In the Name of Glori (The Redemption Series: Book 3)

by Maeve Christopher

  I managed to haul myself up from the bench, and wouldn’t you know, my kick-ass heels anchored me in the sod. That was a good sign. I extracted my feet from the shoes, dug them out of the ground, hobbled back to my suite and landed on the bed.

  I fell into a fitful sleep and dreamed about drowning in bath salts. The phone woke me up. I fumbled to grab it out of my bag. It was Cindy. She sounded like she was jumping for joy. What now?

  “Glori. We’re going to have a baby.”

  My mind could only question if I would be called upon to save that one, too. I thought hard and fought hard to come out with appropriate words, as Cin repeated the same thing over and over again. After Raphael, I was the only person to have the news. Cool.

  “Congratulations!” I knew I’d think of the word. Once I became more coherent, we had an actual conversation. Of course Cin was ecstatic. She’d wanted a baby for as long as I could remember. And Raphael would be a great father.

  Thankfully, it was really early on, and this baby wouldn’t be making an appearance for quite a while. I was already undone over Debbie and her brood.

  I decided to ask the favor. “Cin, I’ve decided to do my own fundraiser to help save babies. Would you be willing to make a donation? I was thinking this kind of thing is right up your ally. Maybe you could afford a couple million or so?” I made a face into the phone as I waited for her response.

  “Wow, Glori, that’s fantastic. Of course we’ll help. Where does the money go?”

  “It’s my own charity, Cin. I’m gonna dole out the money.”

  “Oh, wow. That’s a huge undertaking, honey. Are you sure you want to do that? You’re already doing so much for Glori Cosmetics. And Cat and Cisco already have all the expertise with charities.”

  “Yeah, I know, Cin.” My voice cracked. Some actress, huh? “But this is important to me.”

  “Sure. What’s the name of the charity? Who do we make the check out to?”

  “The Christina Fund.” I had no idea I’d come out with that. It left me speechless.

  Cin was making some emotional sounds on the other end. I started to cry.

  “That’s so—so sweet. Oh honey, this is going to be incredible. You really have broken that chain you talked about,” she said.

  Yeah. I felt like a circus elephant all right. “Yeah, I have Cin, and I have a project I need the money for right away.”

  ***

  By the time I got myself together I was late to my appearance at a day spa in West Hollywood. Talk about going through the motions. All I could think about was Darla and my new charity and calling Alain for help.

  But the women at the event were really into it, and Glori Cosmetics flew off the shelves. They couldn’t get enough of the personalized products. I was completely worn out, but they convinced me to do my signature eye workshop. That did kind of relax me, even though every woman with brown eyes turned into Darla Wilde.

  My manager, Joe Harris, called, and I hit him up for a donation. The next call was from Cat. I dropped into the manicurist’s seat and went rolling across the floor. I barely noticed. She said she and Cisco were boarding their plane to L.A.

  ***

  I was more than nervous about meeting with Cat. I knew we had to talk, but things were going so crazy, I supposed I’d screw that up, too. And Cisco wouldn’t be any picnic either. He may not have been psychic, but he’d see through me in an instant.

  I watched from my window as their limo pulled up to the Ross Hotel. They waded through a throng of guests who were obvious fans, and to the lobby. Minutes later they arrived in our suite. It was the end of day two, and I had some pledges, but no actual cash. I was sweating from head to foot.

  After getting settled in, Cisco went for a swim, and Cat invited me to have some tea and biscuits. We sat in huge upholstered chairs, silk pillows at our backs, in an alcove with massive windows overlooking the garden.

  Cat looked so tiny in that big chair. She was just over five feet tall, and a hundred pounds soaking wet, but there was an air about her that was magnetic. She had almost that same sweet (Cin called it “ethereal”) look about her that Debbie did, but Cat was tough as nails.

  She and Cisco sure made an interesting couple. He was six and a half feet tall, so they did look a little funny together. But they were perfect for each other in every other way.

  “Glori, I know I told you at the hospital—but I was so emotional—and of course you’d been through a horrific experience yourself. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you did that evening at the convention.”

