Lined With Silver (27 page)

He pressed his lips together just like he had
in the car. It was a slight move, but she noticed. Her eyes
narrowed. “You knew, didn’t you?”

His nod was short and quick, and he didn’t
elaborate.

“How did you know?”

After another pause and a too-careful move to
pass another car, he finally admitted, “I’ve been doing some
research. And yes, I read about that.”

Her brows drew together in a puzzled frown.
“Why were you doing research?”

He sighed. “I really didn’t want you going
through that nightmare time again. I know Nikki and Brad wouldn’t
if they’d seen you in the hospital that night. They didn’t. I did.
I just can’t bring myself to support you in this.”

She pressed her lips together. His resistance
was bringing out the mule in her. “This is something I want to do
for Nikki. And my nieces or nephews. I can’t stand to think of them
as dying because I didn’t step in to help.”

He blew out a frustrated breath. “I thought
you’d be this way.” He passed another slow-moving truck. “Can you
at least promise me you won’t try to carry all your sister’s
children?”

She bit back a retort. Instead, she quietly
said, “I already told Nikki I would only try once more. I have my
own life to live. She can’t expect more than that.”

The relief on Zack’s face startled her. She
was touched by his concern. From his reaction, it was apparent that
he really didn’t want to see her suffer again.

Not waiting for him to talk, she went on,
“Nikki told me that they’ve already written out a will that
specifies any remaining embryos will be saved for an LDS couple
interested in adopting.”

He glanced at her, obviously startled by the
revelation. “Can you do that?”

“I don’t know. It’s nothing I’ve been
involved in. I haven’t studied the law involved with embryo
adoptions. I’ve only worked with couples who are adopting born
children. I’ll have to look into it.” She stared out the window at
the passing scenery and realized with some surprise that they were
passing the spot where Zack had jerked the steering wheel and got
them off the road. Their conversation had kept her from stressing
over their earlier trauma. She turned back to him, “All I know is
that Nikki seemed to think her will was legitimate. She firmly
believes that an LDS couple will be found for her remaining
children.”

“There will only be two after your next try,
right?”

She nodded. “Somehow, I don’t feel as
possessive of the other two as I do the ones I’m planning to take
on in April.”

“Maybe that means something.”

“I don’t know. All I know is, I’ll give it
one more try and then I’m done.”

He reached over and gently moved the
sparkling bracelet she hadn’t taken off since Christmas. “There are
only two people who know what a huge sacrifice that is for
you.”

She bit her trembling lip and then stared
back out the window as they approached the dealership. “Let’s keep
it that way, shall we?”

“For the moment.”

She didn’t want to ask what he meant by that.
There were too many directions it could take, and she wasn’t going
to open that box.

After loading her car with her things, they
stopped at a restaurant and ate dinner. Sondra had been sure she
wouldn’t want to eat with all the stress she’d been under, but the
missed lunch was enough to destroy her theory. She finished her
entire meal and even had some room for dessert.

Zack did a thorough circuit of his condo
before he let Sondra walk through the door. When they were settled
into his leather couch, he asked, “Were you planning to go to work
on Monday?”

She nodded. “I need a couple of days to
recuperate. They aren’t expecting me back, and with everything
that’s happened, I’m not sure I could face anyone until then.”

He reached over to massage the tense muscles
in her neck. “We both need a little down time. I still need to take
care of some things in Salt Lake, but I’ll be back tomorrow night
and we can do something you want to do.”

“The only thing on my list is to get my
laundry done.” She drew in a sharp breath thinking about what the
last load of laundry had shown her and then continued, a wobble in
her voice, “I have nothing else on my agenda but sitting around
with my feet up.”

He patted her leg and then stood up. “Jade
gave me a copy of ‘Heaven is for Real’ at the funeral. She said it
was a comfort to her. I haven’t seen it yet. We’ve had enough bad
experiences lately that I thought we could enjoy a movie tonight.
Would you like to watch with me?”

She nodded, not trusting her voice.
Bad
experiences. What an understatement.

