Chapter Fourteen
Friday, January 18, 11:00 A.M.
Kendall’s cameraman, Mike, turned on the light above his camera and gave her the nod to start speaking.
She flashed her trademark grin. ‘This is Kendall Shaw reporting from the Central Virginia Women’s Center, a new vocational facility to assist women rebuilding their lives after enduring domestic abuse. The center is the brainchild of Lindsay O’Neil Kier, a noted advocate for women.’
Public appearances were part of a news anchor’s job. Kendall didn’t like it but accepted it. However, this event was a project near and dear to her heart.
Mike panned the camera past Kendall to the facility. The building had originally been a tobacco warehouse when built over 150 years ago. It had also served as a food storage facility. The structure had been abandoned for several years until Lindsay and her board chairman, Dana Miller, had convinced the city to donate the facility to them. The two women had marshaled an army of volunteers and within six months had converted the space into meeting rooms and classrooms.
Once inside the building, Kendall casually walked toward Lindsay, who smiled radiantly into the camera. Lindsay was a tall, slim woman who wore her blond hair loose around her shoulders. Beside her stood Dana. Sleek and sophisticated, Dana wore heavy makeup and her black hair smoothed into a tight ponytail.
‘Ms O’Neil and Ms Miller, congratulations on your grand opening,’ Kendall said. ‘This must be an exciting day for you.’
Lindsay nodded. ‘Thanks, Kendall. We’re very excited about this new place.’
Dana grinned. Not to be outshined, she added, ‘Lindsay has done a phenomenal job pulling this all together. She is a marvel.’
Kendall noted the very slight tension in Lindsay’s gaze. The women’s advocate understood politics and was willing to go along for her facility. ‘I couldn’t have done it without Dana. She rallied the city and business leaders and made this grand opening happen.’
The large front room was filled with local dignitaries who had been invited to the opening. Colorful balloons decorated every corner, a large table laden with food dominated the center of the room, and against an exposed brick wall stood a bar stocked with sodas and nonalcoholic drinks.
Kendall asked Lindsay about the facility and listened as she gave a recap. Dana added her two cents. They’d rehearsed what Lindsay and Dana were going to say moments ago and the interview went precisely as planned. Kendall signed off and Mike cut off the camera.
‘Thanks, Mike. Why don’t you get something to eat,’ Kendall said.
Lindsay nodded. ‘We’ve got enough food to feed an army.’
‘Thanks,’ he said. He patted his tummy. ‘I never say no to food.’
Dana smoothed her hand along the line of her hair. ‘Thanks, Kendall. I think that went great.’
Kendall clicked off her microphone. Her smile was quick and easy but she didn’t like Dana. She would not have personally covered this event if she didn’t admire Lindsay so much. ‘Wonderful job, Dana.’
Dana spotted someone across the room and smiled. ‘I see Adam Alderson. Would you two excuse me?’ Without waiting for an answer, she moved into the crowd.
Kendall’s smile turned genuine. ‘You’ve got yourself a winner here, Lindsay.’
Lindsay grinned and stared around the room proudly. ‘I think I do.’
Kendall dropped her voice a fraction. ‘So how did you snag Dana Miller? I thought she was done with you after last summer.’ Dana had been the board chair of Lindsay’s domestic abuse center. When the Guardian killings had been linked to Lindsay, Dana had fired Lindsay and completely distanced herself from her.
‘Off the record?’
‘Of course,’ she said honestly.
‘She came to me. She wanted to fund a project like this one. I said no at first. Zack was the one who talked me into it. You don’t always have to like the people you do business with. And this center is going to help a lot of people.’ Lindsay smiled and waved to someone. ‘So how are you doing?’
‘Never better.’ That wasn’t true. Sleep was becoming a distant memory, and the lingering questions about her adoption and her birth mother chewed at her almost constantly now. There’d been no more answers since she’d spoken to Jenny a couple of days ago. But the old woman had promised to search her attic and see if there was anything that might help.
