Forgotten Son

by Linda Warren

  “My mother has always been so strong, so in control, and last night I saw a vulnerable side of her. I felt a connection that we’d lost. All these years my parents and I have been at loggerheads over the same thing. My father wanted me to show my love by going to law school and working in his firm. I, on the other hand, wanted them to show they loved me by letting me live my own life. We wanted to feel that love, but we were too stubborn to acknowledge it.”

  “I think everyone wants to feel love,” he said.

  “Do you?” Her eyes demanded a response.

  The question hung between them and Eli knew his answer. He cleared his throat, but before he could say what he was feeling, some people came into the room. He’d never felt so frustrated in his life. He wanted to tell her, needed to, but he’d have to wait. He took her arm and they went into the hallway, where Grace came toward them.

  “I’ll be back,” he said. “Just remember what I said.”

  “Don’t worry, and tell Belle I’ll visit her sometime today.”

  Eli hurried toward the elevators, cursing the circumstances, the situation and his inability to do anything about it. But now Caroline’s safety and Belle’s took precedence. He went down to Belle’s room, and Caleb told him everything was quiet. Eli relayed Caroline’s message, then headed down to Buford’s room. For his own peace of mind he had to see how sick the man was. The guard looked at his badge and ID and Eli went inside. Another guard was in the room and Eli nodded to him. Then he riveted his eyes on the man in the bed.

  Amos lay very still. An IV was in his arm and he was hooked up to a heart monitor. He still had the long hair and beard, but his skin had a grayish tinge to it. He looked old, and Eli knew there was no way he could fake this.

  “How long has he been asleep?” he asked the guard.

  “He drifts in and out, talking about prophecy and fulfillment. It’s spooky as hell in here.”

  “Is he lucid?”

  “Not that I could tell.”

  “Thanks,” Eli said, and walked out. He went down the hall and waited, glancing at his watch. At two o’clock he saw them get off the elevator. Ruth and Naomi wore long black dresses, their hair tied in a knot at their nape. Two guards were with them along with an older couple, which had to be their parents, the Wessells.

  They walked by Eli without a second glance. They didn’t recognize him and that was good. The group went into Buford’s room, and soon the couple came out. They were nervous and upset. He could see that. The Wessells walked down the hall and sat in chairs, waiting for their daughters.

  Eli waited, too, watching the clock. An hour later the women came out and their parents joined them. They all left and Eli made his way back to the room.

  “What happened in here?” he asked the guard.

  “A lot of praying and chanting, willing the bad spirits out of his body.”

  Eli glanced at the sleeping Amos. “Did he wake up?”

  “For a few minutes.”

  “What did he say?”

  “I didn’t understand a word. This is all very weird.”

  “Yeah,” Eli agreed. “Just be on guard.”

  The rest of the day went smoothly and Eli was able to relax. He went back to see Caroline and she was all smiles. Congressman Whitten was continuing to improve. Eli told her about the Wessells and Buford, then went to his office to check his messages and do paperwork.

  As he was getting ready to leave for the hospital again, Greg called.

  “Just wanted to let you know that more teeth and bone fragments have been recovered. From the number of teeth, it has to be more than one person.”

  “Good God.”

  “My sentiments exactly,” Greg replied. “The visit by the Wessells went well, I was told.”

  “No problems, but…”

  “But what?”

  “I just have an uneasy feeling that I can’t explain.”

  “Maybe you’re too closely involved,” Greg suggested.

  “Maybe,” Eli admitted.

  “To put your mind at rest, I just got a call from the doctor attending Buford, and the report wasn’t good. They’ve isolated the infection to his heart, but he’s not responding to the antibiotics.”

  “He looked bad when I saw him.”

  “Buford’s not in any shape to cause more trouble. He’s fighting for his life right now. So relax, Eli, and try to get a good night’s rest. I’ll be in touch.”

  Eli hung up, still feeling uneasy, but he shook it off and headed to the hospital. The Whitten women were spending the night there again, in the room the hospital had provided. There were two twin beds and a cot there. He left knowing Caroline needed this time with her family.

