by Sharon Sala
Wyrick almost smiled at that, and the tension in her stomach was already fading.
She sent one last text back.
I owe you one.
She took a deep breath, then got up. When she turned around, there was an ice bucket and a drinking glass on the counter that hadn’t been there before, and an unopened can of Pepsi beside it.
Charlie.
She filled the glass half-full of ice, poured in some Pepsi, then carried it to the window and pushed back the drapes. She took her first sip looking out at the front of the estate and wondered what it must be like to be so grounded in your ethnicity that you’d chosen to replicate an Irish castle, reminiscent of your Celtic roots.
She tried to imagine what kind of house she would build that fit who she was and where she’d come from, and then realized there was nothing but a laboratory. The rest of her memories were so far removed from her reality they might as well have been holograms.
I am a freak. An experiment. I don’t have family. I don’t belong to anyone. I don’t belong anywhere.
Charlie’s voice was right behind her. She turned abruptly, startled that he’d been able to sneak up on her, then she saw he was in his sock feet.
“Am I in danger here or am I allowed to speak?” he asked.
She narrowed her eyes. “You took off your shoes.”
“Yes. No shoes is one of my small passions. Stop changing the subject. What happened?”
“I got a text from my landlord. They found me again.”
Charlie frowned. “Does that mean you have to move?”
“I need to get back to the Wilma Short file,” she said instead of answering.
Charlie didn’t bother with a second question. Good. She was through sharing.
She took her Pepsi, sat down at the computer and was soon deep into background checks.
Charlie watched her long enough that it bothered him how invested he was becoming in her personal life, and then went back to his laptop and began pulling up everything he could find on Jason Dunleavy. Neither the family nor the police knew if the incidents involving Jason and Carter were connected. The odds were strong that they were, but not necessarily a given.
Sixteen
Miranda Deutsch dressed in black for the dinner with her father, as an homage to the grief of her breakup. But this wasn’t just any little black dress. It was a purchase from the now-defunct trousseau. She’d pictured Jason being the first one to see her in it, but now it seemed fitting it was her father, instead.
Johannes was her constant, her touchstone. He’d fought her battles with her, and sometimes for her, and without judgment. He was always there for her, and she’d taken that for granted. But no more. His words had shaken her out of being the aggressor in relationships. From now on, men came to her, or not at all.
She took one last look in the mirror, blew herself a kiss, then dropped a tube of lipstick into a Judith Leiber evening bag—a bejeweled replica of a Yorkie—that her father had given her last Christmas.
Johannes was standing at the windows overlooking the gardens, and for a moment, she thought he looked sad.
“I’m ready,” she announced, but his delighted smile as he turned around proved her wrong.
“Miranda! You look beautiful! If only your mother had lived to see you grow up. She would have been so proud.”
She loved the mention of her mother because they were rare.
“Thank you, Father.”
Johannes slipped his hand beneath her elbow. “The car is waiting. We are going to have a wonderful evening together and I hope you are hungry.”
“I’m starving,” she said.
He smiled. “Then we’ll have to do something about that!”
The sun was less than an hour away from sunset when they exited the house. The chauffeur was standing outside the car.
“We’re taking the limo?” Miranda asked.
“Only the biggest and best for my girl,” Johannes said.
Their chauffeur opened the door for them.
“Good evening, sir. Good evening, Miss Miranda.”
“Good evening, Perkins. We’ll be going to Morton’s tonight,” Johannes said.
Miranda stepped into the limo, then settled in the middle of the backseat.
Johannes slid in beside her as Perkins shut the door.
“I trust the steakhouse suits you,” Johannes said, as the chauffeur got into the car.
“Father! It’s Morton’s! Five-star service and steak to die for! Of course it suits me,” she said.
“I want nothing but the best for you, and if you’re happy, then I’m happy.”
Miranda leaned against his shoulder as they drove away. The houses became a blur as the limo went faster, and she imagined herself throwing the remnants of her broken dreams out the window and watching them blow away.
* * *
Carter was happy to be home, even though his situation had not improved. He still didn’t know who was after him, and now Jason had been targeted, too.
He was in his room getting ready for dinner when it occurred to him that he should have given Charlie and Wyrick a heads-up about meals, and quickly rang Charlie’s suite.
Charlie was doing background checks on the gardening and maintenance staff when the house phone rang. He reached across his laptop to answer.
“Hello.”
“Charlie, my apologies, but I completely forgot to tell you about mealtimes. We eat breakfast at 8:00 a.m., lunch at noon and dinner at 7:00 p.m.”
Charlie glanced at the time. “That’s in twenty minutes.”
“I know. Would you please tell Wyrick for me, and apologize for the late notice?”
“Sure, but this place is huge. Where’s the dining room?”
Carter laughed. “There are actually three. I’ll meet you at the foot of the stairs at seven, and escort you there.”
“Okay. See you shortly,” Charlie said, then shut down his laptop.
