Chapter 35

At the bottom his eyes settled on the alarm keypad. It glowed green in the darkness, stating silently that everything was all clear. None of its indicators had been disturbed. That keypad had given him a sense of security, acting as a deterrent for any would-be thieves. But the alarm wasn’t what had told them that there had been someone outside. It was the flesh and blood guard that had been ordered in his behalf. So much for feeling secure.

He turned toward the den. A night light was plugged into the wall along the way, offering scant illumination, but he could still make out Robyn’s form. He stopped at the entry way and watched her.

She stood near the patio doors, peeking around the edge of the vertical blinds. The cell phone was again pressed to her ear, her head cocking in a listening manner.

She was the other part of the security that had so recently come into his life. But she was the part that had made the deepest impression. Even looking at her now, his nerves frazzled with the uncertainty of his situation, his heart rate still increased. The change wasn’t due to fear, but with the joy of being in her presence despite the reason for it. He was thankful that she was here; he wouldn’t have wanted to try to deal with this on his own.

“Thanks, Vic.” Robyn spoke softly into the phone, and then turned away from the window. She slipped the device into a big square pocket on the front of the thick robe she was enveloped in.

“How are you doing?” she asked, her eyes seeming dark in the dim light, were assessing. She hadn’t moved from her position near the window and the distance felt cool to Sam. He longed to close it.

“Ready to move.” He answered honestly, a small ironic smile touching his lips as he realized the double meaning behind his words.

Robyn smiled in response. “Where would you go?” She didn’t get his meaning, but she moved closer to him just the same.

Sam met her half way. “With you.” Honesty had worked out well last time. He took a moment to enjoy the feel of her in his arms. “Do you have enough room for us in your apartment?”

She wove her arms about his waist and leaned back in his embrace, observing him in that way of hers. Like she saw everything. Sam felt exposed and vulnerable at the mercy of that golden gaze. But this time instead of fighting against it, he acquiesced. He realized that he had come to trust her with what she learned, and so gave himself over and let her see what she would.

Something altered immediately in her expression. But it was quick, too fast for Sam to even try to figure out its meaning.

“Whoever this is will probably follow wherever you go,” she said. “They’ve been pretty determined thus far.”

Frustration welled, and Sam released it through motion. He moved across to the sofa and settled on its arm. “If I knew what it was they want I hand it over. Anything to get my life back.”

Robyn’s sympathy was clear as she followed his motions. “What if it’s something you’re not willing to give?” Of course, she had to ask the difficult questions. But he gave it due consideration, turning the idea over in his mind.

He lived a fairly modest life. Yes – he did restore expensive pieces of art, but not because of their monetary value. He did it because they were classic pieces that told of history and shared the beauty of time’s past with the future generations. He liked having a part in ensuring that they were preserved. He’d never decorated his home with such unique items; they were better meant for museums or showplaces. The valuable things in his home were the people he loved.

He returned his focus to Robyn, dressed carelessly in a frumpy old robe and in her bare feet. Her hair was mused and her face was free of make up. She looked absolutely beautiful to him. He came to understand in that moment that she had come to be one of those people.

“There isn’t anything material that I wouldn’t be willing to give up for those I love.” He spoke into her eyes, willing her to understand his meaning.

Robyn met his look head-on, adding a new dimension to the under-the-surface current that Sam had come to identify with being in her presence. Warmth suffused her eyes and the softest of smiles graced her lips. When she spoke it was just above a whisper. “You’re a very special person, Sam Wright.”

Sam recognized the sincerity in her tone and thought to take the conversation along a more intimate track, but a thought popped into his mind and he couldn’t release it. His mouth quirked into a wry smile. “Just what exactly do you mean by special? Short bus special?”

Robyn laughed out loud, clearly not having expected the comment. Her laughter caused it to bubble out of him as well and then they were both laughing.

The moment was contagious and suddenly amid what had been a worrisome event, Sam felt happier than he had in years. But that happiness was pushed to the background as serious talk, of necessity, followed. Plans had to be made for the morning to come.

And come quickly it did. Though Sam seemed completely calm when they’d parted for what remained of the night, the deep shadows beneath his eyes were tell-tell signs that the sleep he had gotten wasn’t restful.

Mark had agreed to come back and stay with Bethany while she and Sam headed to the local precinct to file a report. But Sam had labored over his explanations to his friend who would not agree to stay unless he got the entire story. Robyn suspected that he would have stayed regardless if Sam had put his foot down and simply refused. She had learned that beneath the bluster and determination, Sam really wanted to reach out and let his friend know what was going on. Every step of the way, Mark was always kept in the loop.

Unfortunately, getting Mark up-to-date and filing the police report had taken longer than expected.

“We’re going to be late,” Sam announced from the driver’s seat as he switched lanes so that they could exit the Interstate. A long line of brake lights shone ahead of them on the exit ramp. Unseasonably warm temps and a clear blue sky meant that half the city was probably headed toward the water side vista where they would be meeting Cassandra.

“Mark won’t leave Beth alone.” Robyn spoke in an attempt to reassure him, but wasn’t sure that it would help. She had a sense that his worry went deeper than just arriving after the agreed upon time. She wasn’t exactly full of confidence herself.

It seemed ages ago when she’d initially met Sam’s ex-wife. But the meeting had been long enough to know that the other woman was reconsidering her position in Sam’s life. How that was going to play out during this visit, Robyn didn’t know. But what really mattered most was making this as easy as possible for Beth – and Beth wanted her there. She would deal with the rest.

“I know he won’t leave her and that’s part of the problem.” Sam’s brow was furrowed as he concentrated on the changing traffic patterns before him. “I think I told you that we all grew up together – we were close. But after Sandra . . . separated herself from us, Mark took sides. There is no love lost there and Sandra knows it.”

“She won’t appreciate your sending Mark.” Robyn understood more clearly.

“She won’t. And if things go really sour, I know Mark will keep his cool in front of Beth. Sandra, I’m not so sure about. I don’t want Beth mixed up in that.”

“I don’t think you need to worry.” Robyn’s confidence strengthened. This she knew. “Cassandra is trying to win her way back into her life. She’s going to be on her best behavior no matter what we throw at her.”

“I hope so.” He spoke distractedly, and Robyn knew that more was coming. If he turned toward her just then, she knew she’d be able to see the storms building. It didn’t take long.

“I don’t want her to know about this,” he said finally, with difficulty. “She might manage to prove that I can’t create a safe and stable environment for my daughter. And she’d probably be right at this point.”

Robyn squeezed his arm. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this.”

Sam spared a moment to press his hand over hers. “Yeah.” He didn’t sound entirely convinced, but they were pulling into the parking lot and there was no time to discuss it further because standing there near Mark’s car was Sam’s ex-wife. Her eyes were focused on Robyn and Sam with the intensity of laser beams.

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