She was asleep.
His fear evaporated, and he nearly laughed until he saw her face. Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she’d been crying.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” he whispered.
She mumbled his name and then wrapped her arms around his neck. He cradled her as if she were a child, struggling to his feet and laying her on the bed.
“Oh, Jake!” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “My head. It hurt so bad and I couldn’t find my purse—” she broke off and began to sob in earnest.
“It’s okay, honey,” Jake soothed, shaken by her tears. He tried to joke, wanting her to feel safe now that he was here. “You always lose your purse, and your keys…”
“I wanted to call you, but I couldn’t find the number, and then I couldn’t think of what you even call that stupid thing.”
“What – the phone?” Jake asked, taken aback. This, too, was one of the effects of her head injury. Sometimes, she had to struggle to find everyday words, though she hadn’t done it often since those first days in the hospital. It never failed to chill Jake.
“How’s your head now?” he asked, stroking her hair.
“It’s not hurting, but it feels sore.”
Immediately, Jake stilled the hand in her hair and Nikki laid her head on his lap.
“I should go call Luke.”
“No, I’m okay now,” she protested. “Besides, I told him last visit about my headaches, and he seemed to think it was strange that I hadn’t been having many. He gave me a prescription—”
“I‘d still like to call him.”
“Really, I’m okay.” She managed a faint smile as she squinted up at him. “I probably just overdid myself today.”
“So I noticed,” Jake teased, deciding not to mention his close call at work. “Thought I’d walked into the wrong house for a minute.”
“It wasn’t that bad before.” She wrinkled up her nose in a way that he found adorable.
“No, but I don’t think our floors were that shiny when they were brand new. And did I smell a roast? Where did you and Darcy order it from? I know she’s a worse cook than you are.”
“Hey! I cooked it, thank you very much. I can follow a recipe.”
“Where is Darcy, anyway?”
Nikki blinked at the clock. “She went to the pharmacy for me, but she should’ve been back by now.”
Jake frowned. “I’ll call the pharmacy and see if she’s left there yet.”
He dug the phonebook out of the bedside drawer and was reaching for the phone when it rang.
“That’s probably her now.” He reached to answer it, cradling it with his shoulder as he flipped through the yellow pages.
“Hello.”
Nothing.
He was about to hang up when he heard the whir of a tape recorder, then Nikki’s voice filled his ear; the pre-Nikki, with her sultry voice preserved on tape.
Chapter 10
“Sure I’m sure!” the voice said impatiently, and Jake knew without a doubt it was Nikki. “Do you think you can get away? Jake’s had to go to Bridgeport today and he won’t be back until tomorrow. I’m all by myself, and I wish that you’d come over and keep me company. I hate being alone.”
Jake stood frozen. Squeezing his eyes shut, he could almost imagine her pretty pout as she invited her lover over to his house, to his bed.
He listened for more, but the line suddenly went dead. Still he stood there, hurt by this new evidence of her betrayal. She hadn’t sounded nervous or unsure of her decision. In fact, it was her casualness that hurt him so deeply. She sounded comfortable with this guy, as much as if she’d been speaking to him. He felt her eyes on him now, watching as he clutched the phone and said nothing.
“Who is it?” she asked.
Your boyfriend, he almost snapped, before he got his raging emotions under control. He felt an irrational anger that wasn’t so much directed at her, but at the woman she was a few weeks ago.
Before he met Nikki, he never considered himself the jealous type, but it had come, every time he saw another man staring at her, every time she noticed and enjoyed another man’s attention. Now it threatened to destroy him.
All he could think of was another man in this room, touching her, kissing her, the woman he had loved more than his own life. A man who had seduced his wife in his own bed, while Jake himself had been in blissful ignorance of what his marriage had become.
“Jake, are you okay?” she asked softly.
Jake forced himself to look at her, and then felt sorry for his burst of temper. She looked so pale and tired that all his anger melted away. Staring into her anxious green eyes, he made a decision.
No matter what this guy did or what kind of mind games he played, Jake wasn’t going to let him destroy them, which was exactly what he was trying to do. So many things had changed between him and Nikki since the accident, and all the change was for the better. He could see her love for him shining in her eyes, could feel it in her touch. They were growing closer than they’d ever been before, and he couldn’t let her slip away from him again.
“That was him,” Jake admitted and watched Nikki’s eyes widen.
“What did he say?” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
“He didn’t say anything. He played a tape recording of you inviting him over.”
“What a horrible man he must be!” she cried. “Why does he keep trying to hurt us? He’s crazy!”
Jake feared she might be right.
He replaced the phone in the cradle, a little surprised to see that he was still holding it, and crossed quickly back to her.
She flung herself in his arms, and sobbed, “Please don’t let him tear us apart. I love you and I can’t lose you!”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Jake said. “I love you, too, and as long as we hold on to that, this bastard can’t touch us.”
“Nikki, I’m back!” Darcy called from downstairs. “Where’d you go?”
“Up here,” Jake yelled.
Jake heard her footsteps on the stairs and then walked through the door.
