A Love to Cherish (13 page)

“What will it hurt? Will it bring back my son? Will it make the boy a better person to know his mother is a whore? There is no way Belle Parker is going to corrupt my grandson like she did my son. Get out of here, Walker. You’ve said your piece and I’ve said mine.”

White ridges of anger formed around Casey’s clenched lips. “I’m not going to give up. I’m a detective, remember? I’m going to dig into your past until I find something so discrediting you’re going to be forced to relent. If not, I’ll lay your entire past dealings before the world. There’s a streak of cruelty in you, McAllister. A man with your proclivity toward ruthlessness must have hurt people and
made enemies to get to the top. I’m going to find those people.”

For a moment McAllister looked discomfited. No, more than that, Casey thought, more like frightened. There was something in McAllister’s past he didn’t want revealed, Casey decided, and he was just the man to find it.

“You don’t scare me, Walker. Do your worst. Now get out of here before I call Kellerman to show you the way.”

“I’ll be back to see Tommy.”

McAllister laughed. “Good luck.”

Belle sat at the desk in her hotel room contemplating the options open to her with regard to Tommy. They were pitifully few, and most of them unworkable. There seemed no way legally to get custody of Tommy. The law was against her. That left illegal means. And she was desperate enough to break the law. She was considering the various methods available to her when someone knocked on the door.

Recalling how she had opened the door last night and found Casey on the doorstep, this time she wanted no surprises. “Who is it?”

“Casey.”

Belle went rigid. “Go away.”

Determined to gain entrance, Casey said, “I’ve seen Tommy.”

Predictably, the door was flung open immediately. Casey had spoken the magic word that had assured his entrance.

“You saw Tommy?” Excitement colored her words. “How is he? Is he being treated well?”

Casey stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “He is well, Belle. He misses you.”

“Oh, God,” she sobbed brokenly. “I can’t stand it.” She would have collapsed if Casey hadn’t caught her up against him.

“You have to be strong, Belle. I tried to get McAllister to relent, but he was inflexible. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to help you. I need time, please don’t give up.”

“Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep, Mr. Walker,” she snapped. “Just tell me about Tommy and get out of here.”

“Tommy seemed fine, Belle. Though I don’t condone his despicable behavior toward you, I believe McAllister cares for Tommy in his own way.”

“How did you get in to see Tommy when his own mother wasn’t allowed past the guard?”

Casey patted his gun. “It took a little persuasion, but I managed to convince the man to let me in. Besides, I had business with McAllister.”

Belle scowled at him. “Unscrupulous business, I assume.”

“I returned the money I owed McAllister. And I tried to convince him to let you see Tommy. Unfortunately, the bastard wouldn’t listen to reason. But I’m not giving up, Belle. It hurts like hell to think of the pain I caused you, despite the fact that I’m guilty of nothing but taking the case before I got to know you and Tommy.”

“I didn’t expect McAllister to change his mind,” Belle said with resignation. “He’s always hated me.”

“Did you know McAllister changed his will in Tommy’s favor? Your son is going to be extremely wealthy one day.”

“Money! Ha! Tommy needs me more than he needs money.”

“I agree.”

She lifted her brows in honest surprise. “Isn’t it rather late for that sentiment?”

“It doesn’t have to be. We can work together to get Tommy back.”

“If you have nothing more to say, you can leave.”

He couldn’t stand it any longer. This coldness was tearing him apart. “God, I want you.” The sincerity of his agonized words was evident in the spasmodic tightening of his hands as they reached out for her, in the gentleness of his touch as he drew her closer, and in the incredible yearning in his eyes as he touched her lips in a bittersweet kiss.

Belle’s eyes widened in dismay as his lips came down on hers. A shaft of sunlight pierced through the window, sharpening the edges of his rough-hewn face and making the regret in his dark eyes more pronounced. Her pulse rioted even as her mind screamed in protest. She did not trust this man. Would never trust him again. Casey Walker would only cause her grief, and more heartache than she could bear.

Belle had given herself to him because she cared for him, and steadfastly refused to fall victim to his sweet lies a second time. But with him kissing her as if he’d die if he didn’t, the will to resist fled. Yet if she didn’t stop this assault upon her senses she’d be lost forever. She couldn’t allow herself to feel anything for Casey Walker, not after the way he had betrayed her trust.

