Exposed to Passion (Five Senses series Book 3) Page 24

  “Unfortunately, a simple apology won’t fix things between us. His attack was very personal. He said words he knew would hurt.” Tension stole over her like a cold fog bank, smothering the hope Jem offered, implying that they could work it out. She pushed her food around on the dish, her appetite fading away. “I’m not any better. I should have told him my real name. He shouldn’t have found out the way he did.”

  “If you’d taken out a full page ad in the Globe claiming he was the biggest bastard in the world, he’d deserve it. He was never nice when he talked about Marguerite.”

  “Yeah, but it was bad enough to find out that way, then to have details, pictures of his private life, spewed all over the Internet makes it ten times worse.”

  “What happened to the two of you is criminal, Rikki.” Gunnar slammed his fork on the table. “I hope they catch whoever is responsible.”

  Jem nodded her head. “The sooner all of this is behind you, the better. With any luck, the school board will dismiss the charges against Sam. Then he can focus on fixing things with you.”

  Gunnar opened his mouth, but snapped it shut when Rikki’s foot connected with his shin under the table. The last thing Rikki needed was Jem and the rest of Sam’s family knowing what it cost her to clear his name.

  “They’ll catch the hackers and will prosecute them. Grandfather and I are meeting with the FBI this afternoon to discuss the case.”

  Jem shot Rikki a look full of sympathy. “Clay, Sam and Jack’s brother-in-law, told Pippa that the charges might include wire fraud and theft, both federal offenses. His government contacts informed him that they were pooling resources with the FBI to make sure there isn’t a terrorist connection.”

  The sip of tea Rikki had taken slid down the wrong way, temporarily choking her. Once she cleared her airway enough to talk, she laughed. “I think the only terrorist they’re going to find is an extremely territorial local woman with delusions of eternal youth.”

  She shouldn’t have said anything since the investigation was just getting underway, but in her heart, she knew who was responsible.

  Jem leaned forward in her seat and pegged Rikki with an earnest look. “I hope you and Sam work things out. Please don’t let his angry response hold you back. You’re good for him.”

  “I’m not sure this can be fixed, Jem. Or if I even want it.”

  Jem cringed, then stood up and grabbed her empty coffee mug. “I hope you can forgive him.” She nodded to Gunnar and Silas, then vanished into the kitchen.

  Silas broke his uncharacteristic silence. “Marguerite, I haven’t met your young man, but I like this sister of his. I think you must forgive him. What lies ahead for you is far better than what should remain in the past.”

  “It really isn’t that easy, Grandfather. I wish it were.”

  “Bah! It is only difficult if you hold on to the hurt, like a small child. Now eat. We have things to do this day.”

  His words made her feel small. But he didn’t know what Sam had said to her, how deeply his words had cut. She pushed away her plate and cup. “I’m finished now.”

  Did she mean only her breakfast? Or if she’d just voiced the final end to any relationship with Sam?

  Chapter 26

  “Dammit, Sam. You’re being unreasonable. You owe Rikki an apology. You should be camped on her doorstep waiting for a chance to see her, not here helping me. I told you Avery was available.”

  Sam regretted enlisting Jack’s help to deliver the temporary panels. It had seemed a good idea at the time, but Jack’s constant haranguing had gotten old by the time they’d hoisted the second portable wall from the back of the truck.

  “She isn’t taking my phone calls, Jack. Believe me, I’ve tried all day.” He grunted and shifted his grip on the edge of the heavy timber they carried into the museum. “I’d hoped running into her here, in a public place, might keep her from hitting me.”

  “Chicken shit!” Jack sneered.

  “Maybe.”

  “She’ll forgive you. She told you she loves you.”

  “After everything I’ve said and done, I’m not sure she loves me enough to forgive me. I’ve been a rat bastard.”

  “You are so full of—” He bit off his slur and shook his head. “Jem agrees with me. Rikki will forgive you.”

  Personally, he strongly doubted Rikki would ever be able to get past it. “Maybe.”

  Jack shouldered the corner of the panel and pushed it upright, manhandling it into position without help.

