Turn Back Time (The Full Circle Series Book 1) Read online

  “Even though there might be women who understand it’s part of who he is.” Naomi twisted her mouth and looked at her hands. “He’s the best friend you can imagine, and he’d do anything for those he loves.” She quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and reached for her fork.

  Stella gave Naomi’s shoulder a gentle rub. Her friend could put on a tough show, but in one case she wore her heart on her sleeve. And everybody in their small group of friends knew it...all but one.

  “I can’t wait to meet him,” Julia said with an encouraging smile for Naomi.

  “Are you going to call your friend and tell her you cut the trip with Merveille Tours short?” Stella asked, trying to change the subject.

  “Yeah, tonight, from the hotel. I don’t think she’ll be surprised to hear it. Harry had affairs for years, but he never tried anything with me or anybody else who’s close to Emily. This was a new low, and it will be the last straw for her. She started divorce proceedings about two years ago, when their youngest kid finished high school, but Harry begged and whined and, for reasons that baffle me, she called it off.”

  “Maybe she still loves him,” Naomi said, her voice steady and strong again.

  “No, and I don’t know if she ever was in love with him. They met when she was a senior in college, at a career fair where he was one of the recruiters for some large company. She got pregnant not much later, and believed marriage was the right thing to do.”

  “So, he’s older than she is?”

  “Yeah, quite a bit. Even back then I thought it was sleazy when he started something with her.”

  “What about their children?” Stella said. “How will they react if she files for divorce?”

  “They’ve witnessed enough scenes over the years, and they aren’t close to him. I was serious this morning when I told him I won’t try to stop Emily. She’s young enough to find someone who treats her with respect and shows her real love.”

  “Will he make it difficult for her?” Naomi wanted to know.

  “With him you never know, but I don’t think so. He owns a head-hunting business, even though he prefers to call it consulting, and it wouldn’t be good for his reputation if this got out. In the past it was hard to prove anything, because the women he approached kept it quiet. But this time he made the mistake of putting his hands on me. And I don’t shy away from the media,” Julia speared an olive with her fork before putting it in her mouth and biting down slowly.

  Their hotel was in a well-kept neighborhood, mainly residential, but with little stores and small restaurants scattered throughout. Stella found the combination charming.

  After they finished checking in, she looked around the lobby. Mix-and-match chairs and sofas in vivid patterns invited guests to make themselves comfortable, and Andy Warhol-style artwork covered the walls.

  She said, “Revan would love this hotel. At home, he prefers monochrome décor, but I know he loves bold accents.”

  “Let’s hope we’ll be sitting here with him soon,” Naomi replied. “As soon as Julia’s done at check-in, we’ll decide what to do next.”

  “I have to write to Luca, and I also promised David to let him know when we’re here.”

  “You know you broke your promise—no, our deal—not to mention his name on this trip. Ha! I’ll get to pick your first date after we’re back at home.”

  “Go ahead and scroll through your Rolodex of discarded dates. I can manage to get through an evening listening to baseball statistics or stock market trends.” She yawned for good measure.

  Naomi laughed, “No, I’ll find someone more exciting for you. Scout’s honor!”

  “Are we back to Girl Scouts? You haven’t been a Scout in how many decades? Anyway, they don’t count anymore.”

  “Okay, I’m done,” Julia announced, and waved her key card.

  When they walked into their room, all three stopped and laughed. Three beds stood close to each other, headboards against the wall, with just enough space for nightstands between them.

  “Somebody’s been sleeping in my bed,” Naomi whined and plopped on the middle bed.

  “As long as nobody’s been eating from my bowl of porridge, I’m fine,” Stella said.

  “Guess I’ll take the broken chair,” Julia laughed.

  “Which bed do you want, Julia?” Stella said.

  “I don’t have a preference, go ahead and pick yours. All I need is a pillow and an outlet to charge my laptop and phone!”

  “Then I’d like the one near the balcony.”

