Page 34 of The Unseen

R ACHEL LAY IN THE DARKNESS, UNABLE TO FALL ASLEEP . T HOUGH Nicole always tried to shelter her, her niece had told her a little of what was happening with Sean.

The boy was in trouble. Rachel prayed Lucas would be able to help him navigate the murky waters he found himself in.

It was quiet in the bedroom, just the ticking of the pendulum on the ormolu clock on the mantel and the wind beating through the branches of the trees outside the windows.

She was tired and she was worried. And she was lonely.

She hadn’t heard from Francois since the night the ghost woman had come into her room.

Maybe now that the two of them had found each other, he was with her, back in time where they both belonged. Her eyes stung. If they were together, she hoped he was happy.

She thought of the beautiful woman in Nicole’s painting. Simone—was that her name? Had Francois died before he could marry her?

The thought was a knife in her heart.

Her eyelids felt heavy. She hadn’t told Nicole, but she had been feeling weaker every day. She drifted on the edge of sleep, listening to the fury of the storm building outside. The rain thundered in waves against the rooftop. The wind continued to howl.

She slept for a while, but it was a restless slumber interrupted by bouts of fear for her family, for Sean and Nicole, and for Belle Reve.

Slowly, a little at a time, awareness trickled through her, and her eyes slowly opened. The remnants of fear slipped away, and a warm feeling sifted through her as she realized he was there.

“Francois?” she whispered.

He moved closer. Mon amour.

Her heart squeezed. “I wasn’t sure I would see you again. I thought you would be with … the woman.”

Francois said nothing, just moved up beside where she lay on the bed. This time, she could see him fully: a tall man dressed in the clothes of his time—frock coat, snug black breeches, full-sleeved shirt, and white stock. He was as magnificently handsome as the man Nicole had painted.

Her breathing quickened. She moistened her lips. “The woman … Simone? Did you love her?”

The air in the bedroom stirred violently, a furious swirling mass that forced strands of hair back from her face. The curtains shot out into the bedroom, the windows rattled, but didn’t break.

Love her? She killed me!

Her heart lurched. Oh, dear God. Francois …

No more words were needed as he came to her, as he had before—no longer a man, just an invisible masculine presence that settled beside her, drawing her into unseen arms.

She wanted to tell him she loved him, but she was afraid he wouldn’t want to hear it, that he might go away and never return. Instead, she gave herself over to him, as she had before, and let him work his magic.

The call came at midnight. Lucas was awake, sitting in his living room, dressed and ready to leave for the police station, where Sean would be taken after the arrest.

“Lucas Devereaux?” the caller asked.

“That’s right.”

“This is Detective Mark York, Baton Rouge PD. One of your students has been arrested. He was attempting to steal an expensive automobile from Casino Rouge Chateau. Unfortunately, one of the other men involved resisted and began firing at police officers. Your student Sean Handley was wounded. He’s been taken to Our Lady of the Lake hospital. ”

Lucas felt the words like a blow. He felt dizzy, his mouth cotton dry. “What’s his condition?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know.”

“I’m on my way. If you have questions, I’ll be at the hospital.” Lucas hung up before the officer could continue. As he grabbed his keys off the kitchen counter and headed out to the garage, he pulled his cell and hit the contact button for Nicole. She picked up on the first ring.

“Have you spoken to the police?” he asked. Sliding behind the wheel of the Jeep, he punched the garage door opener, then began backing into the driveway.

“One of the detectives just called. I’m just getting in the car to go to the hospital.”

“Josh is staying with Rachel?”

“Yes.” He could hear the tears in her voice. “I’m scared, Lucas. The police … They won’t … They won’t tell me how bad he is.”

Guilt stabbed into Lucas’s chest. This was his fault. He had known how dangerous it could be. “I don’t think they know,” he said, clamping down on his emotions. Now was not the time. Nicole and Sean needed him.

“Oh, God, Lucas …” Her voice broke. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

He ignored the pain her words caused. “I’m closer to the hospital than you are. I’ll be there when you get there. Just stay strong, love. And pray for Sean.”

Lucas hung up the phone and pressed down on the accelerator, taking the roads as fast as he dared without getting stopped. A delay was the last thing he wanted.

Taking his own advice, he began to pray for the boy who had been injured trying to protect his sister. Lucas prayed for strength for Nicole.

And he prayed for strength for himself.

Nicole hurried down the hospital corridor toward the ICU. The thirty-mile drive from Belle Reve to Baton Rouge seemed to take hours. Knowing Lucas was at the hospital with Sean was the only thing that kept her from breaking down.

She spotted him up ahead, tall and imposing, striding down the hall in her direction. When she reached him, he simply opened his arms. Nicole stepped into them, and they closed protectively around her.

Nicole clung to him. “They told me … They said Sean’s in the ICU.”

“That’s right.”

“How bad is he?”

Lucas eased her a little away. “I’m sorry, cher, but his condition is critical. The bullet creased the side of his head. The impact was great enough to cause a severe concussion.”

Nicole made a sound in her throat.

“The good news is, the skull wasn’t pierced.”

