by Dara Girard
Over the next several weeks, Layla had to be kept quiet during her recovery period, which wasn’t much of a problem. She was extremely weak. Due to the location of the tumor treatment, her nervous system had to be examined regularly by a CAT scan. The doctor had told Trenton that it was important to watch for any complications, one of which included problems with weakened swallowing reflexes that was sometimes caused as a result of increased pressure of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull cavity. But, in spite of all the physical therapy, Layla did not appear to want to recover too fast, she was enjoying all the attention she was getting.
Daniella spent time with Layla during the day while Trenton took over at night. Trenton bought her a printer to attach to her laptop and during the weeks she spent at Trenton’s place she’d sold six stories, and told Sophia—and her sisters—she was all right. Daniella and Trenton also followed up on her investigation, searching for Brooks’s connection with the airplane company.
Each day Trenton left early and returned home late, never willing to share how his day had been besides fine. Daniella didn’t press him for more details and he was grateful for it. Trenton had made progress in his search for Daniella’s abductors. He’d gotten to the first one, a chubby man with a fondness for expensive shoes, nicknamed “Roll,” because he was reputed to like to “roll on” any fine female that crossed his path whether by force or otherwise.
When Trenton found him getting his shoes shined, he’d been cocky and sure of himself until Trenton had yanked one of his fine shoes off his foot and, using a pocket knife, began carving into the fine leather—destroying its smooth surface and tearing at its seams. He’d never heard a man squeal so loudly.
“All right! All right!” Roll cried. Trenton had taken him around the corner from the shoe-shine stand where they couldn’t be seen. Roll stared at his shoe. “What do you want?”
“Where’s L.Z.?”
Roll’s eyes flew up, a new horror entering his face. “I didn’t say L.Z. had anything to do with it.”
“You don’t have to, I know he did.”
Roll held up his hands. “I have nothing to say against him.”
Trenton gripped the second shoe between his hands and began to fold it. “I wonder how flexible this is.”
Roll held out his hands. “Do you know how much that costs?”
Trenton narrowed his eyes. “Tell me what I want to hear and maybe I’ll start to care.”
“He’s a killer, you know.”
“I know. Where can I find him?”
Roll gave him three possible addresses and a phone number. “But you didn’t hear this from me.”
“No.” He tossed the shoe on the ground.
Roll scrambled to get it then held it up as if it were a damaged work of art.
Trenton folded his arms and leaned against one of the buildings. “I heard you have a reputation.”
Roll put on his shoe without interest. “Every man has a reputation.”
“I heard you have a reputation with the ladies. Did you try to improve that reputation with her?”
Roll’s head shot up. “Did she say anything?”
Trenton pushed himself from the wall. “Should she have?”
Roll took several steps back. “I didn’t touch her. There wasn’t time and I wasn’t there for that.”
“Never stopped you before.”
“I’ve never been convicted.”
“You know the ones to choose. The kind that don’t talk.”
Roll licked his lips. “Nothing happened. I swear.”
“Good.” Trenton lifted his hand to give him a pat on the shoulder, but stopped when Roll flinched. “You come near her again and I won’t be this nice.”
He wasn’t nice at all when he caught up with L.Z. He met him outside a pool hall and didn’t give him a chance to talk. He didn’t care what the other man had to say…at first. After getting most of his aggression out on the skinny man’s face, Trenton asked him some questions.
“Did Brooks hire you?”
L.Z. wiped the blood from his mouth and spit out a tooth. “How’s my mother doing? Oh, that’s right, you wouldn’t know. You haven’t been home.”
“How much did he give you?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about. You must have me confused with someone else.”
“She’ll recognize your voice,” Trenton said.
“She’ll be too terrified to testify.”
Yes, Trenton remembered her fear and how close to death she’d been. He knew he couldn’t kill him as much as he wanted to because right now he wasn’t going to give him the information he wanted. He’d have to try another way. A harder way. L.Z. wasn’t a healthy man and he was skinny for a reason. He’d spent most of his food money on his habit. Trenton guessed from L.Z.’s lucidity and confidence that he’d recently scored a hit and would be in need of another soon. He was going to make sure that L.Z. didn’t get it.
“You’re right,” Trenton agreed. “There’s no need to discuss this.”
“Glad you’re starting to see things my way.” L.Z. turned and seconds later he was seeing stars. Trenton bound his hands and feet just as he had done to Daniella then he drove him to a rundown motel and waited. It didn’t take long for the withdrawal symptoms to hit. The shakes, the headaches, the nausea. Soon L.Z. was pleading with him for relief. Trenton watched him writhe on the floor in agony. “Tell me what I want to know.”
L.Z. told him everything. Once he was satisfied, Trenton put him in the trunk, drove him to his dealer and dropped him off, without removing the duct tape. A couple of days later, it was reported that an unidentified man had been found dead in a parking lot, fitting L.Z.’s description. It was a suspected overdose. Trenton guessed that L.Z.’s heart, which had never been strong, hadn’t been able to take the stress he’d been under. He felt for L.Z.’s mother, but felt nothing else.
