“Well, that was big of him. Did he release you from the contract?”
“No, he said he enjoyed watching me dance and hoped I’d stay on. What else could I do at that point?”
“You could have come home,” Luke stated angrily.
“I loved him, Luke, or thought I did. He made me feel loved, cherished, special; singling me out when he had so many beautiful women to choose from. A few weeks later, he moved me to his estate on the outskirts of Vancouver. Very posh, upscale. I quickly got used to the lifestyle, being catered to and pampered like a princess.”
“You had that here,” he said.
“Not the same thing at all, big brother. You guys loved me, because I was family. He loved me for me.”
“I can see the attraction,” said Zakia. “A country girl alone in the city for the first time. It was probably all quite fascinating to you.”
“Yes, exactly!”
“You said you thought you loved him. What happened to change your mind?” she asked.
“A few months after I’d moved in with him, I woke during the night and got up to close the window. I heard him arguing with someone. Roddy, my boyfriend, mentioned my name, so I stood there, listening.” She paused to swallow, her throat suddenly dry again, took a drink of her lukewarm coffee and looked at her brother to gauge his reaction. “He was arguing with his best friend…about me. Luke, Roddy stabbed that man, knifed him in cold blood because he’d ogled me on the stage and reached up to touch me when he, uh, stuck some money in my thong.”
“Thong?” he choked out, sputtering coffee down the front of his shirt.
Leah nodded.
“The bastards—both of them! What did you do then?” he asked, grabbing a cloth to wipe up his mess.
“I went back to bed, hoping he hadn’t seen me at the window.”
“You witnessed a murder and calmly crawled back into bed?” Luke ran his hands through his hair in a gesture of agitation. “I can’t believe you’d do that! Why didn’t you run, call for help, anything?”
“I couldn’t, Luke! At first, I barely believed what I’d seen with my own eyes, and then he came storming into the bedroom and dragged me to the window, made me watch.”
“Watch what?” Zakia asked, her voice comforting, her touch light as it covered her hand on the table, providing the encouragement, the strength she needed to finish her tale.
“Roddy owns several wolfhounds, attack dogs. I heard him whistle for them as I moved away from the window. They tore that poor man’s body apart.”
Zakia gasped. “Oh. My. God!”
“How could you stay with him after that?”
“Believe me, Luke, I wanted to be anywhere else, but he made it plain that it was all my fault, and that I was an accessory after the fact. He said if I ever breathed a word of it, I’d suffer the same fate as Alex.”
“Oh, Leah! You must have been so terrified.”
“Terrified, Zakia? Yeah, that about sums it up. I was also determined to leave, but he suspected as much and assigned a bodyguard. George went everywhere with me when I wasn’t with Roddy. He also changed the code at the gate, and the entire property was surrounded by a twelve-foot wrought iron fence. Eventually, I resigned myself to staying. Besides, I wasn’t looking forward to the lecture I’d get from Dad on returning home, so I guess pride had a say in my staying, too.”
“This happened when?” asked Luke.
“Four years ago.”
“You lived as his hostage all this time?” he asked, his tone skeptical, yet concerned.
“Pretty much.”
“So, how did you get away?” Luke asked.
“One of the girls at the club helped me. It was Delores’s phone I used whenever I could call home.”
“How did you know you could trust her?”
“I didn’t. Apparently, Roddy dumped her long before I appeared on the scene. She laughed off helping me as being her revenge. I didn’t care about that, but at first I did wonder if I could trust her. In the end, I didn’t have a choice.”
“Because you’re pregnant?” asked Zakia.
“Yes. I don’t want my child to grow up calling a murderer daddy.”
“How likely is it that he’ll follow?”
“I don’t know, Luke. We talked about the ranch off and on at first, but I haven’t mentioned it since that night. He often teased me about being his country girl, but I’m not sure he’d remember the name of the ranch or where it is.”
“We need to alert the police on this,” said Luke.
