Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) (3 page)

I wasn’t surprised to find her prostrate in prayer, a tiny form in the snow guarded by her elegant Samoyed. Schatzi did her best to distract him, but Cat’s devoted companion ignored her frenzy and remained at his post. A pitiful fire smoldered a short distance away, and her snowshoes were set in the snow nearby
—
a strange scene in the dawn of Christmas day.

Cat’s prayer was critical now, more than ever. But I couldn’t let her freeze in the snow. “Cat?” I lifted her and dragged her toward a rock. Her soul was far away in the heavens somewhere, but her body willingly found the seat. I pushed away a cascade of damp blonde hair, and searched her blue eyes.

Cat was still somewhere out there, her eyes riveted on something or someone above my head. She was my best friend since childhood, so I knew this was not a good sign. All I could do was hold her and wait until she returned to me.

I stared out at snow covered trees sparkling in the first rays of sun, alpine peaks in the distance. It was a spectacular view that usually comforted me. But not today. Deep breathing was not working. Focus was becoming impossible. I tightened my grip on Cat’s hands. “Please talk to me.”

There was no answer.

I gripped tighter and hung my head.
Patience, I need patience.

I yelled at her. “What’s going on, Cat? Are they all right?”

Cat’s eyes met mine – she was back.

“Eduardo will be fine. Really. He will be fine.”

I took a breath. “And David?”

“God is faithful, Nita.”

“Yes?”

“He’s sending a white-haired girl to help heal him. I saw her hand on his heart.”

“An angel?”

“Yes, I think so.”

Debbie

When I woke up, it was the day after Christmas, and I was in the hospital. Pain was back. Apparently I’d taken too many of Mama’s pills and overdone the purging. It caused more problems with my heart. I was disappointed because I wanted to stay with Grammy.

Despite all the discomfort, I knew I was different now. I was stronger, and I felt a strange sense of joy deep in my heart. It wasn’t only because Hill’s Gallery wanted my artwork.

Cindy was at my bedside, as always encouraging me. Fortunately, Mama and Daddy weren’t there, so it was peaceful.

The cardiologist examined me, and told Cindy and me the test results were excellent. He said I was making remarkable progress for someone whose heart had stopped.

I heard Glori’s voice as she burst into the room. “I gotta tell you – I haven’t had another Christmas cookie since this whole thing happened.”

“Ugh! Glori!” Cindy looked disgusted.

The cardiologist scanned Glori from head to foot, and gave me a sheepish look as he excused himself from the room. As a swimsuit model-turned actress, Glori was well used to attention. She never acknowledged the guy.

She put her phone on the mobile tray table and hung on it, wheeling it back and forth as she eyed me. “You’re looking really good for someone with a heart attack, hon. I didn’t really know what could happen. I didn’t know you could have a heart attack. I mean doesn’t almost every female in Beverly Hills stick their finger down their throat when they eat too much?”

Cindy sighed. “No Glori. Not everyone. It’s called bulimia, and it’s a disease.”

I could see tears welling up in Cindy’s eyes, and I patted her hand. “It’s okay. I’m fine now.”

Cindy leaned over me and spoke with authority. “I don’t know how I let you get to this point. But this is it. I know you’ve been to doctors, and you’ve been to clinics. Obviously they couldn’t help you. But I’m not going to let you die, Debbie. I’m going to haunt you if I have to, but you’re going to realize your life is worth living. You’re important. You’re someone special. And we’ll eat every meal together if that’s what it takes.”

I was so grateful for Cindy. She was the only living person that really cared about me. I chewed my lip, wondering what to say to her. Fortunately, Glori was never at a loss for words.

Glori smiled her movie star smile. “Cin, the only thing you can do to make a difference for Debbie is hire a hit man to take out George Aldridge. That’s it. And I know you’d never do that. No matter how much you want to.”

Glori had a point.

