Off the Grid for Love

by Rena Koontz

  No, the only ache he felt right now was his need for her. To touch her and taste her and be inside her. To never let another day pass without her being a part of it. He wanted that more than anything. And then he acknowledged the pang of disappointment because he knew it would never be. Once she found out his true identity and learned that he’d weaved a web of mistruths about his life, she’d likely run for the highest hill. And the woman who completed him would be gone.

  But he had her now, this minute. And if he had to, he could live on this memory for the rest of his solitary life.

  Jake brushed the hair out of her eyes and whispered again. “Sweetheart, why are you here?”

  Mackenna smiled and freed her arms from the blankets to cup his face like he always held hers. “I didn’t want you to come home to nothing.”

  His heart exploded simultaneously with the smile on his face. Her fingertips touched the butterfly bandage over his eye and she caught her breath. “Oh Jake, you’re hurt.”

  He turned his face to kiss the palm of her hand. “It’s nothing.” Then he dropped a light kiss on her mouth. “I always want to come home to you, Kenna. I don’t ever want to lose you.”

  She blinked the sleep from her eyes and rewarded him with a slight nod. Her thumb eased over his bottom lip while her eyes roamed his face. “Make love to me, Jake.”

  The hell of the day faded away and Jake kissed his way to heaven.

  ~ ~ ~

  Jake awakened slowly, feeling as if he’d had no sleep at all. His limbs were heavy and he wanted to reposition and go back to sleep. But Mackenna sprawled across him, her breasts pressed to his chest, one leg stretched between his. Their legs were entangled in the sheets. He closed his eyes reliving their lovemaking, marveling at the heights Kenna sent him. He’d methodically kissed every inch of her body and when she allowed him to bury his mouth between her legs, he discovered a new and exciting nirvana. Never had a woman so captivated him. If she wasn’t in his life, he had no reason to exist.

  She stirred and he stretched his hand over her hip to caress her velvety smooth bottom. Nothing to do about his erection right now. There wasn’t time. If she didn’t get moving she’d be late for work.

  Jake kissed the top of her head. “Sugar, wake up. You’re going to be late.”

  She murmured a negative response.

  “C’mon, honey, you have to go to work.”

  Her breasts pressed into his chest when she took a deep breath and her eyes fluttered open. “I don’t have to go into work today. I just want to hide here. In your arms.”

  He rolled his head backward to see her face. “What do you mean you don’t have to go to work today? Did something happen with your boss?”

  She tried to nuzzle closer to him but he nudged her away. “Mackenna, tell me what’s going on. What happened yesterday?”

  “Oh all right.” She jabbed him in the chest, sat up and moved her hair behind her ears. His eyes were drawn to her beautiful breasts. This was the first time she hadn’t reached for a sheet or a shirt to cover up in front of him.

  “I don’t have to go to the bank today because yesterday I was suspended without pay.”

  He bolted up into a sitting position. “Why? Because you filed an HR complaint against Gleaner? They can’t do that.”

  Mackenna’s gaze dropped to her lap. “No, Mr. Gleaner has nothing to do with this. The Ninth Street bank was robbed yesterday. I was the teller she robbed.”

  “Wha-at?” His question came out loud and long. And more reproachful than he intended.

  She glared at him.

  “Mackenna, what the hell. What are you saying?”

  She drew the sheet over her breasts. “I’m saying I was robbed again yesterday. Thanks for the sympathy.”

  Sympathy, hell. No way could she be an innocent victim three times in a row. After one day of rookie training with the FBI he’d know better than to believe a story like hers. Sweet Jesus, he was in love with a con artist. A damn thief, no better than Vinny.

  He all but yelled at her, “What the hell happened? Dammit Kenna, tell me everything.”

  She straightened her back. “Don’t swear at me. You’re as bad as Agent Crews. How about a little support when I need it? Don’t you think I’m traumatized having a gun poked in my face for a third time?”

  She was right. He strived to regain control of his emotions. But Jesus, God, this was beyond bad.

