by Dana R. Lynn
She tugged him to a stop. He avoided her eyes.
“Dan, tell me what happened. Please?”
His mouth tightened. He tilted his face so that his expression was hidden, but she was relentless. Bending, she moved so she was in his line of vision. Oh, the poor man. His pain was almost tangible.
“I don’t speak of it. Ever.”
“You need to. Honestly, Dan, I understand the macho image thing. But you’re a cop...you can’t afford for this to happen if you hear a gun shot in the line of duty.”
He reared back. She had struck a nerve. Good. It pained her to hurt him, but he needed to admit that he needed help.
“Fine, but we need to keep moving. Every moment we stand still is a moment more we give the enemy to find us.”
She nodded. They started off at a brisk pace. At the intersection, Dan stopped and flattened himself against the building, motioning for Maggie to do the same. He cautiously peered around the corner. Maggie tensed. What if someone was there? Apparently, no one was, because he soon gestured to her and started moving again. Fast. She jogged to keep up.
“That’s one of the reasons I moved to LaMar Pond permanently,” he murmured, a wry twist to his lips. “I figured the small town would have less excitement. You know, quiet and dull.”
The last was said with sarcasm. She smiled. These past few days had been the antithesis of dull. The urge to smile faded as quickly as it had come.
“So this has never happened on the job?”
“When I shot Dennis, I froze up. For just a few minutes. I literally couldn’t move. Terrified me. But I knew you were counting on me, so I packed it in. A soldier doesn’t leave civilians unprotected.”
She knew he had been a soldier. He must have seen terrible things. It explained a lot.
“Before that?”
“I had trouble dealing with loud noises. I’d get jumpy if a car backfired. I can’t go to Civil War reenactments anymore. I hate that. I always loved those. Revolutionary War ones, too. But now... War is an ugly business.
“My squad was ordered to evacuate a small village under attack. A house was on fire. I ran in to help get everyone out. I thought I was done when I heard the screams.” He shuddered, sweat beading on his forehead. But he forced himself to continue. “A young woman was caught inside with her son. I ran inside to get them. I can still remember the sounds, the roar as the room started to burn. The woman had been injured, and I couldn’t carry both her and the child. So I took the boy, and I promised I would come back for her. I don’t even know if she understood me. I got him out and handed him to the first person I saw. Then I ran back inside.”
He stopped again. A single tear ran down his face. Maggie wanted to wipe it off, to tell him it was okay. But it wasn’t.
“I could hear her screaming inside.” His voice was raw. “It was a scream of agony. I tried to go to her, but people were holding me back. I managed to break free but only got about two feet inside when the ceiling collapsed.”
Wetness dropped onto her hands. She was crying. Using her sleeve, she wiped the tears away. Bracing herself on the wall for a moment, she went to the brave man before her and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her only thought was to comfort him.
“I could feel the fire on my back. I still have scars. But what haunts me is her face. I was sure I saw it before the ceiling collapsed. Maybe it’s just my imagination. But it haunts me. And the sound, the one that makes me cringe, is the loud crack the ceiling made right before it crashed down on her. I hope it killed her instantly. I pray that she didn’t burn to death.”
His phone beeped. Instantly he broke off his story to answer.
“Hey, Paul. What’s the news?”
His face darkened. Maggie shivered. Whatever it was, it couldn’t have been good.
“Right. Can you pick us up?” He gave their location, then hung up. “Paul says not to go to the station. They found evidence that Dennis has been keeping tabs on me for months. Paul is unsure if his office is a secure location at the moment. So we are going to his house to discuss what’s been going on.”
Tension she hadn’t realized she was feeling drained from her shoulders. The idea of being a sitting duck at the station held no appeal. Just because Dennis was dead didn’t mean it was safe. After all, they had been found at the airport, hadn’t they? Being in any public location made her skin itch. Other than Dan, any person walking by could be a threat.
They settled down to wait for Paul to arrive. Part of her wanted to ask what had happened to the boy, the one Dan had saved. But she didn’t dare. His expression said the conversation was done.
Her ears pricked up at the sound of a car moving slowly down the alley. Breath froze in her lungs. Beside her, Dan stiffened. Shifted closer. He took her arm and pushed her against the wall of a building, standing in front of her.
They both let out their breaths explosively as Chief Kennedy’s car came into view. Like a gentleman, Dan held the back door open for her. But she couldn’t help but notice that he wouldn’t meet her eyes. Nor would he stand close to her. She could feel the distance, physical and emotional, growing between them. Could almost see the wall he was putting up. After the door shut, he climbed into the front seat with the chief. The isolation washed over her.
She kept her eyes focused outside. Every movement outside had her heartbeat quickening. Were they being followed? She glanced out the back window. No other cars were visible on the street behind her. They turned onto a dirt road with an unreadable sign. As the car bounced along, she gritted her teeth. One hand braced against the ceiling to help her keep her balance.
Five minutes later, they arrived at Chief Kennedy’s house. The chief led the way, and Dan stood behind her. She knew they had placed themselves to protect her. A light blinked on. She stumbled back. Dan’s arm steadied her before he pulled away.
