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Chapter 13
No sooner had they entered the state of Tennessee and Chattanooga, than Duncan pulled off the exit.
“Does anyone mind? I’m hungry and my stomach is screaming for food. Let’s head to Friday’s and get something to eat. It’s not far. And my long legs could use a good stretch.”
“Maybe I should drive after we eat,” Melanie offered.
“Or we could get a room tonight and rest. Leave first thing in the morning. We did leave late this morning. What do you say, kids? Want to eat and get a room for the night?” Duncan asked as he pulled into the parking lot.
Tiffany yawned. “Whatever Mom wants to do. We aren’t that far away, but I’d hate to be exhausted when we arrive. And the deer are out late at night. I really prefer driving during the daylight hours, Dad.”
“Matt?”
“Makes no difference to me.”
Melanie sat quietly in the front seat, not saying a word. Matt’s attitude toward her had completely changed after Duncan had had the little talk with him. She’d never forget the look on the boy’s face when he’d found out that she was only taking him and Tiffany to Nashville. That boy loved Duncan McGregor. No doubt about that. And she knew, now, that Duncan’s love for them was truly genuine.
“They’ve got some nice places in Chattanooga. Guess we could just stay the night and get some rest. I think our bodies are tuckered out. Their batteries are on their last legs. A nice meal and maybe a little rest with some TV before we doze off. Yeah, let’s be spontaneous,” Melanie agreed.
“Spontaneous. I like that,” Duncan said as he unbuckled his seatbelt. “I’ll get Hargrove to call and get us a room. He’ll have everything checked out.”
Melanie sighed. She felt like they were in some witness protection program, yet she wasn’t about to testify in court against anyone. Instead, she had to protect her family from a madman.
An hour later, after eating, they were inside the hotel room. They’d managed to find a room with an adjoining room to theirs. Duncan was glad. Again, he’d only have to worry about the door to the room where he and Melanie would be sleeping. He pulled off his jacket and fell across the bed.
“You really are dead tired, honey.” Melanie brushed the palm of her hand across his cheek. “Matt, you and Tiffany decide who wants to take first bath, then turn in. I’m going to take a hot shower and try to get some rest. You can watch a little TV, but your dad is tired. He had a really busy day at Magic Kingdom.” She stroked Duncan’s cheek again as the kids went about their business.
Melanie was tired and on edge. Her thoughts turned to Harris again. Why did they believe he was such a bad guy? He’d never done anything wrong. Even if he was mixed up with anything, Riley Brewton would be the one in the middle of it.
She took the remote and turned the TV volume to low as she flipped through the channels. Duncan shut his eyes, still feeling the soft feathering of her hand across his cheek. It was like a mild sedative easing him into a lullaby of dreams.
Melanie decided to wait until the children were finished with their baths before she took hers. She kissed Duncan softly on the cheek. He was still lying on the bed with his eyes shut. Removing her gown from the suitcase, she headed toward the bathroom. Tonight, all she wanted was a long warm bath.
More than anything, she wished that it would wash away all the sorrows that had entered her life. She leaned her head against the tub, and shut her eyes. At least Duncan had brought a little ray of cheer.
“Melanie, don’t fall asleep in that tub. It’s not safe.”
“Duncan, I thought you were sleeping.”
“Just resting. Your little stroking was most relaxing. Thank you. The children are watching one more program—some comedy—then they’re turning in for the night. Tiffany was almost asleep. Matt is wide-eyed, still clutching that badge in his hand.”
Melanie took the soap and washed her legs. “I’ve sat in here so long the water’s cold. Guess I’d better get out.”
“I need to call Ramon. I’ll see you when you’re done.”
Melanie watched as he left the room. There was something different about him, tonight, but she couldn’t quite make it out. In fact, since her outburst he’d been a different man. She took the towel and started drying off.
Duncan dialed the number he needed. Ramon answered on the second ring.