  Julia put her purse on her bed and shoved the suitcase next to it. “How ’bout we all get settled in, and in thirty minutes go look around the neighborhood. The Luxembourg Gardens aren’t far from here. And the Montparnasse Cemetery is also close by. We could take a self-guided tour there before they close at sunset.”

  “Are you switching professions? Shall I call you Caroline?” Naomi rolled over on her stomach.

  “Sure, go ahead, Goldilocks,” Julia countered without missing a beat.

  Stella went to the small breakfast table in the room’s kitchenette and messaged Luca,

  At our hotel now. It’s lovely. Too sad our visit here’s overshadowed by the mess. Julia’s contact at the Embassy is meeting with us at 5 pm. I’ll let you know later what her friend said. Talk soon. Stella.

  Next she sent a note to David. Just thinking about him made her heart beat faster.

  At our hotel. Naomi, Julia and I will go for a walk, then meet with a friend of hers at five at the US Embassy. I’ll keep you posted. Stella.

  Right away, she saw three small dots dancing at the bottom of the screen, then his reply came,

  Thanks for letting me know you’re here. What can I do for you?

  Nothing right now, thanks.

  Half an hour later, Julia held up her phone and said, “We have three options for how to get to the Embassy. We can call a cab, which can take us there in about fifteen minutes, traffic permitting. Or we can take the metro, which takes about twenty-five minutes. And the third possibility is walking. It should take about forty minutes. We’re meeting Alexander in a little over an hour. What do you want to do?”

  “I’d say walk,” Stella said. “Naomi and I haven’t seen much on this side of the Seine yet.”

  “I agree,” Naomi said and licked her lips. “And maybe we’ll pass an ice cream shop.”

  “Well, then, girls, put on your walking shoes,” Julia said. “The ice cream is on me.”

  They walked along the Luxembourg Gardens, crossed the Seine on Pont du Carrousel, and strolled through the Tuileries Garden toward the Place de la Concorde. Along the way, they stopped to take photos and admire the sights.

  “I know where we are,” Stella called. “We were here last Sunday. First on the bus, and then when we walked to the Arc de Triomphe. Look, Naomi, there’s the obelisk.”

  “Hard to believe it’s only been a few days. I’d like to see some of those buildings when they’re illuminated at night.”

  “Me too. And depending on what we can do to help Rev, maybe we have time to go into the Louvre before we fly home?” Stella looked over her shoulder to the imposing museum at the other end of the park.

  “I’d love to join you when you go,” Julia said.

  “Where one goes, we all go!” Naomi declared and raised her hand for a high five. “We’re in this together now.”

  They dodged taxis and tour buses, crossed the Place de la Concorde, then sprinted through more cars, bicycles, and pedestrians until they reached a copse of tall chestnut trees.

  “There’s Alexander. Oh, great, he has someone from the Citizen Services office with him.” Julia waved to two men standing in front of the black wrought-iron fence surrounding the Embassy of the United States of America.

  Stella saw the man next to Julia’s friend.

  “No, he doesn’t,” she whispered.

  CHAPTER 25

  Stella—July 2018
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  hat’s he doing here?” Naomi snapped and stopped walking.

  “How would I know?” Stella replied. She rubbed her arms but couldn’t get rid of the goose bumps.

  “Did you ask him to come?” Naomi narrowed her eyes at Stella.

  “No, I told him I’d keep him posted.” She didn’t care for Naomi’s aggression.

  “And you just happened to mention where we’re meeting?”

  “What’s up with all the questions?” She tried to hold Naomi back when she started to march toward the two men.

  “I don’t know what’s going on,” Julia said. “Do you know the man with Alexander?”

  “He’s my ex-boyfriend. It’s a long and somewhat bizarre story. I’ll fill you in later,” Stella answered.

  She couldn’t take her eyes off David. He was here, and she’d be face-to-face with him in a moment. She couldn’t believe it.

