Forever Alexa (Book Four In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series)

by Beauman, Cate

  Alexa took a right into the shopping plaza and pulled into a parking spot as close to the entrance as possible. She glanced around before she opened her door. The coast was still clear. She opened the back door. “Come on, sweetie, let’s—”

  “Excuse me, Ms. Harris. I’m Michael Pearson with News Twelve. Can I ask you a few questions about your sister’s disappearance?” One of News Twelve’s top anchormen ran toward her from the van that had screeched to a stop next to her car.

  Alexa glanced into his hungry brown eyes as she pulled a blanket from the backseat and covered Livy’s head. Then she scooped her little girl into her arms and hurried toward the door.

  “Ms. Harris, can you think of any reason why someone would want to take your sister?”

  Alexa quickened her pace as she tucked her face closer to Livy’s head, hidden by the soft pink fleece.

  “Was Abigail seeing anyone recently?”

  “Ms. Harris isn’t answering questions at this time,” a man said as an arm wrapped around her shoulders.

  Startled, Alexa whipped her gaze up to the vaguely familiar voice. Doug Masterson, a blast from her past.

  Doug ushered her into the store, grabbed a cart, and stopped when they stood well away from the windows in the produce aisle. His dark brown hair had thinned a bit, but he was still in excellent shape.

  “Doug, thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome. I saw you get out of the car and watched that guy swarm in on you like the vulture he is. I heard about your troubles, Alexa. I’m sorry for it.”

  She glanced down as so many memories came crashing back, colliding with the hell of her present. “Thanks. I’m hoping they’ll find my sister soon.”

  “We received the BOLO up in Pittsburg late yesterday afternoon. I was on duty. We’re all keeping our eye out.”

  “I appreciate it.” She wanted to tell him about the ransom demand and the phone she kept in her purse, to beg for his help, but she stayed silent as people she saw every day sent her curious glances from sympathetic eyes. No risking Abby. Afraid she might break her own rule, she blurted out the first question that popped into her mind. “What brings you down to Hagerstown?”

  “My wife’s family lives in Baltimore. We stopped off for a couple of things.”

  Alexa couldn’t help but smile. Doug Masterson, Jack’s old college roommate and notorious player. He’d graduated the year before her. It felt like years ago, but really it wasn’t that many.

  “I haven’t seen Jackson in some time. Haven’t talked to him either. You two keep in touch?”

  Her heart clenched. “Uh, no.”

  “I see you have yourself a little one here.” Doug tugged at the blanket as Olivia yanked the fabric from her head, grinning. Doug’s smile brightened for a moment, then faded.

  Alexa struggled not to turn, put Livy in the cart, and move away from the questions in Doug’s eyes. “We should probably get to our shopping. It was nice to see you again, Doug. Thanks for the help.” She set Livy in the back of the cart and waited for her daughter to sit on her bottom.

  “Alexa…”

  She turned and met his shocked stare, knowing he recognized Olivia’s sharply arched brows, dark blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and full mouth with a hint of cupids bow.

  “I had no idea. He never said—”

  “I need to go, Doug.” She started toward the grapes.

  “He’s not in Pittsburg anymore.”

  Alexa stopped.

  “He moved out to LA three years ago. He works for some fancy bodyguard firm now—Evan Cooke Security or something like that.” He shrugged. “Just so you know.”

  “Thanks. Goodbye, Doug.” She turned again, struggling to put the past away—where it belonged.

  Alexa stared out the living room window, watching the sun hover closer to the mountains in the distance. The deep country dark would soon surround her house. The dread of another long, sleepless night tightened the muscles of her shoulders and jaw until they ached. She eyed the Louisville Slugger, now leaning against the side table, as she listened to Olivia’s happy chatter filling the small space. Livy and her dolls were enjoying the tiny glass teapot Alexa had filled with milk, the apple she had quartered, and the graham crackers she set out for an impromptu after-dinner tea party.

