Authors: Patricia Isabel
CHAPTER 28
Lynesse had woken up to find out that Holten never came back from Shane’s last night. He never stayed out all night unless it was for business and she had a pretty good feeling that wasn’t the reason why he was at Shane’s. Lynesse got up out of bed and got dressed, this was her chance to see Shane and his chance to beg for her forgiveness. Although it would be awkward if Holten was around but she was sure they would find a secluded spot somewhere. Exhilarated, she made her way out the door. If she hurried, she would make it there by noon.
As Marcus pulled into the driveway, he began to feel sick. He knew what he was doing was a good thing but he wasn’t keen on going to jail for a mistake. As he pulled over and put the car in park, Penny looked over at him and wondered what was wrong. She liked Marcus for whatever it was worth. Yes he was working for
Lynesse but…could she hold that against him? She decided not to and put her hand on his. “What’s wrong?” she asked him sincerely. “I know it’s wrong to think this and I feel bad doing so. When I drop you off, they’re going to call the cops. I’ve never done jail time for anything I’ve done. I guess this is karma, isn’t it?” Marcus looked over at Penny and couldn’t understand why she was smiling, she was an odd woman, this one. “Let’s not worry about that right now, shall we? I have an idea where we both get what we want” and patted his hand. Penny was sincere on that statement. She believed Marcus wasn’t bad whatsoever and that the circumstances that led him to do what he did was his business. She wasn’t going to pry into his personal life. “Let’s finish this, shall we?” and she gave him the biggest smile she could do. Marcus smiled back and put the car in drive and continued until they reached the house. Feeling a bit apprehensive, he pulled up to the door and turned off the ignition. He had a lot of questions to answer, he knew that but as long as Penny was by his side he felt he could get through it. With a deep breath, Marcus got out of the car and walked over to her side and opened the door. Walking together, they reached the door and rang the bell. If he was to be given forgiveness, he knew he would have to pass the gauntlet first.
When they heard the doorbell ring, their first thought was ‘who could it be?’ Sitting around, they all stared at each other, neither one moving.
Holten was the first to stand up “Well, we’re never going to know who it is if we just sit here now are we” and made for the front door. “Whoever it is, tell them to go away!” Shane yelled after him. He was in no mood for any kind of company. Penny had been missing now for a little over 24 hours and he was feeling frantic. What if they never find her? He would never have the chance to tell her how much he loved her and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. With despair creeping up on him again, he put his head in his hands and tried to block out the noise which was coming from the front hall. Gabe had gotten up to go see what was going on when he heard a familiar voice. A
very
familiar voice. Penny? Shane looked up and down the hall. Yes, it was Penny! Shane bolted past Gabe to the front door and stopped dead. He couldn’t believe his eyes, it was her! She was here! In his foyer! Shane rushed towards her and picked her up in a huge hug. Penny couldn’t help but laugh as she literally got swept off her feet, holding onto him as if she was never going to let go. Gabe and Holten stood rooted to their spots unable to believe what was happening and smiling like a couple of idiots. There was a lot to discuss but that could wait a few more moments. Everyone was just happy that Penny was there and that she was unharmed and now safe.
Once Shane was certain that Penny was going nowhere, he let her down but kept her close to him. There were so many questions to ask. “How
?... Who?... What happened?” he asked. Searching her face, she saw him glance at the very large man standing in his doorway and a pang of jealousy raged through him. “
Who the hell is this guy?!
” his thoughts going to places he didn’t want to be. Gabe noticed the tension in Shane’s face when he looked at Penny’s escort “Why don’t we all go into the kitchen. Dad here will make a pot of coffee and Penny can relax and tell us what the hell happened” he looked at Marcus “Why don’t you come in. I have a feeling you play a part in this somewhere”. All Marcus could do was grimace and step further into the house. He knew they wouldn’t like his part in it but he hoped that the end will make up for the beginning. Gabe closed the door and began to make his way to the kitchen with Holten and the rest following close behind “Make one pot of coffee and all of a sudden, I’m the kitchen bitch”. He heard Shane laughing at their father’s comment and it felt good to hear it.
