Stealing Time (16 page)

“What are we, twelve?” Kate looked at Drew
and saw him smiling, the first sign of life in his face since they
heard the news of Anna’s death. Sitting under the stars had worked
a little magic tonight. Kate was positive Anna had something to do
with that.

Chapter
Eleven

The train whistle startled Kate and brought
her to her feet. She paced the floor, trying to remember where she
was and why she was on this train. Slowly everything came back to
her, Anna’s funeral, leaving present day Arizona to head back to
the canyon, the big rush to catch the train.

Last night was wonderful. She and Drew got
lost in themselves, blocking out reality for just a few short
hours. Now the train was making a stop, and their Pullman car would
be attached to another train headed for Chicago. From there, it’d
go straight to New York City after a stopover in Cleveland.
Salvatore, the Martin’s chauffeur, would be waiting. She and Drew
would stop at Saks Fifth Avenue to purchase crystal for his
parents. Kate was not as nervous this time around because she knew
what to expect. She intended to act the same part but not be the
scared little girl inside.

“A penny for your thoughts.” Kate felt Drew’s
arms around her.

“Do you know a way to occupy the time until
we get there?” she answered coyly.

“Let me see...”

Kate felt herself being pulled back into bed,
and she snuggled up against Drew’s warm body. “This trip will be
good for you, you’ll see,” she said, and then there was no more
talking, only the brush of his lips on her mouth.

* * * *

The trip seemed too short as Grand Central
Station loomed ahead. Kate gazed out the window as the train pulled
into the station. Spotting Sal on the platform, she knew she needed
to wait for Drew to locate him and come back to the train. Kate
busied herself with packing and straightening up the
compartment.

“Kate.” She heard Drew’s voice. “This is
Salvatore. He’ll help you with that.” And what he meant was stop
what you’re doing, and Sal will take over.

Kate took Drew’s hand, stepped off the train
and walked with him to the limousine. She took everything in as
they slowly passed through the terminal. The grand marble hall
never ceased to amaze her. Kate loved that most men were in suits
and hats, and women were formally dressed like they were going to a
special occasion. Some even wore the cloche hat like the one Kate
found in Anna’s apartment. There was smoke everywhere, men with
cigars and cigarettes standing and talking with them in hand, a
sight she never saw much in her present day world.

Sal appeared out of nowhere and finished
escorting them to the car. The beautiful, shiny black Cadillac that
Kate remembered was parked outside the station. She was now aware
of how wealthy the Martin family was, although it had been an
overwhelming surprise on her first trip. Drew never mentioned
maids, butlers, chauffeurs or the opulent four story townhome.

“Mrs. Martin.” Sal held the back door open
for Kate. She climbed in, and Drew followed, sitting close to her,
taking her hand.

Drew and Sal exchanged pleasantries and spoke
in Italian for awhile. Kate didn’t remember that happening last
year and was dying to ask Drew what they said. It would have to
wait until they were alone.

After the stop at Saks, they continued on to
the Upper East Side of Manhattan, all the way to 74th Street. Kate
loved people-watching as they drove along. So many people walked
down the streets, like they all had somewhere important to go. Sal
parked in front of the Martin home and ran around to the curbside
to let the couple out. The townhouse door flew open, and Ilene,
Drew’s mother, stood in the doorway. Kate was thrown off-guard by
that. She didn’t recall that happening either. She was pretty sure
a maid answered the door and took them into the study where
everyone was waiting.

“I’m so glad you’re here. Federico’s not home
yet, but Father and Maria are in the study.” Ilene hugged Kate
tightly and seemed to hold onto Drew for a bit longer. “Andrew, my
son, you must appease your father. He’s in quite a mood.”

“Anything for you, Mother.”

As they talked, Kate took a few moments to
explore the hallway. Last year, she spotted the artwork lining the
hall but had little time to study the gallery. Gazing up and down
each side, one particular portrait caught her eye. Walking up to
the painting, Kate had to hold back a gasp. It was a picture of
Nicolas.

“Oh, Kathryn, I see you’re admiring the
Lucioni.”

