“Everything in place?” Graham looked around, making sure the undercover cops were where they were supposed to be.
“Yeah, unfortunately, I couldn’t talk Dorothea into not attending, no matter how many times I told her this was a fake wedding, she said she wasn’t missing out. Calib graciously gave us use of his hotel even though I warned him it might get damaged. He didn’t care.” Guy shrugged.
“Do you really think Geoff will show up?”
“He seems to want Tarin badly. I don’t get it. Since she’s been getting threatening texts from that guy she married it wasn’t hard to convince Walters to check into it. He called a buddy in Calgary to lean on Stephen and he gave up Geoff really fast. Not that he knows much about him, just that a man paid him well to keep her inline, keep track of her, keep her from contacting her father. Anyway, he told Geoff that Tarin and her son would be here for your wedding. Listening to the audio, they confirmed that it was definitely Geoff’s voice.”
“Are we sure he won’t try anything?”
“He wants the boy. So I’m quite sure he’ll be careful so he doesn’t get hurt.”
“Do we have enough men?”
“We kept it small as we didn’t want it to leak. Everyone who’s here is either undercover or has been trained. This is crazy but we had to call him out. We have to get him to show his face.”
“I agree. I don’t like that we’ve had to include the others.”
“Me either but there’s no other way to get close to him. We have to use Tarin as bait. Don’t worry; we’ll keep her safe.”
Graham didn’t respond but looked around at what they’d set up. He sure hoped this worked. “You know Dorothea is still going to insist you have the big ceremony at her mansion?”
“I know and if things work out well, Bailey and I will be married today. And then we’ll get remarried on the day we were supposed to. It’ll be a good day regardless because we’ll catch Geoff.”
“We have to stop him; he’s abused enough people. This plan is our best chance at catching him. He must be livid that you, Bailey and Dorothea are still alive. I’m sure he’ll want to handle this himself.”
“Let’s hope so.”
“And let’s hope we’re prepared.”
~~~~
At seven, Graham knocked on the door. Her cell phone buzzed at the same time but she ignored it as she rushed to open the door. Fluffing her hair with a last flick of her hand, to volumize the messy, sassy style she’d chosen, she opened the adjoining door. Her mouth dropped open when she saw Graham in a tux. It hugged his broad shoulders, following the lines of his long, lean body. She almost felt the need to fan herself. She grew warmer still as she felt his gaze travel the long length of her sleek gown, right down to where the slit in the side left her right leg bare.
Chance ran past her, which jerked her back to the present. He launched himself at Graham, who caught him and swung him high. He giggled.
“All right. I think we need to get going or we’ll be late.”
He led them out of the room and took the elevator up to the twenty-first floor.
They heard soft, romantic music emanating from Room 2121 even before they reached it. The door was opened ceremoniously by a man in a tux and white gloves. The room was awash in flowers—roses, lilies, daisies, carnations. The scents were amazing. Several rows of chairs were arranged. Two men sat on the left, causing Tarin to wonder if they were Guy’s brothers or friends. Two other men were standing at the back by the refreshment table.
Dorothea, who looked like nothing would stop her from attending, was sitting in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank, its hose wrapped around her head, the tubes up her nostrils and an IV in her arm. She was very pale. A young, nicely dressed lady sat on her left, attentively checking on her and the equipment.
“Okay, stop fussing. I’m fine. The worst that will happen is I’ll die right here,” Dorothea’s voice was quiet but carried very well in the small banquet room.
Tarin gave the young woman, who’d turned red but was smart enough not to reply, a reassuring smile. She returned it before facing forward again, slyly still ensuring that everything was working fine.
Her grandfather, who was sitting on Dorothea’s right, turned and upon seeing them, gestured for them to join him. Before she made her way to him, she scanned the rest of the room. Bill was seated in the back as close to the door as possible. He sat so stiffly, his feet flat on the floor, his back so ramrod straight that it didn’t even touch the chair. He wore new khaki shirt and pants. She smiled at him and Chance waved and grinned at him as she walked to the front. Bill gave her a slight nod as she passed. She sat and her grandfather grasped her hand in a reassuring squeeze. She held onto it. A few minutes later Guy, who was decked out in a white tux, walked in with the minister.
“That’s my cue.” Graham who had followed her and paused by her chair, touched her shoulder before taking his place beside Guy at the front of the room. A few minutes later, the doors opened again for Bailey, decked out in a classy Valencienne bridal gown, to enter.
As Tarin watched the beautiful ceremony, she saw them gaze at each other with love and trust. She tried to recall her own wedding and realized she didn’t remember much about it. The whole thing was a blur. It was as though she had been in a fog. As she tried to concentrate, bits and pieces started to come back to her. There was no way she had looked at Stephen the way Bailey looked at Guy nor had he looked back at her with that much loving emotion. Stephen had been too busy rushing the justice of the peace. At the time, she’d thought it was endearing. Little had she known, she’d just become his prize possession.
