Running On Fear

by Linda L Lattimer

  He looked at his watch as he neared the door. Their last day and no sign of anything. Maybe the guy hadn’t followed them to Florida, after all. He hadn’t even had word on the dead-beat dad or the phone call he wanted checked. Guess when they could report something they would. “But it seems like they’re getting mighty laid back in their work.”

  Hargrove pulled his gun when he heard the door open.

  “Only me.”

  Hargrove put his gun back in its holster. “How did it go?”

  “Got there as he was having an early breakfast at home. Of course, he decided it was too early for him to talk. Said the guy was once a patient. Couldn’t divulge any info.”

  “A patient and he’s treating people?”

  Duncan eased into a chair. “Tell me about it.”

  “And you think he’s lying?”

  “I know he is. He’s a loner. No family. Nothing.”

  “Almost like Spencer.”

  “Yep.” Duncan eyed the bed.

  “She’s in the bathroom changing. She woke up and saw me. I sort of got a shock when she bolted up like that. The children are watching TV. They woke early. I was in there with them until coffee called. Your wife is asking questions. I told her I wasn’t at liberty to say.”

  “Thanks, Dan. I appreciate it.”

  “Anytime. Seems your wife was dreaming and calling your name before she woke.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. You’ve got a good one if she calls your name in her sleep.”

  “I do have a good one, that’s for sure.”

  “I’m going out for breakfast. You’re last day here?”

  “Yeah, and nothing to show on the killer.”

  “You have to admit that you’ve had fun.”

  Melanie eased the door open and was about to set foot out of the bathroom when she heard men talking.

  “Yes, Dan, I have had fun. It’s been a complete joy being with this family. I love that little boy with all my heart. And Tiffany is an angel. Cooks like one, too.”

  “And Mrs. McGregor?”

  “Melanie? The best little wife any man could be blessed to have. She’s eased many wounds inflicted on my heart.”

  “I’m sure that you’ve eased hers as well.”

  Duncan poured a cup of the coffee. “I probably have.”

  “Face it, you two were meant to be together.”

  “I’m trying to put the past behind me, Dan. It’s hard.”

  “I know. Well, I’m going for breakfast. Enjoy this day. It’ll probably be a long one.”

  “Yeah. Matt waited until today to try and get Melanie into the Haunted House. Thinks she’ll be scared.”

  Hargrove smiled. “I wouldn’t mind having a son like that myself. Have fun.”

  “Oh, we will,” Duncan said closing the door as Hargrove left. “You can come out now, Melanie. He’s gone.”

  She slipped out of the bathroom. “I wasn’t eavesdropping.”

  Duncan pulled her over to him and rested his folded arms across her back. “The children I believe, but you, my dear, are a very bad liar.”

  “Duncan how dare you say that to me!”

  He brushed a kiss to her lips. “I’m your husband. Remember, I know you better than the children.”

  “Where did you go?”

  “On a mission for the Bureau. Can’t discuss it, but, no, it didn’t have anything to do with Riley.”

  “Oh.”

  “It was something else. And it turned out to be a dead end. I did learn that Ramon is doing much better. Can’t keep him down for anything. He’s spending a couple more days with his family. Which he deserves.” Duncan yawned.

  “What time did you wake?”

  “It was very early.”

  “Why don’t you sleep for an hour? It’s going to be a long day.”

  “Yeah, Dad, you should sleep for a while,” Matt said.

  “Hi, sport. You wouldn’t mind?”

  “No. Tif and I have to eat before we go out, and then bathe. It was late when we got in last night. Let’s shoot for nine o’clock.”

  “Okay, but the park will be crowded. And we can get in now if we want.”

  “It’s okay. We did most of the stuff yesterday, and the park was jam-packed then. Sleep for an hour.”

  “All right.” Duncan pulled off his jacket, laid the gun on the nightstand and threw himself across the bed. In minutes he was out.

  Melanie joined the children in the other room. Wherever Duncan had gone, he’d left too early. The man was truly exhausted.

