Big Shot (18 page)

Meghan had just slipped into a pair of comfortable boots when she heard footsteps and a firm tap on the door.

“Come in.”

Durk stepped inside. “Good. You’re awake.”

“What’s up?”

He held out his cell phone. “You have a call.”

If someone was calling her on his phone, it was likely Detective Smart or Dr. Levy.

She put it to her ear. “Hello.”

“Meghan. How are you?”

The voice burst inside Meghan’s head like a balloon, releasing shiny slivers of colored jewels that fluttered through her mind.

She struggled for breath. “Lucy?”

“Yes. And you recognized my voice.”

“I did. Oh, my God, Lucy.” Tears wet her eyes and emotion clogged her throat. “I’m so glad you called.”

“Me, too. Durk didn’t think you even remembered me.”

“I don’t. I mean, I didn’t. But now I do. It’s like someone raised a blind and let the sunshine back into my mind. Do I sound crazy?”

“Not at all. You sound great. I’ve been so worried about you.”

“I was attacked in my condo.”

“I know. Durk told me everything. He’s been great at keeping Johnny and me up to date on everything.”

“Who’s Johnny?”

“Johnny—my husband. We were married three years ago. You were my maid of honor.”

“Oh, gee. I’m picturing you as twelve years old. But you can’t be. You’re my age.”

“I’m two years older than you, but who’s counting?”

“I remember when you thought being the oldest was a badge of honor.”

“It meant I got to drive and date sooner.”

“I don’t remember you driving a car. But I remember that year we both got new bikes and you dented yours the first day and then tried to bribe me to trade with you.”

“That was a very long time ago. Do you remember being in my wedding?”

Meghan tried to picture Lucy in a wedding dress. The image wouldn’t jell. The Lucy bobbing around in her thoughts had a ponytail and skinned knees.

Apprehension swelled again. “I can’t remember your wedding, Lucy.”

“Don’t worry. You will soon. What do you remember?”

“Us as kids. And Mother. I remember Mother.”

“That’s great.”

“Not all of it is great. I’m picturing Mother the day she told us Daddy was killed in the war. I remember how she cried and couldn’t stop. I remember it like it was yesterday.”

And now Meghan was crying. She sniffled and reached for a tissue from the box on her bedside table.

“Your nose is going to light up like Rudolph’s if you don’t stop crying, Meghan.”

“I know. But the tears are partly out of happiness. I actually remember things from my past.”

“Durk said that your neurologist had told you that you had
temporary
retrograde amnesia.

“I know, but it’s a frightening feeling to wake up and have no memory of who you are or where you are or how you got there. And there’s no specific timeline of ‘temporary.’”

“I know. I was afraid for you. I wanted to catch the first plane to Dallas, but I’m pregnant.”

“You’re pregnant? Did I know that?”

“You did. I’m eight months pregnant. You’re going to have a niece.”

“Then I’m flying up to see you—wherever you live.”

“Connecticut. Are you still having headaches?”

“The headaches come and go, but they’re not nearly as painful and annoying as they were. I still get dizzy at times. I’m a little light-headed now, but I think that could be from pure relief and the excitement of talking to you.”

Meghan looked up. Durk was not around. He’d slipped away without her noticing. She owed him big-time for making her take this call.

“What’s your most recent memory?” Lucy asked.

Meghan let her head fall back to the pillow as she tried to remember her life as an adult. She hit a brick wall. “I seem to be lost in a time warp. I don’t remember high school or college. Dr. Levy warned me that I might recover memories in bits and pieces.”

“And apparently you are.”

“I can live with that, now that I realize the memories are just trapped in a fog. I have a sister again, one I actually remember. How long has it been since I told you that I love you?”

“Too long. I miss you and love you, too, sweetie. I wish I could be there with you, but you seem to be making it fine without me. Being taken care of by Durk Lambert. Living the life of the rich and famous. You, sister, have it made.”

“So it would seem.”

“Tell me again why you two broke up.”

“You’ll have to wait for the sequel for that information. Return of the Memories Part Two.”

“I can’t wait. Can I call you every day now that you’re speaking to me again?”

