Having made a decision that could possibly change her life; she stood with new determination and headed the short distance to her back porch. Mounting the worn stairs, Sarah stopped to shake off the blanket before opening the French doors. Particles of sand scattered away from the red fleece. The soft ocean breeze snuggled against her back, flirtatiously blowing her hair into her face, while lightly brushing against bare ankles.
Sarah spotted the couple from earlier and watched them with adoration. They were unaffected by the world around them as they playfully danced in the shimmering tide.
Life on the beach had been a spectacular journey. It was the only love affair she’d ever known, but reality was harsh. Life with Josh had been a beautiful chapter in her life, but the chapter had ended. It was time to move on.
Chapter 6
Laura rolled over in bed and quickly assessed the surroundings. The light yellow paint on the walls, the country style quilt, the stuffed animals, yep, she had definitely stayed the night in her old room.
Thinking back over the party last night, Laura was glad everything had turned out so nicely. Her father seemed to have enjoyed himself, and she was glad that Richard had come.
Placing her feet on the wood floor, she walked to the window and watched a man jump off the back of a garbage truck as he removed the remnants of last night’s celebration. With grinding gears, the truck moved forward to the next set of trash cans. The worker remained on foot, retrieving cans, dumping, and then moving on to the next offender’s stock pile. Domestic scenes were lurking around every corner, she thought. A rapid succession of knocks on the bedroom door startled her.
“Let’s go girl. There’s something I want to show you.
That’s right! Richard had invited her to spend the day with him. She wasn’t about to pass up the offer. “I’ll be right out.”
Laura slipped into a pair of relaxed jeans, a tee shirt, jacket, and tennis shoes. She threw her hair in a ponytail, brushed her teeth, and bounced down the stairs. The smell of fresh coffee made her mouth water so she headed straight to the kitchen. The nurse on duty sat at the kitchen table with her dad, who was already dressed. He was skimming the morning paper.
Richard, sporting a set of casual clothes that he must have jacked from boutiques along Rodeo Drive, was at the bar pouring two cups of coffee. “There’s nothing like a strong cup of coffee to start the day off right,” he announced.
Laura felt like a college student home for the holidays. Richard handed her a café sized cup which she gladly accepted.
“Since some people sleep all day, you’ll have to settle for the grinds that were left in the bottom of the pot,” he teased.
Absorbing the excited energy in the room, Laura giggled. “It’s only seven o‘clock. Besides, I prefer to chew my coffee anyway.” Her father’s laughter filled the room. She loved the sound of it and missed being here with him like this.
Richard threw one arm around her, as he declared in an official voice, “Today is my day to kidnap this little lady. Don’t wait up for us. We have lots of catching up to do.”
Laura elbowed Richard as her dad chuckled. “You two have fun. Now go so I can get to the morning news.” As her father shooed them out of the kitchen, Laura had the strangest feeling that this would be a day she would never forget.
With his arm still around her, Richard whisked her out the door and into his red roadster. The new car smell that wafted up her nose, mixed with Richard’s woody cologne was heavenly. Laura wasn’t sure when he’d gotten this latest possession, but he’d always had a thing for being fabulous. “So, where are you taking me for breakfast?”
Richard put his arm on the top of her seat as he turned to back the car out of the drive. With a couple of quick up and down movements of the eyebrows and a fantastic smile, he kept his plans a secret. “If I tell you, then my kidnapping plot would be foiled. You’ll just have to be patient.”
If ever she decided to fall in love again, she would have to consider this wonderfully intelligent man, who appealed to all five of her senses. If she had a sixth sense, he’d most likely stimulate that too. Laura reminded herself that it’d be a bad idea since they were such good friends, but then again, she’d never been keen on good ideas.
***********
“IHOP is my favorite weekend breakfast haunt.” Laura loved their waffles.
Holding the door open as she walked past him, Richard talked into her ear so that only she could hear what was said. “There’s not much I don’t know about you Laura,” the huskiness in his voice stopped her dead in her tracks.
Not sure she’d heard it the way he’d meant it; Laura turned to look up at him. Peering down at her with those beautiful gray eyes, their gazes locked for an instant. Richard put his hand on the small of Laura’s back, guiding her into the building, breaking the intimacy of the moment. The warmth of his touch burned through her jacket. She must be losing her mind. Slow yourself down girl. You call him Uncle for Christ’s sake. Laura reminded herself of that several times, hoping to block out any ridiculous ideas she was harboring.
Things had always been casual between them… until now. Thanks to her overactive imagination, she could feel tension rippling in the air between them. Thankfully, after they were seated, Richard took control of the conversation. He made her laugh with his recollections of her dad.
The breakfast was enjoyable. Neither of them wanted to leave, so they ordered coffee and continued their visit. Talking to Richard had always been easy.
