“He said you’d left a message in your apartment.”
“The police were looking for me?” She felt a lump in her throat.
“They hadn’t given up, Kate.” Nathan glanced at her. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes.”
She felt sick.
“Try not to worry. We’ll do this together.” Kate turned to the window and acknowledged that the uncomfortable lump in her throat was the beginnings of hope.
“I asked my dad why they’d chosen the name Elisa. You were right. He said after Mom left, I used to go on and on about how if I couldn’t have a Mommy called Elizabeth then I wanted a sister called Elizabeth. He couldn’t quite persuade Inez. Calling her daughter after his ex-wife was a step too far. Elisa was the nearest he could get.”
Kate listened to Nathan trying to fill the silence. She didn’t want to talk.
“Afterwards, we’ll go to the grocery store and I’ll cook us supper,” he said.
“Okay.”
“Is that all you can say?” Nathan winked at her. “You should be breathless with anticipation at the thought of me cooking.” Kate stared down at her lap. “Can I stay with you for a while?” She held her breath.
“For as long as you want.”
And she let the breath out.
“Dad will be with you when you talk to the police. The sooner you tell them everything, the safer you’ll be.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Kate lay wide awake in Nathan’s arms. He was fast asleep. This had been the longest day of her life. Luke Foster, the detective looking for her, had beamed with delight when he shook her hand. The last smile she saw from him, quickly replaced by shock and pity. Kate had to turn the clock back to the time she’d come home from orchestra practice and run it forward to the moment she walked out of the hospital. They recorded everything. Nathan’s father made notes, but said little. Kate wasn’t upset. She just talked and talked, and three men and one policewoman sat and listened.
She thought Nathan’s father wouldn’t like her anymore, that he wouldn’t want Nathan to like her but when she’d finished, Will reached across the table. Kate saw understanding in his eyes and let him take her hand.
Luke told her they’d print out the statement and she could go back to read and sign it the next day. They’d also said Hedley Moss wanted to speak to her. A photographer had taken pictures of her injuries. A doctor examined her. Kate knew she’d have to tell this story over and over.
When they finally let her go, Nathan had been waiting. He’d taken her into his arms and hugged her. He drove her back to his little house and showed her around. They lay on the bed and he fell asleep holding her. But Kate couldn’t stop thinking about Jack. He was here in San Antonio and she wished she was somewhere else.
***
Jack heard the click as his door was unlocked.
Carl strolled in. “What have you been up to?”
“Nothing.” Yet. Jack curled up tighter on the bed.
Carl picked up the pink sweater. “Why’s the FBI coming to see you this afternoon?”
“I got confused about something.” Jack snatched the sweater and held it to his chest. “Has my father phoned?”
“You’ve asked me that five times. The answer’s the same. Not that I know of. I have to take you to a treatment room to get your arm checked. Can you walk or you going to put me to the trouble of finding a wheelchair?”
“I need a wheelchair.”
Jack didn’t trust his father. He wasn’t going to phone. By the time Carl returned, Jack had put on another face. “She needs me. She’s not well. Not strong.”
“Who?”
Jack sat in the chair and clutched the sweater. “Kate, my wife. We’re having a baby.”
“Hey, man, congratulations. Save you having to steal one, won’t it?” Jack wished he had a knife. “That was a mistake.” Carl pressed the button for the elevator. “Last time you were in here, I seem to remember you said you didn’t make mistakes.”
“Guess I’m human after all,” Jack said and Carl laughed.
He wheeled Jack into the treatment room. “Hi, Arlene.”
“Hi, Carl.”
Jack studied the nurse. She was new. Tall, blonde, and pretty. He put on his best smile.
“Could you wheel him through to Dr. Burroughs when you’re done?” Carl asked.
“Sure.”
And Jack was alone with Arlene. No camera in there. Patient privacy had its benefits.
“Did you drive to work in your car?” he asked.
“Yes, why?”
As she reached for his arm, Jack caught her wrist. “Don’t scream. Don’t go for your alarm. I’m not going to hurt you.”
He stood and with his free hand pulled the gun out of the back of his pants.
Her mouth fell open and she began to tremble.
“Here’s what you’re going to do,” Jack said.
***
Nathan squeezed Kate’s fingers and knocked on the superintendent’s door.
“Hey, you’re back.” Fryer looked her up and down.
“I’ve lost my keys. Can I borrow a spare? I want to move my stuff out.”
“Sure.”
Kate was certain he let his fingers slide along hers on purpose as he passed her the key. When his door was shut, she wiped her hand on her pants.
“He didn’t even ask where you’d been,” Nathan said.
“The rent was paid. Why would he care?”
She hesitated for a moment before she opened the door. What little affection she’d felt for the apartment had gone. Nathan stood behind her and slid his arms around her waist.
“Is all this furniture yours? Do I need to hire a truck?”
“It’s mine, but you don’t need to hire a truck. I just want my clothes, books and personal things. Why don’t you go and check your mail at your office and come back for me.”
“I don’t want to leave you.”
“I’ll be fine. Jack’s locked up in Ashlands. I’ll go see my neighbor. When you pick me up, we can go by the store and get something other than beer for your refrigerator.”
