Chapter Thirty-Three

  The vehicle Cole drove around the front of the hospital to pick her up in wasn’t a surprise. It matched him perfectly. The metallic red pickup truck was jacked up on huge tires. Elizabeth had to spring up to reach the running board. When she got into the cab of the truck, she lay back in the leopard-skin seat cover and sighed. On the rearview mirror hung an orange and black garter.

  Before Elizabeth could comment, Cole’s hand reached up and snatched the item down. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  As the vehicle lurched into motion, Elizabeth’s eyes were drawn to the dash. There in plain sight was a picture of Austin, Cole, and a dark-haired, fair-skinned woman.

  “Is that Julie?”

  “Yeah.”

  “She’s very pretty.”

  “Yes. She is.”

  They didn’t speak for awhile. Elizabeth squirmed, trying to think of a subject they might be able to speak about that wouldn’t be awkward. Just when she thought of something, Cole asked, “So why can’t I tell Bruce you love him?”

  The smile in his voice kept her from being angry when she replied. “Cole, I know you don’t understand. But I’ll try to explain anyway. God commanded me to love all people and…”

  “You’re not getting off that easy. You weren’t confessing a general love back there. You were telling me you love love him. I know the difference.”

  Trying again, Elizabeth said, “I don’t know how to tell you this. But it doesn’t matter if I love him or not. We can’t be together.”

  “Now hold on just a minute. I disagree. What in the world could keep you two apart if you love each other?”

  “Cole, I love your brother. That’s true. But I love the Lord more. And He commands me to find someone of my own faith. Haven’t you ever heard about being unequally yoked? And don’t make some silly egg joke. I don’t want to hear it. The fact is that I’m a Protestant, and Bruce is a Catholic. I wouldn’t want to make him chose.”

  Too late, Elizabeth realized what she’d said. She was repeating the exact same scenario that had occurred between him and Julie.

  “You’re right, I don’t understand. Why does it matter anyway? You both believe in God. You both go to church. Why does it matter if he goes to a Catholic church and you go to a Baptist? I don’t get it.”

  Elizabeth sensed his need to understand. She sent up a quick prayer for guidance. “Cole, you’re correct. It’s like we discussed before. We both believe in God. And in most cases the Catholics and the Protestants aren’t too far apart on beliefs. However, there are still some issues that make a relationship difficult. Especially if both parts of the couple aren’t on the same wavelength. As you well know.” In a way, Elizabeth felt as if she was chickening out. There were so many things she wanted to say on this issue. But she kept it short.

  Studying the road, Cole spoke softly, “Austin told me you prayed with him.”

  She shrugged. “He was afraid. Praying is what I do when I’m afraid. As it turns out, his mother prays with him as well.”

  “Yeah. She’s a good woman.”

  “Like I’ve said before, I think you still love Julie.”

  “Now wait just a minute—”

  “Let me finish. Bruce told me you had disagreement over her commitment to God. Don’t interrupt. I know you have no issues with her being committed. I understand that. It seemed the real issue didn’t come until she asked you to look at yourself. She wanted you to be as committed to the Lord as she was becoming. Am I right?”

  “Humph.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes. Cole I understand you’re scared. I know change can be like that. I have to ask, did you ever stop to think maybe she was right? Maybe the only reason Julie told you of her newfound love of the Lord was because she loved you?”

  Elizabeth saw his knuckles whiten on the steering wheel except she wasn’t backing down. “I know you love your son. I know you love your wife. Don’t say your ex-wife. In your heart, you know you’re still one with her. ‘What God hath put together, let no man put asunder.’ How would you feel if Julie found another man? A man that was a Christian. That loved her and wanted to care for her and Austin.”

  “No, I won’t allow it.”

  “Cole, you don’t have any control over that. You gave all that away remember? What makes you think you’re allowed to go out and live your life, and she’s not allowed to have one?”

  He thumped his chest. “She just wouldn’t. I know.”

  “How do you know?” Elizabeth said quietly.

