In the Flesh

by Rita Herron

  She couldn’t lose him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The next few hours were the longest of Jenny’s life. She rode in the ambulance with Raul, clutching his hand as they transported him to the hospital. As soon as they arrived, the staff whisked him into surgery, then treated the abrasions on her wrists and ankles.

  Detective Keegan and Captain Black approached her as she sat in the waiting room huddled in a blanket.

  Keegan handed her a cup of coffee which she cradled in her hands, sipping slowly and hoping her stomach could tolerate the caffeine.

  “Did you hear yet?” she asked.

  Keegan shook his head. “He’ll make it, Dr. Madden. Raul’s one of the toughest men I know.”

  She nodded, praying he was right. Captain Black sat down beside her, his expression grave. “We have everything we need to nail Brainard for a long time. Blood on the floor in Machete’s house was Judy Benson’s, and Brainard’s prints were all over the house. A splinter under her finger was traced to the paint Martin used. And the tapes of the crimes show him in action. We also found tapes of the girls in their homes, and the stash of underwear he bought to use on the victims along with the trophy pieces he took.”

  Jenny gasped, then met his gaze and saw the truth in his eyes. “You found hidden cameras in my house?”

  He nodded. “I’m sorry. But it appears Brainard was the long-lost son of Ralph Martin. Martin let him come during the day and help with the painting. That gave him access to your house.”

  “Ralph had worked for the other girls?”

  Again, he nodded. “There’s more, Jenny. I don’t know if Raul had a chance to tell you but we have your brother in custody.”

  “What?” Her heart sank, worry piling upon guilt and fear for Raul.

  He explained that Bailey had visited her mother and caught Dr. Zovall in the act of trying to drug her and had pulled a knife. “We arrested Zovall. He admitted that he broke into your place and tried to strangle you because he was afraid you’d find out what he’d done to your mother and expose him.”

  Jenny’s breath caught. “Is Mom all right?”

  “Your mother is fine. Bailey saved her.”

  “Are you pressing charges against Bailey?”

  Black folded his hands. “No, but he was pretty upset.”

  “He needs a drug treatment program,” Jenny agreed. “And some serious counseling.”

  “I’m sure you’ll see that he gets it.”

  Yes, she would do everything she could for her mother and brother, but the next few months wouldn’t be easy.

  The surgeon appeared in the doorway. “We’re finished with Detective Cortez. He’s in recovery now.”

  “How is he?” Captain Black asked.

  “He’ll be sore and need some rest, but he’ll make it.”

  Jenny finally released the breath she’d been holding.

  “Can we see him?”

  “For just a moment.”

  Jenny glanced at Keegan and the captain, but they motioned for her to go in. Her stomach fluttered as she entered the recovery area, tears threatening at the sight of the bandage on Raul’s abdomen and the sickly pallor of his skin.

  His eyes flickered open, and he tried to move his hand as if to reach for her. She went to him, grasped it between her own and the tears fell.

  “I’m so sorry, Raul, I was so worried about you,” she cried. “It was all my fault, Felix Brainard killed those women because of me. And he almost killed you, too.”

  He squeezed her hand and shook his head. “Don’t, Jenny. Not your fault.”

  But it was her fault, she thought silently. Raul had blamed the other doctor for his wife’s death, and now he’d almost lost his life because of her. Because of the job she’d insisted was her way of helping people. But she’d helped no one, only brought pain and death into her life as well as to four innocent girls.

  She didn’t know how she could ever forgive herself.

  NIGHT HAD FALLEN when Raul finally awakened, and he wondered at the time. How long had he been here? Hours? Days?

  He checked his watch and realized it had been two days. Two days since Jenny had been by his side.

  It felt like forever. He remembered her taking his hand in the recovery room, the agony and guilt in her voice. By now she must know he’d arrested Bailey and Dr. Zovall, and he wanted to explain his reasoning.

  He had to see her. Tell her the truth. Assure her he loved her and convince her that none of this was her fault.

  Jenny had the sweetest soul of anyone on earth, and he needed her.

  He shoved off the covers, wincing at the pain in his abdomen, then yanked the IV from his arm. Suddenly the door opened, and Bailey Madden walked in, his hands shoved in the pockets of his faded baggy jeans.

  Raul braced himself for whatever the boy had to say. “What are you doing here, Bailey?”

  “I came to talk to you, to apologize,” he said in a low voice.

  Raul leaned back against the pillows. “I figured you were still pissed.”

  “I was,” he admitted. “But I had time to calm down in that cell.”

  “That was the point,” Raul said. “I don’t blame you for attacking that doctor. He deserved it.”

  Bailey’s gaze shot to his.

  “I’m not condoning your behavior, kid. I think you’ve had a lot dumped on you and you need help.”

  Bailey’s expression turned contrite. “That’s why I came. I just saw Jenny and told her I’m checking myself into a treatment program. I’m going to try my damnedest to clean up my act and make something of myself. Someone she can be proud of.”

  “That’s good,” Raul said. “You can be anything you want, you just have to work at it.”

  Bailey didn’t look quite convinced, but at least he was on the right path.

