Tracie Peterson (26 page)

“Oh, Harry,” she managed to say before breaking into tears anew.

Much to her surprise, he chuckled and stood up, pulling her into his arms. For several minutes all he did was hold her and stroke her hair, and when he spoke, it wasn’t of his love, but of Brianna.

“We’ll arrange for you to take a week off, and then I’ll drive you to Hays. I’ll take care of everything and then we can both see Brianna. I love her, too, you know.”

“Yes,” she managed between sobs, “I know you do.”

He lifted her face to his and pressed his lips against her
tear-stained cheek before gently kissing her on the lips. “And I love you,” he whispered against her mouth.

Cara had always expected their first kiss to come in a more romantic setting. She’d dreamed of it and wanted it, just as Harry had suspected. She knew he was waiting for her to admit her feelings. He wanted to hear her tell him that she loved him, too, but could she say the words? Her heart was in turmoil, and it seemed an unlikely setting for sorting through the mess. She had to be sure of this. Because of Brianna and her own convictions about love and marriage, Cara knew that there could be no doubts in a commitment to Harry.

He was looking down at her with those wonderfully intense blue eyes when Cara opened her mouth to speak. Just then the telephone began ringing and Cara straightened her shoulders.

“Saved by the bell, eh?” Harry grinned. “Don’t think I won’t expect an answer after you take that call.”

Cara dried her eyes and smiled for the first time that day. “I don’t remember there being a question.” She reached for the telephone, but Harry’s large hand covered hers and kept her from lifting the receiver.

“I’ll refresh your memory after you answer the phone.”

Cara trembled slightly and picked up the call. “Hello?”

“Cara, it’s Bob.”

She felt the color drain from her face. “What is it, Bob?”

Harry pulled out her chair and motioned her to sit.

“In light of the recent events,” Bob began, sounding much like a press release, “I’m bringing you back to Topeka. I believe in the long run it will provide for a more secure administration.”

“I see. How soon?” Cara saw Harry’s puzzled expression but didn’t want to give away his presence to Kerns.

“Immediately. Leave the staff to close out the office and head back today.”

“I can’t,” Cara told him. “I’m taking a week off. I need the space and the time. I’m going to see my daughter, and I won’t take no for an answer.”

“I see.” Bob sounded surprised but did nothing to refuse her. “When will you be back in the office?”

“Well, this is Thursday, so I guess a week from Monday should allow me enough time to clear my head.” Harry was nodding approvingly.

“You’ll still need to have security with you. There have been some additional threats up here, and . . .”

“What kind of additional threats?” Cara questioned, eyeing Harry to see if he knew about them. When he shrugged and shook his head, she felt better. At least he wasn’t trying to keep anything from her.

“I’ll fill you in on it when you get back to Topeka. In the meantime, tell your Lieutenant Oberlin to give my office a call. I’ll have him completely apprised of the circumstances so that he can better deal with your security.”

“I’ll tell him,” Cara replied.

“I guess, then, I’ll see you a week from Monday. Do I have a number where I can reach you?”

“Probably,” Cara said, feeling rather snide, “but don’t use it.” She hung up the phone a little harder than she’d intended and turned to Harry. “You’re supposed to call the governor’s office for details on developing problems.”

“Will do,” answered Harry with a mock salute. “Now, about our unfinished business . . .”

****

Bob Kerns listened for a moment to silence on the other end of the receiver before hanging up the telephone. His call to Cara had been less than satisfying. He felt as though the world had suddenly turned upside down, and now the inmates were running the asylum.

More disturbed by Russell’s death than he liked to admit, Kerns hadn’t known a decent night’s sleep since the shooting. Every time he stepped out of his office he was surrounded by no fewer than six armed men. This was supposed to discourage any further attempts on his life, but it didn’t stop the
threat of those attempts. Daily hate mail revealed a variety of methods in which people hoped to rid the state of his presence. Most came anonymously, but surprisingly, a few came signed. Of course, those didn’t usually bear any real or intended threat, but spoke with the same hatred and malice that was evident in the other letters.

Kerns was scared, and for the first time in his life he knew what it was to feel hunted.

“I’ve arranged for Russell’s office to be inventoried and packed,” Serena Perez announced, bringing a cup of black coffee to Bob. “I’ve also sent press releases regarding the funeral and closing of state offices on Friday.”

“Thanks,” Kerns replied, taking the cup. He was grateful for the shapely brunette’s ingenuity and organization.

“Is there anything I can take over in Russ’s absence?” Serena questioned softly.

Kerns looked up, taking in her stylish silk dress. She looked stunning as usual, but her trademark flirtatiousness was gone. There was nothing but true concern in her voice this time, and for some reason Kerns found it comforting.

“I’m going to have to replace Russell, but I just don’t trust that many people.”

“What if I were to take over his duties until a replacement can be found?”

Kerns took a drink and shot a grateful look at Serena as he tasted the liberal amount of brandy she’d added to the coffee. “Do you think you want that kind of headache?”

“I’ve had worse jobs. Handling people is my specialty.”

Kerns nodded. “Okay, the job is yours.”

“Just like that?” Serena sounded surprised.

“Why not? You’ve been faithful and beautiful and everything . . .” Kerns paused, putting down the cup and getting to his feet. “Well, almost everything a man could want.”

Serena smiled and fairly purred a reply, “I try to please.”

Kerns stood directly in front of her. “Not hard enough,” he said suggestively.

Serena pouted. “Poor Bob, as if you didn’t have your hands full enough.” She smiled and put her arms around his neck. “I suppose, just this once, we could seal the deal with a kiss.”

Kerns couldn’t believe his good fortune. Wasting no time, he pulled her roughly against him and kissed her hard.

“Daddy!” Danielle Kerns exclaimed from the door.

Bob looked up at the sound of his daughter’s voice. Beside her, his wife stared daggers at him. Danielle put an arm around her mother in a defensive response to the scene, while Serena discretely moved away from Bob.

“How could you do this, Dad?”

“Yes, Bob, tell our daughter how it is that you could do such a thing. And while you’re at it, explain all the other times to her, as well.”

“I don’t owe any explanations. Now, please tell me why you’re interrupting my day.” He refused to be intimidated by the women in his life, even though he’d faced it from all corners on this particular day.

Debra stared at Serena until the brunette offered a smile and walked from the room. “At least your taste in bimbos has improved. This one wears designer clothes.”

“Isn’t it a little late in the day for you to be sober?” Bob questioned sarcastically. “Tell me why you’ve come here and then get out.”

“I want to know what gives you the right to go behind my back and make arrangements to put me in Menninger’s.”

“If you’d stay dry long enough, you’d have learned that this is old business, Debra. I’m not sure how you found out about it, but I’m serious about the conclusion. You will go into rehab for your drinking problem.”

“Never!” Debra railed and lunged at her husband.

****

After a quick trip home to Lawrence, where Melissa deposited the coroner’s papers, she was back in Topeka for some answers. Outside the open door of the governor’s office,
Melissa Jordon heard and saw the showdown between Kerns and his wife. She’d come to the Capitol in hopes of securing a brief visit with Bob Kerns regarding Teri, but this was proving to be even better. Whipping out a notebook, she began to shorthand the entire affair.

“I don’t think it would be wise to make the governor and first lady front-page news because of this,” Serena said from behind Melissa.

“Everything they do holds potential for being front-page news.”

“But this is a private family matter. Surely you don’t want to tear them any further apart by speculation and false rumors.”

Melissa shook her head. “These are hardly false rumors. This is a firsthand account of the situation. No grapevine or ‘He said-she said’ from the staff.” Her hands fairly flew to keep up with the scene.

“Mom, please,” Danielle was begging her mother, “let’s just go.” Debra turned and without warning slapped Danielle hard across the face.

Everything stopped.

Kerns froze in place, as did Serena and Melissa. Even Danielle did nothing more than put a hand to her cheek. The shocked expression on her face mirrored everyone’s feelings.

It was at this point that Melissa made eye contact with Kerns. He was very angry, and seeing her only seemed to expand his rage. He went quickly to his desk and pressed a button. Immediately the side door opened and three armed security guards entered the room.

“Take Mrs. Kerns into protective custody. We’ll be escorting her to Menninger’s very shortly.”

