Midnight Caller (35 page)

He was also presenting a way to come home.

“Sawyer thinks my background in criminal investigations would be an asset to the D.A.'s office,” Trevor said. “I'd have to pass the state bar here, of course. And I went straight to Quantico after law school, so I haven't had much trial experience. But it's a good offer. It could be a new challenge for me.”

“I never thought you'd consider coming back here.” Annabelle couldn't hide the hope that infused her features. Sunlight filtered through the blinds behind her, framing her against a brilliant blue sky that was like the backdrop for a studio photograph.

“A few weeks ago, I wouldn't have,” Trevor replied honestly. He met her gaze. “But I'm thinking of giving it a try.”

 

He must have fallen asleep sometime after lunch. When Trevor opened his eyes, the light in the room had softened and Annabelle was no longer there. Rain sat in the chair next to his bed. She was looking at a get-well card Haley had made out of construction paper.

“How long have you been here?” he asked, groggy.

“A little while.” She stood the card upright on the nightstand. “I had a couple of therapy sessions scheduled this morning.”

“You're back to work?”

“It keeps my mind off things.” Rain shrugged her slender shoulders. She wore her hair loose, and she pushed a curtain of coppery waves behind one ear. Although her scratches and cuts were healing, a brace still encircled her right wrist. Her pensive expression gave him pause.

“You okay?”

She nodded and changed the subject. “I met your aunt Susan and uncle Frank in the lobby last night. They seem like nice people.”

“They are.” Still studying her, Trevor shifted his weight carefully. He patted the mattress. “Come here.”

“I don't want to hurt you.”

“You won't. It's not like you take up much room, anyway.”

She got up from the chair. Smoothing down her linen slacks, she sat on the edge of Trevor's bed, careful to avoid the IV line attached to his arm. Her fingers stroked his temple.

“I guess we haven't had much time to talk,” he said.

“No, we haven't.”

There had been a steady stream of visitors since Trevor had been moved from ICU to a private room: Annabelle, Brian and Alex, Sawyer and Eddie McGrath. Even Danny Reyes with the DEA had come by. Nate was still on assignment, but he had called twice and sent a ridiculously large fruit basket. His aunt and uncle had also driven over from their retirement community in Florida. Rain had been there as well, but there had been little opportunity for a private conversation between them.

“Want to tell me what you're thinking about?”

She stared at the floral arrangements around the room. “Just that all these flowers…they could've been for your funeral.”

“I'm right here, Rain. I'm going to be okay.”

“You don't understand.” Her lovely hazel eyes held a
shimmer of tears. “You stopped breathing as we were landing in New Orleans. Did you know that?”

“Brian told me. He said you gave me mouth-to-mouth until the paramedics could take over.”

When she didn't respond, he touched her cheek. “He also said you drove Carteris's SUV back to the plane.”

Rain shook her head. She seemed in disbelief herself. “I don't know how I did it. All I could think about was getting you out of there. Nothing else mattered.”

“You shot Carteris.”

“I had to.” She pressed her lips together, obviously recalling the things that had transpired during her time alone with the surgeon.

“Who was he?” she whispered.

“They're still working to figure that out.”

“He said he killed my parents. That it was never a murder-suicide at all.”

Trevor fell silent, wanting to give her the answers she desperately needed but being unable to do so. Sawyer had told him the D.A.'s office was considering reopening the investigation into her parents' deaths, but he didn't think now was the time to discuss it. Regardless, it was unlikely there would be much evidence left to support or invalidate Carteris's claims. The more probable outcome would be a new firestorm of tabloid articles on Desiree and her violent murder—another event Rain would be forced to endure. This latest chapter in Desiree's legacy only deepened the mystery surrounding her.

“Who were the other women in the swamp?” Rain asked.

“They don't know yet. They're trying to match them to missing persons cases in the area. It's possible they were prostitutes from New Orleans. Or runaways. Women who wouldn't be easily missed.”

“Do you think Carteris was as old as he claimed?”

“No,” Trevor stated. “Although I think
he
believed it. But he's gone now. It's over. We need to focus on that.”

“I'll try.” Her hand skimmed his forearm. In the room's light, he could see the faint spray of golden freckles across her small nose, and her porcelain skin appeared luminous. Trevor slipped a hand through her hair, marveling at its silken feel. He was unbelievably fortunate to have gotten her back.

“You shouldn't have come out there, Trevor. You knew he'd never let you leave alive.”

He looked into her eyes. “If he'd killed you, I wouldn't have survived anyway.”

She lowered her head and pressed her lips to his. The sweetness of their mouths joining was something Trevor felt in his soul. Rain offered a calmness to his intensity. Her lightness balanced his dark. For the longest time, he'd felt as if something inside him was broken and unfixable. But Rain gave him hope that he could somehow defeat the ghosts that still haunted him. He realized he'd do whatever he had to in order to heal. Trevor needed his heart to be open to his family, and to her. He cupped her delicate jawline.

“We haven't known each other for very long,” he said, his voice soft. “But there're a couple of things I already know about you.”

“Like what?”

“I know I love you.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. “What's the other thing?”

He wanted to see her smile. “You seriously need to learn to drive. And I mean more than in emergency-only situations. Couldn't you see a therapist about this phobia thing?”

“Therapists?” Rain rolled her eyes. “Don't you know? They're all a bunch of New Age quacks.”

“Then I guess I'll have to get used to driving you around the rest of my life.” His expression had turned serious and she
gazed at him, confused. Slowly, he tugged her mouth back to his for another kiss.

Returning to New Orleans would require coming to terms with his past. He'd have to live in the same delta city where James Rivette existed. Could he do it? Become a part of this place again? If he could overcome the obstacles, he believed it would be worth every effort. He belonged here with Annabelle and Brian, and with Rain. His history and his future were undeniably intertwined.

Settling against him, Rain laid her head in the crook of his neck and exhaled lightly, her breath warm against his skin.

“I love you, too,” she murmured.

It was time to confront the shadows and bury them deep in the fertile earth of the Mississippi riverbanks forever. This desire for family and friends—
for real connection
—was unfamiliar, but it was there inside him just the same. All Trevor knew was that he wanted to start living his life.

He was ready to stop running.