AOT Part5

DRAGONJULS' Storybook
~ All Our Tomorrows ~
J M Dragon
Part Five
© February 2001
e-mail: jmdragon1@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: See Part One

Chapter Ten

“When will I see the merchandise?” the male voice asked, irritated at the delay. She’d said everything was under control.

“I said I had a slight problem, but that I would rectify it and tomorrow you will receive the merchandise.” The woman’s voice rose slightly, angry at this man’s assumption that she wouldn’t come up with the goods. She always did!

“I’ll believe that when I see it! Are you sure you can handle this transaction?” The man was growing impatient at the delay. Normally, they would have had the situation solved and be sitting on a nice wad of money.

“Have you ever known me to fail?” The woman responded in a sharp tone. He was only the middleman, she had to do all the dirty work. What gave him the right to question her?

“No I haven’t, but there’s always a first time for everything. Tomorrow you say? Well, make it early!” The man shouted down the phone before cutting the connection.

“Screw you!” The woman responded into the dead receiver. She looked at her apartment and then at the clock. It was getting late for a trip out of town. She’d have an early night and get there first thing in the morning. The kid wasn’t going anywhere and certainly wasn’t responding. So what if she croaked in the night. There was always another victim around the corner. There would always be another victim.

* * * * * * * * * *

Catherine looked at the fields that were shrouded in darkness. If this was where her daughter was, she would be terrified. It would look so bleak and totally alien to her child. Closing her eyes momentarily, she had to concentrate hard not to shed the tears that were close. Jace wouldn’t have held back. They’d had that particular discussion once…

“Catherine it’s okay to cry.” Jace said quietly as she saw the glistening of tears in her partner’s eyes.

“Don’t be ridiculous Jace. I don’t want to cry! Whatever gave you that idea?” Catherine went to the window of the study and looked out over the moon lit drive. Or at least, that was how it appeared. She could recall the beautiful sight in memory. She had Adam to thank for finding a piece of paradise in this rather concrete and technical world they lived in these days.

“Because, I’m an expert on crying Catherine and I know you want to. Deny it, if you can.” The blonde smiled as she commented, hoping to lighten the situation a little.

“In my family Jace, you do not cry, unless it is in extreme situations.” Catherine replied, her back turned away from her partner.

“What’s an extreme situation? Someone dies?” Jace asked quietly, watching the tall frame of her partner stiffen at the words.

“Yes, precisely. Someone dies.” Catherine replied in a tight voice.

“Happy events aren’t allowed tears of joy?” Jace persisted and moved so that she could place her arms around the waist of her partner and hug her gently.

“Of course they are Jace!”

“Then my darling, it’s okay to cry. We have a beautiful daughter. We are together. What better reason to cry in joy?” Jace said tentatively and her hands gently caressed Catherine’s stomach.

“I nearly lost you!” Catherine choked out and felt the gentle hands of her partner tighten around her at the words.

“I know darling, I know. You didn’t. We are here together and we always will be. We promised each other. I have all your tomorrows, all of them, remember?” Jace tenderly beseeched her partner.

“You said you would love me through them too.” Catherine sobbed as she finally allowed the emotions of the last week to take over.

Jace turned Catherine around, looking into the tearstained face and gave her a reassuring smile, although she couldn’t see. “Oh Catherine, I will love you through them. I promise you.” Jace said, pulling her partner’s head down onto her chest as the normally totally in control woman cried. “We are together Catherine and that’s the main thing. We go through everything together, remember.” Jace held back her own tears, as she soothed her partner.

Catherine wiped a hand over her eyes as Dusterly drew the vehicle to a stop. “Is this it?” she said testily, annoyed at her own weakness.

Serena Dusterly looked at the woman at her side, unable to make out her features in the dark recess of the vehicle. “Yes.”

“Constance can you hear me?” Catherine switched on the radio, speaking clearly.

A ripple of static built up and crackled in the silent environment of the vehicle.

“Constance?” Catherine again said, a little more sharply this time around.

“Yes boss. Right here. Glad you could make it.” Constance Waverly injected a slight touch of humour into the tense situation.

“Good! What have you to report?” Catherine asked quickly, turning up the volume so Dusterly could hear every word.

“Nothing much. Didn’t Ms. Dusterly say this was a disused property?” Constance said as her voice partially broke with the static build up.

