Lazy Days (49 page)

Rainey sat in the Hummer with Roth beside her,
and Johnson driving. She'd relegated her time in Egypt to a corner of her mind
and rarely accessed it. Determined to lock the memories behind a barrier of
resentment towards Roth, she'd mentally tossed the key.

"How does it feel to be returning to your
lab?" asked Roth.

The resentment she harbored bubbled to the
surface. She bit her tongue to stop a scathing reply and turned her head to
look out the passenger window.

"Rainey, I'm trying to make the best of our
situation. A little help on your part would be appreciated."

"You'll receive no help from me."

"Have it your way."

"Oh, I intend to."

She glanced toward Johnson to see him watching
her in the rearview mirror, a puzzled expression on his face. She gave him the
evil eye and turned back to her window, trying unsuccessfully to focus on the
countryside whizzing past.

They passed through the guard station at
Childress Enterprises and Johnson pulled to the curb in front of the
laboratories' building. Rainey opened her door and hastened toward the check-in
counter. Ignoring the welcome back greetings from the guards, she scanned her
card and walked toward the bank of elevators. Hastily entering one, she pushed
the
UP
button. Just before the
door slid shut, a hand shot through the opening. The elevator door
automatically retreated, allowing Roth to enter. The door closed. Alone, he
suddenly turned and pinned her against the back wall placing his arms on either
side of her, and his body between hers and the camera. Bending in front of her
face, his sizzling gaze fell to her lips and then back to her eyes. He
whispered, "I'm sick and tired of your attitude. I've done my best to make
up for what happened. What you need is an attitude adjustment."

"Really, and are
you
going to be the
one to adjust my attitude? I hate you!" she hissed. They glared at each
other until the elevator braked gently on the top floor. Roth entered the
hallway and Rainey brushed past him to slide her keycard and enter the
laboratory.

She'd expected to see her crew working
diligently, but the lab appeared empty. She muttered to herself, "Crap.
Where is everyone? We have work to do."

Walking toward her office and opening the door,
she jumped when Steve, Jim, and Fawn shouted, "Welcome back!"
Balloons and a large banner decorated her office. Her jaw dropped and guilt
made her wince.

In a matter-of-fact tone she said, "Thank
you. I appreciate your welcome. It's certainly unexpected. Now, let's get to
work and make up for the time we've lost." Even to her own ears, her words
sounded dry and lifeless. She smiled, but it came short of reaching her eyes.

"Sure, Rainey," said Jim

"Whatever you say," Steve echoed.

"I'll get my pad to take notes," said
Fawn.

They rushed from her office. Rainey glanced at
Fawn's retreating back, and then at Roth, and felt a venomous strike of
jealousy. His keen gaze studied her face and he shook his head, as if
reassuring her that he and Fawn were not lovers. Rainey shrugged as if she
didn't care and walked behind her desk.

* * *

For Roth, the next two weeks became a repeat of
his first two weeks on assignment protecting Rainey. Johnson drove them to the
Childress Laboratories in different vehicles and by different routes, and Roth
crowded into the backseat uninvited and unwanted for each trip. Rainey mostly
ignored him, but occasionally sent caustic remarks his way. He met Fawn in the
forest once to discuss the situation, but, for some reason, withheld his
encounter with Stella from her.

After a particularly demanding day with Rainey
and her cold-shoulder attitude, they entered the house through the terrace
doors and heard voices in the library. Roth felt the presence of another
shapeling and recognized the voice. He looked at Rainey. She froze, her
countenance going from icy distain to indifference.

Hank walked to the open doors of the library.
"Rainey, Roth, please come in. Someone very special is here."

Roth heard Rainey draw a deep breath. He followed
her to the library.

"Hello, Stella," she greeted.

He glanced over the top of Rainey's head to the
beautiful black-haired woman who linked her arm through Hank's.

Stella's glance slid from Rainey to Roth, and
back to Rainey. "Hello daughter. I've missed you. I could only travel the
Bahamas for so long before returning to visit my family." She looked at
Hank and bestowed a kiss on his cheek. He patted her hand. An age difference
clearly existed between them. Hank looked more like her father, than her husband.
Of course, Roth knew Stella had to be older by at least a couple thousand years.

