He had returned to the guest bedroom trying to process the bombshell her sister had dropped about Nate. Stretched out on the bed with his hands propped behind his head, his long legs crossed at the ankles, he stared at a blank wall opposite the bed. He became inundated with thoughts and memories that continually flashed through his mind. It was overwhelming to think about how much he had missed and lost…his family, his friend, Nate…poor Nate…and Owen.
He’d decided to go downstairs and talk to Valerie when they almost collided on the second-floor landing. Drawing her back into the guest room, he told her of what he remembered.
Hearing her voice now swiftly shifted Cade’s attention back to her. “Valerie, do you know Congressman Owen?”
“I know of him, and I’ve actually met him once or twice. Why, do you know him?”
Cade nodded slowly. “And I remembered more.”
He took a moment and collected his thoughts before meeting her eyes. Then he spoke quietly but earnestly as the words poured out.
“So, it’s like this. I was in a hotel suite to swipe three computer hard drives, and I’m pretty sure I did it if you say you saw me typing on them. I would have stored the data on a portable device, but I have no idea what that is or where it’s at. The information on that drive directly implicates the rerouting of funds.” Cade turned away briefly before turning back to her. “If Nate and I would have met a contact the night I was shot, then that rat bastard, Owen, would be facing a prison sentence and not dressing up and attending high-priced parties.”
Valerie pushed away from him. “What? Owen? Congressman Owen? Please tell me you’re not talking about him?” Valerie’s shock was obvious.
“Yeah, him.”
“You mean the popular Congressman Owen whose father grew up on the Hill? Not him?” Valerie exclaimed incredulously.
“Yes, him.”
“Wait, so your friend and partner in crime is the snitch who called my sister with the information about Owen’s money?”
“Yes, and I’m now positive that’s why I was shot.” Cade gave her a rundown of what Nate had found out from Ted Baxter’s computers. “When Nate initially came to me, I told him there was no way we could disclose that information without putting both of our lives at risk. But then I attended a hearing downtown where Owen was spewing a bunch of lies telling folks how he had plans to stop redevelopment of a real estate firm from acquiring several properties in the district, including their homes. It’s a re-gentrification project that would in essence force a lot of low-income families out.”
“I think I know the area you’re talking about. It’s a historically poor area,” Valerie said.
“At that town hall meeting, Owen had charts and graphs and plans. All showed the incorporation of those minority-owned businesses and homes. But the information that Nate managed to obtain showed a totally different layout, and none of those businesses or homes were included in it. The owners would get a nominal amount of money and their businesses demolished to make way for the revamping of the district. Now, what I found out from my Internet search is that’s exactly what the planning committee of housing and development approved. It’s a done deal.”
“But Owen is just a congressman. He doesn’t have that much pull to make something that big happen. I mean, every agency is strapped for cash, and funding has been slashed for a lot of services across the board.”
“Well, this part of my memory is sketchy, but after that hearing, I think I got a call. This man said he’d heard how my questions to the congressman and those real estate honchos were either shot down or totally ignored. He asked if he could hire me as a client.”
“Did you see this man face to face?”
Cade got up from the bed and crossed the guest room to the window. “I’m pretty sure I met with him. Yes…I did, and we agreed to keep mum until I got the proof, which was those development plans from the congressman’s computers. But my client said I’d have to also get proof of where the money had come from for him stop Owen. He said the word had gotten out that Owen would soon have a lot of money at his disposal. No one knew the source. Nate and I had planned everything out.” Cade took a breath. “Nate was supposed to pick me up from the hotel, and now he’s dead. Damn.”
“I’m sorry about your friend, but what happens now?”
“I don’t know because that’s where everything goes blank. I have no idea if I got that information, and if I did, did I pass it on to my client?” Pulling back the drapes, he stared down into the backyard. “I can’t stop thinking about Nate’s wife and son. I can’t risk trying to contact them any more than I can contact anybody else. I’m in no better position now than I was in Bryland, am I?”
Valerie got up and walked over to him. “That’s where you’re wrong. You have a family, and whether you remember them or not, they remember you. They’re worried and…” Valerie backed away from him, then went completely still.
“Oh, hell…what’s happening? Was your sister right about you zoning out and seeing dead people? Although in a weird sort of way, she was right.”
***
Valerie
Valerie ignored his wisecrack. “No, it’s your family, Cade.”
“I said I can’t go to them yet.”
“I understand that. What I meant was my sister has interviewed them, and maybe I can get her to help you.” Valerie was grasping at straws. “My reason for going to Maine was to reconnect you with your family. Each day that passes increases their heartache.”
“How can I risk their lives even if I don’t remember them? I don’t think I’m being heartless or cruel.”
“At least they’d know you were alive, and they can protect you,” she insisted.
“You mean like how Nate was protected?”
“What about the client who hired you? I’m guessing he’s someone affluent. Maybe you can get protection from him. Who is it?” Valerie asked.
