CAPTURED INNOCENCE (22 page)

             
“Here let me.” Conley took the brush from her hand, sliding it through her hair with long steady strokes.

             
“Mmmm.” Jo closed her eyes. “That feels really good.”

             
“You have a lot of electricity in your hair. It crackles like fire.”

             
Jo met his gaze through the mirror. “When I was young, I’d brush it in the dark so I could see the sparks. I didn’t feel so alone then.” Tutors. She’d had private tutors. No childhood friends other than close friends of the family. That’s how she’d been kept a secret.

             
“You’re not alone now.” He set the brush on the counter and wrapped his arms around her. His chin rested on top of her head. “Ready?”

             
“In a minute. Let me put on my makeup.”

             
“You don’t need any makeup. You’re beautiful au naturale.”

             
“You’re biased, and I feel better with it on.”

             
He let his arms slide away from her. “Okay. Five minutes.”

             
“I need more time than that.”

              “Okay, ten. I’m starving.”

###

              Jo idly pushed the pancakes swimming in syrup around on her plate. Melancholy covered her like a heavy blanket she couldn’t shake off. Her shoulders slumped. Pulling herself upright, she blurted, “How are you at peace all the time?”

             
After swallowing the food in his mouth, Conley met her gaze. “God.”

             
“I know, but…”

             
“Jo.” He leaned back against the red vinyl of the diner booth. “God’s peace surpasses all understanding. I can’t do it on my own. I’ve tried and failed every time.”

             
She let her fork fall with a clatter to her plate. “That just isn’t the God I grew up with. My parents taught me about a God of vengeance. One who rules with an iron fist. One who turned his back on my ‘sin’ of having an illegitimate child.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand your God of love.”

             
“For one thing, getting pregnant wasn’t your choice, and even if it were, God can easily forgive that sin. Look at King David and Bathsheba. Didn’t God forgive them for adultery and murder?”

             
“Yes.”

             
“They why can’t you believe He’d forgive you? Especially since you’re an innocent victim.” Conley reached across the table and took both of her hands in his. “Have you asked Him?”

             
Tears welled in Jo’s eyes. “No. I’ve been too ashamed. Too stubborn. Fighting to do everything on my own. This God you describe sounds too good to be true.”

             
“He is. But that doesn’t change anything. Would you like to pray?”

             
She blinked against the tears. “Here?”

             
“Why not?”

             
“There’re people around.”

             
“So?” Conley glanced around them. “They aren’t paying any attention to us.”

             
“Okay.” A lump formed in Jo’s throat, and she grabbed her glass of water to wash it down. “I’m ready.”

             
Conley laughed. “You’re not going to the guillotine, Jo.” He squeezed her hands and began to pray. When he’d finished, he pulled on her hands until she leaned across the table. He bent forward and kissed her. “I love you, you know. You are something truly special. I’m grateful to your parents for hiring me.” With that, he released her hands and grasped his fork. “You really are special.”

             
The love and warmth in his eyes seared her soul, and Jo found her eyes tearing up again. She grabbed the napkin next to her plate and wiped her eyes. Why couldn’t she say those three words back to him? She sighed. She loved the way her husband made her feel. Would he still love her once Blake and his group were brought to justice? Once he’d fulfilled the task he felt he needed to accomplish? Once he’d finished saving her?

             
“What is it, Jo?” His blue eyes were filled with compassion.

             
Shrugging, she replied, “Doesn’t it bother you that I can’t reply back that I love you?”

             
“Not really. It’s only a matter of time.” He winked. “I’ll wait. Your loving me or not doesn’t change the way I feel.”

             
Jo glanced around the diner at the people sitting at the breakfast bar, the waitresses pouring coffee, and the men and women perusing menus. How simple their lives seemed. Murmurs of conversation drifted across the room along with the clanking of silverware and squeaking of vinyl. The aroma of perking coffee and sizzling bacon wafted in the air.

             
The bell over the diner door tinkled and Jo turned her attention in that direction. Blake, with one hand on her son’s shoulder, strolled in. His eyes immediately sought her. She was reminded of Conley’s analogy of Blake having shark eyes. Void. Without emotion.

             
“Mommy!” Alex lurched away from Blake and propelled himself into Jo’s arms.

             
She grabbed her son and smothered his face with kisses before pulling him closer. She wanted to draw him into herself. Back inside where she could keep him safe. The tears which had threatened all morning now ran down her face with the force of a dam unleashed. “Oh, baby.”

             
Blake slid into the booth beside Jo and Alex. He laid his arm across the back of the seat. His fingers brushed against her shoulders, and she stiffened. Her gaze lifted to meet the hardened one of Conley.

             
“I suggest you move away from my wife.” Conley’s tone matched the coldness in his usually warm eyes.

A red flush inched its way up his neck, and Jo noticed the warning tick in his cheek.
              She scooted as far from Blake as she could, dragging Alex with her.

“Come on, Hook. We both know your marriage is one of name only. Jocelyn would never betray me with a man of your…stature, shall we say.” Blake removed his arm and folded his hands on the table. He glanced at their breakfast plates, mouth curling with derision. “I have to admit, though, I was surprised to find Jocelyn eating in this type of establishment.”

Jo’s arms tightened around her son until he squirmed in protest. Her stomach churned, threatening to lose what little she’d eaten. The very air of the diner dropped several degrees when Blake entered, and she shivered.

