Sins of the Father (32 page)

“So 39 years ago, while married to my
maternal grandmother, he aids my mother in abducting me from
Darkwater Bay. Some years later, when my grandmother died, he
relocates to the west coast, hooks up with Sanderfield’s mother –
who must’ve not been super young at the time – and marries her. She
dies, and he remains an ally of the senator.”

“That pretty much sums it up. Although, I
found it interesting that in both of Lyle’s marriages he
hooked
up
, as you say, with women who were older than him by ten years
at least.”

“Really?”

“He helped raise your mother, Helen. Suzy’s
husband abandoned her before Marie was born. Enter a 20 year old
Lyle who married a 31 year old Suzy, and it was an instant
family.”

“Marie was two years younger than Dad. So
that makes Lyle –”

“Eighty-two, alive and well by all accounts.
He’s living in some swanky senior retirement facility out on
Hennessey Island.”

“You’re kidding!”

“He’s known all along that you were out
here, Helen.”

“And Sherman was so excited when I showed up
in town. Sort of begs the question, doesn’t it? Was he excited
because Lyle was?”

“We haven’t been able to link Sherman to
Henderson. But we know very well that Sherman supported
Sanderfield. One degree of separation.”

I ground my teeth together tightly.

“We’re not going to confront Lyle Henderson,
Helen. At least not until we’ve got enough against him to press
charges.”

“
We
can’t press charges anymore. This
is why I’m telling you, you will never be satisfied with the
private sector, Johnny.”

“We, David, whatever,” he muttered.

“This thing really hurt you, didn’t it?”

“Part of me didn’t expect it to last. The
other part of me hates that it’s over so soon.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know if I said that the
other night.” I caressed his face. “It gets better. You’ll move
past this and find something to fill the void. I doubt it’ll be the
security business or investigating anything from that role.”

“Was it hard for you, suddenly without the
power behind a federal badge, to be part of some small town police
division?”

I grinned. “Since when did I ever let who
issued the badge slow me down or put a damper on what I wanted to
learn?”

Johnny pressed his lips against my neck.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have time for me to get another badge. We
need to keep pushing forward with the investigation now while the
leads are hot.”

“And we’ve got David and the full power of
the FBI to do that. It’s not the same though, is it?”

“No,” Johnny said. The remorse in his voice
broke my heart.

“Have you talked to Don Weber? When Charlie
was here a few weeks ago he said that Central Division –”

“I can’t go back there, Helen. I just can’t.
I didn’t have to answer to anybody except Joe before. OSI was able
to focus on things of urgent importance. How could I ever go back
to muggings and domestic disturbances and –”

“I get your point. It’s not realistic to
look back. What Joe did is over. It’s in the past now. Today, we
have to figure out how to work within the new boundaries we have.
Could we dash off to Montgomery and be with David every step of the
way? I’m sure he wouldn’t object at all.”

“But Sanderfield would.”

“Yes,” I said softly. “The best thing we can
do right now is what you’ve been doing all along. Dig for leads.
Quietly pass them on to David. Let the broad shoulders of the
federal government carry the burden of this investigation.”

“This could’ve been completely different if
Joe had just listened to reason.”

“Let me be the one stomping around angry at
that fool. Focus on helping David. In the end, it helps me too. It
erases the most immediate threat to our children, Johnny.”

“You think they’d take you now, pregnant?
People know, Helen. We’ve been all over town with this little bump
sticking out.”

“Well, Gillette seemed to think it increased
my value somehow.”

Johnny gritted his teeth. “The bastard.”

“Hmm, I think I said something similar.”

“No wonder you didn’t mind the ankle
monitor.”

“Look at it this way. Joe did me a
favor.”

“Did he?” Johnny frowned. “Explain that one
to me, because I don’t understand how hurting me helped you.”

“I’d like to hire someone,” I said. “From
your security company. A bodyguard.”

Johnny’s eyes twinkled. “Oh? Anyone in
particular? And you’d better not say Devlin Mackenzie.”

I grinned. “Somebody has very loose lips.” I
leaned in and kissed him softly. “For the record, no. I had someone
else in mind altogether. Tall, blond, sexy. Muscles out to
here.”

