Cold Case Recruit

by Jennifer Morey

  She put her arm around him and looked over at Brycen as her heart swelled with warm love. He answered her look, equally touched by the power of the moment, by Junior’s act of innocent trust. He put his arm on the boy’s upper arm and propped his head on his other hand.

  Her awe lasted only so long. What would Brycen’s leaving do to Junior? All this progress will have been for nothing. Maybe she should have been more careful. Seeing her son react in such a positive way had her cheering, but maybe he’d have been better off going through this tough time on his own, and with her.

  When next she met Brycen’s eyes, she saw passion. This closeness affected him in ways he couldn’t have predicted.

  *

  A ringing phone woke Brycen the next morning. Junior mashed to his side, Drury with her arm over her son and hand on Brycen’s bare chest, he experienced a quick and strong bolt of longing. What if he ended his show? Could he move it to Anchorage?

  The phone rang again, and he realized it was his cell. Picking it up from the side table, baffled over the two questions that had run through his mind, he answered.

  “Cage.” Beside him, Drury stirred, rolling to her back. The covers slid down and one of her breasts peeked out from the twisted material.

  “It’s Chandler. We got a lead on Watts. He’s staying at the Antler Motel.”

  “He’s still here?” Brycen sat up, reaching for Drury’s nightgown as Junior began to wake, trying to ignore her sleepy but love-struck look.

  Pulling the material over her nipple, she looked down and grew more awake as she straightened the gown.

  “We’re checking now,” Chandler said. “One more thing you’re going to want to hear. The lead came from Evette Cummings. She called from her mother’s house this morning, as soon as she heard Melvin had been arrested.”

  “Her mother? We spoke with her.” Brycen got up off the bed, aware of Drury’s glances toward his body.

  “I’m hungry,” Junior said.

  “Okay, get in the shower and get dressed.” Drury kissed his nose.

  “She hid there,” Chandler said as Brycen watched the mother-son exchange, Junior smiling up at her.

  “Her mother lied to protect her,” Chandler went on. “Evette was too afraid Watts would find her, or her husband would tell him where she was. Melvin came looking for her a few times.”

  Junior crawled off the bed and walked out of the room as though he’d slept with the two of them many times before.

  “How did she hide?” In a bedroom? Where and how had she not been sighted by others or found by Melvin and Watts?

  “She never left the house and her family made no secret over how they felt about Melvin. They didn’t let him in. Watts sent someone looking, but Evette managed to hide.”

  “How does she know where he is?”

  “She said that’s where he goes when he’s here. She heard Melvin talking to him. It’s his secret place. Melvin didn’t know she heard them talking. After he started smacking her around, she began to pay attention to what he was doing. Eventually, she got caught.”

  And that’s why she’d run.

  “We have a team ready,” Chandler said. “Checking guests at the hotel. Watts would have used an alias.”

  “All right. I’m on my way.” He’d drop Drury and Junior off at her parents first. Drury didn’t need to go with him and he definitely didn’t want Junior there.

  Disconnecting, he went into the master bathroom and started the shower. By the time he stepped in, Drury followed. Her naked body took over his attention.

  “No morning kiss?” she said.

  He slid his hand around to her lower back and pulled her against him. Kissing her, he wondered why they kept doing this. The only good thing was Junior couldn’t see them.

  “Who called?” she asked against his wet mouth.

  “Chandler. They found Watts.”

  She jerked back. “Really?”

  “I’ll drop you and Junior at your parents’ and meet the team.”

  “You want to drop me off, too?” She kissed his mouth.

  She sped up his breathing, her slick skin sliding against his, her nipples hard.

  “Yes. It’s over. Watts will be arrested.”

  “The case is closed.” She kept kissing him, more fervently now, as they both drew closer to the time when he’d have to leave.

  He didn’t want to call this farewell sex, but he had a strong feeling Drury needed the same. He had to return to Chicago. Even if he came back to Alaska, he couldn’t do that overnight.

