The Common Thread

by Jaime Maddox

  Nic moaned as she felt their softness, and again as Rae ran her fingers across Nic’s shoulders and down her back and gently tugged on her shirt, pulling it up, forcing Nic to pull away. Their eyes met, pools of desire bubbling with heat, and then their lips found each other, too. The kiss was deep, but tender, as they cautiously explored each other’s mouths. In seconds Nic’s bra fell away, and she felt fire in the places Rae’s hands touched her, along her flanks, and then her belly, and finally, her breasts. Tongues slid in slow, lazy circles around each other, and then Rae’s hands dropped as she pulled her closer, allowing their breasts to graze each other. Her mouth never left Nic’s, even as she grasped the waistband of her shorts and began sliding them down.

  Nic stopped her by holding her hands and then pushing them away, and then, she stepped back and sensually slid them down over her hips, as Rae stood watching, anticipating. Rae took the hint and slid her own shorts down, then dropped to her knees before Nic, burying her face in the triangle of fabric that covered her. Rae reached up, cupped Nic’s ass, and slowly pulled the underwear down, kissing the flesh as it was exposed, following the path until she had Nic on the bed, with no underwear to impede her, her mouth buried in the soft curls between her legs.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Going Out of Business

  Simon sat at his desk, trying his best to follow the conversation between the computer wizards who kept Happy and Healthy Pharmacies running. It wasn’t even eight a.m., and already he was bombarded with the problems that came with running a multimillion-dollar corporation. In their attempt to explain the most cost-effective remedy for a problem with one of their computer servers, they’d just confused him. He wouldn’t admit that, though. He was the boss; therefore he was always right and always understood every facet of his business, no matter how complex the issues. To admit otherwise would have been a sign of weakness. Weakness would make him a target, and that would never do. He was the hunter, not the prey.

  The men before him had no idea of the thoughts running through his head, and if they did, they themselves would have been running. None of the fifty employees in the building understood, and neither did the three hundred other people who worked at his pharmacies. His wife and children were clueless. The only one who understood was Angelica, and that was why at this moment she was preparing them to leave the country.

  That Katie had survived his efforts to kill her not once, but twice, was reason enough for him to flee. That he’d shot a cop—even one wearing a bulletproof vest—was an even bigger incentive. One of his top distributors had been hauled in for questioning. He too was a parking attendant, and after the police linked the bullets in the shootings at the lawyer’s office with the killing at the parking garage, things began to really get interesting. Simon assumed the man would talk to the police, which was yet another reason to hasten his retirement plans. The temperature in the kitchen was suddenly getting way too hot for comfort.

  The risk really wasn’t the parking attendant—although he could become a nuisance. The problem was Katie. On the streets he was known only as Simon, a person of his own creation, and only Angelica knew his real identity, until Katie had stumbled upon the truth, resulting in a ton of problems.

  Her discovery was totally random, unpredictable, and unpreventable. He’d been in Rehoboth Beach with his family, strolling along the boardwalk like thousands of other tourists. When his son, Justin, asked for an ice cream, he didn’t hesitate to queue behind the others at the vendor’s window. Just as Katie turned around with her cones in hand, his wife had touched his arm. “Marc, we’ll meet you at Funland,” she’d said.

  Katie had looked from his startled face to hers, offered a generic smile, then walked across the boardwalk to her own children.

  Marc Simonson didn’t resemble his alter ego Simon Simms in the slightest. Of course, he couldn’t change his height, but the way Simon carried himself made him seem larger than he was. Bulky clothing helped in that regard as well. Other than the physical attributes, the two had few similarities. Their language, personalities, and manner of dress were all radically different. Simon was a street thug and acted the part. Marc was a nerdy but highly successful businessman. If he hadn’t met Katie face-to-face, hadn’t been so startled by seeing her in that setting, she probably wouldn’t have guessed it was him. She would have gone home wondering about the similarities but ultimately would have dismissed them as simply too improbable. But instead of a calm, cool, reaction, he noticeably flinched when their eyes met, and he knew that she recognized him.

