Tracie Peterson Read online

  Cara smiled. “You just never stop, do you?”

  Harry grinned and pulled her gently against him. “I’ve been called determined. I mark a course, set my sights, and follow it.”

  “And you’ve set your sights on me, I suppose.”

  Harry kissed her slowly and very gently. It was almost as if he knew that to present too harsh a force would cause Cara to run, even from him. She allowed herself to be lost in his touch for just a moment. Perhaps Harry was right. Perhaps the only thing to do was walk away while she still had something to salvage.

  Pulling away first, Cara said, “I’ll do it. We’ll go back to Topeka tomorrow. If I wait, I might not go through with it.”

  “Good girl,” Harry said approvingly. “You’ll announce your resignation at a press conference?”

  “Yes.” Cara was beginning to feel some control return to her life.

  “And what about the rest?” Harry questioned.

  “The rest?”

  His lopsided grin was enough to warn her. “About marrying me and moving away to raise a large family,” he said rather innocently.

  Cara pushed at him with her hands and would have quipped something sarcastic, but the moonlight revealed that she’d just smeared something across his white shirt. Looking closely at her hands, Cara gasped to realize it was blood.

  “What’s the matter?” Harry asked, taking her hand in his. Holding it up to the light, he could see the problem for himself. “Nasty cut there, Lieutenant Governor. I guess I didn’t guard you well enough.”

  “I got blood all over your shirt,” she said, pulling back her hand.

  Harry would have no part of that and held her fast. “The shirt will wash, but we need to see about this first. Are you up-to-date on your tetanus shots?” he asked, taking her down the path toward the house.

  “Yes, and I can take care of this myself, Harry.”

  “Sorry, ma’am, it’s my job to see to your well-being.” He tried to take on the airs of a serious state trooper, but he couldn’t hold the pose without chuckling. “Come on, I promise I won’t use the stuff that stings. Just let me practice on you, and you’ll see how good I can be with real children.”

  Cara sobered. “I already have,” she murmured, remembering him with Brianna.

  Harry caught her serious tone. “And did I pass inspection?”

  Nodding, Cara replied, “Most definitely, Lieutenant. Most definitely.”

  ****

  With a promise of a quick return to Hays, Cara and Harry left the Brown farm and made their way back to Topeka. It was a straight shot on the interstate, and Harry calculated they could arrive in little more than four hours.

  “If I use my siren we can be there in even less time,” he teased.

  When they were less than an hour away from the capital, Cara turned the radio on and was surprised to hear Kerns’ voice.

  “It has been a difficult decision to make. . . .”

  Cara glanced at Harry in surprise. “It’s Kerns,” she said, then turned the volume up.

  “Debra and I appreciate the show of support from those around us, and we know our friends will continue to offer us encouragement in the days to come.”

  The news commentator came on at that point and said, “That was Governor Kerns announcing the family’s decision to seek medical treatment for First Lady Debra Kerns. Debra has suffered from years of alcohol abuse, and in his speech the governor bravely related that the family will stand by her as she undergoes treatments at Menninger’s.”

  Cara turned the radio off and stared at the highway as it stretched out in front of them. “He’s getting rid of everyone,” she finally spoke. “One by one, anyone who’s crossed him is being eliminated.”

  “Debra’s had a problem for a long time, as I hear it.”

  “You would, too, if you were married to Kerns,” snapped Cara. “Sorry, Harry, I didn’t mean to . . .”

  “I know,” he said, reaching to hold her hand.

  “It’s just that he manages to come out smelling like a rose. It isn’t just the campaign or Teri Davis, or even this. Bob has systematically arranged for the demise of all complications in his life.”

  “Well, you’ll be out of it soon enough.”

  Cara knew that Harry was trying to ease her concern, but it only served to further her worry. “But who else will he go after?”

  “It’s not your problem, Cara. Think of Brianna and even of HEARTBEAT. You’re needed elsewhere. Don’t give Kerns and his games another thought.”

