Shadows of Love

by Crystal V. Rhodes

  When her cell phone rang, her heart nearly leaped with joy. Sin! He was calling to apologize for being so pigheaded. She snatched her cell phone up.

  Hello!”

  “It’s only me.” Ray’s voice came over the other end of the line.

  She couldn’t hide her disappointment. “Oh, it’s late. Is something wrong?”

  “No,” he assured her. “It’s just that I spoke to Sin a short while ago and he told me that you were here in L.A.” He paused, hoping that she would fill in the blanks.

  She asked cautiously, “Did he tell you why?”

  “No, he said that he would leave that to you.”

  Nedra’s jaws tightened. “Oh, really? Well, I had some business to attend to here. He didn’t.” She left it at that.

  It was obvious to Ray that she was leaving something out, but he didn’t pursue it. There was only one thing he wanted to know.

  “How did it go in Mexico? Did you find out any more information about Hardman?”

  Nedra was evasive. “Yes, a bit more.” Quite a bit more. “But let me call you back in the morning. It’s been a long day and I’m tired.”

  Ray knew she was trying to get rid of him. Since it was late, he said goodnight and hung up, but he wasn’t through trying to find out what he wanted to know.

  ****

  Ham pushed the empty wheel chair down the hospital corridor. He was wearing an orderly’s uniform and so far he hadn’t been challenged. He was all but invisible to the harried doctors and nurses scurrying about saving lives, just another face on the lowest ring of the staff hierarchy, unimportant in the scheme of things.

  This wasn’t his first hit in a hospital. Usually, such jobs were quick and easy. He had stopped at a uniform store to purchase the apparel worn by the orderlies at this particular hospital. An inquiry at the information desk provided him with the victim’s room number. After changing in the bathroom from his street clothes, he swiped an unattended wheel chair, found the floor he needed and began his search for the right room.

  As long as he walked with confidence, as if he had a job to do, nobody on the floor should ask any questions. Besides, there was usually a shortage of hospital staff in the evenings. Jack the Ripper could walk the halls in most of these facilities and not be questioned. Even better, this particular floor contained personal suites. Patients didn’t have roommates and staffing was sparse. This was going to be a piece of cake.

  He read the names outside each room as he passed—Room 203, Jerry Webber; Room 204, Helen Wiseman; Room 205, Thomas Hardman. Then he heard a noise. He stopped. Someone was coming down the hall. No need to take chances.

  Quickly, he slipped inside Room 205 and listened through the door. He hoped, for the sake of the person belonging to the rhythmic footsteps in the hallway, that they would pass by this room.

  “Who’s there?”

  Startled, Ham turned toward the strained voice. It was coming from the figure outlined in the bed in the darkened room. He could barely make out the silhouette, but the voice was that of a man.

  “I’m just an orderly, sir. I made a mistake and came in the wrong room. Sorry, go back to sleep.”

  The patient complied with no argument. Ham peeked out the door. The hallway was empty. Leaving the wheel chair parked where it was, he slipped across the hall to Room 206.

  Working quickly, he added a lethal solution to the patient’s IV bag, stole out of the room and down the stairway exit. Ten minutes later he was in his car driving away.

  Pleased with himself, Ham whistled as he guided the rental car back to the airport. He couldn’t wait to get back to San Francisco. Let the good times roll!

  ****

  Most of the night, sleep was sporadic for Nedra. She had spent much of her time praying for spiritual guidance. Was she wrong in trying to help Thomas Hardman? He was so ill and he needed assistance, whether he admitted it or not. But was Sinclair right? By helping Thomas was she jeopardizing their family? It was certain that it was putting a strain on her marriage. Was Hardman’s presence in this country endangering him as well? It was clear that someone was after him. Was it the law? Or was it forces more sinister?

  The doctors at the hospital had assured her that his condition wasn’t life threatening if he had proper care and plenty of rest. He would be released from the hospital in the next few days, but he was too weak to return to Mexico without his condition worsening. Her dilemma continued to be where she could put him until he was strong enough to travel. Before closing her eyes, hoping for sleep, she whispered a prayer for guidance.

  She had drifted off when suddenly, she jolted awake and sat straight up in bed. She knew the perfect place for Thomas Hardman to stay!

  They could fly there in less than an hour. It wasn’t far from Carmel and it was near the ocean. The house was much more comfortable than his home on the island and his anonymity would be assured. She couldn’t wait until the morning sunrise to start making plans.

  CHAPTER 27

  “I didn’t ask you to do all this, Nedra, and quite frankly I resent it.”

  Hardman sat on the side of his hospital bed, waiting to be discharged. It had been two days since he’d been taken off of his idyllic island and brought to Los Angeles for medical care. Although still weak and in need of medication, his condition had improved. His temperature was normal. Color had returned to his face, and the bone tired weariness that had left him nearly incapacitated had lessened.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” he continued. “I don’t want you to think that I’m ungrateful for your concern, but bringing me here was not a good idea. I need to leave this country and get back to Mexico. That’s the best thing you can do to help me right now.”

