Isabel Lansing
Jane Foster
Coincidences
Book 4
Karen A. Nichols
Copyright 2011 by Karen A. Nichols
Smashwords Edition
Published by Karen Nichols. Copyright, Karen Nichols. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
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Chapter 1
Sam had seen Kate and Dylan arrived shortly before nine, greeting Bella and going with her into the dining area. He was walking to join them when Chloe and Simon entered, looking disgustingly tanned for the onset of fall in the northwest.
“Hi, Sam!” Chloe waved and bounced past to the dining area.
He poured some coffee and pulled a chair to the large table, watching the women closely. Something was off, he decided, a dark look in Kate’s eyes that was hard to miss. Especially when Chloe was handing out souvenirs.
And Simon, Sam decided, looked very uncomfortable.
Kate leaned over the table during a lull in the conversation, glaring pointedly at Simon.
“You didn’t tell her.” The words were pushed between her teeth one at a time.
“It was a little tough to work it into the honeymoon conversation that her father was a bona fide control freak, piss poor father and over all disgusting human being!” Simon hissed back, suddenly aware of the eyes on them.
Chloe had seen and felt the tension. In Simon towards the end of their trip and in the lodge, with her friends. She leaned back in her chair, her gaze sliding from one to the other. Hands went up, palms out and one brow arched expectantly.
“Okay…so that’s nothing new. What is going on, guys? The tension in this room is giving me a headache.”
Bella stood up slowly. “I think we should go in the office. Seriously, Chloe.” She moved toward the back, stopping at the desk to speak to June. “If an Isabel Braden shows up, send her to my office.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chloe looked around the room at them once and then once again, stopping on Simon. “What were you supposed to tell me?”
Kate and Bella exchanged looks.
“We had a kind of break through while you were gone, Chloe,” Bella began slowly.
Simon picked up speaking with a long breath.
“Four years ago when you were in your father’s house, he claimed he had a doctor come visit you. Well, Nyssa looked through his financials and he did, but it wasn’t about food poisoning. It was a hypno-therapist.”
Chloe stared at him for several long, quiet minutes before she pushed up from the sofa, pacing the large office, digesting the words she had heard.
Simon expected her hands to be flying through the air and it made him very nervous that they simply hung at her side.
“Chloe…I don’t know how to…how to NOT want to protect you.”
“A hypno-therapist,” she repeated quietly, narrowed lashes watching Kate and Bella closely, slim fingers curling into tight fists at her side. “Do you know who?”
“We know who and we got your medical records from his office,” Kate said. “You were right about there being a missing piece. Something to explain Wetherly’s behavior, his confidence and even arrogance when it came to his ability to retain control of the company.”
“You were his secret weapon, Chloe,” Bella said gently.
“He programmed me?” Her voice came out in a low, low hiss. “Like a…a machine? A robot?”
“Chloe, he used you. Your grandfather evidently made it clear that he wasn’t leaving his shares to him and he used you to work around that,” Bella stated quietly, her heart aching when she saw the glistening behind the pale lashes.
“He programmed me?” She repeated, her head shaking in amazement. Simon moved to her side, leading her to the sofa and holding her against him for only a moment before she shot to her feet, turned and disappeared out the side door.
Simon was up and headed for the door at the same time as Kate and Bella.
“No, she’s mine now…I’ll take care of her, I promise,” he said softly, striding after Chloe.
He didn’t call out to her. He saw her enter the temporary ballroom and went in very quietly after her. A bit of his heart cracked when he heard the gentle sobbing hidden among the many plants and temporary trees.
She was on one of the large stone benches, knees drawn up and arms wrapped around them. Her face was turned toward the fall colors outside the windows but he knew she wasn’t seeing a thing past the sense of betrayal she felt inside.
He saw his palm shake slightly when he raised it, stroking lightly over her head. She sniffled and held her palm out, making him smile as he dropped his handkerchief into it. He sat beside her, waiting patiently. He’d seen many faces on Chloe since they’d met, but the swollen, tear filled blue eyes would always be his undoing, he realized when she lifted her head.