“It’s all right,” Chief Kennedy said. “The light’s motion activated.”
He quickly deactivated his security system, reactivating it once they were all inside.
“Let me go put on some coffee, then we can talk. Jace will join us after he finishes the report he’s working on.”
The chief left the room and an awkward silence descended. Dan got busy checking his email on his phone, but Maggie strongly suspected that he was just avoiding her. It was just as well. She had gotten too close to making another mistake.
Pain grew in her soul as she realized she had let down her guard. She had allowed herself to start to care for another man. She was such a fool. First she married a liar, then she started falling for a cop who saw her as a way to atone for past mistakes.
She was done. At least she was getting her faith back. Maybe her mom had been right all those years ago. Maggie still remembered her mom’s favorite Bible verse. It was in Psalms 146:3–5, if she remembered correctly. In her mind, she repeated the verse.
Put no trust in princes, in mere mortals powerless to save. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth; that day all their planning comes to nothing. Happy are those whose help is Jacob’s God, whose hope is in the Lord, their God.
It was amazing that she still remembered that after all these years. Almost as if God had known she would need it someday. Huh. It was about time she took that lesson to heart.
* * *
What had just happened?
Had he really told her all that? He hadn’t let anyone see that part of his past.
He needed to step carefully. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her when he left. And leave he would. Any relationship was impossible; he was too scarred, too broken to be a good husband for any woman. He thought of Siobhan and Rory. His throat ached as he reminded himself he couldn’t be a good father for children, either.
She would need to find someone else.
Jealousy stabbed him in the gu
t. No. When this case was done, he would pack up and transfer somewhere else. The thought of leaving his friends left him feeling hollow. But there was no way he could stay and watch Maggie fall in love with someone else.
Too disturbed by his train of thought, he decided he needed to do something. Anything. He headed toward the kitchen. Maggie followed him. The front porch light flared to life again. A second later, a knock on the door had him switching directions. Grabbing Maggie’s hand, he pushed her down behind the sofa, then moved to the blinds. He peered out into the night. Blew out his breath. Jace. He let the other man in, then the three went to find Paul in the kitchen.
Paul was on the phone when they entered. He held up a finger to tell them he would be a minute. Dan nodded. He switched his gaze to Jace, who went to lean against the counter. Paul set down the phone and both his officers watched him. He nodded at Dan and Maggie.
“That was the Pittsburgh police. They caught the woman who was searching for Maggie. She was a paid actress. She was contracted to act the part of an anxious sister. Was able to show a contract and bank statement. We haven’t been able to trace the payment yet. She thought she was getting involved with some new reality TV show.”
Jace snorted. Dan had to agree.
“What people’ll do for a little bit of fame.”
Paul grabbed his briefcase and shuffled inside it. “Ah, there it is!” He pulled out a file and handed it to Dan. “This is all the information we were able to get on Malcolm Hutchins. It seems his old boss, a man by the name of Gordon Spiles, was running a small money laundering scam at his business. Malcolm turned him in. Spiles was convicted and went to prison.”
“Then why was Phil—I mean Malcolm still in danger?” Maggie blurted. Then she colored when all three officers turned her way. “Sorry. I didn’t say anything. I’m just a fly on the wall.”
A smile tugged at Dan’s mouth against his will. Even embarrassed she was spunky.
Paul chuckled. “Quite all right, Ms. Slade. To answer your question, he would have been safe if Spiles had been the man on top. But he wasn’t. He was, in fact, working for someone else. That’s who we have to find.”
“I think I should go visit the ex-wife. See if she knew anything,” Dan said, trying not to notice as Maggie winced. “Maggie, I don’t think you should come with me on this one.”
Maggie appeared torn between relief and anxiety.
Paul seconded the idea. “Seeing you would only rub salt in her wounds. She might feel she could have saved him if she had stayed. Which might sound ridiculous, but that’s how some people think.”
Dan shot Paul a look. Was that a hidden barb against himself? No, Paul didn’t appear to be saying anything more than his words implied. Nor did Jace seem to notice anything. Only Maggie seemed to hear the irony. Her eyebrows were raised and there was a definite smirk on her pretty face.
Jace stretched, yawning. “In the meantime, Mel said I should invite you all over for a late supper. Maggie, you can sleep at our house tonight.”
Put on the spot, Maggie seemed to lose some of her self-confidence. She flicked her eyes toward Dan. Feeling protective, he moved over to stand next to her. He bumped his arm against hers once, just to remind her that he was on her side. Her shoulders straightened. Good. He hated to see her doubt herself.
“Sure, Jace,” he answered in a casual voice. “I’d much rather eat Melanie’s cooking than my own.”
Not to mention Jace had put in a state-of-the-art security system in the house when he’d married Melanie. Then he’d given her a huge black Lab for her birthday. The house was safer than Dan’s apartment. Not that he could take her there. It wouldn’t be appropriate.
“I think I will pass—” Paul began.
“Paul,” Jace cut in. “It’ll just be us. Nothing formal.”
