Who Am I?

by Dooley, Lena Nelson

  An uncomfortable feeling overwhelmed her. She gritted her teeth. “So, where are we going?”

  “To the Johnson hunting lodge.”

  She stared through the windshield. Everything felt surreal. Like something in a movie or TV show, happening to someone else, not her. Why was her life such a mess? Maybe she should have stayed in Texas and found an apartment.

  “Where is this lodge?” Leiann tried not to sound as panicked as she felt.

  “It’s in Maine, near the Canadian border.” Eric readjusted the mirror.

  She didn’t want to go that far. The only reason she’d agreed to go to Cape Cod was because the Styleses would be there. She didn’t want to go anywhere alone with Eric.

  She wanted to shriek, but she tried to keep her voice even. “If Gerome is Grandfather’s stepson, won’t he know about the lodge?”

  He shook his head. “He’s been gone from here for a long time. Herman purchased this place maybe ten years ago. I don’t think they stayed in touch.”

  Leiann couldn’t imagine the man she had spent the last several days with harming her. But what did she really know about him?

  She longed to call Arlene and tell her what was going on. But she was worried that might upset Eric. The first time they stopped, she would call her friend on the cell phone, even if she had to do it from the bathroom. Maybe the two of them could come up with another plan.

  ❧

  Gerome spent most of the day planting the flowers Leiann had chosen for the gardens. When he picked up each pot, he remembered her face when she saw that particular plant. Her laughing eyes. The way she didn’t mind getting dirt on her hands. Her smile. How interesting she was to talk to.

  Shaking his head, he stood and picked up the empty wooden flat. The woman was getting under his skin, and he had a feeling that was what Herman wanted.

  After he finished planting he went to his cottage to clean up. While he was there, Greg called.

  “There’s no question that money is being siphoned off,” his friend said. “And the only person close enough to do it is Prudence Smith.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I found several dummy companies, but the amounts that have been deposited into them were small enough not to arouse suspicion.”

  Gerome had always teased Greg for being such a computer whiz. Now he was glad the man was on his side.

  “I’ll fax you the names of the dummy companies, along with pictures of several documents and files pertaining to those companies. You might see if you can find a computer trail from that end.”

  After thanking Greg for his thorough work, Gerome walked through the gardens toward the kitchen. No enticing smell met him at the door. Maybe everyone had already eaten. He’d just look in on them in the dining room. However, when he entered the hallway, he saw the room was dark.

  He went into the kitchen, where Mrs. Shields was hanging up a damp dish towel. “Where is everyone?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. Mr. Johnson had an early dinner, and Miss Smith said her brother and Miss Hambrick wouldn’t be eating here tonight.”

  Something about this didn’t feel right. He needed to talk to Herman.

  When he headed toward his stepfather’s office, the man’s assistant came out. “Is Herman in there?” Gerome asked her.

  “No. I was just finishing up some work he left for me.” Prudence held a few file folders in one arm. “He wasn’t feeling well, so he went to bed after dinner.”

  Talking to his stepfather would have to wait until tomorrow, but tonight might be the time to check out the office. Thanks to Greg’s latest intel, Gerome knew exactly what kind of files to look for.

  Was Prudence the only person involved, or did her brother also play a part? With Eric hanging around here all the time, Gerome had a gut feeling he was in it up to his eyeballs. They had to be the people who’d made the two attempts on Leiann’s life. But he needed solid proof.

  When he went back to the kitchen, Mrs. Shields gave him a plate with a roast beef sandwich on thick-sliced homemade bread. He thanked her before wolfing it down, accompanied by a large glass of milk.

  He took up his post at the back of the house, hidden in the dark shadows under the elm trees. He prayed and repeated memorized scripture verses while he watched the light in the window of Prudence’s office. After it was extinguished, he trained his eyes on the suite of rooms she occupied.

  Gerome didn’t know what the woman did that took so long, but finally, all those lights went out. He made several reconnaissance runs around the mansion, looking for anything that might be out of the ordinary.

  He went back to his cottage and changed into black clothing, even masking his face with black makeup. He rummaged through his duffel bag and took out the tools he’d use to help him quickly access the files. Before returning to the house, he whispered another prayer for protection.

  Gerome moved from hiding place to hiding place as he once again checked out the grounds. He couldn’t go in through the back door, where anyone could see him. He carefully disconnected the security system and quickly picked the lock on the French doors to Herman’s office.

  He checked all the files. Nothing seemed amiss. He went next door to Prudence’s office. At her computer, he plugged in his flash drive, which contained a software program for breaking passwords. Hers took longer than he expected, but the effort was well worth it. After downloading onto the flash drive all the files with the information he needed, he made sure everything in the room was back the way he found it.

  While he reconnected the alarm, he thanked God for his special training.

  ❧

  When Leiann told Eric she needed to make a pit stop, he frowned at her. But he left the interstate and pulled into a drive-in grocery with a small dining room. “Might as well get dinner while we’re here. What do you want?”

  Leiann glanced at the lighted menu board. “I’ll have a grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat.” She grabbed her purse from the counter and headed toward the door at the back of the dining room.

