by J. E. Taylor
Jennifer slid her arms around his neck. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
He nodded. “Yes, exactly what I was looking for.” Steve allowed his slow sexy smile to form and ran his fingers across her lips. “I want to hear you call out my name like that for the rest of my life.” His eyes lingered on her lips before they locked with her eyes.
Jennifer’s eyes widened at the admission and the underlying commitment he was offering. The thought cascaded a waterfall of emotions, elation and a fear she couldn’t fathom.
Steve closed his eyes and rested his forehead on her shoulder. He gave her a squeeze and pulled away. “I need a shower,” he said and rolled off the bed. He glanced at her and headed into the bathroom.
Jennifer pulled on her clothes and headed out to explore the yard. She glanced at the lake and around the property, her gaze falling on the path in the woods. The flip-flops she wore were not the ideal footwear for the woods, but she decided to screw it and go for a hike following the meandering overgrown path. When the woods opened up, her breath caught in her throat. The sun shone down on the most glorious outlet, making it sparkle like diamonds. Wild flowers grew on the edges of the water, the sweet smell drifting on the gentle breeze. The large flat clover-shaped rock jutted out over the water, making Jennifer smile. “Paradise Cove.”
A gentle field of lush moss covered the ground surrounding the water and Jennifer slipped her shoes off, stepping onto it. She was rewarded with the feeling of stepping on a cloud, and let out a small sigh of pleasure. Tentatively, she stepped onto the rock and took in the mirror like water. She saw her own reflection and laughed at the wonder in her eyes. She glanced around again. A bug landed on the water, causing a rippling effect, and she watched with interest as the ripples caused the image of her face to change.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” he asked, making her jump.
Jennifer turned. “Yes, it is.”
Steve stepped onto the rock behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck.
Jennifer wrapped her arms around his and looked at the reflection of the two of them in the water. He was watching her in the reflection. “What are you thinking about?”
“The future,” he said and smiled. “Maybe there is a bit of truth to that old legend after all.”
She turned in his grasp, meeting his sincere gaze. “You think?”
He gave her a shrug and glanced at his watch. “I have to go. We have a meeting at the fraternity tonight.”
“I have a class from seven to ten anyway.”
Steve frowned. He didn’t like the idea of her walking through the parking lot on campus in the dark. “Come by afterwards, all right?”
“Sure.” She smiled up at him. “Have you ever walked on that moss with your bare feet?”
“Yes, feels like you’re walking on a cloud.”
Jennifer laughed. “That’s exactly what I thought when I took my shoes off.”
He took her hand and waited while she slipped her shoes on.
“Where does that go?” She pointed to a narrow path of running water heading into the thicket out of sight.
“Nowhere.” He started to lead her back towards the cottage.
“It has to go somewhere,” she said, following him.
He paused. “My grandfather said it goes nowhere. It dries up in the bed of Black Cove.”
“Black Cove?”
“Yes, it’s just a big sink hole deep in the woods.” He pulled her along.
“Have you ever seen it?”
“No, there’s too much undergrowth in the forest to get back there.” He turned and smiled. “I tried several times as a kid, but couldn’t get through.” He started to laugh. “My grandfather blew a gasket when he found out.”
Jennifer looked at him with that curious look that made him want to snare her in his arms.
“The state forest starts back there and if I had gotten lost…” Steve trailed off and stopped walking, his grandfather’s tirade echoing in his head. “If I had gotten lost he might never have been able to get me back.” He tilted his head. “Funny, he never used the word find. He ranted about getting me back, not finding me in the woods.”
“Where did they find that little girl?” Jennifer asked.
“In the state forest.” The hairs on the back of his neck twitched. He shook his head and continued down the path, coming out into the clearing of the cottage.
“We never talked about the notebook,” she said as he led her across the lawn.
“I know. We made love, instead.” He looked back at her. “And one of us better start thinking about taking precautions, otherwise there will be a big surprise nine months from now.”
Jennifer blushed.
He turned away. “Not that I would mind,” he said, too low for her to hear.
“Are you always this reckless?”
“In my job, yes, in my private life, no.” He looked back at her. “Until yesterday.”
“Somehow, that doesn’t make me feel any better.”
He disappeared into the house and when he came out, he had the garbage bag in his left hand and his gun, cuffs and keys in the other. He threw the bag in the trunk and shuffled the gun to his right hand, slipping into the car.
Jennifer gasped. “Why do you have that?”
Steve laughed. “Don’t worry, the safety’s on.” He put it in the holster attached to the bottom of the seat. He purposely didn’t answer her question.
“Why do you have that?” she repeated, recoiling a little in the seat.
“Jennifer, I’m a cop,” he reminded her as he dropped the cuffs into the glove box and locked it. He started the car, meeting her gaze. The terror in her eyes gave him pause and he turned the car off. Reaching under the seat, he pulled the gun out and walked around to the passenger side of the car. He motioned for her to get out, opening the door for her. “Come on.” He took her hand and brought her into the woods near where he’d parked. They walked a few hundred feet to a small cleared area. Targets stood at the far side of the clearing, flanked by multiple bales of hay. “My grandfather’s shooting range,” he said and stopped at a metal cabinet opening it and taking out a pair of earplugs, sliding them to Jennifer and taking a second pair for himself. He smiled and showed her how to put them in her ears and then moved her in front of him. “You are getting a private shooting lesson from one of the FBI’s best.”
