Chapter Twenty-Six
The following morning David slipped out of his office.
“Hey, where are you off to?” Lanie asked as she stepped off the elevator he was about to enter.
“Oh, uh, just some research,” he lied badly.
“Uh huh,” she said with both her mind and her eyes.
“I’ll tell you about it later,” he said in almost a whisper. If he could have spoken to her directly, the way he did with Ibrahim, he would have done that. He didn’t want to freak her out just now. And he couldn’t exactly discuss his plans with her, here in the office, where any prying ears could overhear.
“All right, then,” she said, giving him a nod as if he’d just told her something important. “Good luck!”
“Thanks.” He hopped on to the next elevator before he could be waylaid by anyone else.
The rec center in Shawn’s neighborhood was quiet when David got there, just as it should have been on a weekday morning.
He wandered into a gymnasium with two basketball courts and stadium seating along three walls. Two men were playing a little one-on-one on the farther court.
The fourth wall had three doors. The two closed doors were marked “Girls” and “Boys”—clearly the locker rooms. The third door in the center was open and led to an institutional-looking hallway. David headed there to search for the main office.
There were a number of classrooms, some with desks and some with computers. The latter actually had people sitting and working inside one, and in another, a class was going on. David paused outside and listened to the instructor give directions on how to create a Microsoft Word document so the students could create their own resume. With a nod, David moved on.
All good things going on.
A sign on the wall farther down the hall pointed David toward the office. It turned out to be just next to the other entrance to the building—one David hadn’t noticed from the parking lot.
With a shake of his head at his stupidity, he opened the door and went in.
“May I help you?” a beautiful young woman said from behind the desk, situated just inside the door.
“Hi! Is there a director I could speak with?” David asked, smiling at her.
She batted thick, black eyelashes, which looked like they had no need of mascara. “Mr. Samuel Johnson is the director. Wait just a moment and I’ll see if he has a minute.” She got up from her desk, revealing very long legs and a very short skirt. Her top hadn’t done much to hide the deep brown swells of her cleavage, either.
David shook his head, wondering how many times a day the poor girl had to deal with inappropriate comments. He didn’t have long to think about her because a man’s deep voice carried out to him. “Did you get his name?”
There was silence and then a tall, strongly-built man came out of the office. “I’m Samuel Johnson, the director of this center. May I help you?” He looked like a former football star, who was doing an excellent job of keeping up his athleticism.
David held his hand out. “David Elder,” he said. “I’m here to see if you need any volunteers to work with the kids who come here.”
The man’s grip was firm. “We always need volunteers. Are you interested in teaching? Working with teens? Little ones? What are you thinking of?”
That stopped David. He hadn’t given much thought to what, exactly, he might do here. “I’m not sure. I’d like to work with teens, certainly.”
Mr. Johnson nodded. “Maybe it would help if you told me what you do, Mr. Elder. Won’t you come in?” He led the way into his office and indicated for David take one of the chairs in front of his desk.
“I’m a lawyer with the Public Defenders office,” David said as he sat in one of the chairs.
The man’s eyes widened, and his expression perked up. “Really?”
“Yes. I was most recently working with Shawn Spencer. It’s what got me thinking that I really wanted to help out more.” David paused as a warm grin covered Mr. Johnson’s face. “Do you know Shawn?”
“Of course I know Shawn. He’s a good boy.” His face fell a little. “I was very sorry to hear that he’d gotten himself into such trouble.”
“It was all a terrible mistake,” David agreed. “But he’s doing much better now. I saw him yesterday in the hospital and will be going back tomorrow with his aunt to bring him home.”
The man nodded. “That’s very good of you. I’ll make it a point to stop by and look in on him.” He jotted a note to himself on the pad of paper sitting to one side of his desk.
He then paused, interlocking his fingers together in front of him. With a heavy sigh, he said, “What I’d really like to do, Mr. Elder—”
“David, please,” David said, interrupting him.
He gave a nod. “David. What I’d really like to do is hire you. We could use a lawyer on staff, I’m sorry to say, to both help out members of the community who find themselves in sticky situations—like Shawn’s—and to teach the kids how to stay on the right side of the law. And maybe some of the adults too,” he added.
Now that was something David hadn’t even considered. “Do you have a budget from which you could pay me?” Seeing the man’s eyes widen somewhat, he quickly added, “I would love to volunteer my legal expertise, but…” he spread his hands as if to indicate that it was beyond his means to do so full time.
Mr. Johnson nodded gravely. “We have a small one, but let me look into this further. If you can work with a number of rec centers in the area, we might be able to swing something. I’ll need to speak with the other directors and perhaps with the City Council as well.” He paused. “It would be a great benefit to many people to have you here full time. Hell, even part time would be amazing. If I can convince those who hold the purse strings of this…”
“I would be more than happy to take on the role. The PD’s office doesn’t pay much. I might be able to get by with a bit less, but I do have rent to pay. I’m sure you understand,” David said, a little apologetically.
