Fame, Fortune & Secrets (The Redemption Series: Book 2)
Page 23
He remembered being drawn into her watercolor painting—the uncanny resemblance to his childhood campground—and an obvious sign from God. She’d told him how she loved to jump into her paintings like Mary Poppins—how much more fun it was to have adventures in those worlds than to stay in this one. They’d found a new world together.
Debbie had made enormous progress in a year’s time. She showed incredible strength in facing her problems—more strength than he had.
He realized he’d spent his life running from his demons. He’d used everything from extreme sports to women to a career in murder and mayhem to find his escape. Sex addiction? Maybe Dr. Raich was right. He rubbed his eyes and decided his passion—his addiction—to Debbie was the best one so far. And the last one.
Her eyelids fluttered. “David.”
He whispered, “It was one year ago today, Sweetheart. One year ago today, I first saw you. We first met.”
Celestial blue eyes focused on his face. Her sunny smile appeared. “I thank God for that day, David. Every day of my life.”
***
Dr. Schechter advised Debbie remain in bed most of the time, and she was good about following orders. When David couldn’t be with her, she had a small army of caregivers who made sure she was well pampered.
It was 4:00 AM on the first of February when Debbie let out an involuntary cry, shocking him awake, rendering him momentarily immobile with fear.
“It’s going to be all right, Sweetheart. I’m dialing the doctor.”
“The babies are coming now.” She tried to get up, and he caught her.
“Stay right here Sweetheart. It’s going to be okay.” He got up and paced with the phone. Panic ate at his gut.
He could see a new blanket of snow had fallen during the night, and he advised the doctor and hospital the helicopter was en route.
David woke up Eduardo. “Debbie’s in labor. Cookie is on the way. I need you both here. I just don’t want any trouble from Cooke. I’m bound to throttle him if he gives me his usual shit today—”
“David! Enough. Everything’s gonna be fine. We’re on the way.”
***
Nita led Tony and Eduardo into the room. “Let’s deliver some babies,” she said as she proceeded to Debbie.
“It’s been a long winter’s night. But just think—Agent Cupid will have triplet cherubs in time for Valentine’s Day!” Tony Cooke’s toothy smile irritated him no end.
Eduardo intervened. “Let’s just get Debbie to the hospital, okay?”
Debbie
It was joy welling up from my soul that made words difficult. But today that was fine. I sat like a queen in the hospital bed, our babies lined up covering me, and David’s protective arms around us all. Our whole family was present for the introductions.
David lifted his namesake into Cat’s waiting arms. I said, “This is David Carl, and he’s the oldest. And he looks just like David.”
Cisco cradled them both. “I don’t know how you can tell them apart.”
David pointed to the color coded ID, and everyone laughed. For a while, I was the only one who could tell the babies apart.
Then David carefully placed his second son in Cindy’s arms. I said, “This is Frederick George. Guess who he’s named after?” Cindy and Raphael beamed at their new godson.
David took his youngest son and gave him to Nita. Eduardo’s whole face lit up. Nita chuckled. “I’m not so sure you’re getting this one back.” She cooed at the baby.
I said, “Daniel Eduard is our youngest, and he’s named for David’s brother and for Eduardo.”
The boys were all healthy and weighed about four pounds. My health was good, too. But Dr. Schechter kept us all in the hospital for a while. The babies had voracious appetites, so I was almost always feeding babies or myself.
Chapter Twenty-Four
David
It was the morning of February twenty-seventh and steel gray skies threatened more snow. He sat in the dim light of the window in the nursery, holding his son, David Carl, his namesake. Though they’d been home a while, he still wasn’t used to the fatigue. He didn’t think it was possible for a person to be more tired. Even during his recovery from bullet wounds and septic shock, he could not remember being more exhausted. He gazed down at his newer version, napping peacefully, and hoped life would be kind to him.
Somehow these three little boys had cast a spell over him. He loved them more than words could say. He hoped they would be healthy, strong and happy. He hoped they would not feel the need to traipse around the world in search of adventure, to be reckless with their lives. He smiled to himself as he considered they’d probably put him through the same angst he had caused his parents. After all, they had his blood in their veins.
***
David yawned at the computer screen. His report was due in twenty minutes. The ringing phone interrupted his pep talk to himself. He picked it up, thinking it was Pearson.
“David, I want to make it up to you.” Her voice curdled his blood.
“You’re hanging off a cliff somewhere and decided to make amends?”
“Oh, so dramatic!”
“Take my advice and jump now.”
“You’ve always been a naughty boy, David. Look, I know I caused you a lot of trouble, and I’m sorry. I heard your wife practically had a nervous breakdown. I didn’t mean for that to happen. I know now I messed up, and you’re totally in love with your wife. I get it.”
“Agent Munroe, I have a report due in eighteen minutes.”
