Independence & Consequences by M J Marlow (best color ebook reader .TXT) 📕

returned to his home extremely satisfied. Olivia watched him closely, wondering just how far he was going to go to keep his mad plan going. “Now that the business has been concluded,” Enrique smiled as he came to her, “we can see to some pleasure. Si?” He kissed Olivia and felt her melt into him. He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. “You have earned a place among us, Olivia.” “What are you planning now, Enrique?” Olivia asked as the man began to remove her clothing. “You have been without a man for 18 years,” Enrique smiled at her. “I have decided to make you my wife.” He ran his fingers over her lips, enjoying the shock in her eyes. “As long as you continue to please me, I will let you live.” * Sebastian went to Liza Stoner’s penthouse and introduced himself as a friend of the Alvarez family. She let him in and he looked around the place, impressed. This woman had excellent taste. He accepted her offer of a drink and left her to decide what to bring him. He was astonished when she chose his favorite, and that it was hers as well. This woman was meant for him. It was too bad that he was about to do something against her and her child. Liza settled down on the couch across from him and waited until they had finished their drinks. “The family wishes to invite you and Isabel on a cruise,” Sebastian told her once he set aside his drink. “They are eager to learn, as you are, whose daughter she truly is.” “I haven’t been allowed access to her yet,” Liza told him truthfully. “My brother thought I should wait until my husband…” “Such things should not wait,” Sebastian broke in. “You have every right to meet this child. She is your family.” He pointed to the phone. “You should call her and ask her down.” He saw Liza hesitate. “You have a right, Doctor.” Liza nodded, seeing his point. The man was right. Isabel was as much her family if she were a niece. She should not be kept away from her. She knew Gordon was only trying to protect them both, but this was important. She picked up the receiver and watched the man move off to give her a bit of privacy. He was very solicitous, she thought as she dialed the number. When the call was made, she went towards the door, excited. Isabel had agreed to meet with her. Three minutes later, the girl was knocking on the door. She came in and froze as she saw the man. This couldn’t be her father, surely. He wasn’t expected until later. “Isabel,” Liza said as she noted the girl’s uneasiness, “this is Senor Guerrero. He is a friend of the Alvarez family. He has been sent to invite us on a cruise, so you may get to know them.” “This is a very sudden invitation,” Isabel replied, looking at the man warily. “I should wait until I can ask Uncle Gordon…” “We’ll call him from the ship, darling,” Liza broke in, eager to be alone with the girl. She saw Isabel still was not convinced. “It will give us a chance to get to know each other, Isabel. You’d like that wouldn’t you?” “Yes, but…” “No one is going to hurt you, child,” Sebastian broke in, feeling her distress. He really couldn’t blame her. “I will see to your protection personally.” “I don’t know you, Senor,” Isabel told him bluntly. She could see Liza’s face fall and knew the woman was upset. Liza left the room and she was sorry she had to make her feel this way. “You understand, don’t you?” “You are a very wise young woman,” Sebastian nodded his head to her. “I am certain that there will be other opportunities to spend time with Doctor Stoner.” He watched the woman return with a cup of tea. “Please join us for a few moments at least,” he smiled as he went to the bar and poured himself another drink. Liza sat down and took the tea Liza handed to her. It was sweetened with honey, she noted. She sipped at it and found it a pleasant blend. Liza smiled and sat back on the couch. Isabel continued to drink her tea, listening to the conversation between Liza and the man. Every once in a while they would turn to ask her something about herself. She felt very welcome. A few moments later, she began to feel very weary. She set the empty cup on the coffee table and got up to go. The room spun around her and she looked at Liza in shock as she fell back down on the couch. “I couldn’t let her say no,” Liza told the stunned man. “This is important; this cruise.” She took the cup back into the kitchen and rinsed it out. She hated the thought of drugging the girl, but this trip was what she and Isabel both needed. “I have a feeling you weren’t going to let her refuse, Senor.” “You are a very perceptive woman,” Sebastian nodded. He picked Isabel up in his arms and carried her to the freight elevator. “You are coming?” Liza nodded and followed him. They took the elevator to the parking level and he laid Isabel on the back seat of Liza’s car and covered the girl with a blanket. Liza drove off happily. The girl was in her hands now, and soon she would find out if she had a daughter or a niece. Taking her this way might be wrong, but it was necessary. Sebastian told her where to go and she followed his direction without question. She parked in the lot by the cruise ship waiting at the port. Sebastian carried Isabel and Liza followed him, her mind filled withimages of how life would be now that one