Over the weeks he’d had no trouble explaining his long days of absence, sometimes disappearing for two or three days at a time. But he had a much harder time explaining away his bruises and scars, saying they were work related.
“But what happened?” Daniella said, concerned by the bruising on his knuckles, as she rewrapped one of his hands.
“Just a work accident,” he said, trying not to wince.
“What were you doing?”
Trenton briefly saw himself pummeling L.Z.’s face. “Removing some garbage,” he said, then kissed her and took her attention off his wounds. He was glad now that she was safe. Next, he planned how he would deal with Brooks. He was glad to be able to focus on Layla’s healing and being with Daniella for several days. Caring for Layla had brought the two of them closer together.
They fed Layla, bathed her, massaged her and, as part of her recovery, hired an acupuncturist who would come in on a daily basis to give her treatments. Trenton indulged her further, by buying her a bag full of gourmet dog treats and several squeaky dog toys, her favorites.
Although she had a large collection of toys, she was like a puppy whenever Trenton brought her a new toy to add to her trophies. As she recovered, Layla’s uncoordinated movements and “drunken” gait started to improve, and she didn’t recognize or know that one lasting outcome of the tumor was that she was left with a visible limp and diminished vision in her right eye. But none of this curtailed her desire to enjoy life. As Layla continued to heal, Daniella continued to search.
“Pascal, I want you to look into a company called Sheldon Industries.”
“What am I looking for?”
“I’m not sure. Complaints, anything. Trenton said something was wrong with the plane and I believe him.”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can come up with.”
A week later Pascal called. “Your hunch was right. Sheldon Industries was bought by a huge investm
ent company three years ago. But that’s not the real issue. I looked into Dr. Brooks. His practice had a major turnaround about the same time of the court case decision. There’s definitely a link. My source also spoke to a former employee who was fired because he’d complained about possible safety regulations.”
“Great. Send me what you’ve found.”
“I will. This is a cover-up, Dani. This is fantastic material. You’ve hit on a perfect story.”
“I told you I don’t care about the story, I just want to clear Trenton’s name.”
“When you read what I’m sending you you’ll change your mind.”
He was partially right. As she read what Pascal’s investigator had sent him, the picture became clearer. Sheldon Industries was struggling and was in the process of negotiating a merger when the crash happened. Not wanting the other company to back out of the deal, they hired Dr. Brooks to forge the lab work and blame the crash on the pilot, Trenton. With him out of the way no one would look deeper and their secret was safe. Daniella relayed this to Trenton while they were at dinner that evening.
“I thought so, but we have no proof. It’s all speculative.”
“We have bank records.”
“You have a disgruntled employee, not tied to Sheldon and Brooks. It’s all in your head.”
“I know I’m right.”
“I think so, too, but we’ve got to get proof.”
Daniella glanced down when her phone rang then looked at Trenton. “It’s your father.”
Chapter 12
“Go on and answer it,” Trenton said.
“Do you want to talk to him?”
He shook his head. “No. I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t.” He left the room.
Daniella sighed then answered. “Hi, Mr. Sheppard.”
“Are you okay? I hadn’t heard from you in a few days and you’d told us you’d let us know how things went.”
“I’m fine. I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you.” She didn’t want to worry them so she decided not to mention the kidnapping. “I spoke to Dr. Brooks and his nurse and I am following up a great lead. It’s possible there was a major cover-up and Trenton was just an unfortunate victim.” She told Mr. Sheppard her suspicions.
“Great. I know people so if you let me see the lab work…”
“I will. I have a few more things to do first then I’ll get back to you. Together we’ll clear Trenton’s name.”
“Bye.”
Daniella hung up the phone and took down some notes.
Trenton returned and stood in the entryway. “You must think I’m a coward,” he said.
She laughed. “You’re the least cowardly person I know, but I think you’re wrong not to talk to him.”
“I just want to be cleared first. I want to be able to stand tall.”
“You can stand tall now. They believe in you.”
“They want to believe in me, but I have to prove…”
She took his hand, her voice tender. “You don’t have to prove anything. They love you just the way you are.”
His gaze fell. “I need time to…”
“One thing I’ve learned is that no one is promised tomorrow. What if this is your last chance to speak to your father. Would you want it to end like this?”
“He’ll ask me questions I can’t answer.”
“So?”
“The one thing I never wanted to do was disappoint him and I know that I have.”
Daniella shrugged. “So face it. It won’t go away.” She held up the phone. “Call him back.”
He rubbed his chin. “I’m going to make my mother cry.”
“Probably.”
He sighed then took the phone. “What do I say?”
“Just start with hello.”
Trenton dialed then waited. “They’re not home,” he said and started to disconnect.
