Eye of the Abductor (22 page)

***

Brance ran late getting home because of another pharmacy robbery.
Unlike the others, it’d happened at eleven P.M. instead of the early morning
hours. The perpetrators had changed their routine, probably because of the increase
in patrols cruising the streets right before dawn. The only break in the case
was a camera the perps had overlooked. It recorded three men wearing black ski
masks and dark clothes.

At the apartments, he parked in his usual place. Allison, bundled
from head to toe, pulled a large object from her car. He waved and hurried over
to help. “What’s this?”

“A cradle that’s been in my family for over a hundred years.
Nathan and I both slept in it as infants as did my dad. It’s a good thing I
left it in the car the night my apartment was demolished. It would’ve been
smashed as well.

“It’s a gorgeous piece of woodwork. Let me help you.” He grabbed
one end of it. "I dropped by Malden Brother’s.”

“I called in sick. After everything that had happened I didn’t
feel like working. Besides, I didn’t want to see Jill.”

“I called here,” he said as they moved toward the door.

“I went by and talked with Dorothy. I thought she should know
about something I said to Jill. Can you believe she’s made Nathan afraid of me?
He wouldn’t even look at me.” Allison pushed the door open with her foot, then she
backed inside her apartment, carrying the cradle.

“She doesn’t sound like someone I’d like.” Brance hated seeing
Allison upset. He lowered the cradle inside the door. "It might be
something we can use in court.”

“Don’t count on it. Dorothy is as sly as they come.” She pulled
the cradle into her bedroom, then returned to the den. “Jill came by, and I
confronted her. She didn’t deny any of what Colby said.”

“You didn’t say anything about Trey, did you?”

“No, give me some credit. I do have a brain.”

Brance pulled her into his arms and hugged her against him for a
moment before kissing her cheek. Slowly, he eased his lips over hers, expecting
her to push away.

At first she tensed, but then she relaxed and accepted his mouth
with eagerness. His body responded with a granite erection. Her life was too
complicated right now to seduce her. He’d wait. It’d only mess things up now,
so he released her from his embrace.

“Are you going to be up to our visit with the minister?”

“Yes, I’ll be ready.” She paused. “Are you sure about this? Like
Colby said, there are other women who’d be willing to marry you.” Hopelessness
lingered in her eyes.

“I'm sure about us. I’ll whistle all the way to the church.”

Still, she appeared grim.

“When we get Nathan, you’ll be glad we married.”

She sighed. “And if we do, Dorothy has brainwashed him against
me. He hates me.”

“That won’t last long. Once we get him back, he’ll come to trust
and love you, especially after I spoil him rotten.”

“If you could have seen him today, when I tried to speak to him.
He cringed at the sound of my voice.”

Brance couldn’t think of any way to make things better for her.
Hopefully, things would work out. He wouldn’t tell her he’d received three
harsh emails from coworkers.

Later that evening when they entered the minister’s office, both sat
in large wingback chairs positioned in front of the desk. The minister extended
his hand to Allison then Brance. “Good seeing you both. We've missed you,
Allison."

"I've had to work on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings
for the past month. But I've quit that job, so I'll be back."

"Good. One question for you both. Why the urgency?”

“I won’t lie about our relationship. This is a marriage of
convenience.” Brance explained the situation with his grandmother’s will. “And
for Allison, in return for marrying me, I’ll help her regain custody of her
son.”

“May I ask why you don't have custody?”

Allison nodded, then briefly touched on her past. The minister’s
expression grew solemn, but unreadable as she confessed to being detained in a
women’s federal prison.

“Why not go to the Justice of the Peace?”

Brance straightened in the chair. “I think being married in a
church will mean more to both of us, especially since Allison attends here.”

“Then you want to stay married?” he asked Brance.

“Yes.”

“I’m not sure,” Allison added.

Her answer didn’t surprise Brance, but nevertheless, it disturbed
him, leaving him with a feeling empty. What if he couldn’t break through her
wall of defenses?

