License to Love (47 page)

She opened the back door and stepped into the kitchen. The
warm house smelled of garbage. Apparently Jerry had not been home since the
evening Cora saw him at Keith’s. Food sat on the stove and dirty dishes were
piled by the sink.

She opened his office door and gasped. The computer and
filing cabinet were both completely gone, and the shelves were stripped. Books
and papers were thrown all over the floor.

Cora bent down and began picking through everything until
she found a large, hard cover Bible. Her father kept a backup CD of his
computer files in a cutout in the back of this Bible. It was almost as if he
had known something would happen.

The CD was inside a zip lock bag that also held a folded
piece of paper and a small, unlabeled key. The paper had a personal note
written in lavish handwriting that read, “Tall, dark, and handsome, meet me
after the meeting tonight.” The note was unsigned, so it didn’t help her, but
her father had kept it for some reason.

“That’s a strange thing to keep,” she said with the feeling
that she was talking to her father as she sat in his empty house. She knew the
note wasn’t written to Jerry, because no one ever called him tall, dark, and
handsome. Cora turned the key over in her hand. She didn’t see how it could be
important to her, since it probably unlocked a small safe or cabinet, but she
left it in the bag.

Without her father’s computer, she had no way to look at the
CD, so she slipped it into her back pocket.

She started digging for a phone book, hoping to compile a
list of everyone in the Holloway family. In other words, she needed to start a
suspect list. Just in case the burglars missed something, she glanced over the
papers as she searched. It paid off.

She found a half sheet of lined paper covered with names written
in very small, messy handwriting. Cora had a hard time making them out, maybe
the reason it wasn’t taken. Other people probably couldn’t read her father’s
messy handwriting. She didn’t need the phonebook anymore because the paper
listed the Holloways. Beside each name was either a yes or no. Keith, John,
Michael, and Angela had a yes while Martha had a no. Adam had a question mark.
Cora pondered the possibilities. Martha was Adam’s mom and both sounded like
they weren’t like the rest.

Angela was the only wife with a yes. Cora had to find out if
Angela knew why Jerry was framed. She added the paper to the bag in her pocket,
deciding she needed to get somewhere safer.

In the hallway she looked at her poor appearance in a long
mirror. Her long hair went every which way and her casual clothes looked rather
worn and tattered. She went to the bathroom and brushed her hair, washed the
remaining dirt off, and decided that was good enough for now.

There were three twenties and some change in her father’s
jacket in the closet. She took it, knowing a little money might come in handy.
So would food. The fridge had several of her dad’s favorite cheeses. There were
apples and crackers in the counter, but the apples were long past their prime.
She was in a hurry so she ate a few crackers.

After grabbing a glass of water, she headed toward the back
door where she’d entered. On the way, she caught a glimpse of the disheveled
living room. Pieces of seashells covered the floor.

Her dizzy, rushed world halted.

Her seashells. Her mother had left a large collection and
Cora continued to add shells, leaving them displayed in Jerry’s living room.
Tears gathered in her eyes and, as they slid down her face, sadness sank
through her.

She needed to leave. 

If only she had a place to go. She thought of several close
friends, but she knew she couldn’t endanger them. She peeked through a couple
windows before leaving. Outside, Azaleas grew along the path and Cora stopped
in front of the pretty pink flowers. Perfect flowers for a messy life.

So she had his computer files. Now what? The library? An
internet café might also work if they supplied computers. She started walking
since there weren’t any taxi cabs out in this residential area. This might have
been easier if Nick was with her, and they had a car.

However, he kidnapped her twice and drugged her. How could
she stay with him? A big part of her did trust him, despite everything, but she
wasn’t going to take any more risks.

She stopped at a payphone and used the change to call
Jerry’s cell. Nothing. With a frustrated growl, she slammed the phone down and
started walking again. She could have a cab pick her up but didn’t want to wait
in one place.

She wondered about the CD again. Why did her dad hide it?
Most people backed up their info on a flash drive and kept it in their desk.
Was it possible her father could have been stealing from his boss all along?

