Change the subject, Alistair Connor. I will never let you go.
The door opened after a knock and a petite Chinese woman wearing a white coat over a blue printed dress entered the room. “Ah! I see our patient is awake,” she said with a smile. “I’m Doctor Chen Lan. How are you feeling?”
What do you think? “Apart from hurting all over? I’m fine. I just want to go home,” Sophia answered.
The doctor checked her vital signs with practiced movements, talking the whole time in a light tone. She wrote on Sophia’s chart and signed it. “You’re free to go. I need your promise to rest. You’re very lucky the cut was not too deep. Still it is a stabbing, so it needs care. I’ll be right back with your out-patient instructions and the list of medicines you’ll have to take.”
Atwood House
8:37 p.m.
Standing before the TV, clutching a remote in one hand and his cell phone against his ear, Alistair swung round as she emerged from Gabriela’s room into the TV room. “Aye, I think it’d be better. Come by.”
“Who’s coming by?” Sophia was wearing a loose black long flowing dress, her hair piled high on her head.
“Davidoff and Ash. They need to talk to you. They’ll be here in a few minutes,” he said, as he consulted his watch. He ran a hand over his tired face. “Sit, Sophia.”
What now? She cocked her head to the side, gauging his mood, but his characteristic poker-face was in place. She sat on the comfortable sofa and stretched her legs on the ottoman he had pushed in her direction.
“Comfortable?”
“Spill, Handsome. I’m not made of glass.” She patted the sofa beside her where he sat.
“The police were here while you were with Gabriela. They need your statement. I told them—”
“I won’t press charges,” she whispered.
You’re kidding me, right? His jaw clenched and he narrowed his eyes at her before asking, “Why no’?”
Because. “I don’t want to go to the police or to court. I don’t want the newspapers sniffing around and writing more than they already are. I don’t want to see our lives transformed into a circus, Alistair Connor.”
“She could have killed you.” These excuses are ridiculous, Counselor. I’m not convinced.
I’m here, aren’t I? “Yeah, she could have,” she sighed. “But still, I don’t want to press charges.” She could seek revenge on you. On us.
“This is not—” Something in her eyes made him stop. “What is it, Sophia?”
Your past haunting you. “I’ve gone through this once. I don’t have the strength to do it all again. Please…try to understand.”
“I see,” he breathed, not seeing at all, but he let it go. She was already too distressed to start a discussion. Without a word, he turned on the TV.
Sophia closed her eyes and rested her head on a cushion, enjoying the homely and peaceful feeling. Alistair’s fingers fluttered over the back of her hand and her forearm lulling her into a delicious sleepy haze.
“Mrs. Leibowitz,” Zareb’s voice came through the sound system, “Mr. Davidoff and Ms. Carruthers have arrived.”
“Hmm,” she complained, opening her eyes and grabbing the phone on the side table. “Okay, Zareb. Send them up, please.”
Alistair rose to greet them as they appeared at the top of the stairs. “Davidoff, Ash.”
“MacCraig.” Edward shook Alistair’s hand and came to Sophia’s side, squatting beside her. His blue eyes were concerned when he pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Hello, love. How are you?”
“Beaten,” she breathed, and blinked to whisk away the tears that gathered in her eyes. Sophia was having trouble keeping her feelings in check. She was going through a whole mix of emotions—fear, anger, pain, and guilt. All at the same time.
“I know the feeling,” he whispered, hugging her in his arms. “It’ll get better in a few days.”
A shuddered breath left her lips. “Yeah, I know. Dr. Kent was here earlier and we talked.”
“Hello, my dear. We were worried.” Ashley kissed her cheek and smiled. “I’m booking you for my defense class.” She sloshed in the armchair across Edward with a wry smile. “Maybe you can teach us a few moves.”
That drew a smile from Sophia.
“What can I offer you?” Alistair asked, as Edward took off his jacket and loosened his tie.
“Just water,” said Ashley, “we haven’t had dinner yet.”
