Fame, Fortune & Secrets (The Redemption Series: Book 2)

by Maeve Christopher

  David

  Some confusion in the trail had encouraged the men to separate to investigate. David hiked up toward the crest of a hill and into Debbie’s painting. A ramshackle cabin stood in the distance.

  Voices and a woman’s scream directed him to the slope below. He grabbed for his gun and dove to the ground at the top of the ridge. Peering over the edge, he saw Gordon striking Sara Blackington with the butt of his shotgun. She tumbled down the incline.

  “Drop the gun, or I’ll shoot. My weapon is pointed at your head.”

  He shot as the barrel of the shotgun swiveled toward him, and it blasted as the man fell backwards down the slope. The shotgun and the bag of money, leaking bills blowing in the breeze, fell into place in Debbie’s painting.

  The kidnapper’s body was motionless against a boulder. He quickly checked to make sure he was dead, and slid farther down the gravelly hill to the body of the woman.

  He brushed thick, dark, blood and dirt-encrusted curls from her face. “It’s going to be all right, Sara. We’re going to get you home now. You’re going to be okay.” Her dark eyes dripped blood and tears.

  Eduardo was at their side, summoning help. David evaluated her injuries and began administering first aid. Alain inspected the body of the kidnapper and retrieved the backpack full of cash.

  They did their best to stabilize the young woman. Her clothes were in tatters, her right leg and arm broken. She suffered from multiple cuts and bruises. There was a particularly nasty gash on her forehead. Apparently she had been beaten repeatedly. She was unable to speak. Her eyes stared into David’s.

  A bullet to the head was far too kind for a man who could do this. He did his best to reassure Sara, all the while thinking about his wife.

  Debbie was the same age as Sara Blackington. He’d often wondered if he would be able to keep her from harm—if it was too selfish of him to marry her. Being married to him was dangerous. But he realized with her beautiful face and her parents’ money, Debbie could have been a target regardless. And now that they were together, she’d saved his life once again.

  At last the helicopter arrived. Sara became hysterical as they placed her into the basket to lift her. It took several tries to get her safely into the hands of the rescue crew.

  Chapter Seven

  Glori

  As Joe arrived in the Bainbridge’s family room, he grabbed a sandwich Dottie offered from a stack on a tray. Everyone was pretty quiet, even old George Aldridge paced the floor in silence.

  Joe took a bite of the sandwich and greeted everyone. He seemed in decent spirits. He probably figured the publicity from the Sara Blackington case would work in his favor somehow. If Sara turned up dead, the press would be buzzing with that. David’s scandal would probably be relegated to the back page. Then the General would be happy. Not to mention the family.

  Joe nodded at Cindy. “It’s a good thing you’re getting some food into Debbie. Otherwise Agent Lambrecht will have my head. And I kind of like it where it is now.” He provoked a few smiles with his jovial tone.

  Cindy gave him a look. “I wouldn’t be too confident, Joe. This is the same plate that’s been sitting in front of her for two hours. And there’s not much missing from it.”

  “Uh-oh!” Joe chuckled and his phone rang. “General Pearson!”

  Quiet conversation stopped altogether, and I ran over to Joe.

  “Fantastic!” Joe yelled into the phone. “I’m bringing the family over to the base now. And I’ll get a camera crew right over. See you shortly.”

  A banner on the television announced breaking news in the mountains of California. “Sara Blackington has been found alive by Special Forces.”

  “David!” Debbie gasped as a collective sigh of relief rose from the room.

  ***

  The entire extended family assembled in the General’s lounge. I stood in the doorway so I could hear Joe talking to Pearson.

  “General, this is a great chance to erase David’s troubles with this sex scandal thing. With the proper exposure, the public’s image of him will be changed. They’ll see him as the hero he really is. Just a little video of the guys flying back to the base, and their women hugging and kissing them. Maybe a mention that Sara Blackington was a high school classmate of Debbie’s. It’ll be great press. And it’ll go a long way to clearing up this Sylvie Mason thing.”

  The General nodded. “And of course, it will help the sales of the new album.”

