Running Scared

by Shirlee McCoy

  She didn’t have time to look.

  Didn’t have time to think about what it would mean if Derrick really were lying on the ground beneath that shrub.

  All she could do was run for the SUV, grab Eli by the hand and race into the house.

  EIGHT

  A kid.

  Maybe eighteen or nineteen.

  Cheeks pockmarked and sallow from drug use.

  That’s who had been shooting at Maggie.

  Kane wasn’t sure who he’d been expecting, but it wasn’t the boy cowering at his feet.

  “What’s your name, kid?” he growled, barely managing to rein in his anger.

  “I want a lawyer.”

  “Strange name. Maybe you should try again.” Kane reached down and grabbed the boy’s arm, yanking him up and around in one quick motion. He had the kid’s arm pinned behind his back and was applying pressure when he heard the first siren. Help was on the way.

  Good.

  Left too long with the druggy kid, Kane might have given in to temptation and done something he’d regret. Eventually.

  “Ow! You’re gonna break my arm, man!”

  “You were going to shoot a bunch of innocent people. A broken arm is a small price to pay for a crime like that.”

  “Police brutality. That’s what this is.”

  “Hard for it to be that when I’m not the police.” Kane increased the pressure just enough to worry the kid.

  “I said, you’re gonna break my arm.”

  “Not if you tell me your name and why you were trying to kill my friend.”

  “Justin.”

  “And you were trying to kill Maggie because…?”

  “I didn’t try to kill anyone.”

  “Right. You were just holding the gun for the fun of it.”

  “Who said I had a gun?” The kid had obviously gotten some of his fight back, and he tugged against Kane’s hold. Or maybe the sound of approaching police cars was giving him a little incentive to try to escape. Either way, he wasn’t going to succeed.

  Kane tightened his grip and shoved the kid toward the street. “I do. And so will the police once they check the fingerprints on the weapon against yours. So, how about you make things easy on yourself and cooperate?”

  “I wasn’t coming after you, man. Or the kid. So let me go. Let me go and I’ll disappear and you’ll never see me again.”

  “So the only one you were hoping to kill was my friend?”

  “I’m not saying nothing.”

  “You already did,” Kane muttered, and the kid tried to pull out of his hold again.

  “Look, I wasn’t trying to kill no one. I just wanted to scare her. That’s all.”

  “Why?”

  “She saw me out at her house. I didn’t want her telling the police.”

  “You’re saying you shot her to keep her quiet but you weren’t successful, so you came here to finish the job?”

  “It was an accident. I didn’t mean to shoot her.”

  “Right.” Kane clenched his fist to keep from turning the kid around and accidentally punching him in the face.

  “It was, man. It really was,” he responded, nearly shouting as a police cruiser pulled up and a deputy hopped out.

  “What’s going on here, folks?”

  “I was minding my own business—”

  Kane hiked the kid’s arm up so high he squealed. “What the kid is trying to say is that he took a potshot at my friend. The gun is over near the shrubs.” He gestured to the place where he’d tackled the gunman to the ground.

  “I didn’t drop no gun, and I didn’t try to shoot no one.”

  “Justin Randall. Didn’t I tell you not to get in any more trouble?” The deputy frowned.

  “I didn’t do nothing.”

  “The witness here is saying something different. Spread ’em. Let’s see if you’ve got any weapons on you.”

  “I don’t!”

  The deputy ignored his protest, frisking him and pulling a plastic bag of colorful pills from his pocket. “You’re probably going to tell me this isn’t yours.”

  “I’m not saying anything. I want a lawyer.”

  “Fine by me.” The deputy read him his Miranda rights, helped him into the backseat of the cruiser and closed the door.

  “Not the first time you’ve arrested him, huh?” Kane asked, and the deputy shook his head.

  “Kid has been in trouble for years. You want to show me where the gun is?”

  “This way. I tackled him and he dropped it in this area.”

  “He hurt anyone?”

