Resuscitation (37 page)

A woman appeared out of nowhere, walking across the lawn holding hands with two young girls about the same age as Julian’s daughters. His thoughts drifted to Lorena and Isabel. He had faced fierce guilt and a profound sense of loss when he had packed three suitcases and moved out of his home. He had believed that the separation from his daughters would prove devastating. Sure, when he dropped them off after spending time with them, he’d felt horrible. But he didn’t feel the intense emptiness he had anticipated. Was he a rotten father? Would he ever be able to repair whatever damage he’d caused? Children didn’t always reveal their emotions. Fears and insecurities were often buried deep inside. How well he knew this. When he was young, unloved, and desperately seeking his parents’ recognition, no one was aware of his private hell. No one could ever understand what he felt in his broken heart.

Thoughts of Nicole took hold of him. Separated from her, he now realized that he had been silently unhappy with his marriage for years. Sometimes denial conveniently masks the obvious. Had it not been for his daughters, he might have found the courage to walk away from his marriage years ago. Now more than ever, he needed to secure the research grant from GAFF. Once approved, he would be in an ideal position to ask Nicole for a divorce and fight for custody of his daughters. For now, he’d have to endure. There was no way he could handle the pressure from the research and emotional strain of a divorce at the same time. Everything came into focus. His objectives crystal clear.

He looked to his right and saw McKenzie O’Neill parking the “road warrior” right next to him. He watched her get out of the car, and in that moment, he wanted her the same way he had wanted Eva and Rachael.

“Sorry I’m a little late,” McKenzie apologized. “The traffic coming into Pacific Beach was horrendous.”

“No big deal. I was just sitting in my car admiring the view of Mission Bay.” Julian grabbed the yoga mat he had purchased just that afternoon, tucked it under his arm, and draped a towel around his neck. “Pick a spot.”

McKenzie pointed to a level area under a palm tree. “How about over there?”

“Hey, you’re the instructor, so it’s your call.” He reached in his pocket and peeled five crisp twenty-dollar bills from a sizable wad of money. He handed the money to McKenzie. “Here you go. I thought it best to give you the money in advance just in case you have to drive me to emergency.”

She laughed. “Not to worry. I’ll take it easy on you for the first couple of lessons. Then you’re in big trouble.”

She walked slightly ahead of him, leading the way. He liked what he saw. Perfectly proportioned with highly defined muscle tone, McKenzie’s body didn’t have an ounce of fat. But oh, what an ass.

She rolled out her mat and set her towel and gallon bottle of water on the grass. “You didn’t bring any water?” she asked.

“Afraid not.”

“Well as long as you’re not scared of getting cooties, you’re welcome to share mine.”

“Thanks. The last thing I’m worried about is getting cooties from you.” He stared at her long and penetrating. Julian could feel strong chemistry between them.

His stamina and flexibility surprised him. Of course, McKenzie was really taking it easy.

She glanced at her watch. “We’re twenty minutes into it. How you holding up?”

“I’m fine now. But wait until I try to get out of bed tomorrow morning. I’m going to need a crane.”

“You’ll be fine. Sore muscles are a good thing. It’s your body trying to tell you something.”

“Yes. Telling me to take up basket weaving.”

“Okay, watch closely. We’re going to go into downward facing dog.”

Julian studied her form carefully and tried his best to hold the position.

“Don’t overdo it. If you feel too much strain in your lower back or shoulders, move to a cat-cow stretch on all fours. Remember how to do that?”

“I do.”

Thirty-five minutes later, Julian was completely spent and about as drenched as he could be without stepping into a shower. “Can we call it a night?” he asked.

“Had enough?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask for a refund.”

“That’s a good thing. Because my fee is nonrefundable.”

They gathered their things and walked slowly toward the parking lot. Julian turned and looked west. “Looks like a beautiful sunset.”

“Yes, it does.”

“Are you in a hurry?” Julian asked.

“That depends. What did you have in mind?”

“We could drive to the ocean, get a couple of iced drinks from Starbucks, and watch the sun set.”

She looked at her watch. “I’m tempted but I’ve got an early-morning appointment and really should get going.”

“But wait a minute. You’re still on my dime, right? The least you could do is give me my money’s worth. Besides, it’s my treat.”

She didn’t say anything but he could tell she was seriously considering his proposal.

“C’mon. It’ll be fun. Maybe we’ll see the green flash.”

“I’ve never seen one,” she said. “Have you?”

“Only once.”

She chewed on her lower lip. “Okay. But just as soon as the sun sets, I have to leave.”

Parking at the beach was always difficult, but it was too early for the bar-hopping crowd and too late for the sun worshipers, so at this particular time, both McKenzie and Julian found parking spots only two blocks from Crystal Pier, a landmark in Pacific Beach. Conveniently, Starbucks was on the way to the ocean.

“I’ll run in and get the drinks,” Julian offered. “You can sit out here and look at the beautiful sky. What’s your pleasure?”

“I’d like a Very Berry Hibiscus.”

“That’s a joke, right? You’re trying to set me up so the Starbucks folks think I’m looney.”

“Nope. It’s one of their limited-time promotional drinks. I had one yesterday.”

“Okay, but if I’m not out in ten minutes, come rescue me.”

“Sure thing.”

He was glad she hadn’t ordered a frothy drink with lots of whipped cream. That would make it nearly impossible to spike her drink. He ordered a Very Berry Hibiscus for her and a green tea Frappuccino for himself. While he waited, he kept an eye on her. With her back to him, he could see that she was facing west and watching the colorful sky.
Perfect
.

