Shadow of Perception (23 page)

To think she’d considered seducing Hudson. She couldn’t even hide her lack of curves in the dark. Hell, her bony ribs would stab him.
 

Dropping the towel, she pulled a pair of jeans out of the closet. She slipped them on and looked in the mirror. She couldn’t wear these. They hung from her hips and bagged around her legs and ass.

“Damn it,” she muttered, as she shoved off the jeans, and then stepped into a pair of yoga pants. An oversized t-shirt and sweatshirt completed the horrible ensemble. She fought tears of frustration as she viewed her reflection again. She’d allowed herself to not only become too skinny, but so nutritionally unbalanced that she’d become dehydrated. Even more frustrating, she wanted to have sex with Hudson, but feared his response to her pathetic, scrawny body.
 

Sick of looking at herself, she left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen. The aroma of Italian sausage and pepperoni made her mouth water and her empty stomach grumble. She checked the oven. A pizza box sat on the warming rack, begging to be opened and devoured.
 

Pizza would be a good start on the road to regaining a few of her curves. Now that she thought about it, cheesecake would work, too. Her sister made awesome cheesecake. After Celeste opened the bakery, she’d have to buy a slice or two. Oh, and some chocolate chip cookies. She hadn’t had her sister’s cookies in years.
 

Although her mouth watered, rather than dive into the pizza, she decided, considering Hudson had obviously ordered it, she should wait for him as he had for her. She walked into the living room, then sat in the chair when she realized he was on his cell phone.

“Okay, Rachel,” he said, looked at her and held up one finger.

A few minutes later, he ended the call, then set his laptop on the coffee table. “Rachel’s in full pout mode,” he said as he leaned back into the sofa.
 

“Because Elliot’s ex had nothing to give us? She shouldn’t be surprised. Those two are exes for a reason.”

“True, but I’d hoped they’d been on good terms.”

“A cheating husband does have a way of scorning a woman. At least she got a big set of boobs out of the bad marriage.”
 

He grinned. “Also true.”

“So the ex-wife ended up being no help. I’m sure your little brainiac has come up with some other ways to find information about Elliot.”

“She has. She’s found a way into his email account.” He held up a hand. “Don’t even ask. She’s compiling a list of his contacts as well as trying to find any threatening emails. So far we know he was working out of a couple of satellite medical centers. One in Oak Park, and the other in Western Springs.”

“Will we be heading to the Burbs to meet with his associates?”

“Not today. The procedures Elliot performs are outpatient. It’s almost five, his offices will close soon. We can head there tomorrow, but I’m not sure how much good it’ll do. Rachel called both of his offices, and was told that Elliot was on vacation until next week.”

“Did she happen to ask when he’d left for this vacation?”

“Last Saturday.”

She sucked in a breath, then nodded. “Timing works. We had bad weather Sunday. When we watched the DVD we could see lightning through the windows. The killer could have kidnapped him Saturday or even Sunday, then tortured and killed him that night.”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“What’s next?”

“Pizza.”

She smiled. “For sure. I’m starving.”

“Music to my ears,” he said, and stood. He offered his hand, then helped her from the chair. In an instant, he wrapped his arms around her. “I think your sweatshirt has swallowed you.”

“I’m cold,” she lied, and squirmed out of his arms before he could feel every one of her bones. “Now tell me our next move. I didn’t have a chance to go to the station today, and really need to make it in tomorrow.” After their interview with Elliot’s ex, she’d been too tired to work, and had longed for a hot shower.
 

He followed her into the kitchen. “We’ll go to the station in the morning, then to Elliot’s offices. By then Rachel should have a list of people we could meet. She’s also running a background check on him. Considering he does have a medical license, I doubt she’ll find anything criminal, but his finances might give us another route to explore.”

“Perfect,” she said as she pulled the pizza from the oven. “Tomorrow I can finally put my segment to rest, then give my full concentration to this case.”

“I’d rather you concentrate on your health,” he said as he searched for plates.

She moved past him, opened the cabinet above his head, then handed him the plates. “I told you I’m fine, and I promised that I’d take better care of myself. Watch and witness,” she said, and grabbed a piece of pizza. “I haven’t had pizza in almost four years.” The doorbell rang. She dropped the uneaten pizza on the plate. “Are you expecting someone?”
   

 
He shook his head. “No. Stay here. I’ll see who’s at the door. And don’t touch that pizza until I get back. I want to witness the miracle,” he said with a grin.

When Hudson left the kitchen, Brutal pawed at her leg. She looked at the dog, then to the cat sitting expectantly by its dish.
 

“I guess you guys want to eat, too,” she said, then began filling their dishes. As she turned to stow the food into the pantry, she froze.
 

“Hey,” Celeste said, as she moved into the kitchen with her arms open wide. “How are you feeling?”

Eden set the food aside and hugged her sister. “Good, thanks. Is John with you?”

“Yeah, he’s in the living room with Hudson. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the hospital yesterday.”

After closing the pantry door, Eden shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. I wasn’t there long.”

“I know, but Will didn’t make it, either. One of us should have been there for you.”

She’d told Hudson that the lack of her brother and sister’s presence at the hospital hadn’t bothered her, but it had, and still did. Other than Hudson, no one had given a damn about her condition. Well, except for the killer. Even he’d left her a note and flowers.

She had no one to blame. She’d alienated herself from her family, and hadn’t bothered to work on her relationship with Celeste. Hudson was right, she and Celeste were two different people, but more importantly, they were sisters. She loved Celeste, and was determined to set things straight between them. Starting today.
   

“It’s okay,” she said, then stowed the pizza back into the oven.
 

“I still feel bad. At the same time, I think your being hospitalized might have been a good thing.”

Eden turned, and frowned. “Oh?”

