by Dee J. Adams
“It’s okay. I want this to be between her and me. I just can’t believe she did it.”
Mel moved closer and pulled her against him. He needed one last touch, needed the sense of home that she’d come to represent. He let his palms roam over her butt. “How did the conversation end with Joan what’s-her-name?”
“She has two people available and she’s sending them over tomorrow to meet me. I should have someone new in no time.”
“Goodbye, Smelly,” he said.
Ashley laughed for the first time. “That your way of saying you don’t want to say goodbye to Paula?” She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tiptoes. “Because I can still set you up with her if you’ve changed your mind.”
Mel pinched her ass. He had to. She squealed like a teenager and he took advantage of her open mouth with a sizzler of a kiss. His dick forgot she was leaving and poked between them in an obstinate display of selfishness.
“Mmm,” Ashley purred as she tortured him with an erotic rub of her hand. “Going to have a long wait, big boy.” She pulled away and backed up toward the back door. “If you hear glass breaking before you leave, call 911.”
“Not funny,” Mel said. But she smiled as she turned and walked out the door, her dog at her side.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ashley paced the living room waiting for Paula. Anger surged through her like a flash flood. She understood how tough it was to make ends meet. She’d struggled for years with a full-time job and night school, trying to keep her head above water. It was one of the reasons she took her money seriously and worked to keep it and build it. She’d vowed never to be poor again.
But nothing justified what Paula had done. If she’d done it. Ashley just found no other alternative. Paula had blatantly lied about Joan’s leave of absence, about a replacement being buried under paper work. The more Ashley thought about it the more furious she got.
The phone rang as the clock chimed one and Ashley buzzed Paula onto the property. Paula had finally learned to quit coming early because Ashley had simply not answered the phone. At first, Ashley had felt guilty, but Mel had quickly talked her out of that stupid feeling.
She also harbored some guilt for not telling Mel about her procedure, but every day she went without positive results was a day he hadn’t had to be sad for her. Besides, it wasn’t as if her omission hurt him in any way. Getting her sight back would be a great surprise for everyone.
Ashley heard the SUV pull up in the driveway. More and more she wondered about Mel’s intense dislike of Paula. It wasn’t as if he’d loved Lizzie either, but he may as well have warded Paula off with garlic or a wooden stake by the way he acted around her.
Roamer scrambled in from the other room, a low growl in his throat. Ashley opened the door before Paula had a chance to use her key. “Roamer, down,” she said before he got too loud. Contrition washed through her at taking her frustration out on him. “Come in.” She sounded as stressed as she felt.
“Everything okay?” Paula asked as she followed her into the living room.
Roamer still had a low growl rumbling in his throat as he slinked next to her.
“Not really. Have a seat.” Ashley indicated the sofa, but didn’t sit herself. She stayed on the other side of the coffee table. Being blind put her at enough of a disadvantage and she wanted all the power she could get. “Do you have the house key?” she asked.
“Uh…yes.” Clearly Paula hadn’t expected that question. “I…”
“Can I have it please?” She held out her hand.
Ashley hated the silence. Paula had to be panicked by now. God, if she could only see her face. Was she scared or mad? Confused? All those things? “Now, please,” Ashley said, thrusting her hand farther out.
“Ashley, what’s wrong? Clearly something’s bothering you. What happened? Maybe I can help.” Paula fumbled with her key ring as she spoke.
A minute later, Ashley felt the cool metal of the key in her palm. A speck of relief settled her anger…but only a speck. “Maybe you can clear something up for me,” she said, pocketing the key. “I just got a call from the Department of Rehabilitation.”
There was that silence again. This time it was laced with definite panic. Ashley could almost smell it.
“Do you remember the name Joan Armsworth?” Ashley asked. She may as well have been talking to a rock. The more silence she got the more she believed Paula’s guilt. Her stomach knotted at having allowed this woman into her house, into her life. “It’s a simple question, Paula. Either you remember her or you don’t.”
