Young, Allyson - Broken [Running to Love 2] (Siren Publishing Allure) (9 page)

She returned to the bedroom, snapping off lights as she went, and turned back the covers on the bed, now moving with robotic intent, exhausted from not thinking. She called the front desk and asked for a wake-up call, instructing that no other calls were to be put through to her room until then. Shedding the robe, Tabitha crawled into bed and pulled the sheet and duvet up to her ears, closing her eyes and waiting for the booze and pain relievers to interact and drop her into oblivion, keeping her mind empty and blank. She felt so alone and so cold.

Chapter Seven

Kyle went over to the cab queue and found out the name of the company. No one noticed who had picked up the fare across the street, although several drivers had seen the tall, slender woman waving for pick up. Kyle called home again with no result and kept trying Tabi’s cell. He cursed and paced, then placed a call to the cab company. The dispatcher told him he wouldn’t release that kind of information unless it was at the request of the police. Kyle called a contact in the local detachment and had the name of the driver in an hour. Unfortunately, the man was off duty, and dispatch thought he had headed out to his favorite fishing spot to get an early start the following day. He wasn’t expected back until the day after next. Kyle wasn’t prepared to wait and ascertained that the cabbie had a few friends still working that night, and tracked them down. He got some vague directions to the famous fishing hole, with dire consequences implied if he divulged them to anyone else. Thomas got him on the road in the SUV after a quick change of clothes, and after some backtracking and requests of the locals for directions, Kyle found the cabbie’s car. The sun had just come up, and he could see a boat floating near the center of the lake, a lone figure silhouetted against the blaze of color in the east.

Kyle waved and shouted, careless of decorum and his famed control. He had thought of nothing but frightening scenes and terrifying outcomes since he walked out the door of Unleashed and found Thomas agitated, his Tabi-cat missing. Only his will to find her kept his focus. The figure in the boat looked his way, and the outboard motor flared to life. It took an age for the boat to get to the dock where Kyle waited to grab the rope. The cabbie was suspicious but quickly lulled by Kyle’s obvious concern and the proffered cash. He told Kyle about the aborted drop-off and how Tabitha had gone to the ATM. He hadn’t seen where she went after he was paid as he had called in to book off.

“I think that lady was mighty sad, fellow,” he offered. “Hope you wasn’t the cause of that.”

Kyle controlled his face only by considerable effort. “I plan to make things right, my friend, I assure you.”

And whip her fine ass, too. Christ, she had led him on a chase, and he still didn’t know if she was somewhere safe. Kyle knew her resources to the penny. He knew and controlled all aspects of her life. When he caught up with her, and he would…Action was the only alternative right now, and he bent his considerable will and energy to make it so.

* * * *

Tabitha woke prior to the wake-up call and called down to cancel it. Her sleep had been deep but hardly dreamless, and again she shut off those thoughts of Kyle and concentrated on her plan for the day. She took a quick trip to the bathroom, never looking in the mirror, washed her hands, and went back to the phone. She reached Karen Shust, the real estate agent, after a quick glance through the yellow pages. Karen nearly came through the phone in her excitement. Tabitha explained that she was moving out of the country and had decided that leaving the house to fall into decay wasn’t in anyone’s best interest so thought she would sell it. She added that it had been an afterthought, left to the last minute, and if Karen thought it wasn’t enough notice, she would call someone else or wait until she returned. Karen insisted she could meet that afternoon, and Tabitha told her she could see her at the hotel, the jumping off point for a flight in two days. They set a time.

Tabitha disconnected and immediately dialed her bank, asking for the manager. Mr. Williams came on the line, bursting with pleasantries for the woman of the holder of one of his largest accounts. He was somewhat taken aback at her request but agreed to have her file pulled out for her and have the mortgage papers copied, certified, and couriered to the hotel. Tabitha cited pressing engagements and an impulsive, out-of-country shopping tour being planned with friends, banking on the chatter from the television she had turned up in the living room to convince him of the veracity of her tale. She warmly thanked him and, as she hung up to avoid further conversation, called out cheerfully to her “friends” as she did so.

She lay on the bed, considering her next step, and searched for the number to the city and land titles offices. She was able to convince both departments of her identity by providing her social security and driver’s licence numbers as well as her date of birth and mother’s maiden name. The bureaucrats were only too happy to oblige a poor handicapped woman by couriering over the documents to the address she provided. Neither tumbled to the thought that the downtown address might not be residential. Tabitha then ordered room service, asking for a pot of coffee, fruit, and dry toast. She hoped her stomach would handle it because no matter how busy she kept her brain, her body was remembering Kyle and screaming for her to pay attention. She called back and asked for tea instead. While waiting for the food, Tabitha mentally worked out her agenda for the afternoon, using her detail-oriented self, the one that had kept her life and her under control in the past, before Kyle. God, she so wasn’t going there. She forced her thoughts back to the sale of the house, reviewing possible scenarios then getting up to cross to the desk and make a few notes.

Room service interrupted her, so she nibbled and drank as she completed the task, only then retreating to the bathroom to shower again and prepare for the upcoming meeting.

* * * *

Kyle stared at the footage from the ATM in the company of his police contact. He knew he had abused the helpful nature of the man but was rewarded with his Tabi-cat’s face, intent on her transaction. She looked shell-shocked, and it tore at his heart. The picture lasted long enough for him to see her approach the cab and then move off. Cursing, he slammed his hand on the desk.

“She could have gone anywhere!” he growled. “Anywhere.”

The detective shrugged. “She didn’t have enough cash to stay just anywhere, Kyle, so let’s start a few blocks out with the mom-and-pop places. We’ll flash her picture and my shield and see what turns up.”

