The Wrong Woman

by Linda Warren

  “If I find her, I’ll let you know.”

  “And I’ll use whatever means I have to track her down. I have to know what happened to Greg. He’s a good cop and I hope he’s still alive.”

  They shook hands again. “I hope so, too,” Ethan replied, but they both knew there was only a slim chance. The cop bond was too strong to admit it, though.

  AFTER LEAVING DANIEL, Ethan sat in his truck going over the information he’d learned about Boyd. His gut instinct had been right. But how did he tell Molly? With facts. He had to have concrete evidence to show her, but how could he manage that when the FBI and the Dallas police couldn’t get anything on him? He’d better think of something, he thought grimly, because Molly had to end her relationship with Boyd. No question about that.

  His next thought was to wonder what Boyd wanted with Molly. It was more than sex, he was sure of that much. But what?

  He glanced at his cell phone and saw that he had a message. He pushed the buttons to access it, and his whole body tightened as he heard her voice. “Ethan, it’s Serena. I’ve changed my mind. Please stop looking for the stripper. It doesn’t matter anymore. Send me a bill and I’ll mail you a check. I just…I just…Goodbye, Ethan.”

  He pushed the “end” button and stared off into space. What the hell did that mean? This morning she’d been so adamant about finding her. What had changed? He didn’t know, but he sensed something was wrong.

  As he started his truck, her words resounded in his head. “Goodbye, Ethan.” It was final. She didn’t intend to see him again.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  SERENA DROVE and drove. She didn’t know where she was going, barely paid attention to the streets or neighborhoods. She just kept driving. Afternoon turned into evening and darkness fell. Still she kept driving. She wouldn’t think. Didn’t dare. It was too painful.

  When she stopped, she was at the curb outside the motel where Ethan was staying. Why had she come here? She’d been driving for hours, so how had she ended up here? Had it subconsciously been her destination all along? She didn’t know, didn’t care. She rested her forehead on the steering wheel. Her skin felt clammy; her whole body felt as if she was suffering from a pain too deep to assuage. She raised her head. “Okay,” she said. “Enough.” She could deal with this. She had to pull herself together.

  Her grandmother had never before spoken or acted the way she had today. Did Gran really mean all those things? Of course not; she’d even said she didn’t. Gran was just upset and angry with Serena—still, she must’ve been harboring those feelings if they’d come out so easily. Serena knew she should’ve stayed and talked to her grandmother, but she was hurting too much to do that just yet.

  Her father’s family had wanted to raise her. She had to let herself think about that and what it meant—for her. She’d never given her father or his background much thought; asking questions about him only upset her grandparents. But now she knew she had another family out there, and apparently they’d wanted her, maybe still did. She closed her eyes, trying to sort through the rush of emotions.

  When she opened her eyes, she saw Ethan walk to his door and insert his key into the lock. As she watched his strong, sure movements, she understood exactly why she was here. She needed Ethan and the strength that was such a part of him. He was almost a stranger and she’d always been strong enough to cope with anything—even losing her grandfather and facing all his financial problems. But now…

  Serena grabbed her purse, climbed out of the car and hurried toward him. “Ethan,” she called softly.

  Her voice startled him and he turned swiftly. “Why are you always sneaking up on…” His voice trailed off when he saw her face. Her eyes were red and he could tell she’d been crying. He reached for her arm and pulled her into the room.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked once they were inside.

  She sank onto the sofa and burst into tears, hating herself for that feminine weakness.

  Ethan yanked some tissues out of a box on the nightstand and poked them into her hands. She wiped her eyes, still sobbing. He gave her a minute.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, hiccuping. “I’m not usually this weepy.”

  Ethan sat beside her. “Tell me what’s wrong,” he said calmly.

  Unable to stop herself, she told him everything—the hurt her grandmother’s words had caused her, the confusion and sense of betrayal.

  “That’s why you left the message about ending the search?”

  “No, this happened afterward.” She sniffed. “I can’t be spending money on something so silly. If I expect Gran to stop spending, then I have to stop, too.” She looked into his eyes. “I’m sorry I got you involved in this and wasted your time.”

  Any time he spent with her wasn’t wasted.

  Despite the self-control he was so proud of, he finally had to admit he wasn’t in control around Serena.

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said, clasping his hands together. “In my experience, men tend to use force when they get angry and women use words—and often say things they don’t mean. I’m sure that’s what happened with your grandmother. She was just angry at you for taking away something that’s obviously important to her—shopping. She’s probably sitting at home waiting for your call—to apologize for the awful things she said.”

  Serena shook her head. “I can’t talk to her.”

  “Sure you can.” He picked up her purse, pulled out her cell phone and placed it in her hand. “When you hear her voice, the words will come. Trust me.”

  Trust me.

  Her mouth felt dry and she really didn’t want to talk to her grandmother. But…she trusted Ethan. She punched out the number.

  It rang once and Gran’s voice came on. “Serena, is that you?”

