Liza stared at him. "Did you get the details of her death?"
"Just that it was hit and run."
Nick asked, "Did they get a description of the car? Who was it registered to?"
"It was stolen, reported only a half hour before the accident, then found abandoned a few miles away. No fingerprints," he added, as if anticipating Nick's next question.
The detective paced the office for several minutes and Liza sat silent, waiting.
Nick had a question, though. "They got no leads when the ransom was paid?"
"No. No leads. The guy escaped clean as a whistle. The feds were so sure they had everything covered." He sounded disgusted. "There's been no contact since. And no sight of your cousin." He rubbed his forehead. "In fact, this," he said gesturing to the tape, "is the first indication that she might still be alive."
"Didn't they mark the money in some way? Has any of it been spent?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," Ramsey said, frowning at them, "it's all marked."
"Won't he know that?" Liza demanded.
The detective shrugged his shoulders. "Depends on how bright he is."
Liza's shoulders slumped and tears gathered in her eyes. She'd really hoped the ransom would provide a lead, so the nightmare could end.
"Can't they question Mrs. Colton?" Nick asked.
"On a bizarre story from her niece?" The detective turned to Liza. "Sorry, ma'am, I don't mean that as an insult. But the FBI doesn't want to turn the Coltons against them. Right now, Mr. Colton is giving his full cooperation, but coming to him with a story like that might change things." He paused and looked again at Liza, his gaze spearing her this time. "Unless you have some proof your aunt was involved?"
She shook her head.
"Yeah, well, too bad that guy didn't incriminate Mrs. Colton on the answering machine. That would've made a difference."
Nick stood, assuming the interview was over. "Thank you for coming, Detective. We thought you should hear that message."
"You were right. Ms. Colton, do you mind if I copy that message? If you'll give me the number and the code to retrieve messages, I can do that at the office."
Liza couldn't see any harm in that, so she rattled off her phone number and the voice mail code.
The detective departed, presumably for the office, leaving Nick and Liza alone.
Nick came to sit on the arm of her chair, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Sorry, honey. I'd hoped the message would provide the proof that would resolve everything."
"Me, too," she murmured, fighting back tears. "I want this situation to be over. I want Emily to be able to come home…and be safe."
"Yeah…but I don't want you to leave," he whispered before his lips covered hers.
She didn't want to leave either. But she would. And it would have nothing to do with the man on the tape. Only Nick wouldn't know that.
* * *
Meredith couldn't escape Joe's, and the FBI's, presence until late that night when she supposedly retired to sleep. At least the idiot had escaped without being captured. That would've ruined all her plans.
She parked near the ratty bar where she'd planned to meet Silas. It took time for her eyes to adjust to the smoky, gloomy light of the joint, but she discovered Silas exactly where she'd told him to be. The back booth, as far from the light as possible.
She wasted no time with hello. "Where's the money?"
"In the backpack." He slid the heavy pack across the table, staring at the bag like he was afraid it would disappear.
Meredith slid it to the seat beside her, next to the wall. It took her only minutes to determine she'd been set up. "These bills are in consecutive numbers."
"So? They spend as good as any others."
"You idiot! Don't you realize that these bills can't be spent? They'll track us down as soon as they appear." Damn, she'd hoped to at least get some financial relief from the fiasco.
"But I got plans!" Silas protested, his voice rising in distress.
"Keep your voice down, you idiot!" Meredith scolded. "If you ever complete the job, I might pay you," she growled. "When are you going to get rid of her?"
"That bitch hides real well. You got all this money, so you can pay a little more now. Chasing her down is expensive."
"Didn't you hear me? This money is useless. I can give you five thousand, but—" She stopped when he reached for the backpack, as if he intended to take his five grand from the bag. "No, you idiot! We can't spend this money, I'll have to get some different money. Unless you want to go to jail for life."
He jerked his hands back as if they'd been scalded. "I got to have more money," he whined.