  “I can’t do it, Harry.” She made the statement without considering the consequences.

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that I can’t resign my position. Not now. Don’t you see? Bob would want me to resign. He knows I’ll stand up to him eventually. He knows I’m only here because he pulled the right strings. But now with Russell gone, and Bob slowly taking out any competition to his will, there won’t be anyone to stand up to him.”

  “It isn’t your battle, Cara. Resign your position and let God deal with Kerns.”

  “But what if I’m the way God intends to deal with him? Don’t you wonder why I got caught up in this in the first place?” Cara shifted as much as the seat belt would allow her. She looked hard at Harry’s tight-lipped expression. He wasn’t happy with her decision, and she felt that somehow she had to convince him to see things her way. “Before, I could never see a reason for me being forced into this campaign in the first place. But now . . . just maybe . . . I do.” She waited a moment for the words to sink in before continuing.

  “Bob Kerns is used to dealing with people as if they were commodities to be bought and sold. He uses them one by one, until he uses them up, and then he casts them aside for something or someone new. Debra drinks to forget what he is and to ignore what she’s become with him. Even his daughter, Danielle, slinks around in silence, trying to be whatever it is she can be in order to please him. He hardly even notices that she’s alive.”

  “But, Cara, think about last night. Think about your own losses because of Kerns. He’s keeping you from Brianna.”

  “No,” Cara said firmly. “My fear is keeping me from Brianna. I haven’t trusted God on this, Harry, and He’s straightening me out about it even as we speak. I’ve let Bob Kerns run my life, not God. I’ve let Bob Kerns dictate my attitude and environment, but no more. If I don’t stand up to him, who will?”

  “There are bound to be others who feel just as you do,” Harry offered, glancing at her for only a second before turning his attention back to the road.

  “Yes, but others won’t be in the position I am.”

  “Which is?”

  Cara drew a deep breath. “I’m the lieutenant governor of Kansas. I can cite Kerns for inappropriate activities and behavior if I’m there to witness them. I’ll have to get proof, but once I do, I won’t have anything to lose in using it against him.”

  Harry said nothing for several minutes, and Cara knew he was trying to deal with her decision. Reaching out, she put her hand on his arm.

  “Harry, we have to let God work through us, but He can’t do that if we run away from our responsibilities.”

  “Yeah, I guess Jonah in the Bible proved that,” Harry said unwillingly. “I just don’t like worrying about you and knowing that you’ll be putting yourself into the thick of things.”

  “But you’ll be there to protect me, won’t you?” She smiled at him, hoping that he’d understand her need to see this through.

  “You’d better believe it,” he assured. “And when this is all over with, you’re going to marry me, right?” He grinned at her to let her know all was well between them.

  “I’ll think about it,” she replied, crossing her arms and looking ahead.

  Thirty-Eight

  With a minor exception to the seasonal change, Topeka looked no different than it had when she’d left eight months earlier. Outside the Capitol, carefully tended flower beds displayed a variety of roses and the
air hummed with the sound of lawn equipment. Harry dropped Cara off at the tunnel entrance on the south side.

  “I’ll be right up,” he told her.

  “Meet me in my office,” she replied. “I’m going to see Kerns first and let him know that I’m back.”

  “Be careful.”

  Cara’s heels clicked against the highly polished floor as she made her way to the governor’s office. Kerns wouldn’t expect her until next week, and she hoped that by catching him off guard, his defenses would be down. What Cara found instead was an empty office and a noncommittal Serena Perez.

  “I really have no idea when Bob will be back. He wasn’t expecting you until next week, you know.”

  “Yes, I’m quite aware of that,” Cara answered and glanced at her watch. “Look, I’ve got something else to take care of, but I’ll be back. If Bob calls, tell him I need to talk to him right away.”

  Serena flashed a smug smile, suggesting that if it wasn’t too inconvenient she’d pass the message along.

  Cara turned to head out the door just as the telephone rang. Pausing outside, she heard Serena answer brightly, “Governor Kerns’ office.”

