by Dara Girard
He smiled, his eyes drinking in the sight of them as though they were the very antidote needed to make him well. “I’ll remember that.”
Drake glanced at Jackie. “Is she taking good care of you?”
“Yes. Umm, about—”
“Good. I want you well enough for it.”
“For what?”
“You still owe me a drink.”
“Did I hear the word ‘drink’?” Kevin said, coming into the room. “What are we celebrating?”
Drake’s smile fell. Kevin ignored him. He turned to Cassie and gave her a big kiss on the mouth. Drake’s frown increased. Kevin pinched Marcus’s nose and Ericka’s chin, making the two children giggle. Kevin finally turned to Drake and said, “Oh, I didn’t see you there.”
Cassie grabbed Drake’s arm as his eyes darkened.
“We’d better go. Take care.”
Jackie wagged her finger at Kevin after they’d left.
“You’re terrible. Must you annoy him?”
He shrugged without remorse. “Hey, he got the girl. I have to come out with something.” He walked over to the bed. “So how is the patient?”
“Recovering,” Clay said.
“Are the nurses treating you well?”
“Yes.”
Kevin raised a devilish brow. “How well?”
“I haven’t died, so I’d say very well. I have one nurse who’s very kind.”
Kevin leaned forward with interest. “What’s her name? I’d like to thank her.”
“His name is Roger.”
Kevin jerked back. “You have a male nurse? What they hell are they thinking? You nearly died. You should get the best—a woman. Who the hell wants to wake up to hairy arms and no chest? I’ll get you another one.”
“I don’t need another one. He’s good. Besides, if need a woman, I have Jackie.”
Kevin glanced at her and winked. “Yes, that’s true.”
“Thanks for stopping by.”
Kevin looked embarrassed. “Yes, well, they’ve been writing about Amanda’s rescue and I thought I’d stop by and see the hero.”
“He’s not here.” Clay held out his hand. “By the way, thanks for helping me out that night with Faye.”
Kevin shook his hand, then frowned, concerned. “You’re acting nice. This isn’t like you.”
“I know.” He smiled. “Doesn’t suit the image.”
Kevin returned the expression. “Right.”
“It’s likely the drugs talking, but consider stopping by when I’m out of here.”
Kevin hesitated, shocked by the casual offer of friendship. He finally said, “I will.”
***
Three days later they released him. “At last,” Clay said as the nurse helped him into a wheelchair. “I’m finally going home.”
“You have to take things easy,” Jackie said.
“I will.”
“We’ll make sure,” Bertha said, standing behind him.
Clay sent Jackie a look of panic, then turned to Bertha. “How long are you planning to stay?”
She patted his arm. “Never you mind.”
“But—”
“Come on,” Jackie said. “We’ll discuss it later.”
Clay smiled as he passed through the glass doors of the hospital. He was ready to breathe the fresh air, see the sun. However, once outside the sun almost blinded him with a bright flash. And another. Voices began to attack him like a swarm of bees.
“No comment,” Jackie said as she and Bertha pushed past the photographers and reporters who assaulted them with questions.
“How’s he doing?”
“Has Amanda come to visit?”
“Will you testify at Emmerick’s trial?”
“Can’t we get just one statement?”
Without comment, Clay, Bertha, and Jackie all ducked into Jackie’s car and sped away.
A good distance away from the ambush, Clay rolled down his window. He rested his head back, letting the wind brush his face. “So I’m still here.”
Bertha patted his shoulder. “Yes, and you’ll live a long while yet.”
He turned to her as she sat in the backseat. “How did you meet Emmerick?”
“I heard him on the phone.”
“So you heard a man’s voice on the phone and decided to meet him?”
“I guessed who he was and wanted to help. I wanted to know more about the man Rennie had loved and tried to betray.”
“And you couldn’t tell me this?”
“Would you have let me?”
“No.”
“A part of me was intrigued by him. I suppose if I really admitted it, I felt as though I needed him. Some of what he said made sense. However, what you did made even more sense. I realized one thing I never gave you and Rennie: I never made you feel as though you mattered. I’m sorry for that.”
He shrugged and turned.
“Clay,” Jackie said, amazed. “Your mother is trying to have a heart-to-heart moment with you. Don’t you care?”
He glanced at Bertha, then pulled something from inside his bag. “Here.” He tossed her a small box of chocolates.
“Oh, ta, love,” she said, thrilled. She ripped the box open.
He turned to Jackie. “There. We’ve had our heart-to-heart moment.”
Jackie shook her head. “I don’t understand you.”
He grinned. “Yes, you do.”
“Emmerick’s not a bad-looking fellow,” Bertha said.
“Amazing how you notice the important details,” Clay said.
“Yeah, one thing I found interesting.”
“What?”
“How different he sounded on the phone.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The recovery of Amanda Heldon made Clay a minor celebrity. He found his picture in major newsmagazines and was interviewed for three news programs—one on Internet predators and two about cults. A literary agent contacted him about writing a book and another talked about a movie deal.