***

Glori’s phone blared rock and roll, and she checked her text messages. Her mouth dropped open in shock. “Turn on the TV! Senator Everett – Tamara’s dad was murdered! Tamara’s dad! They found his hand washed up on the beach! That and a gun from one of his bodyguards! They never went to the Caymans for Christmas. They think the senator and five bodyguards were all murdered and thrown in the ocean!”

My heart thumped. Tamara?

Cindy grabbed the remote and flipped through to the news station. She was in tears glued to the TV, and Glori madly texted all her other friends. I took in the news reports as best I could. Senator Everett was a great friend of Daddy’s. They were always playing golf.

Tamara was an only child, like me, and her parents gave her everything. She was a few years older than my friends, Cindy and Glori, and the two of them were almost five years older than me. Tamara traveled the whole world partying and going to fashion shows. She had an amazing life.

The Everetts had told Cindy’s mom that they’d be in the Cayman Islands for Christmas, so they wouldn’t attend the Bainbridges’ party. But Senator Everett never made it to the Caymans.

That was so gross. The senator’s hand washed up on the beach. He always had a bunch of bodyguards with him, no matter what. I think he was on a lot of high level committees in the Senate. The reporter said all the bodyguards were missing and presumed dead too. Wow. How could that happen to a U.S. senator?

Glori read a text message in a dramatic voice. “Tamara probably wrote this same thing to everyone: ‘Dad’s been missing for days, and now we know he was murdered. I am in deep mourning. Please no calls now. Will be in touch. Love. Tamara.’”

Our shocked silence was broken when a nurse with the voice of a buzz saw entered the room. I studied her face, but she ignored me and spoke directly to Cindy. “There’s been a mistake in room assignments. Miss Aldridge is being moved to the Mildred Wolcott suite.” Nurses and orderlies swarmed around my bed and loaded me onto a gurney.

Glori was in one of her moods. “Oh yeah, I knew George’d be pissed that Debbie’s in just any old private room. No! We have to proceed to the Mildred Wolcott suite. La-deeeeeeeee-da!”

Cindy’s whisper was loud enough for everyone to hear. “Glori. That’s enough.” She patted my arm to comfort me.

They wheeled me and a bunch of monitors into the hall and left.

Then Pastor Evans’ face filled my field of vision. “Debbie. It’s great to see you’re doing so well.” He was the pastor of the church I grew up in and had attended one week ago. He’d probably know what Grammy was talking about.

I found my voice, and it was louder than I expected. “Where’s Cat the Prayer Warrior? I think she has a job for me to do.”

Pastor Evans chuckled at me. “I’m afraid I don’t know Cat the Prayer Warrior, Debbie. But I’ll look for her.” He winked at Cindy and Glori, who stood there with their mouths open. I guess they thought I was crazy. I hadn’t told them about going to heaven and seeing Grammy.

Glori said, “She’s delirious.” And the pastor nodded his agreement.

I couldn’t let Glori get away with that. I looked the pastor in the eye. “Don’t listen to Glori. She’s a Hollywood actress.”

Everyone just looked confused. Maybe I was delirious. I sure never said things like these before. I never had the nerve to say boo.

Pastor Evans excused himself, still chuckling and muttering about Cat the Prayer Warrior.

Cindy stood by shaking her head. “Cat the Prayer Warrior? Are you okay?”

I chewed my lip.

Glori never bothered to investigate my delirium further. Her eyes were back on her phone. Those striking, curiously blue-green eyes always had a determined expression. It lent a hardness to her even features, her pretty, heart-shaped face. She tossed her hair and looked up at Cindy. “You think they’re gonna have a big funeral for Senator Everett? Like JFK? I bet we’ll get invited. You think they’ll ever find the guy that did it?”

I was feeling a little dizzy, and Glori wasn’t helping my situation. I looked to the nurse’s station, hoping someone would come and get me out of the hallway. There were two men looking at me. One was in a doctor’s coat, a strange mix of irritation and fear all over his face. He was shaking his head and seemed to be having a one-sided argument with a very tall man in a business suit.