“I know, but what will they do to me?”
“You’ve done nothing wrong, Lee. You’ll be fine.”
She twisted a napkin beyond recognition as she posed the next question. “Roddy has friends everywhere. What if he finds out?”
“For what he’s put you through, I only wish he would.” He pushed away from the counter. “Excuse me while I make that call.”
Luke left the room, and Zakia rose to fill their mugs.
“I’m sorry for landing all this in your lap, Zakia. If I’d known you and Luke had kids, I probably would’ve gone to Dad’s place.”
She laughed. “Well, as it happens, I came back when I was in trouble last summer.”
“You did? Dad mentioned you were back when I called, but I’d had to ring off. What kind of trouble could you have possibly gotten into?”
“A stalker, following, threatening, leaving horrid messages everywhere I went. The worse they got, the more scared I was, for myself and for the boys. The only place I could think of that was safe, was here, with Luke.”
“Wow! I’m sorry about that, but Luke obviously still loves you. I’m glad it’s worked out for you two. They did catch the guy? Right?”
“Yes, but it’s complicated.”
“How?”
“The stalker turned out to be Winnie’s oldest son, Roy.”
“Dad’s wife? Oh, wow! How did she take it?”
“Not good at first. Blamed herself, as most mothers would. She and your father had a rough go of it for a while, but they’ve worked things out.”
“Good, Dad deserves a little happiness.”
“Speaking of which, shouldn’t you call and let him know you’re home?”
“Yeah, about that. I was wondering if we could invite Dad and Winnie to dinner tonight, surprise him?”
“What a great idea! I’ll do that now,” Zakia said, rising to her feet.
“Isn’t Luke on the phone?”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot.”
She plunked back down in the chair, and they giggled as both reached for a cookie instead.
* * * *
Luke’s features registered concern as he rejoined the women.
“Were you able to reach Michael?” Zakia asked.
“No, he’s out on a call so I left a message for him to stop by. I didn’t want to alert anyone to the fact that Leah is home. Too easy for word to spread.”
“Don’t I know it,” said Zakia.
He placed a hand on hers to still her shaking. “You’re safe now. Let it go.”
“I’m trying, Luke, but it isn’t easy.”
“I know.” He turned his attention back to Leah. “So, what else is this guy into? Who is he?”
“His name is Roderick Kendall. He owns Le Club Rouge Sang, where I worked, a few small businesses, some apartment complexes, and a resort on Vancouver Island.”
“Thinks himself important, does he? Did you see or hear of anything else illegal or criminal he might be involved in? If he’d murder a friend in cold blood, I can’t help but think he’d done it before.”
“He’s well-respected among his peers, but most of them are seedy characters dressed in suits. You know what I mean?”
He nodded. “Yeah, go on.”
“Well, when a man does good, or a woman for that matter, there’s always talk. Some say he’s into drug trafficking, protection for hire, murder for hire. He just laughed at it all, never admitting or denying any of it.
”
“What do you mean, protection for hire. Like a bodyguard?”
“No, more like enforced protection for businesses. If the businesses don’t pay up a share of their profits, they get broken into, trashed, and/or burned to the ground. Sometimes, the owner turns up dead.”
“Oh, Leah! What did you get yourself involved in?” asked Zakia.
“I swear I didn’t know any of this at first. He kept all that away from me, until after Alex’s murder. Then he didn’t care what I knew. He felt he had guaranteed my silence.”
“Have you proof of any of this?”
“Sort of, and I can name all his ‘friends’ as they met at the house quite regularly. Dinner and private dances either before or after their meeting.”
“Private dances?” Luke asked. His hands balled into fists where they rested on the table.
Leah hung her head for a moment, ashamed to admit what she’d done. Then she straightened her backbone and met his angry stare head-on. “Yes, Luke. Private dances. Strip tease. I had to perform for those men.”
