Betrayal - Fern Michaels [99]
It wasn’t like that with Kate. From the very beginning, he had wanted to know everything there was to know about her. But circumstances said it wasn’t the time or place, much less the right woman. Hell, for all he had known, Kate could have remarried.
He’d have his buddy at the phone company check her North Carolina number one last time. If he didn’t find anything, he wasn’t sure what his next move would be. Change his will and leave the letter for Kate? He laughed. He would find some way to get Alex’s letter to her. He wasn’t giving up just yet.
He would never forget the day at the prison when Alex had asked him to give the letter to Kate should something happen and he didn’t make it home. Coleman had laughed at the time, telling him he had a second chance now that his conviction had been overturned. But Alex had insisted.
Coleman gave his word, but apparently there was more than the letter. Alex seemed upset. The lawyer had asked him about it and Alex had told him that sometimes you make a mistake, one small mistake. It’s that mistake that changed everything for him. Coleman hadn’t known what he was referring to, but thought it might have something to do with the envelope he’d been asked to pass on to Kate. Now that Alex was dead, Coleman wondered exactly what mistakes and secrets the envelope held. It went against his ethical code to look inside the envelope, no matter how curious. No, he would find Kate. The contents of the envelope were for her eyes only.
Kate was amazed at what a good night’s sleep did for her mental status. She woke up earlier than usual. She spent three hours on the computer double-checking her work. She saved the information again and did another sweep on her system. It was time to make that unexpected visit to the real estate office.
Melanie was at the reception desk. Good.
“Hi, Melanie.”
“Oh, hi, Mrs. Ramsey. Did you have an appointment?” Alarm chiseled the girl’s pretty face into stone.
“No, I was wondering if you or anyone here in the office might have found a bracelet. I was sure I had it on when I came to the office yesterday.”
Melanie relaxed, her features back to pretty. “I don’t think so, but if you’d like I can buzz the agents who are in the office to check.”
“Would you? I hate to ask, but this was a special bracelet,” Kate said, crossing her fingers behind her back the way she had done as a child. What lengths she was stooping to these past few days. All in the name of justice, she told herself.
“Of course. I have jewelry, too. I know what it’s like. Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll call the agents right now.”
“Thanks, Melanie. I really appreciate this. I know you’re busy,” Kate cooed to the young girl.
“Sure, just give me a few minutes.”
Kate sat in the same chair as before. She had a bird’s-eye view of the front door and the hall behind the reception desk. She took a magazine and thumbed through it. Lord, I am so out of date with my clothes. I’ll revamp my wardrobe once I complete my mission. If I don’t get caught.
The chime bell tinkled on the front door. Kate looked at the man walking up to the reception desk. This couldn’t be happening. This kind of stuff only happened in soap operas.
Coleman Fitzpatrick in the flesh.
Her hands shook. She brought the magazine as close to her face as she could without its being too close. She peered around the edge of the magazine just to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating. No, she was sure this was Coleman. He’d hardly aged a day in the last seven years.