by J. Haney
“Yeah, it’s been a rough day, but really, it was a piece of cake considering everything else that has happened in my life.” I frown, thinking about the last day my family was alive. “Thank you for asking.” I offer a small smile. “Maybe we can pick this up tomorrow? I’d like to get the kids and myself to a hotel for the night, possibly the weekend.” I grab my phone out of my purse so I can make some calls.
“Of course, I’m sure you’re tired from everything today.” Caleb checks his watch. “I’ll make sure you get to your hotel safe first, but if you need anything or notice anything strange, give me a call. Food should be here soon.” He stands and walks over to his desk.
“Thanks, but I can manage to get there in one piece.” I laugh a little at the thought of having someone follow me around. “I think when we get the hotel I’m going to sleep for two days.” I walk over to look out the window. “How many people know where your office is?”
Caleb narrows his eyes at me, and I tilt my head toward the window.
“Um, there’s someone looking over here at your windows, or at least that’s what it looks like,” I say. It may be time to leave. I walk over to the door and grab the handle so we can make a quick exit.
Caleb walks over to the window and looks out. “It’s okay. That’s my buddy Mike. I owed him a drink, but guess I got caught up.” He turns to see me at the door ready to run. “As I said, I’m making sure you get to your hotel safely. I’ll hang back to make sure no one follows you. I’m not taking no for an answer.” He’s trying to calm me down. “Give me just a second to get rid of him.” He grabs his cell phone and turns from me. “Mike? Yeah, man I know. I got a situation. I’ll holler when I can.” He hangs up and looks back at me. “Okay, where were we?”
I sigh and sit back on the couch. “Sorry, I guess I am more than a little freaked out. It’s been so long I just figured we were safe.” A tear falls down my cheek. Ugh, now I’m crying; that’s just an awesome way to show him I’m okay. Another tear falls, and I get up and head out the door toward the restroom. “I’ll be right back. I just need a minute.”
I walk into the bathroom, sit on the floor, and let the tears roll, making sure to keep quiet so nobody hears me. After a few minutes, I get up and splash water on my face. I check my look in the mirror.
“Well, damn. Why couldn’t I have waited to do this till we got to the hotel?” I do my best to fix the disaster before I open the door and head back to the front of the office, to find Caleb, Liam, and Nell have Jax and Ava eating. I smile at them when they look up.
“Caleb, I’m going to step in here and make a phone call really quick.” I slip into his office. It takes a few calls but I finally manage a suite for us to stay in.
I head back out to where the kids are. I reach my hand out to Caleb.
“Thanks for everything.”
He smiles at me, takes my hand, then pulls me in for a kiss on the cheek. Damn, there’s that tingle again. What the hell, even with everything going on, he still gives me a tingle when we touch?
“You’re welcome, but I’m following you to the hotel and I’m calling you tomorrow to make sure you’re all okay.” Caleb’s voice breaks my internal rant. I nod.
“I know you are,” I say. “I figured after you’ve seen me freak out over a guy looking up here that you were going to make sure we got there okay."
Chapter Fourteen ~ Caleb
After getting Kyler and the twins loaded into her truck, I jump into my car and follow them to the hotel. I sit outside, watching her window from the street. Every once in a while Jax peeks out through the curtains. The guard in the front lobby keeps looking over at me. I feel like a complete stalker tonight. Just as I see Kyler peek out for the hundredth time, my phone rings and scares the shit out of me.
“Caleb.”
“It’s Nell. Do you want me to send a squad over?” she asks.
“No, I’m staying this time, but could you send Liam with some food and coffee and let him know he’ll be staying as well?”
“Done, boss man. Everything okay?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’ve watched the same car pass here six times now. I just want to be ready. Do you know where I keep the bag ready to go?” I look up at the window, but this time I see Ava looking out.
“Yeah, I know where it is. I will send it with Liam.” Nell clears her throat.
“Yes, Nell?” I ask, knowing she’s going to say something I don’t want to hear.
“Well… Umm… Maybe… Uhh… Never mind.”