He’d whisked her out of City Hall and taken her back to a hotel room. He’d wanted to make love right away but she hadn’t been able to. He’d been angry. He’d ordered a bottle of wine and she’d downed most of it. They’d made love—or rather they had sex; not that she remembered much about it in her inebriated state. But there was something else. Something she wasn’t quite able to recall. It was playing at the back of her mind. Stephen had said something to her. She pressed her hands to her face and her fingers into her eyes as she tried to recall what it had been.
It’s too bad you’re pregnant...
She sat upright so fast, she almost dumped Chance onto the floor. He squealed, thinking it was a great game. She looked horrified as she gave him a toy to quiet him down as everyone was now staring at them. He’d known. Stephen had known she was expecting but she hadn’t told him until a couple of months after they were married. In fact, she hadn’t been sure herself.
The drone of the service was there but she never heard a thing.
He’d known. Had he been in on it?
Her mind immediately conjured up the hell she’d gone through. A whole week of her life had vanished with only tidbits of memory—voices, whisper of air over her skin, trying to move, feeling odd sensations, her mind knowing something was wrong, her thoughts screaming at her to run, praying it was all a dream, a nightmare and being so scared she wouldn’t come out of it alive.
Who’s sick enough to do that? Could Stephen really have been part of it?
The only thing she knew was that she had to get out of there and soon.
You may kiss the bride pulled Tarin back to the present and to the realization of what she had to do. She glanced around to see if anyone had noticed her mental absence. Thankfully, people were already rising to congratulate the happy couple. Graham had taken Chance and was now busy bouncing him on his knee. He was giggling so much she couldn’t help but smile.
“Congratulations, you guys. It was beautiful.” Tarin kissed Bailey and then Guy on the cheek.
“And will be repeated as soon as we can have it at the estate with all the guests,” Dorothea said very firmly. No one would have guessed the woman had just had a heart attack.
Guy rolled his eyes but laughed when Bailey mock-punched him. Guy, Graham and Bailey soon were standing in a huddle in the corner of the room. Whatever they were talking about had them baffled.
“Where is he?”
“I thought for sure he’d show up.”
That was all that she managed to hear without knowing who they were referring to. Her new cell phone dinged, which surprised her as she had meant to leave it in her room.
‘Come to your room. Bring the boy. Now. Or I’ll make sure you and your new friends don’t live to see your child grow up. Do anything to alert them and you’re dead.’
Her fingers curled around her phone. How the hell had he gotten her number? Trying to act casual, she looked around. The champagne had been opened and Graham was handing her a glass. Reluctantly, she accepted it. She waited patiently while a few toasts were given. She tried to stand still but couldn’t; she shifted from foot to foot. She glanced at her watch. She gulped her drink like it was water.
“What’s going on?”
Startled, she looked up. Graham was staring at her intently.
“I don’t do well at weddings.” She gave a half-hearted smile. “Actually these new shoes are pinching my feet. Do you mind watching Chance for a bit? I just want to run down to the room for a minute.”
“No. If you’re going, so am I.”
“Really, I’m fine. Okay. I’ll just go to the bathroom down the hall. I’ll be right back. Keep Chance safe.” She kissed Chance on the cheek, and he gave her a big zerbert in return before snuggling into Graham’s arms as he watched her leave. Closing the door behind her, she leaned against it for a moment, wondering when her nightmare was going to end. The soft sounds from the wedding reminded her she now had a lot to lose. It was no longer only about her and Chance.
After slipping into the bathroom, a flashing light signified she’d received an email. Stephen must have grown tired of her nonresponse. Even though it was from him, she felt compelled to open it.
‘It’s time to end this game, Tarin. I know where you are but so does he.’
Her body involuntarily shuddered. She’d been getting a pretty clear picture of who might be behind her missing week but she still didn’t understand it. She had to get out of there. Tucking her cell into her bra, she opened the door and peeked down the back hallway. Sending one of the men to find her personal supplies seemed to have worked. She made sure it was clear before making her way to the stairwell. Slipping through the door, she made her way down a few flights before taking the elevator. She made her way to her room.
She opened the door and when she didn’t see anyone, she made her way to the closet. Someone cleared their throat. She froze as though whoever was sitting in the chair behind her wouldn’t be able to see her.
“At last we meet, Tarin. Officially, I mean.”
She turned slowly. The heavy curtains had been closed, casting the room in darkness. But his gray sideburns stood out in the darkness beneath a fedora and he was dressed in a suit. His hands were resting in his lap and he was casually aiming a gun at her.