She blinked back tears. “That is good news.”

“Yes, it is. They think there’s a chance the swelling will go down on its own and they won’t have to operate to relieve the pressure.”

“When will they know?”

He cupped her cheek in his hand. “They aren’t sure. They’ll know a little more by morning.”

Nicole made a sound in her throat. For an instant, she closed her eyes, fighting for control. “What happened out there?”

Lucas’s jaw hardened. “Apparently, there were a number of people involved in the theft and two different drop-off locations. At Sean’s site, there was another driver, plus the guy driving the van being used to pick up the cars.

Mick Dugan was there, along with Bruno. Apparently, Bruno resisted arrest, started firing at police, and they returned fire.

At this point, they aren’t sure where the bullet that hit Sean came from. Could have been Bruno or the police.”

Her knees felt weak. She didn’t realize she was shaking until Lucas led her over to a bench along the wall and eased her down on the seat.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just so worried.”

He sat down beside her and took hold of her hand, bringing it to his lips. “If anyone’s sorry, it’s me. I was the one who convinced Sean to cooperate with the authorities. I knew it was dangerous. At the time, I didn’t see any other way.”

She looked up at him. “What about now?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe there was something I missed.”

Nicole glanced away. It would be so easy to blame Lucas. Part of her wanted to do so. If something happened to her brother, she wasn’t sure she could ever get over it. Another part knew how unfair blaming Lucas would be.

“I want to talk to the doctor,” she said, some of her strength returning.

“His name is Ed Mathias. I told him you were on your way. He said he’d be back to see you as soon as you arrived.”

Twenty minutes later, Dr. Mathias appeared, a thin, black-haired man wearing horn-rimmed glasses. A white lab coat flapped around his knees as he walked down the hall. Nicole and Lucas both rose to greet him. Mathias introduced himself and shook Nicole’s hand.

“Your brother’s condition is still critical,” the doctor said. “But at this point, we continue to remain optimistic. Many severe cases of head trauma resolve themselves. However, if things take a turn for the worse, we’ll need to operate to reduce the pressure on the brain.”

Nicole clamped down on the sound of fear trying to claw its way out of her throat.

She felt Lucas’s hand at her waist, easing her closer.

Mathias gave her a more technical description of Sean’s head injuries, but her mind seemed to fuzz out and go completely numb.

After he left, she could barely remember what he’d said.

“The main thing is to focus your thoughts on Sean,” Lucas told her. “You’re a strong woman. Will your brother some of your strength.”

Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She blinked them away and said a silent prayer for Sean.

A noise in the corridor drew her attention.

She looked up to see a man striding toward them.

He was in his late thirties, dark brown suit, worn leather shoes.

He introduced himself as Detective Mark York, the man who had phoned with the news of Sean’s arrest and the injuries he had sustained as a result.

“I know the timing isn’t good,” the detective said. “But I have a few questions I need you to answer.”

Nicole looked up at Lucas.

The hand at her waist tightened. “I’m sorry, Mark, but considering the situation, I think it’s better if Ms. Belmond has an attorney present when she talks to you.”

Since she had no attorney, she had no idea what Lucas intended, but she stayed silent, as he advised.

Unhappy but resigned, the detective blew out a slow breath. “I’d rather do it now, but I understand. I’ll be in touch again tomorrow.” The detective turned and strode off down the hall.

Nicole looked at Lucas. “I don’t have an attorney. What should I do?”

“You don’t need to worry about it yet. Tomorrow we’ll know more and so will the police. York’s been straight with us so far, but it’s better to take precautions. If you need an attorney, I know several who represent kids like Sean.”

It was better than facing the police alone. “All right.”

“If you’re okay with waiting here by yourself, I’d like to go down to the chapel for a while. I want to spend some time asking God for His help healing Sean.”

Nicole’s heart twisted. She had known from the start that Lucas had a strong connection to God. That he was willing to use it to help heal her brother made her feelings for him swell. Even if she wanted to blame him for Sean’s injuries, she couldn’t.

“I appreciate any help you can give him,” she said softly.

Lucas led her to the door of the ICU waiting room and brushed a gentle kiss over her lips. “If you need me, you know where I am.”

It was quiet in the room when she stepped inside. Eventually she learned that the white-haired elderly woman waited for word on her husband, who’d had a stroke, and the dark-haired mother of a teenage boy was waiting for news of the son who had been in a car accident.

An hour later, when Lucas hadn’t returned, she asked a nurse where to find the chapel and headed in that direction.

The room was modern, with light beige walls, a few rows of blond wood chairs, and stained-glass windows in a contemporary design up front. It was nondenominational, just an intimate, quiet place for contemplation.

Lucas sat in a row at the back, facing forward, his head bowed, his lips moving in silent prayer. Nicole’s throat swelled. She could no longer deny the love she felt for this man. The strength and compassion surrounding him made him impossible to resist.

It was a terrifying truth. At the moment, the only thing she could do was set aside the knowledge until her brother was out of danger.

She sat down beside Lucas in the pew, but didn’t disturb him. Sean needed his prayers.

Nicole started praying, too.