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“Hmm, not necessarily. If they were loyal to Barcos, and there is no reason to think they weren’t, I’d think they would do what he wanted and retaliate against Karl,” she said.
He released a frustrated breath. “To be honest, Hollis, there are so many variables to consider that I’m not sure of anything right now. What I am certain of is that Karl believed those FBI agents were legit because he was so desperate to have being an ex-convict off his record.”
“But why?”
“Unless you’ve been there, Hollis, it’s hard to understand how the stigma of having served time in jail can stick with people, no matter how successful you might later become. To some people, it doesn’t matter if you’ve served your time or even been acquitted. They believe that if you spent one day and night in jail, your character always come under question and you’re someone who could never be trusted.”
***
Hollis wondered if that was true with him. Even with his redemption and overall success, did people still see him as an ex-con? In a way, she understood because those who knew her as an FBI agent still saw her as one. Even those who frequented Malik’s café.
“So, what happens tomorrow?” she asked.
“I got word a few hours ago that the judge approved my request for an emergency hearing. She set it for seven in the morning. I’m filing a motion to protect the location where Karl and Nyla are being held.”
“Do you think the prosecution will approve of such a request?” she asked.
“I’ll know tomorrow when we meet with the judge. I was hoping we could meet in her chamber, but I was told the judge wanted to hold the meeting in one of the courtrooms.”
“Does that mean it will be open to the public?”
“No. Because of the nature of the request, the judge limited access to those close to the case.”
Hollis nodded. She knew that was standard procedure when sensitive information was presented to the judge. “What about Nyla’s parents? It must be torture for them to think their daughter might be dead.”
“Yes, but they will find out soon enough that she isn’t. In the meantime, they’ll wonder how the information leaked out and the risk their daughter was placed in, with their help,” he said.
“According to news reports, the Rokers are blaming Karl for getting involved with their daughter in the first place.”
“Yes, but after being around Karl and Nyla and seeing just how devoted they are to each other, her parents need to accept they will never give each other up. They are in this together. Maybe one day the Rokers will realize that.”
***
Karl slowly eased out of the bed and glanced over his shoulder at the woman he’d fallen asleep with in his arms, after making love with her enough times to show her how much he had missed her…and how much he loved her. It didn’t matter that they had been apart for barely three weeks. He was used to sleeping every night with her cuddled close. Over the past two years, Nyla had come to mean so much to him, and the thought of losing her sent chills of fear all through his body.
Earlier, after Locke told him everything and Striker miraculously found one of the missing television remotes, they watched the local news. He thanked God that he had made sure the house had an escape route. Whoever had been shooting missiles inside of it meant for her to die. The house, on three acres of land on a secluded street, had been completely demolished, and the entire area looked like a war zone.
The reporters had said the fire department and police officers were still going through the debris looking for bodies, and it was suspected that Nyla and Karl were the victims. The authorities suspected it was a retaliatory hit by Barcos’ men. Was it? He was still convinced the FBI was involved. Were they afraid Nyla knew too much and wanted to silence her as well?
Karl glanced around the room. For his protection, the majority of the windows in the house, especially in this room and all the other bedrooms, were boarded up. He no longer woke up to the sun shining on his face before starting his day. And his days had been spent thinking of Nyla and hoping more than anything that she believed in his innocence. Tonight, she assured him she did and that she had unwavering trust and faith in him.
There had been numerous women before her, but she was the only one who had made a difference. The only one who had come to mean everything to him ─ his entire world and universe. The only one who truly mattered.
From the beginning, he had told her everything about himself ─ the good, the bad, and the ugly. He had done so on purpose to send her away, figuring no woman with her refinement and pedigree could be interested in a man with the past he had. She deserved so much more than what he could offer, but in the end, she had proved to him that she deserved him, and more importantly, that they had deserved each other.
Moving away from the bed, he stretched out in the recliner for a spell, just to sit there and watch her sleep. He allowed his mind to drift back to when she had come into his life. Not once, but four times, before he’d finally accepted that she had a special place in his heart.
The first time was when they had met. He had confronted a contractor outside a community center under construction. Several of the men his business had loaned money to couldn’t pay him back, because the contractor was dragging his feet in paying them for the work they were doing and threatening to fire them if they complained.
He had heard from the people in the neighborhood that although her family might write the checks, Nyla Roker preferred to be hands-on with her family’s charities. More than one person had spoken of her kindness.
Nyla had heard him and the contractor arguing in the yard and approached them. “What is going on here?” she asked.
Karl had gotten annoyed with her because the conversation was between him and the contractor and didn’t involve her. But then, maybe it did, and he found himself telling her just what her contractor was doing.
“Is that true, Floyd?” she asked the contractor. “Are you not paying your workers?”
The man looked embarrassed at having been called out. “I’m having problems with payroll, Miss Roker.”