I thought he was probably in his mid-twenties, and an imposing figure –athletically built and impeccably dressed. He obviously had the upper hand in whatever disagreement they were having. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Maybe it was his air of confidence that made him so magnetic. I don’t know. But I started to sweat. He glanced at me with a hint of a curl to his lips, returned to his conversation, and then glanced over at me again.

By now, Cindy and Glori had followed my gaze and focused their attention on the men. Glori pushed the IV stand aside to get a better look. “Yeah, I’d say he could revive any girl’s pulse, huh? Oooh maybe he’ll take off that suit jacket. It’s awful hot in here, don’t ya think? Hmm I bet there are some strong muscles under that jacket, and look at those big … strong… hands…”

“Glori!” Cindy’s tone stopped Glori’s commentary.

I tried to move my hand to wipe sweat dripping on my forehead – and hide my face in embarrassment that I was gawking. But my hand wouldn’t move. And I couldn’t stop staring.

The doctor suddenly turned right toward us. Then Glori almost exploded. “Oh no, Cin! That’s pain-away Payne!”

“Who?”

Glori’s whisper was too loud and animated. “You know that plastic surgeon that did Kendra’s nose job? I went with her to the appointments. She told me he comes on to all the good-looking women. And she told me he made his fortune in drugs! She told me never to tell anyone. Okay? You can’t tell anyone.”

They were heading to the gurney now, and the man in the suit had fixed his soft brown eyes on me. Me! I was sweating profusely, and I knew I was blushing. I was so embarrassed.

“Hello, Glori.” The doctor swiveled way too close to Glori. He was old enough to be her father.

“Hey Doctor Payne.” She smoothly averted his attempt to hug her.

He seemed to wilt under the stress of trying to impress her.  “I … I know Miss Aldridge would be interested to meet David Henning
—
he’s one of our hospital’s kind benefactors – like her parents, George and Marion. And of course, Glori and Miss Bainbridge. I believe Mrs. Aldridge and Mrs. Bainbridge are co-chairs of the fundraising committee this year
…
” Dr. Payne’s awkward voice trailed off.

David picked up the sweaty, shaking hand I couldn’t move. I thought I was going to die. Again. “Pleased to meet you, Debbie.”  His touch was so gentle.

I blurted out the lamest thing ever. “Are you from England?”  I thought I’d melt. My stupidity was boundless when it came to making conversation
—
especially with handsome men. I wished I could blame it on drugs. But all I could do was listen to his words and stare into those soft brown eyes.

His lip curled a bit more, but at least he didn’t laugh at me. “I’m from Germany, but I did study English at university in Britain.”

“Germany.” I must have sounded like a nutcase in slow motion.

He couldn’t contain a smile any longer. But it was a nice smile. Then the monitor started blasting. I almost jumped off the gurney, and David steadied me as nurses came running. Dr. Payne looked more surprised than anyone. I remember wondering if he was a real doctor.

Then David was gone as they began fooling with the equipment. Dr. Payne was gone too.

When we finally got underway with all the monitors and gear, I strained to see if David was around. He’d disappeared.

Glori couldn’t contain herself. “Our innocent little Debbie, in love with a handsome stranger. Oh, won’t George and Marion be thrilled! And I thought this’d be just another boring hospital visit.” She laughed so hard she was out of breath.

By the time we reached the Mildred Wolcott suite my heart was pounding. The nurse called for the doctor, and Glori explored and evaluated like it was a hotel room.

Cindy gripped my arm with concern. “Look! Your mom has all your paintings around the room.”

I scanned the place from my noticeably more comfortable bed. There was a huge sunny window leading to a private balcony. An easel stood there with my latest work at the ready. Stacks of supplies sat on a nearby table. I wondered when I’d feel like painting again. I thought about painting David and reviewed his features in my mind.

David

He locked the bathroom door and propped himself against the sink.
She told the minister she’s looking for Cat the Prayer Warrior
. Debbie’s innocent blue eyes filled his mind, and the din of the monitors rang in his ears. Cat the Prayer Warrior.
How could she know Cat the Prayer Warrior? Cat the Prayer Warrior
—
half a world away
—
had a job for this girl? What job? What was going on?