of the missing children had been found. * The next morning, Jeff was at work in the offices of Tolliver Enterprises. His mind kept replayingimages from the night before. He could see Morgan’s eyes sparking with joy; heard her sweet laughter. How could one look, one evening, have engrained that beautiful woman in his mind so completely? He had fought his father’s suggestion that he get to know her; he wasn’t ready to date. Jeff was glad now that he had let himself be talked into the blind date. He heard the intercom buzz and pressed the button. His eyes widened as he heard whose call his secretary was announcing. “Go ahead Director Talbot,” he said as his father came into the office and sat down. “My father is here with me.” “We found Roger Hancock,” Gordon told them. “Or rather, what remained of him.” He sighed in frustration. “He died in a motel in Laurel as the result of an explosion caused by a gas leak.” There was silence all around as each man thought of what this changed in their hunt for Isabel. “Of course, we know the explosion was intentional.” “Who do you think took Isabel?” Jeff asked the man. “If not Hancock?” “He was obviously working with someone,” Gordon replied. “But since only his prints were found in the penthouse, and he is dead, we are at a loss.” “Hang in there, my friend,” Winston told the man. The line went dead and he turned to his son. He saw Jeff pulling his coat on. “Going somewhere, son?” “Morgan and I are going out to lunch,” Jeff smiled briefly. “That’s a good woman, son,” Winston nodded. He had met Morgan Forrester once and been quite impressed. “Careful how you handle her.” Jeff nodded and left the office. He picked Morgan up at the Federal Building and took her to the Country Club. He was entertaining, and unfailingly attentive and, as he began to unbend. Morgan was quite pleased. When Gordon had suggested that she get to know Jeff Tolliver, she had balked. Her husband had only been dead a year, after all; killed in the line of duty. She hadn’t believed herself ready to date. But there was something about Jeff that put her completely at ease. It was as if they had been friends forever. She would have to remember to thank Gordon. “How is Gordon doing?” Jeff asked as they started to leave. “Are there any leads at all as to where his niece has gone?” “Nothing concrete,” Morgan told him sadly. “All of the witnesses who swear they’ve seen her don’t pan out. It’s almost as if the people who took her are planting false clues to keep us off their trail.” “That’s quite possible,” Jeff nodded. “The longer they keep you off the trail, the more control they have over Gordon.” “It won’t work,” Morgan told him fervently. “Gordon is not going to stop until he has her back!” She looked at her watch. “I’d better get back to the office. I don’t want to keep you from your work.” “You could keep me from it forever if you wanted to, Morgan,” Jeff said softly. He saw her flinch and knew he’d pushed it too fast. This woman was unlike any other woman he had ever dated; he didn’t want to frighten her off. He got to his feet and came around the table to pull her chair out. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He led her out to the front and a valet brought around his Mercedes. As he helped her inside he saw Ricardo Alvarez across the street. “Are you certain I can’t interest you in a tour of the museum?” Morgan looked as if she might take him up on his offer, but then she shook her head. He gave up; there was time. He stopped in front of the Federal Building and remained park in front until he saw her disappear inside. As he turned the key in the ignition, one of Alvarez’ men got in the passenger seat. “Mr. Alvarez wishes to speak with you, Mr. Tolliver,” Marco told him bluntly. He had no gun, but he didn’t need one. No one ever refused a summons from Ricardo Alvarez. “He is on his yacht.” Jeff drove to the marina and parked in the lot at the end of the ramp. He accompanied Marco aboard and watched as Ricardo got to his feet. He offered Jeff a drink and he shook his head. He knew the man well enough to know better than to accept. Ricardo nodded and sank back down on the couch. He waited until Jeff had seated himself and then he waved Marco off. “I want you to speak to Gordon Talbot, Jeff,” he said without preamble. “He must assure me that the child will be found alive.” “He isn’t going to stop until he does just that, Mr. Alvarez,” Jeff told the man. He looked at the man closely. “You don’t know who took her?” “There are very few who know that she may not be my child, Jeff,” Ricardo told him bluntly. “If I knew who had taken her, I would not be here speaking with you.” “You need to talk to Gordon yourself, Mr. Alvarez,” Jeff said, suddenly very uneasy, “All he knows is that his niece was attacked and then abducted.” He got to his feet. “I have to go now; I have a business to run.” “But of course, Jeff,” Ricardo nodded. “Give my regards to your father. Tell him I miss our chess games.” Jeff nodded and left, feeling as if he had just been playing a chess game with Ricardo. Who was the pawn, however? He didn’t like being made to feel at such a disadvantage. He returned to the office and spent the rest of the day trying to concentrate on his work. His mind, however, seemed determined to return to the time he had just spent