Til There Was U

by Dianne Castell

  And Conrad Hastings was the best lover God put on earth while she barely knew what went in where. Whatever was responsible for Conrad taking a shine to her she’d be grateful for the rest of her life.

  When she pulled to a stop, the Ferrari and an old truck were the only other vehicles in sight. She killed the engine and headed for the weathered sign hanging still and tired with Office stenciled in faded letters. She went inside. No one around and more dust on the desks than business. Looking for Conrad, she went out the back door that led to the huge dry-docks where tugs parked when needing repairs. Except the docks were vacant, no repairs anywhere. From the looks of things there hadn’t been any in some time.

  “Thelma?” Conrad said as he came her way. “What are you doing here? Thought we were meeting at Slim’s at seven for dinner?”

  He smiled down at her, but the happiness didn’t reach his eyes. He kissed her forehead. “Didn’t you get enough of me today after we spread out all that gravel and sand? Thought you’d be home soaking in a hot tub.”

  She felt a blush creep into her cheeks. “We already did that, remember. In your tub.”

  “And”—he grinned—”I remember we did a lot more than soak.”

  She winked and smiled back. “Why, Mr. Hastings, so we did.” She smiled more. “It was fun, that’s why I came looking for you. Seven o’clock seemed so far off, and I missed you.”

  “It’s already six-thirty.”

  She blushed. “I saw Denise at the market. She said you were here taking care of dry dock business. That Billy Joe quit and he was your best welder.”

  Conrad shook his head. “Don’t know what I’m going to do without him. Though the way business has been lately.”

  “Where’s your office manager? Did he or she have any idea why Billy quit?”

  “I have three managers, but they’re in Vegas probably wineing and dining clients.”

  Thelma shrugged. “Sounds expensive.” She looked around at the decaying building and empty berths. “What clients? And why three managers, Conrad?”

  “My managers are friends, Thelma. I’ll take care of my business.”

  “Of course you will. Your father and his father made a wonderful success out of this place, and you will, too. Your friends probably have big plans for repairing the rusting roof and docks and cleaning up the storage areas and buying new equipment and advertising and—”

  His lips thinned. “Now you’re a business magnet?”

  “No, but I’ve been around enough business with the O’Fallons over the years. It doesn’t take a PhD in economics to realize this place needs help and that three office managers are excessive because you have no business, least that’s the talk around town.”

  He grinned at her, though it didn’t look real at all. “You are absolutely right, my dear. Smart as always. But my friends are changing all that. That’s why they’re in Vegas with clients. Courting the big money for contracts. Everything’s going to be fine. Trust me.”

  He kissed Thelma, his lips warm and persuasive, his arms around her pure heaven, making her forget all about docks and no business. Of course she trusted him. He was the one with the big fancy education.

  “Now,” he said as he slid his arm through hers, “let’s go to dinner.”

  For a moment she didn’t move, but gazed up at him. Would she ever tire of looking at him? Never! “You sure you want to dine at Slim’s again? I don’t mind if we go somewhere else. You can choose the place this time. Country club, a place in Memphis, anywhere you like.”

  “Nonsense.” They walked through the empty office, their footsteps the only sound in the deserted building. “You like Slim’s, and I like being with you. All that matters is we’re together and have a wonderful evening. Then again, we always have wonderful evenings together.”

  “I know I do.”

  He opened the other door, and they went outside. The sky was a million colors at once. She turned and kissed Conrad again. A perfect moment.

  “The Mississippi is so beautiful. I love it like this. I love being with you, Conrad, more than you can imagine.”

  He smoothed back her hair and looked deep into her eyes. “And I love you, my dear.”

  Her heart lodged in her throat, pounding a million miles a minute. “You ... you ...”

  He kissed her again. “I love you, Thelma McAllister. I can’t imagine my life without you. A future without you in it is no future at all for me. I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re smart and beautiful and make me do things I would never do before. You make me a different person. A better man. I know this is sudden and we haven’t been together long, but I’ve had my eye on you, and now that I got you I don’t want to give you up ever.”