  “I’m afraid to ask, what about us?” she breathed.

  He lifted her and pressed her against the back shower wall. “Wrap your legs around me.”

  Kissing her to stop her questions, he found her softness as she hooked her legs around him. He entered her with the urgency he felt, the confusion over how he felt for her. Kissing her, making love with her, took him away from the conflict.

  He kissed her as he moved, gently bobbing her up and down against the wall, warm water at his back and misting her. She dug her fingers into his wet hair and leaned her head back as he ran his tongue down her neck to her breasts. He held her while he caressed one breast. Treating the other to the same taste, he went back to her mouth and kissed her harder.

  Unable to slow the craving, he thrust quicker. Her audible breaths heightened the building ache for release. He stopped a groan as he watched her peak, the sight and friction sending him to the same soaring cloud.

  *

  Drury flew the toy plane between the two front seats of the car Brycen had rented since his had incinerated, a black Volvo that in one way fit him and in another didn’t. Sleek and stylish and safe, but not as masculine as a truck or SUV. A girl car, her dad would say. She supposed she got that outlook from him. Her dad had a plane and drove a big truck. Her mother often teased him about how he stereotyped based on the vehicles people drove. She’d bought a big Cadillac SUV just to prove a point. Girls could drive big vehicles, too. He’d come back with, “Yeah, but only a girl would pick a Cadillac.”

  Her parents often played around like that. And she used to, as well. Flying this toy plane was the first time since Noah died that she’d done anything like this.

  “Vrrrroommm,” She twisted to fly in front of Junior’s face.

  He giggled and flew his superhero after her.

  “Okay, kids, we’re here,” Brycen said.

  Smiling, Drury flew the plane in front of his face and he just looked over at her as though she’d gone coo-coo. With a laugh, she got out and joined her son on the driveway, walking with him toward the door as he continued to fly his superhero.

  She took the doorknob and found it locked. “Hm. They must not be home yet.” She dug into her purse for the key she had.

  “Where are they?” Brycen asked.

  “They said they were going to go out for breakfast. Must have hit the church crowd.” It was Sunday.

  When she had the door open, she turned to Brycen to say goodbye.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said, leaning in for a kiss, pressing soft warm lips to hers and giving her a whiff of his cologne.

  He moved back and met her eyes, the fire of yearning for more burning.

  She didn’t think he’d planned to kiss her, just automatically did before going. Like a husband. Like a father. She felt part of a family again. What a wonderful, welcome gift.

  “Ew,” Junior said, looking up at them.

  Brycen grinned down at him. “Watch your mother for me, Partner.”

  Junior smiled big. “I will.”

  To Drury he said, “Don’t wreck your plane while I’m gone.” He tapped her plastic toy plane in her hand.

  Laughing softly, full of joy, she watched him walk back to the Volvo, appreciating his butt in jeans beneath the hem of his leather jacket. She sighed wistfully. She could do this the rest of her life.

  The last thought came unbidden and she quickly put it away. Best to not start hoping he’d stay an
d be a family with her. When would he say goodbye? When he returned, after arresting Dexter Watts? Should she prepare Junior?

  “Mom.” Junior tugged on her sleeve.

  She followed him inside and closed the door to a quiet house. Putting her purse on the front entry table and handing the plane to Junior, she found a note her mother had left.

  This came for you.

  Mom.

  Drury lifted an envelope, one a card would hold. Opening the top, she slid out the card. It was from Avery.

  I wasn’t sure how to get in touch with you and Brycen. I would like to apologize for the way I treated Brycen when I first saw him. I’ve had to live with what losing my sister did to my father. She was always his favorite and I often struggled with being second. I guess that’s why I went along with his bitterness for so long. I could see he was hurting and wanted to help, but I see now that I felt obligated to agree with him. Maybe in some way I did this to win his love.