A camera lens flashed and Kendall looked up. Nicole was snapping pictures. Lindsay frowned as she watched her very pregnant friend move across the room. ‘I wish she’d put her feet up and rest.’
Kendall shook her head. ‘I have visions of delivering that baby in the back of a taxi as we race to the hospital. But she shows no sign of slowing down.’
‘Has she made a decision about the adoption?’
‘No.’ Kendall sighed. ‘I hear her rattling around the house a lot at night. She’s narrowed it down to a couple of families but can’t choose.’
Lindsay stared at Kendall with a critical eye. ‘I know what’s keeping Nicole awake. What’s keeping you up?’
‘I sleep like the dead.’
‘I can see the dark circles under your makeup.’
Kendall resisted the urge to check her makeup in the compact in her purse. ‘Don’t worry about me. I’ve never been better.’
A rush of movement by the main entrance caught Kendall’s eye. Ever curious, she turned to see Lindsay’s husband, Zack, appear and seconds behind him Jacob Warwick.
Lindsay’s face softened when she saw her husband and a blush warmed her cheeks. Her face reflected her deep love for the man.
Kendall felt something quite different when her gaze settled on Jacob. Sharp sexual desire shot through her. Her heart beat faster.
Lindsay’s gaze shifted back to Kendall and then followed her distracted friend’s line of vision to Jacob. She grinned. ‘Down, girl.’
David Ayden didn’t like functions like this, even if the cause was the Women’s Center. He understood their place in the world of politics but in his mind they were a waste of time. He had two unsolved murders and yet he and two of his best detectives were making small talk. All the leads on the two women had dried up. They’d learned a great deal and yet nothing that linked the women or could lead them to a killer.
Ayden downed the last of his seltzer and lime and set it down on the bar. He checked his watch. He’d been there twenty minutes. Another ten and he could excuse himself, knowing he had covered his political bases.
These were the times he missed his wife the most. Julie had loved people and she’d loved to talk. She’d never met a stranger. She’d have been in her element in an event like this. A pang of loneliness had his temper rising.
‘You look like you just swallowed glass.’ The familiar feminine voice had him turning and, despite his foul mood, smiling.
‘Nicole Piper,’ he said.
She was wearing a loose peasant top that hugged her round belly and covered the top of faded jeans. Her dark hair curled into soft waves and framed her delicately round face. She wore only a hint of makeup, but it was enough to accentuate her eyes and her full lips. Damn, but he was glad to see her.
‘Detective Ayden.’
The title reminded him that he was at least a decade older than she was. ‘David.’
Color rose in her cheeks. ‘David. So are you here to celebrate the big opening?’
He was glad now that he’d come. ‘It’s a big day for Zack and Lindsay. I wouldn’t have made the time for anyone else.’
Her gaze softened as if she understood. ‘This place is all she’s talked about for weeks.’
‘Zack has done his share of talking about it as well.’ David wanted to say something clever to her – something to make her laugh. ‘Take any good pictures?’ He groaned inwardly at the lame question.
Nicole glanced down at her camera. ‘I did take a great one of Zack and Lindsay.’ She switched the display to VIEW and flipped through several pictures before she found the one she liked. She leaned toward him and turned the screen so he could see it. This close he could smell her perfume. Soft. Delicate. And yet she was one of the strongest people he knew.
He gave himself a mental shake and stared at the picture. Immediately, he was impressed. It was a great shot. Not your typical grinning faces. Instead, Lindsay was smiling at someone off camera and Zack was staring at her as if she meant the world to him. In one shot, Nicole had captured the essence of their relationship.
‘You’re a very talented photographer.’
Color rose in her cheeks. ‘Thanks.’
Since Julie’s death he’d not given much thought to finding someone else. Friends had arranged a few blind dates, but no one had sparked his interest like Nicole. She was an artist. Ten or twelve years his junior. And very pregnant. She’d have been the last person he or anyone else would have chosen for himself. And yet it was all he could do not to grin like a fool. His son Caleb had been right. He liked her.
Before he could come up with something else to say, Dana came up to them. He resented the intrusion and then felt foolish. Nicole wasn’t his.