  “He held the gun in your face?”

  Mackenna shrugged. “No, not exactly. But I saw it. And it was a she this time, an old woman.”

  “Will you tell me what the fuck happened? Every detail. Don’t leave out a single thing.”

  Her eyebrows knitted and she stared at him. “Who do you think you are? The FBI? That’s all you’re worried about is what happened? Not if I’m okay? If I was hurt? You only want the gory details? I think I’ve greatly misjudged you, Jake. I was a fool to think you cared about me.”

  Jake grabbed her arm when she moved to crawl out of bed. “I do care about you, Kenna. More than I can express. But this is so goddamn serious. Did you give the FBI the whole story? Did you tell them the truth?”

  She wrenched from his grasp and jumped out of bed, hiding her nakedness with the sheet. “How dare you ask that question? What do you think I told them? Lies? I was scared out of my mind. They took me down to their office and Agent Crews questioned me. I felt like a criminal. You should know that feeling. I saw you in handcuffs yesterday on TV.”

  He ran his hands through his hair. “I can explain that, sugar.”

  “Don’t bother. Agent Crews didn’t believe me and it’s apparent by your reaction you don’t believe me either. I made a mistake coming here expecting you to understand. I need to leave.”

  She bent and began retrieving her clothes. Jake jumped out of bed and tried to take her in his arms but she shoved him away. “Don’t touch me.”

  His arms shot up as if someone pointed a gun at him. “Okay, okay. Please, can we talk about this? I overreacted. I’m sorry.”

  With her clothes in a bunch she raced to the bathroom. “I’m sorry too. I thought I was in . . .” She burst into tears and disappeared behind the sliding door. He listened to her crying while she dressed but her face was dry when she emerged minutes later, her hair in disarray, her nose red and tiny droplets clinging to her eyelashes.

  He reached for her but she evaded his grasp. “Sugar, wait. Don’t leave like this. Don’t leave at all.”

  “Go to hell, Jake.” She never looked back.

  ~ ~ ~

  Blinded by her tears, Mackenna raced up the stairwell to her temporary apartment. How could she have been so stupid to believe in Jake? He was a rebound relationship, just as Arthur had been, and once again, she was the fool. The only difference was this time, her heart hurt. She thought Jake wasn’t like other men, that he was a good guy and that he’d look out for her, believe her when the chips were down. But, no. He thought she was guilty. Of collusion in a series of bank robberies. Seriously? Her? The mere idea was laughable but she didn’t feel like laughing now.

  The satchels she transported her clothes in lay folded on a chair in the bedroom and she snatched the top one from the pile. Running into the bathroom, she swept the top of the vanity with her arm, dumping everything into the bag, not caring if the bottles broke or the jars popped open.

  A second bag caught the handful of lingerie she grabbed from the dresser drawer. She stuffed a fistful of T-shirts and shorts from the drawer below into the sack. It didn’t matter if anything matched. She had to get out of here. Out of this building and away from Jake. Away from everything.

  Sobbing, she scooped up her keys and hurried to the elevator. She’d held out a thin thread of hope that when she opened the apartment door, Jake would be standing there. But he wasn’t
. The bastard hadn’t even chased after her.

  So there it was.

  Jake the Jerk was indeed one. Well, he could kiss her ass. This whole town could. Her cousin in New York had been arrested some years back for shoplifting and minor drug possession and was anti-police. Surely her cousin would understand Mackenna’s need to hide out with the law breathing down her back. And New York was a perfect city to disappear in. She might even change her name.

  The tires on her car screeched as she tore out of the underground parking garage. Thankfully, Jake had filled the gas tank for her. Well, at least he was good for something. How far a full tank would take her she had no idea but once she ran out of gas, she’d call her cousin for bus fare. That way the feds couldn’t track her car if they were looking for her. How long would it take them to discover she’d left town? That was a directive always issued on the TV cop shows. They told the criminals not to leave town. Well, Agent Crews hadn’t said that to her so she wasn’t disobeying any police orders.