“Yes! What have you seen Constance?” Catherine barked out, looking across at Serena Dusterly who held her hands up in dismay.

“There were a couple of guys coming in and out of the barn and the house. Couldn’t quite make them out at this distance. We should have brought some binoculars with us!” Constance stated, annoyance in her voice at their oversight.

“Okay, you weren’t to know. What about Clare and Rita, are they in their positions?” Catherine calmly asked, her own emotions held tightly in check. This was something they hadn’t planned on, but it wasn’t totally unexpected either.

“Clare is at the main gate. Rita is at the rear of the property. I’m at the side and have a view of both of them. Should someone come within three hundred yards, I will have them out of there!” Constance related the specifics as she would at a business meeting with Catherine.

“Okay, Ms. Dusterly and I are going to take a trip to the house and ask for directions.” Catherine responded and was about to cut the radio when she heard Constance reply.

“Catherine, shouldn’t it be one of us that goes with Ms. Dusterly? They might recognise you!”

“No! It has to be this way Constance. If my daughter is in that house, I’m going to get her out. She will need to see a familiar face.” Catherine’s voice broke at the last few words. It wasn’t just a familiar face. It needed to be someone who loved her!

“Catherine, I understand that. Lisa knows me and we can’t take any chances, can we?” Constance tried to reason with the woman, she had heard the break in the tone of her boss.

“I said No! What do you need, the damn thing written in triplicate?” Catherine rasped out, angry that Constance was wasting precious minutes talking.

“She has a point, Ms. Devonshire.” Serena Dusterly hadn’t liked the inclusion of this woman in the plan. It went against all her training. Although, what did you say to someone like Catherine Warriorson?

Catherine turned a glacial expression to the younger woman at her side.

“She has a point? Now why is it that she has a point at this late stage of the game? You frightened to tell me that Dusterly?” Catherine fairly hissed at the woman and waited for her response.

“I’m not frightened of you Ms. Devonshire. That wouldn’t achieve anything, would it? Game plans change all the time. Isn’t that so in business too?” Serena calmly stared back at the dark features. The woman really was quite demonic looking in certain lights and those faint scars made it even more dramatic.

“You think this a game?” Catherine was seething, wanting nothing more than to knock some sense into the woman at her side. Whatever had given her the idea this woman could pull off locating and saving her child from the evil clutches she was held in?

“It is a game Ms. Devonshire, to the people who are playing with our children’s lives. That’s all it is, the game of life! What we have to do is play along with it and hope the dice fall in our favour. Right now, you remaining in the vehicle and unknown to them, may load the dice in our favour.” Serena Dusterly wondered if anything she was currently saying made any sense. She hoped so.

Catherine placed a hand over her eyes in weary recognition of the facts. Both women were right. It didn’t make it feel any better. She wanted to be there. No, she needed to be there.

“Okay, let’s go. I’ll change places with you Constance.” Catherine spoke in a resigned voice.

“Everything will work out.” Serena Dusterly placed a hand on the dark woman’s arm, immediately removing it. Eyes cold as ice bored into hers at the touch on her person.

“Sorry.” Serena said quietly, turning the ignition on, the vehicle now headed for Constance’s position.

* * * * * * * * * *

Jace twisted her wedding ring around her finger. It was a wonder she didn’t mangle the ring as she gazed unseeingly out of the window of the aircraft. They were travelling in daylight now. Athens was about six hours away. A helicopter flight was arranged for immediate take off, once they had gone through the Greek immigration process.

She’d wondered about Catherine’s aunt. Although she’d asked on occasion about her, nothing concrete had been forthcoming from her partner on the subject. Since Catherine’s last visit they hadn’t had that much time to discuss it.

Jace did recall a conversation with Susan Lowther, Catherine’s retired housekeeper in New York, who had also been her father’s for twenty years, until his death.

“Susan, may I ask you a question?” Jace smiled at the older woman, as she watched her partner with their youngest child atop of her shoulders. She was supervising their older two children in their horse riding exercises in the paddock.

Susan turned and beamed at the young woman who had captured the heart of her often-perceived taciturn employer.

“Of course Jace. Go ahead.”

“What was Catherine’s father like?” Jace asked quietly, her eyes went over to the wonderful family picture she had before her. The image always brought a warm glow to her when she saw Catherine so engrossed with the children.

