Chapter 10

Best Laid Plans

Raylan entered to find the main room of the suite dark. He tossed the hat on the dresser and shrugged out of his jacket. Hearing water splashing, he pushed open the bathroom door, expecting to find Winona giving Willa her bath. Instead, Winona was alone in the Jacuzzi tub, up to her neck in bubbles. One hand rested on the rim of the tub, fingers wrapped around the stem of a wine glass. She smiled up at him.

"Well, hello Cowboy."

He craned his neck over his shoulder, but the port-a-crib was empty. "Where's Willa?"

Her smile widened. "Adam offered his and Anna's babysitting services for the evening. Wasn't that nice of him?"

"Uh-huh." He pulled off his tie and hung it on the doorknob.

"And Walter sent up this delicious Pinot Noir." She took a sip. "Why don't you pour yourself a glass? That is, if we have something to celebrate."

"If?" He raised an eyebrow.

She waved the fingers of her left hand at him. "Of course. I've got no actual physical evidence that there's anything to celebrate."

Chuckling, he leaned through the doorway and felt in his jacket pocket for the ring. "This what you're talkin' about?" He held up the velvet box.

She took another sip of wine and closed her eyes, leaning back in the tub. "The next time I see that ring," she said, waggling her hand again. "It better be on my finger."

Taking the wine glass from her hand, he finished the contents in one swallow and set the glass behind him on the counter, next to the open bottle.

Her eyes blinked open. "Liquid courage?" She smiled.

"Nothin' to be afraid of," he said, fiddling with the ring box in his hand.

"Have you got a question for me?"

"Is your water hot enough?" He feigned concern. "Wouldn't want you to catch a chill."

"The water's fine, Raylan," she said. "I might even let you join me if . . ." she raised an eyebrow.

He sighed, shaking his head. "You're really gonna make me do this again?"

"Yes." She nodded. "I think I am."

"Well, alright then." He crouched beside the tub and popped the velvet box open. "Winona . . . Reeves . . . Givens . . . Hawkins . . ."

She made a face and tossed a handful of bubbles at him. "Do you want a litany of your mistakes, Cowboy?"

He laughed and brushed the bubbles off the front of his shirt, then took the ring out of the box. He cleared his throat. "Winona. Love of my life . . ."

"That's better."

"Can I finish? Please?"

She giggled. "Yes."

"Will ya' marry me? For the last time?"

"Yes."

He slid the ring onto her finger, and she pulled him into a kiss. "I love you."

In answer, he braced himself on the edge of the tub with one hand and kissed her again.

She covered his hand with hers, pulling away when she felt the bandage on his finger. "What happened?"

"Ferret bit me," he said, trying for another kiss.

"A ferret?" The water sloshed as she pulled away to get a better look. "Isn't that like a rat?"

"More like a weasel. Ugly little thing with beady eyes. Sharp teeth too. Hurt like hell."

She frowned. "Do they carry rabies?"

"The emergency room doc didn't seem to think it was high risk," Raylan said. "Took two stitches though."

"Well, then," Winona rose up out of the tub, foamy bubbles sliding down her body. "We'd better move this celebration somewhere a little drier."

Raylan stared. "Yeah," he agreed pushing to his feet without taking his eyes off her. "That'd be good."

She stepped out of the tub and pressed up against him, dampening his shirt. "Hand me a towel?" She tipped her chin up, and he covered her mouth with his own as he reached behind him for one of the thick, soft towels.

"Let me," he murmured. He gently rubbed her dry, planting kisses as he went on the warm, flushed skin of her collarbone, her breasts, the soft mound of her stomach. As he worked his way lower, Winona threaded her fingers into his hair and parted her legs slightly, urging him on.

"This what ya' want?" He stroked with a finger before finding her with his tongue.

"Um hmm." she moaned, soft, and leaned back against the tub for support.

He drove her to the brink and back more than once, thrilling to her sounds of pleasure, until he took her over the edge. Easing up, he held her close until she stopped trembling and her legs could support her.

"You're overdressed," she murmured, tugging at his belt. "Let me help you with that."

Belt undone, Raylan quickly toed off his boots and shed his jeans and boxers, stepping out of them and walking Winona backwards toward the bed. She fell back, gazing up at him as he took off his shirt, tossing it on the floor, followed by the wife-beater.

"Com'ere Cowboy," she said, opening her arms. "Your turn."

-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-

"You'd better not make that baby throw up," Anna warned, watching Adam toss Willa up in the air, to the baby's delight.

