Shadows of Love

by Crystal V. Rhodes

  He gave Nedra a sly smile as he slid into the car beside her and she pulled into traffic. As he rested a hand on her thigh, he wondered if he would ever get enough of this woman.

  “Are you still tired?”

  “No, I’m not, but you should be. You’re the one who played a round of golf yesterday and then kept me up half the night.”

  “I kept you up?” Sin snickered. “Ha! You nearly killed me. I won’t be walking right for a week.”

  “Oh, please.”

  They drove in silence until they neared the Golden Gate Bridge. Nedra emitted a heavy sigh.

  “You know how much I love you, don’t you?”

  Sin looked at her perplexed. “Of course. You sound as though I don’t. Where’d that question come from?”

  “Let me drive across the bridge first and then I’ll tell you.”

  Sin frowned. He could sense that something was wrong. He certainly hoped that she wasn’t still thinking about the Thomas Hardman matter. Thank goodness that was over.

  Relaxing in the cushioned comfort of the passenger seat, he turned on the CD player. Music filled the car’s interior. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head back against the headrest and let the sound of smooth jazz soothe his senses as he drifted off to sleep. In what seemed like a few minutes later, his wife’s voice stroked his subconscious.

  “We’re here.”

  Slowly, Sin opened his eyes. His lids felt heavy. He rubbed them gently and expelled a wide yawn.

  “I fell asleep.”

  “Yep, it looks like you’re the one who’s worn out.”

  “I guess you’re right.” He looked around sleepily. “Where are we? We’re not home.”

  He sat up, suddenly aware of his surroundings. He’d been here before, many times.

  “What are we doing at the San Francisco Airport?” To be specific, they were in the area where chartered planes took off and landed.

  Nedra turned her entire body to face him. “We’re here because I chartered a flight without talking to you about it.”

  Sin looked at her suspiciously. “You charted a flight?” His voice deepened. “To where, Nedra?” It couldn’t possibly be where he suspected!

  “We’re flying to Mexico City and then we’re making our way to the island where Thomas Hardman lived. We leave in a half hour.”

  Sin could feel the heat of anger spread through his body. “Are you kidding? How could you do this? I trust you more than anyone else in this world!”

  The words were like a knife to Nedra’s heart. It was true. She had broken one of their most sacred bonds, trust. Her tone was measured as she answered quietly.

  “I love you more than I love my own life, Sinclair. You’re the most wonderful man I know. You’ve made my life and that of our children close to perfect and you have our total love and devotion. With that comes our wish—my wish—to make you as happy as you’ve made us, and I know that you’re not happy.”

  “So you deceived me to make me happy?”

  His sarcasm stung, but Nedra prevailed. “During our years together, I’ve come to know every nuance of your character, and I know that you need to find out the truth about that man who died on that island.”

  Sin was fuming. “It’s pretty presumptuous of you to make that decision for me.”

  Nedra’s tone didn’t waver. “Pleasing you makes me happy.”

  Sin glared at her. “You’re not going to interfere in my life like this, Nedra. I won’t have it!” he hissed.

  “I’m not doing this to hurt you, Sin. I love you too much to do that. I don’t care if that DNA sample ever comes. I want to know the truth about Thomas Hardman. I want you to know the truth. You deserve that.”

  “I’m not going.” Sin crossed his arms tightly, his body language validating his intent.

  Nedra didn’t argue. “Okay, then I’ll go alone. The kids are away. I’ve got another week of vacation left…”

  “Which we were supposed to spend at home, together, enjoying ourselves,” he interjected.

  “But all of that changed when I found these.” Reaching into her purse she withdrew two passports. “They were tucked into a pocket in my suit case. I never unpacked them from our last trip out of the country. It’s as though destiny is sending me on this mission.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t say God is sending you on this so called mission,” he spat.

  “Who’s saying He’s not?” She tucked the documents back into her purse.

  Popping the trunk open, Nedra walked to the back of the car and took her bag out. She strapped it on her shoulder and walked back to the passenger side window.

  “Just remember that I’ve got family involved in this other than you, and I mean to find the truth one way or the other. We now have twenty minutes before the flight leaves.” Handing him his passport she blew a kiss. “I love you. Good-bye.”

  Through narrowed eyes Sin watched as she made her way across the parking lot. Her long legged stride beckoned to him even as his resentment simmered.

  Nedra knew him like a book, and that agitated him even more. There was no way that he was going to let her fly off to some foreign country without him there to protect her, and she knew it.

  Getting out of the car, he slammed the door as hard as he could. Retrieving his luggage from the trunk, begrudgingly, Sin followed his wife.

  CHAPTER 12

  “Does anybody know where we’re headed?”

  Surprised that he had spoken, Nedra turned from the airplane window to look at her husband. They had been in the air for some time, sitting in adjoining seats, but he had been occupying himself in every way possible to avoid engaging in conversation.

  “Are you talking to me?” Her tone was deliberately cool. She didn’t appreciate his giving her the silent treatment.

