Part 26 (1/2)

Had Randolph delayed the announcement until he could find her? Was he afraid of questions as to her whereabouts?

One thing she knew for sure, her existence was a decided threat to Randolph now. Yet it was a weapon as well. She knew he had gotten rid of a body, and that endangered his reputation--and possibly his freedom.

He would not want her to surface. He would far prefer that she died in some fabricated scheme, like a botched kidnapping. But what about Harry? Their son was smart enough to know they had not been stolen away. Would that knowledge condemn him as well?

Was Randolph really that evil?

When she returned home she would write some letters, send them to people she felt she could trust, though they were few in number. Incredibly few, in fact. Still, she would do that. Then she would let Randolph know that others knew she was alive and well. If he let her disappear, then he could continue his life, perhaps even his political career. A tragedy could be an a.s.set. He would milk it for all the sympathetic votes he could get.

Feeling a little better now about her prospects and her hopes for a new life, she left the computer and went over to where Harry was flipping through a picture book.

At last, she was taking a little of her own life back. It might be one small step at a time, but at least she'd started.

*Chapter Fifteen*

'NEW ORLEANS'.

Meredith sat in her car outside of Lulu Starnes's home.

She was early, and she'd been taught that it was just as rude to be early as it was to be late.

She also needed a few moments to think.

Her world seemed to be disintegrating ever faster. All that precious control she thought she had was crumbling.

She had made a fool out of herself last night. She'd lowered her barriers and then run.

She never ran.

Or had she been running all her life? Now she was uncertain whether she had been running from or to something.

After they left Gage's house last night, he had driven her to her car, then followed her to the hospital and waited outside while she went up to her mother's room.

There had been no change. Except her mother seemed paler. Her breathing even more shallow.

How much time did her mother have? How long before it was too late to let her mother know that her daughter was found? And safe?

Meredith had allowed herself to be distracted. She was still distracted. Her body glowed while her mind scolded. Guilt roiled inside. She'd leaned over and kissed her mother's cool face, then left.

She'd averted her face from Gage's car as she reached her own. Yet she couldn't control her body or even her thoughts as she drove home, knowing he was behind her.

When they'd arrived, he insisted on going inside and checking her house. She stood outside, afraid to follow. Afraid of the heat that they generated together. Then he returned to the door and stood there, his green eyes searching hers.

She ignored the question in them, though her heart beat erratically. ”Thank you,” she said awkwardly.

”You're welcome,” he said, equally polite though a muscle twitched in his throat. ”Good night.”

She nodded, wanting to stretch out her hand to him yet knowing if she did, she would not want to let him go. He was a loner. That fact radiated from him.

He obviously disliked commitments as, she told herself, did she.

He walked away, and she quickly shut and locked the door, locking him out as well. Still, she went to the window and watched him leave. She'd never felt quite so lonely and inadequate before.

Why couldn't she accept what he was offering? Friends.h.i.+p. Wonderful s.e.x.

She knew exactly why. A lifelong fear of relations.h.i.+ps.

A wave of loneliness gushed through her. Had she made a terrible mistake?

She willed away thoughts of last night and the confusion she felt and checked her watch again.

Six P.M. exactly.

She left the car and knocked on Mrs. Starnes's door. A dog barked with frenzied excitement.

No answer.

She knocked again, then rang the bell. Still no answer.

She knew she had the time right. And the correct address.

Unlike the Laxtons' near-mansion that she'd visited, this house was a small but well-kept bungalow. The front was ringed with flower beds. It was a house that looked loved.

She waited a moment, then tried the bell again. Again she heard the frenzied, even panicked, barking.

Meredith went around to the back of the house. Another garden filled the yard, along with a patio. Comfortable-looking lounge chairs were arranged around a gla.s.s table.

She knocked at the back door, then feeling a little like a Peeping Tom, peered through the window. The room was obviously the kitchen. She saw a fridge, its front covered with photographs, but couldn't see much else.

Meredith slumped into one of the chairs. She didn't know whether to wait or not. Then her gaze went to the detached garage. The door was closed but there was a window at the top. She walked over to it, stood on tiptoes and peered through the gla.s.s. A car was parked inside.

Did it belong to Mrs. Starnes? Was she visiting a neighbor or had she decided not to see Meredith? Perhaps the woman was sitting inside waiting for her to leave.

But Meredith had a bad feeling about this. Perhaps it was the frantic barking that hadn't stopped, as if the animal was trying to tell her something.

She decided to wait a few more minutes. Maybe Mrs. Starnes was simply late.

She sat on the porch. If the anxiety in her hadn't been deepening, she would have enjoyed the interlude. A bee buzzed among the flowers. Huge white blooms from a magnolia tree scented the air. Peaceful. Except for the barking.

Meredith looked at her watch. Thirty minutes past the time of the appointment. She stood and went to the front door. She tried the doork.n.o.b. To her surprise, the door opened easily.

”Mrs. Starnes?” she called out. ”Mrs. Starnes?”

A dog--a small black-and-white Sheltie--jumped against her, dashed around her legs, demanding attention, b.u.mped its nose against her legs, then ran toward another room and came back again. 'Follow me'.

Apprehension flooded her, then outright fear. She followed the animal down the hallway. She stopped, and the dog barked again, treading back and forth until she took several more steps in the direction he indicated.