Caged Eagles (15 page)

She searched his eyes for a moment before saying, “What's wrong? I can see something happened. Was it Leslie?”

“Leslie … um … no, I'm guessing that is what Forrest told you and Laney– that I ran into Leslie.”

“Yes.” Sarah sat up in alarm. “You didn't see her?”

“No, we ran into Brandi.”

“Oh,” her voice was calm. “And why did you have to leave with her?”

“We didn't want her running over to the both of you.”

“Yeah, if word got back to Leslie Taylor that wouldn't be good for our chances of getting Blaine out.”

“No, but that wasn't all.” Trevor took a deep breath. “She's pregnant.”

“What!” Sarah's mouth fell open and both her eyebrows flew up toward her hairline.

“Yeah, and she claimed it was Forrest's, so I got her out of there before she could do any damage.”

“You mean to Laney and Forrest.”

“Yes.”

“Is the baby his?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” Sarah played with a loose string on the comforter but stopped and looked into Trevor's eyes for answers to the new dilemma. “Won't she use the baby against us?”

“That is what I'm worried about.”

“Is Forrest telling Laney?”

“Yes.”

“What about Leslie?”

“I'll get a hold of her right after we get done talking.” He fell back onto the mattress.

“I'm sure she knows everything, especially if Brandi does.”

“Brandi said she hasn't talked to her since she got pregnant, and I think she is telling the truth. Brandi had the baby to use against us now–she didn't need to use Leslie anymore.”

“We better move fast then, because we both know Brandi Lewis. If she has to, she will resort to anything she can to get what she wants, which appears to be Forrest.”

Trevor felt a pang of guilt. He sat up and took Sarah's hands in his.

“Forrest isn't what she wants, she told me.”

“What is it then?”

“The same thing she wanted a year ago, two years ago actually.”

“She still wants you.”

“Yes.”

“She's crazy!” Sarah got off the bed and began pacing the room as Donovan had.

“She is so demented! What kind of person wants one man and is having another man's baby? What is her obsession with you?” Sarah stopped, held her hands out, and waited for an answer.

“She actually told me that too. I think to try to win some sympathy.”

“For what?”

“Sarah.” Trevor got up and pulled her back onto the bed. “She has been pregnant before now, with twins, one of them was mine. I have the DNA test in my wallet.” Trevor pulled it out and showed her.

“Wow … I don't know what to say.” Sarah looked at the paper now in her hands.

“I know. I felt the same way.”

“What happened?”

“She lost them after I left her.”

Sarah's voice grew soft. “So she is jealous that her life has taken the turn it has instead of giving her what she wants?”

“Yeah, and she didn't think I would tell you.”

“I'm glad you did,” she whispered. Trevor could tell she was hurt and shocked by the news.

“I hate to change the subject, but there is one other thing. Brandi claims she hasn't talked to Leslie Taylor at all. I bet Leslie would say the opposite. Still, if Brandi or your father didn't hire this spy, why did Leslie?”

“I don't know, maybe you can find out from her tonight.” Sarah's tone was cool; she handed the paper back to him and climbed off the bed. Trevor grabbed her arm.

“Hey, what's wrong?”

“This is getting harder the more Leslie and Brandi get involved with you.”

“I don't care about them, you know that. Are you okay?”

“I need some time right now, Trevor.” Sarah pulled her hand from his and walked out of the room.

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Trevor's mind was distracted. Sarah had not said goodbye to him when he left to meet Leslie. She hadn't even spoken to him as she prepared their belongings for the move that night. Trevor hoped she would want to see him when he returned. He wondered if Sarah had demanded Donovan go with him, though. He knew she cared that he was safe. Trevor glanced over to the corner at the man; he was running his fingers through his hair while reading a paper. A cup of coffee sat in front of him. Trevor didn't understand how Sarah could be so mad when the baby was Forrest's. He loved her, not Brandi; he would never have chosen Brandi over her. Forrest told him Laney had taken it well. She was just a bit quieter than her normal jovial self as she packed to leave the apartment that evening.

“Hello.” A voice distracted his thoughts.

“Oh hi.”

“Somewhere else?” Leslie's blue eyes danced and her smile was bright enough to be in a toothpaste commercial. He smiled only because he couldn't help it.

“It's good to see you,” he lied.

“I agree. I had begun to worry you might be blowing me off. It's been almost a week since I have heard from you.”

“Nope, I've just been busy.”

“It figures.”

The waiter arrived to take their order. Leslie picked up the menu and decided on her meal. Trevor couldn't help but scan her body. She had a short, dark blue dress on that revealed her long, smooth legs. The dress wasn't distasteful, or classy, but very professional and attractive. They spent the next ten minutes talking about current events. When that topic had been exhausted Trevor turned to another.

“What have you been busy with?”

“Work and catching up with friends.”

She grabbed the dessert menu and carelessly flipped through the pages. “That's good.” “Did Blaine get his letter?”

She closed the menu and set it to the side. Their dinners were placed in front of them. “Yes, he did and I shredded it afterward.”

“Good, what did he say?”

“He was very pleased to hear from the outside world. He had tears in his eyes.” Leslie smiled at the memory.