"What? I used to do this to my baby sister all the time. See? She likes it."

Willa was laughing and cooing back to her soon-to-be uncle. Even Anna had to admit Willa seemed to be having a great time away from her folks. Adam was very good at distracting her.

She glanced at the clock. It was almost eleven o'clock when her cell phone vibrated in her pocket.

"Nelson?" she answered, surprised to see his name on her screen at this hour. "Is everything alright?"

"The police were just here. They found a man's body that sounds like it could be James," the man explained.

"Have you heard from him?"

"No," he answered abruptly. "But the description matched his, down to a Lazarus House polo shirt the staff wears. They want me to go to the morgue and identify the body. James has no family in town."

"Where are you?" she asked.

"At Lazarus House," he answered. "The police met me here when they came to notify. They offered to drive me to the morgue, but then, they got a call."

"You stay right there," she instructed. "I'm on my way. We'll go together."

"I tried to call Raylan first. But there was no answer," he said. "Not that I don't think you're a capable law enforcement officer, Anna. I don't know why I called him first."

She scratched an itch on the tip of her nose. "Raylan is proposing to Winona tonight. I'm not surprised he didn't pick up," she explained. "It doesn't matter. I'm leaving in just a few minutes. I just need to get a cab."

"Thank you," he said. "I really appreciate you."

After ending the call, she also tried to call Raylan. It went straight to his voicemail. She then warned Adam, "I've got to go to Lazarus House. It seems Nelson was asked to go to the morgue to identify a body. I don't want him going alone, since I'm here in town. Raylan's not picking up. Will you be okay with Willa alone? For a while longer?"

Adam looked very concerned. "Yes, we're fine here. But how about you? Are you okay?"

Anna had already shifted into FBI Agent mode. "I'm fine," she said, as she gathered up her weapon, her purse, and a bottle of water. She made her way over to him and gave him a kiss, pressed hard on the lips and then, tousled the top of Willa's head. "You two don't have too much fun without me," she said with a smile.

"Be careful," he said, under his breath.

"I'm taking a cab. I'll be fine."

Adam watched her leave, bouncing the baby on his hip. "Well, it's just you and me, kiddo. What's say I read you a bed time story? Would you like that?"

Handing her the monkey, she reached out for her favorite pal. "Gah." She smiled.

Adam was a natural in the bedtime story department.

-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-

"So . . ." Raylan said an hour or so later. "Victory lap?"

Winona stretched her arms over her head. "Maybe we should rescue Adam and Anna. Willa's probably gotten cranky by now."

"She might be sleepin'."

"Not if I know our daughter. Besides, I want to show Anna my ring." She held out her hand to look at it and yelped. "Raylan! The ring! It's gone."

"Well, shit," he muttered. He was suddenly relieved he took out the insurance on the ring. "It's gotta be here somewhere."

"It must've come off when we were . . ." She leaped up. "Maybe it's in the tub."

She came racing back into the room with a panicked look on her face. "It's not here!"

"We'll it's got to be somewhere," he said, following her into the bathroom.

She was right. It wasn't in the tub, nor anywhere on the bright white bathroom floor.

Raylan flicked on all the lights in their room and crouched down on the carpeted floor, tracking their path back towards the bed. Then, he rifled through the pile of his clothing. Nothing.

Meanwhile, Winona methodically began to peel off the layers of bedding, starting with the pillows. When she got past the bedspread and the blanket, she carefully pulled back the top sheet. "There it is!" she cried out with great relief in her voice. She jumped on top of the bed and scrambled for the piece of platinum beauty. Raylan's head popped up to watch the scene of a nude Winona on all fours, with her engagement ring clutched close to her heart. And there he was on the floor, naked, rummaging through his dirty clothes. We're some crazy sight, he thought to himself.

"My God," she exhaled. "I almost had a heart attack. I was honestly afraid it had gone down the bathtub drain." After a beat, she asked, "Where's the box? This ring is staying in that box until I go and have it sized!" she declared.

Raylan pointed to the nightstand closest to her. She grabbed the velvet box and carefully placed the ring back inside. "Its soooo beautiful," she smiled, very relieved to have it back.

"Do ya' really like it? You're not disappointed I didn't go for the one you picked out? It's just that they couldn't have it ready any time soon."

