Spirit of a Champion (Sisters of Spirit #7) (11 page)

“Thanks for the heads up,” he told Leon.

“No problem. Just stay away from her. She’ll mess up your mind
any way she can.”

Kyle drove back to his hotel, not seeing the bright Vegas
lights. It was a good thing Leon had warned him. He would have gone to Stormy’s
hotel this evening to see how she had progressed. He shook his head as if to
clear it of the vision of her. She had seemed so helpless. A damsel in
distress. She had managed to get into his mind without any problem at all.

He had thought he would help. He tried to contact the ring
doctors himself. Was told their numbers were not given out to anyone except the
officials, to prevent bribery.

He turned his car over to Tommy and walked over to the next
hotel where he sometimes had a meal, then stopped near the entrance.

Stormy drove past him in a brand new Range Rover, stopped at the
entrance, turned it over to the valet and went inside.

So, she didn’t have a car, did she? What was that she was
driving?
He
wondered what she would say. He walked up behind her just as she asked the
receptionist for an early morning call.
Staying here now? Where did that money come from? Or had she had
some all along?

“Hello again,” he said.

She turned to see who was speaking to her.

“Kyle. Hello. What are you doing here?” She looked happy to see
him.

“I often eat here. They’ve got a cook who does my meals when I’m
in town.”

“Do you mind if I eat with you again? I don’t like to eat alone.
I can pay my own way now.”

“Of course not. I’d like to hear how you’ve been doing.” He was
prepared this time. He wouldn’t fall for her story.

He led her to a secluded spot in one of the restaurants. “I’ll
have my usual, Frank,” he told the waiter. “Stormy?”

“Number 4.”

Several men had followed them and he stopped to sign autographs
and sent them away. A young boy ran up. “Autograph, sir?”

Kyle reached for the paper to sign it. Then he looked the boy up
and down. He’d seen him before.

“I think you’ve gotten five so far. What are you doing, selling
them?”

The kid shrugged but continued to hold out his paper.

“How much are you getting?”

“Twenty to fifty,” the boy said.

“You got any more paper?”

The boy pulled out a stack of nine. Kyle quickly signed them all
and handed them back.

“Now, don’t bother me again. Okay?”

“Okay. Thank you!”

He drank some water while the happy boy ran away.

“You’ve made his day,” Stormy said.

“I kept thinking I’d already signed one for him.”

“And you were right.”

“How are things progressing?” he asked.

“Well, so far one of the doctors actually called Jerry and told
him he was going to give him one more physical before the match.”

“What did Jerry say?”

“He said it didn’t matter. That the doctor couldn’t stop the
match.”

“You heard Jerry say this?”

“No. The doctor called him after I left, then called me to let
me know. Just a minute ago, while I was driving back.”

“Are you sure that that actually happened?”

“I... No. I’m not sure. That was the second doctor I visited.
The first one wasn’t home, although I had called first and made an appointment.
I might try him again, just to make sure.”

“How did you get their phone numbers?” She probably hadn’t
thought about the fact that they were unlisted.

“Oh, a friend of mine, uh, he got it for me.”

“So you drove out?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you didn’t have a car.”

“Well, I didn’t, but he...” She hesitated, probably thinking
what next to say.

“The same friend?”

“Yes. Actually, a cousin.” She stopped as the waiter brought
their food.

Kyle picked up his fork and started to eat. He had been
interested in Jerry’s sister, deeply attracted to her and wanting to know her
better. To find out she was a sham, full of lies, made him want to lash out. He
was so glad he’d found out early, before he had grown too fond of her.

 She really wasn’t a very good liar. It made him sick. She
was such a disappointment.

“So this cousin of yours loans you a car. That Range Rover?”

“Yes. No. I mean, the first one blew up. That’s the second one.”

“You mean you drove it until the engine seized up? No oil in
it?”

“No. Blew up. It exploded. You’ll probably read about it in the
papers. Unless that’s a common occurrence here.”

Kyle shook his head. She wasn’t even trying to be logical.
“Stormy, how can a car blow up with you in it and you’re still here?”

“Oh, I got out to eat. It blew up while I was still inside the
restaurant.”

He was amazed at how unflappable she appeared, but now that he
was looking for them, he could see her story was filled with holes.

“You look more relaxed,” he said.

“Yes. I’ve a car now.”

“Even though the first one blew up? You had a car this morning,
and a different car tonight. Where did you get the money to rent it?” he asked,
wondering if she would remember the cousin story.

“It’s not a rental.”

“No?”

“No, it’s borrowed.”

“Who would loan a perfect stranger a car?”

Perri looked puzzled, probably wondering why he was talking in
circles. “I didn’t say she was a stranger.”

“She?” It had been a “he” a moment ago. Her first big mistake.

“My cousin.”

“I don’t know if I would lend my cousin a car like that one.”
Kyle fought against the anger rising in him. He didn’t like being played for a
sucker.

“You saw it?”

“Yes.”

“Actually, the first one wasn’t that grand. I tend to wreck
cars—or at least I used to. I’m a better driver now. I used to start
crusading for something and get so into it I didn’t pay attention to my
driving. “

“What happened to the first car?”

“I told you. It blew up.”

“And she loaned you a second? Is she crazy?”

I guess so. But I saved her life once, and I think this is her
way of saying, ‘Thank You.’ Anyway, she’s Jerry’s cousin too.”

