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The Tessarae Inn |
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose CHAPTER 8
Blair studied Carmen, who was scanning the office with calculated attention. As always, she was dressed in red but today it was a beautiful suit with the collar of a soft, white blouse serving to accent it at her neck. Her hair that was usually long and flowing was styled in a conservative French roll and even though as always she was wearing stiletto heels they were as close to a conservative design as possible. Her makeup was flawless and expertly applied. In other words, she looked as if she had stepped out of an ad for JStarr. Carmen sat in the chair across from the desk then crossed her legs slowly. “This is a really nice place, Caitlin…Blair. Very impressive.” “I’ll pass your comments on to my decorator.” “Please do and I guess you can tell that I use your products. At first, I will admit to just being curious to see what Creedyville’s own could throw together and overcharge people for but once I tried them I was hooked. So, yes, indeed I can see myself fitting in with the image here.” “What do you want, Carmen?” “We need to talk.” “About?” “Attitude? I like that. Attitude will take you far in this world.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “But some people have the attitude that they own other people or something and that they can just move right in on that person like that are property or something.” “What are you talking about?” “I tried to let it go but he keeps calling. He’s still coming after me and someone has to make him stop and give me some compensation for my trouble.” He? Compensation? Trouble? “It breaks my heart to have to tell you this. I’ve tried to be understanding. Like so many other women I turned myself inside out to avoid having to face him over what he did to me. What he forced me to do. A man has no right to take advantage of a woman like that. He nearly destroyed me and that wasn’t enough. He wants everything.” What was this red-obsessed, Scarlett-wannabe heifer trying to say? Blair placed her hands on her desk and rose to her feet. “You are a lying piece of trash. My husband would never touch you. Now, get the hell out of my office.” “Your husband?” Carmen stared at her, blinked rapidly and then smiled slightly. “I wouldn’t use the word ‘never’ but if it was him maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad….so soul torturing….so demeaning.” What? Blair slowly lowered herself into her chair and then moved her right hand toward her desk phone. Security was on speed dial. She would have this nutcase out of her office in a minute. “But it was that bad. Filthy old greasy hands tearing at my clothes. Forcing me into a closet and taking my virtue among the canned corn and green peas. It was horrible. Nothing will erase that memory but at least some compensation will ease the pain. I’ve explained this to him but he claims to be unable to meet my request. It’s a shame about what will happen next. Really it is. That place is like an institution. But unlike that old geezer I have a heart so I’m willing to give him an option. If someone else is willing to pay instead then he can keep his sleazy old diner.” Diner? “What are you saying? Stop talking in damn circles.” “He has a week to come up with a hundred grand in cash or I tell that whole dumbass town what a pervert he is. That whole place saw how he was all over me and saw how he acted toward you before he found out you were married to a psychopath. See me, I’m alone in the world. I was truly defenseless and he took advantage. But then you obviously didn’t feel that way. Considering what I’ve just found out about who you’re married to, well then, that explains a lot.” Blair jumped up. “Out. Now.” Carmen stood up and brushed her skirt. “Gladly, but it doesn’t change anything. A week or, as they say down home, that old dog won’t hunt no more.” Blair stared at the empty doorway for a few seconds. She was actually shaking. She called security and instructed them to make sure Carmen left the building and that she did not return. She took a deep breath then slowly dialed the number to the diner. Dottie answered the phone. “I can’t believe you called. It’s like some miracle. Hearing from you will cheer him up so much and he needs all the cheering he can get. Sing to him, Caitlin. I know it sounds corny but he loves your singing so much. It’ll make him smile…” “Where is he? He’s not there?” “No, that’s what I mean. It was just a miracle you called when you did. The diner is closed and he’s at Franklin Memorial in Clearwater. He told me not to call you. Begged me not to. I just came back here to get some of his things. Oh, Caitlin, they say he may not make it.” There was a loud swooshing sound in her head. “I .... I don’t understand. What happened?” “It’s his heart. He can only take so much pressure. That witch…” “What witch?” “I’m not supposed to say anything. Don’t say anything, please. He will never get over me telling you a thing. He’s in Room I-3. He can receive some calls. I’m heading over there right now. I’ll tell them to let your call through.” “I’ll be there by tonight.” Dottie burst out crying. “Thank you. He needs you and I couldn’t ask.”
