Murder in the Presidio (Peyton Brooks' Series Book 6)

by M. L. Hamilton

  Alice closed her eyes. Marco put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him, resting her head in the middle of his chest. He realized Alice Brooks wasn’t much taller than her daughter.

  Jake walked over and leaned on the window sill, watching him. More than anyone else, Jake understood what he was going through, how surreal it all felt, how unreal.

  “She’s strong,” Jake said.

  Marco nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

  “She’s a fighter,” he continued.

  Alice tightened her hand in his shirt and gave a shudder.

  “Angel,” came Abe’s voice from the doorway.

  Marco turned, watching as Abe led a doctor in green scrubs into the room. Alice clung to him.

  “This is Dr. Reynolds,” he said, indicating the short, balding man with close-set eyes and a long, hooked nose. “This is Peyton’s partner and mother.”

  The doctor gave them both smiles. “She’s doing well.”

  Marco felt like his knees were going to give out. Jake placed a hand in the center of his back, steadying him.

  Alice sobbed.

  “She got a bit combative with us.”

  “That’s our girl,” said Abe, his eyes watering.

  “I gave her a strong sedative and we had to tie her hands because she kept trying to take out the oxygen, but she’s breathing on her own and she’s alert.”

  “When can she go home?” asked Alice, smiling through her tears.

  “We want to keep her on oxygen for a full day, make sure all of the carbon monoxide is out of her system, but we’ll probably release her tomorrow.”

  “Can I see her?”

  The doctor glanced at the crowded waiting room. “Only immediate family right now, and only two at a time, but I’ll have a nurse come and show you to her room.”

  “Thank you, doctor,” said Alice, grabbing his hands.

  “Thank you,” echoed Marco.

  The doctor nodded, squeezed Alice’s hands, then left the room.

  Alice turned to Defino. “When she’s released I want to take her home to my house, so she can recover. Can you give us police protection?”

  “Of course,” said Defino, glancing up at Marco. “I’ll make the arrangements. I’m also going to get a uniform outside her door while she’s here.”

  “Thank you,” said Alice, moving toward Cliff. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

  Marco watched them. He wanted to go to Peyton. He wanted that privilege, but he wasn’t family. Jake squeezed his shoulder, giving him a commiserate look. Abe came forward and pulled him into a bear hug.

  “Don’t look so scared, Angel. I promise you our girl is going to be right as rain in a few days,” he whispered in Marco’s ear, then kissed the side of his face.

  Marco nodded, watching as the nurse entered and led Alice away. He wanted to go. He wanted that privilege, but what the hell did he do about it now? Did he tell her what he felt? Did he confess everything and pray she wouldn’t end their friendship when she found out?

  Abe released him and he backed up to the closest chair, taking a seat. Defino wandered out of the waiting room, talking into her phone, while Simons slumped into a chair. Cho and Maria held a whispered conversation in the hallway beyond the waiting room.

  “I’ll be back,” said Abe, moving toward the hallway where the nurse had taken Alice.

  Jake sat down next to him. “You okay?”

  “No.” He clasped his hands between his knees. “I almost lost her.”

  Jake nodded.

  “I don’t know what to do.”

  “You have to tell her what you feel.”

  Marco looked over at him. “What if I lose her? What if she can’t see beyond that and she decides we can’t even be friends?”

  “It’s a chance you’re going to have to take.”

  “He’s still out there.”

  “The Janitor?”

  Marco nodded. “He gave me a chance. He wanted it to end. He was going to give me one shot to end it, and…”

  “And?”

  “The Presidio filled with cops. He said I screwed up and he was gone.” Marco met Jake’s eyes. “He said I screwed up. What does that mean? What if he goes after her again?”

  “We have to be more careful. She has to be more careful.”

  Marco shuddered, remembering the texts. “He said he liked her. A lot. He threatened to…” His voice failed him.

  “To what?”

  Marco couldn’t say it. It made him feel sick inside.

  “To rape her?”

  “In so many words.”

  Jake’s jaw tensed. “This bastard has to die.”

  “He was right there. I had a chance and I blew it.”

  “You didn’t blow it. You didn’t have a choice.”

  “I picked her over ending it. I could have gone after him, but I picked her.”

  Jake clutched his arm. “I would have done the same.”

  “If other people die, it’s my fault.”

  “Right now, if you had to make the choice again, what would you do? Right now, Adonis. What would you pick?”

  Marco met Jake’s gaze. “I’d pick her.”

  Jake gave him a pointed nod. “So would I.”

  “Marco?”

  Marco looked up to see Alice standing before him. He rose to his feet.

  “She wants to see you.”

  Marco nodded, unable to speak. Here was his moment. Here was his chance. Could he take it?

  Alice led him down a side corridor, the walls painted in austere hospital white, no artwork, no color to break up the coldness. She pulled open a glass door and led him into a small room. Peyton lay in the bed, a nasal cannula in her nose, her wrists tied down to the rails, an IV running out of her arm.

  Her wild curls lay across the white pillow and she wore a pale blue hospital gown. She looked small and fragile in the large bed. As he stepped inside, her eyes opened, but they were glazed and heavy.

