“That would be good. Well, I’d better go. I just wanted to inform you of Brenda.”
“Mel, you left your office in good hands.”
“I believe I did. Talk to you later.”
“Sure, bye.”
“Bye.” Melanie closed the phone and handed it back to Duncan.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll owe you for that call, Duncan.”
“What is the matter with you? This thing about money.”
“She’s always like that,” Matt said.
“Well, we’re going to have to put a stop to it.” Duncan winked, but something about the way Melanie looked at him didn’t sit right. It was a good thing he could replay that conversation later. He didn’t want to eavesdrop, but there was something about Harris he strongly disliked.
“Can we go to the bathroom, Dad, and then Mom and Tif can go?”
Duncan searched for the other two agents nearby. “Melanie, you and Tiffany don’t leave this spot for anything.”
“Okay.” Melanie answered.
Duncan held Matt’s hand. Maybe he could listen to the phone conversation when Tiffany and Melanie went to the bathroom. Yeah, he’d do that.
“That was fast,” Melanie said, upon their return.
“Doesn’t take us men long to do our business,” Matt said.
“There he goes with that men stuff again. Come on, Mom, hold my hand. We’ll show them.”
Duncan started to talk when Melanie pressed her fingers to his lips. “We know. Be careful. You two need to watch out now. We have the drill down pat.”
Duncan watched as they walked off. Boy, did Melanie have a neat little backside—especially in those nice-fitting jeans. Distraction aside, he flipped open the phone and listened to the previous conversation, watching for Melanie’s return. Maybe he would have time. He punched the number. “Hey, Hargrove, how’s Ramon?”
“Duncan, my man. He’s much better. Not a bad wound after all. Still plans to go on vacation.”
“Good. Look, I need to patch a phone call your way. Listen, then see if you can find out if it was answered in Nashville, also check on this Alice person.”
“You got it. Send it through. Hey, Duncan, aren’t you glad about these modern day contraptions?”
“Yeah, if they can lead us to what we need. Maybe we should have gone into that type of office job. Let me know.”
“You bet. And try to have fun. The men nearby say you look like a starched shirt. They haven’t seen or heard anything. After five years, grab some fun for yourself.”
“I’m trying. Talk to you later,” Duncan said closing the phone.
“Important call?” Melanie asked, sliding in next to him.
“Checking on Ramon.”
“How is he?”
“Hargrove said it wasn’t a bad wound, and that Ramon’s thinking of going on vacation. Told me to stop acting like a stuffed shirt.”
Melanie pressed her lips to his ear. “You should have told him you don’t when you’re under those covers.”
“Melanie, you are a sly little devil.” He kissed her lips.
“Okay, you two, the fireworks are going to be starting soon,” Matt interrupted. “If you do that stuff, then you’ll miss them. Right, Tiffany?”
Tiffany nodded. “No, they’re just making their own fireworks.”
“I’m telling you, this child of ours has to be eighteen, Melanie.”
Melanie only shook her head as she gloved Duncan’s inside hers. “Okay kids, sit between us this time.”
Tiffany and Matt squeezed in between them and watched as the fireworks started.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 12
“Wow, they’re finally getting ready, Dad. Guess they had to wait for the announcer to finish up. You know how fireworks sometimes take a bit of time?” Matt said as he sat comfortably by Duncan. Never had he felt so much a part of a family. His happiness showed on his little face where both Melanie and Duncan saw it. “Have you ever seen fireworks before?”
“Sure have, Matt, but nothing as elaborate as they say you see here at Epcot.”
“Or the Magic Kingdom. Don’t forget we have to stay for that on our last night. Now, the way I see it, we go to MGM tomorrow, and the next day the Animal Kingdom, but didn’t you say we could park hop and go on to Magic Kingdom after we spend some time in the Animal Park?”
“I did.”
Tiffany and Melanie listened to the two of them chatting away, big smiles on their faces.
“So, we can see the fireworks both nights since we’ll be spending the whole day there. Right?”
