Chapter Thirteen

Wednesday, January 16, 1:30 P.M.

Kendall pulled into traffic and ten minutes later was crossing the Huguenot Bridge, which took her to the south side of town, where her parents and she had lived. Gray, overcast clouds hovered above as she turned into the neighborhood that had been built fifty years ago.

Each house was different from the one next to it, a sign that the houses had been built individually over time, rather than all at once by a single developer, like the newer neighborhoods. The yards were large and the trees tall with thick trunks.

She found the mailbox that had THORNTON on it and pulled into the gravel driveway. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the tri-level. The winter sky dulled the house’s white color, making it look tired and worn. Boxwoods and a pine tree offered a touch of color in garden beds that were otherwise stripped of greenery.

Kendall got out of the car and crossed the uneven slate sidewalk to a set of steps that led to the front door. She climbed the steps and rang the bell. Seconds passed and there was no sound. For a moment she thought Mrs Thornton hadn’t heard her and she was tempted to ring the bell a second time. She smoothed damp hands over her skirt.

Then the lace curtains covering a large picture window to her left fluttered. Seconds after that the door opened.

Standing in the doorway was a tall, heavyset elderly woman who was wearing wire-rimmed glasses. A gray pageboy framed her round face. She greeted Kendall with a wide grin. ‘Kendall Shaw. You are a sight for sore eyes.’

Kendall smiled. ‘Mrs Thornton.’

The screened door creaked open. ‘You call me Jenny. Now get yourself in here out of that cold.’

Kendall stepped over the threshold and was greeted by a rush of very warm air. The house smelled of mothballs and fried eggs. ‘Thank you for seeing me.’

Jenny closed the front door and motioned for Kendall to sit on a couch covered with an afghan. ‘You could have knocked me over with a feather when you called. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?’

‘No. No. I’m fine.’ Kendall sat.

Jenny eased into a wing chair across from her. ‘I’m sorry I never made your mother’s funeral. I was in the hospital then.’

‘The flowers you sent were very nice.’ She tried not to let her impatience show, but it was a struggle to make small talk. ‘I hope you’re feeling better.’

‘I am. Thank you for asking.’ She grinned. ‘But you didn’t come here to talk to an old lady about her heart.’

Kendall shook her head, relieved by her directness. ‘No. I came to talk about my mom and my adoption.’

Jenny swallowed. ‘Irene and I used to be such good friends. I never thought we’d ever not be friends, but when she moved across the river we just lost touch.’

‘Why did she move?’

‘She said she and your dad liked the schools over there better.’ Jenny shook her head. ‘There was more to it than that, but when I pressed her, Irene wouldn’t say.’ She reached into her pocket and pulled out a stack of photos. ‘I dug these out right after you called.’

Kendall accepted the pictures. The images were of Kendall and her mother. Kendall couldn’t have been more than three. Irene was beaming, but the toddler in her arms was frowning and staring off into the distance as if lost.

‘I took those.’

Kendall felt as if she held a precious link to her past. She traced the outline of the child Irene held. ‘Why do I look so sad?’

Jenny shifted as if she wasn’t sure how to answer. ‘I don’t know. You were very clingy and fretful those first weeks with Irene. She said you cried a lot and would have terrible tantrums.’

Kendall scooted to the edge of her seat. ‘Can you tell me anything about my birth family? I’ve been to the adoption agency, but a search is going to take months, possibly years. Did Mom say anything?’

‘Your mom and dad had tried for years to have children. Did your mom ever tell you about the baby she had long before you were born?’

Kendall shook her head. ‘No.’

‘Irene had a baby when she was twenty. Just a year before she married your dad. It was born out of wedlock. She said the baby died of a heart problem days after it was born. She never could get pregnant again.’

Kendall glanced at the picture of a much younger Irene. There was no hint of sadness in her smiling eyes. ‘I never knew.’

