by Delia Latham
Julie gave her a wan smile. “I want to know your God, boss. You’re different from anyone else I know, and…well, it’s because He’s your Friend, isn’t it? He’s the reason for the peace I saw in your eyes on Friday.”
She slipped off the chair and onto her knees, where she clutched both of Destiny’s hands in an iron grip. Her delicate features—only a moment earlier shadowed by sadness and overwhelming fear—suddenly came alive with almost desperate hope. “I want that same peace in my heart, boss. Tell me how to find it!”
****
Only ten minutes to closing time. Destiny and Julie were in the supply room, stashing extra video equipment that had arrived that afternoon. Destiny sneaked a glance at the other woman’s glowing face and smiled. Julie looked like a new woman.
Hearing the familiar tinkle as the front door swung open, she dropped a box containing a special zoom lens next to Julie. The younger woman sat barefoot on the floor for easier access to a bottom shelf. “It’s probably Clay. I’ll take care of him.”
Julie grinned. “Yeah, I’ll just bet you will! Go ahead, boss. I’ll be there in half a sec.”
Blushing in spite of herself, Destiny hurried through the door and into the lobby, a welcoming smile on her face. At first, she saw no one, and a little tingle of trepidation shot up her spine as she cast a glance at the open door into her office.
“Hello? Is someone here?”
Rounding Julie’s desk, she tripped and nearly fell over a body crumpled on the floor.
“Julie! Come quickly!” She cried out even as she knelt, slid an arm under the woman’s head and gently brushed back a curtain of long, dark hair. The face she revealed was battered and bruised, and streaked with an alarming amount of blood. Dark eyelashes trembled open, and the woman made an obvious effort to focus her gaze on Destiny’s face before she slumped and lost consciousness.
“Oh, mercy!” Destiny heard Julie’s sharp exclamation as the girl rushed into lobby. “Who is she, boss?”
She replied in a voice tight with rage and sorrow. “It’s Karyn Peters. Call 9-1-1.”
****
Each time the phone rang in Clay’s office, he held his breath until he knew it had nothing to do with Destiny. He’d been relieved when he arrived at work, to find her message saying Julie had shown up after all. He was glad she wasn’t alone, but the initial relief proved to be only a temporary reprieve. Too quickly, he remembered the girls had been together on Friday, too, and it hadn’t stopped the intruder from serving up his own special brand of terror.
At a quarter to five, he finally admitted the day was a total wash and hurried out the door. He needed to see her. Even more, he wanted her with him where nothing bad could reach her. He was smiling in anticipation, already envisioning those curvy-soft lips and green cat-eyes of hers when he swung his car off the street and into the parking lot, only to be greeted by the rapidly rotating lights of an ambulance pulled up close to the door of Solomon’s Gate.
“Oh, God, no! Destiny!” The involuntary half prayer burst from his lips even as he slammed on his brakes and fumbled with the handle, which suddenly seemed to have a mind of its own. At last, he managed to get the door open and hurled himself out of the car and up the sidewalk, praying all the way.
He reached the office in time to watch Destiny hold the door open for two men carrying a gurney. Behind her, Julie stood white-faced, eyes glued to the limp body on the stretcher.
“Destiny. What’s going on?”
She fell into his arms, shudders racking her body. “Oh, Clay! It’s Karyn Peters. She’s been horribly beaten. I don’t know how she managed to get here. She barely made it into the office before she passed out.” A hoarse sob shook her thin frame. “This is all my fault!”
Julie laid a gentle hand on her boss’s shoulder. “That’s not true. You didn’t hurt Karyn, someone else did.” Her voice hardened and she raised stormy eyes to meet Clay’s. “He left another little message for us.”
Destiny turned in Clay’s arms to face the other woman. Her voice was raspy. “Another message?”
“I’m not talking about Karyn. There’s something else.” Julie motioned to follow her into the office, where she pointed out a dirty, lined paper on the carpet. “This was on the floor underneath her. I found it when they picked her up. I didn’t touch it. I think the police will want it to be where it is so they can gather evidence.”