  From the moment she walked away, cones in hand, he was left wondering how to handle the situation. A part of him had hoped he wouldn’t have to kill her, but in the back of his mind he knew it would ultimately come to that. He couldn’t rest with her knowing his secret. He’d been sitting at the bar, nursing a beer, when Billy walked in that fateful night. “Katie said she saw you at the beach. You workin’ on your tan?”

  Simon knew then that he had to act quickly. Who else would Katie talk to while he was trying to figure out what to do? He’d shot Billy and tried to kill her, yet she seemed impervious to his bullets. Now, he’d have to try again. No, he thought. He’d have to do it right this time. She was the only witness that any crime was committed, and eventually, she’d tell someone what she knew. The police might be able to trace him to the islands, and they might not, but it wasn’t a chance he wanted to take. He’d worked too hard to allow a little detail like Katie Finan fuck up his plans. When he disappeared, there’d be no reason for anyone to look for him.

  He’d already shut down his factory. His pharmacist had left with a severance package of $25,000 and no explanation. They’d wiped down the place, and the next day he’d begin moving the machinery, so all evidence of their illegal activity would be gone.

  And tonight, he’d tell Heather that he wanted a divorce. Simple and clean was his goal. The money he had in his safe was enough to sustain him, if he could get it to the islands undetected. If not—well, he didn’t want to think about that possibility.

  Hopefully, Heather would his accept his reasons and allow him to walk away. He planned to offer his shares of the pharmacy as lifetime child and spousal support. She could have it all—more than a million dollars a year, and several million in equity, in exchange for his freedom.

  “Just fix it!” he told the computer experts. “Cost isn’t an issue.” The bottom line of the Happy and Healthy Pharmacies no longer concerned him.

  Chapter Thirty

  The Pieces Come Together

  Sunrays, filtered through the sheer fabric of her bedroom curtains, bathed Nic’s face, and although the warmth was delightful, the brightness of the light blinded her. She pulled the down comforter up higher, shielding her face, and breathed deeply, intoxicated by the wonderful smell of…sex.

  Even as her eyes flew open, she was rolling over in her bed, searching for Rae. Before disappointment could dampen her mood, someone knocked on the door and opened it. Rae, Chloe, and Andre entered. Rae was carrying a tray, Andre the newspaper, and Chloe a flower.

  A chorus of “good mornings” greeted her.

  She smiled at both kids, their faces glowing with happiness, and ran her hand across her chest to ensure she was properly dressed for this party. Fortunately, she was. Somewhere in the night, her pajamas had found their way onto her body, and she was relieved. Although, knowing Rae, she wouldn’t have brought the kids into the room unless she was aware of that.

  This was the day they’d be reunited with their mother. As happy as she was for them, Nic was a little sad for herself. Even though she’d known this day was coming, she hadn’t been prepared for the feelings she now had to deal with.

  After a busy evening in the ER, Nic arrived home in the early morning to find Rae in her bed and was overwhelmed with emotion. The little fantasy they’d been living was over.

  As she cuddled with Rae, and made love with her, she’d thought about how great it would be to come to bed in the midd
le of the day, or to make love in the hammock, without fear of young eyes discovering them. Telling herself she was free to hike the long trails at Ricketts Glen, instead of the modified version they’d climbed with the kids, she tried to coerce herself into feeling happy. She’d eat what she wanted and do what she wanted, take a nap because she was exhausted, and she should be relieved that they’d be gone.

  She wasn’t, though. And long after Rae had succumbed to her fatigue and drifted off to sleep, Nic had stared into the darkness thinking about her niece and nephew, and their mother, and what she might do to keep them in her life.

  Katie would arrive at Lake Wallenpaupack in the early afternoon. Jet had spoken to Rae and offered to pick the kids up, but since Katie was still weak, and her house was out of the intended travel route, Rae had offered to drop them off. Nic, of course, would go with her. Not only did she want to prolong her time with Chloe and Andre, but she also wanted to meet Katie.

