Turn Back Time (The Full Circle Series Book 1)

by Annette G. Anders

  “Macho-Man... I never learned his name...was really starting to lose it after the women left. I snoozed whenever he left me alone, but he looked as if he was about to keel over himself. Now, I’m not saying I was in top shape. I hadn’t slept soundly either, and the lack of nutritious food was beginning to take a toll. But I was his responsibility, not the other way around, which makes a big difference.”

  Naomi was silent while she stared at Revan, and pale as a ghost.

  He leaned back in his chair again. “I knew I had only one chance to get out. If I blew it, he’d probably shoot me and leave me for the sewer rats.”

  “Oh no, Revan, how awful,” Stella said.

  “The moment I waited for came this morning, when he untied me for a bathroom break. Well, bucket break would be more appropriate. We both heard someone running, and it distracted him. I slammed my elbow in the side of his neck, which knocked the air out of him. Then I took off. I didn’t care where I went as long as it was away from him. And eventually I ran into members of the SWAT team and their search dogs.”

  He winked at Naomi. “Seeing those cops in full gear was a sight almost as stunning as you this morning, Nugget.”

  Naomi had tears in her eyes and twisted a napkin between her fingers. Her mouth trembled.

  “And you still don’t know what his business was down there or who he was?” Stella asked.

  “We watched the press conference earlier and can fill in a some of the blanks,” Sarah said. “His name is Claude Voltaire, and he’s a forty-six-year-old officer in the anti-drug squad. He stole over sixty pounds of confiscated crack cocaine from the safe at police headquarters at the end of his night shift on Sunday, and the police tracked him down after he didn’t show up for work on Tuesday. And the note he sent with the two women had his fingerprints on it.”

  “So why didn’t they send in a special unit earlier if they knew who he was?” Naomi asked.

  Andrew said, “They weren’t sure if Voltaire was working alone or if he was part of a ring of crooked cops. If he was part of a group, and his name was published, the others would have known they’d been discovered. The police department has had a series of scandals involving drug thefts by insiders over the past few years.

  “In 2008, there was a standoff between crooked cops and a SWAT team in an old warehouse here in Paris, and everyone died when one of the bad ones pulled out a hand grenade and blew them all up.”

  Sarah added, “Voltaire has worked for the police force in Paris his whole life. He either remembered the case or maybe he’d been somehow involved in it. But the authorities couldn’t risk a similar stunt in those tunnels. The catacombs are under one of the busiest arrondissements of Paris, so an explosion could’ve caused a massive collapse of part of the city.”

  Revan nodded several times during Sarah and Andrew’s summary, but didn’t ask questions.

  “Did they say why they finally went in today?” Stella asked.

  “Yes. The sound of running Revan described was two teenagers who had managed to sneak into the catacombs through one of the hidden entrances. The police were obviously monitoring all known entrances, but some are still unknown to most. The kids saw blankets lying in one of the caves Voltaire must have used and the bucket he used for his personal business. They reported what they found. Now the cops were able to narrow down the location of Voltaire and Revan and decided to go in. And met Revan on his way out,” Andrew explained.

  Alexander nodded, “Paris has a huge problem with the consumption and trafficking of crack cocaine.”

  “Who knows how long Voltaire had this little side business going? Did they catch him, by the way?” Stella asked.

  “Yes, they did. As soon as two cops took Revan out, the rest and the dogs went after Voltaire. When they found him, he was responsive, but didn’t put up a fight,” Sarah said.

  “And he did have a hand grenade in his duffel bag,” Andrew finished.

  “I wonder if he used drugs himself. Could explain some of his strange behavior,” Revan said. “Well, I had a feeling the guy was more muscle than brain. Imagine, literally his own shit gave him away.”

  He straightened and rubbed his hands together. “Now, let’s order dinner. I’m hungry, and I really want to hear your story, girls.”

