As soon as Marcus let Shari go he immediately dialed the number for the flower shop in that area. "Flora's Flowers how may I help you?"
"Yes, Chad, this is Marcus. I need you to make up an order of two dozen red roses for me."
"Yes Marcus. How are you doing?"
"Just fine," Marcus assured.
"Glad to hear it." Marcus had sent flowers often enough the two men had become friends. "What do you want on the card?"
Shari,
"I love you more then I could ever put into words. You are my light and my life.
Love Marcus
"Sweet," Chad commented finishing writing out the card as he spoke, "Address?" Marcus gave it. "That will be 125 dollars. Will that be store credit or charge card?"
"Credit card," said Marcus taking out his Visa Card. He called off a string of numbers.
"Got it, I'm sure your wife will love these."
"Yes, she will," said Marcus.
"I'll even deliver them for you," said Chad.
"Thanks," said Marcus. "I've got to go. I have a murderer to catch." He hung up. Just as he lay down on the bed for a little shuteye and to dream about Shari there came a knock on his hotel room door. Marcus drew his Glock as a precaution and answered it. He put his gun away when he saw it was his new partner.
"We've found him sir," were the marshal's first words.
"You sure it's our guy?"
"Yes sir," said the young marshal.
Marcus sighed. He sure did miss, Quinn at times like this. At least Quinn was relaxed around him and not always calling him sir. His new partner however was so stiff and formal. Not to mention he seemed too young to even be out of college.
"Okay then go to the car. I'll meet you down there."
"Yes sir," said the young man saluting and going out the door.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
"Where are we headed anyway? Give me the details," Marcus ordered.
"He's apparently been hiding out at his girlfriend's place."
"I thought we checked there," said Marcus.
"We did, but apparently she didn't want to give him up until in a fit of rage he beat her black and blue."
Marcus winced imagining the incident. Silently he prayed to catch this guy before he could do anymore damage.
"She called us immediately after he had gone off somewhere. She didn't know the specific time he would be back or even if he would be back."
"Uhm," said Marcus. "The sooner we catch him, the sooner we can all go home."
"Are you married sir?" asked his new partner curiously hoping he wasn't overstepping his bounds.
"Actually, yes I am," said Marcus easily. "I hated to leave, especially with her pregnant, but a job is a job and Shari understood that."
"Your first child sir?"
"Yes," said Marcus. "I have my brother-in-law Adam Black and his wife Sara keeping an eye on her. They were going to be in town anyway for a book convention. So Ted how many times have I asked you to call me by my first name?" asked Marcus aptly changing the subject.
"I couldn't do that sir," said Ted.
"Sure you can," Marcus persisted. "Calling me sir makes me feel like an old man and I'm only forty. I insist you call me Marcus. Don't make me, make it an order."
"Yes s…Marcus."
"That's better. After all I like to be friends with the guy guarding my back," said Marcus at least partly joking.
Ted blushed at the thinly veiled compliment. "Yes s…Marcus."
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
The next day
Shari awoke feeling only slightly nauseous. If was after nine and she had promised Sara she would attend the book convention if only to give her support. Shari got up, and stepped into a hot shower and stepped out 20 minutes later just as the doorbell rang. Now who can that be?" she wondered silently to herself. It was too early for Adam and Sara to pick her up for the convention. She slipped on a blue silk robe a present from her mother and tied the belt before heading downstairs to answer the door.
"May I help you?"
"Delivery for you ma'am," said Chad. In his hands was a huge vase with two dozen roses; artfully arranged.
Who could be sending me flowers? Shari wondered. She took the vase from the guy's hand and murmured a thank you as she closed the door. Then she set it down on the hall table and just stood there, admiring them. She found the card and read the two simple sentences.
Shari
I love you more then I could ever put into words. You are my light and my life
Love Marcus
"Oh that was so sweet of him," said Shari softly to herself, fingering one of the soft petals with her fingers and fighting back happy tears. She placed the roses in a prominent place on the mantle then she rushed upstairs to finish getting ready.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Sara and Adam arrived an hour later and Shari was ready to go. "Let's get going," said Shari, grabbing her purse.
