Dictator s Daughter (23 page)

Sean felt sick to his stomach. His pulse
raced with trepidation as he sat rigid, barely breathing and
trembling. He took a small sip of his drink and cast a glance over
his shoulder toward the other side of the lounge and right away
noticed security guards wearing black suits and earpieces. How had
he missed seeing them? He had unknowingly entered the lion’s den
and needed to get out before he was recognized. He reached in his
pocket for tip money.

“Hi there, would you like a little
company?”

He turned his head to the right and found an
attractive young lady standing with a drink in her hand. She didn’t
look very old, maybe twenty-one and a day. She smiled at him,
waiting for his reply.

Quick decision-making wasn’t his forte.
Should he accept, or should he decline? If he turned her down, she
might return to her table of friends, dejected, and cause a scene.
All attention would be drawn to him, including that of Rawlings and
his guards. So, he nodded in approval.

“Are you here on business?” she asked.

“Yes, how about you?” He quickly responded
before she could question his business.

“I live here. My father and I run the hotel.
I’m Jacquline, by the way.” She held out her hand to Sean.

Sean shook it politely. “I’m Steve. You live
here in the hotel?”

“Yes. I meet many people who pass through
Northtown; many repeat customers. I’ve never seen you before
though, I would have remembered you.” She threw him a flirtatious
wink.

“Well then, maybe you could tell me why
Victor Rawlings is here.”

“He’s one of our regulars. The Presidential
Suite on the top floor is held exclusively for him. Not many people
remember that the southern tip of Baylend used to be part of
Rendier until it was sold off sixty years ago. With our ski
resorts, pristine lakes and trophy fishing, one can only wonder why
King Louis would ever sell this vacation wonderland away. It’s
understandable why the Rendierians removed him from power if he was
making bad decisions like that. The Rawlings family always stays
with us while vacationing in Baylend.”

Sean knew more of the story than she did,
like the fact Gen. Alexandar Rawlings tricked the King into selling
the land and then proceeded to convince the country that Louis was
unfit to rule. Sean also knew the potential future wherein Victor
Rawlings forcefully takes back the sold portion, along with the
entire country of Baylend, unless Sean’s small group of rebels do
something about it.

Sean realigned his focus. “Is it weird to
have such a powerful leader here?”

“No, not really. He is kind to the staff and
is a generous tipper.”

“Do you know any of the other men at his
table?”

“They’re all bodyguards. Mr. Dennison is
sitting beside Victor Rawlings and Mr. Stone is across from Victor.
I don’t know the other one.”

“Riley Stone?” He hoped his voice sounded
steady.

“Yes, he’s Victor’s Head of Security.”

Sean’s face heated with rage as he
scrutinized Riley Stone. When Eliwese spoke of him, Sean imagined
an entirely different looking person in his mind; someone younger,
not a man as old as his own father. The thought of him forcing
himself on twenty-two year old Eliwese was appalling and
nauseating.

Jacquline continued. “He’s always asking me
out whenever they’re in town on leisure, although I’ve never
accepted. He’s too old, but still, it’s flattering to have such a
persistent admirer.”

“You’re wise to turn him down.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. So, are they here on business or
leisure?”

“Business. It must be serious because they
don’t want to be disturbed. No room or maid service is to be
administered during the stay. Riley made the point explicitly clear
when the reservations were set up. But enough about him, I want to
talk about you. Are you in town for long?”

“No, just one night.”

Through the mirror, Sean watched the four men
stand up to leave. Dennison and the other guard escorted Victor out
of the lounge while Riley dropped a single piece of paper money
between the drained glasses, and then to Sean’s horror, walked
towards Jacquline.

His black hair was well trimmed and his dark
gaze seemed even darker due to his deep-set onyx eyes. His
tailor-cut business suit revealed his muscular build making Sean
even more frightened.

“Hello Jacquline, always a pleasure.”

Riley’s authoritative low rumbling voice
prickled Sean’s spine and he forgot how to breathe as Riley looked
him up and down. Why, oh why, had he rushed out of the room without
his disguise? His foolishness would be their undoing.

