by Joan Davis
Shrugging Lela asked, “You like Honor a lot, don’t you?”
“Very much. How do you feel about that?” Gabriel asked, watching Lela closely.
“I like her too, Uncle Gabriel,” Lela said, smiling. “If you and Honor get married, where would I stay?” Lela asked.
Seeing her uncertainty, Gabriel’s heart tightened a little. “Lela, no matter what happens between me and Honor, you will always stay with me,” Gabriel said firmly. “You and I are stuck together like glue, kiddo. Got that?”
Nodding and smiling happily, Lela said, “I love you, Uncle Gabriel,” and leaned in for a kiss.
Gabriel’s heart melted and he gave her a quick kiss. “I love you, too, baby.” He drove her to school and sat watching her until she disappeared through the school doors.
*****
SAN FRANCISCO
Detective Joseph Lane walked inside the warehouse office. The furnishings were sparse with only a metal desk and two chairs on either side. The door closed behind him. “Well, Joseph, it is so good to see you again. It’s been a long time hasn’t it?” Maximus Dunn said pleasantly. Handsome was too small a word for Maximus Dunn. He looked like a Roman god with his wavy golden blond hair and David-like face. Despite being on the run, Maximus Dunn still carried a certain air about him that spoke of money and prestige.
“You asked to see me and I’m here. What is it you want from me, Maximus?” Detective Lane asked stiffly. It was still unnerving to know he was this close to a monster but unable to see his hideous nature hidden under the guise of beauty and poise.
Maximus Dunn leaned forward slightly and said with a kind voice, “Oh, come now, Joseph. I didn’t ask to see you, I ordered you to come to me, and like any good lap dog, you came to me. Isn’t that correct, Joseph?” Maximus smiled in sympathy as he sat back in his chair.
Detective Lane flushed with anger, but kept his mouth closed. He knew this man had the power to destroy everything he cared about. “I’m here, Maximus, like you ordered. Why did you want me here?” Detective Lane asked.
“Joseph, I hear that you met with a friend of mine. Well, not so much a friend as acquaintance. What did you have to say to Gabriel Ryan?” Maximus ask curiously, and tilted his head as he studied Detective Lane.
Shifting in his chair and clearing his throat, Detective Lane said, “He contacted me about Honor Weston. Said he was still digging up information on you and the child slavery business. He said he ran across her story and found out I had been the lead in the investigation. He wanted to know if there was any connection to you and your organization.”
“That’s very interesting, Joseph, and what did you tell Mr. Ryan?” Maximus asked softly.
“Of course, I told him the same thing I’ve been telling everyone for the last 13 years, that there is no way to know who took her. We were never able to identify any suspects. And other than the girl the found in the bay, no other leads, and no other connections to you or anyone else,” Detective Lane said. He was beginning to see the fraying edges to Maximus Dunn’s persona and it terrified him.
“Were you aware, Joseph, that Mr. Ryan and Miss Weston are in a budding relationship at this very moment?” Maximus asked, watching Detective Lane closely.
Shaken, Detective Lane said, “No, Ryan didn’t mention that he knew Honor personally. He just wanted to know if there was a connection to you. I convinced him there wasn’t. End of story.” He felt bile roll in his gut.
Maximus Dunn winced a little and said, “You see, Joseph, I find it difficult to believe that you wouldn’t be just a little more cautious when it comes to Miss Weston. After all, it was you who convinced me that she was no threat to me and that I should let her live all those years ago.”
Paling slightly, Detective Lane tried to reassure Maximus. “Honor Weston wasn’t a threat to you. I’ve told you how I’ve kept track of her over the years. She has no memory of what happened to her, beyond what you already know. Honor went home and got on with her life. I don’t know how she ended up with Ryan, but she still isn’t a threat to you now, Maximus.”
“I’m afraid I must disagree. From my perspective, Joseph, Honor Weston being in a relationship with the man who is largely responsible for my present situation makes her very much a liability. I’m sure you understand that it is too big a coincidence for me to ignore,” Maximus Dunn said, as a deep, cold look came over his face.