"Who sent you the roses?" asked Sara, suspecting she already knew the answer.
"Who do you think?" Shari inquired with a grin. "There is only one man I know who would send me roses while he's working and only one man I would accept red roses from in any case."
"True," said Sara.
"Come on quit stalling," Adam said. "You'll be late for your own speech."
"Stalling? Who says I'm stalling?" asked Sara with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"You are. Now come on," said Adam practically dragging her towards the door.
"Okay, okay, you can quit dragging me I'll come peaceably."
"You promise?" asked Adam, before letting go of her arm.
"I promise," said Sara with a smile for her husband and a determined look. Adam let her go as soon as the words had left her lips.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Later
"Ladies and Gentlemen I have the greatest pleasure of introducing for her first public appearance anywhere Sara Black also known as H.Q. Victor!" Sara came out onto the stage to a lot of loud cheers and clapping.
They had arrived to find a large to find a large crowd that had almost sent Sara scurrying, but Adam who hadn't said a word took her arm in his own perhaps sensing her uneasiness. They had wondered through the crowd for a few minutes just looking around. They had kept hearing excited whisperings that H.Q. Victor was going to make her first public appearance ever.
"See honey they love you," Adam had whispered in her ear.
Sara had just nodded not speaking.
"Hello it is a pleasure to be with you this afternoon," said Sara her British accent becoming very pronounced at this moment. "I'll tell you I was extremely apprehensive about making this public appearance, but when both your publisher who is also a long time friend, and your husband think it is a good idea… Well let's just say I really had very little choice in the matter." The crowd laughed thinking it funny, which of course it was intended to be.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Half an hour later, Sara allowed questions. "How'd you come up with the name H. Q. Victor?" asked one lady in the crowd.
"That is a good question and I will answer it. I had a stepfather Frank Victor and he owned a ranch called the H. Q Ranch. When I was six something happened and after it I didn't speak for two and a half years. Mom divorced my father, because I think she at least partly blamed him. We moved to Texas from England and mom met Frank Victor totally by accident about a year after. He was the first one to get me to speak again and in honor of that I took on the name H. Q. Victor when I began my writing."
Other question followed and after about an hour the coordinator came upon stage. "That's enough questions. She will now sign autographs of her books after a short break."
Sara came down the stairs of the stage and Adam was by her side in an instant to help her down. Security surrounded them. It had been one of Sara's only requests in order to get her to come. Only Adam, Shari and of course the coordinator were allowed to near. "That was some speech you gave," said Shari in admiration.
"You enjoyed it?" asked Sara.
"Yes," said Shari.
"And see didn't I tell you, you could do it and that your fears were groundless?" asked Adam, putting his arm possessively around her shoulders.
"Yes you did, although I was nervous the whole time," Sara said.
"You did just fine though despite your nervousness," said Adam. "And I'm proud of you," he squeezed her shoulders in affection.
"Now if I can only get through this autograph session," said Sara with a sigh.
"You'll do just fine. I'll be there with you every step of the way and so will Shari," Adam tolder reassuringly.
"And I'm grateful to have people who love me," Sara said.
Adam made no reply to that only gently squeezing her shoulder possessively.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
The autograph session went rather well a long line formed the minute Sara appeared. Her H.Q. Victor books were extremely popular as were her Sara Walsh books for five-year olds. One of Sara's conditions was that all children from the local orphanages be invited at her own expense. Especially the five to seven years old. Several orphanages would be present and each child would receive a book of his or her choice.
The manager had agreed but only after Sara had threatened not to come if he didn't do as she asked. Sara had also had to promise that the expense would come out of her own pocket. She could certainly afford it however that wasn't the point. She had almost not come anyway until she realized she would be depriving the children as much as herself if she refused to come because of one selfish and greedy man.
"Good morning," Sara greeted the crowd with Adam and Shari at her side. "I will now sign autographs for both my H.Q. Victor books and my Sara Walsh books. Please be patient and let the children from the orphanage go first so they can get back."
The long line of adult's recently complied some grumbling as they shifted to let the children through. Most of the children especially the younger ones came forward shyly. They were practically in awe of her. Sara had already signed her name, but left room for the kid's name and maybe a personal message. The first kid stepped forward and picked up his favorite book from the stacks sitting on the table.
