Hide My Soul: A Romantic Suspense Thriller Novel (Hide Me Series Book 4) (13 page)

Two months later

Jordan walked into Blaise's home office, finding him bent over paperwork on the desk. She rubbed his shoulders and smiled as he stretched like a cat and pressed into her. "Is that the paperwork from the attorney?" she asked.

"It is," he said fanning the papers at her. "He says it's too early to file a lawsuit. We have to have them declared legally dead first, but as soon as that happens were going to move. The sooner the better, to force them to open Operation Arma files before they are all destroyed."

Jordan's hands tightened on Blaise's shoulder and he looked backwards at her. A lone tear dropped from her eye and he squeezed her hand and pulled her to him. She had cried a lot in the last two months, and he didn't blame her.

His phone rang, cutting off his thoughts. He looked at the screen, feeling that familiar zing of hope that the caller id emblazoned there would say West. It was Brody. He handed the phone to Jordan. "Can you talk to him? Tell him I'll get the full report to him tomorrow. It will be mailed at eight a.m., express mail."

Jordan nodded and took the phone, retreating to another room for the conversation. Blaise watched her go, appreciating her liquid feminine stride, and then turned back to his work. Brody had paid him a crazy salary to quit his job and investigate this atrocity full time, but he wasted too much of Blaise's time trying to hash things out, going over things they'd gone over a dozen times before. Jordan had to run interference between them frequently.

Blaise had been glad when Brody had offered him the job. Blaise had a hard time trying to face the thought of going back to his job at the police department after what had happened to West and Katerina. He knew he would never rest until the bastards that kidnapped them and held them till their fiery death were called out, brought to justice.

Blaise bent over the file again, but the one tiny piece of evidence that had never been officially logged called to him, like it always did. He pulled out the piece of paper that held the screenshot of the missed call on his phone and stared at it, his fingers caressing it. "West," he whispered. "If you're out there somewhere, why haven't you ever tried to call again?"

He slid the piece of paper back into its hiding spot underneath his paper tray. He knew that screenshot didn't mean West was alive. He'd traced the call number to the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel, Nevada, even driven out there with Brody, but no one ever remembered seeing West or Katerina that day. The establishment had insisted they hadn't let anyone fitting that description use the phone. In fact, the owners had eagerly cooperated and let the men look at their records. No one that could have been West and Katerina had rented a room that day either.

But the biggest mystery came when they examined the phone records of the Inn. No call to Blaise's phone was recorded. Brody hired a hacker to break into the phone records and his best guess was that the records had been tampered with and two calls had been removed from the records, but no matter how much money Brody threw at him, the hacker couldn't come up with the two phone numbers.

It didn't fit. None of it fit. So he pushed the call to the back of his mind again and concentrated on the evidence that did fit. Which was precious little. Only what West's text message had said, what Agnes could tell them, and what one lone former agent had come forward and provided. Blaise read the transcript of that conversation again then leaned back in his chair with a sigh. There would be a break eventually, he just had to find it. And he would find it.

He made a deal with himself. He would work for one more hour, and then he would go find Jordan to ease both of their pain in the only way he knew how. With gentle touches and long, soulful kisses that always led to them forgetting about the early demise of their best friends for at least a short while.

Two years, eight months later

"Come on Noemie, were going to be late!" West roared up the stairs in French.

Nothing. He didn't understand what was taking her so long. She was graduating at the head of her class in the first phase of her veterinarian degree today. She'd been so looking forward to it – to moving on to the hands-on portion.

But she had been acting strange all morning, not talking much, and moving slow. She'd taken forever just to get out of bed. West felt a thin stripe of fear strike him right in his midsection. Did she know something she wasn't saying? The sudden anxiousness that their identities were compromised and Kater-- Noemie knew it somehow struck West full in the chest. He took the steps two at a time chiding himself for calling her by her real name in his mind. It had been years, but he still did it sometimes. And he always thought of himself by his former name. A dangerous habit, he knew, but one he had yet to shake.