  She glanced at Ethan. He was right; Gran was waiting for her to call. She brought her concentration to Aurora’s voice.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m so sorry, darling. Please come home so we can talk. I didn’t mean any of those things I said. I loved your mother and I love you—that’s why I raised you. No other reason.”

  Serena swallowed. “I know, Gran, but I’m…hurting right now. I need some time.”

  “Oh, Serena, I’m just a spoiled, pampered old lady and I guess it took your walking out to make me come to my senses.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I returned the clothes and I put the credit cards in your room.”

  Serena sat up straight. “You did?”

  “Yes, and I called Mr. Wylie at home and arranged a meeting with him. It’s not fair for you to handle this financial crisis alone. Whenever your grandfather mentioned money problems, I just ignored them and he made them go away. I was doing the same thing with you, but I have to stop burying my head in the sand. I have to face this. Together we’ll get through it.”

  Serena was dumbfounded. For weeks she’d been trying to get Gran to acknowledge their crisis, and now she had. Something good had come out of their confrontation. But…it wasn’t enough. She wanted more information about her mother.

  “Thanks, Gran. That makes me very happy, but…” She knew what she needed to say, but she found it difficult to actually say the words.

  “But what, darling?”

  “We need to talk about my mother. I want to know everything about her—the good and the bad.”

  A pause.

  “That’s not easy for me, Serena,” Gran eventually said.

  “I know, but I’m old enough to accept whatever happened back then.”

  Another long pause.

  “Gran,” Serena prompted.

  “You may not like what you hear.”

  “That’s okay,” Serena assured her. “I want the truth. No more secrets.”

  “Okay, darling. Just come home.”

  Serena looked over at Ethan, who sat staring at his hands. “I will, Gran, but first I need some time to figure things out. Don’t worry, though. I’ll be back.”

  “I love you, Ser
ena,” Gran said.

  “Love you, too,” Serena replied. “I’ll be home soon.”

  Serena hung up and gave him a wobbly grin.

  “Feeling better?” Ethan asked.

  Her grin broadened. “Much. Gran’s sorry, just like you said she’d be, and she took all the clothes back. And she’s agreed to tell me about my mother. I’ve had this feeling that she’s been keeping something from me.”

  “Like what?”

  She tucked a stray tendril behind her ear. “That my mother may still be alive.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “It seems my mother and grandmother were always arguing, until my mother finally ran away. Maybe my grandparents pretended she was dead so they wouldn’t have to face what they’d done. My grandmother’s good at not facing reality. But that doesn’t explain how they ended up with me—unless my mother got pregnant and didn’t want a baby, so my grandparents took me. Gran said I wouldn’t like what I heard. That could be it.”

  “There’s an easy way to find out.”

  “How?”

  “Courthouse records. Your mother’s death would be recorded.”

  “Oh, Ethan, I never thought of that! Is it hard to do?”

  “No,” he answered. “A close relative can get the information or—” he smiled slightly “—a very good P.I.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “I know one of those.”

  “Do you?”

  The heat between them was building and Serena could feel its warmth. “But I can’t ask anything else of you,” she said quickly. “I’ve taken up enough of your time.”

  Ethan ignored her words. “You think the redhead at the strip club is connected to your mother?”

  “Yes.” She bit her lip. “Do you think that’s crazy?”

  “No, it could be the reason you resemble each other so much.”

  She linked her fingers together. “I’ll have to wait and talk to Gran, then I’ll know how likely that is.”

  Ethan frowned at his watch. “Damn, I’ve got to get moving.” He stood up as he spoke.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To the strip club.”

  “But, Ethan, I can’t afford to pay you.”

  “Forget the money, Serena,” he said. “I told you I wouldn’t charge for this. Besides, I have my own reasons for doing it.” He described his visit with Daniel Garrett.

  “Then the redhead could be involved in the cop’s disappearance?”

  “Yes, or at least know something about it.”

  “Let me go with you.”

  “Serena…” He sighed, not hiding his frustration.

  “Ethan—”

  “No, Serena.” He walked to his carryall and removed a T-shirt. “You can stay here for a while, but it would be best for you to go home to your grandmother tonight and talk things out.” Saying that, he went into the bathroom.

  No, she wasn’t going home. Not yet. She and Gran both needed time before dredging up the past. The stripper was here in Dallas, and the possibility that she might have a chance to see her was just too tempting. But how did she convince Ethan?

  Ethan came out wearing sneakers, a baseball cap and a T-shirt that said Dallas Cowboys.

  She studied him curiously. “Why are you dressed like that?”

  “Disguise. I don’t want the bouncer to recognize me.”

  “Oh.” Then it occurred to her. “A woman draped all over you would be a better disguise.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not gonna work. You look so much like the redhead everyone will think you’re her.”

  “Okay.” She took a stabilizing breath as her mind tripped over itself thinking of solutions. Her eyes grew bright. “I’ve got it! I’ll wear a wig—a black one.”

  He waved a hand at her black slacks and white linen top.

  She glanced down at herself. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”

  “You’re dressed like a lady, and ladies don’t go to strip clubs.”

  “For heaven’s sake, I can change that in a heartbeat. Some tight clothes and flashy jewelry will do the trick.”