  CHAPTER 36

  David—July 2018

  “N

  ow you know how we all met,” Stella finished her recap of events. While everyone was eating, she and Naomi took turns telling Revan about their first days in Paris and the tour, and Julia and Sarah added a few of their own anecdotes.

  “And how I got you back, baby,” David whispered in Stella’s ear while he rested his arm on the back of her chair.

  “Well, Cinderella, I have to admit, your story is as entertaining as mine,” Revan laughed and wiped his eyes with a napkin. “I would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall and watch you and Nugget on your turtledove trip. How many boxes of tissues did you go through?”

  “Don’t you worry your little man brain about us. We had a wonderful time until you got yourself into a mess, Shutterbug,” Naomi replied and patted his cheek.

  “I’m nosy now, but what’s up with the nicknames you have for each other?” Julia asked.

  “Revan loves to assign nicknames,” Stella said. “Years ago, Naomi found a small gold nugget in Alaska. She was so proud of it, she showed it to everyone she met. Not just once, but all the time, and Rev began to call her Nugget. At some point she had a goldsmith put a hole in it so she could wear it as a pendant,” she looked at Naomi. “I don’t think I’ve seen you without it for even one day.”

  “Nope, not one day without my little nugget,” Naomi said and held it up. “I even wear it to bed.”

  “Thanks for the visual, Nugget,” Revan said drily. “Now my little man brain has something to keep it occupied for a while.”

  “When she was a kid, Stella dressed up as Cinderella for Halloween several years in a row. It didn’t take long for Revan to pick it up,” Naomi explained.

  “And Naomi thinks it’s funny to call me Shutterbug because of...well, take a wild guess,” Revan said. “Man, it makes me angry just thinking about my nice camera. I can’t believe I trashed it. I hope the other one’s still in one piece.”

  David looked at Andrew, who sat across from him, and said, “You mentioned earlier you’re a doctor. What field are you in?”

  “I’m a laryngologist and work with the Center for Music and Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Center offers music-related treatment to patients with Parkinson’s disease or dementia. If you’re ever in Baltimore, I’d love to give you a tour of the Center, if you’re interested.”

  “I definitely am. I’ll call you and we’ll set something up. And I bet Stella would love to visit and reconnect with Sarah as well. Maybe we can make it a long weekend,” David winked at Stella.

  Andrew handed him his business card after he wrote something on the back. “I included my private cell phone number. Call me anytime.”

  “Thanks. I don’t have any business cards with me, but I’ll add your contact in my phone later and send you a message.”

  After dinner, when Stella and Naomi said goodbye to Andrew and Sarah, David pulled Revan aside. “I’d like to go for a last walk with Stella, just an hour around the block. I know it’s a lot to ask of you, since you must be dead on your feet, but would you mind walking Naomi back to the hotel? I don’t want to impose on Julia and Alexander, they seem to need a little more time, too.”

  “Don’t worry about it. It’ll feel good to move, and hopefully I’ll fall into bed and sleep through the night. So you’re gonna to be around again?” Revan asked.

  “Yeah, and I know how incredibly lucky I am to have Stella back in my life.” He shoulder-slapped Revan, “Thanks for walking with Naomi.”

  “I’ve got it, man. Don’t give it another thought,” Revan answered. “Nugget, come go for an evening stroll with me.”

 
“Why?” Naomi asked.

  “Because our lovebirds need a few minutes alone to say goodbye. Which leaves you and me to keep each other company.”

  “Since you put it so nicely, how can I possibly say no to such chivalry.” Naomi gave David a hug and whispered in his ear, “I haven’t forgotten about our little talk. Next time in Philly, buddy.”

  He smirked and kissed her cheeks. “You tell me when and where. See you soon.”

  As he watched them leave the restaurant, he heard her say, “The Troubadour’s still in hot water with me. I don’t forgive as easily as Stella.”

  And David was very aware of it. If only he knew for sure Stella had completely forgiven him. He’d do everything in his power to prove she was his priority.

  “Do you want to go to the Montparnasse Tower again?” he asked her when they started walking.