Simon lifted her arms from her knees, turned her feet to the floor and pulled her over his lap, arms surrounding her warmly, safely. His cheek rested against the top of her head and he just held her for a couple long, quiet minutes.
“I love you, you know,” Simon told her softly. “And we are married. Can’t get rid of me now.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Chloe asked, lifting her head to see the crooked grin and deep brown eyes filled with love and concern.
“It would have messed up a really good honeymoon,” he said simply, relieved when there was a sparkle jump to her eyes and the faint hint of a smile on her lips. “Chloe, if I could have found a way to keep it from you until we die, I would have.”
“It was a really good honeymoon…I think we should have one every year.”
“I will put it on my calendar when I get to work.”
“You are an amazing friend and partner, Simon Oliver,” her mouth touched his softly. “What do we do now?” Chloe asked with another sniff.
“You have Kate and Bella as friends, Chloe.”
“That means there’s a plan,” she answered with a small nod, straightening her shoulders. “Then let’s find out what it is, shall we?” She stood up and held out her palm.
“Cat found us someone she believes can undo it,” Kate said when Chloe entered the office but remained on her feet. “She’s supposed to be here any minute now.”
“I feel like an idiot…and I’m angry,” Chloe paced in long strides when the knock came on the door. “And I want to hit things and cause general mayhem and destruction,” she said with a low growl.
“I don’t generally get that kind of reaction, but okay,” came the glib statement.
All eyes turned to the woman standing in the doorway. Isabel sighed and glanced around the room. She doubted she was what they were expecting. Dressed in faded jeans in need of a thorough washing, a sweater a little too big and belted at the waist and a pair of knee high, square toed biker boots, she was hardly therapist décor. A large backpack hung from one shoulder.
“Isabel Braden,” she announced softly, sparkles of rain on the loose tendrils of dark brown hair that hung in a very long braid down her back.
“Chloe Applegate Oliver,” Chloe said, stepping forward and offering a palm. “You’re Cat’s friend?”
A smile lifted the corner of a pair of full lips. “For a few years now. I’m guessing you want this done. Can we use this office?”
Bella was nodding immediately. “Yes, of course.”
Isabel laid the backpack on the corner of the old desk. “Then you all have to go,” she said quietly, leaning back and waiting.
“But…” Simon began but cut the protest short when Chloe kissed him and pushed him toward the door.
“It’s okay…go, all of you,” Chloe waited, closing the door after them and turning to look at Isabel. “I don’t know what to do.”
Isabel laughed softly. “It’s not complex, honest,” she opened her pack, set out a tape recorder and turned it on, gesturing to the sofa. “Sit back and relax. Close your eyes and just listen to me talk for a bit.”
Chloe did as she suggested. Isabel dropped to her knees in front of her, taking her hands in hers and speaking slowly, softly. Together they walked through Chloe’s memories as if they were watching a television show.
Over the years, Isabel had perfected her technique. Once she had assured herself she wasn’t insane. Her voice remained soft and melodic as she reached out to gently touch Chloe’s thoughts, her feelings and memories.
Bella and Kate paced the hallway. The three males had gone to the lounge, giving up trying to convince them to come along and sit down.
“How long can it take?” Kate growled after forty-five minutes, accepting the bottle of water Dylan held out to her when the men returned.
“I’ve never been hypnotized…how would I know,” Bella returned, her head snapping up when the creak of the doorknob echoed around them.
Chloe stood in the doorway. “I’ve been diffused,” she said quietly.
Chapter 2
Simon put a hand beneath her chin, his grin crooked. “I don’t know…you still look pretty explosive to me.” He had his body braced when she launched herself into his arms with a tight hug. Simon swung her around.
Isabel leaned tiredly on the edge of the desk. Exhaustion was showing its edge. She didn’t know how long she had before it would sink in and she would collapse. She raised a hand and waved them inside.
“Chloe said you’re all part of this, so come inside, please. It’s nice to have someone who doesn’t believe in secrets.”