  Jet had told Katie that she had a twin, and apparently she’d handled that information with a whole lot more class than Nic had. Katie was shocked, of course, but after that initial surprise wore off, she was full of questions. Jet had warned Rae that Nic should be prepared for a thorough interrogation.

  “This is for you,” Chloe said, a huge smile on her face as she offered Nic a daisy, no doubt freshly picked from the garden in front of the house.

  Nic smiled, brought it to her nose, and pronounced it beautiful, thrilled at the change she’d seen in her niece during the six days they’d been together. She opened her arms for a hug, and Andre pounced on her as well, followed by Rae. They formed a huge giggling ball of arms and legs bouncing on her bed. As she tickled Andre, Nic thought that bed had never been such a fun place as it was since these three people had entered her life.

  “Okay, sleepyhead,” Rae said, “it’s time to get up. You’re going to have a little breakfast and then a shower. We’re going to my parents’ for lunch.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Ten.”

  “Wow, I must have been tired.”

  Rae grinned mischievously, and Nic blushed at the thought of what they’d done to cause such fatigue and how late they’d been up doing it.

  Nic peeled the banana she’d received and ate her yogurt, complimenting the chefs on the meal they’d created. After a shower, she tried very hard not to cry as she helped Chloe and Andre pack their things. Rae loaded their bikes onto the rack on Nic’s SUV, and by noon, Nic was following Rae to her parents’ house, her car stuffed with children and a nanny and the ton of stuff they’d accumulated in just a few days.

  Her sadness and the effort to hide it occupied her mind to such a degree that it wasn’t until they approached West Nanticoke that she thought to be nervous about meeting Rae’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes knew their daughter had been spending her nights, and most of her days, with Nic, and from their intimate talks Nic knew that Rae wasn’t in the habit of taking women home to meet her folks. Had it been her choice, Nic would have delayed this encounter for a few more days, or weeks, or months, but Rae had been so enchanted by Chloe and Andre that she wanted them to meet her parents, and circumstances dictated that the meeting be this day.

  The Rhodes home was on a corner lot, and from a block away, Nic could see the huge R on the garage well, just as Rae had described. She couldn’t suppress her laughter, and if Rae had been beside her they wouldn’t have been fit to meet her parents. They’d have been rolling around in the grass giggling. Nan and Chloe and Andre didn’t get the joke, though, and so the laughter died before she pulled into the driveway beside Rae.

  The Craftsman Cottage she called home was immaculately maintained, with a pristine lawn and flower gardens, and a row of towering pines lining the perimeter near the road. Nic guessed the yard work was a chore for Rae’s parents, especially since her father’s illness, and wondered how they managed to keep the place looking so good during their travels.

  She didn’t have time to ponder the question further, as an Old English sheepdog came running toward the driveway and nearly knocked Rae onto her butt. Everyone in her car witnessed the attack, and the kids quickly joined Rae in chasing the big ball of fur around the yard. A man and a woman, looking much too young to be the parents of a thirty-five-year-old daughter, stood on the sidewalk enjoying the show. Nic helped Nan from the car, walked over to them, and introduced herself.

  Rae looked just like her mom—same eyes, same hair, same coloring, same height. Her father wasn’t much taller, but with lighter hair and skin. Nic could detect no resemblance until he began talking, and then Nic could see where Rae’s energy and intelligence came from. He showed no signs that a cancerous tumor was trying to take over his body and every sign that he was determined not to let it.

  After the introductions, Rich Rhodes led them around the house to his backyard, where a play set drew the kids’ attention. After asking permission, they raced each other to the swings. Rae helped her mom with refreshments while Nan and Nic relaxed on a bench swing. Rae’s sister joined them, and her two daughters scampered into the yard after Chloe and Andre.

  Mrs. Rhodes had prepared tea sandwiches for the group, and when she and Rae emerged carrying trays of food, Nic had to coerce the children from their play. They ate hungrily, though, and, when they’d finished, ran straight back to the play set. An hour later, when Rae told them they’d have to leave, only the knowledge that they’d be meeting their mom made the separation from the sliding board tolerable.

