Magic Moment (19 page)

Chase also wanted to get Laura back to Sea Tower before his father realized she was in Philadelphia.

“Which by the way,” he began.

“What?”

“That bullshit last night about Laura being involved in my father’s nonsense, you’re wrong.” Chase stared without a flinch. “I know you were doing your job as my attorney, but I don’t want to hear that crap from my friend.”

“I was looking out for your best interest. As your attorney and friend,” Ned added. “You seemed to consider my suggestions.”

“I know my wife.” Laura involved in anything unlawful, that she had brought on her own violent attack, was outrageous. “It’s this damn, crazy place. Puts extreme thoughts in a person’s head.”

“Regard the subject closed,” Ned said.

“What time is it?”

Ned glanced at his watch. “A little after six. You’ve been here almost twenty-four hours.”

Chase considered another dilemma. His father, who was aware of his son’s file search, had returned to Philadelphia. If anyone had caught the scene with the two agents, and surely if Rachel knew, Dick was bound to get wind of his son’s arrest. Chase was certain that whatever he had hoped to find among the invoices was no longer there.

• • •

Lonnie stood at the foot of the bed holding a pack of crackers. “Try some of these.”

Laura, her body curled in a spoon position on her mauve chenille bedspread, shook her head. Of all the ills she experienced so far with being pregnant, nausea hadn’t been one of them.

Until Saunders.

The overwhelming urge to heave lingered. Although she wasn’t quite sure Saunders was entirely to blame. She tried to shake the feeling, the nagging instinct refused to go away. Could Chase be involved in criminal activities? And his attention and concern for her a ploy?

“Are you sure I can’t bring you tea?” Lonnie asked. “I noticed you have blueberry in the cabinet.”

Laura shook her head at the woman’s umpteenth offering. Nothing Lonnie suggested made her feel better, leaving Lonnie feeling helpless and Laura feeling guilt-ridden.

“Thanks, Aunt Lonnie. You’re the greatest.” Laura managed a tender smile. “I can see why Chase loves you so much.”

“When it comes to my nephew, the feeling is mutual.”

Laura relaxed back into the pillow. “Sit with me?”

Lonnie sat on the bed’s edge and took Laura’s hand. “Do you want to tell me what that agent man said to upset you?”

Laura let out an exhausted breath. “Where should I start?”

“You pay these people no mind. They play head games.”

“Chase said something to that affect.”

“Whenever Chase has something intelligent to say, he takes after his mother’s family. Remember that.” She patted Laura’s hand.

“Aunt Lonnie, Saunders implied Chase is involved in something illegal with his father,” Laura said softly. “That he married me to keep me from testifying against him.”

The words poured out. How Laura and Chase came together, their decision to be husband and wife. Relief gushed through Laura as she detailed her initial meeting with the FBI, her resignation from The Produce Market
and all that had followed. Lonnie listened with quiet patience, alternating between patting and rubbing the back of Laura’s hand tenderly.

“Chase told me while we shared my whiskey. I didn’t let on because I wanted you to tell me when you were ready.” Lonnie’s features echoed sympathy. “Laura, I can’t even begin to imagine how terrified you were on that boat.”

“If not for Chase,” Laura took a deep breath and choked back tears. “I can’t believe he was all an act.” She paused. “Or maybe I don’t want to believe.”

“What exactly did Saunders say?” Lonnie asked.

Laura repeated her earlier conversation with the agent. When finished, she felt drained. “Kevin Woolfe seemed to agree,” she said. “His face gave him away. He and Sanders. They’re both suspicious of Chase’s motives for our marriage.”

Lonnie clutched Laura’s hand. “They don’t know the whole story. When Saunders asked how you and Chase came to be married, what did you tell him?”

“I felt sick and asked to leave. I didn’t want to tell him about Mr. Donovan arranging my ride from the warehouse, what happened on the boat.” Apprehension returned. “They already had Chase locked up. I didn’t want to add fuel to Saunders’ fire.”

Lonnie’s voice was strong. “The idea that my nephew is doing anything criminal, I can guarantee, is the most absurd thing ever suggested.”

“But why is Chase protecting his father? I don’t understand their relationship. They’re not like any father and son I know.”

“Chase reacts to his own guilt,” Lonnie said. “He feels guilty because he doesn’t like his father. One minute he’ll call Dick all kinds of vile names, deservingly so. The next minute Chase feels remorse, and he goes out of his way to make it up to the old coot.”