  The cup shook in my hand and rattled against the saucer. I landed it safely on the coffee table in front of me. “Yeah. I guess you knew I was trying to save David.”

  “Yes.”

  “I guess you also knew I screwed up and thought George hired the guy to get him. But the hit man was actually after the President.”

  “He was after David. You saved his life.”

  “Huh?” My eyes stung. Cat freaked me out. There was no fooling her. I wondered how much she knew about this Darla Wilde stuff.

  Cat turned pale. “I did not realize it until I saw you marching over to that waiter. At that instant, I knew. He intended to kill David, and you stopped him. I’m so grateful to you, Glori.”

  “Oh my—dear God.” Of course I realized I was talking to Cat the Prayer Warrior. I gulped. “That’s my new prayer, ya know. Anyway, did George hire the guy?”

  Cat’s lips turned in a faint smile. “Surprisingly, it was not George. It was someone David had dealings with in his job.”

  “Whoa.” I gulped again. Thankfully, I didn’t try to drink any of that tea. It would’ve been down the front of my shirt. “So you can see everything that goes on with David and his secret agent stuff?”

  “I have glimmers of understanding, visions, and dreams. Lots of bad dreams.” She reached for her tea. It looked like the warmth of it soothed her.

  “And you can’t tell anyone?”

  “No, Glori. What good would it do?”

  I tried a sip of tea to calm me. “Did you…did you see when he got shot in South America that time?”

  “I was with him as he and the others trudged through that jungle. I was with him as he felt the pain of those gunshot wounds and fell into that muddy water, and gasped what could have been his last breath. Over and over again, night after night. That jungle, the heat and humidity, the water closed in on me. Night after night.”

  My eyes must have been as big as saucers. I could see her re-living that nightmare in front of me now. Her eyes were somewhere else, just like in Camellia’s garden that day.

  “Oh my dear God.” My eyes got watery.

  “But when it happened, and I met Debbie, I knew he would survive. I could see their babies.” She smiled.

  “Wow.” I took a tissue to stop the dripping mascara. Then I realized—maybe David was safe now that I stopped the killer. Maybe Aubrey and Jimmy wouldn’t have to go to his funeral. Maybe this Darla stuff was just a bunch of crap.

  “So… so does that mean he’s gonna be okay? Does that change the prediction about Aubrey and Jimmy at his funeral?”

  “No, it does not.” She took a pillow and held it to her stomach, as if to stop more pain.

  “Oh.” I didn’t know what to say.

  “David chooses his path, Glori. It’s his decision. There is nothing you and I can do about that but pray. And our prayers have helped enormously. He’s honoring God now. He’s protected by the Precious Blood.”

  “Wow. That’s cool.” I wasn’t so sure what that was. “So how come he’s gonna die—like—like that?” Shit! Leave it to me to dig the knife in—poor Cat. “I’m sorry Cat! I keep screwing up.”

  Cat smiled her sympathetic smile. “It’s alright, Glori, you don’t have to tiptoe around me. We all die eventually. God has a plan. But I am so grateful to you for taking action to save his life—and for caring.”

  Well, that stunk. David was still a goner and Debbie and all thos
e kids were still at risk. And they had way more problems than George and Marion living next door. “So how…so what… happens?”

  “I cannot discuss it.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I just cannot. It’s not clear enough to me. It’s only an impression I have.” She burst into tears. “An impression that he dies by his own hand. Please don’t speak of this to anyone. I don’t know if it’s true. It can’t be true. I shouldn’t have said anything.” She fell forward clutching the pillow, and I took her in my arms, settling us both back into her chair.

  As I sat there shaking, I could see her slowly compose herself. She eased the death grip on the pillow and took some tea. I wanted to ask so many more questions, but I didn’t dare. I thought the world of Cat. I didn’t want to send her over the deep end.

  I took my seat and bit into an almond cookie.

  “Glori, I know you have so many more questions for me. I’ll answer what I can. First, I had a dream about you and your new charity. I think it’s admirable that you want to help David and Debbie and the babies, and you’re willing to put yourself so much at risk to do so. But it’s time now to get some help. Unfortunately, our circumstances, our celebrity has brought with it enormous risks. You are not only an entertainer and a businesswoman. You are a target.”

