Gwen rolled her eyes. “Don’t make fun of my expressions. You know what I say is true.”
No, she didn’t. Eliza had no idea where Carter’s head was when it came to tomorrow. Sure, their immediate future was stable, but who knew what next month or next year would bring?
****
“Why the secrecy?” Carter sat opposite Blake in Blake’s office and crossed his ankle over his knee.
Blake lifted up a finger and picked up his phone. “I need you to hold my calls,” he told his secretary. He returned the receiver and focused his attention on Carter. “I think this office is the only place another set of eyes aren’t watching you.”
“Okay.” Obviously, what Blake was going to say was private.
“I met Sam’s dad last week…before the dinner.”
Carter held his breath. Although he and Blake had never discussed Harris Elliot, Carter knew of the man, of his past crimes. He also knew that Harris and Sanchez were housed in the same prison. Carter would never have asked Blake to contact the man on his behalf. It appeared he didn’t have to.
“Does Sam know?”
Blake nodded once. “I told her after I returned.”
“How did that go?”
“She was resolved with it. She’d do anything for Eliza.”
“Even connecting with her dad who screwed up her life?”
Blake sat back in his chair and laced his fingers together. “It’s strange how when things brighten in your life, it’s hard to blame others for theirs. It helped that Harris appeared truly sorry for the pain he’d put his daughters through.”
“I assume you want to tell me something more than a recap of a family meet and greet.”
“Right. I asked him to destroy all photos of Sam…of anything that could lead Sanchez to Eliza.”
Carter wanted to think that was all they would need. “Thank you.”
“It might not make a difference,” Blake voiced what Carter thought.
“Then again, it might.”
They sat in silence for a moment, neither voicing their concerns.
“What else can I do, Carter?”
“My father is checking on Sanchez. Trying to determine if he is still working his criminal ring from the inside. According to Dean, he did when he first went to prison, but it’s been a few years since any direct criminal activity pointed his way. My guess is there is nothing new to report or Dean would have said something. No news isn’t always a good thing.”
“I have a two-year-old. I understand that.”
Carter laughed and some of the tension eased from his shoulders.
“Didn’t you say Sanchez had contacts in Mexico?”
“Yeah.”
“I can have someone look into his old activities there—see if anything new is worth mentioning.”
Blake had shipping hubs all over the globe and these equated to connections. Sure, Carter had connections, too, but exercising them while running for office could mean political suicide.
“Gathering information can’t hurt,” Carter said.
“Consider it done. How is everything else going? Samantha told me that Eliza received mail everyday asking for her help.”
“Every day? More like every hour. She’s on a mission to reunite families and fix issues within the witness relocation program.”
“If there is anyone who can, it would be someone who has lived it.”
Carter agreed. “The letters have taken her mind off the fact that she’s somewhat secluded.”
“What do you mean?”
“I asked her to avoid going out—to stay home where she’s safe.”
Blake rubbed his jaw and frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Eliza.”
“It isn’t. Hopefully, we’ll know more about Sanchez soon and be able to neutralize his threat.”
“If that was possible don’t you think the police would have done that early on and avoided placing Eliza in the program?”
Carter felt his jaw tighten and his shoulders tense. “I have to believe there is something more I can do, Blake. Otherwise I’ve put my wife in harm’s way instead of saving her.”
The muscles on Blake’s face softened and he attempted a grin. The attempt was lame, however, and Carter didn’t want to see the sympathy. He stood abruptly and said, “I’m needed across town.”
Blake walked him to the door. “I’ll be in touch.”
Carter punched his steering wheel once he was alone. What the hell was he going to do?
****
Dean sucked in the nicotine and felt his nerves instantly calm. He’d been reduced to leaning against a black and white in the yard to take his cigarette fix. Even the sanctity of the station which used to sport a grey hue of smoke like a badge of honor, had been poisoned by the non-smokers. Don’t smoke close to the door! Don’t smoke in the cars! Just quit, you’re better off! As if the warning label on the damn pack wasn’t enough of a threat, it seemed everyone scowled at the smoker. He drew in another breath and blew the smoke out through pursed lips.
The world could bite him. His attempts at stopping never worked, and the gum tasted like shit.
“I knew I’d find you out here.”
Jim strode toward him with determined steps. In his hands were papers that he was currently tapping against his thigh. He eyed the cigarette, but didn’t comment.
“Just taking a break.”
Jim leaned against the car beside him. “Better off talking out here, anyway.”
That didn’t sound good. “What’s up?”
He tapped the papers against his palm before handing them to Dean.
Dean took one last drag and tossed the butt to the ground next to plenty more left by other cops. He took the papers and glanced at a cheap printed picture.
“Carter’s friend Blake visited his father-in-law.”
“Do we know what they talked about?”
“We can guess.”
He flipped through the pages of pictures taken by the cameras at the prison. It didn’t appear that Blake arrived with anyone.
“Any word on the inside?”
Jim shook his head. “It’s quiet. Too quiet.”
Dean hated that word. Nothing good ever came from it, and it never lasted long.
“Have you heard from Eliza?”