  “Of course.” Joe smiled.

  “And what about Sara Blackington? She went to school with Debbie?”

  “Yeah. They weren’t close friends or anything, but they were in the same class. I imagine Debbie was pretty quiet in high school. Cindy told me she was always painfully shy. And Sara was no doubt one of the popular girls. But I’m sure she knew Debbie. George and Marion and their money are well known in Beverly Hills.”

  Doug Bainbridge appeared in the hallway with Aubrey Rose. Wow. Joe wasn’t missing a beat.

  Aubrey shook Pearson’s hand, looking a little intimidated for a superstar. She quickly broke away and drew me in a hug.

  “I was supposed to be spending the weekend with Jimmy. He called to tell me he couldn’t make it at the last minute—because of some mission. I thought he was blowing me off. But it’s because he was on the team that rescued Sara Blackington,” Aubrey said.

  “Yup. Jimmy, Alain, Eduardo and David,” I said.

  “Wow. And now Joe wants to get our reunions on camera?”

  “That’s right,” I said. I guess Aubrey wasn’t as savvy as I thought. She should’ve been wise to Joe. He’d been her manager for a long time.

  Doug came back toward us to announce to Joe and the General, “They’re just starting live coverage. The helicopter is arriving at the hospital.”

  Everyone packed in front of the television. The reporter stood in front of the camera with the helipad in the distance. “Details are still sketchy—we understand Sara Blackington, daughter of actor Andrew Blackington, was rescued after a ten-day ordeal. She was abducted out in front of her boyfriend’s Beverly Hills home and apparently taken up into the rugged terrain of the Sierra Nevada’s. One million dollars in ransom was paid for her safe return. Unfortunately, the money seems to have disappeared. Police and FBI have not commented other than to say they enlisted the help of a Special Forces team to track down Sara and her kidnappers. We do have word that they found her alive, but she does have serious injuries and is being transported to the hospital. We can see the helicopter has just landed, and they’re getting her right in for treatment.”

  The news anchor and the reporter stalled for time with conversation about Sara and showing her photo with video of her dad and the police and FBI at prior news conferences. They repeated the story of how law enforcement had botched the job of finding her and the money.

  I noticed Aubrey was getting more nervous with every minute. Cindy made Debbie sit in a chair and drink water. Nita just looked upset. Cat sat beside Debbie, probably praying. I guess that’s what got her through.

  Then the news anchor came up with something new. “I’m getting word that the Special Forces agents who rescued Sara Blackington are the four who’ve been in the news recently with gossip columnists. Agent David Lambrecht, who caused such a stir with the arrest of drug trafficker Albert Santoro and his gang in Los Angeles, and the subsequent Weekly World Gossip story and scandal involving stripper Sylvie Mason. Agent Eduardo Clemente—the older brother of rock star Paulo Clemente—both of them are rocketing to fame with all this publicity. Agent Alain Dusseault—he’s dating actress-turned-singer Glori Coulson who is also with Paulo’s band. Agent Jimmy Hollinger—who’s been seen around town with none other than pop icon Aubrey Rose. Quite a cast of characters in this case….”

  The reporter interrupted the news anchor with confirmation of the capture of the kidnappers. One was injured and one was dead. They were still trying to find out who they were, but they said they were survivalists.


  ***

  “Okay ladies, the General says when the men are out of the helicopter and over to about there—” Joe ceremoniously pointed with his cigar, “then you can go give them a big hug.” He smiled and lit the cigar.

  Nita turned to me with a quizzical look, her eyes growing redder. “Really—everything Joe does—involves a profit motive?”

  I smiled. “You got that right, honey.”

  Nita shook her head and searched her purse for a tissue. Debbie clung to the rail of the stairs, her nervous fidgeting intensified as Joe directed the cameraman to focus on us. Nita grabbed Debbie by the waist to steady her as she faltered.

  George yelled at Joe (and anyone else who would listen) that his daughter was being stressed too much.

  Camellia Clemente, Paulo and Eduardo’s mother, approached General Pearson. I couldn’t hear what she said, but Pearson looked exasperated, and I sure could hear him.