Johnny nibbled at my mouth. “Crevan isn’t
blond.”

“Eww. He’s also not sexy. At least not to
me. Did you forget for a second that you’re talking about my
brother?”

His hand cupped the back of my head and
anchored it. “Shut up and kiss me, Helen.”

“Would you object if we moved someplace more
comfortable?”

“Where?” he nibbled.

“Our bedroom.”

“Are you sure about that? There’s no reason
to rush, Helen. If you’re not ready, it’s all right.”

“Will you let me wear the wedding ring
again?”

“Yes. Of course, but I don’t want you to
feel like you have to, Helen. I know how you felt about it.”

I cocked my head to one side. “I give my
vows back, Johnny. Do you do the same thing? Because if we still
love each other, and I think we do, then why is it hasty to behave
like we’re married in every way?”

One arm slid under my knees. Johnny rose and
carried me out of the office.

“Are we back to this again? I am capable of
walking,” I chuckled.

“And I intend to carry you as often as
possible for as long as I can. Don’t think I’ll be able to do this
when you’re nine months pregnant.”

I moaned and buried my face against his
shoulder. “Will you still love me when I’m fat and waddling
around?”

“It’s simply more to love.”

He eased me down onto the bed. “I’ve been
waiting for this for so long, Helen.” Johnny’s shirt hit the floor.
He popped the button on his jeans.

I licked my lips.

The phone rang.

“Ignore it,” Johnny said.

“We can’t. It could be David,” I said.
“It’ll only take a minute. Answer the phone.”

He grabbed it and snarled, “What do you
want?”

His face flushed. “Oh, sorry. I thought it
was someone else calling. She’s right here.” Johnny pressed the
phone to his chest and mouthed two words.
Celeste
Datello.

“Hello?”

“Helen?”

“Yes.”

“Is everything all right? Your husband
sounded…”

“It’s been a stressful couple of days.”

“Please tell him how sorry everyone is about
what Governor Collangelo did on Wednesday.”

“Is that why you called?” Johnny shimmied
out of his jeans while I talked. Heat began pumping through my
veins.

“No, actually. I wanted to invite you to a
luncheon tomorrow. I know it’s short notice, but considering the
cause –”

“A cause. As in a charitable cause?”

“Yes, we’re raising money for the Darkwater
Bay Children’s Fund, and I just thought that since you were so
dedicated to protecting little Sofia Helene, you might be
interested in helping to protect other children in Darkwater
Bay.”

Eloquently stated. “I’m honored that you
thought of me, Celeste. Tell me when and where and I’ll show up
with my checkbook.”

Johnny smiled when I hung up the phone. A
couple of hours later, I finally got around to explaining the phone
call.

Chapter 30

I stomped one foot, unaware of the eyes
watching from the dressing room door. “This doesn’t fit me right!”
I tugged at the hem of the jacket and stamped both feet.

“Unbutton it. Show that belly proudly, I
say.”

My hand flew over my chest. “Am I going to
have to put cat bells on you so you stop sneaking up and scaring me
half to death?”

Johnny strode into the large room and placed
his hands on my shoulders. Our eyes met in the mirror. “Why are you
so nervous about this thing? It’s just a bunch of rich women
getting together to… I don’t know, eat cucumber sandwiches or
something and try to out do each other with their check books.”

“Is that what you think I’m doing?”

“You? Definitely not. I know there will be
at least two women in attendance with their hearts in the right
place.”

“Three,” I said. “Celeste’s mother is on the
board of directors for the charity.
She
really cares about
the children in this city too.”

He kissed the side of my head. “Then I stand
corrected. Now, let’s see how the jacket looks
open
instead
of buttoned.”

“Worse,” I groaned. “I could barely get the
pants zipped.”

Johnny chuckled. “What about the eight bags
of clothing you brought home the other day? Surely there’s
something in there that’ll work for this little event.”

“Those are all very casual, Johnny. Too
casual for something like this. I can’t show up looking like I’m
ready to dash out and chase the bad guys.”

“I always found that look rather sexy.”