Paula rose to her feet. The fact that she stood a solid four inches taller than her hadn’t bothered Ashley before, but now she felt at a definite disadvantage. She didn’t really know this woman. She didn’t have references. What if she was a nut job and went postal?
Taking comfort in Roamer’s solid warmth next to her, she sucked in a steadying breath.
“Wasn’t she the woman who helped you find Lizzie?” Paula finally asked.
As if she didn’t know.
Ashley wasn’t buying it. “Yes. She is.” She stressed the verb and Paula had to know where this was headed. “I’m just curious why you told me she took a leave of absence when she didn’t.”
“Well, that’s what I was told,” Paula said evenly. “Maybe the person on the phone had the wrong information.”
Ashley squashed the sarcasm dying to escape. “Really? Because Joan called me this morning and told me she spoke with me a few weeks ago.” She waited for Paula’s response to that.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Ashley, so maybe you should just say it.”
“Okay. Joan said she called and spoke to me. Said I told her that I’d found someone and not to worry. Since I never had that conversation with Joan, clearly she spoke with someone who she thought was me. Any ideas who that might be?”
Ashley had her. Paula couldn’t lie anymore without making this worse. “Ashley, look. I know this doesn’t look good.” She actually sounded as if she was crying, but again, Ashley didn’t buy into it. “I am so sorry. I just thought I was helping you and I didn’t want you to stress about meeting and interviewing more people. I thought we were friends and that—”
“You pretended to be me! You lied to someone about your identity and then you lied to me about the phone call. Where the hell do you get off arranging my life?” Ashley felt the heat in her face as her anger streamed off with every jerky movement of her hand. “I know the economy is bad, but—”
“Yes, it is!” Paula cried. “I was desperate. I admit it. My boss at the real estate agency had let me go three weeks before I met Lizzie and you. I was desperate to pay my rent. So when Lizzie just dumped you with no warning, I felt horrible and yes, I needed the job. I admit I shouldn’t have pretended to be you, but I thought things were working out great with us. I didn’t mean to upset you. I swear, Ashley. I’m so sorry. Nothing like that will ever happen again.”
Ashley fixed her gaze straight at Paula. She only saw her jeans and high heels and the top of her dark hair. She heard the desperation in Paula’s voice and imagined the tears streaming down her cheeks. But there was no way in hell she was getting suckered again. “You’re right,” she finally said. “Nothing like that will ever happen again. I’m sorry, but I can’t have you in my house. I can’t be around someone who lies to me.”
“It was one lie!” Paula shouted, her malice clear.
A faint growl rumbled in Roamer’s throat and Ashley set her hand on his soft head to calm him, glad she had his support.
Paula quickly took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Really, Ashley, I’m so sorry. Please, don’t do this now, right before Christmas. I promise I won’t do it again.”
Did she really think throwing in the holiday reminder might change anything? Ashley practically heard the gears spinning in Paula’s mind as the woman latched onto any excuse to stay. She ignored the Christmas remark. “I’m sure you mean it, but you
should have thought of that before you pretended to be me. We’re not talking about something insignificant. This is giant. This is my life, Paula, and I take it very seriously. I’ve made up my mind. You got paid for last week and I’ll pay you for today, but I want you to leave now. I’ll put the check in the mail, but you no longer work for me and please don’t use my name as a reference. It wouldn’t do you much good.” Ashley headed to the door and tested the key Paula had given her in the lock. She didn’t trust her for a second.
Long seconds ticked by and Ashley’s palms got damp waiting for Paula to leave. What if she got violent? That was silly. Why would she even think that? What was it about Paula that suddenly gave her such a freaky vibe?
Paula finally moved toward the door and said nothing as Ashley let her out. Once the door closed, Ashley bolted it. Her heart thumped hard and sweat coated her palms. That had been too scary. The anger and desperation streaming off Paula had been palpable.
