Rock Harbor Series - 04 - Abomination (28 page)

Ronja bolted to her feet. “Objection, Your Honor. Hearsay, and besides, it has no bearing on this case.”

“I think I’d like to hear this,” the judge said. “I’ve heard rumors to that effect. Could one of you illuminate this court?”

Eve closed her eyes and prayed for strength. She’d known Patti would likely bring this up, but it seemed so cruel that she’d held on to a tiny glimmer of hope that her sister wouldn’t put her through this.

“Judge, if I may answer?” Nick said. When the judge nodded, he rushed on. “A serial killer targeted my wife. She barely escaped with her life and somehow managed to protect our daughter during the attack. Her injuries caused a temporary amnesia, but if you would see her with Keri, you would know her mother’s love is still intact. She is a wonderful mother, even in the face of danger and trauma.”

“You talking about this Gideon I’ve heard so much about?” the judge asked.

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“You close to finding him?”

“Closer than ever, sir,” Cyril called out.

The judge banged his gavel. “There will be no outbursts, or I’ll order the courtroom cleared.”

Rhea tugged on her husband’s arm, and he sat back down.

“What about danger to the child?” The judge closed his folder.

“We have police protection.”

Judge Haskins directed his gaze to Patti. “I’m not convinced you’re a better choice. The file says you abandoned your daughter at a day care when she was two weeks old. Just never went back to get her.”

Patti hung her head. “That’s right, Your Honor. It’s a poor choice that haunts me.”

“How do I know you won’t do it again?”

Patti lifted her head, and her eyes held a shimmer of tears. “You don’t. But I know. I’d do anything for my daughter.”

Good performance. Eve’s cynicism grew. Patti was no more ready to put Keri first than she’d ever been. She hoped the judge would see through her claims.

“I’m not going to make a decision today. I’m going to order an in-home study of both of you and wait for that report.” He banged the gavel on the desk. “Adjourned.”

Eve glanced up into Nick’s eyes. “Thanks for sticking up for me today,” she whispered. Tenderness stirred in her heart, catching her by surprise. Was it possible to learn to love this man? She’d like to believe that.

“You would have done the same for me.” He squeezed her hand.

His parents and Bree joined them at the table.

“That went well, I think,” Rhea said. She hugged Eve. “It will be okay.”

Ronja gathered her papers. “She’s right. I think you made a good impression on the judge.”

“I hope so,” Eve said.

Patti stopped at their table. “I knew he would believe me,” she said. “Why fight it, Eve? You’re just going to get hurt. The court always rules in favor of the real mother.”

“Then Eve will retain custody,” Rhea snapped. “She’s Keri’s real mother. And what century are you living in? The court strips rights away from parents all the time. Don’t think the judge bought your tearful act. He’s seen better actresses than you come through his courtroom.”

Patti flushed and ignored the older woman. She shook her finger in Eve’s face. “You can’t keep her away from me.”

“Neither of us is going to look like a prize, Patti. Have you thought of that?” Eve asked. “I’m living with friends, and you’re living at a hotel with no visible means of support. Where are you getting your money for this, anyway? The social service worker is going to ask those kinds of hard questions. You’d better be ready for them.”

Patti’s confident smile twitched. “You’d better be ready to turn my daughter over to me. I won’t be denied my rights.”

“Do you think she’d try to take Keri and run if this goes badly for her?” Eve asked, watching her sister’s stiff shoulders.

“Over my dead body,” Rhea said fiercely. She hugged Nick and Eve. “We’ve got to get going, kids. Cyril will turn around and come right back as soon as he takes me home. I hate to go, but the nursing home called about Mother. They’ve been adjusting her Alzheimer’s medication.”

Patti turned and flounced away. Rhea and Cyril followed as if they were making sure she wasn’t coming back.

22

T
HE COOL BREEZE HIT EVE’S FACE, BUT NOTHING STOPPED the burning in her cheeks. They were in danger of losing Keri because of her sin. How could she have torn her family apart for another man? What kind of person was she? Maybe she didn’t want to get her memory back—not if it meant facing all kinds of sordidness.

Holding on to the handrail, she raced down the stone steps to the water. She kicked off her shoes when she reached the shoreline and let her toes sink into the cold sand.