  “Yes, I am. I want to know if you told Ray or James about this little escapade of yours. After all, Mexico is not the safest place in the world. Somebody needs to know where we are.”

  Nedra lifted a critical brow. “Yes, I left Ray a message on his office phone letting him know where we were going. When he called back I asked him to tell James. Now, let me ask you something.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “I want to know was it an escapade that you were on when you went in search of information about your mother and how she and your father might have gotten together? If I’m not mistaken, finding the answers to that was very important to you.”

  “You’re right, but this is different. We’re going to the middle of nowhere on pure speculation…”

  “Soooo, it wasn’t speculation when you went on your search?”

  “Oh, come on now…”

  “That’s exactly what it was. And if the evidence for the DNA is destroyed, anything you might want to know about yourself would be gone forever. I don’t like that idea.”

  “If you didn’t agree with the decision why didn’t you say so? I might have been persuaded otherwise.”

  Nedra gave him a look. “Like it’s easy to get you to change your mind once it’s made up.”

  “So coming here was a better solution?”

  “I want answers, Sinclair, and if they’re located on an island on the Mexican coast, then that’s where I’m going to get them.”

  “You might be opening a can of worms that you don’t want to open.”

  “Then so be it, but at least I might learn who Hardman was, and I’d like to know who the man named Joe was too.”

  Sin didn’t like her reference to the photo of the man who looked so much like him. It hit too close to home. He had to admit that he was curious about the man, but—

  “I don’t like this,” he declared roughly. For reasons he couldn’t explain or didn’t want to acknowledge, fear had settled like lead in the pit of his stomach from the moment he stepped onto the plane.

  “You’ve made that clear.” Turning to look out the window, Nedra watched as the plane landed smoothly on the tarmac. She turned back to Sin. “We’re now in Me
xico City. If you don’t want to continue, then go back home.”

  ****

  “I understand why Sin would want to know if Hardman was really Colton,” Ray told James as they strolled along the dock in Sausalito discussing the sudden departure of the Reasoners to Mexico. “But Hardman is dead. I say bury him, and who he was or wasn’t.”

  They stopped and leaned against a railing, each lost in thought. James broke the silence.

  “At least you won’t have to worry about Hardman showing up one day. I know you’re glad about that.”

  “That’s true, even though, logically, I knew that he would be a fool to make an appearance. Not only would he have had to face Bev and Darnell, but I’m sure the cops would have had questions about the dismembered man whose body they found in his place. I don’t doubt that he killed the guy.”

  “No doubt.” James gave a troubled sigh. “I just hope that Sin and Nedra can handle what they find out about him on that island.”

  “Me too.” Ray nodded. “Me too.”

  ****

  Ham sat at his kitchen table studying the papers he’d pilfered from Lamont Madison’s file drawer. His short-lived stint as a maintenance man was over. The documents he was looking at had been copied, and the originals carefully returned to their place. No one would suspect that security had been compromised. Unfortunately, here it was days later and Ham still wasn’t certain who or what he was looking for that related to Moody Lake and why Madison had made the trip to see Russell. It was frustrating.

  Tossing the papers aside, he rose and strolled over to his leather sofa to lie down. He had purchased the oversized piece of furniture and its matching chair when he moved into his apartment years ago. Since then he hadn’t bought much else except a bed, a television, the kitchen table and two chairs. After all, he didn’t need much. He wasn’t married. He lived alone. He had few friends and had broken all ties with his large family. He didn’t date. His sexual needs were met by seasoned pros whenever he called on them. His lifestyle suited him. Ham didn’t like having ties.

  Work was his life. The drug cartel contacted him as needed, and paid generously for whatever they asked him to do. His employers seemed to value his services and he was proud of that, because he was good at what he did. Life was great, and he had Russ Ingram to thank for that.

  There wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for him, but what Russ had asked him to do concerning Lamont Madison was turning out to be a bit more complicated than he had anticipated. He didn’t want to disappoint Russ. Maybe if he cleared his head and relaxed a bit, he could figure out what that visit Madison made to Russ had been about.

  CHAPTER 13

  On their arrival in Mexico City, where they were to spend the night, Nedra and Sin realized that before they traveled further they needed to shed the clothes they packed for the cooler summer temperatures in the Bay Area and purchase more appropriate apparel. Ever conscious of security, Sin insisted that they remove their jewelry and place it in the hotel safe. He further advised that they avoid going clothes shopping in upscale boutiques and department stores.

  “We don’t want to travel through the country looking prosperous,” he told her. “Mexico can be a dangerous place.”

  She knew he was right. That had been Ray’s concern when she told him where they were going. Fortunately, she didn’t have to contend with Ray’s resentment over her having planned this trip, but Sin made his feelings quite clear.

  Shopping with him was usually fun. Her husband’s taste in clothes for her and for himself was impeccable. The two of them would travel from store to store trying on garments, complimenting and teasing each other about their choices, but not today.

  When she asked his opinion about a potential purchase, he snapped, “You seem to be making the decisions. What difference does it make what I think?”

  Nedra knew that his pride had been injured by her decision to travel here, but his attitude was trying her patience. Still, she held her tongue.