‘It broke her heart, not having a child. She wanted to adopt but your dad didn’t. She worked on him for years to change his mind. Finally, he gave in and they submitted their paperwork. They thought it would be years before a baby would become available, and then out of the blue they got a call in the middle of the night about a little girl who needed fostering. They went right then and there and got you.’ Jenny smiled. ‘I’d never seen your mom so happy. And your daddy, despite his misgivings, was as pleased as punch.’

‘Where did I come from?’

‘Your mom never did say. She said it was best to leave the past buried.’

Kendall’s hopes dashed. ‘She never told you anything?’

‘Well, I do know you came from someplace close.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Your mom called me before she left to go get you. Said they’d gotten “the call.” That was around midnight. They were back by the next morning. That’s when I took that picture of Irene holding you.’

‘And Mom never said anything about my birth family. I was three. I had to have spent some time with my birth family.’

Jenny pressed her hands to her lips as she seemed to force her mind to the past. ‘I remember you were wearing a little blue dress, white socks, and brown lace-up shoes. There was a stain on the dress. Irene threw it out.’

‘Do you know what it was stained with?’

‘No.’

‘And you smelled like apples and cinnamon.’

Kendall clung to the details as if they were precious gems.

‘I asked Irene a few times about where you came from. She was very tight-lipped about it. And then out of the blue, Irene announced that you three were moving across the river. I remember she seemed rattled when she told me you all were leaving. Within two weeks the house was sold and you three were gone.’

Irene Shaw had been one of the most levelheaded, practical people she’d ever known. Picking up and moving wouldn’t have been like her.

‘Do you have any idea what rattled Mom so badly?’

Jenny leaned forward. ‘I was sitting on the back porch. It was winter, but I was having hot flashes back then.’ She smiled. ‘You’re too young to know about that yet. Anyway, your mom and dad were on their back porch. They didn’t see me. I heard them talking about you. Your mom had gotten a call that day and it scared her. She was worried for your safety. Your dad was worried too.’

‘Did they say anything else?’

‘No. But they weren’t the kind of people who spooked easily.’

Kendall’s frustration showed on her face.

Jenny nodded. ‘I got the impression that the call was about your family. Your other family.’

She eased forward on her chair. ‘My birth family?’

‘Yes.’

‘Do you know who called?’

‘No. Irene never mentioned the call to me. But she kept talking about him. Whoever that is.’

Kendall glanced down at the photo taken of her as a child. What had scared Mom so badly?

It was nearly midnight when Kendall pulled into her garage.

Earlier, she’d made it to the station with time to spare, but her thoughts had been distracted. She’d mispronounced a name on air and fumbled as she’d struggled to get it right. Kendall had never messed up a name before.

She blamed the mistake on her own wandering thoughts. She kept replaying her conversation with Jenny and found with each rewind she grew more frustrated.

Brett, thankfully, was cordial and there was no mention of their fight. Of course, he was too much of a professional to upset her before a broadcast. He’d lower the boom later, when it suited him.

But now, she didn’t care about that. She was physically and emotionally exhausted. The air was bitter cold and thick clouds blocked the stars and moon. She shut off the car engine and grabbed her purse.

Despite the late hour, her mind was spinning, not with the eleven o’clock broadcast but with her visits to Carnie and Jenny. She was no closer to finding her birth family.

She got out and shuddered against the cold. She couldn’t wait to get out of her heels and make a cup of tea. She clicked the keyless entry and the car beeped, signaling it was locked.

Kendall’s heels clicked against the garage’s concrete floor as she moved toward the door. A motion sensor light mounted in the garage clicked on and cast a circle of light fifteen feet around her.

Normally, she closed the alley door from the inside and left through the door that connected to her backyard, but it was recycling day and Nicole had promised to leave the bin out. Now, she needed to grab the bin. Honestly, she didn’t want to fool with it but the last time she’d left one out overnight, it had gotten pinched. City living.