Mack grinned at him as he entered the office. “So how does it feel to be a hero?”
“I’m not a hero.”
He waved a newspaper. “This says you are. All the papers do.”
“The papers like to make up stories. I’m an ordinary guy that did a job. Amanda was the hero for surviving him. I’m glad she’s safe. It almost makes me believe in happy endings.”
“Almost?”
He knew Mack couldn’t understand him. Mack, Brent, and Clay received one hundred thousand dollars each for Amanda’s return. Clay was glad for the money, but his true reward was the picture of Amanda in her parents’ arms. However, he wasn’t satisfied and he wasn’t sure why.
“This is great for business,” Mack said. “This case has put our business on another level. We can double our fee and work less. Why can’t you be happy?”
Clay wanted to and was annoyed that he couldn’t be. He didn’t know why. Emmerick was going to trial, no one had quit HOPE Services in weeks, and there had been no more suicides. “I should be happy.”
“But you’re not.”
“No. Perhaps I’m too cynical. Clean-cut endings annoy me.”
Mack patted him on the back. “Take a break and enjoy the limelight a little. You deserve it.”
“You do, too. You kept me on track.”
There was a knock on the door, then Mack’s daughter Megan peeked her head inside. She was as blond as her father, with devious blue eyes. “I’m looking for two heroes.”
Mack stood and gave a grand bow. “At your service.”
Clay shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your father speaks highly of you.”
“I’d say the same.” She sat on the corner of Mack’s desk. “So who is the guy out front?”
“Our court jester,” Mack said.
Clay raised a brow. “He saved my life.”
Mack shoved on his reading glasses and grunted.
“His name is Brent Holiday,” Clay said.
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sp; Megan glanced toward the door. “He’s cute.”
Clay grinned. “He’s also single.”
Mack sent him a look. “There’s a reason for that. He’s not the brightest bulb in the box.”
“That’s okay,” Megan said. “Clever men are hard to keep track of.” She kissed her dad on the cheek. “You taught me that. I’m going to introduce myself. I’ll be back.” She left the room.
Clay clasped his hands together, pleased. “Payback time, mate. I hope she marries him.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll have to pay for the wedding.”
Mack groaned. “No, that won’t happen. Megan wouldn’t do that to me.”
Clay’s sudden good humor died. He twirled his pen solemnly.
Mack sighed. “Let it go, will you?”
“I want to, but the puzzle doesn’t fit.” He swore. “It’s very annoying.”
“What doesn’t fit?”
“Why was Melanie the only one who talked about Careless Rapture? Emmerick talked about Gabriella and Tanya instead of her.”
“I told him about Gabriella and the Tanya incident because I wanted to use that information to trap him.”
“Yes, you gave him the ammunition he wanted, which doesn’t make sense because Melanie’s death would have been better.”
Mack swung back and forth in his chair. “Do you think he might not have known about her?”
“That’s possible.”
“Which would make you wonder why someone would want you to believe she was involved with him.”
“And why his voice sounded different on the phone.”
Mack frowned. “What?”
“My mum said he sounded different on the phone than in real life. Jackie agreed. They said they couldn’t put their finger on why.”
“An imitator?”
Clay twirled a pen. “Why?”
Mack sighed. “Damn, just when I thought it was over.”
“It will be. Just let me work out some scenarios.”
Megan entered the room, grinning. “I have a date. Brent and I are going out this weekend.”
Clay nodded. “Have fun.”
“What will your mother say?”
Megan stuck her hands in her back pocket. “I have good taste?”
Clay tossed his pen down. “Of course!”
Megan and Mack looked at him, confused. “What?”
He pointed at Mack. “Your ex-wife.” He pointed at Megan. “Your mother.” He joined his hands together. “It fits. I just have to find out why.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The present and the past.”
“Someone who knew Emmerick is trying to blame him for the deaths of the others?”
“Yes, and it’s someone who knows him well.” He sent Mack a significant look.
Mack understood immediately. “Let’s get on it.”
***
Sunday dinner at Cassie and Drake’s was full of loud voices, laughter, and food. Drake had made Clay’s favorite dish—Toad in the Hole. He’d added some spices, stating that English food tasted like paste.
As they tucked into a dessert of soursop ice cream, Eric tapped his glass and held up his hands. “I have an announcement.”
Everyone turned and listened.
“We’re pregnant.”
Adriana stared at him, stunned. “No, we’re not.”
“Yes, we are.”
“I should know.”
“Yes, you should,” he agreed. “You’ve missed your period for nearly three months.”
“You’ve kept track?”Adrianna’s face burned with embarrassment, along with the other women at the table. All too shocked to move.
“It’s simple mathematics.” He took a sip. “You haven’t bought a new box of tampons in that amount of time.”
“Eric!” she said, her voice barely audible, but clearly revealing her shock.
“The likelihood is it will be a boy.”
“You are---” she couldn’t finish.