Susan looked at the face of the petite blonde and saw the look of wonder cross her face as she watched her family.

“He was a very private man in many things. Extremely astute in business, so I was told.” Susan said, capturing her own memories to explain exactly how you really would describe Stewart Devonshire.

“I know that Susan. What was he really like under the façade he gave to the outside world?”

“He was the typical Englishman, or at least how the movies project them. I do believe he would have fit in very well if he had been given an acting role to play. He was polite to the point of exasperation for some, strong principled, which he wouldn’t break for anyone. He loved his children!” Susan waited for the reaction to the final comment.

Jace turned startled eyes to Susan. They both knew that wasn’t the impression that Catherine gave of her father. If anything, it was that he didn’t give a damn about his children. “I find that hard to believe with what Catherine has said, his absence alone in their lives when they needed him most must surely testify to that.”

“Ah, my dear Jace. Men like Stewart Devonshire know only one thing when they are hurting badly, they close in on themselves, pushing away the people that love them dearly. They never want to suffer the pain all over again. They shut themselves off from the people who need them the most and who they need the most, if they could only admit it.” Susan gave her a serious glance and looked once more across at the tall dark figure, who was laughing at something Lisa was saying to Jake.

“He hurt her so badly, not wanting them in his life. That doesn’t sound like a man who loves his children to me!” Jace refused to acknowledge the weakness of spirit.

“Jace, he wanted only the best for them and kept in constant touch with Constantia Xianthos as to their well being. He was gutted when Catherine went to prison. It was the first time I saw him cry.” Susan’s face mirrored the pain she recalled, on the tall Englishman’s features.

“He cried for her! Then why didn’t he help her?” Jace beseeched the woman.

“He did help her Jace. He sent his best people to try and secure her release. By the time they did, she had already been at the centre of more problems in the prison. She was lucky to escape with her life, as we know.”

“Why didn’t he make a fresh start and involve himself in her life once she’d been released from prison?” Jace was astonished at the man who said he loved his children. Her father would never have reacted the same way.

“I can’t answer that Jace. All I know is that I saw that man cry twice. Once as I have previously pointed out, the second time was when his son was killed. He was a heartbroken man Jace, the wife he adored was dead, his only son was dead, and his daughter hated him.” Susan spoke compassionately about her late employer.

“When Catherine had his grandchild, did he ever attempt a reconciliation? Wouldn’t that have been a good time to start again?” Jace countered, it made perfect sense to her.

“To many that would have been the perfect time. I’m sure he considered it, especially as Adam was one of his closest friends. I don’t know the answer to that Jace. Perhaps you need to ask Catherine. She’s the only one alive who can give you the answer.” Susan said seriously, looking towards the family gathering.

“Thank you Susan, I think I will.” Jace replied equally as serious.

“Now?”

Jace shook her head. “No, not now. It’s not the right time. One day it will be, I also know she will be honest with the answer.”

“I know she will for you Jace. How about we go and see what all the fun is about?” Susan stood up and went towards the steps of the porch.

“Great idea.” Jace caught her up and linked her arm in the older woman’s as they walked down the drive towards the laughing people at the paddock.

She looked at her wristwatch, grimly realising that Catherine would now be taking part in her plan of action to retrieve Lisa. She hoped and prayed that it all went well and their child was returned safely to them. Longing for nothing else, other than that her partner came home safe and well.

* * * * * * * * * *

Chapter Eleven

Catherine rapped her fingers over the dashboard in impatience. Clare and Rita had both radioed in that they hadn’t heard anything. Catherine hadn’t seen anything to warrant her coming to their aid. Although, driving the vehicle was impossible for her. Or was it!

Times like this, she reflected over her life and the mistakes she’d made in those early days. Those early days happened to be as far back as her mother dying, also her rebellion against her aunt and father. You get to reach thirty-eight, suddenly it all becomes so clear. Or as clear as it ever will be in life, she suspected.

To take her mind off the current crisis in her life, she wondered what it would have been like to accept Constantia in her life as a substitute mother? Would her brother Lukas still be alive? Would she have made peace with her father along the way? Would her life have been very different? She knew in her heart it would have been and she would have been the richer for it. Yes, it would have been so different!