  The knocking was loud when the old man finally came to the door. “Oh, it’s you. I was just getting ready to leave for work. I’m running late.”

  “You had company this morning.”

  “What’s your point?” the old man asked. “I never said a word. I told you that I’d keep my mouth shut.”

  “Why is it that I don’t believe you?”

  “Look, I’m late for work. Believe what you want. I told that detective nothing. My mouth is sealed.”

  “You’re right. But to be sure, let’s make it permanent.”

  In one quick movement the gun was pinned at the old man’s heart. The silencer made a world of difference. No sound for anyone in the neighborhood to hear as the assailant pulled the trigger, then left the house.

  Fifteen minutes later, Melanie was still chewing on a banana as she paced the floor. Today was their last day. She should inform the children of her plans. That way, when they drove out of here in the morning, they’d be prepared to head for Nashville. She needed to go up there early anyway to check on things.

  Sure, Harris was probably doing a bang-up job, but she needed to return. It was time to move on with their lives. The children needed to hear that this had been a game with Duncan. When all of it was over, he’d be back sitting behind a desk piled high with papers until another important case crept into his lap.

  But today is the last day, Melanie. Why do you want to make their last day sad?

  Tiffany folded her arms across her chest. “Okay, Aunt Melanie, what gives? For seventeen minutes you’ve been at the same point with that banana and you’ve paced a hole in that green carpet.”

  “Aren’t we supposed to use Mom and Dad?” Melanie put the banana aside.

  “Not when you’re so deep into concentration you can’t hear me. Is something wrong that Matt and I should be aware of?”

  Melanie smoothed her hands over her blue walking shorts as she sat on the edge of the bed. “Actually, it’s me. I’ve been doing some thinking.”

  “About what?” Matt said, eyeing the shiny badge.

  The ache in Melanie’s heart grew larger.

  “Are you ill?” Tiffany asked.

  “No, dear. I wanted to tell you and Matt that, when we leave here tomorrow, we’ll be going to Nashville.”

  “To your house?” Matt asked.

  “Yes, dear. I have to check on things at the townhouse. Not to mention make sure of a few patients I failed to mention to Harris. And since Allison…” She lowered her eyes, then looked back to them. “Well, all our plans have been altered.”

  Duncan rolled over in the bed, tuning in on the conversation. He’d been awake for the past few minutes, thinking of that idiot doctor who’d given him no answers. Now, he was listening to every one of Melanie’s words.

  “And Dad will be with us, right?” Matt asked. “I mean, he wanted you to tell us.”

  Melanie chewed on her bottom lip. “Duncan isn’t going with us.”

  “Why? Does he have to work on a case before he can be with us?” Matt eyes searched her for answers.

  Melanie exhaled. This was harder than she’d imagined. “No. Look, Matt, it will only be you, Tiffany and myself. It’s time we did a reality check. Remember when Agent McGregor told us that he’d need a family for this case?”

  The children nodded.

  “The case will soon be over. Our lives will be back to normal. Well, as normal as we make them, but
he’ll go on with his life, the one he had before making us deputies, so to speak.”

  “Special agents,” Matt corrected.

  Duncan grinned. That’s my boy.

  “Matt, the point is he’s going his way, and we’re headed ours.”

  “But he said I was his son. That we were going to be a family.” Matt’s face grew full of sorrow.

  “You mean he didn’t mean his words?” Tiffany quizzed sadly.

  “Don’t put words in my mouth. Look, it’s best that we say goodbye now. Matt, you have to understand.”

  “No! I lost my mom. I won’t lose my dad!”

  “Matthew, he isn’t your real dad. I’m the one that has to take care of you now.”

  “But I want Duncan. I never had a dad. He wouldn’t just toss us aside like that. I won’t go with you. I’ll run away, if he won’t have me.”

  “You don’t mean that, Matt.”

  “Yes, I do,” he snapped, tightly clutching his badge. “Why are you telling us this? Why? Did he send you in here to tell us he’s lied to us?”

  Duncan entered the room, raking a hand through his hair.