Dana shook his hand. Her grip was firm. Despite her smile, her gaze was cold and accessing. ‘Sergeant Ayden. Enjoying the party?’
He raised his glass to his lips and then remembered the glass was empty. ‘It’s great.’
‘I’m glad you’re having a good time.’ Dana turned her attention to Nicole.
He sensed a shift in Dana’s energy. Accessing turned to something akin to hunger. Hadn’t Nicole said the woman gave her the creeps?
‘Nicole, you look wonderful,’ Dana said.
Nicole smiled, but he saw the tension behind her eyes. ‘Thank you.’
David shifted his stance so that he was a fraction closer to Nicole. ‘You should be very proud of yourself, Ms Miller. This is a great project.’
Dana beamed. ‘I’m very proud of it.’
Small talk was bullshit as far as he was concerned. But somewhere deep in his memory he heard Julie say, Play nice. Someone across the room called Dana’s name. She nodded, squeezed Nicole’s hand, and then said her good-byes.
Nicole’s stance relaxed when she left.
‘What’s going on?’ David said. No sense mincing words. Tension radiated between the two women.
Nicole looked up at him. He expected her to deny any trouble. Instead, she was silent for a moment. ‘She hasn’t really done anything that should worry me.’
‘But …’
She dropped her voice a notch and leaned into him like Julie used to when they were at parties. ‘It’s just that it’s something about the way she looks at me. The way she always mentions the baby.’
His gaze flickered to her stomach. ‘You are very pregnant.’
Her hands trembled a little as she fiddled with a button on her camera. ‘Yeah, but it just feels like more than that.’
He didn’t like seeing the worry in her eyes. ‘She made any threats?’
‘None.’ She smiled almost apologetically. ‘I think the hormones are just making me a little nuts.’
David smiled but his concern didn’t ease. The brain had a way of processing threats on an unconscious level. People called it intuition or a sixth sense.
Someone like Dana wouldn’t make a threat outright. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t planning something.
He dug his card and a pen from his breast pocket. He scrawled his cell number on the card. ‘This is my private number. I want you to call me if you even get a whiff of trouble from her.’
She accepted the card. ‘I didn’t mean for you to take up my cause. I can handle Dana.’
‘Why go it alone if you don’t have to? Everyone can use a wingman from time to time.’
She seemed relieved as she flicked the edge of his card with her fingertip. ‘Thanks.’
Lindsay came over to them and wrapped her arm around Nicole. ‘David, can I steal Nicole from you for a minute? I need a couple of shots taken.’
David didn’t want to see Nicole go. For the first time since he’d arrived he was actually enjoying himself. ‘Sure.’
Nicole smiled up at him. ‘Thanks. I enjoyed seeing you again.’
‘Me too.’
He watched her walk away. The weight of the baby made her lumber only slightly. She moved with a grace and confidence he found very appealing. Life had thrown her a ton of crap but she was rising above it.
He glanced across the room at Dana. The woman’s gaze was locked on Nicole as Nicole raised her camera toward a group of city dignitaries. There was no denying that the woman had something on her mind. And he’d bet the farm it wasn’t good.
He resolved then to check into Dana Miller’s past and to keep an eye on her.
He didn’t question his need to protect Nicole. He simply would.
Jacob’s gut twisted into a knot the instant he saw Kendall Shaw. As always, she looked sleek, sophisticated, and in command of the situation. She wore a pale blue dress that hugged her full breasts, narrow waist, and delicately curved hips. Her spiked heels conjured erotic thoughts well worth savoring.
He spent the first ten minutes at the Women’s Center pretending to listen and care about the conversations buzzing around him. He managed to sling good-natured bullshit of his own, but his thoughts remained on Kendall.
‘That rose has got nasty thorns.’ The gruff comment, loud enough for only Jacob to hear, had him turning.
The man standing in front of him was in his late forties. Jim Mundey was with the city of Richmond police. They served different jurisdictions but often worked together on cases that crossed city and county lines. Jim was medium height, wore wire-rimmed glasses, and had thick graying hair and a paunch that strained the seams of his dress uniform.