  He took a seat on the edge of the bed and forced a smile, reaching out to run his fingers through the wild curls. “Hey, partner,” he said, swallowing the lump in his throat.

  “Can you untie me?” She tugged at the restraints. “And take this damn thing out of my nose?”

  “That’s why they have you tied up, sweetheart. You need the oxygen right now to get the carbon monoxide out of your system.” He reached across the bed and loosened the right tie. “If you promise not to remove the tubes, I’ll untie you.”

  “I promise,” she said.

  He worked at the buckle and freed her right arm, then turned to the left. He felt her eyes searching his face, but he couldn’t find the courage to meet her look.

  “I thought he was going to kill me,” she whispered.

  His gaze snapped to hers.

  Tears filled in her eyes.

  “I thought I was going to die.”

  He released her other hand, then stroked her hair at her temple.

  “You saved me again.” The tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks. “You found me.”

  He brushed them away. “Always,” he said. “I will always be there.”

  Her eyes closed involuntarily. “They drugged me again. Why do they always drug me?”

  “Because you cause them trouble.”

  She gave him a faint smile. “I’m so sleepy.”

  “Then go to sleep, sweetheart.”

  “Don’t leave until I do.”

  “I won’t.”

  She was quiet for a long time. He watched the rise and fall of her chest, stroking her hair to soothe both her and himself. He wanted to lay down beside her and wrap her in his arms. He wanted that almost more than he wanted his next breath, but he contented himself with what he had. He was always contenting himself with the minimum where she was concerned.

  She gave a little moan, her fingers tightening in her covers.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re safe now,” he whispered, bringi
ng his lips close to her ear.

  She blinked sleepily at him, trying to make eye contact. “Marco,” she said, her voice a whisper of sound.

  “Yeah.”

  “Marco, I love you.”

  Marco went still. “What?”

  Her eyes closed again.

  “Peyton, what?”

  Her breathing leveled off.

  “Oh, come on, sweetheart. Don’t do this to me. What did you say?”

  She didn’t respond. Her body went slack, her head sinking deeper into the pillows.

  “Peyton?” he pleaded.

  “Hey, big guy,” came a male voice.

  Marco glanced over his shoulder. His heart had started to pound again.

  Cliff stood in the doorway.

  “If you’re done, her mother really wants to stay with her.”

  Marco stared at the other man, unable to formulate a thought. What the hell!

  “Sorry, sport. Mama bird is needing to protect her little chick right now.”

  Marco glanced back at Peyton, but she was obviously under the influence of the drug.

  “You can come over to the house and see her in a few days, after she’s released. Alice plans to take her home with us.”

  Marco closed his eyes. Peyton had told him she loved him before, but she always used his last name. This was the first time she’d said it and used his first name. It was probably the drugs. It probably meant nothing, but he couldn’t believe they were going to deny him the right to stay with her.

  He trailed his fingers through her hair again. It was his own fault. He didn’t really have any rights where she was concerned because he was such a monumental coward. Even now, even when she’d asked for him, he was afraid to tell her the truth.

  He sighed and leaned forward, pressing his lips to her forehead. For the rest of his damn life, this was all he was going to get because he couldn’t risk losing this. Losing even this small part of her.

  He rose to his feet and turned away, walking toward the door.

  “Thanks, sport,” said Cliff, patting him on the shoulder.

  Marco stepped out of the room and marked the uniform taking a seat on a metal chair beside the door. He gave him a nod. The uniform nodded back.

  Then without allowing himself a look back, he walked toward the hall, turned right instead of left, and exited the hospital without saying a word to anyone. Right now, he had nothing to say and he sure as hell didn’t need to see any more sympathetic faces.

  CHAPTER 20

  Jake reached for the remote, but hesitated when he heard a key enter the lock on the front door. Pickles started barking, racing across the wood flooring to bounce up and down at the entrance. Jake frowned. There was only one person who made the little dog act like that.

  He stood up as the door opened. Peyton stepped inside, followed by her mother and Cliff. Her hair was loose on her shoulders and she wore a clean pair of jeans and a teal colored t-shirt, but she still looked too pale for Jake’s liking.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, coming around the couch.

  Her eyes went immediately to the spot where Marco had kept his bag and his army cot. It was empty. Jake had found all of Marco’s stuff missing when he got back from the hospital. When he called him, Marco told him he didn’t want to talk. Jake left it alone.

  “I live here,” she said, bending to pick up the little dog. She cuddled him, but she kept staring at the empty spot by the window.

  “I know. I thought you were going to stay with your mother for a while.”

  Alice pushed past her, carrying a hospital bag with Peyton’s running clothes. “She refused to stay with me.” She settled the bag on the floor and gave her daughter a worried look.

  “She also refused the patrol officer,” said Cliff, tucking his hands in his pockets.

  “I’m fine,” she said, “I just need some sleep. I just wanted to come home.” She glanced around again. “Is Maria here?”

  Jake shook his head. He figured she wasn’t really interested in Maria. He figured he knew who she really wanted to see. “I think she’s at Cho’s. She was pretty shaken up yesterday.” He walked around the couch, touching Peyton’s arm. “We all were.”