The door between their suites was still open, so Charlie walked to the threshold and looked across the room. Wyrick was at the computer. He’d seen that focused expression before; instead of barging in and startling her, he knocked.
“Come on in,” she said without looking up.
“Carter just called. Dinner is at seven. We’re supposed to meet him at the foot of the stairs. He’ll escort us to the dining room, and he sends his apologies for the short notice.”
She finally raised her head. “We can’t find a dining room by ourselves?”
Charlie shrugged. “He said there are three of them.”
She hit Save, closed the laptop on which she’d been working and stood.
“I have to change. Close the door on your way out.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said and pulled it shut.
Wyrick went straight to the bedroom, chose an outfit from the closet, then went to the bathroom to put on makeup. Normally, it took her twenty minutes just to do her eyes, but tonight she was on speed dial. Not a problem.
* * *
Twenty minutes later, Charlie knocked on their adjoining door and when she opened it, for a moment he forgot to breathe.
She was stunning. The gold and green eye shadows she’d blended together made her dark eyes look huge, and the gold sparkles on her eyelashes caught the light every time she blinked. He’d never seen her in a dress, but it was no less daring than the other outfits she wore to work. The fabric, at least what there was of it, was gold lamé, and clung to her body like a second skin. The hem of the dress stopped a good four inches above her knees, leaving her long legs bare all the way to her gold three-inch heels.
The deep V would have called attention to her missing breasts, except for the fact that the entire head of a fire-breathing dragon was framed within that space.
“Way to show me up,” he murmured as they left the room.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, but she’d already given Charlie Dodge a mental thumbs-up on style, and tonight was no
exception.
He’d gone for dressy casual in gray slacks, a pale blue shirt he wore open at the collar and a gray-and-blue-plaid sport coat. Despite her three-inch heels, he still towered above her.
As promised, Carter was waiting. He saw them appear, and then watched them descending the stairs in silent awe. Wyrick was stunning.
“Good evening, Miss Wyrick, Charlie. My apologies again for the short notice. I hope you’re hungry. Chef Peter was all excited to be cooking for guests, and from the wonderful aromas, I think we’re in for a treat.”
Everyone else was already seated as they entered the room.
“Good evening, family. Charlie and Miss Wyrick are with me, and will be dining with us until their work here is done.”
“Hello again,” Edward said, smiling.
She smiled back. “Just call me Wyrick.”
“Welcome to our table,” Dina said, but her gaze was locked on that dragon head, and for once, Kenneth was speechless.
Carter hid a grin as he seated Wyrick, then Charlie in the next chair down. He’d never seen his sister at a loss for words, and it didn’t last long.
Dina said, “Miss... I mean Wyrick, your tattoo is—”
“Striking!” Kenneth interjected.
“Um...yes, striking,” Dina agreed. “Um...was it painful...having it done, I mean?”
“Not as much as when they removed my breasts,” Wyrick said and then smiled.
Dina flushed. “Oh, my God. I am sorry. That was appallingly thoughtless of me. I think I was so struck by the power of it that I forgot my manners. You’re a beautiful woman. That’s all I mean.”
And because Wyrick knew that was a big deal coming from this woman, she accepted the compliment graciously.
Charlie was still in a bit of shock. He’d never seen Wyrick in a social setting of any kind, and not only was she comfortable, she was nailing it.
And to everyone’s relief, as the meal service began, her friendliness lightened the mood.
* * *
After dinner, the Dunleavys moved to the library, following their tradition of nightcaps. Wyrick was sitting beside Edward again, revealing a side of her that Charlie had never seen. She was holding the cold soda she’d requested without taking a sip, letting it go warm in her hands as they talked.
Charlie was still nursing his single shot of bourbon, while Carter had opted for a beer. He wasn’t much of a beer man, but it was a safe choice because he’d also been the one to remove the cap.
After a few minutes, Wyrick caught Charlie’s attention. He read the look. She was ready to quit the party, so he set his drink aside.
“Wyrick and I want to thank you for a great meal and wonderful company. We’ll see you in the morning. Carter, if it’s okay with you, I need to talk to Jason after breakfast.”
“Of course,” Carter said. “Rest well.”
Wyrick touched Edward’s shoulder. “Good night.”
“And a good night to you,” he said.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you Mack Doolin left Dallas,” Charlie said as they walked back to their rooms.
“How do you know that?” she asked.
“Don’t trust the bastard, so I had him followed.”
“Why?” she asked, pausing outside her door.
“Because he pissed me off. If you need anything, knock. Otherwise I’ll be in bed.” Then he went into his suite and closed the door.
Wyrick locked herself in her own suite, then locked Charlie out at their adjoining door. Showering off her makeup every night was like shedding the skin of her public self. By the time she got into bed, she was Jade again. She thought about what she wanted to release, then consciously saw all of it in her mind, like pages in a book. One by one, she mentally threw them away. The last page in her memory was of Charlie, pulling her off Mack Doolin in unapologetic anger. That one she was going to keep. She brought the covers up beneath her chin, and within seconds, was in a deep and healing sleep.