  After listening to what he had to say, she knew that her next words were really going to upset him. “Thomas, you heard the doctor. He said that you shouldn’t travel long distances until you regain your strength. I found a place for you to stay here in the state.”

  “What?”

  “The house is on the Peninsula, where I live…”

  Looking startled, he started to protest.

  “Wait!” Nedra held her hands up. “Don’t worry. It’s not in the same town where we live. It’s far enough so there’s little chance that you’ll bump into us, yet close enough for me to come and check on you.”

  Silently cursing the weakness that kept him from walking out of this hospital, Hardman shook his head.

  “Absolutely not!”

  “Where you’ll be staying is by the ocean, and it will provide you with the privacy you need.”

  “No!”

  “I’ve already hired someone to help you.”

  “I said no!”

  “I called a service here in L.A. and they have a woman who’s been a nurse for thirty years…”

  “Stop it, Nedra!”

  “She’s willing to fly to the Peninsula for a week or two...”

  “You’re not listening to me!”

  “I interviewed her yesterday, and I like her…”

  “I don’t give a damn!”

  “She’ll be joining us later today.”

  “I don’t think so!”

  “It’s already done.”

  Breathing heavily, an enraged Hardman began to cough. Nedra took advantage of the moment.

  “The nurse’s name is Mrs. Spencer. She’s from here, not from the Peninsula. No one will know her or you.”

  Having recovered from his coughing spasm, Hardman glowered at Nedra through narrowed eyes. “You are one take charge woman! Sounds like you’ve thought of everything, except one.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Who’s paying for all this?”

  Nedra didn’t hesitate. “You are.”

  The look of incredulity on Hardman’s face was priceless. “I don’t believe you.”

  “I found the envelopes in your desk drawer—and the bank books.”

  Hardman didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Let me get this right. You broke in
to my desk and stole my money?”

  Nedra shrugged. “I guess you could put it that way.”

  “You’re pilfering from my financial stash?”

  “You’re the one who’s sick and needs to recover,” she replied smoothly.

  Hardman was dumbfounded. This woman was a handful. “You’re supposed to be a minister!”

  “I am, but Jesus was a rebel too.”

  He didn’t know what to say. “I never met a preacher like you before.”

  “Then consider yourself unlucky— up to now.”

  Hardman felt as though he had sparred twelve rounds with a heavy weight champ. “Where’s your husband? I haven’t seen him around. What does he think about all this?”

  “He was the one who brought you to the clinic in Mexico. He flew with us to L.A.”

  Hardman sensed that she was leaving something out. “And where is he now?”

  Nedra made it simple. “At home.”

  Too tired to argue anymore, he let it go. Whatever she was hiding would come out sooner or later. But, Nedra was right about one thing. He did need to gather his strength. The sooner he did, the sooner he could get back home.

  “Okay, I’ll go along with this for now, since I’m paying for everything anyway. I just want to get out of this hospital. People are dying in here. I heard the nurses talking about a man across the hall who died the other night. I don’t plan on being next.”

  An orderly appeared in the room, helped him into the wheel chair and Nedra followed them down the hallway.

  “I’ve got a car service waiting to take us to the airport,” she told him. “I chartered a plane to fly us to the Peninsula. A limo will be waiting to drive us to the house.”

  Hardman shook his head at the woman’s audacity. “You really like spending my money, don’t you?”

  “Like I said, you’re the one who’s sick.”

  ****

  Sin was going out of his mind. As far as he was concerned his wife had totally lost it. Having a kind heart and spirit was admirable, but not when it came to dealing with Hardman.

  Since they parted, Nedra had called him every day, trying to engage in idle chatter, pointedly avoiding the subject of Hardman. Sin had been unresponsive, even when she informed him that she would be home soon.

  It had been that way for the past two days—two days without her. Even though he was still angry, their being apart was proving to be more than he could handle.

  Since her absence he’d slept downstairs in one of the guest bedrooms because he didn’t want to sleep in their bed alone. Work had become his salvation. He went to his office early and make sure that it was late when he came home. The house felt like a crypt without his wife, and he was miserable.

  Damn that Hardman! His presence in their lives was causing havoc, to say nothing of the possible danger. That worried him. Who knew who these people were that sent Moody Lake into hiding as Thomas Hardman! If they found out that he was alive, Nedra could be in the line of fire.

  That wasn’t going to happen. She would be protected and he knew someone who could do the job.

  ****

  James Starr’s cell phone rang just as he was leaving his San Francisco office. Ray was with him. His brother-in-law was in the city on business and had stopped by to say hello.

  James smiled when he heard Sin’s voice on the other end. “Hey, man. Good hearing from you. How’s it going?”

  Sin wasted no words. “Where are you?”

  The tone of Sin’s voice put James on instant alert. He spoke cautiously.

  “I’m standing at the elevator outside my office. I’m done for the day. Why?”

  “Are you alone?”

  “No.”

  Sin played a hunch. “Ray wouldn’t happen to be with you, would he?”

  “Yes,” was James’ succinct reply.

  “Then call me when you’re alone.” Sin hung up.