  My mouth hung open. Somehow the stress of keeping everything bottled up started to evaporate. I knew I could count on Cat. Like I said, three quarters of what she said was on her face. I could see it in her eyes. She knew.

  “Darla Wilde is being controlled by a man in prison. She knows he will have her killed if she does not carry out his wishes. I’m sure this is a man David knows, a man he put in prison. But Darla is playing a dangerous game. She’s thinking she can get rid of this man by hiring someone to kill him in prison. Then she’ll be free of him—and she can keep the rest of the money.”

  “Yeah. Darla seems to have nerves of steel if you ask me.” I kind of admired that about her, even though she freaked me out.

  I couldn’t help myself. “Did David kill Senator Everett and his bodyguards?”

  Her eyes gave me the answer. “He always believes what he’s doing is right, Glori.”

  “Yeah.” I held one hand over the other to make them stop shaking.

  We sat there for a bit in silence, sipping tea. My mind was in a whirl. “That shoe manufacturer—you know that was something I made up, right?”

  Cat’s lip curled. “I had a vision of you and five million dollars that did not involve shoes.”

  “Amazing, huh?” I shrugged. “I’m sorry I lied. But I did get a sample pair of pumps I thought would be perfect for you. Violet silk with a real sexy heel—just not too high.”

  Cat actually giggled. “Glori, I’m sure they’re beautiful, but I doubt I could keep my balance in them. I’m your sister with the sensible shoes. Nita would love those violet pumps, though.”

  “Cool, don’t you worry. I’ll take care of it. Glori will have shoes for you, too. Sensible, but elegant and cool. Just as soon as we deal with Darla and her boss. So what are we gonna do?”

  ***

  Alain stood in the doorway, watching helplessly as David pressed the bottle to his son’s lips, but Danny would have none of it. He’d rather scream. And David was out of patience.

  Sally, and their new nurse, Shirlene, weren’t having much more luck with the other two. Debbie divided her attention between the two women and their charges. Breathless, now in her fifth month, she was meeting with no success trying to halt the fussing with small toys or pieces of dry cereal. The boys’ cries echoed in the small space of David’s office.

  Constantly worried about her now, David lodged the child in one arm and reached for Debbie with the other. He set her, protesting, into an office chair.

  Betty, looking like an angel of mercy, arrived in the doorway. “The General said you’re very welcome to use his lounge. I’m sure you’ll be much more comfortable in there.” She took Danny from David and led the nurses, their charges, and their gear down the hall.

  He called after her, “Thank you, Betty.”

  Alain attempted to make himself useful, sweeping up the mess of crumbs on the floor with two old file folders.

  David knelt beside his wife, who was now trying to get out of the chair, and held her there. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry about all this confusion.”

  “It’s okay, David. It’s just that Shirlene already told Sally she’s thinking of going home. She didn’t think taking care of the babies would be dangerous. I told her it’s just a precaution. Would you tell her it’s just a precaution, David? We really need to tell them something. Sally understands by now, but not Shirlene. What will we do if she leaves us?”

  He brushed wisps of hair from her face. “Everything will be fine, regardless of what Shirlene does.” As he stood, he lifted her out of the chair and sat in his, with her in his lap. It obviously soothed him to hold her. He took a moment just to be with her. She seemed to understand. She was quiet now. The babies’ cries were miles away. He closed his eyes.

  Alain thought about Glori. He didn’t think he’d ever stop missing her.

  Eduardo kicked the makeshift dustpan as he barreled through the door. “Ooops… Sorry!”

  Alain flung the remaining dusty cereal at him, and the two burst into laughter.

  “Hi Eduardo.” Debbie’s voice was weak, sleepy.

  David didn’t sound much better. “You didn’t have to come back. We’re fine. I hope everyone else stayed at the beach.”

  “Yeah, Roberto has more guards than we do. So Cisco and Cat went to L.A. Everyone else is still at the beach.”

