Redemption Rains

by A D Holland

  “No, Samuel.” She cried trying to draw his attention. “It’s not what you think.” Her voice shook on the lie and she saw Devin’s face grow darker as he continued to glare at Samuel.

  “Well exactly what is it Elizabeth?” Samuel’s question made her cringe. He reminded her of her mother, berating her like a child, and she felt like she was eleven again.

  “I was sleeping, that’s all.”

  “And what was the good detective doing during your nap?”

  “He was sleeping also,” she squeaked.

  Samuel ran cold eyes over her body. She was most positive this time when she spotted the look of disgust in his face.

  “Really, Lizzy, you expect me to believe that you were just sleeping?” his mouth turned down in disgust. He was really being hateful about the whole thing she thought. It made her feel dirty when he looked at her with those eyes. He flicked his hand in her direction.

  “And when did you start sleeping in the nude? Don’t lie to me Lizzy; I know what a prude you are.” Elizabeth felt the blood rush to her face. He not only used the hated nickname but had also insulted her further by calling her a prude.

  “Samuel, please don’t,” she begged him to stop. Between his words and Devin’s glare Elizabeth knew that she would crumble under them both.

  “Don’t what Lizzy?” he walked toward her slowly, sneering at her. “Don’t state the obvious? You standing there in that sheet and him,” Samuel threw a look over his shoulder at Devin. “Answering the door dressed like...like that.” His voice dripped sarcasm. “You let the good detective bang you.” Elizabeth flinched at his terminology. “I’m really disappointed in you Lizzy.” Samuel shook his head and shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since you called, begging me to come and save you from this brute. I was so worried about you Elizabeth, and came right away.” His concern was a little forced but still had the same effect on her as always.

  “Oh, Samuel, you don’t understand,” Elizabeth felt the tears of shame fall down her face. She wanted to tell him that she loved Devin, but how could she when Devin stood there glaring at both of them with such hatred, not even speaking up to defend her.

  “It’s okay Lizzy,” Samuel walked toward her and wrapped her shaking body in his arms. “I forgive you,” his forgiveness rang false in her ears. She looked over Samuel’s shoulder at Devin. He was leaning against the wall with his hands shoved in his front pockets. She searched his face now, devoid of all emotion. Her heart cracked as she looked into those dead eyes. There was no twitch in his jaw. His disinterest in her was real. He had got what he wanted and now he was not going to step up and say anything. Ice formed around her heart, numbing her from the inside out. She knew this would happen. She knew that Devin did not love her and he would walk away. Elizabeth steeled her heart against him as she decided her fate.

  “Do you Samuel?” her voice sounded forced.

  “Of course I do silly goose,” Samuel’s reply was tinged with impatience and he stepped away from her and dropped his hands. “Now, if you will get dressed, we can leave this place at once.”

  “She’s not going anywhere Lindsey,” Devin looked at both of them very calmly.

  “Yes she is,” Samuel turned to face Devin. “I have already approved our travel plans with the FBI and updated your captain. Elizabeth and I are flying out tonight.” He looked at his watch and then at her. “You had better hurry dear if we are going to make our flight.” The endearment sounded forced and not at all endearing to Elizabeth. Suddenly she was filled with a fear.

  “I’m sorry Samuel, but I don’t understand. Where are we flying too?”

  “I am taking you to the islands,” he looked at her as if she were stupid, which at that moment she did feel a little ignorant.

  “What do you mean “you’re taking me to the Islands”?” Elizabeth knew that he was referring to her favorite vacation place, a little group of islands off of Mexico in the Gulf. Edward Lindsey had a very close friend who owned one of the islands and allowed him and his family free rein of the place. Elizabeth loved it because of the seclusion, allowing her to wear what she wanted while she lay on the beach and swam in the ocean. But she thought that Samuel was mistaken and voiced her concern.

  “We can’t leave the country Samuel, I have to testify. And what will we do for protection? Do you not realize that there are men out there who want to see me dead?”