  She drove blindly, knowing she had to reach the turnpike. New York was at least eight hours away if not longer. After she put some distance between her and Jake, she’d plot a more definite route. She didn’t want to run out of gas alongside the highway. Tears streamed down her face unchecked. Damn you, Jake. I thought you were different. I thought you cared. I thought I loved you.

  Her cell phone sounded Jake’s designated ring. She’d programmed the theme from Rocky to play when he called thinking he was her champion. What a delusion. She ignored the call. Her tendency to leave half full bottles of water in her car would pay off. Even though they made her car look trashy, she just never seemed to carry them to the recycle bin. But now, that was a good thing. One sat in the cup holder, one balanced on the passenger seat and another rolled around on the floor in front of the seat. She knew there were at least two more on the floor in the back seat. She wouldn’t go thirsty and food wouldn’t be a problem. She had no appetite. So she’d drive until it was dark and then find a truck stop. The facilities would be open and she could sleep in her car. With the doors locked, she’d be safe. And if she wasn’t, then let some husky truck driver kidnap her. At least she’d be away from Jake and the FBI.

  A new life. A fresh start. It was the only ray of hope she had now. A new name. What should she call herself? She’d always liked the idea that her first and last name began with the same initial. The alliteration was fun. Maybe she’d keep that pattern. Betsy Belle. It reminded her of cow. Sandra Sheller. Down by the seashore immediately popped into her mind. Well, she had plenty of time to think up a new identity. Nothing to do but drive and think.

  After two hours on the road, she drove into a rest stop. Thankfully, the bathroom was clean and after using the facilities she splashed water on her face and returned to her car, turning when an engine in the distance fired up as she stepped inside her Taurus. The car eased out behind her and then sped ahead of her. A black, newer model car.

  A light rain started to fall, which Mackenna decided was par for her life. What else could go wrong?

  Another three hours and she could barely keep her eyes open. To be safe, she should rest for an hour or so. A brief nap would sustain her until dark when she stopped for the night. She hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, thanks to Jake’s incomparable lovemaking. The memory made her smile. She’d miss that action in bed, that’s for sure. Somehow, Jake transformed her into a woman who went through the motions of sex to a willful wild cat begging for more. Like planting a tiny seed, nurturing it, feeding and watering it until it blossomed into a full-grown shrub resplendent with beautiful red rose blooms. She was that rose. She’d always have Jake to thank for that.

  A rest area came into view and she signaled her intent to leave the main highway, noticing the car behind her followed. Once parked, she pinched the bridge of her nose and silenced her phone. Jake again. He’d called and left four messages. Whatever he had to say, she didn’t want to hear it. There was no believing any fabrication he spun now.

  She checked her reflection in the rearview mirror before exiting the car and caught site of the dark sedan that departed before her at the last rest stop. Tinted windows prevented her from seeing inside. Was it the FBI following her? How could they know already that she was on the run? And why hadn’t they stopped her long ago?

  Deciding her imagination worked overtime she strode to the restroom, clutching her purse tightly under her arm. She was a lone female traveler and likely an easy target for a purse snatcher. As with every rest stop on a major highway, travelers rushed about their business ordering food, using the bathrooms, and averting the gazes of fellow road warriors.

  Mackenna went unnoticed, which pleased her. Anonymity right now was a blessing. As she emerged from the building she spotted a large man standing in front of her car, his back to it, smoking a cigarette. No big deal. She didn’t plan to bother him. Footsteps sounded on the pavement behind her and then a man caught up with her on her left side, grabbing her elbow.

  “Let’s not make a scene, miss, okay?” Another man came up along her other side and squeezed her upper arm. Mackenna made to scream but a white cloth covered her face before she found her voice. The material reeked of fumes that singed her throat. Her eyes watered immediately. Tightness in her chest grabbed her lungs. The last thing she remembered was a feeling of nausea, then fainting.