  They moved through the stores like two strangers, with little interaction or conversation between them. Shopping felt more like a chore than a pleasurable experience, although one thing remained the same.

  Mexican women proved to be no different than American women when it came to admiring Sin’s good looks. The sly, sideward glances were plentiful. One senorita was bold enough to sidle up to him and flirt openly. Yet, in spite of how he was presently feeling toward her, Sin remained the man Nedra had come to admire and respect. He ignored all advances.

  After their shopping expedition, they returned to the hotel where she mapped out the remainder of their trip.

  “We’ll catch a plane to Puerto Escondido tomorrow. According to what I read, we can get a taxi to Zapotalito. That’s supposed to be about an hour’s ride. Then we’ll hire a boat to take us the rest of the way to the island.”

  Pleased with herself, she put the map aside, and proceeded to remove boxes, tape and string from one of the shopping bags.

  “The clothes we brought with us we can put in these boxes and mail them back to the States. The clothes we bought today we can pack in our suitcases.”

  Sin sneered. “You thought of everything didn’t you?”

  “No, Sinclair, I didn’t.” Nedra expelled a calming breath, determined not to let his attitude get to her. “If I had, I would have realized how difficult my making these plans would be on your ego.”

  She kept packing. Sin grew quiet.

  Nedra cast a stealthy glimpse his way. They were both aware of each other’s tactics when they were displeased with one another. He described her as being in “preacher mode” during those times, while he specialized in giving her the silent treatment and the cold stare. But, Nedra could tell that her words did have their intended effect. His face softened.

  “If you’ll hand me your clothes I’ll put them in the box for you,” she offered.

  Sin raised a brow. What is she trying to pull now? Psychological warfare?

  Taking his folded clothes out of his suitcase, he placed them on the bed next to the box she was packing.

  Nedra brightened. “Oh, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you go downstairs and get our jewelry from the safe? We can stash it in between the clothes in the boxes and send it home too.”

  Sin looked skeptical. “Just how are you going to mail these boxes?”

  “Remember, I asked the concierge if the hotel offers a postal service. They’ll mail them for us and put it on the bill.”

  “So you want me to go downstairs and get the jewelry, pack it in the boxes and then go back downstairs and ask the hotel staff to mail these packages to the U.S., right?”

  Nedra sighed. “What’s your point, Sinclair?”

  “Think about it. Those two actions are close enough that somebody on the staff could put two and two together.”

  “But the boxes are sealed. Nobody can get inside them.”

  Sin gave her a look that didn’t require further explanation. Nedra got the message.

  “You’re right, that’s not going to stop thieves from opening them and taking what they want.”

  “So let’s leave the jewelry where it is and pick it up when we come back to Mexico City. This is a five star hotel. Their insurance will cover it if it’s stolen from the safe.”

  Nedra nodded. “Good thinking. It looks like two heads are better than one.” She peered at him flirtatiously. ”That’s why I’m glad you’re here.”

  Sin grunted. “It won’t work, Nedra. I’m still mad at you.” He picked the boxes up.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Taking the boxes downstairs.”

  “Just call and have someone come up and get them?”

  “I’d rather take them down. I’m going for a walk afterward.”

  “All right, let me get the door for you.”

  Sin brushed past her. “Thanks.”

  He was half way down the hallway when Nedra called to him. “Whether you’re glad about being here or not, I don’t like t
his war between us.”

  Sin didn’t acknowledge her statement, but it was on his mind as he stood waiting for the elevator. He didn’t like disagreements between them either, but he felt disrespected. She should have asked him about coming here. Since Ray shared his suspicion about Colton Cameron with them, he’d had an unsettling feeling about this whole situation. Only the message that Hardman was dead offered any hope that the whole thing would go away. Now Nedra’s actions had forced the issue, presenting him with few options.

  He was well aware of the mystique Bev had created around the father that he and Darnell shared. Bev had made Colton Cameron seem larger than life in her daughter’s life. Sin chose to remain silent on the subject.

  His investigation of Colton had uncovered that when he married Bev, Colton was working in construction, an industry rife with illegal activity. That revelation had been a red flag for Sin, that and the fact that Colton had changed his name. Yet Sin hadn’t pursued any further disclosures. His curiosity had been satisfied when he reconciled himself to the reality that his conception had been the result of a sexual encounter between two horny teenagers and not a love connection.

  Since there had been no father named on his birth certificate, he doubted if Colton Cameron knew that he existed and Sin had given the man little thought over the years. Instead, he had indulged in the unexpected pleasure of being a big brother and an uncle. He was satisfied with that until that damn picture arrived.

  Downstairs, Sin gave the concierge directions for mailing the packages and then he left the hotel headed for a shop he and Nedra had passed earlier. With every step he took, Sin became resigned to the inevitable. He might soon discover the kind of stock from which he came. Not many upstanding citizens resided on remote islands outside the United States. Whatever he and Nedra found among the late Thomas Hardman’s belongings—if anything—the truth might soon be revealed, whether he wanted to know it or not.