Betrayal (18 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
God, I have to get him out of here. He's changing already, and I don't like the changes I'm seeing. I'll drive to Naples before heading back to Asheville. Coleman Fitzpatrick and I are going to have a serious discussion.
Chapter 21
K
ate knew their time was almost up. She'd had two wonderful days with Alex, but given the thought of leaving him behind, knowing what she was leaving him to, almost made her wish that she could stay with him, even if it meant she'd have to spend her days in prison. She told him this.
ate knew their time was almost up. She'd had two wonderful days with Alex, but given the thought of leaving him behind, knowing what she was leaving him to, almost made her wish that she could stay with him, even if it meant she'd have to spend her days in prison. She told him this.
“Somehow I don't think that would be in your best interest, Mrs. Rocket. Some of these men in here haven't touched a woman in thirty years. It'd be like feeding you to the sharks. Besides, I need you on the outside. I'll take care of the inside,” Alex teased. His mood had lightened considerably.
“I'll do whatever I can to speed things up with Coleman. Promise me you'll take care of yourself. You've lost weight. I worry about you day and night.”
Alex laughed. “They don't have the kind of food you make in here. I can get all kinds of candy and chips from the canteen, but I don't really care to. I'm fine, Kate. Really, the place isn't all bad. I'm not saying I like it here enough to call it home, but for now, I can tolerate it. Besides, I really don't have much choice in the matter.”
“I know, I just hate to think of you in here, while I'm at home with all the things you can't enjoy. Wine, good food, the dogs. Me.” She grinned.
“I'm a simple man, Kate. You know that. I don't need anything more than the air I breathe and you. If I have those two things, I'm happy. I know I have you, and there is air here even though it's stale and smells like sweat. But it's air.”
A bell rang, letting the visitors know they had five minutes before it was time to leave.
“You're too good, Alex. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you. Life would be so . . . empty. I wouldn't want to goânever mind. I want you to write me every day. I'll make sure Gertie gets busy breeding the dogs. I'd bet my last dollar you'll be home before we can deliver a new litter.”
“I hope you're right. There isn't anything I'd like more. Now, it's time to go. I don't want to see tears, or I'll have to sic one of these female guards on you. Some of them like women, so you better watch out.”
Kate smiled and managed to keep her tears from spilling over. “I'll write you as soon as I get home. When I leave, I'm going to drive to Naples to see Coleman. I'll catch another flight out of Fort Myers if I have to. I'll say prayers for you, Alex. I love you.” Kate stood, barely able to keep from throwing herself in Alex's arms. Suddenly, that long parking lot didn't seem so long. If she could've stuffed Alex inside her purse right then and there, she would have, just to have him home again.
“Be careful, Kate. Why don't you wait and drive over tomorrow. It'll be dark soon. Alligator Alley is no place for a woman alone. Promise me you'll wait until morning?”
She really wanted to leave that night. But if it meant so much to Alex, she'd wait. “I can do that. I'll go back to the hotel and force myself to soak in that deep tub, maybe pick up a Stephen King novel on my way home.”
“You better wait till you get home before you start reading his books. He'll scare the pants right off you.”
She laughed. “Okay, I'll stick with romance. Maybe I'll get something by that woman who writes about those big families in Texas and Vegas. I've always enjoyed her books.”
“Just be careful. I'll worry until I hear from you. Next week I get phone privileges. I'll call you the minute I can. Be safe, Kate.”
“I will. You too. I'll write you. I love you, Alex.” Kate wanted to cry so much she could feel the tears ready to flood her cheeks, but she would wait until she was outside in the parking lot.
Alex sneaked his hand on top of hers and squeezed. “Me too. Always. Now get out of here.” Before she could respond, Alex had turned around and was walking toward the guards. He was the first prisoner to leave the visiting room. Kate knew he wanted to follow the rules, but part of her felt angry that he'd left before their time was up. This was stupid. Alex didn't want to make any waves.
I'm acting like a spoiled brat. Alex knows what he's doing. He's the one in prison, not me.
Kate headed toward the car. Dreading another night in the hotel, Kate thought of driving to Naples anyway, but couldn't bring herself to break the promise she'd made. She would relax in the hotel. She had seen a Super Wal-Mart on her way to the prison. She decided to stop and pick up a few books. Maybe even a bathing suit so she could lounge by the pool. The more she thought about it, the more the idea appealed to her. She would swim, read, and enjoy what was left of the day.
Kate took the cart offered by the elderly gentleman at the entrance. Wal-Mart was packed with families shopping for groceries, clothes, and other necessities. Then there were the hundreds of people who simply wanted to window-shop.
She cruised over to the book section. After perusing the shelves, she decided on three novels by her favorite authors. Even though it was September, Wal-Mart still had a huge supply of fashionable bathing suits. She scoped out several different styles, then settled on a plain black one-piece. At thirty-six, she wasn't getting any younger. She sure as hell wasn't going to burden the folks at the hotel with the sight of her wearing a skimpy bikini. She'd leave the bikini-wearing to the younger crowd.
After she paid for her items, she drove back to the hotel. She checked to see if she'd received any telephone calls. She hadn't. A quick change, then with book in hand and a bottle of cold water, Kate went to the pool area. Because it was Florida, the crowd was huge. People vacationed in the Sunshine State year-round. Kate had to wait for a young woman to rearrange her family's towels and beach toys so she would have a place to sit.
