The Way You Love Me

by Unknown

  “Paige, you’re needed in the foyer,” Mrs. Olson, the church usher, whispered as she leaned across Shane during Sunday-morning services while the announcements were presented on the three screens in the sanctuary.

  Paige stiffened; her first thought that it was Russell. He’d sent her daily e-mails that she deleted without reading, until Friday—then nothing.

  Her reluctance must have shown on her face because the usher continued, “He said his name was Noah, and that it was an emergency.”

  The moment Mrs. Olson mentioned Noah’s name, Paige was rising. Shane, sitting next to her at the end of the pew, rose as well, taking her arm. So did her mother, sitting beside her. Clutching her purse, Paige quickly left the sanctuary.

  “I think Gayle is in trouble,” Noah said the instant he saw Paige, his face and voice frantic.

  “Why? What happened?” Paige asked, trying to “ remain calm. The obnoxious woman diner might have been proven wrong, but Gayle’s night hadn’t run smoothly after that incident. A couple of diners had complained about slow service or requested “the guy training you.”

  Seeing how worried Paige was and how badly things were going for Gayle, Shane had suggested they come back to take Noah and Gayle home. No matter what any of them said to Gayle in the car, her answers had been flat and one word. At their apartment, she had thanked them and gone directly to her room.

  “After you guys left last night, I banged on her door until she let me in. She said she might not be the best waitress, but a man she’d met just before closing told her she’d be perfect for his modeling agency. He said he could practically guarantee her a six-figure salary in a year.” Noah slid both hands into the pockets of his jeans. “She wanted to be a model when we were kids. I thought she had put it out of her mind. She was all excited. I made the mistake of saying the guy was conning her.”

  “Noah,” Mrs. Albright admonished.

  “I know. Seeing her crushed expression was worse than anything you can say to me.” He shook his dark head. “She just turned away, saying she wasn’t pretty like I was, but everyone didn’t think that way.”

  “What happened then?” Paige asked.

  “I let it drop because I didn’t want to argue with her or hurt her feelings after all that had happened at the restaurant. Then this morning when I got up, she was gone.”

  “What time was that?” Shane asked.

  “A little after ten,” Noah said. “She usually wakes me up when breakfast is almost ready because she knows I like sleeping in the morning.”

  “Maybe she just went for a walk,” Paige suggested, fighting her own growing concern. Gayle was too naive and trusting. She always believed the best of people, plus she wanted to be able to help Noah with expenses. She’d see the modeling job as an answer to her prayer, and not the possible danger.

  Noah shook his head again. “Gayle is a homebody. If I didn’t drag her out of the house, she’d never leave. I just know she’s gone to meet this guy. Being reassigned as a waitress hurt her deeply. She saw it as being a failure. If the man had the right words, he could talk her into anything.”

  “Any idea who this man was or where his studio might be?” Shane had a bad feeling about this.

  “No. All I know is that he was a customer last night. He wasn’t in our section. Apparently he spoke to her when she went to the bar to get drinks while I was busy.”

  “Then possibly one of the other waiters will remember him.” Shane pulled his cell phone from his jacket. “Let’s go outside. Do you have any of the other employees’ contact information?”

  “I don’t know how to contact anyone except the manager.” Noah waited until Paige and her mother went through the door, then followed. “I should have kept my mouth shut and just gone with her.”

  Once they were out the front door, Shane activated his phone. “Her only form of transportation is the bus.” He looked at his watch. “The same bus driver should still be on duty. Do you have a picture of her?”

  “Yes. We took one together the day we signed the lease for our apartment.” Noah blinked, swiping the back of his hand across his eyes. “There are all kinds of perverts running around. If anything happens to her…”

  “Don’t borrow trouble,” Shane told him. “Let’s go get that picture.”

  Noah nodded. “It’s at the apartment.”

  “Let’s go.” They hurried down the steps of the church.

