by Blythe, Jane
So, she was done.
She wasn't doing it again.
She was just going to have to accept that however much she wanted to have children, it just wasn't going to happen for her.
Paige was glad that the boys had agreed to let her search for the little girls on her own. They hadn’t had much of a choice. If Malachi had fled to his house, then two of them needed to go, since he was clearly dangerous. And Eliza seemed to respond to Xavier, so he was the logical choice to talk to her. Laura was still with Maegan. Which only left her to look for the girls.
And she had needed the time to process her feelings about what had happened. She couldn’t do that while the guys were watching her closely to make sure she didn’t fall apart. She knew they meant well, and that her near death experience had created this overprotectiveness, but their hovering and constant worrying was stifling.
Still, she’d do as she’d promised and remain here in the hospital where she should be relatively safe. She wasn't stupid and she didn’t take stupid risks, and even though she didn’t like it, she would agree to let them babysit her because it would make her safer, and she really didn’t want to die.
A shiver suddenly rocked through her.
Someone was watching her.
She was sure of it.
Was it the stalker?
Was he still here in the hospital?
He could have parked his car somewhere after his failed attempt at running her down and then doubled back here to take another shot at her.
The halls were quiet. It was nearly one in the morning, and the hospital was virtually empty. The patients were all in bed, and the few nurses on duty were mostly sitting and chatting at the nurses’ stations.
Discreetly, she checked over her shoulders, searching the dark corridors for any movement.
She saw nothing.
Was she just being paranoid?
She was wired and stressed and on edge tonight; maybe her fears were just making her imagination fly into overdrive.
Paige continued walking, but she hadn’t gone more than a few yards when the feeling of being watched swamped her again.
Someone was definitely there.
Should she go back down to the ER? It would be busy and Xavier would be there. She could tell him that she thought someone was following her.
No, she didn’t need to tell Xavier. She could handle this herself.
She took a few more steps and the feeling that someone was following her was so overwhelming that she caved and yanked out her phone, noting with irritation that her hands were trembling. She didn’t want to need Xavier, but she wasn't so stubborn that she was going to risk her life to keep her pride.
Typing in his number, his concerned voice answered almost immediately. “Paige? What’s wrong?”
“I think someone is following me,” she whispered.
Xavier muttered something she didn’t catch, probably a curse. “Where are you?”
“Third floor, I was heading for the play therapy room. Jack and I checked the day care room earlier because we thought the girls might hide there. But then I was thinking if I was little and scared I'd want to hide someplace smaller, safer feeling, and then I remembered interviewing a kid in the play therapy room a couple of months ago.”
“Okay, I'm on my way. I’ll get to you as quickly as I can. Just be careful.”
She debated her options once she hung up. The play therapy room was just at the end of the hallway. If she was right and the girls were there, they needed to be found. If, on the other hand, she was right, and someone was following her, then she could be putting the girls in danger.
Scanning the hallways, they appeared empty, and she made her decision. She had to see if the girls were there; she could protect all of them if the need arose. And Xavier would be here in minutes. Besides, she didn’t really think the stalker was a threat to anyone other than herself.
She hurried the rest of the way down the hall and opened the door to the play therapy room.
Two scared little faces peered up at her.
The oldest girl tugged the baby and the smaller girl into her arms.
Paige took a slow step into the room. “You're Bethany, right?” she addressed the oldest girl, squatting down so she was eye level with the child.
Slowly, Bethany nodded.
“And this must be Hayley.” She tugged gently on one of the little girl’s tangled pigtails. “And Arianna.” She rested a hand on the baby’s silky soft head. “My name is Paige, and I'm a police officer. Your sister, Maegan, told us that you need help.”
She wasn't sure what to expect from the terrified children, but it certainly wasn't for Hayley to launch off her sister’s lap and throw herself into her arms.
She held the child close as the little girl cried into her neck. “It’s okay … shh … it’s okay. You're safe now. You're safe.”
Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Paige reached for her gun with one hand while maneuvering Hayley so that her body protected the little girl from any potential threats.
“Paige? You in there?”
Hearing Xavier’s voice, she relaxed. “It’s okay,” she assured the children, “it’s just Xavier. He’s my friend and a police officer, too. Yeah, I'm in here!” she called out.
The door opened, and Xavier stood there, scanning the room to confirm that everything was okay. His gaze fell on the children. “You found the girls.” He smiled.
Picking up baby Arianna, Paige stood, holding the baby in one arm and Hayley in the other. “And now you guys get to go home,” she told the kids.
“Home? Really?” Bethany scrambled to her feet, her scared expression had changed to one of excitement.
“Okay, everyone, let’s go back down to the ER to wait.” Xavier began to herd them toward the door. “And you,” he whispered in her ear, “do not leave my sight.”
Some of her elation at finding the missing girls faded. Xavier was right. She wasn't safe. This time the stalker wasn't giving up. This time he seemed intent on killing her. And with a shiver of fear, she realized that this time she might not be lucky enough to survive his attempt.
