by Tina Folsom
Hamish turned off the radio. He was getting numb to the violence in this city. It was time that somebody did something about the escalating tensions in Baltimore. Gunn was only fanning the flames of discontent and strife, playing right into the demons’ hands.
Finally! After another fifteen minutes of driving, Gunn stopped in front of a large suburban home with a neatly kept front yard and got out of the car, flowers in hand. There were few other cars on the street, forcing Hamish to drive past the house, and turn at the next intersection, then parking next to a tree. He glanced around, making sure nobody saw him, and made himself invisible. He exited his car without opening the door, lest any neighbors watching might find it suspicious that a car door opened and closed by itself.
He hurried toward the house where Gunn had stopped. His car was still there, but Gunn himself was nowhere in sight. He had to be inside.
“Well, let’s see what you’re up to,” he murmured to himself and approached the front door.
Behind it, he suddenly heard a dog yapping. He cursed silently. Dogs with their keen sense of smell were bad news. In fact, dogs could be used to sniff out Stealth Guardians while they were invisible. Nevertheless, he had to get in there. Maybe the dog would be too preoccupied with Gunn to pay Hamish any attention.
He waited a few more seconds and listened. The high-pitched barking of the dog moved farther away from the door. Hamish pressed his hand against the door, then passed through it. He found himself in a spacious foyer with stairs to the second floor, a corridor in the middle, and an open archway leading into an elegant sitting room on the right. He heard Gunn’s voice and that of a woman coming from the back of the house, where the dog was still yapping intermittently.
Hamish walked along the corridor, treading lightly so he wouldn’t be heard.
He reached the kitchen, where Gunn was playing with a white Bichon—the source of the yapping.
“He looks like a puppy. When did you get him?” Gunn asked, rising. The dog barked in protest.
The woman, who’d been arranging the flowers in a vase, turned away from the sink and placed the flowers on the island. Hamish recognized her immediately. He’d met her at the Wallace’s party: Amanda Yardley, the widow of the former mayor.
Was Gunn having an affair with her?
“Only last month,” she replied to Gunn. “You know, after John’s death, I felt very lonely, so my sister suggested I’d get a dog.”
The dog suddenly left Gunn, raced around the island, and barked loudly in Hamish’s direction, his bark taking on a vicious growling tone.
“Damn it, Diggi! Stop barking! There’s nothing there,” Amanda admonished the dog, before she addressed Gunn again. “But he’s driving me batty. He’s not trained yet, you know. And he constantly barks. I mean, look at him! Now he’s barking at the air.”
Gunn chuckled. “You should have gotten a larger dog. They don’t bark as much, and they’re good for protection.”
“I can’t return him now.” She tossed a kind look at the creature. “He is sweet, you know.” Then she smiled at Gunn. “It’s so nice of you to visit. Thanks so much for the flowers. I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime,” Gunn said cheerfully. “I just wanted to check in on you and see how you’re doing.”
“I’m coping. But it’s hard to get closure, you know?” She sighed.
“Because they haven’t found the driver?”
She nodded. “The police said it’s still an open case, but I have the feeling they’ve got their hands full with everything else going on in the city. What’s a hit-and-run, when there are riots and murders?”
Gunn put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t give up, Amanda. I’ll have a word with the Chief of Police; see if I can light a fire under his ass.”
Amanda smiled thankfully. “That would be great.”
“Don’t mention it.”
She took a breath and pointed to the coffee machine. “Can I make you a coffee?”
Gunn made a dismissive hand movement. “No, no, I’ve gotta go. Lots of stuff to do. But while I’m here, I just wanted to ask you something.”
Amanda lifted an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“I was told you received a box with all of John’s personal stuff from the office.”
“Yes, they sent it over just last week.”
“You wouldn’t happen to have seen his datebook in there?”
She nodded. “Oh yes, it was in there. I put it in his study.”