  “Not this time, but he admitted to accidentally shooting Maggie. Seems if that were true, he wouldn’t have tried to kill her again today,” Kane said, glancing at the house, anxious to finish speaking to the deputy so he could get inside and make sure that Eli and Maggie were all right.

  “Well, he won’t be trying anymore after this. Between the gun and the drugs, we’ve got enough to put him away for years.” The deputy carefully lifted the gun in a gloved hand, emptied the bullets and placed everything in an evidence bag.

  “It’s possible he isn’t working alone.”

  “What do you mean?” The deputy looked up from the evidence bag and frowned.

  “He doesn’t seem like the kind to go to a whole lot of trouble for anything, and he’s gone through a lot trying to kill Maggie.”

  “You could have a point, but he fits with the sheriff’s profile of the perp—a druggy looking for easy cash. That’s who Sheriff O’Malley said might be responsible, and that’s who I’ve got sitting in the backseat of my cruiser.”

  “Just because you’ve got one suspect doesn’t mean there aren’t others.”

  “I’ll call the sheriff, get him to come out here. We’ll question Justin together. Maybe we can get the truth from him.”

  “Good. I’m going inside to check on my son and Maggie.”

  “Someone will be in shortly to take your statements.”

  “Thanks.”

  The door flew open as Kane stepped onto the porch, and Maggie came outside. “Is everything okay? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, and the guy who shot you is in custody, so it’s been a good day’s work.” He offered a smile, but Maggie didn’t look as relieved as he’d expected.

  “What’s he look like?”

  It seemed a strange question, and Kane took a harder look at Maggie’s face. She was understandably tense and scared, but there was a sense of anticipation, a vibrating energy that seemed to hang in the air around her.

  “Eighteen or nineteen. Scrawny.”

  “So, he’s a kid?”

  “Were you expecting someone else?”

  “I…don’t know.” But she did know, and Kane wished she trusted him enough to be honest about it.

  “The deputy said the kid’s name is Justin Randall. Sound familiar?”

  “No.”

  “Did you say Justin Randall?” Maggie’s landlady asked, following Maggie onto the porch. Eli hovered in the doorway, his freckles dark against his too-pale face.

  “That’s what he said.”

  “I knew that boy would run into trouble. Good parents, but their son sure went wrong.”

  “That’s a shame,” Maggie responded, but she seemed distracted, and Kane wanted to take her to a quiet place and ask her the dozen questions that were floating through his mind.

  “Why was he trying to hurt Ms. Tennyson?” Eli asked, his brow furrowed, and Kane took him by the hand and pulled him out onto the porch and into a hug. For once, Eli didn’t stiffen and pull away.

  “He’s a sick person. He probably doesn’t even realize what he was doing.” Kane forced himself to loosen his grip, to let Eli back away.

  “Sick like a cold? Or sick in the head?” Eli’s question was so unexpected that Kane laughed, some of his tension and frustration easing.

  “Sick like he’s addicted to drugs. That can ruin a person’s mind.”

  “Oh. Well, I’m glad he’s goi
ng to jail. Ms. Tennyson is a nice person, and no one should ever try to hurt her.” Eli’s earnest response made Maggie smile, and Kane found himself smiling with her. She looked lovely, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, her cheekbones high and sharp. If he didn’t know she hadn’t been born in Deer Park, he would have thought she was a small-town girl who had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

  But he did know better, and he wasn’t going to make the mistake of believing that Justin going to jail meant Maggie would be safe.

  As if she sensed his thoughts, her smile faltered, her gaze jumping from his to the street. “Looks like the sheriff is here.”

  She was right. The sheriff’s car pulled up in front of the house, parking behind the deputy’s cruiser.

  “Guess we should bring our party back inside. We have pie and ice cream. Want to come in and have some while your dad talks to the sheriff, Eli?” Edith smiled, holding out a hand that Kane knew his son wouldn’t take.

  “I’d rather stay out here with Dad and Maggie.”

  “Are you sure? Edith makes a mean pumpkin pie,” Maggie said, turning back to face the street and watching as the sheriff approached.