  “I heard you saved my sister’s life.”

  Raul shrugged. “I was doing my job.”

  Bailey arched a brow. The kid had gotten a haircut and shaved, almost looked decent.

  “It’s more than that,” Bailey said. “There’s something going on between you two, isn’t there?”

  He refused to lie. “I’m in love with your sister, Bailey. I don’t know how she feels, but I want to keep seeing her.”

  “Have you told Jenny?”

  He shook his head. “No, she hasn’t been back.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed. “I need to see her though, tonight.”

  Bailey grinned. “You need a ride?”

  Raul nodded. “Just let me find some damn clothes.”

  His stitches pulled as he threw off the hospital gown and tugged on the T-shirt.

  Raul fumbled with the jeans but managed to pull them on. Forgoing socks, he shoved his feet into his shoes and shuffled toward the door.

  He staggered slightly, and Bailey helped him sneak past the personnel, down the hall, to the elevator and to his car. The bumpy ride further agitated the ache in his gut, and he clutched his abdomen, hoping he didn’t rip the stitches. He didn’t want to show up bloody on Jenny’s doorstep.

  A few minutes later Bailey pulled up in front of Jenny’s. Night was falling, and lights burned brightly throughout Jenny’s house. Black had visited Raul in the hospital and told him that he’d informed Jenny about the cameras. Every time he thought about the man violating her, he wished he’d killed Brainard and left him in a puddle of his own filthy blood.

  “Well, I’d better get going,” Bailey said. “I gotta check in tonight.”

  “Good luck, Bailey.” Raul extended his hand and Jenny’s brother shook it. “If I can help you in any way, just call.”

  Emotions clouded the young man’s eyes, and he thanked him, then drove away.

  Holding his hand to his bandaged wound, Raul forced his feet to move up the drive, then the steps to the porch. Hoping she didn’t turn him away, he punched the bell.

  One ring. Two. Three. Finally he heard footsteps. He saw her check the peephole, and noted the sign for the ala
rm system on the door. Thank God. He should have insisted she install one from the beginning. Hell, he should have installed one for her.

  The door squeaked open and he sucked in a deep breath.

  “Raul?” Her voice was a bare whisper in the balmy air. “Is it really you?”

  “Yes, honey, it’s me. In the flesh.”

  Tears spilled over, and she chewed her bottom lip. “What are you doing out of the hospital? You shouldn’t be up.”

  “I had to see you,” he said gruffly when all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms. “Can I come in?”

  Uncertainty and pain registered on her pretty face, but she gestured for him to enter. He followed her to the den, and she ordered him to sit down, but he insisted she sit, too.

  “I can’t believe you came, after all I put you through,” she said in a tortured whisper.

  “Jenny, stop.” He clutched her hands between his own.

  “When you didn’t come back, I thought you might be upset with me. That you didn’t want to see me anymore.”

  “I couldn’t face you,” she said, pain in her eyes. “You were right about me, about my job. Those women died because of me.”

  “No,” he said emphatically. “They died because of a sick man, Jenny.”

  “One I was supposed to help.”

  “Ahh, honey, you tried. But a very smart lady once told me that we save some but we can’t save them all. We’re all human, so cut yourself some slack.”

  Her body trembled, then her gaze met his.

  “I wanted to explain about Bailey,” he said gruffly. “The reason I locked him up that night.”

  “You thought he was the Strangler?”

  He shook his head. “No…well, we found links to MySpace accounts that were traced to the other victims. We assumed Bailey had that account, since it was tied to your computer. Now we know that Brainard set up the account when he gained access to your house through his father.”

  Her cheeks colored with bitterness. “When he installed cameras in my house to watch me.”

  He gulped back his own mixture of anger and disgust. “Yes.”

  She nodded, then angled her head away with a shudder. “How many people have viewed those tapes, Raul?”

  “No one,” he said emphatically. “I gave the CSI team strict orders when I discovered them that I was the only one to see them.”

  She lifted her head, a mixture of emotions in her eyes. “I don’t want them to get out.”

  “I promise you that they won’t. We don’t have to show them in order to convict Brainard. I’ll destroy them myself.”

  Her chin quivered. “Thank you, Raul.”

  She started to stand as if to dismiss him. To send him away. He couldn’t allow that. “Don’t thank me,” he said gruffly. “I don’t want anyone else seeing my wife naked but me.”

  Her luminous eyes flickered in surprise. “What?”

  “I love you, Jenny.” His voice cracked as he pulled her back down beside him. “Do you have any idea how terrified I was when you were missing? I thought I’d die from fear. Kept imagining what he might be doing to you, and I wanted to rip his throat apart with my bare hands.” His blood pressure was spiking. “I can’t lose you, honey.” He lifted her hands and kissed them. “I won’t. I need you.”

  “But so much happened. I’m a mess, Raul. So is my family.” She gestured around the house. “I’m not even sure I want to stay here. I was so excited about renovating this place, but knowing the man who helped fix it up was the father of the Strangler, knowing that he watched me here…I’m not sure it’ll ever feel like home.”

