‘She didn't tell you were she was going?’ Bo asked Officer Davis who quailed at his harsh tone. Bo’s men feared him as much as they loved and respected him and always did all they could to avoid getting on his bad side; he had a terrible temper.
‘Just that she
needed a car because she was going to the other end of town, sir. That’s all I
know. I offered her one of the men to go with her but she said no.’
‘Protocol Davis,
Protocol... no one goes out on a case alone!
You should’ve insisted!’ Bo shouted, really angry.
‘Bo...’ Roman
began then stopped. Chastising the Commissioner, even if he was his younger
brother, in front of the subordinates was simply not done. Bo’s present mood
was obviously because of what they’d gotten from Shane and he’d taking what had
happened to Carly deeply to heart.
‘That will be
all, Davis.’ Abe said frowning at Bo as Davis retreated gratefully. ‘Was that
necessary, Bo?’
‘What if something’s
happened to her again...’
‘She’s a
trained agent with long experience in law enforcement; she can take care of
herself! She’ll soon be back.’
But Bo knew he
won’t rest easy until he saw her again. Shane’s words had ripped his heart; severely beaten and almost dead.... in a
coma for weeks...severe retrograde
amnesia...
‘It’s
my fault... everything she went through... my fault.’ he said numbly.
‘Frankie’s
full of shit.’ Roman said in his usual blunt manner. ‘You weren’t the one who
beat her senseless and left her out there to die. You couldn't have known he
would treat her that way after they left...’
‘I knew what
kind of man Larry was!’ Bo growled. ‘He brainwashed her the whole time I was
out of town working on that drug case. I should have arrested him, shot him
even! Anything to gain more time to get my Carly back... get back what we had!’A
relationship between equals because Carly had taken care of him as much as he
took care of her.
‘Bo.’ Abe said,
squeezing his shoulder. ‘No matter what Frankie thinks, what happened to Carly
wasn't your fault. And once Carly gets her memory back, she’ll say the same,
you’ll see.’
‘Yeah Bo.’
Roman agreed. ‘Carly will never blame you for what happened. She wouldn't have
gone with Alamain in the first place if Vivian hadn’t buried her alive and
scrambled her brain with whatever crap she drugged her with.... she loved you.’
And he had
loved her more than life itself, which is why despite Abe and Roman’s words he
still couldn't help but feel he had failed her greatly. And the sheer quirk of
fate... within hours of returning to Salem, she’d rescued his daughter and right
now going out of her way to help him. Whatever it took... he was going to help
her in turn.
::::::::::::::
The car she’d
borrowed had no radio and to add to her frustration, there was no signal in her
cell.
‘Damn it!’
Clarice swore savagely. Dean was out there roaming as free as a bird... he
could be plotting to abduct Ciara again or worse!
Sitting back
in the driver’s seat, Clarice brushed back some strands of hair from her
forehead and went into profiler mode; picturing the scenario through Dean’s
eyes.
The
investigation’s still going on but no one suspects me; no one ever saw me with
Brenda so they can’t link her to me or Kyle. Ciara will be heavily guarded so
it won’t be easy grabbing her this time, with both my allies dead. I’ll have to
bid my time.
Dean didn't
know about the clicking sound Ciara and the bartender had heard or that it has
been identified as his lighter. Unless he was stupid enough to use it anywhere
near Ciara, they had the element of surprise; they could nab him before he
could blink and case closed!
Clarice
reached for the ignition but another thought stilled her hand. Dean had killed
his own lover to avoid arrest, hence a very ruthless, cold blooded man. For a
police officer to do such a thing, the purpose for kidnapping Ciara in the
first place couldn’t have been money alone... a grudge against Bo maybe? It was
common... an evil mind nursing a grudge or cold rage always wore the mask of
morality, planning his strategy carefully for months. Who would suspect a
police officer of kidnap and murder?
He wouldn't
have released Ciara even if he’d gotten his money, Clarice realised. He
would’ve killed her and then killed Kyle and Brenda... making it look like self
defence; no one would think he had anything to with it, he would be proclaimed
a hero all the while laughing at them behind their backs. Bo had run a great risk but he’d definitely
done the right thing not paying the
ransom!
Dean will be
planning his strategy all over again. And for the second time, his plan will
come to nothing. With that pleasing thought, Clarice turned the ignition key
only to hear a click. She tried again but the engine didn't go on.
‘Oh no...’ She
groaned.
::::::::::::::::::
Bo was
surprised and not at all pleased to find Dean Hartman in his house in deep
conversation with Hope.
‘Sir.’ Dean
greeted respectfully, a wary look on his face.
‘Dean. What
are you doing here?’
‘I asked him
over.’ Hope said purposefully. ‘I was just telling him I’ve arranged to have
the money wired into his account today.’
Dean prided
himself at being so clever enough at hiding his glee at the furious look on
Bo’s face; Bo and Hope were at each other’s throats. Far better than he’d
planned to happen between them.
‘Dean, I need
to set you straight.’ Bo said as calmly as he could. ‘You should know that
department rules state an officer on duty isn't eligible for monetary rewards.’
Says
you; Dean thought contemptuously. He looked at Hope with mute appeal.