“Oh, no. I completely understand. It’s a shame they don’t fund us as well as we’d like. We were given enough for two full time staff members, myself, and Vivenne. But give me some time, and I’ll see if I can’t make something happen.” He stood up, extending his hand out again.
David took it and gave him a smile. “Thank you.”
“No, David, thank you.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Erin finished putting away the dishes from the dishwasher and ran the sponge over the pristine stainless steel countertop, removing all traces of her lunch—and herself. She had a bag of garbage next to the front door, all ready to be dropped down the trash shoot at the end of the hall, and nothing left to do but pack her own clothes and things from the bathroom.
It was so strange. She’d hated this place when she first moved in only a few weeks ago, but now she was going to be very sorry to leave it. She’d even gotten kind of used to those awful windows. With the shades pulled, she could almost forget that the sky was just steps away.
It wasn’t just that she had no idea where she was going to live once she left here. Somehow, the place had grown on her.
Erin meandered into her bedroom and started emptying her closet, carefully folding all of her good work clothes. Skirts in one pile, dress slacks in another, her good blouses in a third. She was about to start on the few dresses in her closet when she heard a knock at her door.
It was the middle of the day; that couldn’t be David. He should be at work.
She reached out with her magic and felt worry, anxiety, and a touch of fear on the other side of her door.
Whoever it was knocked a second time, only louder, to make sure she heard.
Erin took a look through the peek hole to see who was there before opening the door. “Hugh? What are you doing here?”
Hugh shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “May I come in?”
“Um, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea…” she started.
&
nbsp; “Please, Erin, I just want to talk.” He gave her the most convincing puppy dog eyes, so she relented and took a step back.
He nearly tripped over her bag of garbage. With a glance down, he stepped around it and gave it a little shove back into the doorway with his foot.
Erin followed him down the steps into the living room.
He faced her, but didn’t say anything, so she just crossed her arms and waited.
“I’m really sorry about the way we ended things the last time I was here,” he said finally. “I acted inappropriately, and I wanted to apologize.”
Erin exhaled. “I can’t believe Congressman Whitmeyer had to come to my rescue. That was beyond embarrassing,” she admitted.
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
She gave a little nod, accepting his apology. She really hadn’t believed that he was the sort to abuse people that way. She still couldn’t quite believe that he’d done it. “Were you drunk or something?”
“What? No! Er, well,” he began to backpedal a little. “I’d had a drink or two, but I wasn’t… You don’t realize how much you mean to me.”
“I think I do. I mean an entry into Congressional parties, into networking opportunities,” she said, finally speaking the blatant truth that she had somehow turned a blind eye to the whole time she and Hugh had been dating.
“No! That’s not true,” he protested very quickly—too quickly.
Erin looked at him, not believing a word he was saying. She could feel his lie.
“All right!” He threw his hands up in the air. “That was some of it but only some. Honestly, Erin. I care about you. I like you! You’re a beautiful woman, intelligent, funny…” he took a step closer, reaching out and caressing the back of his fingers against her cheek, “and sexy as hell.” His eyes gave her a knowing look. A look that said that if she just said the word he would romance her until she turned into a willing puddle of woman.
Oddly enough, his charm was working. Erin had absolutely no idea why or how, but she did feel something for this guy. Well, she reasoned with herself, she had dated him for over six months.
“Give me another chance and I promise I won’t do…” he shook his head a little helplessly, “whatever it was that upset you.”
“You mean try to manage my career?” Erin provided.
He gave a little shrug. “I just want what’s best for you, you know that. I want you to be happy.” He caressed his hand down her arm, taking her hand in his own. “Please?”
Erin could only sigh. He hadn’t been this sweet and caring in a long time. It felt good, actually. It felt really good.
Hugh was so handsome. He was smart and had the most amazing career ahead of him. He knew just how to navigate the world of politics and was honestly the best diplomat Erin had ever met.
Sadly, Erin shook her head. “I know you mean well. That you’ve always done so.”
“I do!” he interrupted.
“But I’m moving into a new stage of my life now,” Erin continued.
“What do you mean?” Hugh asked, with a confused shake of his head.
“I’ve quit my job with Congressman Whitmeyer, and I’m starting a non-profit organization.” She hadn’t yet decided how she would describe her non-profit to non-magical people, or what the front was going to be. She knew she had to come up with something quickly. It had been awkward trying to explain things to Whitmeyer too, but luckily, he’d been more concerned about himself than what Erin was going to be doing once she left his employ.
Hugh dropped her hand. “You what?”
Erin gave a little shrug.
“How could you? You’ve always said that you wanted to be a politician to help people,” Hugh said. He managed to keep the expression on his face that of a concerned friend, but inside Erin could feel he was seething with fury.
So it was only himself he was thinking of. He did only want her back so that she could help him with his own career. Quite a number of nasty words crossed through her mind, but she shoved them aside and tried to be patient.