“What kind of game are you playing?” Conley folded his arms across his chest. His biceps bulged beneath his tee shirt
, hinting at the strength Jo knew he possessed.

“Game? I’m not playing any game. As I’m sure you’re aware, I no longer have a home for my son to reside in.” He unfolded his hands and caressed Jo’s cheek. She grimaced and turned away. “My wife seems to be inclined to remain in Prestige. I felt it safe to return Alex to her.”

“God’s peace, God’s peace,” Jo muttered into her son’s hair.

“What’s that?” Blake’s head whipped in her direction.

“Nothing.” Her words barely rose above a whisper. She so desired to slide from the booth and run with Alex as far as she could, even if she had to slide under the table to do so.

“Okay, you’ve delivered Alex. You can go now.” Conley jerked his head in the direction of the door.

“Oh, very well.” Blake slid from the booth. “I happen to have a very full day ahead of me. I’ll be in contact, Jocelyn. Please do us both a favor and don’t skip town this time.” He gave her a thin smile.

“Can we go now?” Jo stared at Blake’s retreating back. “Somewhere far from Prestige?”

“I thought we talked about this.” Conley shifted in his seat in order to retrieve his wallet. “I thought you wanted to help the missing children. We can’t do that if your memory doesn’t return, and your memory may not return if we’re not in Prestige.”

“I know, but I’m so afraid.” Her voice cracked. “My relying on God isn’t going to happen overnight.”

Conley tossed money on the table and rose then extended his hand for Jo to take. “We’ll be fine. So, now that there’s three of us, is it back to the hotel, or to your parents?”

“Alex, where would you like to go?” Jo slid him out of the booth ahead of her. “Where do you think the three of us should live?”

The little boy thought, his right hand cupping his chin. “Can’t we get our own place? That daddy is mean.” He slipped his hand into Conley’s large one. “I like this new one much better.”

“You do, huh, Squirt?” Conley swung the boy up and onto his shoulders. “I’m kind of fond of you myself. Our own place it is. Jo, is there an apartment complex somewhere around here?”

“Not real close, but there may be a condo for rent. It’ll be expensive. Everything in Prestige is.” The sight of her son on Conley’s shoulders lifted her feeling of oppression, and she found herself smiling.

“Money’s no worry, Jo. I may be a lowly private eye, but I’ve got money.” He placed his free hand along the small of her back
. The other gripped Alex’s ankles. “My parents left me a chunk when they died. I just happen to enjoy my work and saw no reason to become one of the idle rich.”

“I wasn’t worried about the money.” Jo frowned. “My trust fund is large enough.”

“Don’t get prickly.” He pushed the door open with his hip. “I’m just letting you know I’m not destitute.”

“Well, neither am I.”

“Are you guys fighting?” Alex’s brow wrinkled.

“No, baby. We aren’t fighting. Just disagreeing.”

“Good. Cause Daddy Blake yelled a lot. It hurt my ears.”

###

              “Isn’t there anything even moderately priced in this town?” Conley scowled after climbing into the backseat of the realtor’s car. He clutched several real estate fliers in his hand.

             
“I believe you said money was no object, Mr. Hook.” The realtor, Ms. Tavish, a plump heavily made-up woman, pursed her lips.

             
“I didn’t mean outrageous.”

             
“Conley.” Jo turned to frown at him from the front seat.

             
“Prestige, as its name states, is an upstanding community,” Ms. Tavish continued. She peered at Conley through the rearview mirror. “If the price is more than you can afford, perhaps we should try someplace else?”

             
“We want to stay in Prestige.” He stared out the window as the realtor merged the luxury car with the traffic.

             
A dark blue, mid-size sedan pulled in behind them. Conley’s eyes narrowed as he tried to discern the driver’s features.

             
Alex bounded to his knees on the seat beside him. “What are you looking at? That car?”

             
“Yes, and you should be in your seat belt.” Conley turned the boy around and clicked the belt around him.

             
“That’s Daddy Blake’s friend.”

             
Conley twisted to see the car again. “Are you sure?”

             
“Yep. That’s the man who took me away from mommy.”

             
At her son’s words, Jo whipped around. “Is he following us?”

             
“Pretty sure he is.” Conley kept his gaze locked on the blue car.

             
“He isn’t going to take Alex again, is he?” Jo’s eyes widened.

             
“I don’t think so. Not after Blake handed him over to us.” Conley laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

             
“Shall we ditch them?” Ms. Tavish tossed a glance over her shoulder.

             
“Excuse me?” Jo’s mouth fell open.

             
The woman patted the Cadillac’s dashboard. “This baby has a V-8 engine.” The car sped forward with a roar. Jo screamed as the woman took a corner sharply. Tires squealed.

             
Conley smiled. “I don’t think that’s necessary, Ms. Tavish, but we do thank you.”

             
She eased on the accelerator. “Are you sure? I love opening up my baby, and there are precious few opportunities to see what she can do.”

             
“I’m sure.” He gave another glance out the window. “Prestige isn’t that big. They’ll find us anyway. We don’t want to chance getting into an accident.”

             
“I took defensive driving lessons, Mr. Hook. That wouldn’t happen.” The woman’s shoulders slumped in apparent defeat, and a chuckle escaped Conley. People never ceased to amaze him.

             
The fourth house Ms. Tavish stopped them at was a two-story Victorian cottage style with a wrap around porch and turret. Jo squealed with delight and flung the car door open. Conley followed suit, his hand wrapped around Alex’s. He knew without Jo speaking a word that this would be their house.