  “Mommy, come play with us. You can sit by Lucy.”

  Alexa turned and gave Livy what smile she could. “Maybe in a little while, sweetie.”

  “The graham cracker is very yummy.” Livy held up the golden half of cookie, dangling it like a token bribe, before she took a big bite.

  “It looks wonderful, but I have more work to do on the computer.”

  Livy turned back to her life-sized baby doll and bit Lucy’s cracker too as the party began again.

  Alexa desperately wanted to join in on the fun but couldn’t. There wasn’t time. She had just over twenty-four hours to collect an unattainable amount of money. Sighing, she twisted the blind closed and turned away from the window, wishing the media vans were still parked along the dirt road out front. At least someone would’ve been close by while she waited for daylight again. The fifteen-car pile up on I-81 North sent the reporters and their news crews scattering several hours before. The knocks at the door had ceased. Abby’s disappearance had already been forgotten, and she had no choice but to keep it that way.

  Alexa glanced at Livy before she sat down to the laptop she’d left on the coffee table. She’d spent the last two hours researching ransom and hostage situations while dodging non-stop phone calls from concerned friends, co-workers, and of course the press. She’d let the answering machine pick them up until the message box was full. She couldn’t deal with the questions.

  She stared at the article she’d read before she had to put the computer down and walk away. The information had been so troubling, so depressing, she’d had to stop. The odds of Abby coming home were dwindling with every minute passing. Mr. Macabee had been correct; if she could get the money and pay the ransom, the kidnappers were likely to demand more and kill her sister anyway.

  Alexa closed her eyes and rubbed her fingers against the throb in the center of her forehead. What was she going to do? The media wasn’t an option. The police weren’t either. So where did that leave her? She glanced at Livy again, wiggled her mouse, and typed Evan Cooke Security, LA into her search engine.

  Hits for Ethan Cooke Security popped up instead. She followed the link to the website and studied the company’s bold red and black insignia. World renowned security firm, offering the best in close protection. Alexa clicked the mouse again and her heart stuttered.

  Jack.

  There he was among several other well-muscled men in the professional group photo. She moved her finger to his handsome face and traced it as she clutched the charm dangling from her necklace.

  “Excuse me. Can you help me?”

  Alexa glanced up from the books she was checking back in to the college library computer system and lost her breath as she stared into fantastic blue eyes. “What can I do for you?”

  “I have a ten-page paper due for one of my criminal justice classes in—” he glanced at his watch, “less than twelve hours.”

  She measured his charming smile and ball t-shirt stretched over broad shoulders and mounds of biceps. Her smile dimmed—another dumb jock. Why were the cute ones always a disappointment? She knew her eyes chilled as she answered. “Sounds like a personal problem. The Criminal Justice section is along that wall.” She pointed across the room.

  At ease and clearly unaffected by her scolding tone, he edged himself along the enormous desk. “So, do you practice that disapproving librarian look in the mirror?”

  She refused to give in to her smile. “I might.”

  “You’re too young to have that mastered. What a
re you, a freshman? I’ve never seen you before.”

  “I’m a sophomore, and I imagine you haven’t. I spend a lot of time in the library.” But she’d seen him—Jackson Matthews, junior, football star, frat boy, Mr. Popular with the ladies. Definitely not her type. Not that she actually had a type, because she’d never been on a date. Her grades were too important. Her scholarships were vital.

  He grinned. “I believe I was just insulted.”

  She smiled this time and shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “You’ve gone and hurt my feelings, and I don’t even know your name.”

  “Alexa.”

  “Alex,” he held out his hand. “Jackson Matthews.”

  Her brow shot up as she stared at him. “I know who you are. And it’s Alexa.”

  He stood and glanced at his watch again. “I guess I should get to work. Maybe I’ll see you around some time, Alex.” He flashed her another heart-stopping grin and walked toward the stacks she’d pointed out.

