Caged Eagles (19 page)

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“I'm calling for Sodi Hall. This is Dr. Leslie Taylor.”

She paced her office. Trevor had not called her in two weeks. At first she thought he simply forgot but now she wondered if something else wasn't going on. Both anger and worry consumed her. How could he be so inconsiderate?

“Men,” she said out loud.

A voice answered on the other end. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, sorry,” Leslie slumped into her chair. “I didn't realize they transferred me.”

“What can I do for you, Dr. Taylor?”

“I want to know what ….”

“Let me guess,” he cut her off. “What Mr. Trevor Wells has been doing.”

Leslie picked up a pen and tapped it impatiently on the desktop. “Yes, you are still following him, right? The rehab hired you through fall.”

“Yes, Dr. Taylor. I'm following your instructions.”

“Good, then what!” She threw down her pen and stood to pace the room.

“Dr. Taylor, you sound very upset.”

“I'm impatient because East Denver Rehabilitation has hired you to watch Trevor Wells and make sure he's adjusting to society. After I released him I became nervous it had been too soon. I'm afraid he went to find his ex-girlfriend, Tobian Morrison. She had a restraining order against him. I wonder if we should be worried about her safety. Did he find her?” It felt good to vent though she wasn't sure why she blurted out everything to a complete stranger.

“Yes, Doctor, he found her.”

Leslie stomped her foot. “Oh shoot!”

“I have no proof that he is with her, though.”

“What? Do you mean they are not ….”

“I have no proof as of yet. I believe not, because he has been taking a Brandi Lewis to the hospital for her appointments.”

“What appointments?” Leslie sat back on her chair and crossed one leg over the other. She tugged at the edge of her skirt to pull it down over her knee.

“Didn't you know Miss Lewis is pregnant?”

“
What
?” Leslie couldn't help but yell into the phone.

“Doctor, my ears.”

“Why do you have to act like a robot every time I talk to you? It's frustrating, and that is saying something because I'm around rehab patients all day.”

“Would you like to hear about—?”

“Yes!”

“Miss Lewis is six and a half months pregnant.”

Leslie uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. “That means she was pregnant before he left Denver.”

“Yes.”

“Why is he taking her to the doctor? Forrest Evans should be, he is obviously the father.”

“I don't know for certain.”

“Could you find out? I can't imagine Trevor would be. He loathed that woman.”

“Unless it was all an act?”

“Why would he find Tobian then? And why would he be going on dates with me?” She let her true feelings leak into the conversation.

“I will research for you.”

“Good,” she cleared her throat, “and there is something else.”

“Yes.”

“Blaine Martin, he was a patient here. I want to know how he's doing in his new rehabilitation center. I'd like to know any information you can find.”

“I will see to things immediately.”

“Good, thank you very much for your help, Mr. Hall.”

“Have a good day, Dr. Taylor.”

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Forrest and Laney walked off the hospital elevator. They held each other's hands tightly, both very nervous about the coming thirty minutes. Forrest had tried to talk Laney into staying, but she insisted on being there for the doctor's appointment. He didn't want her to meet Brandi but he didn't want to come alone; he needed someone's support. The first time it had been Trevor. Forrest had never dreamed the fidgety man would become his best friend, someone he could always count on. Now it was his girlfriend, the woman he loved more than he had ever let himself love anyone. How this happened he didn't know. He had never let himself get attached to people and within the last few months he had grown to truly love Laney.

Now he had an innocent life that was part of his, and even a piece of him, that would be in the world within a couple of months. He knew he already loved the baby girl and found himself thinking of names for her.

Laney had accepted the revelation of his child so well. He hoped she would be completely willing to be a mother figure to the girl. He squeezed her hand.

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Laney could feel the anxiety almost overflow inside her. She had never been nervous performing in front of people or going undercover for Blaine, so why now?

She was about to meet the biological mother of their baby. She felt impulsive, assuming she was the baby's mother but she never wanted to let Forrest go, and they were a package deal. Was she ready to be a mother? More than Brandi Lewis was prepared for. Forrest would also be a wonderful, responsible father, which reassured her. How would Brandi react to her?

Laney was also anxious to see the baby girl. The child would be moving, breathing, living and she was scared knowing she would soon be responsible for that life. Would the girl love her or resent her for taking her birth mother's place? Forrest must have been considering his own uncertainty about the baby–he squeezed her hand.

“What are you two doing here?” Brandi spit at them the moment they walked into the door.

“Brandi, you know why.” Forrest rested one hand on Laney and she swallowed the angry response she had on her tongue. Right away she didn't like the woman any better than before.

“Who are you?”

Laney responded as coldly as Brandi had asked her question. “I'm Laney.”

“Why is she here, Forrest?”

Forrest offered her the only chair in the room. He stood at her side with his hand on the back of her neck, rubbing his thumb back and forth. “She is an important part of my life, and this is going to affect her too.”

“Are you two getting married or something?”

“That is none of your business.” Laney wasn't going to back down to the woman. She could try to blackmail and use the men, but it wouldn't happen to her.

“Wow, you put up with
that
.” She gave Laney a disgusted look. “I feel sorry for you, Forrest.”

Laney lost her composure. “You're one to talk, you dirty ….”

Brandi cut her off to question Forrest. “Where has Trevor been? I went to his apartment to move in and he wasn't there. Did he move?”

“I have no idea what Trevor is doing. I have a new job so I can support the baby, one that keeps me on the go a lot.”

Laney burst, “Trevor doesn't want you. Maybe if you stopped sleeping with anything that moved you'd have a guy that wanted you.”

“I don't think you have any room to talk. How quickly did you sleep with Forrest?”

Laney's body shook with anger. “I'd teach you a lesson about messing with the wrong person if you weren't pregnant.”