“The Lu...” Kate spun around and faced her
mother-in-law.

“Yes, Luigi Lucioni, the Italian artist.
Nicolas commissioned him to paint the portrait. Very well done,
don’t you think?”

Kate made a mental note to do a web search on
the artist when she returned home to the present. “Yes, very well
done...almost life-like.”

“Nicolas has been trying to help him out, get
his work noticed, support a fellow countryman. My husband always
has the best interest of others at heart.” Ilene sighed and had a
faraway look in her eyes as if she was thinking of another time.
Perhaps she was remembering how Nicolas saved her family from the
rundown tenements where she lived as a young girl. “We have a few
of his landscapes, too. Would you like to see them?” Kate nodded as
she followed Ilene back toward the study. “Two are in here.” Ilene
pointed to the room that Kate dreaded stepping into because she
knew who’d be sitting behind the large, mahogany desk.

Drew took her hand and squeezed as a sign of
support. He knew she was doing this for him and was grateful. “I’m
sure you’re tired after our long trip. You don’t have to stay
long,” he whispered.

Kate already knew she wouldn’t spend much
time in the study. Nicolas would make sure of it. She’d meet Maria
and be sent to her room with the excuse she needed to freshen up
for dinner. Kate intended on exploring the second floor and not
cower in Drew’s bedroom like last time.

Sticking to the script, she followed orders
even though she felt like rebelling and staying put. Handsome and
intimidating were the two words that came to mind when Kate came in
contact with her father-in-law. She could see why everyone did as
he said, no questions asked.

Kate and Maria ascended the steps together.
By the time they got to the top, Kate had broken the ice between
them. Longing to grab Maria’s hand and tell her they already knew
each other raced through her mind, but only for a second. She
reminded herself that she had an ally and friend in Drew’s sister
and should do nothing to jeopardize it. Eventually she would meet
his little brother, Freddie, and do the same. Closing the bedroom
door after Maria left, Kate waited until she thought it was safe to
venture out.

Drew’s room was the first on the right, and
Kate decided to peek in the room directly across the hall. The door
was open. It definitely was Freddie’s room, a little messy but
still very regal for an eleven year old boy. Rich dark greens
interspersed with gold dominated the room. There was a rocking
horse in the corner. Kate was pretty sure he didn’t want it as
decoration because it was covered by a blanket with only its head
and front rockers poking out. Kate stifled a laugh. Typical
Freddie. Although it seemed like the smallest room, he, too, had
his own dressing room and bathroom. Obviously, no one had to
share.

Kate knew the room next to Drew’s was Maria’s
because she paid a visit there last year. Maria always kept her
door closed. For privacy, she said. Too many males lurking the
halls as she put it. Drew’s and Maria’s room were equal in size but
not in décor. Drew’s had a rich, manly feel while Maria’s was more
feminine. The room across from Maria’s had a closed door, and
Kate’s hand shook as she turned the knob. Peeking in, she noticed
the room was the largest of all. Kate let out a small gasp as she
realized she was over-stepping her boundaries but was also
spellbound by the beauty of the room.

This must be the master bedroom.
Everything’s in place and beautifully decorated.
Pale blues,
cream and gold flowed throughout the room, making it light and
airy, not as heavy and dark as Drew’s room. Surprised by this
discovery, Kate thought Nicolas would have his room decorated to
his taste, say black and gold. Still it wasn’t decorated in 1920s
fashion, but had a touch of old world Italy.

Quickly closing the door, she didn’t have the
nerve to go any further. Being curious was one thing, but it
crossed the line if she entered the room. Kate continued down the
hallway to the back set of stairs. She never noticed last year that
a smaller hall ran adjacent to them. This must be part of the
add-on Ilene told her about. The original house probably ended
after the bedrooms. The back steps only went down to the
conservatory and breakfast room, not up to the next floor. Kate
studied the hall for a second and made the decision to go down the
narrow passage. Traveling along the short corridor, she came face
to face with another closed door. This section was built above the
new part of the first floor, she was sure of it.