“I’m drawing a blank there. In my mind, I can see the figure of a man, but I don’t know who he is.” Cade crossed over to the bed and winced when he sat down, then picked up the glass of water from the nightstand.
“Okay, look, you’ve had a rough twenty-four hours and not much sleep. How’re you feeling physically?” She thought he looked a little pale.
“I am tired. I guess I could use some sleep.” She stared at him, looking concerned and doubtful.
“I’m so thankful for all you’ve done. Although I’m not fully on board believing everything about your gift to beam yourself up…” He grinned at her. “Maybe teleport yourself is a better word,” Cade said.
“Whatever, Cade,” Valerie huffed with indignation before she turned on her heels and marched from the guest room
***
Cade
Cade stretched out on the bed listening to sounds that were familiar in and around a home. The hum of a vacuum cleaner, a ringing telephone, and somewhere out back, he heard female voices talking excitedly and laughing. He guessed it was the three women he’d spotted earlier in a backyard a couple houses up.
The sounds were comforting and calmed his overworked mind, lulling him to sleep.
He slept peacefully for several hours, awakening only upon hearing several taps on the bedroom door. He awakened disoriented and momentarily confused until he heard jazz music playing softly and remembered he was in Valerie’s house. Relaxing, he also realized he’d been dreaming of her dancing as music that flowed around them.
“Cade, you awake?”
In response, he’d gotten up too fast and became light headed and had to grab hold of the dresser for support. When she poked her head in the door, he recovered quickly, seeing that she was balancing a bowl in her hands. He didn’t want her to see that he was ill, very ill actually. “Hey, what’s this?” he asked.
“I figured you might be hungry and brought you some of the fruit salad I made.”
“Great,” he said, accepting the bowl and delving into the aromatic fruit with a spoon.
�
��How was your nap?” she asked, sitting across from him in the chair.
“Definitely needed,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I have a pot of beef stew on the stove for dinner, but if you want something more than the fruit salad for now, I can fix you a tuna sandwich or something.”
“No thanks,” he said, lifting his nose in the air. “Ahh, beef stew. It smells heavenly.” When she simply stared at him, he was quick to remind her that he had been living on mush at the sanitarium. “If I can help with anything, just ask.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got it under control.”
“So you like jazz music. I was dreaming of you while I was sleeping, and I remembered something,” he said.
“Do I want to hear this?” she asked, presenting him with a dubious look.
“Absolutely,” he said, standing and placing the nearly empty bowl on the dresser before reaching for her hand and lifting her to her feet. “I remember dancing with you and holding you close. As I recall, it was a little slice of heaven, and I felt safe, like I belonged somewhere and to someone.” Cade knew it wasn’t just someone, he thought. It was her. He whispered another thank you close to her ear, while at the same time breathing in her scent.
Grinning at her suspicious frown, he asked, “May I?”
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Valerie
Valerie couldn’t say what had possessed her to bring the bowl of fruit up to the bedroom. It would have been safer and less of an intimate setting to have him come downstairs. But those thoughts flew from her head when his arms circled her waist and he gathered her close.
Letting her hands glide steadily up his arms, she recalled dancing with him in her trances. Yes, they danced then, but this was different. He wasn’t just some lost soul needing guidance. She easily became swept up in the cocoon of his embrace and the pleasure of his arms tightening around her waist and holding her anchored to his chest.
When his lips grazed her cheek and he whispered something quietly, Valerie had to summon the courage to keep her wits about her. She considered herself to be level-headed, albeit her gift that brought him there, but there was no way she was going to let those emotions that motivated her to put on Aunt Ruby’s crystal and go searching for him spill over in her real life.
When his hands rose and cupped her cheeks, followed by a feather-light touch of his lips against hers, Valerie was already prepared to put an end to whatever he thought would start between them. Lifting her head, she met his bright expressive eyes for half a second until her vision blurred. His lips drew nearer and ever so lightly teased her lips before progressing into a full-on, passionate exploration of her mouth—and there she was, succumbing under his tantalizing kiss. Holding onto him tighter kept her from melting under her own weight.
And, this is why I went gallivanting through dreams to find him. This kiss…this heart-pounding need. Not good at all…
Valerie let her eyes drift open. She studied his face and liked what she saw. His eyelashes were as thick and as black as his eyebrows. As if sensing she was watching him, he opened his eyes to reveal a seductive look that was passionate, his eyes glistened, and a sheen of perspiration covered his face. Bringing her hands up to circle his neck, she found him to be warm, very warm…too warm. Actually, he was burning hot.
Lifting his head back until his mouth released hers and breaking the spell, Valerie quickly raised her hand up and across his forehead and down his cheeks.
He was burning up.
“Cade, you have a fever,” she said, having to twist to get out of his tight embrace to hurry to her master bathroom to get a thermometer. Chiding herself along the way for not realizing he was still ill was proof she wasn’t focused. He’d had a third or fourth surgery by the time she’d arrived at the sanitarium.
How could I have been so blind?
