by Mimi Barbour
Since it was the weekend, she hadn’t intended to work. Her need to sort out everything with Tyler had intensified. Now with this redhead added into the equation, it became crucial. Also, she hadn’t heard from Lea and wanted to know if Tyler had any recent information. Every time she thought of her young friend, concerns niggled at her, and the discomfort had gotten worse in the last few days. Lea hadn’t called, and when Annie had tried calling her, the message said the number was no longer in service.
All the way home in the taxi, she fretted. Responsibilities pulled her in too many directions. God, she felt tired—tired and alone. With her head back against the seat, she allowed the fading images of a night when she felt like a woman to soothe her. Physically, and in every other way, she yearned for Tyler.
Chapter Nineteen
The next morning, Annie arrived in the office hoping to steal a few minutes to call Tyler before the day’s obligations picked her up and carried her along. Sleep had evaded for hours, as she’d envisioned all kinds of scenarios in which a red-haired, witchy-woman stole her guy. Except he’d never been hers, had he? All she had to go on—all she had to show he ever cared about her in that way—was her misty dreams. He’d kissed her, but he’d never told her that she mattered to him. Then again, she hadn’t told him, either. Maybe it was time for her to open her heart, be first to put everything out there.
Yeah! Like that was gonna happen. Her tongue would wrap itself around the inside of her throat and choke off her air passages if she tried. On the other hand, she could make herself available to him in case he had something to tell her. Please God; don’t let it be that he’d found someone else.
“Celi, are you there? Please answer me.” She focused all her powers of concentration to call up the one being she knew would set her straight. “Please come talk to me. I need you.”
“Okay, okay, I’m here. At your lady’s service.” The angel, tangled hair cascading over her watchful face, floated over the filing case in the corner and looked disgruntled to be called upon. “I just spent most of the night sending you messages with your dreams and you ignored them. You wouldn’t be in this office today if you’d listened. As much as I want to see you get your heart’s desire, my favorite mixed-up humanoid, I can’t force you to make the right choices, girl. I can only give you suggestions and help support the end results.”
Annie’s head fell forward into her hands, her features a mask of despair. “No wonder I couldn’t sleep.”
“Big hint, Annie. Tyler is a man. He needs attention from a red-blooded woman and not from a worn-out workaholic who’s never around.” A popping sound, like that of a bubble bursting, punctuated her disappearing act.
In the next second, Nigel stepped into the open doorway. “Annie. I wondered where you had got to.” Nigel beckoned her to come with him. “The rest of the group is in the conference room. We’re waiting for you before we start the meeting.”
With conviction, she reached to pick up the phone receiver. “I’m sorry. I have to make a phone call before joining you.” Her explicit body language confirmed the fact that she didn’t intend to budge.
“Bother! If you please, can you hurry it along?” With a frown on his face, he turned away, only to turn back again. “Lest I forget, I came in here looking for you last evening, hoping to catch up with you before you left, and while here I answered a call. I’m not sure what possessed me to answer your telephone, but I did. Crazy thing—I felt as if I had no choice. It sounded like a young girl and she seemed rather upset, actually. She didn’t talk after I told her you weren’t available. I tried asking for her name, but” Nigel spread his hands out to signal his responsibility had ended at that point. “She hung up.”
“What do you mean she was upset? Was she crying?”
“More like whimpering. One minute she was on the line and the next she was gone. Strange. I don’t think she hung up the phone. In any case, we must get to that meeting, as we’re keeping the money men in suspense, and that’s not such a great idea.” He smirked as if he’d made the joke of the year.
Was it then she noticed how cold his eyes were, that his mouth had no laugh lines anywhere near it and that she didn’t like him? One thing she had to admit, he was smart. Crafty smart, sneaky smart and highly practiced when it came to stroking people. Even after she’d chronicled the list of his faults, he succeeded in his ability to manipulate. He led and she followed—straight down the hall to make her presentation to the men she’d so impressed the previous night, plus quite a few new ones.
