“Great, it’ll be a party!” Edward said sarcastically.
“Not one that I want to attend,” Amanda said. Color immediately infused her face as she realized what she’d said aloud.
Jason walked through the doors just then and Edward stood to greet him. “Thanks for getting here so fast,” Edward said as he shook Jason’s hand.
Jason nodded. Edward guided him over to the chairs. Sitting down, he quietly explained the situation and his wishes. Jason listened intently, only interrupting when he had a question.
“We need to get rid of this cop and somehow get Kate away from her apartment. All without the cops knowing or following. I don’t want this drop screwed up, Jason. Mary’s life depends on it.”
Jason nodded. “Yes sir. When we’re done here, let’s go back to the hotel. We’ll call in some of my men and get the plan worked out.”
“Great. Let me go tell the cop to get lost and that I’ll find my own way over to the apartment.” Edward stood and walked over to the doors where the cop was waiting. “Officer, my bodyguard has arrived. Once I’m finished here at the bank, I’ll be heading back to the hotel to get a change of clothes and then I’ll head over to the apartment. I’m no longer in need of your services and I’m sure the captain has something that needs your attention.”
“Sir, the captain told me to stay with you.”
“Well, let’s call your captain and see what he has to say,” Edward suggested.
Edward watched the officer pull out his phone and dial. “Sir, Officer Wyatt here. Mr. Kent says his bodyguard will deliver him to the apartment when he’s finished at the bank. Is there somewhere else I could be useful?” The officer listened intently to his captain. “Yes sir, I know you did, sir. No, I’m not questioning your orders, sir. That’s why I’m calling, to get clarification. Yes sir. Thank you,” the officer hung up and glared at Edward. “I’m not to let you out of my sight, Mr. Kent.”
Edward smiled. “Splendid.” He turned and walked back toward Jason. “No joy,” Edward said to Jason.
“We’ll figure out a way to get by him.” Jason pulled out his phone. “Might as well make myself useful. I’ll call in some favors and have them waiting for us at the hotel. How long do you think this will take?”
“I’ve no idea. The bank president should be here soon.”
Jason nodded. “I’ll have them waiting for us at the hotel.” Jason walked away to make his calls and Edward watched him go with envy. He sorely wished he had something to do to take his mind off the situation and make him feel useful.
He sent a quick text message to Kate explaining where he was and what he was doing. He hoped her phone wasn’t being monitored, but until he knew for sure, he’d have to keep his messages to the point. Done with that, he also sent a message to his mother. The last thing he wanted was her waking up to the news without hearing it from him.
A short man came through the doors. He hesitated a second as he scanned the lobby. His gazed settled on Edward and the man quickly walked over to him.
“Mr. Kent?” The man asked as he stuck out his hand toward Edward.
Standing, Edward clasped the man’s hand. “Yes. You would be Mr. Robbins?”
Mr. Robbins nodded his head. “Come with me, it’ll be easier to discuss this in my office.”
“Sir?” Amanda interrupted. “Mr. Lenovo is on his way. Should I send him to your office?”
Mr. Robbins sighed and dropped his head. Shaking it once, he raised his head and looked at Amanda. “No, have him wait down here. I’ll speak to him once we’re done.” he said and then turned and led the way to his office.
Mr. Robbins motioned for Edward to sit down when they entered his office. He glanced up at Jason and the officer apologetically. “I’m sorry I don’t have more seats. It’s not often I entertain more than one person at a time.” He took his seat behind his desk, retrieving a piece of paper and a pen before glancing up at Edward. “Would you please fill me in on all the details?”
“Yes.” Edward explained the ransom notes, Mary’s abduction and the deadline and his willingness to pay the ransom. “I know you aren’t my bank, but I figured you were the only bank around with the resources to help. I’m sure my bank would be willing to do a transfer.”
“This won’t be a problem. We definitely have the resources, and I’ll work with your bank in London to replenish our funds. We have an account for such an occasion, not that we have to use it often. I think we’ve only used it twice since I’ve been president and both times the money was returned as the criminals were caught.”
