Enemies and Playmates (30 page)
Read Enemies and Playmates Online
Authors: Darcia Helle
“There has to be a way around this,” Alex said. He sat on his hospital bed, his silk robe draped over matching pajamas. He’d refused to wear the generic hospital gown that countless others had worn before him. He glared at Captain James Barnes, the lone visitor in his private room. “I want him locked up.”
Barnes sat on a chair beside the bed, his legs crossed, his dark eyes fixed on Alex. While his voice remained calm and controlled, his chronically jiggling foot betrayed his nerves. He said, “My hands are tied, Alex. Ryder has a solid alibi.”
“Use your imagination,” Alex said. “Punch a few holes in the alibi.”
“I can’t. Too many people saw him at the gym and will swear to the time. One of them happens to be a cop.”
“He could have hired the shooter,” Alex said. “Look into his finances. Make something stick.”
“You think that’s what happened?”
“I’m not looking for reality. I need Ryder out of the way, his reputation and credibility destroyed. I would prefer this be done without leaving me vulnerable to an investigation. Putting Ryder behind bars has become a viable temporary solution.”
“You know I’ll do all I can.”
“Of course. Your ass is on the line here as well.”
Barnes looked down at his shoes. He said, “The investigation is moving away from Ryder.”
“Move it back,” Alex said. “I want Ryder’s picture on the news. Let the public believe he is guilty. He’ll be convicted before he stands trial.”
“And the real shooter?” Barnes asked. “If we focus the investigation on Ryder, the real shooter remains free. Anonymous. You don’t seem concerned about that.”
“You will continue a quiet parallel investigation,” Alex said. “I will do the same. Whoever did this will not remain free to roam the planet.”
Alex picked up his glass of cranberry juice. He glared at Barnes over the rim. “Frankly, I have grown weary of the irritations and incompetence surrounding me these days. I am far from alone in my vulnerability if things go wrong. Do we understand one another?”
“Absolutely,” Barnes replied.
25
“You’re not going alone,” Jesse said.
“Well you can’t come with me,” Lauren replied. “If I show up at the hospital with you, he’ll go nuts.”
Jesse paced across the living room. “I don’t care. You aren’t doing this alone.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Send a cab to pick him up.”
Lauren laughed. “Can you imagine? He’d have a fit if a cab showed up to bring him home.”
“What do you care? You don’t owe him anything.”
“I know that.”
“Then don’t go.”
“I’m not doing this for him,” Lauren said. “I’m doing it for my mom.”
“I don’t like it,” Jesse said. “I’m sure your mother would understand. Just send a cab.”
“I can’t. Besides, this will give me the opportunity to talk to him.”
“Lauren -”
“I have to, Jesse.”
Jesse collapsed on the couch beside Lauren. “You drive me insane,” he said.
“I know.”
“If you insist on going, let me come.”
“No.”
Jesse pulled Lauren on top of him. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her lips. “Let me go with you,” he murmured.
Lauren wriggled but couldn’t free herself. She laughed at her defeat and melted into his arms. “I love you but no.”
“Then I’ll just have to do things my way.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing,” Jesse said.
“I don’t want you doing anything crazy.”
“Fine.”
Lauren frowned. “Don’t give me that. What are you planning?”
“Nothing. You win. How much time have we got?”
“What?”
“What time do you have to be at the hospital?”
“About eleven. Why?”
Jesse checked his watch. He grinned and said, “It’s only nine.”
“And?”
“We’ve got time to kill.”
“I thought you had work to do,” Lauren said.
“Yeah, well…”
Lauren ran her tongue playfully along Jesse’s ear. “Promise me you won’t show up at the hospital.”
Jesse averted Lauren’s gaze. He smiled but said nothing. Lauren said, “Promise me or I may suddenly find myself pressed for time.”
“Now that’s playing dirty.”
“Promise.”
“I promise.”
Lauren slid her hand over Jesse’s bare chest. “Then I guess I’ve got a couple of hours. Any suggestions?”
“I think I can come up with a few,” he said.
Their lips met in a slow kiss, tongues exploring with a gradual build of passion. His hands traveled down to the small of her back. He pressed himself against her and she moaned softly.
She wriggled closer, enjoying the heat of his body. The feel of his hardness swelling against his jeans, against her, caused her desire to grow more urgent. His breath was hot against her neck. “I want you,” he murmured.
***
At 10:30, Lauren reluctantly got up from Jesse’s bed. As she gathered her clothing, she said, “I wish I could stay in bed with you all day.”
“Let’s do it.”
Lauren laughed. “You’re too easy.”
She pulled her sweater over her head. Jesse remained sprawled naked on the bed, watching her through sleepy eyes. “You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” he asked.
Lauren groaned. “You promised.”
“Just checking.”
Lauren went into the bathroom. She splashed water on her face and cleaned herself up, then emerged fully dressed. “I’ve got to go,” she said. “I’ll call you later.”
She leaned over to kiss him and, as she did, he pulled her onto the bed. “I still don’t like it,” Jesse said. “Be careful.”
“Don’t worry. He wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Yeah, well…”
“I know. I’ll be careful.”
