by Sara Davison
Although it hadn’t seemed as though Holden fully believed that was what was happening in this case. Daniel’s brow furrowed. What other possible explanation could there be? It seemed fairly obvious that …
Electricity jolted through him. Probably because of some of the terrible things he’d seen happen to kids over the years, Holden had jumped to a conclusion that hadn’t even occurred to Daniel until this moment.
Maybe whoever was taking these kids wasn’t doing it for evil or self-serving purposes at all. Maybe Ted Stiller and his accomplices were stealing children for an entirely different purpose.
To save them.
Chapter Fifteen
“This breakfast better be as good as you say. I’m starving.” Daniel punched his former partner lightly on the shoulder as they walked toward the diner.
“It is, trust me. And it’s on me.” Bells jangled as Lou grasped the door handle and pulled it open. “I appreciate you coming with me to talk to the kids.”
“No problem. There’s nothing I enjoy more after a twelve-hour shift than driving to the other side of the city in rush hour traffic to tell a bunch of fifth-graders to make sure they wear a helmet when they go biking.”
“I’ll make it up to you. Joe’s serves the best bacon and eggs around.”
Daniel laughed. “I’m kidding. There’s nothing to make up for. I had a good time actually. Those kids were great.” He ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to straighten his short, slightly spiky hair as he followed Lou across the crowded room. “Felt good to be back in a school again, actually. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, I thought it would be good for you to get out of that office and slum it with us beat cops for a few hours.” Lou elbowed him in the ribs. “Help you remember what real work is like.” He slid into a red vinyl booth along the back wall and Daniel sat across from him.
The man in the booth next to them smiled and nodded at him. Daniel started. Gage Kelly. What were the chances of that? Daniel lifted a hand in greeting before picking up the menu and studying it. If the tantalizing smells of fried eggs and bacon hanging in the air were any indication, it had been worth the drive to get here.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee?” The rich aroma wafting from the pot in the server’s hand had Daniel reaching for the mug in front of him.
“Sure.” He looked up as he lifted his mug in her direction, and a tiny jolt of shock zipped through him. The woman was tall and slim, and her blonde hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail that made her look far younger than she was. The freckles sprinkled across her nose contributed to the illusion. His eyes riveted on hers—jade-green with tiny gold flecks—as she poured the steaming liquid into his cup. Something deep inside them that didn’t look young at all—some kind of hurt from the past, maybe—clutched at his chest. With a small shake of his head, Daniel tore his gaze from hers and concentrated on getting his mug back down on the table without spilling any of the contents on his fingers.
He was vaguely aware of his partner ordering across the table from him and used the opportunity to draw in several deep breaths, praying Lou hadn’t noticed his loss of composure.
“What can I get you?” Her voice was calm and friendly.
Daniel closed the menu. “Just the coffee for now, thanks.” He glanced at her name tag, careful not to make eye contact this time. Nicole. She closed her notebook and slipped it into the pocket of her apron before picking up the pot of coffee she’d set on the table. He didn’t look up at her again, but the moment she moved away he let out the breath he’d been holding. For the first time, he understood why people called it a spark–his entire body tingled as though he’d grabbed hold of an electric fence.
Lou smacked Daniel’s arm lightly with the back of his hand. “Not eating? I said breakfast was on me.”
“I know.” Daniel’s voice rasped, and he cleared his throat. “I guess I’m not as hungry as I thought.” He sipped from his mug and leaned against the back of the bench, trying to pass off the shock to his system as fatigue.
“Everything set for your birthday dinner next week?”
Daniel’s head jerked. Gage was smiling up at the server as she re-filled his mug. She leaned down and spoke softly to him in response, and they laughed. When she straightened, she ran her fingers lightly over his cheek. He grabbed her hand and pressed the palm to his mouth.