The minister studied them for a moment. “Tell you what, let me
speak to each of you alone for about five minutes. I promise not to divulge
what the other has said.”

Brance waited in the outer hall, wishing he could hear what
Allison had to say about him. He’d been tempted to lean an ear against the door
but didn’t.

Finally, Allison walked out and held the door for him. “You’re
next.”

“Joy,” he mumbled sarcastically as he reentered the minister’s
office. He sat in the chair he’d occupied before.

“Brance, can you speculate on your feelings for Allison?”

“Yes. I love Allison.” It felt great to say the words, to
actually admit it to someone.

“Why haven’t you told her?”

“Everyone she’s ever loved has betrayed her. The fact that I’m a
cop doesn’t help matters. If I told her I loved her, she’d be more afraid than
ever to marry me. She needs time. It’s easier for her to believe I’m only out
to get my grandmother’s inheritance. Frankly, I don’t care about Gramie’s
money.”

“How do you think Allison feels about you?”

“I don't have a clue. I hope by the time we get Nathan back
she’ll not only trust me but perhaps even love me.”

“And if she demands a divorce?”

“I plan to do everything in my power not to let that happen.”

The minister nodded. “Sometimes things just don’t work out the
way we plan. I remember what you went through with Carla. Are you willing to
take that chance?”

“Yes, I am,” he replied, despite feeling uncertain.

Remain positive. Don’t start second guessing yourself. Allison
cares more than she’s willing to admit.

Allison rejoined them. Her eyes reflected traces of fear. Brance
offered her a smile, hoping to ease her tension. He shifted his attention to
the minister. “What’s the verdict?”

“Allison, Brance, by the laws of the Bible you are both free to
marry. But a marriage is up against so much these days that even a solid
relationship between a man and woman can crumble. You have a lot against you.”

Brance reached over and pried Allison’s hand from the chair, then
laced her fingers through his.

“Although my better judgment tells me you both need more time,
I’ve decided to marry you. If you don’t mind, I’d prefer Sunday afternoon
around three instead of right after church.”

Allison’s face glowed. It caused a flame of warmth to fill
Brance’s chest. He loved seeing this woman happy. After shaking the minister’s
hand and thanking him, he escorted Allison from the office.

“I thought he was going to refuse us,” she whispered.

“Me too.”

After opening the car door for Allison, he walked around to the
other side and got in. “Do you want to invite your father?”

“No, he probably couldn’t come. I’ll write him later.”

"I assume your mother is deceased since you've never
mentioned her."

"I'm not sure. She might be alive."

"You don't keep in touch with her?"

"No, she walked out on dad and me when I was nine."

Hell.
No wonder Allison was damaged. Her trust issues
started long before Rob Wilson entered her life.

“I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I stopped caring a long time ago."

Brance changed the subject. "Don’t forget we pick up our
marriage license and meet with the attorney tomorrow.”

“I haven’t.” She glanced at her watch. “We'd better hurry. I have
my real estate class in an hour. I don't know why I bother with it.”

"I think it'll pay off someday."

***

Allison had never been this confused with so many things
happening at once. Her life had been a whirlwind of events since Brance had
proposed.

In class, she jotted down notes as the professor spoke. Several
times she’d thought about dropping it, but perhaps Brance was right. Maybe she
could make a career out of it someday.

That night at her car, someone walked up behind her. She spun
around. Escobar’s henchman approached her. Her heart rate took flight, making
her want to run.

“You haven’t called my boss.”

“I don’t know where his money is.”

“It’s not about the money, he wants to talk.”

“There’s nothing I can tell him.”

“Call.” He offered her another card. “Soon.”

At home, she removed the card the man had given her and dialed
the number.

“Hola,” spoke a female voice.

“I need to speak with Mr. Escobar.”

The woman rattled off a string of Spanish words.

Allison held the phone.

“Eduardo Escobar speaking."

“This is Allison Davenport. I mean Paige Wilson.”

“Ms. Davenport. At last you call.”

“Look I don’t have the money.”

“Five million doesn’t mean shit to me. I want names of the ones
who double-crossed me. My nephew was killed that night as well as the young
policeman.”