  She let out a long, shuddering sigh and looked down quickly when he glimpsed over his shoulder and smiled.

  The flip-top phone rang, startling Alexa out of her memories. She jumped and caught the laptop just before it crashed to the floor. Licking her lips, she set the computer on the coffee table and picked up the phone. “Hello? Abby?”

  “Wrong again, Sister Alexa,” the familiar mechanical voice said.

  Her stomach clenched with dread. “What—”

  “I said no press.”

  “I didn’t talk to them. I swear I didn’t. They followed me. Please don’t hurt her. Please don’t hurt Abby.”

  “I saw you on the news, Sister Alexa. Grocery shopping. You look just like her. I had no idea we could’ve gotten two for the price of one.”

  She rushed to her feet, grabbed the heavy wooden baseball bat with a trembling hand, and hurried to the entryway to check the lock as her heart rate soared.

  “You broke our deal. I’m docking you six hours. You’re down to twenty. Tick tock.”

  “No, I didn’t—”

  “Twenty hours or we take Olivia next.” The line went dead.

  Alexa gasped for breath as a terror like she’d never known constricted her chest. Not Livy. Not her Livy. She collapsed on the bottom stair in the landing, listening to her daughter’s sweet voice as she continued to play in the next room, oblivious to the danger and turmoil destroying their lives.

  Alexa struggled to her feet as her body racked with uncontrollable shudders and tears rushed down her cheeks. They had to go; they had to get out of here. She shoved the heavy bench in front of the door as she had last night and dashed up the steps, yanking a suitcase from the small walk-in storage space. She rushed into Livy’s room and pulled clothes from drawers and the closet at random, then hurried into her own room and did the same. She headed for the bathroom next, scooping toothbrushes and toothpaste into the travel bag she had yet to fully unpack from their trip to Virginia Beach.

  Alexa started back downstairs but stopped when Gordon, the mournful-looking stuffed frog Livy had slept with every day since her birth, caught her eye. She snatched the melancholy creature off the bed and bolted down the stairs with the cumbersome luggage, setting it by the door. “Livy, we have to go somewhere, sweetie,” she struggled to say, still fighting for each breath as adrenaline coursed through her veins.

  Livy looked up from her spot at her small pink table. She was dressed in the princess costume Abby had made her for Christmas. “I’m having a party, Mommy.”

  “I know, honey. I’m sorry, but we really have to go right now.” She flipped her laptop closed, dropped it into its case, and grabbed her purse. Next she took several of Livy’s books and shoved them into a small canvas bag. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  Livy’s bottom lip turned down and her eyes filled with tears. “Lucy wants to eat her apples. I want to play tea party.”

  “Later, honey.” Alexa glanced out at the darkening sky through the edge of the blind. She wanted them long gone from their isolated home. “You can bring your princess dress with you.”

  Livy’s eyes brightened. “Okay.”

  She held out her hand. “Let’s go.”

  Two hours later, Alexa clutched Olivia’s hand as they walked through Baltimore-Washington International, rolling the suitcase and booster seat behind them. She glanced around as they made their way to the ticket counter, fearful Abby’s kidnappers were somewhere close, watching for the perfect opportunity to snatch her daughter away.

  “Can I help you, ma’am?” The pretty blonde smiled from behind her computer.

  Alexa peered behind her, spotting the two men dressed in black pants and short-sleeved tops standing by the enormous panes of glass, staring in her direction. She picked up Olivia and clutched her tight. Were they here for Livy? “Yes. I need to buy two tickets.”

  “And your destination, ma’am?”

  What was her destination? She hadn’t thought that far. Her only instinct had been to flee. There was nowhere to go and no one to pick her up on the other end. She and Abby had always had each other, but now she was on her own. She moved her free hand to her necklace and rested her palm against the triangular charm. “LA,” she said in a rush. “Two tickets to Los Angeles, please.”

