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| IMPOSTER BY MARIQUA |
CHAPTER 59 |
She knows...she knows he's alive...somewhere, and that I may be a link to him. How long can I keep her at bay before she fits it all together?
There was no doubt in Slider's mind as he assessed the intelligence of the woman in front of him, that she would continue to hound him until he gave her some answers. Looking at her closely again, he couldn't help but admire Z's taste in women. Attractive...great body...nice legs...and sharp...very sharp...
"If you don't mind my asking...how do you know Todd? Did you grow up together?"
Easy...she can't get too close...but no harm in telling her some things...just enough...
"Yes, we went to school together. We were good friends."
"Friends? Well, I'm glad to know he did have some friends in his past. I always wondered about him because he always made more enemies than friends."
"I think I was probably his best friend," Slider added. "He didn't make too many friends even back then." Except later...after Nick showed up...then everyone began to see Z differently.
Tell him to stop...tell him to stop...tell him to stop....
The words were like a steady thrumming of a drum beat in Sherry's consciousness, but not even these words could deaden the swarm of sensations coursing through her as his lips sank deeper and deeper into hers. Her body was responding passionately to his as if she were another person, and as if her mind was standing out somewhere in the room looking on. Releasing her hands, his own hands slid slowly down the length of her arms -- stopping right above her chest -- the warm pressure of them against her dress. As he lifted his mouth from hers, he paused and looked straight into her eyes -- this time not seeking her approval for he already knew that it had been given.
I think you know a lot about him, Slider...what I need to know...and I'm going to find out just what that is...but this isn't the way to do it...
Rising from the chair suddenly, Tea's graceful hand reached out to shake his again. "I'm sorry...I've taken up too much of your time, but I do want to discuss Todd's past with you. Would you be available for lunch this week?"
As he took her hand again, she noticed this time the absence of a wedding ring on his finger.
Lunch? With Z's wife no less...well, why the hell not? It might be valuable to get to know her...and, I certainly don't want to make her suspicious.
"How's Monday?" he said scanning the desk calendar in front of him.
"Monday's good. I'm staying at a hotel downtown, so I'll just meet you here around noon, okay?"
"I look forward to it...Tea," his tanned face broke into a sunny smile.
"Thank you...Slider," she smiled back in response to his warmth. "I do, too."
The hulking man by the pillar relaxed his rigid position and prepared to leave the premises. Listening to a few people expound on the virtues of a man whom he despised was not exactly his idea of a good morning, but he was used to having to do things in his line of work that were distasteful. An appearance by Sykes had not surprised him either because he suspected the Commissioner wanted to keep his good name in the community. Always the politician, huh Sykes...and you think you're so damn smart. Walking outside, he nodded at one of his men who rapidly approached him.
"You were right. Lots of activity over at Angel Square. They put men on to find her right after she disappeared."
"Did you tail any of them?"
"Yes, and it's now confirmed from two sources that she was there for a few days hiding out.
"Nothing else?"
"Not yet...you know most of the locals won't talk...unless one of them decides to take a payoff. That's what his men are doing now -- trying to pry out the information."
Del dug his hands into his pockets and felt the tip of the unwrapped cigar he had thrown in earlier. "The minute you find out anything, I want to know...that means any time."
"Right...will do."
Del watched the agent leave and clutched the cigar tightly in his pocket. Striding away from the scene of milling attendees, he headed toward his car. At last drawing the cigar out of its hiding place, he took off the wrapper and almost sighed with appreciation. Just what I needed...always did help me think...and I need to think because everything is still screwed up. I will know what's going on with you, chiquta...count on it.."
He had stopped not because he was uncertain of her, but because he was aware that something was happening to him. All his existence had been for someone else, and he had stood in some neutral zone watching another man's life unfold with moments such as this -- moments where happiness materialized because of a connection that went beyond selfish concerns. This was his moment in time to revel in the sweetness of intimacy and to take what was given to him. There was no escaping his need for everything that she was, but in a deep, small corner of his mind an echoing voice had taken root. She's not yours...