  When she reached the hall, she found three women in line outside the door. That might be good. An excuse to take longer. She moved a little ways from the other women and reached into her purse for her cell phone. It wasn’t in the corner where she usually stowed it.

  She hurried back under the light and pulled the purse open as wide as she could. After digging through everything in the bag, she still hadn’t found the flip phone. She looked again, even checking to see if it was in her wallet. The phone was missing.

  One of the women in front of her went into the bathroom, so the line shifted. Leiann followed. She closed her eyes and tried to remember the last time she’d seen her phone. She’d used it to call Arlene back in her bedroom at the mansion. But what did she do with it after that? She thought she’d put it in her purse, but she couldn’t be sure.

  Leiann didn’t want to panic. Maybe it had dropped out when they were leaving the house, or maybe she’d left it on her bed.

  Another woman came out of the bathroom, and the two in front of her went in together. Leiann leaned against the rough, wooden-paneled wall.

  Leiann didn’t want to upset Eric. But she desperately wanted to talk to Arlene. She didn’t feel like she was thinking straight right now. Frustration gripped her like a vise.

  Twelve

  Leiann didn’t think Eric would ever stop for the night, but finally he pulled into the parking lot of a run-down motel in the middle of nowhere. She didn’t want to stay there, but maybe she’d get a chance to use the room phone. To keep Eric from knowing she wasn’t happy about going so far with him, she could reverse the charges. First she’d call Arlene, then maybe Prudence, or even the sheriff.

  “You stay here. I’ll go get us a room.” The long time without sleep made him look haggard and older.

  “I’m not sharing a room with you.”

  He huffed out a breath. “Of course not. I was planning on separate rooms.”

  Sh
e crossed her arms and glared at him. “Good.”

  He slammed the door and loped into the office.

  Leiann watched his every move through the grimy picture window of the office. The man behind the counter glanced toward the vehicle. When the clerk looked at her, a knowing smirk slid over his face. She felt like going in and slapping it off.

  Eric opened the door and jumped into the driver’s seat. He drove down the length of the one-story building until he came to an empty parking space near the far end. He held up two brass keys. “Adjoining rooms.”

  He jumped out and ran around to her side of the Jeep. When he opened her door, he gave her a little bow. Leiann couldn’t appreciate his attempt at gallantry after the way he’d lied to her and dragged her across another state. She grabbed her overnight bag from behind her seat before he could get it for her.

  The peeling paint on the exterior walls was so faded, Leiann wasn’t sure whether it was green or blue. At least the narrow sidewalk was free of debris. She hoped the rooms would be clean.

  Eric gave her a key and waited while she opened the door.

  Leiann closed the door in his face. She locked the door-knob and pulled the security chain across. Both looked flimsy. A good kick to the door from the outside would open it.

  She stood with her back against the door and her hands gripping her upper arms. How had her life spiraled this far out of control in so short a time? All she’d wanted was to know who she really was.

  If she could believe Eric and Prudence, Gerome had tried to kill her two times: once at the tower and last night with the pillow in her face. But could she really believe them?

  She took stock of the room. Fading paint on these walls, too. The mattress was lumpy, but when she pulled the comforter back, the sheets looked and smelled clean. The tile floor had been swept and mopped. Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad. After all, it was only for one night.

  She spied a black rotary phone on the nightstand between the bed and the tiny bathroom. After hurrying over, she picked up the receiver. No dial tone. A sign on the wall above the telephone said that occupants had to pay a fee to have the phone turned on. Obviously, Eric hadn’t paid extra for her phone.

  Leiann dug out her billfold, intending to slip out and go to the office and pay for it herself. She didn’t carry cash, but most places accepted debit cards. She opened her wallet. The card wasn’t where she usually kept it. After going through every pocket, she sat on the bed, frustrated.

  This was almost more than she could take. She felt as if she were at the bottom of a very dark pit.

  ❧

  When Gerome got up the next day, he went for his usual run in the predawn twilight. While his feet pounded a steady rhythm, his heart lifted in praise to the Lord. Then he moved to prayer for Leiann, for Herman, and for wisdom that he would know how to proceed with the information he’d retrieved from Prudence’s computer.

  He showered and shaved before going to the house for breakfast. He didn’t want to wait any longer to see Leiann. On the walk to the house, he wondered where she had been yesterday.

  Prudence Smith was the only person in the dining room when he arrived. Gerome greeted her coolly, then loaded up a plate. Moments after he sat down and started to eat, Charity walked by the open door. He scooted his chair back and hurried after her.

  Gerome caught her just before she started up the stairs. “Charity, is Leiann coming down to breakfast?”

  “She’s not here.”

  Her words hit him like heavy rocks. “What do you mean?” His voice came out harsh.

  Charity backed up a step. “Mr. Smith took her to the Cape yesterday.”

  That didn’t make sense. “Are you sure?”

  “That’s what Prudence told me.”

  “Thank you.” He walked to the front door and looked out one of the sidelight windows. Every instinct went on high alert. When he turned back, Charity was at the top of the stairs. “Does Mr. Johnson know about this?”

  “I don’t know. I suppose so.”

