“That’s very kind of you, Nick.” Misty’s words were choked, and he knew she was trying to stop the tears. “I’m sure it’s great, but I couldn’t afford it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Frustration gave his voice an edge and he fought to control it. “It’s yours if you want it. Money isn’t an issue. The apartment is big enough that Charlotte and her daughter could stay with you until their house is ready. It’s about twenty minutes outside of town. My personal assistant will be arriving any day now, so we wouldn’t be alone, and the apartment is self-contained. I have a state-of-the-art security system in and around the house, too, so you wouldn’t have to worry about anything. I have good ears, remember?”
“That’s nice of you, Nick.” Amos touched him on the shoulder and then moved his hand down Nick’s arm to shake his hand. Amos had the firm handshake of a confident man. Nick hoped he would support his plan. The man’s next words eased Nick’s concerns.
“We’d take Misty and Debbie in, but Beryl just had her hip replaced and she’s still moving a little slowly. We love this little lady and the moppet, but we also know Misty has a streak of independence a mile wide. Honey, this could be the solution to your problem until we get answers and decide what to do about the house. The old Taylor place is out on the river. You’ll love it there. The estate is fenced and gated. You keep the gate closed and locked, don’t you?” Amos asked pointedly.
If you don’t, you’d better start, thought Nick, reading the warning in Amos’ voice.
“Yes, I do. With the increased number of people around in the summer time, I also hire security guards to watch for trespassers. Apparently the fishing’s good in my section of the river, but I don’t want strangers walking around and leaving things where they shouldn’t be. A man needs to be safe on his own property.”
The estate was protected on three sides by a ten-foot, chain-link fence topped by three strands of barbed wire. The fourth boundary, on the house’s west side, was the Raquette River, impassable thanks to its shallow, but dangerous rapids. It would be reasonably easy to ensure her safety there, especially when he brought in his own people to help. No one would get on the property unnoticed.
“Good.” Amos’ voice conveyed his approval and understanding. “You can never be too careful, especially now that you’ll have children there.” Nick heard Amos move closer to Misty. “I think this is the best solution. I’ll take you into Potsdam for clothes and things tomorrow. Since the apartment is furnished, that’ll be one less worry for now.”
Nick understood what Amos was saying was less important than what he wasn’t saying. It was obvious the man wanted Misty to consider moving into Nick’s house. He hoped Misty could read between the lines, too. Amos must have had him checked out. How much had he been able to learn? Nick had secrets of his own he wasn’t ready to share either. He hadn’t been your ordinary concert pianist. People owed him favors — the kind of people you wanted on your side in a fight.
“I’m not sure. An apartment in a mansion on the river is way more than I can afford, and you know it. Besides, Nick’s lived alone. He probably isn’t ready for a four-year-old — ”
Laura jumped into the conversation, stopping Misty from finishing what she’d been about to say. “I think it’s the perfect solution. Micah and I have been harassing Nick about that apartment for months, and having you and Debbie around will be great for him. I’m sure he’ll be reasonable about the rent, won’t you Nick?” She didn’t give him time to answer. “Debbie will love it there. He’s got an in-ground pool — you know how she loves the water.”
“I was telling him just the other night that he needed a tenant. This will work out well,” added Micah.
“Nick could use a few decent meals, too.” Laura laughed. “Don’t glower at me like that, Nick Anthony. I happen to know Misty is a first-class cook. The smells coming out of her kitchen will make your mouth water.”
Micah chuckled, and Nick could picture the smug expression on his brother-in-law’s face. “If you’re willing to cook, maybe he’ll give you a break on the rent.”
“I’ve had a couple of her oatmeal raisin cookies. If they’re anything to go by, I’d be happy to have her prepare a few meals for me,” Nick interjected.
Misty’s voice was guarded. “It’s a wonderful offer, Nick, but I feel we’d be taking advantage of you. Debbie’s an angel most of the time, but she does have her moments. We couldn’t impose on you like that. Thanks anyway. We’ll find something. Amber has offered to let us stay with her.”
She sounded determined to turn down his offer. How could he protect her at Amber’s? He didn’t even know where Amber lived. Had he insulted her? Did she think he was only being charitable? He knew some people had trouble accepting help even when they needed it. He hadn’t anticipated that Misty would be like that, but he suddenly remembered Amos had said she had a strong independent streak — she needed to do things on her own — and he could relate to that. Hadn’t he been that way for months now?
“Would you consider taking the apartment if I hired you?” Nick asked, hoping the desperation he was feeling didn’t come across in his voice. He wished he could see so he could read her body language. Negotiating was so much easier when you had visual cues.
“Hired me? Hired me for what?” There was no mistaking her confusion and frustration. She was at the end of her rope. He’d probably feel the same way if he were in her place. He wished there was some way he could make this easier.
“To cook for me. Laura’s right. I need someone to make my meals. I was a lousy cook at the best of times, and I can barely manage the microwave. I eat cold cereal and pizza five out of seven days a week. The other days, I eat at one of the other restaurants in town or Laura’s if she takes pity on me. I’ll let you stay in the apartment in exchange for your cooking services.” He hoped the look on his face was “poor blind man needing to be fed” and would appeal to her better instincts.