“Right again, son.”
“It feels good having a dad call me son.”
Duncan put his arm around Matt’s shoulder. “Feels even greater having you call me dad.”
Melanie felt something brush against her arm. It was a little girl.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” a woman said. “She got away from me in the crowd. I had her hand in mine one minute, then the next she’d broken free. I’m constantly chasing her down. Here, Jessica, let’s get you back to your dad before he worries.”
“She’s very pretty,” Melanie said.
“They can be pretty at five as well as a handful. Enjoy the fireworks.”
“You too.” Melanie watched as the woman and child walked away through the crowd of people.
Duncan leaned over. “Honey, what was all that about?”
“Her little daughter, Jessica, got away from her.”
“This isn’t a good place for a child to become lost.” Duncan took Matt’s hand and patted Tiffany on the head. “You guys don’t lose sight of us.”
“We won’t,” Tiffany answered.
“You’re right, Duncan,” Melanie said, turning her head to see where the woman and child had gone. “This isn’t the place to lose any child.” It was as if Jessica and her mother had vanished into thin air. Of course, with the throng of people it was hard to tell, even with all the security lighting. Melanie was glad she had hold of Tiffany’s hand and that Duncan had Matt’s. She could only imagine the chaos if they got separated from the kids.
“Jessica!”
The shout drew Melanie’s attention to where Jessica’s mother stood four or five meters away, looking for her troublesome daughter.
“Here you go, ma’am. Found your little girl right over near the bench. Guess she wanted to see the fireworks.” A security guard, with Jessica in tow, tapped the woman on the arm.
Melanie watched as Jessica was swept into her mother’s arms. “Jessica, don’t ever run from your mother like that again. If this nice lady hadn’t caught up with you, I wouldn’t have been able to find you.”
“She’s safe now, ma’am. Enjoy the show.”
“Thank you. I hope you can enjoy it as well.”
The guard smiled. “Oh, I will. You can bet on that. Maybe not the one tonight, but one in the future, for sure.”
Firmly holding Jessica’s hand, Jessica’s ‘mother’ left the guard just as her cellphone started ringing. “Hi, where are you?”
“Just across the way. Trying to stay out of the path of those agents. I’ve already seen two of them. What about you?”
“I imagine the two I spotted were the same two you caught a glimpse of.”
“I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
The woman released a tired sigh. “I know what you mean. I was thinking maybe we should wait until they don’t expect anything. Just kind of lay low for a while. I have a new plan that I think will work much better.”
“You and your plans.”
“Hey, we haven’t been caught yet!” she barked.
“No. You’re one smart cookie.”
“I’ve decided not to go with the children. We don’t really need them. We only need one person, the woman.”
“But the children could come in handy if we need hostages,” the man reminded her.
“The woman will make an even bett
er one. That detective is head over heels in love with her. It shows in his actions. I’ve been keeping a watch on them. Men are such idiots at times. They become weak when there’s a woman involved. I only want her. Yeah, she’ll come in real handy. I still haven’t forgotten how she treated me in her office.”
The man suppressed a sigh. “I recall she was only doing her job.”
“What about the way she spoke to you?”
“No. Like I said, no woman speaks to me in that tone. You saw what happened when her sister spat in my face. I sure put her in her place.” The man’s tone was filled with hatred.
“I saw. She sure won’t be spitting anything at anyone anymore.”
“You promised me Melanie. I’ve waited too long already.” The man repeated.
“You’ll have your chance, but she owes me too.”
“Not as much as you. I want the girl!”
“Be patient. I’ll keep you posted on the new plans. And just remember, don’t push me!” She warned.
“Don’t wait too long!”
“Don’t threaten me! Believe me, this way will be much better for both of us,” she said, laughing through clenched teeth. “Just sit back and enjoy the fireworks. Tonight is just the prelude before the main event.” She laughed as she closed the phone and walked through the crowds. Soon, Melanie Bishop McGregor, soon. Even if she had to get rid of another nasty bug in order to have Melanie to herself for her little game, so be it. He was getting in the way. Too much in the way.