  “What’s going on here, Melanie?”

  Matt ran to his side twisting his little arms around the agent. “She wants to take us to Nashville without you, Dad. She said you don’t want us.”

  Melanie shook her head. “Matt, I didn’t say that.”

  “I heard every word, Matt.” Duncan leaned back on his heels as he squatted beside him. “I know Melanie is only considering your welfare, and she did speak softly.”

  “But you said—”

  “Whoa, wait till I finish. She was only making sure that I was serious about my plans to stay. You can understand. Actually, you’re in her care now. Without your mom … just remember, your Aunt Melanie is your guardian.”

  “So, it’s true. You aren’t going to stay with us when all this is over,” Matt said with misty eyes.

  “I never said that, Matt.”

  Melanie stood to her feet crossing her arms. “You should confess your true plans now. Because tomorrow, after we check out, the children and I are returning to Nashville. I have things to take care of.”

  “You know, Melanie, you could have waited until our trip was over before springing something like this on the kids.”

  Her mouth went agape. “Excuse me?”

  “Let’s just say you really know how to crash a good party.”

  “I thought you loved Dad, Aunt Melanie,” Tiffany spoke.

  Wow both of them were casting stones. “I do.”

  “Then, if you love him, why are you leaving him?”

  “Yes, Melanie, why?” Duncan asked.

  She waved her hands in the air. “Why the devil do you do that? Every time I try to talk to these children, you have to sneak in and be on their side.”

  “I’m in the middle, love.”

  “I’ve got your love. And if you must know, Tiffany, it takes two people to make a marriage. Two people to be in love. And when one person is the only one that ever says I love you then there’s no real love in that marriage.”

  Tiffany eased to the bed. “She’s been watching too much Oprah.”

  Matt joined her on the bed. “More like Dr. Phil.”

  Duncan rose to his feet and moved toward Melanie. “Is that what this is all about? Because my lips haven’t uttered ‘I love you,’ Melanie?”

  Melanie pushed him away, then pointed a finger. “Don’t say it now. Not when someone has mentioned it.”

  “Oh, I wasn’t.”

  Surprise veiled her face.

  “Melanie, haven’t my actions proved to you that I love you? That I want to be a part of this family? That I intend to keep this family together and not cast it adrift when all this is over?” He moved in closer to her almost breathing in her ear, as he took hold of her arms.

  “Duncan…” I hate it when you stand that close to me, especially when I want to win this argument.

  “Look, we’ll go to Nashville, but as a family, and not a single one. You hear me, Melanie McGregor?”

  “Yes.”

  He released her arms, gently rubbing them. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No. Never.”

  “Matt, you will always show respect to your Aunt Melanie, No matter what. Even if she were to hog tie you and take you to Nashville without me.”

  “But—”

  “Just you remember. I’m not only a special agent. I’m your dad now. I’ll come after my son … or my daughter.” He gave both of them a huge wink. “Always remember I’ll have no trouble finding you and bringing you back home with me.”

  “Sorry, Aunt Melanie. You’re the only mom we have now. I just didn’t want to leave my dad. I wanted him around. It’s not fun going to things at school with only a mom. Sometimes a boy needs to confide things in a man. Like when Tiffany needs to confide things in a woman.”

  Melanie hugged him, and then Tiffany. “Don’t I know it.”

  “Hey, guys, we’d better get a move on. I really didn’t sleep long so we’ll be early after all.” Duncan grinned.

  Matt tilted his head sideways, looking at the television. “Hey, that’s the same man.” His finger pointed at the screen. “The same one that was in my pictures at Stone Mountain. It’s only a sketch, but I know that’s him.”

  Duncan turned up the volume to the TV. The newsbreak was going off but he was still able to catch it all.

  Melanie’s eyes widened in horror. “Duncan, do you know anything about this?”

  “I saw the photos that Matt took. I saw him more than once in those snapshots. If you must know, I’m having him checked out. With those dark glasses and pulled down cap, he keeps his facial features hidden, so it’s hard to really get a good view of him.”