“Hi, it’s Duncan. How are you doing, my man?”
“Healed. I heard you needed some rest tonight. Hargrove called me about the change of plans. Said you were headed to Nashville. Any word where you’ll go to next? Maybe back to the cabin?”
“Not sure. We’re waiting to see what happens when the dog shows up at the office.”
“Does Melanie … What I mean is…”
“She doesn’t believe that man could do anything wrong. And maybe she’s right. Brewton could have planted it all in the hope of getting her arrested on trumped up drug charges. That way she’d lose her practice and go to the big house. He’s a very sneaky fellow. I lay two to one odds that he’s the man who did in the doctor. He didn’t like that I was inquiring about Galloway.”
“Duncan, I know you don’t like to hear this…”
“Don’t tell me, you’ve got this feeling?”
“I know. I know. But you have to admit that half the time I get them they end up coming true. Something is coming down. I feel it.”
“Thanks for warning me, Ramon. I’ll be on my guard.”
“Ha ha. You’re already on that. Now, I’m serious.”
“I know, Ramon,” Duncan said, as Melanie stepped from the bathroom. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Watch your back.”
“Yeah. Same for you.”
Melanie tiptoed into the children’s room. Matt and Tiffany were sound asleep, so she turned off the television. What she wouldn’t do to be back to last month when Allison was so dead set on marrying that no good Brewton. She’d have shaken some sense into Allison’s head for sure. Hearing her cellphone, she left the children’s room and went to her purse.
Must be Harris calling me about a patient.
“Hello.”
“Just play it cool, you witch, and no one will get hurt. Now you just pretend that you’re talking to Galloway and everything will be fine. You hear me?”
Melanie hurriedly scribbled a note to Duncan and pushed the speaker button to low. “Yes, I hear you, Harris.”
Duncan leaned toward her and she turned the phone toward Duncan’s ear, too.
“That’s good, you little witch. Tell me, Melanie, how did it feel when you saw your little sister in the morgue?”
An excruciating ache trembled in the pit of Melanie’s stomach. “What do you want?”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be talking to Harris, remember?”
“My husband just went to the bathroom,” she lied.
“Oh, so now it’s just you and me.”
“Yes, you sorry bag of garbage. What do you want, Riley?”
“You … To be in a room with you, for a few minutes. Just to see who the best sparring partner might be. I’m sure you can give me a licking since I took care of that pesky little Allison. I wish you could have been there to see her, begging me not to hit her anymore. She thought about those little brats while she died. Tell me, shrink, why do mothers do that? Think of their children when the end is coming. Why did her last words concern her precious son and daughter, and her sister. You’re the shrink, why do they do that?”
Melanie bit her tongue so hard she could almost taste the blood. “I want you to know something, Riley Brewton. I’m going to kill you. If it takes the last breath in my body, I’m going to kill you!” Melanie shut the phone off. She’d heard enough. More than enough.
Duncan knelt beside her, pulling her into the curve of his body. She was shaking.
“You did good, honey, when you slipped me that note.”
“He … told me … to pretend he was Harris.”
Her arms flew around Duncan. “It’s never going to be over. Never!” She broke into uncontrollable silent tears so as not to wake the children. Thoughts of Allison ran through her head.
The man stormed into the room taking the phone from Riley. “Are you mad? What the devil did you think you could accomplish by making that phone call?”
“Grif, calm down. I want to make her squirm a bit.”
“Melanie has never done anything to me, Riley. And those are still my children. I don’t want them harmed. You had no business even killing Allison.”
“No business!” Riley slapped Griffin on the arm. “With the way she was talking to me? She discovered what we were doing. She was going to tell the police. You’d have gone to prison, too. As far as your children are concerned, when did you ever go back to see them, or even send them a note? Or even send them a dime? So, don’t start in on me about those children.”
“I still fathered them.”
“Doesn’t make you much of a father when you leave them for good.”