The sound of the TV upstairs matched perfectly with the sound of the TV downstairs. They had both TVs in the house tuned to CNN twenty four hours a day, always looking for any sort of indication that either there was some sort of a search on for them, or that someone had found out something new about Operation Arma. There had been a bit of an uproar in the days and weeks following their escape and subsequent flight to Switzerland with two new identities and seven thousand dollars in cash that Craig had provided for them. The uproar had been caused by Brody and Blaise, but hadn't lasted long. West wondered every day if his best friend and his brother had gone underground, or if they had been threatened ... or both. He knew they were both still alive. He followed Brody in the business pages but Blaise was harder to watch. He'd quit the police department for some reason and West still couldn't tell what he was up to or what he'd been doing since they'd been gone. West also had no idea what was going on with his father. All he knew was that he'd never seen an obituary for his father, and he prayed that meant the man was still alive.

West reached the second floor of the simple house he and Noemie lived in, and looked in the only bedroom. She wasn't there. That left the bathroom or the attic. He ran to the bathroom door and stopped short, hearing noises inside. Crying.

West's heart lurched in his chest. They had a good life. A simple life, but a good one. They had each other, and although they missed their friends and family, most of the time they were happy. They were free, and they were alive.

Noemie still gave thanks every day that she was a normal person with no more powers, although she did get powerful premonitions that always turned out to be correct from time to time - and she knew nothing about West's powers. He'd never told her. He'd never used them again since that time in Nevada.

But Ka-Noemie was crying? Alone in the bathroom? Why?

He knocked lightly on the door. "Baby," he whispered. "What's wrong?"

She didn't respond, but her soft noises stopped immediately. West jiggled the doorknob but it was locked. Desperation clawed at him and he considered busting in the door. But he could hurt her ...

Something flew underneath the door between his feet. Something long and white. He bent down to pick it up.

It was a pregnancy test. A
positive
pregnancy test.

West's heart glowed full and strong as a fierce sense of longing and excitement gripped him. Pregnant. Katerina was pregnant. He was going to be a father.

They'd never talked about children since the dinner, the day before the wedding when his father had asked Katerina where she stood on the issue. When they arrived in Switzerland, they'd had their hands full learning the language, finding jobs, and just surviving. When things had finally settled down, he'd wanted to broach the subject, but never did, taking his cue from his wife, knowing she would approach it when she felt ready. But also seeing her faithfully take her pill every day.

"Baby, open the door. I'm not mad. I'm overjoyed. Come here and let me kiss you. Let me touch you and talk to my baby. I want to teach him or her the ABCs."

A soft snort came through the door and West smiled. He'd made her laugh. That was a good start.

He heard the lock click as she unlatched it and pulled open the door.

West swept down on her, covering her mouth with his, telling her with his tongue that it was OK, it was good, it was right and he was the happiest man in the world. He finally pulled back and let her breathe. "A baby, a baby Noemie! Why in the world are you sad?"

"So many reasons," she sighed into his chest.

"Didn't you plan it?" he asked cautiously.

"No," she said with finality. "I took my pill faithfully every day, but the best I can figure is that when I had the stomach flu a month ago and was throwing up every day, my hormones got out of whack."

West dropped to his knees in front of her and lifted her shirt, kissing her belly soundly. He stood again and looked her in the eyes, cradling her face tenderly. "Still, a baby is never a reason to be sad."

"West," she whispered and a thrill shot through him. He hadn't heard that name on her lips in years. "School – I'll have to put it off."

"That's okay."

"And work. I want to stay home with the baby."

West kissed her on each cheek. "We'll figure out how to make it work, Katerina. I promise."

They had simple jobs that didn't bring in a lot of money, Katerina working as a veterinary tech and West fixed motorcycles, occasionally able to build one out of used parts.

Katerina looked at him and the pain in her eyes tore at his soul.

"West, I can't help thinking of your father. We don't even know if he is still alive. Are we really going to have a baby all the way around the world and never tell him?"

West hugged her for a long time and didn't speak a word. Finally, he told her the only thing he knew to say. "Some things can't be helped, Katerina."

