Misconceptions Read online

  Kenny came up beside them. “Don’t worry about contacting your brother, Houston. I’ve already got that taken care of.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “I don’t understand.”

  Kenny glanced at Joe, but said nothing.

  Joe cleared his throat. “I … uh … I’ll just pass on the news to the others.

  “You left in such a hurry, I didn’t have a chance to speak with you.” Kenny lowered his voice. “The Feds want to move on this. Angelica wants to know how many copies of the recording there are.” Kenny averted his gaze. “She’s called several times, and it sounded urgent, so I gave her the address of the cabin. I’ll call her and have her tell Travis about your dad.”

  Houston took a step forward. “How did you know about the cabin?”

  Kenny held his hands up. “Take it easy. I’m not the bad guy here. The pen recorded it. I assumed you knew that.”

  Houston slammed his fist against the wall. “I can’t believe you gave out their location. I still don’t know if Angelica can be trusted.”

  “Her credentials checked out, Travis. If it will make you feel better, I’ll call the local police and have them send a car by.”

  “You better have them send more than one.” Houston leaned forward. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all these years of investigating Vinnie, it’s never under-estimate him.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Travis unlocked the door to the cabin, opened it for Cindy to enter, and retrieved their few belongings. He closed the trunk and stared at the miles of endless woods surrounding them. Just as Houston has promised, the cabin was simple and secluded, perfect for their needs.

  Now he had a different hurdle to jump over: telling Cindy the truth. “I’d rather hear the worst truth than the best lie.” Cindy had repeated the saying to the girls since they were old enough to talk. Would she still feel this way after their afternoon talk? Doubtful.

  The moment he closed the door behind him, Cindy stood from the wooden sofa with mismatched cushions. “Okay, spill it, Travis. My imagination is running rampant.” She rubbed her hand over her belly.

  He took her by the hand and drew her back down onto the sofa, but he couldn’t look her in the eyes. Just tell her. “I’m going to have to file for bankruptcy. My company’s finished.”

  She sucked in a quick breath. “What? How could this have happened?”

  If she only knew. “That’s not all.”

  Cindy’s hands clenched his.

  “The house is in foreclosure. We have thirty days to get out.”

  She pulled her hands out of his. “Travis—how could I not know? How could you keep this from me?” She rambled off several incoherent questions, then turned away from him. “I feel so stupid.”

  “Don’t.”

  Suddenly, she placed her hands on either side of her stomach

  “What’s wrong? Are you having contractions?”

  “They’re just Braxton Hicks contractions. If I lay down on my left side, they’ll go away.”

  Travis jumped to his feet to allow Cindy to lie down.

  During the forty-five minutes the contractions continued, Travis alternated between pacing in front of the window, putting their belongings away, and dashing to Cindy’s side whenever the pain made her gasp.

  Between contractions, she tried to question Travis more, but he convinced her to wait until after she had a nap. She tried to argue, but her heavy eyelids betrayed her. He walked her to the bedroom and tucked her in.

  Before he turned out the light, he hoped the nap would refresh her enough. The rest of his news would change her world again.

  Travis scrounged through the kitchen cabinets, found some coffee and put on a fresh pot of decaf. When the aroma filled the cabin, he poured himself a cup and sat on the couch.

  A Bible sat unopened on the coffee table. When was the last time he’d spent time in God’s Word? The Lord had been so distant for so long. No, it was he who stepped away. The enormity of his situation hit him like a train. He’d walked away from God and led himself and his family into grave danger. He fell to his knees and wept. God forgive me!

  Circumstances had not changed, but now he could breathe easy for the first time in a long time. Don’t leave me, Lord. A selfish prayer, but at least progress in his communication with God.

  He glanced at the bedroom where Cindy rested. What happened to us, God? How had the moved from newlyweds who could hardly keep their hands off of each other to living more like roommates than man and wife? But he already knew the answer: kids, work, life, busy-ness. All had taken precedence over his relationships with both the Lord and Cindy.