  “We have a couple of open seats on a redeye leaving in an hour.”

  She glanced over her shoulder. The men were gone, but that didn’t mean Livy was safe. “Okay, we’ll take them.”

  The agent told her her total, and she tried not to wince. This was going to eat into her already strained budget, but what choice did she have? Money meant nothing with Livy’s life in danger. She pulled her credit card free and her heart ripped in two. To save her daughter, she was leaving Maryland and her sister behind.

  Chapter 4

  Alexa cut Livy’s waffle as her daughter bit into another slice of banana.

  “Mmm, good.”

  “Save some of those pieces for your waffles, silly girl.” Alexa smiled and winked, trying desperately to hold on for Olivia. She hadn’t slept in three days. The mental and physical exhaustion were taking their toll.

  Livy grinned with her mouth full and her pretty blue eyes still sleepy.

  “Here, sweetie, eat up.” She pushed the plate of Belgian waffles in front of Olivia. “We have to leave after breakfast.”

  Alexa peered over her shoulder—a new habit—still fearful for Olivia’s safety. She studied the man sitting alone in the corner sipping his coffee while he read his paper. Was he just another weary traveler catching up on the news, or was he here to watch her daughter? Had she been followed to LA? Alexa had lain in bed after they checked in to their hotel at two a.m., listening to every sound, terrified that the men who’d grabbed Abby would break down the door and snatch Olivia away. Even the chair she’d propped under the doorknob had done little to soothe her fraying nerves.

  Alexa spooned up cereal and shuddered over the first bite. Her stomach was raw and her head aching with the beginnings of a migraine. She swallowed the whole-wheat flakes, fighting the need to gag. She couldn’t keep Olivia safe or continue to function without food.

  As Olivia shoveled fruit and syrupy bread into her mouth, Alexa pulled her laptop from her case and woke the computer from sleep mode. Ethan Cooke Security’s webpage still filled the screen. She clicked the meet our agents tab and scrolled down. Jackson’s bold blue eyes stared into hers. She skimmed his short bio: resident of LA for over three years, former Pittsburgh police officer, graduated with honors from Europe’s most elite bodyguard school, top-ranking agent specializing in sight survey/risk assessment.

  Her gaze wandered to his picture again. Time hadn’t changed him much. He was still gorgeous, still perfect. His dark blond hair was shorter and cleaner cut than it had been when she knew him. His shoulders were broader, his bic
eps slightly larger. His tan told her he hadn’t lost his love of the great outdoors.

  She traced her finger over his arched brows; his square chin, a little more defined without the softness of youth; and his full lips with their hint of a cupids bow, remembering how they felt against hers.

  “Thank you.”

  Alexa whirled from the stack of books when a firm body pressed against her back and a white rose appeared in front of her face. Her breasts brushed Jack’s chest as she stared into eyes inches from her own. She cleared her throat as her pulse pounded, and she attempted to step back but slammed into the bookshelf instead. God, he made her nervous. “For—for what?”

  A slow smile played over his mouth. “For this.” He pulled stapled papers from behind him. “I nailed this assignment because you helped me.” He stepped closer, and she was trapped.

  “I—” she cleared her throat again when her word came out on a whisper. “I just pointed you in the right direction.”

  “No, that was the first paper. For this one you sat down with me.”

  He’d come to the library every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening over the last month, doing his homework, talking to her, asking her for some sort of help or other.

  “I think my parents might cry with joy when they see my grades this semester.”

  “It’s amazing what you can do when you actually apply yourself.”

  He grinned and moved closer until she swallowed and pressed a hand to his chest. “Let me take you out.”

  A commotion erupted in the front lobby before she could answer. “Yo, Jackson, let’s go, man. It’s party time.” The group of football players filing into the library followed up ‘party time’ with obnoxious hoots and hollers.

  “I’ll be there in a minute. Head on over without me,” he tossed over his shoulder.