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| IMPOSTER BY MARIQUA |
CHAPTER 41 |
"You should know the answer to that question, Nick. You seem like an intelligent person…what do you think I'm going to do?"
Nick smiled lazily and his eyes narrowed slyly. "Well…I think you're going to get much more personal with me when you have to begin your …treatment."
Assuming a more authoritative manner, Sherry briskly instructed him, "Lie down, Nick. I've got a lot of work to do."
As he leaned back to expose his body to her, Sherry tried not to notice the glint of worldliness in his eyes, and she wondered again who he really was.
"I'm going to clean the gash first," she said and gave him a look that indicated it would not be pleasant. He nodded, and his eyes looked upward as if to mentally prepare himself.
The first touch on his wound was like molten fire inside him, and his long arm automatically shot out and grabbed her wrist with such force that she cried out.
"Easy!" she managed to speak normally again as he slowly released her hand.
"Need some help?" Slider asked appearing back in the room. "Wrong number and she wouldn't take no for an answer, " Slider explained about the phone call as he stood watching the precise way in which Sherry treated the wound.
"Slider to the rescue," Nick said in a way calculated to jar Slider's memory again.
Don't even go there yet. First thing we do is get you fixed up…all that other stuff can wait.
"You can wash up and help me clean the wounds," Sherry said with some relief in her voice that Slider had returned.
"Will do," Slider said and left again.
"Good thinking," Nick said derogatorily as she skillfully dabbed on some ointment. "And when did you wash up, Dr. Sherry?"
"In the kitchen. I wouldn't do this if I hadn't. Don't you trust me Nick?" she said with something of a smile indicating that she was relaxing more and was less intimidated by him than she had been before.
"I don't trust doctors period, but in your case," he said with a low, velvety quality to his voice as he looked at the way her thick dark lashes curled up along the edges, "I may have to make an exception."
You're letting your guard down, Dr. Sherry…I wouldn't if I were you.
Tea walked into the room she had kept available at the Palace Hotel and quickly made mental notes of what she needed to do. It wasn't possible for her to stay here for the rest of the night. Her very overprotective FBI brother would tick off all the places she was likely to go, and this was one of them. Neither did she want to hide out at anyone's home because she knew he would check everywhere in Llanview. No, she had to get out of Llanview, get some sleep and then plan her next move. They think you're dead, querido, but I know you're not.
On her way in she had grabbed an early morning edition of the Banner, and the headlines had almost sent her sprawling on the floor of the Palace lobby.
The lights twinkling through the sheer curtains made the room almost cheerful, but she ignored anything that would distract her from her purpose. She didn't have a minute to lose. Plopping her purse down on the bed, she bent down and tugged a suitcase out from under the bed. I'll need enough to get by on for awhile, and the rest I can buy. Good thing I have a good deal of cash money…Del could trace the credit cards.
The nurse behind the desk saw the large-framed man walking purposely down the hallway. "Uh oh," she said worriedly to another nurse nearby. "He's back!"
"Hi," Del said with an easy smile as he saw them staring at him. "I'm going to see Tea Manning."
"Mr. Delgado? Yes…well, it seems that Mrs. Manning has left the hospital."
"Whaaaat?" Del growled loudly, and the nurses exchanged looks. He pointed a finger at them as if to say something and then angrily pulled out his cell phone. This is the payment I get, chiquita? You're up to your little tricks again…but why?
"Davis? Delgado. My sister is missing. She's left the hospital on her own accord, and I want her found! Got that?
A soft breeze lightly blew wisps of Viki's hair as she gazed stonily at the pastel roses in the garden. Never had she felt such a sense of isolation. It was as if Llanfair represented a cocoon where she had been hidden away in a deep slumber and now she was finally waking up. Years of memories…years of happiness and sorrow in these walls…I was multiple people in this house. Who is Viki Carpenter really?
Some lawyer you are! You've got a reputation most would kill for, but you're completely hopeless with someone like Viki Carpenter. What is it about her that turns you into some kind of wimp? You turned and ran…just like you did that day you saw your ex and her lover together at the college.
Hurling the glass against the wall had stirred up feelings in Sam that he had thought he had kept safely under control. He had done nothing back then either…he had given up without a fight and he had lost her forever. Why? It was never clear to him why he had turned his back so completely on the marriage. Maybe it had been his youthful stubbornness, or maybe it was because he had realized the fallacy of their relationship from the beginning.
For years he had also pined for a woman who held him only as a close friend in her thoughts. Torturing himself over her had been instrumental in ending his second marriage and had effectively eliminated the need to search for someone he could love and who would want to love only him.
Walking over to the bookcase, he remembered the light that shone in Viki's eyes when she had discovered he was a former writer. The way she had hung on every word he was saying with such interest and pride had given him a rush of pleasure, and made him want to tell her not just that…but everything. I saw you…I saw who you are…and I saw more than just friendship in your eyes.