“The children really had a blast today, Duncan. They were beat by the time their heads hit the pillows. Matt chatted all the way to their room.”
“Don’t I know it,” Duncan said, removing his clothes. “It was all I could do to keep him in his seatbelt. That boy didn’t want to let go of my neck. And he does like to speak his mind.”
Melanie glided over to Duncan. “I can’t even begin to tell you how it was to watch him grow up and hope he’d have a real father one day. He finally grew tired of asking Santa to bring him one. Allison’s efforts with child support were fruitless. She was a really good mom, Duncan. A bright one, too. Her only mistake was falling for that scum, Riley.” Melanie stepped away from Duncan, crossing her arms. “He was one swift bullet and he knew all the right buttons to push. I never said a word, even when he proposed, until he tried…”
Boiling heat simmered in Duncan’s heart. He placed his hand on her shoulder, gently twisting her around so she could look directly at him. “He tried what?”
“He made a pass at me. Pinned me in the corner of her house, while Allison went to the kitchen. Oh, that’s when I slapped his face. He told me if I told Allison he’d deny it. He said he’d claim I came on to him. Said my wandering eye had caught his attention. And since I didn’t have any luck finding a man, and said I didn’t care for him, that Allison would naturally believe I was trying to steal him from her.”
Duncan fisted his hand clubbing it against his other palm. “I wish I could pound him into the dirt this moment!”
“You’ll have to stand in line. I’m first.”
His gaze lingered tenderly on her face, her lips. He took his finger and tilted her chin upward, then in one sweeping motion, his lips were on hers, kissing her with sizzling heat. Instantly her hands circled his neck. He felt her passion and warmth as the kiss deepened.
“Oh my, Duncan,” she said trying to get her breath when the kiss broke. “I think that was the best kiss so far.”
“So far?”
“Uh huh.” Melanie licked her lips.
“I hope my kisses will help you forget my foolishness.”
“It’s a good start.” She grinned.
“Melanie, dear, you remind me of a sweet, innocent girl, one who’s learning things for the first time. It’s hard to believe that you’re soon to be a thirty-year-old woman. Hey, according to your license, you’re having a birthday very soon, young lady.”
“Oh that. Couldn’t we forget it?”
“Wait until you reach thirty-six.”
“You? No way.”
“Yes. Two months ago. So, honey, thirty isn’t bad at all.”
“Happy late birthday, Duncan. Now I’ll have to get you a belated gift.” She cast him an impish grin.
“Hmm, that grin has me curious.”
“In what way, Duncan?”
“I know all this is supposed to be for show, but behind closed doors it has been real. I owned up to my mistake and apologized many times over, but what has me curious is your actions with everything.”
“My actions?”
“Yes. You could be playing with my affections to get back at me and then after all this is over I could be the one to really get hurt, to get burned.”
Melanie folded her arms over her chest. “Duncan, I am a therapist. I would not willingly accept you back in my heart just to pretend it was some kind of sham for payback. I don’t work that way. Don’t try to profile me like some woman that’s been scorned in some way by a man. That thought never entered my mind. No matter how your words tore into my heart … Look, I can’t hate you. I don’t know how all this is going to end, but while we’re together like this, this incredible sensation I feel, I really don’t want it to stop.”
“I can’t promise I won’t say or do something stupid again. I’m a man and sometimes we don’t think first.”
She gave him another smile. “At least you’re honest.”
Duncan arched a brow. “So do you want to give me my belated birthday gift now?”
Her small hands cupped his rear end, and she gave his buttocks a light squeeze. “Am I getting a rise even through your pants, love?”
“Why don’t I show you? You want to give me a late gift? Let’s start with one, right now.” He swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
“I was going to take a shower.”
“Afterward.” He smiled. “You can spank me all you want in the water.”