  On a puff of air, Cole said, “Because she still loves me.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  When they pulled up in front of Bruce’s townhouse, Elizabeth was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. Cole agreed to remain silent about her feelings, but he wasn’t happy about it. He begged her to give his brother a chance. Elizabeth consoled him by saying that she would pray about it.

  Elizabeth didn’t understand it. Not more than a few weeks ago, she’d been completely ignorable. Men had passed her by like she wasn’t even there. And now, when she had found someone she could love for all eternity, she couldn’t even tell him.

  There was the issue of their different religions, but what if he didn’t feel the same way about her? Bruce seemed to enjoy her company. He hadn’t been more than two steps from her side. He had said he liked her. As much as part of her was worried, another part knew God was in this and her feelings for Bruce were true.

  Honesty was always the best policy. But not yet. She couldn’t reveal her feelings and let him convert to the Protestant religion for her. Then she would always wonder if it was real. What a mess she’d gotten herself into. Her parents were going to skin her alive when they heard about this.

  When they arrived on Bruce’s doorstep, it was almost 5:00 a.m. Fortunately, his light was still on. Cole knocked with a loud booming sound. “Bruce, get up. I need to talk to you.”

  Elizabeth gave Cole a look and said, “My goodness, Cole, do you have to be so loud? You’ll wake up Mrs. Campbell, and she’ll tell everyone in the neighborhood. She’ll call my parents and tell them.”

  Cole smirked.

  “I’m glad you think it’s funny but I don’t.” Elizabeth folded her arms across her chest.

  Cole wasn’t buying it. He leaned down and gave her a big, wet sloppy kiss on the cheek as Bruce’s door was yanked open. A flush began to creep from her head to her toes. Cole leaned back away from her, looking embarrassed himself.

  “Hello there, little brother.”

  Bruce opened the door. His shirt was unbuttoned halfway down, his eyes were red, and his hair stuck up in odd angles. Elizabeth found him completely adorable.

  “What do you want?” Bruce’s voice with tinged with anger and hurt.

  “Bruce, we need your help.”

  “Oh, do you now? What do you need my help for? Is it to arrange a wedding? I’m sure Elizabeth’s preacher father would be more than glad to arrange a shotgun wedding for you after you’ve marred his daughter. Or maybe I’ll just do it myself!”

  “Bruce, please. You don’t understand.”

  “Are you sure, Elizabeth? You leave in a taxi hours ago after not telling me where you were going. Then you show up on my door step at five in the morning with my brother’s lips on you. What is there to understand?”

  With a pleading look in her eyes, Elizabeth looked to Cole for help.

  “Listen bro, this is serious. And this has nothing to do with Elizabeth and me. I mean, there is no Elizabeth and me.”

  If his rigid stance was anything to go by, Bruce didn’t appear convinced.

  “Bruce, can we come in? Please?”

  He stepped back and allowed them to enter. The living room was a wreck. Every available space was littered with paper.

  “Are these all the files that are tied to the Tillman case?” asked Elizabeth.

  “Yes. I’ve been sorting for hours. I can’t find anything that ties them together.”

  “We might be able to help with that,” said Cole, a grin spreading across his face.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Elizabeth was at the hospital,” Bruce’s eyes widened with concern, and Cole added, “Wait, let me finish. Something happened to Mr. Hampton, although no one knows exactly what it was. Janice called Elizabeth to come and sit with Charles so she could go home for a few hours. While Janice was gone, Charles woke up and started striking his bed. He was trying to get someone to look in his coat pocket. To make a long story short, Charles Hampton is in a coma. Sometime we’ll have to thank the old man for waking up long enough to lead Elizabeth to a startling find.”

  “Go on.”

  “Elizabeth called me because she found a letter. It doesn’t say much, mind you. Just that Henry was doing something he shouldn’t have and George was tired of suffering for his brother’s mistake.”

  “Hmm, I can understand that.”