  He planned to get a good night’s sleep, but tossed and turned with worries he couldn’t define or explain. Staring into the darkness, he wished Caroline was here in bed with him so he could touch her skin and feel her body next to his. He wanted her. Because he loved her. He deserved love. Finally, he could believe that with every part of him—even his heart. Soon they’d be together again. But that time seemed so far away.

  Sometime before dawn he got up and called Tuck. He was always up early, so Eli didn’t worry about waking him. They talked for a few minutes and Eli felt better. Tuck had a sensible way of looking at things. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Pa lived by that philosophy and Tuck did, too. There was no need to worry because Buford wasn’t able to hurt anyone else.

  Eli went to his office and Caleb stopped by. Before they could discuss anything, the phone rang.

  “Get to the hospital immediately,” Greg said.

  Eli was on his feet. “What is it?”

  “Don’t worry, Eli. It’s not Caroline. It’s Buford. The doctor called and said we need to get over there.”

  “I’m on my way.” Eli hung up, explained to Caleb and ran to his car. Caleb rushed to his. Within minutes, they were at the hospital. Several people were standing in the hall. Eli recognized Lansing, Tom, Bill and Greg.

  Greg walked up to them. “Buford died a few minutes ago.”

  The news didn’t take Eli by surprise. Maybe this was what he’d been expecting. “I guess God has his own kind of justice for Amos Buford.”

  But he felt an odd sense of disappointment. He wanted Buford to pay for what he’d done to Ginny, Caroline and a number of other women. He’d spent years keeping tabs on his activities so one day justice could be done. It seemed Buford had gotten off easy. Hell was a horrific place, though, befitting a man like Amos Buford. Nothing on earth could equal that punishment.

  All Eli could do was stop other men like him.

  “I’ll go tell Belle,” Caleb said. “I know she’ll be relieved.”

  He walked off and Tom and Bill came over.

  “Lansing is going to sue the hospital on the Wessells’ behalf because Buford didn’t get proper treatment,” Tom said.

  “Yeah, right,” Eli replied. “I’ll tell Caroline this is finally over.”

  “Not quite,” Greg warned. “We have a lot of evidence to gather and identify. When it’s over, maybe some families can put their daughters to rest.”

  “If you need any help, you know where to find me.” They shook hands and Eli went to find Caroline, desperately needing to see her.

  The Whitten women were coming out of the room. “I’d like to borrow Caroline for a minute,” he said.

  “Sure, Eli,” Joanna said. “But don’t keep her too long. Her father is waiting.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Eli replied as he and Caroline moved off down the hall.

  “What is it?” she asked. “You seem excited.”

  “Buford died a little while ago.”

  “What?” Her eyes were enormous.

  “It’s finally over,” he told her. “He can’t hurt another woman.”

  “Oh, Eli.” She threw her arms around his neck, almost knocking his hat off. “I never thought I’d feel good about someone’s death, but I do. He’s hurt so many women— Belle, Ginn
y, me and others.”

  Ginny. Her ghost was finally resting in peace. Not because Buford was dead—but because of Caroline.

  “Are you spending the night?” he whispered against her face.

  She drew back. “Mom refuses to leave, so Grace and I are going to take turns staying with her. Tonight Grace is staying. I will meet you at my place at eight o’clock and we’ll talk. Date?”

  “You bet.”

  She grinned. “And don’t be late.”

  “Eight o’clock,” he said, and walked away smiling.

  Caroline turned as Joanna and Grace came out of the CCU. She didn’t know what the night was going to bring, but she was optimistic. Very optimistic.

  “Your father wants to see you, darling,” her mother said.

  Caroline walked into the room feeling a knot in her stomach. Her dad was awake.

  “Hi, baby,” he said, his voice much stronger. He hadn’t called her that in years and she felt like his little girl once again.

  “Hi, Daddy.” She kissed his cheek. “You look much better.”