  “When we left last night, Gayle didn’t want to talk. You said she was excited when you went into her room after we left. What changed?”

  “I don’t know,” Noah said slowly as they walked through the parking lot. “She was smiling when she finally answered the door.”

  “Gayle doesn’t have mood swings,” Paige said.

  “Not that I’ve noticed,” Shane said. “Someone caused it. Does Gayle have a landline in her room or a cell phone?”

  “A cell, but she left it on her nightstand. We decided that was the best way to save mon—” Noah stopped abruptly. “You can find the number for the guy if she called him.”

  “Just as soon as you give me the number.” Shane listened to the number, then hit speed dial for Rio.

  “Urgent,” Shane said as soon as Rio answered. “Cell phone number 555-976-9223 made a call between twelve thirty-five and one thirty this morning, probably to another cell phone. I need the name and address of that phone’s owner.”

  “Working.”

  Rio didn’t ask questions, just went after the information requested. He would also be faster than the police, who would have to ask for authorization first. “If he rents or owns any properties in Atlanta, I want to know about it.”

  “Got it.”

  Shane replaced his phone. “It will take time to get the information. In the meantime we’ll go to the police to get help finding the MARTA bus driver. And to ensure they prioritize this, we’ll need help.” He looked at Mrs. Albright. “I think it would be a good idea if you called Bitsy. They won’t blow off the governor’s wife.”

  Chapter 16

  Just as Shane expected, the police were all too ready to help. Less than ten minutes after the call from the governor, a patrolman had spoken to the bus driver for the route by Gayle and Noah’s apartment. The man had remembered speaking to Gayle because she was a regular. He’d dropped her off at the MARTA station downtown.

  “She could be anywhere,” the division captain told them after receiving the report. “I’m sorry. There’s no way to track her now.”

  “You can’t just turn your back on her,” Noah yelled, advancing on the policeman.

  Shane grabbed the young man by the arm. “That’s not going to help Gayle. He’s right, and you know it.”

  Noah’s fists clenched. “He could be hurting her.”

  Shane heard Paige’s gasp and put his hand on the young man’s trembling shoulder. “We have to stay strong and keep our heads clear if we’re going to help Gayle. If she is in trouble, she’s counting on you to come get her.”

  He nodded. “I’d do anything for her.”

  “And she knows it, Noah.” Paige touched his other arm. “We’ll find her.”

  “Shane, isn’t there something you can do this time?” Mrs. Albright asked.

  He wasn’t concerned about her letting this time slip. Gayle’s safety was what mattered. They both knew she was recalling his help when Sierra was kidnapped. “Ron and his staff couldn’t give us any information.” His cell phone vibrated.

  “Excuse me.” Shane stepped outside the door and answered his cell phone. “Yes.”

  Rio gave him the man’s name and address. “Good hunting.”

  “Thanks.” Shane opened the door, giving the information to the surprised police captain. Shane knew the police were still probably trying to get a supervisor to okay the release of information. Rio had gone through the back door. “I’ll meet you there. Send a patrol car.”

  Closing the door, he quickly left the police station. Running wasn’t a good idea, and t
he only reason Noah and Paige caught up with him by the time he reached his rental was that he’d forced himself to walk.

  “Mother is taking a taxi home,” Paige said, opening the passenger door and getting inside. Noah dove into the back.

  Arguing would only waste time and solve nothing. Neither was going to budge. “Fasten your seat belts.”

  Turning on the navigation system, he gunned the engine. Thankfully the Ford answered his need for speed. He hit the freeway going seventy miles an hour. They were twenty minutes away from the address Rio had given him, for one Lee Berger. A patrol car could be in the area and get there first, but Shane wasn’t counting on it. The governor’s involvement would speed things up, but there was no way to know if a police car was clear to respond.

  “I don’t know what the situation is. The man could be legit, but in any case I want both of you to stay in the car,” he ordered.

  “No way,” Noah said from the backseat.