  Samuel looked at her in a calculating way that sent chills up and down her spine and then his gaze was veiled as he lowered his lashes.

  “I am aware of the trouble you have gotten yourself in Lizzy, and I have everything under control. You and I are going to fly to the islands and when they are ready for you to testify, Captain Dye will contact us. As to your question of who will protect us, I take offence.” At which he looked at her with a pained expression. “Do you not think that I can take care of you Elizabeth?”

  Caught off guard, she rushed to reassure him as she had always done since she was a child and he would look at her that way. As if she had let him down in her opinion of him.

  “Samuel, you know that I didn’t mean it that way,” she was confused by this person standing in front of her. He was acting strange. In all their times together he had never referred to her as Lizzy, he knew she hated that. He was also very jumpy, as if he was anxious to be gone. She looked at his face, noticing the pallor under his tan, the tight lines around his mouth and the dark circles under his eyes. There was something definitely wrong here but she could not put her finger on it.

  “Please, Elizabeth,” he glanced toward Devin. “We need to hurry.”

  She looked at Devin for reassurance but only received a disdainful stare before he turned his head away.

  “Are you sure that this is all right Samuel?”

  He lost patience with her then and it reflected in his voice.

  “Are you doubting me?” he raised an eyebrow at her. “I don’t have time for your childish misapprehensions’ Elizabeth. I don’t want to miss the plane.” He wrapped his arm around her bare shoulders, turning her toward that bathroom. In a sudden change of temper he gave her a slight squeeze and placed a cool kiss on her neck, an uncommon show of affection. “Now go and get dressed and I will discuss the details with Detective Kane.”

  She was shocked by his kiss. Instead of feeling that familiar warm tingle she received when Devin touched her anywhere, Elizabeth only felt coldness. She looked at Samuel and realized that she had made the biggest mistake in her life. Wasn’t it true what they say about watch what you pray for, you might get it? Well her prayers for Samuel to love her had been answered, but it was not what she wanted now. Turning one last pleading look at Devin, Elizabeth felt her throat constrict and fill with tears. He refused to meet her eyes, walking toward the bed and picking up his discarded shirt.

  “Run along,” Samuel’s voice spurned her on into the bathroom.

  Closing the door behind her she leaned back against the cool wood, sucking oxygen into her lungs. She would not cry. She would not cry over that man. She had what she wanted, Samuel. And she would be happy. Turning toward the sink Elizabeth caught sight of her reflection into the mirror. Was that her? She was shocked at the woman staring back at her. Brown curls framed her pale face. Blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears and her lips were swollen and bruised from Devin’s lovemaking. Her neck was marked with tiny red scratches caused by Devin’s days’ worth of whiskers. She had the look of a woman who had been well and truly ravished.

  No wonder Samuel was behaving so. He must be shocked at her and trying to cover it for her benefit. At that moment she was thankful for his friendship and love. She was better off with Samuel; he was soft and gentle with her and would treat her like a princess. She whipped her head up to look in the mirror, cursing at herself for using that term. Would she ever be able to stop this burning that spread through her when she thought of Devin? Not wanting to answer that question, fearful of the ans
wer, Elizabeth turned on the shower and stepped in washing the last remnants of Devin from her body and her mind.

  When Elizabeth emerged from the bathroom, dressed in a light blue summer suit, consisting of a short skirt that reached her knees, a light unlined blazer over a white silk blouse and high-heeled shoes, her confidence had returned. She had pulled her hair back at her nape with a white satin clip, leaving a few loose curls around her face. She was growing more comfortable with the clothes she was forced to wear and realized that they did a lot to help boost her self-esteem.