“I couldn’t tell them about my lifestyle. Nor Allison. Why did you have to go and tell her before you crushed her head in?”
Riley squealed a horrible laugh. “I got pure enjoyment out of seeing her face when I told her about you and me.” He squealed in laughter again.
There was a knock at the door and someone else entered.
“I can hear you all the way down the block, Riley. Having fun are we?”
“What are you doing here?” Riley asked. “We weren’t supposed to meet until the day after tomorrow when we grab Melanie, or have you forgotten?”
“No. Just had another change of plans,” The man said.
“Like I told you, I’m tired of you changing plans. Now, you promised me that witch first. Get out of here until we grab her.”
“Riley, you’re in no position to order me around!”
Riley didn’t even feel the first bullet as it landed in his leg. The second one landed near his heart. He slumped over. “What for?” he muttered.
“You were only getting in the way, Riley. Besides, you shouldn’t have phoned Melanie tonight. Of course, I’m sort of glad you did. I heard the entire call. Like I said, another change in plans. Too bad you won’t be there to see the outcome.” The gun fired once more.
Riley clutched his chest as blood flowed from his lips.
“Now, wait a minute,” Griffin said. “I had no part in this.” He raised his hands.
“Actually, you did. And I do need you for what I have planned.” The gun fired twice more striking Griffin in the chest. He slumped over onto the bed.
“Good. Excellent. Now all I have to do is arrange the bodies and wait. When my little pigeon gets to Nashville all the cards will be played out.” He kicked Riley’s leg. “Too, too bad you’ll miss the fireworks. And, believe me, this time there will be fireworks.” A sinister grin formed on his lips. “You and Griffin, who’d have thought. What a terrible web we weave once we start to deceive. If only the others knew your secrets. But now, all that will be buried when they lower your bodies into the cold earth.” He arranged the bodies, before carefully slipping out the door without being seen.
Duncan slid under the covers, turning toward Melanie.
“That pill should help you rest. I know you didn’t want to take it, but it’s safe, Melanie. Dan Hargrove is one of the men in the Bureau I can trust.” He lowered her head to the pillow. “He said the doctor insisted you get some rest. It’s all going to catch up on you, if you don’t. I don’t want my wife having a nervous breakdown.”
Melanie leaned toward Duncan, burying her head in the crook of his shoulder. “I didn’t really want a sedative.”
He patted her head, then ran his fingers through her shiny blond hair. “I know, darling. But you can trust me. I won’t tell you anything unless you’re awake. There’ll be no action while you’re in dreamland.”
“We both need some shut-eye.”
“Yes, that we do.” Duncan switched off the lamp then pulled her closer to his chest.
Duncan before I fall asleep, I wanted you to know I appreciate what you said to the children this morning after my brief talk with them.”
“The one I interrupted.”
“You do have a habit of doing that.”
“Always remember my feelings for you have been real, Melanie. Hasn’t my touched scorched you to the point of no return? And when you slap my bottom doesn’t that say something?” His breath sent chills down her spine.
She shut her eyes then quickly opened them. “Sex for you,” she whispered, as she felt the sedative relaxing her body.
He pulled her closer. “You are my family now, Melanie Bishop McGregor. These are our children. You aren’t easily getting away from me.”
“But when this case is over. At first you said we were … that I was like bait. Then you said annulment.”
“Have to be a divorce now. Been sharing a room. And much more,” he said, soothingly.
“I don’t know.”
“Too much at stake now to let you go. So, what, you think a special agent can’t get jelly in his knees when he’s around someone like you? Leon was right that first day. Those jeans you were in…” he paused. “Let’s just get some rest.”
Melanie wondered what Leon had said about her that day. Well, it must have been something to trigger his goat. She snuggled closer into his chest and gave in to sleep.
Ten minutes later, he felt her relax into a deep slumber. While he needed rest as well, that phone call still bothered him. Riley Brewton wasn’t going to be around much after Duncan got his hands on him. He might lose his job at the Bureau, but getting rid of that scumbag was the only thing that mattered.