Daniella snatched the phone from him. “It’s only rung twice. Give them time.” She waited with her heart pounding. Perhaps they weren’t home. She didn’t want them to miss this opportunity.
“Hello?” a deep, familiar voice said.
Her heart soared. “Hello, Mr. Sheppard. It’s Daniella again. Um…someone wants to talk to you.”
Trenton shook his head and held up his hands. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“Hold on one moment.” She pressed the phone against her chest. “You will speak to him now or I will never sleep with you again.”
He grinned. “Yes, you will.”
“Want to try me?”
His grin fell. “You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“You call that a threat?”
“Yes, now stop stalling and make your choice.”
She held out the phone.
Trenton flexed his hand then grabbed it. He held it up to his ear and closed his eyes. “Hello, Dad. Dad? Uh…yes I can wait.” Trenton sank into a chair and looked up at Daniella. “He went to get my mother.”
“Good. I’ll leave you.”
He grabbed her wrist. “No, don’t. Please.”
She sat down beside him.
“Yes, I’m still here. Uh-huh. I’m fine. I’m going to put you on speaker.”
“Can we come see you?”
“Not yet, but I hope to visit you soon.” He waited for the disappointment, the pain, the scolding but he just heard silence. “Dad?”
“The grill’s waiting when you’re ready to come home.”
* * *
“Where do you think you’re going?” Vera demanded as Emma packed her things.
“I’m leaving.”
“To go where?”
“Niagara Falls.”
“You can’t just leave me here.”
“You’ve wanted me gone a long time and I’m making that wish come true.”
“Running off with some man. You’re going to regret it.”
“I’ve been scared all my life. I’m not going to be scared anymore. I’m going to travel and meet people and help them.” She closed her suitcase, picked up two other bags and marched outside where an expensive-looking car sat in the driveway. Vera saw a man get out and take the suitcase from her daughter and place it in the trunk. Vera recognized him from the diner, but there was something different about him. He didn’t have the same melancholy air that had been over him like a dark cloud. He was a rather good-looking man, something she hadn’t noticed before. What would he want with her daughter?
“You’re going off with him?” Vera asked, although she already knew the answer.
“Yes.”
“You’re still plain. He’ll have his way with you then toss you to the side when he finds someone better.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Mrs. Clegg,” Duane said, slamming the trunk closed. “I plan to marry her.”
Vera stared at him for a long moment, not sure she’d heard him right. “Marry her?”
“Yes.”
“What for?” she scoffed. “She doesn’t have any money.”
“She’s a gem. She’s all the riches I need. Besides I don’t need money. I have enough so that I don’t have to work if I don’t want to. She won’t either. I’m going to take her to all the places I’ve been and more. I’m going to care for her and love her in a way you never could.”
Vera looked at him speechless. Emma was in just as much shock as her mother when she looked at him. “You want to marry me?”
Duane cupped her face in his hands and held it gently. “I will marry you and I will make you happy,” he said and then he kissed her. Not a quick kiss, but a deep, loving one. It was Emma’s first kiss, so initially she held her mouth closed, but slowly and expertly Duane
persuaded her lips open and sent her mind spinning. When he drew away he left her mouth burning for more.
Vera glared at the pair, jealous of their newfound love, but unwilling to admit it. She’d never thought that Emma would leave the town—or leave her. She watched the pair get into the car already looking like newlyweds, and for the first time she realized how much she’d taken her daughter for granted. How she’d always berated her, scolded her. How unkind she had been. She ran up to the car and tapped on the window.
“If you give me any grandbabies, you’ll let me know, right? Maybe I can come and visit.”
Emma smiled and for the first time Vera saw how beautiful her daughter was and how Duane’s love made her glow. “Yes, Mom, you’ll always be welcome.”
* * *
At last she had the final puzzle piece. The lab work was as the nurse suspected. It wasn’t Trenton’s blood. It couldn’t have been. She went to tell Trenton, who sat watching TV. Suddenly his image appeared on the screen with the words A Hero Wronged? “We have Pulitzer prize winning author Pascal Bordeaux who is out to right a wrong,” the anchorwoman said.
Daniella stood paralyzed, unable to process what she was seeing. All the things she’d shared with Pascal he was claiming as his own. Everything she’d sent to him—pictures, notes—he’d used to create his own story. She’d wanted to give Trenton the time to tell his own story if he wanted to, not spread out his life for all to see. There was Pascal discussing the case and all the details. How had it gotten this far? How would Trenton ever trust her again? What would his parents think? They’d all think she used them.
Trenton turned to her, stunned. “Did you know about this?”
“No, I swear. I gave him some notes, but that’s all.”
“Is this the Pascal you told me about? The one who convinced you to find me?”
“Yes, he helped me.”
“You gave him pictures from my life, my childhood, and shared intimate details?”
“Just in the beginning when I just saw you as a story, but I stopped and told him I wasn’t going to write about you. I just used his contacts to find out more about Sheldon Industries. I thought he was helping.”