Eric continued undeterred. He turned to Clay. “Do you have what I requested?”
Clay tossed him a pregnancy test box. Jackie looked at him, amazed. He held up his hands. “I don’t ask questions.”
Eric handed it to Adrian. “We might as well find out.”
“You delight in public humiliations. I know we’re not to keep secrets, but this...”
“I’ll be the one humiliated if I’m wrong.” Eric was oblivious to daggers coming from the women, and the men remained silent.
Adrianna grabbed the box and stood. “An excellent incentive.” She left. Cassie and Jackie followed.
“What is it with women and toilets?” Clay asked. “And what’s with you keeping track of your wife’s cycle and announcing it like that?”
Eric shrugged unconcerned then glanced at Nina, who looked both excited and anxious. He crooked his finger. “Come here.”
She did, her eyes wide.
“You know that no one can replace you, right?”
She nodded, though her eyes filled with tears. “You’re my family and anyone would be lucky to have you as a big sister.”
Marcus piped up. “I’m a big brother.”
Clay grinned at him “Yes, we know.”
Eric took Nina’s hand and patted his leg. “I’m nervous. Let’s wait together.”
She smiled and climbed onto his lap.
Drake rested his arms on the table. “How long does a pregnancy test take?”
“You’re the father of two.”
“Cassie always knew first.”
After more than a few minutes, the women returned to the table and sat.
Drake frowned when no one spoke. “Well?”
“You were wrong,” Adrianna said.
Eric looked crushed. “Oh.”
She held up the stick and smiled. “It’s going to be a girl,” she predicted.
***
Jackie went to work thrilled with the news.
“I’m going to be an aunt four times over,” she told Patty. “Adriana is expecting.”
“Shame they can’t stay babies long.”
Jackie walked past, not wanting to deal with Patty’s changing moods.
She went into Faye’s office and raised her hand to knock, pausing when she heard a man’s voice in the room.
The same chilling voice she’d heard on the phone. She opened the door.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Only Faye sat inside.
Jackie stared, speechless.
Faye set the receiver down and stared at her concerned. “Is there something wrong?”
She pointed to the phone. “It was you?”
“On the phone?” She nodded. “Yes.”
Listening to her deep, husky voice, Jackie could easily understand how Faye could lower it to sound like a man’s. “But why?”
She shrugged. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not what you think.”
“Then what is it?”
“Sit down, you look as though you’re about to faint. Let me get you something to drink.”
Jackie sat. “I’m not thirsty. I just want to understand.”
“Wait here.” Faye left and came back with a glass of orange juice. She handed it to Jackie.
Jackie took the glass. “What is going on?”
Faye closed the door and went behind her desk. “I wanted to help you. I knew what my husband was up to and I wanted you to stop him.”
She stopped with the glass, to her lips. “Your husband? Who’s your husband?”
“Emmerick, of course?’
Jackie set the glass down. “You know about Emmerick? How can that be? You don’t wear a ring.”
“Our faith doesn’t require such tawdry symbols.”
“So you do know about Careless Rapture. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Faye stiffened. “I have a certain image to maintain. I couldn’t afford you looking down on me because I was involved with such a revolutionary man.�
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“Why didn’t you stop him?”
“Because I couldn’t. I’m not like you, Jackie, I don’t have that passion that fuels you to do what you do. Betraying him was the hardest thing to do.”
“But the phone calls, why?”
“I wanted to make it personal. I wanted you to specifically focus on what a threat he was.”
Jackie shook her head, trying to make sense of it all and failing. She lifted the glass.
The door burst open, startling them both. Clay, Mack, and Nicolas stood in the doorway.
“What is this?” Faye demanded.
Clay took Jackie’s glass. “Did you drink this?”
“No.”
“Good.” He turned to Faye. “Why don’t you drink it for her?”
“I’m not thirsty,” she said.
Jackie stood. “What are you doing here? What’s going on?”
“This is Emmerick’s wife,” Mack said.
Jackie nodded. “I know. She just told me. She was also the voice on the phone. She wanted us to catch Emmerick. We were having a calm chat about it all before you three burst in here like vigilantes.”
“You wanted us to catch Emmerick?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“So he could cover your crime.”
Faye adjusted her blouse. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about your revenge.”
“Don’t be absurd. Who would I want to avenge? I have no enemies. Ask anyone. I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“I think you made a mistake,” Jackie said. “If you’d just let her explain, I’m sure everything will be clear.”
Nicolas jerked his head in Jackie’s direction. “Nice to have such a loyal colleague. Very helpful, too. You knew Jackie would never suspect you. Plus you have one big thing in common—She lost her parents, too.”
Faye shrugged. “It is no secret that my parents died.”
“Yes, I knew,” Jackie said.
“Did she tell you how they died?” Nicolas shook his head. “I doubt it. She likes to share how they were kind and generous people who helped the poor and she was right. You told me that same story on our date.”
“If you can call being bored to death a date,” Faye said.
