Dream Escape
Page 14
“Yeah,” he rasped, his tone turning wistful. “I have Emma to thank for that,” he said.
Kim’s expression turned somber. “Maybe you’ll visit me in your dreams once you’re feeling better?”
The question hung between them for several seconds. Peter sighed deeply. “I don’t think so, Kim. I need to live in the real world with my real family. It’s the only way I’m going to fix what’s broken between me and Emma. I hope you understand.”
Kim nodded. “I do. Just know that I’m here if you ever need me. We’ll always have Casablanca. Right, darling?”
Peter awoke with a start. He gazed around the darkened hospital room. It was quiet and empty.
Was I dreaming just then, or was Kim here?
He rolled over, and tried unsuccessfully to fall back to sleep.
*
Molly’s true name was Mrs. Molly Holmes, widow of the millionaire southern attorney, Emory Holmes. At the time of her death, Molly was worth over fifty million dollars.
Detective Mathews of the LAPD discovered that Molly had been suspected in the poisoning of a district attorney in Chattahoochie County, Georgia where she was working with a local attorney to free a man who’d been on death row for twenty years. The DA, Purvis Smart, didn’t die. He got to the hospital in time to have his stomach pumped.
There was never an arrest. The evidence against her was flimsy at best. But Molly had been advised it was in her best interest that she leave the case, and the state of Georgia immediately. Soon after that, she turned up in Los Angeles.
Emory Holmes’ children had always suspected foul play in their father’s death. With Emma’s testimony, along with evidence found in Molly’s apartment, the Holmes children insisted a case be filed against her. Unfortunately, Molly could not be tried for murder posthumously, since in the US the accused must have the right to face their accusers. Eventually, the Holmes children would raise enough guff to have the Holmes fortune revert back to them. The money soothed their aching hearts…
Dream Escapes was shut down permanently. Once it was revealed that Molly had died in their offices, the state determined the technology too dangerous for human use…
The hearing to argue the motion to free Horace Booker was scheduled for two weeks after Peter got out of the hospital. Emma assisted Peter in preparing for his day in court.
Chapter Twenty Seven
The party was held in the banquet room of an Embassy Suites hotel in downtown Houston. It was far from a lavish affair. The only decoration was a handmade banner strung across the room that read; Welcome Home Horace.
The Death Row Project team flew in for Booker’s release, and stayed around for the celebration. The head lawyer and leader of the group, Irv Saltman, clapped Peter on the back several times that day, telling him what a wonderful argument he’d made, and that there were more cases for him if wanted them.
Peter had only met Booker once before that day. Yet freeing Horace Booker had been the most important thing in his life for nearly a year. It was as much a sense of pride for him as it was a sense of relief.
Still, Peter needed a break. He wanted to continue with the work, but he needed to right the wayward ship of his life first.
He was standing by the punchbowl, drinking punch that, sadly, hadn’t been spiked when Booker approached. He was an ageing black man, but Peter could see the wide-eyed nineteen year-old who’d gotten arrested thirty-seven years earlier beneath the wrinkles that creased his leathery face.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see this day,” Booker said softly.
“I wasn’t sure myself,” Peter said, and smiled at the man.
“I know I said thank you before, but… thank you. My mother is so happy.”
Both men looked over at Booker’s aging mother who was crying tears of joy as she introduced the Death Row Project folks to her fourteen year-old granddaughter, Booker’s niece.
“You’re welcome,” Peter said. “It was a pleasure to be a part of your release. Enjoy the rest of your life.” He clapped Booker on the back.
Booker stood there, silently taking in the surroundings.
“World’s a lot different now than when I went in. So many changes. Too many,” he said, after several moments of silence.
“You’ll catch up,” Peter said, realizing Booker was afraid. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in jail, but now that he was out, he wasn’t sure he wanted that either. At fifty-six he still had a lot of life to live, but he had a lot of catching up to do… maybe too much.
“I guess,” Booker replied, and drifted away.
It seemed everyone in the small banquet room was filled with joy except Horace Booker.
Emma excused herself early, and went up to the room. She’d been a great help to Peter in getting his argument together. She filled in admirably for Molly, picking right up where Molly had left off. He couldn’t have done it without her. Still, all the activity around the case had to have worn her out, although she never complained. He knew she was as relieved as he was that it was finally over.
After the celebration wound down, and the Death Row Project folks headed to the airport to catch a late flight, Peter settled in alone at the bar, and contemplated his next move.
It was after midnight when he finally made it up to their suite. The bedroom was dark, lit only by a soft nightlight. He removed his shoes and pants in the living room so he wouldn’t disturb Emma’s sleep. As he padded toward the bedroom he was greeted by a familiar fragrance. Evening In Paris. The hackles on the back of his neck stood at attention.
The fragrance once held an erotic significance for him, sending his desires into a frenzy, but not anymore. The fragrance had become a horror to him. He didn’t know where Emma had found it, but she had to stop wearing it at once.
He padded on into the bedroom where he found her lying atop the sheets wearing a sexy negligee.
“Surprise,” she said, smiling a mysterious smile at him through the darkness.
“I’ll say. What’s gotten into you?”
Once again, the hackles at the back of his neck stood at frigid attention. Emma was not the sexy nightie type. The last time he’d seen her in bed wearing anything other than an oversized t-shirt was on their honeymoon.
“I decided to prepare my own celebration for you is all,” she replied with an easy drawl. “Something tells me after today’s success, we’re going to be having a lot of these celebrations.”
“What’s that fragrance?” he asked, knowing all to well.
“Another surprise. It’s hard to find, but we both know how resourceful I am, and I wanted this night to be extra special for us.” She opened her arms, inviting him to her.
Peter took a wobbly step backwards. “Emma, what’s gotten into you?”
There was a moment of silence, and then a chuckle, a laugh, really, that was far too familiar to him. “Guess again,” she said in a playful sing-song.
“Molly?” he stammered, in a nearly breathless reply. His mouth had gone dry.
“Who else?” She was rising now, and he could see that it was Emma’s lithe frame, but it was Molly who was speaking to him.
Peter took another step backwards. He wanted to run, and yet a part of him wanted to stay.
“You couldn’t have thought that little mouse could prepare you for the legal fight of your life. You and I both know she’s incapable of that.”
“You’re dead!” he cried out.
“Dreams never die.” She moved across the floor, and in a moment was by his side. She took his hand in hers. He wanted to pull it back, and yet a part of him didn’t. “I’m here because of you. You dream of our nights together.” she said.
“Where’s Emma?” he demanded.
“She’s in here. I let the little mouse out when it’s time to take care of the kids. As we both know, I don’t do children. And now, I don’t have to. It’s perfect when you think about it.”
“N… no,” he managed. “It… isn’t.” But Peter was weak. He’d always been
weak. So instead of leaving, or demanding she send his wife back, he stood there.
“Yes,” she replied in a breathy drawl, as she began pulling him toward the bed. “It is. I’ve been waiting for this night for so, so long. Now take off the rest of your clothes, sweetheart. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
THE END
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Table of Contents
DREAM ESCAPE
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven