Shiloh arrived at the China Palace several minutes before the appointed time. While his head told him Tina would show, he was on pins and needles, wanting to get the answers that might lead him to Renee. A sense of urgency filled him. Glancing down the street, he spotted Tina heading in his direction. When she got closer, he waved, watching her grin when she spotted him. She really was a pretty gal, and at a different time in his life, he’d probably have done a little flirting, maybe gotten a kiss of two. But right now, he wasn’t interested.
“Sorry, things were a little crazy at the shop. Hope I’m not too late.”
“You’re right on time.”
He pulled open the door and the fragrance of authentic Chinese food hit him, and his stomach growled in appreciation. Inside, he noted the massive rows of buffet tables, with steaming containers of deliciousness. Several people moved through the lines, picking out their favorite entrees, and from the look on their faces, they were enjoying their meals.
Once they were seated, Tina faced him, her expression curious. “I’ll admit, I’ve been thinking about our meeting this morning. You said you’re a private investigator. I’ll tell you upfront, after you left, I called the number on your business card. When I asked about you, they confirmed you own the company. Impressive, but I’m not gullible or stupid, so I also checked you out online. You know some interesting people, Mr. Boudreau.”
“Please, call me Shiloh.”
“Okay, Shiloh.” She grinned. “What’s it like to rub elbows with the rich and famous?”
He knew exactly who she meant. A couple of years back, he’d done some work for a professional football player who’d lived in Dallas, although he’d since moved to Las Vegas to play there. They’d become friends when he’d been working Jax’s case, and he still called a couple of times a year. He’d also worked for a celebrity couple who’d been filming in the Austin area, and the wife had picked up an overzealous fan who’d bordered on stalker-type behavior. The police ended up involved, and the fan was serving time.
“Most of my clients are ordinary folks who simply need a little help when they’re in trouble.”
Tina studied him, her elbows on the table, with her chin rested on her interlocked fingers. Her eyes sparkled with mirth. “Why do I find that a little hard to believe, Mr. P.I.?”
Shiloh did a cross my heart motion. “I swear, most of my cases are small potatoes. Cheating spouses, insurance fraud. Most of the time it’s kind of boring.”
“Now I really don’t believe you. Anyway, I’m starving. Let’s grab some food.”
They meandered through the line, and he loaded his plate with a little bit of everything, with a large heaping of teriyaki chicken, one of his favorites. With the first bite, he felt like he was in nirvana. His taste buds exploded at the sweet, tangy flavor.
About halfway through their meal, he knew he couldn’t put Tina’s questions off much longer. He didn’t have any problem answering her questions, since she seemed on the up and up. Especially if it meant he’d find out about Renee.
“I know you’re curious, so go ahead and ask me anything. I’ll answer your questions, and then I’ll ask mine. Sound fair?”
Tina nodded, and laid down her fork. “I don’t know where to start. Why are you looking for Elizabeth? Is she in some kind of trouble?”
“Nothing like that. It’s…personal. I’m trying to find her because—well, she’s been—you know what, maybe I should tell you what I know about Re…Elizabeth Reynolds. Then you can quiz me.”
Picking up her fork, she motioned for him to keep talking, while she popped a shrimp into her mouth.
“The woman I’m looking for goes by the name Elizabeth Reynolds now, but her real name, the name she was born with, is Renee O’Malley. When she was a young girl, she and her brother ended up in foster care in Texas.” He watched Tina’s eyes widen with each word spoken. If nothing else, she listened intently and didn’t attempt to interrupt him. “In the system, Renee and her brother ended up separated. Lucas O’Malley was placed in a wonderful, loving home with a family called the Boudreaus.”
“From the name, I’m guessing they’re some relatives of yours.”
Shiloh nodded. “My parents. Douglas and Patricia Boudreau. They are the finest people I’ve ever met. Amazing foster parents to a rowdy bunch of hellions the system couldn’t handle and turned them into the best brothers and friends in the world.”
“You said foster parents. They weren’t your biological parents? I mean, you have the same last name.”
“Yes, they’re my foster parents, although I’ve never looked at them as anything other than my folks. It’s a tradition in our family on our eighteenth birthday to legally change our last name to Boudreau. Those they could adopt, they did. The ones not eligible to be adopted for whatever reason, still changed their name legally. We’re all Boudreaus.”
“That’s so cool. Sounds like they’re pretty awesome.”
“If you’d ever met them, you’d agree. Anyway, Renee and Lucas somehow got separated after they’d been through intake, and Lucas ended up with us. When Douglas and Ms. Patti found out about Renee, they immediately started trying to find her, to bring her into our home with her brother, but something went wrong. Records went missing. Nothing in the computer systems, and we couldn’t find Renee. It was like she’d vanished without a trace. Lucas was devastated, and swore he’d find her someday. He’s been searching for almost twenty years.”