After an hour or so of light-hearted conversation and laughter, Richard’s face grew serious as he leaned forward across the table. “Tell me about your work, Laura. What does a beautiful scientist do in a stuffy lab all day?”
Casting her eyes downward, Laura fiddled with her napkin. She’d never discussed her work with anyone, mostly because no one ever asked, and secondly because of the nature of it. “Mostly stare at test tubes and mice all day. What about you? What does a multilingual playboy do with his time?”
“I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” Laura studied his face, trying to determine if he meant what he said or if he was being his normally cocky self. She’d never been told what he did for a living.
A tense moment passed as they studied each other’s faces, each trying to read what the other was thinking.
Richard shrugged his shoulders. “What? It’s true. Playboys are sworn to secrecy. Really, you have to take an oath and everything.”
Laura laughed until tears leaked from her eyes. She dabbed at them with the same napkin she had fiddled with earlier. Laughter wasn’t something that came to her often, but she liked it. “Thanks, I needed that! I’ve missed you, Richard.”
Leaning forward with one arm on the table, he put his finger under her chin and lifted it upward until they were eye to eye. “I’ve missed you too, Laura.” He held her chin that way for what seemed several minutes before finally lifting it to signal the waitress. “Check please.”
Laura didn’t remember much about leaving IHOP. Areas of her body she’d forgotten existed, were currently reminding her that she was still a woman.
Once they were snuggled back into his roadster, Richard turned and placed his hand on her arm. She stared out the window, afraid that her eyes would reveal other intentions if she looked at him. “Would you like to see something?”
Laura didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t seen him in over five years. What the hell could he possibly want to show her? Laura replied nervously, “Well, that depends on where I have to be to see it.” Richard’s masculine sensuality was hard to ignore.
His answer rattled her back to reality. “Do you trust me Laura?”
“That’s an open ended question if ever there was one.” They both knew the answer. She trusted him completely, always had.
Without further conversation, Richard drove to New World Laboratories. As they pulled into the parking garage, questions rolled around on her tongue, searching for the right one to ask.
/> “Don’t ask. Don’t think. Just come.”
“I can’t show you my work, Richard.” Upset that he would pull such a stunt, Laura collected choice words to throw at him.
“No, but I can show you mine.”
Well if that didn’t put a new spin on an old line. Laura couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Richard wanted to make out in the parking garage of her work? Now she was really mad.
“That’s it. If you think for one second that I’m going to have sex with you in the parking garage of my work, then you’ve got another thing coming buddy. How dare you suggest…”
“Are you crazy? You’d have to be a gymnast to have sex in this car!” Richard bellowed out his laughter. “There’s barely enough leg room for me to drive it. No, Laura, I have an office here and I’d like to get your opinion on something I’m working on.”
Laura blushed with embarrassment for assuming that he’d wanted to have sex with her. This was awkward. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have thought—what I mean to say is—oh hell.”
With amusement written all over his face, Richard decided to save his friend from further humiliation. Getting out of the car, he walked around to open her door, and offered his hand to help her out of the low seat. She took it and stepped out.
As soon as she was standing on her own, he backed her against the open door and put his hands on either side of her. Richard bent his face down so close to hers, that she had to turn her head to keep their lips from meeting. His warm breath caressed her flushed cheek as she tried reminding herself to breathe.
“I’ve dreamt of a hundred different ways I’d like to make love to you, Laura. Don’t insult me by suggesting I’d cheapen you by trying it here,” with that said, he moved her away from the door and closed it.
Striding toward the elevator Richard set the car alarm with his key fob. In her baffled state of mind, all Laura could do was gape at his back as he walked away.
“Are you coming or do I need to carry you?” That snapped her out of her daze. She jogged to catch up with him.
The elevator ride seemed eternal as Laura became increasingly aware of her attraction to the man beside her. Was it possible that he felt the same way? Did he just say what she thought he’d said? As long as Laura had known Richard, he had never seemed the remote bit interested in her. Not before she was married. Not when she was married. Not ever. Had things changed?
Crap, she hadn’t seen him in years, and he pops up out of nowhere. Did he say he had an office in the building she worked at? Ok. She must have missed something. Things weren’t making sense.
The elevator dinged to signal the top floor of the building. Laura didn’t have security access to this floor. The board room was on the level below so she’d been there, but even then she’d had an escort with clearance. Richard pressed his thumb against the scanner. Her eyes widened in wonder as the doors opened to reveal the top floor. A floor she had never seen. How in the hell did Richard have access? Better yet, why did Richard have access?
Chapter 7
Shortly after concluding the meeting with his new boss’s attorney and hashing out the details of his employ, Igor held a meeting with his staff to inform them of his decision to sell the practice to Dr. Wells.
With twenty years of experience, Dr. Wells was young enough to maintain the hours required, and skilled enough to continue serving the patients that came in. He had been on Igor’s staff for eight years, so he was familiar with the clinic’s operations.
