Chasing Adonis

by Gina Ardito

  Her gleeful, “Sure,” sent shivers rippling down his back, but he kept his posture ramrod straight as he strode toward the bathroom.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Fifteen hours later, Shane pulled into the Prehistoric Palace Hotel inside the thousand-acre park grounds of KidLand.

  “We’re here, we’re here,” Tyler chimed.

  He had to hand it to the KidTV people. Tyler fell asleep hours ago. Yet, the moment they entered the KidLand gates, some inner radar woke him. With newfound energy, the child began bouncing in his car seat.

  “Can we see Prufrock now, Uncle Shane? Where do you think he is?”

  “If he’s smart, he’s sleeping so he has enough energy to listen to your chatter tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” Tyler whined. “I don’t want to wait until tomorrow.”

  Adara turned in her seat to face him. “Look at it this way. Before you see Prufrock, you’ll have mastered another karate move.”

  “You promise?”

  “I sure do. But I think you should go back to sleep now. You’ll need to be well rested for your big day. Uncle Shane and I will go inside and find our hotel room then we’ll come back to get you and Grandma. Okay?”

  The child sighed, as dramatic an air as a five-year-old could force from such inexperienced lips. “O-kay…”

  “Good man,” she said, opening the car door.

  Shane stepped out on his side and waited until both doors were closed again before speaking. “You don’t have to go in with me. In fact, it’s probably better if you stay out of sight.”

  “What, you think you’re photo’s not plastered all over the news alongside mine? Let’s face it. Anyone looking for me is also looking for you. By now, I’m sure the authorities have figured out that we’re together. Besides, I don’t want you to screw this up.”

  “Screw what up?”

  “Come on, Shane, get real. You’re too law and order for subterfuge. What do you expect to do when we get in there? Stroll up to the counter and ask for a room?”

  “Why not? I’m speaking the universal language.” He whipped out the thick billfold. “Cash.”

  Clucking her tongue, she shook her head. “Amateur. Just shut up, and let me do the talking when we get inside, okay?”

  “Maybe I should stay in the car and let you bring Tyler in with you,” he snapped.

  “Ordinarily, I would. Tyler’s exactly what I need to pull this off with ease. But the boy’s been through enough, so I’ll have to wing it.” She placed a hand on his arm, as if to soothe his pride. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. But go with me on this, please. Did you ever try to get a room in a resort hotel without a reservation?”

  “No.” The admission reeked of helplessness, and he hated himself for it.

  “Well, I have. You have to handle the situation just right, or you’ll arouse suspicion. And suspicion is the last thing we want right now. So follow my lead.” She had the audacity to wink at him. “Watch and learn.”

  They entered the Prehistoric Palace, and Shane’s jaw dropped. He’d entered a Peruvian rain forest. Dozens of trees towered above him, forming a canopy so lush, the ceiling was indiscernible. A rushing waterfall encompassed one corner of the lobby, and a winding stream of glistening water wrapped around the perimeter. Straight ahead, in the center of this jungle, stood what appeared to be a fallen tree, at least twenty feet long and four feet high. This served as the reservations desk, and Adara sauntered over to a red-smocked clerk, her bearing fit for the Queen of England.

  “Oh, I’m so glad to see a friendly face.” She tossed her purse onto the counter and dug through it as if seeking the Holy Grail. “I worried that we’d arrive so late, no one would be available to help us.”

  The woman behind the counter smiled in understanding. “The staff at the Prehistoric Palace is available twenty-four hours a day for the benefit of our guests. Can I help you?”

  “Yes. We have reservations for one of your larger rooms. I forget the name of the suite. The agent told me when I booked it. Where is that paper I wrote the information on? Oh, darn, I can’t find anything in here. I’m so bleary-eyed.”

  Shane watched her damsel in distress act with amusement. The transformation happened within the blink of an eye. Suddenly it was bye-bye, Xena, Warrior Princess. Hello, Rapunzel in the tower.