She searched through the medicine cabinet over the vanity. Finally finding the thermometer, she turned and stopped in her tracks to find him standing in the doorway to her bedroom. He was leaning heavily against the doorframe for support, and she couldn’t help recalling the number of times she’d seen him like that, waiting for her.
“That was really, really sweet, Valerie,” he mumbled. “Let’s do it again.”
“What was?” She saw that he swayed, barely able to stand on his own two feet.
“Kissing you, I really like kissing you. It was sweet and sexy.”
Ignoring his glassy-eyed wink, Valerie rushed to his side, where she shoved her shoulder beneath his arm to guide him back to the guest bedroom. “I think the sweetness was from the fruit. Now, I’m getting you into bed, right now.”
“Yeah, baby, now th-that’s what I’m t-talking about,” he murmured.
Turning him around, Valerie struggled to steer his tall frame back down the hall. Despite his wandering hands on her shoulders and back, she managed to get him in the bed, where she pulled the comforters up and around him. She took his temperature, and to her surprise the display read 104 degrees.
By the time she pulled another comforter over him, he was almost asleep. Spotting the bottle of medication on the dresser, she recalled he had taken a pill earlier. She read the label and saw they were antibiotics to prevent infection. It was full with over two hundred pills, according to the label. Reading the label, she didn’t see his name listed nor were there any directions on how and when to take them. She didn’t recall seeing it before. The pill she’d seen him take earlier came from a smaller bottle he’d had in his pocket. “Cade, is this medication for the infection?” She shook him gently to get his attention.
“Um hum.”
“What was the medication you took when you were downstairs?”
“For…pain.”
“Have you taken any of this medication?” she asked, shaking the large bottle at him. When he murmured dozily that they made him sick, she immediately popped the top and placed two into his mouth, then held the glass of lukewarm water from the nightstand to his lips. “Drink this so we can get your fever down.” She reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out the smaller bottle of pills and read the label. The pills were a highly addictive narcotic drug. “Good Lord, you needed to be taking the antibiotics to prevent infection. These pain pills can’t do that. Listen, if your temperature doesn’t go down, I’m getting you to the hospital.”
Instantly alert, Cade struggled to sit up. “No, no hospital.”
“You’re ill with a high fever, and you may need emergency care.” When his hot hand grasped hers as she adjusted the blankets around him, Valerie didn’t mistake what he’d said next.
“I’ll be dead for r-real if I go to the h-hospital. P-promise me, no hospital, Val…”
***
Valerie
For the next two days, Cade’s fever raged on, and as much as Valerie wanted to call somebody for help, she didn’t dare—not with his words ringing in her ears.
Not having any nursing experience, she did what she could to keep him comfortable. She choked down her panic and fear and relied on a medical website for guidance. Initially, he’d been lucid enough to want to clean his incisions himself and change into a clean t-shirt. He insisted on getting up to use the bathroom, but she was right outside the bathroom door to help him back into bed.
On the third day, delirium set in, and he murmured incoherently, but during the brief intervals when he was awake, she forced him to repeat her name or his name to make sure he wasn’t slipping back into a coma.
The weekend stretched into the work week, and still, Valerie stayed by his bedside, only leaving for short periods to grab something to eat and take a shower or a quick nap. Otherwise, she remained vigilantly at his bedside, taking his temperature, helping him to the bathroom, giving him cooling sponge baths, which he objected to. All the while, she prayed the pills she’d forced down his throat would help break the fever. She coaxed him to drink a little water and take a few spoons full of soup broth. Anxious and worried for him, sh
e dared not think the worst, that he could die right there in her house.
After what seemed like an eternity, she nearly wept with relief when at last his fever finally broke and he was lucid and cool to her touch. He still wasn’t out of the woods, and watching him drift into a more peaceful sleep, her mind raced.
Despite her protests of him leaving the sanitarium to follow her back to DC, she was still responsible for what happened to him now that he was here.
But what if something terrible does happen?
She shuddered at the thought. The fallout and consequences on so many levels would be too dire and devastating to think about. Grasping, she had only herself to blame for the mess she was in. That motivated her to do everything she could to help him get better.
She didn’t want to seem callous or unsympathetic about his health, but they had risked a lot so far, and more was riding on him getting well and recovering his memories. She hoped this setback didn’t hamper the progress he’d made about his memories involving Congressman Owen or what information he’d stolen from the computers. She thought about Sarah Walker’s comments about how much Glen despised Owen and his suspicions about the unexplained millions of dollars. She thought about her sister’s bombshell about attempts to interview Nate Butler, and finally, she thought about Cade’s admission. “I’m the friend.”
She had to wonder if it was possible that pieces seemingly disconnected somehow all led to Cade. She wanted to call Lynne and start asking questions, because despite Lynne’s flightiness at times, the girl was a “dig down to the bones” newswoman, and she’d received numerous awards and accolades to prove it. But Valerie didn’t want to put her sister at risk in any way by digging further into Nate Burton’s accusations of Owen, or his death.
Finding Cade (Dream Catcher Series Book 1) Page 22