  “I feel like hell, but I’m grateful to be alive.”

  “I’m glad you’re alive, too.”

  “Are you?” he whispered.

  “Yes,” she answered without hesitation.

  They were silent for a moment, then Stephen said, “I’ve been very hard on you—even unfeeling at times.”

  “Daddy…”

  “It’s true, and it’s funny how you can see things so clearly when you’ve been taken down so hard that all you want is to see your kids’ faces again. I thought that in the emergency room when they were working on me. I just wanted to see my girls one more time.”

  She pulled up a chair and took his hand. “I’m right here.”

  “My dream was for you and Grace to follow in my footsteps, but that was my dream, not yours. I devoted my life to public service and I was proud of my work even when I was criticized and judged for my decisions. But when I was staring at those pearly gates, I wasn’t thinking about the work I’d done. I was thinking about what I hadn’t done for my kids, for my girls.”

  Caroline chewed on her lip and didn’t say anything. “We had a good life, Daddy,” she finally said. “I’m not sure when things started to change.”

  “When I became an ass and demanded and bullied until I got my way.” He looked at her. “I’m sorry, baby.”

  “Oh, Daddy.” She stood and gently hugged him.

  “You remember when I used to take you and Grace fishing?”

  “Yes. I loved it.” She brushed away a tear. “Except putting the bait on the hook.”

  “When I get better, let’s do that again. Just the three of us—a day fishing.”

  “Okay. I’d like that.”

  He gripped her hand. “I can be a better father.”

  “Daddy, please.” She could hardly take any more. “I was stubborn and rebellious, too.”

  “Then let’s have a new beginning.”

  “Oh, yes.” She hugged him again and years of guilt disappeared. Then she slipped out of the room before she cried like a baby.

  Joanna and Grace were waiting for her.

  “He’s so different.” Caroline blinked back tears.

  “He’s more like the Stephen I married,” Joanna said. “He’s not so driven. I think our lives will change now.”

  Caroline felt the same way. She was eager to get to know her parents, to feel their love and to love them in return. She wasn’t so naive to believe that her father’s controlling nature would completely disappear. But now they would understand each other better.

  “I have a ton of calls to make.” Joanna’s voice penetrated her thoughts. “But I think I’ll sit with Stephen for a bit.” She hugged her daughters. “You girls go home for a while.”

  “I need to go to the office,” Grace said. “But I’ll be back later to spend the night.”

  “I’m going to see Belle.” Caroline looped her arm through her mother’s. “But after that, Mom, you’re stuck with me for the rest of the day.”

  “You girls are so wonderful.” Tears gathered in Joanna’s eyes.

  They hugged tightly and Grace left.

  “I want to freshen up before seeing Belle,” Caroline told her mother. “I’ll be back in a little while.”

  “Thank you, darling.”

  Caroline went to the hospital room, wiped her eyes and applied a touch of lipstick. She grabbed her purse and stopped dead in her tracks. Ruth stood inside the door in a long black dress. She looked different, but Caroline knew who she was. Fear seized her.

  What was Ruth doing here?

  What did she want?

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” She forced out the question.

  Ruth stepped farther into the room. “You have to pay.”

  The words sent a shiver down Caroline’s spine, but she fought the panic rising in her. “Please leave. My mother will be back any minute.”

  Ruth lunged for her and grabbed her by her hair, clamping a hand over her mouth. Caroline wrestled like mad, kicking out with her arms and legs, and they tumbled to the floor. Then someone grabbed her around the neck and her body writhed as she wheezed for air.

  Ruth got to her feet, staring at Caroline’s face. “Listen, you bitch,” she snarled. “My sister is going to release you, but if you scream or do anything I don’t like, Naomi will walk into CCU and plunge a knife into your father’s heart.”

  Naomi loosened her grip and Caroline sucked in oxygen. Her panic turned to hysteria and she felt herself choking in response to Ruth’s words. She tried to breathe normally and focus on the woman still holding her.

