Hidden Sins

by Bolton, Karice

  Luke’s arms wrapped around my waist as I stared at the wreck below. There was no fire, flames, or smoke jetting from the mangled pieces of metal. But there was the incessant beeping of the horn. My body trembled as I thought about how close we were to being on the rocks below.

  “You’re okay,” Luke whispered, pressing his lips to my hair.

  I shook my head, trembling. “We could’ve died.”

  “But we didn’t,” Luke whispered, holding me closely.

  The first police car arrived on the scene, the ambulance still on the way.

  “Over here,” Luke called out, his embrace only tightening.

  Another police vehicle arrived on the scene as an officer jogged over to us.

  “I doubt the person survived,” Luke muttered, as the officer looked down at cliffs below.

  The other officer began cordoning off the area as the ambulance appeared on the scene.

  “Can you tell us what happened?” the officer asked, his expression concerned.

  “He was trying to drive us off the road,” Luke began. “And he failed.”

  I saw the expression harden on the officer as he took in Luke’s blasé attitude.

  “You’re certain that was his intent?” the officer questioned.

  “Absolutely. You can tell by the tire marks that we were almost down there joining him.”

  “Was it a road rage incident? Did you incite him?” the officer asked.

  I felt Luke’s heart rate speed up at the questioning so I took a step away.

  “Not at all,” Luke replied, his lips pressing together.

  “This just seems unlikely,” the officer replied.

  “Not in my profession,” Luke replied, his brow arched.

  The officer was getting more agitated.

  “And exactly what would that be?” the officer asked, not amused.

  “Is Captain Rodriguez on his way out here?” Luke asked, ignoring the officer’s question.

  “Why won’t you answer my question?” the officer asked.

  “After being the victim in a case that turned deadly, I don’t enjoy being treated as if I’m the criminal. You’re focusing on the wrong end of things, I can assure you.”

  I would never in a million years dream of talking to a policeman like this and it, quite frankly, scared the crap out of me. I watched the medics swiftly move the gurney to the edge of the cliff, knowing full well they’d only be lifting a dead body back up. The thought inched a prickle down my spine.

  Luke turned his attention away from the officer and dialed a number. Bringing the phone to his ear, he waited.

  “Captain,” Luke’s voice almost jovial, followed by a slight pause. “Yes. It’s been too long. I seem to have encountered…” Luke glanced at the officer’s tag. “Officer Anderson at the scene of an accident that I was involved in.”

  Silence while the Captain spoke and the officer’s anger rose.

  “Yes. I’m fine, but the other driver didn’t fair so well. He was after a client I had with me. Attempted to drive us off the PCH. Unfortunately, he lost.”

  More silence.

  “That would be much appreciated. I’d like to get my client to safety.”

  Officer Anderson was incensed as Luke handed him the phone. The discussion was quick and the officer ended the call, handing the phone back to Luke. “Mr. Fletcher, my apologies. If we need anything more, we’ll be in touch.”

  “Thank you, Officer,” Luke replied, as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me back to our vehicle.

  I slid into the seat and glanced back at the officer who no longer seemed enraged. Rather, he looked on as if he’d just met someone he admired. I turned my attention to Luke as he climbed into the car, shutting the door behind him.

  “What was that all about?” I asked. “That’s not how it works for normal people.”

  Luke smiled. “There’s a lot we need to learn about each other. You’re not going to my sister’s tonight.”

  He turned the car in the opposite direction from where we’d been headed and my stomach tightened.

  “Then where are we going?” I asked.

  “My house. It’s not far from here.”

  I looked out the window into the darkness. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me until it’s over,” Luke replied.

  “What if it never ends?” I asked.

  “It will. You just have to learn to trust me.” He touched something on his dash and Mitch’s voice appeared in the car.

  “Everything okay?” Mitch asked.

  “Been better. Listen, I’d like you to bring my sister to the house. Things have gotten a little more interesting.”

  “She’s going to fight it,” Mitch replied.

  “I know, but it’s for the best. Let her know Hannah will be there and she might soften up a bit.”

  “Will do.”

  And the call ended.

  “So do you really think hiding us is going to solve the problem?”

  “Not at all. But I think three minds are better than one.”

  I nodded and reached for the radio, but he flipped it on from the steering wheel first.

  “Something soothing?” I asked.

  He found a classical station that was playing a cavatina and my body immediately relaxed, even though my mind could not.

  “This okay?” he asked, his voice husky.

  “It’s lovely. It makes me wish I had my violin.”

  His eyes caught mine and his jaw tensed. “You play?”

  “It was one of the few hobbies we could take up. I’ve played since I was four, maybe? But I stopped when my sister left. I mean when I thought she left. We used to play together.”

  “I’d love to hear you sometime.” He turned the car off the Pacific Coast Highway onto Malibu Canyon Road.

  “I’ve never really played in front of people, except my sister,” I confessed.

  “There’s a first for everything,” he said softly.

  “Are we almost there?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “About ten minutes away,” Luke replied.