“Do you mind if I take it with me?” He smiled. “It’s just that before his death he’d set up some appointments and for some reason I can’t find all the details, and I’m supposed to take over for him. And you know how he always made notes in his datebook. I think it might come in handy for me not to walk into those meetings unprepared, right?”
“Well, sure. You can have it. I don’t know why they even sent it. It’s of no value to me. I’ll go get it.”
“Thanks.”
Amanda left the kitchen, while Gunn waited impatiently, tapping his foot on the floor. Apparently the dog took it as a sign to play. Diggi ran toward him, yapping again.
“Shut up, you idiot dog,” Gunn hissed under his breath and stared the puppy down.
But the puppy tilted its head to the side, then jumped at Gunn’s leg and got hold of his pants, digging his teeth into them.
“I hate dogs!” Gunn growled and kicked the dog with his other foot, so that the poor creature slithered along the polished tile floor in Hamish’s direction.
Diggi yowled.
Jerk!
Hamish bent down to the puppy and stroked his hand over its back. The poor dog flinched, but Hamish brought his other hand to under its head and caressed its neck, soothing the creature.
Moments later, Amanda reappeared in the kitchen and handed Gunn a large, weathered datebook.
“Here you go, Robert. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
“I hope so, too. Thanks so much again. And don’t be a stranger. Next time you’re near City Hall, call me and we’ll have lunch.” He smiled and walked toward the hallway.
“I’ll do that.”
Hamish followed him out. When Gunn reached his car and got in, Hamish ran to his own car, so he wouldn’t lose him. He needed to have a look at that datebook and figure out what Gunn was looking for.
Back in his car, and following Gunn back into the city again, Hamish pulled out his cell phone and dialed Tessa’s number.
She picked up after the second ring. “Hamish?”
“Can you talk?”
“Yes, we just got Mother settled. Dad’s making tea. What is it?”
“Is there any reason why Gunn would want to get his hands on Yardley’s old appointment book?”
“His appointment book?”
“Yes, he just went to see Amanda Yardley and asked her for it. She gave it to him. He said something about some meetings Yardley had set up before his death, which Gunn now has to attend. He claimed he needed to see any notes that Yardley may have made.”
“That sounds fishy to me,” Tessa replied.
“That’s what I thought, too.” He paused, thinking for a moment. “Listen, I’m going to stay on his tail and see what else he’s up to. If I can’t make it back to relieve Enya, I’ll send somebody else to stay with you tonight, okay?”
“You won’t come back?” There was panic and disappointment in her voice.
“Don’t worry, you’re not gonna get rid of me that easily. I’ll be back, but I might be late, and I won’t leave you unprotected. If Enya needs to rest and I’m not back, tell her to get Aiden to come and watch you.”
“Not Manus?”
“No, definitely not Manus!” Hamish growled. He didn’t want that womanizer anywhere near Tessa. “Aiden is my best friend. I trust him more than anybody.” Besides, Aiden loved his wife and would never touch another woman. “But I’ll try to be back as soon as I get something concrete on Gunn.”
“Okay.”<
br />
There was a click on the line. Yes, he would definitely try to be back sooner rather than later.
25
Despite Hamish’s promise to come back later that evening and relieve Enya, he didn’t. Instead, Aiden showed up at Tessa’s apartment. Enya assured her that Aiden would keep her safe before she left. According to Aiden, Hamish had been busy breaking into Gunn’s office at City Hall to go through his stuff, and was planning to do the same at his home, just as soon as he and his wife were fast asleep.
It was odd how quickly she’d gotten used to his presence and how alone she felt when Hamish wasn’t with her. She shouldn’t feel that way. After all, she knew this was all temporary. Once the danger was over, once the demons were defeated, Hamish would leave, too. There was nothing between them, just two kisses, both stolen in moments of despair and fear. Kisses that—according to his own words—meant nothing to him.
She tried to tell herself that they meant nothing to her either, but she would be lying. She’d enjoyed those brief moments of intimacy. She’d dreamed about those kisses, relived them again and again, though she knew there would be no repeats.