“Sure?”
Kate nodded. “Sorting through my clothes isn’t going to be very interesting. If I’m not here when you get back, I’ll be next door with Jeannie.” He took hold of her face and kissed her. A quick kiss turned into a moment of deeper passion. Nathan rested his forehead against hers.
“I’d only intended to give you a soft, quick kiss, but you’re too tempting,” he whispered. “You’re sweet and sexy, brave and fragile all at the same time and despite everything that’s happened you can still laugh and make me laugh. I don’t want to go.” He kissed her again.
Kate didn’t want him to go either, but she knew she’d be quicker doing this alone and she didn’t want to be owned by fear.
“Right—before I go, give me your hand and a pen,” Nathan said.
“Why?”
“Because I want to make sure you have the number of my other cell phone.”
“You’re going to write it on my hand?” Kate laughed.
“I don’t want you getting lost.”
She let him write on her palm and when she looked, the air whooshed out of her lungs. As well as the number, he’d put “I” then a little heart shape followed by a “U”. One last kiss and he left.
Kate closed the door and leaned on it. Did he love her? Could it happen that fast? She thought she loved him. She knew she needed him. Nathan made her strong. So was it love or need? Both? When he smiled at her, it made her heart do strange things. Even standing near him made her feel good.
But her life was a mess. No job, no money, and pregnant by a man they despised. Nathan didn’t know about the baby and he had his own ghosts to deal with. Kate clung to a tree in raging floodwater knowing any moment she could get swept away. But she wanted Nathan. He was more than she’d ever dreamed of, better than any hero in a book, better than any movie star she’d imagined by her side.
Kate felt alive when she was with him.
She went into the bedroom. Her clothes had been piled on the bed. Fingerprint dust lay on every surface. Kate would have liked to walk away from it all but she couldn’t. She had no money for new things.
When the knock came later Kate ran to answer it, thinking it must be Nathan.
It wasn’t.
She sprang back from the peep-hole, her heart thudding. She’d never seen this gray-haired guy before but she knew who it was. He looked like an older version of his son. He knocked again and she opened the door with the chain in place.
“Kate? I’m Don Thompson. Jack’s father.” He smiled through the gap.
“How did you know I was here?”
“I spoke with your building superintendent. May I come in?”
“Why?”
“I think we should talk.”
“Kate? Is that you?” Jeannie had come up by his side.
Kate opened the door and stepped into the hall. Jeannie wrapped her arms around her. “Oh, it’s good to see you. I was so worried.” Over Jeannie’s shoulder, she saw Jack’s father staring at her as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Jeannie held Kate at arm’s length and looked at her face. “You’re too thin.” Her gaze fell to Kate’s hand. “You’re married?”
“To my son,” Don said.
Kate didn’t think he sounded happy about it.
“That’s wonderful. Come and tell me everything.”
“Perhaps another time. I have something I need to discuss with my daughter-in-law.”
“Of course. I’m sorry. I’ll speak to you later,” Jeannie said, looking hurt.
They watched her shuffle back to her door.
Don waited. “May I come in?” He smiled.
Kate stepped aside.
“Nathan here?” Don asked as he looked around.
“No.”
“Expecting him?”
Kate hesitated. “Yes. Soon.” She wondered if she should have waited until Nathan came back before she spoke to Don Thompson.
He turned to face her. “Your wedding photo didn’t do you justice. I hardly recognize you.”
His smile had changed. Something’s wrong.
“I needed to speak to you because I wanted to be sure you knew what you were doing.”
Kate moved farther into the room. “What am I doing?”
“Leaving your husband without trying to make your marriage work, giving up at the first hurdle.”
Oh, that’s why his smile changed. Kate sighed. “This isn’t the first hurdle.”
“I want to explain—”
“There’s nothing to explain. It was never—” Don’s brow furrowed and he raised his voice. “Please hear me out.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “Sorry. This is just such a mess. Please sit down.”
He patted the cushion next to him but Kate leaned against the kitchen counter.
“I know Jack can be…difficult. After his mother was murdered, he disintegrated. I tried my best, but I couldn’t even buy him the help he needed.
He’s flitted from job to job, from woman to woman without any idea his actions were irresponsible. But he’s my son. My only son. When you have your child, you’ll understand that no matter what your offspring might do, it’s impossible to stop loving them. You always hope things will get better.” Kate swallowed. Her child wouldn’t be like Jack. She wouldn’t let that happen.
Don didn’t know what Jack was like.
“I’m a rich man, Kate. When I die, I want my money to stay in the family. I’d like to use it now to support you and my grandchild. I’ll build you a house. Find you a job, if you want one. I’ll pay for your vacations. Your child can go to the best schools.”
Kate’s heart raced. When he found out she’d be testifying against his son, would he even speak to her again? He wanted to tie her up and control her, just like Jack, only his ropes and knives were money and mortgage payments.
