The Bodyguard's Baby

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Laura turned to her. “Sandra, make him tell me!”

Nick tightened his hold on Laura, his protective instincts kicking into high gear. He still felt connected to her; he couldn’t pretend that he didn’t. “So you don’t have her son?” he asked the Governor pointedly.

James Ed closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Several long seconds passed before he released a heavy breath, opened his eyes, and then spoke, “It’s worse than I thought.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Laura challenged, her voice strained.

James Ed settled a sympathetic gaze on his sister. “Laura, there can’t possibly be any baby.” He held up his hands to stay her protests, a look of pained defeat revealing itself on his face. “Just hear me out.”

Laura sagged against Nick then, the fight going out of her. Nick wasn’t sure how much more she would be able to stand before collapsing completely.

“Laura,” James Ed began hesitantly. “Until the day before yesterday, when you escaped, you had spent the last eighteen months in a mental institution in New Orleans.”

Nick felt Laura’s gasp of disbelief. “That’s a lie,” she cried.

James Ed massaged his right temple as if an ache had begun there. “Apparently when you ran away two years ago, you wound up in New Orleans. You were found in an alley a few months later and hospitalized.” He paused to stare at the floor. “The diagnosis was trauma-induced amnesia, and schizophrenia. The doctor says you haven’t responded well to the drug therapy, but there’s still hope.”

Laura shook her head. “That’s a lie. I’ve never been to New Orleans.”

“Laura, honey, please listen to your brother,” Sandra coaxed.

“You had no ID, no money. They assumed you were homeless and really didn’t attempt to find out where you’d come from. And that’s where you’ve been ever since. If you hadn’t escaped, we might never have known you were even alive.” His gaze softened with sadness. “You were considered a threat to yourself…as well as others.” A beat of sickening silence passed. “Detective Ingle spotted you yesterday.” James Ed looked to Nick then. “Ray told me you would be bringing Laura home. He received a copy of the New Orleans APB on the Jane Doe escapee just a few hours ago. It didn’t take long to put two and two together. We’ve already contacted the hospital. The treating physician there faxed me a copy of his report.”

Laura turned back to face Nick. “He’s lying, Nick. You have to believe me!”

Nick searched her eyes, trying to look past the panic and fear for the truth. “Laura, why would he lie?” All the cards were stacked against her, James Ed had no motivation that Nick could see for wanting to harm her. And Laura had no proof of any of her accusations, or that she had a child.

“Honey, I would never lie to you.” James Ed moved closer. “I am so sorry that this has happened. If we had known how sick you were two years ago, maybe we could have prevented this total breakdown—”

“Why are you doing this?” Laura cried. “I’m not crazy. I just want my son back!”

“I think it’s time to call Dr. Beckman in,” Sandra suggested quietly.

“Who?” Laura demanded. Her body shook so badly now that Nick’s arms were all that kept her upright. Nick’s own concern mounted swiftly.

“Wait,” James Ed told Sandra, then turned to Laura. He studied her for a time before continuing. “All right, Laura, tell us where you’ve been if not in New Orleans.”

“Darling, don’t put yourself and Laura through this now,” Sandra pleaded softly.

James Ed shook his head. “I want to hear Laura’s side. I won’t be guilty of failing to listen again.” He gave Sandra a pointed look. “I want to know where she believes she has been.”

“You know where I’ve been,” Laura snapped. “You’ve had someone tracking me like an animal.”

“Please, Laura, you can’t believe that.” James Ed reached for her, but she shunned his touch.

“Stay away from me!”

“Surely we can sort all this out in the morning after Laura’s had a good night’s rest,” Sandra offered quickly. “We’re all upset. Let’s not make things worse by pushing Laura when she’s obviously exhausted.” Sandra placed a comforting hand on James Ed’s arm. “And we do have guests arriving shortly, unless you’d like me to cancel….”

“You’re right, of course, dear,” James Ed relented with a heavy sigh. “Laura needs to rest. Canceling dinner is probably wise, too. I should have realized that earlier. We’ve all had a shock.”

“I’ll get the doctor.” Sandra hurried toward the door.

Laura stiffened. “I don’t need a doctor.”

“Honey, this is for your own good,” James Ed assured her. “We’ve had Dr. Beckman, a close friend, standing by since we found out…what happened. He has spoken with the doctor in New Orleans and understands the specifics of your case. He’ll give you something to calm you down, and we can work all this out in the morning.”

“No!” Laura struggled in Nick’s arms. “Don’t do this, James Ed, please!”

Nick didn’t like the way this was going. Before he could protest, Sandra rushed back into the room followed by a short, older man carrying a small black case.

“Nick, please don’t let them do this to me.”

Nick looked from Laura to the doctor who had just taken a hypodermic needle from his bag. Nick’s uncertain gaze shifted to the Governor. “I don’t know about this, James Ed,” Nick said slowly.

“It’s okay, Nick, he’s only going to give her a sedative,” James Ed explained tiredly. “It’s for her own good. Considering the state she’s in she might hurt herself.”