TWENTY-NINE YEARS AGO
6:29 P.M.
Malachi was excited.
Although he was trying to contain it, as bouncing around was hardly appropriate behavior for a thirteen-year-old.
Today was his thirteenth birthday, and he had been milking every second of it from the moment he’d awoke this morning.
In fact, he intended to milk his birthday at least until the weekend when he had his party. His entire seventh grade class had been invited. His mom had gone all out, hiring a conference room at a fancy hotel and several suites so he and his friends could stay the night. There’d be food and music and dancing, and they could even go swimming in the hotel’s pool.
Turning thirteen was a big deal in his family. It signified becoming a man.
And he was becoming a man.
Samantha Ingham was coming to his party. They’d known each other since kindergarten. They’d been friends and then enemies and then friends again, and now … now what Malachi felt for her was more than friendship. She was so pretty. She had long dark hair and blue eyes, and she was smart and funny and good at sports.
Every time he saw her, he wanted to kiss her, but he was embarrassed. He’d never kissed a girl before. None of his friends had. His friends teased him about his crush on Samantha, but he didn’t care. He knew they had crushes on girls, too. They were just scared to admit it.
He was going to kiss her at his party.
He’d been working up the courage to do it for weeks now.
He was going to ask her to dance, then wait for a slow song, and then after that, he was going to kiss her. He was as excited as he was nervous about it. What was it like to kiss a girl? He had no idea, but his parents seemed to like kissing each other, and so did people in movies, so it had to be pretty awesome.
“You can wait in the car, Malachi, while I run a quic
k errand.” His father’s voice pierced his thoughts.
Blinking, he peered out the window. They weren’t at the ice-cream parlor. After finishing his family birthday dinner, he had insisted on ice cream. And not just any ice cream, but a selection of his favorite flavors from his favorite store.
His dad had wanted to go alone, but Malachi had insisted on coming along, stating that he wouldn’t know which particular flavors he’d feel like until he saw them. And it was his birthday, after all.
“Where are we?” he demanded.
“I just have to run a quick errand before we go get the ice cream,” his father replied. “Wait here.” He slipped from the car and hurried off.
Malachi looked around; they were in a small alley. Garbage cans and rubbish piled up on both sides. Graffiti covered the brick walls of the buildings that backed onto the alley.
What were they doing here?
What errand could his father possibly have to run in a place like this?
Wanting to find out what his father was up to, he wondered in the back of his mind whether it was some special surprise for his birthday. Malachi climbed out of the car and went in search of his father.
He found him at the end of the alley, standing in front of a locked wire gate, talking in hushed whispers with a woman.
The woman looked vaguely familiar.
Quietly he crept closer, sensing that whatever was going on was something big.
“I told you ‘no,’” his father was saying to the woman.
“I don’t accept that. I won't accept that,” the woman replied.
“You don’t have a choice,” his father shot back.
“No, it’s you who doesn’t have a choice. I won't let it end. I don’t want it to be over.”
Over? End? What were they talking about? And why would his father be meeting with a woman in an alley to discuss it?
“I'm leaving.” His father turned his back on the woman.
She grabbed his arm. “No, please. Please, don’t leave. I'm begging you … I can't live without you.” The woman began to cry.
Couldn’t live without him? Were his dad and this woman …?
No, it couldn’t be. They couldn’t be having an affair. His dad loved his mom.
“I love my wife. It’s over. I don’t want to see you again,” his father told the woman.
“I won't let you go. I’ll tell her. I’ll tell her everything. I’ll tell her how we met; I’ll tell her how long we’ve been together. I’ll tell her what you like in bed.” The woman shrieked at top pitch and Malachi jumped.
His father noticed the movement and turned toward him. “Malachi. I'm sorry.” His blue eyes were sadder than Malachi had ever seen them, and watery with unshed tears. He had never seen his dad cry before.
Still clawing at denial, he shook his head vehemently. He couldn’t accept that his father and this woman were having an affair.
“Let’s go.” His father walked toward him, taking his arm and propelling him back towards the car.
The woman sprang at them, triumphant. “Now you’ll have to tell your wife—your son knows—he won't be able to keep it a secret. She’ll leave you, and you’ll come crawling back to me.”
“I’ll never come back to you, and I'm going to tell her myself.” His father opened one of the car’s back doors and shoved him inside, then climbed in the driver’s seat.
Throwing open the passenger door, the woman clambered inside, too. “She won't forgive you.”
Ignoring her, his father started the engine and reversed the car out of the alley.
Malachi was in shock.
He couldn’t believe this was happening.
And today of all days.
This day was supposed to be special. His thirteenth birthday. The day he became a man. And in a way, he had. His childhood naïveté was shattered. His childish illusions destroyed.
“Martha, I’ll drop you off at home on the way,” his father was telling the woman.
Martha? Wasn't that the name of his father’s secretary? Is that where he’d seen the woman before?
