Shadows of Love

by Crystal V. Rhodes

  “In the Windy City you were working for a company called Utter Construction when you met and married Bev. After that you abandoned your eighteen year old pregnant wife having supposedly died.”

  Sin paused, allowing Hardman to feel the full impact of his words. He wanted what he said to eat away at Hardman’s conscience, if he had one. He wanted what he had to say to hurt.

  “Your rebirth as Charles “Moody” Lake and now Thomas Hardman is recent information to me. I can only guess what’s behind those two reincarnations.” He leaned forward, his eye contact never wavering. “Whatever it is, one thing is certain. You’re a liar, a cheat and a fraud, at best.” He left the most serious accusation unspoken, letting it fester like an open wound.

  Seemingly, unfazed by Sin’s tirade, there was a hint of a smile on Hardman’s face.

  “Believe what you will,” he said quietly. “I doubt if anything I have to say will change your mind.”

  Standing, Hardman turned to Nedra and gave a slight nod. “Enjoy the rest of your day.” With that he walked to his bedroom and shut the door.

  Nedra and Sin exchanged a look. She wasn’t sure what to do or say, but one thing was certain. Not only had her mission been accomplished, but so had her husband’s.

  CHAPTER 20

  Thomas Hardman sat motionless in his bedroom. His head was swimming. His heartbeat accelerated. He could hear the muffled voices of his guests, but the sound was simply background noise as what Sinclair had said to him resonated in his head.

  There was a knock on his door.

  “Are you all right, Thomas?”

  Nedra. He didn’t answer. She tried again.

  “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  No answer.

  Her voice was thick with concern. “I’m sorry about the way all of this happened. We wanted answers, but—” She let whatever else she had to say falter. “Sin went for a walk. I’m going to see if I can catch up with him.” Getting no response, she gave a discouraged sigh. “I’ll check on you when I get back.”

  He listened to the sound of her footsteps until they faded and the house was quiet. He was glad she was gone. He couldn’t have answered her if he wanted to do so, not with the lump in his throat. Men like him didn’t cry. Control of his emotions was paramount. Mind over matter was essential. Cunning and self control, those were the reasons he was alive today.

  Leaning back against an array of pillows, he shut his eyes, in an attempt to block out the slew of memories that Sinclair’s words had evoked. The effort was unsuccessful.

  Cameron Baker. It had been decades since he’d heard that name. Loved and cherished by his parents, Cameron had been such a kind, considerate, well mannered boy, and his father had been a wonderful man, a doctor, who took better care of others than he did himself. When he died of a stroke, leaving the boy and his mother heartbroken, his Grandpa Joe had moved from Jamaica to take care of them. Not long after, his mother’s shattered heart stopped beating, leaving him and his grandfather to share the pain of her lost. It was the overpowering love of his Grandpa Joe that kept the child’s own heart intact. He worshipped the man, until, unexpectedly, his beloved grandfather joined his parents, leaving him alone.

  Cameron Baker. When had that sensitive, loving child turned into a disillusioned shadow? Was it when survival became his main concern? The road he had taken to attain the power and wealth he’d accumulated had been brutal and bloody. It had turned him into a different person and his parents and grandfather would not have been proud. That was why he had made the decision not to tarnish his family name. Cameron Baker had vanished and a stranger had materialized, again and again and again.

  ****

  Walking fast, Nedra tried to catch up with Sin. His long legged strides were deliberate, as he headed down the deserted beach.

  She called his name. He kept walking.

  “Go back and pack your clothes,” he tossed over his shoulder. “We’re out of there!”

  “Stop walking,” she yelled after him.

  Sin turned in her direction. “Nedra, I need to be alone right now. Please, just go back to the café and see if we can rent another cabana. Hire somebody to take our things back there.”

  With the sound of the sea pounding against the rocky shore as a backdrop, Nedra stood watching Sinclair walked away. She had pushed, prodded, probed and manipulated him into this situation until she got what she wanted. Hardman had told her husband what she wanted him to hear. Now Sin was having his say.

  It had been naïve for her to hope that there wouldn’t be a confrontation between the two men. The outcome had been predictable. It was done. Mission accomplished. It was time to let it go.

  Sinclair Reasoner was smart and capable. He didn’t need her hovering over him. He would seek her out when he needed her. He always did. Nedra watched his retreat until he became a tiny speck in the distance, and then she turned and walked in the opposite direction.

  Sin kept walking. He hadn’t agreed with Nedra when they made this journey, fearful of what he might discover. But, never would he have imagined what he did find.

  As he sat on that patio, pretending not to listen to Hardman’s narrative, what he heard filled him with pride. The pieces of the blank puzzle that had always been his life came together into a family mosaic so amazing that it was hard to believe. Yet what he heard also filled him with anger because the unique family history of which he was a part could never be shared with anyone, especially his sister. Darnell would never know, and that was Hardman’s fault.

  Sin had taken great pleasure in letting Hardman know what he knew about his life. He knew that men like him trained themselves to show no emotions, but Sin could see in his eyes that every word he said to him had hit hard. That thought put a satisfied smile on his face.