Jacob sipped his water, knowing Jim referred to Kendall. ‘I have no doubt.’
‘But she is fun to look at. Damn. Those legs are to die for.’
‘Be careful; this might get back to your wife.’
‘A man might not be able to go into the bakery but he can still smell the bread.’ Jim sipped an iced soda. ‘So you gonna make a play for her?’
‘I’d rather take a beating in the ring.’
Jim laughed. ‘It might be worth a black eye to tap that.’
They’d talked like this about women before. But knowing the woman was Kendall bothered Jacob this time. ‘Sure.’
‘She had a bit of excitement at her house the other night. The queen dropped a dime on her neighbor.’
He kept his expression blank but his senses went on alert. ‘What happened?’
‘Seems her new neighbor was taking out his trash as she arrived home around midnight. He got too close and she called nine-one-one.’
Jacob frowned. ‘Was he trouble?’
‘Naw. We checked his license. He’d just moved into the house and was tossing packing boxes.’
Kendall wasn’t a faint heart and it wasn’t like her to get spooked so easily. She must have been paying attention to him when he’d told her the victims looked like her. Good.
‘You remember his name?’
‘Markham, I think.’
‘Do me a favor,’ Jacob said. ‘Run a thorough check on the guy. Couldn’t hurt.’
Jim shrugged. ‘Yeah, sure.’
The two talked for a few more minutes about department crap and then Jim moved back toward the food table.
Jacob stayed his ground, turning his attention back to Kendall. When the group she was chatting with moved away and she was alone, he strode toward her. He came up behind her, savoring the energy that radiated from her. ‘Break any stories today, Kendall?’
She turned at the sound of his voice. Even in her three-inch heels she had to look up at him. Her grin was slow and lazy. ‘Catch any bad guys today, Detective?’
‘The day is young.’ This close he could see that under expertly applied makeup there were dark circles under her eyes. She hadn’t been sleeping well.
‘When are you gonna ID the second murder victim?’
‘Got to notify next of kin first.’ Plus, the less information circulating now, the better.
‘Any more leads?’
He sipped his ice water, unhappy with the turn of the conversation. ‘It’s always business with you.’
‘What else is there?’
Jacob could think of several things as his gaze flickered very briefly to her breasts. Hell, if she gave the nod, he’d take her to bed in an instant. Just the thought was making him hard.
‘My cameraman is here. Let me interview you about the murders.’
‘Nope.’ He liked sparring with her. Her eyes sparked when she was pissed.
‘Why not? We can have tape rolling in thirty seconds. You can just share a few thoughts, theories.’
He sipped his water. ‘No.’
‘You could challenge the killer. Try to lure him out.’
‘That kind of stunt could just get another woman killed. Is that what you’re looking for?’
She frowned, clearly offended. ‘No. Why would you say that?’
He shrugged. ‘You’re jonesing for a headline.’
She faced him head-on. ‘I care about what happened to those women.’
A smile played on his lips. ‘Yeah, right.’
From behind the anger, genuine hurt flickered. ‘You don’t know anything about my motives.’
‘I’ve watched you in action before. You take stupid chances.’
Her face tightened. ‘At least I don’t hesitate to do my job.’
Her barb hit its mark. Last summer when he’d seen the Guardian serial killer holding a gun to Nicole’s head, he’d hesitated, unable to fire. Zack hadn’t and had killed the Guardian with one shot. But how had she known? Zack or Lindsay wouldn’t have talked.
He didn’t always like Kendall, but he respected the fact she wasn’t afraid to take a swing when backed into a corner. ‘The jugular is your favorite spot, isn’t it?’
Some of the wind left her sails. ‘It’s what I do best.’
Kendall took a step back and her gaze scanned the room. He felt her mentally disengage, as if he’d been dismissed, even before Nicole Piper approached them.
‘Hey, Nicole,’ Kendall said. ‘Everything all right?’