  The front entry door swung open, admitting a man carrying a cardboard box loaded with large frames. Catching sight of them, the muscular man stopped abruptly and scowled. Sam didn’t recognize the big blond guy. He sure didn’t understand the seething anger evident on the man’s face.

  Jack distracted him. “Can’t you say anything besides maybe?” Dusting his gloved hands together, Jack stepped away from the panel and turned an evil eye on Sam. “Sam, you don’t deserve to be forgiven, but I bet she does. Without even entertaining the thought of hitting you.”

  Sam was startled when the newcomer shoved the carton onto the desk and catapulted across the room. He grabbed a fistful of Sam’s shirt, yanking him off-center. “She might not hit you, but I will.”

  He plunged his right hand toward Sam’s face. Pain exploded through Sam’s head, and he flew backward. He landed hard on the concrete floor. He wheezed a breath in to replace the oxygen that had been forced out on impact. His aggressor didn’t stop. The guy seized Sam’s shirt again, jerking him upright, and aimed another crushing blow at his face. Before he could strike again, Jack tackled and propelled him to the floor. Sam fell backward, blinking hard to clear the blazing stars that clouded his vision.

  “What the hell!” Jack shouted, sitting on the guy’s chest.

  “That’s my sister your dickhead brother destroyed.” He shook his arm, as if to dispel the sting in his fist. He turned his head to glare at Sam. Pushing against Jack’s chest, he shouted, “Get the fuck off me. I won’t hit him again.”

  Jack scrambled to his feet and offered his hand to help the stranger up. “Sorry, man. Jack Kerrigan.”

  The guy dusted his palm against his khakis then grasped Jack’s hand. “Gunnar Sims.”

  “I got that when you mentioned your sister.” He gestured toward Sam where he lay on the ground. “And that dickhead is my brother, Sam. But you already figured that out.”

  Sam eyed Gunnar warily and remained on the floor.

  “I recognize him from his picture. Damn well better stay down,” Gunnar spit out.

  “You deserved that, Sam. If Rikki’s brother hadn’t done it, I was pretty tempted.” He faced Gunnar. “Nice to meet you. Great right hook, by the way. I’m not sure how Sam is still conscious. I’m glad you hit him and not me. He’s really not a bad guy, despite what your sister might claim.”

  “Is she okay?” Sam asked. His head spun as he struggled to his feet. “She won’t answer my calls or respond to my texts.”

  Gunnar pinned Sam with a look designed to intimidate. “Like you really care. Don’t say another word about my sister.”

  “I love her.” Sam raised his voice over the emotion choking him.

  “You have a shitty was of displaying it.” Gunnar scoffed. “How could you be so careless with your words?”

  Sam refused to flinch. “If she’d just see me or take my call, I know I can make things right with her. I can’t fix it if she won’t talk to me. Where is she?”

  “She’s in Boston, sharing obscene pictures with more strangers. Like yesterday wasn’t enough degradation for one lifetime.” Some of the anger on Gunnar’s face receded, leaving scorn in its wake. “Why the fuck would she want to talk to you? Didn’t you just rip her heart out, then stomp on it like a petulant child? You’re a douchebag, you know that?”

  “Yes, I am. But I’m the douchebag who loves your sister. I’m worried about her. About what was on the Sims website. I don’t care what happens to me. I just want to know if
she’s okay.”

  Anguish threatened to choke him. He’d been a grade-A asshole. If he’d driven Rikki away with his knee-jerk reaction, he deserved to exist on the seventh level of hell.

  Gunnar folded his arms across his chest and glared at Sam. “No, she isn’t okay. You tossed her away and nearly destroyed her with your cruel words. Yeah, she told me what you said. Personally, I don’t think she should toss you a life preserver if you were drowning. But she still hopped up on her white steed and rode to your rescue. She’s stupid loyal that way. Why the fuck she was inclined to save your sorry ass is beyond me.”

  “Wait! What are you talking about?”

  Gunnar shook his head, disgust obvious in the set of his lips. “She saved your job, man. Hasn’t the school board contacted you yet?”

  “I quit looking at my email or answering my phone yesterday afternoon when I realized Rikki wasn’t going to call. It was too depressing.”