  “We’ll do whatever you want about the house. Live here, buy another one, it doesn’t matter to me where we are, as long as we’re together.”

  “Raul…”

  “Shh. I’m not rushing you. Take all the time you need, Jenny. We can figure things out together.” His voice thickened with emotions. “Just let me be with you. Don’t shut me out.” He tilted her chin up with his thumb. “I want to be in your life. Forever.”

  A small flicker of a smile teased her beautiful eyes. “I don’t know what I’m going to do about my job, either,” she said softly.

  His jaw tightened. He’d have to support any decision she made if she was going to be his wife. But, God, the thought of another sicko fixating on her terrified him.

  “I don’t think I can keep doing what I’ve been doing,” she admitted on a sigh.

  He cupped her face in his hands. “Jenny, don’t leave your job because you think you failed Brainard. You’re a wonderful doctor and you’ve helped a lot of people.”

  She nodded slowly. “Maybe, but I want to take some time off for my mom and brother, and for myself. And I’m thinking that when I return, I may try working with young people. Maybe I can reach them before they get so screwed up.” She hesitated, then cleared her throat, determination in her voice when she spoke again. “I don’t want to live the rest of my life with my family in danger because of my patients.”

  His breath whooshed out. He hoped that family included him. “I can’t say as I’m not relieved. I thought I might have to turn in my badge and become your permanent bodyguard.”

  A glint sparkled in her eyes. “You could still be my permanent bodyguard.”

  He grinned and leaned toward her, cradling her face between his hands. “Does that mean you’ll marry me? Be my wife?”

  She pressed a kiss to his lips, the sweetest moment he’d ever known. “Yes. Your wife, your lover, your friend.” Then she pulled away and looked into his face, tears glittering on her lashes. “And the mother of your children, if you want.”

  His heart burst with happiness and a deep love for this woman. He would always love his first wife, but she would want him to go on, to love again.

  He wiggled his eyebrows, took her hands in his. “Maybe we should start practicing now.”

  She laughed, a whimsical sound that was so beautiful it sounded like wind chimes. “But you’re injured, Raul.”

  “I know and I need some TLC.” He pulled her to her feet and led her toward the stairs. “You’ll just have to be gentle with me tonight, not that animal that you usually are.”

  She laughed again, and he knew they were going to be all right, that he had found his soul mate and the love of his life.

  Epilogue

  Six Months Later

  The wedding vows had been exchanged along with the rings, and the reception was winding down.

  Jenny’s mother wrapped her into a warm hug. “I love you so much, sweetheart. I’m so proud that you’ve found a wonderful man to love.”

  “And I’m so proud to have you here with me, Mom.” Tears threatened again, but she blinked them back. She and her mother and Bailey had shared a lot of heartfelt emotions and tears over the past few months. But both her mother and Bailey had made tremendous progress. Bailey had committed to his drug treatment program and, because of Raul’s influence, had enrolled in school again. He’d even talked about becoming a policeman like Raul one day.

  Guitar music drifted through the reception room, and she smiled, grateful Raul’s family had made it to the wedding. Raul loped up, grinning from ear to ear. He’d been catching up with his boisterous loving family who had welcomed her with open arms.

  “Are you about ready to leave, Mrs. Cortez?”

  She nodded, tucked her arm in his, and they ran through the crowd to a limo Raul had rented to drive them to their honeymoon suite. The next day they’d fly to Hawaii for a week where they planned to do nothing but relax on the beach all day and make love all night.

  As soon as they got in the hotel suite, they tore off each other’s clothes and made frenzied love. She sighed and rolled over into his arms. She’d never get tired of loving him, of looking at him.

  “Happy?” he asked.

  She grinned and traced a finger over his chest. “Yes. I have my family back, and you’ve made me happier than I ever thought I could be.”

  “I love
you, Jenny. I always will.”

  “I love you, too.”

  He kissed her thoroughly and Jenny held him close, still afraid she’d lose him, that her life was too good to be true.

  “We forgot about the champagne,” he murmured against her ear. “Want a toast now?”

  He started to reach for the bottle on the nightstand but she caught his arm. “I’d better not, Raul. It’s not good for the baby.”

  His dark eyes widened, and moisture glistened in his eyes. “Baby?”

  She laid her hand against his cheek. “It’s not too soon, is it?”

  He cleared his throat, worked his mouth side to side as if struggling for words, yet his eyes reflected emotions. “Before…I thought I didn’t deserve to be a father…”

  Her heart clenched, and she placed his hand on her belly. “You do, Raul. And I want to give you a baby, for us to have a big family of our own.”

  He kissed her again, this time so tenderly that tears filled her eyes. When he pulled away, he laid his head down on her belly, and she stroked his hair.

  “I promise to be a good father,” he whispered to the child growing inside her. “And to always be around for you and your mother.”

  Jenny closed her eyes and thanked the heavens for this man. She’d finally found a man who loved her completely, one who would never leave her, and she intended to savor every moment.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-1704-5

  IN THE FLESH

  Copyright © 2008 by Rita B. Herron

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.