  Cindy walked into the living room. She’d let her hair down, and her eyes were red and puffy.

  “You feeling better?”

  She placed her hand on her belly. “Yes. The pains have stopped.”

  He closed the distance between them. “Can I get you anything? I made a pot of decaf.”

  She stepped away from him and eased herself onto the sofa. “I’m fine for now, thanks.”

  He sat down beside her and placed a hand on the baby.

  She placed her hand on his, and his heart soared. Maybe there was hope for their relationship. But they still needed to finish their conversation, no matter how difficult or painful it became. He placed a kiss on her cheek and hoped it wouldn’t be the last one she would ever accept.

  “Please tell me the truth, Travis. Have you been unfaithful?” The pain in her eyes cut him to the core. She really thought he would cheat on her? He let out a long breath. The silence lasted several minutes.

  She leaned back. “I guess I have my answer. It’s a yes or no question. It shouldn’t be so difficult.”

  He stared at his cup of coffee, unable to look her in the eyes. “It’s more complicated than that.”

  She crossed her arms and struggled to get to her feet “What’s so complicated? Either you’re cheating on me or you’re not.” She moved toward the window and paced.

  “Are you having more labor pains?”

  “No. And please don’t change the subject. Tell me the truth. I deserve to know.”

  The truth would break her heart. “I kissed another woman. That’s as far as it got. I regretted it the moment it happened.”

  She looked him in the eyes. “It was Angelica, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes.” His finger circled the top of the coffee mug.

  “Do you have feelings for her?”

  He placed the mug down on the coffee table. “No.”

  “But you do find her attractive.”

  “Yes … no … that’s a difficult question. Was I attracted to her? Yes. Am I still? No. I wish I’d never kissed her. Thank God, Houston walked in when he did.”

  “Houston knows?” Her eyebrows shot up and her mouth hung open. “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me.”

  Travis ran his fingers through his hair. “I begged him to let me tell you. I thought it would be best coming from me.”

  “Is that why you’re losing your business? Because you’re spending time with Angelica instead of taking care of business?”

  “No. It’s two separate issues.”

  “I don’t understand.” She returned to her spot on the couch.

  Travis took her hands in his. “There are many reasons why I lost the business, Cindy. The main one is that I made a lot of poor business choices.”

  “How does that lead to us being here?” She waved an arm to indicate the cabin.

  “Angelica works for Vinnie Fernandez.”

  Cindy’s brow furrowed. “Do you mean that thug they mention on the news, someone involved in organized crime?

  Travis nodded.

  She shook her head. “I still don’t understand, Travis. How can she work for Vinnie when she works for you? And why would you have anything to do with someone who works for a man who—”

  He held up a hand. “If you’ll hear me out, I’ll explain everything.” He poured it all out, from his first i
nklings that trouble was on the horizon to accepting Vinnie’s help to the decision to get evidence that would put Vinnie behind bars. The expressions that rippled across Cindy’s face tore his heart apart, but he held back nothing—except about the baby.

  “So we’re in danger because you decided to play detective?”

  “No.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “It’s because of the baby.”

  “What does the baby have to do with this?”

  He let out a slow breath. How do you tell your wife some monster wants her child? Give me the words, God. “Vinnie wants the baby.”

  “He wants to adopt our baby?”

  “He wants to buy the baby, so he can sell it on the black market.”

  She wrapped her arms around her belly and shrank away from him. “Dear God!”

  “He offered me two million dollars. When I refused, he became very angry. That’s why I had to get you out of town. I was afraid he’d take matters into his own hands.”

  “What makes him think he has the right to our child?” Her eyes flashed.

  “It’s not just our baby. Think about how many babies have disappeared. Vinnie’s a very dangerous man.”

  Cindy rubbed her arms as though to warm herself. “Vinnie’s behind all of the kidnappings?”

  “Yes.” He leaned forward. “There’s one more thing.”

  She let out a frustrated sigh. “How much more could there be, Travis?”