They sometimes say you see a path and step upon it and other elements transpire to change that path you tread. It can be for good or bad!

For her it had been a mixed bag, although she knew she had plenty to be happy about. For whatever reason, she was still plagued with some very, very bad times. Take this one for instance, here she was in some outlying area of New York State desperately hoping to locate her daughter. The child had already been through enough traumas in her young life, losing her own parents. Now this! If she believed in God, which she didn’t, He sure wasn’t looking after the innocent. The way it appeared to her right now, He looked after the evil ones that preyed on the innocent.

The passenger side door was wrenched open suddenly. Constance Waverly looked at her boss with an unmasked look of sympathy.

“Is it the place? Have you found Lisa?” Catherine asked her quickly, unfastening the clip of the safety belt, about to get out of the vehicle.

Constance saw the movement and put a restraining hand on her forearm to stop her. “Catherine, it isn’t the place.” The soft rejoinder was uttered with a gentle compassion.

“What? What are you saying Constance? Where’s Dusterly?” Catherine’s words although audible, were indistinct, filled with a panic that Constance had never expected to hear from this woman.

Constance gave a heavy sigh, climbing into the vacant passenger seat. “Ms. Dusterly is still talking to the guys who own the farm. It isn’t the place Catherine. Lisa isn’t here!”

Catherine turned anguished eyes to the woman at her side. “I don’t understand? She was positive it was this place. For God’s sake Constance, she said it was here!”

Catherine was crying. The waiting, pain, frustration and now the desolation of having drawn a blank, was too much for her to bear, in spite of Catherine’s strong constitution.

If Constance lived to be a hundred, she would remember this scene. It was for her, so heartbreaking. She couldn’t stop the tears that fell down her cheeks in sympathy. What could you do in such circumstances? Although she wanted to pull the taller woman into her arms and offer the shoulder to cry on, something stopped her. For she was sure, that would have made matters worse.

“Dusterly was wrong Catherine. I’m so very sorry.” As she said the hollow words, she picked up the radio, recalling Clare and Rita to the vehicle.

Catherine turned her face towards the side window, gazing out over the dark un-welcoming scene. Gulping in a measure of air to settle her churning emotions she continued, “I need some air!” Catherine rushed out of the vehicle. Serena Dusterly stopped her car, making her way over to the stationery vehicle and the unhappy scene she knew would be there.

Looking at the retreating back of the tall dark woman, she was tempted to go after her and say something! But, what could she possibly say?

Serena opened the passenger door, noting the tired and defeated expression on Constance Waverly’s face. The whole episode had been a traumatic experience for everyone involved. The defeat was palpable in the air. There was not even the element of hope about them! She had failed. It was all her fault again!

“We need to leave. The people who own the farm are not exactly happy about us trespassing.” Serena said quietly, noting the arrival of Clare and Rita making their way towards the vehicle. Both were upset, if the expressions on their faces were anything to go by. Then again, who wasn’t!

“Leave? Who gives a damn what they say? She needs time to compose herself for God’s sake!” Constance rounded on Dusterly, her own anguish at the situation making her tone harsh.

“I can understand your pain, they have a rifle. I am sure they will use it if we do not leave quickly. I will speak to Ms. Devonshire and take her back to the apartment. Please, we do need to leave.” The urgency behind Serena Dusterly’s word was not lost on Constance. Obviously, now was not the time to ask what had transpired when she had left her alone with the two men!

Clare opened the rear door and popped her head inside. “Are we leaving?”

“Yes Clare, we are… now! Make sure Catherine understands we aren’t leaving her alone Ms. Dusterly.” Constance spoke quietly. Rita Tuscany climbed into the back seat as the engine roared into life. Clare closed the rear door before climbing into the front passenger seat alongside her lover.

Serena watched the car reverse out of the side entrance they had hidden behind. Then, she turned her thoughts and eyes towards the tall dark figure leaning against a tree trunk. The woman’s whole stance was one of complete dejection and hopeless despair. Taking a deep breath, she walked towards the tree. Her task now centred on taking the woman home, without her child, again!

* * * * * * * * * *

“Constance what happened?” Clare turned to look at the grim determined expression that fixed on her lover’s face.

“Lisa wasn’t there, had never been there. Dusterly was wrong.” The words echoed hollowly in the car as all three women were silent for a few moments.