“Then you’ll eat with us.” Sophia picked up the phone and informed Aisha that there would be four at dinner.
Edward’s eyes searched Alistair’s before he flung himself in the armchair and stared at Sophia. “Sophia. Listen closely. We—I think it’s best if you disappear for some days until everything is back to normal.”
Disappear? “Pardon?” she whispered. What do you mean?
A happy female voice coming from the TV called Alistair’s attention and he stiffened when he saw the images. The camera had filmed Sophia and Emma leaving the gallery in ambulances.
Fuck. He reached for the remote control to switch off the TV when Sophia ordered, “Don’t.”
His gaze riveted to her face. Her face was pale and she had thinned her lips.
“—Gabriel Leibowitz’s widow, owner of Leibowitz Oil International. She’s been living here in London for two years hiding under her maiden name. She has since become engaged to Lord Alistair MacCraig, the Marquis of Ells and CEO of The City of London Bank. Yesterday, she was stabbed during the VIP opening of his art gallery, The Blue Dot, in Chelsea. The crime is still unexplained, and it is believed, was perpetrated by Lord Ells’s late wife’s sister, Emma Miller. Until this edition, no charges have been pressed and the police chief said he could make no comments. We’ve tried to reach her family in Rio de Janeiro, but no one was available to answer our questions. All the Leibowitz Oil employees are refusing to comment on the episode. From Saw Paulo, Brazil, our correspondent, Silvia Marques, has more news.”
Alberto Leibowitz appeared on the screen with his arm around Rose. The reporter introduced them and asked what Alberto could tell her about his daughter-in-law.
“Sophia Espírito Santo, the woman our son married, has been declared psychiatrically unstable more than once by doctors and has even lost custody of her daughter,” he said in perfect English and shook papers to emphasize his statement. “She kidnapped our baby granddaughter after our son died and has disappeared with her. We’re taking legal measures to correct this. Our lawyers have been directed to petition the English courts, proving her incapacity and requiring that custody of our granddaughter be given to us. Justice will prevail.” Alberto’s voice had the kind of mad tone one would be scared of.
No! Never! A strangled sound left Sophia’s mouth and she bit down on her bottom lip to avoid the tears that seemed unending.
“Fucking press.” Alistair switched off the TV after the subject changed. He didn’t need a degree in psychology to guess how it would rankle such a proud woman as Sophia to hear her life being dissected publicly. He knew she used her pride as a mask to avoid people getting near her. Anxiety flowed from her body, and when she reached up to dry her eyes, Alistair gently lifted her onto his lap. His fingers slid into her raven locks, pushing her head into the hollow of his shoulder. His large hand rubbed her back to take away some of the stress he had caused. He would do anything to ease her pain.
Can this get any worse? She leaned her head on him and closed her eyes, softly sighing.
“What do you want to do?” Edward’s question was meant for her, but he was looking at Alistair.
Sophia looked up at Alistair, then at Edward’s face. “If I follow your advice? Simply hide again?”
“It’s not going to work anymore. They’ll chase you. Until you tire…or break,” Ashley informed without preambles.
“So, we grab the bull by the horns.” Alistair met Edward’s gaze head on.
“Well, that’s Ash’s suggestion. However…knowing Sophia as I do, I’d ra
ther she disappeared.”
Sophia met Alistair’s gaze with resolute eyes. “I don’t want my personal life strewn across the front page of these English tabloids.”
“Sophia, sweetheart,” Alistair murmured, “I don’t think you have a choice in the matter anymore.”
“Neither do I. Either we give them something, or they’re going to do their worst and dig up whatever they can,” Ashley opened her laptop and started typing.
Edward considered her face with caution before he said, “With Alberto on your trail…who knows what can come out. He can make something up that’s much worse. I fully understand your desire for privacy, but the press, it’s the lesser of two evils.”
Dammit. Sophia turned her teary gaze on Edward. “I hate the press.”
He smiled at her wryly. “I’m sure they feel the opposite about you. You’re it right now. You’re only going to help sales if you disappear.”