  ****

  When Nedra arrived back at the house, Hardman was still in his room. She went to seek him out. His frail health concerned her. Despite his claims of recovery, her conversation with Mrs. Ruiz this morning confirmed that he still needed care. According to the housekeeper, the doctor at the clinic had recommended that he seek further treatment in a larger medical facility, miles away. Hardman had rejected the idea, preferring to return home.

  Walking down the short hallway, Nedra rapped softly on his bedroom door. “Thomas?” To her surprise, he answered.

  “Come in.”

  Nedra opened the door. “Are you…” Gasping, she stopped in midsentence.

  Still dressed, he was sitting, shoeless, in the middle of the bed. His back was propped against an array of pillows supported by a wooden headboard.

  “Where did you get that?” She pointed to the intricately carved headboard.

  He glimpsed briefly over his shoulder at the work of art. “I had it made. My grandfather had one just like it that was passed down through his family. The original was lost a long time ago, so I had it duplicated.”

  Leaning against the door frame, Nedra kept her voice steady. “How do you lose a headboard? That’s hard to do.”

  “It’s a long story.”

  Nedra had no doubt about that. “Give me the short version, because I’ve got a relative who has one exactly like it.”

  He didn’t react. “Oh, really? That sounds like quite a coincidence.”

  “Quite. My cousin’s first husband had it made as a wedding gift for her. His untimely death, as a young man, left her heart shattered into tiny pieces.”

  “Did she grieve for long?”

  “She did, for more than three decades. You see, she treasured the memory of her husband and that piece of furniture reminded her of him.”

  “Does she still have it?”

  “She passed it on to her daughter, just like she did the memories of the man she loved.”

  “That was a good story.”

  “I thought that it might be of interest to you.”

  Hardman s eyes glazed over as he looked past Nedra. “Once, I loved someone just as fiercely. So much, I found it diff
icult living without her.”

  He looked lost in thought for a moment before refocusing. “Did you catch up with your husband?”

  “Yes, and I came back to tell you that we’ll be leaving shortly. In light of what happened, we don’t think it’s appropriate to impose on your hospitality any longer. We’re going back to the cabana.”

  “You don’t have to do that. You’re still welcomed here.”

  “That’s gracious of you, but…”

  “I won’t accept anything but a yes.”

  “I appreciate that, but my husband was so rude to you, and I do apologize. Plus, we’re going home tomorrow…”

  “Then you’ll stay overnight.”

  “I’m sure Sinclair won’t agree to that.”

  “Something tells me that you can be pretty persuasive when it comes to him. But, if you’re really going to leave let’s enjoy the short time we have together. Have a seat. Let’s talk.” He nodded toward a cushioned chair by the door. “Please.”

  There was something in the timbre of his voice that made it difficult for Nedra to deny his request. He wasn’t the type of man who would plead. She knew there was something specific on his mind. She took a seat.

  “What is it that you want to talk about, Thomas?”

  He didn’t falter. “I want to know is she happy?”

  Nedra knew exactly who the she was he was talking about, the love of his life, Bev. She answered his inquiry with two simple words.

  “She is.”

  CHAPTER 21

  Evening was rapidly approaching, when Sin decided to head back to the café to find out which cabana he and Nedra were to occupy for the night. He had walked the beach for hours discovering the beauty of the island and its people and reveling in the calming effect of the sea. He watched the fishermen hauling in their catch, enjoyed watching children playing games on the sand. Their excited young voices reminded him of his own kids and he wondered what they would think of Thomas Hardman.

  When he entered the café, Nedra was its only occupant. She was sitting at one of the tables sipping on a soda. It wasn’t until that moment that it occurred to him that in his haste to get away from Hardman, he had selfishly left her alone with the man. He sat down across from her.

  “Have you been here long?”

  “No.” She studied him for a moment before asking, “Have you put some of your demons to rest?”

  “Demons?” He grunted. “That’s one way of putting it. But, I think that word is more appropriate for our notorious ex-host.”

  “That’s harsh. But if that’s how you feel I guess there’s not much I can say. So have you gotten everything out of your system?”

  Sin leaned back in his chair. “I said what I had to say and I feel good about it. The man’s a despicable liar, who deceived and abandoned his wife and child and murdered another human being to do it. That’s who he is no matter what name he uses. Unfortunately, he’s also the man who fathered me.”

  “And that’s why you’re really upset with him.”

  “Am I supposed to be happy about it? But, I’m realistic enough to understand that he and my mother were children when I was conceived. Neither of them was prepared for parenthood, and I doubt very much if she told him that he had a son. She probably didn’t even know where he was.”

  “I have the feeling you’re right about that.”

  “What bothers me most about Hardman is the anguish his lies have caused. In Darnell’s mind her father is a heroic figure who could do no wrong. I can’t shatter that illusion with the truth. Ray and James think that Thomas Hardman, Moody Lake, Colton Cameron, or whoever else the bastard chooses to be, is dead.” He looked into her eyes. “The lie is all on us now, and I hate it!”

  Nedra shared his distress. “I know. I do too.”