"I'll get it for you, but not this money. Can't anything go right for me?" she complained in disgust. But she wasn't one to give up. She'd get rid of Emily, and Liza, if necessary, if it was the last thing she did.
* * *
Several times the next week Liza used the blond wig to go with Bonnie to the grocery store and once to the shopping mall. The realization that there would be no quick end to her problems made it difficult to continue to hide. When they ran into anyone the housekeeper knew, Bonnie used the story she'd made up earlier, that Liza was her niece come for a visit.
But they kept that secret from Nick.
On Wednesday, Emily called, and Liza told her about the phone call and their talk with Detective Ramsey. It didn't make either of them feel better. Then Emily asked how much longer Liza would be at the doctor's house, but she couldn't answer that question.
She wanted to stay as long as she could. It was going to be painful whenever she had to leave. So why not enjoy every minute until it became necessary?
Nick continued to be as loving as ever. And he hadn't pressed the issue about children. He seemed to have adopted the attitude that Liza had—one day at a time.
Liza was as happy as was possible in the circumstances. She worried about Emily, of course, but she reveled in Nick's love, and enjoyed getting out with Bonnie. She would've preferred that things continue as they were for a while longer.
On Thursday, however, she accompanied Bonnie to the grocery store and everything changed. One of Bonnie's friends stopped her for a chat, while Liza looked interestedly at some magazines.
"You don't know of anyone who wants a temporary job, do you?" the woman asked.
"What kind of job?" Bonnie asked.
"Well, you know my daughter runs the day care center at the hospital that all the employees use. It seems there's a flu epidemic going around, and half her staff is out sick. I'm going in tomorrow to help, but she'll still be shorthanded."
Liza's ears perked up. She loved children, in spite of not being able to have any. Why not spend a day or two working at the hospital? With her blond wig, no one seemed to recognize her.
"Aunt Bonnie, I could do that," Liza said, turning to the housekeeper.
"Oh, no, lovey!" Bonnie exclaimed. "Nick wouldn't want that."
Her friend stared at her curiously. "Why would Dr. Hathaway object? It would be wonderful if your niece could come. What was your name, dearie?"
Liza had to think fast. She and Bonnie hadn't bothered with a name when they'd made up the story. "Um, Liza. Liza Brown."
"I didn't know you had any Browns in your family, Bonnie," the woman said.
Liza answered before Bonnie could speak. She wasn't sure she'd come up with anything from her dazed expression. "No, but I, um, was briefly married," Liza added.
"Oh, of course. I'm surprised you kept the name," the woman said. Then smiling at her, she said, "So can I tell my daughter you'll be there in the morning?"
"Yes, if I can come at nine. I can't get there any earlier."
"And I'll have to pick you up at four-thirty," Bonnie said urgently. "So your daughter will probably want to get someone else, who can stay longer."
"She's so desperate, she'll take anyone," the woman said. "How about you, Bonnie? Want to help, too?"
"Maybe I'd better," she muttered, staring at
Liza. "That way I can, uh, help out."
"Terrific! I'll call you tonight after I talk to my daughter." Then the woman pushed her cart down the aisle.
"Nick is going to kill us!" Bonnie whispered.
"We won't tell him, Bonnie. You can say you're helping out, and you know I'm not supposed to answer the phone. He'll never know."
"But, Liza, what if someone recognizes you?"
"I'm not nearly as famous as you think. Besides, the only ones I really have to hide from aren't here right now. And they sure wouldn't look for me in a day care center. It'll be fine, you'll see."
"I certainly hope so," Bonnie said with a sigh.
Thirteen
When Nick came home that evening, he noticed both of the women in his household seemed nervous. Bonnie wouldn't meet his gaze, which wasn't a good sign.
"What's up?" he asked, watching both of them.
His housekeeper jumped, as if he'd scared her, and muttered "Nothing."
Liza smiled at him and moved into his embrace for a kiss. He was easily distracted by Liza's closeness, but he made a mental note to try to catch Bonnie alone and question her.