Jerry was a hard worker, an honest man, and someone who
couldn’t get away with lying. The opportunity had been there, yes, and even the
motive. She could forgive and understand if he had done it, but she didn’t
think he did. Plus, why would he save evidence of his crime on a CD?

No, she decided for the last time, she didn’t have time to
waste putting her father on trial. If she could find a way, she’d track him
down and help him get out of this mess. Maybe he could prove his innocence,
maybe they could both replace the stolen money, or maybe they could just run.

She reached a business section of town and hailed a cab. It
felt so nice to sit down in the air conditioning.

“Where to?”

She was closer to Keith’s house than a library. What if
Jerry was there right now? She gave him the name of a street close to the
Holloway property. That would get her close enough, although she wasn’t sure
why she was going there. She shouldn’t be. The best plan would be to get a look
at the CD and take it straight to the police. Only, didn’t Nick say Keith might
have a few of them on his payroll? Maybe she would decide after reading what
was on it. Even if Keith didn’t have dirty cops in his pocket, he was a
respected “citizen of the year.” People were not going to like what she
insinuated.

As the cab pulled over, she panicked. Maybe he should just
drive her somewhere safe, but what about her dad? She paid, got out, and began
walking toward Keith’s home. She passed a gas station, easy mart, flower shop,
deli, and an electric bank sign that read 6:10, 87 degrees.

It was past six already? Nick must have been looking for her
for hours. He could also be in Eugene by now.

A fierce longing rushed up her body – longing for his arms
around her, his full, hot lips all over her
. Stop thinking that way!

She wanted him with her, helping her, reassuring her. Not
kissing her. Maybe he had the means of learning whether or not Jerry was
actually at Keith’s home. That’s why she was headed there, even though it was a
long shot that she’d see anything. Still, she’d feel better if she looked.
There was that tiny chance that Jerry would be coming or going.

Soon she was walking along the Holloway fence line in the
shade from the trees that grew in the yard, peeking toward the house. In the
light of day, she didn’t have the nerve to walk up to the front gate the way
she had before. Now she knew Alexander had set that trap by leaving the gate
unlocked.

 There weren’t any cars parked outside of the garage. No one
came or went. There was no way to tell who was at the house without sneaking
over the fence. Tears stung her eyes in the heat. She’d get caught for sure if
she stayed too long. She backtracked and decided to keep walking.

Maybe she did need to find Nick, but how? And was he on her
side? Her stomach churned. She wasn’t sure what emotion she was feeling, but
she didn’t like it. She didn’t need Nick after all. She was the one who had run
away from him, blowing any chance she had with him. 

She made her way back into the business district and looked
for a place to hide and think. It felt like she was thinking too much and not
acting, but in this heat she couldn’t seem to think straight in the first
place.

She came to a wooden bench that was set in-between two pots
filled with pink and white pansies. She sat down to consider her options. She
didn’t see any, and outrage burned inside her. Wasn’t there anything she could
do? She could go to the police, but they didn’t have legal grounds to bust into
Keith’s home and look for her father, if they even believed her story. Keith
said he’d know if she went to the police, and he’d hurt Jerry.

Her stomach growled at smelling the fragrance of baking
bread drifting towards her from a bakery. Cora listed the few possible options
again, but her body wasn’t ready to move yet. It was dangerous to sit out in
the open where anyone, including Keith’s men or Alexander, might see her. She
suddenly felt like someone was watching her, like someone was behind her.

A man’s hand appeared in front of her, holding a fountain
drink cup down next to her. “Ni…” She cut off mid word when she looked up to
find Alexander looking back at her. After a delayed reaction, she sprang up to
run. His hand came down on her shoulder. “I’m here to help you.”

“Yeah, right.” She looked around for someone to yell to.

He shook the cup, rattling the ice, and actually smiled at
her. “You look thirsty.”

It wasn’t his smile that stopped her from running, but the
black and blue bruise that covered half of his forehead. “What happened to
you?” It looked painful.

