Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) (13 page)

“That was my understanding, Sir.” David’s eyes closed.

“I still don’t get why you were on that boat for two days, and why it took you so long to get that document, Lambrecht.” And apparently Pearson wouldn’t be getting it from David for a while.

But Eduardo volunteered, “It was only a few days from the time he left Everett till we left for South America. And it was the Christmas Holidays, Sir.”

Pearson looked at him with confusion.

“You know, Sir, you were on holiday.” The look got more irritated. “And the banks were closed, Sir.”

“Oh.”

Glori

After being introduced to the entire clan, Cindy and I sat at the far end of the waiting room, watching as a few at a time were invited in to David’s room. We were told he was sleeping again – too much too soon. I figured Pearson must’ve had to beat some information out of him or something. But Debbie was still in with him. She sure was persistent when it came to David.

I sliced tiny slivers from a bigger slice of cherry cheesecake on my dessert plate. “Cin, this is awesome cheesecake. I can’t believe I’m eating this, but it’s worth the calories, really. Who knew they’d have such great chefs on a military base, huh? Chefs and cobblers. Cool.”

“Glori, how can you eat at a time like this?” Cin still was worried about never going home again.

“It’s really good. Hey do you believe that girl, Cat? She’s like the most opposite a person could be from David, huh? I used to tease Debbie about being Snow White. Well, Cat is like Snow White with butterflies all around. Butterflies on steroids.”

“Oh no!” Cin was ready to cry.

I looked up from my cheesecake to see Agent Jimmy Hollinger heading right for us. I raised my voice so he could hear, “Watch out, Cin, he’s got a gun.” She put her head in her hands.

“Miss Coulson.” He nodded at me. “Miss Bainbridge.” Cindy lifted her head. “Please come with me.”

I took my cheesecake with me, and we followed him back to the same conference room where we had such fun the first time.

He had a funny look on his face as we sat down. “Miss Coulson, if you don’t like that, you don’t have to eat it. I can throw it in the trash for you.”

Cindy groaned. “She likes it. She’s just going to take the next ten years to eat it.”

“Gotta savor the calories, Cin.” I scraped another sliver, careful to get the right amount of cherry on it. He stared at me, and I hoped I was annoying him.

At last he cleared his throat so we’d know it was time to be serious. I put down the fork, so I wouldn’t take in calories unconsciously.

“The men that attacked you today are known criminals that may be linked to some nasty people we’re still looking for. There were three of them involved today, and they’re all behind bars. But General Pearson feels it best that you would stay here or would use bodyguards if you intend to leave. At least until we can get everything squared away.”

Cin was starting to lose it. “Do you know what happened to my friend, Kendra?”

“No. She’s still missing.”

“I need to call my dad.” Cin looked desperately close to tears.

Agent Hollinger produced our phones, and she didn’t waste a minute. Turns out, her dad told her the General had called him personally, and they were arranging to have guards for the entire household. Plus all her brothers, sisters-in-law, and kids would be moving back there to keep safe. Her dad told her it was probably no big deal, but Cin was pretty worried. I was wondering if that French guy could be my bodyguard. Hmmm.

***

We said our good-byes to the family, and I made sure Cindy didn’t pass up the opportunity to connect with Raphael before we left. That guy was a hunk, and a very rich hunk, to boot. He wasn’t shy either, and he immediately asked her out, when he learned we’d be leaving. As thrilled as she was, she was scared stiff she’d disappear like Kendra. So she invited Raphael to her parents’ home for dinner. He seemed happy with that. I guess with so many relatives around all the time, the guy wasn’t freaked about meeting a girl’s parents right away.

Debbie popped out of the room to say good-bye, and she seemed like a new person. I know I teased her a lot, but I really hoped David would be as interested in her when he came to.

I liked everyone we met that day and felt kind of bad we were leaving. So I made a point to connect with everyone. Then I took my leftover cheesecake in a box, and Agent Jimmy Hollinger shook his head with a faint grin, and led Cin and me out through the lobby. A black sedan careened up the driveway and stopped short.

“Nice drivin’ Dusseault.” Agent Hollinger gave the finger to the sexy French driver, and I smiled my brains out.

I heard Cindy groan. “Here we go.”

Debbie

By the time I got to be alone with David it was almost dinner time. Fortunately, my parents were preoccupied elsewhere, and I stood undisturbed by David’s bed. When we had finally been allowed to see him, David was exhausted and could barely keep his eyes open. I know he saw me, and his lip curled in that characteristic way I loved. But I so wanted to be in his arms and able to talk. From the way Dr. Earle sounded that could be a long time coming. He was in a deep sleep.

I ran my fingers through his brown hair and whispered in his ear, “I love you, David.” I watched him intently, tracing all his features, his muscular arms and hands, with my fingertips. I was concentrating on every inch of him, and how I might paint him. How I wanted to be held in those arms. I looked up to see him watching me, and he smiled.

“David!” I moved closer to his face so I could hear him, and his eyes locked on mine.

“Forgive me, Debbie.”

My heart fluttered. “Why?”

“I stole your painting. I should have asked you. I had to have it. I had to have it.” He was beginning to struggle with the words.

“It’s okay, David. You can have any painting you want.”

“Forgive…” And he was gone again.

“David!” He was sound asleep.

Nita

Eduardo and I found his little brother Paulo all by himself in a chair by some vending machines. “Hey, here you are! It’s time for dinner, pal. You’ve been writing all this time?” Eduardo picked up an unopened soft drink bottle on the chair beside him. “This yours? This stuff’s no good for you, ya know.”

Paulo grabbed unsuccessfully to take the bottle back.