Trevor twisted pasta around his fork. “Can I send him another one sometime? Of course I won't want to get you into trouble.”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?” Trevor raised his eyebrow in an attempt to be flirtatious. She laughed and covered her mouth with the napkin. Trevor watched her for a few moments. Her demeanor was reserved and aloof. Trevor's intuition told him he needed to figure it out. She took a sip of her drink and then replied.

“I risked my job the first time I gave him the letter. I am not comfortable doing it again.”

“Remember, you have complete control over delivering the letters. So has Brandi been a bee in your pants?” Trevor changed the subject in hopes he could figure out what had changed with Leslie.

She laughed and said, “Yes, she continually tries to convince me of various things, but I think you are right, they are just her efforts to cause problems.”

“Do the both of you go out a lot?” He knew Brandi's doctors would have her head if they saw a trace of liquor in her system while she was pregnant.

“Yes, sometimes, she drinks too heavily for my liking though.”

They fell silent and continued to eat dinner. The waiter stopped at the table and Leslie asked for another lemon water. The waiter returned with both a lemon slice and cherries in the glass. He made note to brush his fingers across her shoulder when he left.

“I think someone has a crush.” Trevor teased.

“Jealous?” Leslie's eyes sparkled.

“You'll never know,” his answer was vague but flirty. He felt a knot in his stomach. Leslie didn't deserve this, she needed a man who could value her. Trevor knew he owed Sarah more. She was the love of his life and he was messing that up by being on a date with another woman.

“So I have been thinking.” Leslie spoke up. “We only meet for drinks or dinner dates. Maybe later this weekend we could do something else? I thought miniature golf?”

Trevor shrugged, “I'll check with my secretary and let you know.”

Leslie chuckled and wiped her mouth. “I'm going to go to the ladies room– will you watch my purse?” She set her napkin on the empty plate.

“Sure, don't fall in.”

Trevor laughed at his own humor. Leslie shook her head and disappeared into the back of the restaurant. Trevor didn't waste any time. He opened her purse and began to search for any ounce of information he could. He found himself looking for evidence she had hired the spy above anything else she might be up to. Lip gloss rolled out onto the table. He grabbed it before it fell to the floor. He pulled out a handful of items; mirror, a pen, keycard, and half a package of gum. The only thing left was three credit cards tucked into a pocket on the inside. He wondered if her apartment would have any information. He pulled a napkin toward him and scribbled down:

Leslie's Apartment
Convince her to give
Blaine another letter.

He then ordered the waiter to give Donovan the napkin. In the nick of time he threw the pen back in the purse and closed it before Leslie walked up and kissed his cheek.

“If you don't mind, do you want to get out of here?” Trevor asked.

“Sure, what were you thinking?”

“Somewhere quiet.”

Leslie's voice sounded hopeful. “My place?”

“Sure,” Trevor replied. Leslie grabbed her coat and they went to the door. Trevor glanced at Donovan, who nodded in approval and tossed a ten dollar coin on the table.

They caught a cab and were soon zooming though the busy city, watching the lights from other cars and the skyscrapers nearby. It wasn't cold inside the car but Leslie edged her way toward Trevor until their shoulders were touching. The taxi pulled up outside a townhouse. Apparently Leslie got paid very well to work with the inmates. The inside looked as if it was made of gold, from carpet to golden walls, to the glittering mirror that created the ceiling. Only a few white chairs in the lobby added contrast to theroom. Large-leafed plants grew along one entire wall, as was typical of any public building.

“I hope your place doesn't look like this lobby.”

“It doesn't, follow me.” She pulled him by the arm onto the elevator. They rode in silence, both restless, but for different reasons.

Her apartment was exactly as he imagined it would be. It was spotless down to the very last speck of dust. A large living room welcomed them, decorated with fake plants. A staircase at the far end of the room swept up the wall. The two doors on the main floor divided the living room from the kitchen and an office.

“Make yourself at home. Would you like a drink?”

“Sure, that sounds good. Do you mind if I use your bathroom?”

Leslie pointed above her head. “It's found at the top of the stairs, first door on your left.”

She disappeared into the kitchen. Trevor walked gradually up the staircase wondering how he was going to pull everything off successfully. The white bathroom door swung open without a sound. Trevor locked it once inside. He pulled open the linen closet to find anything that could induce vomiting. She had pills made just for that reason and knowing Leslie they were there in case someone's child ate something harmful. The doctor was paranoid. He read the back of the bottle and slipped one pill into his pocket for later.

Leslie was sitting on the sofa and jumped up when he came down the stairs. She almost spilled the drinks near the edge of the coffee table.

“All I have are ingredients for a martini. I hope you like them?” She handed him one.

“Yeah, they are okay. “He took a long, methodical taste from his glass. Silence filled the room almost to the point of awkwardness. Leslie placed her drink on the coaster she had set out on the coffee table.

“I think I will slip upstairs and change into something more comfortable, if you don't mind?”

Trevor almost choked in his martini. “No, not at all.”