Sean’s cell phone rang.

Elated at the distraction, he answered not
even hearing who was on the other line. He kept his eyes on Riley
through the mirror. Riley took Jacquline’s hand and raised it to
his mouth and kissed it gently, and left the lounge. Sean looked
over to Jacquline on his right and then picked up the conversation
on the phone.

“Where are you? What’s going on? You need to
come back to the room. Are you listening to me?” Ryan’s voice
sounded through the phone.

“Yes, of course. I’ll be right there.” Sean
hung up.

“Oh dear, I guess that ends our little chat.”
Jacquline said with a sigh. “It’s too bad you have to go, Steve. I
would have loved to get to know you better.”

Sean decided to leave things on a pleasant
note with her. “I would have liked that also, Jacquline.” He smiled
at her as he stood up.

She slipped him a card. “This is my cell
number, if you are ever in town again and would like some company,
just call.”

“Thank you,” Sean said and left the
lounge.

As he was about to swipe his key card in the
door to his room, he picked up on more than one voice coming from
inside. He entered the room and was filled with complete surprise
to find Ryan sitting on one bed with Dr. Randall and Eliwese seated
on the other with pillows propped behind her.

“Where have you been?” Ryan’s voice echoed
down the hall.

“Shhhh, they’ll hear you.” Sean scolded him
while closing the door. He attached the chain and peeked through
the peep hole for followers.

“Who will?” Ryan toned his voice down.

Sean walked over to Dr. Randall and shook his
hand firmly and patted his shoulder. “Good to see you.”

Sean went to Eliwese with tenderness in his
eyes. He sat down beside her and took her hand. “How are you
feeling?”

“I’m alright.”

“Sorry for the confusion, Sean,” Dr. Randall
said. “But there were too many guards in the lobby.”

“We’re all in danger. We need to leave.”

“What do you mean?” Ryan walked closer to
Sean in concern.

“Rawlings is staying in the Presidential
Suite. Riley is here also.” Sean directed the last to Eliwese.

“How do you know this?” Dr. Randall
asked.

“After your second phone call, I went to the
lounge and saw him seated at a table. A young lady approached me
and began to talk. Her father runs this hotel and she says Rawlings
comes here often for leisure. However, this time is strictly for
business. I believe Mom and Lyndee are up in the suite with him
because orders were given for no maid or room service during his
stay.”

“They’re here?” Ryan asked incredulously.
“Who was this girl you talked to?”

Sean pulled out her card and showed it to
them. They inspected it as if they’d be able to learn more about
her when in fact the card only revealed her name and cell phone
number.

“Where are you two staying?” Sean asked Dr.
Randall.

“Here, actually.”

“How did you know where to find us?”

Eliwese said, “It’s the hotel I would have
chosen as well.”

“How did you find our room?”

“We called Ryan’s cell.” Eliwese stated.

“Well, Riley got a good look at me in the
lounge. I think we’re all in danger if we stay here.”

“You really think Mom and Lyndee are here?”
Ryan asked excitedly.

“Yes, but I don’t think it’s a good thing. If
he didn’t want anyone to see them, they must be in bad
condition.”

Eliwese nodded her head in agreement.

Sean noticed a wheelchair in the corner and
then remembered seeing a lady pushing the wheelchair with an old
man in the seat as he waited at the front door.

“I saw you enter the hotel. Only, I didn’t
know it was you. That was a good disguise.” Sean grinned with
admiration.

“Disguises are my specialty.” Eliwese smiled
in return and Sean noted her color was good and her eyes had
sparkle to them. “We couldn’t come over to you in the lobby because
of all the guards. I hope you understand.”

“I do, but I think we should leave.”

“No,” Eliwese said quietly. “Those guards are
at every entrance, in the parking garage, in the stairwells and in
the lobby. We’re best off right here in these adjoining rooms. If
they knew we were here, we’d have already been seized.”

“What about this Jacquline person?” Ryan
waved the card. “Could she help us?”

“Help us what?” Sean asked.