  “Sure! I haven’t seen Paris at night from above yet.” She entwined her fingers with his.

  For a few minutes they didn’t talk. He didn’t know what to say. He wanted to hold Stella in his arms, wanted to make love to her, wanted to show her what he felt instead of just saying it.

  “Oh, good! There aren’t any lines,” Her voice interrupted his thoughts. He hadn’t even realized they’d reached the Montparnasse Tower and were standing in the foyer until she spoke up.

  “Let’s buy the tickets.” She pulled him to the ticket station.

  On the elevator, she wrapped her arms around him and asked, “What have you been thinking about? You’ve been quiet all the way over here.”

  “Honestly? I’ve been thinking about what to say without making mindless small talk,” he admitted. “There’s so much I want to say, but we’re running out of time. I’ll miss you so much, baby.”

  “I’ll miss you, too. But it’ll be Labor Day weekend in no time.” Her voice was soft, and he saw how she was trying to hold it together.

  Stepping out on the observation deck, she said, “Now I can understand why Paris is called the City of Light. Not just all the streetlights, but the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks appear even more majestic with this light show.”

  She stood in front of him, firmly snuggled into his arms. He kissed the top of her head and let his lips linger there. He needed to inhale her scent, to store it until he held her again.

  She sighed. “Paris brought us together again.”

  “I’m scared to say goodbye to you today, Stella. What if you change your mind and decide you can’t trust me anymore?”

  He turned her around so she looked at him. She took his face in her hands and caressed it. “As long as we both want to make it work, we’re good.”

  “I love you, baby. Never forget it.”

  “I know, and I love you. More than words can say.”

  When they kissed, his entire being began to sing, intensifying until his soundless love song reached an epic crescendo. He poured all his feelings into the kiss, and hoped she understood his silent message.

  Later, when they stood in front of her hotel, he said, “Let me know what flights you want to book for September, and I’ll arrange the tickets for you.”

  “Thanks, but no thanks. Because we’re still figuring out what went wrong and how to avoid making the same mistake in the future, it’s important for me to buy the tickets, to know—and remind myself and you—it’s my decision to come see you.” She shimmied closer to him. “But I would accept if you were to invite me to stay at your hotel.”

  “I was hoping you’d stay with me, baby. I’m in a nice studio apartment in the theater district.”

  “Maybe we’ll have time to watch a play in one of the other theaters? Of course I’ll come to your performances, but it would be fun to sit together with you in an auditorium, too.”

  “We can do whatever you want. I’ll send you my schedule, then you can do some planning.”

  He kissed her, full of longing. “Text me when you land in Philadelphia. I’ll track your flight, but I want to hear from you directly. Please, baby.”

  “I will. I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks,” Stella said. “I’d better go in now. This isn’t getting any easier. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, baby. Goodnight,” he kissed her one last time, then watched her walk away.

  Letting her go was the hardest thing he’d ever done.

  CHAPTER 37

  Stella—July/August 2018

  S

  tella stopped typing and looked out the window. In the far distance, she spotted a handful of other airplanes on the horizon, and over thirty thousand feet below them, freight ships were making their way from one continent to the other. Somewhere out there, under the same blue sky, David was now on his way to London.

  Back when they first dated, she used to look up at the sky, and if the clouds were moving toward wherever he was at the time, she’d send imaginary thoughts and wishes his way. It was childish, but it helped her get through the days and weeks without him.

  Or maybe she was just a hopeless romantic. Stella shrugged and got back to work.

  It was hard to believe how different this flight was from last weekend, when she and Naomi were flying in the opposite direction. Only a few days ago she was looking forward to seeing Paris and escaping her pain, at least for a little while.

  Now she’d found her happiness again, yet she had to leave half of her heart in Europe. But it wasn’t in pieces anymore. It was one half of a whole now, and she knew the other half was longing for her as much as she was longing for him.