Nicole’s face looked pale. ‘I’m headed out. My back is killing me. See you back at the fort.’
Kendall’s features softened. ‘Will do.’
When Nicole had left, Jacob couldn’t resist asking, ‘She’s your roommate?’
‘For the last few months.’ Ice coated the words.
That’s how she knew about the final confrontation. ‘I wouldn’t have put you two together.’
She shrugged a slim shoulder. ‘Wondering what’s in it for me?’
‘Frankly, yeah.’
‘I have a huge house and Nicole needed a place to land until the baby was born. End of story.’
‘You’re not angling to write a tell-all book about the Guardian?’ He studied the dark circles under her eyes. ‘Is writing the book what’s keeping you up at night?’
The statement had her straightening. ‘There is no book.’
He believed her. Had no reason to, but did. ‘So why the dark circles? They weren’t there last week.’
She touched her cheek with her fingertips and then quickly dropped them. She tossed him a killer smile and cracked, ‘No, Detective, it’s dreams about you that are keeping me up.’
He laughed, but the image sent a bolt of desire ricocheting through him. He’d like to keep her up at night. ‘So what has been keeping you up?’
Her face paled. ‘Suddenly, this room is too full and the sounds are too loud for me. I’ve got what I needed, so I’m headed out.’
He’d struck a nerve so sensitive it was driving her off. Before he could say anything else, she left his side and cut through the crowds to Lindsay. She said a quick good-bye and shrugged on her coat.
Jacob set his drink down and followed Kendall. What the hell had he said? Outside, the cool air felt good on his hot skin. He caught up to her easily.
‘Where’s your car?’
‘I can find my own car, Detective.’
He fell in step beside her. ‘What did I say in there?’
High heels clicked on pavement. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘I said something that rattled you.’
‘I’m just bored.’
‘That why you took direct aim at me?’
She sighed. ‘That was uncalled for. I’m sorry.’
Kendall crossed the street to a small pay-as-you-go parking lot. Her car was sleek. Black. Top of the line. Very Kendall. And a far cry from the beat-up, mud-splattered SUV he drove.
Jacob watched as she dug her keys from her purse and clicked open the lock. Her hands trembled slightly. ‘What’s keeping you up at night, Kendall?’
‘I told you, dreams of you.’ She laced the words with tartness.
‘Cut the crap. What is it?’
She fumbled with the keys and couldn’t seem to find the right one. She stopped, sighed. ‘Dreams, okay? Bad dreams.’
‘About last summer?’ His voice was tense.
She turned and met his gaze. ‘No.’ Some of the fire had left her. ‘The dreams go back to when I was a small child.’
Oddly, he felt relief. ‘Tell me.’
Defiance sparked in her eyes. ‘Why? Why would you care about something like that?’
Kendall held on to her emotion and control with a white-knuckle grip. Like him. ‘Just tell me.’
For a moment, she was silent as she searched his eyes. Trust did not come easily for her. ‘I’m in a closet. I hear a woman screaming and a baby crying. I have no idea who these people are or what’s going on. But the damn dream wakes me up almost nightly now.’
‘What about family? Friends of your parents? They might help.’
‘I’ve no one.’
She was alone. Like the other victims. Like him.
‘What about a therapist? A hypnotist?’
Kendall shook her head. ‘It’s not that serious. It’ll work itself out.’
He glanced around to make sure no one lingered close. ‘I know a doctor. She’s not bad. Erica Christopher.’
‘I don’t need a doctor. A solid eight hours of sleep will fix everything.’
So stubborn. ‘Just remember the name.’
‘Right. Sure.’
A slight breeze blew the hair back from her face. The street sounds faded. He didn’t even feel the cold.
She stared up at him. Her lips looked soft. No doubt tasted sweet. He wanted to take her right here, right now, and fulfill the fantasies he’d harbored so long for her.
He leaned toward her. She stood frozen, staring up at him. He wanted to kiss her. And he sensed she wanted him to. His body thrummed with desire.