  Shane flicked a glance in the rearview mirror at the worried young man. “If there is trouble, I need to focus on Gayle and nothing else. Her safety, if there is a problem, depends on it.” He came off the freeway. Berger’s address was five minutes away in a mixed commercial-residential area.

  “Shane’s right, Noah.” Paige twisted toward the backseat. “I didn’t listen once and might have been seriously injured if Shane hadn’t acted quickly. Let him handle things. He’s a former Army Ranger.”

  Shane braked hard in front of the two-story building. Time for talk was over. In the distance he heard a police siren. He didn’t know if they were heading there or someplace else. He had no intention of waiting. On the glass front berger’s photography was written in faded gold cursive writing.

  “Stay here.”

  Not waiting to see if they followed his order, he quickly got out of the car. It took less than three seconds to get past the locked door. The dingy front room held cameras on tripods, lights, backgrounds.

  Seeing the stairs off to the right, he started to climb them, careful to be quiet. He heard Gayle’s voice five steps from the landing.

  “This isn’t what I expected. You said you owned a prosperous modeling agency.”

  “I do,” a male voice said. “It’s just not on the sign. No sense pouring all the profits back into a building. Once you sign the contract and I take the pictures, I’ll be able to shop you around. Just sign. Here.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m not signing a contract turning over all rights to my photographs. I’ve seen beauty queens and actresses get into trouble for doing that.”

  Shane relaxed. Gayle was holding her own.

  Reaching into his pocket, he switched his cell phone to vibrate and sent Rio a text message about Lee Berger. Risking going to the top of the stairs, he peeked around the corner and saw Gayle in a pretty white dress sitting across the table from a man in his early sixties. The man ran his hand over his balding pate.

  The loft-style room was a living area with another camera and background set up to the far left. Through a partially opened door Shane could see a rumpled bed. Another door across the room was closed.

  Easing back down the stairs, Shane sent a text message to Paige telling her Gayle was all right, trust him, alert the police, and stay in the car. A message came in from Rio on Berger. no arrests. no complaints.

  The guy had a clean record, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t pose a threat to Gayle. Shane would let her handle things unless Berger pushed too hard. She needed to know she could take care of herself. Shane retraced his steps.

  “I think I should go home,” Gayle said.

  “No. No. You said you wanted to be a model. Tell you what, why don’t I take some pictures of you and you can see for yourself how good you look? You’re a fresh face. A designer’s dream. They’ll be clamoring for you. We’ll have our pick of assignments.” He stood. “You can change in that room over there.”

  “W-what?” her voice wobbled.

  “Standard procedure,” he said easily, rounding the table. “I need head shots.” He lightly touched the collar of her dress. “This would ruin the look.”

  “Mr. Berger, I-I don’t know about that.”

  Tell him to go to hell, Gayle.

  “There’s a robe in there,” he cajoled. “Full-figured models are coming into their own. You’re an attractive young woman, proportioned just right to make companies from clothes designers to beauty products sit up and notice. The camera is going to love your face.”

  “I’m not sure about this anymore.”

  “You better,” he said, his voice harsher. “It’s a cinch you won’t last long at that restaurant and then what? You said you needed that job. What will happen if you lose it?”

  Shane heard a faint noise on the stairs behind him and guessed correctly that it was Noah and Paige. A hard look didn’t stop either of them. He put his finger to his lips, then caught Noah’s arm. When the young man looked Shane in the eyes he shook his head once. Releasing him, Shane stepped in front.

  “I’ll find another job,” Gayle said, but her voice lacked confidence.

  “Doing what?” the man asked. “I watched you. You’re a shy one. Who is gonna hire you? The modeling world don’t care if you’re full-figured or that you’re shy. I’m betting you will come alive in front of the camera. You just go and change clothes and I’ll show you.”

  Gayle slowly stood. Paige’s fingers dug into Shane’s arm through his long-sleeved white shirt. With his other hand he kept a tight grip on Noah. Gayle had to do this on her own.