“And don’t bring up my name. It’ll only piss him off.”
“Okay.”
“And don’t try to defend me if he says anything.”
Lauren kissed Jesse’s lips, then sat up. “I won’t say a word.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“Lauren…”
“Don’t worry.” Lauren did her best to smile confidently. “He’s my father. I can handle this.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Stop it.”
“Call me as soon as you drop him off.”
“Yes sir,” Lauren said. “Anything else?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
***
Alex stood by the window, dressed impeccably in a coal black suit. He had his back to Lauren. His leather travel bag and matching briefcase waited beside the hospital bed. Lauren took in the scene. For a moment she allowed herself to consider what might have been, had he been a better father. Or if the bullet had taken his life. Then she cleared her throat. “Hi, Dad,” she said.
Alex turned slowly. “I’d almost forgotten that I had a daughter.”
“Are you ready?”
“Where is your mother?”
Lauren briefly met Alex’s icy stare. “She hasn’t been feeling good,” Lauren said. “So I told her I’d pick you up.”
“She’s sick?”
“Yeah.”
“I expected her here last night,” Alex said. “She didn’t come.”
Lauren’s cheeks grew warm. She cursed her uncontrollable blush and looked away. “She’s been in bed.”
“I called. There was no answer.”
“She was probably sleeping.”
Alex glared at Lauren, a stony silence between them. Lauren resisted the urge to flee. She said, “Do I need to find a nurse, check you out?”
“It’s done.”
Lauren picked up the travel bag and briefcase, then stepped out into the hallway. They took the elevator to the lobby and walked side by side out to Lauren’s car. She popped the trunk and placed his things inside. Alex wore a scowl. Neither had said a word.
Once they’d settled into the car, a sudden claustrophobic tension threatened to swallow her up. She inhaled deeply, told herself to relax. “You look good,” she said. “How are you feeling?”
Alex watched her with appraising eyes. “I was shot and my only daughter can’t take the time to visit me. Or even call. Now suddenly she wants to know how I am?”
“Dad, let’s not start this.” Lauren stared straight ahead, determined not to let him rattle her. She pulled out onto the street, pressing harder than necessary on the gas. The sooner she got him home, the sooner she could escape him. Forever.
“So where is your mother?” Alex asked.
“I told you, she’s not feeling well.”
“Then where was she last evening?”
“Home, I suppose. Asleep.”
“And where were you?” Alex said. “I imagine you were occupied with your lover?”
Lauren stared at the traffic. She didn’t respond. Anything she said at this point would only serve to stir things up further. His mood was foul. He seemed to be looking for a fight. She needed to stay focused. Get her father home. That was her only objective.
“Ryder is a thorn in my side that I intend to have removed,” Alex said. “However, that does not explain your whereabouts or your blatant absence these past few days. Nor does it explain why your mother did not at least call me. Or, for that matter, answer the damn phone.”
Lauren slowed to a stop as the traffic light turned from yellow to red. She silently cursed the light, a string of every filthy word she could think of.
“A few people inquired about you,” Alex said. “I did not appreciate being placed in that position, having to make excuses as to why my only daughter is nowhere to be found.”
“You’ve been threatening to kill the man I love, yet you still expect me to come visit you?”
“Love?”
What was wrong with her? Why did he always manage to get the best of her, get her to say things she shouldn’t? She needed to clamp her mouth shut and keep it that way. A few more minutes and she could be rid of him.
She sighed, shook her head. “I’m not a child anymore. You can’t force me to do things your way.”
“True,” Alex said. “You are no longer a child. However, regardless of your age, you will always be expected to behave in a manner of which I approve.”
The light finally turned green. Lauren cut into the next lane and sped past a few slower cars. She wanted to lay on her horn, plow through everyone who didn’t move. She told herself to relax. She was doing this for her mother. Her mother was safe. Finally, they would both be free of this man.
“Mr. Ryder has things to learn,” Alex said. “Too bad, you know, as he had rather significant qualities. He could have gone far with me.”
“He’ll go far without you.”
“He’s a fool with no future.”
“That’s your opinion.”
“The only opinion that matters.” Alex smoothed his hair, adjusted his tie. “Now why don’t you tell me the truth about your mother.”
“I did. She’s sick. She’s in bed.”
“You’d better not be lying to me.”
“I talked to Gina.”
Alex stiffened and inhaled a sharp breath. “And?”
“She told me about the baby.”
“That girl needs to learn the value of silence.”
“You can’t force her to have an abortion,” Lauren said.
“I am not forcing her to do anything.”
“She’s carrying your baby, which is disgusting enough. But now you’re even refusing to support her through it.”
“Support her? I have no reason to believe that child is even mine.”
“You know it’s your baby.”
“That girl is a whore who seduced me.”
“Seduced you? Oh please!”
“The issue is none of your concern,” Alex said. “It will be handled and you will stay out of it. Do you understand me?”
Alex’s tone left no room for argument. Lauren fell silent. Her heart began to race as she turned onto the street she’d grown up on. At the top of the hill, her father’s prized custom-built colonial home stood out in the gray sky. Set back from the road, the hill sloping down beyond it, the place always looked serene. Looks certainly were deceiving.