Ah. That’s that, then. A white-hot flash of longing slashed through Daniel’s gut. Not for her, he tried to convince himself, but for that closeness, the ability to make it seem like they were the only two people in a crowded room. What was the matter with him? Why couldn’t he have had this reaction to the lovely doctor that night at Sharleen’s? That would have been much more convenient. From what he’d gathered from his own experience and other people’s stories, however, love and convenience rarely went hand in hand.
You’re staring. He blinked. What was he doing, intruding on such an intimate moment? His cheeks, already warm, flared to over-heated. He dropped his gaze to the coffee mug he gripped in his hands. What is going on? He never reacted this way to a woman. Never. And he had absolutely no interest in a relationship with anyone right now. Not to mention that she was clearly involved with someone else, someone who, from all appearances, was a decent guy. Daniel must be more exhausted than he’d thought for his defences to be torn down so easily.
“You okay, Grey?” Lou’s brow furrowed as he studied him.
“Yeah, fine. I’ll be right back.” Daniel stumbled off the end of the bench and made his way around several tables to a hallway leading to the restrooms.
When the door had closed behind him, he gripped the sides of a porcelain sink and stared into the mirror. What are you doing? Don’t you think you have enough to deal with right now with this case? He let go of the sink and turned on the cold-water tap. Cupping his hands, he filled them with the water and splashed it on his face. Time to go home. And back to reality.
Drawing in a deep breath, he yanked open the door and made his way to the table. When he reached it, he clapped his former partner on the shoulder. “Look man, I’m sorry. I’m exhausted. I think I’m going to jump on the subway and head home. Talk to you later?”
Lou’s forehead wrinkled but he shrugged. “All right.” He nodded toward a booth in the corner where three uniformed cops were deep into breakfast. Daniel only knew one of their names, but all of them looked familiar, cops from one of the east side precincts. They’d give Lou a hard time for being out of his territory, but they’d also welcome him to join them, the whole big blue wall thing. “I’ll go eat with those guys. Thanks again for coming with me.”
“No problem.” Daniel spun on his heel and made his way toward the door.
“Leaving already?”
His stomach clenched. Nicole stood in his path, holding two plates of steaming eggs and ham. He allowed himself one more look into those green eyes and forced a grin. “Yeah, sorry. My friend will cover the coffee for me.”
“No problem.” She lifted the plates in her hand. “Nothing appeal to you?”
“Just my bed.” Prickles of heat scrabbled along his skin as he realized how that sounded. “I mean, I’m coming off a twelve-hour shift, and I realized I need sleep more than food at the moment.”
Her smile widened. The effect went straight to his knees. A few days ago he’d stared down a guy, crazy high on meth and waving a gun in his face. Somehow that had been easier than standing here in front of her. He reached for a chair to steady himself.
“Well, if you’re sure. Come back soon. We serve the best breakfast in town.”
“So I’ve heard. I will.” Except that he wouldn’t. One thing about him, he rarely made the same mistake twice. Stepping back, he let her pass. A light, floral scent drifted in the air behind her.
Daniel pushed through the door and out onto the sidewalk, swallowing mouthfuls of relatively fresh air in an attempt to slow the rapid beating in his chest. Giving his head a shake to clear it of the aroma—and
the memory of green eyes, freckles, and shimmering gold hair bouncing in a ponytail—he headed for the nearest subway station and the safety of home.
Chapter Sixteen
Nicole reached for the Open sign on the door and stopped. A man strode down the street toward the diner, long black coat flapping behind him in the wind. Nicole smiled and pushed open the door. “Hey, you.”
Gage bounded up the stairs and came inside. “Wow. You’re beautiful.”
Nicole busied herself with turning the sign around and closing and locking the door. “I don’t know about that.”
A big band song drifted from a speaker in the corner of the room. Gage grabbed her hand and spun her around, then wrapped an arm around her waist and they danced until she was breathless and laughing. The pale green sheath-dress she’d purchased for the occasion, the one the saleslady promised brought out the green in her eyes, swirled around her calves.
