GRIPPED (Romance Mystery & Suspense Box Set)

by Abbott, Alex

“What’s that supposed to mean? You think I’m lying to you?”

  The cop’s dark eyes bored into his. “Yes, Carter. I think you’re full of shit.”

  “Go to hell,” Jack snarled.

  The cop laughed. “You would like that, wouldn’t you? Well, let me tell you that if anyone’s going to hell it’s you.” Jabbing his finger in Jack’s chest to accentuate his next words, the thickset officer growled, “You’re going down for this, Carter. You took advantage of this poor young woman and then dumped her when she turned on you.”

  “What? That’s ridiculous!”

  “Not so ridiculous to me, bub. And not so ridiculous to the judge.”

  “Why would I save her and call 911 if I wanted her dead?”

  The cop shook his head. “I don’t think you’re the one that saved her, Carter. I’m pretty sure some mystery man saved her and when the police finally showed up you found yourself with your ass in your hands and decided to play mister hero man.” He grinned. “You’re finally going down, Jack. And this time daddy won’t be around to save you.”

  Jack felt a strong urge to slug the bastard but with extreme effort managed to restrain himself. Instead, he grunted, “Prove it, you son of a bitch.”

  The cop gestured to Melanie. “Trust me. She will.”

  Chapter 2

  “I don’t know what’s going on. I really don’t.” I buried my face in my hands and my shoulders slumped. The woman had finally revealed herself as Linda Soakes, and claimed to be my mother. As difficult as I found it, I had to confess neither the name nor the person rang a bell.

  “It’s fine, Miss Harper,” said the policeman. He’d been trying to get my version of what happened but since I absolutely didn’t remember a single thing until the blue-eyed man fished me out of the water, I felt I hadn’t been of much help.

  I looked up. “So my name is Melanie Harper?”

  “We’re still trying to get confirmation on that, Miss Harper, but according to your mother it is.”

  “My mother,” I said feebly.

  “That’s right. Mrs Soakes says you disappeared from your flat on Pelican Avenue three nights ago. Since you live by yourself, it took your family until this morning to find you missing and call us in. It was only when we did a routine follow-up on a hospital Jane Doe report that we made the connection.”

  “Three days ago,” I repeated automatically. “Where have I been all this time?”

  The police officer coughed. “The doctor assures me that nothing, erm, untoward has occurred, Miss Harper.”

  I looked up sharply. “Untoward?”

  The burly copper looked positively flustered. “Nothing of a, um, sexual nature, Miss.”

  My eyes went wide. “Oh.”

  “It’s one of the first things the doctors checked.”

  “So you think... I was held all this time?”

  “Too soon to tell.” The officer coughed again, then said, “Are you sure you don’t know Jack Carter?”

  I shook my head adamantly. It was the third time the cop asked me the same question. “Never seen him before in my life. At least,” I quickly amended, “as far as I can remember.”

  Like before, the cop looked disappointed. “Right. Of course.” With a deep sigh, he closed his tiny notebook and eased his rumpled bulk from the plastic hospital chair. “As soon as you remember something—anything—be sure to—”

  “Get in touch. I will, officer.” The moment he started moving toward the door, I felt a surge of panic. I didn’t want him to go and leave me alone just yet. Stalling for time, I said, “So what happens now?”

  “Your mother has arranged for your return home, Miss.” He gave me a rare smile that wrinkled up his broad, toad-like face. “I’m sure that once you find yourself in familiar surroundings, your memory will come back in no time.”

  “Thanks. I hope so. It’s not much fun to go through life as Jane Doe.”

  He barked a curt laugh that didn’t sound unpleasant. “I can well imagine. Just... take it easy, all right?” He gestured at the card he’d slipped onto the bedside table. “And let me know as soon as you remember what happened.”

  “Thanks...”

  “Bill,” he offered. “Bill Rattner.”

  After a final nod, he exited the room.

  I lay back against the pillow, my mind a jumble of discordant images and sounds. Only one thing stood out amongst the welter. Paris. For some reason, I had a strong urge to go to the City of Light.