  “That’s one way to describe it,” Naomi said over her shoulder. “Shitshow would be more accurate.”

  “You don’t need to tell me anything.” Julia rubbed Stella’s arm. “He looks familiar, though.”

  Naomi reached the men first. She nodded to Julia’s friend and said a quick, “Hi.” Then she put her fists on her hips and looked at David. “And what brought you here on this sunny afternoon?”

  His eyes briefly met with Stella’s before he looked at Naomi. “Naomi, before you say anything else, calm down.”

  “Calm down? You just happened to walk by this building and just happened to start a conversation with a random stranger, and it just happened at exactly five o’clock?” She accentuated each ‘happened’ with a jab of her finger against David’s chest.

  “First of all,” he replied, “this is a free country, and I can walk wherever I want and talk to whomever I want whenever I want.” He ticked off each of his rights on his fingers, then held up his hand to stop her from interrupting. “But the reason I’m here is because I want to help. And I can’t if I’m hiding in my hotel room.”

  “Well, you’ve been doing it for a year. You should’ve managed a few more days, if you ask me,” Naomi fumed, her index finger poised for another jab.

  “Naomi, put your finger away before you chip a nail. You’re acting childish, and people are looking,” Stella reached the two brawlers and pulled Naomi away from David. “The last thing we need is for security to show up and take us away in handcuffs.”

  “Hi, David,” she said, and attempted a smile.

  How do you greet your ex-boyfriend after a year of silence? Is a hug appropriate?

  He solved the problem when he leaned down and breathed a kiss on her cheek, sending a pleasant shiver through her. She longed to let muscle memory take over and move a little closer to him.

  “Hi, Stella. I couldn’t wait for your next text message, I had to see you’re okay and decided to meet you here. When I arrived a few minutes ago, Alexander was already waiting, and I asked him if he was meeting you three ladies,” David explained, without breaking eye contact. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  She felt dizzy. How on earth was she supposed to react to him? The touch of a hand on her right elbow broke the spell.

  “Stella? I want you to meet my friend Alexander,” Julia introduced in a firm but warm voice.

  “Nice to meet you, Stella.” Alexander reached out and shook Stella’s hand, forcing her to turn his way. She was afraid to let David out of her sight and scolded herself for being so silly.

  Stella guessed Alexander to be around fifty. His salt-and-pepper hair was cut short, and his dark eyes didn’t seem to miss a beat. He cut a striking figure in his well-cut business suit.

  “As David said, he introduced himself, and we started talking about the latest development in the case,” Alexander said.

  “What…what latest development?” Naomi whispered. She looked from Alexander to David with wide eyes.

  “You must be Naomi,” Alexander said, holding out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Naomi took his proffered hand, then asked, “So, what happened?”

  “Well…” Alexander began, but David interrupted him. “Excuse me, can I make a suggestion?”

  “Depends… I’m not sure I want to hear a word you have to say.” Naomi was obviously not done with him.

  Stella wanted to tell her to shut up, but David was faster.

  “Naomi, stop it!” he said in a clipped voice, then looked at Julia and said cordially, “Sorry, we haven’t met yet. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

  “Pfft…” came from Naomi’s direction.

  He held out his hand to Julia and said, “David Danvers.”

  “Oh, wow,” Julia looked from him to Stella and murmured, “That’s why he looks familiar.” She looked back to David, “I saw one of your shows in Denver a few years ago and loved it.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “Great. The monthly fan club meeting has been opened. Now let’s move on to the next item on the agenda,” Naomi muttered.

  “Really, Naomi, enough,” David said as a muscle rippled in his jaw. “I know I’m on your shit list, but for now, let’s be adults and find a way to get along. Whether you like it or not, I also consider Revan a friend of mine, and I want to help in any way I can.”

  “Well, I don’t think even you can lure the kidnapper out of there by singing. But…” she held up a hand when Stella opened her mouth. “I agree it doesn’t help Rev if I’m acting like a bitch. But be warned, buddy, I’m saving it for later.”