Debra threw her purse at Kerns, hitting him in the middle of his chest. Danielle did nothing, still stunned by her mother’s reaction.

Melissa noted it all and knew it was clearly the story of the year. As Debra began to scuffle and fight with the guards, Kerns called to Serena to bring in more help.

Never once did Melissa fear for her own safety. She was a newspaper reporter, after all. She’d been in worse situations than this.
What I wouldn’t give for a camera,
she thought.

As the security guards pulled Debra out the side door, Danielle followed in silence while Kerns spoke in low tones to an awaiting bodyguard. The man looked up, saw Melissa, and nodded. Suddenly Melissa felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand straight up. It was the kind of feeling she got whenever she was in real trouble.

Sensing she’d worn out her welcome, Melissa eased away from the inner office and backed toward the outer-office door.

“You aren’t going anywhere, Mrs. Jordon,” Kerns announced, walking very slowly into the outer office.

By this time Melissa had backed into the solid wall of security guards and knew a feeling of desperation as one of the guards took hold of her.

Kerns walked toward her with deliberate slowness. “You and I are going to have a little talk,” he said, lifting an auburn curl from her collar. “A very important talk.”

Thirty-Seven

Going to Hays had been the very best thing Cara could have done. Seeing Brianna and taking her into her open arms, Cara felt whole again. Harry stood several feet away, but Brianna instantly saw him and ran to offer him the same greeting.

“Harry!” She dove into his arms and squealed as he lifted her in the air.

Cara watched the display, thinking of the three different times Harry had tried to bring up the idea of marriage on the drive up from Wichita. Brianna would be pleased if she agreed to marry Harry. Her mom and dad were beaming smiles from the porch, and Cara could well imagine that with Harry accompanying her, they’d instantly assume an announcement might be forthcoming.

“Mom! Dad!” Cara exclaimed with a wave. She hoped they wouldn’t be too brazen about Harry’s appearance. She would, of course, explain the need for security and ease out of speculation that way. At least that was the plan.

“I see you’ve brought Brianna’s favorite highway patrolman,” her father said, coming down the walk to embrace Cara. “My guess is,” he said when he was close enough to whisper, “he’s more than just Brianna’s favorite.”

“Harry is my full-time bodyguard,” Cara explained.

“I’ll bet he hates that job.” Her father’s laughing face was enough to cause her to blush.

“Harry’s going to stay with us, Grandpa. Isn’t that great!” Brianna exclaimed, bringing Harry along with her as if he were on a leash.

“I’ll say. How do we rate such a treat?” Gus questioned, rubbing Brianna’s head lovingly.

“He’s got to guard Mama. There’s been a lot of trouble, you know.”

She spoke very authoritatively, and Cara thought her daughter had aged at least five years in the last three weeks. Talking every night on the phone was definitely not enough exposure to her rapidly changing child.

Considering how she might rectify the situation, Cara missed much of the exchange between her parents and Harry. She heard her mother offer Harry the guest bedroom and suggest that Cara and Brianna sleep together in Cara’s old room.

“You’ll just be down at the end of the hall,” Brianna told Harry very seriously. “Will that be close enough to guard us? I don’t think anybody could sneak into the house so fast that you couldn’t just run down the hall. But they could throw a bomb,” Brianna said, seeming to consider all of the possibilities. “If the room down the hall isn’t close enough, you could—”

“I’m not having him sleep on the floor at the foot of the bed, if that’s what you were going to suggest,” Cara interjected. She hated that the situation seemed so matter-of-fact to Brianna. When did her young daughter take terroristic acts as commonplace occurrences in their lives?

Harry smiled at her over Brianna’s head. No doubt he thought the issue could be quite easily resolved with a trip to the nearest parson. “The guest room sounds like it will work out just fine,” Harry assured Brianna.

“You two must be just about famished.”

Cara was grateful for her mother’s interruption. “We are,” she answered and made her way to give her mother a hug. “What’s for supper?”

****

Later that night, Cara slipped into bed with Brianna and pulled the sleeping child close. The smell of freshly washed hair and bubble bath reassured Cara that Brianna was really there. Suddenly the world seemed less crazy.