Seasons of Love (17 page)

As if in response to her thoughts of marriage, an image of Zane made her heart skip. She shook the presumptuous thought from her mind.

“Where is it?” Eric continued to stare out the side of the car and did not turn when he addressed her.

Immediately her thoughts went to the locket, and she placed her hand over it where it hung around her neck. Panic exploded from within and rushed through her body, sending moisture to her palms and trembling to her limbs. She fought to hide the emotion in her expression and thanked the Lord that Eric had chosen not to look at her.

How does he know?

“What?” she managed to say through an emotion-filled throat.

He picked that moment to face her, but his expression appeared relaxed. “Where is it? You know what I’m talking about.” The mocking she’d heard in his earlier tone was gone, but his gaze pierced her, showing that he meant business.

She could not believe her ears. He had nothing to do with any of this. “Eric, I really don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Did I take something of yours when I left California? Just tell me. You can have it back!”

“Your brother, John, sent it to you. I want it.”

Her mouth went dry as she stared at him. If only he’d asked her yesterday, she could have told him the truth when she said she didn’t know where it was. Now if she said that, he would know she was lying. Eric knew her too well.

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It couldn’t hurt to try the tactic once more.

He leaned forward. “Come now, Riley. I know you’re lying.”

Grief rushed through her soul as realization flooded her mind. She’d been only too thrilled to tell Eric about John’s talents and his encryption project. Nausea roiled in her stomach, and she gripped her middle, bending over. Riley had been foolish to think she could share information, even if it was with her boyfriend—someone she thought she could trust.

As a business consultant, Eric had high-level connections, and his knowledge had leaked to the wrong party. She groaned as she continued to clutch her stomach, sick that she had brought this upon her brother. She no longer cared if she exposed her emotions.

The man already knew everything.

Eric unbuckled and moved next to her. He leaned closer and spoke softly into her ear. “If you give it to me, no one else will get hurt.”

Images of Chad, Grandpa, and Zane tore through her mind. She cried out to God. What should she do? Would giving the memory card to Eric release them from danger? Or would it put them at further risk? They could tell the police about Eric and his connection with John’s murder.

John’s smiling face appeared in her mind. How she missed her brother. Fury surged through her that Eric had taken him from her.

She turned to face him, the heat of her rage exploding. “You! You murdered my brother!” She slapped him full across the face.

He covered his cheek with his hand as he winced. “It wasn’t me, Riley. I didn’t do it. All I did was share information about your brother’s skills with an interested client. Believe me, had I known who I was dealing with, well, I would have stayed far away. I’m sorry about that. But it’s too late now. They’re breathing down my neck to retrieve the information your brother sent you.”

His hand dropped to his side, revealing his reddened face. Eric appeared to revert to the man she’d been attracted to months ago. He huffed and rubbed his hands together. “Please understand.” He paused as he swept her hair away from her face. “I’m just trying to keep anyone else from getting hurt. Namely, you.” He lifted her hand and kissed it.

She knew he intended to turn his charm on her since his fear tactics had not worked, but his touch repulsed her.

She had to get off this ride.

Zane’s patience ran thin. With the crowd growing for the evening festivities, he couldn’t pace as a way of relieving his tension. He’d never realized how many turns a Ferris wheel could take. Maybe it was standard at all carnivals and he hadn’t paid attention. He made his way through the line of grumbling people while excusing himself. He explained to any who challenged him that he needed to speak to the carnival employee.

The man stood jesting with another worker and appeared to ignore the Ferris wheel.

“Excuse me, sir,” Zane interrupted.

The man shoved his baseball cap up on his head to reveal questioning dark brown eyes. He tilted his head in reply to Zane.

Zane noticed the man’s name on his flannel shirt. “Carl, I’m wondering about how long your ride has been running. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not challenging your abilities as a ride operator; I’m just curious. Is this normal?”

Carl’s friend slapped his back and left him. Carl returned his attention to Zane and rubbed his gray-stubbled chin. “A guy wanted extra time with his girlfriend.” He revealed an impish grin and lifted the corner of a green bill out of his shirt pocket, enough for Zane to see he’d been paid one hundred dollars. “He made it worth my while.”

Zane gritted his teeth. “I’ll pay you double to stop it.”

Carl grinned and rubbed his chin again, as if considering the proposal. Zane surmised that the man didn’t intend to make things easy. “All right. I never said how long I would keep it running.” He cleared his throat and motioned for Zane to follow him away from the crowd. “You can slip it in my hand. The two hundred dollars, that is.”

Zane pulled his wallet from his slacks and unfolded it. Comprehension dawned like the beginning of a bad day. He’d planned to get money at an ATM at the festival, but he’d been consumed with finding Riley.

“I have to get cash.”

The man shrugged and started to march back to the waiting line.

As the wheel turned, Zane heard Riley’s voice when her car whirled past. She was in distress.

Zane grabbed Carl’s arm. “No, wait!”

Carl turned a threatening glare on him, causing Zane to release him. “I’ll give you four hundred if you’ll stop it while I go get the cash.”

“I’m not stopping it until you give me the money.”

Incensed, Zane raised his voice. “Look, you’re going to have to stop the wheel sooner or later. Look at all those people in line.”

Carl shrugged. “It’s a carnival; they’re used to waiting.”

Zane growled at the insensitive ride operator, feeling as though he’d caused the man to run the thing longer than he had planned. He should have waited. He walked away from Carl and rushed over to the operating equipment. In his desperation, he sent up a prayer that he would know how to stop the Ferris wheel before Carl stopped him.