"Are you kiddng?" she asked in amazement, taking in the site of the larger diamond, reflecting all kinds of beautiful light. "This stone is . . . it's the most beautiful, exquisite diamond I've ever seen." She carefully closed the box and set it back on the nightstand. She looked over at Raylan. "You did good, Cowboy."

Then, she noticed a prescription bottle next to the box . . . with Raylan's name on it. "What's this?" she asked, holding up the bottle.

"It's for the ferret bite," he confessed.

"Have you taken your second dose, today?" she asked, scanning the label.

Standing up, he walked over to a guest basket that was on the table and picked out a bottled water. "Guess I better do that, now."

"It says to take it with food," she went on reading before handing him the bottle.

"There's a banana here," he pointed back to the basket. "Think Willa will mind?"

"Willa," she gasped. "We'd better go get her."

Swallowing the large horse pill, chased by a large bite of the banana, he said, "Why don't ya' stay here? I'll go and get her."

"Thank you," she smiled and began to put their bed back together, while Raylan threw his clothes back on.

"I'll be right back," he said, closing the door behind him.

-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-

It wasn't long before Raylan made his way down the hall and rapped lightly on the door to Anna and Adam's room. Adam answered making a 'Shhhhh' noise with his index finger extended over his closed lips.

"I just got her to sleep," he explained. "Did you get Anna's message?" he whispered.

"No," Raylan answered, keeping his voice down, looking around the room and not seeing her there. "Where is she?"

"At the county morgue. With Nelson," he explained. "The police think its James. The man Nelson works with. They want Nelson to identify the body."

Raylan pulled his phone out of his pocket, turned it on, and suddenly saw the missed calls from both Nelson and Anna. "No shit," he gasped under his breath. "Look. Would ya' mind takin' Willa over to Winona? I'm gonna get over to the morgue. Okay?"

"That sounds good," Adam said. He somehow felt better now that Anna wouldn't be handling this, with her birth father, alone.

-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-

The scrub-clad morgue attendant picked up a clipboard and flipped the page over.

"Follow me," she said. Her sneakers squeaked against the scuffed linoleum as he led them down a narrow hallway.

The three of them trailed the young woman. "Thank you for coming," Nelson said to Anna. "I didn't want to do this alone."

"Well, ya' don't have to," Raylan said.

"I appreciate that more than you know."

They stopped at a heavy door, and she slid the tag from around her neck through the receptor and the door opened with a click. "Wait here."

Walking over to a wall of steal drawers, she checked her list and pulled one out, checking the list again against the toe tag on the body. "Okay. You ready?"

"I guess so." Nelson licked his bottom lip and his hand trembled slightly.

Anna and Raylan stayed several steps behind Nelson as he moved forward and the attendant lifted the sheet.

"That's him," Nelson sighed. "That's James."

The elder man's stance waivered as reality rushed through his veins alongside adrenaline. Raylan reached over and steadied him on one side, while Anna did the same on the other.

"Let's get you outta here," Raylan suggested, nodding to the attendant, indicating that this was enough for their witness.

As she covered the dead man's face, the attendant said, "I just have some paperwork that needs to sign with photo I.D. You can wait for me in the hall," she suggested.

Anna guided Nelson out of the cold, sterile room. Raylan stayed behind to see what he could find out from the attendant.

"My God," Nelson whispered under his breath.

Anna led him to a bench in the hallway where he took a seat with a thud.

"I just don't understand why anyone would want to kill James."

"Well, I know one thing," Anna remarked, taking a seat beside him. "You're not going back to Lazarus House until we find out what the hell is going on."

"But I have to go back," Nelson protested. "I have responsibilities to the Board of Directors. To the men who are in my charge. Aren't they in danger, too?"

"Could be," Raylan joined them. "But she's right. You're not goin' back there tonight. Not alone." Then, he looked over at Anna and filled in the blanks. "Gunshot wound to the chest, though the back. Execution style." Then, he looked over at Nelson. "If it's any comfort to ya', James never saw it comin'."

Raylan dug into his jacket pocket for his cell phone. "I think we need to call in some favors." And he proceeded to call the Marshal Service.

"It's late," Anna glanced at her watch. "Too late to get you a room where we're staying. Adam and I have a convertible sofa in our room that folds out into a bed. Would you mind bunking in with us tonight? And we'll sort all this out at the light of day."

The elder man was about to put up argument, when he met Raylan's steely stare, while still talking to the marshals.

A short time later, Raylan ended the call and slid the phone back into his pocket. "The Marshals are gonna keep an eye on the shelter tonight, so there's nothin' for ya' to worry about."