A cold wind sliced down the alley and she braced against the blast as she reached down and picked up the green bin.

As she turned to cut back through the garage, gravel behind her crunched. Footsteps sounded. She whirled around, annoyed that she’d not bothered to pull out her mace.

Standing in the alleyway was a tall man, well over six feet. He wore a heavy coat, faded jeans, and work boots. His hands were thrust into his pockets. Shadows covered his face.

He moved toward her.

Kendall’s senses went on overload. She dropped the recycling bin and dug her cell out of her purse. Jacob’s comments about her looking like the victims rattled in her head.

She dialed 911 and put her thumb on SEND. ‘Whoever the hell you are, sport, the cops are on their way.’

The man pulled his hands out of his pockets and held them up in surrender. ‘Hey, lady, don’t freak out.’

She ignored him and hit SEND, pressing the phone to her ear as she backed up. Her heel caught a patch of ice and she slipped. Adrenaline surged as she righted herself. Her heart felt as if it would burst through her chest.

‘Lady, I’m your new neighbor. I live on the other side of the alley.’

Kendall swallowed and listened as the operator picked up and said, ‘Nine-one-one operator. State your emergency.’

The guy inched forward so that she could get a good look at his face. He was a rugged-looking man, not handsome, but his face would have caught her eye in any circumstance. Dark hair brushed his collar. There was an edge about him that whispered danger, but he seemed to be doing his best not to look too frightening. He smiled, baring even, white teeth.

‘I’m your neighbor. Cole Markham. I’ve got ID.’

‘This is Kendall Shaw. I live at one-oh-two Grove Avenue. I’m in the alley and there’s a strange man.’

Markham let out a sigh and shook his head as if he couldn’t believe this. He pulled out his wallet and from that his driver’s license.

The 911 operator said, ‘We will dispatch a car to you right now.’

Kendall kept her gaze on Markham. ‘I’d like to stay on the line until I see the squad car.’

‘I’ll stay on the line,’ the operator said.

Markham held out his hands. ‘Honestly, lady, I’m your neighbor.’

Kendall lowered the phone away from her mouth. ‘Explain yourself to the cops.’

He shook his head. ‘You’re making a mistake.’

She tapped her foot. ‘We’ll see.’

Seconds later the flash of blue lights appeared at the alley’s entrance. A Richmond city police car screeched around the corner and down the unpaved lane toward them. It stopped just feet from Markham.

Kendall thanked the operator and hung up her phone.

Markham held up his hands as if to show he was no threat. He faced the squad car.

The cops got out, hands on their guns, and strode toward Markham.

‘Officers, this is a mistake,’ Markham said. ‘I live right here.’ He nodded his head to the house on the other side of the alley. ‘I have ID in my right hand.’

One of the officers nodded. ‘Slowly, stretch your hand with the ID out to me.’

Kendall glanced at the house behind Markham. Doubt niggled her senses. That house had had a FOR RENT sign on it a few weeks ago. Still, everyone in the area knew it. It would be an easy excuse to toss out. She let the officers do their job.

Markham handed the license to the cop who approached him.

The officer, a short man with powerful arms and a full mustache, shone his light on the identification. ‘What were you doing outside this late, sir?’

‘I was taking out the trash. You can check the bin, if you like. It’s full of moving boxes.’

The second officer was slim with drawn features. He moved to Markham’s bin and peered inside. ‘It’s full of boxes.’

Markham looked smug.

The first officer glanced at Kendall. ‘It’s a Virginia license and it does list his address as the property behind you. Let me just run a quick check.’

Kendall shoved out a breath. Damn. She’d overreacted.

Markham lowered his hands but kept his body relaxed and nonthreatening. He looked at Kendall as if to say, ‘I told you so.’

She lifted her chin, refusing to admit she was wrong until the officer returned.

The officer came back and handed Markham his license. ‘You check out. No warrants or alerts.’