  They took Nic’s SUV, and everyone was unusually quiet during the drive to Lake Wallenpaupack. Nic looked over to see Nan snoozing in the passenger seat, and in her rearview mirror she saw both kids staring out their windows. Rae was busy checking emails on her smartphone, leaving Nic alone with her thoughts.

  Meeting Rae’s parents had been a delight, and Nic had been made to feel welcome. Rae didn’t say or do anything to indicate to her family that they were a couple, but she guessed that the information must have already been passed along, for they treated her with a reverence that was truly flattering. Their love for Rae was evident and Nic felt it spilling over to her, as if by mere association she must be worthy of all their kindnesses. It felt good. Rae felt so good.

  Their night of romance had opened previously locked doors within their hearts. That connection had triggered an explosion that knocked down walls, and suddenly they were standing with nothing between them and with a decision to make about the direction their lives would take. They’d chosen love, and although it was a foreign concept for Nic and a scary one for Rae, they recognized something good in each other and in what they became when they were together. They had details to work out, for sure, but they’d be able to overcome whatever they faced.

  Having Rae’s love made the fear of the next hours easier for Nic. It was time to meet Katie, to come face-to-face with the only adult on the planet she knew who was her flesh and blood. It was time to examine herself, and the life she’d lived, and take credit where it was due, and give some back as well. It was time to accept the blame for her mistakes. Katie had started out with the same raw potential, and Nic couldn’t help but feeling that Katie had done so much more with it than she had.

  There was another thought plaguing her as well. Money. She had plenty of it, but what she’d learned about Katie suggested she didn’t. Jet had mentioned a trust fund during one of their talks, but she’d also mentioned other details that suggested that her sister didn’t enjoy the same privileges she had. And she bought clothes at Target, of all places. How would Nic respond if her sister asked her for money? She knew she’d do just about anything for Chloe and Andre, but she feared being put into that position. It was the main reason she’d never contacted her birth mother.

  Scenarios flashed through her mind as she imagined how this would go, with feelings ranging from happy to sad to angry to curious. It would take all her strength to meet Katie, and much work to build a relationship with someone who was seemingly so different from her. Bu
t she’d try anyway. She’d always wanted a sister.

  “Hey, big news,” Rae said from the backseat.

  “What’s that?”

  “I have an email from one of my colleagues about a break in the narcotics case. I have to call to get the details.”

  *

  “How’s your pain?” Jet asked Katie, removing her hand from the steering wheel to stroke Katie’s knee.

  Katie had turned off the morphine pump as soon as she understood what it was and had adamantly refused the pills offered to help ease her pain. Pain was tolerable, no matter how bad it was. Addiction was not.

  Grinding her teeth, she sucked in air through closed lips. She’d underestimated what the drive to the mountains would do to her. The Jeep’s front seat was fully reclined, and her body was cushioned with pillows and blankets, but she still felt every pothole the car hit. All the Motrin in the world wouldn’t ease this torture. But once they settled in, Katie knew the lake house would be the best place for her to recover. She knew they needed to get out of the city, at least until the police apprehended Simon. He’d clearly painted a bull’s-eye on her back, and the mountains seemed like a safe place to hide out until he was apprehended. It would be good for her recovery, too—breathing in the fresh air and watching her kids running and playing, safe from harm. Jeannie had given Jet two weeks’ vacation, and they’d make the most of it.

  “It’ll be better when we get to the lake,” Katie replied. “How much longer?”

  “Twenty minutes.”

  “I’ll make it,” she said, and she knew she would. She’d been through worse.

  “Hang in there.”

  “When will I get to see my kids? And my sister?” Katie was so excited she thought she’d burst. She’d spent much of the drive dozing and daydreaming about the mysterious twin she’d just discovered and couldn’t wait to meet Nic. She was exhausted, though, from the combined effects of pain and surgery, and she’d need to take a nap. Jet wanted to get her settled, buy some groceries, and unpack before she had the kids to deal with.