“I’m hoping we have the same outcome tomorrow, sir.” Edward said.
“I need a number where I can reach you,” Mr. Robbins said. Edward gave Mr. Robbins his number, and Kate’s as well. “I’ll start the paperwork for this tonight and as soon as your bank in London opens, I’ll be on the phone with them. Would you mind writing down the name of the person you usually deal with? It’ll make things go smoother in the morning.”
“Not a problem,” Edward said as he wrote down the information. “I’ve also marked down my account number, in case you need it.” Edward stood and shook Mr. Robbins hand. “I appreciate your assistance, Mr. Robbins.”
“Anything you need, please don’t hesitate to call. Here’s my card.”
“Thank you.” Edward turned and walked out of the office, relieved to have this part of the situation under control.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kate couldn’t get her mind to focus. She had gone straight to Mary’s room when they had returned to her apartment. Tears streaked down her face as she stood in the doorway. Her eyes scanned the room and settled on Mary’s lovey, a purple spotted cheetah they’d gotten at the zoo.
Kate walked over to Mary’s bed and sat down pulling the cheetah into her arms. She remembered the day they’d gotten this cheetah. It had been shortly after they’d moved into the apartment. The weather had been beautiful, a warm day with almost no humidity. Not wanting to waste the day, Kate had decided to take them to the zoo.
They’d done the tour of the zoo, stopping for lunch at one of the cafés. They’d snacked on popcorn and cotton candy as well. And at the end of the day, they’d swung into the gift shop to pick up a small souvenir of their day. Mary had spotted the cheetah right away and pointed at it. When Kate picked it up, Mary had strained against the buckles in the stroller to hold it. Once Mary had gotten her hands on it, she hadn’t let it go for days.
The cheetah wasn’t left behind often, but with the reporter camped out and the spontaneous decision to send Mary to Georgie’s, it was no wonder he’d been forgotten. Kate bent her head and inhaled Mary’s unique child scent. Her tears fell in earnest as Kate sat clutching the cheetah to her heart. Slowly, Kate fell sideways on the bed, pulling her knees up and settling in the fetal position.
Closing her eyes she let her mind drift in and out of six years of memories. The moment she found out she was pregnant. The joy she and Brad had shared at the news. The initial shopping trip and the onesie Brad had held up with “Daddy’s Little Girl” written on it. The day Mary was born and the moment Georgie when had appeared in the hospital room declaring Mary the most beautiful child ever born. Mary’s first birthday and how she’d been covered head to toes in frosting from her smash cake. The joy of life that Mary had and the unconditional love they shared. The way her eyes lit up on Christmas morning and her insistence that they put out carrots for the reindeer along with Santa’s cookies and egg nog.
The way she’d trusted Edward on sight and had so easily fallen in love with him. The way she had listened intently to Edward as he showed her how to ride a pony that day at his home in England. And the way she would curl up at your side when listening to bedtime stories. The way her nose would scrunch when she didn’t like something. And the way her eyes would dance when someone told her they loved her.
“Kathryn!”
Kate started at the stern voice coming from the door. She opened her eyes and f
ocused on her mother as she walked into the room. She sat on the bed next to Kate and rested her hand on Kate’s head, brushing the hair from her forehead.
“Kate, you can’t hide in here,” Barbara said soothingly.
“Mom, she’s gone and I don’t know what to do,” Kate voice cracked.
“The police need your help,” Barbara said softly.
“I know. But I can’t help them. If I do, it’ll make this real and I can’t handle real, Mom. It’s too much. I’ve been through too much and this is it. This is what breaks me.”
“You know God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.”
“Mom, I can’t. I just can’t,” Kate shook her head. “You and Georgie can answer any questions they have.”
Barbara continued to sit and rub Kate’s back. Kate’s tears wouldn’t stop. Barbara handed Kate a tissue and Kate clutched it in her hand along with the cheetah.
“Edward proposed,” Barbara asked.
Kate groaned and nodded.