"Rainey, stop being standoffish, come and
hug your mother," said Hank. Rainey walked towards her mother. Rather than
hug her, however, she bestowed an air kiss on her cheek.

Roth saw a certain look pass over Stella's face.
Something she immediately hid.

Hank said, "To celebrate the return of my
lovely wife, I've asked Beth to prepare a spectacular meal. It isn't often we
dine together as a family. Roth, you must join us."

"I wouldn't miss it, sir." He looked
at Stella and she returned his gaze, a slight smirk tilting her mouth.

Rainey excused herself and Roth did the same.
After showering, he relaxed in a chair on his balcony. Gazing toward the
distant forest, he mentally moved puzzle pieces around looking for a fit.

He joined Hank and Stella in the dining room
before Rainey arrived. They spoke about non-relevant issues. When Rainey
entered the room, her pale and withdrawn countenance tugged at his heart.
Her
mother sure did a number on her.

Throughout dinner Stella chatted happily about
her adventures, while Hank gazed rapturously at his wife, hanging on every
word. She played to his adoration. Attempting to draw Rainey into the
conversation, she asked about her work at the lab.

"I know your work is guarded Rainey, but
can you tell me anything about your latest project?"

"No, Stella. I can't."

Stella looked disappointed, but countered with,
"Okay, then tell me how you and Roth are getting along."

Rainey looked startled.

"What do you mean?"

"Goodness, Rainey, I didn't mean to shock
you. I was just wondering if you and Roth are friends. It's kind of hard being
together day after day and not developing
some
kind of
relationship."

"Roth and I have a strictly business
arrangement. His job is to make sure I can do mine."

"Tsk, tsk, Rainey. How does the saying go—
Methinks
the woman doth protest too much!"

Color flushed Rainey's cheeks.

Hank interrupted. "Roth, why don't you tell
us something about your family? You once said your first name means 'tower of
strength' and it was passed down by your ancestors."

Stella turned her gaze on him. "Yes, Roth,
"Do
tell us about your family."

Roth looked directly into her eyes. "My
mother and father are dead. They were killed in an accident before I reached
puberty. I was raised by a man named Endesha."

"I'm sorry for your loss. Perhaps we should
change the subject. It must be difficult to speak about that part of your
life."

"Yes, very." Roth gave her a
calculated look. "What about your parents—Rainey's grandparents?"

Stella's eyes became guarded. "My parents
are reclusive and refuse to leave their home."

"Not even to meet their grandchild and
son-in-law?"

"Not even to meet them."

"Then why don't you take Rainey and Hank to
them?"

"It's not possible."

An uncomfortable silence shrouded the atmosphere
and Roth watched Rainey drop her head and stare at her plate.

Hank picked up the bell and rang it. Beth
entered the dining room wearing a big smile.

Hank said, "Beth, why don't you serve
dessert now? We'll move to the drawing room."

"Yes, Sir. I made Mrs. Childress'
favorite—lemon meringue pie." Before leaving the room, she patted Stella
on the shoulder.

Roth entered the drawing room and waited until
everyone seated themselves, and then sat where he could observe them all.

Hank and Stella carried on polite chatter and
attempted to draw Rainey into their conversation. She responded when
appropriate, but added nothing of her own.

Beth wheeled the dessert cart into the room and
handed pie and coffee to everyone. He watched the cook dote on Stella.

After dessert, with the conversation winding
down, he walked to the window and gazed at the grounds bathed in moonlight. His
keen senses picked up Stella's approach.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" she said.

"Very."

"Makes you want to become one with nature
and never leave the freedom of the night. Meet me in the field adjacent to the
forest—one hour." She turned and walked away.

Hank spoke. "Well, Stella, are you ready to
turn in? You must be exhausted after your long flight."

"Yes, sweetheart. Let's go to bed."
She approached Rainey and cupped her cheek. "Goodnight, Rainey. Pleasant
dreams."

"Goodnight, Stella."

Roth landed in the field. A cloud passed in
front of the full moon and smothered the light. He waited, growing impatient.
Finally, another large bird landed; a vulture. He shifted and the vulture
shifted. Standing face-to-face, ten feet apart, they appraised each other.

