ChasingShadows (26 page)

It was hell worrying about Lisette and the things that
bastard was doing to her. Add to that the thought of the kidnapper touching
Juliana. Fists tightening, his knuckles knotted white. If he could reverse
time, he’d trade reuniting with Juliana for keeping her and Lisette safe.

Once he found Juliana, he’d never let her go—even if he had
to handcuff her to his bed. He vowed to bring her back. No matter what. And to
convince her they were meant to be together. No matter what.

He had twelve long years to make up for and a lifetime to
love her the way she deserved.

* * * * *

Wednesday, August 16

Juliana jerked upright, awake and unsure of her whereabouts.
A few seconds passed before she remembered her plight. A consuming heaviness
anchored her to the bed. But with firm determination, she shrugged off the
feelings. She wouldn’t yield yet. Not while her body contained a teaspoon of
breath and certainly not while Lisette needed her.

She had worked out a couple plans of action during the night
while she lay listening to the house settling. The lack of a window or city
streets outside made for a quiet night, but didn’t serve to buck up her fraught
nerves.

Languid with exhaustion, she climbed down from the bunk and
sat on the edge of the bottom bed, watching Lisette sleep. Juliana
finger-combed her tousled hair and proceeded to re-braid it as best she could.

Would Alex and I have a daughter as beautiful as Lisette?
The unexpected thought shook her soul.

Would she get out alive to have a life with Alex? Would he want
her? Were her dreams just fantasies? No! She refused to think negatively. If
she continued believing in a life with Alex, she’d make it through the ordeal.
She wanted him with an intensity she couldn’t deny. He awakened her and
fulfilled her entirely. Her soul was only half-alive without him. It was
useless to deny her feelings any longer.

Lisette whimpered in her sleep. Juliana reached over to push
the knotted hair from the girl’s face. Lisette’s eyes flew open, round with
fear before recognition brightened the familiar azure gaze.

“It’s okay, honey,” Juliana murmured.

“You’re still here,” Lisette whispered, a smile crinkling
the corners of her mouth.

“Of course.” Juliana rubbed Lisette’s arm tenderly. “I said
I would stay with you.”

“Will Uncle Alex find us today?” Lisette climbed out from
under the covers, her bunny clutched in her arms. She sat next to Juliana as if
they were lifelong friends.

“I hope so.” The clean jeans and yellow T-shirt Lisette wore
reassured her. At least Nicholas was taking care of her. ”Would you like me to
fix your hair?”

“Can you braid it like yours?” Lisette smiled shyly, as if
she’d asked for the moon.

Juliana nodded. “You’ll look like a princess with your hair
braided.”

Just as she finished tying Lisette’s braid with a strip of
cloth, the lock on the door clicked. She pulled Lisette onto her lap and hugged
her close.

Nicholas lightly kicked the door open, balancing a tray of
cereal, milk and coffee. “I see you’re making friends.”

The rich aroma of steaming coffee filled the stuffy bedroom.
Sweet, heavenly coffee. Juliana would even dare to drink the ambrosia straight
black. How considerate of the bastard.

He held the tray toward Juliana without moving from the
doorway. “Bathroom breaks. You first, Lisette.”

Juliana looked into his deep blue eyes. Her suspicions
panned out. He wore colored contact lenses.

“Juliana, come with me.” Lisette turned plaintive eyes on
her.

She hated to deny Lisette, but she wanted a moment alone
with Nicholas. “I’ll be right here. Be a brave girl and go by yourself.” She
set the breakfast tray on the dresser. “Okay?”

Jasmine materialized behind Nicholas, grabbed Lisette’s arm
with a talon-like hand and tugged her into the hallway.

Time to set Plan A into action
. Juliana watched
Nicholas guardedly while he waited for Lisette to return.

She colored her voice in neutral shades, despite the rainbow
of emotions inside. “Nicholas, let Jasmine drive Lisette into town and release
her. You can keep me as your hostage. I’ll do whatever you want. But let her
go.”

Nicholas leaned his shoulder into the doorframe and crossed
his arms and ankles. He studied her face, a slow smile stretching across his.
“I don’t think so. You two make for a more enticing payday together.”

Juliana twisted her filigree ring round and round on her
finger. “You’re going to ask for more money?”

“You’re a package deal now.” His eyes twinkled, his smile
widened to a grin. “Plus, I’m sure you have plenty of money from your father’s
estate to pay Chamber back several times over.”

