From Roses To Thorns - Sequel To "From Nanny To Wife" (9 page)

"I started asking him questions," Hope said. "Like who was he…why wasn't he hurt after Alex shot him. He said he was wearing a bulletproof vest. He wouldn't answer all of my questions and I got angry. I told him to take off his mask and face me like a man and then I called him a coward. He slapped me on the cheek and told me I was going to pay for that. I told him he wouldn't get away with it and he said he would. I demanded to know why he was doing this. I hadn't done anything to deserve what was happening."

"What did he say to that?" Joe inquired.

"He said, 'he has to pay for what he has done'. He wouldn't tell me who he was talking about."

"He was talking about me." Ryan closed his eyes and swore under his breath. "It has to be Laura doing all of this. When we won custody of Zoe, she was seething with rage. She said I would get what I deserve. I shrugged it off at the time. We were out to dinner one evening when she came up to Hope and started harassing her. I told her to leave and she said something to me that didn't make sense. She said, 'it's going to be soon'. She must have been talking about Hope's kidnapping. Laura wanted to get back at me, so she used Hope to do it. I wouldn't be afraid to bet that she bullied her spineless husband into doing the dirty work so she could keep her hands clean."

"It makes sense," Hope rasped.

"I'll look into it," Joe promised. "Hope, will you please finish."

Hope went on to finish the rest of her story. She told how he had used a branding iron on her and how the pain had been excruciating…how he had told her that in order for his plan to work she had to live. She told Ryan and Joe how he had taken a knife and cut into her arms and legs before breaking her right leg. "I don't remember what happened after he broke my leg," she said. "I passed out. When I woke up I was in the hospital."

"Before or after he branded you did he tell you what the "R" stood for?" Joe asked.

"No," Hope murmured.

Joe left not long after that. He promised Ryan and Hope he would pay Laura and Seth a visit and then let them know what was said. He gave Hope his card and told her if she had any questions or remembered anything to give him a call.

"Love," Hope whispered to Ryan. "I have a few questions."

Ryan perched on the side of the bed and took her hand. "I will try to answer them."

"How did you find out I was kidnapped and Alex was shot?"

"Maggie called me and told me," Ryan said. "She said she was taking the dog out to use the bathroom when she heard the police sirens. She ran outside and saw Alex lying on the ground and you were no where in sight. She knew then you had been kidnapped. I hurried home to find the front yard full of chaos. It was a horrible sight, sweetheart and the fear that I might never see you again-" He broke off. "I had been home for little over two hours, pacing the floor and going out of my mind, when the hospital called and said a man had found you lying on a bench in the hospital parking lot."

"How long do I have to stay here?" Hope asked.

"For a few days." Ryan stroked her hair. "I will be right here with you."

Hope's eyes drifted shut. "I'm so tired, but I'm afraid to go to sleep."

"Don't be afraid," Ryan said quietly. "You're safe now. No one is going to step foot in this room without me knowing about it. Sleep, sweetheart."

Chapter 12

Ryan awoke the next morning with an aching back and a stiff neck. Groaning, he slowly rose from the chair beside the bed and rubbed his lower back. After kissing Hope, who was still asleep, he slipped out of the room and made his way down the hallway to the nurse's station. Once there he asked a nurse where he could go to get a cup of coffee. She gave him directions and he walked away, massaging the back of his neck.

Across from the elevator was a small room that contained a refrigerator, vending machine, microwave and a coffee pot. Ryan picked up a Styrofoam cup and poured him some coffee. He took a cautious sip of the steaming liquid, added a packet of sugar, and then left the room. On the way back to Hope, he called home to check on Zoe and learned from William that she was eating breakfast.

When Ryan entered the room, a few minutes later, he found a nurse redressing Hope's burn. Not ready to face the proof of her torture he quietly returned to the hallway to wait for the nurse to finish. While he stood there, drinking his coffee, his thoughts turned to last night and anger sprang to life inside of him. The urge for revenge swept over him and he fought for control of his emotions. The time for pay back would come soon.

"Ryan."

Hearing Pam's voice, he turned and saw her and Harvey approaching.

"Maggie told us what happened," Harvey said. "How is Hope doing?"

"She's doing okay," Ryan said. "The nurse is with her right now."

"Have the police caught the one responsible?" Pam asked.

"Not yet," Ryan said. "I have a good idea it was Laura and her husband though. I'm just waiting to hear back from the detective working on the case."

"I hope you hear something soon," Pam told him.

Ryan looked at her. "Why don't you go in and sit with Hope for awhile?"

"All right." Pam kissed Harvey and then went in to see Hope.

Ryan took a drink of coffee. "How are things between you two?"

"Good," Harvey said. "We're taking it one day at a time. So tell me, what have you got in mind in the way of revenge?"

Ryan arched a brow. "What makes you think I'm planning something?"

Harvey smirked. "Please, Kendall. You're talking to me, not some stranger. I know how you think. You're not about to stand by quietly and do nothing. Let me know if you need any help."

Ryan nodded. "I will."

At that moment, the nurse emerged from Hope's room. "Good morning, Mr. Kendall."

"Good morning," Ryan said. "How is my wife doing?"

"Not very well right now," she answered. "She's experiencing some pain. I gave her something for it. If she needs anything please let me know."

"Thank you," Ryan told her. He and Harvey moved past her and into the room.

Hope turned her head on the pillow and stared up at Ryan through pain-filled eyes. "Where did you go?"