“Please do. You’ll have to call me on Durk’s phone, though. Mine is no longer in service. Nor is my computer, not that I remember any of my passwords. And my car is gone. All thanks to a madman who is still on the loose.”

“You have your life, Meghan. That’s what really counts.”

“But my assistant doesn’t. I guess Durk told you that.”

“He told Johnny, and Johnny finally told me everything, at least I think he has. He’s as protective as your Durk.”

“Durk doesn’t belong to me, but he is protective. I’m still not sure why.”

“He’s crazy about you.”

“Sure. I bet that’s why we broke up.” She’d talked enough about Durk. “Did I happen to tell you anything about the case I was working on before the attack?”

“No. You never tell me about your cases. I wouldn’t let you if you wanted to. I worry about you enough as it is.”

“You’re sure I didn’t mention any names or places?”

“Meghan, please promise me you’re not getting involved in Ben’s murder investigation.”

But Meghan wouldn’t make a promise she couldn’t keep. “I have to go now. I’m having dinner with the Lamberts. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Stay safe, Meghan. For once, don’t make this your personal vendetta. Let the cops do their job. All you need to do is get better and stay safe.”

“I have every intention of doing both of those. Talk later. Love you.”

Meghan broke the connection and walked to the bathroom to douse her eyes with cold water. She was standing at the sink when the vertigo hit again. She held on to the basin for support until she was steady enough to stagger back to the bed.

* * *

C
AROLINA STOOD AT
the counter, peeling the skin from the fresh-dug yams her cantankerous neighbor R. J. Dalton had dropped off that afternoon. She hadn’t planned on baking tonight, but the phone call she’d just received from Mary Nell Conroe was troubling. And nothing calmed Carolina the way baking did.

Durk walked into the kitchen, poured himself a cup of coffee and joined her at the counter. “Need some help?”

“Sure.” She handed him the peeler she’d been using and grabbed another one from the drawer.

“Candied sweet potatoes less than a week before Thanksgiving? Aren’t you afraid that will take away from the big day?”

“It would. I’m making pies with these.”

“Sweet potato pies. My favorite.”

“You say that about every pie I make.”

“And I’m always telling the truth.”

“I hope Meghan likes them.”

“If she doesn’t, I’ll eat her share. But you shouldn’t count on her for dinner or dessert.”

“Why not? She’s not still upset that I hired a nurse, is she?”

“Don’t fault her for that, Mother. She’s under a lot of stress.”

“I realize that. Is she feeling okay now?”

“I just went in to check on her and get my phone back and she was sound asleep. She didn’t get much sleep in the hospital last night so I’m not going to wake her. But the good news is that she talked to her sister and she recognized Lucy’s voice.”

“Oh, my. That is good news.”

“But don’t question her about it,” Durk cautioned. “She’s trying to come to grips with a lot of things right now, and I don’t know how much she remembers.”

“I won’t question her about anything.”

“That’s probably the best policy for now.”

Carolina reached around Durk for another potato. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but Mary Nell Conroe called me this afternoon.”

“And I haven’t had a chance to tell you how much I appreciate your help in getting rid of her yesterday.”

“I was glad to help. She needed someone to talk to.”

“Why did she call today?”

“To tell me that Ben’s funeral will be on Tuesday. She thought I might know how to get in touch with Meghan in case she wanted to attend.”

“I hope that means she’s no longer blaming Meghan for Ben’s death.”

“All I know is that she seemed to want Meghan at the funeral.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Shouldn’t you let Meghan decide that? He was her friend and a coworker.”

“I don’t know if she even remembers him yet. Just because she recognized Lucy’s voice doesn’t mean the amnesia has evaporated.”

“She’ll eventually remember him. When she does, she might need the degree of closure a funeral offers.”

“What she needs is for the police to make an arrest.”

“That could take months.”

“Or years. Or never. I don’t plan to let that happen.”

“Stay out of crime solving, Durk. You have enough on your plate without trying to do the DPD’s work for them.”

“You didn’t tell that to Damien or Tague when they put their lives on the line for Emma and Alexis.”

“That was different.”

“How was it different?”