“Spit it the fuck out, Nell.”
“It’s just, don’t you think you should let the police handle this and maybe not get yourself killed?” Nell sounds a bit weepy.
“Nell, you are not my fucking mother. Just send Liam this way,” I grit out.
“I nev…” Nell is cut off by Liam shouting. “Don’t you fucking shout at her like that.”
“Who the hell are you to say anything to me? You shout at her all the damn time!” This time people passing the car are staring.
“I’m allowed to shout at her! She’s mine, dammit! Mine!” Liam shouts so loud that I’m sure the lady walking past my car heard him since I saw her jump.
“Yours? Are you forgetting about your wife? You know, Jacquelyn, the mother of your daughter Izabella?” Well, that explains a lot!
“No, Caleb! I remember who Jacquelyn is, okay? We don’t get along anymore. We sleep in two different rooms! She hasn’t touched me in over a year.” Liam’s voice is wavering like he’s ready to cry. “Nell gives me what my wife can’t anymore. She loves me for who I am. She loves Bella.”
“Just get your ass down here and we will figure it out, okay? Put Nell back on please,” I ask.
“What can I do for you, Caleb?” Nell asks, her tone biting.
“Nell, I’m sorry. I’m already on edge with whatever the fuck is going on with the two of you, now I’m on a stakeout.” I try to calm her down.
“I’m fine. Look, Liam is already on his way.” The phone goes dead. She hung up on me.
Sitting with the phone in my lap waiting on that asshat, I adjust myself, so I’m slumped down low. I rethink it when my eyes pop and I get the sensation of falling asleep. I look back up to the windows for Kyler’s room. Something just doesn’t feel right. She looks out again. It’s almost as if I can feel her nervousness from where I’m sitting. “Calm down, gorgeous. I’m here.” I must have spoken out loud because I didn’t notice Liam beside the car, but I hear his chuckle.
“What are you chuckling about, asshat?” I say. He opens the door and hands me my stuff.
“Oh, you know the whole, ‘Calm down, gorgeous. I’m here,’” he says with air quotes.
“Shut up, assface. At least I’m not the one cheating on my wife.” I give him a pointed look. “I’m just the same jackass I’ve been. I just don’t have a chick at the moment, considering I’m doing a stakeout.” I grab a burger out of the bag. “Now let’s talk about this problem with your wife.”
“It’s nothing, Cal. I will deal with it.” Liam huffs and stares out the window. “Cal, what is it about this chick that has you dropping your other cases to do surveillance?”
“I don’t know,” I say after exhaling the breath I was holding. “What is it about Nell that has you forgetting you have a family at Pops’ waiting on you?” Liam looks over at me with a scowl on his face.
“Just forget it, Cal. You’re not going to understand till you fall in love, if that ever happens,” he spits right back.
“Whatever. You can go home or park over there.” I point across the street. “I’m done with trying to figure out the shit going on between the two of you.”
Liam slams the door as he gets out. I guess he decided to go home because now I don’t see him anywhere.
Looking up at the hotel, I see Kyler with her head against the window looking out into the night.
Chapter Fifteen ~ Kyler
Peace at last, nobody looking over my shoulder or trying to make sur
e I’m okay. The kids are watching TV. Walking over to our bags that we brought up to the room with us, I pull out clothes for each of us. “Shower time, kids,” I say and they both nod at me before turning back to finish their show.
After we’ve showered and ordered room service, we watch some movie on Disney that Avaline just has to see.
“Mommy, when will our food be here? I’m hungry,” she says, snuggled against me.
“Should be very soon.” I check the clock. Ten minutes later I hear a fast knocking on the door that echoes, making all three of us jump. I guess we’re still a bit nervous. I stand up and put my finger to my mouth. “Shh.”
Walking to the door, I look out the peephole and see that it’s room service. I must have been holding my breath and didn’t know it because once I exhale so do the kids.
Opening the door just enough, I take the food from the guy and hand him a tip. Jax shuffles over and takes the food from me while I lock the door and check the peephole again.
