When Twilight Comes - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,43
don’t want Charlene to see you, no matter what. Have you got that?”
“Got it,” Rico said, in a tone that said he wasn’t stupid.
Raymond wished he could believe that. “I’ll be there within the hour.” He hung up and called the pilot to get the helicopter ready.
ONCE FREE OF THE COPS, Lorenzo pulled out his new cell phone and called Alfredo. He answered on the first ring.
“What’s going on?” Lorenzo demanded. “Don’t you dare tell me you lost her.”
“Nope, I can see her car up ahead. We’re stopped because of some road problem. I tried to call you—”
“I had no cell phone for a while.”
“She’s got another tail, though. Picked it up right after we left the apartment. I’ve been following both her and the tail.”
Lorenzo tried to calm himself. “Who else is following her?”
“Dunno. I’ll take a look.”
Lorenzo heard Alfredo’s car door open, then close. He waited.
After a few minutes he heard the sound of the car door opening, the springs on the seat groaning, then, “Hey, can you believe it? It’s Rico Santos.”
Rico. Lorenzo swore. So Valencia was one step ahead of him. How? Charlene. Had she sold the information to Valencia? Lorenzo wouldn’t put it past her. He swore again. “Tell me where you are.” He took down the directions. “Did Rico see you?”
“Naw, I didn’t think you’d want me letting him know I was following her, too.”
“Good work, Alfredo. Now make sure Rico doesn’t follow her any farther. When she reaches wherever she’s headed, call me and wait for further instructions. I’m on my way.”
He remembered that Jenna’s car was still parked at the service entrance. The damn cops had turned the tow truck driver away so they could search her car. Lorenzo had told the cops that it had some kind of mechanical problem and that’s why Jenna had left it there and called someone to give her a ride home. He didn’t know who. He didn’t care.
Now he would have to call the towing company again. They would charge him double. But he never wanted to see Jenna’s car again. He should have dumped it in the lake the way he had Franco’s.
He quickly packed his belongings. Charlene had promised to call as soon as she had the package. As if he would trust her to do that. A woman like Charlene would open the duffel—if Jenna was stupid enough to still have all that money in nothing more than a duffel bag.
From where Alfredo said he was stopped in traffic, it was a good two-hour drive. But Lorenzo had no choice but to head up there. Alfredo would buy him time by taking out Rico. And if need be, he’d have Alfredo take care of Charlene and get the money.
Jenna, though, was another story. As dangerous as it was, Lorenzo wanted to take care of her himself.
MY GOD, SHE COULD SEE HIM.
Jenna stumbled back, a look of horror on her face.
It’s all right. Don’t be afraid.
Harry didn’t dare move toward her. He still couldn’t believe that she could see him. He wanted to rejoice, to sing and dance and shout. She could see him.
“Please go away,” she moaned as she backed up against the wall of the bathroom, then slid down to the floor, as if her legs would no longer hold her up. Tears welled in her eyes. She bit her lower lip and squeezed her eyes shut.
Is that really what you want? He stepped toward her, desperately wanting to touch her, to reassure her, to look into her eyes and have her gaze into his. He’d never dreamed this would ever happen. Not after seventy years of being nothing. Of not being heard. Or seen.
But now…
She tried to draw back as he cupped her cheek with his hand. “Please, don’t.” But even as she said the words, she turned her head to press her lips into his palm. Her tears splashed down over his fingers. He could feel them, just as he could feel her.
Somehow she had breached the barrier that had enclosed him all these years and kept him prisoner.
I don’t know. I think you were sent here. For me, he thought. This woman he felt such intense emotions for had opened a door and released him. And now the ache to live again was so strong in him that he knew he would do anything to reclaim a place in her world.
Open your eyes. Look at me.
MIKE FLANNIGAN SLAMMED on his brakes and swore.
Rose caught her breath as she