“Don’t do that! Stop being afraid and sad and start being alive!”
“I don’t want to be alive!” Kate swung at Karen’s face, catching her in the side of the jaw. She kept swinging, all sense of reality leaving her body. She didn’t know how many times she made contact with Karen’s body but finally the woman swung back, managing to stun Kate into submission. Sobs wracked her body and a deep sense of hopelessness set in again. She sagged to the floor, unable to hold herself up.
Karen swiped at a stream of blood coming from her nose. “Damn it, Kate, they’re not dead!”
The words echoed throughout the room. Kate slowly breathed in and out, the worst of the panic attack passing. Her eyes snapped open and she looked up into Karen’s face.
“I’m not going to say it again, Katie. Just listen to me real good and store this information away. Your husband and your daughter got out of that Jeep. They lived. They live right here, in this town. I did some research before we left Vancouver. Louis kept up on what your husband’s been up to.”
Kate began shaking her head. This couldn’t be true. It wasn’t possible.
“Stop that,” Karen snapped irritably. “I’m telling you the truth. Your husband is a football coach at a local high school. Your daughter is nearly four years old now. She goes to a local daycare center. They live in Magnolia, not far from the house you once lived in with them.”
“I don’t believe you. This is another cruel joke—more torture to get me to tell you about the money you think my parents were hiding.”
Karen shrugged indifferently. “You can take a chance and think that if you want. I have proof. I know where the daycare is, Kate. I know where the house is. They live there alone, just the two of them.”
“Oh God,” Kate stood up, her head reeling. She desperately wanted to believe Karen. She wanted to believe her family was alive. But they couldn’t be. Not after all this time. It wasn’t possible.
“Stop looking at me like that. I’m trying to do you a favor here.”
Kate narrowed her eyes, her heart beginning to pound. “You’re not playing a sick game?”
“I’m not,” Karen said, not even blinking.
“You mean…” Kate’s voice broke off as she tried to digest the news. “You mean they’re really alive? Both of them?”
“Very much alive.” Karen wiped the blood off her face with a towel. “They were never part of the plan. Louis couldn’t have given less of a crap about them. He wanted you. He wanted the money. He left them in that Jeep, figuring they’d die there. When he learned your husband managed to get them both out alive, he didn’t care. He lied to you and told you they were dead, figuring it would break you, which it did.” Karen sat down on the bed again. “He didn’t count on me getting a conscience.”
“I don’t know what to think,” Kate said, a glimmer of hope she hadn’t felt in three long years, coming to life inside her.
“Then don’t think, Kate. Just know. Know that your reason to live is here. Your family is still alive. You’re going to need to survive this.”
“Take me there.”
Karen shook her head. “No way.”
“If you’re telling me the truth, take me there. You said you have proof. Prove it to me. If you take me there, Luke will help me. He’ll help you.”
Karen snickered at that. “I was only kidding about the Betty Davis thing, Katie. This is reality. Not even your Luke can save me from Louis. As for you? You make that call. By going to him now, you will endanger his life and the life of your daughter. Look what he did to you before. Your family might not be so lucky this time.”
Kate shook her head. “I have to see him.”
“Do you want him dead?” The words were cruel and cut through the room like a knife.
“Oh God.” Kate covered her face with her hands as she began to shake again. “This is a dream. It’s just another terrible dream and I’m going to wake up and lose them all over again, aren’t I?”
“It’s no dream. I’ve known they were alive all along. I just couldn’t tell you. Louis told me what would happen if I did. He said he would kill us both. I had to wait for the right time and get you away from there.”
Kate’s hands fell to her sides. “What do I do then?”
Karen leaned back against the pillows. “I don’t know. Not exactly anyway. All I do know is that the time has come for you to fight back. If you tell Louis the truth, you might see your husband again. You might see your daughter. All he wants is the money, Kate. He’ll turn his back if he gets it.”
“I don’t know about any money,” Kate said desperately. “I swear it.”
“Your parents were killed because Louis wanted their money. He didn’t make the money up. He deals with bad people, Kate. The same bad people that I think your father dealt with. He went to your parents with specific instructions on where to find the money. It wasn’t there. That’s why they died.”
Kate shook her head sadly, as she thought of her parents and the way they had died. “I wasn’t close to my parents. I told you that. My father was a salesman when I was growing up and all they had was debt. I know because I went through some of their things after they died.”
Karen let out a sigh. “I had a feeling you were telling the truth. I tried to reason with Louis but that’s not an easy thing to do. If you’d just give me some time to figure out the best way to do this, it would be safer.”
Kate let out a deep breath and sat down next to Karen on the bed. “I can’t wait that long, Karen. I have to see them—at least be sure they really are okay.”
“And then what?”
Kate didn’t know what to do then. She only knew she couldn’t wait another day to see her family. It had been too long already.
“I’m going to have to run, Kate. That means you’ll be on your own.”
Kate couldn’t hide her surprise. “Why would you run? You’re free now.”
Karen shrugged, a sad smile lighting her features. “I’m not you, Katie. I don’t have the fairytale waiting for me. I never will. The best I can hope for is a new identity in a new city, somewhere far away from here.”