She handed Nikki the bag and said, “Whew! Sorry it took so long. I had to wait in line forever, and then they had some problem with the prescription. They had to call Dr. Carver to straighten it out.”
Opening the bottle, Jake shook out two of the pills into his palm.
“I’m fine now, really,” Nikki protested. “I’m just tired. I think I’ll try to take a nap.”
Jake kissed her forehead and put the pills back in the bottle. “Okay, but you take them if you need them.”
Darcy accompanied him downstairs.
“I guess I’d better call Matt,” he said. “I feel like I’m running him to death, just saw him at dinner time, but he told me to call whenever something happened.”
“What? Has something else happened?” Darcy demanded.
Jake told her about the phone call and her eyebrows lifted.
“Wow, he’s getting pretty bold, huh? Calling twice in the same day.”
His head snapped around. “He’s called here before?”
Darcy dropped her eyes. “Nikki didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?” Jake demanded.
Darcy recoiled from the anger in his voice, and he made an attempt to keep his voice calm. “She was sick when I came in. What happened today?”
He watched Darcy swallow. “We have to talk, and you’re not going to like what I have to say. I feel like I’m betraying Nikki, but I won’t stand by and watch you get hurt. I answered the phone. He thought I was Nikki and begged her not to give up on him, that he was going to take care of you soon. And Nikki told me he called her at the hospital, too.”
“He did what?” Jake asked, stunned.
“Both times he implied that she knew he was planning to kill you. Both times, he acted like she would know what he was talking about, even though everyone knows she has amnesia. I hate to say this, but what if Nikki was trying to kill you?” She paused. “
What if she still is?”
“Now wait a minute—”
Darcy held up her hands in surrender. “Just hear me out. I don’t want to believe it either, but what if Elaine is right? Nikki’s so different now. Too different.”
“I don’t believe it,” Jake said stiffly, though he thought about the penicillin. Who besides Nikki and his family knew he was allergic?
“Then why didn’t she tell you? If she’s so innocent, why wouldn’t she tell you, or the sheriff? Say they’d planned to kill you and Nikki got cold feet, or maybe she wanted to end the relationship with the other man and was afraid. This amnesia thing would be the perfect cover. It’s a win-win situation. She gets to keep you and Nikki doesn’t have to confess anything she doesn’t want to confess.”
Jake flinched. “Do you, her best friend, someone who’s known her most of her life, really think she’s capable of that?”
Darcy looked at him squarely. “I guess it depends on what she stood to lose.”
Jake turned his back on her and stared out the window. He sensed Darcy stand, then she touched his shoulder.
“I’m sorry. Don’t hate me, but something is wrong here. This whole thing has me spooked and I don’t want you to end up dead.”
“I don’t believe Nikki is faking this, nor do I believe she is or was plotting to murder me.”
“You didn’t believe she’d have an affair, either,” Darcy said quietly, and then turned to leave.
Jake heard the door shut a moment later and went to program in the alarm. As he punched in the code, the doorbell rang. Thinking it was Darcy, he swung the door open wide and was surprised to find his mother-in-law standing there.
“Now is not a good time, Sara,” he said, and started to shut the door.
“Wait!” Sara said, and held up a hand to stop the door. “I’m not here to fight.”
She removed her sunglasses and her haggard appearance startled Jake. Her face, devoid of make-up, was pale and drawn. Shadowy half moons darkened the skin underneath her eyes.
“Can I see my daughter? I’m worried about her.” Sara’s eyes glittered with tears and she said, “Please, Jake, I’m begging you.”
“Nikki’s asleep.”
“Then can we talk?”
Surprised, Jake opened the door. In all the time he’d known Sara, this was a first. He followed her into the den.
Sara sat on the sofa, her hands folded primly in her lap. “I’ll get right to the point. I want to help. I’m offering my money, my resources, whatever you need.”
“The police are taking care of it.”
“Oh please. The police are chasing their tails. I’m very concerned about the reports I’ve been hearing. This man is perpetrating an almost—” She waved her hands. “—blitz attack. I’m afraid he’s going to kill you, Jake.”
Jake snorted. “Why, Sara, I didn’t know you cared.”
To Jake’s surprise, Sara smiled. “Well, I admit, you aren’t my favorite person, as I know I’m not yours, but you’ve earned a certain degree of my respect. Undeniably, you love my daughter. Undoubtedly, she loves you, too. That will have to be good enough for me.”
“Jake, are you hungry? I—”
They both started at the sound of Nikki’s voice. She froze inside the doorway when she saw Sara, and then started to turn away.
“Nicole, don’t go!” Sara jumped up from the couch. “I’m sorry. I’ve come to call a truce.”
“I’m not faking this.”
“I know. I’m sorry I accused you of that. Can we start over? I want to help you and Jake. Whatever you need, you tell me.”
The doorbell rang and Jake looked at Nikki questioningly.
“Go answer it,” she said.
He walked past her and Nikki shut the door behind him.
***
“You look tired, honey. Are you okay?”
Tears stung Nikki’s eyes as she stared at the stranger who was her mother. “No, I’m not okay! My life is falling apart and I can’t stop it.”