When the order was ready, he grabbed the drinks and headed for the condiment bar. As he reached in his pocket and removed a small packet of the Rohypnol he had prepared earlier today, he looked left and then right to see if anyone was watching. As quickly as he could, he poured the drug into McKenzie’s drink, grabbed a stir-stick, and thoroughly blended the drug with the drink.

“Enjoy,” he said as he handed McKenzie the drink.

They headed for the ocean.

They weren’t fortunate enough to see the green flash, but the orange and red and yellow sky dancing on the calm ocean was begging to be on a postcard.

“I gotta get moving,” McKenzie said. “I’m suddenly really tired.”

“It’s probably the ocean air. Just about every time I come down here, I fall asleep on the beach.”

They left the beach and headed for their cars. Julian noticed that McKenzie walked like someone with concrete shoes.

“Are you okay?” he asked, trying to sound legitimately concerned.

“Wow. My head is spinning. I feel like I’m drunk.”

“Is it that hibiscus drink?”

She shook her head. “I seriously doubt it.”

“Has this happened before?”

“Never.”

Only a half block away from her car, he didn’t think she was going to make it.

“I have to sit down,” McKenzie said. “I feel like I’m going to pass out.”

“We’re almost there. Take my arm.”

“I don’t think…I can drive. What am I going to do?”

“There’s an urgent care a few blocks away. I think you should get checked out. Why don’t I drive you there?” From his past experience with Rohypnol and the dose he’d given her, he guessed that it would take hold in about five minutes and she’d be passed out cold.

“I don’t want to trouble you,” she said, her voice almost garbled.

“It’s no trouble. Honestly.”

The effect of the drug didn’t wear off for more than three hours. When McKenzie awoke, she found herself lying on a strange bed in a pitch-black room, and not only did she feel as if she were still dreaming, her brain was a collection of incoherent thoughts. She tried desperately to piece together the puzzle but the only thing she knew for certain was that John—if that was even his real name—had drugged her. But why? She didn’t even want to think about the obvious, but couldn’t stop herself from taking a quick inventory. She didn’t feel any discomfort “down there,” but in her current state how could she be certain that her sensory signals told the whole story?

For most of her adult life, McKenzie had been careful—obsessively careful. Why had she let down her guard with John? Was it the money he had offered her? Was it his innocent charm? Back in college, three of her closest friends had been drugged with “roofies.” One got pregnant, one was a victim of a gang rape, and one ended up in therapy. Whatever he had planned for her, she feared the worst.

She tried to sit up but felt something tug on her wrists. It took a minute for her to realize that she was bound to the bed with something unidentifiable. She further discovered when she tried to bend her knees that her ankles were also tied to the bed. Her temples were throbbing unmercifully. She lay perfectly still and listened. But all she could hear was the tick-tock of a clock.

Her mouth felt as dry as sawdust, so she tried to produce enough saliva to speak, but the best she could do was generate a barely audible sound.

“John, are you here? Can you hear me?”

She could hardly hear her own words. How did she expect anyone else to hear them? All she could do was lie quietly and wait.

On her way to the airport, Sami felt first-date nervous. She and Al had been together for nearly two years, yet she still got goose bumps in anticipation of seeing him again. If “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” then she was living proof. She hoped that her nervousness was a good sign. After all, what was left when the sweaty palms and anxious stomach were replaced with ho-hum yawns?

She tried to time her arrival a few minutes after his plane landed, allowing some time for him to retrieve his luggage. Just ahead, she could see the lighted JetBlue sign where they had agreed to meet. Standing just below it, holding one suitcase in each hand, she spotted a familiar silhouette. Al dropped one of the suitcases and waved his arm like the president about to board Air Force One.

Unable to find a curbside spot, she double-parked next to a black Lincoln. Al left the luggage by the trunk and before she could even say hello, he wrapped his arms around her. It seemed as though it had been years since she felt the security of his firm hug. She didn’t want him to let go.

“How are you, stranger?” he said.

“I’m much better now.”

Al let go of Sami and lifted the suitcases into the trunk. She tried to help him but he grabbed her arm. “Not with that back of yours.”

They hopped in the car and headed for the exit toward Freeway 5.

They both started talking at the same time. “I guess we both have lots of questions,” Sami said. “You go first.”

“How’s your mom?”

“Coming along, stubborn as a mule. Fortunately, Emily seems to have more persuasive powers than I do.”

“Everything okay with Emily living there?”

“I hope she never leaves. She’s my savior.”

Al coughed into his hand. It seemed as though he were choosing his words carefully. “Any progress with the investigation?”

“Lots of cold trails. But we do have what I hope is an accurate composite sketch.”

“From an eye witness?”

“From the salesperson at Saks who sold the perp the cocktail dress we found Genevieve Foster wearing.”

“Robin Wescott, the gal I interviewed?”

“That’s the one.”

“But she told me she couldn’t help us with a sketch.”

“Apparently, the fog lifted.”

“I guess I should have pushed a little harder.”

“Maybe you were a little distracted.”

Al felt strongly that this was not the time or place for this conversation to take place. But Sami opened the door, so he had no choice but to tell her what he’d been struggling with. Waiting would only make it more agonizing. He reached over and laid his hand on top of her thigh. “You know that I love you, right, Sami?”

“I already don’t like the direction of this conversation.”

“Answer my question, please.”

“Up until this minute, yes, Al, I believed you loved me. But I have this eerie feeling you’re about to drop a bomb.”

“No, Sami, love has never been the problem. I was in love with you before you even knew I existed. Remember your first day with homicide, when Captain Davidson introduced us? I took one look at you and I knew you were the one. I’ve never felt anything like that in my life. It’s corny and sounds so Hollywood, but for me it was love at first sight.

“Then the more I got to know you, the more I learned about what made you tick, the greater my love. I guess I fell in ‘like’ with you too.”