"Why did you want to meet?"

"I want to know your intentions toward my
daughter."

"I have no intentions other than to protect
her."

"
Hmm.
So she's important because
your successful completion of this mission will elevate you to Shapeling
Master?"

"Precisely. How do you know that?"

Stella ignored his question. "You're lying.
I've seen the way you look at her."

"You're talking nonsense."

"Really. There's so much electricity
between the two of you it sparks every time you're near each other."

"You really must control your imagination.
Now what is the purpose of this meeting?"

"I already told you. I want to know your
intentions toward my daughter."

"Is it because of your great love for
her?"

Stella shrugged. "I have my reasons."
She turned and walked further into the field.

"What's this meeting about, Stella?" A
sudden chill raced up Roth's spine.

Stella turned and grinned. "It's too late,
Roth. She's gone."

"NO!" He shifted and flew toward the
house.

* * *

Rainey heard a knock on her door. She laid the
shifter romance novel aside and pulled her robe on. Walking to the door, she
asked, "Who is it?"

"It's Beth, sweetie."

Rainey opened the door. "Is everything
okay? Where's my guard?"

"Oh, I saw him talking to Roth on the
terrace. You know how these bodyguards are, everything's a secret, and
everything must be reported. An ant probably crawled across the carpet."
She laughed. "Anyway, the reason I'm here is because I need something from
the cellar, and you know I'm terrified of going down there. I didn't want to
disturb Mr. Beowolf or Mr. Jackson while they were talking. And I certainly
didn’t want to knock on your parents' door. They haven't seen each other for
months. I'm sure they're getting reacquainted, if you know what I mean."
Beth winked. "Will you
please
grab another bag of baker's flour for
me? I'm not sleepy. I thought I'd get started on tomorrow's pastries."

"You want to bake at this hour of the
night?"

"Now Rainey, I know you can't understand
because you've never been bitten by the baking bug."

Rainey laughed. "Okay, Beth, I'll be glad
to get it for you."

"You're a love."

Rainey followed Beth to the kitchen and opened
the cellar door. Flipping the light switch, it didn't turn on. "Damn! The
light must be burned out."

"Wait dear, I'll get the flashlight."
Beth shuffled through a drawer and then handed Rainey a flashlight.

Switching it on, Rainey descended the stairs
into the belly of the cellar. She walked to the shelving holding food staples
and searched for the baker's flour. Spotting it, she stretched upward just as a
shadow moved. She opened her mouth to scream, but a foul smelling cloth
suddenly covered her nose and mouth. A strange lethargy moved into her limbs
and then her mind. She fell like a ragdoll into the arms of someone she
couldn't see.

* * *

Roth streaked toward the house, landing on his
balcony and shifting. Running through his room, he entered the hall and raced
down the stairs to the second floor. Jack Jackson wasn't at his post. He jerked
Rainey's bedroom door open, shouting her name. There was no answer. He opened
her bathroom door and the French doors onto the balcony. His heart pounded and
he ran downstairs, stalking from room to room. He was just about to alert the
household to her disappearance, when he remembered her escape route to the
outdoors, the cellar. He rushed through the kitchen and into the cellar. Feeling
for the light, he flipped it on. Scanning the room below, a crumpled figure in
a dark corner sent his emotions reeling. He rushed over. Jack lay on the
ground. The smell of a sleeping drug permeated the air. He lifted the bodyguard
over his shoulder and carried him to the library couch. Shaking him and
slapping his face, he said, "Jack, wake up. Wake up. Tell me what
happened."

Jack groaned and tried to focus. Roth grabbed a
bottle of chilled water from the minibar fridge and splashed some on the groggy
man's face.

Jack shuddered and looked at Roth.

"What happened?" Roth demanded.

"Cook…said there was trouble…needed help. I
followed. Got to the kitchen and…got ambushed. Didn't see who. Before they put
the cloth over my face, the cook said…" He scrubbed a hand down his face.

"What?
What did she say?"

"It didn't make sense, but she made me
repeat it twice."

"Repeat what!"

"Tell Roth to go to the…Cave of
Thirteen."