"Dinner will be ready in half an hour if you want to, you know, visit with Liza," Bonnie offered, still not looking at him. But he'd worry about what was going on later. Right now he could think of nothing but Liza.
"Good idea, Bonnie." He took Liza's hand and headed out of the kitchen.
"Wait a minute!" Liza protested, pulling back. He turned to stare at her. "You don't want to…talk?"
Liza sent him a teasing smile. "Of course I do, but it's nice to be asked and not taken for granted. You're getting a little spoiled."
"Oh, you think so?" he asked, his eyebrows rising as he pulled her against him again. But she was right. He had gotten spoiled. Having Liza welcome him home, spend the evening with him and the nights…Yeah, he was spoiled, all right, and he hoped it continued for the rest of his life.
That thought took him by surprise. Liza was more right then she'd realized. She'd charmed him right out of his decision to remain alone. He couldn't imagine a life without her now. Without realizing it, he was looking to the future with a smile on his face for the first time in four years.
He hadn't actually told Liza he loved her. He didn't want to make life difficult for her right now. She had too much to deal with. But he would. He wasn't going to let her go. He lowered his head and whispered an invitation in her ear that had her blushing.
Bonnie chuckled, sounding more normal. "Lovey, you'd better take him out of here before I get embarrassed."
Liza did as Bonnie suggested, tugging on Nick's hand. He didn't hesitate to follow her. He never would.
Once they were in the den with the door closed, Nick pulled her to him. "Do I need to ask permission to kiss you?"
Her answer was to cover his lips with hers, and all thought flew out of his head. He was being spoiled and he loved it.
* * *
The next morning, as Nick was leaving, Bonnie said, "Oh, Nick, I won't be home all day. I'm helping out a friend. So if you call and don't get an answer, don't worry."
Liza pretended to keep her gaze fixed on her scrambled eggs, but she tensed waiting for Nick's response. She and Bonnie had discussed when it would be best to tell him. They had decided to wait until he was walking out the door.
"What friend?" he asked as he gathered up his medical bag and briefcase.
"Marge Joyner."
He came to an abrupt halt. "What's wrong with Marge?"
"Nothing," Bonnie hurriedly said.
"But she doesn't work. Her daughter—" He broke off and frowned at his housekeeper. "I heard the day care needed help. Is that what you're doing?"
"Yes. I said I'd help out today."
Nick turned to Liza. "Will you be all right here alone?"
Liza raised one eyebrow, acting for all she was worth. "Of course. I won't answer the door or the phone. I figure I'll get a lot of writing done."
Still frowning, Nick leaned over and kissed her. "Okay, but be careful."
"I will."
When he left the house, the two women remained quiet until they heard his car leave the driveway.
Then Bonnie said, "Mercy, Liza, I thought I was going to break down and confess before he could leave. I'm too old for this."
"I'm sorry, Bonnie, but—but I want things to be normal so badly, and I don't think there's any danger to me, truly."
"I know, lovey. I wouldn't have agreed if I thought it would hurt you. The doctor tends to err on the side of caution."
"I know. I'm going upstairs and put on the wig. Then I'll be ready to go. I don't think it will matter if we get there a little early."
"Mercy, no. I expect we'll be greeted with open arms."
And they were. Liza looked at the room full of toddlers, her gaze twinkling. "Oh, Bonnie, aren't they darling?"
"That they are. I've been longing for Nick to—I mean, I'll feel like a grandmother if Nick ever—Well, yes, they are cute as can be."
A woman only a few years older than Liza rushed forward. "Oh, Mrs. Allen and Liza, is it? I'm so grateful you came. Mom's here, of course, but I had to send the only worker I had left home a few minutes ago. This flu epidemic is killing me!"
"Just tell us what you need us to do," Bonnie said, setting her handbag on a nearby shelf. Liza did the same.
Soon both of them were on the floor, playing with the children, organizing games or supervising a group activity. Liza loved it.
After a lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, it was nap time for all the children, except one little girl about eighteen months old, who cried and cried. Liza offered to rock the baby so she wouldn't awaken the other children.