“Twenty—holy smokes! And somehow you think Elizabeth Reynolds and Renee what’d you call her, O’Malley, are the same person?”
“Everything we’ve been able to uncover points to that fact.”
Tina started to say something, then her gaze darted past him toward the door. Glancing over his shoulder, he froze at the sight of the beautiful redhead standing just inside the entrance. Without hesitation, she stormed over to their table, and moved around to stand behind Tina. Her jade green eyes sparked with anger.
“Okay, buster, you’re looking for me? Well, here I am. And I want some answers. Who sent you?”
Shiloh slowly rose from his chair, never breaking eye contact with her. And it was her, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind. Renee O’Malley in the flesh.
“Elizabeth, it’s not what you think. I mean, yes, he’s looking for you, but he’s not one of the bad guys. He’s—”
“Trust me, Tina, they’re all bad guys in one way or another. I’m sick to death of running. Of hiding. Never settling down, never making friends because I’ll have to leave them behind. He’s” she gestured toward Shiloh, “just another in a string of people who’ve made my life a living, breathing nightmare.”
Shiloh pulled out an extra chair at the table and gestured for her to sit. With a weary sigh, she slid onto it, and raked her fingers through her hair. He couldn’t help wondering if it felt as soft as it looked. He was almost tempted to lean closer and see if she used scented shampoo, to inhale and mark her scent into his senses.
“Hello, Renee.”
The bunching of her muscles at the mention of her real name was the only evidence she heard him. Both hands clenched into fists on the tabletop, and he itched to grab them, smooth his fingertips across the skin he knew would be softer than silk, and try to bring her a little comfort. But it wasn’t his place, not now anyway. Maybe when she got to know him.
“How do you know that name? I haven’t heard it since I was four years old.”
At her admission, he felt a squeezing in his chest, a yearning to pull her close, let her know she wasn’t alone anymore. She had a readymade family waiting to bring her into the fold. To love her unconditionally. But it was far too soon for that, it would probably make her run away even faster.
“From Lucas. Your brother.”
At the sound of her brother’s name coming from the stranger’s lips, Renee’s head began spinning. The ringing in her ears made her slam her hands against them, instinctively wanting to block out his voice. Deny the ache in her heart at the mention of Lucas’ name. The memories were far too painful.
“I don’t believe you. Lucas is dead.”
“No, he’s not. He’s alive and well. Lives in Shiloh Springs, Texas. He’s been looking for you his whole life, Renee.”
“That’s a lie. They told me he died. He went into a foster home and they killed him. They…I don’t believe you.”
Without another word, Shiloh pulled his cell phone from his pocket, and scrolled through his photos, finding one of Lucas and Jill, taken the day her bakery opened on Main Street. He handed it to Renee.
“That’s Lucas and his fiancée, Jill. It was taken a few weeks ago.”
He couldn’t help noticing the slight tremble in the hand holding his phone, or the way her eyes devoured the picture. Watched her fingers slide across the screen, making it bigger. He wondered what emotions spilled through her. A heartbreaking sob emerged from her lips, and her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
“How is this possible? I’ve thought he was dead. If I’d known, I’d have searched harder for him.”
“He’s never stopped looking for you, Renee,” Shiloh said her name again, wanting to reinforce it, make her realize she didn’t have to hide anymore. “That’s what I was just explaining to Tina. Lucas is part of my family. But he’s worried about you. Did you know all the records regarding you from the time you went into the system disappeared? It was almost like you never existed. He never gave up. None of us did. Momma and Dad did everything they could, petitioned the state, but it was like you’d vanished in the night without a trace.”
“I—I wasn’t in foster care long. I don’t want to talk about that. Tell me, was he happy? You said he’s part of your family? Did he get adopted?”
Shiloh knew she wanted to know everything, but that was too long a story to tell while sitting in a restaurant, especially where prying eyes and ears could overhear details Renee might not want others to know about—not if she was still running from dangerous people.
“I know you’ve got lots of questions, and I’ll answer them all. But I think we need to move this conversation somewhere with fewer prying eyes. Is there some place you’d feel more comfortable?” When Renee and Tina exchanged a glance, he continued. “If you don’t mind, how about we move this back to my room?”
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”
“Let me finish. I know you don’t trust me, and I understand and don’t blame you. My room would be a neutral place, where you can leave any time. Plus, this way I won’t know where you’re staying, in case you decide you want nothing else to do with me.” He gave the women a grin, letting them know he’d have no hard feelings either way.
Tina and Renee exchanged another long look, and Renee sighed. “Fine, but we’ll get there on our own. Where are you staying?”