Clay squatted down and read the words aloud. “You didn’t throw away the key.”
Scrawled like messy hen scratch, their substance and color indicated the note was written in blood. His stomach churned at the thought of such a psychotic mind.
Destiny's Dream
18
At Destiny’s strangled gasp, Clay balled his fists. A wave of helpless rage stole his breath and locked his jaw.
Over Destiny’s head, Julie’s frightened gaze sought his. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but couldn’t quite make it happen.
Her bottom lip trembled, and she grasped it between her teeth and disappeared into the supply room. She had a right to be scared. Both Julie and Destiny were intelligent women, they knew the situation was serious. Empty platitudes wouldn’t help.
Into the silent moment, a tinkling bell and the quiet whoosh of the opening door announced a visitor. Destiny tensed in his arms, and he swung around, instinctively placing himself between her and the entrance.
His brother stood framed against the light filtering through the glass door. Stark blue-grey eyes stared out of a pasty face.
“Where’s Julie?” C.J.’s voice was ragged.
“She’s, uh—”
“C.J., is that you? What are you doing here?” Julie poked her head around the doorway, her lips curved into the closest thing to a smile Clay had seen since he arrived.
“Julie! Thank God!”
Clay stood gawking as his brother crossed the room in two strides and pulled the girl close to his chest. “Someone said a woman was carried out of here on a stretcher, and I—” A strangled sound escaped his throat and he pushed Julie far enough away to study her face. “You’re OK? You’re really OK?”
“I’m really OK.” Julie’s blissful smile lit up her face. She reached up to stroke C.J.’s tense jaw. “Right now, I’m better than OK.”
He groaned and drew her close again. “If anything had happened to you…”
It was just a murmur, but loud enough for Clay to hear. He found himself unable to take his eyes off his little brother. The man who loved independence like no one else he knew. The man he had thought was his own rival for Destiny’s affections. That C.J. bore no resemblance to this one, who looked like a man in love.
A soft hand on his cheek brought Clay’s gaze back to Destiny, who stood staring up at him, those soft lips curved into the barest semblance of a smile. “I really think those two could use a little privacy, Gallagher. Let’s you and I find someplace else to be.”
She took his hand and he meekly followed her to the door, still in a daze. When had all this happened?
“Hi and bye, C.J.” Destiny waved good-bye, even though Clay was pretty sure neither his brother, nor Julie, saw or cared. “Julie, will you lock up, please? We’ll be at the hospital.”
No one answered, and Destiny pulled him out the door.
****
Destiny held Karyn Peters’ hand in a firm grasp. Her shoulders ached from forcing an upright posture when she longed for nothing more than to simply fall apart. She promised herself a good cry, maybe even one good, ear-splitting scream, after she left Castle Creek General.
Black bruises circled both of Karyn’s eyes, and her nose, swollen to twice its normal size, canted off to the side of her face over puffy lips that bore several oozing cuts. A perfect, four-knuckled imprint glared angrily from her right cheek.
Despite the bumps and bruises, the on-duty physician had assured Destiny that the patient had sustained no permanent injuries. Her nose could be set and any visible abnormalities from the break—w
hich the doctor thought unlikely—corrected with minor surgery. Her ribs were bruised, but only one was broken.
Destiny seethed, thinking of the vicious kick that had most likely done that damage.
“Is there anyone you’d like me to call, Karyn? Your family?”
The swollen eyes opened only a bare slit. Heavily medicated and quite drowsy, the battered woman needed to sleep, and Destiny intended to leave and allow her to do just that—as soon as she knew she’d done all she could for her client.
Karyn shook her head, a movement so slight Destiny almost missed it. “No…family.”
Now she recalled the information on Karyn’s Solomon’s Gate application. Both parents deceased. No relatives closer than several hundred miles. Knowing that, Destiny felt even more obligated and responsible for the woman’s injuries.