“I don’t want to,” Jennifer said, shrinking back into him.
“If we’re really going down this path together, you’ve gotta learn to be comfortable around guns,” he said, and showed her the gun. “This knob, here on the barrel, is the safety.” He pointed. “It’s on right now, so if you pull the trigger, nothing happens.” He demonstrated by pointing the gun at the targets and squeezing the trigger. Nothing happened. “Never point a gun toward yourself, even with the safety on, all right?” He flipped the safety off.
Jennifer nodded. Her hands still grasped the sides of his thighs behind her. She trembled, staring at the gun as if it were a king cobra ready to sink its fangs in the soft flesh of her hand.
“Stand in ready position.” He instructed and she looked back confused. “Karate stance,” he replied.
Jennifer shifted her weight, bringing her right foot back slightly so she stood at a slight angle to the target.
Steve reached down and grabbed her left hand with his, bringing it up to hold the butt of the gun. “Now bring your other hand up here,” he said, keeping his left hand under hers.
Jennifer hesitantly brought her hand up and put it over his.
“Now, take the gun and just hold it to feel the weight.” He slowly removed his hand as she took the gun. “It’s going to be loud even with the earplugs,” he said after a moment. “And the gun is going to kick back toward you.” He slid his hand back over hers. “Think you can hit that target?” He aimed the gun toward the target.
“I don’t know.” Jennifer stopped shaking. Something about the way he ran his
hand over hers and his voice talking softly in her ear aroused her and she forgot to be afraid.
“Okay, it’s time to put your finger on the trigger,” he said. “Gently squeeze.”
She did as he instructed. The resounding thunder filled the clearing and the spent 9mm cartridge discharged to their right. She jumped and the gun recoiled, kicking back enough for Steve to steady it in her hands. The bullet went high and right, hitting nothing but branches. He took it out of her hands with a smile. “That wasn’t too bad.” He flipped the safety on. He turned her gently and kissed her. “Don’t try this at home,” he chuckled. With one arm around her waist, he aimed the gun, flipped off the safety, shot twice in rapid succession and brought the gun back down in seconds, smiling at her wide eyes.
She watched him flip the safety on again and turned her head toward the target. A small hole graced the center of the bull’s eye and a ray of sunshine shone through. It hadn’t been there moments before. “You hit that dead on.”
“I’m one of the best.” He escorted her back to the car. “Feel a little safer now?” He glanced at her as he slid the gun under the seat and started the car.
Jennifer smiled. The arrogance and self-assurance he displayed on the shooting range stirred something deep within her. It also brought the point home that he was a federal officer, something that, despite the previous evening’s interrogation, had not really hit home until she saw the gun.
“This clip holds eight rounds,” he explained. “I’ll have to remember there are only five now,” he said to himself.
“This isn’t a game, is it?” she commented.
“No, it isn’t.” He sighed. “And if I’m wrong about you, I’m a dead man.” He shrugged and then raised his eyebrows. “But after the last two days, I guess I can die happy because I’ve already had a small taste of heaven.” He smiled without looking at her.
“You’re not wrong about me, Steve.” She put her hand on his.
Steve nodded and glanced at the floor by her feet. The notebook was still there. “Open that please.” He pointed his chin at the notebook. Jennifer leaned over and grabbed it, flipping it open at the center.
She is mine, he must die.
“It changed,” she said, almost tossing the notebook away.
Steve glanced at the bloody words and took a deep breath. “Close it.”
She did, tossing it back to the floor.
Steve glanced at the discarded notebook and then back at the road. His brow furrowed. He glanced at Jennifer and then back at the road as he pulled into the student center parking lot and slid into the spot next to her car, pulling the keys out of the ignition. Leaning back in the seat, he ran his hands over his face. “Hand me the notebook.”
Jennifer picked it up between her thumb and forefinger like a dirty tissue and held it out for him. She gripped the door with her other hand and watched as he opened it again. The words stared back at them.
“Who must die?” he asked like he was trying to solve the riddle in his mind.
You.
Jennifer gasped.
The words hadn’t changed and Steve looked over at Jennifer.
She was pale, her wide green eyes frightened as they looked from the page to him.
“What does it say?”
Her chin began to tremble as the tears spilled over. “You,” she whispered. “It says You.”
Steve closed the notebook. “I ain’t dying,” he said harshly, tossing the notebook behind her seat. “Neither are you. Not till we’re old and gray and our grandchildren are grown with kids of their own.” He grabbed the garbage from the trunk and crossed to the dumpster, tossing it inside. He stopped and took her in with his eyes. Nothing is going to hurt you. Not as long as I’m breathing. He promised himself.