Chapter Two
“My God, Leah! Why didn’t you call?” Luke asked as he paced the room. “I would’ve gotten you out of there in a heartbeat.”
“No, you would’ve stormed in there and ended up dead. Roddy and his friends do not play nice. I couldn’t take that chance. I’d made my bed.”
“I wouldn’t have gone in alone.”
“Maybe not, but I didn’t want anyone else getting hurt because of me. Alex’s death was enough on my conscience.”
“Kendall’s jealousy and lack of self-control led to Alex’s death. It was nothing you did.”
“He made me feel that it was my fault.”
“Well, it wasn’t. You were paid to dance, and you danced. And he went from jealous possessiveness to making you do striptease? Unreal!”
“Yeah, after Alex touched me, he said I was tarnished goods. He called me vile names and abused me verbally and, ah, sexually, just nothing that would show when I danced. You see, I, uh, drew a good crowd.”
“Of course you would. You’re a beautiful woman, Leah. I may be your brother, but I’m not blind. With that long platinum hair, dark brown eyes, and a decent figure, what man wouldn’t want to watch you dance?”
“Thanks, Luke. So what do we do now?”
“We wait and see what the expert advises.”
“Who’s Michael?”
“Michael Grayson, Winnie’s middle son, remember him?”
She nodded. “Yes, I think so.”
“He recently moved back home and took over Blake’s position with the R.C.M.P. detachment in FortMacLeod. He’s in charge.”
“Oh! Okay. Blake’s a cop? I remember him better than Michael, because you two were inseparable back then.”
The phone rang, and Luke rose to answer the kitchen extension. “Hello…yes, I did. Can you come over…? Yeah, but it’s kind of urgent and I’d appreciate your input…okay. I’ll explain when you get here.” He replaced the receiver in its cradle and stood looking out the window for the longest time. “That was Michael. He’s coming right over. I think I’ll go check on the boys.”
“Okay, dear,” said Zakia, watching him go.
“He’s angry at me, isn’t he?”
“He’s angry for you, Leah. There’s a big difference.”
“Well, he must be disappointed in me, bringing trouble home and pregnant to boot.”
“You’re certainly not the baby sister who left here five years ago. It’ll take a little adjusting on his part.”
“I needed him and Daddy so bad, Zakia, but I was ashamed to ask for help after the way I’d left here and how I was making a living. I’m not proud of myself, but I needed to get away, to see a little more of this beautiful country and grow up. Here, I would always be ‘Baby Girl’ to everyone. Out there, I could be me and at least try to fulfill my dreams. Then when trouble hit, I was terrified to tell them and have them rush out there…maybe lose them for good.”
“Yes, I can see the dilemma you were in, but no matter what, you’re family. They would’ve helped if they’d known.”
* * * *
A vehicle drew to a halt beside the house, and Zakia crossed to the window. “It’s Michael. I’ll go call Luke down.”
“No need,” he said as he entered the kitchen. “I heard him pull up.”
“All right. I’ll tend to Casey and Cammy, so they don’t run in and interrupt.”
“Okay. Good,” he said as he opened the door to admit the Mountie.
She wouldn’t have recognized Michael if she hadn’t already been told who was coming.
“Leah, you remember Michael?”
“Leah? Little Leah? Geesh, girl, you’ve gone and grown up on us.”
“Thanks, Michael. You’re definitely a lot bigger than I remember.”
“Wowee, girl! You’re sure are a looker.”
She smiled at him, surprised at the changes. He was gorgeous, but he seemed harder somehow, his smile not quite reaching his baby blues. “You’re not so bad yourself. Is that your way of trying to relax the people you intend to interrogate?”
This time the smile made his eyes twinkle and the dimple on his cheek more prominent. “Not all, just the women.”
Amused laughter followed the bantering.
“Seriously, though, is this an official visit or a welcome home party?”
“It’s official, Michael,” said Luke. “Leah’s in trouble, and we need your help.”
That “we” was the most beautiful word she’d ever heard. She wasn’t alone in this anymore.