Her eyes widened. “Who are you?” But she knew. It had been his picture she’d seen when she’d fainted.
“Oh my dear, I’m hurt that you wouldn’t know.” He shook his head as though he was talking to a child that had disappointed him.
“Why me?”
“Why not you?” He smiled without warmth. “Let me see. Your father is rather ruthless in his business dealings, but certainly you don’t think he’s created all that success on his own, do you? Your father is slick, he took a lot from me in a deal, so it seemed quite logical to choose you.”
Tarin glared as she let that sink in. She had her father to thank. Again.
“I feel now that I’ve got my heir, we’re almost even. I still have a surprise or two but nothing you need to worry about.”
“Your heir?”
“Why, of course my dear. Chance is my answer to the future. With him, I’ll take back everything.”
“You. You’re his father.”
“Yes.”
She struggled to control the anger coursing through her so she could think logically. “But he’s two.”
“Yes. And it’s time I started grooming him. You’ve done a decent enough job, although I do question some of your decisions. Stephen was trying to look out for you, keep you safe.”
“You were paying him?”
“That wouldn’t be right, would it? But then, when have I ever done what’s right? Let’s say he was my insurance for the future. Obviously, I chose poorly in that area. So I guess we both picked the wrong man.”
Tarin wanted to punch him until he bled but knew if she was going to get out of this alive, she had to keep a level head.
“Do you mind if I sit? My shoes are killing me.” She edged to the side of the bed, well aware of the gun pointed at her heart. Gingerly she sat and eased her feet part way out of her shoes. While she was making a big production of that, she reached into her bra where she’d tucked her cell phone and pressed the button on the side to record hoping the audio would be decent. “Oooohhh, thank you.”
“You do look lovely. That was also one reason why I chose you. I mean, I could have had my pick of women, just as your father did.”
“How do you know so much about me?”
“Didn’t I mention your father and I go way back? I found the woman who became your mother. Well, I guess I should say gave birth to you. She really didn’t stick around after she got paid. And of course you were instrumental to me in conceiving my son.”
She couldn’t even go there, it made her so nauseous. “You sent me an email saying you knew my mother. I suppose you put Stephen up to it as well?”
“I needed to get your attention and I needed to find you. You did very well at hiding yourself. Congratulations on that. I do admire someone who thinks outside the box.”
Tarin didn’t know how to respond. He was chatting with her like they were talking about the weather.
He stood. “It’s time I handled this situation. The idiots I’ve had to hire have almost set back all my life plans. But no more, I’ll make sure things are done right. Get up.”
She was so riveted by his demented plan, she couldn’t move. With more force than she’d have expected from someone his age, he grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet. She stumbled over her shoes, falling to her knees. When she realized it had pulled him off balance, she dropped flat onto the floor and quickly rolled away from him before coming to her feet and racing to the door. Her fingers scraped over the doorknob as an ear-piercing bang sounded simultaneously to something whizzing past her ear. She flattened herself against the wall.
“Damn you. You’ll pay for that. Where’s my son?”
She shuddered hating the reference. “He’s at my friend Bobbie’s. I’m sure with all you know about me, you know about her. We have to go to her house.” She stepped forward and brushed her hands down the silk dress now horribly wrinkled. If she acted normal, maybe she had a chance. If there was one thing she’d make sure of, it was that he’d never get near her son.
Since he didn’t say anything and wasn’t doing anything to stop her, she opened the door; only when she’d have turned left, he jammed the gun into her ribs.
“Good try. We’re going in the opposite direction. I’m sure the wedding party has to be wondering where you are. And I’m sure Chance, it is Chance? Not sure I like the name you chose for my boy but then again, I can always change it. Anyway, I’m sure he’s waiting for you with the others. Besides, I haven’t seen all of those invited for a long time. I really can’t believe they didn’t invite me. Rather rude not to have family there, isn’t it? And it’s probably driving them a little crazy that I didn’t crash their party like they were expecting.”
The whole time he was talking he was prodding her to walk to the service elevators. He shoved her inside. “The twenty-first floor. You know this worked out so much better than I’d planned. I was just in your room, checking to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. I really don’t like surprises. And besides, I had really just planned on taking my son, well, not before I made sure the others got what they deserved, of course.”
“You’ll never get my child, at least not while I’m alive.”
“Don’t make any promises I can keep. ”
“You. It was you who had someone shoot the arrow at me.”
“Actually, it was supposed to kill the woman you met with. You were getting a little too close. And I couldn’t have you learning all my secrets and then going to the police, could I?” He smiled at her.
Her world came crashing in on her as she saw what insanity really looked like.