“Well I’m having lunch with a bunch of
stuffy old women who aren’t looking for sexy from their donors.” I
swatted his hand away from my waist. “If you’re not going to help,
just go.”

“Fine, I’ll help. Surely there must be
something in this overstuffed monstrosity you call a closet that
will work.” He spun around the room until he spotted something I
hadn’t seen or even considered wearing for almost a year. He made a
beeline for it.

“Johnny –”

“I’ve always wanted to see you in green. And
this…” he pulled the deep green suit off the rack, “looks perfect.
Mmm-hmm. Low hip slacks, longer jacket, the world will see my
beautiful wife pregnant with my very handsome sons and not look
like she poured herself into her clothing for some
hoity-toity-tea.”

“I hate green.”

“‘Cause it makes your eyes leap out like a
cat’s?”

“I can’t possibly wear that this time of
year.”

“It’s springtime. Don’t be ridiculous, and
stop wearing black all the time. Let a little bit of that sunshine
you painted all over the nursery out, sweetheart. C’mon now. Give
it a whirl.”

I muttered under my breath about my sincere
hope that he misjudged the suit – one of two I purchased before I
left Washington last June that wasn’t destroyed when Jerry Lowe’s
corrupt detectives blew up my car – and peeled off the old. I
wadded the pants and threw them at Johnny’s head.

He laughed. “Does that mean we’re throwing
these away, or would you prefer that I hang them up for you?”

I shoved one leg into the pants and mimicked
his question in a high-pitched sneer. Damn him anyway. They fit. A
little baggy in the legs and butt even, since I haven’t approached
my normal weight again yet.

Yet. Ha. I should’ve resisted the weight
gain from the get go. I could’ve reasonably pulled of a subtle
weight gain if I had.

“Mmm,” Johnny purred. “I was right. Now slip
into the jacket, no, no, leave it unbuttoned.” He curled one hand
around his chin and surveyed the damage. “I don’t know.”

“See? I look horrible in green.”

“I think we should take it off again and let
me play with you for about an hour and then–”

“Shut up,” I swatted playfully.

“You look beautiful. If we don’t leave soon,
you’re going to be late, and I know how much you hate making grand
entrances.”

“Speaking of which, I’ll probably be the
first one there while they all compete for the latest and grandest
entry. Remind me why I agreed to do this.”

“Because you care about the children in this
city. And you want to see Celeste again,
and
the baby, and
because it’ll be good for you to do something positive for kids
instead of remembering all the monsters that weren’t caught soon
enough.”

I turned slowly in his arms. “You’re a very
wise husband, Johnny Orion.”

“And you are a very magnificent wife. On
that note, I think I’ll tell you why I came sneaking up behind you
a few minutes ago.”

“Oh, then you admit that you enjoy scaring
the crap out of me?”

“It would seem that we got so carried away
yesterday, and last night… and during the night, and, well, I don’t
have to remind you,” he nibbled my neck. “You started it after
all.”

“Yes, what about it?”

“Well, in all the excitement, I forgot to
keep my end of our reconciliation.”

“You did? I seem to recall that you were
adequately conciliatory.”

He swatted my backside lightly.

“Johnny, tick tock. Don’t have all day.”

“Your ring,” he said. “I forgot all about
it. Would you like it back now or later?”

“Definitely now.”

He slipped the gold band on my ring finger
and kissed my hand. “All better now?”

“Better than before. Are you sure you won’t
come to this thing with me? You can’t possibly be the only guy to
show up.”

“Oh no you don’t. You’re not dragging me
in
to that luncheon, Doc. You already weaseled an agreement
out of me to take you, to wait for you there. I’ll be in the bar,
having a man’s lunch, not a peanut and a quarter of a cucumber
sandwich, thank you very much.”

“I’m gonna starve.”

“You’ll nibble with all the other ladies,
and when you’ve made your donation, I’ll take you anywhere you’d
like for real food.”

“Onion rings. With lots of honey mustard.
Oh, and some of those foot long hotdogs smothered in chili and
–”

“Perhaps I agreed to move back into the
bedroom a day or two early,” he grinned.