  “How the hell Rikki could fall in love with this whiny bitch,” he muttered. He pinned Sam with a flinty stare. “Your brother is right—you don’t deserve to be forgiven. Rikki took those embarrassing pictures from the Sims website and met with your principal. She knew the evidence against you included a photo that had been manipulated, because the same one was on our website. You know, the one of her blowing you?”

  White-hot heat flashed up Sam’s neck and cheeks. Even his ears were flaming. Still didn’t compare to the embarrassment Rikki had gone through.

  “Yeah, that one. She disregarded her personal discomfort and put that photo on the desk of a man she didn’t know to point out the differences and save your bacon. Dammit, it’s bad enough for it to be on display on a website where she didn’t have to see anybody’s reaction. Imagine how she felt being in the same room with someone looking at that. And she’s doing it again with the FBI today.” He jabbed his finger toward Sam’s chest. “You might believe that Marguerite is a cold, unfeeling bitch, but I’m telling you she isn’t. She was as sick as a dog before she had to meet with what’s-his-name, your boss. But she went anyway. And you can’t be bothered to check your email to see if you’ve been reinstated. Un-fucking-believable.”

  Sam pulled his cell phone from the holster on his waist and fumbled to turn it on. He gave up when his fingers shook as he tried to enter his password, and shoved the phone at his brother. “You open it. Is there a text from Tom Edwards?” His voice cracked. Hope, chagrin, anxiety, and mortification all vied for prominence in his gut.

  “Sam, there are ten texts from him, along with three from Sarah Willis, and one each from the school board president and Becky Germaine. And you have voice mail.”

  “Is there anything from Rikki?” Please let there be something from her.

  Jack shook his head.

  “Read the first one from Edwards,” Sam demanded, struggling to hold his emotions in check.

  “It says Just got off the phone with the attorney. Investigation dropped thanks to MSims’ proof. Took guts for her to share that picture, but it saved your job. Call me. Sam, you’ve been cleared,” Jack shouted.

  Sam crashed to the floor and hid his face in his hands. “God, that must have been horrible for Rikki.” He lifted his head, relief simmering through his chest. “Where is she? I have to talk to her.”

  “You’ve already said more than enough. Stay away from my sister.” Gunnar drew himself up. “Finish installing these panels, then get out. Rikki has enough on her plate dealing with the FBI and getting ready for this exhibit. She doesn’t want to see you.” He balled his fists at his sides and fixed Sam with a no-nonsense, do-not-argue-with-me stare.

  In his heart, Sam knew Rikki must love him, at least enough to bear the humiliation of sharing the pornographic pictures with total strangers. Sam dared to believe for an instant she’d accept his apology, and he could patch things up between them.

  Jack turned away and started fiddling with the wheels on the display panel, locking them into place.

  Gunnar did a quick survey of the room. “This is the last one you have to install? Good. You’ll be done and gone before Rikki returns.”

  Sam rubbed the back of his neck. “You might not believe me, but I do love her. If I could pull my tongue out of my mouth for saying what I said, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

  “Yeah, well, bad shit happens when you speak without thinking. To say what you said? To be angry with her for using a name she prefers to be known by? For being a woman you never met, but never had anything good to say about? All dick moves and you know it.” Gunnar bit out the terse words, the muscle in his jaw twitching. “I don’t want to have to pound you into the floorboards, but I will if you don’t leave Rikki alone. “Stay. Away. From her.”

  Sam glared right back at him. “I will for now. But I love her and I will find a way to make this up to her. You can take that to the bank.”

  Chapter 27

  Rikki twisted her cold fingers together and contemplated her feet. She’d changed into her begging suit again before she and Silas had left for their meeting with the FBI. The high collar of her silk blouse choked her, but it couldn’t be helped. There was no way she’d meet with the representatives of the government in anything but her most professional attire.

  Her stomach rolled nervously as she regarded a scuffmark on the pointed toe of her high heel. Even as boring as her shoe was, it was preferable to thinking about the possibility she’d have to examine the pictures in front of her grandfather.