  ***

  The door had opened noiselessly and the man had taken a seat by my side before I was stirred from my deep slumber by the scraping of the chair on the white tile floor.

  When I looked up, I had the strongest sense of déjà vu. Those clear blue eyes... His face was all hard planes and angular lines, as if hewn from the living rock, except for his lips, which were full and sensuous. He was clad in a black leather jacket that added to his stark attractiveness. I found myself staring at him, mesmerized.

  He gave me an apologetic grin. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “I—wasn’t there a cop in here before?”

  The man’s face darkened. “He left.”

  “That’s right.” I rubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands. Then it struck me. This man. He’d saved my life. Mortified, I stammered, “I’m sorry, but aren’t you the man who fished me out of the river?”

  He laughed, and surprising dimples appeared on his cheeks as he did. “I did. Look, I didn’t mean to intrude, but I just wanted to see if you were all right.”

  “You’re not intruding,” I hastened to say. “Not at all. In fact you might say you’re the only person in my life right now.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Oh? How’s that?”

  I threw up my hands. “You’re the only one I seem to remember. Everything else is just a blur. There was a woman in here just now claiming to be my mom?”

  He nodded briefly. “Linda Soakes. I saw her.”

  This surprised me. Had he been here all this time? “Well, I don’t remember her at all. For all I know she could be anyone.”

  “I see.”

  “I mean, I don’t know who she is. I don’t know who anyone is, including me. So you, sir, are my only friend in the whole world right now.”

  Flashing that smile again, he laid his hand on the clean linen and through it gave my arm a tiny squeeze. For some strange reason, the gesture sent ripples of electricity shooting up my spine. “I know what you mean.”

  “Why? You’ve suffered from memory loss as well?”

  A mischievous twinkle appeared in his eye. “Temporary memory loss. Induced by massive amounts of alcohol.”

  “Ah.”

  “Yes.” Then he seemed to realize this probably gave the wrong impression, and he hastened to add, “But that was a long time ago, Miss Harper.”

  “Melanie. Apparently.”

  “Jack. For sure.” He grinned. “Jack Carter.”

  Once again, those dimples jumped out at me. They lent him an extreme cuteness bordering on the criminally sexy. I became aware of his hand, still draped across my arm, only a thin layer of cotton separating us. Heat pulsed through me at the thought of his naked skin on mine. Then suddenly my mind made a quantum leap and those powerful hands were all over me, tenderly exploring every curve and swell.

  He must have sensed my lapse of reason, for his eyes flashed hotly, and he gave my arm another squeeze before clearing his throat. “I, erm, guess I’ll be going then. I’m glad to find you doing so well, Melanie.”

  The thought of him leaving suddenly frightened me, just like before with the cop. “Jack? Could you... stay a little longer?”

  If I’d expected him to balk at the odd request, I was mistaken. He smiled reassuringly. “Of course. I’ll stay as long as you like.”

  And I’d just given him a smile of gratitude when the door opened again and Linda Soakes entered, accompanied by a man with an angry red scar across his brow. The sight of him froze the mar
row in my bones, and before I could stop myself, I’d clasped Jack’s hand, and whispered in his ear, “Don’t let them take me, Jack. Please don’t let them take me!”

  Chapter 3

  “I...” Jack quickly assessed the situation. The determined look on the face of Linda Soakes. The look of genuine fear in Melanie’s eyes. But it was Linda’s companion who decided him. The man was positively leering. Fat and balding, he looked about Linda’s age, his mouth twisted in an expression of perpetual contempt and his eyes dark and filled with quiet menace. If this was Melanie’s dad, he obviously wasn’t too happy to see her.

  “Honey! I’m so glad we find you!”

  Jack, whose hand was still resting on Melanie’s arm, felt a shiver of apprehension course through her slender body at these words. He remembered the nasty bump on her head and the doctor’s theory she’d been hit over the head before ending up in the river.