  Eduardo took the seat and handed Debbie the toy he’d found on it. “You’ve been here all night?”

  Debbie answered. “No, we stayed in the bomb shelter in the basement. David didn’t think we should stay there alone today, and Shirlene was starting to cry. So he brought us here. It’s just a temporary precaution.”

  Alain was amused to watch Eduardo wipe that impish grin from his face. He was almost overly considerate of Debbie and her attempts to relate to people.

  David looked at his watch. “We’ve got a meeting with the General, Sweetheart. Let’s get you settled in the lounge.”

  ***

  Lambrecht shut the conference room door, at last blocking a chorus of tiny voices streaming in behind him.

  Pearson had a confused look on his face. “Does someone want to fill me in on what’s going on here?”

  Alain was just as curious to get some answers. Lambrecht seemed more than exhausted as he took his seat. Clemente and Hollinger spoke at once.

  Pearson nodded. “Hollinger?”

  “It started the other day when Glori called Aubrey looking for a five million dollar donation to her charity to save babies.”

  Alain choked on his coffee. Apparently he’d been out of town a bit too long.

  Of course, Clemente noted his reaction. “Yeah, it’s a brand new charity she’s started—Stilettos for Babies.”

  Even Lambrecht burst into laughter. Pearson was almost rolling on the floor, his face bright red. It took a while for the men to compose themselves.

  The General cleared his throat, a clear signal the joke was over. “We’ve recently learned never to underestimate Glori Coulson. But what on earth does this new charity have to do with your entire family and a year’s supply of baby things in my sitting room? Seriously, Lambrecht, I slid on cereal as I was coming out of the toilet.”

  “I’m very sorry, Sir.”

  Lambrecht did look contrite. But Alain couldn’t wait to hear what Glori was up to now. She was something else again.

  Pearson rambled on. “And what is your wife doing painting the back of a limousine, with all that chaos going on around her with the babies? Seriously, she had all these paints scattered all over, and paper taped together on cardboard. What—is she addicted to art? Or is this some coping technique her shrink taught her?”

  Lambrecht’s jaw dropped open. But he was speec
hless.

  It was obvious he needed rescuing. And obvious Debbie was in the midst of another clue.

  Clemente jumped in. “Yes, Sir. Debbie uses her art to relax and cope with her feelings and all that, Sir. But back to Glori. Sir, Glori was approached the other day by Darla Wilde.”

  The General shook his head. “Darla Wilde? The infamous Darla Wilde. I wondered if she’d ever surface again.”

  “Yes Sir, right in Santa Barbara. She wanted five million dollars from Glori. Supposedly that would prevent the deaths of David and his family. She claimed Shaw was after David, not the President. Since we figure Albert Santoro is at the bottom of this, we wanted to make sure David’s family is out of harm’s way. She did specifically threaten his wife and children.”

  Lambrecht interjected. “Sir, right now, I believe our main priority is getting to L.A. Glori, and Cat and Cisco are in peril.”

  Alain sat back in his chair. Glori was amazing. How did she manage to get herself in the middle of these things?

  Chapter Thirteen

  I got my first decent night’s sleep in a while. I don’t know why I was so reassured with Cat and Cisco here, but I was. Even so, I was well aware it was day four. And I still had no cash.

  As I got out of the shower I heard my phone, so I threw a towel around me and ran to pick it up. It was Darla Wilde. “I’m at Elliot’s Deli. Meet me here in twenty minutes, and if you’re late, if you bring anyone, if anyone follows you, your friends are going to regret it.” She hung up.

  Shit. I could never get anywhere in twenty minutes.

  I dressed in lightning speed, no time for makeup. My hair was wild, pardon the pun. I threw on my new shades and ran out the door into Cat and Cisco.

  He looked down at me with an exasperated smirk, and she looked up at me with those piercing blue eyes. Shit. “Okay, you got me. But I’m late for an appointment.”

  Cisco took me by the arm. “Glori?”

  “Okay, okay. I’m supposed to meet Darla. But I gotta go alone. She said if anyone is with me, it’s all over.”