She turned her back to Sara, mortified by her tears. To her surprise, Sara walked up and wrapped her arms around her. “It’ll be all right, darling. I swear it will. We’ll find this man and make him pay for what he’s done. I think I’ve read most of it in the police reports, but let’s go over it and see if I’ve missed anything. I’m going to hire a private detective.”
“I don’t know what a detective could find that we haven’t already. There’s nothing in this house. My friends know nothing. Darcy says he’s older, rich and married, but that’s all she knows—”
“Darcy.” Sara’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, I saw her leaving when I came in. I wasn’t aware you two were speaking again.”
“What do you mean?”
Sara lifted her brows. “Well, the way she acted after Derek died, and then the argument you had a few weeks ago—”
“What argument? What over?”
“I don’t know. You weren’t in the habit of sharing details of your social life with me, but I know something happened. You were in a foul temper the last time you visited the house, and told me to save it when I made some comment about Jake. You told me you’d already chewed out Eliot and Darcy both that day and said you weren’t in the mood to listen to me…bitch.”
“Eliot? Jake’s step-brother Eliot?”
“That’s the only Eliot I know, but I don’t think that was anything serious. I called the night before the trip and he and his wife were over here for dinner. But Darcy, that’s a different story. You told me you were through with her.”
Nikki tried to think. Had Jake mentioned some argument she had with Darcy? That sounded familiar, but she couldn’t recall.
Pulling a pen and pad out of her purse, Sara took notes as Nikki told her about all the latest events.
Nikki heard Catherine’s laughter outside the door and the low rumble of Zeke’s voice.
“I’ll let you go to your company,” Sara said, glancing at the door. “I’m going to meet with the detective tomorrow and see what he can do.”
“Thank you,” Nikki said and Sara reached to pat her cheek.
“I do love you, Nicole. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, or trust you to make your own choices. I want to be here for you.”
Sara ducked her head, looking embarrassed at this show of emotion.
It may not be much, Nikki thought, but it’s a start.
Her mother waved at Catherine and let herself out the front door.
“You okay?” Jake asked.
“Yeah. She was nice this time.” Nikki folded her arms across her chest. “So what are you guys up to?”
“Just running the roads,” Zeke said.
Nikki found she couldn’t look at him. She glanced at Catherine and wondered if she suspected Zeke was unfaithful.
“Are you two going to the Marshall’s Winter Ball this year?” Catherine asked. “I thought Nikki and I might do a little shopping together tomorrow.”
“Ah, I don’t know—” Jake began.
“Come on, you and Nikki need a night out,” Catherine said. “It’s the biggest social event of the season.”
“Some people have more serious things to worry about than their social calendars, Catherine,” Zeke said.
Catherine shot him a hurt look and Nikki felt Jake tense beside her.
“It sounds like fun,” Nikki said brightly. “Is it fancy? I have some beautiful gowns hanging in my closet.”
Jake shook his head. “You’ll need a new one.”
“Why? The ones I have are gorgeous.” With a grin, she said. “After all, they’re all new to me.”
“Nikki, honey,” Jake said with a patient smile, “You would kill me if you got your memory back and realized I’d let you go to the biggest party of the year in last season’s gown.”
She suddenly felt a little defeated. “Am I really that shallow?”
Jake kissed her forehead and said, “As the most beautiful woman in the neighborhood, you have a certain obligation as
a trendsetter.”
Nikki laughed, pleased as much by his closeness as his words. “You’re full of bull, Jake Hawthorne, but you’re awfully sweet.”
“So we’re on for tomorrow?” Catherine asked.
“You bet.”
“I’ll pick you up around nine then. Maybe Darcy would like to come along.”
Jake opened his mouth, and then shut it again. The troubled look on his face puzzled Nikki. She meant to ask him about it, but she forgot it by the time Catherine and Zeke left.
She and Jake sat down to eat the roast. He was unusually quiet, and she couldn’t eat for thinking about the phone call.
“There’s something I have to tell you,” she blurted.
Jake never glanced up from his plate, but she saw him tense. His fork stilled and he said, “Yeah?”
“I got a phone call today—”
She hesitated. “Or really, Darcy did. It was him, Jake. He thought it was me.”
It all came out in a rush and finally Jake stared up at her. She couldn’t read the look in his eyes.
“Please don’t hate me. I was afraid to tell you. I didn’t know what was going on, and I didn’t want to lose you. Matt said it didn’t necessarily mean—”
“You told Matt?” Jake interrupted.
“Of course I did. I didn’t want to keep anything from him that might help us catch this guy. I also got a strange call at the hospital. I didn’t know what it meant at the time, but Matt said he’d check the switchboard records.”
The tense lines in Jake’s face relaxed. “It’s okay. I agree with Matt. I don’t think you had anything to do with it.”
“You’re not mad?”
“I’m not mad. I’m glad you told me.”
***
November 9
Catherine picked them up the next morning and they headed to Chattanooga. Darcy seemed subdued, but Catherine took up the slack, her cool humor often catching Nikki off-guard. She insisted they get the full treatment: manicures to makeovers.
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