  You were kind when you could have been justifiably angrier than you were. We probably don’t deserve your or Brycen’s forgiveness, but I’d like to try to earn it. I’ve spoken with my father and with my mother’s help, we’ve managed to make him see what an ass he’s been. The time has come to put our bitterness behind us.

  We would like to meet Brycen and try to establish more friendly terms. I don’t expect he’ll want to become close friends, but if we could at least part ways amicably, I think this would go a long way to heal my father, and maybe ease Brycen’s mind some. Would he be willing? I thought it best to approach you first, since I expect Brycen won’t initially want anything to do with us.

  Avery.

  She had left her phone number.

  Drury wasn’t sure how long Brycen would be apprehending Dexter Watts. But meeting Avery and her father would do Brycen good. Would he be angry if she interfered? He might not ever want to see or talk to Kayla’s family again.

  Junior’s toys clattering to the hardwood floor preceded his high-pitched scream.

  Drury pivoted, her pulse flying as she saw a well-dressed man with a gun. He stood behind Junior, one hand grabbing his arm and the other pressing a gun to his head.

  All the blood left Drury’s head. At first light-headed with a bolt of fear, she felt aggressive protectiveness quickly taking over.

  “Let go of my son.”

  “Mommy...?”

  “It’s okay, Junior.” What could she do? What did this man intend? Though she hadn’t seen a picture of Dexter Watts, he had to be that man.

  “Junior,” Dexter said. “I didn’t know this was your mommy. She’s been kind of a pain in my side lately.”

  “If you hurt her, my partner is going to get you,” he said.

  “Your partner, huh? Would that be my even bigger pain, Brycen Cage?”

  “He’s not a pain!” Junior stomped his foot down on Dexter’s.

  Dexter didn’t even wince. He gave Junior a jerk. “Hold still, kid.”

  “What do you want?” Drury moved toward him. If he’d come to kill her, he’d have done it by now. Why the drama first?

  “Junior? Do you want your mother to live?”

  That was the last thing Junior needed to hear. She watched, helpless, as his eyes rounded with stark fear. “You can’t take my mommy away!” Junior yanked against the grip on his arm.

  Drury stopped. “I’m not going anywhere, honey.” What if this terrible person succeeded and killed her? Brycen, too? She could not allow that.

  “Can you ride a bike, Junior?”

  “Yes.” He looked up at Watts.

  “Go get on the one out front and ride it to the Antler Motel. Do you know where that is?”

  “Let go!” He pulled harder.

  Dexter released him and he ran to Drury, who hooked her arms around him, relieved beyond measure that Dexter hadn’t harmed him.

  “There’s a bike in the front, Junior. It looks like it’s yours.”

  Her parents did keep a bike here for Junior, and he rode it enough to be familiar with the area. He didn’t go into town, but the Antler was on the outskirts of town. She didn’t care if he didn’t find it. As long as she knew he was safe—away from here and Dexter’s gun—she’d feel a lot better.

  And she’d find a way to deal with this disgrace to humanity.

  “Go get on it and give this to Brycen.” He handed the boy a folded piece of paper.

  What was that? What did he have planned? He had something planned, and it involved Drury.

  *

  Before Brycen entered the motel office, an agent emerged from there and intercepted him. The tall, sophisticated-looking black man put away his phone. “Detective Cage?”

  “Yes.”

  The agent tucked away his phone inside his suit jacket. “Watts isn’t here. He hasn’t checked out and is scheduled to stay through the weekend. I just received word that we’re going to wait for him to return. You’re welcome to wait with us, or someone can give you a call when we’ve apprehended him.”

  He wished someone would have called to tell him. He didn’t like leaving Drury.

  “Is anyone looking for him?” Were they really just going to sit here and wait? Odds were Watts knew his cover was blown and he’d fled.

  “Yes. We’ve got some agents trying to locate him, but he uses several aliases. We’re doing our best.”

  At least they hadn’t discounted the possibility that Watts had gone on the run. “Have someone call me when he turns up.” He’d rather not waste time hanging around a motel Watts most likely wouldn’t return to.