  Pocketing his cell, James stepped into the elevator with Ray. They occupied the space alone.

  “What did Sin want?”

  James didn’t react. “What makes you think I was talking to him?”

  “Nothing psychic, I saw his name on the face of your cell phone. I sensed that he knew I was with you. Why didn’t he want you to talk around me?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’ve been trying to have a conversation with him and Nedra for the past few days. We’ve been playing phone tag.”

  “And?”

  “I think something happened in Mexico they don’t want to discuss.”

  “Then my best advice is unless they want to share it with you, let it rest. Give yourself some peace.”

  Ray didn’t argue. “That’s good advice.”

  Outside the building, the two men parted, promising to get together for the weekend. James continued to the parking garage. When he got inside his car he returned Sin’s call.

  “I’m alone,” he told him. “What’s up?”

  “I’ve got a job for your agency and it’s just between you and me.”

  “No problem. What is it?”

  “I want you to get one of your agents to follow my wife.”

  CHAPTER 28

  Nedra opened the front door to the house she had rented for Hardman and helped him inside. The limo driver placed the suitcases inside the entranceway. She paid him, shut the door and turned to Hardman,

  “This is it, your home away from home for the next two weeks.”

  “One week,” Hardman corrected. “Or less.”

  Nedra disagreed. “Not according to the doctor. But, I don’t want to argue. Let me show you around.”

  As they toured the single story, L shaped house, Hardman had to admit that it was a big step up from his home on the island. The spacious abode was a three bedroom showplace built of stone and glass. The only resemblance this place had to his house in Mexico was its close proximity to the ocean. It was in walking distance. The luxurious surroundings made him long for the lifestyle he used to enjoy before going into self-exile

  “What do you think?” Nedra was eager for him to like it.

  Hardman sensed her need. “It’s very nice.”

  She flashed a pleased grin. “Of course this master bedroom will be yours during your stay. If you want you can rest now. I’ll call a restaurant and have your lunch and dinner delivered. Then, I have to contact Mrs. Spencer to see when her plane lands.” Nedra scurried around the room, opening blinds and turning down the bed. “Hmmm, I’m sure the sheets have been changed since Justin and Davia’s last guest were here?”

  “Who are they?”

  “They own this house. They live in Atlanta. This is their vacation home. It’s usually rented to tourist when they’re not here. I was lucky that it was available.” She started to leave the room. “I’ll go get your suitcase and bring it in here.”

  As she passed him, Hardman grabbed Nedra’s wrist. Startled, for a moment Sin’s words vibrated in her head. The man is dangerous.

  Catching the momentary glint of fear in her eyes, he released his hold and offered a reassuring smile. “I want to thank you for all you’ve done for me. Despite my complaints, I don’t want you to think it’s not appreciated.”

  Nedra relaxed. “You’re welcome, Thomas. You really are.”

  ****

  James didn’t know what to think about Sinclair Reasoner’s request. He wondered if Sin thought his wife was cheating. If so, that was hard for him to believe. In his opinion, if there was such a thing as the perfect couple, that would be Nedra and Sin. They were so loving and respectful toward each other. If infidelity was occurring, he wondered what and when it could have happened?

  He was relieved when Sin didn’t affirm that as the reason for the surveillance, but his reasoning still remained vague.

  “I want to make sure that she’s protected.”

  James became anxious. “Protected from what?” The Reasoner family had already experienced the trauma of one kidnap attempt. “Has someone threatened Nedra?�
��

  “All I can tell you is that she may be in danger. I want someone to guard her without her knowing it.”

  “We can do that, but I need more information. Do you know who threatened her? Is it a man or woman? What about a description? ”

  “I don’t have all that. Right now, all I need is for you to get someone she doesn’t know from your Los Angeles office to follow her, and don’t let her out of their sight until I say so.”

  “Why L.A.?”

  “Because that’s where she is.” He gave James the name of the hotel in which his wife was staying. “I don’t know how long she’ll be there, so please get someone on this ASAP? If you need a photo, I’ll email one of her to you right now.”

  James wasn’t pleased with the lack of information provided, but this was family, so he worked quickly. Calling his southern California office, to his surprise, instead of the receptionist answering Lamont Madison was on the other end.

  “I’m covering the phone for her while she stepped away from her desk,” he explained.

  “I hope you don’t think I’m paying you for double duty,” James teased, glad that one of his best men was in the area. He would be perfect for Sin’s case.

  Nedra had met most of his West Coast employees, but not Lamont, who was stationed in New York. It was a stroke of luck that Lamont’s last case had brought him to Los Angeles.

  “I have something else I’d like you to tackle for me out here before you go back East.”

  He shared the few details that Sin had given him and what was to be done.”

  Lamont was delighted with the assignment. “This gives me the chance to stay out this way a little longer and enjoy this California sunshine.”

  “Good, then I’ll forward the photo of the woman you’ll be following, and you can get started.”

  “No problem.”

  James was pleased. If there was any trouble—and he had to admit that he wasn’t quite sure what that might be—he could trust Lamont to take care of business. However, two hours later, after a call from Madison, he wasn’t sure there was a job.