  “Well, Mrs. Clemente, I appreciate your concern. But Joe felt this would be the best way to take the focus off all that Weekly World Gossip stuff. Let’s face it—with the reporters so hot on this story about Sara Blackington, it’s an opportunity to deflect the attention away from the Sylvie Mason thing. The press would still be hounding them regardless. And I don’t mean to sound callous, Mrs. Clemente, but this does benefit your family with the album sales.” Pearson sounded like he was nearing the end of his rope.

  Camellia looked thunderstruck, and I had no trouble hearing her now. “General—I—the first thing Francisco and I discussed with Mr. Harris was the importance of our family life together. And look what has happened. Absolute madness!” She turned on her heel and ran to her husband. “Francisco, it’s time for us to go home!”

  I watched a dozen emotions cross his face. “Camellia, my love, the helicopter is arriving. Look.”

  “Francisco, I mean it’s time we go home to Salzburg. Now!”

  I figured he was going to lose it. “My love, we will be home in a few weeks.”

  Eduardo

  Cookie was his usual insane self. “Oh look, Agent Cupid! I see the sunlight reflecting off your lovely wife’s hair. And I see—Aubrey Rose! Aubrey Rose! Let’s do a victory lap around the base! Let’s do two!”

  “I’ll throttle him.” David launched himself at the pilot, only to be thrown back as the helicopter veered skyward. Alain caught him in an ungraceful thud.

  “Land this friggin’ thing, Cookie. Now!” Eduardo was in no mood. His gut was burning wondering about Nita. He’d caught a glimpse of her—at least she was there. But there was the possibility it was because she was told to be there for publicity sake.

  It took a few more maneuvers and threats on his life, but Pilot Tony Cooke brought them safely to earth at last.

  David was the first to jump from the helicopter with his gear. Debbie bolted for him, and Eduardo noticed Joe yelling at her. She was probably messing up his carefully planned photo op.

  David swept her up in a feverish display of passion. The blood and dirt on his clothes imprinted on her pale pink dress. They were both oblivious to spying cameras.

  Glori wore her movie star smile, as Alain picked her up by the waist. She planted her hands on his stubbly face and kissed him like she meant it.

  Aubrey Rose looked genuinely happy to see Jimmy, and she hugged him. He kissed her modestly. Jimmy wasn’t too pleased about all the publicity.

  With a million thoughts flying through his head, Eduardo was the last to hit the ground. He paused, and he noticed her feet firmly planted. He was anxious to hold her, to kiss her, but not sure she’d want his kisses. He moved toward Nita.

  “Eduardo!”

  He could see the same tortured redness in her eyes that he felt in his. She lunged into his arms. He kissed her, and he knew she was still his.

  ***

  The next morning the men met the General in the conference room. He turned on the television to a press conference on Sara Blackington. The police commissioner spoke. “Sara is in serious but stable condition now. She is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week. Her family is at her side. Andrew Blackington has released a statement I will read to you. ‘My family and I are forever grateful to all the people who have worked so hard and risked their lives to bring our daughter back to us. We especially want to thank the Special Forces agents who located our daughter after a grueling four-day hike through difficult and dangerous terrain. These men, Agent David Lambrecht, Agent Eduardo Clemente, Agent Jimmy Hollinger, and Agent Alain Dusseault, all put their lives on the line to rescue our daughter and bring the kidnappers to justice. These men are true heroes.’” The commissioner placed the card back on the podium and removed his reading glasses.

  “Regarding the details of the rescue, I’ll confirm at this time that there were two men involved in the kidnapping. Harold Parker, age thirty, was shot in the leg by the second man involved, John Gordon. Gordon left him in the woods to die of his wound, apparently after the two men quarreled over Ms. Blackington. Gordon, also age thirty, was a member of a survivalist group. We know Gordon beat Ms. Blackington severely over the ten days she was in his custody. When Agent Lambrecht came upon them, Gordon was attacking her, and she fell or was thrown down the rocky slope of the mountain. Agent Lambrecht instructed the man to stop and identified himself as law enforcement. The kidnapper leveled his shotgun at him and pulled the trigger. Agent Lambrecht shot the suspect with his side arm and went to the aide of Ms. Blackington.”