“I do want to help people,” Erin said. “That’s why I’m starting the non-profit. But, as I told you the last time you were here, it’s not really politics I’m interested in.”
“So you just quit?”
“Yup.” She started to turn away from him. “You’ve caught me in the middle of packing, actually.”
He caught her hand to stop her. As he did so, it seemed as if a curtain dropped down in front of his emotions. One minute she could feel his anger pricking at her skin and her mind, the next there was nothing. It was the oddest thing. She turned back to face him again.
His eyes bore into hers in an oddly intense way. She would have taken a step back if he hadn’t been gripping her hand so hard. “You don’t want to do that, Erin. You don’t want to quit your job, and you most certainly don’t want to lose me.” His voice sounded funny, almost as if Erin could hear it in both her ears and her mind at the same time.
She gave a little shake of her head, as if she could dislodge his words. “But I do,” she said. She put her free hand to her head trying to dispel a sort of dizzying fog that had come over her.
“You care too much for me to make me so upset, my love.” Once again, his words echoed in her mind. They seemed to grab hold of her like a lasso of intent. “Come. Come outside with me. Tell me the truth in the sunlight so that I can see that you mean it. In the darkness of this room, I can’t see you clearly.” He moved his hand to her elbow and guided her towards the windows and the balcony that had never been quite hidden by the window blinds. “Come, my sweet, let me see your honesty.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I stood just outside of Erinne’s room, eavesdropping on her conversation with my brother, Huw. I wasn’t proud of doing so, but I wasn’t alone either. My lady mother stood by my side listening as well.
Huw had arrived back at Weobley only an hour earlier. He’d taken the time only to change his clothes before going in to see Erin and the babe. No one had said a word to him regarding the child, I was certain of it. Everyone was aware of the danger that lurked.
As soon as he’d gone into her room, a servant had come running to inform me, as I’d requested. I, in turn, informed my mother. We both wanted to be there—just in case. Neither one of us had any idea how he would react to seeing the child.
So far, he’d been very calm and quiet, merely asking after Erinne’s health.
“And the babe, where is she?” I heard him ask. “It is a shame tis not a boy, but we’ll have many more opportunities…” his voice went silent. I assumed Erinne was showing him the child.
“I was thinking of calling her Gwendolen. What do you think?” Erinne asked, her voice so quiet I could barely hear her.
“It would be appropriate were she fair.” Hugh’s voice was little more than a growl. “But she clearly takes after her father.”
“No, my lord! You are her father.” I could hear the fear in her trembling voice.
“And what makes you believe me to be such an imbecile? I would not father a child so dark. Only my brother would do so. My brother who you slept with on many occasions.”
Erinne gasped, and I wished with all my heart that I could see into the room. The door was only open a crack, however, and my mother stood in front of me so that I could see nothing.
I looked to her to see if she could see what was happening. Can you see? I asked silently, pressing the question into her mind.
She turned to look up at me but shook her head no.
So we were both blind as to what was happening and would have to rely on our ears alone. My stomach clenched. I didn’t like this. I had a horrid feeling in my soul that this wasn’t going to end well.
“We only slept together the one time, my lord,” Erinne was saying. She seemed to be openly crying now.
“Do you expect me to stand here with this child in my arms believing such lies?” Huw said.
He had the child! I exchanged another worried
look with my mother. Neither one of us liked this turn of events. She put a hand on my arm to keep me still, knowing full well that I wanted nothing more than to barge into the room to shield both my child and Erinne.
“It is the truth!” Erinne cried. “Please, my lord, you must believe me.”
“Believe you?” he asked incredulously. There was a pause then his voice seemed to gentle. “Come. Come outside with me,” he said. “Tell me the truth in the sunlight so that I can see that you mean it. In the darkness of this room, I can’t see you clearly. Come, my sweet, let me see your honesty.”
My mother and I exchanged another look. He was taking her out onto the battlements? The thought sent a shiver of fear through me. I started forward, but my mother stopped me.
“No. If you interfere it won’t end well,” she whispered.
“I have a feeling it’s not going to end well no matter what,” I whispered back.
“No,” she agreed, but she still barred me from entering the room. “Daffid, I am so sorry…”
But I didn’t wait to see what she was sorry about. I had a feeling that she was apologizing for the situation, which was entirely of her creation. But now was not the time to apologize for something long ago committed.
I turned and ran outside as quickly as I could, jumping down half the flight of stairs. If there was absolutely anything I could do, I had to be outside to see what was happening in order to do it.
The battlements outside of Erinne’s door faced the courtyard, thank goodness. If he had taken her onto the hoardings, the balcony facing the outside of the castle grounds, it would have taken me at least five minutes or more to run out the gate and around to the far side of the wall. As it was, I ran with all my speed and got there only just in time.
Erinne stood against the dip in the crenulations, Huw just next to her. As I watched in horror, he held the baby up and then tossed her over the side.
“No!” I shouted, throwing out my hand and my magic to catch the falling infant.
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