"We'll have to have respiratory take a look at you tomorrow. Maybe get a chest x-ray." The voice was soft, kind. Jason heard the sound of a pencil on paper and then the door shut and he was plunged back into the comfort of the darkness.
Jason closed his eyes and sighed. He was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep, but he forced himself to flex his legs again. There was still much to be done and he needed to be ready. For Julie. For Paige. For himself. He needed to be ready.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
A short while later, they left their stakeout spot and went a few streets over. Cameron arranged for a set of rooms at the Grand Imperial Hotel. Linda felt like a princess as soon as she'd entered the building. She knew Newport was famous for the decadent mansions and while she hadn't visited any, she was certain the hotel's decor was a match for any of them.
Her room sent chills racing through her. From the hand carved bed to the luxurious silk sheets, the sheer opulence was overwhelming. She imagined pulling Cameron into her bed and had almost suggested that they share a room. He left her at her door with instructions to be ready at four the next morning. She hid her disappointment as best she could, yawning in fact. She hadn't realize how much the time change had effected her until she got ready for bed. She slid under the covers, imagined Cameron lying next to her and moments later was gently snoring with a smile on her lips.
Night went too quickly. Though she was thrilled to hear Cameron's voice in the morning, it was not how she imagined it would be. He called into her room at three forty-five and told her he would be there to get her in fifteen minutes. Several thoughts ran through her head, but she slapped herself, dismissed her fantasies, then got up and dressed. She realized she really did need that Hawaii trip or at least the parts of the trip she had been imagining the most.
Exactly fifteen minutes later, he was at her door. They quickly exited the hotel. She shuddered in the cool air of the autumn morning and was glad when they got in the car and Cameron turned on the heat.
They wove through the streets, Linda without a clue where they were and thankful she hadn't been asked to drive. Cameron found a spot to park which he hoped would allow them to see the cars coming and going from the hotel.
They'd been sitting for about thirty minutes when Linda began to dose off. She tried to fight it, but with only five hours of sleep and the massive time change, her body was fighting against her.
"We are likely very early. I don't actually think they will be heading out just yet. Go ahead and sleep if you can. I'll wake you when I need you." She was his only backup and he needed her as well rested as possible. He silently cursed himself for leaving so early. He was tired as well, but he hadn't been able to sleep. The entire situation bothered him. Dillinger's involvement and the restrictions he'd imposed had left his mind racing and he'd tossed and turned. This could have been ended quickly if he hadn't been strong-armed by Dillinger. That bastard was just looking for an excuse to shut him down. They needed to end this soon. He needed this to be done so he could regroup, reorganize and begin a new plan. But he needed to know what had gone wrong and needed to know if Paige and Nathan were in contact with anyone else, anyone who might be working against him.
Now that she'd been given permission, Linda found she couldn't sleep. He was being so nice to her. Had he forgiven her screw up? His words from the other day still echoed in her mind. She was feeling quite flushed and she didn't think it was from the car's heater. She almost laughed when a thought entered her mind and try as she might she could not dismiss it.
She spent the next few minutes with her eyes closed, breathing softly in and out as evenly as she could, doing her best to mimic sleep. She slumped a little in her seat, coming to lean against Cameron. He smelled so good. She shifted a little, still faking sleep, and allowed her arm to slide over her body and into Cameron's lap. She felt him startle at her touch, but he did nothing to remove her hand. Encourage and emboldened, she slowly started to stroke his thigh. She could feel him through his pants and he shifted a bit in his seat.
Doing her best to sound as if she were talking in her sleep she murmured, "Oh yes. Right there, Cameron."
She continued for a moment, thrilled at the thought that Cameron might be enjoying her actions.
"Keep going, Julie," he whispered in return.
She struggled not to react, as jealous anger flared. She fake snored and turned away, pulling her hand from his lap.
In the dark of the car, Cameron smirked and shook his head, while angry, embarrassed tears rolled down Linda's face.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
She woke in his arms and tried to recall what happened. Nathan had told her about his wife's death or suicide. Whichever. Her mind had gone into overdrive, overload. And then? She reached up and touched the small knot on her forehead. Then she had blacked out and slammed her head on the floor.