  When Adara covered her mouth and yawned, the exhausted traveler routine worked its magic on the desk clerk. She reached out to pat Adara’s hand sympathetically. “Don’t worry about it, ma’am. That’s not necessary. Just tell me your last name, and I’ll pull up your reservation.”

  “Erasmus,” she replied. “Tanek and Maia Erasmus.”

  The clerk’s fingers flitted over a keyboard, and after a few minutes, she stopped clicking and smiled. “Here it is. Mr. Pha called in your reservations yesterday. You’re paid in full for our Super Stego Suite for the next two weeks.”

  Relief washed over Adara’s face, and Shane felt the same emotion mix with the confusion brewing in his gut.

  “That’s it, of course.” Adara nodded as if the name had been on the tip of her tongue the whole time. “The Super Stego Suite.”

  “I just need your signature here,” the clerk said as she placed a sheet of yellow cardboard atop the counter and pointed. “Fill in details about your car here—license number and state—and I’ll give you your parking permit. Make sure you display it from you rearview mirror at all times when you’re on the hotel grounds. Okay?”

  “Got it.” Adara signed the name Maia Erasmus without batting an eyelash then handed the form back to the clerk. The woman eyed the signature and nodded, then slid a neon green six-by-nine sign with a cut-out hole for mounting. “Thanks.”

  Shane relaxed his posture slightly. Good thing they didn’t expect him to sign also. He couldn’t begin to guess how to spell, “Tanek” correctly. Where the hell had she come up with a name like that anyway? The minute they were out of earshot of the front desk, Adara had mega-explaining to do.

  “How many keys do you think you’ll need?” the desk clerk asked.

  Adara turned to Shane, eyes questioning. “Two okay?”

  He nodded, and the clerk swiped two credit card style keys through a machine and slapped them on the counter along with a manila folder. “You’re in Suite 1204. The elevators are just past the waterfall on your right. Please take some time to read through the enclosed information packet. You’ll find coupons for the on-site grocery store, as well as answers to our guests’ most frequently asked questions inside. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay with us more enjoyable, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  “Thank you,” Adara replied, then turned back to Shane. “Tanek, darling, why don’t we go up and check out the suite before we get the rest of the family and our things?”

  “Great idea, Maia.” He took her arm as she swept the keys and folder off the counter, and they proceeded to the elevator. “You want to explain all that?” he prompted when they were far enough away from any possible eavesdroppers.

  Doubt creased her forehead. “I wish I could, but I can’t.”

  “How did you know Pha had a room reserved here for us under that name? And for that matter, how did Pha know where we were? Please don’t tell me you called him.”

  “You made me ditch my cell phone, remember?” She shrugged. “Not that it was much use with that giant crack running through the screen.”

  He pushed the up button, turning slightly to gauge her expression. “So how could Pha have booked us reservations here? We didn’t even know we’d wind up here.”

  “I honestly have no idea. I used my grandparents’ names. I thought the desk clerk would look it up, not find a reservation for us, and apologize. Then I figured I’d make a stink until a manager straightened it all out. That’s why I considered involving Tyler. Nothing makes adults aim to please faster than an overwrought child throwing a tantrum in public. And no hotel manager wants a scene in their lobby. Then I realized a
shouting match was the last thing Tyler needed. I assumed I’d be on my own back there.” The elevator doors swooshed open, and they stepped inside the empty car. “I never expected the desk clerk to find a reservation under that name in their system. And then to discover Ted set it all up for us? It’s just another bizarre coincidence in a series of bizarre coincidences, don’t you think?”

  Shane didn’t reply. He simply pushed the button for the twelfth floor and stared upward at the numbers as they lit one by one.

  Bizarre. Par for the course regarding anything where Ted was involved. What had he said? Something about having a psychic connection with Adara? He’d always scoffed at cops who put their faith in those snake oil salesmen who claimed to “see” murder victims or know the inner workings of a criminal’s mind.

  Still, he had to admit, as odd as it sounded, when it came to Adara and Pha, an otherworldly alliance existed. If he was going to start considering telepathic mumbo-jumbo, it was time to question his sanity.