Blair held his hand and sang softly, “I guess I’ll never be the same since I fell for you-u-u-u.” She felt him grip her hand and say in a hoarse voice, “I told her not to call you. You need to be with the babies not here with some old man.” She couldn’t stop the tears as she leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek. “Don’t scare me like that again, please. I don’t want you to worry about a thing.” “I lost it, Caitlin. I know it won’t much but I put my life into it. Haven’t closed it a day except on Sunday for thirty years now.” “And it’s not closed today either. Dottie is there and Angie Briscoe is helping with the cooking and Sheri is helping Dottie. We have it all covered. Emily is overseeing the whole operation. They will keep things running until we can get someone more permanent to hold things together--until you are strong enough to sling hash again.” “I got to let it go anyway. It’s all I got…” Blair brushed a tear away and leaned close to him. “I know everything," she whispered. His eyes fluttered. "But no one else knows and I will take care of it. I promise you. You will not lose a thing and no one will hear a bunch of lies either. All I want you to do is rest and get stronger.” He turned his head away but not before she saw the tears in his eyes. “I didn’t do it, Caitlin. I swear I didn’t. I just tried to be nice to her like I was to you.” “I know. And don’t you worry about a thing. I’m here now. Everything is going to be all right. I promise.” Todd hated hospitals and he was none too fond of Clearwater for that matter but there was no way he was going to let Blair make the trip alone. He wasn’t sure how it was all going to turn out there for a while. Maddog had taken a turn for the worse during the night and by the time they got to the hospital things looked bleak. Thankfully, Maddog pulled out of it a few hours ago because Todd honestly believed he would have had to scrape Blair up off the floor if Maddog had died. No question about it. He wasn’t going to pretend to understand but somehow that whole Creedyville bunch had walked into her heart and taken up residence. There was not use even pretending he could fight it. He saw that snotty doctor walking down the hallway toward the room. “What’s the word, doc?” “Who are you?” “I’m the one paying your ass. I’m the one who flew you down from Boston on a private jet and will send you and your ass back the same way. I’m Todd Manning. That’s who the damn I am.” “I see. Family?” “Yeah. Family. Now tell me what the hell is going on.” “In lay terms, Mr. Hill, suffered a heart attack but his prognosis is very good. The staff here took excellent care of him and I’ve primarily served to affirm the quality of their work. He was lucky to have received such excellent care. It is my understanding that he has been under enormous stress lately. That must cease at once.” “Consider that done,” said Blair as she slipped into Todd’s arms. He could tell she had been crying. He pulled her closer. “What else?” “I will examine him again and then leave detailed instructions. Then I suggest you fuel up the jet because I have other patients to attend to back in Boston.”
Blair was hugging the far side of the limo, trying to sleep. Something was way the hell not right here. He reached over and nudged her. She bolted upright. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing except you're too far away. Come on over here.” “Not now okay? I have some things on my mind.” “Don’t do this, Blair.” “Do what?” “I recognize the signs. You’re keeping something from me because you think I’ll get mad or out of control or won’t understand. Trust me, babe.” Her eyes softened and she scooted closer to him. “It’s not you. It’s me. I’m so damn angry I can’t see straight.” “Life isn’t fair. We know that for sure but Maddog is going to be all right. He has the best care available. It’s no one’s fault he had the heart attack.” “See, that’s wrong. Someone tried to kill him as much as if they had pointed a gun at his head and fired.” “What do you mean?” “Someone was blackmailing that sweet old man. Put him under so much pressure he caved. I can’t let that go unpunished, Todd.” “Who are you talking about?” “It doesn’t matter.” “The hell it doesn’t. Who are you talking about?” “That witch, Carmen Duvet. And she is going to pay—big time.” Todd looked at Blair’s flashing green eyes and he felt an unexpected sense of dread. “I’ll handle it, babe.” “I can handle it. She went after Maddog, Todd. You know he’s like a father… Well, you know how I feel about him.” He pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her. “I know, babe. I know. But let’s not do anything crazy here.” She laid her head on his chest. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” “What color is my shirt, Blair?” She lifted her head and stared at him for a minute then said, “Blue.” “Good. Just wanted to make sure you weren’t seeing red.” “Oh, shut up,” she said then laid her head back on his chest. He held her tighter and tried not to worry.
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
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