Virtually hypnotized, her mind emptied and concentrated only on what Nigel wanted from her. Mesmerized, compelled by his determination, she blossomed under the delusion of her importance, her prestige and performed like a trained poodle at the end of a rhinestone leash.
Nigel introduced her first, promoting her, playing to her ego and then he launched the topic high on the agenda for everyone at the meeting—the smooth takeover of Montaro’s. He sat at the head of the table and watched. His no-nonsense demeanor set the tone for the proceedings.
All her senses were immersed in the rhythm of the business around her, and she got lost in the power game. But eventually a feeling of such despair overcame her that she had to cut her talk short, ignore the fury on Nigel’s face and escape. Her nerves were screaming, her stomach ached and she felt nauseated, all at the same time.
What the hell is happening to me? Annie questioned, too frightened to be really angry. She could hear Celi’s throaty voice whispering what sounded like a warning. Something wasn’t right. Without a doubt, she knew it was about the call Nigel had taken for her last evening. She couldn’t believe he’d been able to distract her earlier from the importance of that call. In fact, now that she was out of his presence and could think straight again, the question hovering at the back of her mind smacked her on the side of the head. Why hadn’t he told her about it the night before, at the restaurant? Hurrying to her office, she had one aim in mind. Find Tyler.
“Hi, Ty! Annie here. I’m so glad I caught you. Have you heard from Lea in the last while? I just found out there was a disturbing call for me yesterday. I’m wondering if it could have been her. I’m worried, Tyler.” Her hand rubbed in circles over her stomach, a habit she’d lately acquired.
“I haven’t seen her either, and she hasn’t returned any of my calls. I’ve tried going to her place, but it seems both she and Doug have left those premises, or so the bozo now living there informed me. I’ve been operating under the assumption that she’d call if she needed help. When things get rough, she usually comes seeking support. Therefore, since we haven’t heard from her, I’m praying she’s cleaned up her act and changed directions. We’ve been going nuts here in the office and I don’t mean that as a pun. I mean it literally. A full moon brings out all the crazies. We’ve had more kids needing help than available workers who can crowd them onto overloaded client lists.”
“Me, too! My life is totally out of control, and to tell you the truth, I don’t know how much longer I can put up with it.”
“Look, Annie, I’m sorry, but I have to go. I have a client. We’ll talk soon. Bye.”
What the…? He’d never sounded so abrupt with her before. Fear flooded her overcrowded senses. Trickles of dread began dropping from the top of her stomach into the rivers of fire below. Her hand reached for the bottle of pink liquid soother. She took a big swallow and, putting the cap back on, shoved it out of sight in her side drawer. Then she covered her mouth to hold in the sobs that crowded against her lips.
Before she could drop any further into her personal pit of remorse, a man in a dark suit and crinkled white shirt with a crooked tie rapped on the open door and asked for permission to enter. A woman wearing a somber navy pantsuit, her hair tied back strode in beside him.
“Are you Anna Hynes?”
“Yes, I am. Can I help you?”
“Yes, ma’am, you can. I’m Detective Drake,” said the male, taking charge. Pointing to the woman beside him, h
e added, “This here is Detective Penn.” They both flashed their badges. “We’re with NYPD, Homicide Division, and we’ve come to ask for your assistance.”
Annie, using the desk to pull herself up, leaned forward and shook hands with the two detectives. “Homicide? My assistance?”
“Yes, Miss Hynes. We have an unidentified body of a young female. Since this person had your card in her pocket, we think you might be able to provide us with her name. We hoped you might recognize her.”
Annie froze. Then she shook her head. “No!” Her eyes, growing bigger, felt stretched beyond endurance, and she wanted to beg the two people to stop. Stop talking.
“Please sit down, Miss Hynes. We’re very sorry to bring you this news, but—”
“It must be my friend Lea.” Tears filled her eyes and guilt washed over her in a tidal wave of remorse. The deluge weakened her knees so that she slid back down into her chair. My God! She’d spent last night and this morning in stupid meaningless conferences, while poor little Lea had needed her— had reached out, and she hadn’t been available.