“You could make a new life for yourself here. Luke and I will help you.”
“I know you believe that and I appreciate the vote of confidence. You’re a good girl, Kate Garrison. I really hope you can put your life back together.”
Kate felt sadness again, as she watched Karen light up a cigarette. “I won’t let them hurt you.”
Karen snorted. “Why in the hell not? I held you there right along with Louis.”
“You brought me back here and told me the truth. Luke won’t let them do anything to you.”
“I hate to tell you this, sugar plum, but it won’t be up to Luke. The minute Louis gets home and finds out I’ve taken off with you, he’s going to put two and two together. He will head this way. And if he finds me, which he will if I stay here, I’ll be dead.”
“Where will you go?”
Karen shrugged. “I don’t know. Some place warm and dry. I’ve had enough of this crappy Northwest weather.”
Kate could see the hint of a smile on Karen’s features. It was apparent that a large weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“I’m sorry, Kate. For what it’s worth. Money does strange things to people. You’re right about it being the root of all evil.”
“Will you take me there tomorrow? To the daycare. Just to see?”
Karen didn’t look comfortable with the idea, but she slowly nodded. “I’m going to head out of town. I’ll go with you to the daycare, and then you’re on your own.”
It took all the courage she had not to jump in the car and go to Luke’s house right then. Instead, Kate forced herself to climb into the queen-sized bed next to Karen, and close her eyes. Sleep didn’t come. She could hear Karen snoring next to her, obviously sleeping better now that she had lifted a huge weight from her shoulders. Kate wished she could sleep. She wished the moments until morning would pa
ss faster.
Turning on her side, she did what she’d done for three years to pass the time. She thought of Luke. She thought of all the happy times they’d had together. It was so unreal to her that he was alive. After all this time, he was alive.
She smiled, thinking of so many things that had been painful for her to think about only yesterday—memories she hadn’t let herself think about in years.
“You’d better get out of that wet shirt,” Luke held the door to his room open so Kate could go inside ahead of him. The football game that day had been in a torrential downpour, but they’d won. Luke had ended up catching the winning touchdown. It had been quite an afternoon. His parents and siblings had all been at the game cheering him on, and so had Kate. She’d enjoyed spending time with his family, who were visiting from California. They were all so nice, so normal and down to earth. Nothing like her own family.
She rubbed her wet arms, reaching out to catch the towel he tossed her way. He also tossed her a t-shirt of his to put on. She could hear the raucous partying going on in the rest of the fraternity house. Everyone was excited that their team was on their way to the Rose Bowl.
“Are we going back out there?” she asked, eyeing her wet jeans too. “I’m not really dressed for it.”
He followed her gaze to the rest of her dripping, wet clothing. “Nah. My parents will be here early to pick me up for breakfast. They fly out tomorrow.” He tossed his duffel bag down and dug through his drawer until he found a pair of sweatpants. “They’ll be big but they’ll be warm.” He tossed them to her. “I can stand guard at the shower if you want to warm up.”
He did live with a bunch of frat boys. The idea of showering in their bathroom made her more than a little nervous. “I’ll just change here.” She held the clothes he’d given her in her hands nervously. She’d never undressed in front of him before. They’d done a lot of kissing and some touching but they hadn’t gone all the way.
Sensing her discomfort, he turned his back. “Go ahead. I won’t look.”
The words sounded funny and she giggled.
“Unless you want me to.” He looked over his shoulder. The subject of sex had come up before, but they’d agreed to wait until she was ready. He’d had more experience than she, so he had basically left the ball in her court. Standing before him now, she knew she wanted him to be her first. She was nervous, but sure.
“What if someone comes in?” More times than not, people roamed the frat house freely. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to burst into the room without knocking.
“I’ve got a lock, Blue. I just don’t usually use it.” He reached over and flipped the lock. Then he crossed the room to stand in front of her. His hands ran up and down her arms, warming them significantly. Excitement pooled in her stomach. She’d wanted to be with him for a long time. They had been dating for several months now and almost from the first time they’d kissed, she’d wanted to do more. Something had made her wait though. Fear of the unknown, maybe.
When he leaned over and kissed her, any reservations she had left seemed to evaporate. His hands tangled in her hair as he angled her mouth for better access. His tongue quickly mated with hers. She felt herself backing up toward the bed and he followed, taking the clothes he’d given her earlier and tossing them to the floor. He gently pushed her down to the bed, his eyes never leaving hers. “We don’t have to do this.”
“I want to.” She felt somewhat shy still, but she wasn’t scared of being with him.
“Me too.” He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it behind him. Then he leaned over and pushed her back on the bed, coming down on top of her, his knee and arms taking the brunt of most of his weight. He kissed her again, his tongue tracing her lips from one corner to the other, before parting them and dipping inside. She wrapped her arms around him, her hips involuntarily rubbing against his intimately. She could tell he was more than ready to go. He was hard as stone against her stomach. Suddenly she was somewhat intimidated. He wasn’t a small guy. And she was a small girl.
As if sensing her discomfort, he lifted his head and looked down at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“You got all tense. I know when something’s wrong.”