"I went to get a cup of coffee." Ryan walked to the bed and bent down. He gently kissed her on the lips.

"You look tired," Hope whispered. "Go home and get some sleep."

"I will later," Ryan said. "Do you need anything?"

"No." Hope glanced past him. "Hello, Harvey."

Harvey reached out and touched her cheek. "Hello, Hope. I-"

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Ryan called out.

The door opened and Joe entered the room. "Is this a bad time?" he asked.

"No," Hope told him. "Please, come in."

"Well if it isn't the good detective," Harvey said. "How have you been, Joe?"

"Fine." Joe nodded at Pam. "Nice to see you again."

Pam smiled. "You too."

Ryan cleared his throat. "What brings you by?" he asked the detective.

"I have some news to share with you."

"Would you like Harvey and me to step out?" Pam asked Ryan.

"That's not necessary. Please, tell us the news, Joe."

"Laura is dead," Joe stated. "I went to see her and her husband early this morning. The door was unlocked so I let myself in. I found her in the living room with a gunshot wound to the chest. Seth Andrews was nowhere to be found. A quick sweep of the house and I discovered evidence that leads me to believe Seth is the person who kidnapped and tortured Hope."

"What evidence did you find?" Harvey asked.

"I found a garbage bag that contained a ski mask, a pair of gloves, pants and a shirt. All articles of clothing are black. Hope told me last night that the man was wearing all black. In addition to the clothes there was a video tape."

"What was on the tape?" Pam inquired.

"Hope being tortured," Joe uttered. "The sick bastard taped the whole thing."

"You watched it?" Hope croaked her face as pale as the sheets she was lying on.

Joe shifted from one foot to the other. "I'm sorry, but I had to know what was on it."

"Who else saw it?" Hope demanded to know. "Did you pass it around to all your friends at the station? Why don't you just post it on the internet for everyone to see?"

"Sweetheart," Ryan muttered. "He had to watch it."

"No one has the right to watch it." Tears streamed down Hope's face. "It was humiliating."

Joe moved closer to the bed. "I promise you, Hope the tape will only be viewed by a few people. When the case is closed, the tape will be destroyed. Believe me when I say, I did not want to watch it."

Hope sniffed loudly. "I'm sorry for snapping at you."

"No need to apologize."

Ryan grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and gave it to Hope. "Is there anything else you want to tell us, Joe?"

"Just that we're going to do all we can to locate Seth."

"Keep us posted," Ryan said.

"I'll do that. I have-" Joe broke off as his cell phone started ringing. "I better answer that."

"Well that was shocking news," Pam remarked once Joe left the room. "I wonder what happened to make Seth kill Laura. I hope Joe finds him."

Not if I can help it,
Ryan thought. "Harvey, may I have a word with you?"

His eyes twinkling behind his glasses, Harvey said, "Sure."

Ryan led the way out into the hallway. He waited until the door closed behind Harvey before he spoke. "You said if I needed any help to let you know. I need help."

Harvey grinned. "I had a feeling you were bringing me out here for this. What do you want?"

"I want Seth Andrews," Ryan snarled. "In order for me to get my hands on him, I have to find him before the police do. Do you know of any good private investigators?"

"Yes." Harvey crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned back against the wall. "Do you want me to recommend one?"

Ryan shook his head. "You're going to hire one. I will pay for everything. I want this kept quiet, Harvey. That means no paper trails. When money exchanges hands it will be cash only."

Harvey tilted his head slightly. "Let's say the investigator finds Andrews, what then?"

His eyes as cold as ice, Ryan smiled. "I'm going to do a little branding of my own. We'll talk more later. Take your wife and get out of here. I want to spend some time with Hope."

"I'll get started right away," Harvey vowed.

Not long after Harvey and Pam departed, a nurse brought Hope a breakfast tray. While she ate, Ryan pretended to watch the news. In reality, he was thinking of what he wanted to do to Seth when he got his hands on him. He knew that what he was planning was wrong, but he didn't give a damn. What happened to Hope was wrong. No one messed with his family and got away with it.

"Ryan," Hope said.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Are - are you going to tell Zoe that Laura is d-dead?"

Ryan took his eyes off the TV and gazed at Hope. "I don't know. I can't think about that right now. Eat your breakfast."

Hope fiddled with her fork. "I'd like to go and visit with Alex."

"Not today." Ryan pointed the remote at the TV and turned it off. "We'll work something out tomorrow."

"What were you and Harvey talking about in the hallway?"

Ryan got to his feet, stepped to the bed, and leaned over Hope. "You ask a lot of questions, Mrs. Kendall."

"I'm sorry." Hope brought her hand up and cupped Ryan's cheek. "Go home, get something to eat, and then get some sleep."

Ryan grimaced. "I don't want to leave you."

"I'll be fine," Hope assured him. "Go home. Come back later."

"All right," Ryan sighed.

Hope kissed him on the jaw. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Reluctantly Ryan left.

Chapter 13

Hope was released from the hospital on Sunday evening. Before she left she insisted on seeing Alex.

"Let's make this brief," Ryan said, pushing the wheelchair down the long hallway. "I want to get you home."

"I'll try not to take too long." Hope adjusted the shawl she wore around her shoulders and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the cuts on her arms throbbing as she moved.

Halfway down the hall, Ryan stopped and knocked on the door on his left. He heard Alex say enter and opened the door. Careful not to bump Hope's broken leg against the door he wheeled her into the room and parked the chair next to the bed.