  She gave him a grim nod and stepped into his arms. He hugged her, kissing the top of her curly head. He could smell the usual lilac scent of her shampoo.

  “I’m so glad you’re home,” he said softly.

  “So am I.” She stepped back and gave him a forced smile.

  “I could make dinner,” offered Alice.

  Peyton hugged Pickles, then settled him on the floor. “I’m not hungry, Mama. I just want to go to bed.”

  Alice nodded, her eyes watery. “I guess Cliff and I will leave then.”

  “Thank you for everything,” said Peyton, kissing her cheek.

  She turned and cupped Peyton’s face in her hands, kissing her forehead. “You call me if you need anything. Anything at all, no matter what or when.”

  “I will.”

  Cliff touched her shoulder. “Take care, kiddo.”

  “Thank you, Cliff.”

  He pointed at Jake. “You watch our girl, you hear?”

  “Yes, sir,” said Jake.

  Peyton walked them to the door and then shut it, placing her back against it. She let out a heavy sigh. “When did he leave?”

  “Last night.”

  “Did you talk to him?”

  “I called him. He didn’t want to talk.”

  She sank her fingers into her hair at the temples. “Oh, God, Jake, I screwed up so bad.”

  He wasn’t sure what she meant. Did she mean when she went running by herself or something else? “Come again?”

  “With Marco.”

  He frowned.

  She walked around the couch and took a seat on the coffee table. He sat down in front of her.

  She clasped her hands in her lap and stared at them. “These last few weeks, I guess I’ve been getting confused.”

  “What do you mean confused?”

  “Since he’s been living here, I’ve started to have these…” She touched the spot between her breasts, looking up at him. “…feelings, seeing him differently.”

  Jake’s mouth opened, but he stopped himself from saying anything, waiting to see where she was going.

  “All these years, he’s been my best friend. He’s been the one constant, the person I rely on most of all, but lately...lately, I’ve been wondering if I’m so bad at relationships because…”

  “Because?”

  She chewed on her lower lip. “Because I compare every man to him.”

  Jake gave a slow nod.

  “Twice now he’s saved my life.”

  “I know. Could that be where the confusion is? It’s a pretty heavy debt, knowing someone has saved your life.”

  “I thought about that. I’ve spent hours the last few weeks thinking about it, wondering if that’s why everything is so strained between us, but that’s not it. Whenever I think about dating a man, I find myself looking at all the things he doesn’t have, and every one of those things are what he has.” She closed her eyes. “Then last night, I screwed up.”

  “How?”

  “They had me so drugged, I wasn’t even sure what I was saying and I was so emotional.”

  Jake waited, not speaking.

  “When he walked through those doors, I...I don’t know. I mean, I know how he feels about me. I know I’m not at all the sort of woman he dates. I’ve watched him for the last eight years bed one woman after another and I’m not like any of them. He’s never lied to me, he’s always been very clear about what he doesn’t want, and what he doesn’t want is any attachments.”

  Jake slumped back on the couch, letting his hands dangle beside him. These two were a piece of work.

  She looked up and met his gaze. “I told him I love him.”

  Jake’s brows rose, nearly to his hairline. “You did what now?”

  She sank her fingers into her hair.
“I know. Oh, God, I know. How stupid! I’d blame the drugs, but I wanted to say it. I didn’t regret saying it. Except now...now, I’m so scared. What if he doesn’t want to be friends anymore? I’ve lost him as my partner and now if I lose him as my friend…”

  Jake briefly closed his eyes. “The two of you are going to kill me,” he moaned.

  She went still. “What?”

  He shook his head in disgust. “Peyton, how can a woman as smart as you be so damn stupid?”

  “You better follow that with something but quick, Ryder.”

  He leaned forward and took her hands. “Peyton, just think for a moment. What man goes through what he does for a friend? He risked his career yesterday. Hell, he risked his life. He would have done anything to save you. Anything. Even die trying.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “What are you saying?”

  He leveled a look at her. “You know what I’m saying.”

  He’d never seen her be so still. Then she was moving, heading toward the door. Jake jumped up after her. “Peyton, wait!”

  “No, Jake. I’m not waiting anymore. I’ve spent eight freakin’ years waiting.”

  “You need to think this through.”

  She grabbed her keys and shoved her wallet in her pocket. “I’ve spent too damn much time thinking. I almost died yesterday and that bastard is still out there, just waiting. I’m not wasting any more time.”

  “Peyton, what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know, but I’ll come up with it as I go along.”

  “At least let me drive you over there.”

  “No.”

  “Peyton, this isn’t safe.”

  She patted her pockets, then seemed to realize she didn’t have her phone. It had become evidence. “Let me borrow your phone and I’ll call you when I get over there. You’ll know I’m safe then.”

  He sighed and took his phone out of his pocket, carrying it to her. He placed it in her hands and covered them with his own. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

  She bit her lip, then nodded. “Yeah.”

  He reached behind her and hooked her gun, passing it to her. She took it without speaking. “Be careful and call me when you get there.”

  She lifted on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I will.”