“Ms. Waverly, how do you know that for sure?” Rita asked tentatively.

“They were simple people Rita. No way this side of the Atlantic could they have been involved in a kidnapping. They were incapable of pulling it off, certainly in New York City. They offered to show us around, but the place was a mess. The stench alone was something from a horror story, like rotting carcasses. Dusterly was going inside, but I stopped her! At least I think I stopped her. In my opinion, I doubt she would have returned in one piece. We’ll know, when she meet’s us back at the apartment.” Constance kept her eyes on the road and tears were shimmering in their depths that obscured her view.

“Then surely that might be the place, Dusterly was so sure!” Clare impassioned her lover. Perhaps she had been wrong to stop Dusterly, checking for herself.

“No! Clare she wasn’t! When we came face to face with the men, believe me she wasn’t! Those men looked as if they hadn’t seen a woman for years, all the more reason for us not to go inside without proper back-up.” It had not been the correct place. Nothing fit Dusterly’s pattern, nothing at all!

“Wouldn’t that be all the more reason to think that they might have kidnapped Lisa? If they are a little simple, maybe they didn’t understand the crime they committed?” Rita asked, her own tone confused.

“When we get back to Catherine’s apartment, we can talk this over. For now, please let’s give it a rest and get back to civilisation.” Constance could not answer the questions posed, not with any degree of sense anyway. Perhaps, after she had time to reflect on the situation, she might have an answer. Dusterly had taken her time following her, maybe she had gone in the house alone, and she certainly was a loner. It would not have surprised her in the slightest.

“Will Ms. Devonshire want us in the apartment?” Clare asked softly, knowing that the head of the Xianthos Corporation, who had always appeared ultimately in control, wouldn’t want to lose face with her employees. That was a distinct possibility, with the current events.

“I don’t know. Frankly Clare, that’s the only place I want to be right now.” Constance replied, her mind pre-occupied with her own reaction to the events.

“Shall we call Jason Bardley and ask him to meet us there? Catherine needs someone from the family with her right now.” Clare pointed out, knowing she would want that, if it were happening to her.

Constance turned a stunned face to Clare, giving her a brief smile, acknowledging her wonderful technique of stating the obvious, everyone else overlooks. She mouthed a grateful thank you and left the call to Clare.

* * * * * * * * * *

Jace glanced at the still sleeping form of her friend. It brought a tender smile to her lips as she realised that Grace would be tired. Although she never mentioned it, the pregnancy was taking up lots of her energy.

It brought memories to her of the days she had been tired while carrying Elena. Her baby had been eating and moving around as if she had been a football team! It made her smile as she remembered one particular time…

“I’m sorry Lisa, what did you say?” Jace asked the child, knowing that she was going to be in for some precious remark from the child, who without a doubt was precocious. However, she was so loving you forgave her anything.

Lisa stood next to the chair Jace was dozing in, giving her an exaggerated sigh with her hands on her hips. “Jace, were you asleep? I thought only old people fell asleep, like Catherine.” Lisa said, her blue eyes wide, clear to Jace that Lisa did think that Catherine was an old person.

“Darling, Catherine isn’t old! Why do you think that? When do you ever see Catherine asleep?” Jace was fascinated. Her whole body had woken up to hear this little gem from the child.

Lisa looked at her shrugging her shoulders. “Jace, I know you love Catherine and so do I! She does sleep, all the time Jace. She’s always got her eyes closed, especially when you tell us a story.”

Jace spluttered at the last sentence. ‘What was that? When she read a story?’

“Lisa, have you considered that with Catherine being blind, she doesn’t need to keep her eye’s open. When she closes them, she can picture everything we say and do in her head, with or without them being open.”

Lisa considered that for a moment nodding her head. “Okay, Catherine isn’t old. That means you are Jace, for you have just been asleep and it’s only two o clock.”

Jace chuckled softly motioning for Lisa to come closer, “Lisa give me your hand, I want you to feel something.”

Lisa obediently went over to the side of the chair, holding out her left hand as it was drawn gently to the swelling of Jace’s tummy.

The child drew back as if burnt when the baby moved. Chuckling, Jace quickly replaced it back and held it gently there, grinning at the girl. “It’s okay Lisa, that’s the baby moving and don’t they sure move in there?”