“Names?”

“Your husband didn’t work alone.”

“Collin Reed is in prison. He’s the only one I’m aware of besides
the junky.”

“There were others. Two policemen and a junky couldn’t have
pulled off such an orchestrated heist by themselves.”

“Mr. Escobar, Rob never shared information with me.”

She told him why her husband involved her.

"If you think of anyone, please contact me.”

“I'm not aware of anyone else. I swear.”

“You’ll not be safe until their names are made known. I need
their names.”

“So you can have them murdered like you did Rob?”

“I’m not responsible for Wilson’s death. The
others
took
care of him before my man reached him. They wanted to keep him quiet. My men
did not kill the officer who died that night either. So, be careful.”

The line went dead.

Allison wondered who Rob’s unknown partners were. Could they have
been the ones who ransacked her apartment? She immediately called Brance and
discussed the conversation with him.

“If Escobar’s men didn’t shoot Johnny Jenkins," Brance said,
"that only means one thing."

Allison sighed. “A cop shot him.”

“Yeah, but why?”

A thought crept into her mind. What if Dillon had been in with
Rob? He'd been there the night of the drug bust. She dismissed the bizarre
notion. Brance would be outraged if she suggested it.

***

On Friday, Allison left work early to reach the law office on
time. She read the document carefully. Everything read as Brance had promised.
But during the entire hour, she’d felt like a coldhearted bitch and wanted to
crawl under a rock. Nevertheless, she signed the papers that Brance's attorney
had drawn up.

From the law office, they drove to county court house to obtain a
marriage license. Fear, doubt, apprehension, all kept Allison on edge. She
reminded herself this was for Nathan.

***

Saturday morning, Allison couldn’t decide which house she liked
best out of the two they had toured. She tried to think which one suited
Nathan’s needs the most.

She and Brance strolled into the shady backyard of the third
home. A large tree house had been constructed in the huge oak centered in the
yard. She envisioned Nathan at the age of nine or ten playing in the tree
house.

“Let’s climb to the top,” Brance challenged.

“You’re kidding. It might not hold both of us.”

“It will.” Brance helped her up the ladder and into the tree
house. Once inside, they caught their breath and viewed the backyard. “I want
this house.”

“But it cost ten thousand more than the others,” she protested,
knowing one of the other houses would do just as well.

“It’s worth it.” He grinned. “Besides, it has room for my jeep.”
His eyes twinkled.

“That sounds like a man. More interested in the garage.”

“Hey, lady. That jeep means a lot to me.”

Before she could stop him, he leaned and kissed her. His mouth
tasted sweet like jellybeans. She couldn’t safeguard her heart if he continued
to kiss her like this.

He didn’t even try to hide his coy grin. The charmer. No doubt,
he thought he could charm her into trusting him.

“You got me up here. Now help me down.”

And he did. He went first, then she came down backwards. At the
bottom, he assisted her off the ladder and pulled her against him. A wave of
desire washed over her, making her dizzy. The man was a hundred and ninety
pounds of pure temptation. She’d have to be careful around him, or she’d find
herself on her back in no time flat.

Back inside the house, Brance approached the agent. “We’d like to
make an offer of two hundred fifteen thousand, and the tree house stays.”

“I’ll submit it, and we’ll see if they’ll budge from their asking
price. They've already lowered the price twice. More than likely you’ll receive
a counter offer.”

Allison wanted to hug Brance. Had her thoughts about the tree
house been that transparent or had he thought about how much a little boy would
love it?

It seemed impossible that tomorrow at three she’d become Mrs.
Brance Stone. The realization of it still terrified her, because truth of the
matter was she’d love to let go of her fears, fall into Brance’s arms, and live
happily ever after.

Stop it. You can’t let it happen.

Eventually, he will disappoint you.

Back at their apartments, she didn’t bother going inside.
Instead, she walked over to her car. “I can't be late for work. Malden
Brother's ad came out in Wednesday’s paper offering diamond stud earrings at
half price. We’ll be swamped.”