“Only a steady stream of her shoe bills.”
Jim laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Could it be that Sanchez isn’t interested anymore? That he moved on?”
Criminals didn’t move on. And they never forgot. “Remember the picture of Eliza’s mom?” Dean didn’t have to remind Jim of which picture he referred to. Jim’s smile faded.
The sun that always managed to shine in southern California slipped behind a cloud and Dean felt a chill. “We keep vigilant. Sanchez has time on his side and won’t be in a hurry. It isn’t as if Eliza will slide off his radar anytime soon.”
The stress of Eliza’s case would ensure Dean’s cigarette habit for years to come. He thought of his own daughter and how much she looked like Eliza.
****
“Thanks for doing this here,” Samantha tucked her legs under her bottom and made herself comfortable on the couch. Eliza, Gwen, and Karen made themselves comfortable around the formal living room. “Eddie hardly naps any longer, and I’m exhausted by the end of my day.”
Eliza had slipped into Eddie’s room before joining the other women. He looked like he was napping fine today. She couldn’t help wondering if maybe Samantha used him as an excuse to keep Eliza from going to Tarzana.
Gwen added sugar to her tea and made small chiming noises with the cup. “Eddie is adorable.”
“Thanks.”
“How is everything at the house?” Eliza asked Gwen.
“At first it was quite hectic. The phone rang relentlessly. Nothing legitimate. Things seem to be calming now.”
Samantha and Eliza had prepared statements for Gwen to recite to the callers. Eliza remembered well what it was like after Sam and B
lake were wed. The media made every conceivable effort to find something seedy about Alliance.
They failed.
“Have we lost any clients?”
“Candice asked to have her portfolio put on hold. She met someone on holiday and things are working out well.”
“Good for her,” Samantha said.
“That’s all?” Eliza took a cookie off the serving plate on the coffee table and broke it in two.
“Yes.”
Karen cleared her throat. “You might want to take Sedgwick off your list.”
“Oh?”
“He and my aunt have a weekly date. Though neither of them call it that.”
An uncontrollable grin met Eliza’s lips. “That’s awesome.”
“It is. I didn’t think my aunt knew what blush and lip gloss were, but I noticed her wearing it the last time he came over. It’s too damn cute.”
“Are you still escorting him?”
Karen nodded. “He picks me up or sometimes I pick him up. It’s hysterical watching the grandkids crane their necks to see me and scowl every time I’m there. His children are more subtle but just as unhappy.”
“So, they still think the two of you are seeing each other?” Eliza nibbled on her cookie and wished she could see a video of Sedgwick’s greedy grandchildren.
“Yes. Stanly is having a grand time duping his heirs. And my Aunt is coaching him on what to say to get under their skin.” Humor filled Karen’s eyes as she spoke. She obviously got as much out of this crazy arrangement as the older couple did.
“How long do you think you can keep this up?”
Karen shrugged. “A little while. I make a point of leaving the two of them alone. My guess is Stanly will eventually relieve his kids and grandchildren of their worry. Although him having a young woman in his life might seem the bigger evil, they haven’t met Aunt Edie.”
“I want an invitation to the wedding,” Eliza said.
“It’s a little soon for that, but don’t worry.”
After a few minutes of wedding talk and how to throw a bachelorette party for Edie, Karen changed the subject.
“Other than the update on the happy couple, why did you ask me to what I assume is a business lunch?”
Eliza glanced at Samantha and Gwen. “Sam and I have been talking. I’m at a crossroads right now, and we think I need to back away from the daily running of Alliance.”
Gwen sighed. “Are you sure?”
“It wasn’t like when Blake and I married. A wealthy businessman here in the States is expected to go through whatever it takes to find the right bride. But Carter’s life and Eliza’s is being scrutinized and anything will be used against them. If, by chance, Carter isn’t elected then maybe that will fade.”
Eliza interrupted Samantha. “But if that doesn’t happen and a tabloid finds I’m still running a bride for hire service it wouldn’t reflect well. Especially with the institute of marriage up for debate at nearly every election.”
“I’m sure that’s true,” Karen said. “But it doesn’t answer the question of why I’m here.”
“We need help.” Eliza smiled at Karen as she spoke. “Gwen has done a great job keeping it all together. Samantha helps where she can. But, between Eddie and her responsibilities here and in Europe, time isn’t plentiful. We wanted to know if you’d be interested in a job.”
Karen fiddled with her necklace. “I have a job.”
“But this one would be more flexible. You’d have more time to help the kids.” Karen spent her off time volunteering at local youth groups mentoring needy kids. “You already understand what we do and, most importantly for us, we trust you. We can easily match your salary with a raise.”
Samantha paused and Eliza waited for a reaction from Karen.
“I’m listening.”
Eliza relaxed in her chair and let Samantha explain what they needed and would expect. By the time she finished, Karen was nodding and trying to hide a smile.
“Well, what do you think?”
Karen sighed and didn’t hesitate. “I need to give notice at the nursing home.”
Gwen clapped her hands together two times. “Oh, super. You’ll adore working at Alliance.”
