Lottery (35 page)

“You’re going to leave Caleb?”

“I never thought I’d ever get a divorce, but I can’t do this anymore.”

“Well … I …” Jenee started, as Ling drove under the green tiled roofed entrance of Chinatown.

Ling glimpsed over at her. “You what?”

“Nothing.”

“You think I should stay with him?”

“I think you’re doing the right thing,” Jenee added quickly.

Ling glanced into the rearview mirror again and saw that the taxi had disappeared. She was getting paranoid. Why would Caleb follow her?? She pulled into a parking ramp, stopped at the gate, and pulled out a ticket. “I feel guilty leaving him when he’s obviously not well.” The BMW hugged the curved concrete wall as they traveled up to the next level.

“But does he want help?” Jenee asked.

Ling found an empty spot, pulled in, and turned off the car. “I think he’s losing his mind,” she said, her dark eyes misting over.

Jenee reached over and took her hand. “What makes you think that?”

“I’ve caught him talking to himself.”

“I caught him, too, when we were in China. What about the house?” Jenee asked.

“I don’t want anything. I just want my children, my mom, and me safe.”

Jenee’s eyes grew wide. “Safe?”

“Sometimes he looks at me like he wants to kill me,” Ling said, trying to hold back tears.

“Oh, God, Ling.” Jenee opened her car door. “You have to get out of there.”

Meshing in with the crowd on Grant Street, Ling glanced back over her shoulder every few seconds.

“You okay?” Jenee asked, and put her arm through Ling’s.

Ling nodded. “Just want this divorce over quickly.”

“Don’t blame you,” Jenee said. “Just know I’ll stay as long as you need me. Justin can handle the kids.”

“Thanks.” Ling put her arm around Jenee’s waist. “That means a lot.”

“Maybe you should get a restraining order, just in case Caleb goes ballistic.”

Jenee might be right. The one thing Ling had learned to respect was Caleb’s temper. From what she’d heard, however, restraining orders were useless.

Chinatown was where Ling belonged and where her children should be raised. She’d never even met the neighbors in Pacific Heights and, if she did see a neighbor when she took Ahna for walks in the stroller, no one ever stopped to introduce themselves.

Ling lingered in front of the dry-cleaning store her father had sold, peering through the large picture window. She saw a young man standing behind the counter. Ling thought of the many times she’d seen her father standing in the exact same place. She titled her head back, shielded her eyes from the sun, and saw the window box outside of her old apartment filled with bright red geraniums and ivy.

“It’s okay, hon,” Jenee said, interrupting Ling’s thoughts. “Let’s have some lunch, and then find you a new home.”

Ling nodded, anxiously looking up and down the street. She had to stop thinking that Caleb was going to hurt her. He
couldn’t know she was leaving. After Jenee went back to Topeka, she’d move the kids, Mei’s, and her personal belongings after Caleb left for the day. She’d already contacted a lawyer, and needed to remind him not to serve Caleb until her family was safe.

Ling wished this was over. She had no idea what Caleb would do when he found that Ling and his children were gone.

acing back and forth, Caleb watched Ling and Jenee go into an upscale apartment building. Hiding in the shadows across the street, he was on edge and madder than hell. They’d been in there for over an hour. What the fuck were they doing?

Caleb had the cab let him out at the end of the street after Ling pulled into the parking ramp. Ling and Jenee were up to something.

“She’s leaving you. That’s what they’re up to,” Weber told him. “Probably renting an apartment for her and the kids.”

Caleb slid into an alley between two buildings and twisted the cap off the pint of gin that was inside a brown paper sack. “You’re wrong.” Feeling his blood pressure rise, he took a long swallow, twisted the cap back on, and pushed the bottle into the inside pocket of his jacket.

“Really?” Weber asked flippantly. “Have I ever been wrong?”

Caleb’s eyes narrowed. “Ling’s not going anywhere.” He swiped across his mouth with the back off his hand. “I’ll make sure of that.”

Weber smiled wryly. “Better get your shit together, and fast.”

“But how do I get Ling out of the house? Away from the kids?”

“She’s not going anywhere willingly.”

Caleb’s eyes were glued on the entrance of the elite apartment building.

“The sooner you do it the better,” Weber told Caleb.

Caleb walked down the alley until he reached the street. He downed the rest of the gin, dropped the bottle on the ground, and hailed a cab.

That damn Jenee had done her homework. Caleb had found a copy of Weber’s obituary, as well as McKenzie’s and Ron Price’s that she’d printed out from the Internet in her suitcase. She was probably telling Ling right now what she thought she knew. Stupid bitch. No one could prove anything.

Hoping to make it home before Ling and Jenee, he made a quick stop at a floral shop. After purchasing dozens of red roses, Caleb had the driver drop him at the marina. Using water glasses as vases, he arranged the bouquets around the lower level stateroom, in the bedroom, and in the bath. Everything needed to be perfect.

He bent over and took the gun out of the bottom of a cedar closet. After he made sure it was loaded, he pushed it into waistband of his jeans, concealing the weapon with his jacket.

At the top of the stairs, he turned around and gazed down into the stateroom. Everything looked so romantic; the white wine chilling in the ice bucket, the long-stemmed roses that sent out a faint, perfumed aroma. Ling might not come willingly, but little by little, she’d adjust. She’d also realize that no one else in the world would ever love her like Caleb.