  Though she’d lost her memory, it was obvious she was scared of these people, whether they were her parents or not. Perhaps the survival instinct that had saved her life before somehow knew she’d suffered a terrible fate at their hands.

  He looked into her eyes—pleading, sunken eyes but oh so beautiful and haunting—and his resolve strengthened.

  Whatever the hell was going on here, he’d be damned if he’d let any more harm come to this young woman.

  He quickly rose to his feet and approached Melanie’s parents with outstretched hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. Jack Carter.”

  “You’re the one who found her,” said Linda, pasting an exaggerated smile on her face.

  “That’s right, ma’am.” Without breaking stride, he pushed on toward a wheelchair sitting idle in the corner of the room. He quickly rolled it next to the bed and gestured for Melanie to climb in.

  “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to take your daughter to the second floor.” He shrugged. “X-rays. Just a precaution.”

  “You’re taking her up? Why not the nurse?”

  Jack nodded at Melanie’s father, who looked positively suspicious. “Budget cuts, I’m afraid. They’re understaffed at the moment so I offered to lend a hand. Hope you don’t mind waiting a couple of minutes? The head nurse assured me it won’t take long.”

  The pair exchanged a suspicious glance, but Jack didn’t wait around for permission. Before they’d had the chance to respond, he was out the door and racing down the corridor with Melanie.

  Looking back, he saw them emerge from the room, looking greatly perturbed. He held up his arm. “Take a seat! She won’t be long!”

  Then he was through the swinging doors separating this ward from the next, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

  Melanie, who hadn’t said a word, peered back, and when she saw they’d left her parents behind, seemed to relax.

  “Thanks, Jack. I-I-I don’t know what came over me, but suddenly I was scared shitless of being left alone with my parents.”

  Jack frowned and voiced a thought that had taken hold of him. “If they are your parents, that is.”

  Melanie jerked her head around. “I-I was thinking the exact same thing.”

  “Let’s get you out of here.”

  “Where? I have no place to go.”

  “Don’t you have an apartment?”

  She nodded. “I have. On Pelican Street, Bill told me. But...” She wrung her hands and gave him another pleading look.

  He understood. “You can stay at my place until we figure out what the hell is going on.”

  “Your place? But—”

  “It’s all right. I’m one of the good guys. Trust me.”

  She gave him a watery smile. “I know. I don’t know how I know, but... I do.”

  Jack quickly steered the wheelchair down the corridor until he found the elevator. It seemed to take the damn thing ages to reach their floor, and both he and Melanie kept darting anxious glances in the direction they came from.

  Finally the car arrived and they joined half a dozen other patients and visitors inside. An old man leaning heavily on his IV stand eyed him morosely. Then it dawned on him the man wasn’t staring at him but at Melanie. In their haste to leave the room, she hadn’t put on anything over her hospital gown, which was a lot more revealing than she probably would have wished. He stared at the soft swell of her breasts clearly visible through the flimsy gown and swallowed heavily. Dammit. She was naked underneath that thing.

  He quickly hitched out of his jacket and slung it across her shoulders. Gratefully, she projected a warm smile at him.

  “Thanks,” she whispered. “Again.”

  He merely nodded, staring down the old lecher, who, if he was disappointed, did a great job hiding it.

  Five minutes later, they were at his BMW, and he was helping her into the passenger seat. Another five minutes, and they were cruising down the road, both heaving simultaneous sighs of relief. Their eyes met, and they both laughed. He was pleased at the sound of her voice. Her smile touched her eyes, and as they lit up, he felt a familiar tug at his heart. Even in her current state of dishevelment, she was hot!

  She’d tucked some straying strands of hair behind her ears, and he watched in fascination as her full lips seemed to extend an invitation. Suddenly, he felt an almost irresistible urge to lean over and worry those lips with his own. Instead, he returned her smile. “If Linda Soakes and that guy really are your parents, they’ll be pretty pissed by now.”

  The smile disappeared. “The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced they’re not, Jack.”