“Mommy, come over and eat with us,” Ava pleads. I smile at her and walk to the little round table, where I barely eat. I’m too on edge. How do I change this? I watch Jaxson and Avaline as they eat and worry about them. How am I going to make them go somewhere and back under the radar without them knowing what’s going on? I’m just going to have to tell them this time, but how?
After dinner, I tuck the them into the bed beside mine, then go to the window to check everything while they are settling in. Looking down, I see Caleb’s car, which makes me smile just a little. He makes me feel safe. He makes me think I could actually do this without freaking out.
Looking up and down the street once more, I move away from the window and take a seat at the table with my laptop.
I open my e-mail and check for any news. I have nothing, so I check all my accounts. They are all the same. Time to look at the map and see where we are going to next. Closing my eyes, I twirl my finger in the air and then touch a state. Montana. That would be good for us. Searching on the Internet, I see Billings is the biggest city, which is where we usually go.
I research Billings a bit before I shut down the laptop and pack it away so I can try to sleep a little. More than likely it won’t happen, but it’s worth a shot since I have lots of driving to do tomorrow. I just really want to know how they found us. Apparently, the package from Tyson is what exploded. Why in God’s name would he send something like that and, more importantly, why now? What the hell do I tell the kids when they ask why we are doing this? Feeling the wetness on my cheeks, I wipe it away and get into bed. This is no time for tears, but Tyson was the love of my life, or so I thought anyway. He’s the twins’ father. Was he the reason my family is no longer here? I can feel myself drifting off to sleep, but the questions are still coming. Why? How? What? Who? Does he not care? Is someone making him do this? Why him? Why now?
***
Flashback
Unlike most 18-year-olds, I’m up at the crack of dawn taking care of my beautiful twin one-year-olds. Jaxson and Avaline have to be the easiest babies in the world to most mothers. However, they are killing me. I feel like I barely sleep. Between feedings, diaper changes, and taking online college courses, I seriously never sleep. It’s been over a year since anyone has come after me. We are now located in Portland, Oregon, and we barely leave the house other than to go to the grocery store. Today is my phone date with the Ryans. I love my weekly chats with them. They are the only thing I have besides the twins that resembles family.
When noon comes around, I lay the babies down for their naps and go to the couch when my phone rings. Looking at my phone, I don’t know this number.
“Hello?” I say with a shaky voice.
“Ky?” a man with a deep, husky voice says.
“Um, may I ask who's calling?” I ask, feeling more nervous now.
“I know this is Kyler Jefferson. I know you live at 121 Maple Drive in Portland, Oregon,” the man says.
“Who are you? What do you want? Just leave me alone!” I’m crying now. I jump up and check all the doors and windows to make sure they’re locked. Which they are, they always are.
“You know who this is,” he says. His voice makes the hair on my arms stand up.
“I don’t know who you are! Just leave me alone!” I scream into the phone and hang up. I dial Mr. Ryans number with a shaky hand as I go into the twins’ room. While the phone rings, I start gathering everything I can in their bags.
“Hello, Kyler. How are you today?” Mr. Ryan asks.
“I’m not good at all.” I tuck the phone under my chin. “They’ve found us again. I’m packing everything I can.” I am sobbing hard now.
“Kyler honey, it’s okay. Just get everything packed. Stay on the phone with me. I will find you somewhere else to go,” Mr. Ryan insists coolly.
“I am. I’m going as quickly as I can.” I hope he can hear through my crying. Running to my room, I grab the things I have to have, then bring everything back to the kids' room. Pulling the car seats over to the bed, I put Avaline in hers, then Jaxson in his. Thank God, they’re still sleeping.
“It's okay, Kyler. Calm down. If you don’t, the babies are going to sense something is wrong and then you’ll be dealing with two screaming kids along with everything else,” Mr. Ryan says in a calming voice.
I set the car seats in the living room so I can finish getting ready. “I know, I’m trying, but I’m so scared,” I say, trying to calm myself down. Running to the kitchen, I grab the formula, bottles, and baby food and throw them into another bag, which I take to the living room and put beside Jax and Ava.
