Guarding Light

by Mckoy, Cate

  She smiled at him. "Stay like that." She rose, grabbing the shampoo from the inner shelf. "You are too tall for me to reach your head when we both are standing."

  "You reached my head just fine." Jack joked as she lathered shampoo in his hair. Her hands massaging his scalp, she playfully slapped his shoulder.

  "Not that head. You're such a guy."

  "I will take that as a compliment." He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of her fingers along his scalp.

  They showered again and took turns drying one another. Now they lay in bed, Jack holding Catlyn in his arms. She lay against his chest, her body between his legs.

  Caressing him, she kissed him. "Did your friend die in the line of duty?"

  Jack pulled her tightly to him, stroking her shoulder and arm. "Bob was working on one of my other cases."

  "Honey, I am so sorry. If there is anything I can do, just ask."

  He tilted her chin, softly kissing her. "Thank you. Getting to hold you like this helps."

  She touched his cheek, holding his gaze. "Thank you for my gift. I love it." She smiled before giving him another kiss.

  He looked at her chest. "I thought you might actually wear it."

  She got up, went to her purse. Returning to the bed, she handed him the jewelry box. "I thought you might want to put it on me."

  He smiled, accepting the box. "You're right."

  Opening the box, he lifted the chain, setting the box on the night stand. "Turn around, sweetheart."

  Giving him her back, she lifted her hair. She felt the coolness of the chain slip around her neck and come to rest at the top of her cleavage.

  Turning to face him, touching the key, she looked at it smiling. "It's so beautiful."

  "Yes, beautiful."

  Catlyn looked up at his tone. He wasn't looking at her necklace but at her. His eyes shone brightly with an intense light.

  Slowly closing the gap between them, he sealed their mouths in a loving kiss. Tilting his head at a different angle he thrust his tongue deep, bringing her down to the bed.

  For long minutes they exchanged their love via steamy kisses. Gasping for air, he pulled up. "Damn, Kitten, you take me to heaven every time we kiss."

  Smiling she whispered back, "Same here, Stud-Muffin."

  Laughing, he shook his head. "Can I change your mind about calling me that?"

  She emphatically shook her head, "Nope."

  Growling he flipped them until she was on top of him. "Looks like I have to do some more stud service to earn my nickname." He thrust their pelvises together.

  "Down boy, you need your sleep." She laughed at his disappointed look. "Don't worry, you can service me later."

  "Mmm, I am going to hold you to that."

  He turned them again, taking her in his arms. "I am kinda beat. And, your loving in the shower was the perfect nightcap." He looked at the clock. "Or should I say morning-cap?"

  They lay in a companionable silence for several minutes. "Jack, can I ask you something?"

  "Hmm," He had almost fallen asleep. "You can always ask me anything, Kitten."

  "Why'd you get that house?" Catlyn lay against his chest, her fingers lightly caressing his pecs.

  Coming fully awake, Jack looked at her. "My dad won a malpractice suit against the doctors and the hospital for the mistakes they made, causing my mother's death during my birth." She comfortingly kissed his chest as he continued. "Dad hated the money, but he had wanted them to pay for their errors so they would never do them again. He refused to profit from Mom's death. So, he put the bulk of it in trust for me and invested another portion. On my 25 birthday he presented me with my financial portfolio."

  "Wow, great dad." She smiled. But, she frowned when she saw his look. "Not great?"

  Jack squeezed her closer. "It's not that. Dad is great, always has been. But, he didn't take into account that I wouldn't want to profit from Mom's death any more than he did. I was angry. We had an argument. I told him to take the money. That she had been his wife, and he should do what he wanted with the money. I refused to touch it."

  "What happened?"

  "Well, when I turned 35, Dad again gave me the financial papers and access cards to bank accounts. He told me 'you can at least get a house instead of renting that apartment'. So, I told him I would get a house and nothing more. He had to take the rest of the money."

  Jack had a far off look, remembering internally.

  "Go on, what next?"

  "Well, I begrudgingly started looking for a house. I knew I wanted to stay in Newburgh. I looked at so many houses and turned down so many before I realized I already had this picture of a house in my mind. I could see it. And, then I heard the voice describing the house, a dreamy voice, a hopeful voice, a beloved voice. Then I knew it was a memory."

  He titled her chin, seeing the tears in her eyes he knew she remembered. "You remember don't you, Kitten?"

  "That day at the mall," She nodded. "I can't believe you remember such an insignificant day."

  He countered. "You remember. Why, wouldn't I?"

  "That day wasn't insignificant to me. I was with, the guy who had turned my world upside down and made me love him, my protector, my hero."