  “Will do.”

  Brycen started to turn back for the Volvo.

  “Hey, Detective.”

  Brycen stopped and looked back at the black agent.

  “When Chandler took Melvin’s statement, Melvin said Watts was pretty upset over what happened to the Tennessee House and that nobody messes with his business and walks away. Watch your back, all right?”

  He didn’t need to be told, but he appreciated the agent’s concern. “Thanks.” With a lift of his hand in farewell, he walked to the car and drove toward Drury’s parents’ house.

  They’d have to wait until either Watts returned to the motel or the FBI found him and made an arrest. Spending more time with Drury both enticed him and stirred up worry over leaving. He was sure she felt the same. For Junior, but also for themselves.

  As he turned onto the street where Drury’s parents lived, he spotted a boy riding a bike. His legs pumped frantically, as though he was late to get wherever he was going.

  And then he recognized Junior’s jacket.

  He pulled to the side of the road and rolled his window down.

  Junior saw him stop and braked. He jumped off his bike and ran over to Brycen, who checked the road for cars. Crazy kid!

  “It’s Mommy!” Junior yelled. “You have to help her!”

  Chills raced from his scalp down his spine. Something had happened to Drury?

  Junior ran to the passenger door and opened it himself, climbing in. While Brycen pressed the gas, he dug out a piece of paper.

  Brycen read as he drove. All that was written was an address. That and a warning not to bring anyone else or he’d kill Drury before he arrived.

  “The man told me to ride my bike to give this to you!” Junior breathed fast. “He has my mommy! Is he going to hurt her like he did my daddy?”

  “Not if I can get to her.” And he had to. Not only for Junior, but for himself. He could not lose another woman because of his line of work. It didn’t matter that Drury had contacted Kadin.

  He felt so much for her. Making love with her this morning...he could almost believe in marriage.

  *

  Watts forced Drury at gunpoint into the trunk of his car and drove for about thirty minutes. When the car stopped, she contemplated fighting. He’d tied her hands, so that might be tricky. When he opened the trunk with his pistol aimed at her face, her decision became clear. She’d have to wait for another opportunity. />
  He hauled her out of the trunk and on her feet. She saw a house on a large plot of land. The nearest house from here was probably two miles down the road. She could make it there if she could get away.

  “Move it.” He shoved her.

  She stumbled into a walk toward the house. A large brick Colonial with black trim, it spoke of money.

  “Is this your house?” she asked.

  “Just keep moving.”

  It must be. “You earned a lot of money off the suffering of innocent people.”

  At the door, he glanced back as he got out his keys.

  Drury rammed her elbow back and into his sternum. He bent forward with a grunt and she turned to run past him.

  Except he tripped her with his foot and she fell down onto the concrete slab of the front porch. Her shoulder hit hard and hurt like mad. She stifled an all-out yell and struggled onto her knees.

  Watts grabbed her by her tied arms and pulled her up, putting her face right up to his. “Try that again and I’ll beat you.”

  She moved her head away from the stench of his breath. “When’s the last time you went to the dentist?”

  He put the key in the door and pushed it open, his biting grip stinging as he yanked her inside and kicked the door shut. From there he took her down a hallway to a master suite.

  He shoved her forward. “In there.”

  She entered a walk-in closet big enough to be a small bedroom.

  Unfastening the cuffs, he said, “Put everything in those drawers in the duffel bag.”

  Glancing back, rubbing her wrists, she saw he pointed to the built-in drawers and a duffel bag on a bench before two low shelves of shoes.

  “Where are you going?” More important where would he take her? She didn’t know what the note read he’d given to Junior, but it must be directions to meet somewhere, presumably to kill both her and Brycen.

  Watts ignored her, sitting on the bench, holding his gun over his forearm, not really aiming at her.

  “The FBI knows who you are,” she said, throwing items from the first drawer into the duffel bag. “They’re going to catch you.”