  “The newsman said the neighbors saw him fleeing from the home of some doctor in Orlando. They won’t divulge the doctor’s name either. Orlando isn’t far from here, Duncan. If he’s the same man.”

  Duncan noticed the hysteria in her voice. “Melanie, please calm down. Maybe it was just a coincidence that he was at Stone Mountain.”

  There was a loud knock at the other door and Melanie jumped.

  Duncan pulled his gun from its holster. “You three stay put.”

  “Duncan—”

  “Melanie, please.”

  Duncan crossed quietly to the door, but relaxed when he heard Hargrove’s voice. He opened the to let Hargrove in.

  “Guess you heard the newsbreak, Duncan?”

  “Saw the guy that was in the pictures I gave Wilson to have checked out. Just heard it was the doctor.”

  Melanie stepped into the room her face pale. “Marrow.”

  Duncan saw her and ran to her side. “Melanie.” Her body was trembling.

  “Oliver Marrow. They just named the doctor. If the killer went after him, then he’s been following us. He’s this close!” She struck Duncan on the chest with her fist. “Why can’t you idiots stop him? I mean, don’t special agents always get their man? What is wrong with you people? I have children here!” She sobbed silently, tears rolling down her cheeks.

  Duncan pulled her into his arms. “We are trying, honey. Maybe he isn’t after you.”

  “They want Harris Galloway,” Hargrove mentioned.

  Melanie wiped her eyes and looked at him. “What?”

  “We believe he’s dealing in drugs. Somehow we think he’s using your office to transport them.”

  Melanie shook her head, edging away from Duncan. “Oh no. There’s no way. I would know. I don’t keep anything except a few samples of medicine. And I hardly even write a prescription. I don’t have drugs lying around anywhere.”

  “Galloway has to be distributing them in something. We need you to allow us to search the place.”

  “Oh, you mean you haven’t barged in there already and just started tearing things apart?”

  “Melanie, that’s no way to speak to Hargrove. He’s only doing his duty.”

  “Dunc
an, let her talk. It is her practice.”

  “You’re darn right it is! And Harris Galloway is the kindest man I know and a joy to work beside. He’s not transporting, or even dealing in, drugs. He doesn’t even like to take aspirin for a headache. Look, you can search, but only while I’m there. I want to be there. And I told the children that I needed to go tomorrow after we check out. It will be late when we arrive, so I won’t be at the office until the next day.”

  “We don’t want Galloway to be aware of this search.”

  “I won’t be calling him, Agent Hargrove. I don’t want anyone to think that I’m an accomplice in any of this. I’m not.”

  Hargrove rubbed a hand over his forehead. “No one implied you were.”

  “And I certainly don’t want any of the news media to know that my place is being searched. I’d like for this to be done quietly. Like my sister’s death. I live in Nashville. And my townhouse is in the middle of Bellevue. I don’t need everyone who listens to the four, five or even the six o’clock news to hear about this.”

  “Mrs. McGregor, I can assure you that we’ll have someone go in completely undercover.”

  “With a drug sniffing dog, no doubt?”

  “Yes. The man will pretend to be blind until we get in there behind closed doors.”

  “I know you aren’t going to find anything. This is all Riley Brewton’s doing. Harris is just an innocent bystander.”

  “We hope he is. Duncan, we’re heading to the park. Just a word of warning. The four of you have to act as if you haven’t heard the news, just in case you’re being watched today. One slight sign of you four not appearing to have fun will blow this off course.”

  “We’ve got it. Oh, we’re going to have fun all right. That’s one thing you can count on. Right, Matt?”

  Matt wheeled out of the other room. “That’s a ten four. Magic Kingdom again. Fun, fun and more fun. And especially the Haunted House.” He started doing eerie ghost sounds at Melanie.

  Melanie blotted her face once more, trying to force a smile for the child. The day after tomorrow she’d show them they were all on a wild goose chase. Harris was a kind doctor. He didn’t deal in drugs. And she certainly had nothing to hide.