“Eve?” Nick’s voice came from behind her.

She turned and saw him coming across the beach. “Just leave me alone,” she told him.

He slogged through the sand to her side, stopping about four feet away with his hands in his pockets. “Eve?”

“We’re really nothing alike, are we?” Eve was just beginning to realize how different they were. “You’re the savior, the rescuer in the darkest hour. You thrive on responsibility. I love music, art, dance. Spontaneity is what I crave, and you long for regimented hours, isn’t that right?”

“I thought you couldn’t remember.”

“I don’t. But I’m not blind.” She turned her back and stared out over the water. “How can you even want to try again when I might remember my love for another man at any minute?”

“I don’t believe you’re in love with Will,” Nick said. He turned her around to face him. “You only used him to find the courage to tell me you’d had enough.” His fingers tipped her chin up.

She didn’t resist. When she tasted his minty lips, she knew her heart had never forgotten him. Her soul remembered his strength, his commitment. Her arms went around his neck, and she pressed into his embrace. Her fingers touched the rough stubble on his cheeks, then moved around to the back of his head to become entangled in his thick hair. She closed her eyes and gave herself to the kiss.

His strong arms were a safe haven, her port in the storm. Nick loved her unconditionally.

He broke the kiss, then trailed his lips across her cheeks, her eyes. “Come to the hotel with me tonight. Let’s start over.”

The tender yearning in his gaze scorched her, and she was tempted to go with him, to ignore what she’d learned about herself. But she would hate herself tomorrow if more terrible revelations were to come. She couldn’t love Nick until she knew she could trust herself. And the only way to know that was to regain her memory.

She pulled away from his embrace and ran for the safety of the house.

EVE TOSSED AND TURNED ON THE BED UNTIL THE CLOCK READ 12:05. She was never going to get any rest like this. Maybe some chamomile tea would help her relax. Gracie objected with a loud meow when she moved the kitten off her chest and got up.

Samson’s nails clicked on the wood floor as he moved to meet her outside her door. Eve rubbed his ears, then went past him down the stairs and through the silent house to the kitchen. Nick was staying at the hotel with his parents tonight. She thought her rejection had cut especially deep.

She filled the kettle and put it on the stove. Nights were the worst, when those gossamer memories teased her, flitting so briefly through her thoughts.

At the sound of the whistle, she poured the steaming water into the waiting cup. Setting the kettle onto a cool burner, she picked up her cup and started toward the living room.

The hair raised on the back of her neck. Did she hear something, a slight scratch? She should go get Kade, but she hated to wake him if a squirrel or raccoon had taken up residence on the back porch. Maybe she should call Samson from upstairs. She approached the kitchen’s rear door and listened. The only sound was the wind.

She looked at the doorknob, then backed away. What was she thinking? No way was she going to open the door and look. She turned to leave the kitchen, but something about the door bothered her, and she looked back at it. The deadbolt lever was in the wrong position. It hadn’t been locked.

She set her cup on the counter and moved to the door to lock it. She heard a whisper of movement behind her, and her danger registered. Before she could turn, an arm came around her waist and pulled her against a man’s chest. His other hand clasped her mouth and forced her head back into his neck.

“Hello, Eve. We meet again,” the man whispered. “I hope you’ve been anticipating this as much as I have.”

She couldn’t see him, but she could feel some cloth over his face where it rested against her cheek. Fear drained the strength from her limbs, moving through her legs and arms with an icy grip. She tried to scream, but nothing made it past his hand over her lips.

The arm tightened around her waist, and his thumb moved to caress her cheek. “So lovely. Your skin is the finest I’ve ever seen. So much better than the others.”

She began to struggle then. Her hands came up to tear at his arm, but she couldn’t begin to match his strength.

The arm around her waist moved higher until his hand came around her throat. “A lovely neck. Long and slim. Though we know you’re not pure, don’t we, Eve? You have to pay for your sin.”

She kicked out, kept kicking. Keri was upstairs. Her baby needed her. She would not allow this man to rip her from her daughter. She tore at his arm with renewed vigor, using her nails like talons.

He flinched and swore under his breath. “Enough. We have to go.”