Juliana blinked rapidly, stunned, unable to hide her
surprise or pull her jaw off the floor.

“Your father was well-known.” Nicholas uncrossed his ankles,
reached behind his back and drew his gun. “Anyone dabbling in the high-tech
world knows of your connection.”

Juliana gripped a bedpost, the pine solid beneath her palm.
Thinking fast, she said, “Then take both of us into town. I’ll get you the
money. You can leave us and go your merry way.” Her mind was a crazy blend of
hope and fear.

“How will you raise six million in cash in one shot?”
Nicholas rubbed the gun’s barrel, then slid it into the back waistband of his
pants.

Juliana barely resisted staring at his crotch, the last
place she saw him rub the gun. Disgust twisted inside her, and she averted her
gaze.

Six million? Juliana gave a small shrug. “I have a safety
deposit box with bearer bonds worth five million dollars. It’s yours if you let
us both go. Today. Alive.”

Intrigue flickered in his eyes before distrust shadowed
them.

She did have bearer bonds—eight million dollars’ worth. She
gave her father’s financial planner a lot of credit. Bearer bonds transferred
from one person to another without the necessity for formal transfers of
ownership.

The bonds meant nothing to her. She never wanted her
father’s money. She’d always wondered why he left his entire estate to her. As
if money could replace love or the years she’d lost.

What was Nicholas Hastings’ goal? What did the Chambers ever
do to him? What was he replacing with the money?

He narrowed his eyes. “I’ll have to think on your tempting
proposal.”

Juliana dug her nails deeper into the bedpost while she
pressed her final point. “It’s the only way you’ll escape without police
involvement, and you know it.”

“Shh,” he said when Jasmine and Lisette stepped into the
hallway. “Your turn. Keep the door open.”

What did he think she would do? Tunnel out of the bedroom
with the bar of soap? Or write SOS on the nonexistent window with toothpaste?
The bathroom didn’t even have a window. Maybe the perv simply liked watching.

As she eased by, he moved closer, almost pinning her to the
doorframe. His fingers brushed across her cheek. She cringed inwardly before he
eased back and she slipped past.

* * * * *

The phone’s loud ringing woke Alex as the stars dissolved in
a gray cloudless dawn.

He leaped out of bed and snatched the cordless in one
flowing motion. “MacKenzie.” His deep voice rasped with sleep, and his mouth
felt like it was lined with chalk dust.

Shock iced his spine as Sterling’s words sunk in. He threw
the phone on the disheveled bed, and stomped on the clothes strewn across the
floor to reach the door. “James!”

“What the—” James groaned as he stumbled out of his bedroom
across the hall, knuckling his eyes.

Excitement and adrenaline fully revived Alex. “We traced the
Jaguar purchase to the Chambers’ address.”

“No shit?” Awe widened James’ eyes and reduced his mouth to
a grim line. “Who was it?”

“We’ll find out. Someone paid cash for the car. The DMV
papers were mailed to the mansion in Samantha’s name.”

* * * * *

Grantham Chamber joined Alex and James in the den.

“You’re out early, MacKenzie, O’Malley.” Grantham, dressed
for a business day, looked fresh despite the hour.

The smell of whiskey-laced coffee hung about the room,
turning Alex’s stomach.

With no attempt at pretenses, he asked, “Who is Nicholas
Hastings?”

Nonplussed, Grantham replied, “I’m not familiar with the
name.”

“How about your wife? Where is she?” Alex strode toward the
door. “Never mind. I’ll find her myself.”

“MacKenzie! Stop right there.”

“Get your wife. Now!” Alex halted in the doorway, his back
to Grantham, eyes drawn to the wide staircase.

The sight of Samantha Chamber slumped at the bottom of the
curved stairwell, heaving with sobs, riveted him.

Grantham pushed past Alex and hurried to his wife. “Samantha,
take control of yourself. What is the meaning of this?” He crouched down and
shook her shoulders roughly.

Her bleary eyes caught Alex’s gaze. He recognized sorrow in
them—and unmistakable guilt.

Alex asked softly, “Who is Nicholas Hastings?”

“Samantha.” Grantham released his wife, looming over her.
“Tell me you don’t know whom they’re referring to.”

“No. I can’t hide it any longer.” She clutched her stomach
with one hand and buried her face in the other. “It’s tearing me apart.”