  “What’re you doing? You’ve been hacking away on your tablet for an hour, if not longer,” Naomi asked and pointed to the dessert Stella had saved from her meal. “And you barely ate anything.”

  “David said I can make plans for when I’m in London. Theaters are usually closed one day per week, and sometimes his understudy takes over when there’s only an afternoon performance, which gives us two full days to visit someplace outside of London.”

  “Look up Oxford and Stonehenge. They are a nice day trip, and can easily be reached by train. Bath and Wells are also pretty. Where are you staying?”

  “With David. He has a studio apartment in the theater district.”

  “I know I’ve asked you this before, but do you think all will go well this time?” Naomi asked. “I don’t want you to be hurt again.”

  Stella sighed. “I know. I really believe we can make it work. The irony is, none of what happened last year would’ve been necessary if only David had talked to me, and I need to follow up on his fear of being let down.”

  “What you told me about that Adrienne hussy sounds terrible. Makes you wonder why they hooked up in the first place.”

  “He said they slowly slid from a friendship into a relationship. Who knows? People connect for the strangest reasons. When he and I started to date, he told me he hasn’t been in a serious relationship for a while. It was too difficult with him traveling so much. But I didn’t ask more questions, assuming it was in the past and had nothing to do with us. Now I wish I had. Hey, I should google her. Find out more about the woman who messed him up.”

  “Let’s do it now. We’ll start with Facebook,” Naomi said. “Thank goodness for inflight Wi-Fi. What’s her last name?”

  “Adrienne… let me think, hmm… Canasta.”

  “Hah! Here she is. Wow, she’s nothing like you. The only thing you have in common is brown hair.” Naomi held up her iPhone for both to see.

  “David says we’re not at all alike.” Stella nodded.

  Naomi narrowed her eyes. “And those girls of hers are fake, too. Man, what did he see in her?”

  “I don’t know. Does it say where she works now? I don’t want her anywhere near David.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t want her anywhere near David? If she’s still performing, they might end up together on some stage. But if he’s not strong enough to resist her, he’s not worth your time.” Naomi continued to flip through photos of Adrien
ne.

  Stella waved a hand toward the phone. “Forget about her. He was devastated by her betrayal and wants nothing to do with her. She’s history! But I thought about something else.”

  Naomi sighed. “Could it have anything to do with him?”

  Stella ignored the comment. “I think we should invite Luca, Jo, and Rev for dinner. We could cook something French, serve French wine, and show them our photos. I took tons.”

  “I took plenty, too. But instead of cooking, can we just make a niçoise salad? Maybe with some baguettes and cheese to go with it? I don’t feel like standing in the kitchen all evening when the guys are having a good time outside. We should try to get the sparkling wine Julia ordered on the train to make it authentic.”

  “Okay, we’ll pick a weekend as soon as we’re home. I assume Luca will still be in Philly when we get there, and I’ll ask him. I’m sure he wants to see Rev in person, too. You can let Jo know. I haven’t hung out with her in a while and can’t wait to hear what’s new.”

  “Yes, and I can’t wait to grill her about Luca…” Naomi said with a gleam in her eyes.

  “Let it go and leave them alone. You should think about what you want to do about your crush,” Stella grinned.

  “Nothing. You heard him!” Naomi made a face while she pulled a travel magazine out of the seat pocket in front of her and grumbled, “Sister!”

  Two weeks later Naomi walked into Stella’s kitchen and dropped an envelope on the counter. “Here’s the printout of your e-tickets. I don’t know why you don’t download them on your phone like everybody else. It’s so much easier, and you can’t lose them.”

  “Because I like looking at them and holding them in my hand when I get to the airport,” Stella said. “Did you bring marinated olives and baguettes? Wait, no need to answer. I can smell the bread.”

  “Here!” Naomi held up a bag and whispered, “And they had madeleines, so I bought some of those, too. Of course, I’ll tell the guys I made them. Slaved in the kitchen all afternoon, dipping them in the chocolate, one at a time.”