Markham tucked the license into his wallet and shoved it in his back pocket.

‘Sorry to trouble you,’ the officer said.

Markham smiled. ‘No sweat. You’re just doing your job.’

The officer looked at Kendall. ‘Would you like us to escort you inside?’

‘No, I’ve got it from here. Thanks.’

The duo nodded, got in their car, and backed out of the alley.

Kendall glanced at Markham but didn’t apologize. She had every right to look out for her own safety. ‘Welcome to the neighborhood.’

He tossed her a half smile that looked almost boyish. ‘Is this how you greet all your neighbors?’

She shook her head. ‘Just the tall, scary ones who surprise me in the alley in the middle of the night.’

Markham didn’t look offended. ‘So what are you doing out here?’

The question surprised her. ‘I just got home from work.’

He lifted a brow. ‘Which is?’

Her ego bristled. She was accustomed to being recognized. ‘I’m Kendall Shaw, the Channel Ten News anchor. I report the news at six and eleven o’clock during the week.’

‘Sorry.’ But he didn’t sound sorry at all. ‘I don’t watch television.’

‘Who doesn’t watch television?’

‘People who read.’

‘Some of us manage to do both.’

‘Right.’

The adrenaline had eased from her body and she’d become aware again of the cold and the late hour. ‘Well, you should check out Channel Ten sometime. We’re the best in the city.’

‘I’ve no doubt.’

She picked up her recycling bin. ‘So are you from Richmond?’

He inched closer but still remained at arms’ distance. ‘No. I’m from out West.’

‘Where? I’ve traveled out there quite a bit.’

He shrugged. ‘You name it and I’ve lived there. But Denver was my home originally.’

‘And what brought you East?’

‘Work.’

Asking nosey questions was in her DNA. ‘What do you do?’

‘Insurance.’

That was a letdown. She figured him for something more adventurous. ‘Ah.’

He grinned, clearly reading the tone in her voice. ‘Not as exciting as reporting the news.’

She was being rude. ‘I’m sure it has its moments.’

‘It can.’

‘I would think you’d have more of a nine-to-five schedule.’

‘Oh, I do. I just don’t need much sleep and I’m a night owl.’

A silence settled between them. She needed sleep more than she needed to stand here and chat with a stranger. ‘It’s late and I’ve had a long day. You have a very good evening, Mr Markham.’

‘I’ll do that, Ms Shaw.’ He held her gaze just long enough to make her feel the tiniest bit uncomfortable before he smiled. ‘Sleep tight, Kendall Shaw.’

She called herself Amanda now. But Allen knew her true name. Her real identity. To him she was Rachel. And she would soon be a part of his Family.

He stared up at her apartment window. Her lithe form passed in front of the window shade. He could make out her trim waist and full breasts as she paced back and forth. She appeared to be on the phone. His groin tightened with desire. He wanted to touch her.

His thoughts were sinful. Evil. And yet he couldn’t banish them. Didn’t want to banish them. With Ruth he’d kept his desires at bay and Judith had been so full of fight there’d been no room for lust. But Rachel was different. Sweet, soft Rachel pranced in front of him like a wanton goddess. He knew it would be nearly impossible to restrain his sexual desire.

Normally, he didn’t like the cold. It reminded him of the days he was on the run and hiding. There’d not always been money for food or heat. But tonight he welcomed the cold and prayed it would cool his sinful thoughts. He unzipped his jacket until a fierce shiver passed through him.

And still the temptation to take her boiled his blood. Slowly, Allen started to pace up and down the sidewalk. Thoughts swirled in his head. It wasn’t Sunday yet. It wasn’t time to welcome Rachel into the Family. But waiting four more days felt like forever.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cigarette. With a trembling hand, he raised it to his lips, lit it, and took a drag. Inhaling, he savored the burn of tobacco in his lungs. He held the smoke a moment, then exhaled slowly.

‘Patience is mine,’ he muttered.