Ashley wanted to tell Mel what happened, but he was probably gone by now. Or close to it. Besides, she couldn’t go until Paula left the premises. She liked having a locked door between them. She listened for Paula’s SUV to start. It was taking way too long, as if she didn’t plan on leaving at all. Finally the engine hummed alive and Ashley exhaled a long breath.
The phone rang. Glad for the distraction, Ashley answered it in the living room.
“I’m looking for Ashley Bristol?” a woman said. “My name is Katherine Carerra. I believe my daughter Elizabeth, Lizzie, works for her.”
Lizzie’s mom? Surprise stole Ashley’s voice for a second. In all this time, she’d never heard back from Lizzie. “Yes,” she finally said. “This is Ashley. I tried to call Lizzie after Thanksgiving weekend to tell her not to worry about rushing back. I was sorry to hear about her family emergency.”
“Family emergency?” Katherine said. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about. Lizzie was here for Thanksgiving and drove home. We haven’t heard from her since. We’ve been trying her cell phone and she hasn’t answered any messages. So we finally called her boss at the Department of Rehabilitation and they gave us your number. Lizzie told us about you, but we never thought to get your number since she has her cell phone. Needless to say, we’ve been a little frantic. It’s been weeks. She’s been known to get buried in her computer, in her books, but she’s never gone this long without returning a call. We were wondering if you could put her on the phone.”
A full body chill broke out on Ashley’s skin. She refused to go where her mind took her.
“Lizzie isn’t here,” she said. “I got a message from her the Sunday after Thanksgiving that she had a family emergency and wouldn’t be coming back. I haven’t seen her since she went home.”
“What?” Katherine sounded as if she’d been socked in the stomach. “You mean she never even made it there? Oh, my God. Oh, God.” She took a few deep breaths. “Okay, I’m going to call the police now. If you don’t mind, I’m going to give them your number. Maybe you can tell them something that might help us find her.”
“Yes, of course. Whatever you need.”
“I’m going to make sure they call you right now.” Katherine Carerra’s steady voice finally cracked. “Will you be there?”
“I won’t go anywhere until I talk to them.” Not that she had anywhere to go… The reality of Lizzie’s circumstances finally hit her. “Mrs. Carerra, I just want you to know how much Lizzie helped me while she was here. She—” Ashley almost said was. “She’s a great lady. I’ll always owe her for her help.”
Katherine thanked her, her voice ragged, before hanging up.
Ashley set the phone back in its cradle and thought back to that Sunday. Paula was potentially the last person to have contact with… Oh shit. Paula had said Lizzie had a family emergency. Katherine Carerra said there was no family emergency. That meant someone was lying. Lizzie’s mom had no reason to lie. But Paula, on the other hand… Paula had already proved herself to be a liar.
Another wave of chills shimmied down Ashley’s back. Oh, God. Her brain headed in that awful direction again. Paula may have lied to her about Joan Armsworth, but had she lied about Lizzie’s messages? Had she done something to Lizzie? Why? For the job? No way, it didn’t seem possible.
Ashley couldn’t wait to talk to the police. In fact, she picked up the phone and got the number to the nearest precinct. She wanted to talk to someone ASAP and not only file a missing person’s report, but she wanted to give them Paula’s information. A fresh surge of chills covered her arms as all the roads to Lizzie’s disappearance led to one person.
Paula.
* * *
The door shut on Paula’s back and she wanted to scream. She wanted to throw something. Most of all she wanted to kill Ashley Bristol with her bare hands.
Her anger at having to be buzzed in didn’t compare to the rage she felt now. How dare that bitch do this to her after all she’d done. She’d worked like a dog for Ashley and what did she get in return? Treated like a criminal.
Ashley’s time on earth dwindled with each passing day, she just didn’t know it. Maybe that other bitch from the Department of Rehabilitation would be next. She shouldn’t have called the house. Paula had told her everything was fine so why had she called the damn house?