“So here’s a little peace-offering. Colonel Johnson is about twenty miles from that river where you almost met your maker. I’m emailing you now. Pearson will be handing you another medal, so you can thank me later. Shalom.” The phone clicked off.
He pulled up Gwen’s document. Perhaps she was better off alive.
“Shalom.” And he was back on the boat, Forgiven.
***
David arrived home to find his mother and Camellia overseeing sleeping infants and his wife at work on her latest painting. He kissed the top of her head. “It’s lovely, Sweetheart.”
“It looks like a villa to me, David.” She clasped his hands and leaned into him.
“Yes.” Obviously the villa where they’d find Johnson.
He picked up a small canvas from the workbench beside her. “This is interesting.”
“Yes, David, you know all those love letters from the other painting? They got all burned up.”
David recalled the “lamp on a stand with love letters” painting Debbie had done. Today there was a wastebasket on fire. The lamp had gone out. A single page on the desk nearby was apparently the only surviving letter. Strange. Where this painting fit in the scheme of things—he had no idea.
***
The men met early the next morning in the conference room.
“I think they call this déjà vu?” Eduardo scratched his head.
“Debbie did another painting. FYI.” David passed his phone around to his colleagues, his photo of the villa on display.
“Looks like Johnson put the eight million to good use.” Alain chuckled.
Pearson came through the door. “I’ve postponed the new group coming in tomorrow. You four are off to South America. Go.”
As they headed out, David’s phone rang—it was Debbie. “Sweetheart, I can’t talk now. I’m leaving. Are you all right? The babies?”
She was almost breathless. “David, there’s a gun on the desk!”
“What?”
“On the desk with the last letter—the one that didn’t burn up. There’s a gun on the desk with the letter.”
***
The jeep sped along dirt roads, dust rose in a trail behind them.
“Well I sure haven’t missed this godforsaken place.” Eduardo took a swig of water as he drove. “So what do ya think, Hollinger? Almost as pretty as Texas, huh?”
“Don’t start, Clemente.”
“Yeah, there’s no place like home, huh?
” Eduardo laughed.
David called his attention to a village in the distance.
Eduardo resumed. “Well, it looks like we found Jerry Lee’s new home. Maybe he’ll invite us in for a beer.”
***
It was late afternoon when they drove up to Debbie’s painting. Eduardo shook his head. “Like I said, she’s Cat with a paint brush.”
“Thank God,” David said.
As they got out of the jeep, Colonel Johnson opened the door and wandered toward his vehicle, apparently intoxicated. The door remained wide open.
David drew his weapon and called out, “Colonel Johnson, we have orders to take you back to the United States.”
Johnson opened his eyes wide. He began to chuckle. “What took you guys so long? I thought you were supposed to be the world’s best cops.”
David let emotion get the better of him. “Why did you do it, Sir? Why did you betray your country? Why did you want us all dead?”
Johnson let out a guffaw and slapped his side. “A gentleman never tells.” He veered toward the car.
David yelled, “Stop. Put your hands in the air.” The four men trained their weapons on him.
Johnson turned to face David. “You oughtta know by now, son. The only way I’m goin’ with you is in a body bag.”
“That would be fine with me, Sir,” David said.
Johnson turned back toward his car, and a bullet whizzed by David. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jimmy go down. Johnson reeled around with his gun in his hand, and David shot him.
He turned to see Alain shoot the other gunman. He slumped in the doorway.
David went to Johnson, took his gun, and confirmed he was dead.
Alain took the gun from the body in the doorway and entered the house.
Eduardo administered first aid to Jimmy, who suffered a bullet to the leg. David ascertained Eduardo had the situation under control, then followed Alain into the house.
It was almost unfurnished. The two men quickly determined there were no remaining threats.
Alain was the first to arrive at the desk with the lamp on it and pick up the letter. He shook his head.
“What is it?”
“It’s a love letter from Tamara Everett to ‘dear JL.’ From the date on it, I’d guess she was fifteen or so.”
David picked up an overturned metal wastebasket. Ashes flew up.
***
When Jimmy opened his eyes, his three friends were hovering over the hospital bed.
“Is my leg still there?”
“It’s still there.” Alain reassured him with a grin.
“Good. That’s the last thing I told that doctor before they put me under. I told him if he took off my leg, I’d kick the shit out of him with the other one.” Jimmy was obviously still out of it, and his friends responded with laughter.
“Yeah, that was real bright, Hollinger. Threaten the surgeon that’s about to operate on you,” Eduardo said.
Jimmy was becoming more lucid. “Where in hell are we, anyway?”
“Alabama. Sunny Alabama,” Alain answered.
Jimmy groaned. “Oh shit. It’s a wonder I survived the surgery. Why couldn’t we go to Texas? Or somewhere where they know what the hell they’re doin’?”