When the young girl introduced herself to the
Burpo boy as his miscarried sister, Sondra couldn’t stop the tears.
“I’m sorry,” Zack said as he grabbed a box of tissues. “I guess
this isn’t a good movie right now.”

She shook her head and then managed as he
moved to turn off the player, “No. It’s fine. I think I needed to
see this.”

“Are you sure?” He didn’t look convinced.

She nodded and reached to pull him down next
to her. “I want to finish this. It’s a wonderful story.”

He settled on the couch, pulling her close,
and watched the rest of the movie.

“What a beautiful picture.” She exclaimed as
a painting of Christ was displayed at the end.

“I always imagined He looked like that.” Zack
said.

“It does make him seem very approachable.”
She dabbed her eyes with a fresh tissue. “I needed to see this
tonight. Thanks for sharing. Seeing his miscarried sister makes me
think that Nikki hasn’t lost any of her babies, after all. Even the
ones I carried for her. I think they’re all sealed to them and
waiting in heaven.”

Zack bent down and kissed her gently on the
forehead. “I believe in a loving, just God, and I think this
particular idea has merit. How could a boy who isn’t even LDS nail
so many gospel ideas without them being real?”

She took a deep breath. “I’m feeling real
hope for the first time since…”

He bent down and covered her lips with his
own. The warm sensation of his lips moving gently against hers
stopped her thoughts. She closed her eyes and reached around his
neck to pull him closer. Reluctantly, he pulled away and stared in
her troubled eyes a moment. “I think I need to head to bed.”

A rock settled in her stomach as he pulled
away and moved to his room. The click of the tv as it switched to
sleep mode drew her attention. She stared at the blank screen a
moment, wishing fervently that things could be different. But she
had made a promise, and she meant to keep it. The lives of her
young relatives depended on it.

She moved leaden feet to her own room. The
memory of the truck driver motivated her quick shower. All alone
after three nights with Zack, she managed to fall asleep without
soaking her pillow. The two tears that escaped didn’t count.

* * *

Zack’s ring tone pulled her away from her
laptop. She’d been looking over business emails as a distraction.
Who knew her life would be more exciting than the drama of divorce
court?

“Hi, Sondra? I’m sending you a picture the
dealership sent me. I thought you’d like to see it.”

“Thanks. I’ll check it out.”

“I’m sending it on to the police department
as well.” Her heart skipped a beat at his serious tone.

“I’ll call you back after I’ve seen it,” she
promised.

She closed the call and then opened the image
he’d sent. It was a picture of some kind of tubing. Across the cut
metal was a word that looked like “Shattered.” She gasped and
buried her face in her hands. She trembled as she re-dialed the
last number called. “What am I supposed to do?” Her voice
shook.

“You may have to quit your job.” Zack
suggested. “I don’t think it’s safe for you until they find whoever
is stalking you.”

“I can’t just walk away from my job. I’m a
single woman. How am I supposed to pay my bills?”

Zack was quiet a moment. His voice instilled
confidence she didn’t think she had. “Last I knew, the certificate
we signed says we’re married. I don’t think Jake will mind if you
take some time off given the current situation, and your clients
might be expecting you to have some time off with your new
husband.”

“What about that case I’ve been working on
for months? I can’t just walk away from that.”

Zack took an exasperated breath. “We’re
talking about life and death here. YOUR life. Maybe it’s time for
you to think about your own needs for once. You seem to be very
good at watching out for everyone else.”

That stung. His tone spoke volumes.

“I AM thinking about my life. You won’t be
around forever. I just can’t walk away from my career. And I really
do have bills to pay. Obligations to meet…”

“D&C 83:2 says…”

“‘Women have claim on their husbands for
their maintenance, until their husbands are taken.’ I know that
one, but you’re not really my husband and I can’t expect you to
maintain me.” She protested.

“Well, you are my legal wife. I can handle
the maintenance part. Won’t you at least think about it? Clearly,
there is someone after you. They’ve killed your dog. They very
nearly killed both of us. I don’t want them to be able to try
again.”

“If I hide out, they’ve won.”

“If you hide out, you won’t be dead.”

