Sinful Intentions

by Crystal Rhodes

  Gillian looked at her sheepishly, aware that she had done wrong. She looked away, avoiding her mother’s eyes as she spoke.

  “I have a secret place in Colin’s closet. Way in the back behind his clothes, where he can’t see me,” she confessed. “But I won’t go in there again,” she added quickly, hoping this might help her situation.

  Nedra took a quick mental survey of her own walk-in closet and that of her husband’s. Like Colin’s closet, they were very large and spacious, offering plenty of nooks and crannies that could conceal a mischievous little girl. Had they been innocent victims of their daughter’s curiosity as well? She shuddered at the thought of what her little girl might have witnessed if she had been concealed in either one. Both had seen plenty of action.

  “Now you know that what you did was wrong, Gillian,” Nedra said sternly. “Your brother deserves his privacy. You wouldn’t like it if Colin or Trevor spied on you, would you?”

  A chastised Gillian shook her head slowly. “I just wanted to see what he was doing. He was on the phone in his room talking about going away on a bus and stuff. I didn’t bother him…” Her voice drifted as she tried to think of another explanation for her behavior, but Nedra’s interest had been sparked by her last words.

  Nedra nodded absently as she tried to put the pieces of her daughter’s story together. What was her son up to? He wasn’t a devious child. This was out of character for him, but he was clever. I know he isn’t doing what I think he’s doing.

  “Going away on a bus?” She lifted her daughter’s chin so that she had her full attention. “What did Colin say about going away on a bus?” Forget a reprimand on eavesdropping, she needed information, and she needed it now! Gillian was happy to tell all that she knew.

  “He asked somebody on the telephone the number for the Greyhound bus station,” she repeated dutifully. “Then he called and asked how much a ticket for New York City would be and what time the bus would leave from Oakland.”

  “Oakland?”

  “Uh uh,” Gillian said eagerly. “If Trevor is coming home, is Colin going to New York City by his self? Are we going, too?” She was referring to the family’s many trips East where her father maintained his East Coast business operation. “I thought we go on a plane, don’t we, Mommy?”

  “Did Colin have a lot of money?” Nedra wasn’t sure that Gillian could answer the question with any authority. To her a dollar was a lot of money.

  “Yes. He kept it in one of those plastic bags like the ones Mrs. Lucia puts food in and keeps in the freezer. He had a lot of bags.”

  Nedra’s stomach fluttered uneasily. The more she heard, the less she liked what she was hearing. Recalling when the boys said their goodbyes earlier, Colin did seem to hold her a little tighter, and he whispered that he loved her. She had been a bit surprised at his display of emotion, but not shocked. He was growing older and increasingly demonstrated his love in less verbal ways, but that wasn’t unusual for an adolescent. She had taken the additional show of affection as his way of apologizing for his behavior over the last two days.

  Since the altercation with his father, Colin had chosen to remain in his room, avoiding interaction with the family. Sin and he hadn’t resumed their conversation that the call from Donovan had interrupted. Instead, her husband had stayed in the exercise room in the basement until late into the night. She had been asleep when he came to bed.

  Breakfast this morning had been strained. Both Sin and Colin had been like ghosts, present but invisible. A sullen Colin had refused lunch, once again choosing to stay in his room. There was still tension between father and son when Jacob arrived and joined the family for dinner.

  Her husband’s kiss that morning had been cold and his manner distant. He barely spoke when they were alone. Something was amiss with both of them, but her immediate concern was for her son.

  She knew that despite the years of wealth and privilege, Colin was still wise in the ways of the street. He had spent most of his formative years as a survivor. He was good at it. Right now, losing his brother was his greatest fear. It was a scenario that he would never accept. While he trusted that she and Sin would do everything to keep Trevor with them, she was well aware that Colin was not above taking decisive action if he felt threatened in any way. What could be more of a threat than the possibly of losing his brother? She wasn’t sure whether he had overheard the discussion that she and Sin had after Donovan’s telephone call, but all evidence pointed to the fact that he might have, and he made a decision to do something about it on his own.