  His hand slid along her jaw as he guided her mouth to his, kissing her tenderly. Still with their mouths touching, he whispered, "And, I was with the girl who had turned me inside out, our loving had been so perfect. I had never come so explosively with anyone. And, I couldn't have her. She was too young. But, that didn't stop me from taking every chance I could to be with her. Even if it meant chauffeuring her and her best friend to the mall, listening to them rattle on about girl stuff, clothes, makeup and finally growing up and getting married. This incredible girl that had me panting after her then started to describe the house she wanted to live in with her husband. God, help me, I wanted to be him."

  He kissed her hard, turning and putting her beneath him. She welcomingly opened her thighs for him. He aligned their bodies from chest to pelvis. Kissing her breathless they moaned together, parting for air.

  He rotated his pelvis against hers, looking down into her eyes darkened with arousal. "We will make love Kitten." At her shocked eyes, he added, "Not today, but soon. I will finally claim what was always meant to be mine."

  He took her mouth again, thrusting his tongue deep as he moved against her. Imitating the sexual act they craved. Shaking uncontrollably, she followed his hoarsely given directions. "Wrap those sexy legs around me, Kitten."

  They dry-humped, kissed and he sucked and licked her nipples until once again she was coming. He settled her against his chest in his arms, stroking her back as she returned to earth.

  "You know, I am doing all this coming and you are not, doesn't seem fair." She said when she recovered fully from her release.

  "Baby, trust me when I say, I am getting something out of this too. And I have come too."

  "Not as much as me."

  "Just another one of those lovely ways, in which, women are different from men." He laughed. "Also, Kitten, you are more responsive and sensitive than most. Not all women can get off like you do."

  Catlyn looked up at him. "That's because you aren't the one stroking them."

  "As much good as that would do my ego to believe that, it has a lot to do with our chemistry, caring for one another and your sensitivity to being touched, tasted and caressed."

  "But I am only sensitive to your touch."

  Jack smiled big. "And, I am chauvinistic enough to absolutely love that fact!"

  Catlyn playfully smacked his shoulder. "You're such a guy."

  "Yeah, your guy."

  With those final words the couple snuggled down and fell promptly to sleep.

  ****

  Jack sat at his desk in his office scanning the files from the flash drive Bob had given him. It had taken him 2 days to realize what he held in his possession. It had been Mackenzie that had brought the hidden flash drive to light.

  Since Mackenzie's arrival
3 days ago, Catlyn and she had been inseparable. With the exception of when Catlyn worked at the bar and grill, the two women did everything together. Jack was having feelings of déjà vu. It was very much like when he used to escort Catlyn and Sara around town, even down to some of the trips including Tasha. Mackenzie diligently followed the paper trail once she received the unsealed records regarding Miles Dalton Jr.'s name change to David Mathews

  David had gone from foster home to foster home, bouncing around until he was 18. The name, David Mathews, had not been used since he had turned 18 and neither was there a death certificate on file in Orange County, NY. The last transaction he performed with that name was applying for classes at the local community college. But, he never attended the classes.

  Mackenzie remained on the trail, trying to pick up the thread of the name change. It was slow going, but she meticulously followed every minute clue. So far, all led to a dead end and as of now they had no idea what David Mathews' a.k.a Miles Dalton Jr. current name was or his location. Suffice it to say, they believed David Mathews was currently in Newburgh, NY committing murders of young ladies.

  Mackenzie kept all her information regarding the case on a set of flash drives, all which were camouflaged as something else, a lipstick and a lighter. When looking at Mackenzie's collection of hidden flash drives, Jack had an epiphany, recalling the set of keys Bob had shoved into his hands the day he died, and once inspected, one of the keys on the key ring proved to be a hidden drive.

  Jack now scrolled through the information. Bob had been extremely thorough. His information included photos, vital statistic records and some video. And as Jack took it all in, his heart began to ache. All this time it had been right in front of him. The clues and the strange incidences and he never picked up on it. Because of his lack of intuitiveness, the one girl he had ever loved suffered horribly and a good deal of the pain had been delivered by him. The one who was supposed to love and protect her had caused her more damage and heartache with one sentenced uttered 25 years ago in a hospital room.

  He felt driven. He would right all the wrongs done her. He would be her protector and hero again, even if it were the last thing he did. She deserved it.

  He picked up his phone and dialed one of his most reliable contacts. He would not drop the ball this time. When he finished speaking with his contact he felt more positive.

  His phone rang, "Gard."

  "Chief, the lady you have me following just got on I84."

  "Is Supervisory Special Agent Lyte with her?"

  "No, sir."

  "Just keep track of her. Keep well back. She is a highly trained agent. I don't want her to know you are following her otherwise she will lose you."

  "I can keep up with some chick, sir."

  "Officer, just the fact that you called her 'some chick' makes me begin to doubt whether or not you will be able to keep up with her at all."

  "Don't worry sir. I won't let her out of my sight."

  "See that you don't officer."

  As soon as he replaced the receiver, Jack's cell phone rang, "Gard."