  “Do you have those kinds of things with you?”

  “Of course not, but I can easily buy them.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that what you and your grandmother argued about—spending money frivolously?”

  She felt deflated by the question, but he was right. Still, there had to be some way… Since Ethan was discussing it, that must mean he was at least considering her plan. She had to persist.

  “I could get stuff at a thrift shop. It wouldn’t cost much at all.”

  “You’d wear clothes someone else has worn?” His voice was filled with skepticism.

  She wrinkled her nose. “They do wash them, don’t they?”

  His mouth twitched. “I certainly hope so.”

  “Okay, let’s do it.”

  “You assume I’m going along with this.”

  “I’m just hoping you might like my company.”

  They stared at each other. The club is dangerous. No place for a lady. She doesn’t need to get involved. Ethan said all these things to himself, but they didn’t seem to matter. Maybe it was the glow on her face or the hope in her eyes that was making him take her suggestion seriously.

  “Ethan, please?”

  Two softly spoken words, and any doubts he had vanished. They could get into the club undetected, see the redhead, find out who she was and end all this tonight.

  He pointed a finger at her. “You must do exactly as I tell you.”

  She tried to curb the excitement rising in her and failed. “Yes,” she answered earnestly. “Without question.”

  “I think I want that in writing.”

  “I promise, Ethan,” she said solemnly.

  He stared into the blue of her eyes and felt weak from the contact. “Let’s go,” he said.

  “Thank you, Ethan.” Without deliberation, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. His body stiffened and she backed away with a knowing look on her face. “I guess that’s a no-no.”

  “Yes,” he said. “Let’s keep this on a business level.”

  She started to remind him of last night and how they’d gone way beyond business, but she’d just promised to do what he told her, so she gave in without a whimper. “Okay,” she answered. “I just got a little carried away. Sorry.”

  Before he could respond, she grabbed the phone book off the nightstand. “What are you doing?”

  She flipped through the Yellow Pages. “Looking for a thrift shop that’s close to the motel.”

  Ethan heaved a sigh, glad of a moment’s reprieve. Resisting her was going to be one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. But despite any feelings he might have for Serena, he had nothing to offer a woman like her. His fate had been sealed a long time ago.

  “There’s one about three blocks from here and it closes at ten, so we’d better hurry.”

  Ethan opened the motel-room door and she slung her purse over her shoulder. He led the way to his truck, unlocked it and they both climbed in. It was a white four-door Chevy cab with a tan leather interior. He started the engine and the radio came on. A country-music station.

  “Very nice,” she said as she buckled her seat belt. “I like trucks. I used to date a guy who drove one.”

  He backed out of the parking lot. “You seemed to have dated a lot of guys.”

  “Not as many as you might think.”

  But more than he wanted to.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her reach for the knob on the radio. “What are you doing?”

  “Changing to a rock station.”

  “It stays on country.”

  “It’s not hard rock. They play Sheryl Crow, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion— people like that.”

  “It stays on country.”

  “Why do men have to be so stubborn?”

  “Let’s not get into that.”

  “You should learn to share, Ethan.”
>
  He glanced at her. “Against my better judgment, I’m letting you come with me tonight. That’s all the sharing I’m willing to do.”

  “Fine,” she snapped, yet she couldn’t help smiling. They were arguing over a radio station like two teenagers. This felt good after the day she’d had. Being with Ethan felt good, even if he was the stubbornest man she’d ever met.

  Since it was late, Ethan found a parking spot close to the thrift shop. Serena unbuckled her seat belt and noticed that he didn’t. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you’ll ask my opinion, and I don’t give opinions on women’s clothes. I hate shopping.”

  She shook her head. “Ethan Ramsey, you’re a typical male. Didn’t you ever go shopping with your wife?”

  “No, she knew how to shop all by herself.”

  Serena bit her tongue, then said, “Fine, but don’t say one word about what I buy.”

  “I won’t,” he assured her.

  She got out and slammed the door harder than necessary.

  He watched her walk into the shop, feeling a tightness in his gut. He was being testy for no reason. Well, he did have a reason. To resist Serena, he had to erect a barrier between them, and if she thought he was an insensitive jerk, then that could only help. As long as he maintained some distance between them, he would manage.

  Ten minutes later, Serena was back with a bag. “Did you get what you wanted?” he asked.

  She had the urge not to answer him, but that would be petty. “Everything except a wig, and at this hour all the shops are going to be closed. I’ll have to put some sort of color on my hair.”

  “We don’t have time for you to color your hair.”

  “Pull into that Wal-Mart.” She pointed. “I know what I’m doing.”

  Without another word Ethan did as she said. Serena collected the bag and her purse and ran into the store.

  Ethan waited and waited. Fifteen minutes, twenty, twenty-five… He kept glancing at his watch. What was taking her so long? He was about to go look for her when he saw a black-haired woman leave the store. She wore a black miniskirt and a red tank top, both very tight and revealing. Long silver earrings dangled from her ears and her dark hair was in disarray around her face. She tottered on red high heels.