“Belle, please don’t send me away. Let me comfort you. We need each other now more than ever.” He wanted to lay her down on the bed and make her his again in a way that was as wild and tumultuous
as a summer storm, as enduring as the moon and stars, and as sweet as ambrosia.

“I don’t need you, Casey. All I need is my son.”

“Tell me you don’t want me,” he challenged, kissing her again and again, begging her with his compelling kisses to believe him.

With Casey’s mouth on hers, Belle found it difficult, if not impossible, to think rationally. Beset by insurmountable problems and assailed by Casey’s passion, she felt as if she had entered the eye of a storm and was being buffeted from every direction.

“You’re very persuasive, Casey,” Belle said when she came up for air. “But not persuasive enough.” She pushed herself from his arms, finding it the hardest thing she had ever done in her life. “I want you to leave. I’ve plans to make and people to see.”

Casey eyed her narrowly. “You’re not going to do anything rash, are you?”

She averted her gaze, refusing to look him in the eye. “I’ll do whatever I must for Tommy’s sake.”

“Don’t do anything until you hear from me. Promise me, Belle. I haven’t finished with McAllister yet.”

“I can’t promise you anything. I have to leave now, I told Wan Yo I’d stop by Naomi’s to see how he’s getting along.”

“I’ll leave, but I’ll be back. I’ve got some ideas of my own to pursue. If you need me, you’ll find me at the Waterfront Inn. Send someone around with a message.”

She turned her back on him. “I won’t need you.” She didn’t turn around until she heard the soft click of the door closing behind him. Then she whirled to stare after him, her eyes misty with tears.

Things could have been so different, she lamented sadly. If Casey had been what and who he’d claimed to be when they’d first met, she could have found happiness with him. He had made love to her as if he truly cared for her, and like a fool she had fallen for his charming lies. She touched her lips, imagining the sweet pressure of his kisses. The taste of him, unique and totally his, still lingered in her mouth. Heat throbbed in her belly. To make it stop, she bit her lip until pain brought tears to her eyes. Determined to forget Casey, she cast his image from her mind and heart. Then she left her room and walked the entire distance to Naomi’s Pleasure Parlor.

Naomi welcomed Belle with open arms and tears. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry about Tommy. I’d give everything I owned if I could restore him to you. You know how much I love the little scamp.”

Belle gave her a watery smile. She loved Naomi like a mother. Plump and pretty in an ostentatious way, Naomi was no longer young and was content now to forgo physical pleasure and run her establishment profitably. She was fair to her girls and they appreciated her care of them. Her place was clean, orderly, and extremely popular.

“I’m going to get Tommy back, Naomi, or die trying.”

“Don’t talk like that, honey,” Naomi cautioned, leading her into the kitchen. “Of course you’re going to get Tommy back. With that big detective on your side, you can’t lose.”

“Forget Casey. You don’t know him like I do. Are you aware that he lied to me? He was working for my father-in-law.”

They sat down at the kitchen table, and Naomi poured Belle a cup of tea laced with a dash of whiskey. “Drink this, honey, it will make you feel better. Casey was here yesterday,” she continued. “He wanted to know where to find you. He spoke with Wan Yo. If that Chinaman didn’t trust Casey, he wouldn’t have told him a damn thing.”

“In the beginning, Wan Yo was the one who didn’t trust Casey. It wasn’t until Casey spoke with him shortly before we left Placerville that Wan Yo changed his mind about him.”

“I know. Wan Yo told me everything. I even spoke with Casey myself. I tend to believe him. I’ll admit I didn’t trust him when he came here weeks ago asking questions, but he didn’t know you then. He swore he didn’t tell McAllister you were in Placerville and I believe him.”

“You’re too good-hearted, Naomi,” Belle contended. “But I didn’t come here to talk about Casey. I have a plan and I need your help.”

“I’ll do anything, honey. Just tell me how I can help.”

“First, don’t scold me because my mind is made up. I want to hire men to kidnap Tommy from McAllister’s house, and I don’t know how to go about it. Tell me where to find the kind of men who will do anything for money, and I’ll do the rest.”

Naomi stared at Belle as if she’d just sprouted horns. “You can’t be serious!”

“Very serious. If you won’t help me, I’ll do this on my own.”

“Come on, honey,” Naomi cajoled. “This kind of thinking will get you into a heap of trouble.”