Shiloh rattled off the name of his hotel and his room number, feeling almost giddy. Seeing Renee face-to-face, hearing her voice, did strange things to his insides. He didn’t have time to explore that now, he was too close to achieving his goal. Thinking about Lucas, he couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.
“Gertie was in a good mood and let me have the rest of the day off, so I’m free.”
Renee’s mouth dropped open. “Wait, Gertie was in a good mood? How’d that happen?”
Tina jerked her thumb toward Shiloh. “She’s been over-the-moon ever since she met him this morning. He charmed the socks off her. Never seen anything like it, girl.”
Shiloh bit back a chuckle when both women turned their attention on him. What could he say, the ladies loved him.
Renee shook her head, shooting a glance in his direction. “Tina and I will meet you, because I want to hear about Lucas.”
“Sounds like a plan. Let me take care of the check, and we can meet there in say…fifteen minutes?”
“Works for me.” Tina stood and latched onto Renee’s arm, and tugged her to her feet. “I’ll drive. Meet you there.”
Shiloh watched the two women walk out the front door, feeling like he’d been swept up in a Texas tornado. Everything felt topsy-turvy and twisted around, but through it all one thing shone through.
He’d found Renee.
Seated in the passenger seat of Tina’s Prius, Renee scrubbed her hands over her face, trying to make sense of the last few minutes. Was it possible Lucas was alive? Then again, why was she surprised? She’d been lied to her entire life, what was one more?
“You okay?”
“I don’t know. Everything inside my head is spinning. It’s like I’m looking through a kaleidoscope, with whirls of information scattered around in by brain, and I can’t make sense of most of it. This Shiloh Boudreau tells me my brother is still alive. How is that possible? When I was old enough and first had access to a computer, I looked for him and found nothing. Do you think he’s telling the truth?”
“My guess, and I’m only going by gut instinct here, is yes. Why would he lie? I mean, what’s he got to gain?” Tina tossed her cell phone into Renee’s lap. “It’ll take a couple of minutes to get to his hotel. Go online and see if you find anything about your brother now. Shiloh mentioned the name of the town he lived in. What was it again? I remember it had his name in it.”
“Shiloh Springs. In Texas.” Fingers shaking, she typed Lucas O’Malley into the search bar, and watched as several sites popped up under it. Scanning the different URL sites, she spotted the name of a prestigious paper in Dallas that listed her brother, along with several articles he’d written. Clicking on the link, the first thing that popped onto the phone’s small screen was a photo.
The breath seized in her chest as she stared at the familiar face. Oh, he was older now, mature, his face showing character and a touch of humor with his crooked grin. Drawing in a deep breath, she exhaled slowly, and touched his picture with her fingertip. She remembered that smile, one he’d worn so often when they were younger. He had the same hair and eye color as hers.
“It’s him. Lucas.” Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she leaned her head back against the headrest. “I’ve been such a fool. When I didn’t find anything when I first looked, and was told he died, I stopped looking. I don’t get it. Why’d they lie?”
“Don’t know, but I’m guessing Shiloh’s gonna have answers to a lot of your questions. But are you prepared to answer his? I got the distinct impression he’s not somebody who’s going to go away without getting what he wants.”
“If all he wants to know is about my connection with Lucas, that’s fine. He doesn’t need to know anything else.”
“Yeah, right,” Tina murmured under her breath, but Renee still managed to hear it.
“Look, girlfriend, if he’s who he says he is, helping out Lucas, I’m not dragging him into my mess.”
Tina pulled the car into the parking garage of Shiloh’s hotel and after a couple of minutes pulled into a spot. Turning in the seat, she looked at Renee and sighed. “You know I want you to be happy, right?” At Renee’s nod, she reached forward and clasped her hand. “Part of wanting you to be happy is knowing you’re safe. I know, I know, you can’t tell me what you’re running from or who’s after you. But my question’s this. Do you have to do it all alone? Maybe talk to Shiloh. I mean, the dude’s gotta be a pretty good P.I., since he found you.”
“I guess.”
“I checked him out earlier,” Tina broke off at Renee’s snicker. “Not like that, perv. Okay, maybe I did check him out that way, too. I mean I called his office in San Antonio and spoke with his partner. Looked at his posted references. They all look legit. Listen to him, that’s all I’m asking. If you think you can trust him, hire him. I’ve got some money saved up, so we can pay him a retainer, and let him investigate the crap out of whoever’s after you.”
Renee felt the waterworks threatening to start again. Her emotions felt like a roller coaster, dipping and rising so fast, she feared she might get whiplash.
“Have I told you lately what a good friend you are?”
Tina grinned. “I’m the best, and don’t you forget it. Now, let’s go meet with Mr. Sexy and find out more about your brother.”