  She started to leave, but at the way Serena dropped her voice in the charade of seductress, Cara couldn’t help but eavesdrop.

  “No, I have no idea,” Serena was saying. “Her name is Melissa Jordon. She was here the day Debra Kerns went berserk.”

  At the mention of Melissa’s name, Cara felt a blanket of dread wrap itself around her. Was Melissa in danger?

  “Kerns had her removed, that’s all I know.” There was a long pause and Serena finally said, “Okay, I’ll let you know if I learn anything.” Another pause. “Yes, I know he has to pay. There are a great many things he’s going to answer for if I have my way.”

  Cara hurried from the office, remembering to stay on her toes until she was well away from the door. What was going on? And who was Serena talking about? She burst into her own office and found Harry reading a copy of The Capital-Journal.

  “Something’s wrong!” she declared, reaching for the telephone.

  Harry threw the paper down and got to his feet. “What?”

  “I just overheard Serena talking to someone on the telephone. She mentioned Melissa being taken away on Kerns’ orders and something about someone having to pay for what they’d done.”

  Harry frowned and sat back down. “Who are you calling?”

  “Peter.”

  “Where’s Kerns?”

  Cara shrugged. “Serena was unable to pinpoint a location for him.” She held up her hand to stop Harry’s next question. “Peter, it’s Cara. Is Melissa there?”

  Cara grimaced. “When did you last talk to her?” Pause. “Two days?” Harry came to the edge of his chair as Cara continued. “No, I haven’t seen her either. Look, we need to talk. Harry and I will come to Lawrence. Stay home. We should be there in about half an hour.”

  She hung up the telephone and turned to Harry. “Melissa’s been missing for two days, and Peter’s half out of his mind.”

  “I want you out of this.”

  “I can’t, Harry. Now he has Melissa. I got her into this and I have to get her out.”

  “It may already be too late.”

  “Don’t say that!” Cara exclaimed, then lowered her voice. “Come on, I told Peter we’d come to the house. We need to work together.”

  They rushed out and had just reached the elevator when the gate-styled door opened and Danielle Kerns hurried off. She seemed to be crying and, from the look of her puffy eyes, had been doing quite a bit of it.

  “Danielle?” Cara called out, but the girl would have nothing to do with her and hurried around the corner and into her father’s office.

  “I wonder what that was all about,” Cara said, getting on the elevator.

  “It may all be related,” Harry said, then nodded his head to the elevator attendant. “First floor,” he instructed.

  Cara remained silent until they were safely in Harry’s car. “Forty-eight hours is a long time,” she whispered.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  ****

  Melissa pushed at the steel door one more time, as though the other fifty or more times had never occurred. Kerns had locked her in a basement area of the Capitol building, nicknamed “The Dungeon.” This area, now used for storage, had once housed state prisoners in bygone days. The walls were thick stone, and with the steel doors, they became silent tombs from which no cry could be heard. This particular cell was far removed from any traffic flow, and after two days of confinement, Melissa knew this cell might be her final resting place.

  The heavy musty smell was overwhelming, and the only thing that brought her any comfort at all was that the light switch was on the inside of the cell and couldn’t be turned off by Kerns. She paced the small room and knew by heart that it was ten steps to the end and five steps across. There had once been a stack of boxes at one end because the dusty outline was still imprinted on the floor. Apparently, Kerns had emptied the room to house her.

  The rattle of a key in the lock and the sliding bolt being pulled back caused Melissa to come to attention as Kerns appeared with two security guards. Unsure of what he planned, Melissa blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

  “Kerns, I want to make a deal.”

  “You have nothing I want,” the governor replied with a humorless smile.

  “I think I might,” Melissa hurried on. “Maybe we could discuss this without your sidekicks. After all, it has to do with a certain baby.”

  Kerns’ lips tightened as he clenched and unclenched his jaw. With a flick of his wrist, he motioned the two guards outside. When the door was closed, he turned back to Melissa.