Sighing, Tessa got dressed in her yoga clothes. A session at the studio might help her relax and shake off the worries of the last few days. She walked into the living room, where Aiden was lounging on the couch, a coffee mug in his hand.
“Morning, Tessa, hope you slept well,” he said. “Want some coffee?”
She shook her head. “Not before my yoga class. Coffee before you’re doing a downward dog isn’t a good idea.”
“Got it,” he said and put his mug aside. “What time does your class start?”
“In fifteen minutes.”
“Well, we’d better leave then or you’ll be late.”
“It’s just around the corner,” she said and grabbed her yoga mat and her handbag. She pulled out her cell phone and looked at it. “Darn, battery is dead. I’d better charge it.” She plugged it into the wall jack and laid it on the small side table.
“I’m assuming you don’t want to be seen with me,” Aiden said.
“Not that I don’t want to show up with a handsome guy, but I’d hate to have to explain to the other women who you are.”
“Hey, just checking. I prefer to remain incognito anyway.” He motioned to the door. “Lead the way. I’ll be right behind you.”
She walked to the door and opened it, then looked over her shoulder, but Aiden had already cloaked himself. “I really don’t know how you manage to avoid doors constantly getting slammed in your face when you’re invisible.”
He chuckled, but said nothing.
Her yoga mat under her arm, Tessa hurried down the stairs, then exited her apartment building. It was sunny outside, and she enjoyed the short walk to the yoga studio. But before she got there she realized she’d forgotten her water bottle.
“Gotta stop for water,” she murmured for Aiden’s benefit, and went into the convenience store next to the studio. She walked to the back of the store where the refrigerators were located and pulled a bottle of still water from one.
When she reached the cashier, she put the bottle on the counter and dug into her handbag for some change.
“How much?” she asked, but the guy was staring up at a TV, which was broadcasting the morning news. Tessa’s eyes were instinctively drawn to the screen. A red bar with the words Breaking News was scrolling along on the bottom.
Oh no, not another shooting or riot, she begged silently. She’d seen too many of these breaking news stories in the last couple of months.
“This just in: the mayoral race has taken a new turn,” the announcer started.
Instantly she was all ears. What outrageous statement had Gunn made now that warranted such as strong reaction from the media?
“Pictures of Councilwoman Wallace surfaced on various Internet sites this morning,” the reporter continued, while a photo popped up next to him on the screen. “They seem to show Ms. Wallace injecting herself with drugs. The councilwoman could not be reached for comment. We will continue to monitor…”
But Tessa had heard enough. All she could do was stare at the photo. A photo showing her wearing a bra and shorts. A rubber tourniquet was wrapped around her bicep, and a hypodermic needle lay next to her. Her eyes had rolled back, she looked... stoned. This couldn’t be her. It was impossible. But when she looked at the face of the woman in the picture, she was looking at herself.
“No,” she choked out. “No, no.”
The cashier turned his head to her, but Tessa was already spinning around and rushing to the door.
“Hey, you want that water or not?” he yelled after her.
She ran out onto the sidewalk when she heard Aiden’s voice behind her. “Let’s get back to your apartment, now.”
Tears welling up in her eyes, she practically ran back to her apartment building. She fumbled for her keys when she got to the door, shaking. But then she felt Aiden’s invisible hand on hers and his comforting voice in her ear.
“Easy, Tessa, you’re almost there.”
The thirty seconds it took to get from the front door to her apartment seemed to stretch forever. She braced herself against the wall once she was inside. Aiden, now visible again, was already pulling out his cell phone.
“We have a problem,” he said to the person at the other end of the line and walked into the kitchen, lowering his voice.
A sob tore from her chest, just as her cell phone started ringing, startling her. She stared at the display. Poppy, her campaign manager. But she couldn’t pick up. What would she say?
Then her gaze fell on her landline phone. Two messages. Automatically she pressed the button to replay them.