“Jace, are you sure it’s only one baby?” Lisa asked in awe as she felt the increased kicking and moving of this… thing called a baby.

“My sentiments exactly, Lisa.” Catherine had been standing at the door listening to the conversation, having very nearly revealed her presence. She became fascinated by the tone in Jace’s voice to the child, waiting to find out what it was that Jace wanted Lisa’s hand for, now she knew.

Jace turned at the wonderful voice of the woman she loved. It always would drive her to distraction, no matter what she said. “I didn’t know you were in the house Catherine?”

Catherine walked confidently over to stand within inches of Jace in the chair.

“Jace, if I know you are in the house, how can I stay away?” Her voice held the love and warmth she always used when talking to Jace.

Lisa looked from Jace to Catherine grinning as she placed a quick kiss on Jace’s cheek. She then picked up one of Catherine’s hands, kissed the palm, then skipped off before either woman had time to say anything.

“You didn’t explain to her why you got tired in the early afternoon.” Catherine said softly.

Jace chuckled as she reached for Catherine’s hand herself, mirroring the action of Lisa on her palm. “No, I never did, but one day I’m sure she will understand for herself.”

Catherine felt the pressure of Jace’s lips on her palm and it sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine. ‘What this woman did to her with the simplest of actions.’

“How about you retire to bed for an hour and get some rest?” Catherine suggested, moving her head slightly from side to side in a listening mode.

“I have a better suggestion. How about we both retire for a rest for an hour? We could keep each other company.” Jace’s breathing pattern had become ragged all of a sudden. Catherine didn’t disappoint her, when she saw the sharp intake of breath from the tall figure at her side.

“That’s the best invitation I’ve had all day. Ms. Bardley, please let me take you to bed!” Catherine’s voice throaty and sensual to Jace’s sensitive hearing.

Jace was broken out of her memories as Grace asked her if she’d been sleeping long. “Not long Grace.” Looking at her wristwatch, she saw the time and did some mental arithmetic. “Only about an hour. You probably needed it.” Jace looked away from Grace’s piercing brown gaze.

“What’s the matter Jace?” Grace asked concerned.

Several seconds passed without an answer, and then a barely audible one, for Grace alone to hear.

“By now Lisa could be home safe with Catherine.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Serena Dusterly walked within a foot of the woman, who had her back turned, resting her head on the rough bark of the oak tree. It was a very sad scene and one Dusterly had never dreamed was going to happen. Really, it should never have happened! Why had she been so sure of herself and the information given, why?

“Ms. Devonshire, I’m very sorry, but we have to leave.” Serena spoke with a dignified voice, expecting an explosive retort from the woman in front of her.

She saw the shudder go through the tall frame, although the silence remained. There did not appear to be any movement away from the trunk of the tree.

“Please, Ms. Devonshire it’s not safe here.” Serena pleaded, hoping the words didn’t fall on deaf ears.

At the mention of the words safe, Catherine turned abruptly and stared at Dusterly in the semi darkness. Only the glow from the moonlight allowed her to see the woman’s face.

“Safe? Safe you say? Who gives a bloody hell if it is not safe here? I do not give a shit! There isn’t anyone on the earth that can make me frightened of them, while my child is alone here someplace! Do I make myself understood?” Catherine’s words felt like an intense shot of fire blistering in its heat.

“Yes. Yes, you make yourself perfectly clear. Will you let me drive you back to the apartment, please?” Serena tried another tack, having nothing to lose. Hadn’t she already lost all credibility with this woman?

Catherine gave her a ravaged stare, the hopelessness of the situation clear to anyone. Even if they did not have the background to the events that had transpired previously, they would know something was drastically wrong.

“I need to speak to my wife! Take me home!” Catherine said in a resigned, yet demanding voice, the hidden strength she possessed finally asserting itself.

“Thank you.” Serena turned to the car and heard words in a voice that chilled her to the bone.

“Don’t thank me! You have too much to explain. When I’m through with you, the Spanish inquisition would have been like the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Alice in Wonderland.” Catherine’s feet crunched on the fallen leaves as she followed behind Dusterly to the vehicle and home, alone again!

Tomorrow was another day. She just prayed that it wasn’t a day too late for her child.

Continued in Part 6

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