Don’t go, dammit.
He was still making sounds of frustration as she left the room.
Much as she would have loved to stay, she didn’t dare. She’d been enjoying their association far too much. In truth, she felt a bond with him that defied logic. It had happened when she’d first looked into his eyes and felt his soul reaching out to her.
Her heart whispered it would be better if she didn’t remain in his presence any longer. Otherwise she might crave it more and more. Something told her that was a no-no.
Surely a wise woman would walk away right this minute before she learned the answers to burning questions like, did he have a wife? If so, did she know his secretary was in love with him? Was he a womanizer like Richard?
The thought that this man was anything like her ex-husband left Terri feeling strangely desolate. That’s why she had to get out of his room and far away from the hospital.
Nothing about this situation had anything to do with her. There was no reason for her to visit him again. She’d done everything she could for Mr. Herrick. By tomorrow morning, he’d be receiving a surfeit of attention from the people who loved him.
The intrigue was over. Mystery solved.
As for Terri, she’d go to the place where Richard worked and see for herself that he was faring all right since his accident. Once that was accomplished, she’d fly home to Lead.
Poor Ray. She’d dumped all her work in his lap. He’d be happy to see her back on the job.
After leaving the information at the nursing station, she left the hospital and took a taxi to the hotel. When she reached her room, the first thing she did was call Captain Ortiz, but he’d turned on his voice mail.
She gave him the news about Mr. Herrick, then related a brief account of her futile attempt to find Richard at his apartment. If the captain had any information concerning her ex-husband’s whereabouts, would he please call her at the hotel, no matter the hour?
Having made the call, she hung up the receiver and got ready for bed. Before she fell asleep she phoned Beth and told her the latest developments. Her private thoughts and feelings about Mr. Herrick she kept to herself.
After asking her sister to tell their mother she’d be home within twenty-four hours, Terri hung up.
Afraid her mind would dwell on the man lying in the hospital bed, she pulled out a new bestseller she’d brought with her. But she couldn’t get into it. Finally she turned on the television and found another movie to help her fall asleep.
It worked. She didn’t waken until she heard the phone ring at eight-thirty the next morning. Reaching for the receiver, she said hello.
“Señora Jeppson? This is Captain Ortiz.”
Terri sat up in the bed. “Yes, captain.”
“Thank you for the message about Mr. Herrick. He’s a very important man. If word had leaked to the press that he was missing, there would have been a great uproar.”
Terri had figured as much.
“You’ve managed to find out more information than our own police department, and have saved us a lot of grief. Now let us get down to business. Have you talked with your ex-husband yet?”
“No. But as I told you earlier, Mr. Herrick indicated Richard wasn’t at a hospital so I’m not as worried. This morning I’m going to go to his work. If I can’t find him there maybe you could send an officer to accompany me to his apartment. I need a translator to talk to the woman staying there. I have a feeling she’ll know exactly where he is.”
“If that becomes necessary, I will drive you there myself, señora.”
“Thank you very much. I’ll stay in touch.”
Fortified with a big breakfast, Terri left the hotel for Mr. Herrick’s office. The same receptionist was on duty in the lobby of the building. When Terri explained what she wanted, the other woman shook her head.
“It’s a long way from here and difficult to locate unless you’re familiar with the area. To save you the trouble, I’ll make a phone call to find out if he reported for work this morning. If he is there, then I will give you directions. A moment, por favor.”
Terri nodded.
While she waited, she couldn’t help but wonder if Mr. Herrick had already been bombarded with visitors this morning. At least when they showed up, they would find the same man they knew. Instead of a mummy facsimile.
Terri had tried to imagine what he looked like under all those bandages. But maybe it was better she didn’t know. Better that he remain her phantom friend. The man without a face.
Except for a pair of gorgeous gray eyes.
They were the portals to the inner man with whom she felt connected in an inexplicable way. Yet if she admitted as much to her sister, Beth would tell her she was being ridiculous.
Maybe she was.
“Señora Jeppson?”
Terri turned to the receptionist whose frowning expression clearly meant more bad news.
“According to your husband’s supervisor, he hasn’t been to work for three days, and didn’t report this morning. He thinks your husband probably quit on him because there’s been some trouble with him lately.”
That sounded like Richard and didn’t surprise Terri a bit.
“Thank you for inquiring. Would you do me one more favor?”
She gave the receptionist Captain Ortiz’s number and asked her to get him on the phone. Within a few minutes he came on the line and made arrangements to pick her up in front of the office. He would drive her out to Richard’s apartment.
An hour later the captain pulled his police car to the side of the street in front of the building Terri had visited yesterday.
He turned to her. “You remain here. I will go to the door first. If I think it is necessary, I’ll come back out and signal for you to follow.”
“All right.”
Fifteen minutes passed before she saw him walk toward her. When he got back behind the wheel, he turned in her direction.
“Your ex-husband wasn’t there. The woman in question is named Juanita Rosario. She says she has been living with him for ten months, which could or could not be the truth. According to her, they met soon after he found a job down here with the Herrick Company.
“It seems he left for work four days ago and never came home from his job. At first she wasn’t worried. She said there are times when he parties with his friends and doesn’t show up until the following day. But he’s never been gone this long before.
“When you knocked on her door yesterday, she was afraid you were his wife. He’d told her he’d been trying to get a divorce from you, but you wouldn’t let him.”
Terri shook her head. It sounded like the same old Richard. Lies, lies, lies to suit his particular purpose at the moment. No one hated commitment as much as Richard did.
“I told her you were his ex-wife from America, that you had divorced him a year ago. At that point she broke down. Now she is afraid he’s gone off with some new woman for a while. But she’s certain he’ll be back because he’s excited about their baby which is going to be born next month.”
“I hope she’s right,” Terri murmured. “Unfortunately my ex-husband has a pattern of disappearing when he’s really needed. How is the woman supporting herself?”
“He’s