* * *
While Wyrick was sleeping, Charlie was reading an email. When he opened the one from Annie’s doctor, he frowned.
Charlie,
We did an evaluation on Annie today because the staff had been reporting changes in her behavior. I wanted you to know that her cognizant level is on a lower scale than it was before. She’s not as responsive to stimuli, and we’re having a staff member sit with her when she eats, to make sure she gets enough sustenance.
Yes, you and I have discussed this on several previous occasions, so I know this will not be a surprise. But it is happening faster than I estimated, and understand this will not be a message well received. I am so sorry.
In the meantime, Annie is being well cared for, and if you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to call me.
Ted
Charlie stared at the words. Annie was disappearing far faster than had been predicted. He’d been so certain he’d have more time with her. They still had pieces to add to her puzzle, but he was torn. He didn’t want to lose her, but when he thought about their relationship, he had to admit it was already gone. Wanting the physical presence of her body, without the bright, shining woman within it, was selfish as hell. Just because she was still breathing, that didn’t hide the fact that the fucking disease had already buried her.
He sent a reply to Ted. Part of him felt guilty for not being there with her, but she wasn’t there, either. The message was a shock, and hard to accept as he logged off, then went to shower.
He came out a short while later, his hair still damp when he pulled back the covers and got into bed. But when he closed his eyes, all he saw were images of Annie—the way she threw her head back when she laughed. Seeing her waiting at the gate when he returned from Afghanistan for the last time. Their holidays together. The day they learned she’d miscarried their only child. The look on her face when the doctor gave her the Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
“Worse than cancer,” Annie had said, and she’d been silent all the way home.
Their beautiful life had died that day.
This email was news of another milestone on her journey, and he had to accept it.
He fell asleep, dreaming of the missing pieces of Annie, and believing if he found them all, he could put her back together again.
* * *
Miranda had been awake since daybreak. She wasn’t normally a morning person, but since she was turning over a new leaf, so to speak, she thought it prudent not to sleep away half the day.
The night out with her father had been fun. It was exactly the lift she’d needed. Her heart was still broken. Her feelings were still hurt. But it wasn’t the end of her world, and last night proved it.
Jason might have quit her, but as long as she had batteries, Rubber Dicky wouldn’t. And now that she thought about it, Rubber Dicky stayed hard no matter how long she played. Jason’s best was twice and then he was done.
She headed downstairs with coffee on her mind, wondering what her breakfast choices were this morning, and met her father coming out of his office.
“Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?”
Miranda thought of Rubber Dicky again and smiled.
“Yes, I did.”
He put his arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the breakfast room.
“I just want you to know how very sorry I am for your disappointments. If there’s anything else I can do to help, you will tell me, yes?”
Miranda nodded. “I know you were disappointed, too. You were looking forward to grandchildren. It will still happen. I promise you will have your grandchildren one day. And I expect you to spoil them as much as you’ve spoiled me.”
Johannes frowned as they entered the breakfast room. “I did not spoil you. I only gave you what any father would give his daughter.”
“And what’s that?” Miranda asked.
“The world. I wanted to give you the world. What good is money if you cannot spend it on the people you love? Now we sit, and we eat the most important meal of the d
ay. Breakfast!”
Miranda grinned. “And that meal wouldn’t be complete without some fine Deutsch sausages. That’s what I want this morning. Sausages and eggs.”
* * *
Because she was planning to work, Wyrick dressed as if she was going to the office before they went down to breakfast.
This morning it was a neon-yellow leather jacket and pencil-leg pants, a turquoise silk camisole beneath the jacket and ankle-high boots the shade of overripe plums.
Her makeup was purple eye shadow with yellow eyeliner, and two swipes of deep purple for her lips.
She unlocked the door between their suites and knocked once, then heard Charlie tell her to come in. When she opened the door, he was nowhere in sight. She raised her voice. “It’s three minutes to eight.”
“I’m ready,” Charlie said as he came around the corner. Then he took one look at her, made a U-turn in the hall and disappeared again.
Wyrick frowned, but he wasn’t gone more than a few seconds before he reappeared, wearing sunglasses.
“We’re going to breakfast first,” she said.
“I know, but you’re glowing, so I thought—”
“Take them off now,” she said.
He put them in his jacket pocket as she turned around and marched to the door. Even though he was grinning as he followed her out, he had a feeling she’d get even with him before the day was over.
* * *
Carter was already at the table and laughing with Edward when his very own Batman and Robin walked in.
Dina was seated, too, and waiting for Kenneth to fix her plate. Her eyes widened when she saw Wyrick, but she said nothing.
“Good morning! Did you both rest well?” Carter asked.
Wyrick nodded. “Yes. Good morning, Edward,” she said.