“What about all the assets being in both names?” Laura asked. “Everything is either in the name of the business or owned jointly by Chase and his father.”

“Probably so if one of them dies, and my preference is Dick go sooner than later, the survivor doesn’t have to pay an inheritance tax.”

Laura was a bookkeeper with a shrewd proprietor for a boss. She should have deduced his motives.

“I wonder if Chase knows this, that his father owns the boat with him,” Laura mused aloud.

“Maybe not.” Lonnie’s expression was half smile, half frown. “I love my nephew but his comprehension of anything having to do with money, is that it should be there when he wants it.”

Laura silently recalled Chase on their wedding day. He had been determined they would marry that day. With everyone, from the lab tech who drew their blood to the jeweler who sized their rings, Chase had generously tossed whatever cash had been needed to ensure he got what he wanted.

“Chase sometimes pretends his father is a nice man,” Lonnie added. “Then an incident occurs like what happened to you, and he struggles to admit Dick Donovan is plain no good.”

“Saunders was so convincing.”

“That’s his job.” Lonnie’s voice was warm. “Laura, any difficulties you and Chase have, I know you can work out for yourselves.” Her eyes twinkled like Chase’s when he was in high spirits. “I have to tell you. You bring out a side of my nephew that warms my heart.”

Lonnie paused. When she started to speak again, her voice held a twinge of sadness. “Sometimes watching Chase grow up was heartbreaking. He so much wanted a real father, a father who was patient, loving, a man he could be proud of and who would be proud of him.”

Her tone grew bitter. “Instead Chase got Dick Donovan, who is intolerant, indifferent, and all-around narcissistic. When Chase was about ten, he started bringing home stray dogs. Dogs that were malnourished, a couple were notably abused. Chase was so gentle and tender with each dog. Feeding it, promising that everything was going to be all right. The dog had a home now. Chase was so happy he was saving the dog.”

Lonnie was quiet, no doubt remembering the past, then pursed her lips. “Dick would come home from who knows where. The warehouse. Some business trip that I sometimes wondered if the trip was really about business. Not even noticing or caring that Chase had love invested in the dog. That bastard would grab the dog, insist there was no place in their lives for a filthy mutt, and cart the dog away. Chase would cry for days.”

Laura felt compassion for the sensitive child who’d become attached to another living creature only to have the dog taken from him.

“Then Chase would find another dog,” Lonnie went on. “Take it home as if his father’s reaction to the previous one hadn’t happened. Dick would take that one, too. Dick had taken three dogs before Chase realized his father’s actions weren’t going to change.”

Lonnie shook her head as if the motion would shake away the dreadful memories. “Chase would sometimes idealize his father, almost in total denial of Dick‘s lousy character. Watching that boy deceive himself … ” She paused then smiled. “When Chase is with you, Laura, he doesn’t pretend he’s happy. He is.”

Laura was afraid … for herself and for Chase. Was he so desperate for his father’s affection that he would cover up Dick Donovan’s crimes or even be a part of them?

“Aunt Lonnie, I have so much to sort out. When Chase gets here, please tell him I’m asleep. I don’t know what to say. Or what I’m feeling. Until I do, I’m afraid to see him.”

• • •

Chase’s BMW had been seized as evidence. He suspected Saunders’ cockamamie arrest had actually been a ploy from the beginning, just an excuse to search the car. Chase smiled as visions of an angry and frustrated Saunders, discovering the car was clean, pranced before his eyes. Once the charges against Chase had been dropped, the car was released to him.

Darkness had fallen long ago, and he noted the time on the dashboard clock. His first stop was the condo, to check on Laura, and give her a gigantic hug, then head to the warehouse for a showdown with his father. A perturbed feeling inched through Chase. Recent events had him anxious for that go-around. Dick Donovan’s plane had landed about an hour ago, and Chase knew the first stop would be the warehouse. Dick lived for the place.

He drove the BMW downward into the condominium complex’s underground garage. Laura had an assigned parking spot, B17, her unit’s number. Since she didn’t have a car, she had told him to finally put the long-vacant spot to use. He introduced himself to the attendant at the garage window, and pointed out the BMW. The elderly man, with sparse white hair and thick black-rimmed glasses, congratulated Chase on his marriage. Laura was a sweetheart, the man insisted, and Chase was a lucky man.