“Maybe she could keep an eye open for
us.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Sean
said. “She only had praise and admiration for Rawlings. She wasn’t
crazy about Riley, though. She told me every time he’s in town he
asks her out, but she always turns him down.”

“That’s why Riley looked at you,” Eliwese
said. “You were talking to
his
girl; you were the
competition in his eyes. Obviously, Jacquline has some wit and
brains to turn him down. She has no idea how smart she is.” Eliwese
had such a tone of disgust and hatred in her voice as she said, “In
another time and place, I would tell her things about Riley that
would make her skin crawl.”

Sean stared at the floor and thought about
the horrible things Eliwese had told him about her past. It
invigorated him to focus on the task at hand. Tomorrow would be
tough and stressful. He needed to be fully rested and alert to be
able to think straight.

“So how does tomorrow play out from here?”
Dr. Randall joined in the conversation.

Eliwese said, “Well, first things first, Sean
and I need to go to the bank after it opens. The meeting is at noon
so there should be plenty of time to do that. We should wear our
disguises all of the time. It would only be wise.” She directed her
comment to Sean and his head drooped in acknowledgment of his
error.

“What are the sleeping arrangements?” Dr.
Randall asked no one in particular.

Eliwese spoke. “I would like Sean in here
with me, if that’s alright.”

Dr. Randall came over to the side of her bed
and examined her bandages. Sean stood up and walked over to the
other side of the room by Ryan.

“So, what do you think?” Ryan asked Sean.

“About what?”

“Tomorrow. Is it going to work?”

“Hard to tell right now. As long as we are
flexible enough, I think we have a shot.” Sean hoped flexibility
had enough pull to ensure a success.

After Dr. Randall finished with Eliwese, he
approached Sean and Ryan. “She’s doing incredibly well considering
the circumstances. She’s one tough cookie.”

“That she is.” Sean agreed.

Sean sat on his bed facing Eliwese as she lay
serenely with her eyes closed. He remembered what she’d revealed
that morning concerning the upcoming meeting and how to ensure
success. The horrible thought of losing her burned a hole in his
gut. Sean laid his tired body back on his own bed and stared up at
the ceiling. He wouldn’t let it happen, that’s all there was to it;
he simply wouldn’t allow Rawlings to take Eliwese.

He thought about the few short weeks he had
known Eliwese. He had always known Victor Rawlings was a despicable
man because he’d grown up hearing about the atrocities across the
border. His parents’ strength became his, their defiant disposition
was adopted and incorporated, and their passion for freedom—for
each other, admired. Since recently learning the deeper secrets of
his parents, he had an even larger amount of respect for their
defiance.

Sean’s father suspected Eliwese of being a
spy to locate Sara. Sean still firmly believed she was not a spy,
but did she know about the engagement from all those years ago of
her father and his mother? He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the
answer.

“Eliwese, are you awake? I need to ask you a
question.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Did you know about my mother before you
crossed the border?”

“I don’t understand the question, Sean.” She
turned her head and looked at him.

“Had you heard anything about her before
meeting her?”

“No, why?” Her curiosity increased a
notch.

“You didn’t already know she had been a
crosser in her youth before I told you?”

“No, I was quite surprised to find out.
What’s this all about, Sean?”

“When I went to town to get Dr. Randall’s
SUV, I was let in on some information that has been kept from me my
whole life and which doesn’t reflect well on you. My mother, at age
eighteen, was the intended bride of your father.”

“She was?”

“Is it possible you were used by Riley?”

“How?”

“What if your father located my mother and
ordered Riley to place you in my home? It would be completely
justifiable to swoop in and burn our house to the ground, kill my
father and take my mother and sister hostage.”

“Sean, when I spoke with Riley in the
hideout, he indicated my father didn’t know about his
underhandedness. Riley is working the underground completely
separate of my father. He is a true double-crosser in every sense
of the word. Plus, consider the fact that Beth, Riley’s own mother,
was killed in the raid. Riley had given her the false sense of
security by saying she was safe in your home because of my
presence; I think
he
used
her
. I think he was looking
for an excuse to get rid of her and extract me at the same time. He
must have told whoever handled the raid to kill his mother.”