“Common, pal, let’s get some dinner.” He pulled Paulo to his feet and out into the hall, keeping the soft drink just out of his reach. “This stuff’ll rot your teeth, not to mention your stomach. Hey, I listened to your CD. It was fantastic! So we’ll play it at dinner for everyone. They’ll love it.”

He swung Paulo into the conference room we used for meals, and tossed the soft drink into the trash basket at the other side of the room. “Eduardo!” Camellia frowned as the bottle flew by her.

“So let’s put on a little dinner music.” Eduardo put his brother’s CD in the player.

George Aldridge stroked his chin in contemplation. “Do you have a recording contract, son?”

Paulo shook his head.

His father replied, “No George, he’s only sixteen years old.”

Paulo looked uncomfortable. Eduardo rubbed his back. “You know, I’m so proud of you.”

It was nice to see Eduardo making an effort. But I think Paulo was still a bit too much in awe of him.

“Well, Francisco, Camellia, I think your son should meet our friend Douggy. He’s a music producer here in Los Angeles, and he works with all the very biggest stars.” George looked pleased with himself.

Marion nodded. “Yes, yes, he’s the son of our best friends. And you met Cindy today. She’s Doug’s sister. You’ve probably heard of Bud Bainbridge. He’s an actor, world famous, really. He’s won so many awards, even a couple of Oscars.”

George spoke with an air of importance. “Well, I’ll give him a call for you, and send along this CD of yours. Maybe he’ll have you come in to his studio.”

Eduardo

Nita got involved in a long conversation with Dr. Earle after dinner, and Eduardo needed some air. He found his older brother Cisco out on the deck, and they went for a walk along a brightly lit path.

“Why is David involved with this girl, Debbie?” Cisco had to start.

Eduardo tried to brush it off. “Involved? David’s screwed thousands of women in his short happy career. And he’s never been involved with one of them.”

“Well, it seems he’s involved now. That story about how she met him in the hospital – she’s wearing Maria’s ring – and with those parents of hers. Not to mention she’s the picture of innocence and virtue.”

Eduardo rubbed his weary face. “Yeah, the picture of innocence and virtue with the picture of experience – way too much experience. I guess they say opposites attract.”

Cisco shook his head. “Somehow the word ‘opposites’ seems so… inadequate. I can’t imagine. He’s slept with her?”

Eduardo smirked. “Yeah, well, he hasn’t. But he’s got it in his head he’s in love with her. Don’t ask me why. All I know is David never smiles. Even when we were kids, you know he never smiled. If something’s real funny, everyone’s rollin’ on the floor, doubled over laughing, then he just grins. So we’re traipsing through the jungles of hell, and he’s all smiles thinkin’ about her. She’s beautiful, she’s sweet, she’s an angel. I sure as hell can’t figure it.”

Eduardo felt vaguely remorseful for blabbing like this. Deep inside, he’d hoped David could finally find some peace with a good woman. Maybe Debbie would grow up to be that woman.

“Well yes, she’s sweet and beautiful, and she may be an angel, and maybe he is in love with her. But that’s an expensive ring. Never mind expensive, it’s an irreplaceable family heirloom. And he puts it on her finger after knowing her a total of a few hours?”

“You know how impulsive he can be. I didn’t understand it any more than you did. When I asked him about it, he told me he knew he was leaving California. So he got the ring out of safekeeping to take it with him. Why, I don’t know. Personally, I think he was inventing an excuse, cuz he could see I thought he was insane. So anyway, he decides the day he’s leavin’ he’s in love with her, and gives her the ring.”

Cisco opened his mouth to speak. Eduardo interrupted, “Who do I look like, Sigmund Freud?”

***

When they returned to the hospital, they settled into comfortable chairs on the deck. The evening was cool, but comfortable, and they talked at length for the first time in years.

“You know, Eduardo, Paulo really doesn’t know you. You’ve been gone three solid years, and the five years before that
—
with university and your training and everything
—
you were away from home most of the time. He was eight years old when you left. It’s going to take time to get to know each other. And Paulo
—
he’s got you and David on a pedestal. He thinks the world of you both. But he’s a little scared of you too.”

“Yeah, I know I need to make more of an effort.”

“He’s just a kid, Eduardo, and an immature one at that. He’s in his own little world most of the time. And Mama doesn’t help. She really babies him. He may be six feet tall, but he’s still a shy little boy.”

“Yeah.” Eduardo knew Cisco was right. “I’ll find a way to spend more time with him, be the big brother he deserves.

Eduardo contemplated his beer bottle. “So… you and Cat! I’m happy you two are together. I know she’s always loved you. I mean, talk about being on a pedestal. In her eyes, you and David were like gods. So I guess it really shouldn’t be any surprise you finally got together. And I wish you all the very best, you know that.” He raised his beer in a toast.

Cisco raised his bottle. “Thanks.”

“So I read about you in The Times,” Eduardo said.

“You read the London newspapers? I thought you were a drug dealer.”

“Yeah, a New York City drug dealer. I like to stay informed.”

“Ha, I thought you were out here.”

“No, David got the nice weather. I had the East coast. Which was good, actually. A couple of times I could sneak off to meet Nita in London.”

“You’re kidding.” Cisco looked shocked. “I never knew –”

“No one could know. I told her she couldn’t breathe a word to anyone, not
anyone.
I’d have been in real deep shit if she let on.”

Cisco was speechless.

“So anyway, the papers always had you dating some Lady this or that, and last I heard you were about to tie the knot with sweet Lady Jennifer Somebody. So what happened?”

Cisco recovered his voice. “Well, I just couldn’t go through with it. I realized I didn’t love her. I loved Cat. I’ve always loved Cat. As long as I can remember. So I summoned up my courage, and I planned to take her out for dinner and talk to her.”

“So what happened?” He pictured a slapstick scene. Cat and his big brother, finally getting together.