  Tears stung her eyes, and she could barely get the words out. “Oh, Conrad.” She threw her arms around him and embraced him for all she was worth, and right now she felt worth a lot. Her heart soared, her knees wobbled and her stomach did flips. “I’m so happy, happier than I’ve ever been in my life. You’re incredible. You’re my whole life, Conrad.”

  He took her arms from around his neck and smiled down at her. “We need to celebrate. We’ll dine at Slim’s but leave early, if you don’t mind. I want you all to myself tonight. I don’t want to share you with anyone. Just the two of us alone. We need to make plans.”

  “What plans?”

  He smiled sweetly and kissed her lightly. “That can wait ‘til tonight.”

  ———

  The pearl gray of dusk settled like a warm damp blanket over the Landing as Effie got out of her car, the gravel in Slim’s parking lot crunching under her shoes. Conrad’s sweet-humming Ferrari pulled up next to her, Thelma waving like mad. “Fancy meeting you here,” she said to Effie as Conrad helped her from the car.

  “Here for your prize? It’s great you guys won.”

  Thelma grinned and walked close to Conrad, her arms hooked possessively through his. “I never win anything. It’s because of Conrad. He’s the lucky one.”

  Conrad patted Thelma’s hand. “I’m the lucky one because I have you, my dear.”

  Oh, boy! Effie’s stomach rolled as Thelma giggled and held tighter.

  “It’s going to be a truly wonderful night,” Thelma proclaimed.

  She looked radiant, completely happy. Mesmerized. Okay, Effie thought. What line of crap did slime-ball Conrad feed her now to put that look on her face? For sure he’d done something. Only a man special to a woman’s heart could make her glow like that.

  Conrad opened the door, and they all went inside. Memphis Blues pulsed through the room as Thelma asked Effie, “Why not join Conrad and me.”

  “Absolutely.” Conrad beamed, though the enthusiasm didn’t reach his beady little eyes. He definitely wanted Thelma alone, and he was definitely up to something. Effie could feel it in her bones. And tonight, as Conrad gorged on barbecued ribs and listened to Ryan on sax and fed Thelma more lies, the visiting female architect and the local business guru would go snooping and find out what the hell Conrad Hastings was up to.

  Effie said, “You two have a wonderful evening. I just stopped by Slim’s for a moment, and then I have to get back. I have a ton of work to do.”

  Thelma patted Effie’s hand. “You need to get out more. Have some fun.” She winked at Effie. “I think Ryan’s going to play the sax tonight.”

  Effie smiled back. “I’m sure he is.” Effie watched Thelma and Conrad head for a table, then made her way to the far corner of the bar. Sally served up three beers to patrons, then hustled over. Effie gripped her hand and whispered. “Got the key?”

  Sally pressed it into her palm, her eyes not leaving Effie’s. “Here. But there’s a glitch, Sherlock. I can’t go.”

  Chapter 13

  Effie’s eyes widened as she stared at Sally, her partner in crime, not believing what she heard. She whispered, “What do you mean you can’t come with me?”

  “Dad twisted his ankle about an hour ago and is sitting in front of the TV with it propp
ed up and iced. I think he did it on purpose so he could watch the Braves play the Yankees, but there’s not much we can do about it. The place is packed, and I can’t get anyone in here last minute. Maybe we can go tomorrow?”

  “Then we’d need another excuse to get Conrad and Thelma out, and that won’t be easy.” Effie shook her head and nodded over her shoulder at Thelma. “Look at her. She’s gaga over Conrad. Whatever he’s up to he’s putting on the rush big time. We’ve got to figure out what’s going on now before she gets in any deeper. I’ll go alone.”

  Sally’s eyes narrowed. “Not a good idea. Think of something else.”

  “Actually it is a good idea. You can make sure Conrad and Thelma stay here. Ply them with free desserts or beers or things barbecued, whatever it takes. It’ll give me more time to look around.”

  “You don’t know the area. You’ll get lost.”

  “If I can read a blueprint and that hen scratch contractors and engineers throw my way, I can follow your directions. Tell me where to go.”