“Nick. You didn’t know about that?” he asked. The confused
look on her face must have provided an answer. “Here.”

She took the cup, the ice-cold cup, and found it full of
lemonade. After a tentative sip, she couldn’t hold back and drained the entire
drink. She wasn’t sure what to say. Her mind got hung up thinking about Nick
hitting Alexander, hurting another person. So Nick had bashed Alexander’s head
in and drugged her. On the other hand, Alexander had been such a jerk at
Keith’s house and at the cabin. So why was he here, offering his help? Now she
was really confused.

Glancing around, she decided she would hear him out. They
were on a public street with people around, and she needed something, or
someone, to help her find Jerry.

He put one foot up on the bench and rested his arms on his
leg, watching her and the street behind them closely. He looked concerned.
Concern on his face was an oxymoron, but there it was. His brows pulled
together and his eyes held a quizzical look.

“You just happened to find me?” she asked in a
hopefully-neutral voice. It had to mean something that he was being nice… she
had no idea what to make of it.

“Of course not. You were at Jerry’s house.” Dressed in a
nice shirt and slacks, he was composed, not angry. There wasn’t even a smug
grin at finding her a sweaty mess. “Was it worth it?”

Without planning to get into the details, she replied, “I needed
to look.”

His jaw clenched. “You took off on me to look in your
father’s house?”

“You think...” She laughed out loud, picturing Alexander
when he realized she was gone. He thought she ran away and with Nick, the silly
man. “I didn’t take off. Nick kidnapped me.” Her smiled faded. “I guess after
he hit you.”

Alexander’s gaze bore into her eyes intently and then he
looked across the street, rubbing the stubble on his chin. She was relieved
when he sat down. The way he stood over her was somewhat unnerving. Almost as
unnerving as wondering what he was thinking.

“He drugged me, can you believe that?” The sugar in the
lemonade had gone to her head, making her dizzy and giddy. The surreal
situation didn’t help.

Instead of anger in his face, he showed an almost fatherly
concern when he asked, “Did he hurt you?”

“Hurt me? Nick? No.” This friendliness was so unexpected
that she dropped her defenses. “He seems to think
you
want to hurt me.”

She was telling him way more than she should.

“He seems to be the most lethal one out of all of us.”
Alexander pointed to the huge bump on his head and stood. “Come on, I’m taking
you back to my room and getting you dinner.”

He took the empty cup, threw it in a wastebasket, and took
her hand, nodding up the road. He didn’t hang onto her hand so tightly that she
couldn’t pull it away and run, but somehow his manner kept her walking beside
him.

He had completely avoided her implied question. Why on earth
should she go with him? The world must have stopped at some point and started
turning in the opposite direction. She felt like he wanted to help her.

“Can you tell me where my father is?”

As he walked, he said under his breath, “Jerry’s here in
Eugene now, trying to explain things to Keith.” The sidewalk led to a hotel and
Alexander directed her up the first flight of stairs.

Once inside the door, she fell into a large armchair,
enjoying the air conditioning. She noticed the dark burgundy curtains, cream
walls, and lack of any personal items, except his suitcase and either a
briefcase or laptop case lying on the small table. 

Something soft landed on her lap, a white T-shirt and shorts
that were freshly washed and folded perfectly. By the door again, he asked,
“Will you stay put while I get you dinner?”

The offer of food was too tempting. She nodded and watched
him leave. Apparently he thought she’d stick around. She laughed again. She had
told him Nick kidnapped her, so he might be thinking she wanted his help now.

What on earth was she doing? She didn’t stay with Nick because
he was a Holloway, but now she was sitting in Alexander’s room. She couldn’t
take Alexander’s help for the same reasons she decided she couldn’t stay with
Nick.

How else could she find Jerry? If only Nick had brought her
back to town, got her a room, and offered to help? Nick had offered protection,
but she didn’t need protection, she needed someone who could help her find her
father. Maybe Alexander was that person.