What if last night’s call had been for help, or a place to hide? Those thoughts flooded, ramping her shame to an unbearable level. Annie knew she’d been so wrapped up in her job over the last few days—no, be honest, the last few months—that she hadn’t made time for her friends. And who knew better than she did how important a friend was to these street kids? Tyler had warned her about the responsibilities when she took on one of these teens. How much they needed to be able to rely on either Tyler or herself when no one else stepped up. Shaking, she grabbed her cell phone from her pocket, flipped it open and knew immediately that she’d unthinkingly let the battery run down. Last night when she got home she’d been so tired that she’d forgotten to plug it in—again.
Detective Penn stepped over and passed her the bottle of water on the desk near her elbow. Annie knew all color must have drained from her face, while sweat pooled on her forehead. Nausea churned her insides, and a sip of water helped to steady her, as the officer knew it would. Shock wasn’t only a word but a strong physical reaction; she recognized it like an old foe and, for the second major crisis in her life, had to battle it.
Her hands covered her eyes. Shivering visibly, her body vibrated, her teeth chattering as she tried to hold back the tears. Almost instantly, a special kind of warmth began to surround her, to seep into her bones and give her strength.
A faint inkling of the same sensation crowded in all of a sudden, and the knowledge that she hadn’t been alone during the tragedy in her teens struck her deeply and made her feel special. An angel’s love had kept her sane in the worst moments of her life.
“My God! She called here last evening. I…I’d left by then. My cell phone’s dead. She couldn’t reach me. She needed me and I—”
“What time did she call?”
“I’d gone home already, but my employer, Nigel Cromwell, had come to my office searching for me. He took the message, or at least tried to. He said she hung up after he’d explained I wasn’t available. He just told me about it this morning. I suppose it must have been sometime after six when I left the office and before eight when I met him at the restaurant.”
Tears gushed, a human water-wall over her face, but she wiped them away and bit her lip to stop the sobs from breaking through. Alas, nothing could halt the trembling that attacked her muscles or the sadness that saturated her heart.
“Is there anyone you’d have us call to be with you? You might not want to do this alone. I’m afraid she’s been beaten quite badly. Her face is almost unrecognizable. We’re hoping you’ll be able to identify her from her clothes and body markings, et cetera.”
“Is there a tattoo? Lea had a tattoo.”
“Yes”
“Oh, God! I’m going to be sick.” She ran to the private ensuite, to reappear after several excruciating minutes. One thought revolved in her mind, giving her determination. She hadn’t been there for Lea while she was still alive, but dammit, she’d be there for her now.
Later that night, once her bedroom door closed behind her, she could fall apart. Again, she felt as if invisible loving arms cradled her and a feeling of inner strength buoyed her up. Celi!
Detective Drake, the sensitive type, questioned Annie once more before they left the building. “You’re sure there’s no one you’d like to call? We can have them picked up.”
“I’m fine, Detective. Though, if one of you would stay with me, I’d appreciate it.” By going alone, she could save Tyler from the ordeal. Knowing how he’d suffer, she had to protect him at all costs.
Detective Penn remained close beside her during the drive and chatted her up about inconsequential nothings, trying to help her maintain her cool. Annie recognized her kindness and was thankful. But as the time came closer for her to view the body, she balked. It was just so hard—until she felt soft imaginary fingers tighten around her hand. Losing control didn’t come easy for her, especially twice in front of the same strangers, and so, with Celi’s help, she bit her lip, drew in a harsh breath and straightened her shoulders.
“Would you rather look at photographs, Miss Hynes? We can follow that procedure if you’d prefer.”
“Photographs?”
“Yes, we could show you pictures of the body, but viewing her in person leaves less risk of an error. If you’re up to it, that is?”