  “If you and Cara would have stayed out of things, you wouldn’t be here now.”

  “If I’d stayed out of things, I wouldn’t have proof of Jamie Davis’s existence.”

  “There is no proof.”

  “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong.” Melissa summoned all of her courage. “I finally had my audience with the coroner.”

  “So?” Kerns seemed unconcerned.

  “I talked the man out of papers. Papers that confirm that Teri Davis had given birth recently, enough to be nursing a baby.”

  “Mrs. Jordon, if you thought to win your freedom by this, you’re gravely mistaken. If anything, you are only making it clear that I can never let you go.”

  Melissa swallowed hard. “My husband knows about the papers. If I’m gone much longer, he’ll turn them over to the police.”

  Kerns’ face contorted and he took a menacing step toward Melissa. Cowering back a pace, Melissa pressed her case. “I could turn the papers over to you. But only if I’m released. You could then eliminate the originals, and no one would be the wiser.”

  “I could just kill you and your husband and put an end to this nonsense once and for all.”

  Melissa could stand it no longer. Surprising both Kerns and herself, she charged at him, connecting her fist to his chin. It was the only strike she made, as Kerns easily maneuvered her arms behind her back, pivoting Melissa until her face was just inches from his.

  “You’ve just signed your death warrant,” he said, his breath landing hot against her cheek. “Maybe your husband’s as well.”

  “No! He hasn’t done anything to deserve this!” She struggled against him, but he pushed her away, knocking her onto the damp floor.

  Kerns pulled open the steel door and looked down at her, the thrill of power evident on his face. “You should have played the game my way.”

  The door closed, shutting her off from the world and life. The only thing left to Melissa was her tears. Breaking into sobs, she laid her head against her knees and gave in to despair. Her bluff had failed. Now she would die.

  ****

  “But, Peter, there has to be some clue as to what she was doing—what she was working on.” Cara looked at Melissa’s husband with hopeful eyes.

  “I was gon
e for two weeks,” he said, getting up to pace for the fifth time. “We talked on the telephone, but only briefly and never about much of anything related to her job. Two days ago, she stopped returning my calls, and when I got back I found all my messages still on the machine.” He paused and shook his head. “I called the newspaper thinking that maybe they’d sent her out on an assignment somewhere.”

  “And?” Cara questioned.

  “And her last assignment was to get an interview with the budget director regarding state finance.”

  “That would have put her at the Capitol,” Cara said, looking at Harry.

  Harry asked, “Have you checked with the budget office?”

  “She never made it there,” Peter said dejectedly.

  Cara looked around the room. “Does she have an office here?”

  Peter nodded. “Sure, we share the second bedroom as an office. I have a desk and so does she.”

  “Can we look?”

  “Of course,” Peter said, sounding completely exhausted.

  “Hey, buddy, why don’t you rest,” Harry suggested. “Cara and I might be able to spot something quicker.”

  Peter laughed dryly. “I haven’t been able to rest since I got back, and I doubt you could either if it was your wife involved instead of mine.”

  Harry said nothing, but Cara felt his eyes on her as Peter led the way through the house. He showed them to the office and stood aside while Cara and Harry rummaged through papers and folders.

  “We’ve got to find out what she was doing apart from her assignment at the paper. My guess is that somehow Kerns got wind of it and didn’t like what he heard. Melissa probably knew too much and he felt threatened.”

  “So you think Kerns has her?” Peter asked in a voice that broke. “But why?”

  It was obvious to Cara that Melissa had told Peter very little of their concerns regarding Kerns. Finding nothing that seemed to make any sense, Cara straightened up and tried to smile sympathetically. “I can’t tell you everything, Peter. But I will find her, and I will see that Kerns pays for this.”

  Her hand was on the corner of the desk where a manila envelope sat precariously perched on the edge. Moving her hand, the envelope fell to the floor. All three stared at it for a moment before Cara reached down and picked it up. Somehow knowing this was the key, Cara opened the envelope and read through the contents.