“I’ll be here for you, sweetie; don’t worry. You’re sure there’s no one I can call?”
The swollen lips contorted into a grimace that was probably meant to be a smile, and she spoke slowly through the pain and drowsiness. “Later. Don’t want…Cameron…to see me like this.”
Destiny mentally kicked herself. Of course, Cameron Phillips. How could she have forgotten? After his first visit to the agency, she and Julie had pretended to drool over the young Seeker’s sandy-colored, wavy hair and startling blue eyes. He had been the second Solomon’s Gate match for Karyn, the first possibility having fallen a bit flat. But Cameron and Karyn found instant camaraderie and a strong attraction. She was glad they were still seeing each other.
“I won’t call him if you really don’t want me to, but I think he’d want to know. And sweetie, your appearance won’t matter to Cameron, not if he’s the man I think he is.”
The dark eyes welled with tears. “You don’t think…he’ll be…r—repulsed?”
“Karyn!” Destiny gently brushed a strand of hair off the injured woman’s face. “No, I do not think so—not at all. Cameron cares about you.” She smiled a little and narrowed her eyes. “What if he were lying in this bed, hurt and in pain? Would you want to be with him, or would you prefer to wait until he looked better?”
Karyn’s eyes widened as much as possible with the horrible swelling. “No. I’d…be here.” She hesitated only a moment before nodding. “OK. Would you…call him…for me?”
“I’ll do it on my way out. And I’ll stop by tomorrow morning with the things you asked for from your place.” She jangled the keys to Karyn’s apartment before dropping a soft kiss on top of her head. “Sleep now, sweetie. And don’t be frightened, okay? There’s a big hunk of a policeman standing guard right outside your door.”
The other woman nodded. “I’ll be…fine.”
When Destiny stepped out of the room, Clay jumped up from his perch on an uncomfortable chair in the hallway. “How is she?”
“I think she’ll be all right.” Destiny turned to the sober young officer seated outside the doorway. “You’ll take good care of my friend, won’t you? That creep is still out there somewhere.”
He nodded. “No one’s getting to her while I’m here, ma’am.” He picked up a clipboard and poised a pen over it as he hiked one heavy eyebrow. “Do you know of anyone else who might be by to see her? Otherwise, no one’s going through this door except you.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. Yes, you’ll most likely be seeing Cameron Phillips.” She hesitated. “I’ll also be notifying her boss, and I suppose her co-workers might stop by, but not for a few days, at least.”
The idea bothered her, and she bit at her lip. “I don’t know anyone from her job, and I’m a little concerned about that. Is there a chance you could stay inside the room when she has visitors other than Cameron and myself?”
“Can do.” The officer jotted Cameron’s name on his clipboard. “Don’t worry, ma’am. Your friend is safe now.”
Destiny swallowed a fist-sized lump in her throat. “Ask for identification.”
“Yes, ma’am, I will.” The officer smiled and returned to his chair.
Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of exhaustion, she leaned into Clay’s ready embrace. He stroked the pad of one big thumb down her cheek and gave her a gentle smile. “Come on, lady. It’s time I got you home.”
She sighed, more than glad he was there with her. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day, Gallagher. Let’s get out of here.”
They stopped at Karyn’s apartment long enough for Destiny to round up various toiletries, a gown and robe. She was deeply grateful for Clay’s help. Her own flagging strength—both physical and emotional—was at an all-time low.
Using Karyn’s phone, she made the promised call to Cameron, but his answering machine picked up. Not wanting to break the news to him in that manner, she left her number and asked him to call as soon as he received the message.
“You didn’t reach him?” Clay watched her hang up the phone.
“No, and I don’t have his work number with me. If I don’t hear from him tonight, I’ll call him from my office tomorrow morning.”
Arriving back at Claire’s place, they found Jenna waiting in the living room, wearing a mulish expression.