  The tension in the room was so thick she could have cut it with a knife. She looked first at Samuel who was sitting in one of the winged back chairs with one ankle thrown carelessly over his knee. The only sign of agitation was the continuous tap of his fingers as he drummed them on the table next to his chair. Elizabeth’s eyes searched out Devin, and landed on him as he lounged against the antique vanity. He was fully dressed now with his shirt tucked into the waistband of his faded blue jeans and athletic shoes on his feet. Her eyes roamed over his frame, intent on memorizing everything about this man. His long legs, tapered waist and wide chest; the image was there in her mind, his square jaw, strait nose and dark eyebrows, his full lips that were so soft and silky when he placed them against her bare skin. But she knew what would haunt her most were his eyes; blue brighter than the sky when he smiled and as black as the night when filled with passion.

  Devin raised his head and looked at her with those eyes, but they weren’t bright blue or black with passion now, they were ice cold and dead with no emotion. A shiver ran up her spine, causing goose bumps to rise on her flesh.

  “It is all taken care of Elizabeth,” Samuel’s voice next to her gave her a little fright and she almost stumbled trying to maintain her composure.

  “Really, Lizzy, if you can’t walk in those heels you should switch to flats,” Samuel commented as he grabbed her arm. “I don’t have time to be picking you up off the floor every five minutes.”

  Elizabeth jerked her head around at this cruel statement. Had Samuel always been this callous with her and she was just now seeing it? He rushed her toward the door before she could sort out her question. He opened the door to usher in a bellboy pushing a trolley.

  “I have already packed a few things for you dear. The rest I will have sent back to father’s house.” He turned toward Devin. “I would appreciate it Kane if you would pass the word on to Father and Margery that she is safe with me. “ Then he was pulling her out of the door and down the long hallway to the lift.

  Elizabeth was too stunned; she could not find her voice so she glanced fleetingly over her shoulder at Devin pleading with her eyes for him to respond. She saw some emotion flicker in his eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her doubting she had seen anything at all.

  “Elizabeth,” she turned her head to look down the hall at his tall frame. “If you don’t want to go with him, you should stay here.” Was he asking in his own way for her not to leave him? He spoke calmly as if he was discussing the weather with a stranger and Elizabeth felt doubt enter her thoughts which showed on her face.

  “I can have another detective here in two hours tops, so you don’t have to fear suffering anymore lessons from me.” His lips moved into a cynical smile. “Perhaps my replacement will be able to teach you something new?”

  A replacement! How dare he talk of a replacement after what had just happened between them. She felt her blood boil, unable to contain all of her pent up emotions, she unleashed them on him.

  “That is quite all right Detective Kane,” she was the ice princess again and proud of it. She laid a hand on Samuel’s arm. “I have had my fill of the barbaric side of sex,” she gave him a sly smile. As they stepped into the lift she strategically rubbed against Samuel in way that she hoped was provocative. “I think that I am ready to be initiated into the art of making love, and that would require more expertise than your type can supply.”

  Elizabeth felt as if her face would crack, but she refused to cry as she watched her remark hit target. Devin swore under his breath and lunged toward the sliding doors missing them just as they slammed shut. She knew that she would never forget the look of hatred Devin had given her and her body began to shake uncontrollably. Samuel whipped his head around to look at her in disbelief.

  “Elizabeth! What has gotten into you? I have never heard you speak to anyone like that and what is all this about sex?” he looked incredulous, mouth gawking open like a fish. “I really am shocked at your behavior.”

  “Oh shut up Samuel, would you please?” Elizabeth’s voice shook as her throat filled with unshed tears. “Just get me away from this place and that man.”

  Samuel snapped his mouth shut and he looked at her through narrowed eyes, probably seeing her for the first time. After a moment his face cleared and he wrapped her arm around his and faced the doors. When the lift opened they stepped off walking across the lobby and past a shocked Concierge.

  “Mrs. Kane is everything alright?” he came running after them.

  The name did not register with Elizabeth at first and then she stopped abruptly, jerking Samuel with her. She turned and smiled at the concierge.