Kyle stared at him. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this, Devon. I need to find her.”

Devon grimaced. “I was in the same place just a few short months ago, buddy, and I don’t envy you. Jeff and I nearly went insane.”

Kyle had a vague memory of Devon’s wife, well, Devon
and
Jeff’s wife going AWOL after an incident at a sister club of Unleashed’s. He thought it had taken months to find Alexandra, he thought that was her name, and couldn’t stand to think about that happening to him.

“Just a thought, Kyle, but you might want to review your lifestyle a bit and be prepared to grovel and take ownership of some shit,” Devon cautioned. “We sure did, and I may sound pussy whipped, but we have a happy home. Nothing could be better. Until Alex has the baby next month that is.”

“Congrats,” Kyle murmured, but he really wasn’t listening. He wanted action, and they filed out the door of the bank.

* * * *

Tabitha finally faced the mirror, using the blow dryer to finish off her hair before pulling the comb through it. She dug in her purse for a compact and touched up her skin, adding a hint of lipstick and mascara. She studied herself and thought she passed. Objectively, she studied her body. The breasts were still full and high, the dark red nipples prominent. The waist was trim, the abdomen taut. She twisted to look at the buttocks, which were smooth and rounded, free of any marks despite Kyle’s attentions a few nights before.
Stop thinking!
For some reason there hadn’t been a razor included in the package the hotel supplied, but her armpits and legs were still stubble free, and it didn’t matter about her mound. That would soon grow out, and she’d have the itching to remind her of her stupidity. Then her brain flirted with the memory of what had happened the night before, and Tabitha cursed quietly, moving away from her reflection to lift her dry lingerie from the rack. She donned them swiftly, smoothing the stockings up her legs, securing them with the garters, and then hooking her bra. Kyle preferred that she didn’t wear panties, so she had none to put on. She didn’t look in the mirror but went to the closet and withdrew her dress, carefully pulling it over her head, smoothing out the odd wrinkle. She added the jewellery and risked a glance in the hall mirror. She was ready. She sat in the chair nearest the door, a few dollars in her hand, her notes nearby, the television off, absorbing the silence and allowing her soul to shrivel and die. Resolutely not thinking, just drifting. A knock at the door startled her, and she crossed to it.

“Yes?”

“A couple of packages for you, ma’am,” came a male voice.

Tabitha opened the door and thanked the young man, passing him a tip and asking him to take away the room service tray still sitting in the hall. After shutting the door and locking up behind him, she tore open the envelopes and took out the evidence of a property free and clear, ready for sale. Tabitha shoved all the paperwork into the file folder from the desk drawer, turning it over so the hotel name didn’t show and sat down again to await the arrival of Karen Shust.

Karen arrived fifteen minutes early, and Tabitha left her in the hallway for an extra minute, ushering her in breathlessly.

“I’m in such a rush. The bed is covered in clothes to pack, so disorganized,” she warbled at Karen, distracting the other woman.

“Please, sit,” she said. “I didn’t think to order room service, so if you don’t mind, we’ll get this done.”

Karen seemed to buy the rushed act and offered a sum on behalf of the developer. Tabitha graciously declined, glancing at her watch. Karen took the bait and promptly doubled the amount.

Tabitha didn’t blink an eye. “He’ll pay your commission of course.”

Karen winced but conceded, and produced a sale agreement, filling in the agreed sum with no conditions and produced a bank draft after Tabitha signed. She smiled at Tabitha, appearing to silently gloat over what she thought was a victory by anticipating the amount Tabitha would accept. Tabitha didn’t respond. She merely handed over the paperwork on the house and mutely accepted the bank draft. She stood and went to the door, pretending not to see Karen’s offered hand. Karen’s face reflected some uncertainty then, but she walked out the door and didn’t speak again. Tabitha knew that Kyle did business with the developer and carried a few of his mortgages. She didn’t know if it would matter much to Kyle when he learned of the transaction and the freedom she had just obtained, but odds were, Karen was going to hear about it. It was a lucky thing that the house was free and clear and there were no legal hurdles to take.

Crossing to the closet, Tabitha put on her cape and went downstairs. She had the doorman flag her a cab and directed him to her bank. She wanted to open a new account, get a temporary credit card issued, and buy some clothes as soon as possible so that she could leave before Kyle found her. She needed time to shore up her defenses in order to resist him. She wasn’t certain how she would be able to go on without him, but she couldn’t be with someone she didn’t trust.

Chapter Eight

Kyle and Devon had just wound up their canvass of the mom-and-pop places and were heading back toward the ATM when Kyle thought he spotted her. The traffic precluded an advance of their vehicle, and he lost sight of her, so he left the passenger seat and ran. Breathing with exertion, he scanned the area but saw no further sign of a tall, slender woman in a black cape. A doorman at the Hallmark was watching him curiously, and Kyle approached him.

“I thought I saw my wife just now,” he said. “I’m late, and she might have left without me. Tall, black cape, dark hair.”

“Oh, Miss Land,” the doorman replied. “She just caught a cab, but she should be back. She hasn’t checked out yet.”

Kyle felt relief that made his knees weak, followed quickly by anger. He forced himself to nod to the man and walked into the lobby. The reception clerk was cautious and initially refused to give him Tabitha’s room number or a key, but the manager came to his rescue. Kyle’s clients had stayed at the Hallmark many times in the past, and the manager knew who to thank for the business. Kyle accepted a key from the clerk and indicated that he would wait for his wife in her suite. He called Devon’s cell and found the cop had parked just outside. Kyle went out to the SUV and let Devon know he had found Tabitha. Devon looked at Kyle’s strained features and very obviously refrained from what he was going to say.