***

West pushed open the door to their home and flipped on the light, taking a good look around before he walked inside. Habit. His nerves stayed on high alert until he had walked through the house and ensured it was empty. When finished, he found Katerina in the kitchen, wiping the counter down absently. He wrapped his arms around her waist and tucked her body into his, where it fit so well.

"Thanks for dinner," she told him. "Although it was a bit too extravagant."

"We had a lot to celebrate," he reminded her. She lifted her arms to his neck and West prepared to kiss her, but something caught her eye and turned her face to the left. She was staring at the TV in the living room.

"Hey, is that Craig?"

West looked too and recognized him at once. He rushed towards the TV to turn the volume on.
Breaking News
flashed across the screen in bold red letters. West's finger froze on the volume button as he read the text that followed.

.. entire section of the government shut down. Congress raided by FBI. Twenty-two senators led away in handcuffs. President denying responsibility or knowledge
.

West flipped on the volume just as the picture of Craig was replaced by one of Wolf Blitzer. His voice flooded their small house. "
This is the biggest investigation into our legislature since, well, ever. FBI investigators have uncovered reports of the government locking up citizens with no discussion of their rights, no chance at a trial, and actually without any proof of wrongdoing. Many of these people have knowledge or abilities the government is interested in. We have uncovered four secret bases around the country."

West sat heavily in his TV chair, all of his recent good news forgotten.

"The investigation started after a fire at one of these bases three years ago. A lawsuit filed against the government some months later captured the notice of the FBI. Lead investigator Craig Masterson will be holding a press conference in a little over an hour."

Katerina sat down next to West and they watched all night, neither daring to say what the other was thinking. Could they go home now? Were they safe?

Three days later, West walked out to the mailbox, leaving Katerina behind to monitor the news. They had both decided to not change anything until they were able to talk to Craig. They'd been away from home for almost three years, what would a few more days matter? But so far, they hadn't been able to speak with Craig. They saw him on the news, night and day discussing his ongoing investigations, looking harried and tired, but satisfied and strong. His old cell phone number no longer worked, his home number was unlisted, his secretary answered his business line, and West couldn't bring himself to call Emma. He was supposed to be dead, and he didn't know if it was safe yet to shatter that illusion.

His heart was beginning to ache though, at the thought of his family and friends, so far away, thinking he was long dead and gone. It was something he had never let himself think about it until now.

He pulled open the mailbox and reached inside, finding a large, heavy-duty envelope almost big enough to be called a package. West pulled it out and looked at it curiously. The postmark said it was from America - California. West's heart sped up in his chest. Excitement laced through his bloodstream. In all the years they lived here, they never had received anything from America.

It was addressed to Noemie and Marcus Girard. No return address.

West slipped a thumb under the flap, then changed his mind and ran back to the house, yelling his wife's name. It was good news, he knew it.

Katerina met him at the doorway, her eyes wide with fright. He thrust the package into her hands.

Katerina turned the item over, reading what he had read, drawing her own conclusions. With shaking fingers she unsealed the flap and looked inside. West watched her, his breath stuck in his lungs.

Her face clouded for a second and he reached out to steady her. Her eyes misted and she took a step backwards, then ran for their tiny kitchen table.

She turned the fat envelope upside down and shook it. Pictures spilled out across the table.

Jordan and Blaise, kissing at a restaurant, a diamond ring blazing on Jordan's hand.

Brody, a sweet-looking girl on his arm, standing in front of a car in someone's driveway.

West's dad at a festival with an ice cream cone, a devilish grin on his face for the camera.

More, so many more pictures flowed out, telling a story of almost three years without them.

Katerina sobbed, picking up each picture with wonder and exclaiming over it in turn.

West felt wild laughter bubble in his chest. Their family knew they were alive! And they were reaching out!

Katerina pulled out a piece of paper with sloping writing on it, covering both sides. He recognized Blaise's handwriting immediately. "You read it," Katerina said, tears streaming down her cheeks."