  He knelt in front of her. “I let Vinnie use my business for illegal purposes. We have to face the fact that my actions were illegal. I may have to spend some time in prison.”

  Cindy shook her head. “He’s killing pregnant woman and selling their babies on the black market, and you have to go to prison? What kind of justice system do we have?”

  He sat next to her. “I’ll need a lawyer. Maybe I can ask for leniency in exchange for my testimony, but—”

  Pounding on the door made them both jump. Travis shot to his feet. His heart slammed in his chest. No one had followed them. Who could it be?

  Cindy gasped. “I thought you said no one knows we’re here.”

  “Go hide in the bedroom.”

  “Open up, Travis I know you’re in there,” a loud male voice called out.

  Travis opened the side table drawer and pulled out the handgun and a cell phone. He pressed the cell phone into Cindy’s hand. “Call Houston. Tell him Vinnie Fernandez found us!”

  “Where did you get those?” Cindy squeaked.

  He motioned her toward the back of the cabin. “Houston gave them to me to use in case of an emergency. I can’t think of any bigger emergency than this.” He tiptoed to the window, but Cindy followed on his heels. He pressed the cell phone into Cindy’s hand. “Call Houston. Tell him Vinnie Fernandez found us!”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Dominique felt Joe’s presence before she actually saw him. She eased her eyes open and licked her chapped lips. The last time she’d felt like this was when she woke up from having her appendix taken out. In spite of the soft pillow, pain radiated through her head.

  “Hi, sleepyhead. How are you feeling?” Joe took her hand in his.

  She fumbled with her free hand to find the control for the bed. “That depends.”

  “On what?”

  She opened her eyes a little further. “Are you asking as my boyfriend or as my doctor?”

  He helped her adjust the pillows. “Both.” He fished the remote out of the tangled sheets and pressed the button to raise the head of the bed.

  “What happened?” she asked. “Did the men who abducted me turn Vinnie in? Please tell me he’s behind bars?” Her voice trembled.

  Joe brought one of her hands to his lips and kissed it. “I was so worried about you, Dominique. I may never let you out of my sight again.”

  “I take that as a no.” She looked around the room. “I need to speak with Houston.” She pointed to the water pitcher on the rolling tray. “Can you hand me that?”

  Joe poured a glass of water for her and stuck a straw in the glass. “Here. Go slow with this.” His eyes narrowed. “Why do you need to talk to Houston?”

  She took a small sip. “When I was in the back of the van, I faded in and out of consciousness. When they thought I was out of it, one of the men received a phone call from Vinnie. They were talking about some papers that document where each of the kidnapped babies are.”

  Joe’s eyebrows shot up. “Did he mention where it was hidden?”

  “No. But he mentioned Angelica. Please tell Houston. I know he’ll want to look into it.”

  Joe didn’t respond.

  “Is everything okay? What aren’t you telling me?”

  He took a deep breath. “I wanted to wait till you were a little stronger. Houston’s with Dad.”

  Peculiar, considering what Joe had told her about Houston and Samuel’s relationship. “You still haven’t answered my question. Is everything okay?”

  He ran his hands over his face. “My dad was shot. He’s in the recovery room right now. We don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

  Dominique sat up straight. “What! Who shot him?”

  Joe rubbed the back of his neck. “Vinnie Fernandez’s men. We think they were looking for Cindy.”

  Her hands fumbled with the bed’s railing. When she managed to get it down, she started to ease herself to the side of the bed.

  Joe set his hands on her shoulders. “Wait a minute. Where do you think you’re going?”

  “We have to do something. I won’t stand by and let that man harm Cindy and the baby.” She pushed against Joe’s hands and let her feet slide to the floor. Blood rushed to her head and she swayed.

  Joe grabbed her arm and her eased her back onto the bed. “I don’t know what you have in mind, but you have to take it slow and easy.”

  Tears slipped down her face. “I am so sorry. You should be with your family. They’ll need you.” She patted his arm.