  “Pumpkin pie might be good, buddy,” Kane said. “Especially since you didn’t eat much dinner.”

  “I like apple pie better,” Eli responded with just a touch of rebellion in his voice. Obviously, he didn’t want to go inside. Kane was tempted to let him stay, but knew that a discussion about attempted murder and drug addiction wasn’t something a nine-year-old should be privy to.

  “Then it’s good I have apple pie, too,” Edith said before Kane could decide what he wanted to say.

  “Go ahead, buddy.” Kane patted Eli’s head and sighed when his son ducked away and hurried into the house.

  “It’ll get easier,” Maggie said, her hand touching Kane’s for a second before dropping away. He felt the touch to his core, the heat of it a surprise that stole his thoughts, made him forget that the sheriff was walking up the porch steps, forget that Maggie had secrets she wasn’t willing to share. Forget everything but the woman who stood so close he could see the flecks of gold in her blue eyes.

  She blinked and took a step back, her eyes wide with surprise, her hand brushing against her jeans as if she could wipe away what they had both felt.

  “Howdy, folks. Heard we had some more trouble,” the sheriff called out, breaking the tension that hung in the air.

  “I’m afraid so.” Maggie turned away from Kane, her cheeks pink with whatever emotion she was feeling.

  “At least we’ve got the guy this time. Hopefully, that’ll be the end of your troubles.”

  “I’m not sure…” Maggie shot a glance in Kane’s direction, and he wondered if she wanted him to disappear for a few minutes, so she could tell the sheriff whatever was on her mind.

  If so, she was going to be disappointed. Kane had no intention of going anywhere.

  “You still think that guy in Miami is after you?”

  “I’m worried he could be,” she responded, keeping her eyes on the sheriff.

  “I’ll talk to Justin, see what his story is, and I’ve already spoken to the police in Miami. Your ex is exactly where he’s supposed to be.”

  Her ex? Maggie had been married? Or was it an ex-boyfriend?

  “That doesn’t mean he didn’t pick up a phone and arrange for Justin to try to kill me.”

  “I’m not saying it does, Maggie. I’m just staying that three years is a long time, and it’s very possible your ex has completely forgotten about you.”

  “It’s possible.”

  But it was obvious from Maggie’s tone of voice that she didn’t think it was probable.

  “Like I said, I’ll talk to Justin. See what he has to say. For now, I think we can work under the assumption that he was looking for cash to make another drug deal and things got out of hand.”

  “Shooting a person is a little more than letting things get out of hand.” Kane broke into the conversation, and Maggie and the sheriff both turned to face him.

  “You saw the kid. He’s hopped up on pills and not in control of himself. I’ve been trying to put him away for years because I’ve been afraid something like this would happen.”

  “He’s never done time?”

  “He’s been booked on drug possession twice. Done community service and rehab. That wasn’t enough to keep him out of trouble. It apparently wasn’t enough to keep him out of jail, either.” The sheriff pulled out a notebook, asked a few questions about the attack and scribbled Maggie’s answers.

  “All right. I think that’s it for now.” The sheriff closed the notebook and shoved the pen into his pocket. “I’ll give you a call after Justin and I have a little chat about how he got himself into this mess.”

  “I appreciate it, Sheriff. I’m anxious to hear what he has to say.” Maggie shivered, wrapping her arms around her waist as the sheriff walked away.

  “You need to get inside and warm up.” Kane put an arm around her shoulders, urging her back toward the door.

  “Why? So you can follow Sheriff O’Malley and ask questions about the case without me around to hear you?”

  “You know me too well.” He grinned down at her and was surprised when she returned the smile.

  “I don’t know you at all, but I’m glad you were here, Kane.”

  “Does that mean you might be willing to answer some questions I’ve got for you?”

  “Maybe one day, but not now.”

  “Mr. Dougherty?” the sheriff called out, interrupting the conversation before Kane could press for more.

  “Yes?”