“That’s a really generous offer, but I work full time.” He could hear the regret in her voice and rejoiced at the thought that he was wearing her down. Guilt gnawed at him, but he pushed it away. “I’m at school all day and I couldn’t get lunch for you. It — ”
“I happen to know you make lunches. I’m a connoisseur of sandwiches and cookies. You could make a brown-bag lunch for me and leave it in the fridge. Do we have a deal?” He crossed his fingers behind his back.
The sound of her chuckle was music to his ears.
“You’re determined to do this, aren’t you? All right, you win. I still think you’re getting the short end of the stick, but I have to feed Debbie and myself, so making enough for three — or four when your assistant arrives — won’t be a problem. If Charlotte agrees to stay, we’ll be six, but I’ll insist on covering the cost of the extra food while she’s with me. If you think we can make this work, I’m game.”
Nick let out the breath he’d been holding. “You don’t have to pay for anything, but whatever you want works for me. I’m looking forward to brownies and cookies. Did I mention I have a sweet tooth and love chocolate?”
Everyone laughed, including Misty, and he relaxed. Things were going to be all right.
Chapter Seven
Nick smiled. While he hadn’t planned on having her work for him, the thought of home-cooked meals and desserts made his mouth water. As long as she was in the house where he could watch her back, he’d be happy. This would work; he’d make sure it did. And he might even make sure there wasn’t a contractor around who could rebuild her house before he got to the bottom of whatever was happening.
He’d learned long ago that the easiest way to protect someone was to keep them close. His theory was a play on Sun-Tzu’s war strategies: “Know your enemy, and know yourself, and you will always be victorious.” If he knew Misty’s enemy, he knew he could prevent him from harming her, and he’d succeed because, when it
came to Misty’s safety, failure was not an option.
“When do you think you’ll be arriving tomorrow?” he asked nonchalantly, as if time didn’t matter.
“Probably not until four. I need to get some clothes and things for the two of us.” He could hear the exhaustion in her voice. “Amber’s my understudy. She can take my place in the musical and Rachel can take hers. One less soprano in the chorus won’t make a difference — ”
“What are you talking about?” interrupted Micah, as confused as Nick suddenly was. “Why would Amber have to take your role?”
“Well, I may not have a sitter.” He could tell from her voice that she regretted the possibility. “I’ll offer Charlotte space in the apartment, but she may have made other plans, and without a sitter, I can’t be there. I won’t leave Debbie with a stranger, not now.”
“Bring Debbie with you on Saturday. We’ll find something for her to do while you rehearse.” Nick could hear the edginess in Micah’s voice. He knew his brother-in-law didn’t want to lose the best singer in the show, and neither did he. “There’s a ton of room for her to play. We’ll work something out for the night performances. There’s absolutely no way I’m giving up the best Mary Magdalene I’ve ever heard.”
“I agree; it would be a shame not to perform after having worked so hard,” Nick put in. “It’s up to you, but the apartment is large enough for the four of you, and since you’ll be doing the cooking, it would be a holiday for Charlotte. The only thing she’d have to do is watch Debbie when necessary. Four o’clock tomorrow works well for me. I have an appointment in Canton, and I won’t be back much before then.” He hated lying to her, but he was pretty sure nothing would be ready much sooner than that. It would be a reach as it was. “We could have supper around half past six. How does that sound?”
“It sounds too good to be true,” Misty answered. He could hear the relief in her tired voice. He wanted to pull her into his arms but knew it would take time before he could allow himself such liberties again. He hoped it wouldn’t take a lot of time; he wasn’t a patient man.
“I’ll take the job and the apartment for as long as I need them, but Nick, you have to promise that if having a four-year-old around is too much for you, you’ll tell me, and we’ll find someplace else. But she’s really a good kid.”
He could hear the love and concern in her voice and sensed there was something about her daughter she was hiding from him. Whatever it was, he’d find out soon enough.
He heard her bare feet slap the floor as she approached him and stopped in front of him. He felt her lips press a kiss on his cheek. Heat suffused his body, and sudden desire flared in him. His body reacted instinctively, and he hoped the effects of his need weren’t obvious. Another disadvantage of his blindness — he knew how his clothes fit, but he didn’t know how they looked.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for this.”
He was speechless, moved beyond words by her simple act of gratitude. He heard her feet on the tile floor as she moved away. Heat emanated from the spot on his cheek where she’d kissed him, and that would have to be enough for now.
Laura touched his arm. “You’re a good man, Nick Anthony. Never forget that. You may be blind, but you see more than most people do.” She raised her voice and addressed everyone. “It’s after one. I think we need to let Misty get some rest. Micah, take Nick home, and you can come back and pick me up after. Since we have overnight guests, I’ve called in a part-timer. She should be here in about half an hour.”
Nick turned to Misty. Her scent gave her location away. “If you want to put together a grocery list and call it in to Swenson’s, they’ll deliver the stuff. I have some food in the cupboards, but probably not anything you’ll want, so start from scratch.”