Leslie laughed nervously and headed up the stairs. Trevor dashed over to the nearby desk and searched through it–nothing. He glanced upstairs to make sure she wasn't coming. He could hear music now; he hurried down the hallway into the office. There had to be something somewhere! He took a deep breath, to remain calm, and looked at the few papers neatly stacked on one corner of her desk–nothing. He opened the top drawer–nothing. He opened the others–nothing. As he was about to give up he noticed a folded piece of paper alone in the trash bin. He bent over and picked it out. His stomach seized up and his head instantly began to swim.

Sodi Hall
615-181-805-1920
Anchorage

He erratically scribbled the words on a pink sticky note and threw the original back into the trash. He could hear Leslie call his name from the top of the stairs. He had moments to dash from the room and into the kitchen. He swallowed the pill, bent over the sink, and splashed running water on his face. He remained bent over and waited for the effects of the pill to develop.

“Trevor …” her voice was in the living room. “Trevor!” she exclaimed. Her mouth fell open when she saw him in her kitchen.

“Hey …” He didn't have to pretend his body felt weak.

“What's wrong?” She came over and put her arm around him. She smelled strongly of perfume and was wearing black lingerie.

“I think it was the drink.”

“Oh no!”

“You trying to poison me?” He laughed, but suddenly felt his stomach give way. He became violently sick. Leslie was pale, obviously horrified at the thought she had made him ill. After getting rid of anything he'd had for dinner, lunch, or breakfast that day or the day before, he sat down on a stool.

“Do I need to call the paramedics?” She had her glasses on now and they made her look exceptionally sexy.

“No, I think I better go though, I wouldn't be much fun like this anyway.” Trevor frowned, mostly because of the ordeal he had just been through.

“I understand.” Leslie placed a hand on his back to guide him. “Call me tomorrow so I know you are okay.”

“I will.”

Leslie helped him from the kitchen into the living room, pulled his jacket off the coat hanger, and opened the door.

“Good night.” She kissed his cheek and handed him the coat.

“Thanks for a good night.”

“I'm sorry ….”

“Don't be,” He chuckled weakly and held a hand up. “Beer and martinis don't mix, I guess.”

Once back outside he saw Donovan leaning against a stop sign, looking at his watch. Trevor walked toward him with both arms around his stomach. He turned his head to look back, just to make sure Leslie hadn't followed him.

“Hey.” He reached Donovan. The man cleared his throat and grumbled.

“What took so long?”

“She had to make me a drink, and then I threw it up all over her kitchen.”

Donovan held his hand up to hale down a cab. “It wasn't poisoned was it?”

“No, or I'm sure I would have passed out by now.”

“Did she say she would give him another letter?”

“Yeah, it shouldn't be a problem.” He still wasn't feeling great, but the initial nausea had worn off.

“Good,” Donovan yanked the taxi door open. “We can get it to him by tomorrow.”

The men arrived at a small, dilapidated house. He led Trevor through the overgrown labyrinth of the lilac bushes in the backyard. The sweet smell of the flowers hung in the air. Trevor pushed another branch out of his face to see the glow of a porch light. Donovan's dark shadow stomped toward it.

The basement was better than the one-bedroom apartment they had been in. The room opened up into a large space even with the pile of old furniture to the far right of the room. Someone had pulled a couch, two chairs, and a T.V. to the center of the room. A small kitchen was also provided; two bedrooms and one bathroom were down the hallway to Trevor's left. Forrest and Laney were cuddled on the couch when they arrived. Sarah was nowhere in sight.

“How did it go?” Forrest stood up.

“That's what I wanted to know, but he wouldn't say a word.” Donovan seemed upset that he wasn't privileged to receive the information before the others. Forrest sat up and watched Trevor carefully; he could tell there was something more than what Trevor had told Donovan.

“Not too much. I convinced her to give Blaine a letter. I'll call her in the morning for breakfast and give it to her then.” Trevor collapsed onto the couch.

“You look terrible!.” Laney pointed out.

“I got sick.”

“I wonder if she poisoned him,” Donovan reiterated.

“She didn't poison me. I drank a martini, which didn't settle right. Don't worry, I saw her mix it,” he lied, but it was to dispel Donovan's apprehensive look.

“I'd better … get to writing the letter.” Donovan hesitated, giving each of them a long, steady gaze.

“Yeah, we will need it to be done by tonight if I'm going to call to have coffee with her.”

Donovan ran his hand through his hair, sighed, and walked into one of the bedrooms. The three of them watched him disappear behind the closed door.

“So what really happened?” Forrest leaned forward, his voice barely audible.

“Besides me feeling like scum that my girlfriend is here, mad at me, and I'm on a damn date with some stupid woman I don't want to be with, nothing.” Trevor didn't want to talk about what he had found, not in front of Laney. He would discuss everything with his friend later. Laney and Forrest glanced nervously at each other.

“Is Sarah asleep?”

“Yeah, she went to bed about thirty minutes ago.” Laney sat down next to him. “I'm staying with her tonight. You and Forrest are out here on the couch and the old cot we found.” Trevor was even more hurt that Sarah didn't want to talk to him. Laney could see this so she added, “Sarah requested we make these sleeping arrangements.”