“Like I said, you are incorrigible.”
“And loving every minute of it,” he said, turning off the lights.
They spent three wonderful days inside the park with no trouble occurring, or any sign of being followed. Every day had been filled with joy. Of course, something told Melanie that their joy was on a short rope. Soon the dam would break and all the water would come pouring out. There wouldn’t be enough tissues in the world to stop the crying once it started. The one time she’d cried in the shower and Duncan had snuck in on her, hadn’t taken all the sorrow out of her heart. Why did she feel guilty because she was alive and in love?
Yes, too much joy, she thought to herself. Allison was gone and no matter how much love she felt for Duncan, once this was over, she knew he’d leave. All men left. Her dad had left. He was killed, Melanie. He’s still gone. Griffin had left Allison and the children, without any really good excuse. And Duncan would leave too.
Yes. Duncan. A man who had not once said I love you, Melanie. No, he’d leave. Go back to his job. He’d only loved one woman—Jean. And Jean was never going to return. Matt and Tiffany would have to understand that this was what was necessary. Duncan was a special agent. He couldn’t work staying with a special family. He wouldn’t be there all the time for them. She turned in the bed.
“Duncan. Oh Duncan.” Melanie opened her eyes to discover that her thoughts had been inside her dreams. She reached for him, but he was gone. Must have gone to the bathroom. She looked at the time. Almost seven. She didn’t hear any shower noises. Rolling over, she saw another man sitting at the table pouring a cup of coffee, and bolted upright pulling the covers to her neck.
“Don’t be alarmed, Mrs. McGregor. I’m just getting a cup of coffee.”
Where had she seen him? Then it dawned on her. “Agent Hargrove. Is something wrong? Where’s Duncan? The children?”
“The children are watching TV. In fact, they only awoke thirty minutes ago. I told them not to be alarmed, that I just needed a cup of coffee and to rest my back in this chair for a spel
l. Duncan will return shortly. He needed to take care of some business with the Bureau. He shouldn’t be much longer.”
“Was it serious? Or are you not able to tell me?”
“Can’t say for sure. When they call, they don’t give us guys much info. Just ‘We need to see you.’”
“You think they’ve found Riley? Sorry, you just said they couldn’t … that you didn’t.”
He sipped the coffee then laid the newspaper in his lap as he crossed his legs. “Would you like some coffee?”
“No. I’m fine. I think I’ll go and change in the bathroom. Could I ask you to turn your head or close your eyes while I get my clothes and get in there?”
“Yes, ma’am, you can ask me. I’ll be glad to do anything you ask.” Harcourt’s voice was a slight drawl and for a moment, it sounded like Duncan’s.
She hurried and gathered her things and scooted to the bathroom. “Okay, I’m inside the bathroom. You can open your eyes, now.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said with his husky drawl.
Melanie shut the door, and leaned against it. What was it with these deep voices? Not to mention sexy hunks for agents. Where had they been when she’d been looking for good guys to date? And where was the one guy whose voice she wanted to hear the most, the one she loved? Where are you Duncan McGregor?
Duncan parked the vehicle and leaned back against the seat. His mission had been fruitless. Doctor Oliver Marrow had not been a source of new information. He wasn’t much of a talker and he’d informed Duncan that what was between a patient and their doctor was not his to disclose.
Patient privilege—confidential information, my eye, Duncan thought to himself. How was he to know that Harris Galloway had been a patient? How could a therapist even be practicing if he’d been a patient? Wouldn’t that make him a sicko or something? No, Doctor Morrow knew something he wasn’t disclosing. Duncan had practically threatened him with all kinds of suits, but the man wouldn’t move.
“He has to know something and he just doesn’t want to talk. I’ve got a wife and children who are in danger, and this guy who claims to help people won’t open his mouth. I should have put my fist down his throat.” Duncan eased out of the vehicle and headed to the hotel room. Maybe the children and Melanie would still be sleeping.
Running On Fear Page 16