‘Bo, let’s not
keep arguing about this, I already told you I was going to give it to Dean.’
‘Hope, you
already know very well...’
‘I know what I
want and that’s to do the right thing.’
‘Look, if this
is causing trouble between you two, maybe it’s best we cancel the whole thing’
Dean said , looking embarrassed, inwardly struggling not to laugh.
‘No Dean,
you’re going to have your money.’ Hope said purposefully. ‘I’ve already called my
lawyer, end of discussion.’
Christ,
she was impossible!
Carly
wouldn't treat you like this. The voice in
his head pointed out. Never.
Oh,
shut up!
‘Dean, if you
don't mind, my wife and I need to have a private discussion.’ Bo said, his eyes
not leaving her.
‘Dean, stay...
we’re not done.’ Hope replied, glaring back at Bo.
‘Listen, how
about I come back later; I don't want to get in the middle of... whatever going
on with you two. See you later, sir.’ Dean made a hasty retreat.
‘Just what do
you want?’ he overheard Bo shout, ‘a damn apology?’
‘I’m not
holding my breath for one, Brady.’
‘Then what is
it? You’re mad at me because I don't think I made a mistake, well guess what
lady... I didn't! No matter what you, or Justin or even my father thinks; I
knew what I was doing when I didn't let you pay the ransom!’
‘Yeah... keep
telling yourself that, Commissioner!’ Hope shouted back. ‘You’re so full of
yourself that it’s way too much for you to actually admit that you’re capable
of mistakes!’
Oh
Lord, it can’t get better than this...
Dean grinned, longing to dance a jig. They got their brat back but their
marriage was falling apart; Hope wasn't getting her happy ending after all. Serves
her right.
He dived for
cover as Bo came out, slamming the door behind him; his expression that of
frustration and anger. From his hiding place, Dean watched Bo as he pulled out
his cell and dialled. ‘Brady here.’ He heard him say. ‘Is Clarice... I mean,
Ms. Parker back yet? No? She hasn’t called in?’ a pause and Bo’s frown
deepened. ‘Have her call me the soonest she gets in. Better still... tell her
to meet me at The Java. Thanks.’
‘Where the
hell is she?’ he muttered out loud as he
hung up and walked down the street.
Well, well...
Dean thought to himself. Bo sounded
very concerned about the beautiful ISA
agent ; with the strain going on between him and Hope, this looked like the
beginning of a very interesting triangle. Too bad he was leaving town, it
would’ve been so interesting to see Hope squirm with humiliation at the sight of her husband with another
woman; personally he would choose Clarice too, those bright green eyes of hers and everything about her
radiated pure sensuality. Sighing, he
shrugged. There would be more than enough girls in Acapulco after all.
::::::::::::::
Much as he
didn't want to compare Carly with his
wife, Bo found himself doing just that as he mulled over his coffee. Carly had
been more stubborn than Hope and so independent, considering she was of
blue-blood and had lived in a world far
different from his. On the rare times
they’d fought she was usually the first
to make amends. He could still remember
how he’d returned to the boat one night
after storming out and found her waiting up for him; she’d flung her arms round
his neck, tearfully apologising and
saying how much she loved him. Carly never judged him, never put him down... most
times she defended him. True, she’d had the annoying habit of hiding things
from him but there had always been a good reason behind them, he reminded
himself. They’d loved the same things, wanted the same things; he remembered her once saying the best thing
that could happen to a woman was having a child with the man she loved.
‘I
can’t think of anything more incredible than that.’
‘And
this from a woman who doesn't want kids.’ He teased.
Carly
made a wry face. ‘I don't want six.’ She stressed, making him chuckle. ‘I think
that’s a little more than I can handle. I don't know... maybe three?’
‘Give
me four and I’ll change all the diapers.’ He promised.
‘Right...
sure you will!’ She laughed in turn,
taking his hand between to press it against her cheek. ‘ I don't really care
how many we have, so long as we do. I want to be able to carry your baby in my
arms and watch him grow to be as wonderful as
his Papa.’
His
thumb stroked her cheek . ‘You will. You’re going to be a wonderful Mum... I
just know you will.’
‘I
hope so!’ Carly said, a wistful look in those lovely green eyes. ‘Because
you’re a great Papa. It’s the one of the
things that attracted me most
about you.’
‘Oh
yeah?’ He was flattered and touched by the admission. ‘ I thought being a
father was usually a turn off for women.’
‘Not with this one.’ She smiled wider, still
holding his hand. ‘Ever since I can remember I always wanted to have lots of babies.’
‘Well,
you will have them... a whole bunch of Nobel Prize winning doctors.’
‘Yeah
and maybe a few leather wearing, motorcycle riding...’
‘Oh,
come here you!’ Laughing, he pulled her closer towards him and she nestled in
his arms. Pressing his lips against her hair, he said softly, ‘I want you to
know something, princess. You and I are going to have everything we want.’
She’d been his
princess, the princess of his heart... who was now living as someone else
because of him. Bo sighed and shook his head; for the first time in years
thinking of what could have been, if Carly had been the mother of his three
other children.... especially Zack.
::::::::::::::::
Meanwhile,
Clarice, after kicking a front wheel of the car in disgust, went back to the
bar for help.
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