She was silent a moment. How could she argue
with that? “Would you object if Jake allowed me to continue the
work on my case from home?”

“Which home?” His response was too fast.

“Yours, at the moment. You may think I have a
death wish, but I really can’t even stand thinking about going back
to my own house right now.”

“Smart girl. When are you going to start
looking for a new home?”

“I don’t know. I can’t even think right now.”
The image of the word across the clearly cut brake line was nagging
at her. She’d seen that same “s” somewhere, and it wasn’t just on
the back of Dewk’s house.

Sondra tried to convince herself that her
curiosity about Zack’s day had more to do with trying to distract
herself from whoever was after her and less to do with how he had
spent his day. It was a failed attempt. Given the fact that he had
proven he would willingly put her needs first, she wondered what
would keep him in Salt Lake City on the day after they’d discovered
the brake lines had been cut.

When he arrived at the condo later that
afternoon, he didn’t enlighten her on his activities. It annoyed
her more than she wanted to admit that she didn’t feel free to just
come out and ask. Instead, she asked, “When will you be going to
Germany?”

His brows drew together in a concerned frown.
“The flight leaves on Monday. Did you want me to cancel? I can fly
out in a couple of weeks instead.”

Not wanting to act like a damsel in distress
despite feeling very much like one, she steeled herself. “I’ll be
fine. I don’t see how anyone who knows me would know where this
condo is. I feel secure here.”

“I’m glad you feel that way.” Relief flooded
his face. “You can stay here as long as you like. I’ll be checking
in regularly. If you ever want me back, just call and I’ll take the
next available flight.” A shadow fell across his face. “When you do
the… procedure… please let me know. I’m within a day’s flight if
you ever need me.”

Sondra dropped her gaze and stared at her
hands, which were folded in her lap. It took all her self-control
to keep them relaxed. She wanted to run to him and beg him not to
go. But she’d been a woman on her own for too long, and she wasn’t
going to take advantage of him.

The weekend flew by with Zack being courteous
and careful. He kept his distance and she ached for something
more.

Monday morning Zack walked in the office with
Sondra. They both talked to Jake, who was happy to accommodate her
request to work from home until the stalker was caught. “Will you
be able to attend court?”

“There are enough law enforcement officers
there and the metal detectors keep the weapons out, so I don’t see
why not.” Sondra said.

“She can use a rental car to drive to court.”
Zack interjected. “That way, her own car won’t be at risk.”

Jake nodded. “Good idea.” He stood up to hug
Sondra. “We’ll miss you here in the office, but we’ll be in touch.”
He turned to Zack and shook his hand. “I can understand your
concern over her safety. It sounds like you’re both making some
sound decisions.”

Zack sent a concerned look to Sondra. “I’m
going to be out of the country, so I’m trusting she’ll be cautious
while I’m gone.”

Jake raised his brows in surprise. “You’re
not taking her with you?”

Zack shook his head. “She said she’s been
working on a case for months. I didn’t want to pull her away from
it.”

Jake turned his gaze to Sondra. “Is it the
Stanford case?”

She nodded.

“You have put a lot of work into it, but I
think we could find someone else to take over.” Jake’s hesitant
tone meant he didn’t want to split the couple but he also wanted
her to finish the case.

Sondra met Zack’s eyes. He was trying to stay
neutral. She had a feeling he didn’t want her in Germany with him,
and that stung. She turned back to Jake. “I’ve put too much work
into it, and turning it over would mean I’d need to be in the
office so I can work with the replacing attorney. I don’t think
it’s safe for me right now. You have my cell phone. I will be
reachable through that. In the meantime, I’ll finish the work I’m
doing on the case and will continue to work on the other projects
you’ve given me.”

“That’s sounds fine. If we need to meet in
person, maybe we can arrange something at the courthouse.” He
escorted them to his door and watched them walk down the hall
before returning to his desk. They hadn’t reached the front door
before he had dialed the police department. A threat to one of his
attorneys was a threat to him, and he wanted to get to the bottom
of it. Unfortunately, the lieutenant he talked to didn’t have any
more insight than Zack had offered.