  “My deputy said you’ve already answered his questions. It’s probably best if you go back to the hotel before the press decides to show up.”

  “I’ve been dealing with the press for a long time, Sheriff. Another run-in won’t bother me.”

  “Maybe not, but it might bother Maggie. I don’t think she wants people asking a lot of questions about what is or isn’t going on between the two of you.”

  “Going on? There’s nothing going on,” Maggie said quickly.

  “It won’t matter. As soon as reporters see the two of you together, they’ll start wondering about both of you. Next thing you know, people will be asking how the two of you met, reporters might start looking into your past…” The sheriff’s voice trailed off and he gave Maggie a look that seemed to convey a silent message.

  “Thanks for the warning, but it’s probably too late to be worried about that. It’s all going to come out eventually, so there is no sense worrying about people finding out,” Maggie said.

  Finding out what?

  “You’re probably right about that,” the sheriff replied. “Now if you’ll both excuse me, I’m going to get Justin back to the office and see what he’s got to say for himself.”

  “Thank you, Sheriff.” Maggie ran a hand over her hair, offered Kane a weary smile. “I guess I’m going to postpone my trip for a while.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I want to stick around to hear what Justin has to say. Maybe the sheriff is right. Maybe this doesn’t have anything to do with my past.”

  “Do you really believe that?”

  “I want to.” But she didn’t. Kane could see it in her eyes.

  “Who is he, Maggie? Who’s the guy you’re so afraid of?”

  “The biggest mistake of my life.” She smiled sadly, her lips trembling. “I was a fool. I thought life was all about the next party and my next fix. Derrick was part of that scene. He had money and looks and all the things that were important to me then.”

  “You married him?”

  “I might have if my mother hadn’t died of an overdose. If I hadn’t decided that I didn’t want to meet the same fate.”

  “So you changed and he didn’t.”

  “Something like that.” She smiled again, took a step away. “You’re interviewing me again.”

  “Only because I care.” He took a step closer
, cupped her chin in his hand, letting his fingers rest on silky skin.

  “Don’t.” She jerked back, her eyes wide.

  “Don’t what?”

  “Look at me like I’m some delicate flower of a woman who needs to be saved. I’m not. I don’t.” She brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, took a deep breath. “We’d better get inside. I’m sure Eli and Edith are wondering what’s taking so long.”

  She ran into the house before Kane could respond.

  It was for the best.

  He wasn’t sure what he would have said. The fact was, he didn’t see Maggie as a delicate woman who needed saving. He saw her as a woman who deserved the second chance she’d created for herself, and he saw himself as the person who was going to make sure she got it.

  He doubted Maggie would want to hear that.

  He grabbed her suitcase from the SUV and carried it into the house. The foyer was empty, the hushed conversation drifting from a room to the left a sharp contrast to the laughter and cheers that Kane had heard earlier. He brought the suitcase up to Maggie’s apartment, then followed the sound of voices back down the stairs and into a large dining room. Several people looked up as he entered, the questions in their eyes obvious. They’d have to go unanswered. No way did he plan to go into details about what had happened. He’d leave that to Maggie.

  Eli sat at the far end of the table, a plate piled high with apple pie and ice cream in front of him. A dab of white decorated the corner of his mouth, and his pale cheeks had a tinge of color. He looked young and cute and not nearly as confused and scared as he had been at the hotel. Maybe that was because Maggie sat beside him, her arm touching Eli’s as they talked to each other. Kane couldn’t hear what was being said, but Eli smiled, looking up into Maggie’s face as if she’d managed to lasso the moon and drag it out of the sky for him.

  “There you are,” Edith called out, pushing away from the table and hurrying toward him. “Our hero!”

  “I’m not that, Edith.”

  “Of course you are. You saved Maggie from being shot. Maybe even killed.”

  “Edith, this probably isn’t the time to discuss it.” Maggie stood and placed her hand on Eli’s shoulder.

  “You’re right. Sit down, Kane. Have some pie.”