“Bring it on, you think I care!”

“You narcissistic, repulsive monster!” The volume of Laney's voice had matched Brandi's. The doctor walked into the room, stopping the argument between the women from escalating. Laney allowed Forrest to push her out of the room. She needed to splash some cold water on her face and calm down.

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Brandi could hear their muffled voices outside. She took her time slipping out of the gown and pulling her clothes on. The appointment had gone as planned. Once Forrest's girlfriend left the room Brandi felt less stressed.

She had counted on Trevor coming. She was sure he would have wanted to know more about their children. Why wasn't he there? Anger built up inside her. She knew the woman Forrest had brought had taken Trevor's place as his support. This woman also intended to take the baby. Brandi knew as soon as the child was born she would lose contact with Forrest, the baby, and most of all, Trevor. She would have to come up with a plan to see the man she wanted. It was time to play dirty.

She tried to think of some way to find Trevor. Following Forrest was out of the question, she was sure they would realize what she was doing. Acting sick wouldn't work either; they would only admit her to the hospital. She didn't need any bony, eighty-year-old nurse looking after her. There was only one way to find out what was happening—Leslie Taylor.

Brandi stepped from her room and looked both ways down the hallway. Forrest and his new girlfriend were at the elevators. The pathetic harlot reached down and grabbed his hand. Forrest leaned in and kissed her. Brandi rolled her eyes and made her way to the bathroom. She watched the door for a solid minute just to make sure Forrest's stage performer didn't enter. She yanked her purse open and scattered the contents on the counter. Brandi leaned against the diaper-changing table and scanned through her contacts for the right number.

“Hello, Leslie Taylor's office,” the doctor said.

“Hi, it's Brandi Lewis.”

“Oh, hello,”

The voice on the other end was cold. Leslie was either mad at her for not calling in months or because of something else, “I was hoping we could get together. It's about Trevor.”

“What about him?”

“I'd rather have this discussion in person.”

“Fine, tonight, Lucky Number 8, seven thirty sharp. I have a patient right now, so I must be going.”

“Okay,” Brandi hung up the phone.

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Brandi was tired; her back had hurt most of the day. She couldn't wait until she was back home on her friend's couch, or until the fetus was outside her body. She couldn't fit into anything attractive and she only repulsed men. She was tired of being its involuntary host! A new plan and personal curiosity convinced her to put shoes on to meet Leslie.

The bar was crowded. She had to shove her way to the booth Leslie sat in. Brandi could read the woman's mind easily. She didn't want to be out anymore than Brandi did. An empty Styrofoam coffee cup sat on the table. Leslie had needed a pick-me-up. Dark lines had formed around her eyes.

“I'm glad you picked a booth, I'm so tired of being pregnant and I have one more trimester.” She slumped down into the chair.

“I was surprised to find you were pregnant.” Brandi saw her hand go to her stomach. Leslie Taylor was nervous to find out the truth.

“Me too.”

“You wish to discuss Trevor?”

Brandi could see how her eyes lit up when she said his name. She felta knot in her stomach knowing she would be manipulating the gullible woman. Brandi shrugged it off and continued with the conversation.

“Yeah. Are you still head over heels with him?”

“Miss Lewis?!” Leslie was taken off guard. She had not expected Brandi to be so blunt. “I think you should tell me the reason I'm here, before asking improper questions.”

“I want to know where he is.”

“I talked to him on the phone last night.”

“That doesn't tell me where he's at.”

Leslie didn't answer her question. The doctor looked down at Brandi's stomach. “Does he know you're pregnant?”

It occurred to Brandi that Leslie thought it was Trevor's baby. If she could get Leslie out of Trevor's life that left only Tobian to deal with.

“Yes, he heard I was. I don't think he believes the paternity test results though.” Brandi decided on half truth in case Leslie took the story back to him.

“That makes sense–he hasn't said a word to me.” The moment the words came from her mouth she realized she had slipped up.

“Then how did you find out I was pregnant?”

“I found the test results in his pocket.”

Brandi laughed. If Leslie had indeed found papers they weren't for the child she had inside her.

“Yes, he likes to pretend he's sneaky. Can you call him? I would like to see him.”

“He said he would call tomorrow night, but I can e-mail him after I leave.”

“When he decides you are important enough to talk to, tell him to get his butt down here. I will be here in two days at nine o'clock.”

“What if he refuses?”

“Tell him it has to do with the baby. He'll come.”

Brandi pushed herself up and left the table, leaving Leslie more confused than she had yet been.

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Trevor was not happy to find out Brandi wished to see him. He didn't want Leslie and Brandi to have contact, especially if he wished to figure out who Sodi Hall was. So far his attempts had been disappointing. Leslie wouldn't give away any piece of information that could help him. She had become brief but polite in their meetings.

Everyone else was also upset with the situation. Blaine and Donovan asked him daily if there was news. Donovan's mood only darkened with every “no.” Sarah had thought Trevor wouldn't have to deal with Leslie after Blaine was released, which disappointed her. Contact was important if they were to find out who Sodi Hall was.

Brandi wanted to meet and Trevor immediately told Sarah. She wanted to go with him but he reminded her that Brandi was in contact with Leslie so that would be a bad idea. She suggested someone else go along. Donovan had been scarce all afternoon. Forrest was more than willing to go but Trevor disagreed. As a compromise he promised he would call her as soon as he finished. This calmed Sarah a little and persuaded her to let him go alone.

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He saw Brandi in the corner booth, watching and listening to people around her. The baby had grown immensely over the last month! Even though her protruding abdomen contained a sweet individual, it took a great force of energy to walk toward her. He knew this meeting wasn't going to be good.