When Igor had inquired of Dr. Wells two weeks earlier, he had been more than eager to take over the clinic as his own. Igor knew the man couldn’t possibly fill his shoes, he would however, be apt at getting the job done and would maintain a reputable clinic.
After the price had been negotiated and agreed upon, they had left the finalization of the sale to their respective attorneys.
Igor’s house, which had become a living tomb, put his house on the market without a second thought. His attorney would also attend to the details of that transaction, along with overseeing an estate sale to dispose of his belongings. Other than a few personal items, Igor wasn’t sentimentally attached to anything.
This new assignment was critical. He fully intended to give everything he had to his new employer. No distractions, no worries, no looking back.
His entire life had been easily reduced into two Louis Vuitton suitcases, a checking account, a savings account, and a fat overseas bank account. He found it disheartening, that fifty years of his life could be minimized into such a small quantity of useless goods.
Igor’s time at the clinic had fulfilled a deep need that he’d once had, but he was ready to step into the next chapter of his life. A change that was long overdue and he was about to arrive at his new destination.
As soon as Igor descended the steps of the G550 jet, he was greeted by a driver who immediately collected the luggage and placed them in the trunk of a black full-sized sedan. Igor was slightly amused at the secret service vibe that his new employer seemed to favor. The striking private jet, equipped with personal stewardess, was impressive. Sending a personal driver to the terminal to retrieve him was just another added bonus. He couldn’t help but wonder how many more surprises awaited him.
It was pretty obvious that money wasn’t a factor when it came to this company. His mind tingled with expectation. The type of work he’d be able to perform under these conditions would be restricted only by his personal limitations and that was not a word he allowed in his dictionary. He had literally drawn a line through it, along with many other non-successful words. His life did not have the space or time for failed thoughts.
Igor imagined that the black tailor-made suit the driver was sporting was a job requirement. He wondered if the driver had intentionally matched his royal blue tie to the screen print on the G550. His new employer, who seemed to be a stickler for even the smallest details, had most likely seen to that little detail as well. He could easily get accustomed to this type of royal treatment.
The doctor slid into the black leather interior of the sedan, noticing how the driver visually scanned his surroundings as he held open the door.
After taking his position behind the wheel, the driver placed a quick call, alerting the recipient of the doctor’s timely arrival. Once the call ended, the driver slowly pulled the sedan out of the terminal.
Invigorated by the prospects of his new career choice, Igor took time to absorb the northern landscape. As the sedan made its way out of the terminal, Dr. Hamstein relished the quietness of the car’s interior. He wanted to gather his thoughts before meeting with his new host.
He couldn’t help but notice how the driver continuously checked the rear view mirrors. The man, who so easily navigated the rush hour traffic, must be more than just a driver. Igor was here to participate in the opportunity of a lifetime. His employer’s security paranoia was not his problem.
Forty five minutes later, the sedan pulled into a parking garage.
They drove down several levels and received clearance from a manned guard post. The driver continued descending further down until approaching an empty guard booth that sat at the side of a heavy solid gate. The concrete walls on both sides blocked the view beyond. They appeared to have reached a dead end.
It seemed the construction on this level had been abandoned for some reason.
The driver held his security badge to a camera and entered numbers on a keypad that hung outside the booth. A male’s voice responded from a hidden intercom as the heavy gate in front of them rumbled to life, “Proceed to processing.”
The driver’s side window rolled up as the sedan rolled through the gate. Igor turned in his seat to look behind him. He’d just thought the security system at his house had been top notch. It was a joke compared to this. The doctor certainly understood the need for security at a lab, but this had caught him completely unaware. Two heavily armed men followed behind the gate until it locked back into place.
The two guards moved ab
out the exterior of the automobile, using some type of unfamiliar electronics to scan the vehicle. Apparently coming up clean, the driver was thumbed forward to a platform lined with yellow paint. Stopping the sedan on cue, the driver told Igor to remain seated.
The mechanical sound of heavy movement echoed throughout the empty space as the car vibrated. The platform they were parked on began a downward decent. When the platform stopped moving, the driver moved the car forward into a parking space and then popped the trunk latch of the car. The man exited the car and walked around to open Igor’s door. The surprises just kept coming.
Feeling slightly intimidated by the magnitude of his new employer’s security measures, Dr. Hamstein realized that his mouth was hanging open and firmly clamped it shut. That’s great. Make a fool of yourself right off the bat he thought.
The attorney that he’d met with in his office the previous Monday approached him, offering a hand in greeting. “I trust that your trip was uneventful?”
Intense, mesmerizing, intimidating, those were a few of the words he would have selected to define the effectiveness and efficiency of his trip, not to mention the science fiction elements of the security measures. Uneventful was definitely not the word he would have chosen. “Yes, thank you.”
The Perfect Clone Page 5