  "Jack, it's Kyle."

  Jack smiled. "Well, you being a director and all, I won't ask how you got this number. Man, you must have ESP."

  "Why? Something happened? Is Mackenzie alright?"

  Jack laughed. "I was about to call you. Yes Mackenzie is alright. She is just taking an impromptu trip up I84 right now. Catlyn is not with her."

  "This woman is going to be the death of me."

  "Or the joyful life," Jack muttered.

  "What? What did you say?"

  "Nothing. Is there a reason for your call?"

  "I-I just wanted to… I mean, I just wondered how things were going."

  "Uh hmm, translations, you missed Mackenzie and wanted to check up on her."

  "That is not it. Of course as her boss I would be concerned. But, Mackenzie isn't the sole reason I called."

  "Really, then why is it you only inquired about Mackenzie when you have four other agents in my jurisdiction?"

  "I-I… How are the other agents?" Kyle belated inquired.

  Laughing to himself, Jack answered. "Why Assistant Director Strong I do believe all your agents are just fine."

  "Any luck finding Miles Dalton Jr.'s current name?"

  "Mackenzie is tracking that down. We also have something planned to draw him out. Catlyn and I are in the Valentine's Day Dance Dance-Off being held on the waterfront. That should at least put us on public display if not in the news' papers like the other victims."

  "You're going to dance in public?"

  "I will have you know Assistant Director Strong I happen to be a very good dancer, learned from the best."

  "S.S.A. Lyte?"

  "No actually, a mutual friend of ours Tasha Williams."

  "Your personal assistant?"

  "I don't even want to know how you know that piece of information."

  Kyle laughed. "You probably don't. I was just interested in the people that would be surrounding Mackenzie. I mean uh, all my agents."

  "Uh, huh, give it up Kyle. "

  "Very well, I won't argue. Just please keep me posted."

  "Don't worry. I will. Try not to dwell on us here in Newburgh."

  "Easier said than done. I will say good bye. Talk to you soon."

  "Kyle?"

  "Yes?"

  "Give my regards to Bunny." Jack laughingly clicked the end button on his cell.

  He would keep an eye on all the agents currently working in his jurisdiction. Especially the women, they needed to always be protected and put first. It was the way he was raised. His dad had always told him to respect and protect all females in his life. Jack had taken that advice to heart. He knew his dad's advice was tainted with his feelings of failure regarding his mother's death at the hands of doctors. Doctors his dad had said it was ok for her to trust. Jack vowed he would not have those feelings of failure regarding Catlyn. He had failed her once with devastating results. Looking at the information on his computer screen, Jack vowed, never again.

  ****

  Jack circled the empty parking lot of the abandoned factory. He couldn't believe it! He had been following his quarry so closely.

  After picking up Bob's investigation of J.T. Dark, Jack was able to ascertain that J.T. Dark had made his way from London to the states, specifically Newburgh. Jack systematically searched all the hotels on hotel row. And after the seventh hotel, Jack had literally stumbled upon J.T. He had bumped into one of the hotel's porters, knocking over suitcases. As Jack helped the porter pick up the strewn cases, he had looked up at random and spotted J.T. Dark getting off the elevator. Quickly Jack ducked his head and then immediately followed J.T. out the door.

  He had watched J.T. stop at Wal Mart, eat lunch, buy weed from one of the many weed spots in the city of Newburgh. Regardless of his race and the fact that the city of Newburgh was predominately black, J.T. blended in well. Jack had followed him to a strip of abandoned factories on the waterfront, an area only the homeless or addicts of one form or another frequented. This section of the waterfront was far, in both distance and popularity, from the aesthetically pleasing Newburgh Landing and Marina.

  Where the hell was he? Jack saw and followed J.T. into one of the less used buildings. Inside he had lost J.T. somewhere on the second floor. After going room to room, searching empty offices and closets, Jack assumed he could only be back outside. Cursing, Jack quickly headed back outside towards where J.T. had left his rental parked in the empty parking lot. Immediately, Jack saw that J.T.'s car was gone. How had he got behind him? Somehow Jack had become the followed rather than the follower. Swearing, profusely, Jack uselessly circled the empty parking lot one more time. Giving up, he turned to go to his car when a shot silently whizzed pass his left ear. Training and reflexes took over. Diving for cover and drawing his weapon simultaneously, Jack searched his horizon for the shooter. Seeing nothing, Jack slowly rose to his feet. Taking a look around and hearing the completely dead
silence, Jack knew he was once again alone.

  Frustration and fury coursed through his body. He holstered his weapon as he cursed, "God, damn, you, J.T. I will get you. It's just a matter of time you bastard. I will get you and you will pay for all the pain you've caused."

  Disappointment shadowed his steps as he made his way back to his car hidden a block away in some bushes. Damn, he needed a drink or two-hundred.

  ****