Approaching her, he took her face in his hands. “I know it’s only been three days, but I’m in love with you.” He kissed her. “No matter what that says. We will both have long and happy lives. I promise.”
Jennifer’s chin began to quiver and her eyes filled with tears. “Don’t make me promises you might not be able to keep.” She put her head against his chest.
He started to say he would, but he just kissed the top of her head instead. She was right—in the line of work he was in, he couldn’t make those kinds of promises. “I promise I’ll be careful,” he finally said and felt her nod into his chest. He glanced at his watch. “I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had anything substantial to eat since yesterday afternoon. Do you want to grab a bite at the pub?”
“Why don’t we go back to my apartment?” Jennifer wiped her face. She fished through her pocketbook for her car keys. “I really don’t want to be around a bunch of people right now.”
“I can’t, babe. I’ve got to grab something quick and head back to the frat house.” He touched her face. “And we both know if I go back to the apartment, it won’t be quick.” Taking her hand, he said, “Come on.” He tilted his head toward the building.
“Steve,” she whined as he pulled her along each step, melting her resolve.
“You have to eat,” he said, making a valid argument and her stomach responded with a loud rumbling that made him raise his eyebrows. “See?”
“Okay,” she caved.
They went in and sat down. The pub wasn’t crowded and the waitress came right over to take their order. They each got a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and soda.
Steve scanned the nearly empty room, in a matter of seconds sizing up each person who came within his line of sight. No one in the room posed a threat and he returned his gaze to Jennifer.
“Do you do that everywhere you go?” Jennifer asked, observing his mental scan of the room.
“Yes,” he answered, his focus falling back on her.
Jennifer shook her head and laughed. “It’s a little unnerving at times.”
He smiled. “I guess we’re even.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your visions or glimpses or whatever you call them unnerve me.” He took a sip of water. “Did you ever have any other visions like you had about that girl?”
Jennifer thought about the question before answering. “I’ve had some nightmares. Always people I don’t recognize, but the dark figure is the same. I always woke up before….” She trailed off.
“Before what?”
“Before it killed them,” she answered and sipped her water. “At least I assume it killed them.” Steve leaned back in the chair, debating on asking the next question.
“What?” she asked, as if she could see the internal fight in his eyes.
“If I showed you pictures of the missing people, do you think you’d recognize them?” The look on her face made him regret asking the question.
“I don’t know.”
“Can you pinpoint when you had the visions?” he asked and held up his finger. The waitress put the plates on the table and headed off.
Jennifer looked down at her food. “I had three yesterday. One that happened two years ago, one that happened a month ago and one that hasn’t happened yet.”
“You have to eat,” Steve said when she pushed her plate back.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Yeah, you are,” he contradicted. “Try it, you’ll see.” He finished his burger and started on the fries.
Jennifer sent him a skeptical look but picked up the cheeseburger and took a bite. She glanced up at him in surprise as the hunger took hold in earnest. She inhaled the burger and began picking at her fries.
“Tell me about the nightmare yesterday.” He dipped a fry in ketchup and plopped it into his mouth.
“No.” Jennifer pushed her plate away and picked up her soda.
“Ignoring it won’t make it go away.”
When she raised her eyes, he unconsciously moved back in his seat. They were almost glowing they were so green. “You were hurt and bleeding and calling for me. It had you when I ran back into the clearing and it laughed.”
He dropped the french fry
back onto his plate as his appetite vanished. “Describe the clearing.”
Jennifer looked around and then back at him. “It was dark and I was being cut up by the brush as I ran away. It was even worse going back, but I made it. The clearing was as ugly and desolate as Paradise Cove is beautiful and lush.” She was quiet. “Mirror image, dark versus light.”
Steve signaled for the waitress to bring the bill and left the money on the table. He had heard enough for one day.
Jennifer was quiet as they walked to the cars.
“What’s on your mind?” Steve asked, seeing the crease between her eyes.
“Nothing really.”
“Seriously,” he prodded.
Jennifer leaned against the driver’s side door of her car. Steve watched in amusement as her cheeks turned crimson. “What?”
Jennifer rolled her eyes. “Today,” she began, and looked at her hands. “Had you ever done that before?” She glanced at him sideways.
“I’ve taught quite a few people how to shoot,” he answered. A smile played on his lips.
“That’s not what I’m asking.” She grinned and then suppressed it again.
He raised his eyebrows, questioning her silently.
“The, um, interrogation?” Her entire face was crimson now.
Steve laughed. “No. I’ve never used the handcuffs for… for pleasure.” He grinned and shifted on his feet, feeling a hint of rose color creeping into his cheeks as well. “And I’ve never so thoroughly interrogated anyone.” He glanced around the parking lot. “Have you had the pleasure of that kind of inspection before?” His eyes sparkled as he asked the question.
“No, never,” she said. “Tom wasn’t as creative as you are.”
He smiled in response. He kept forgetting how inexperienced she really was. “I have to go,” he replied, and stepped toward her. “And this conversation isn’t making it any easier.” He leaned down and kissed her gently. “I’ll see you tonight?”