“You accepted and then changed your mind?”
Kate nodded again.
Her mother made a tsking noise. “Seems to me that man is doing more to find your daughter than you are right now. Doesn’t seem like you’re giving him a fair shake.”
“He’s the reason, Mom.”
“Really?” Barbara shook her head. “What’s your reasoning? He wasn’t even there. You should be blaming Georgie and Tim, your logic is so convoluted.”
“Mom!” Kate exclaimed. “It wasn’t their fault!”
“How can you say that? They were there. They should have been watching her more closely. How can you blame a man who was asking you to marry him and not blame the people who were with her and supposedly watching her?”
“Because! If it weren’t for him, no one would want her. No one would even know she existed!”
“Kathryn Faith Walker! That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” Barbara said as she jumped to her feet. She pointed her finger in Kate’s face. “You need to think long and hard about what you’re doing. That man loves you and your daughter and something like that doesn’t come around everyday. He’s out there, fighting and working to find Mary and all you seem to be able to do is lay in here, clutching a toy and blaming him.” Barbara walked to the door. “You’re stronger and fairer than this, Kathryn. Pull yourself together, get out here and help us get Mary back!” She walked out and gently pulled the door closed leaving Kate to her thoughts.
Kate watched her mother leave the room. Rolling onto her back, Kate glared at the ceiling. Leave it to her mother to take away the one thing Kate had to be angry about. She still felt as if Edward were to blame, though to be fair, it was indirectly. It wasn’t as if he called the kidnappers himself and set it up. And her mother was right, he was out there trying to get Mary back.
But Kate couldn’t see past her fear for Mary. What if they never got her back? Or what if they did but someone else tried this again? When Kate thought it was just pictures being taken and reporters camping in lobbies, she could deal with that. Mary being kidnapped was a whole other beast and Kate wasn’t willing to make that kind of adjustment to their life.
Kate had never been interested in the rich and famous. Even as a kid she’d been more interested in books and her friends. She never knew who the popular actors or musicians were. Never knew which movies were playing or which song was number one. When she wasn’t playing with friends, she was reading or creating patterns for her pretend clothing line.
Georgie had been the one interested in all that. She could remember Georgie going crazy for all types of teenaged heartthrobs. The posters all over her walls and piles of keepsakes.
Even now, Georgie subscribed to all the gossip magazines and watched all the entertainment shows. She was very well-versed in who’s who around the globe.
And just like that, everything clicked into place.
Georgie.
Georgie would have to know Edward. As addicted to that realm as she was, there was no way Georgie hadn’t known or heard about Edward. No way he had avoided her radar.
And the circus had been a perfect opportunity. Plenty of people, plenty of exits. And Georgie was well-acquainted with the layout of the convention center since they’d been to the circus a few times before.
But the biggest question was who took Mary? Witnesses placed both Georgie and Tim in the center-stage the whole time.
It really hadn’t been Edward’s fault, he’d been a pawn in this sick game. Kate felt a sudden urge to vomit. She’d given his ring back. She’d been so cold and furious with him. She’d told him she never wanted to see him again. How would she ever fix what she’d broken?
She shook her head. First she had to get Mary back, then she’d work the rest of her life to earn Edward back.
She placed the cheetah back on Mary’s bed, in it’s place of honor on Mary’s pillow. She stormed out of Mary’s room, eyes darting everywhere are she searched for her sister. Walking into the kitchen, she stopped just inside the door. Kate pinned Georgie with a furious stare.
The cops stood up, ready to ask Kate questions and Barbara walked over to place a hand on Kate’s shoulder.
“Oh good, Kate. I’m glad you came to your senses,” Barbara said.
Kate didn’t spare her mother a glance. “Where’s Mary?” Kate asked Georgie coldly.
“Kathryn!” Barbara scolded.
Kate held a finger up in her mother’s face. Continuing to glare at her sister, Kate asked again. “Where’s Mary?”
The cops separated. One to Kate’s side and the other to Georgie’s side.
“Kate!” Georgie exclaimed. “I have no idea.”