As the music came to a crashing crescendo, he twirled her again, until her back was pressed against his chest, then leaned down to whisper in her ear, “You are beautiful.”
A tiny smile flitted across her lips as she turned to face him. “Okay.”
“Okay.” He touched his lips to hers. “Happy birthday.”
Warmth suffused her cheeks. “Thank you.”
“I’m looking forward to celebrating with you.”
“I’m glad you could.” Her smile faltered as she stepped back, out of his arms. “Otherwise it would have been a pretty small dinner party.”
His eyes narrowed. “Did you get hold of your parents?”
Nicole swallowed. “Yeah, I talked to them a couple of days ago. They’re in Britain somewhere.”
“So, not coming for your thirtieth birthday.”
“Not unless they hijack the Concorde or something.” Her mouth twisted. “Although that would require more effort than they have ever expended trying to see me.”
“I’d do it.”
Nicole studied him. “You would, wouldn’t you?”
He nodded. “Nothing could have kept me from being with you today. Not even an ocean.”
“Well, I’m glad you weren’t that far away.” She lifted one shoulder. “Anyway, enough about them. They did try to get away but got delayed. I’m sure they would have come if they could have.”
“I’m sure.”
Nicole tilted her head. Is that bitterness in his voice? Her chest squeezed. It was nice to have someone care that much about how other people treated her. “They’re still coming, but not until next weekend, they said. And they want to meet you.”
His eyebrows rose. “You told them about me?”
Nicole grinned. “My father is always warning me about stalkers following me home from the diner, so I told him about mine.”
“Oh, that’s great. Set it up so they don’t like me even before they meet me.” He tapped her nose gently. “I could have gotten them to that point on my own, you know.”
“I’ve no doubt.”
Gage wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. When he pressed his lips to hers, she rose up on her toes, responding with an eagerness that shocked her. After a moment, he stepped back and rested his hands on her shoulders. “As long as you like me, that’s all I care about.”
“Well, it’s hard not to like a guy who swears he’d cross an ocean to be with you on your birthday.”
He ran his fingers lightly over her hair before dropping his hand. “Are Connie and Joe here?”
“Yes, they’re in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner.” Nicole let out a short laugh. “Just a heads up. They tend to go a little overboard on my birthday.”
“They’re proud of you. As much as if they were your parents.”
“I know.”
“And we all want to celebrate you getting old.”
Nicole smacked him on the shoulder.
Gage laughed and caught her hand. “What? You’re not fooling anyone with those freckles, you know. As someone once told me, you’re a lot older than you look.”
“Well, that someone is allowed to say that. You are not.” She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it tight.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that someone was so sensitive about her age. She needs to realize that every day that passes makes her lovelier and more desirable, not less.”
“That is very sweet, thank you. My favorite birthday present ... so far.”
One side of Gage’s mouth turned up. “You weren’t expecting more than that, were you?”
Her eyes locked with his. “No, actually. That, all of this in fact,”—she rested the back of her hand lightly on his cheek—“is a lot more than I ever expected.”
“Me too.” Gage turned his head and brushed his lips across the tips of her fingers. The swinging doors leading to the kitchen creaked open behind him, and he winked as he let go of her.
Joe pushed through the wooden doors leading to the kitchen, a large covered dish in each hand. Connie bustled into the diner behind him, clutching a tray loaded down with plates of food. “Hi, Gage.”
“Hello, beautiful.” Gage kissed her on the cheek before taking the tray from her.
Connie’s blue eyes twinkled. “Now that’s what I call a greeting.” She nudged Joe in the ribs with her elbow.
“Darlin’, if I called you beautiful every time I thought it, you’d be well sick of hearing it by now.”
Pink tinged her wrinkled cheeks as she pushed her grey curls away from her face with one hand. “Oh, Joe, go on now.”