  Cole’s eyebrow rose as he continued, “I don’t know what’s going on, but Janice knows something. Either she went home to look for that letter or she was doing something else. I’m headed to the precinct to ask some questions about Henry and George. According to their mother, both of them have disappeared.”

  “You need to ask about Tina Winterbottom as well,” Elizabeth said.

  “Why?”

  “At the party, LuLu overheard some ladies saying Tina was blackmailing George into marriage. Do you think that—no, it couldn’t be.”

  “What?” they both said.

  Elizabeth found a space between the papers; she walked back and forth as the words poured out. “This fits. I don’t have all the dots connected yet. Let’s think about this. Just imagine: Henry defends the Winterbottom Corporation against the wrongful death suits. He finds out the company is at fault for these deaths. Maybe because they hid the information about the deadly chemical or maybe because they have someone kill the plaintiffs, I don’t know. But anyway, he finds out something he shouldn’t. He tells George and since George is older, he promises to help him. Only when he goes to Mr. Winterbottom to confront him about what’s been going on, Tina sees him.

  “Somehow the Winterbottom’s have dirt on the Hampton firm. Maybe it was nothing more than Henry knew what was happening the whole time. Maybe they can pin him to the deaths somehow. Whatever it is, it was so bad Tina was able to convince George to marry her. That was why George wasn’t happy. That’s what he meant in his letter about helping Henry out and it being too much to expect of him.”

  “So you think George was being blackmailed by Tina and it was all to keep Henry out of trouble?” asked Cole.

  Bruce interrupted, “It makes perfect sense. I can’t believe it. This is great. You’re a genius!”

  Before Elizabeth knew what was happening, she was engulfed in Bruce’s arms and his lips were upon hers.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  When Bruce pulled back from Elizabeth, he was embarrassed by his actions. He ran a hand through his hair and sent a sideways glance in Cole’s direction.

  “Well, my young brother. What did you do that for?” Cole leaned against the living room door, staring at Bruce with a huge grin.

  Bruce’s lips turned down into a frown. Elizabeth was just standing there staring at him. Why should she act such a way? It wasn’t like they hadn’t kissed before. “I’m just really happy. That’s it.”

  Elizabeth found her voice. “So I’m right. I figured it out.”

  “Not exactly. But you are on the right track. I’ve been studying these old case files involving the Winterbottom Corporation for hours, and I think I’ve solved the problem.”

  “Tell us,” Cole urged.

  Walking the full length of the room, circumventing the papers scattered on the floor, Bruce said, “Not yet. First I need you do something for me.”

  A groan escaped Cole’s throat. “Why do I always have to do something for you to get anything done? I think you need your own personal detective!”

  “I have one,” said Bruce with a smile.

  “Yeah. Whatever. Just tell me what you want. I need to get out of here and go do something myself.”

  “What could you possibly have to do at five o’clock in the morning?”

  “For starters, I think I need some sleep. I also have to kick out an unwanted houseguest. And there is a special appearance I need to make in the morning.”

  “Cole, are you deliberately being vague?”

  “Of course. You don’t need to know all my business. Now just tell me what you need so I can get out of here.”

  “Sure.” Bruce picked up a stack of papers and began riffling through them. Elizabeth moved papers aside on the couch to find a clean space and sat down. She toyed with her hands in her lap, Bruce felt bad about accusing her of having a relationship with Cole. But what else was he to think?

  Finding the papers he needed, Bruce wrote down his request on a piece of paper. “Here. This is what I need. Can you do it?”

  Cole scratched his head. “Yeah. I guess so. It might take a few days though.”

  “No hurry. Wait—I take that back. Do it as soon as you can. The trial is next week, and I have to be ready. Otherwise the company is going to walk away scot-free again.”

  “I’ll do my best. Bye, all. Good night.”

  Cole walked toward the door with Bruce behind him. When they reached the exit, Bruce said, “You have to tell me, Cole. Are you interested in Elizabeth?”

  “Why?”