“It’s really gone?” Simon asked when the door was closed.
“Yes. His subliminal plant wasn’t particularly complex,” Isabel said simply. “I gave a tape of the whole deal to Chloe and what she does with it is up to her. I think they used a mild hypnotic drug to help him control her. She has a very strong will and fought him the first time he tried.”
“Then how did you get through?” Sam watched her, wary.
“Because I’m not a hypnotist,” Isabel admitted quietly.
“I never went to sleep,” Chloe told them. “Can you show them? You don’t have to, Isabel. I completely understand.”
Isabel closed her eyes, sending out a general “touch” without intruding into their thoughts. She opened her eyes in time to see them all staring in amazement.
“I guess you’d call it a gift,” Isabel lifted her backpack and straightened up. “No matter…point is, Chloe is okay. I’ve removed the trigger. It’s all on the tape. She remembered all of it very clearly. What will you do next?” She asked, looking at Chloe expectantly, trying to be polite while working to remain upright.
“I think I will borrow one of Sophie’s suits and attend the board meeting next Wednesday,” she declared firmly. “I want to hand the shares over to Dylan, personally and in front of them all.”
Isabel watched the group interaction for a long minute before quietly leaving the office. She made it to the entrance to the lodge, her hand on the large ornate handle when Chloe called to her.
“Do you have to leave?” Chloe ran to her, a palm on her arm. “I know you don’t have anyplace to go, Isabel.”
A crooked smile tilted her lips. “Yeah, I’m still working on that wall to keep things inside. I’m kind of like a sieve when I open other people’s thoughts to them. But I’m okay, Chloe.”
“You could stay here for a few days, as my guest. And come to the costume party on Friday night,” Chloe continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted. “Please. Maybe it’s time you let people help you.”
“She can be persuasive,” Simon said lovingly. He wasn’t sure what had crossed between the two women, he knew he’d find out later, but for now, this seemed very important to Chloe.
Isabel felt her head shaking. She felt a hot burning in her eyes. “Chloe, I really appreciate…but I have to…I have to go. Afterwards it’s a little difficult to think…and I get so tired…”
Wide eyed, Chloe grabbed the pack that slid from her fingers and Simon caught a gracefully collapsing Isabel. Confused brown eyes stared over her head at his new wife. He followed her to the desk with the unconscious woman in his arms.
“Oh my god! Should we call a doctor?” June looked from one to the other.
“No. Book a nice room in my name, Chloe Oliver. For one week. I’ll get you my credit card later,” Chloe ordered, very aware of her friends all watching her. “Which room?”
June handed over a key card, staring from the departing Chloe to Bella for some kind of guidance.
“Chloe?” Bella spoke up first.
“We will be back in a few, how about lunch? I’m ravenous!” She tapped the elevator button, fingers up to gently push some bangs from Isabel’s eyes. “I’ll explain it all, I promise.”
Simon stood in the doorway, watching Chloe gently remove her new friends’ boots and open the window a little, after lowering the blinds. They left her sleeping soundly.
“Chloe, what happened in there?” Kate asked when they returned to their table, all eyes waiting curiously.
“Using words I’m not sure are right…if there are even words yet for the kind of thing Isabel can do…What did Cat tell you about her? Anything?” Chloe pulled her new phone out and tapped in a number. “Chloe Oliver for Catherine North, please. Could you have her…oh, alright, thank you. Evidently I have an express pass,” she said with a chuckle, putting the phone on speaker.
“Chloe? Are you okay? Did Isabel find you?” Catherine North sunk into the chair behind her desk, checking her watch. “I have a whole fifteen minutes.”
“Cat, I am great, thank you so much for sending Isabel here. Tell us about her, please?”
“That is…Chloe, I’m really glad you’re okay, honestly, but…” Catherine knew her friends. They had deep hearts that never saw a bottom.
“How about someplace more private and Skype?” Chloe stood up, lifting her ever present pack from the floor. “I’m not going to quit, Cat. You know that.”
“Alright…call me back in two,” Cat growled, ending the call and moving her laptop to the center of her desk.