Curiosity killed the cat
, she
remembered her grandfather’s old saying, but still her hand firmly
grasped the doorknob. Kate decided to take a quick look inside and
slowly turned it. Perhaps it was an upstairs office. Nicolas
conducted a lot of business at home.

Carefully opening the door so as not to make
a sound, Kate was shocked by what she saw. It was like entering
another world. It felt like she had left the house and stepped into
a corporate office. The hallway ran horizontal, the opposite of the
one she was just in. Off the hall were offices and a large
conference room, with one large office to her right. The conference
room was the closest to the door so she stepped into its chambers.
The smell of leather and cigars permeated the air. Something inside
her seemed to push Kate to continue to explore. She got the courage
to wander up and down the hall peering into the rooms. As she
reached the far end, she glanced out a small window that overlooked
the side of the house. A door to her left led to an outdoor set of
metal stairs that reminded her of a fire escape.

Talk about discoveries. A lot could happen
here, and the house would never know.
Kate continued staring
out the window, daydreaming about what kind of business went on
there. Her attention was suddenly diverted by a scene right out of
a movie. A black car pulled in the drive below and drove down the
side alley of the house, stopping right by the flight of stairs.
Two men got out and pulled another one from the back seat. They
pushed him from behind toward the steps. Kate swore she saw a
gun.

No, this can’t be happening. I’m
fantasizing. I nodded off, and I’m dreaming.
Kate dug her nails
into her arm and felt the pain. “Ouch!” She called out and then
whispered. “I’m awake. This is really happening.”

She looked out the window one more time. The
men were coming up the stairs. The one in front looked very
familiar. She had seen pictures of him and immediately knew who he
was. “Uncle Albert!”

Running for the main door, Kate froze when
she heard voices coming from the other side. All she could do was
duck in the conference room and pray they wouldn’t come in. Sliding
down the wall, Kate wrapped her arms around her legs and sat frozen
in place. Loud footsteps and shuffling could be heard on the
hardwood floors as the three men entered the house from the side
door and came down the hallway. The main door must have opened
because Kate could clearly hear Nicolas’ voice.

“This better be important to pull me away
from my family.” There was a pause and then she heard him say, “Oh,
so they found you. Put him in there.”

More walking, scraping, shuffling. Kate
realized they were in the office next door, the one she thought was
the largest and most opulent. Nicolas’ office.

“Albert, my dear friend, you’re causing
problems for me. You need to go visit your mother. Do you think you
can do that?” Her father-in-law’s voice was oddly soothing.

Albert must be nodding his answers because
all Kate could hear was the one voice.

“Don’t be a stupid fool and ruin what we
have. All you have to do is make nice on Christmas Eve and get your
bloodhound of a brother off my back. He’s even got my son doing his
bidding now. Speaking of sons, you have two young ones, don’t you?
They are just so lovable at that age. What are they? Three and
five? You wouldn’t want anything to happen to them now, would you?”
Another pause. “Get him out of here...oh, and Rudy, make sure he
understands.”

A loud noise came out of someone. A noise a
person would make when they were punched in the stomach.

Did Nicolas just have Rudy hit my
uncle?
Kate looked down at her hands and saw them trembling.
What would they do if they found her?

“Rudy, you can do better than that.” Nicolas’
voice sent chills up her spine. She heard a thud, and Kate thought
her uncle might have fallen to the floor. It now sounded like he
was being kicked. She couldn’t tell. Tears silently fell from her
eyes. She could only hope it would be over soon.

“Get up!” A strange voice commanded. It was
probably the man Nicolas called Rudy. “Come with me!”

The sounds of footsteps made Kate hold her
breath until they were far enough away.

“Sal! Salvatore! A minute please.” Nicolas
called out to the other man.

Could that be the same Salvatore who drives
the car? He’s a mob enforcer, too?

“Sal, we’ve got to do something about this
guy, Jack Woods. He’s a reporter, a writer, sticking his nose where
it doesn’t belong. He’s getting too close. Asking too many
questions. If he doesn’t stop he’s...”