“And she just happens to be in Las Vegas?”
So convenient.

“No. She lives in Arizona...”

“Where?”

“Kingman. It’s not that far away.”

“What’s her name?” he asked.

“That’s not important. But as you said, I do have money now, so
I can avoid the bus system and stay in a better hotel.” She cocked her head to
one side. “I thought you’d be happy.”

“And you got that money by gambling?” he asked, trying to keep
the disbelief out of his voice.

“Not me. Same cousin.”

“I’d like to meet her. Is she coming to the fight?” He got up
and walked over to the cashier’s station. Stormy followed.

“Not if I can get it stopped. And maybe not even then. I’m used
to watching my father and then my brother getting beat up. She isn’t.”

He paid for his meal, put his receipt in his wallet. “Still
think Jerry’s in danger?”

“Nothing’s changed.” She stepped up to the cashier and pulled
out a credit card.

He shook his head, amazed. Couldn’t she tell he no longer
believed her? “What’s next?”

“I’m going to go see the next doctor. He lives out on Lake
Havasu, in Arizona.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks.” She paid for her meal and left.

Kyle watched her walk away. It was a good thing Leon had warned
him. Although he would have questioned her story himself, just hearing it. A
car that blows up? A handy cousin?

Why hadn’t that cousin helped her right off? And how had she
obtained the phone numbers and addresses of the ring doctors when he couldn’t
get them?

Answer—she hadn’t. She was just stringing him along. Her
whole performance the other day must have been just for his benefit.

He had believed all of Stormy’s lies, and she had betrayed his
trust. Never again!

Once inside her room, Stormy kicked off her shoes and relaxed on
the bed. Her room was nice, not at all as grand as what Kyle had, but it was
still beautifully decorated.

She took out her cell phone and called Hugo.

“I want to contact the last doctor, the one who lives at Lake
Havasu,” she told him.

“Fine. I’ll take you there, and wait in the car while you see
him. Don’t call first, so as to give him any warning. We’ll go early tomorrow
morning, and catch him at home. Meet me in front of Harrod’s at seven. I have
one thing to do first, so if I’m not there, wait just inside the door.”

He was there, driving a different car this time. He cruised
beside her, threw open the door and drove off after she jumped in.

“It looks like I just got picked up,” she laughed as she shut
the door. He hadn’t waited for her to shut it before driving away. “How have
you been?”

“Busy.”

“Where are you headed? Lake Havasu is the other way.”

“I’m throwing off your tail.”

“Tail? Where?”

“You have at least three men following you. As soon as you
jumped into this car, one of them pulled out a cell phone and I’m sure gave our
description out.”

He spun the car into a parking garage. “Come on,” he said,
parking it and jumping out. The Range Rover was there, engine running, and as
she climbed in, Hugo pulled on a wig and drove away in the opposite direction.

“Duck down,” he said and she hit the floor as Hugo drove
sedately back the way they came.

“There’s our friends, piling into a gray sedan. Their boss isn’t
going to like the fact you lost them.”

“You lost them. I didn’t even know they were there,” Stormy
declared.

“It’ll be harder to do, next time. They’ll have a car following
you, too.”

“This is my last hope, you know. If this doctor won’t do
anything...”

“There’s always hope. You might not be able to, but I could
always kidnap Jerry and make him tell me what’s going on. That’s sort of
drastic, though.”

She laughed. “Sort of. But I’d be all for it if it saved his
life.”

“We’ll keep it as a last resort.”

“I’m sure glad you’re helping me, Hugo.”

“I’m glad to be able to help you. Besides what are cousins for?”

He kept glancing in the rear view mirrors. “Is there anyone back
there?” she asked.

“Yes, but far enough that you can sit up now.”

She did, turning around in her seat to look over her shoulder.

“Two cars. I can’t tell if they’re following us or not. We’re
coming to Hoover Dam. We’ll see if they turn off there.”

She watched. One did, the other followed them. Later, when they
turned off on Highway 95 toward Lake Havasu, it continued on down I-40.

“It’s gone,” she said, looking back to check once more.

Hugo nodded. “So, how are you and Kyle doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“You were having lunch with him yesterday.”

“He wondered why I had money and a car when I had told him
earlier I didn’t.”

“Oops. Checking you out, was he?”

“Yes. I don’t blame him. I did have an unexplainable reversal of
fortune.”

“Did you say where you got it?”

“From a cousin. I said I’d saved my cousin’s life and this was a
repay. It was sort of awkward, as you told me not to mention you.”

“We might have to tell him. We’ll see. What was that address?”

She read it off to him.

“We’re close.” He pulled over and got out of the car. “I can
protect you better if I stay outside and watch the car and the house. Go ahead
and talk to the doctor and don’t leave until he actually makes an appointment
with Jerry. If you need me, call. I’ll stay within shouting distance.”

“I’ve got my phone.”

“Right.”

Stormy got into the driver’s seat and drove the few yards to the
doctor’s house. She parked and used the door knocker to rap on the huge wooden
door.

A middle-aged woman opened it. “Yes? Can I help you?”

“I’m here to see Doctor Ramsey. Is he in?”

“No. He’s at a conference in Las Vegas. He won’t be back until
late tonight. You can go there.”

Stormy fought to hide the disappointment on her face. “I’ll
leave and come back later, although I’d rather just wait for him. If you don’t
mind. It’s very urgent.”