  Nedra followed Gillian upstairs as she showed her where Colin had discarded the discount store bag from which he had retrieved the new clothes she had described. She also pointed out the hiding place where he kept his money as well as the concealing cubby where she had taken up illicit watch.

  Frantically, Nedra went through his drawers and found other items missing that confirmed her suspicions—much more underwear then he would need for a weekend. Also missing was a picture of the family that was sent out last year as a Christmas card, and hanging in his closet was the beloved bomber jacket, like his father’s. He had worn that jacket every day since its purchase. He was never without it. She thought that he had packed it. Nedra’s heart went to her throat.

  Trying not to let fear overtake her, she quickly dialed Carla’s telephone number. Jacob answered.

  “Hey, Nedra. You just missed the boys. Carla took them to the movies to see some flick Colin claimed that he couldn’t live without seeing.”

  Nedra gave a sigh of relief. “Oh good, Carla’s with them.”

  “Well, she’s dropping them off. She’s taking the twins to the mall to buy shoes. She’ll pick the boys up—”

  Nedra disconnected, vowing to apologize later. She quickly dialed Carla’s cell phone. She got her voice mail. Fighting the panic, she called Jacob back.

  “Listen, I’m almost certain that Colin is trying to run away with his brother while he’s there with you and Carla. Do me a favor and go to the room the boys are staying in and see if their backpacks are still there.”

  “I know they’re not there.” Jacob sounded grim. “They left them in the trunk of the car. Colin said that they would bring them in after they came from the movies tonight.”

  Without further questions, Jacob promised to drive to the mall cinema and see if he could find the boys. He knew Colin well enough to know that he was resourceful and could execute any plan that he might hatch.

  She thanked him and disconnected. This time the number that she dialed was Sin’s.

  Chapter 27

  Evelyn’s stomach rolled. She was extremely nervous about the meeting with Sinclair. She had told herself a thousand times that what she was doing couldn’t help the situation. She should just forget it, call the man and cancel the whole thing. Yet, she came. The only reason that she could give herself was temporary insanity. She had to be crazy to have come here. There was no other explanation except…

  Sin walked into the club, and for a moment she stopped breathing. He didn’t see her at first and that gave her the opportunity to feast her eyes on his tall, dark and handsome frame. She was totally into this man. She couldn’t help herself. It was as if she were addicted and couldn’t get enough of him. He was the reason that she was here.

  Sinclair spotted Evelyn Linwood seated in an isolated booth in the back of the room. As he moved toward her, the light from the candle on the table cast dancing shadows on her face. She was such a lovely young woman, but she seemed so sad. He wondered what demons haunted her.

  Evelyn wet her lips in anxious anticipation as Sin walked toward her. His smooth, sleek glide was so sexy. She shifted in her seat as the heat began to build within her. Greedily, she feasted her eyes as she fought for some self-control. By the time he reached the table, she was composed enough to greet him with a wane smile.

  “Hello, Mr. Rea…Sinclair. I’m glad that you could make it.”

  He slid into the booth and sat opposite
her. “Good evening, Evelyn. It’s nice seeing you. I’m sorry that I haven’t been to the school to volunteer lately, but—”

  She waved his concern away dismissively. “Oh, there’s no need to explain, not with all that’s happening. It’s understandable.”

  He gave a weary sigh. “Yes, it has been rough.” Sin ran a hand over his face, then pinched the bridge of his nose.

  He looked so tired. Evelyn’s heart went out to him. She fought the urge to reach out and sooth him with a touch.

  “I know that Trevor’s work is still suffering,” he continued. “My wife and I do plan on making an appointment to talk to you about it. It just seems like one thing after another keeps popping up…”

  “I understand.”

  “We have talked to him…”

  “I’m sure you have.”

  “We don’t want to upset him any more than necessary…”

  “I should hope not.”