"Who do I make this out to?" Sara asked the boy who looked no more than five or six.
"Eric," said the boy shyly.
"Eric it is," said Sara writing as she spoke. She handed the boy his book, and he scampered back to his guardian and the next child took his place.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
The next morning, Shari the phone rang bright and early around eight. Luckily, Shari was already up and on her third cup of coffee at that point so she was sufficently awake to talk intelligibly.
"Hello?" Shari inquired into the receiver.
"Good morning," came, Adam's slightly worried voice.
"Adam what's wrong?" asked Shari instantly sensitive to his tone of voice.
"I had to take Sara to the hospital. She was throwing up early this morning," Adam explained.
"You want me to come?" Shari asked
"If you aren't too busy," Adam replied.
"I'm never too busy for family," said Shari, firmly. "And I wouldn't worry so much it's probably just a virus."
"I hope that's all it is," said Adam his tone still extremely worried.
"Okay where are you?" Adam gave her the name of the hospital and the address. "I'll be there in half an hour," Shari promised.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Half an hour later, Shari walked into the waiting room to find Adam pacing and looking haggard. Adam didn't look up as she entered and Shari had the feeling he was to deep in his own thoughts and worries to notice much right now. Not that she didn't understand, she did. She was worried herself.
"Have you heard anything?" Shari asked quietly.
Adam's head jerked up at the sound of her voice, which told Shari her assessment was right.
"No nothing yet," said Adam. "When did you get here?"
"Just a minute ago," said Shari. "You need to stop worrying before you run yourself into the ground. I'm sure she's fine."
Before he could respond Sara came quietly through the waiting room door and into the room. She looked confused, tired and just a little angry.
"Sara honey are you okay?" asked Adam looking no less worried and hurrying to her side.
Sara looked into his worried face and her heart immediately softened. "You can stop worrying so much I'm only pregnant."
"Pregnant?" Adam asked in a shocked whisper.
"Yes pregnant," said Sara, not sounding as happy about that fact as she knew she ought to be. On one hand, it would be such a joy to have a child of her own on the other, she was afraid that the child would be kidnapped and held for ransom like she and her sister had been.
"That's great," said Adam enthusiastically. He had always wanted a family of his own to dote on, like he doted on his nieces and nephew.
"Congratulations," said Shari giving her sister-in-law a hug.
'Thanks," said Sara, not very happily. Adam noticed her mood, but didn't comment. He knew what was bothering her. She was afraid they'd be kidnapped by a madman.
"Let's celebrate," Shari suggested.
"Okay," Sara agreed. She agreed reluctantly Adam thought, but she had agreed so he hoped it was a step in the right direction. And he also hoped he and Sara didn't fight over this, but right now, she was in shock, but eventually the shock would wear off and he had a feeling they would argue and it would be a doozy.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
Marcus got home from his business trip to find the house empty. "Shari?" he called. "I'm home." When no answer came he called again, "Shari?" Before he could panic however, he saw the note resting against the vase of roses that he had sent her. It had his name on the envelope. He picked it up and took out Shari's note.
Marcus,
Went to the hospital because Adam called and said Sara had been throwing up. He asked me to come. I should be home before dinner. Please don't worry.
Love you,
Shari
Marcus smiled. She had dotted her i's with little hearts. The tension drained out of him now that he knew she was okay, but even after twenty-four hours he was still furious at what Shari had told him about Sam upsetting her like that. It was time to give Sam a little lecture on messing with other people's wives. Shari would kill him if she found out, or she would at least try to talk him out of it. So she must not find out at least not until the deed was done. He found Shari's address and found Black. Good Sam was still listed, although "jerk" had been written beside his name. She must really be annoyed with this guy Marcus thought with a grin, but she kept his address and phone number probably for political reasons.
He memorized the address and put the book back exactly where he had found it and headed out the door. He knew it wasn't the Christian thing to do to go after Black like this, but he was afraid if he didn't talk to him he would get Shari alone somewhere and do more than upset her. Of course, he was imagining the worst case scenario.
~~~Beyond the Future~~~