  He glanced over at her. “You sure about that?” When she nodded, he added, “Best we take you to the police then.”

  “You think so?”

  “The cop who interviewed you? He seems to think foul play’s involved.” He cut her a look of concern. “Someone did a pretty good number on you, Melanie.”

  “I know. Bill told me.”

  “Bill? Oh, right. Rattner.” He grimaced at the thought of having to see the hostile cop again, but it couldn’t be helped.

  Melanie must have sensed his reluctance. “What’s the story with you and Bill? He kept asking me if I knew who you were.”

  Jack gripped the wheel a little tighter. “It’s a long story.”

  “I’ve got time.”

  Jack shook his head. “Later. First let’s get you some help.”

  He really wasn’t ready to discuss his complicated relationship with the Bill Rattners of this world.

  She gave a soft whimper and he looked over. His heart skipped a beat when he found her slumped over in her seat.

  “Melanie!”

  Brusquely, he pulled over, almost hitting a station wagon and a utility vehicle.

  He lifted her head and saw she’d passed out again. Oh, God. He should never have checked her out of the hospital. She was probably suffering from a concussion.

  Checking traffic in his rearview mirror, he darted out and rounded the car to her side. Quickly easing her out of her seat, he heaved her up in his arms and carried her over to the back of the car. Her head lolled against his shoulder, and his heart pounded in his chest. He managed to open the rear door and eased her onto the back seat, making sure to properly buckle her up. As he did so, her hospital gown shifted. He froze as he caught sight of her porcelain skin, the swell of her breast squeezed against his thumb. The warmth of her flesh against his hand sent a torrent of lust raging through his groin, and he swallowed with difficulty, trying to tear his eyes away.

  “Christ, Jack,” he groaned. “What are you, a fucking pervert?”

  He carefully readjusted her dress, and draped his jacket over her once again, tucking it in so it wouldn’t slip.

  He stared down at her for a moment, studying her frozen face. Her hair was matted to her skull, and she looked thin and gaunt, but it was clear she was beyond gorgeous. Delicate, even features and cheekbones designed to make a plastic surgeon weep in envy, she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. He briefly trailed his finger along her pale ch
eek, then gently pressed the door shut and took out his cell.

  “Robert? Jack. I need your help, buddy. Yes, right now.”

  Chapter 4

  They were strangling me. Th-they were choking me! I fought as hard as I could—slung their hands away but they pinned me down. Held my hands in an iron grip and I couldn’t move—couldn’t budge—could only watch, helplessly, as they prepared the syringe.

  Just before they plunged the needle into my flesh, I cried out in anguish and confusion.

  “Stop! No! Not the needle!”

  I opened my eyes and found myself falling into the deepest blue. A sonorous voice intoned the same words over and over again. “It’s all right, Melanie. It’s all right. You’re safe now. You’re safe.”

  I looked down and saw the needle leave my arm. I wanted to scream and shout but the drug took effect immediately, and I felt its calm take possession of me. A warm relaxation seeped through my veins, and I felt my body go limp.

  “Just something to help you relax,” the voice soothed.

  With a quickening of the pulse I recognized the man. “Jack? Is that you?”

  “It’s me. And this is a good friend of mine. Robert is a doctor.”

  My gaze shifted to the man handling the needle. He stared down at me with a frown of concern etched on his bearded face. He was young, like Jack, and now that the wave of panic had subsided, I saw he had kind eyes. Doctor’s eyes.

  “You suffered a nasty bump, Melanie,” he said in a soft, reassuring voice. “And if I’m not mistaken more physical abuse than your mind cares to remember.”

  I swallowed, my eyes stinging with tears. “Abuse? But I thought the doctors at the hospital said nothing... sexual...” The words stuck in my throat.

  Robert shook his head. “I read the report. And thank God nothing of that nature was done to you. But I did discover multiple needle marks on your arm, indicating you were sedated by whoever abducted you. And you have several bruises on your back and shoulders.” He grimaced. “Possibly sustained in a botched attempt to escape your captors.”