“Rumors will brew and spread,” Ash snorted, “I’ve seen it became uncontrollable.”
“I don’t want Gabriela involved. I’ll do everything I can to protect her,” she stated.
Alistair’s hand squeezed hers. “Relax. Nobody will hurt her. Nor you, for that matter. They just want to sell their dirty papers.”
“I suggest a press conference, tomorrow at lunch time. That way I’ll have time to call those I think are most malleable and block the worst scum.” Ashley lifted her eyes waiting for Sophia’s agreement.
Sophia searched Alistair’s strength.
He tightened his arms around her. “I’m here to support your decision even though I think a press conference should be held.”
Oh, damn. Here it comes again. “Tomorrow, midday then. Ash, limit the number to ten journalists—”
Ashley shook her head.
“Twenty then. One question each. After that I’ll spend a month in an abbey in confinement.”
“Airgead,” suggested Alistair. “I can work from the Inverness office if needed.”
Home. She nodded, “Airgead, it is then.”
“So, let’s prepare ourselves for tomorrow,” said Ashley in her business like way.
“Wait!” Alistair interjected. “I have an idea. If it works, the press conference will be much easier to handle.”
Chapter 22
Chelsea, Fulham Road
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Thursday, June 3, 2010
4:58 p.m.
The flashes and the excited voices swarmed Emma as she exited the hospital.
A microphone was thrown in her face by a thin man. “Ms. Miller, Ms. Miller! Why did you stab Mrs. Leibowitz?”
“Ms. Miller, were you jealous of your brother-in-law? What kind of relationship do you have?” That came from a woman in black.
Emma smiled softly and raised her hands. “Ladies, Gentlemen. As Mrs. Leibowitz and Lord Ells have already explained it was all a big misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” Another journalist snorted. “That was your blade in Mrs. Leibowitz’s stomach. Did you try to kill her?”
Emma made a horrified face. “How could you think that? Dear Sophia tripped and fell on some broken glass. She cut herself. I was just trying to help take away the shards. But I slipped on some water on the floor and I fell. Unfortunately, it all happened so quick that the blade flew from my hand. I tried to balance myself, but hit my head on the vase. Seems we were both unlucky.”
“Do you honestly expect us to believe that, Ms. Miller?” asked the thin man.
“You can believe what you want.” Emma shrugged. “My brother-in-law was here this morning again. He visited me for a whole hour. You can check the register, if you want. Do you think if I had tried to kill his fiancée, he would have visited me? And poor Sophia, she is a well-known lawyer. Do you think she wouldn’t have pressed charges if I had tried to kill her?”
“So Ms. Miller, what you’re saying is that you and Lord Ells are still good friends?”
The ironic tone of the question wasn’t missed by Emma. “Good friends? No. Alistair, Lord Ells, I mean, was married to my sister for many years, and during that time, we were friends. Now, we’re acquaintances who wish each other well. That’s it. Ladies, gentlemen, I must go. I’m still recovering from my fall and that dramatic evening.” She raised her hand stopping any more questions. “I thank you, but I really must go.”
She crossed the street and entered the black car that was waiting for her near the curb. She closed the door and turned to the young man inside. “How was that, honey?”
“I didn’t know you were such an accomplished actress, my dear.” He gave her a peck on the lips.
“Money works miracles, my dear. It works miracles.” Emma smiled at him. “And now I have Alistair at my beck and call, I will keep it coming.”
Highlands, Gairloch
Airgead Caisteal
Saturday, June 5, 2010
4:05 p.m.
They followed the kids to the center of the biggest maze Sophia had ever seen.
“You sit here and rest.” Alistair pointed to the bench in the center.
If she could, she would have bowed. Instead, she waved her hand in the air with a flourish and mocked, “Yes, sire. Any other orders?”
Alistair didn’t smile though. “I’m not kidding, Sophia. How can I go play with the kids if I have to keep an eye on you?”
“Relax.” Tavish put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I’ll take care of her.”