The ride wrenched to a stop, sending the cars swinging violently, the huge wheel grinding in protest on its axis. Riley plunged forward, but her safety belt held her, securing her to the seat. The force thrust Eric across the small platform because he’d failed to strap himself back in.

He gripped his head and groaned.

She heard a ruckus below and peered over the edge of the car as far as she could to see what was happening. Two men struggled near the Ferris wheel’s operating stand. A familiar tall figure reached for the controls, while the carnival worker wrapped his arms around him, trying to stop him.

“Zane.” She drew in a sharp breath.

Other men rushed to them and pulled the two apart. She heard Zane’s prominent, authoritative voice taking control of the situation. He pointed at the ride operator and spoke in an accusing tone.

Eric righted himself on the seat. Blood trickled from a gash in his temple. “Your new boyfriend can’t save you, Riley. In fact, you’re the one who needs to save him. Give me what I want.”

Riley looked at Eric, surprised at what she heard in his voice. “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”

The wheel started again then paused to allow passengers off each of the cars. The process of disembarking the riders continued.

“Yes. I’m afraid. And you should be scared, too.” He spat the words. “Are you happy now?”

Riley closed her eyes, overwhelmed as a sense of peace wrapped around her. She knew that someone had to be praying for her at that moment. She opened her eyes to stare at Eric and realized that she felt sorry for the man.

“Well, I’m not scared. God is going to protect me.”

Eric leaned back against the seat and laughed. “When we get off this thing, you’re going with me, and I’m going to make you hand over what John gave you.”

“Zane will be waiting for me.” As soon as the words left her mouth, it was their turn to exit the car.

A man apologized to them for the inconvenience. Riley looked for Zane, expecting him to be waiting for her, but she didn’t see him. “Where’s the man who was here?”

“Which one, lady?”

“The one—”

Eric thanked the worker and hastened Riley away, his grip tight. Screams of fear and excitement bombarded them as noisy rides thrust their occupants about. Deafening music boomed from all sides. Riley could see how it would be easy for Eric to abduct her in the midst of the throng. No one would even hear her scream.

“Okay, Eric. I give.”

He turned to face her and paused to look around at the multitude of festival attendees. “That’s better.”

“Promise me that no one else will get hurt if I give it to you.” She held her breath as she fingered the locket.

“I promise. Do we need to go somewhere, or do you have it with you?”

Riley glared at him, gripping the clue that John had given her and yanking it from her neck.

A disbelieving grin spread across Eric’s face, and he released his grip on her. “Oh man, you’ve got to be kidding me. You were wearing it this whole time?” He glanced behind her and stiffened.

Riley pressed the locket into his hand then darted away from him, rushing through the onslaught of bodies. She dared not look behind her. She ran full force into a man’s chest. He gripped her arms and pushed her away to reveal his face.

“Riley?” Zane wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

All the tension of the last hour came flooding out in a torrent. There was nothing she hated more than tears. But she couldn’t help the emotional release.

People jostled against them as they stood in the center of the fray.

Riley leaned her head back to see Zane’s face. He released her. She looked at his tailored blue shirt.

“You’re going to have to toss another one, I’m afraid,” she said, sniffling again. She dug through her small purse for a tissue without success.

Zane ushered her over to a bench, grabbing a napkin from a concession stand on the way. “Here, try this.”

She took it and wiped her eyes then her nose. “Where were you? I got off the Ferris wheel, and you were gone.”

“I’m sorry about that. They took me to the security office where I explained about my response to the ride operator’s misconduct. Someone paid him to leave the ride going longer than usual. That kept me from being there to wait for you. I should have left matters well enough alone. The ride would have stopped on its own—eventually.”

She blew her nose again. “No, it’s okay. You tried.”

“Riley, tell me what happened up there. What did Eric want?”

She breathed deeply through her nose. It still made a sniffling sound. “Oh, Zane. You’re not going to believe this.”

Concern and warmth brimmed in his eyes. “It’s all right now. You’re okay. I’m not ever going to let that man near you again.”

Zane’s chivalrous words touched her, and she patted his hand. “Calm down.”

He returned her smile but with a question in his eyes.

“I think we’ve seen the last of Eric,” she said.

A child climbed up onto the bench next to Riley and tried to hand her half of his hot dog slathered with mustard and ketchup. His mother squeezed next to him, crowding Riley and Zane.

Zane stood and urged Riley to follow. “Let’s find a place where we can talk.”

He held her hand as if he was never going to let her go. Yet his touch felt nothing like Eric’s unwanted, painful grip.

“What about Chad? Grandpa? I forgot all about them. Have you seen them?”

“Yes, more than an hour ago. They were enjoying themselves. Millie and Robert were taking good care of Chad. I don’t think you need to worry about him. He’s in good hands.”

Riley followed Zane on shaky legs. Her entire body felt like Jell-O, trembling from her encounter with Eric. They found a small coffee kiosk. Riley stayed with Zane while he purchased drinks.

He flashed his card at her. “At least someone here takes these.”

They settled nearby at an out-of-the-way picnic table.

“Okay, take a long swig of that. Give it time to clear your mind. Are you hungry? I’m sorry I didn’t think of food.”

“I couldn’t eat right now. My stomach’s too upset.”

Zane sipped coffee and stared at her over the rim of his cup. She could see that he wasn’t going to push her to tell him about Eric. She’d been bursting to tell him her news, and with all that had happened, she wasn’t sure where to begin.

In the beginning…

The gentle voice nudged her heart, delighting her, and she laughed.

Zane cocked a brow. “Something funny?”

“Nothing, really. I was just wondering where to begin.”

“In the beginning.”