Fossen Delores - Covert Conception стр 2.

Are you saying this is when the so-called pregnancy happened? Natalie asked. Because, trust me, I would have remembered something as monumental as having sex with one of the guests.

Though Natalie had to admit to herself that some of the night was a complete blur. She blamed the big blur on the prescription meds. Of course, the fatigue from the business trip hadnt helped, either. Shed felt like a zombie throughout the entire party. Still, her zombie-haze wouldnt explain that pregnancy test.

Just watch, Kitt instructed.

Even with Kitt fast-forwarding the event, Natalie had no trouble spotting her mother, Macy, in the crowd that

had gathered in the foyer to say their goodbyes. With her Marilyn Monroe platinum-blond hair, curvy body and dazzling smile, Macy had a way of monopolizing space and drawing attention to herself.

Then, Natalie spotted someone else.

Rick Gravari.

She automatically frowned. Rick had a way of monopolizing space as well, but in a totally different way. Wearing jeans and a white shirt, he appeared his usual self. Aloof. Surly. Her mother had no doubt invited him, but he definitely fell into the unwanted-guest category. Natalie had spent the evening avoiding and ignoring him, and was thankful hed done the same to her.

Natalie dismissed her surly, jeans-wearing nemesis and continued to study the surveillance tape. As the guests idled by the front door, she managed to locate herself. Alone. Her head down with her chin practically touching her chest. Leaning against the wall next to the fireplace. She definitely wasnt in the throes of having wild sex.

The video stopped, and a second later, the screen became blank.

Something went wrong with the surveillance equipment at this point, Kitt explained. Im not sure what. But thats not the only camera we had in operation that night. Kitt typed in something else on the keyboard. The lighting isnt very good, but heres some footage taken from the hall outside your bedroom. The time lapse is about a half hour from the segment you were just watching.

The hall was indeed poorly lit. And empty. It didnt stay that way for long. Natalie soon saw the approaching couple. Mere shadows moving within the shadows.

Theres no camera in your bedroom so this is all we have, Kitt explained. She latched onto her Texas A&M coffee mug, took a long drink of the heavily scented espresso, and thats when Natalie noticed that her sisters hand was trembling. Still, I think its enough.

Well, its not much.

Natalie couldnt see the faces of the couple, and without audio, she couldnt tell who was approaching her bedroom door. At least, she couldnt tell until the figures got closer to the camera.

Then, Natalie realized that she was one of those shadowy figures.

Seeing herself, however, didnt jog any memories. She had absolutely no recollection of being in the hallway that night though she was certainly aware itd happened. After all, she had woken up in bed the following morning.

Alone.

Still, hadnt she had a feeling that something was wrong? A feeling shed dismissed.

Maybe she shouldnt have.

And with that uncomfortable thought repeating in her head, Natalie moved to the edge of her seat, closer to the monitor. And she studied every inch of the screen. Praying. Hoping. That whatever image appeared, there would be a plausible explanation for it.

Natalie watched herself as she slowly approached her bedroom. The person walking beside her had his arm looped around her waist.

It was definitely a man.

He was at least a head taller than she was and outsized her by at least fifty pounds. And neither of them was too steady. When she reached the door, she staggered forward, and her arm rammed into the wall. The reaction on her face could have been either pain or giddiness.

Sweet heaven, she acted drunk.

But she knew for a fact that shed consumed no alcohol that night. The only thing shed had to drink was a glass of sparkling fruit juice that someone on the catering staff had gotten for her shortly after she arrived home.

Okay, here it is, Kitt said.

Natalie waited and watched. The man in the video turned, shifting his weight. So did Natalie, except she wasnt as graceful. He barely managed to catch her before she stumbled again. Once he had her semi-steady, he kissed her. She didnt resist. In fact, she kissed him back and groped behind her to open her bedroom door. And thats when the security camera and the meager lighting worked together to catch his face.

Kitt froze the image. Not that Natalie needed a second look to know who he was.

The man taking her into her bedroom was the one person on earth she considered her enemy.

Rick Gravari.

Chapter Two

It was already past five-thirty.

Less than an hour to closing time, and there was at least a half days work left to do.

Hell, Rick grumbled.

He used his forearm to mop the sweat from his forehead and neck, and then he cursed the air-conditioning. Why had it picked the hottest day of the year to go out?

There wasnt much of a

chance hed get any of his four mechanics to stay late. Not on a Saturday. And not with the broken air conditioner. Overtime, a pizza and complete use of every fan in the place might be enough enticement for Hal, the head mechanic, but itd be midnight before Hal and he could finish all the service orders on their own.