Jacob reached out to brush her hair from her shoulder. He angled his head ready to kiss her when a passing car horn honked. The noise startled her and she pulled back as far away from him as she could manage.
‘I’ve got to go,’ she said. ‘Do you mind?’
The sharpness in her voice annoyed him, reminded him of a queen speaking to one of her minions. He’d been dismissed. The jab inside moments ago had stung but this rejection hurt.
Jacob stepped back to give her a wide berth. He slid his hands into his pockets.
Her hands still trembled. ‘Good-bye, Detective.’
‘Sure.’
Kendall got into the car, started the engine, and drove off a little too fast.
He stood in the chilly parking lot as the wind tunneled between the buildings toward him. The scent of her perfume still lingered. Jim Mundey was right. She had too many thorns.
‘Shit, Jacob,’ he mumbled to himself. ‘Stop wanting what you can’t have.’
Nicole fumbled with her house keys, her fingers stiff from the cold. The porch light cast a ring of light down on her. She wanted nothing more than to take a hot shower and crawl into bed. It was only six in the evening but she was exhausted. The baby weighed heavily in her belly and her back ached. Thank God she had no evening appointments.
Behind her in the darkness a cat screeched and a trash can tumbled over. She whirled around and peered into the darkness. There was nothing. The houses across the alley were lighted up, including the upstairs bedroom of their newest neighbor.
Relaxing, she unlocked the back door and pushed into the house. She was greeted by the scent of sawdust. The contractor. Todd. She’d forgotten all about him. She sighed, hoping he was gone and she had the place to herself this evening.
She hung up her coat in the closet. The coats inside had been covered with plastic, and she realized Todd had taken the precaution to protect the clothes from the dust when he’d been sanding. His attention to detail was impressive.
‘Hello? Is anyone here?’
No answer. She moved down the back hallway to the kitchen. The floor had been sanded and the dust wiped from the walls and swept up from the floor. The walls had been patched and primed and were ready for the new cabinets. She checked the date on her watch. They were supposed to arrive today. No doubt he’d hit a snag, an all too common occurrence with renovations.
She only hoped Todd had left for the day and she could get some much-needed quiet time. A cup of tea in the microwave and a few cookies and she’d be off to her room to finish a book on photography she’d checked out from the library.
Nicole opened the refrigerator and dug out a tea bag from a plastic bin. Since the renovations she’d taken to keeping a clean mug in the refrigerator as well. It was the one place she could count on to find one. From the sink in the hallway bathroom, she filled up her mug and then went back to the kitchen, where the microwave sat on a chair and was plugged into the outlet.
When she hit the two-minute button and the machine started to hum, she felt a sense of accomplishment. ‘Commando cooking.’
Barely thirty seconds had ticked off when the front doorbell rang. She was half tempted not to answer it. But immediately she felt guilty. What if it was Kendall and she’d forgotten her key?
Cupping her hand under her belly, she moved down the center hallway to the front door. She clicked on the light and peered out the vertical window that ran by the door. Dana Miller.
Nicole groaned. What the devil does she want?
Dana waved to her.
There was no ignoring her. Nicole unlatched the chain lock and opened the door. She managed a smile. ‘Dana.’
Dana hugged her fur coat under her chin. ‘Nicole. I was hoping I’d catch you in. You left the party before I had a chance to talk to you again.’
Nicole shivered against the cold. ‘Was there a problem with the pictures I delivered to your office?’
‘No, no. They were fine. Can I come in?’
All she wanted was her tea and a quiet evening. ‘Now is not really a good time.’
‘Oh, I won’t take long. Just give me five minutes. We need to talk.’
‘Can’t it wait?’
Dana inched toward the threshold. No wasn’t a word she liked. ‘I promise to be quick. You’re not going to let me stand out here and freeze?’
Nicole stepped to the side and Dana hurried past her into the foyer. Nicole closed the door. ‘What can I do for you?’
Dana rubbed her manicured hands together. ‘You look great.’
Her back ached. Impatience crept into her tone. ‘Thanks. Dana, can you make this quick? It’s been a long day.’
