Chapter Twenty-One

Cleo

When I saw what he was wearing I couldn’t help grinning. We were identical! Well…what we wore was identical. He looked so much better than I could ever hope to, but it was nice to know I’d chosen the right outfit.

I managed the stairs without stumbling over my feet, but when I reached the bottom and looked up into his eyes, my bones sort of jellied. He seemed even better looking than the last time I’d seen him, even with the two-day growth of beard darkening his face. He’d be returning undercover later tonight, and that’d kept him from shaving. My fingertips were tingling with the desire to stroke along his jaw, across his chin, over his lips…

I fisted my hands. Whoa… I needed to keep those kinds of thoughts under a tighter rein. My eyes went back to his and locked in place. His gaze was warm…like melted chocolate. Too warm! I fought off the sudden desire to fling myself at him. What was happening to me? I’d never felt like this before. I pulled at the neck of my sweater, feeling a trickle of sweat slide down my back, between my shoulder blades. Had Minnie been messing with the thermostat again?

Minnie!

I whipped around and there she stood in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed under her quadruple-D chest, brows raised over eyes that missed nothing, wearing an “it’s about time you got yourself a man” smirk. I felt my cheeks grow hot under her scrutiny. “Where’s Lily,” I asked in a panic, afraid she’d say something else mortifying, and hoping my question would throw her off-track.

“Upstairs. Said she was tired…something about walking around too much today.”

My diversion tactic seemed to have worked, and I breathed a little easier. “Oh, yeah, she did…all the way to the river and back. Ended up with a blister. I hope she didn’t over-do it.”

“She’ll be fine. Just needs a little rest before dinner. She’s one tough lady.” Minnie’s gesture included Jonas. “When you two gonna be back?”

I shrugged, but he answered before I could open my mouth. “We shouldn’t be too late. This is probably pointless anyway, but I can’t think of a better idea, so we’ll try it and see what happens.”

She beetled her brow at him. “I ’spect you to make sure nothing happens to Miz Cleo. You understand what I’m saying to you, son?”

He grinned. “Yes, ma’am, I do.”

“Well, all right then. C’mere, youngun.” She motioned me over.

Wrapping me in a bone-crushing hug, she whispered in my ear, “Please be careful, child. I got a bad feeling ’bout this.”

Her lapse into her old way of speaking showed me how distressed she really was. Though both of my arms were mostly pinned, I managed to pat her clumsily on the back. “It’ll be okay, Minnie. Don’t worry.”

****

“I’ve been thinking…” Jonas began, as soon as we were in his car. “…what do you say to us checking out the alley again before heading out to the truck stop? I know we probably have a better chance of winning the lottery…twice…than we do of something actually happening there again, but my gut is telling me to go there first. What do you think?”

What did he expect me to say? His idea would provide me with the perfect excuse to sit all squashed up next to him for as long as we were there. It was a no-brainer. “Sounds like a plan!” I agreed, feeling very much like a half-grown puppy, eagerly prancing back and forth; waiting for the ball or Frisbee to be thrown. It’s how I felt. I hoped I didn’t look like that.

“Okay, then…let’s roll.”

****

Just minutes later, we were pulling into the same spot behind the real estate office we’d parked the night of Raymond’s rescue. Had it really been two nights ago? In one way, it seemed like last night, but then again, so much had happened in the past couple of days, it seemed much longer. The engine went silent.

“Sit still,” he ordered and then got out of the car.

I was confused, but I did as I was told. As soon as his door shut, his dark clothes camouflaged him completely, blending him so perfectly into the pitch blackness of the alley that he seemed to disappear, making me jump when he tapped on my window. I scrambled for the unlock button, and he swung my door open, reaching for my hand and pulling me out. He didn’t let go.

“I can’t see you.” His low voice rumbled near my ear once the door closed and we were enveloped in darkness thick enough to be felt. He squeezed my fingers. “I don’t want to take a chance that we’ll get separated, so I’ll just hold onto you, if you don’t mind.”

“Okay.” I was glad I had an excuse for whispering. My voice would probably have cracked like an adolescent boy’s. My fingers slid between his. Perfect fit.

“Instead of behind the trashcans, let’s try hiding between the buildings this time…you know, beside the window? I think we’ll be able to see and hear better from there, and we can avoid the smell of the garbage. C’mon.”

I stumbled along beside him, trusting that he knew how to get to that walkway, because I sure didn’t. How in the world could he see anything? Did he have a pair of night-vision goggles I didn’t know about? Or was he part cat? Whatever the case, we were soon settled in the narrow strip of space between Lily’s building and the next. It felt safe here, in spite of what had occurred during our previous visits. I was sure that part of it was just because I was with Jonas, but another part was because I didn’t think Spencer or his goons could even fit between these buildings.

I shivered. It was chillier tonight, and I sidled up to him as closely as I dared, soaking up his radiant heat.

“Are you cold?” he whispered. “Here, scoot this way.” He pulled me in front of him, between his knees, his chest pressed against my back, then wrapped his arms around me.