  Chapter 24

  Jake was beside himself. Mackenna wasn’t answering his calls. He should have gone after her when she ran from his apartment. But his first inclination was to find out what the hell happened at the bank. The few facts he knew couldn’t be the whole picture. He prayed—literally—that the scenario he imagined was all wrong. She couldn’t be complicit in the scheme.

  Demond didn’t answer and he left an urgent message to call. Courtney didn’t pick up either. Where the fuck was everyone?

  By the time he raced up to Mackenna’s apartment, she was gone. Or if she was in there, she ignored him pounding on the door. Emerging from the elevator in the parking garage he checked her assigned spot. The space was vacant and he didn’t see her car anywhere on the floor.

  Panic grabbed his gut. Why did she run away? Only guilty people ran. But he refused to believe that.

  His heart sank when Vinny’s name appeared on his ringing phone. Mentally he wasn’t in a position to deal with Cabacolli’s crap right now. He let the call go into his messages and called Demond again, the tension in his shoulders easing when his colleague answered. Jake dispensed with a greeting.

  “What the hell happened, Demond? You can’t possibly like her for this.”

  His usual jovial voice was serious. “Doesn’t look good, my friend. She lawyered-up on me. I’ve got a warrant to search her workplace station at her primary bank and we’re going to hit her home too. Based on my interview yesterday, and dependent on what we find, an arrest warrant is prepared for the judge’s signature. We’ll be executing those searches within the hour so, if you’re with her my man, I’d beat feet out of there.”

  Demond wouldn’t go off half-cocked. “What’d she say to give you probable cause?”

  “She indicated she might know where the deposits came from.”

  Jake rubbed his forehead to ease the growing tension behind his eyes. Christ, Kenna, how could you?

  “Jake?”

  “Yeah.”

  “D’you get close to her? Too close to be objective? She there with you now?”

  “No, I’m not with her.” At least that was the truth.

  The breath Demond exhaled sounded like he was relieved to hear it. “My advice would be to keep it that way. She’s a cool one, Jake. Maybe one of the best I’ve come across.”

  Cool wasn’t a word Jake associated with Mackenna. Sizzling hot seemed more accurate.

  “What time do you think the searches will go down?”

  �
�You know all the hurdles we have to jump over. A couple hours would be my guess but who knows.”

  Jake hoped to hell he found Mackenna before then. Would they target The Hole, or did they know she’d moved in two floors above him? If Jake didn’t ask, he wouldn’t be obligated to clarify the information if the search team headed to Mackenna’s apartment. It bought him more time.

  “Run it down for me, Demond. Mackenna said it was a woman this time but she didn’t give me details.”

  His tone turned authoritative. “Agent Manettia, I thought you said you weren’t with her. If you are, you’re harboring a suspect.”

  Jake’s shoulders sagged. This was not good for Mackenna. “I’m not with her. Not now. She told me the Good Neighbor bank suspended her and when I asked why, she told me she’d been robbed again. This time by an old lady. I blew up and she stormed away.” He didn’t want to specify that Mackenna had been at his place when this conversation occurred. Demond was no dummy. Once they discovered the empty Hole, he’d reason that Mackenna relocated. With no paper trail to follow, he’d likely issue a BOLO and then every law enforcement agency in the state would be on the lookout for her. And when Demond asked if Jake knew where she relocated, he wouldn’t lie.

  “That’s all I know, Demond. Fill in the rest, please.”

  At first Demond was hesitant but he finally recounted the details of the Ninth Street robbery. In the middle of his account, Jake’s phone signaled an incoming call. Vinny again. Jake ignored it.

  “She asked for a lawyer right around the time I showed her the bank balances,” Demond said. “She intimated that she might have an idea about the money but insisted on a lawyer so the conversation ended. I might have been close to breaking her but then she gave me the feeling she didn’t want to come clean about the cash without some legal protection. One more nail in her coffin if you ask me. That’s why I want to pick her up. Maybe in the face of real charges, she’ll crack and give up her accomplices.”