Tavish sat next to Sophia as Alistair and Alice took Gabriela, Ariadne, and Michael to play hide and seek. His mind filled with images of Alistair and him playing warriors there as children. Two happy and innocent boys who couldn’t have imagined what life had in store for them.
Tavish observed his brother as he picked Gabriela up in his arms and threw her up in the air. He didn’t want to think what would have happened to his brother if Sophia and Gabriela hadn’t appeared in Alistair’s life. He had been in danger of becoming too jaded as he tasted every sin and drowned himself in every sensation.
Tavish leaned back, crossed his hands behind his head, and stretched his long legs. He looked at the woman responsible for the remarkable changes in his brother and concern made him ask, “Have you had any more flashbacks?”
When she turned to look at him, she had an uneasy look on her face.
“I-I don’t know…” She hesitated. Talking about her amnesia was awkward and hurtful. It made her remember how broken she was. “I—Nothing like the one at Ells Hall. I’ve talked with Felipe, my brother, and with my grandmother. I don’t know if it could be called a flashback, but…a few things they’ve told me helped me remember facts that were fuzzy in mind.”
He shifted on the seat to look at her. “Amnesia is not easy to deal with.”
“Understatement of the year, Tavish Uilleam.” She put a hand on his forearm. “It’s horrible to not know things I should. It leaves me with a…helpless, fragile sensation. I’m not so sure of myself anymore.”
His warm hand covered hers and with a grimace he said, “I know.”
Sophia had had enough time and information from Alistair and Alice to realize that Tavish had also been through many dramatic, traumatic events.
“You know what? In a way, I look at you and I see myself,” she told him.
Tavish stared at her for a long time.
“Some things were no’ supposed tae happen,” he finally said, his voice as gruff as the heavy weight that darkened his soul. He shook his head to send away the bad memories of those dark days. “You looked well on TV and in the newspapers. How did you do it, Sophia? They were there, wanting blood, and in the end you had them wagging their tails at you.”
Sophia’s laugh ended in a gasp. She put a hand on her stomach. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, contrite. “I forgot…”
“No. Don’t be,” she answered with a smile on her face. “It’s good to laugh.”
Tavish tilted
his head to the side. “From your behavior so far, no one would guess you had been through all that.”
“There’s no point in whining and complaining. I don’t have much patience for self-pity. And I find it immensely boring to be fussed over all the time.”
Tavish was eyeing her intently with a strange look on his face.
What?
He shifted on the seat and his eyes roamed over the maze. “Alistair Connor told me you aren’t pressing charges. Do you really think that’s wise?”
Sophia took a long time to answer. “No. I don’t think it’s wise. Not at all. However, I don’t want to draw more attention to myself. Yeah, she deserves punishment, but…can you imagine what she would say about, uh, Alistair’s relationship with…” She made a vague gesture with her hand. Shut up, Sophia. You don’t know if he knows.
“With?” Tavish put a leg on the bench, facing her. When she thinned her lips, he said gently, “Alistair Connor’s relationship with the two sisters?”
Dammit! She exhaled a loud breath of air and closed her eyes. “Is it common knowledge?”
“Nae. But I knew,” he answered. “So, you are protecting Alistair Connor.”
“And myself, and Gabriela, and the future of our relationship. I was shocked when she told me he—” She opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows high. “Can you imagine the scandal?”
Tavish nodded, “Indeed. Looking at it that way…”
“Tavish Uilleam?” She bit her lip and lowered her lashes. Should I ask? Well, he’s a doctor. But, Sophia, he will guess…
“Sophia, you can ask me whatever you want,” he said, and waited patiently.
Oh. Dammit. “Have you heard about a STD called Mycoplasma genitalium?”
He frowned. “Yes. Why?”
“Is it true…that it can cause sterility?”
“Human reproduction…or gynecology were never my speciality, but…” He studied her blushing face, intrigued.
Oh. God. He thinks the problem is mine. However she didn’t correct him.