“Honey, it’s your dad. You’ve gotta call me. I know that photo isn’t you. We need to talk. Please.” A beep ended her father’s message.
Immediately the next message played. “Tessa, are you there?” It was Poppy. “I just saw the news. It’s all over the Internet. We’ve gotta get ahead of this. We need to work on a statement, come up with an explanation. Something plausible, or this will derail your campaign. Damn it, girl, why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you. Call me back now. We have to do something before this can’t be contained anymore. I’ll try your cell, too.”
Another beep. But the phone didn’t remain silent. Immediately, it started ringing. Caller ID identified the caller as one of the news outlets in the city. Reporters were calling for comment. But she had none. She couldn’t talk to them, because she only had one thing to say: “It’s not me. That’s not me in that photo.”
Tears were now streaming down her face. Aiden looked blurred to her as he came back into the living room. Without a word he pulled the phone jack out of the wall outlet, silencing the ringing. Then he took her cell phone and switched it off.
Silence descended on her apartment. But everything began to spin. Her life was spinning out of control. Everything she’d worked for was slipping through her fingers.
“Who would do such a thing?” she cried out, staring at Aiden.
“We’ll figure it out.”
However, she couldn’t help but see a sheen of doubt in his eyes. Did he believe that the woman in the photo was her? A bolt of adrenaline suddenly assaulted her, making her heart beat frantically. Hamish! Had he seen the photo yet? Was that why he hadn’t returned yet? Because he thought her to be a drug addict not worth protecting anymore?
“It’s not me,” she repeated to herself. “That’s not me.”
26
Hamish had decided to get a few hours of rest at the compound after getting back from Gunn’s house in the early hours of the morning, knowing Tessa would be asleep anyway. When he heard somebody knock loudly at his door, he reared up, still dazed.
“Hamish! Get up, you need to see this!” It was Pearce.
Hamish jumped out of bed, wearing only his boxer briefs. “What? Get in here!”
Instantly, Pearce entered, holding a laptop in his hands.
“This is all over the news.” He turned the laptop, and Hamish approached.
He blinked, looked at the image on the screen again, then back at Pearce. Adrenaline shot through his veins, and his heart began to thunder. “Shit! Which hospital is she at? Where the fuck was Aiden? I’m gonna kill him!”
“Stop, Hamish!” Pearce pointed at the lines of text below the picture that showed a half-naked Tessa shooting up what looked like heroine. “Tessa is at home. I checked with Aiden. She’s fine. Nothing’s happened to her.”
His pulse started to beat a little slower. “Then what the fuck is this?” Because the woman in the photo was clearly Tessa. No doubt about it.
“The news says the photo may have been taken a while ago. But no matter when it was taken, this will derail her campaign. Nobody wants a druggie as a mayor.”
Hamish grabbed Pearce by the collar of his shirt. “Tessa is no druggie, damn it!” No, it couldn’t be true, though the evidence was damning. “There must be an explanation for this.” There had to be. Had he been wrong about her? Just like he’d been wrong about Olivia? Was he doomed to fall for the wrong woman all over again?
Fall for her? Fuck! Was he falling for her? Had he lost his marbles? Hadn’t he tried hard enough to stay away from her and not let her into his heart? Apparently he’d failed again. And now he was paying the price for it. She’d deceived him. Hidden something from him.
“Call Aiden. Tell him not to let her out of his sight even for a moment, not even to use the bathroom. I’m on my way.”
Hamish had never showered and gotten dressed this quickly in his life. Nor had he ever disregarded the rules of traffic as blatantly as he did now. By the time he reached Tessa’s apartment building, two traffic cameras had caught him running red lights. But he would pay those tickets gladly.
He parked around the corner, noticing that a news van had already pulled up in front of Tessa’s building. The vultures were circling their prey. Making himself invisible, Hamish jumped out of the car, entered through a tradesmen’s entrance in the back of the building and ran up the staircase to Tessa’s floor. At the door, he took a breath. Without ringing the door bell, he marched into the apartment and made himself visible.