  Then she looked at Alexander, “Can you now please tell us what you’ve heard?”

  “I suggest we go somewhere else. Since it’s clear none of you checked the news in the past two hours, let’s adjourn to a small, pleasant bistro where we can talk without being disturbed.”

  “Why not now?” Naomi challenged him.

  “I meant to suggest the same thing before I was interrupted,” David gave Naomi a pointed look.

  “Alexander, I like your idea.” Julia took his arm and they began a quiet conversation as they walked ahead.

  Stella, Naomi, and David fell in step behind them, with Stella in the middle. Stella’s heart pounded; she was hyperaware of David’s presence next to her. She was tempted to touch him to assure herself he wasn’t just a dream.

  “Do you think there’s a story between those two? They look chummy,” Naomi asked her.

  “Maybe. Let’s try to worm it out of her later, when we’re back in our room,” she answered, grateful for the distraction.

  They followed a labyrinth of residential streets, smiled at children kicking a ball or riding their bikes, leaving the hubbub around the tourist attractions behind them, when Naomi cleared her throat several times.

  Stella stopped walking. She was running out of patience. Today wasn’t the best day for Naomi to go on a vendetta.

  “Is there something you want to say, Nam? Just spit it out.”

  David leaned around her and rested his hand on her hip in a familiar gesture she’d missed.

  “David,” Naomi croaked and cleared her throat once more. “I’m sorry I went off the way I did. It isn’t fair, and I know you really want to help us.”

  “Don’t worry, Naomi,” David replied easily, giving Stella’s hip the hint of a squeeze. Both knew how hard the admission must’ve been for Naomi. “I’m sure we can manage to be civil to each other. And if you want to yell at me after Revan is safe, you and I will go somewhere alone, and you can let me have it.”

  “Count on it! Because I have a lot more to say,” Naomi promised. She stepped around Stella and stood in front of him.

  Then she hugged him and said in a low voice, “Man, you messed up big time.”

  He said in a grave voice, “You’re not telling me anything new, Naomi.”

  Julia and Alexander waited for them in front of the bistro, where guests sat outside under trees and colorful sun sails. The bruta
l heat was beginning to give way to a pleasant summer evening, and outdoor fans helped to circulate the air. Nevertheless, Alexander asked for a table inside, giving them some privacy.

  None of them were very hungry, but they ordered a few appetizers to share and a carafe of their house wine.

  “So, I think we’ve waited long enough. What did we miss?” Julia asked as soon as the waitress had left.

  “Both women were released this afternoon,” Alexander said.

  “And Rev?” Naomi asked. She slid around on her chair and played with the napkin in front of her.

  “He’s still in there,” David said. “One of the women developed a health problem.”

  “Were the women able to tell the police anything?” Stella asked.

  “Nothing else has been released yet. I’m sure they’ll have a statement for the press later,” Alexander said. “There’s a TV on the wall. Let’s ask them to turn up the volume if something comes up.”

  “Alexander, how can the Embassy help?” Julia asked.

  “I’m sad to say, but there’s not much they can do,” he looked at Stella and Naomi first, then at Julia. “Their hands are tied as long as Revan is being held hostage. The Embassy staff’s job is mostly concerned with diplomatic matters, and right now the local authorities are in charge.”

  Naomi said through her teeth, “Looks to me as if the asshat who’s keeping him is more in control than the cops. And speaking of police! What the hell are they doing? Are they just standing there doing nothing? Why haven’t they gone in and flushed the guy out?”

  “I’ve been doing some reading about the catacombs. The tunnel system is so vast, people have gone missing in there, and even sending search dogs doesn’t guarantee they’ll be found in time,” Alexander said.

  “I can’t stand this.” Naomi was close to tears. She smacked her hand on the table. “This waiting is driving me bonkers. I have to do something. I think I need to go to the entrance of the catacombs and see the place for myself.”