  Bruce grabbed Cole by the collar. They were equal in height and build, except in a fight, Cole could have taken him down with one move. Bruce knew this. Right now, he didn’t care. He faced Cole, his body rigid and tense with restrained anger.

  “Cole, I’m not joking. Are you interested in Elizabeth? Because if you are, then you need to know I’m interested as well. And I hate to call dibs, but I did have her first.”

  Cole’s lips twitched and laughter burst from his throat. “You’re calling dibs?”

  “Yes.”

  Cole shook loose of Bruce’s grasp, opened the door, gave Bruce one final look and shook his head as he walked out. Bruce followed him onto the stoop. He was tempted to yell and ask the question again, except he was afraid someone might hear him. Grunting with frustration, he walked back inside the foyer and came face-to-face with Elizabeth.

  A stoic look was settled upon her face. Just a hint of mirth was in her eyes. “Am I a trophy on the school yard? You called dibs?”

  Bruce stuttered and stammered trying to find an answer. He’d been caught. Heat rushed to his face, his skin burning. Was she angry?

  Elizabeth burst with laughter. She bent over and slapped her thighs. When she stood up straight, her face was still twisted in unrestrained hilarity.

  “You can stop laughing now.”

  “No. I can’t.”

  “Why is it so funny that I would want to date you? Get to know you?” As Bruce spoke, he was walking toward her, stalking like a cat after its prey.

  Retreating away from his gaze, Elizabeth’s back found the wall. Bruce didn’t stop until he was directly in front of her pinning her between the wall and his frame. He towered over her, his arm resting over her shoulder, keeping her in place.

  Bruce leaned forward and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. When he stepped back, his eyes bored into hers. Tears rested in their green depths, threatening to spill over at any moment. One single tear slipped down her cheek. Bruce’s hand shot forward, using his knuckle to gently wipe it away.

  “Elizabeth, don’t cry.”

  She couldn’t speak. Her head lowered. He’d pushed her too far. She’d had a terrible night. Why hadn’t he been more considerate?

  “Elizabeth. Let me take you home. You need to rest. We have to go to church in just a few hours.”

  Jerking her head up to look him in the face, she said, “We?”

  “But of course, we. Remember I asked to go with you. That is unless you don’t want me to go.”

  “No. I do want you to go.”

  “Good. Then I’ll walk you home, and you can get some sleep.”

  “But what about you?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’m used to burning the midnight oil. I’m just going to clean some of these papers up and gather my notes.”

  “I could help you.”

  “You could.”

  “Then you would get done quicker, and you could get some rest, as well.”

  “That’s true.”

  Bruce stood back and allowed Elizabeth to move back into the living room. The loss of her body heat made him cold. He should have insisted she go home and rest. Could he be in these close quarters with her all alone and not reach out? Not try to touch her?

  Elizabeth walked to the couch and began picking up papers and putting them back into the appropriate places. She was eerily silent as she worked. If she found something she didn’t think belonged in the file she held, Elizabeth would set it aside on the coffee table until she found its correct location. In thirty minutes, the living room was clean, and all of Bruce’s notes were neatly straightened into one pile.

  When Elizabeth stood up, her hand was upon her lower back in a massaging motion. Instinctively, Bruce reached out to help her. Before she saw him, he dropped his hand back to his side. To touch her now would be a mistake. Yet he yearned to hold her. To wrap her in his arms. To be close to her.

  Rubbing his throbbing temple, Bruce said, “Thank you. You did a fantastic job. And I must say you finished in half the time it would have taken me. Now, I need to get you home and in bed.”

  “Yeah.”

  Elizabeth looked forlorn and lost. Bruce reached for and took hold of her hand. Bringing it to his lips, he held it there, searching her face. What he saw made him very happy. Bright red color suffused her cheeks, her eyes twinkled in the lamp light, but she didn’t pull away.

  “Bruce,” she mouthed breathlessly.

  “Yes, my love,” he said.

  “I should go.”

  “Yes, you should.”

  “Will you walk me home?”