“Thanks,” Kate told the harried mother.
“Kids. You need so much stuff just to get out the door. I can't wait till these days are over,” the young mother complained.
Kate just smiled. She didn't want to make conversation, and certainly didn't want to be reminded of the troubles kids could cause. She'd had enough for a lifetime. She buried her nose in her book, hoping the woman would take the hint.
The sun dipped low in the sky. She spent two hours at the pool and forgot to apply sunscreen. On her way back to her room, she realized that her skin was the color of strawberries.
Dammit. With my fair skin I know better than to do without sunscreen. Oh well, sunburns I can live with.
After taking a cool shower, she covered herself with aloe gel she had picked up at the gift shop and slipped on a loose cotton T-shirt. The sheets felt refreshingly good to her warm skin as she slid beneath them. She flicked the table lamp on, picked up her novel, and continued to read about the Coleman family in Texas.
Which reminded her of Coleman. She'd called him earlier. He agreed to make time for her, telling her they'd meet outside the office. He told her the name of a restaurant, saying it was quiet and they'd have no interruptions. From there, he'd agreed to drive her to Fort Myers to catch an evening flight home.
Kate's eyes were getting heavy. She turned off the light and placed her book on the bedside table. She was so tired. The stress, the excitement of seeing Alex, then two hours in the sun were all she could stand. Within minutes, she was fast asleep.
The restaurant where Kate met Coleman was perfect. It was nice, without being fussy. The staff was very professional and the atmosphere relaxing. They were seated at a table in the rear of the restaurant, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. White-tipped waves crashed on the beaches. Southwest Florida was in for one of its infamous thunderstorms. Had this been a different occasion, Kate would have been captivated, watching the storm thrash and move its way across the sky.
Coleman was polite and professional, and a true gentleman. He pulled her chair out for her, took her bag, and placed it on a chair next to her.
“I hope this weather doesn't delay my flight,” Kate said as she watched lightning zigzag across the darkening sky.
“It's barely noon. This'll be long gone before it's time for you to catch your flight. You get used to it, living here,” Coleman observed.
“I would imagine it's like anything else, though I must admit, I wouldn't want to live here in the summer. The heat is almost unbearable.”
“Yes, that's why I try and leave every chance I get. I have a cabin in the mountains. If my workload is light, I hop in my plane every chance I get.”
Kate liked the conversation and found herself very comfortable talking with Coleman. He was a nice guy.
Like Alex,
she thought.
Like Alex,
she thought.
“You said your plane. What do you fly?”
“An Archer. Something I always wanted to do. A few lessons, and I was hooked. I've been flying for fifteen years now. Have never tired of it yet.”
Kate saw the passion in his eyes when he spoke about flying. “I always wanted to learn to fly, but there were so many other things I wanted more. I guess I'll cross that off my life list.”
“Why?” Coleman asked her.
Kate snickered. “For starters, I don't think the timing would ever be right. Alex and all. Then there is my cooking classes. The pottery. I still want to try my hand at another set of earthenware.”
He knew about the incident in her studio since it figured so prominently in the attempt to get a new trial on the basis of ineffective counsel, but she'd never told him her dream of having her own line of baking dishes.
“What sort of earthenware?”
He opened the door. What could it hurt to tell him? It was now just another dream she'd have to tuck away.
“When Sara destroyed my studio, I'd just finished a line of cookware. I'd worked on it for months and months. I was getting ready for a show in Asheville. I'd hoped to market my own line of bakeware someday.” Kate felt silly explaining this to Coleman. He was a professional man. An attorney. He would probably think her dream silly.
“You mean like Martha Stewart?”
Kate laughed. “Something along those lines. Though not quite as grand. It was something I really wanted to do.” Kate looked away from Coleman. The intensity of his stare made her uncomfortable.
“Why would you toss your dream out the window? I would think you'd be . . . I don't know. I guess I've always believed that if you have dreams, you should pursue them, no matter what.”
“I used to believe all that, too. But that was before Sara ruined our lives. I don't think I'll ever dream again. My only focus now is Alex. I want to see that justice is done, or I'd never be able to live with myself. That's what you're here for.”
Was Kate mistaken, or had she actually seen a look of hurt on his face? She had to be. Coleman was Alex's attorney.
“Yes, it is.” He sighed. “I do have a few things to discuss. First, I finally got through the trial transcript. All I can say is if there was ever a case of an improper defense, this one is for the books. Though I hate to discredit a colleague, James Conroy didn't even bother with a defense. Oh, he made a few inquiries into the Winters' financial situation, which isn't good. He could have used that as motivation for a civil suit. Without the criminal suit, there wouldn't have been the need for the civil filings. He could have claimed false reporting of a crime. That's a third-degree felony in the state of Florida. There were many other avenues for him to pursue, even apart from the absolute alibi Alex had for the last alleged incident, Kate.”
She shook her head. “It's obvious that James Conroy is a shyster. I just don't understand why he didn't give the case his best efforts. We told him about the sequence of events the last time Sara and Emily stayed with us. Still, he made no effort to try to discredit her testimony. What's with that guy?”
Coleman looked away. The waitress brought their iced teas and took their order.
Kate knew something was bothering the attorney. “Is there something you're not telling me? Because if there is, and you don't, well, then you're no better than James Conroy!” Kate stood, ready to make a hasty exit from the restaurant.
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