Once everyone was settled and had a cup of coffee, everyone with the exception of Marcus, looked at Penny. Shane, Gabe and
Holten all waited to hear what had happened after Gabe got hit on the head and was knocked out. Penny began her story from the beginning to where she saw Marcus hit Gabe. “So I have you to thank for the egg on the back of my head” he said looking at Marcus while rubbing the back of his head, it still ached a little. Marcus looked up at Gabe “Sorry about that. I tried not to hit too hard” and he looked back down at his cup. He was feeling guilty about his part in all of this. Penny looked over at Marcus, she wasn’t going to let him shoulder all the blame for someone else’s action. “Please, don’t blame Marcus. He was only doing what he was told to do” she looked at Shane with pleading eyes “Let’s not dwell on what he did but on what he has done, shall we?” Shane wasn’t convinced but he was willing to hear him out for Penny’s sake. She took Marcus’s hand in hers and gave it a slight squeeze. He looked at her and gave a small smile at which Shane had noticed and held in the urge to punch him in the face. “Marcus should be the one who tells this story. I can only give from the time I was out to the time I woke up. He can give us the beginning to when Lynesse called him” Penny looked at each and every one of them around the table and saw the shocked expressions on their faces when she mentioned that woman’s name. “Lynesse?” Shane said “What does Lynesse have to do with your kidnapping?” As soon as it came out of his mouth, he knew. “I’m gonna kill her” and he began to stand up when Penny held onto his arm. “Shane, please, let’s hear what Marcus has to say first. Then we all can decide what is to be done”. He looked at her and slowly sat down, he was fuming inside but she was right. They all needed to hear the details and then take the next course of action. “The young lady’s right son. It won’t do any good if we go off half cocked” Holten said from across the table. He knew Lynesse was eccentric but he never thought she would pull a stunt like this. Gabe turned his head towards Marcus whose head was down trying to be forgotten in all this. “Well, let’s hear it” he said to Marcus. Marcus lifted his head and, once again, looked over at Penny. She gave him a reassuring smile and he began at the beginning when Lynesse first called him up to the time when he hit Gabe. No one interrupted, no one broke eye contact with him. They all sat there and listened to the plan she came up with to the results she was expecting. “It was all about you” he said motioning towards Shane “She knew Penny here was a threat so she needed to get her out of the picture long enough for you to fall at her feet”. Shane couldn’t believe what he heard. He looked over at Gabe “See? If you would’ve just let me bury her in the driveway when I wanted too, none of this would’ve happened!” Shane stood up and began to pace around the kitchen. The only thing anyone could do was watch as he kicked a chair and pounded the counter. Gabe stood up and walked over to his brother “And that would’ve resolved nothing but having the cops at your door” he said. “He’s right, son. Lynesse will get what’s coming to her for this, mark my words” Holten said as he also stood up and walked over to Shane. Penny was feeling a bit emotional at how Shane’s brother and father gathered around him. It was a heartwarming scene and she was happy to be there to witness it. Shane looked at both his brother and father “What do we do about it?” he asked, hoping for a hanging. “She doesn’t know I let Penny go, let alone drove her here” Marcus stated and all three of them looked over to where he was sitting. That was something they could probably work with and get Lynesse to admit what she had done. This time it was Gabe that started pacing around the kitchen while everyone looked on. They needed to find a way to get Lynesse here and to confess to what she had done. Gabe looked over at his father, “Do you know where she is, dad?” Holten thought for a moment then shook his head “She never tells me what she’s about. Never has. She’s probably still in bed” Shane walked over to the phone and handed it over to his father “Call the house. See if she’s there”. “I’ll call her from my cell. She doesn’t need to know I’m here” and took out his phone and began to dial. Once someone on the other end answered, Holten asked about his wife. With a look of surprise, he hung up the phone. “Well?” both Gabe and Shane asked at the same time. “She’s already out of the house” he said “I know for a fact she doesn’t breath until after one. The housekeepers always complain they can’t clean the upstairs because she’s sleeping”. “Would she go to the cabin?” Gabe asked Marcus “No. She didn’t want Penny to know she was involved” he said, if anything he knew Lynesse and her paranoia. “Good. Then she doesn’t know you guys are here and we can use that to our advantage” Gabe went to sit at the table to think what their next move would be. It would have to be a good one and a convincing one to get Lynesse to confess. She was narcissistic enough, then again, she wasn’t stupid either. “We just need to find a way to get her here without her being suspicious” Penny got up and walked down the hall to stretch her legs. Going towards the window, she noticed a car coming down the driveway and pulling up next to the garage. Seeing the brunette getting out of the driver’s side, Penny walked back towards the kitchen “I don’t think getting her here will be a problem” she mentioned as she looked over at Marcus and motioned for him to get up. “Why do you say that?” asked Shane, walking towards Penny once Marcus stood. Penny motioned for Marcus to follow her and he did, like a puppy on a leash “Where are we going?” he asked her, following her out to the backyard. Penny pushed him out the door and turned around before walking through the threshold “Because she’s here” and as she turned to follow Marcus, the doorbell rang. All three men, standing in the kitchen, stared after Penny and Marcus and then looked down the hall at the door. “Well I’ll be damned” Gabe said “Guess she’s not as smart as I thought she was”. “She married dad. How smart did you think she was” and Shane left to answer the door. “Hey!” Holten yelled and Gabe had to suppress a laugh while Shane went to let in the bane of their existence.