  Sally closed her eyes and put her hand over her face. “I hate doing this, but you’re right. It’s now or never. Conrad’s on the move. He’s got a slicker than usual look about him, and that’s going some.”

  She took Effie’s hand. “Park on the dirt road beyond Conrad’s house, pull the car into the bushes and go in through the woods. There’s an overgrown path that leads that way marked by broken rock steps here and there. There’s a creek and an old footbridge over it. The start of the path has a crumbling hitching post where soldiers kept their horses during the war.”

  Effie’s eyes rounded. “You had a war here?”

  “Civil, honey, the only one that counts in these parts. With a little luck Grant won’t be moseying about.”

  “Grant the dog?”

  “Grant the general. Kept his troop here and likes to come visit from time to time.” Sally held up her hand before Effie could protest. “It’s the Landing, Tennessee, and not the big city, California. Things are different, and it’s best just to go with it. If you hear someone barking orders, just yell out yes, sir and keep on walking.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “Probably. Wish you had a blue hat. Grant sure likes the blue hats. Go three miles south on the two-lane. Hastings House is the big Georgian on the right that overlooks the Mississippi, and the dirt road’s directly beyond.”

  “Got it, general and all. I’ll be fine.”

  A misty tune came on about some guy not happy about being in jail, and Sally’s gaze glued to Effie’s. She nodded at the jukebox in the corner. “You don’t need this to be your theme song, girl. If you get caught, Ryan will skin us alive. One brown hide and a white one, side by side, right over his bed.”

  “He’d do it, too.”

  Sally grinned. “Damn straight. Got any idea what you’re looking for?”

  “Some reason for Conrad’s great transformation. There’s a reason he’s doing what he is, and we both know it because we’ve been there. We’ve just got to find out what he’s after and why Thelma.” Effie gripped the key and nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

  “Come back here when you’re done. I got to know what happened. I’ll worry myself gray if you don’t.”

  “You keep the lovebirds busy.”

  Effie left, the earth more dark than dusk as she got into her car, fired the engine, flipped on the lights and headed out of town. She went the three miles and found the big antebellum on the bluff, then slowed ‘til she came to the dirt road. Hanging a right, she pulled into the brush beside the creek, the crumbling stone hitching post exactly where Sally said.

  Effie paused and listened, no military orders shouted her way. Guess Grant was off haunting Vicksburg. She killed the headlights, the car suddenly drenched in darkness. Oh, hell! A flashlight would be good here. Why didn’t she think of that back at Slim’s and get one from Sally?

  She grabbed her purse and rooted around, everything but a flashlight. Her cell phone the only thing close. She flipped up the top and clicked it on. Half-charged battery. Not great, but it gave off light.. . least for a little while. Faint moonlight peeked through the trees, lighting her way to the post. She peered into the woods, black as India ink.

  Holding the phone close to the ground, she followed what looked like a path and came to a slab of broken rocks once a step. Yippee, Skippy. A game of connect the steps and she’d get to the house. San Diego girl does Indiana Jones.

  Quiet surrounded her. She’d never heard so much quiet. Dead quiet. Bad choice of words considering the Grant warning.

  The woods closed in around her. She walked faster ‘til her foot caught a root, and she tripped to the ground.

  “Halt,” came a whispered voice from behind. A stick broke somewhere in the distance. Footsteps? Her hair stood straight up on end and went white, she was sure of it. She scrambled to her feet and ran, her eyes adjusting to the darkness, seeing parts of the path.

  “Effie. Stop,” came from somewhere behind her.

  “Like hell!” Too scared to look behind she looked forward and spotted the big house dark against a charcoal gray sky.

  “Effie.”

  “I’m from California. It wasn’t in the war. Leave me alone.” Sweat slithered between her boobs, her heart raced and adrenaline gave her energy she didn’t know she had. She pushed into the clearing, tore across grass, then sand, at NASCAR speed, her feet not touching the ground. Panting, she shoved the key in the lock, punched in the numbers to disengage the alarm, ran inside, poked in nine, then one, but stopped before pressing the last one. Who’d she ask for? Ghost busters? And cell phones didn’t work in these parts anyway.