Swenson’s was a mom and pop operation that stocked everything from the finest steaks to the best bass-catching bait in the Northlands. The store was crammed so full of foodstuffs, Nick could barely navigate the aisles. In summer, the old walk-in meat cooler held cases of beer; in the fall, carcasses of deer hung waiting for Mr. Swenson to butcher and wrap them. People might go to the big grocery stores in Potsdam to stock up on canned goods and cleaning products, but everyone in Pine Falls got their bread, milk, meat, and produce from Swenson’s.
“I’ll get what I need for a couple of days and take stock of what you have tomorrow, Thanks again. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he said as she walked away from him, and when her scent dissipated, he felt lonely. How could he have come to care so deeply for someone he’d known less than seventy-two hours? Suddenly, fear ate at his gut. What if he couldn’t keep her safe?
Nick followed the sound of Micah’s footsteps back to the parking lot and the car. He got in on the passenger side, fastened his seat belt, and waited for the interrogation to begin.
When Micah didn’t say anything, Nick felt obligated to broach the subject.
“Well, aren’t you going to say something?” he asked as Micah started the vehicle.
“Nope.” Micah’s tone betrayed nothing. “I agree with Laura. This is a good thing you’re doing. We’re all fond of Misty and Debbie, and they’ve had a rough time. Trent died before Debbie was born, and Amos was telling me that Misty lost her parents just last year. On top of that, Debbie has night terrors. That poor girl has had more than her fair share of bad luck, and now, with the fire … Sometimes life sucks. She deserves a break.”
“Night terrors?” Nick asked, wondering if he’d bitten off more than he could chew. “I’ve heard of those. Aren’t they really bad nightmares?”
“I asked Laura that the other day. Charlotte was telling me Debbie had one a few weeks ago and it scared the daylights out of her. Apparently they’re not the same. Much worse, I guess.”
When the car turned off the main road, Nick realized they’d arrived at the estate. He heard the click as Micah used the remote to open the gates, which stayed open sixty seconds — long enough to drive through — and shut again. Micah drove along the lane, pulled the car up to the side entrance, and turned off the engine.
“I do have a question for you, though. What I would like to know is how you plan to have this four-thousand-square-foot mansion furnished by the time she shows up tomorrow,” Micah said and laughed. “You can count on Laura and me coming to see how you’ll pull this off.”
“You’d be amazed what I can do when I put my mind to it. Tell me, what is it about a night terror that makes it so scary? If the child’s going to be living upstairs, I need to be prepared. I don’t want to go barging up there and make things worse.”
“Well, other than being stiff as a board and screaming bloody murder, apparently their eyes are open, but they’re sound asleep. They don’t know you, and you can’t console them.”
“Why not wake them up?”
“I guess it’s almost impossible to do. Charlotte says Misty holds Debbie and sings to her until she settles down again. I asked Laura what causes them. She said no one really knows, but overexcitement and stress don’t help.”
“I’ll make sure I don’t make a big deal of it if she does have one. I think Debbie’s bad dreams may be one of the reasons Misty was hesitant to accept my offer. I’d better get inside; I have a few things to do before I call it a night.”
“I’ll bet you do.” Micah laughed. “You’ll need to be a hell of a magician to pull this off.”
Nick took his cane out of his coat pocket, got out of the car, and snapped open the tool. “Well, I’ve got the wand, don’t I?” he asked wielding his cane like a baton. “I’ll see you tomorrow — say around four — so you can help me welcome Misty to her new home.”
He bid Micah goodnight, walked along the sidewalk to the steps, and climbed to the veranda. He punched in the code for the electronic lock, opened the door, and let himself into the house, th
en he turned off the alarm system. He’d learned to do an amazing number of things by touch, but he still hoped to recover his vision some day.
He wondered briefly if Debbie’s night terrors were related to whatever was frightening her mother. After the accident, he’d had nightmares that had crippled him in their intensity. Once the paralysis had passed, he’d been able to play the piano again, and that had helped. He had to wonder what could possibly have happened in the life of a four-year-old to cause such frightening episodes.
As soon as he got inside, he went into the kitchen, the only room in the house other than his music room and bedroom that was furnished. He had one chair in the sunroom spa area off his bedroom, but you could hardly call that furnished. He sat at the breakfast bar and pressed the button that activated the voice function on his smartphone. “Call Roberts,” he said clearly.
“Calling Roberts,” the tinny female voice answered.
Nathan Roberts had been Nick’s personal assistant for the last five years and the only member of his household staff who knew about his extracurricular activities on tour. As a world-renowned concert pianist, Nico Antoni had performed all over, including in countries where Uncle Sam wasn’t necessarily welcome. He hadn’t been a spy. No, leave that to the trained operatives; being James Bond didn’t appeal to him. His role had been far simpler but just as important. He’d been a CIA courier, moving information when he could, doing his part to keep his country safe. As a star pianist, he’d been surrounded by an entourage of people who helped set up his performances. The fact that at any given time at least three of his roadies and bodyguards were highly trained professionals usually went unnoticed.
The call picked up on the third ring. “Mr. Antoni, it’s so good of you to call, sir. How may I be of service?”
In Plain Sight Page 8