She frowned. ‘You work much too hard. It can’t be good for you or the baby.’
Nicole’s hand slid protectively to her belly. ‘We’re fine.’
Dana’s gaze traveled the foyer. ‘Elegant. Smart. Very Kendall.’
Nicole didn’t want to be rude. ‘She’s got an eye for style.’
‘That she does.’ Her gaze skimmed a gilded mirror on the wall. ‘I didn’t realize until today that you two were roommates. How long have you been living here?’
The hairs on the back of Nicole’s neck rose. The sensation warned her to tread carefully. But she dismissed the feeling. Her senses had been on overdrive since she’d run from her husband. ‘A while. Dana, what can I do for you?’
Dana brushed a dark curl from her pale face. ‘I’ve heard you’re thinking of putting your baby up for adoption.’
Nicole stiffened. ‘Who told you that?’
Gray eyes hardened. ‘It doesn’t matter who told me. Is it true?’
‘That’s none of your business.’
She leaned an inch closer, as if they were conspirators. ‘You can tell me, Nicole. I’m very discreet.’
Nicole felt the color rise in her cheeks. ‘It’s none of your business.’
‘But it can be my business.’
‘What?’
‘I want to adopt your baby.’
A shiver ricocheted down her spine. ‘What?’
Dana held up a hand. ‘Don’t discount me before you’ve heard me speak. I’ve put a lot of thought into what I need to say.’
Nicole stared dumbfounded. What planet had this woman come from?
‘I’ve made a fortune in real estate and I’ve got a wonderful home on River Road. The baby wouldn’t lack for any material possession.’ Her smile was nervous, brittle. ‘I spent my twenties and thirties making money and getting ahead. I needed to prove to every man out there that no one could outsell me. And I did just that. But now that I’ve hit my midforties, I realize that I want more. I want a child.’
‘You can’t have one?’
‘No. I tried several rounds of in vitro last year, but none of them took. The hormone shots I took have caused premature menopause. There’s no chance now I’ll ever conceive.’
‘I’m sorry.’
Dana straightened her shoulders. ‘Don’t tell me you’re sorry. Tell me I can adopt your child.’
‘I can’t tell you that.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because if I choose to put the baby up for adoption, I want her placed with a married couple.’
Hope brightened Dana’s eyes. ‘Her? It’s a girl?’
‘Yes.’
‘A girl. I would love her and give her everything. I’ve already picked out names, if you can believe it. Elise. How do you like that name?’
Nicole felt backed into a corner. Her husband had been an expert at forcing her into corners and at making decisions for her. She’d vowed last year when she’d left him with only a couple hundred dollars in her pocket that no one would ever corner her again. ‘I want my baby to have a mother and a father.’
‘That’s silly. I can give the baby more than any couple ever could. My daughter would have my undivided attention.’ Desperation darkened her eyes.
Nicole thought about the fact that she was alone in the house with Dana, and that thought began to worry her. ‘Dana, you need to leave.’
‘But we’ve not decided anything. We need to figure out what’s best for the baby.’
Nicole’s temper rose. ‘We don’t need to do anything. This is my baby. My decision.’
‘I’m what’s best for that baby. You should see that.’
‘This is not for you to decide.’
Anger deepened the lines on Dana’s face. Whatever kindness had been there was gone. ‘I haven’t made it as far as I have by accepting no.’
This woman would be the last person on the planet to get her baby. ‘You need to leave.’
She didn’t move. ‘We need to talk this through. You aren’t seeing clearly right now.’ She drew in a deep breath. ‘It’s the hormones, isn’t it? I’ve heard they can make pregnant women a little unreasonable.’
Nicole’s patience vanished. ‘I’ve never been more certain of anything.’ She brushed past Dana and opened the front door. Cold hair rushed into the foyer. ‘You need to leave.’
Dana shook her head. ‘You’re making a mistake, Nicole.’
‘No, I’m not.’
‘The baby needs me.’
She set her jaw. ‘You will never adopt this baby. Now leave.’
