by Hope White
Trish stuck a key in the door and opened the first room. It was large with a four-poster bed and floor-to-ceiling armoire.
“Here’s the door to the adjoining bathroom.” Trish opened the door to the quaint bathroom complete with tub, which was good because Mia would need a bath at some point. “Here’s the second room that you can use as the nursery.”
They exited the other side of bathroom and entered a lovely bedroom positioned in the corner of the house. A floral spread stretched across the double bed, and a crib complete with a mobile was pushed up against the wall. Lace curtains trimmed the large windows.
“The view from this room is amazing during the day,” Trish said.
Carly noticed a basket of snacks on the end table by a Queen Anne chair.
“I know it seems cramped with the crib,” Trish said.
“No, it’s perfect,” Carly said.
“Are you hungry? I could warm up some chicken rice casserole.”
“No, thanks. The snacks will be great.”
“Just so you know, we also have one of these.” Trish motioned to a baby monitor on the dresser.
The memory of the break-in swarmed Carly’s thoughts. She couldn’t take her eyes off the white monitor in Trish’s hand.
“In case the baby is asleep, and you want to come downstairs for coffee or a snack.”
“Thanks.” Carly had no intention of leaving Mia’s side. She gently placed her in the crib. Mia remained sound asleep.
“Our room is downstairs off the kitchen. We’re usually up until midnight if you need anything. Or you can use the house phone and dial 0.”
“Thank you very much.”
“We hope you enjoy your stay with us,” Trish said and shut the door.
Carly’s gaze landed on the monitor again. Voices whispered from her memory.
I thought you’d be proud of me.
Proud? About you destroying our lives?
What are you talking about? It’s a worthy project.
Loud pops.
Carly gasped. She’d been so traumatized by the events of the day she’d buried the memory of the Bremerton’s argument. What had Mrs. B. done that had been so terrible?
Her phone rang, jarring her from her thoughts. She quickly answered, not wanting to wake Mia.
“Hello?” she whispered.
“Carly?” a male voice said.
She hesitated. “Yes?”
“Bring the baby back to Miner.”
“Who is this?”
Silence, then, “You can’t hide forever. We will find you.”
“I’ll die before I let you hurt this child.”
“Then...you will die.”
SIX
Whit opened the door and spotted Carly on the floor, trembling and hugging her knees.
“Thanks,” he said, dismissing Kurt, who stood behind him. Whit moved his luggage and the grocery bag into the room and shut the door.
He wasted no time getting to Carly. He sat on the floor beside her and placed a comforting arm around her shoulder. “What is it?”
“A man called. He threatened to kill me unless I returned to Miner with the baby.”
“Did you recognize his voice?”
She shook her head that she didn’t, and then looked at him with reddened eyes. “He’s coming for us, for me and the baby.”
“Let’s talk in the other room so we don’t wake Mia.”
She grabbed the baby monitor and he guided her through the bathroom to the second room.
“You’re safe, Carly. We deactivated the GPS on our phones, so no one knows where we are.”
She nodded and sat in a rocking chair. “He knew my number. How could he know my number?”
Whit shifted onto the edge of the bed, close enough to reach out and place a calming hand over her trembling fingers, but he didn’t. She was squeezing her hands together as if she were praying, or struggling to maintain her composure, or a little of both.
“What did the caller say, exactly?” he asked.
“That I can’t hide forever. That they would find me and the baby.”
Whit touched her hand, hoping to ease her fears.
“I told him I’d die before I let anything happen to Mia.” She paused. “And he said, ‘Then you will die.’” She squeezed her hands even tighter. “Are you sure they can’t find us?”
“Absolutely. No one knows we’re here except for Detective Harper.”
She rolled her eyes.
“He’s a good cop who’s frustrated because he doesn’t have all the information he needs.”
“You mean my background?”
“I mean a lot of things, not only your background. This is a complicated case with a lot of moving parts.”
She nodded, although she seemed deep in thought.
“What is it?” Whit said.
“Before he called I remembered an argument Mr. and Mrs. B. were having before the break-in. Mr. B. accused her of destroying their lives.”
“Destroying their lives how?”
“I don’t know.”
“But you remembered the argument, which is helpful.”
“Is it?” she said, sarcasm in her voice.
“Of course. Anything you remember about Harry and Susan could help the case. For now, let’s take it easy. It’s been an intense day. Let’s get some sleep. I can take the first Mia shift.”
“That’s my job.”
“You’ve gone above and beyond your job description. You need a good night’s sleep.”
“No more than you.” She motioned to his arm. “How’s the gunshot wound? Your concussion?”
“I’ll manage. I’m used to being wounded on the job.”
“You’re here as an uncle, Whit, not a cop. You didn’t deserve to be shot any more than I deserved to be considered a suspect.”
“True on both counts. Try to understand, local law enforcement must take everything into consideration.”
“Like my past.”
“Your past, my brother’s business, whatever his wife was involved in.”