Dear Katerina and West,

Hopefully, when this letter reaches you, you will know that we have finally won. We have tailed the corruption as far as we could and all of the people responsible will be going to jail for a long time. We have forty-two former prisoners testifying and we don't need you to do so at this time. Maybe in the future. But right now, you are free to return to your lives whenever you would like.

Craig told us that you both were still alive only six months ago, when it became clear that our investigation was going to be successful. But he swore us all to secrecy and made us promise we would not try to contact you until he was certain you would be safe. Brody and I have been working closely with him since our lawyer filed our first lawsuit against the government for your unlawful detention and death.

Jordan has written you a letter every day since we found out. I have included them all here.

Katerina pulled out a fistful of smaller pieces of paper and held them up, her sobbing turning to laughter. West went on.

We miss you guys more than words can express. Things have been hard here without you. The investigation has been draining in so many ways, and I even had to send Jordan away for a few months when I started receiving threats and our home was broken into. But that's a story for another time. Craig's wife refused to leave, so he moved his office into hers at the fire station and they began to wear Kevlar helmets and jackets to get to and from work. That was a very tough time, but things got safer when the first congressional interviews started. Everyone began pointing the finger of blame at everyone else and forgot about trying to shut us up. Now that the truth is discovered and out, we are as safe as we will ever be.

Enough about that.  Enough about that for the rest of our lives.

No matter what you guys decide to do, we need you to stay put there for at least a few more weeks. A wedding is heading to the church down the street from you.

Jordan finally said yes. She kept putting me off until the investigation and lawsuits were over and done with but then I managed to get her pregnant and she couldn't say no anymore. The date will be on August fifteenth.

Katerina let out a shriek and then ran to West, hugging him tight to her chest, deep sobs wracking her body. West felt his own tears fall into her hair.

"That's a week from now," she said, her voice muffled.

"One week," West repeated and kept reading.

Everyone's coming. Brody, Sam, Agnes. Not Craig though, he's too busy. He sends his regards. We will even be bringing your cat, Nina. She loves to travel – she went with Jordan when I sent her away. We will be there in two days.

Yours in everlasting friendship, Blaise.

Katerina's knees buckled and West had to catch her by the arms to keep her from falling to the floor. She looked up at him, her body limp. "It's over. Truly and forever over. We can go home."

She found her feet again and stood up under her own power, her face wet with tears. She rubbed her still-flat belly. "Our baby will know his or her family, and be raised surrounded by love and friends. That's all I ever wanted."

West kissed her deeply, knowing in his heart that it was all he ever wanted too.

<<<<< The End >>>>>

Author's Note: When I did my planning for the Hide me Series, I ordered the covers and thought the story would be entirely complete by the end of the 4th book. As you see here, the story grew beyond my control and there are so many ways it could continue on. Does Blaise have powers? Does everyone who abducted West and Katerina end up in jail? What about the woman in the hospital who Katerina saved? Does she have powers? And Jordan and Katerina's babies ... are they girls, boys, best friends? Do
they
have powers?

I don't know the answers to these questions although they do intrigue me. The Hide Me Series will be put to bed for now, but I'm sure these questions will fill my dreams, and if I ever decide to write another book, you'll be the first to know ;)

Edge of the Heat 7 available Sep 30th 2015.

as always, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Writing is hard work, but every time I get an email that says I made someone's day a little brighter, a little sweeter, it is all worth it.
If you haven't read the Edge of the Heat series and you are wondering about Craig and Emma, who feature so prominently in this series, they are the H/h of the Edge of the Heat 1 and 2. Check out the free first book of that series,
Edge of the Heat 1
:

About the Author

Lisa became a full time author in the summer of 2014, fulfilling a childhood dream. She lives in the Inland Pacific Northwest, and is married with 2 sons. She is a U.S. Army veteran, plus former paramedic, 911 calltaker/police radio dispatcher, and volunteer firefighter. Her husband is also a veteran, and a retired police officer. Connect with her on her facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/LisaLadewAuthor
or email her. [email protected]