Instant warmth. Mmm…this was nice. I leaned the side of my head against his neck, and breathed in his delectable smell. The desire to press my lips to his skin was nearly overwhelming, but I somehow managed to squelch it. Sparks skipped along all my nerve endings.

He dipped his head, his mouth brushing against my ear, and I gasped. “Better?” he murmured. His deep voice sent shivers that had nothing to do with the cold, up and down my spine.

I couldn’t speak, but nodded, trusting that he’d feel the movement.

I was still trying to get my breathing into a somewhat normal rhythm when I felt his chin start rubbing back and forth against my hair. So much for a normal breathing pattern. When he leaned down and pressed his face against the top of my head, I stopped breathing altogether.

“Mmm, you smell so good,” he groaned.

My heart was going to explode! It hammered against my throat, like a wild animal trying to escape.

Whether it was his words or his groan, or maybe both together—I didn’t know—but somewhere, deep in my belly, it was if a switch got flipped to the “on” position, and my bones started melting. My head turned toward him—I couldn’t help it, I swear—and I finally got to do what I’d wanted to do since that first night in the alley. My lips touched his skin, scorching just above his turtleneck, and I breathed in his scent…wild, raw…masculine.

He groaned again.

My heart was suddenly thundering in my chest like a thousand wild horses. His hand tilted my face up, softly stroking my cheek.

“Cleo.” His breath was warm and delicious against my lips, thrilling me with anticipation.

I closed my eyes…oh, sweet agony…

Then Jonas froze and lifted his head.

No! “What—?”

He pressed a finger to my lips. “Shhhh,” he warned.

It was all I could do not to touch my tongue to that finger. At that particular moment, I didn’t even care that we might be in danger. Then I heard it too, though how I could hear anything over the booming of my heart was beyond me, but that sound was the equivalent of a bucket of ice water being dumped over my head.

I listened so hard, I thought my eardrums might burst; sifting through the other nighttime sounds to pin-point something that didn’t belong.

There it was again—a faint pop—the sound of tiny piece of glass being crushed between the heel of a shoe and the sidewalk. There was someone there! Whoever it was, was trying to step quietly, but that almost imperceptible noise had given them away.

Fear congealed around my heart. My breaths were coming in short, frantic gasps, making me a little lightheaded. Not enough oxygen was getting to my brain.

The measured footsteps came nearer, moving slowly, pausing often, as if they were listening too. Did the person know we were there? Had he heard us? We were sitting ducks, unable to move without giving ourselves away.

Now, I couldn’t breathe at all.

Then suddenly, a voice spoke out of the darkness. “Who’s there?”

A woman’s voice? That surprised me. And it sounded familiar.

“I know you’re there…I heard you.”

My mouth dropped open. I recognized that voice! But what was she doing here?

I reached a hand up behind Jonas’ neck, pulling his head down, and putting my mouth against his ear. “It’s Ellie,” I whispered.

“Who?” he whispered back.

“Ellie…you met her at Moon River.”

“Ohhh…” I could feel him smile, and I narrowed my eyes. I wanted to slap him.

“I can hear you whispering,” Ellie snapped, her voice sort of echoing between the buildings. She sounded as irritated as I felt. Almost. “Just so you know…I have a can of pepper spray and I’m not afraid to use it.”

I rolled my eyes, even though no one could see it. Good grief! If Mark Spencer and his men came back now, she’d get us all killed. “Oh, just chillax, Ellie. It’s me.”

“Cleo?”

Ugh! How had everything gone so wrong so fast when it’d started out so nicely? Things had just taken a sharp turn south. I sighed, “Yeah, it’s me.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Long story.”

“I’m all ears.”

There was suddenly a solid thunk; followed by enough R-rated words, I’m sure sailors all the way to Charleston were blushing to the roots of their buzz-cut hair. I know I sure was. “Arrg! Who lives in these houses, anyway?” Ellie nearly shrieked. “Don’t they believe in any lights?”

I had to bite my lip to keep from giggling. She must’ve run into those electric meters I’d nearly hit when we’d escaped through here the other night. I could feel Jonas shaking. Was he laughing? I elbowed him, eliciting an ooof, which made me grin.

“What was that noise?” Ellie asked, her voice nearer, now.

Might as well ’fess up.’ “Um…I’m not here by myself.” I gasped when I felt his finger run along my jaw line and then trace gently around my ear. The sensation had me fighting the urge to lean into his touch. He definitely wasn’t playing fair. “Jonas is with me,” I choked out, my pulse racing as his nose stroked against my neck.

“Hi, Ellie,” Jonas called.

Any sound of movement abruptly ceased. She was surprised, which was something that rarely happened, I’m sure. “Are you all right,” I called out, not really caring, when she didn’t answer. How could I be concerned about something like that, with Jonas nuzzling just below my ear? “Be nice,” I whispered to him.

“I’m trying to be,” he growled. “But I could be a lot nicer.”