“I have an idea. I have passwords to some of her email accounts if you want to—”
“Tomorrow. You need to rest. I need to rest,” he muttered.
Although desperate to find his missing brother, Whit knew his primary goal had to be protecting Mia, and a good night’s sleep would help him stay sharp.
Whit stood and glanced around the room. “You have everything you need?”
“Mostly, except clean clothes.”
“Hang on.” He quietly went back to the second bedroom and grabbed the brown bag. Returning to Carly, he pulled a Peaceful Pines Inn sweatshirt and Rocky Mountains sweatpants out of the bag. “That’s all they had downstairs in the gift corner. We’ll go shopping tomorrow.”
“Thanks.”
He hesitated by the door. “If you’re still upset about the call, I’ll sit in that chair until you fall asleep.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine. I’ll relieve you in a few hours.”
“Or you could get a full night’s sleep. That wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.”
She frowned, an odd expression on such an adorable face.
“What is it?” he said.
She glanced up.
“You got this look on your face,” he said. “Did you remember something else?”
“I’m just tired,” she said.
But he suspected there was more to it.
“Okay, then, good night.”
“Good night.”
* * *
The next morning Carly blinked her eyes open and took a few seconds to recall where she was and how she’d ended up here. A familiar pit settled in her stomach.
Yet she wasn’t the juvenile offender wa
iting for Mom and Dad to visit her in lockup. She was a loving nanny and nursing student.
Who was on the run from kidnappers who had threatened her life.
She sat up in the Queen Anne chair and realized a blanket had been tucked around her. Hmm, she didn’t remember bringing a blanket with her from the other room last night.
Last night. She’d lain awake after Whit shut the door, wondering if his concern about her welfare was genuine or if it was a manipulation to keep her away from the baby. Did Whit fear that when everyone was asleep and the house was quiet, Carly would make her escape and kidnap the child?
After tossing and turning for an hour, she’d given up on sleep and went into Mia’s room, intending to relieve Whit of his child care duties. There was something about being close to Mia that made Carly feel grounded, at peace. Talk about the Mama Bear instinct.
She’d found Whit asleep on the bed, looking utterly content, and she didn’t want to disturb him. Carly made herself comfortable in the thick-cushioned chair and prayed, because prayer always calmed her worry. It also helped her relax, so it made sense she’d drifted off to sleep.
Carly tossed the blanket aside and eyed the crib. Little Mia was asleep, sucking contently on her thumb. Her diaper must be drenched by now. She stood over the crib and realized the little girl was dressed in fresh clothes. Carly touched Mia’s pants. The diaper was light, not heavy. Had Whit changed her diaper and her clothes, and fed her breakfast? Carly pressed the back of her fingers against Mia’s cheek. It was warm. She must still be fighting that cold.
Carly looked at the nightstand clock radio. It read 9:07 a.m.
“Whoa, what a slacker.” She went into the bathroom and spotted a note from Whit on the mirror: Come downstairs for breakfast. I have the monitor.
After washing her face and brushing her teeth using toiletries supplied by the inn, she put on the sweatshirt and pants and headed downstairs. Voices echoed from the dining room.
“The Rockwood Creek area is delightful this time of year,” Trish said.
“Delightful? Come on, Trish,” her husband, Kurt, teased.
“What’s wrong with delightful?”
“The last time we went, you got stuck in a mound of snow.”
“That’s because it was winter, dear husband. It’s lovely this time of year. No danger of misstepping.”
“She got swallowed by a mound of snow five feet deep and she’s barely five-two,” Kurt said. “All I could see were purple gloves waving at me.”
“Don’t embarrass me,” Trish said.
Carly turned the corner to the dining room. Whit was sitting at the table with Trish and Kurt, the baby monitor in front of his plate of half-eaten eggs.
“Good morning,” Carly said.
“Good morning,” Trish greeted.
Whit stood and pulled out a chair for her. “Sleep good?”
“Yes, thanks.” She sat down and he pushed in her chair.
“Did you change and feed the baby?”
“I did,” he glanced at Trish. “Although I had help. I brought Mia downstairs for a bit so she wouldn’t wake you.”
“Sorry I slept so late.”
“No need to apologize,” Trish said.
“That’s what vacations are for,” Kurt said. “To sleep late and eat good food. Well, not good-for-you food, but, well, you know what I mean.”
A vacation? If only this was a vacation, Carly thought.
Another guest entered the dining room from the salon.
“Anna, this is Roger Burns,” Trish said. “He’s here with his wife, Ingrid, on a second honeymoon.”
Carly nodded to the tall, blond man in his forties with a slight beard.
“Good morning,” Roger said, refilling his mug of coffee from the pot on the table. “That’s a cute little girl you’ve got, Mrs. Flannigan.”
“Anna,” she said, not feeling quite so bad if he used her real middle name. “Thank you.” Carly forced a pleasant smile. This stranger had seen Mia? That meant another person could identify them, knew where they were hiding out.