Michael’s smile disappeared as he sat down across from Leah, digging a notebook and pen out of his pocket.
Luke also sat. Being surrounded by men was nothing new to Leah, but for some reason, she felt nervous. Or was that shame and guilt rearing its ugly head? Having to expose her sordid life to this man who’d been a family friend for years wasn’t going to be easy. “Where do you want me to start?”
Michael smiled. “The beginning is usually the best place. Would it help if I asked questions?”
“No, not really.” She glanced at Luke, and he nodded for her to go on, so she related her tale again. When she’d finished, there was complete silence.
“Phew! You went after trouble big time when you got involved with Kendall,” said Michael.
“You know him? How?” she asked.
“Until I returned home a few weeks ago, I’d been a vice-cop in Vancouver. He featured in a lot of our cases, but we could never prove his involvement.”
“I didn’t know.”
“How could you when you just returned home yourself. I find it funny, though, how your name never came up in connection to his during any of the investigations.”
“Roddy likes to keep his private life private.”
“Apparently so. Same as his club. When I was working undercover, they wouldn’t allow me in.”
“No, it’s members only. He prefers a very elite clientele. No offence.”
“None taken. Why do you think he’ll follow you here? Because of Alex’s murder?”
“Partly.”
“Surely, there are other women he could have without coming after you.”
“If only it was that simple. Roddy is possessive, very possessive. He doesn’t like to lose anything or anybody he considers his. And besides, I know things, like Alex’s murder. He’s not about to let go willingly. With the minions he has under his control, he can find out anything. He will find me, the only thing I don’t know is when.”
“So all of this happened four years ago?”
“Yes.”
“How is it you found a way to leave now and not then?”
“Incentive. I’m pregnant, and I want a better life for my child.”
Michael sat back and stared at her, his face registering disbelief. She’d shocked him. She could tell he hadn’t expected to get hit with that one.
“So that’s why you think he’ll come here.�
��
“Not at all. He doesn’t know. He’ll never know.”
“Okay, that’s your decision to make, but what now? I can arrange a safe house for you,” he offered.
“I feel safe here, but I don’t want to put Luke’s family in danger,” she said as she fiddled with her badly crumpled napkin.
“Let me worry about that. You’re my family, too,” Luke said, covering her hand with his own and giving it a squeeze of reassurance.
She nodded. “Thanks, big brother. Even if I wasn’t here, he’d terrorize you guys, or worse, trying to find out where I was holed up. So, it’s best that I stay at the ranch.”
“Good thinking. You know him well,” Michael said.
“Yeah, too well.”
“Leah, this club of his, would you say his customers are mostly friends, business partners, or mere acquaintances?”
“Casual acquaintances would never be allowed through the door. He owns quite a few businesses and has a lot of friends, so the majority would fall in line with that. There’s even a secret entrance at the rear of the club to admit those who wouldn’t want to be seen coming and going.”
Michael sat up straight. “What people would those be? Did you recognize any of them?”
“Recognize them? I knew them…all of them. Those were the ones invited to his estate for dinner meetings and private dancing shows.”
“Can you throw out a few names?” he asked.
“Senator Metcalf, Chief Simmons, Judge Holden.”
“No wonder the man gets away with murder,” Luke said.
“Exactly! Kendall has been the prime suspect for several murders in the area, but we could never find proof. Leah, love, you may just hold the hammer that nails his ass to the wall.”
“Good! It’s what that bastard deserves.”
Luke flinched. “Picked up some colorful language out there, too, I see.”
She grinned for the first time since the inquisition started. “Nope, got that from you and the wranglers, but it sure came in handy at times.”
“I can imagine,” Luke said as he grinned back at her.
“These meetings at the house, what did they discuss?” Michael asked.
“What didn’t they talk about is more like it.”
“I’ll need you to get me a list of names and write up every conversation you can remember along with the dates, if possible.”
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