  “I want our children to respect their parents as people they can trust. I always want to be honest with them. I want that same bond of trust between me and Darnell. All of that’s destroyed because of him.” Sin’s voice hitched.

  Nedra reached across the table and took his hand. He was right. They were locked in an impossible situation.

  Sin played with her fingers as he spoke. “When I was walking the beach thinking about this entire situation, I actually considered revealing Hardman’s little secret and letting the chips fall where they may. He caused the mess. Let him take responsibility and except the consequences! All I want is for us to be free of this continuous deception.”

  “I understand.” Closing her eyes briefly, Nedra wished she could transport them both back in time. Sighing, she squeezed his hand. “Life isn’t always perfect, baby. There are bumps in the road.” She paused, and then proceeded with caution. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but, he’s suffering too.”

  Sin snatched his hands away. “You’re right. I don’t want to hear it.”

  “He still wants us to stay with him.”

  “And I know you said no!”

  “I did, but we talked…”

  “There are no buts! And I don’t give a damn about your talk.” He leaned into her and hissed. “We’ll be sleeping in one of those mosquito traps tonight, which we wouldn’t be doing if we hadn’t come here in the first place.”

  Nedra’s jaws tightened. “You’re right. Everything is my fault.”

  “Don’t play me, and please spare me one of your sermons.” Frustrated, Sin ran his hands through his hair. “All I want to do is leave Mexico, go back home, be with our family and forget this whole thing ever happened!”

  The tension between them was palpable. Then, as if on cue, the poignant sound of a saxophone suddenly drifted from the single speaker hanging on a nail on the café wall.

  The song playing was Sentimental Mood, one of Sin’s favorites. He and Nedra turned to the bartender. He smiled at them and uttered two words in English.

  “John Coltrane.”

  Nodding his approval, Sin turned to Nedra and eyed her suspiciously. “Did you have something to do with him playing that song?” He found it hard to believe that this welcomed taste of home could be a coincidence.

  Nedra pleaded innocent. “Not me, I’m just as surprised as you are.”

  As they listened to the soothing sounds the escalating resentment and frustration gradually dissipated. She reached out to him.

  “Let’s dance.”

  Swaying to the music, they made their own makeshift dance floor. Sin wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes to savor this unexpected moment. Nedra placed her head on his shoulder. Sin kissed her hair.

  “It’s all good,” she whispered.

  Sin tightened his arms around his wife, letting his love for her fill him. His hope was that maybe— just maybe—when the two of them returned home, things would be good again.

  ****

  Ham stood on the crest of the cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and let his eyes slowly graze over the area of flat land and cragged rocks that he had spent the last hour exploring. Was it possible that all traces of Moody Lake’s body had disappeared? Maybe the animal predators had done their part and scattered pieces of the former cartel chieftain all over the coast, perhaps that’s why there was no evidence of anything left to indicate that his body had ever been in this space—not a shred of clothing, a bone fragment, a tooth, nothing! It could be the authorities had found this place and removed the remains, but there was no evidence of that either. The area was pristine.

  At first Ham tried to convince himself that maybe he was in the wrong place. After all, it had been years since he had been here, but even though there was additional foliage that had grown, he knew he was in the right place. There was a crooked tree on the road that marked the turn off. It was still there. With that landmark, he could find this place in the dark.

  The elimination of Charles “Moody” Lake had been an important job. The orders originated from the very top. The reason for it was none of Ham’s business, and he hadn’t asked. He never really cared about why someone had to die. He just di
d his job and got paid. All he had been asked to do on the Moody Lake hit was help Russ find a place for the disposal. This spot had been carefully chosen. He knew this was the site.

  After Ham heard the shots, he had left his post to see if Russ needed help. He didn’t. Russ had already covered the body with brush. It would have taken a miracle for anyone to find the remains. The mountainous area with the drop overlooking the ocean was isolated and the corpse had been well concealed.

  Ham’s eyes scanned the area one more time. Nothing! Absolutely nothing!

  Turning to leave, he came to a decision. Whatever this Madison dude was up to he knew nothing about Moody Lake’s death, and neither did the authorities.

  He drove away from the area feeling absolutely certain of that.

  CHAPTER 22

  “Even though you don’t agree with our reason for being here, you’ve got to admit that this place is paradise.”

  Nedra and Sin walked hand in hand, strolling along the beach enjoying their last hours on this beautiful remote island with its miles of pristine white beaches. Sunrise and sunsets were spectacular. The lagoons were rich with colorful plants and flora.

  Sin couldn’t deny her assessment. “Under other circumstances, it wouldn’t be difficult to fall in love with this place.”

  He kept walking, but Nedra stopped in her tracks. Caught off guard, Sin was jerked backward.

  “What the…”

  She gestured toward a woman walking toward them. “It’s Mrs. Ruiz!”

  Sin looked up to see a bare foot woman, ambling leisurely toward them. Short in stature, she was round from her head to her toes. Her oval shaped face was a toasted brown, framed by a huge black afro, powered with gray. As she drew closer and her broad features were revealed, Sin could see that neither her Mexican nor her African heritage could be denied. He guessed her to be in her late forties or early fifties and he felt himself tense at the prospect of coming face to face with her.