Spinning around on his heels, he snatched up his jacket -- heedless of the fact that his shirt was half unbuttoned or that his hair was a wavy mess. No thing is going to stop me this time. I'm going to know your answer tonight!
Tea struggled to get a grip on the suitcase which she had overloaded with clothes. Looking around the room carefully, she made sure she had remembered everything. She couldn't take a cab this time. She couldn't even take her car, which was still parked in the Penthouse parking garage. The only thing she could do would be to sneak out of this hotel and find a place to hide out and maybe borrow a car. She still had friends in Angel Square who would help her. They would be discrete, too. Del doesn't know these people.
This would be the last time she saw this room, and she wasn't sorry. Those days of distrust in her husband were over. All she wanted to do now was find him. There was still a lingering feeling that he had a final ring of fire to go through, and she wanted to be there to help him. Clicking off the light, she softly shut the door and resolutely headed toward the stairs.
Nick examined Sherry as she focused on his ministrations and began to bring back in his mind the recent memory of her entrance into Slider's home. It had always been his forte to know the weaknesses of those around him and something had triggered his instincts as she had walked in with an apparent high level of comfort at being there. She's been here more than just a few times. It's as if she's already at home here. Something else had caught his attention, too. When she looked at Slider, all her studied severity seemed to disappear and her eyes would immediately soften. Could it possibly be that you're in love with my old buddy?
"Great bedside manner, Dr. Sherry. Very soothing…very Eastern."
Sherry cast him a withering look as he referred to her background. You know nothing about me Mr. Whoever You Are, and I think that's the best tact I can take with you.
Returning from the kitchen, Slider got on his knees by the sofa and said willingly, "What do I do?"
"We'll finish cleaning and applying the salve…then we'll have to bandage the larger wounds. After that, that's it except for setting his arm." They worked quietly and Nick closed his eyes again. What he wanted more than anything was to sleep -- sleep for a long time and wake up to take on the world as he always had.
"Mom?" the whispered voice startled her, and she saw the drowsy face of her daughter peering at her from behind the edge of the open French doors.
"Jessie! Good gracious, what are you doing up?" she said anxiously and rose up from the chair.
"What am I doing up?" Jessie said with half-closed lids and a puzzled expression. "Mom, it's very late. Why are you out here?"
Viki put comforting arms around the shoulders of her daughter and directed her back into the family room. "Just thinking…couldn't sleep. You need to get back to bed."
"Are you coming up?" Jessie asked as her mother moved her along toward the stairs. "In awhile. I may read a bit…it will help to keep me from thinking about so many things."
Jessie yawned softly and dragged herself slowly up the stairs. "Okay. See you in the morning…but don't stay up too late."
Viki stood motionless in the foyer, and her eyes followed her daughter's retreat upstairs. Her eyes traveled downward and spotted the book she had laid on a side table. Smoothing her hand over the cover, she halfway smiled at the title. She had never suspected that Sam had had a much different life than the one he had now. As she opened it to the first page, she felt like an intruder somehow on a very private man -- a man know one really knew well at all. Scanning the first page, she found herself drawn more deeply into the words, and it was as if she were reading something very familiar to her. She picked up the book and walked back out into the garden -- hitting a light switch that illuminated the terraced patio. Curling up in a chaise lounge, she hugged the book closer to her and continued to read.
As she turned each page, ripples of confusion coursed through her. The words seemed to leap out and drive right into her soul. No…no…this can't be!
"Done!" Sherry said satisfactorily as she finished applying the last bandage.
"He's asleep," Slider noted as he saw the lowered lids of their exhausted patient.
"He needs it," Sherry said. "I don't think he's had much at all lately."
"No," Slider said absently -- reflecting on the radio broadcast he had heard about Todd Manning. I'm going to know all of it, Nick…you're going to tell me everything this time.
"His arm?" Slider asked with a questioning look.
"It's fine temporarily. I'm not going to disturb it. He has it anchored well in the sling, and that will do until morning. I'll drop back by as soon as I can."
"Look..Sherry…what you've done…" his arm touched hers so lightly that it was barely there, but his movement immobilized her. What would I do if you ever really touched me?
Attempting to pass off his ardent words, she shrugged her shoulders. "What I've done is patch him up…the healing part will be up to him."
Slider followed her to the small foyer entrance, and they stood silently for a few seconds by the door. In the semi-darkness of the corner of the room, Slider saw the firm, yet gentle look she directed toward him and he was suddenly overcome with emotion that she had been there when he most needed her. Leaning toward her, he kissed the pale skin of her cheek quickly -- retreating back in a smiling, brotherly fashion.
"You're the best, Sherry!" Sherry stared at him with eyes so wide and intense and a face so flushed that Slider's warm blue eyes deepened with surprise and he cautiously backed further away from her.
