“I can’t talk about it right now, and as for Tucker, he’s the one staying away because he says I’m not sharing all of myself with him.” I turn and move back over to my locker to grab my purse. I look down into the bag and see the recorder I have stashed in there. I’m going to record today’s meeting to protect myself.
“Syd, we all feel like you are holding things back. I don’t know all of it, but I know some now that your attorneys have talked to the board. I wish you had told me. I only know that whatever happened on that last expedition was bad.”
“Bad?” I can’t help the pain that comes through my voice. I turn to look at her. “Bad? That’s what you think? It was the worst. Now, I have to go.” I swing my bag up on my shoulder and pull my keys out as I make my way to my car. Tears try to break through, but I don’t let them.
I make my way to the hotel feeling like everyone around me knows what I’m doing. I pull up to the valet and give him the keys as I step out of my car. I reach into my bag and click on the recorder as I make my way into the elegant hotel. I work my way to the dining room, where the tea service is being held. When I step up to the hostess podium, I look around. My eyes land on the man from the video and I find it hard to move. I don’t want him to know I recognize him or know what he did. I smile slightly and move my eyes around again as if I’m not looking for him.
“Miles, please,” I say to the attendant, and she leads me to the man from the video. I take him in, trying to figure out where I know him from besides the video. He’s dressed in a three-piece suit with a bowtie all in black. It’s almost as if he is in a tuxedo. His confidence pours off him in waves. His dark hair is brushed back from his face. His mustache has touches of gray interspersed in it. He stands from the table and is at least over six feet tall, close to six-two. He’s thin but not in a sickly way, more trim than athletic. He reaches for my hand.
“Miles Kant.” His voice is gravelly sounding, rough but proper. He’s very formal and has a slight Texan accent that I recognize.
“Sydney Parrish.” My voice quivers slightly from his chilling grip. I want to recoil from him.
“Please have a seat.” He waves to the chair across from him and I set my purse next to me in the chair as I sit. I know from past experience the recorder will pick up his voice and mine perfectly. I’ve used one like it before when I was doing filming. I watch as he directs someone to come pour our teas. He directs them to add two cubes of sugar to his and nods toward me. I’m not used to someone waiting over me and want to make my tea the way I like it, but I don’t want to anger him. I need to remember that my daughter’s and mother’s lives are in his hands. For now. I hold all the cards though, and I know it.
“Two sugars and a splash of milk,” I say to the server. She nods and does as I ask. I take the spoon and stir my tea just as he is doing. I watch him carefully tap his spoon clean before he sets it on the side of the saucer. He lifts the delicate cup and takes a sip. A part of me thinks this is all a play to try to put me at ease with him. To make me think he’s nicer than what he really is. But I saw the footage. I know he’s evil. I don’t know how he figured out about my camera or why he had to attack our camp, but I know he did it.
I take a small sip and wait for him to start. I’m not going to rush into this. I’m not going to beg because I already know I’m not supposed to be sitting across from him. I’m not supposed to have lived that night. One thought hits me and I want to ask, but I hold the question back.
“Ms. Parrish, I asked you here today to discuss a mutual situation we have found ourselves a part of.” I nod, not saying anything. What do I say to that? “I believe you have acquired something that belongs to me.”
“I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Kant—”
“Don’t lie,” he hisses as he leans across the table toward me. “I know you have it. I know it was you who took it that night. I want it back, now.” His voice is quiet but deadly. I lean back in my chair as the fear almost overwhelms me.
“Mr. Kant, I don’t have anything from that night. My clothes were destroyed because of the evidence.”
“Ms. Parrish, I know the South African government said you’d died, but until I saw that coverage of you at the zoo, I’d wondered. I even had it confirmed by a mutual friend of ours.” He leans back and sits up straight looking down his nose at me. I scoff at his comment of “mutual friend.”
“He’s not my friend. He’s the one who was threatening me in the hospital, wasn’t he?” I ask one of my questions.
“Yes, but he didn’t want to do it. I had to talk him into it. He’s been punished for not telling me you were indeed alive or when you came to the States.” The only punishment suitable for him is death now, but I keep that to myself.
“Like I said, I don’t have whatever it is you want.”
Again, he leans forward and his eyes squint, his jaw tightens. “Ms. Parrish, we aren’t playing here, you know exactly what it is that I want. Information like that can’t get out or my reputation will be tarnished. I’ll give you some time to get your hands on it again or I will be coming after you. I’ve hired many men who have come after you or kept an eye on you. You won’t know who to trust ever again if you run from me.” He stands from the table and walks to my side. He leans down. “I’ll be in Nashville for two more weeks. Don’t disappoint me. I’d hate to hurt Bahati’s child; he was such a good soldier. By the way, speaking of soldiers, I know yours rides around on those death machines. It would be too easy to hurt him.” He moves away as a chill works its way down my body. Tucker, no. My heart clenches in my chest.
I sit there for a moment trying to figure out what I’m going to do now. I stand on shaky legs and make my way out of the hotel. When I get to the valet stand, I give him my ticket. A chill runs down my body. I’m being watched, I know it. I slip into my car and take off for Mari as fast as I can. I need to make her safe. I need to protect my mom.
On the drive home I come up with a plan that will protect everyone, even the man I’ve fallen in love with. I know I love him because the thought of him getting hurt causes my blood to run cold through my veins. These last couple of weeks without him I’ve missed him so much.
My vision clears and I know what I have to do.
* * *
Tucker
“She met with a man at a hotel today.” Carter’s voice comes across the line without a “Hello, how the fuck are you?”
“She wouldn’t do that,” I growl into the phone.
“Not like that.” He sighs. “If I ever fucking find a woman, make sure I don’t become a raving lunatic like you.” He chuckles.
“I’ve heard from Ghost there is a little dancer driving you crazy.”
“Don’t tease about her. Besides, she’s touring, and I don’t like the spotlight, and my family would never approve of her. I have to deal with my sister first.” He groans. I know he cares for this girl, and because of his mother and sister he won’t ever chase after her. Because of his job and the fact he thinks everyone treats him differently since his injury, he won’t go claim her. As for his sister, she disappeared some time ago.
“Tell me what you saw.”