Shaking her head, Kate advanced on her sister. Stopping directly in front of Georgie, Kate placed her hands flat on the table. In a low voice, Kate threatened Georgie. “You have five seconds to tell me where she is, or I will come across this table and…”
Barbara flew across the room and grabbed Kate’s arm. “Kate! This is insane, what are you doing?”
Kate shrugged off her mother. Still glaring at Georgie, Kate answered her mother. “Georgie knows where she is mother. Don’t let her fool you. She almost got away with it but while I was in Mary’s room ‘blaming Edward’, I put it all together.”
“Georgie would never do what you’re suggesting, Kate,” Barbara said. “She’s always been there for you. You’ll ruin your relationship if you continue with this.”
“It’s already ruined, isn’t it Georgie?”
“You were going to take her away,” Georgie said quietly.
Barbara gasped and sunk into one of the kitchen chairs. “Oh Georgina,” she whispered.
“Where’s Mary?” Kate asked calmly.
Georgie stared out the kitchen window. Sighing, she began her tale. “Of course I knew who he was from the first second I saw him. I couldn’t believe you’d snagged the biggest star in England. And even more unbelievable you didn’t even know who he was! But even then I could see how much he adored you and Mary. And I knew eventually you’d make it permanent. You love London and have since your first trip over there. And now you’ve met someone from London, it wasn’t a far stretch to think you’d move there when you married.”
“But Georgie, he just asked her tonight. There’s no way you could have known in time to set this up!” Barbara said.
Still staring out the kitchen window, Georgie continued. “True, and I didn’t know he’d propose tonight. This whole thing worked out better than I could have planned. Well, except for little miss know-it-all figuring it out. But he proposed, she gave the ring back and now it’s well and truly over. They aren’t going anywhere,” Georgie laughed.
Barbara gasped at Georgie’s cavalier attitude. “Georgina, what’s happened to you?”
Georgie ignored her and continued. “That reporter has been camped downstairs and it wasn’t any trouble to talk him into my plan. He needed a story and I was going to hand him one on a silver platter, if he helped me
. When Edward arrived this afternoon and told him off, well Brent was even more happy to help me than before. He called me and we cemented the plan.”
“The reporter!” Kate exclaimed. “I knew you had to be working with someone.”
“Of course,” Georgie said. “I needed an alibi and what was better than to be seen screaming for my ‘missing’ niece? Brent watched from the top of the stairs. When Tim and Mary headed down to center stage, I waved to him to let him know it was time.”
“Why Georgie?” Barbara asked.
Georgie turned and faced Barbara. Pointing at Kate, Georgie snarled her answer. “She would have taken Mary and we’d never see her again. I barely get to see her now. Can you imagine if they’d moved to London?” she asked bitterly.
“Mary isn’t yours, Georgie,” Barbara said sadly.
“Where is she, Georgina?” Kate asked as calmly as she could. She was seething inside and wanted nothing more than to smash Georgie’s smug face into the table.
Glaring at her sister, Georgie sighed. “The reporter has her in his van. He’s waiting for me to call him and tell him where to take her for the night.”
Kate barely spared her sister a glance. “Get her away from me,” Kate said to the nearest cop as she pulled out her phone and dialed Edward.
He answered on the second ring. “Kate?”
“Georgie and the reporter took Mary. He’s got her in his van,” Kate said. “I’m so sorry, Edward.”
“Jason and I will bring her home,” Edward said.
“Thank you, Edward,” Kate choked out, emotions making it difficult for her to speak.
“I love you, Kate. That hasn’t changed. I’ll call you when we’re on our way home.”
“Be safe.” Kate hung up and paced her living room floor, stopping occasionally to glance out the window.
“Georgie, I’ll call your father. He has connections, he’ll find you a good attorney.” Barbara said as the cops took Georgie out of the kitchen in cuffs.
“Katie…” Georgie pleaded.
Kate turned and stared at the shell that was her sister.
“I’m sorry,” Georgie said.
To Love Twice Page 19