Holy smokes!

Ellie would be there any second, now. I grabbed both of his hands and held them tightly in front of me, stifling another giggle when he whispered, “Party-pooper” in my ear.

Oh, no, I thought. The party-pooper is definitely our uninvited guest.

Then Ellie’s shoe hit my leg, and one of her flailing hands caught me in the side of the head. “Oh, sorry!”

I’ll bet! “You’re here,” I informed her, dryly. “Have a seat.”

“Well, well, well, Cleo…I’ll have to say this is a surprise.” Her voice held a smirk as she settled herself beside us. “Who’d have ever thunk it? Guess you were just waiting for the right guy, huh?”

I squeezed Jonas’ hands in a death grip, praying for that hole in the ground again and parlayed her question with one of my own. “What are you doing here, Ellie?” I snapped.

The fact that she didn’t correct my pronunciation of her name should’ve told me that something was wrong. She didn’t answer for a long time, and when she finally spoke, her voice was a bit shaky. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

She sounded almost…scared. That couldn’t be right. As far as I knew, nothing scared Ellie. It struck me as “off,” and I couldn’t help being a little suspicious. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know if I should tell you, but I need some advice. I don’t think I can take it if anyone else gets hurt.”

Was she faking it? Was this all an elaborate act? Probably. She was a very good actress. I’d had a lot of practice watching her act through the years, and could spot any fakery in an instant, but it was hard to do that in the dark. I wished I could see her face. She sounded genuine…totally out of character, of course, but genuine, nonetheless. I could almost hear tears in her voice. Then again…good actresses knew how to turn on the waterworks. If the script said “cry,” they’d flip that internal switch and the tears would flow. But what if it was real this time? Without thinking, I blurted, “If it’s about Mark, I already know more than you think.”

She gasped, “What? How could you—? What do you think you know?”

The last question sounded suspicious.

“Tell us what happened, first,” Jonas finally spoke up, his voice demanding obedience.

Ellie drew a ragged breath. “I came by here earlier to see Mark.”

I bit my lip to keep from speaking. If she knew about this place, then she must know about the counterfeiting. That sounded typical, more like the Ellie I knew.

“I was about to open the door when I heard someone groan. It scared me to death.”

My heart sank. Raymond!

“I was afraid to just walk in, and I thought about calling the police, but…well…Mark is the police, so I just stood outside the door and listened.”

Even though Jonas’ arms were still around me, I suddenly felt cold…chilled to the bone; afraid I’d never get warm again.

“What did you hear, Ellie?” I asked, hardly recognizing my voice.

“I don’t know who it was, but I think they might’ve been torturing him,” she cried. “I don’t know, but whatever they were doing, it was horrible. He kept moaning and groaning, crying and begging them to stop, but they wanted a name, a description, a location…”

I was hardly aware of the tears streaming down my face. I could practically hear Raymond’s cries in my head, and it made me want to throw up. Poor Raymond…if he’d only been able to escape to his world of curlicues.

“Did he give them what they wanted?” Jonas asked, and something in his voice got my attention.

“Yes, finally.”

“What was it?” he asked.

“I…I…”

“Tell us!” he insisted.

“They kept asking about a bag. “Who found the bag?” they wanted to know. Give us a name! A name!”

My heart stopped! The bag! The bag of money! Did Raymond know? Had Lily told him? No…not Raymond! She wouldn’t have told him…not knowing how he was…with his notebook filled with scribbles. She wouldn’t have done that! She couldn’t have!

“She wears a hat,” Ellie whispered. “He told them she wears a pink and green hat…one with little silver bells.”

I heard Jonas take a sharp breath. This couldn’t be happening…

“I was so scared, I can’t remember the name he said,” Ellie continued. “But I’m pretty sure it was the name of a flower…”

Lily.

****

My cell phone rang, just as I was hitting the speed dial to call Minnie. I looked at the number…home!

“Cleo!” Minnie’s voice was in a panic. “Lily’s gone! I just went up to check on her, let her know supper was ready, and she wasn’t in her room!”

I couldn’t speak. My fingers were numb. Jonas grabbed the phone from my hand.

“Minnie! Don’t do anything. Stay there and whatever you do, don’t call the police! The message will go straight to Mark. If he hasn’t found her yet, we don’t want to let him know she’s out on the streets somewhere for easy picking. We’ll look for her. Don’t worry. Stay by the phone.”

He grabbed my icy hands, rubbing them vigorously between his warm ones. “Cleo? Baby? Don’t shut down on me. We’ve got to go. We’ve got to try to find Lily before they do. C’mon, baby…I need you to stay with me.”

He stood, dragging me up with him, and barking toward the darkness that was Ellie. “You got a friend you can stay with?” He didn’t wait for her answer. “It would probably be a good idea for you to go there until this is over. Be careful.”

“You’re not leaving me here by myself. I’m coming with you!”

“Then come on! We’re leaving.”

Then he stooped and slung me over his shoulder like a bag of feed and practically ran with me to his car.