Celeste slipped out of her coat, then rested it on the chair. “Well, you’ve had an obvious eating disorder for years, and have gotten way too skinny. Just look at yourself. You’re swimming in that sweatshirt, and your legs look like sticks.”

“Thanks for your concern.” Although irritated with Celeste’s comments, Eden kept her tone light. Damn it, she
would
keep the peace and take every effort to make amends with her sister. She did eye Celeste’s abundant curves, though. She’d always been jealous of her sister’s big boobs, tiny waist, full hips and butt. Even at her heaviest, Eden couldn’t attain an hourglass figure. Built more like her dad’s side of the family, she’d been forced to deal with long, thin legs and a flat chest. She suddenly wondered if Hudson preferred Celeste’s body type over hers. As a wave of jealousy hit her she added, “And I don’t have an eating disorder.”

“So you’re not making yourself throw up anymore?” Celeste asked.

Her sister had known? “No.”

“Okay, then you’re just anorexic now.”

Celeste wasn’t making things easy. Eden wanted to blow up at her, and tell Celeste to kiss her ass. But she could be the better person. She
would
be the better person. “Are you just about ready to open the bakery?” she asked, hoping a change of subject would help.

“Don’t avoid the obvious, Eden. You have a lot of issues you need to deal with before you really cause harm to your body. I think you should see a psychologist.”

“I was just thinking about your cheesecake before you and John got here,” Eden said, ignoring Celeste’s ridiculous suggestion. “I haven’t had any of your bakery in forever.”

“Stop it,” Celeste shouted. “I’ve called Dad, and told him about you being hospitalized, and my concerns. He’s flying into Chicago next weekend. When he gets here, Will’s going to join us and we’re going to have a long talk.”

“Are we? Is this some sort of intervention you’re planning?”

“If that’s what you want to call it, then yes.”

 
“Too bad you couldn’t make it to the hospital yesterday. This pep talk of yours has been very inspiring,” Eden said, then took a step forward. She’d tried to make amends, but Celeste had crossed the line. “Anything else you want to comment on before I make you leave?”
 

“
Make
me leave? Little juvenile don’t you think?”
 

“How do you expect me to react when you walk into my house, full of apologies, then turn on me with all this bullshit?”

“I expect you to have the decency to listen,” Celeste responded, and folded her arms over her ample chest.

“You
expect
? Here’s what I expect. I expect you to respect my privacy. I also expect you to act like my sister, not my mother. One of the reasons I don’t call or want to get together with you is because when we do talk, you spend the entire time telling me what I’m doing wrong with my life. Get your house in order before you come in and judge mine.”

“My house is in order,” Celeste said.
 

“Oh, that’s right. I’m sure you have no daddy issues.”

“That was a little low, don’t you think?” Celeste asked, and fisted her hands to her sides. “And for the record, I’m fine with Ian being my biological father. My relationship with our dad hasn’t changed. Got anything else you want to throw at me?”

“No, Celeste, I don’t. You’re perfect. Got yourself a Mr. GQ fiancé, the bakery, a couple of daddies…just perfect.” Eden turned away, hating the bitterness of her tone. She couldn’t help herself, though. Being near Celeste reminded her of how imperfect her life was sometimes. Yes, she had a nice home. Yes, she had an awesome career. But she couldn’t help longing for what Celeste had…security. Her sister oozed confidence, was secure with herself, and had the love of a man who would literally kill for her.

Celeste placed a hand on her shoulder. “I never said my life was perfect. And I’m sorry you feel the way you do. I do wish you’d try to get to know John, though.”

Eden moved to the counter. “The first time I met him, he made his opinion of me clear. Sorry if I don’t feel like wasting my time impressing your fiancé.”

 
Hudson let out a soft whistle, and looked at John. “Do you think they realize we can hear every word they’re saying?” he asked, still shocked by Eden and Celeste’s argument. After listening to Celeste berate Eden over her eating issues, when she’d acted as if she’d come to the house out of concern, he’d begun to understand why Eden didn’t talk with her sister.

“I don’t think they care,” John said, then winced when a cabinet door slammed shut.

“Now you’re going to tell me how to handle my love life?” Eden asked, her voice carrying from the kitchen to the living room.

“While we’re at it, I might as well,” Celeste answered just as loudly. “I know all about the affair you had with Hudson, and I hope you don’t plan to make the same mistake twice. You could do better if you bothered to try.”

“Kiss my ass. And by the by, did you find out about Hudson through office gossip or did you get that out of your crystal ball again?” Eden asked.
 

“Uh-oh, first me, now they’re talking about you,” John said. “Maybe we should take that dog outside before we hear something we shouldn’t.”

Hudson shook his head. He wanted to hear what Eden had to say about him. Hell, he wanted to hear her defend him against Celeste. Eden tended to flip from hot to cold, and he needed to know where he stood with her. The emotions ping ponging through his head and body whenever he thought of her, or was near her, sometimes left him in a weak position. Vulnerable. He wanted Eden in every way. To open his heart and mind to the idea of commitment, monogamy, love, and then have it squashed again? No way would he leave the room when he had a ringside seat, and could hear everything between the sisters.

“Stop with the jabs about my ability,” Celeste shouted. “I’m sick of it.”

“Your ability. God, Celeste, you make yourself sound like a fricking superhero.”

“And you sound like a bitch.”

“Now who’s being juvenile?” Eden countered. “Look, thanks for stopping by. As stimulating as this conversation has been, Hudson and I were about to eat, then we planned to have a lot of really hot sex.”

Hudson bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Sex hadn’t been on the agenda—not that he wouldn’t rearrange the evening’s schedule to accommodate her. He’d never stopped wanting Eden, but hadn’t planned to push the physical part of their relationship yet. Making a move on a women just released from the hospital bordered on tacky.