Chloe almost ran, followed by her very curious friends back into Bella’s office, the door latching firmly behind them. Only Chloe appeared in the video call, her hands steepled and expression patient.
Catherine North began very slowly.
“The family first met Isabel when she was about fourteen…maybe thirteen…and she’s a little past thirty now,” Catherine’s family were a very close knit group of what Europeans called gypsies from the mountains in Romania. “I guess I was just fifteen…she was so terribly thin and alone, carrying nothing but a pack full of clothes and books. Somehow it’s easier for kids to talk to kids…her uncle had stuck her in an institution where they were studying her…trying to find out how she did what she could do…I guess the closest words we have might be an empathic? With healing properties. I honestly don’t have the words to describe it. I’ve seen her use it, watched what happens to her afterwards.”
“I got only bits and pieces when she was clearing my memory,” Chloe said carefully. “She’s got tons of school…under a bunch of names…and they were studying her intelligence, as well as the psychic ability they didn’t understand.”
“You know my mother and father, education is everything,” she said in genuine admiration. “She is amazing with kids, that’s part of what she trained in. Then a couple weeks ago, one of the parents where she taught kindergarten kids recognized her. He’d been one of the researchers trying to ‘unlock’ her ‘powers’. I think he works for a government think tank out of Utah.”
“What was her old address, Cat?” Kate had a pen ready, her eyes on Chloe with an understanding nod. She wrote the address down and wandered to the opposite side of the room.
“You know we can’t let her keep running,” Chloe said softly. “We can help. It’s what we’re good at.”
“You’re good at a lot of things, and I’ve been trying to get her to let me help for years. She’d been at the little, quiet school outside Portland for over four years now and she loved it,” Cat said passionately. “But she’s a lot like you, Chloe. She has talents in so many areas…I think she’s afraid to stop thinking.”
“Has she ever given you the names of these people?”
“No. She won’t talk about it at all. I can’t imagine what they put her through as a child, Chloe. I’ve done a physical on her, there are no residual drugs in her system and nothing seems to have been damaged, with the exception of a childhood. I hope that helps, I’ve got an appointment waiting. Keep me updated!”
“Promise,” Chloe said, closing the program and the laptop.
“Wow,” Sam sunk onto the sofa, long legs stretched out before him.
“I believe in things involving the mind,” Chloe began slowly, “but until this morning, I had no idea someone could…could help and…and…walk with me through my memories as if they were there with me!”
“And it would also cause great damage in the wrong hands,” Kate said softly. “Which is probably why Isabel ran. If anyone would know what’s in their minds, she would. Their intent…” her head shook slowly.
“I had no idea a person could be so terribly lonely inside,” Chloe whispered painfully, recalling the brief hint of things she learned about Isabel. “Anyway…as it happens…my apartment will be empty soon. Simon is insisting I move in with him,” she said with a teasing wink. “I think the honeymoon thing spoiled him.”
Dylan ran a heavy hand over his neck. “I have some friends in Portland. They operate a moving and storage company. But Harry is also an expert at misdirection. So I’ll stress to him that people might be watching him pack her apartment and attempt to follow him to find her,” he was positive Kate was about to leap into his arms and he knew he’d just earned some serious guy points. “I’ll make the call now. But how will you get them into the apartment?”
“Please…” Kate and Chloe just chuckled and sat next to the computer, heads bent and voices soft.
“Alright…give me the address to the new place,” Dylan waited for a piece of paper torn from the note pad and brought to him by Kate. Her mouth brushed over his softly.
“You are an incredible friend and partner. Thank you.”
“I happen to know…” Chloe’s fingers moved deftly over the keyboard. “They’re looking for someone part-time for the daycare behind Sea-Tac Software. It’ll be good for her…calming…but I think we can interest her in some other directions.”
“We need to get all her schools and stuff collected, build a new identity,” Kate spoke as she paced.
“The apartment is already empty and cleaned. I knew there was a reason I didn’t want to list it yet,” Chloe chuckled as she worked.