"I've never . . ."

"Nelson," Raylan stopped him. "You're comin' back with us, and that's that."

-o-o-o-O-o-o-o-

When Anna and Raylan returned from the morgue with Nelson in tow, a quick call to Warren had been made. The proprietor sent up some sheets and extra towels. Nelson made some phone calls while Anna made up the sofa bed, and then she went to take a shower, leaving Adam alone with Nelson.

"Can I get you another blanket?" Adam handed Nelson a pillow from the closet. "There's a couple more in here."

"No. No, I'll be fine." With Anna out of the room, the older man stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt. "Thanks for taking me in. And on such short notice."

"It's not a problem," Adam said, meaning it. He liked this man far better than his future father-in-law, André, and hoped that Nelson and Anna could forge a relationship. Her decision to bring him back here was a good sign. He reached over, turned on the bedside lamp, and cleared his throat. "I'm really sorry about your friend."

"Thank you," Nelson said. He sighed. "James was much more than a friend. He was my right-hand man at Lazarus House." He shook his head. "I still can't believe it."

"I'm sure it's a shock." Adam nodded. Sensing Nelson might need a listening ear, he sat on the edge of the dresser. "How long have you known him?"

"Going on six years," Nelson answered. "Seems like a lot longer." He glanced at his phone. "I placed a call to his sister in Texas, but she hasn't called back yet." He sighed. "I don't relish telling her the news. Still, it's better coming from me than from the Chicago police."

Nelson was a tall man, but sitting on the bed in his underwear he looked shrunken, diminished by his shock and grief.

"Did they say anything about what might have happened?"

"Raylan said he was shot in the back. Never saw it coming." Again, he shook his head in disbelief. "It probably had something to do with that damn nephew of his . . ."

"Easy?" Adam asked, recalling the dreadlocked young man he and Anna had met, their first time at Lazarus House.

"Yes," Nelson said. "That boy . . ." he shook his head again. "I don't believe anyone is beyond redemption, you understand, but Ezra? That's his given name – I never trusted him. If it hadn't been for James vouching for him . . . I would have never allowed him to work at Lazarus House."

"He was a resident?"

"Yes. Most of our workers were one-time residents. Their first job after re-hab. Helps them to establish a work history." Nelson gave a scoot and leaned against the back of the couch. "Ezra was a gang-banger and an addict. James brought him in, got him cleaned up. He was a model resident."

The man paused and Anna joined them, leaning in the doorway wrapped in one of the thick motel bathrobes. He met his daughter's eyes. "But I always thought he was faking the steps."

"Did you ever talk to James about it?" Anna asked.

"I tried." He tugged at the blanket and covered his legs.

Anna couldn't help but note Nelson's socked feet. Her high instep and skinny heel came from him. Maybe fine for a man, her skinny heel had always caused her problems in wearing some of the more popular sandals and sling back shoes.

Nelson went on. "I guess I should have tried harder."

"This isn't your fault," Anna quickly added. "People don't like to think the worst of family. James probably wouldn't have listened."

"He felt responsible for that boy. I do know that."

"Is it his mother you're trying to reach?" Adam asked. "The one in Texas?"

"No, his mother is dead. James basically raised that boy since he was eleven or twelve." Nelson's voice cracked a little. "James got himself clean for that boy. Turned his life around, and he still, he couldn't save him from the damn gangs."

After a long beat of silence, the investigator in Anna couldn't help but ask, "Did you get yourself clean for anyone?"

Nelson looked at her, his eyes suddenly welled with tears. "For you, baby girl. I got myself clean for you. I knew you were out there. And I prayed and prayed all these years that someday . . . you would search for me." Swallowing the lump that formed, down his throat, he added. "My prayers have been answered."

Emotions laid thick in the small room.

Sniffling, Nelson said, "I can't thank you and Raylan enough for being there with me tonight. I don't think I could have done it, alone."

Pulling the belt of her robe, tighter, Anna walked over to him and took a seat on the side of the sofa bed. "You're welcome. I didn't want you to go alone." She reached over and placed her hand on top of his and gave it a squeeze. "I'm so sorry for your loss . . . Dad."

She called him Dad. It made his heart soar and caused the grown man to begin to break down. Without missing a beat, Anna wrapped her long arms around him and drew her father to her shoulder . . . where he had himself a good, long cry.

The sight of his love's tough veneer, coming all the way down, brought a tear to Adam's eye as well.

(To be continued . . .)