  “Do you understand me?” Ruth asked.

  Caroline nodded. She didn’t have much choice. She knew Ruth meant what she’d said and there was no way Caroline would risk her father’s life.

  Naomi removed her arm and got to her feet. Caroline rubbed her throat, her eyes on her captor. Fleetingly she noted how much Naomi looked like her sister, but it was the knife in her hand that held Caroline’s attention.

  “Now, we’re leaving the building very quietly. Do exactly what I tell you. Naomi is staying behind in case you try any last-minute heroics. You alert anyone and your father dies. Do you understand?”

  Caroline nodded again, any hopes of getting away dwindling with each second. But someone would see them. Someone… She slowly stood, and as she and Ruth walked from the room, she spotted her purse where she’d dropped it when Ruth grabbed her, its contents scattered all over the floor. The furniture was also helter-skelter from the struggle. Good, she thought. Eli would know something was wrong. Eli would find her. She had to stay strong.

  Ruth pulled her toward the stairs and they went down them quickly to the ground floor. They saw no one, not a soul, and the fear inside Caroline grew. Ruth guided her to a side entrance and they stepped out into a warm June day. A van was parked nearby and Ruth opened the back doors.

  “Get in,” she ordered.

  Caroline saw two men standing on a loading dock, which was obviously a delivery area. All she had to do was scream and they’d hear her. But the other woman was still on the CCU floor, and if Caroline alerted anyone it would mean her father’s death. She couldn’t do it. The price was too high.

  She got into the van and Ruth followed, tying Caroline’s hands with a small rope. Soon Naomi jumped into the driver’s seat and the van sped away. Caroline didn’t know what they had in mind for her, but she knew it wasn’t good.

  Just like before.

  Sitting on the floor of the van, cramped and uncomfortable, she prayed for strength and she prayed Eli would find her.

  Eli, please find me.

  ELI WENT TO SEE HOW Belle was doing and met Caleb coming out of her room.

  “Did you tell her?” he asked Caleb.

  “Yes, and I could almost see the fear being lifted from her. This will help her recovery.”

  “Yeah,” Eli sighed. “And mayb
e each day she’ll remember a little more about her life.”

  “The doctors are talking about removing the bullet from her head. They think it might help her to recover her memory, but she seems hesitant.”

  “I’m sure it’s very frightening for her.”

  “I know,” Caleb said. “I was thinking about putting a photo of her in all the big newspapers to see if someone might recognize her. I mentioned it before, but she was still so afraid she didn’t want to. She might agree to it now.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “Do you have any plans for lunch?” Caleb asked before Eli could walk away.

  “Why?”

  “I’m having lunch with Jake and Beau and thought you might like to join us.”

  He had big plans for tonight. He planned to buy flowers, champagne and chocolate. This night was going to be special. But he had some time now—he could have lunch with his brothers.

  And it felt so right.

  “Sure. Tell me where.”

  Thirty minutes later he was sitting in a steak house with the McCains, talking and laughing as if they’d known each other for years. Jake spoke about Ben and Katie, and Eli realized he wanted children. He could admit that now. Children with Caroline. That family he’d been wanting was just within his grasp.

  Tonight he would tell Caroline he loved her. And it wasn’t frightening at all. Tonight.

  “I’ve been reading in the papers about Amos Buford,” Beau was saying. “It’s a horrible story.”

  “Yeah.” Eli twisted his tea glass. “No telling how many bodies we’ll find in the ashes. I just hope DNA can identify them.”

  “Thank God you got Caroline Whitten out of there when you did,” Jake said.

  “I’m not letting her far out of my sight in the future.” The words came out before Eli could stop them. He saw the puzzled look on Beau’s face and recognition on Jake’s.

  “I knew it,” Caleb laughed. “You’re in love with Caroline.”

  Eli stared at his glass. “Yeah, but telling her has been difficult. I’m not one to love easily.” He couldn’t believe he was revealing his private emotions, but they kept coming out of his mouth.