  The waiting area was a typical government office featuring bland walls, pictures of political figures placed sporadically, and a cubicle jungle stretched out behind the thick glass windows that separated visitors from office space. Locked doors between them muted the buzz of activity. From Rikki’s seat, it resembled well-organized chaos.

  A door opposite the cube farm opened, admitting a handsome, yet harried-looking man in his early thirties. Tension shot painfully across Rikki’s shoulders. This was it.

  She pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear and waited for his approach. He strode over to the uncomfortable couches where Rikki waited with Silas and introduced himself.

  “Ms. Sims, Mr. Sims. I’m Special Agent Baron Hollister. If you’ll come this way, we’re ready for you.”

  Silas jumped to his feet and rubbed his hands together, eager to get on with the interview.

  Rikki was slower getting to her feet.

  Grandfather beckoned her. “Come along, Marguerite. All will be fine. You will see.”

  He’d reverted to her given name, as if he understood her need to hide behind the professionalism Marguerite had always exuded. She gazed at her grandfather as if he’d grown pointed ears and a spiked tail. She drew in a shuddering breath and pushed to her feet. Smoothing non-existent wrinkles from her slim skirt, she followed the two men through the stout wooden door. The heels of her shoes clacked against the linoleum floor, echoing through the endless curving hallway lined with glass-paneled doors.

  Agent Hollister opened the fourth door on the right and stood aside, waiting to enter until after Rikki walked past. He pulled the door closed, granting them some privacy, and gestured for them to take a seat.

  Rikki settled on a padded leather chair next to Silas and folded her hands on the scarred table. A recording device occupied the center and a bulky file folder lay in front of the spot where Hollister sat. He’d no sooner taken his seat when two other agents, a stout-looking man and a flame-haired woman, entered the room. They nodded and took the chairs flanking Hollister.

  Hollister indicated the man on his right and introduced him. “This is Terry Townsend with our forensic accounting division. And this is Candace Redstone with our Cyber Crimes unit.” Hollister smiled at Rikki and continued, “They’re both involved in this investigation and have made a couple of breakthroughs already. What we’ll do here today is ask some questions about the foundation, how it operates, who has access to the website. That sort of thing. What we won’t be talking about, Ms. Sims, in this mixed com
pany, are the unfortunate photos the hacker posted online of you and Sam Kerrigan.”

  Jerking her head up, Rikki couldn’t hide her relief. The vise-like grip on her shoulders released and some of her tension melted away, a slow, gooey sensation. “Thank you, I’m glad to hear that.”

  Hollister smiled, humanizing his face, separating him temporarily from the image of bad-ass special agent. “I am obligated to tell you I know Sam Kerrigan. We went to college together and lived in the same apartment building. Because of this, I’ve asked to be recused from that portion of the case. Candace’s division will be handling that aspect of the investigation.”

  Did everyone on the planet know Sam Kerrigan?

  Rikki turned her gaze back to the female agent. The woman seated across from her appeared to be in her mid-forties, strands of gray winking in her red hair. Her eyes, behind powerful lenses in her glasses, were faded blue, set in with smudged fingers—the lashes inky black. Deep lines around her lips screamed the woman was a smoker. Rikki’s trepidation eased when Candace smiled, crinkling laugh lines around her eyes, adding kindness to her face, which had been devoid of emotion seconds ago.

  “I don’t know Sam from a hole in the wall. In case you’re wondering.” Candace laughed. A likeable sound. Good God, it was like the woman had read her mind. Her voice held a smoky rasp. “Ms. Sims, we won’t actually go through the pictures today. They’ll be introduced into evidence when the case goes to court. But it depends on what the defendants plead when and if it gets that far.”

  Straightening in her seat, Rikki zeroed in on something the investigator said. “If it goes to trial?”

  Hollister spoke up. “Oftentimes, in these crimes, the accused will admit guilt, or turn State’s evidence on co-defendants in order to plead down to lesser charges. Right now, we can charge him with conspiracy, theft, unauthorized access to a protected computer, hacking, aggravated identity theft, disseminating pornography, and posting revenge porn. All serious offenses.”