What? Dan narrowed his gaze and really looked at his boss. Paul’s face had gone expressionless at the invite, but now it resumed a more natural if somewhat sadder expression. Why would he be sad? Paul ate at Jace’s house all the time. So did he. They always had a good time. Suddenly, he realized something. The only times he’d been present and Paul wasn’t was when Jace’s younger sister, Irene, and her husband, Tony, were there. Dan liked Tony. He was a fellow cop, just a couple years younger. He was outrageous and funny, very Italian. At work, he and Paul got along great. So Paul wouldn’t have a reason to avoid Tony...
Oh, man. It must have been Irene he was avoiding. But why? There must be some history there.
Paul noticed him watching. “Thanks, Jace. Why don’t you just put an ad in the paper that the chief of police is scared to be in the same room with your sister?”
Jace bit his lip. “Sorry, man. I just wanted you to know you were welcome. I’m sure Irene has forgiven you.”
Forgiven him? This was getting interesting, but Dan felt uncomfortable getting such a personal glimpse into his friends’ lives. Especially into something Paul clearly didn’t want to discuss. Dan slid his eyes to Maggie. She was riveted to the conversation before them, her head tilted and her brows furrowed. She had obviously caught the undertones but didn’t know enough specifics to draw an accurate conclusion.
“Can we please stop talking about it?” Paul rubbed his neck.
Okay, this he could deal with.
“Talking about what?” Dan raised an eyebrow at Jace. “Dude, do you have any clue what he’s ranting about?”
Jace played along, as Dan had known he would.
“Nah, not one. He’s been under stress. Maybe it’s taking its toll.”
“Yeah, we better get something to eat. What did Mel make?”
“Chicken enchiladas and Spanish rice.”
On cue, Dan’s stomach gave a loud rumble. The three men started laughing. “Let’s go.”
Only then did he notice Maggie’s stiff posture. Her hands were clenched at her sides and the color had leeched from her face. Her black curls made her skin appear even whiter.
“Maggie! What’s wrong?”
She avoided looking at Jace and Paul. Her slender frame was shaking.
“How can I go to that house, Dan?” she hissed. “I was on the jury that put her in jail. I don’t belong in her home.”
She was ready to cry, Dan realized, alarmed. He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “Shh, Mags. I told you, Melanie doesn’t hold a grudge. Think of Jace here. He put her in jail and she still married him. Honest. I wouldn’t let you go there if I thought she held you responsible or blamed you in any way.”
She still wouldn’t look at him. Using one knuckle, he gently edged up her chin so he could see her blue eyes. It was important that she believe him. The urge to kiss her when their eyes met took him by surprise. He tightened his grip on her shoulders for a brief moment before letting her go. Deliberately not looking at Jace and Paul, he watched her.
Finally, she straightened her shoulders and gave one quick nod. Her jaw was taut, which let him know she was still worried. But, he noted with pride, she wasn’t going to let her worries stop her.
That’s my girl.
Except she wasn’t. And never would be.
ELEVEN
Melanie Tucker was not what Maggie had expected. Oh, she remembered the long dark hair, brown eyes and smallish stature. What she didn’t remember was the beaming smile, which seemed to fill the room with warmth. Melanie radiated peace and joy. But there was also a strength about her. Here was a woman who had known sorrow but had not been controlled by it.
Her eyes stung as Melanie greeted her husband. Jace and Melanie were truly in love, and they didn’t need to touch for it to show. It was in every glance and smile. Maggie shook her head. Who would have figured that these two would have ended up together, given their history?
When Dan introduced her to Melanie, Maggie decided to bite the bullet. Sh
e had learned long ago that sometimes you just needed to be blunt.
“I’m sorry that I thought you were guilty six years ago,” she stated, ignoring Dan, whose jaw dropped. Hopefully Jace would catch him if he fell over. “I acted without malice, but I will totally understand if you don’t want me in your home.”
Melanie exchanged glances with Jace.
“This is kinda déjà vu-ish,” she remarked to him. Then to the others, she said, “When I was first released, Jace’s mother didn’t want me in her home because she thought I was a criminal. I decided then that I would never unfairly judge another if I could help it.” She walked forward and took Maggie’s hands. “I hold nothing against you. You did what you were supposed to. The fault wasn’t yours.”
Blinking back sudden tears, Maggie nodded.
“Enough with the drama. I’m starving,” Dan complained.
“Stop your whining. Dinner’s ready.” Taking her husband’s hand, Melanie led the way to the kitchen. The table was already set. It wasn’t until they were all seated around the table that Maggie realized there was one extra place setting. She raised her eyes and saw Dan was looking at the same spot.
“Um, Melanie? Are you still expecting someone?”
Something in his voice alerted Maggie to the fact that he was nervous. Melanie, however, looked serene. Maggie wasn’t fooled. There was pure defiance in her eyes.
“Yes. There was someone else who wanted to meet Maggie.”
Who wanted to meet her? Her stomach cramped. A tremor started deep inside. Had Melanie betrayed her? Was this a trap? Desperate, Maggie started to rise, but Dan’s hand on her wrist made her pause.
“You’re safe. No one would harm you here.”
Easy for him to say. Or maybe not. He was looking a little tense himself.
Someone knocked on the front door. It squeaked on its hinges slightly as it was pushed open.
“Mel? Jace?”