High Stakes Gamble

Chapter Forty-Four

For Aurora, the elevator moved slower than wind on a still day. Lelonde fidgeted and she spoke to calm him. “Marc, can I call you Marc?”

“Yes, of course.”

“First I’ll unlock the door and stay in the hall until it’s safe. You’ll enter the room as if it was a normal work day and she was expecting you home. Act as natural as possible. Hand her the drink in a way so she’ll accept it. Now be absolutely sure to call the baby Lucy. Tell her something like how you’ve been anxious all day to hold your daughter once again.”

“I can do that. But you must understand. My wife is very smart and can see through any ploy easily.”

“You heard your wife on the radio, Marc. She’s not at her best right now. She’s tired and caught between reality and make-believe. She wants to see you. If you play along that it’s a normal day, we’re hopeful she’ll follow your lead.”

“I’ll do my best, Detective.” Pale and obviously shaken, Marc first rubbed his forehead and then his eyes.

Poor man! He was a wreck. A person didn’t need to be a skilled detective to see he held on by a very fine thread.

Once they arrived, Aurora got to work and in a few seconds had the door unlocked. “Be gentle, Marc. Jane’s responded so well to Kai because his voice is pure corn syrup.”

A slight smile lit up his face just as Aurora had hoped and he nodded. He entered and when he went to close the door behind him, she stuck out her foot to stop it from shutting all the way.

Then he sauntered into the room calling, “I’m home, Honey!”

Jane swung in his direction. “Marc!?? I-I don’t know… You’re here?”

“Yes dear. I’m a bit early.”

“You’re early? I-I have no dinner cooked.”

“It’s fine, sweetheart. I’m not hungry.” Aurora loved that he kept his voice monotone yet easy-going. “I brought you a nice cup of your favorite Chai tea. It’s hot and yummy, just the way you like it.”

So far he’d ignored Kai and she hoped that Jane would also.

“That’s nice of you! How did you know I was so thirsty?”

“You’re always thirsty for chai lattes.” Slowly, Marc’s voice grew fainter and Aurora knew he’d advanced to give Jane her tea.

Taking advantage of him being the center of attention, Aurora peeked into the room. It was easy to see Kai perched on the floor but moving ever so slowly toward a baby blanket not far from him. His hands were cuffed in front and he left them lying casually in his lap.

“Lucy is napping, Jane. Do you think it’ll wake her up if I hold her, very gently? I’ve thought of nothing else all day but cuddling my beautiful daughter.”

“She’s sleeping, Marc.” Jane began to sound a bit peeved. “Don’t disturb her.”

In the mirror, Aurora saw Marc lean over Lily and let his hand caress her hair so very tenderly. “She’s lovely, isn’t she Jane. So perfect.”

Jane breathed deeply, a shuddering sigh and astonished everyone with her next words. “We can’t keep her Marc, can we? We have to give her back.” A sob reared, so heartrendingly pitiful that it tore the last of the vengeance from Aurora’s soul. One mother’s pain spoke to another’s heart and compassion sprouted.

“Yes, my dear.”

“I love her so much.”

“Yes, I can see that.”

“Take her. Give her to her father. The poor man has suffered long enough.”

Aurora saw Kai undo the handcuffs that weren’t locked in place and slip something inside his waistband under his shirt. Then she watched him stand as Marc passed him the sleeping angel.

For the very first time, Kai cradled his precious daughter. Tears ran down his cheeks—tears that matched her own.