Part of Eliza regretted having to step away from her job. She’d still be around to help, but all paper ties would sever.
They spent the next hour bringing Karen up to date on a few of the active clients, those for whom they still needed to find the perfect companion. Of course, Karen happened to be one of them and she made a point of insisting she wanted first dibs on the perfect groom.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Carter arrived home before Eliza with take out from The Villa. The tucked away Tuscan restaurant had been a hit with Eliza when he introduced it to her shortly after they married. If it wasn’t for takeout, Carter would have died of hunger years ago.
He slid around Zod who sniffed the aromatic bag and barked in welcome. “What are you barking at? You won’t eat it anyway.” Stupid dog. As much as he tried to get the dog to cheat, the four-legged K-9 wanted nothing to do with table scraps.
Carter clicked on the kitchen light and set the bags on the counter. He wanted to make the night special for Eliza. She resigned from Alliance today, and he knew she wouldn’t be happy about it.
He walked into the den and turned on the radio. En route back to the kitchen, he found a half-eaten stiletto at the side of the couch. “Zod!” he yelled for the dog.
Zod ran to his side and barked, oblivious to the trouble he was in.
Carter waved the shoe in the air and scolded the animal. “I’m tempted to beat you with this. Bad dog!”
Zod barked twice more.
“How am I going to advocate that you stay with us if you keep dining on her shoes?”
The animal sat and rolled his tongue out of his mouth. Carter swore the dog smiled behind his elongated chin and sharp teeth.
“Bad dog,” he said one more time before walking way.
Carter took the shoe to the side yard and buried it in the trashcan. He didn’t want Eliza to see it. Maybe she’d forget about the shoes, and think Zod had kicked the habit. As it was, Eliza had been pretty good about using the high rack in the closet for her footwear. This one must have slipped her mind. Or maybe she was in a rush when she left. Either way, Carter wasn’t going to announce the dog’s obstinate behavior.
He managed to set the table and light a candle before he heard the chime indicating that a car was coming up the drive. A security monitor in the kitchen kicked on and Carter recognized the car as theirs.
Shortly after Eliza’s car, the second security guard drove behind them. He heard the front door open and voices.
Russell, the security guard who escorted Eliza more often than not, bid her goodnight in the hall. By the time she walked into the kitchen, the guard had slipped away. Carter never forgot they were there, but they did a great job of staying in the background.
“What smells so good?” Eliza asked as she walked into the room.
“That would be the spicy chicken pasta, light on the sauce.”
Carter finished pouring the sparkling wine into a glass while she sat her purse on the counter. “What’s the occasion?” she asked as he handed her the tall flute and clicked it together with his.
“Do we need an occasion?” He gave her a brief kiss before she could answer. He liked this… The domestic bliss between them. He kissed her when he came home and before he left. They would text each other a few times during the day, and those small things felt perfectly right. There was nothing clingy about Eliza, nothing that pulled on his nerves. She adjusted to her new life better than he thought she would.
And that made him smile.
“The wine, the music…the food? If I didn’t know better, I swear you were trying to get laid.”
Carter slapped a hand to his chest. “I’m crushed.”
Eliza sipped her wine. “Yeah, right. Sure! What’s up?”
He pulled out a chair
and encouraged her to sit. “You were at Sam’s, right?”
“A huh.”
“Did Karen take the job?”
“She did. Oh, that’s it.” Understanding filled her features. She sat the glass down, reached over the table, and took his hand. “You worried about me quitting my job.”
“I know you didn’t want to.”
“Dang, Carter…that’s downright sweet of you. Where have you hidden all this charm?”
“In the closet…” with your chewed up shoes. He glanced down at her feet and noticed her sensible heals. “Let me roll out some of that charm and help you relax.” He reached down and slid them off her feet. He shot Zod a look before taking them to the mudroom in the back of the house and placing them on a top shelf.
Eliza wore a playful smile when he returned. “You put them up, right?”
“Always.”
They talked a little about her day as Carter divided the meal onto their plates. Eliza drizzled dressing onto the salads and within minutes, they were both eating.
“I need to learn how to make this,” she said between bites.
“You know what would make it better?”
“Can it get any better?”
“Mushrooms.” Carter filled his mouth and savored the garlic white sauce and a chunk of grilled chicken.
“Now that sounds perfect. Not a lot of mushrooms, just a few. Maybe I should ask the chef to add them.”
“Chefs can be more temperamental than a basketball player after a foul is called. Next time we order out, we can add them ourselves.”
Eliza pointed at him with her fork. “Now you’re thinking.”
“So how are you…really?” There wasn’t a hint of sadness in her face, but he needed to ask.
“I’m okay. I thought it would be harder than it was.”
Either she was an Oscar worthy actress, or she really wasn’t upset. If it wasn’t for the constant flow of letters arriving daily, Carter thought she would have a bigger issue.
He wanted to point out that she didn’t have to worry about money, that he would take care of her. Somehow she probably wouldn’t see that the way he did.
“Excuse me,” Russell interrupted their conversation with an uncharacteristic visit to the kitchen. “I’m sorry to bother you.”
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