  I still felt completely exposed. How did they keep finding me? Sure, I’d thrown the cell phone out the window, but if they knew I was with Luke at the time of the accident, it wouldn’t take much for them to find out where he lived, or maybe they already knew. I wasn’t sure going back to his house was actually all that safe considering everything.

  Luke rubbed his hand along my knee, and instead of moving away, I wanted more. His ability to turn off the desire to run was unnerving, and the comfort his touch brought was alarming. I worried it would make me do things I wouldn’t normally do. Stay when I wouldn’t normally stay.

  I didn’t like how I didn’t have an escape plan. I always had an escape plan, even when I was at the NLC. I just never used it until it was almost too late. If only I’d left when I thought my sister had. I never would’ve found out the truth. I could’ve just lived my life, thinking my sister was still out there somewhere, while I blended into society never to be heard from again. I never would’ve learned the things I learned. My life wouldn’t be in danger. They never would’ve come after me. There wouldn’t have been any need. But I would be a coward.

  Luke turned onto a narrow road that edged along a cliff overlooking the ocean, and that’s when I realized it wasn’t a road. It was his driveway. A closed security gate was up ahead and the car slowed as he punched in a code on a control panel. The iron gates slowly rolled open and we proceeded up the drive.

  “My guess is that Mitch and Mia will be here within an hour or so.”

  As he drove up his driveway, my eyes focused ahead on the large estate. Even in the pitch dark, I saw that the home situated on the tip of the cliff was gigantic. Solar lighting lit up the driveway and dotted the front yard, allowing just enough light to see the Mediterranean features of the home. The large garage door opened, and we drove into a garage that housed several cars in many different directions. But rathe
r than park, we drove down a ramp where more cars were parked. This wasn’t a normal garage. For starters, it was two stories.

  “Do you moonlight as a mechanic?” I asked. “Or maybe Batman?”

  Luke laughed as he slid into one of the vacant spots and turned off the car. “You’ve found me out.”

  “I knew there was something slightly off about you,” I teased. There was nothing off about this man.

  He opened his door and climbed out of the car and I followed his lead. He met me around the side of the car and pointed toward a door. “There’s an elevator over there we can take to the house or we could just walk up the ramp.”

  “Let’s walk. That’ll give you time to explain why one man needs so many cars.” Without realizing it, I slipped my hand into his as we walked up the ramp.

  “There are two reasons. First, I love cars. Second, it behooves someone in my profession to have different options. They are not all my personal collection. Depending on the job, employees will use vehicles that fit their cover,” Luke said, as we reached the top of the ramp. The garage door had lowered behind us and I looked around the large space.

  “Likely story.”

  “I’m sticking to it.” He grinned.

  My mind flashed back to the man who’d been chasing us. “Do you think he’s dead?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

  “Yes,” Luke answered, leading me through the garage toward a door. “You’ll be safe here.”

  “How can you be sure? If they know I’ve been with you here and there, they’ll surely know to look for your home. They’ll find your home.”

  Luke’s eyes brightened. “I really do need to tell you more about what I do and the resources that are available to me and my firm,” he said, unlocking the door with a simple press of his thumb.

  “Seriously?” I asked, looking at the thumbprint pad.

  “Yes, seriously, and I will program your print into the system tonight.”

  “I know I owe you an explanation—”

  “A very long explanation,” Luke interrupted.

  “But I almost wonder if yours will be longer,” I said, as he pushed the door open.

  The room in front of us was vacant, empty of anything and everything. It was small with a door on the opposite wall. There was no furniture. The walls were a stark white and the floors a pure white marble to match. My pulse quickened as I looked around the bare space.

  “Haven’t decided what to do with this room?” I asked.

  “No. It has a purpose,” he replied, not offering any more explanation as we made our way across the floor to the next door. It, too, had a fingerprint ID pad that he quickly pressed his thumb onto.

  He opened the door, and a tiny surge of relief entered my system when no more mystery rooms were unveiled. I was now standing in a beautiful kitchen with walnut cabinetry and ivory granite. A Viking six-burner stove was in the island and double ovens were in the wall to the left.

  “You cook?” I asked.

  “It’s the best way to be able to eat.” He smiled. “Would you like something to drink?”

  I shook my head, unable to believe that an hour ago I was feeling pretty good from the amount of wine I’d consumed, and now that was all a distant memory. Instead, I was left with a pit in my stomach and the inability to focus on much of anything.

  I took a few steps into the kitchen and saw a great room a few steps below. Windows covered the far wall, but sheer drapes framed the windows. A large, ivory sectional was centered in the room. It was quite beautiful. My guess was in the daylight I’d be looking at the ocean in the distance.

  I turned and paused. “Before I start guessing incorrectly, would you mind telling me what that empty room off the garage is for?”

  His eyes filled with mischief and his smile broadened. “Why don’t you tell me what you think it’s for? We could use some levity for the evening.”

  “I have an active imagination and I’d just embarrass myself. Thank you very much. Please just do me the courtesy.”

  “If you don’t at least throw out one of your ideas, I’m not going to tell you.” He folded his arms in front of him.