Gritting his teeth to keep the bile down, and knowing it was useless as well as dangerous to argue, Detective Lane sat back and said, “It’s your call Maximus. This is your plan, and you know best.”
The coldness disappeared and a pleasant smile returned to Maximus Dunn’s face. “There, that is what I like to see, total obedience. Very good, Joseph, it makes me so happy that I can still count on your cooperation. We are at a pivotal point in my plans, and I need to know who I can trust and who I cannot. You understand what I am saying, don’t you Joseph?”
“Yes, Maximus, I understand completely,” Detective Lane said, trying to stop an involuntary shiver from racing down his back.
“Good, well it was a nice visit we’ve had here today, don’t you think? Have a lovely afternoon, Joseph, and send my regards to your lovely wife and daughter,” Maximus Dunn said politely, and then a peculiar look came over his face. “I believe your daughter is about the same age as Honor Weston, isn’t she? Curious. Anyway, it was good to see you Joseph,” Maximus smiled, as a very pale and shaken Detective Lane left the warehouse.
*****
CHAPTER 10
Two months had passed since Honor had gone back to work. Everyone had welcomed her with open arms, but Honor didn’t let that distract her. From the moment she returned, it seemed as if she practically flew around the construction site. If she wasn’t operating one of the pieces of heavy machinery, she was volunteering to help out wherever there was a shortage of labor. After all the time she had spent on sick time, or in Atlanta, she felt like she needed to make sure no one thought she was slacking off or getting special treatment.
She spent the majority of her free time with Gabriel and Lela. They had worked out a sort of daily rhythm of visits and sleepovers, depending on Lela’s schedule. Whether it was hanging out at Sam and Risa Knight’s lake home or doing mundane home projects, Gabriel and Lela were part of the package. Honor often had to laugh at how enthusiastic Gabriel and Lela were about helping her with her home improvement projects.
She didn’t understand until she visited their condo. It was little more than a box with interior walls separating each room. Except for Lela’s bedroom, the entire place lacked any real sense of home. Gabriel explained later that before he took custody of Lela, he had traveled almost non-stop for his work. So instead of keeping a place of his own, he usually stayed with Conner, Mik or Sam when he was in town.
When he became Lela’s guardian all that changed. Because he had still been in the hospital recovering from his injuries, Conner had taken responsibility and quickly found the condo for him. Lela’s grandparents had moved Lela’s things over from her old home, and then they helped by supplying basic furnishings for the rest of the condo. After that Gabriel was too busy learning how to be a parent to Lela and making sure she felt safe and secure. Making any changes in her life had not seemed wise.
Spending time at Honor’s home was the preferable choice, and both Gabriel and Lela gladly pitched in on any projects. So far, they had mowed and cut back the overgrown backyard so Honor could assess what needed to be done with it long term. She had laughed until tears rolled down her face while watching little Lela trying to pull a huge fifty gallon garbage bag full of yard debris to the trash cans. Gabriel had finally grabbed a side and helped her, and you would have thought Lela had moved a mountain. She was so proud of herself. They replaced loose boards on the front porch and re-bricked the front steps. She and Gabriel had spent long days scraping and sanding the entire porch area before painting it to match the house. Risa’s dad, Bill Landau, had milled and installed new handrai
ls for the front steps that matched the rest of the porch’s decorative woodwork. The day they had finished work on the porch, Honor, Gabriel and Lela had sat in plastic chairs, drank icy sodas and admired their work until the sun went down.
Lela started taking lessons on the guitar, and Honor had surprised her with a beginner’s guitar that fit her smaller size. Lela taught Honor the importance of playing with Barbie dolls and how to tell a joke. Lying on the floor and coloring in beautiful line posters with baskets full of colorful markers was one of their favorite things to do. However, the best times were just sitting together talking about nothing important. Just being together was enough. Honor fell in love with Lela a little more each day.
Watching how Gabriel and Lela interacted with each other fascinated Honor. Gabriel was firm when he needed to be, but he also seemed to know when to let things slide. He spoke to Lela about her mother often and made it seem natural and loving. She would catch them in private moments and could see Lela’s absolute trust and love in Gabriel. His eyes would always light up when Lela entered the room, and Lela would beam every time it happened. Honor sometimes wondered what her life would have been like if she had had someone like Gabriel to provide that kind of stable unconditional love from the beginning.