“Pray tell me what you’re referring to. Is he one of your
Hastings relatives?”

Defeat on Samantha’s face confirmed one of Alex’s
suspicions. Hastings was Samantha’s mother’s maiden name.

Alex crossed the room and stood before Grantham. The man’s
arrogant face was impenetrable. He waited, watching the scene unfold and reveal
the evidence.

Samantha’s sobs subsided as she shoved at Grantham. “It’s
your fault, Grant. If you hadn’t run him off, he wouldn’t have resorted to—”
Her eyes glinted with anger and loathing.

“Resorted to what?” Grantham’s eyes narrowed as he looked at
his wife. “Samantha!” He gripped her shoulder with a claw-like hand. “Speak to
me.”

“Who. Is. He?” Alex asked once more.

“It’s Grant. Our oldest son.” Samantha turned a confused
face toward Alex. “Nicholas is his middle name. Hastings is my mother’s maiden
name.” She heaved a loaded sigh. “Tell me what he’s done.”

Alex carried little compassion for Samantha. “He’s the
kidnapper.” A glacial chill entered his voice. “We think he’s also holding
Juliana Westwood.”

The color drained from Samantha’s face. She grasped the
carved-wood banister as if to keep from falling. “No, no, no. You’re wrong.
Grant’s incapable—”

James stopped a distraught Bremley from entering the room.
“Who’s wrong?” James interjected sarcastically, scowling at Bremley’s attempt
to push past him.

“Impossible. The kidnapper can’t be Grant.” Samantha stared
at Alex in a daze.

Grantham sagged on the stairs, leaning his head against the
newel post. His face was slack, his complexion ashen. “Who’s Juliana?”

Alex stood immobile, his legs spread impatiently, and folded
his arms across his chest. “The psychic working the case.”

James crossed the room, glaring at Grantham. “We have proof
your son’s implicated.”

“Right now, we need his address,” Alex demanded. “Where does
he live?”

“He lives in Monte Carlo.” Grantham spoke in a faraway
voice.

“No, he lives in San Jose.” Alex stepped toward Samantha’s
sitting room. He halted and flung a glance over his shoulder. “He’s been
fucking Jasmine in your guest house while befriending Lisette.”

Samantha’s hand flew to her heart. “Oh God. He warned me
he’d take drastic measures against the corporation if I didn’t give him more
money. But kidnapping?”

“Money? You’ve been giving him money?” The “m” word
sprinkled life back into Grantham. His back stiffened as he swung his head
toward Samantha.

She straightened and glared at him. “You did this to him,
Grant! He hates us because of you.” Her tears stopped, and her eyes hardened
into diamonds.

Grant looked defeated, and he slumped again against the
banister. “What did you give him?”

“My trust fund.” She turned away. “I bought him a car and
recently gave him a million dollars.” Samantha walked to Alex, arms clutched
across her breasts. “I thought it would tide him over for a while until I could
figure out what to do.”

“Do you have his address?” Alex asked.

Her strong, familiar perfume caused bile to rise in his
throat. Honeysuckle. He recoiled inwardly as a puzzle piece tumbled into place.
Juliana knew that Nicholas hated honeysuckle from her vision. He swallowed
hard, not dragging his gaze off Samantha.

“Alex, tell me you won’t hurt him.” She reached a hand out
toward him, but he stepped back. “Please,” Samantha pleaded.

Alex couldn’t promise her that. Nor could he promise her
they wouldn’t charge her with conspiracy. “Give me his address.”

“He bought a house in the Almaden Valley,” she replied.
“It’s on several acres of land. I think I have the street name.” Samantha
brushed past Alex into the sitting room.

The cloying honeysuckle scent enveloped Alex, and he
breathed through his mouth to avoid the stench.

Alex and James followed her into the room. James pulled out
his notepad while Alex gripped his cell phone.

“He bought the house six months ago.” She leafed through a
leather day planner. “He was going to straighten out his life. Quit gambling
and make amends with his father. I assumed he was taking his time and I didn’t
pressure him.” She stopped scanning on a week in February.

“Here it is. Lochhaven Drive. It’s a ranch house on five acres
of fruit orchards.”

James wrote down the information while Alex paced the floor
in quick, short steps, itching to hit the road.

Samantha grasped Alex’s arm, stopping him mid-stride. “Alex,
please bring back my granddaughter.”