  “Effie,” came the voice behind her, and she turned and threw the phone at. . . “Ryan.” She’d know that silhouette anywhere. The cell bounced off his forehead with a solid thud, then clattered onto the floor.

  “Dang, woman!”

  “You broke my phone, O’Fallon.” She put her hand to her chest to hold her heart inside, afraid it would jump right out from beating so hard.

  He focused his flashlight at her, making her wince as she continued, “You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing here?”

  He dropped the beam, and they stared at each other through the darkness. “Getting out of here with you unless you want me to forward your severance pay to the Tennessee State Pen. You must have lost your mind to be doing something so totally stupid as breaking and entering.”

  She put her hands to her hips. “The only thing broken around here is my phone, and that’s your fault. I’m fine unless someone followed you here, and if I don’t do something, Thelma could deal with a lifetime of heartache. Go away and leave me alone. Besides, I’m not talking to you. What you did to me on the Mississippi Miss was rotten to the core, and I’m still pissed. How’d you find me, anyway?”

  “What I did on the Mississippi Miss was save your ass because you were scared green, and if you’re pissed, too bad. As for finding you, that ten-thousandth customer thing was a stretch, and so was the bizarre conversation last night and—”

  “That led you here?”

  “And Sally sent me. She didn’t think you had a flashlight and you’d get lost in the woods. How did you find the way?”

  “Cell phone light.” She picked up the phone and turned it off. “Sure hope it didn’t speed dial anything when it hit. Roaming charges can eat you alive if things connect.” She slid the phone into her pocket. “I’m going to look around. Mind if I borrow your light?”

  “Look for what?”

  She spread her arms wide. “If I knew that, I wouldn’t have to look, would I? There’s some reason Conrad’s turned into Prince Charming. I’ve got to find a glass slipper around here with Thelma’s name on it; then I’ll know what this is all about. Wanna help?”

  “Christ Almighty, woman.”

  “Forty-five minutes. That’s all we need, if you help. Come on. The woman raised you; you owe her big time.”

  He ran hi
s hand over his face. “All right, all right! For Thelma. And if we don’t find anything, you’ll give up this stupid idiotic idea of Conrad having some ulterior motive for getting it on with Thelma. Right?”

  “You take the upstairs; I’ll take the downstairs. This place is full of antiques. There’s got to be a candle here somewhere I can use. My phone’s dead.”

  He came to her and put his hand hard on her shoulder and looked her square in the eyes. “Forty-five minutes, Effie. That’s it.”

  Maybe, she told herself, but said to Ryan, “Then quit standing here yapping at me like some fishwife and get your rear in gear.”

  Moonlight shone through the beveled sidelights on either side of the front door, spilling into the hallway as Ryan went upstairs mumbling swearwords. Effie made her way into the living room and found a candelabra on the mahogany sideboard beside a crystal decanter and tumblers. Matches, and a little gun in the drawer. Yikes, they play hardball in the South. Maybe forty-five minutes would be enough time.

  The warm glow flickered off expensive Orientals—almost museum quality—then two Victorian chairs with balloon backs, circa mid 1850s if her art history class served her right.

  Good Lord. Grant could have sat right there on one of those pieces. No wonder he haunted the place.

  She spotted a governor’s desk with a slant top and opened it. Yesterday’s newspaper. This was a waste of time. No one in their right mind would leave something important in the living room, and Conrad was definitely in his right conniving mind. She passed the dining room and entered a small library. A cherry desk with carved Queen Anne legs sat in the middle. She riffled through it— nothing but a bunch of unpaid bills. She had twenty minutes left before the warden dragged her kicking and screaming from the premises and had come up with nothing.

  She put the candles back on the sideboard, snuffed the flames between her thumb and index finger so as not to blow wax everywhere and headed upstairs. She spotted a faint light in the far room and headed in that direction. Ryan sat on the edge of the raised Victorian spool-turned four-poster bed, his light shining on a folder as he pored over the contents.