When they could, she and Gabriel would spend private time together without distractions. Honor felt a sensual shiver go through her body at just the thought of Gabriel’s hands on her body. They were explosive together. Honor didn’t have another word to describe the intense bouts of love making that went on between them. All it took was a look from Gabriel and she was ready for him. She could do something as innocent as running her hand down his arm and Gabriel would have Honor in bed and screaming in ecstasy before she knew what was happening. They would spend all night intertwined and bringing each other pleasure until the sun came up. Many times Honor had gone to work with only a couple of hours of sleep, but she still felt energized and ready for the day.
Keeping true to their pledge to each other, they often spent long hours talking and getting to know each other. Honor told Gabriel about growing up without knowing who her father was and living with an addict for a mother. She told him about having to enter foster care after her mother overdosed, and living on the streets when it was the better choice compared to the foster home where she had been placed. She explained how Mama Leone had turned her around and saved her life.
Gabriel talked about growing up in Dalton with his sister and their parents. He had a great childhood and his parents had retired to a ranch in Wyoming, which he visited once or twice a year. He confessed that becoming a father to Lela had been the hardest thing he had ever done, and that he was afraid most of the time he was getting it all wrong. Honor could tell how important his friendships with Sam, Conner and Mik were and that they were lifelong and permanent. He didn’t talk about his work. It was the one area of his life where he became reserved and distant. It was almost as if he was somehow trying to keep a dark part of himself from her. The only thing Gabriel ever said was that he consulted for Conner and worked to provide clients with the best security possible. He also talked about his time with Special Forces, but again, it was in passing, and he never dwelled on it for very long. Honor didn’t push. There was also a darkness in her life to which she didn’t want anyone exposed.
Some of the best things in Honor’s new life were small, but so important. Mundane conversations, like where to eat, who to see, and what to do, took on a deeper quality because they both had an awareness of the other’s needs. For Honor it was a unique experience to feel this type of connection to another person. She knew that even less than a year ago she would have never thought this kind of bond was possible. This was the happiest that she had ever been, and she felt like she was moving towards something amazing.
On occasion Honor felt her heart clench with fear. She didn’t want to admit it to herself that she didn’t trust in this reality. In the back of her mind was always that negative voice. Could this all be an illusion? Was she going to be allowed to have everything she had always wanted? Could Gabriel really want to be with her forever? Could she be good for Lela? Would this all last? At times her fear overwhelmed her, but then Gabriel would kiss her or Lela would hug her and it all seemed right with the world.
It was Friday afternoon and Honor had just finished the final wipe down on a grout job for the tile of a bathroom when she got a tap on the shoulder. It was Danny Bets. “Buck wants you in the office A.S.A.P.,” Danny said.
Honor got up and threw the sponge into the water bucket. “What’s up?” she asked as she removed her knee pads and toed off the rubber boots covering her work boots. She felt gritty with grout dust and the general grime of the day covering her head to toe.
“Don’t know, Buck just said to get you up there,” Danny shrugged and headed back to work in another section of the building.
Honor swiped back some loose hair from her face with the side of her arm before heading over to the Site Office trailer. She tried to brush off some of the grout dust and residue from her clothes, but it was a useless endeavor. She used her flannel shirt to wipe her hands a bit before opening the trailer door and stepping into the office.
Buck was on the phone and going over something with another contractor. When he saw Honor he put his call on hold and held out a piece of paper to her. “You have to go pick up Lela from school, she’s sick,” he said and went back to his call.
Honor stared at Buck for a second before looking at the note. Call Mrs. Myers, Principal, Dalton Elem., Lela Timmons ill. There was a phone number, and seeing that Buck wasn’t going to be of any further help, Honor left the trailer and went out to her truck to retrieve her cell phone. She called the number and waited while it rang.
“Dalton Elementary School, how may I assist you?” a disembodied voice asked.