CHAPTER 29
When Lynesse pulled up to the house, she noticed an extra car in the drive. ‘
It must be Marks
’ as she parked the car and headed towards the house. The man wasn’t ostentatious to drive a classy car. He preferred the beat up old jalopies instead of the BMW’s, Mercedes or Jaguars, which was odd because Holten paid him well. He still chose to wear those polyester suits from the 1970’s instead of Versace or Armani. The man was an enigma for sure. She guessed he was here under Holten’s orders to help find the tramp. ‘
Like he could do anything helpful, he’s good at finding numbers and deals, not people
’ she thought with a grin as she walked up the stairs and rang the bell.
Shane opened the door and did his best to hide the contempt he had for
Lynesse. What he ever saw in her was beyond him now. Now all he saw was a selfish, vicious woman who cared for no one but herself. Plastering a smile on his face, Shane gave a greeting that even surprised him “Hey! I was just going to call you. How are you?” and he leaned in to kiss her cheek. He felt like vomiting. Lynesse was somewhat surprised at this but she knew he would have given in sooner or later. “Hey back” she said as she leaned in to kiss him back “I’m fine, thanks. What did you want to talk to me about?” She already knew what he wanted to discuss but she wanted to hear it from him personally. As Shane led her to the living room, he suggested that she sit and took a seat next to her “I wanted to talk to you. I have been thinking about that night when you were here and I wanted to apologize. I acted harshly. I was just so surprised to see you here and everything, I didn’t let what happened sink in. I know you were only being the woman I fell in love with but when everything happened all those years ago, I guess I was still harbouring the anger and jealousy. I didn’t see how much I really missed you” Shane was feeling sick to his stomach saying those words. Watching Lynesse and how her eyes lit up was more than he could stand. How can anyone be so deceiving but yet is so vapid at the same time? “Oh Shane! I knew it! I just knew you still loved me!” she exclaimed. She couldn’t believe it was all coming true. Lynesse leaned over to hug him and Shane, hesitantly, returned the gesture. Sitting back, Lynesse looked at Shane with adoration that her mind was a whirlwind of ideas. She knew she had to contain her emotions, Holten was around here somewhere and she didn’t want to let that golden goose go just yet. She palmed Shane’s face and gave him her biggest smile “I knew you would come around. You just needed to see how important we were to each other”. She wanted to kiss him so badly but couldn’t and it was infuriating. “I saw Holten’s car in the drive. He’s here I take it?” Shane nodded and motioned towards the kitchen. Lynesse looked back towards where he signaled and she sighed, she needed to discuss what comes next for them but not with her husband in the next room. “Is there somewhere we can go where it’s private? What we need to discuss doesn’t need to be heard by anyone” and she stood, waiting for him to lead. The last thing Shane wanted was to be enclosed in a room with this woman. He couldn’t be responsible for his actions, like throttling her, but he knew if he wanted to get her talking about Penny he would have to comply. With a shudder that she never noticed, he led her up the stairs to his bedroom.