  Gerome wanted make sure Leiann was all right. Someone had made two attempts on her life, and he suspected the Smiths. He hurried back to the dining room. Prudence wasn’t there. He quickly polished off his food. He wasn’t sure when he’d be able to eat again, and he needed to keep up his strength.

  He returned to his cottage and threw a few essentials into his duffel bag. His cell was fully charged, but he tossed in the car charger anyway. He didn’t know what he would find when he got to the Cape.

  Within five minutes, he was on the way, and he didn’t drive slowly on the winding road. Prayers for Leiann’s safety, and his own, filled the cab.

  He pulled into the drive at the house on Cape Cod in record time. God must have been watching out for him, because no one stopped him for speeding. Urgency ate at his gut. He had to find Leiann and make sure she was all right.

  Salty came out of the garage at the other side of the car park. “Mays, what are you doing here? I didn’t know you were coming.”

  Gerome met him halfway. “I came to see Leiann and Eric. Are they around?” He didn’t want to upset the man.

  “No. Haven’t seen them.” Concern puckered around the older man’s eyes. “Are they missing?”

  “Don’t worry.” Gerome clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll find them.”

  He ran the few steps to the pickup, jumped in, and shot back out into the street. Let’s see if I can get to the house as quickly as I got here.

  He briefly considered calling the house. But Prudence usually answered the phone, and she was undoubtedly in on whatever was going on.

  Once more, prayers filled his heart. He might need backup, but he wouldn’t call until he was sure what was going on.

  The first place he went when he got to the mansion was Prudence Smith’s office. When he burst through the door, she looked up from her computer, startled.

  “What do you want?” Her hands rested on the keyboard.

  “Where are your brother and Leiann?”

  Her gaze darted toward the wall behind him. “They went to Cape Cod.”

  Gerome stomped across the office and leaned his fists on her desk, his face close to hers. “I just came from there.” He glared at her, his muscles twitching.

  Prudence thrust her hands into her lap and trained her eyes on them. “That’s what I heard.”

  He wanted to yank her out of her chair and make her tell him what was going on, but he didn’t want her to know what he really suspected. Maybe she would just think he was jealous. Perhaps he was.

  After going back out front, he drove his truck to his cottage, parking it at the rear.

  Where would Smith have taken her?

  As he went in his front door, Gerome reached for his satellite cell and punched Greg’s speed-dial number. “Hey, buddy, I need a huge favor.” As succinctly as possible, he laid out what he knew and what he suspected.

  “Sounds ominous. What do you need from me?”

  “For now, this can’t be official, but I need to find out where Eric has taken her. If she went willingly, I can’t interfere, but if she’s in danger, I’ll need help. Off the record, can you run their credit cards and see if they’ve been used in the last forty-eight hours?”

  “Will do.”

  “I need it yesterday. I’ll wait for your call.”

  While Gerome paced his cottage, he poured out his heart to God. After a few minutes, a peace he didn’t understand settled over him. He hoped it meant he wouldn’t be too late to help Leiann.

  His cell rang. “Mays here.”

  “You’re on to something.” Greg’s eager voice sparked a hint of optimism. “I found one debit card for her—no activity on it. But Eric Smith has several cards. One was used to buy gas near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. Then at a small rural grocery near the New Hampshire border, and finally at a motel on the other side of New Hampshire. One last time for gas in Maine.”

  Gerome hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. “That
’s it. Herman owns a hunting lodge near the Canadian border. He’s offered to let me use it several times, but I’ve never been there. Do you think you can find it?”

  “Shouldn’t take long.” The staccato sound of clicking computer keys filled the silence.

  Gerome walked to the kitchen and snatched a half bottle of water from the fridge. He opened the sports top with one hand and took a swig while he waited with the phone clutched against his ear.

  “Got it!”

  The shout over the phone almost burst Gerome’s eardrum.

  “This place is really out in the woods. Past Moosehead Lake. I’ll fax you a map right now.”

  Gerome set the water down and swiped his hand across the back of his neck. “Why would he take her there?” The sight of Leiann hanging on to the handrails on the tower flashed into his mind. Then her frightened face as the Mercedes approached the hairpin curve. “Do you suppose he intends to kill her?”

  Silence hung between the phones.

  “I’ve got to get there right away. If she didn’t go willingly, it’s kidnapping.” The chilling sound of those words hung between them.

  Greg broke the silence. “Your instincts have saved us from a lot of tight places.”

  Gerome let out the breath he was holding. “I’m not sure I can trust my instincts about this one.”

  “Because you have feelings for the girl?”

  Gerome laughed. He never had been able to hide anything from Greg. Not since they were in grade school. “Yeah. So, am I too close to this?”

  His friend snorted. “No woman could destroy your instincts. What does your gut tell you?”

  “That she didn’t know they were going up there. Telling Prudence and Charity they’re going to the Cape, then not going. And the way Prudence acted when I questioned her. The whole scenario feels wrong.”

  “You want backup?”

  “Yes. I’d rather take the heat for this being a wild goose chase than take a chance of letting him kill the woman I love.”

  “The woman I love.” Those words danced in the air around Gerome like a melody from heaven.