“Melanie, I do love you. I love you so much it hurts. I don’t want to lose you or the children. I couldn’t stand to lose another family. I love everything about you, everything.”
He kissed her forehead, then shut his eyes. For now he would rest, and try to forget what was lurking in the shadows. When they got Harris, they’d get Riley, and everything would be over. They could go to wherever she wanted to live and be a family. It didn’t matter where as long as they were all together.
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Chapter 14
Hargrove was standing in the hallway outside the hotel door when Wilson approached.
“Duncan will be out shortly. He wanted to spend a few minutes with the wife.”
“I heard what happened last night. So she took the sedative you brought her?”
“Yes. Duncan said she didn’t want to. He told her that it was safe, that I’d brought it from the doctor.” Hargrove shifted from his right leg to his left, then leaned against the wall.
“You probably aren’t getting much rest, either.”
“About as much as anyone else when they’re on a case. Those folders in your hand. Will they shed some light?”
“I think so. He wanted information on Brewton and Dunbar. He’s going to be a bit surprised at what I found. That Marrow guy sure did his best in trying to conceal this. I was lucky to know someone in the Orlando precinct who let me enter and search before the others went through his files.”
“You mean sneak.” Hargrove half-grinned.
The door opened and Duncan braced himself in the doorway. “Come inside. Melanie’s going to stay in the children’s room until we finish this briefing. I didn’t want to leave her and go somewhere else.” He motioned to the table near the window.
“Thanks for supplying the coffee.” Wilson poured Duncan a cup, then offered one to Hargrove.
“Help yourself to the donuts and fruit too.”
“So, was Melanie able to get any sleep?” Hargrove asked as he took a bite from one of the glazed donuts.
“Yes, after she took the sedative. All of this has worn her down. I’ll be glad when it’s over, but at this rate, you never know. We still have unsolved cases with people dodging us every minute.”
“This might shed some light o
n things,” Wilson said, handing the folders to Duncan. “I think that you are going to find it very interesting.”
Duncan flipped the pages. “How did you get a hold of these records?” He raised his hand. “No, don’t tell me.”
Wilson gave him a thin-lipped smile, then reached for the red grapes.
Duncan was absorbed in the record’s details. He exchanged a glance with Hargrove. “Have you seen these?”
“No, Wilson just got here with them. Wanted you to see them first.”
Duncan read another page, then handed it to Hargrove as he read some more. It explained everything. Dr. Marrow had taken precise notes on both Griffin Dunbar and Riley Brewton.
“I know you don’t want to inform the Mrs., Duncan, but you might wish to reconsider. I can go spend some time with the children. You know, keep them occupied with the TV. Even got a deck of cards with me. She’s as much a part of this as we are, since it involved her sister. The file explains quite a bit,” Wilson said.
Duncan poured another cup of coffee, then ran the palm of his hand over his mouth. He hated the thought of telling her, but Melanie did need to read this. He walked to the kids’ room.
“Melanie, honey, could you come out here for a moment? We need to talk. Wilson’s going to sit with the children. He even brought a deck of cards.”
“Oh, wow,” Matt said. “I’m good at playing cards. I beat Tiffany all the time.”
“Well you’re up against a pro now, buddy.” Wilson smiled as he entered the room.
“After we play a game of cards, you can look at our snapshots of Disneyworld and watch the cool video Tif took.”
“Sounds good, sport,” Wilson said, closing the door.
“Duncan, what is all this about?” Melanie asked, swinging into the chair next to Hargrove and noticing the folder in his hand. There was another one on the table in front of Duncan.
“Morning, Melanie.”
“Dan. Sorry you aren’t sleeping much, either.”
“Man, when a pretty woman tells you that, your bags must be showing. I’ll have to do something about that soon.”
Running On Fear Page 18