  “Fine. I’ll just wait until Mia gets here, and I’ll ask her.”

  “What makes you think she knows?” His brow arched. He was calling my bluff.

  “It looks like it can be cleaned easily. Almost like you could just spray it out.”

  “And why would I need to do that?” He was entirely too amused.

  “Maybe it’s where you bring captives…”

  “Captives?” he repeated.

  “Like for deeper questioning,” my voice lowered. “Interrogations.”

  Luke broke into laughter and I wanted to nail him. “I told you I had an active imagination.”

  “You weren’t kidding,” he continued to laugh. “I’m not CIA. I don’t waterboard people. I wouldn’t bring anyone back here that I didn’t implicitly trust anyway.”

  “Sooo I’m part of the inner circle?” I asked, smiling faintly.

  “Indeed.”

  “Well, I gave you one of the many ideas that came to me. Now spill the beans.”

  “I use the room for photography. The ceiling opens up and lets light in.”

  Oh. My. God.

  “Uh-huh. Yeah. That was my second guess,” I said. “I was just putting you on notice.”

  “Is that so?” he asked, taking a step toward me.

  “I wanted you to know that I understood all this spy stuff.”

  “I’m not a spy,” he corrected. “I just own a private security firm.”

  I looked around the house and smiled. “A very successful security firm that makes policemen apologize. I also have a feeling you know more about me than you’re letting on.”

  “I don’t know enough,” Luke replied, seriousness dismissing my playful intent.

  “Same could be said about you,” I whispered.

  “I don’t deny it, but I’ll try to do better. Starting with giving you a tour of my home.”

  “I guess that’s a start,” I said.

  “It’ll have to do until Mia gets here.”

  “Well, show away.” I smiled and his gaze fell to my lips. A complete swarm of butterflies crashed inside my belly the way his gaze lingered on my mouth. I found myself moistening my lips as his gaze intensified.

  “I give you way too little credit,” Luke muttered, his eyes connecting with mine.

  “How so?”

  “I think you know exactly what you do to me.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I hid my smile at his admission.

  “Oh, I think you do.” He grinned. “But two can play that game.”

  Luke’s fingers grazed the small of my back as he pushed me gently forward, guiding me to see the rest of his house. I felt a warmth pool in my stomach as he maintained his touch.

  “This is the great room,” he said, his touch still unfastening me.

  “I gathered that.”

  Pushing me forward, we walked down a hall. “There’s a powder room behind that door. And this door leads to an exercise room. The library is at the end of the hall. And the music room is connected to it.”

  “Music room?” I asked, feeling my heart rate quicken.

  “Yes. A music room.”

  We walked down the long hall, stopping every so often for Luke to push open a door, leading into one of the various rooms he mentioned. We stood in front of the large French doors at the end of the hall. Between books and music, I couldn’t wait for him to open the door.

  “This is one of my favorite rooms in the house, besides the master.” The way his voice slowed on the word master made my insides rattle. I felt his smile as he opened the doors. He knew what he’d done to me.

  It was beautiful. There were floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, wrapping the entire room, but I didn’t see another door, and he’d mentioned a music room connected to this one. I spotted a ladder that was on tracks in the far corner but no do
or.

  “Does that just wheel around the room?” I asked.

  “It does.” He nodded.

  I took a step inside and could smell the books. The room didn’t need any decoration besides the bookshelves that were filled with colorful spines. It rivaled any public library I’d ever stepped foot into.

  “This is beautiful,” I muttered.

  “Glad you love it.”

  “Where’s the music room?” I asked.

  “It’s a secret room.”

  “Are you serious? And you wanted to laugh at my whole interrogation theory on the marble room?” I asked.

  “The marble room. I like that. Has a nice ring.” He smiled.

  “So where is the entrance to the secret room, or are you going to make me guess?”

  “You won’t be able to find it.” His eyes twinkled with amusement.

  “How can you be so sure?” I asked.

  “It’s the design. It’s not meant to be found.”

  “Is that a challenge?” I asked.

  “I guess it could be,” he acknowledged.

  “Well, I bet you that I can find the entrance to the music room,” I replied, crossing my arms.

  “And what are you willing to bet, Hannah?” His eyes darkened in such a way that I almost fell over. I glanced nervously around the room.

  “I don’t have much to offer,” I replied, blushing.

  “I doubt that to be true.” Luke was completely amused but changed the subject. “How about if I lose, I’ll cook you a four-course meal?”

  I nodded. “And if I lose?” My heart was racing.

  “A kiss,” he responded simply.

  “That I think I can handle. But there’s not much incentive for me to win,” I replied, laughing.

  “I’m a fabulous cook.” He smirked, watching as I began to make my way to the nearest wall of built-in shelving.

  I began running my hands along the shelves, feeling for anything that was out of place.

  “You would need to be.” I continued moving my fingers along the wood as my eyes noted the amazing collection of titles. I could spend the rest of my life in here and be completely content. It was so odd being in Luke’s presence. In one moment, my past was coming back to haunt me and in the next, I was able to dream of another way of existing in realms I’d never imagined.