On his way home, he made a call to the cable company.

“Ahna?’ Caleb called out when he opened the front door. Finding Ahna in the kitchen with Mei, and Sammy asleep in the
playpen, he picked up Ahna. “Wanna go play ball with Daddy?” he asked.

Ahna’s eyes sparkled. “Play ball.” She giggled and wrapped her arms around Caleb’s neck. Jesus, how could Caleb leave her?

“Don’t go soft on me now,” Weber said. “A fella’s to do what a fella’s got to do.”

“Here it comes, Ahna,” Caleb said, sitting on the deck with his legs spread. He rolled the ball to Ahna, who sat a few feet away from him, her arms outstretched.

Ahna squealed when she caught the large, red plastic ball between her legs.

“Now, you push it back to me.” Caleb opened his arms wide.

Using all her strength, Ahna pushed the ball sending it to only a few inches in front of her. Proud of herself, she clapped her hands and giggled, showing a full mouth of her pearly white baby teeth.

“Good job.” Caleb praised and started to scoot toward the ball.

“What have we here?” Caleb looked up and saw Ling in the doorway. Even though she still took his breath away, he was anger with her. Who the hell did she think she was? Did she honestly think she was going to get rid of Caleb?

“Keep your cool, O’Toole,” Weber whispered. “Or the plan will fail.”

“Mommy.” Ahna toddled toward Ling. Ling bent over and placed her hands over her knees. “Are you playing with Daddy?” she asked Ahna.

Ahna pointed at the ball. “Play ball.” She glanced at Caleb and smiled. “Daddy.”

“You have fun today?” Caleb asked Ling and stood.

Ling stared down at Ahna. “Yes.” She stroked Ahna’s hair. “Jenee and I got caught up on everything.”

“And,” Weber said to Caleb, “by the way, honey, I found my children and I a place to live and you’re not invited.”

“Great.” Caleb forced a smile. “Good to hear.”
Liar.

Over dinner, Caleb listened to Ling and Jenee discuss the families they’d narrowed down for adoption. They’d not mentioned, however, that Ling was leaving Caleb and taking the kids … the room started to spin. God, he had to stop thinking. Thinking … thinking …
thinking
, until his head felt like it would explode.

He needed to stay calm. It would only be few more hours until he had Ling all to himself again.

It was after ten when Caleb carried Sammy’s bassinet into the master bedroom. Ling was still upstairs in the guest suite with Jenee.

He gazed down at Sammy’s innocent face. The newborn’s thumb close by his mouth, Caleb knelt next to the bassinet.

“I love you, son,” Caleb whispered and cleared his throat, tears suddenly rushing into his eyes. He laid his hand gently on Sammy’s tummy and felt the baby’s chest rise and fall with each slow, rhythmic, breath. “Your Grandmother will take care of you.” Sammy shifted slightly and slowly stretched a miniscule hand out from under the receiving blanket. Caleb lovingly put the child’s fragile arm back under the cover.

“Oh God, Sammy,” Caleb said quietly, his voice breaking, “I wanted to be a good father.” He shook his head. If he didn’t stop now, he might change his mind. He stood, still gazing down at Sammy’s face. “I love you, Sammy.”

“The kid’ll be fine.” Weber told him.

“Leave me alone.”

Tiptoeing down the dimly lit hallway, Caleb slowly pushed Ahna’s door open and peeked in. She was sound asleep; the stuffed bear Caleb had given her tucked under her arm. Lying on her side facing the door, the nightlight plugged into the outlet next to her bed cast a soft glow over her delicate features. Caleb walked to her crib, wrapped his hands over the top of the railing, and looked down at her. The knot in his throat growing larger, he still couldn’t fathom losing her.

“My baby girl,” he whispered, “you’re so beautiful. Just like your mommy.” He laid his hand over the pink and white checked comforter that covered her. “Daddy’s taken care of everything,” he choked out. “You can have all the dancing classes and all the pretty dresses you want.” He paused. “You’re mine, Ahna. You’ll always be mine.”

God, he didn’t want to leave her. He’d wanted to watch her grow up; be there for her when she graduated from high school; walk his daughter down the aisle when … he tilted his head back, his face wet with tears. If it wasn’t for that fucking bitch Jenee, everything would have been fine. But if it hadn’t been Jenee who’d connected him to the murders, eventually someone else would have.

Ahna stirred and blinked open her eyes. Seeing Caleb, she held out her arms to him. His heart breaking, he picked her up and she laid her head on his shoulder. “Oh, God, baby,” he said, praying he wouldn’t break down. “Daddy loves you so much.” His arms around her back, he squeezed her gently. “So very much.”

Caleb sat down in the rocker and cradled her in his arms. Ahna’s head nestled in the crook of his arm, he rocked her gently, staring into her sleepy, dark eyes.

Ahna smiled up at him, trying hard to keep her eyes open. He rocked her for a few minutes, remembering the first time he’d
held her in the orphanage; the day Ling brought her home; her first birthday with her face and clothes dotted in pink frosting.

“Get out of here,” Weber warned.

Standing up slowly, Caleb put the sleeping child back in her crib, and lovingly covered her with the spread. “I’ll find you again, my Ahna.” He patted her back a few times, turned, and walked out of her room. “I promise.” He closed the door quietly, not turning around to look at her again.