  Note to self: When this is over, make appointment with the precinct’s shrink. Discover what it is about Adara that makes you cast all your cynicism to the wind. Otherwise, the next thing you know, you’ll rediscover the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus.

  The elevator stopped with minimal jolt, and the doors whooshed open to reveal yet another jungle paradise. This time, hidden speakers, only slightly visible behind the large fronds of giant rubber trees, added exotic birdcalls and the gentle patter of rain to the lush forest atmosphere. Subtle floral perfume tinged the air, and along the hallway, painted frescoes of Prufrock and his friends frolicked and kept the bad guys at bay.

  “Tyler’s going to love this,” Adara murmured while her head swerved left, right, and overhead.

  Shane nodded, his mind too occupied with thoughts of Pha’s generous interference to really absorb their surroundings.

  A short walk down a hallway carpeted in deep green plush with black dinosaur footprints brought them to a halt outside Suite 1204. Adara slid the key into the slot, a green light popped on, and she pushed the door open to come face to face with another door. Repeating the procedure, she stepped inside with Shane right behind her.

  The enormity of the suite stunned him into deeper, thoughtful silence.

  Directly in front of them sat an octagonal glass dining room table and six white wrought iron chairs. To his left, a full kitchen of stainless steel appliances and onyx counters waited to be filled with delicious aromas. On the right, a forest green leather sectional faced a giant screen television and surround sound entertainment system. Just past the living room, sliding glass doors beckoned to a small private patio with a view of palm trees encompassing a small lake. Above the palm trees, even from where Shane stood in the dining room, the smoking spires of Prufrock’s Dragon’s Lair clearly pierced the black sky. In the center of the suite, a spiral staircase acted as a divider between the dining room and living room areas.

  While his eyes drank in the magnificence, Shane swallowed hard. How the hell much did something like this cost? And where would he find the funds to repay Pha when this was all over? With bright red dollar signs floating amid the usual concerns in his consciousness, he turned to gauge Adara’s reaction to their accommodations.

  Amazement danced in her smile and wide eyes. After dropping the manila folder onto the countertop behind her, she grabbed both his hands to pull him forward. “Let’s go see what’s upstairs. Come on. I’ll race ya.”

  She released him and, like a schoolgirl given early dismissal, ran to the ivy-covered banister. While she ascended to the second floor of the suite, Shane remained rooted to the spot, his thoughts too disturbed to concentrate on anything as complicated as motion.

  “Oh, my God.” Her screech of excitement floated down to him, the song of a hysterical angel on high. “Shane, you’ve gotta come up and see this place. It’s amazing. Now I know how the Swiss Family Robinson felt living in their giant tree house. Tyler’s gonna flip. And wait ‘til you see the master bathroom. A whirlpool tub, a tiled shower big enough for two adults, candles, and everything. Wait a sec. I want to take a peek at the bedrooms.”

  Her shoes thump-thumped over the floor above his head as she raced to the opposite end of the suite. A brief silence ensued, then her eager voice returned to report what she’d discovered now. “Wow! The master bedroom has a king-sized four-poster with another patio overlooking KidLand, and there’s a second bedroom with two full beds and a separate bathroom. I can’t believe how beautiful this all is. This place is amazing.” A pause, then, “Shane, are you listening to me? What’s taking you so long? Get your butt up here, and see for yourself. Come on. You’re not gonna believe it.”