His friends burst into raucous laughter, and Jimmy ignored them. “When are we goin’ home?”
“Home?” David wondered where Jimmy would consider home these days—other than Texas.
“Yeah, home.”
“As in Salzburg? That place that’s not exactly a world metropolis?” Eduardo taunted.
“Yeah, Salzburg. It’s just as good a place to call home as anywhere else, I guess.” Jimmy let out a sigh.
***
Pearson was so grateful for their success in bringing down Colonel Johnson, he granted his men two weeks off.
After an emotional reunion at home, David fell into bed with his wife. Lingering between consciousness and sleep, he held her contentedly. “I’m amazed how they’ve grown so fast,” he mumbled.
Debbie seemed to have renewed energy. “David, I—I had a good talk with Cat while you were gone.”
“That’s nice, Sweetheart.” He squeezed her gently.
“Yes and—and she knew you were going to be okay. She knows so many things, David. And she says now that we have our sons, it will help you heal and put everything right with God.”
“We have a truce.”
“And while you were gone, David, Raphael and the designer came, and we’re going to be re-doing the nursery. You know—so we’ll be able to take care of all six babies most easily.”
“Three babies, Sweetheart, we have three babies.”
She giggled softly.
His eyes popped open.
Jimmy
General Pearson visited Jimmy in his Salzburg hospital room, and praised him for outstanding courage in a job well done. “I’m sorry it had to come to this. Jerry Lee Johnson was a good man—did a lot of good for the organization—for his country. He was a decorated hero. Then he sold us out. I still don’t understand it. But I’m grateful to you for finding him and bringing him to justice. I hope those fourteen men he butchered in that jungle are resting easier now.” Pearson wiped his eyes. “Get some sleep now, Hollinger. I expect to be seeing you back on the job very soon.”
“No rest for the wicked, Sir.”
The General left the room. Jimmy stared out the window. Snow was falling in furious swirls, and he became entranced with the blizzard.
There was a shuffling at the door. He turned to see Aubrey Rose remove her coat, tossing it onto a chair. She paused there momentarily, melting snowflakes glistening in her hair. Her tight sweater was cropped to reveal a bare midriff. Her jeans were practically painted on. His pulse quickened.
She smiled as she strutted toward him. “What you won’t do to get me to Salzburg!”
The Cast of Characters in The Redemption Series
The Secret Agents:
General John Pearson
Colonel Jerry Lee “JL” Johnson
Agent David Lambrecht, aka Cupid, aka David Henning
Agent Eduardo Clemente, aka Eduardo Soares
Agent Jimmy Hollinger
Agent Alain Dusseault
Agent Gilbert
Pilot Tony “Cookie” Cooke
Agent Gwen Munroe
Captain Pam Baxter
Staff
Agent Washington and his security force
Betty, the General’s secretary
Dr. Earle
Ellen, the candy striper
Drug traffickers, criminals and associates:
Senator Joe Everett
Albert Santoro
Dr. Bill Payne
Darla Wilde, aka Darla Winston
Sylvie Mason
“Z” the assassin
Juan Rodriguez
Alfonso Pizzaro
The Beverly Hills Families:
The Aldridge Family
George & Marion
Debbie
Grammy (deceased)
The Bainbridge Family
Bud & Dottie
Cindy (Cin)
Doug
Rod & Julie
Geoff & Susan
Glori Coulson—“adopted” at age 14
The Coulsons
Don & Jenny
Glori
Friends
Tamara Everett
Kendra Cole
Becky
Journalist, Amanda James
Journalist, Liz Anders
Sara Blackington
The Salzburg Families:
The Lambrecht Family
Frederick & Maria
David
Paul Daniel (Danny) (deceased)
Cat (Catherine) Connors (cousin “adopted” at age 5)
The Clemente Family
Francisco & Camellia
Cisco
Eduardo
Paulo
Dr. Nita (Anita) Lopez-Garcia (Eduardo’s fia
ncée/wife)
The Dominguez Family
Papa Roberto (grandfather) & Rosa (deceased)
Roberto & Sofia
Raphael
Music Industry
Aubrey Rose, pop icon, international superstar
Joe Harris, manager
Doug Bainbridge, producer
Robby Wilson, musician
Kurt Schneider, musician
Emily, Joe’s assistant
Debbie’s Doctors
Dr. Gallagher
Dr. Schechter
Dr. Raich
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Read an Excerpt from Book 3 in The Redemption Series:
In the Name of Glori
First I noticed the shine of her fake red hair. Then I saw his over-bleached, over-sized, smug smile. Dad and his “It Girl” of the week. Front and center. My heel slipped, and I almost catapulted off the stage. I caught myself though, and bounced up, blowing kisses to my fans.