Toddy...so you're coming out of your shell to lecture me? Me...the one and only one who kept you sane all these years? I'm the one who made you a star and got you your big chance to have a life that other boys only dreamed of. Football...girls...you got it all. Okay...we slipped along the way...Pete...I created him to protect you, but I never knew that you and he would bond together in some vile way to suit your purposes. You shut me out then, and there was nothing I could do. I'm glad you and I finally anilhated that bastard. He was so demented he thought he was the master of your fate, but he was wrong, wasn't he?
I will have her, Toddy...this time I'm not standing back watching you make love...I deserve this and you know it!
And Slider...that's it...you want to protect him? He's clueless about her...all that intelligence but not a grain of common sense. This woman has sacrificed her life to her career...and him. You know I can give her what she needs and...she's what I want, Toddy...what I want.
Slider remained standing as she left his office. Frown lines appeared on his brow and he randomly shuffled the papers on his desk. I'm hiding a fugitive who's presumed dead and his wife is nipping at my heels. This whole thing could blow up in all our faces if I don't get you back, Z. Nick...Nick has got to go, and he's getting stronger every day.
At least she didn't seem to notice the book...I don't know if she even knows about Nick...or Pete...or whoever else there might be lurking around in his mind. Turning off his desk lamp, he threw his book and some folders into a briefcase. As he walked to the door, his mind focused again on the problem of Nick. He's a real and present danger...especially after last night. I need to talk to Sherry...she needs to stay the hell away from him..
Tea pulled off the long scarf and let it fall on the bed. So...Slider was your school friend...I can see it, Todd...you and him as a team...probably causing trouble. He's nice though...intelligent, too...you picked a good friend. My guess is he was much more than just a friend...more like a brother.
Something nagged at her thoughts as she removed her suit jacket. She had seen something that she had mentally registered at the time, but now seemed to have forgotten. What was it? Her eye for detail had enabled her to take in a lot of Slider's office in one sweeping glance -- his framed degrees, books, figurines and knickknacks....wait a minute! Books...no, a book...
So you have nothing to say to me about it, and you'll have to watch this time, Toddy...
Sherry's mind had had a few seconds to think while he gazed silently at her, and now she felt the constraints of time and place as she realized at last where they actually were. This was Slider's home, and he would return and to what? Suddenly a sense of deep shame at her weakness passed over her like a hot flame -- blocking out her overpowering desire. As much as she wanted Nick, she didn't want her little secret to be discovered -- especially by him.
A familiar sound made it easy for her to extricate herself from him. "That's my beeper! Jerry...I...I have to call..."
Nick's eyes darkened at the interruption, but he wasn't about to be deterred after everything that had happened in the last few minutes. She stood with her back facing him and spoke into her cell phone.
"Jerry...what's up? Emergency?" she asked cradling the phone against her ear. "No, I'll be home today...I'll stand by in case that accident is more than you can handle..."
A brush of a hand had swept her thick, lustrous hair to the side of her neck as she talked, and the soft lips touching her skin electrified her again.
"Ye...yes...Jerry," she said trembling and ready to drop the phone to the floor as she hung up. The strands of her hair were raked through and lifted again with gentle insistence, and once more her will surrendered as his mouth pressed into her skin.
Shuddering with intensity, her body responded as his arms encircled her and his fingers rhymically moved across her middle and inched slowly upward.
"I'm going to make you feel alive," he whispered softly into her ear as his warm mouth traveled upward.
"Well, I haven't seen you around lately either," the sound of a muffled voice penetrated through the front door and into the room. Sherry's body reacted instantly and braced for the totally unnerving possibility that this voice belonged to a man she already felt she had betrayed.
Nick's grip on her tightened as he felt her body flinch with the sound,
and
he spoke tensely, "Shhh...calm down...get ready to hide... I'll take
care
of everything."