Settling in one of the rockers, Liza cuddled the little girl to her. One small hand reached for the shoulder-length blond hair. Liza gasped and started to remove the hand, but the baby seemed content to just hold on, so Liza relaxed against the back of the rocker and began singing softly.
The head of the center stared at her in surprise, and Liza changed to a hum. It hadn't occurred to her that her voice might be recognized.
Just as the baby was fading to sleep, the door to the nursery opened and two men entered, one carrying a local TV station video camera.
Liza searched for Bonnie, wondering what was going on. As she did so, the baby jerked awake and started crying again—and tugged on the wig.
Pandemonium reigned as the two men recognized Liza at once. The camera was turned on and pointed in her direction and the reporter rushed over to start asking questions. Liza tried to comfort the baby and pull the wig back on at the same time, ignoring the reporter.
Bonnie rushed to her side and told the men to stop filming.
They kept right on going.
"Please, you don't understand!" Liza said. "And you're upsetting the baby."
Within seconds, the other children were awakened, some crying. Marge, Bonnie's friend, added her efforts to her friend's, to get the men out of the day care center.
"We'll go as soon as Ms. Colton gives us an interview," the reporter bargained. "We came to film a story about the flu epidemic, but this is a lot better story."
Liza wanted to groan, but she tried to maintain her composure. Unfortunately, she really had no choice if they were to restore order to the day care. Besides, these were local reporters. No one who wanted to harm her would see the interview.
"All right, but only a brief one," she said. She handed the crying child to Bonnie. "Out in the hall," she told the crew. "You're upsetting the children."
When she returned to the day care a few minutes later, order had been restored, and she apologized to the director for the disturbance.
"It's all right. I hope you can stay. I wouldn't ask, but I don't have enough people as it is, Ms. Colton."
"Of course I can stay." They couldn't possibly put it on the news until six o'clock, so, she reasoned, everything would be fine.
Bonnie hurried to her s
ide. "Is everything all right? Did they promise to keep quiet about your being here?"
"Of course not, but I didn't tell them where I'm staying, and we'll have plenty of time to warn Nick."
"Oh, mercy! He's going to kill us!"
* * *
Liza discovered how much she'd misjudged the situation when she and Bonnie tried to leave at four-thirty. With her blond wig firmly in place, she and the housekeeper stepped into the hall, only to discover the same reporter and cameraman waiting for them.
"Ms. Colton, I need to ask you some more questions. The entertainment shows want more information."
Liza stared at the man with a microphone stuck beneath her nose. "You got the interview for your local station."
"Yeah, but I didn't know then they'd be interested. They're offering a lot of money to find out where you've been hiding!" He grinned with enthusiasm, obviously expecting her to be thrilled about that information.
"No," Liza said firmly and tried to move away.
"Come on, Ms. Colton. We'll just follow you if you don't cooperate."
The truth of his statement struck her. Her safe haven would be gone. And if the news went out of Saratoga Springs, it was bound to be seen by the wrong people. She might even put Nick and Bonnie in danger.
She didn't want to do that.
Tears pooled in her eyes. "I'll give you a brief interview if you'll follow me to the airport."
"You won't tell anyone else, will you?" the cameraman asked, obviously anxious to protect his exclusive story.
"No, I won't tell anyone," she promised even as she felt Bonnie squeeze her arm.
"We'll take you to the airport, then," the reporter promised.
Liza realized they weren't going to let her out of sight, so she might as well make use of them. "Thank you, I appreciate that. If you'll just give me a moment, I need to tell the lady I can't come back tomorrow."
After they nodded, she pushed Bonnie back into the nursery, closing the door behind her.
"You're not leaving, lovey?" Bonnie cried.
"I don't have a choice. If this story is going national, then I might endanger you and Nick. I have to go."
"Without even telling Nick goodbye?" Bonnie asked, disbelief in her voice.
The Doctor Delivers Page 13