“Jenna! What on earth are you doing here?” Destiny made no attempt to conceal the wary tone of her voice, too exhausted to be pleased to see her sister. Nevertheless, she crossed the room for their customary hug of greeting, surprised when Jenna refused to let go. Extricating herself gently from the strangling hold, she studied her white face. “Is something wrong, Squirt?”
“Don’t call me that!” Jenna swiped angrily at the tears on her cheeks and glared at Destiny. “You’ve got to shut down Solomon’s Gate before that maniac kills you.”
Not now, Jen, please. I’m too tired.
She forced herself to speak gently. “I won’t give him the satisfaction, sis. God gave me my business, and I don’t think He’s ready to take it back just yet.”
“What would I do if something happened to you?” Her sister’s exquisite face crumpled, and she held both hands out in a beseeching gesture. “Teeni, please…”
“Don’t cry, sweetie.” Ignoring her body’s none-too-subtle pleas for rest, she slid an arm around the other woman’s slender waist and urged her onto Claire’s sofa. “Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
“You can’t know that! That poor woman in the hospital…she didn’t wake up this morning and think, ‘I’m pretty sure some sick jerk is going to beat me senseless today.’ She had no idea—and neither do you, Destiny Helen May!”
“Jenna, I…” What could she say? Her sister was right. She had no guarantee that Karyn’s attacker would not hurt her, as well.
Sighing, she reached for Jenna’s hand. The other woman jerked her cold fingers away, only to begin wringing both hands together in her lap. “You can’t risk it, because I couldn’t deal with losing you. I need you. The twins need you. Please don’t put yourself at risk! Close it down, at least until the police find this…this psychopath.”
Blurrily, as if peering through a rain-drenched window, Destiny noticed the smoky green of her sister’s stormy eyes. The relentless voice faded as her gaze moved over the cozy room. Who had dimmed the lights? Where was Clay?
“Clay?” She struggled to her feet. Something isn’t right.
“Destiny?” Jenna’s voice took on a frightened, uncertain note.
“Clay?” Darkness threatened her vision, and the room spun in crazy circles. She realized she was going to pass out only an instant before Clay caught her in his arms.
****
Jenna called her husband, who was there almost before she hung up the phone. To Clay’s immense relief, Dr. Bob required only a few moments to assure them Destiny was simply stressed and overtired, in addition to not having eaten all day.
“She’s hypoglycemic, always has been, and she knows better than to go so long between meals.” He fixed Clay under a firm stare. “I’m sure that’s all that’s going on, but I’ve instructed her to see her doctor immediately.”
“She will, if I have to put her under again to get her there.”
Dr. Bob grinned. “And you may well have to, but make it happen. She was already nodding off when I left her, so for now, just let her rest. When she wakes up, give her some broth and keep water beside her bed. She’s a little dehydrated.”
“We’ll do it, doctor. Thank you.”
The doctor brushed Clay’s thanks aside with a casual wave. He then turned to his wife and ran a gentle hand across the worried furrow in her brow. “She’s OK, sweetness, don’t worry. But—” He pulled his hand back and used it to point a firm finger in her face, while pinning her under an unrelenting gaze. “You’ve got to let her rest. That means go home and don’t bother her until she wakes up on her own.”
“Bob, I can’t just—”
Dr. Bob’s finger landed gently but firmly across his wife’s lips. “Go home, Jenna. Now.”
She sighed, but allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace. He dropped a kiss on her forehead before stepping to the door, where he turned one last time and cocked an eyebrow at his wife.
“I’m going, I’m going.” Only after she started gathering her purse and keys did Dr. Bob wave at Clay and his mother and close the door behind him.
Clay draped an arm over Jenna’s slim shoulders as he walked her out. “I know this is hard, but she really has to rest. We don’t want her in the hospital, do we?”
A tear stole down one cheek, and Jenna shook her head, meeker than he had ever seen her. “No. I pushed her too hard, I know I did, but Clay—” Her voice broke, and she took a moment to collect herself. “—I couldn’t stand to lose her.”
“You’re not going to lose her.” His voice sounded rougher than he intended. He knew precisely how the lady felt.