“Uh, I have a message here to call Principal Myers. My name is Honor Weston but . . .,” Honor said, but the voice at the other end of the line cut her off.
“I’ll connect you, one moment.” Distorted elevator music started to play.
Looking around and squinting in frustration Honor donned her sunglasses and waited.
“Ms. Weston, this is Principal Myers, thank you for calling back. We have Lela Timmons in our nurse’s office and she is a very sick little girl. We need for you to come and pick her up. How soon can you be here?” Principal Myers asked in a polite, but firm voice.
“How sick is she? Is she okay?” The thought of Lela being in pain rattled Honor’s composure.
“As I said, she is not well. You are on our approved call list in case of emergency,” Principal Myers said.
At a loss, Honor said, “Uh, I can come now, I guess, I just am a little confused at why you contacted me. Did you talk to Mr. Ryan?”
There was a sigh of impatience before Principal Myers said, “It seems that Mr. Ryan is unavailable and we tried to reach the other authorized people that Mr. Ryan has listed without success. You were just recently added to the list Ms. Weston. That is why I am calling. I trust you are on your way as we speak?”
“Uh, as we speak,” Honor answered with another wince as she got into her truck and headed towards Lela’s school.
“Good, I will expect to see you shortly,” Principal Myers said and disconnected the call.
“What do they do? Send you Principals to asshole school before letting you loose on society,” Honor muttered to herself as she stuffed her phone into her backpack. She was trying to think if Gabriel ever mentioned putting her on any list and couldn’t recall. Honor took her phone back out again and dialed Gabriel’s cell phone, but it went straight to his voicemail and the mail box was full. Frowning, Honor threw the phone on the bench seat of the truck. Her worry for Lela pushed aside her uncertainty.
*****
Gabriel was experiencing a day in hell. It started off with him dropping his phone and watching it break into a million pieces. Meetings and errands became a nightmare of stopping at convenience
stores and calling into the office from pay phones for information or scheduling. Skipping lunch was a necessity since he had lost so much time on those wasteful stops. When he realized that he had about two hours before he had to pick Lela up from school, he decided to stop at the cellular store and get a replacement phone first. That had been an hour ago and he was still waiting in line for service. Gritting his teeth and praying for patience, he listened as a store clerk once again tried to explain a data plan to a new customer. This day was never going to end.
Another half hour passed and Gabriel finally had a new phone and was listening to about a hundred messages on his Bluetooth. His attention perked up when he heard Principal Myer’s imperious voice telling him Lela was ill and he needed to pick her up from school. A few messages later he learned that Honor had been contacted and she was on her way to get Lela. Anxious to see that Lela was okay, Gabriel headed towards his condo, but he realized half way there that Honor would have no way to get inside. Damn it, why haven’t I given her a key? Gabriel thought. Wheeling into a turn lane, he executed an illegal U-turn, then made his way to one of the back roads that would eventually lead to Honor’s neighborhood.
*****
It took Honor about fifteen minutes to reach the school. She looked down at herself and sighed. I look like hell, just perfect, she thought with resignation. Trying to reach Gabriel had proved fruitless. She chastised herself. Lela was sick and needed her. She shouldn’t be worrying about herself. Honor knew making sure Lela was okay was the most important thing.
As she was getting out of her truck, a sick, but familiar feeling made goose bumps race down her body. Somebody was watching her. Trying to breathe normally, Honor didn’t turn her head, but her eyes took in the surrounding area. She glanced across the street and froze. A shiver of dread went down her spine as she spotted an enormous, black Cadillac Escalade parked against the curb. It was decked out with spinners, dark tinted windows, and a full body package. She hadn’t seen one of those since she worked in Las Vegas a few years ago. Moving slowly, Honor concentrated on getting her things together and getting out of the truck. Her legs felt like lead weights were attached, but she forced herself to keep moving. She felt eyes drilling into her back until the moment she entered the doors of the school. Once she was inside Honor leaned against a wall and took a few calming breaths. Nausea and a cold sweat swamped her. She clutched her stomach and took more deep breaths until it subsided. She didn’t dare turn to look out of the glass doors. Instead, she kept moving deeper into the school.