  “He’s such a great kid…” Sin’s eyes slid past her as his voice faltered.

  This time Evelyn didn’t hesitate as she placed her small hand on top of his much larger one. He didn’t resist the comforting gesture.

  Sin accepted her offer of support gratefully. His emotions had been so raw lately that he felt as if he would explode, but he couldn’t fall apart in front of this woman. He was stronger than that.

  Thankfully, a waitress appeared at their table. Withdrawing his hand, he turned his attention to her. Evelyn folded her hands beneath the table with the hope that he hadn’t noticed how they trembled from his touch. He asked her preference, then ordered two soft drinks.

  As the waitress left the table, he turned his attention back to Evelyn. “When you called me you said that this meeting wasn’t about Trevor, so I have to admit that I’m at a loss as to why I’m here.”

  Evelyn kept her eyes cast on the linen tablecloth covering their table. She watched the flicker of the flame in the candleholder in front of her. She focused her attention on everything she could except him. There would be no small talk. He wanted an explanation, and she wanted to disappear. What was wrong with her? When she was around him, she felt as shy as a virgin on her wedding night. A virgin? She wanted to laugh aloud at that thought!

  “I don’t know where to start,” she answered honestly. Her head was spinning with the enormity of what she was about to reveal.

  Sinclair noted how her eyes avoided his. It was obvious that she was nervous.

  “Why don’t you just start at the beginning?” He smiled in an effort to ease her anxiety.

  Evelyn gave a sarcastic chuckle. “Believe me, you don’t want to know how it all began. It’s something I don’t want to remember. As a matter of fact, I’d like to forget the whole thing.” She took a shaky breath. “But I can’t.”

  Sin was concerned at her distress. “Just take your time, Evelyn. Whatever it is can’t be that bad.”

  She folded her hands on the table and looked up at him. There were tears shimmering in her eyes. Sin’s concern escalated. This time it was he who reached across the table. He placed his hand on top of her hand.

  “What is it, Evelyn?”

  His touch sent shock waves through her systems. What would he think of her when she told him? And what she blurted out was the last thing that Sin ever expected to hear.

  “I know the man who wants to take Trevor. I know Royce Jamison.”

  The words didn’t register at first as he sat frozen and stared at her, uncertain that she had spoken at all.

  “Actually, I don’t know him personally, but I do know people who do, and from what I’ve been told, unless he’s changed, he’s not the kind of man who should be raising a child.”

  Sin held his breath. Blood began to rush to his head. Was this real? He felt the vibration of his cell phone in his pocket alerting him that he had a call. Caught up in the moment, he ignored it. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. All he could do was listen.

  “I used to live a kind of life that I’m not proud of.” Evelyn bit her bottom lip. “I won’t go into details. All I’ll say is that I was young, and stupid, on my own and in need of cash.” She sighed sadly and dropped her eyes. She couldn’t look at him. “Anyway, there was this girl, a friend of mine. She used to…uh, service Royce Jamison on a regular basis.”

  Sin exhaled. Evelyn’s words were turning the surreal into reality.

  “It takes her to tell about the things that he did to her…about his, shall we say, proclivities.”

  Unconscious of the action, Sin sneered. He wasn’t surprised.

  “I haven’t been in touch with my friend for years, but if you need to speak with her, maybe I can track her down. Perhaps what she might have to tell you could help with the custody case.”

  Sin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He was paying a fortune for a private detective to dig up dirt on Royce Jamison. Media mogul, Brandon Plaine, was working overtime to get something damaging on the man. He even had a weasel he could hardly stand patrolling the streets for anything he could find and what happens—a grade school teacher comes out of nowhere with the information that he might need! Could this really be possible?

  Closing his eyes for a second to assess the scope of what was happening, a picture flashed in his mind’s eye. It was of Nedra with her arms out stretched, humbled before a Higher Power asking for a miracle. Surely, it had been delivered this day.

  Opening his eyes, he finally found his voice. “If I’m hearing you right, you’re saying that you’re still in contact with this friend of yours. You have her telephone number?”