“Just get it over with quickly, will you?” The words were out before she could stop them. She looked away from his face, embarrassed. Why in the hell had she said that?
He continued staring at her intently, making her all the more nervous. Then he chuckled, catching her off guard.
“What’s so funny?” she demanded, suddenly less self-conscious.
“You.” He reached over and brushed a hair out of her face. “We just got started and you’re already telling me to hurry up.”
“It’s not that I want you to hurry up, it’s that you’re bigger than me and I know it’s going to hurt.” There the words were out. She felt the flush crawl into her face. This was not turning out the way she wanted it to.
He seemed to think that over, his eyes still staring into hers. She wanted to look away but she couldn’t.
“If you relax it will hurt a lot less.”
“You mean it really does hurt?” Her eyes grew wide. She’d heard stories but she’d hoped they weren’t true. She’d hoped somehow women just stretched to accommodate men.
“I’m not a girl, but I’ve heard that the first time hurts a little. I can do things to make it hurt less though.”
She couldn’t hide her interest. “Like what?”
He reached for her shirt and tugged on it, lifting the hem and pulling it up and over her head. It landed in a heap on the floor with the other discarded clothing. He leaned over and grazed his mouth over her nipple through her bra. He’d touched her there before, but it hadn’t felt like this. She shut her eyes and arched her back, wanting more. “You feel good,” she heard herself say.
“So do you.” He pulled the straps of her bra down, exposing her breasts to his view. His mouth covered her bare nipple this time and she couldn’t keep from letting out a small moan. When his mouth moved back to hers and his tongue parted her lips, she found herself kissing him back with abandon. His fingers had moved down to the front of her jeans and she let him unbutton them and slide them down her legs. Her panties were next and then she was naked beneath him. She wasn’t as self-conscious as she thought she would be. She reached for his button fly and he helped her undo it, one button at a time. When his fly was spread open, he pushed her hands away and let his own fingers run up the inside of her thighs. His mouth moved over her shoulder, up her neck to her ear. “I love you, Katie Blue.”
The words were sweet and low. She felt his fingers between her legs at exactly the same time. Her eyes shut and she gave in to the urge to just feel. Her body felt tight, like it was ready to uncoil. His ministrations continued until she couldn’t take it any longer and her body exploded. He leaned over and covered her mouth with his, muffling her groan.
He reached down and pulled at his jeans, after several tries, eventually succeeding in pulling them down his legs and kicking them to the floor.
“You have protection?” she asked, still breathless from her climax.
“I’ll take care of it.” He reached for the box of condoms he kept in his nightstand drawer.
It took only a second for him to slide the latex on. When he moved over her, she tensed.
“Relax.” He leaned over and kissed her, his mouth open and hot. She felt him against her a moment later. He was rubbing gently back and forth. And then he slid inside her. They both took in a breath, tensing momentarily. Her eyes had been shut but were now wide open as she adjusted to his invasion. The pain was there, sharp but fleeting. He stayed still, obviously not wanting to hurt her.
“Okay?” He asked the question, his eyes studying hers intently.
Nodding her head, she was surprised to see that when he pulled out and moved back in, it didn’t hurt as much. With each stroke, it felt better and better until she was just as comfortable as he was.
“I love you, too.” Kate said the words against his mouth. Her body chose that moment to explode around his.
Kate opened her eyes, immediately sitting up in bed. She looked around, momentarily disoriented. She’d been dreaming. As the motel room came into view, she felt disappointment. Things had seemed so vivid—so real. It was like she’d been there, in Luke’s arms again.
Lying back down, she forced herself not to get emotional. Luke and Hallie were alive. Her family hadn’t drowned after all. They were right here in this city. In a few short hours, she would get to set her eyes on her daughter, for the first time in three years. It didn’t seem real, but it was true. Luke and Hallie were alive. She closed her eyes and repeated those words over and over again until she fell asleep.
SIX
Kate stared through the car window, her eyes zeroing in on the small building across the street. Happy Days Daycare Center, the bright red sign read. It was quaint. Picturesque, almost. The building itself looked to be a one or two bedroom home. It was white with pretty red scalloped trim and shutters around the windows. The yard was good-sized and disappeared around the back of the place. It was well groomed. All around the perimeter of the building was a six-foot chain link fence.
Craning her neck, Kate could see a swing set in the back and a large big toy. Several other outdoor play toys were set up around the area. It was nice. Peaceful. It was exactly the kind of place Kate would have picked out for her daughter, had she had the chance to do it herself. Of course if Kate were around Hallie wouldn’t be in daycare. She would be home.
“It’s cute,” Karen remarked, lighting up a smoke. “Just like Never Never Land.”
“It’s for kids,” Kate reminded her, checking her watch for what seemed like the hundredth time. Tent-thirty. Didn’t these people let the children out to play? It was a nice day. A little over-cast but warm. What was the deal here?
“Can you handle this?” Karen asked the question carefully, obviously having her own set of doubts about this idea.
Could she? Honestly, she didn’t know. For so long she’d grieved for her little girl—dreamed of her. She hadn’t been real until now.
Root of All Evil Page 6