  The commissioner responded to a flurry of questions from reporters. “Yes—to clarify—Agent Lambrecht killed the kidnapper with a single bullet to the head. He was not hit by the shotgun blast.”

  Pearson massaged his chin and spoke to his men. “Well gentlemen, it looks like we finally have the media discussing something else besides sex and Sylvie Mason. Thank God!” He headed off down the hall to his office.

  ***

  It was late when Eduardo returned to the Ross Hotel and knocked at Nita’s door. He let himself in, pleased to find only a single vase of flowers he’d sent her. Nita sat in the window seat and beckoned him.

  He kissed her and sat her spoon-like against him. They sat quietly, contemplating the garden below, dimly lit in a moonless night.

  Nita grasped his arms tighter around her. “You know, Eduardo, Cat and I never pushed for this to happen. I never thought in a million years that I’d end up in this music business with Paulo. I intended to work in medicine. The singing, the fooling around to come up with lyrics—that was all fun. But we just wanted to help him out at the audition. I never imagined what happened.”

  “I know, honey.”

  Nita continued, “It’s hard for me now to say I don’t want to continue with this career. Obviously it’s very exciting, and we have a chance to make a real difference in the world. Both with the music and the money it generates. Cisco is setting up a foundation for Paulo, so we’ll be able to do tremendous charitable work. Work we could never fund without this business. Raphael has already donated a million dollars. Cindy will be an advisor. She’s had years of experience working with children’s charities. Cat and Cisco are in charge of screening the charities it will support. It’s really very exciting.”

  “Sounds great.”

  Nita turned to face him with fervent eyes. “Eduardo, I hope you know I love you with all my heart. I always have, and I always will. There is no one else I want or need. Just you.”

  He kissed her. “Honey, I love you. I love you with all my heart. I just want us to be together.”

  “I want you to be sure about this marriage. I want you to know that I will always be faithful to you. No matter what famous celebrity sends me roses, my heart is yours. And only yours. I expect the same from you.”

  “My heart is yours, Nita. And everything else I have.”

  “Good!” She pressed her face to his chest.

  Debbie

  David was exhausted from the mission to save Sara Blackington. He really needed more time to completely heal from t
he ordeal he’d been through last January in South America. Hiking through the Sierra Nevada Mountains probably wasn’t the best thing for his health. Then again, staring down the barrel of a shotgun wasn’t good for one’s health either.

  I got out of bed and sat in front of my painting, still on the easel in the sitting room. I wondered if I should quit painting. But that was probably a stupid idea.

  David appeared in the doorway. “What’s wrong, Sweetheart?”

  “You were almost killed.”

  He took me in his arms, and we landed on the loveseat. “You saved my life. You know that don’t you?”

  “No. How did I do that? It seems like bad things happen in my paintings. That last one made Cat faint. I don’t even know what it did to you.”

  “Your paintings—the winter camp scene and the two boats—I told you they saved my life—my sanity. They made me know there is a God who cares about me. Cat’s been trying to make me understand all my life—and you did it with your paintings.” David fell silent stroking my skin, kissing my face with gentle kisses.

  I fell under his spell, but then I realized I needed to push him some more. “What about the ugly one with the motel room by the auto body shop?”

  “It gave me an important lead on a case I was working on.” He smirked at me, and I knew that was as big an explanation as I’d get.

  “And this one is the Sierra Nevada Mountains?” I sounded more emotional than I wanted to.

  “Yes. And we can see the gun and the bag of money they keep talking about on the news.”

  “Okay. How did that help you?”

  “It saved my life. When I walked into your painting—when I saw that old shack on the hill—and I knew I was in your painting—I knew he had a shotgun. Then I heard their voices from the slope below me. So I knew to drop to the ground on the ridge. If I hadn’t been on the ground, he could well have killed me. Instead I easily got him. So you saved my life—again.”