Nicole’s eyes met Gage’s and he grinned. Was he wondering if that’s how the two of them would be with each other in forty years, like she was? Her own cheeks went warm as she looked away. He read her too easily, and that thought was one she needed to keep to herself.
As always, Joe rescued her. “Why don’t we eat while it’s hot?” He inclined his head toward the back corner. A black tablecloth adorned a table in one of the booths. A vase of carnations and two glowing candles created an elegant feel that, while it definitely wasn’t typically Joe’s Diner, absolutely suited the occasion.
Gage held out his arm. “Shall we?”
Feeling a little overwhelmed by how special the night had been already, even without the presence of her parents, Nicole slid a hand into the crook of his elbow and followed him across the room.
“To Nicole.” Joe lifted his glass of water into the air.
Nicole clinked her glass against Gage’s, which he’d filled with ginger ale, as he winked at her and echoed Joe’s words, “To Nicole.”
Connie reached across the table to touch her glass to Nicole’s. “To finding your type. Finally.”
She’d said the words quietly, so only the two of them could hear. Still, Nicole shot her a warning look. The twinkle in Connie’s blue eyes didn’t dim. Nicole pressed a hand to her stomach. Joe had outdone himself, as usual, with a three-course meal that included salad, Chicken Alfredo, and birthday cake. She wouldn’t need to eat again for days.
“Joe?”
Gage’s voice was thick with concern. Nicole looked at Joe. His face had gone sheet-white, and he gripped the edges of the table with both hands. Her stomach clenched. “Joe? What is it?”
Gage started to get up, but Joe lifted a hand, and he sank back down.
“I’m okay.” Joe drew in a slow, shaky breath. “Overdid it a bit today, that’s all. Give me … a minute.”
Connie fumbled in her purse, her cheeks almost as pale as Joe’s. She pulled out a pill bottle, nearly dropping it as she struggled to remove the lid. “He needs a nitro pill.”
Nicole took the bottle from her. Her fingers weren’t much steadier than Connie’s, but she managed to wedge her thumb under the lid and push it off. “How many?”
“One.” Connie held out her hand.
Nicole knocked a capsule filled with tiny white beads onto Connie’s palm.
Joe took it from his wife and slid it under his tongue. Gradually color began to return to his
cheeks. Nicole realized she’d been holding her breath, and she let it out slowly. The painful knots in her stomach refused to loosen. What was wrong?
Gage’s fingers tightened around hers, but she couldn’t take her eyes from Joe. What if something happens to him?
“I’m okay, honey.” Joe managed a slight grin as he reached across the table and patted her arm. “Not as young as I used to be. I’m past seventy-five, you know. I kind of forgot that today, I was so excited about your special day.”
Nicole smiled weakly as she snapped the lid back onto the pill bottle and handed it to Connie. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“A good night’s rest and I’ll be all set.”
“Why don’t you and Connie go upstairs? I’ll clean up here and lock the doors.”
Gage nodded. “I’ll help her.” He clasped Joe’s shoulder. “Sure you shouldn’t go to the hospital, though? I’d be happy to take you.”
Joe shook his head. “Nope. The doctor gave me some medication, and a dose of that and my own bed will do me a lot more good than sitting in an emergency room for hours.”
Nicole bit her lip to keep from arguing. After all, he was probably right. “Are you okay to get upstairs?”
“We’ll manage.” Joe slid down the bench. “Don’t worry, honey, I’m fine. Sorry to end your celebration dinner so abruptly though.”
“It’s okay, Joe. Please just take care of yourself.”
Joe stood up, bracing himself on the table with one hand. Connie, lines of concern etched across her forehead, grasped his arm. “Will do. See you tomorrow.”
In spite of Joe’s admonition, Nicole’s worried gaze followed the couple until they disappeared through the back door.
Gage slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. “You all right?”
“I guess so. I ...” Her voice broke. “I’ve never really thought about something happening to Joe or Connie. I assumed they’d live forever, I guess, and always be here for me.”