“I don’t know what Jack told you about how we met, but I doubt it was the truth,” Kate said in a quiet voice. “He raped me when I was sixteen. When he found me again, he took me from this apartment. He hurt me.” Did he believe her? His face was a mask. Her voice rose. “He carved his name on my back with a knife. He handcuffed me to a pipe in a burning house and swallowed the key to the cuffs.”
Don’s eyebrows rose. “I had no idea.”
Kate knew she was hurting him, but he had to know the truth. “He killed an old man who tried to help me. He…he stabbed him. He tried to kill Nathan.” Kate took a deep breath. “And I think he killed his mother and brother.” Don remained quiet and Kate wondered if she’d gone too far.
“What makes you think Jack killed my wife and son?”
“Because Jack wanted his mother to himself. He hid Steven’s body so there’d always be the suspicion his brother was the one responsible. Then he stabbed himself and jumped in the lake, maybe wanting to die, maybe knowing you’d come back and find him.”
“Dear God.” Don stared at her for a moment and then got to his feet and walked over to look out of the window.
“I’m sorry for—” Kate broke off and her shoulders dropped.
Don turned away and picked up the same framed photograph of her parents Jack had looked at. He glanced at her and then back at the picture. He stared at it so intently she wondered what he was doing.
“I think I’ve figured out the game Jack’s been playing. I need to show you something back at my house. The link between you and him. Then you can decide what to do.”
“I’m waiting for Nathan.”
“We won’t be long. No more than an hour. I feel terrible about what Jack has done. It’s partly my fault. I should have seen—Kate, please let me help you. This is going to be a difficult few months for you. Even if we can persuade Jack to plead guilty, and I have a feeling he won’t, what lies ahead will be traumatic. But when you see what I have in my house, I think it will help you understand why he did this.”
“Can’t we wait for Nathan?”
Don exhaled. “I have to tell you, Kate, I’m not sure it’s a good idea to expect Nathan to look after you.”
“I don’t need looking after.”
He frowned. “I suspect Nathan’s motives. He’s taken advantage of you. Jack did something very cruel to him. Nathan’s never gotten over finding Jack and his fiancée in bed together.”
“I know about that.”
“Do you know how obsessed Nathan has become with getting his own back on Jack? Stalking him? He lied to try and get into Ashlands when Jack was a patient there. Everything Nathan has done has been with the aim of hurting Jack. He wants to wreck your relationship in the way Jack wrecked his. When we get to my house, I’ll prove it.”
Kate swallowed hard. Nathan wasn’t like Jack. “I need to call him.” Don stood when she picked up her phone. There was no dial tone and she put it down.
“Not working?” Don took out his cell. “What’s the number?” Kate read it out from her palm.
Don listened and then handed her the phone. “He’s not answering. Leave him a voice mail. Tell him we’ve gone to my house. He knows where it is. He can meet us there.”
“Hi, Nathan. It’s me. I’m at my apartment with Jack’s father. He says he has something important to show me at his house. Come and get me?”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
When Kate didn’t answer her buzzer, Nathan pressed the one for her neighbor.
“Mrs. Lawrence? I’m a friend of Kate’s. Is she with you?”
“No.”
One word to make his heart race. “Have you seen her?”
“I had a quick word with her and her father-in-law earlier, yes.” Don was there? “Could you let me in?”
She ended the intercom connection. The door stayed closed. Nathan tried the superintendent.
“I was here earlier this morning with Kate Evans. I need to speak to her,” Nathan said.
“Use her buzzer.”
“Well, maybe she doesn’t want to speak to you.” Nathan clenched his jaw. “Open this door right now and get your keys, otherwise I’m calling the police.”
“If you don’t stop harassing me, I’ll be the one calling the police.” The connection was cut again.
A moment later, a man and his dog came to the door and tapped in the entry code. Nathan slipped in with them, ignoring the angry shouts and raced up the stairs, his bad knee screaming with every step. He took out the gun he had strapped to his ankle. Using his good leg, he kicked in the door of Kate’s apartment.
Kate had piled up her things but she wasn’t there. Would she have gone somewhere with Don? Why? And where? Nathan knocked on the neighbor’s door, shouted, but there was no answer.
As he stepped outside onto the sidewalk, Nathan took out his spare cell phone.
He was about to press 911 when the phone began to vibrate. Elisa.
“Nathan, where are you?” She sounded frantic.
“What’s wrong?”
“I need you to come over right now. And bring Kate. It’s important. Hurry.”
“I don’t know where Kate is.”
“I’ll see you both soon. Bye.”
He drove to his sister’s house, his heart beat soaring into triple figures.
***
Don spent the car journey telling Kate about his business. She didn’t listen.
She wanted to ignore what Don had said about Nathan, but he’d planted a seed of doubt. Maybe he hadn’t got over losing Alison. What if Don could prove Nathan was using her? She didn’t want to believe it. But she carried Jack’s baby. Nathan hated Jack so why would he want her? Being a single parent on welfare wasn’t exactly the future Kate planned. She leaned her head against the window.
When she opened her eyes, Don had stopped in front of the gates to a large colonial style house. His window went down, and he tapped a code into a keypad on a bollard. The gates swung open, and he pulled through on to the block-paved drive.
book Page 31