The middle-aged, frizzy-haired woman who worked the reception desk passed on the same sentiments. Laura was a living doll. Chase agreed wholeheartedly.

He took the elevator to the second floor and searched the oak-paneled doors for the gold-plated, B17. Using the key, Chase let himself into the unit. Decorated in ivory and green with mahogany furniture, Laura had told him the unit was small, but cozy. The condo was quiet, so quiet that Chase wondered if the women were out.

“Laura. Aunt Lonnie,” he called.

Lonnie emerged from behind an ivory painted wall, a dishtowel in her hand.

“Oh, Chase! Chase.” Her arms went around him, and they bear-hugged one another.

“Interesting couple of days I had,” he said with a light laugh. He was determined to put the lousy disposition aside while with his wife.

“What a mess, such a mess.” Lonnie drew back from Chase. “Your father.” She shook her head, distain apparent. Dick had that effect on her. “You know how I’ve felt about that louse all these years. I don’t even want to discuss him.”

Neither did Chase.

He needed to see Laura, to hold her. Perhaps because of the negative thoughts Ned had planted in his head about her, or perhaps because Chase had even considered them, he needed to feel Laura in his arms. To reassure her, and himself, that they were in this mess together and everything would work out.

“Laura’s sleeping. Don’t tell me,” he said with a good-natured chuckle. “Which way’s the bedroom in this joint? Ned said she wasn’t feeling well. She’s better, right? Probably just tired, I bet.”

He waited for an answer. Lonnie’s fingers, wrapped around his forearm and held him in place.

“She’s fine. Chase, let her sleep.”

Last night he had gazed upon Laura in his dreams. His heart beat rapidly, eager to look at the real deal.

“Point to the bedroom. I won’t wake her. I’ll sneak in, give her a quick kiss, and sneak back out.”

“Chase, let her sleep. Come into the kitchen,” Lonnie coaxed. “You must be starving. I’ll fix you something.”

Panic gripped Chase. “The baby? She’s in the hospital, isn’t she?”

“No. Laura’s fine. The baby’s fine.” Lonnie took him in her arms, hugging him and rubbing a consoling palm over his back as she had done whenever his father had taken one of his beloved strays to the shelter. “Let her sleep. It’s been difficult for her.”

Chase pulled away from his aunt. “She can join the club.” His miserable nature returned, overtaking his brief previous panic. “I want to see my wife.”

Lonnie held firm. “Chase, listen to me.”

He gritted his teeth.
Why was his aunt keeping him from his wife?
“What the hell? Laura,” he called.

“Chase, leave her alone. She doesn’t want to speak to you.”

Clenching his fist at his sides, his agitation rose. “She doesn’t want to speak to me?” His voice was a growl. “What’s that mean? I spent the damn night in a jail cell for her.”

Lonnie kept her tone and demeanor even. “Chase, Special Agent Saunders said some awful things regarding you, and Laura needs to sort them out.”

“Me? Like what?”

Lonnie shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. He confused her, and she needs some time alone.”

Chase pursed his lips. “What did that bastard say?”

She paused. “Laura’s afraid you married her to keep her from testifying against you.”

Chase’s blood boiled. “That’s crazy. Testify against what?” he barked. “I didn’t do anything.” His lips compressed, forming a single line, then he sighed. “Saunders is blowing smoke. Laura believed him?”

“She needs to rest and think.”

“I’ll take that answer as a yes. Laura!” he shouted, taking a step toward the first closed door he saw.

Once more, Lonnie grabbed his arm. “Leave Laura be, Chase.”

Chase roughly shook off his aunt’s grip. Clasping the door handle, he rattled it hard.

The door was locked. “Shit!” His fist banged hard. “Laura, open the damn door!”

No answer, and the door didn’t open.

His heart crumbled. Seeing Laura, putting his arms around her had kept him afloat these last miserable hours. Pain knifed through him. He was tired, angry, hungry, and fighting like hell to keep the wretchedness in check. Since leaving Sea Tower, he had been dying to tell her he loved her. He prayed that she loved him. He had married her to help her. He had feelings for her. Damn it, she truly thought some selfish, devious plot motivated his actions.

“Laura!” He pounded on the door again.

The voice on the other side was muffled. “Go away.”