“I know you are, sweetheart. Do you have everything?”
I look around and notice I forgot the bag in the kids' room.
“Almost, grabbing the last of it now.” I start throwing bags over my shoulders. Walking back into the living room, I add the bags beside the twins to my shoulder, then I pick up both carriers, one in each hand.
“Okay, are you ready?” Mr. Ryan asks.
I’m trying to hold the phone with one shoulder. “Yeah, I’m ready. If I drop the phone, I’ll buy another when I get away,” I say, rushing for the door.
“Okay, sweetheart.”
I don’t say another word; I scoot Avaline’s carrier up on my arm so I can unlock the door and open it without putting anything down. I’ve become a pro at this. I just have to move quicker than normal. I shut the door and lock it behind me. Running to the truck, I put Jaxson in and then run to the other side and do the same with Avaline. Opening my door, I drop my phone in my seat and throw the bags in the passenger side. Jumping into the truck, I lock the doors and start it up. I put my phone on speaker as I begin to back out.
“Okay, I’m out and leaving.” My nerves are off the chart.
“Okay, honey, just drive and I’ll call you soon.”
Mr. Ryan hangs up. I’m checking all the mirrors. I don’t see anyone following me, which calms my nerves.
***
I’m wringing wet and startled awake from the nightmare, or should I call it remembering the past? I can feel the tears that have dried on my cheeks. Deciding it’d be best if I got up and took a shower before the kids wake, I grab my clothes and head to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.
I turn the shower on so it can heat up and strip quickly. Stepping into the water, I let out a sigh as the heat works the tension out of my body. Once I feel the water cooling down, I finish so I can get ready for a long day of driving. I get out of the shower and grab a towel to dry off. I get dressed, then I put my hair up in the towel. Opening the bathroom door, I gaze over at Jax and Ava, who are both still sleeping. Walking to the window and looking out, I see nothing has changed. Shutting the blinds, I head over to the desk and flip on the laptop. Loading up my e-mail, I notice something from Detective Ryan.
From: Detective Ryan
Subject: Updates?
Date: May 7, 2015 3:30am
To: Kyler
Dear Kyler,
&nb
sp; Hey, I was checking in to make sure you all are okay. I heard your home was blown up and no bodies were found. Which means you got away, I figured you got out, you always do. My partner and I are still working on your case. We haven’t found anything as of yet. I think we are getting close, which could be why they found you again. Well, I was just checking in to see where you all landed. Hope all is well and call us soon. April and I would love to hear from you, Jaxson and Avaline.
Talk Soon,
Detective Ryan
I’ve reread this same e-mail ten times now. Something’s off. Grabbing my water off the table, I walk to the window again and stand there staring out, trying to run everything through my head. Something’s different, but what? The sound of car horns brings me back for now, and I check the time. I make a call to room service, then get the kids up and get them ready so we can eat and leave.
Halfway through breakfast, there’s a knock on the door. I put my finger to my mouth to tell the kids to keep quiet. I pull my gun from my bag and head to the door quietly. Looking out the peephole, I see Caleb. I open the door just enough to make sure he’s the only one out there. He looks at me with his hands out in front of him. I move over just enough so he can get in, then shut the door and lock it.
“Jesus Christ, woman, put that damn thing down before you kill someone,” Caleb shouts and the kids laugh at him. I can’t help but laugh a little as well.
“Trust me, if I need to kill someone, I can. I have more where this came from.” I hold up my Glock.
“Fine, how about making me feel a little better and putting it away, huh?” he asks, slightly calmer.
Walking back over to my bag, I slip the gun inside. “Better?” I give him a piercing look.
“Much. Wait, have you been carrying that damn thing with you this whole time? Shit! What the hell, woman?”
I think he may be a bit confused. “I told you I’ve been here before. I don’t let anyone mess with my babies,” I take my seat at the table and point to the chair beside me. “You can have a seat if you’d like.”