Whit’s gentle hand touched her shoulder. The connection stopped her panic from spinning out of control. He must have sensed the direction of her thoughts.
“I was going to pick up a few things in town,” he said.
“The baby and I will come with you.”
Whit nodded and she thought she saw a slight smile crinkle his eyes. She found herself hesitating before looking away, enjoying the moment a little too much. He was not her friend, nor could he ever be. They had the same goal—keep Mia safe—yet at the end of the day he was a cop and she had a record. Once this case was solved, he’d disappear from her life.
Whit grabbed a basket on the table. “How about some muffins or fruit?”
“That would be great.”
He placed the basket in front of her and reached for a plate of melons and strawberries.
“I can scramble some eggs if you’d like,” Trish offered.
“Fruit and muffins are fine,” Carly said.
“I’ll get some fresh coffee going.” Kurt grabbed the pot. “Can I get you anything else while I’m up, Anna?”
“I’ll have a cup of coffee whenever.”
“About five minutes.”
“Thanks.” For a brief second she felt normal, a part of a family, as she sat at the table making pleasant conversation.
“Nice meeting you,” Roger said, and went back into the salon with his book.
That shook her out of her daydream. She somewhat trusted Whit because they had a shared goal, and Carly wanted to trust the owners of the inn, but Roger and his wife were strangers.
Carly noticed a newspaper on the table. She was tempted to ask if there’d been any coverage about the Bremerton break-in, and chose not to since Roger could still be within earshot.
Whit must have read her thoughts. “News was pretty boring today,” he said.
“How’s the arm?” she asked.
“Okay.”
She suspected it pained him. “You still have the sling?”
“Upstairs.”
“Good.”
His phone vibrated with a text and his brows furrowed.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“I’d better take this.” He looked at her. “Unless you want me to...”
“I’m fine. Go ahead. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”
Whit took the baby monitor and headed for the stairs.
“Sling that arm,” she called after him.
“Will do,” he answered.
Carly reached for the butter dish.
“He’s so attentive,” Trish said. “You’ve got yourself a good one.”
Carly nodded and felt a smile crease her lips. This time it wasn’t forced. Trish was right. Whit seemed like a genuinely good guy.
“I helped him with the baby this morning,” Trish said. “You know men, they tend to be awkward with babies until they’re walking and talking and playing Little League baseball.”
“Yeah,” Carly said.
Although Harry Bremerton had always been interested in Mia’s day, what new toys she was playing with and words she’d attempted to speak. Mia’s dad was nurturing and kind, much like his brother.
She had to stop admiring Whit’s good qualities or else she’d be lured into a false sense of security. There was no safe place, not when it came to Carly and relationships.
“What did you have planned while you’re here?” Trish said.
“Um...relaxing I guess.” Although in truth she felt guilty that she wasn’t studying for her NCLEX nursing exam. Staying one step ahead of the kidnappers had to take priority. “Maybe we’ll do some easy hikes if the baby feels better.”
“Is she sick?”
“Just the sniffles.”
<
br /> “There are a few wonderful spots north of town,” Trish started. “I’ll make you a list.”
“Perfect, thanks.” Carly forked melon onto her plate and selected a muffin with chocolate chips out of the basket. She took a deep breath, interlaced her fingers and said a silent prayer of thanks.
No meal should be taken for granted.
“Amen,” she said softly and cut open her muffin.
“I’d better get started on the breakfast dishes before my boss threatens to dock my pay,” Trish said.
“I heard that,” Kurt responded from the kitchen.
They were an adorable couple, a man and woman who showed love through humor and kindness.
Carly enjoyed the peace and quiet for a few minutes until anxiety whispered in her mind. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe because Whit hadn’t returned, or because she worried that Mia had awakened and he needed help taking care of her. After all, the child hadn’t even met her uncle until yesterday and if she awoke suddenly to him standing over her crib...
A flash of memory rushed to the surface, being frightened in lockup, a man standing on the other side of the bars, watching her.
“Here’s the coffee,” Kurt said.
Carly jumped at the sound of his voice.
“Or maybe you should skip the coffee today,” he teased.
“Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”
“Thinking. Always gets me in trouble.” He placed a full pot on the table. “You need cream and sugar?”
“No, I’m good.”
Kurt went back into the kitchen, leaving her alone. She promised herself not to go to the dark place. She thought she’d put the past behind her, worked through the fear of not feeling safe. This new threat must have triggered buried memories. Of course it did. Here she was again, trying to protect a child, like she’d tried to protect Greta from her manipulative parents.
She couldn’t help Greta.
Nothing would stop her from protecting Mia.
Carly finished her breakfast and took her mug of coffee upstairs. As she reached the second floor, a tall, sophisticated-looking woman sauntered toward her. Carly was about to offer a greeting, but the woman studied her phone as if she didn’t welcome interaction. Carly respected her privacy and continued to the suite she and Whit were sharing with Mia.