  Shane sighed in defeat. Placing one foot in front of the other, he headed toward the staircase. The oddest thought struck him as he scaled the first step. All of a sudden he had two children in his care: Tyler and Adara.

  ~~~~

  Standing at the top of the stairs, hands on her hips, Adara stopped herself from tapping her foot in irritation at Shane’s sluggishness. What on earth was keeping him? How could he not want to see this beautiful place in its entirety?

  Some huge bug had crawled up his butt and taken residence there today. Ever since Tyler had knocked her down this morning with Combination Ten, Shane had been quiet and withdrawn, almost sullen. He refused to talk to her, and any questions she asked were met with a terse monosyllabic reply.

  Once, she’d let her fingers slip over the gear shift separating them only to have him grasp her hand and place it back in her own lap with a deliberate drop. But his incommunicado status didn’t end there.

  She instituted a game of “I Spy” with Tyler and Pauline, but Shane refused to play along, claiming that driving took all his concentration.

  “Gee, I hope not,” she’d quipped before she thought better of it. “Suffolk County’s Finest should at least know how to locate the nearest doughnut shop while driving.”

  The glare she’d received in reply could freeze a New York City street in August. At noon.

  When she turned on the radio and sang along to a particular favorite, he suddenly reached over and shut the music off with a mumbled, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  Okay, so American Idol wasn’t searching for her for a multi-album contract, but she didn’t have a completely tin ear, either. She’d even won a karaoke contest at the Silk Club one night. Why the hostility?

  She thought the whole idea was to keep Tyler from suspecting something odd was going on between them. Yet his behavior only raised the eyebrows of every passenger in their car. At one point, when Shane yelled at a driver who cut him off, poor Tyler looked downright terrified.

  Maybe she should confront him—now, before Tyler and Pauline joined them again. When his long face finally appeared around the final curve in the staircase, she prepared herself for battle. Planting her feet as she would in a grappling match, she folded her arms over her chest, portraying a rigid, implacable opponent. Just let him try to walk over her this time…

  “What the hell’s going on with you today?”

  He had the nerve to look surprised. “What?”

  “You know perfectly well, ‘what.’ You’ve barely spoken all day, and when you did see fit to deign us with your pearls of wisdom, your words were either sarcastic or outraged.”

  “As opposed to your kindness and sunshine, eh?”

  “Oh, puh-leez. Yes, I admit, I’m angry right now, but you’re the cause. Can you blame me? There’s a permanent scowl etched in your face. You’ve been barking at me since early this morning. This is hardly what I call a family vacation. I’d have more laughs escorting a corpse to a funeral.”

  That comment cracked through his impatient façade. For the briefest of moments, a smile curved his lips. Unfortunately, as quickly as the grin appeared, it flipped back into the standard issue frown she’d grown accustomed to seeing today. “I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

  “And I d
on’t?”

  He shrugged. “How should I know? You’re acting like this is some kind of lark. The singing, the car games, the karate lessons. The way you’re carrying on, no one would ever know your life is in danger.”

  “I thought that was the point. To keep Tyler from suspecting anything. You think I’m not scared to death? You think I don’t spend hours staring at the ceiling every night, wondering if tomorrow’s going to be the day that Cherry’s goons catch up with me? You think I don’t cringe at every stranger’s face I see? You think I’m not looking over my shoulder every five minutes? Well, guess what, pal? You’re wrong, dead wrong, if you’ll pardon the pun.”

  Hot tears filled her eyes, and she turned away to stare at the whirlpool tub while regaining her bearings. No man had ever seen her cry. She’d be damned if Shane Griffin became the first. Overhead lights bounced off the gleaming ceramic tile in glints, bringing the tears to the rims of her eyelids.

  “I’m tired, too, you know,” she told the tub in a husky voice. “I know it’s my fault you’re stuck here. And I don’t blame you for hating me for dragging your family into my mess. And once this is over, you can tell me to go to hell, and I’ll be out of your life forever. But, in the meantime, while we’re stuck together, could you tone down the animosity just a bit?”

  “I don’t hate you, Adara.”

  Firm hands landed on her shaking shoulders, but she took a step forward, away from the comforting touch. She needed no one’s comfort. The sooner Shane learned that, the better off they’d both be. Apparently, he disagreed. Matching her movements, he stepped closer. He didn’t touch her; he didn’t have to. His presence surrounded her like a warm bath, instinctively calming her disquiet.

  “This isn’t your fault,” he said in a soothing voice. “I took out my frustrations on you today, and I shouldn’t have. My mood had very little to do with you at all.”

  Curious and maybe a little irritated, she whirled around to see the expression on his face. Was he just trying to make her feel better? After looking into solemn eyes and his set mouth, she still couldn’t tell. “Then what was it? If you’re not angry with me, why have you been so nasty today?”