Nothing she could do about it now. Now she had to improvise. Although she didn’t have a plan, she had a start. Smiling, she stared at Ashley’s house key still safely attached to her key ring. The blind idiot had no idea that Paula had made a duplicate key. Paula would’ve laughed if Ashley hadn’t been standing in front of her looking like the queen of the universe. Purposely seating her on the couch…as if Paula hadn’t realized that was to make her feel small.
Scaling the front wall wouldn’t be easy, but it wouldn’t be impossible, especially with her SUV. She could climb to the roof and get over the wall within minutes. Then—bingo—inside the house without a problem.
Paula spotted the black stretch limousine in Mel’s driveway. The driver hoisted a large duffel bag into the trunk. Was Mel going somewhere? If she left now, she might never see him again. That couldn’t happen. She refused to lose the ground she’d made in her relationship with him. She had to make him trust her and there was only one way to do that now.
Jumping into her SUV, Paula backed down the split driveway and rolled back up on Mel’s side, next to the limo.
“Excuse me, miss,” the driver said. “We’re leaving here in about two minutes.”
“Absolutely,” she told him as she made her way toward the front door. “I won’t take much time.”
Mel came out of the house, looking fine in a pair of faded jeans, dark gray T-shirt, black leather jacket and Ray-Bans. He closed the door behind him. “Sorry, Paula. Can’t talk now. I’m late for my plane. Needed to be out of here fifteen minutes ago.”
“Right. This won’t take long.” She blocked his way as he tried to move. “Ashley just fired me.”
He nodded his head once. “Sorry to hear that. Now, I really have to go.”
She blocked him again. “Did you know she really hates liars?” He was bound to know what she meant. Yep. He clenched his jaw, but didn’t say a word. She hated doing this to him, but she didn’t see any other way. Once they were together, he’d realize what a perfect couple they made. They’d laugh about this in a few days. But right now, she had to be strong. “I’d hate for her to find out your real identity. Especially since you’ve gone to such extremes to stay under wraps.”
He looked up to the sky then back to her. “What the hell do you want?” His whispered words struck like fire, his anger clear and tangible. She had to stay focused. It was for his own good.
What did she want? It was simple. She wanted him. But she had to spend time with him so he could get to know her. “Take me with you.”
He cocked his head. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me. Take me with you.” She gestured to the car. “Wherever you’re going.” S
he didn’t care as long as they were together. “If you don’t, I go back to Ashley right now and tell her who her neighbor—and fuck buddy—really is.”
His nostrils flared, his hands tightened into fists. Paula hated threatening him this way. She’d never hurt him. Even though he’d cut her to the quick by sleeping with Ashley, she wouldn’t hold it against him. People made mistakes. She was forgiving. Telling Ashley his secret would be for his own good. He deserved a woman who worshiped him. Someone who would take care of his every need and keep him happy for the rest of his life.
“How much money do you want to keep quiet?”
He just didn’t get it. “I don’t want money. I want you.” There. She’d been honest. He had to appreciate that.
“I’ll be gone for three days.” His words came out measured and succinct, as if she might not understand him otherwise. “You can’t drop everything and take off with me. You don’t have clothes or—”
“You’ll buy me what I need.” The man had millions. Did he think she didn’t know this? Spending a couple thousand dollars on clothes for her was a drop in the bucket. Besides, she’d buy only things that he liked. She’d be whatever he wanted her to be. He’d love it. She warmed to the idea. “It’s okay, Mel,” she said soothingly. “We’ll take this trip, get to know each other better and you’ll see that I’m not such a bad person. I promise.”
He started to say something when the limo driver walked up behind her.
“We’re running late, sir,” he said. “I hate to rush you, but if we don’t hit the road, you won’t make your flight.”
Poor Mel looked ready to burst. Paula felt horrible for him. She took his arm and walked him to the limo. “It’s going to be great, you’ll see.”
Mel tugged free of her grasp. It was okay, he needed time to adjust. She understood.
