes peered through tendrils of platinum. “I don’t care if it was three days or three months, Molly Fielding. I have friends with cuffs and I won’t let you run because of this.”
“You’re serious,” Molly finally managed after clearing her throat and straightening a little more. Her lashes were narrowed just a bit, uncertain about how far she should push.
“Nervous, Molly?”
“Confused. Angry. Tired…so tired…” her eyes closed with the last admission. She stiffened seconds later when she felt him behind her, warm, secure arms wrapped around her and forcing her to straighten and lean into him. “Jonathon…it really is better for you if you distance yourself for now. I don’t know what’s going to happen…or how it will affect things. Cassidy and Logan and Cade…they shouldn’t be getting mixed up in this mess.” But she knew the protest was weakening along with her voice.
“And you need friends to help unravel why they’re bothering you, Molly. Being stubborn isn’t a good trait in this case,” he met the stunned expression. “I can be crazy about you and honestly, that’s a relief to me. Here I was worried you’d be able to twist me around your little finger to the point I’d do something stupid.”
Molly opened her mouth once and closed it, her head tilted as she worked out his words in her mind. She moved out of his embrace, putting the counter between them once again.
“I haven’t had a lot of sleep and I really don’t know how to take what you just said,” she finally managed with a little frown.
“Good. I’m thinking keeping you off balance will work in my favor,” Jonathon reached across the counter, taking one of her hands and leading her around until they were on the same side. “Pack a few things, Molly. You’re staying with me at the resort. I’ll sleep better and you’ll be safe there.”
She tried pulling back. Her sneakers stuck on the hardwood floor and held but the man was definitely determined.
“It’s a bad idea, Jonathon,” she said through her teeth, one hand gripping the edge of the counter, the other wrist held tightly in his fingers. She was surprised it didn’t hurt like it should. “How do you do that? It’s not hurting…”
“Because I’m not holding you to hurt you, but to restrain you. There’s a big difference on how and where you grip,” he talked just enough to use his other hand and take hold of the band on her jeans. He tugged once, sharply, and she bounced against him with a satisfactory gasp. Both hands were immediately behind her, wrapping her close. “Now, for Christ’s sake, quit fighting me and talk to me, Molly. I’m not going anywhere, no matter how much of a shrew you decide to become.” He bent his head enough that their noses touched. “I do know how to spank you and get your attention, if that might help.”
Molly went immediately still, dark eyes wide as she tried to determine if he was serious or not.
“It would be best if we weren’t associated for a while, Jonathon,” Molly cleared her throat and nodded, as if agreeing with herself. “I still think the resort shouldn’t be involved in straightening this out…but no one appears to be listening to me.”
“Your idea of straightening things out is to run. That doesn’t match our solution, Molly. My reputation, the resort’s character and standing in the community isn’t going to be altered because of this, trust me. Before I accepted the position, I did a great deal of research on the principles and some of the other businesses associated with them.”
“You’re obstinate and…and…”
“Says the girl who refuses to let people help her because she’s stubborn and hard headed,” he interrupted lightly, leaning in and kissing her in the middle of her pouting statement of complaint. “I can’t walk away and let you go through this alone, Molly. All the things you think you did wrong…you were a kid, baby. A kid trying to help kids. Don’t push
me out of your life…please…”
He didn’t know which part of his statement got to her. When her body relaxed against him with a little shuddering sigh, he was never so grateful for his ability to put words together quickly and correctly for any given situation.
“I’m afraid, Jonathon,” she whispered when the tears stopped, her hand up and beneath her cheek. She didn’t know when he’d lifted her, cradled her on his lap while she soaked his shirt front. “I…the people who took me in when I got away…I was so afraid to let them inside. So afraid they’d be taken away when…when they came for me again. I had so many nightmares…I knew they’d find me and make me go back or tell the police what I did…”
“Is that what kept you awake?” One hand rested on her hip, the other stroked gently over the braided hair. “We can figure this out together, Molly.”
“It’s not fair. Not to you, not to them. It’s…it’s just not,” she tried one last time but knew it was a waste of effort. The man’s resolve was as solid and strong as the muscles she was pressing against. She sniffled and accepted the folded white square, content to lay in his arms.
“We took a vote,” Jonathon said simply. “We outnumbered you.”
A quivering laugh broke free. “That’s just a little on the crooked side, don’t you think?”
“A smart man uses what’s available to him. Right now, that’s Cassidy and her tenacity,” Jonathon lifted her to the sofa before standing up and pulling her to her feet. “Got a suitcase?”
Molly sighed as he led her into the only bedroom of the large unit, her gaze going to the closet. He left her standing beside the bed, going into the walk-in closet and looking around. He easily lifted the large case from the top shelf and carried it to set on the bed. The sound of the zipper seemed to wake her and she crossed to the dresser, pulling drawers open and finding what she’d need.
WindSwept Narrows: #23 Molly & Natasha Page 14