Belle’s jaw tilted stubbornly. “Are you going to help me?”

“Is there any other way? Can’t I talk you out of this?”

“No, I’m determined. Once I have Tommy again I’ll head to Mexico, or maybe take a train east. I haven’t decided yet. Now, where can the type of men I need be found? I don’t care how unscrupulous they are, as long as they’ll do as I ask.”

“I’ll blame myself if something goes wrong.”

“Nothing will go wrong,” Belle said with more confidence than she felt.

“I don’t personally know anyone like you described, but I’ve heard my customers mention ‘Sydney Ducks.’ They’re Australians who have jumped ship at one time or another and hang out at waterfront dives. They’re a lawless bunch and will do anything for a price. They can be found almost any night in any one of those low places where no lady should be seen. Let me send Wan Yo, or one of my bouncers, to pave the way for you. I’ll send word around to your hotel when contact is made.”

Belle shook her head. “No, I have to do this myself. T.J. McAllister is a vindictive man. He could ruin you. I don’t want you or your employees involved in my problems. All I ask is that you find transportation out of town for me and Tommy. I’ll let you know the day.”

“Do you need money?”

“No, I’ve taken enough from you. I have a thousand dollars saved up from my business in Placerville, and I’m prepared to use all of it to get Tommy back.”

“How soon are you going to act?”

“Soon, maybe tonight. The sooner I find men willing to carry out my plan the better. Tommy needs me and I need him.”

“Let me send someone with you.”

“No, that will only raise suspicion. The kind of men I’m looking for will feel threatened if they see that I’m accompanied by a bodyguard. I have to go myself. I’ll keep in touch.”

Naomi sat at the table long after Belle left, lamenting Belle’s rash behavior. She should have hogtied Belle to keep her from rushing headlong into danger. She had to do something to protect the woman she loved like a daughter, but what? Then it dawned on her. Casey Walker. He had told her where he was staying, and she dashed off a note telling him what Belle planned and the danger it involved. She dispatched it with Wan Yo.

An hour later Wan Yo returned from his mission without having seen Casey. He left the note with the proprietor, along with some money to ensure that it would be delivered when Casey returned to his lodging.

Belle waited until well after dark before leaving her hotel room. Covered from head to toe in a dark, hooded cloak, she hailed a hack to take her to the waterfront. Tucked in her reticule were five one hundred dollar bills.

“Are ya alone, lady?” the driver asked, eyeing her with misgiving when she gave her destination. “It ain’t safe fer a lady down there.”

“I … I’m meeting someone,” Belle lied. “If you don’t want the fare I’ll find someone who does.”

“It’s yer funeral, lady. Get in. I’ll take ya wherever ya want to go. The waterfront it is. Do ya have an address?”

“I’ll tell you where to stop.”

The hack rattled off down the street and Belle
admitted that she was courting danger. Then she thought of Tommy, alone and afraid, and courage stiffened her spine.

The waterfront looked dark and sinister. Fog swirled along the ground and drifted upward to engulf the hack in a suffocating mist. The eerie note of a foghorn sent its doleful siren’s song across the dark waters. Only the lights spilling through the windows of the alehouses and inns clustered along the street gave a semblance of welcome. “Stop here, driver,” Belle called through the window.

“Are ya sure, lady?”

“Very sure.” The hack ground to a halt and Belle stepped down. “Please wait for me, I won’t be long.”

“Not a chance, lady. I ain’t waitin’ fer no one in a place like this. If ya want my advice, you’ll get back inside the hack and go back where ya came from.”

“Thank you, but I can’t.” She handed him the fare and watched regretfully as the hack rattled off down the street. Gathering her courage, she surveyed the plethora of alehouses lining the street. Picking one at random, she marched resolutely toward the beckoning light in the window.

The acrid stench of smoke and stale spirits assailed Belle’s nostrils as she poised in the open doorway of the Wayfarer’s Inn. The room was crowded with men, some wearing seamen’s garb and others dressed in the rough clothing of longshoremen. Many looked like fugitives from the law. Then there were women, if one used the term loosely. In various stages of undress, they were draped around the patrons, blatantly inviting their rough caresses. Though Belle had been aware of what went on at Naomi’s, the lasciviousness of the
scene before her reddened her cheeks. Naomi’s was definitely a more refined establishment.