  “Everything is just wonderful, I had a pleasant stay. Thank you,” and then she was dragging Samuel with her through the double doors and out into the evening air leaving the concierge to stare after them.

  When Elizabeth climbed in Samuel’s car and shut the door, she felt the dam burst and all the tears she had been holding in flowed out. She buried her head in her hands and cried. When Samuel drove away from the hotel Elizabeth did not look back.

  CHAPTER 10

  They reached the airport within an hour of their exit from the hotel. Elizabeth had cried until there was nothing left, vowing that she would never cry again over Devin or any man. She watched the countryside pass by outside her window without actually seeing it. Samuel had made several attempts to talk to her but without her encouragement, his idle chitchat died out leaving them driving in silence.

  Elizabeth’s mind replayed the scene in her head over and over until she was wrought with tension. Her hands were clinched in tight fists in her lap and she gnawed her lip until it bled. For the first twenty minutes she worried about Devin coming after them, and then when he did not, for the last twenty minutes she grieved the fact that he did not love her and would not come after her. She had to get control of herself. She realized that she knew he did not love her when she gave into the passion he evoked in her, so now she needed to get past that and move on. She was a new woman. She was gaining more confidence in her appearance every day. Strong and capable of taking care of her own life. She did not need Devin Kane. And she repeated this to herself as they approached the airport parking.

  As Samuel was retrieving their tickets and checking what little luggage they had brought, he received a page on his beeper. Elizabeth watched him as he checked the number and saw his face pale, his mouth tightened into a thin line and glance at her nervously.

  “I have to check on this Elizabeth,” he was tense; she could see this as he walked over to a pay phone. She did not follow him and could not hear his voice or the conversation, but she saw his face full of agitation when he glanced over his shoulder at her. The call lasted no more than a couple of minutes and when he hung up the phone Elizabeth saw him shudder slightly and then turn toward her. Whatever was discussed in the call was bad. She had never seen Samuel like this, all tense, his eyes kept flitting around the airport as if he were waiting for someone or something to jump out at him. When he reached her side she noticed the perspiration on his brow and his left eye twitched slightly.

  Concerned that something had happened to her Mother or Edward, Elizabeth felt panic grip her. What if they had got to her family? Before she could find her voice in her panicked throat Samuel grabbed her arm and swung her around practically dragging her behind him.

  “There has been a change of plans,” that was his on
ly remark, no explanation of why, or what had changed.

  “Samuel, I don’t understand,” she tried yanking on her arm but his grip was like steel. “What is going on?”

  “We are not going to the island.”

  “Why? Has something happened to Mother or Edward?”

  “No, they are fine.”

  “Then where are we going?”

  “I’ll fill you in on the way.”

  He pulled her through the sliding glass doors, but instead of going to the car, he walked in the opposite direction. What was wrong with him? He looked like a man who had the devil chasing him. When he stopped abruptly, Elizabeth ran into him. He turned and looked into her eyes. He seemed so scared. He stared at her for a full minute, inner turmoil reflected in his eyes.

  Elizabeth was suddenly very frightened of this man standing in front of her. Had he gone mad? Was he going to hurt her? She tried to sooth him with her voice, hoping that if she could bring some rational into this frightening conversation. “You know how much I care for you,” she reached up and cupped his face with her hand. “I just don’t understand what is making you act like this. Please tell me Samuel.”

  He jerked back from her touch as if he had been burned.

  “The car is here,” Samuel jerked her around roughly.

  Elizabeth felt the air in her lungs freeze when her eyes came into contact with the car Samuel had referred to. It was a black sedan with tinted windows. This could not be happening. It must be a coincidence. Slowly Elizabeth watched as the passenger door opened. Her body went hot and then cold as she watched the tall, skinny frame emerge from the care. It was Mr. Smith and he was looking directly at her.

  “What is this Samuel?” she pleaded.

  “I had to Elizabeth; they were going to kill me.”

  Anger filled her. She struggled against his grip.