  “I’ll go check the camera.” Smiling, Berger rushed across the room.

  Gayle took another step toward the room, and then stopped. “I can’t.”

  The man whirled around. “What do you mean, you can’t?”

  “I can’t do this.”

  “Don’t be a baby. Grow up. I’m giving you the chance of a lifetime,” he riled. “Now go put that robe on.”

  She stepped back. Her chin lifted. “No. I’m going home.”

  “And how do you propose to do that?” he taunted. “There’s no train near here, no bus. Be sensible. Let’s do the photos and I’ll take you back to the train station.”

  She took a wide berth around him. “I’ll get home. Paige will come. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to.”

  “That’s telling the bastard,” Noah said as he stepped forward. Since Shane agreed, he let the teenager go.

  Seeing her brother, Gayle covered her face. Tears glittered in her eyes. “Noah.”

  Noah had been going for the man but changed directions; Paige didn’t. Shane matched her steps in case she needed a little help.

  “You’re lower than slime. Intimidating a young woman. I don’t believe this is the first time.” Paige pulled out her cell phone. “I’m calling the police. It will be interesting to see what they find when they search this place.”

  “No!” The man grabbed for the cell phone. Paige completely skipped fainting and shot her hand out with the phone, hitting the man in the nose. He howled. “You broke my nose!”

  “Be glad you didn’t touch her, or that wouldn’t be all you have broken.” Shane picked up the moaning man and shoved him into the sofa chair. “Call the police, Paige.”

  Two patrol cars, including one with the police captain, arrived within minutes of Paige’s call. He hastily explained that a five-car pile up on the freeway had prevented them from arriving earlier.

  “She broke my nose,” the man wailed. “I want to press charges.”

  “You lunged for me,” Paige said. “I simply protected myself. You weigh twice as much as I do.”

  The man’s eyes glittered with rage. “You bi—” Shane struck without warning, grabbing the man by the collar of his shirt, lifting him off the sofa until his feet dangled. “Don’t even think it.”

  The man’s eyes bulged. His mouth worked like a fish out of water.

  Shane dropped him. The man hit the chair and shrank back.

  “Miss Math
is, would you like to take a seat and tell me what happened?” the police captain asked gently.

  Gayle’s trembling increased. She bit her lip, tucked her head.

  “Nothing happened,” the man said, keeping a wary eye on Shane.

  “Miss Mathis, I need to hear it from you,” the police captain said.

  “Gayle, you can do this,” Paige said, giving the young woman an encouraging hug.

  “I met him last night at the restaurant. He was sitting at the bar. He said he owned a modeling agency. I called him after I got home and agreed to meet him at the train station.” She looked at Noah, tears sparkling in her eyes. “I was so stupid to believe him.” Her gaze fell to the floor in front of her feet. “When I refused to change into a robe to take head shots, he said he wouldn’t take me home, that I had no choice.”

  “She misunderstood me.” Berger motioned to stand, then sank back into his chair at a menacing glare from Shane.

  “You’re a liar!” Noah raged. “We all heard you.”

  “Noah is right, Captain Weller.” Paige kept her arm around Gayle’s waist. She hated to upset Gayle more, but it had to be said. “Sometimes photographers have a Web camera in the dressing room to stream live video to the Internet. It happened to another young woman I helped. Please check.”

  Gayle whimpered. “Oh, no.”

  “You need a search warrant for that,” Berger yelled.

  “All I need is probable cause, and I’d say I have it,” the police captain said, motioning one of the patrolmen with him to go into the dressing room.

  “You got no right!” Berger yelled. “Just take her. I was just trying to help her. Just go.”

  “I want to go home,” Gayle said, her voice cracking. “Please, Noah.”

  Her brother hugged her to him. “In a minute, sis.”

  Paige took Gayle’s hands. “You’ve been very brave so far. Just a little while longer.”

  Gayle swallowed. “I guess.”