  “I used to. I looked for it before I came, but I couldn’t find it.”

  “But you do know were she lives?” Hope was running rampant.

  “I know where she lived the last time I spoke to her.”

  “Then could you take me to her? Do you think she would talk to me?”

  Evelyn didn’t want to disappoint him. “I…I don’t know. It’s been years since I’ve seen or spoken to her. She had gone straight, gotten married. She was even talking about having a child.”

  “Then she should understand how we would feel if we lost our son. So I’m asking you again, could you take me to her?”

  “She lives in Oakland.”

  “I have a car.”

  “She might have moved. Like I said, it’s been years.”

  “I’m willing to take a chance.”

  Evelyn tried to retreat. “I don’t know…”

  Holding her eyes, Sin leaned forward, his face only inches from her face. “I’m a desperate man, Evelyn. My son’s life is at stake. Don’t bring this to me if you don’t expect me to run with it.”

  Evelyn knew that he was right. She had opened Pandora’s Box, and it was too late to close it.

  “Can you take me to see her tonight?”

  “Tonight!” The request startled her.

  “Yes, the sooner I talk to her the better.”

  “But she might have moved!”

  “Then we’ll cross that bridge if and when we come to it, even if it means tracking her down.”

  Sin’s excitement was building as hope stared back at him in the form of a unique pair of dark blue eyes. Deftly, he slid from the booth and threw a few bills on the table.

  “Oakland is only a two-hour drive. We should get there at a reasonable time.” He held his hand out to Evelyn.

  She hesitated for a moment. It would be so easy to retract her statements, get up from the table and walk away, but his hope had given her hope. Whatever the consequences, she was willing to face them. With that in mind, she took Sinclair Reasoners’ outstretched hand.

  * * *

  Nedra was frantic. She had called Sin but still received no reply. She couldn’t wait for him. It was time to take care of matters herself.

  Calling the guesthouse, she was relieved to find that Sharon was at home. Explaining the situation, she solicited babysitting services from her, but Sharon had other plans when she showed up on the Reasoner d
oorstep a few minutes later.

  “I’m driving to Oakland with you,” she said emphatically. “You’re too upset to drive there by yourself, and it’s night. It’s safer if you have someone else in the car with you. Besides, I want to help. Two of us might be able to get more done than one person.”

  As Nedra hurried about gathering what she would need for the unexpected trip, she had to admit that there was some validity in Sharon’s argument. “All right, then I’ll call Mrs. Lucia and see if she can watch Gillian.”

  A call to her housekeeper proved fruitless. No one answered the telephone, so with Gillian snugly settled in the rear childseat, the two women headed toward the Bay Area.

  Sharon felt relieved that she could offer her friend assistance. The guilt of having lost the private investigator’s name was eating away at her, then added to her stress was Winston’s declaration that their marriage was over if she didn’t come home. Despite the frightening circumstances, the call from Nedra was almost welcomed, for a short time it would get her mind off her own problems.

  “I saw Winston’s car at the cottage earlier today.” Nedra’s voice broke into Sharon’s thoughts. “I hope that things are getting better between you two.”

  The words nearly brought Sharon to tears. She bit her lip to hold back a sob that threatened to escape, then glanced quickly at Gillian in the back seat. The little girl had been known to repeat more than one adult conversation word for word. Thankfully, she had fallen asleep.

  “Well, it looks like we might not make it.”

  “What?” Shock was in Nedra’s voice. “I was sure that you two would work things out.”

  “I guess we could, but he’s made it clear that the ball is in my court. I think that he’s given up on me.”

  “Then it sounds like you’ve got an important decision to make, and sooner than you might have thought. After all, he wasn’t going to wait forever.” Nedra was in no mood to coddle Sharon this evening. It was time for her to face some hard realities. “Winston is a good man, Sharon. Not many men would drop whatever they were doing and come to the aid of people they hardly knew like he did for us.”