Dana grabbed Nicole’s wrist, her hold tight to the point of bruising. ‘Close the door.’
Nicole glanced out the front door and down the long concrete steps. She jerked her arm free and stepped out on the front porch.
Dana followed. ‘Get back inside.’
Nicole thought about her cell phone, which was in her coat pocket in the closet. She glanced up and down the street. A few streetlights burned but there wasn’t another person in sight. What was she going to do? ‘Leave me alone, Dana, or I’m calling the police.’
‘Don’t be so dramatic.’ She looked smug.
Nicole edged toward the first step and glanced down the seven concrete steps. She could barely walk, but now knew she might have to run to get away from Dana.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway behind them. ‘There a problem here?’
Nicole glanced into the house and saw the silhouette of a man. ‘Todd?’
Todd moved out onto the front porch to stand within inches of Dana. He towered over her and his hands were clenched as if he was ready for a brawl. He kept his gaze on Dana. ‘There a problem, Nicole?’
Dana had the good sense to step back. ‘There’s no problem. Nicole and I were just having a talk.’
Todd reached around Dana and took Nicole’s elbow in his hand. He gently tugged her around Dana so that she stood behind him. ‘You shouldn’t be out in the cold. It’s not good for the baby.’
Nicole’s breath puffed from her nostrils. ‘I should get back inside.’
Todd glared at Dana. ‘You were finished talking, weren’t you?’
‘Yes,’ Nicole said.
Dana’s eyes narrowed. ‘Maybe we can talk another time, Nicole.’
‘I’ve said all I need to say. Stay away from me.’
Dana looked as if she’d argue, but when her gaze tipped to Todd’s face she held her comment. She turned and walked down the steps, her high heels clicking. She crossed the street and slid behind the wheel of a deep blue Mercedes.
Nicole didn’t release her breath until the car’s taillights vanished around the corner. ‘Thank you, Todd.’
He guided her inside and closed the front door.
‘No problem.’
The foyer’s warmth warmed her chilled skin. Now that Dana was gone her mind sharpened. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I forgot my toolbox. Left it in the kitchen.’
She nodded. ‘I saw it.’
‘I used the key Ms Shaw gave me and let myself in. I figured I’d be in and out before anyone knew it. I heard that lady’s voice. It sounded odd.’
‘More than odd.’
‘Anything I can do?’
‘No. I’m fine now.’ She turned and locked the front door’s dead bolt and for extra measure slipped the chain in place.
‘You sure I can’t do anything for you? I could call Ms Shaw.’
She smiled, grateful good guys still existed. ‘No, no. Please don’t bother her. I’m fine. Really.’
‘Well, all right. I’ll just get my toolbox then and head on home.’
‘I’m glad you came by.’
He nodded knowingly. ‘That lady is part barracuda. You be sure to stay clear of her.’
‘I will.’
His smile was quick and genuine. ‘Get yourself to bed. You look beat.’
She followed him to the kitchen. ‘That sounds like a perfect plan.’
He picked up his toolbox and opened the back door. ‘Sorry about the cabinets. The supplier was delayed. They’ll be in tomorrow.’
‘Sure.’
‘Good night to you.’
‘See you tomorrow.’
‘You can count on it.’
He left and she double locked this door as well. She shut off the hall light. The microwave in the kitchen dinged, a reminder that her tea was waiting. She opened the microwave door. The tea was lukewarm now. And she realized she no longer had a taste for it.
Nicole poured the tea down the bathroom sink and rinsed out the mug before replacing it in the refrigerator. Then she headed down the hallway and went up the stairs. The top step creaked, as it always did. But tonight it sent a chill down her spine. She glanced over her shoulder toward the long vertical windows by the front door, searching for any signs that Dana had returned.
Her heart hammered and instinct had her cupping her belly. No one was there. ‘Dana is gone.’
But deep in her gut she had the feeling that Dana wasn’t finished with her. Dana was the kind of woman who didn’t stop until she had exactly what she wanted.
And what she wanted was Nicole’s child.