  He kissed the top of her head. “You’re my family too.”

  Warmth radiated from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. “I would never forgive myself if something happened to your dad and you weren’t there.”

  “The staff knows how to contact me, and Houston knows where I am. You worry about getting better.”

  “I want to see your dad, Joe. As soon as he can have visitors, I want to see him.” Her heart broke because she might never have the opportunity to thank Samuel for helping her to understand the Lord’s love and forgiveness. Her time with him had been so short, yet she knew him better than her own father.

  A sharp rapping on the door pulled her from her melancholy.

  “Come in.” Still weak from the effects of the drug, her voice came out faint and hoarse.

  Penelope Nordstrom barged in the room, sporting her trademark frown and carrying a medical chart. “And how are we feeling, Ms. Sherwood?”

  Dominique made the mistake of looking at Joe. The comical expression on his face made her bite the side of her cheek to keep from laughing. “I’m surprised to see you, Penelope. It’s nice of you to be concerned.”

  Her former boss pushed the glasses higher on her nose. “This isn’t a social call. Billing was on the way up here, but I told them I’d speak with you. Since you no longer have insurance, the hospital needs to know how you’re planning to pay for the services we’re providing you.”

  “That’s easy,” Joe said.

  Penelope’s eyes narrowed. “Will you be paying for Dominique’s medical charges?”

  “If I need to I will, but I think the responsible party should pay for them.”

  “And who’s that?”

  Joe leaned forward. “Vinnie Fernandez.”

  Penelope’s mouth flew open. She scrawled some notes on the chart and stomped out of the room.

  Dominique squeezed Joe’s hand. “Well, I guess you told her. If only I really could just send him the bill.” She let out a long sigh. “I can’t believe how exasperating that woman can b
e.”

  Joe’s cell phone ring cut off his response. He checked the text. “I have to go. Dad is coding!”

  Chapter Forty

  The pounding on the cabin door grew louder and more incessant.

  Cindy stood perfectly still in the middle of the cabin’s living room, cell phone in hand.

  Her deer-in-the-headlights expression drove a knife of fear through Travis. He turned her toward the bedroom. “Call Houston! We don’t have time to waste.”

  “Travis, my water broke!”

  Behind him, the door splintered. Cool night air rushed into the cabin.

  Vinnie shoved the broken door open and barged into the room. “Thought you could hide from me did you? I told you I don’t like being deceived.”

  Travis stepped in front of Cindy. He firmly planted his feet, aimed the gun at Vinnie’s chest, and glared at him. If you have to use it, shoot to kill. That had been Houston’s advice. “You don’t have any business here, Vinnie. Get out!”

  Vinnie leered at Cindy.

  Travis prayed Vinnie didn’t notice the small puddle of water at Cindy’s feet. He took a step forward to divert Vinnie’s gaze.

  Vinnie stared at the gun in Travis’s hand. “You know the terms of our arrangement. Only I say when our business is concluded. And I’m not quite ready to part ways.”

  “What unfinished business do you think we have?”

  “I’m surprised you don’t remember, Travis.” Vinnie took a few steps toward him. “We still have a little two-million dollar business deal to resolve.”

  Travis transferred the gun to his right hand and moved a protective arm in front of Cindy. He immediately regretted the movement. It drew Vinnie’s attention to the water on the floor.

  “Looks like things are progressing.” Vinnie’s eyes gleamed. “Let’s finish this business. I want that baby! Either you meet your end of the bargain, or I’ll handle it my way.”

  “I never agreed to sell you the baby.” Travis tightened his grip on the gun. The pounding of his heartbeat filled his ears.

  “I’ll give you a choice, Travis. There’s a doctor, a friend of mine, not far from here. Your wife can deliver the baby, and he’ll document it as a stillbirth. I’ll deposit the money in whatever account you want.” He rubbed his chin. “Or you stand on your ridiculous morals, and I call an associate whose only concern is getting paid to harvest a healthy baby.”