“No photographs. I have to be with her.” The next thought she kept to herself. I need to ask her forgiveness and tell her good-bye.
Chapter Twenty
“Sara, is that you? You’re there with Hugo at his apartment?” Annie had called his home number, trying to reach him as soon as she left the police station.
“Yes. He asked me to come and give him a hand. Anna, I hate to be the one to tell you bad news, but Hugo had a heart attack and has refused to stay in the hospital because of the children. They’ve put him on a special medication, which has helped. We’ve just gotten him settled in a bed here with a private nurse.
But the kids are acting up and I’m trying to calm them. I can’t blame the little ones, as their lives have been topsy-turvy for so long. They’re missing their friends, worried about Hugo and they won’t be bribed to settle down no matter what I come up with. I have to say, my patience and resilience is looking for a tranquilizer.”
“Can I come over and help? I have something I need to discuss with Hugo. It’s best if you’re there, because I want to talk with you also.” The pregnant pause at the other end made her add—”it’s imperative I meet with him immediately.”
“I guess it’ll be okay. What’s wrong, Anna? You sound funny. Are you coming right now?”
“Yes. I’ll be knocking at the door in about twenty minutes. See you then.”
* * *
The door was yanked open after the first light knock, almost as if someone had been waiting for the sound. Happy childish voices rang out.
“Annie! Hi! You’ve come to visit Papa? He’s sick, you know. We have a nurse. Are you ever coming back to playschool? We miss you.”
Kisses and hugs were exchanged, and two small hands nestled in hers as she walked farther into the apartment. Seeing the kids reignited the missing sparkle in her heart, and a smile replaced the sad look she’d been unable to hide. She knew she probably looked years older than the last time Sara had seen her. She certainly felt that way. Her appearance had to account for Sara’s shocked expression—her eyes narrowing, her lips tightening.
“Annie! Sorry, Anna—”
She patted Sara’s hand and answered, her voice lowered. “Please, call me Annie. It feels much more comfortable than Anna.”
“I guess I’ve picked up ‘Annie’ from Hugo and the kids. My dear, are you all right? What’s happened?”
“Don’t fret, I’ll tell you later. I must go to Hugo now.”
“Yes, of course. The children can show you to his bedroom.” As she followed behind, Sara’s revealing face registered confusion.
Ob
viously glad to be with their old playmate, both little ones chattered happily, holding onto her hands and leading her down the hall to their father’s closed door. Once there Annie stopped the entourage and knelt down to talk to them. “Kids, I promise to visit with you before I leave, but I need to talk with your papa now. Is that all right?”
Satisfied that they’d get some time with her, they both answered, “Sure, Annie.”
Sara, hands on a shoulder of each child, turned and guided them in the opposite direction, then gave them a gentle push.
“Go to the kitchen and I’ll be there in a moment. We’ll get a snack fixed up so Annie can share it with us, okay?”
“Okey-dokey!” Happy kids skipped to the door and started racing to get to the kitchen first.
“I’ll go supervise and let you have a few moments alone with Hugo.” Sara leaned down and whispered, “You look terrible, boss. Stop letting those fanatics at work use you. They’re not even human, those guys—more like the droids in Star Wars. And that Nigel—he’s a simple machine, energy with no heart.” Sara sniffed, disdain obvious.
Her attitude lightened Annie’s load and made her smile. But when Sara turned to slowly open the door and peek into Hugo’s room, Annie felt herself reverting to the somber woman she’d been when she first arrived.
Recalcitrant tears clouded her eyes, and she fought to keep them from overflowing. She swallowed, wishing she could clear a path so her voice wouldn’t come out scratchy and feeble.
Without hesitation, her hands lifted to rub heat into her upper arms, while a flood of inner shivers added to her discomfort. Her bottom lip swelled from yet another workout. God, she didn’t want to face this poor man who already had enough to deal with. But it was either her or the police, and since she’d begged them to let her have some time with him alone before they came to question him, she knew she couldn’t waste those precious moments.