Her heels dug into the flooring, but she couldn’t get any purchase, and he pulled her as though she weighed nothing. The door rattled, and the cool breeze rushed into the kitchen. Then she was on the threshold and moving out onto the porch. Even grabbing the doorjamb barely slowed her attacker’s progress.

A low growl came from the living room, then Samson ran toward them. The man swore again, and his arm relaxed a fraction as he moved to pull the door shut against the dog.

Eve secured her hold on the doorjamb and tried to lurch back into the kitchen, using her strong legs for leverage, but he ripped her fingers free. She heard him kick at the door, trying to close it as the dog’s snarls grew closer. But he was too late.

Samson barreled through the door before it latched, then leaped into the air toward them. He came at her attacker with silent intent. The force of the big dog’s leap drove Eve and Gideon against the railing. The man’s leg lashed out past her, connecting with Samson’s flank, but the dog kept on coming. His teeth bared, he sprang toward Gideon.

Gideon released her mouth and threw his arm up to protect his throat as the dog leaped onto him. Eve managed to wrench out of his other arm’s grip. She dove to the deck, letting her weight assist her.

A dark blur, dog and man, grappled beside her. Samson snarled again, and Gideon shouted hoarsely. Eve’s chest hurt, and she struggled to draw enough air into her lungs.

The dog yelped, and the sound galvanized her into action. “Samson?” She grabbed the rough railing and hauled herself up as she heard someone run across the planks. A dim shadow leaped from the porch into the yard, and she saw a man’s stooped form rush away.

“Samson?” she said again. Something squeezed in her chest. The dog had to be all right.

She heard the dog’s nails on the boards, then his fur brushed against her. Samson licked her face and whined, but Gideon had vanished. Eve peered into the dark, but the moonlight couldn’t penetrate it. He could be anywhere, behind the bushes, skulking in the well house. Samson was still barking and growling, but he pressed close to her legs as though to protect her.

“Good boy.” Her voice sounded shaky. “Let’s get inside.” Her fingers in his collar, she pulled him into the kitchen with her. She locked the door and threw the deadbolt.

She heard Bree call her name from upstairs, then the floor over her head squeaked as someone moved on it. Sinking to her knees, Eve saw a white feather on the floor and picked it up. Gideon must have dropped it. Samson came to her, and she put her arms around the dog. She thanked God he was okay.

Her eyes widened as memories of another attack assaulted her. She reeled as the onslaught of memories rushed in. Her heart strained against her ribs as terror surged through her veins.

She remembered the night he’d entered her house.

THE SCENT OF CHILI HUNG IN THE AIR. EVE STIRRED IT WITH hands still shaking from her scare and glanced at the clock. Late again. Just a half hour ago, she gave the signed divorce papers to her lawyer to give to the judge on Monday. Nick had begged for another chance in spite of everything, and she’d thrown caution to the wind and invited him for dinner.

He should have been here an hour ago. The phone rang and she grabbed it, noticing it was Nick’s cell number. “Where are you?” she demanded.

“I’m not going to make it,” he said. “I got a lead on the sniper case, and I have to follow up.”

A familiar weariness swept over her. “I see.”

“Look, don’t be mad, okay? This is important.”

She needed to tell him about the man who had followed her onto the elevator at her loft studio, who had touched her arm, then backed her into a corner for several seconds, but Nick didn’t care. Maybe she’d call Will and invite him over. He might care.

She clicked the end button on the phone without answering him. She should have been angry, but instead she was numb. Numb and broken. He’d taken all she had to give, and there was nothing left.

She bent her head and pressed her fingers against her closed lids. When she straightened and opened her eyes, the lights flickered, then went out. The room plunged into darkness. Eve’s fingers brushed the hot pot of chili. She dropped the spoon and put her burning finger to her mouth.

Nick had promised to get the house rewired, but of course he’d never gotten it done. She probably had too many things going in the kitchen. She moved through the dark house, feeling her way to the utility room. Something tripped her, a doll or a stuffed animal, and she stumbled over it and nearly fell.

A sound caught her ear. Stealthy and furtive. It made her breath catch in her tight throat.

Someone was in the house. The man who tried to grab her in the elevator? She tried to tell herself he couldn’t know where she lived. Clear out here in the country, not even a streetlight shining through the window pierced the deep darkness inside the house.