“Emma and Alexis didn’t ask for the trouble they were in. They weren’t private investigators. They’re not out purposefully looking for danger again and again.”

“What makes you think Meghan does that?”

“I checked her out after talking to Mary Nell. She has a reputation for tracking down killers like the one who killed Ben. I don’t want you jumping into danger just because she does.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Mother. But I won’t turn my back on Meghan as long as she’s in danger. You and Dad taught me to be a bigger man than that.”

Durk dropped the half-peeled potato into the sink and walked out. She’d probably handled this all wrong.

“Oh, Hugh, I miss you so much. If you were here, you’d know what to say to Durk.”

Tague stepped behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

“I didn’t hear you come in.” She kept peeling without turning around.

“I know those whispered words weren’t for me, Mom. But I think I can tell you what Dad would say. He’d tell you a man has to do what he thinks is right or he isn’t a real man. Durk’s a real man, Mom.”

She caught an escaping tear with the corner of her apron. “Well, I can at least pray for him.”

“We all can.” Tague kissed the top of her head and walked away.

Her sons had all grown to be men. They were no longer hers to teach and guide and make certain they were safe. She would always be their mother, but now they belonged to the women in their lives.

Durk belonged to Meghan. He hadn’t accepted that as certainty yet, but Carolina had a sixth sense about these things. He wasn’t as quick as Damien and Tague to go where angels feared to tread.

Hugh always said that Durk was the wary one. He checked things out first. Tested the waters. Then he went right ahead and did whatever it was he’d been worrying about. And he did it with gusto.

They’d made more trips to the emergency room with him than the other two boys together.

But Durk was different with Meghan than she’d ever seen him with a woman. He was still in the wary stage, but when he jumped it would be with both feet and no holds barred. And it would be forever.

Meghan had a taste for danger that was yet to be quenched. Durk had a sense of loyalty that would never be dissolved.

Carolina had plenty of reason to worry.

* * *

M
EGHAN JUMPED IN
her sleep and woke abruptly from a deep, trancelike state. She’d been so out of it that for a second she thought she might have slept through the night.

She rolled over and looked at the clock. Five minutes past nine.

Not nearly as late as she’d feared, but she’d surely missed dinner. Not that she was particularly hungry, but she didn’t want to appear rude after her lunchtime performance.

She was still fully dressed. Perhaps it wasn’t too late to join the Lamberts for dessert. She slid from the bed and walked over to check her appearance in the full-length mirror behind the bathroom door.

The jeans were fine. The sweater was rumpled. Meghan pulled it over her head, tossed it back into the closet and chose a pale green shirt that wouldn’t clash with her purplish bruises. A quick smoothing of her hair and a touch of lip gloss and she was as good as she was going to get tonight.

The house was quiet as she made her way to the kitchen. The male bonding had either ended early or the men were outside. Emma and Alexis were probably putting their little ones to bed, unless they’d done that before dinner.

Meghan would have expected that with the wealth the Lamberts had accumulated, both Emma and Alexis would have nannies caring for their children. Instead they seemed to enjoy taking care of them themselves. If Meghan ever had children, she’d like to be like these women.

It was odd not to know if she’d ever thought about having children or could have them if she wanted to. Clearly, the Lamberts were family oriented. The ranch was almost like a commune with so many people in one house. And she had yet to meet Durk’s aunt Sybil or his grandma Pearl.

She started to turn back when she realized the lights were out in the kitchen. Then she decided to get a glass of water while she was up.

The shadowed figure standing at the back door startled her until she realized it was Durk. Even from the back, he was incredibly handsome. His shoulders were broad, his body hard and lean.

She fought the impulse to walk over to him and fit herself into his arms. It would be a daring move.

But they had been lovers once. She imagined his naked body pressed against hers. Imagined his lips kissing her senseless before exploring her body inch by torrid inch.

Now she was carrying things too far. She cleared her throat so that he’d turn around before she fantasized herself right into his arms.

He spun around. “I didn’t hear you walk up, but I’m glad you did. I was just debating whether I should let you sleep or warm you a plate of leftovers and serve you in bed.”