“No,” Martha wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Malachi studied the woman. She was pretty, he had to admit that. She was tall, had long, wavy blonde hair and large green eyes. But as pretty as she was, Martha had nothing on his mother. His mother was good and kind and sweet and hardworking. She’d do anything for him or his father. And this was how his father repaid her? By cheating on her with his secretary?
“Please, please,” Martha continued to sob. “I won't tell. I promise. I won't tell your wife. She never has to know, and we can just keep doing what we’ve been doing.” She reached out a hand and traced it down his father’s cheek. “I love you.”
For a long moment his father said nothing. Just drove. Then he reached up a hand, covered Martha's, and gently pulled it away from his face, he brought it to his lips and kissed it. Then he set it on her lap. “I'm sorry, Martha. I never wanted to hurt you, but I don’t love you. I love my wife.”
Martha sat there, staring at him and crying.
Malachi wondered whether he hated his father or his father’s mistress more.
His father continued to drive the car.
Then Martha howled—a sound Malachi would never forget. She lunged at the steering wheel, yanking it sideways. “If I can't have you, then no one can!” she screamed.
The brick wall was upon them before his father could stop the car.
With an almighty, earth-shattering, bone-crushing bang, the car hit the wall and the world exploded into nothingness.
NOVEMBER 4th
1:00 A.M.
1:04 A.M.
“That was Xavier.” Jack hung up his phone and looked over at his brother. They were in Ryan’s car driving to the address that showed up as home on Malachi’s GPS. Thankfully, Malachi had never entertained the possibility of being caught and he had often used his GPS to look up how to get from his home to various locations.
“What did he want?” Ryan cast him a quick glance then returned his gaze to the road.
“He said they found the girls, safe and sound,” he replied.
Sensing there was more, Ryan tensed. “That’s great. But there’s more, isn’t there?”
He sighed. He may as well just tell him. “He also said that someone was following Paige while she was searching for the kids.”
Ryan didn't comment. Then he thumped a fist into the steering wheel and growled. “Is she okay?”
“Xavier said she’s fine, just shaken up. He said he won't let her out of his sight,” Jack assured him.
“Jack.”
That was all Ryan said, but he didn’t need to say more. Jack already knew how worried his brother was about Paige. With good reason. For the stalker to come back after the failed attempt at running her down showed just how serious he was about killing her.
“I know, try not to worry about her. Xavier won't let anyone get to her. We’ll keep her safe, Ryan.”
His brother said nothing. There was nothing to say. There was no way they could guarantee Paige’s safety, short of locking her up some place.
“We’re here,” Ryan announced a few minutes later.
They pulled to a stop in front of a large, fully-fenced property. Wire topped the brick fence and a large gate blocked the driveway. Behind the high fences, a large house could just be seen. It was a three-story brown brick structure with metal bars on all the windows.
The house positively oozed gloom and doom.
They were definitely at the right place.
Climbing out of the car, they headed for the gate, and Jack was surprised to find it unlocked. Malachi must have been in too much of a hurry to lock it. It had only been an hour since Ryan and Paige had encountered him in the parking lot of the hospital, most likely not enough time to gather some belongings and flee, especially since he’d left his car behind. Hopefully, he had made it back here and hadn’t left yet, then they would be able to arrest him.
> Ryan put a hand on the gate, pushed it farther open and stepped into the driveway. Jack stopped him. “Ryan, what’s our probable cause?”
“I thought I heard someone call for help,” Ryan replied calmly.
He raised a brow. “Neither Maegan nor Eliza mentioned Malachi having any other children here.”
He shrugged. “Maybe he grabbed another girl on the way back here.” Ryan started walking up the drive.
They both knew there was no one else here, except perhaps Malachi, but Jack went along with it and followed his brother toward the house. Both of them pulled out their guns as they reached the front door. Malachi had proved how dangerous he was when he’d shot at Ryan earlier tonight.
Just like the gate, the front door stood open and they cautiously made their way inside. They stood in a foyer surrounded by steel bars. There would have been no way for the girls to get through it and to the front door. There were several locks on both the foyer door and front door, including a deadlock and a padlock, as well as a combination lock. Malachi had made sure that those girls were trapped inside this house.
Quietly, they made their way from room to room. The more of the house they saw, the sorrier Jack felt for the girls Malachi had abducted. This place wasn't a home. There were no photos on the walls, no kid’s artwork on the refrigerator, there were no toys lying about, no piles of laundry waiting to be folded, no stack of dishes waiting to be loaded into the dishwasher. Laura was a bit of a neat freak and kept their house well organized, but with both of them working long hours, a toddler, a baby on the way, friends and family, there were times when household chores got left behind.
With no signs of Malachi on the first floor, they headed for the stairs.
The second floor had four bedrooms. One was clearly Malachi’s, although once again, there were no personal touches. The other rooms looked to belong to the three youngest children, but they weren’t like the typical little girl’s bedroom. The few toys were packed away on shelves and the beds were made with military precision. There were no clothes on the floor or hair accessories on the dresser or anything else that usually came with children. The only things that softened the rooms and made them a little childlike were the motifs on the walls. Fairies in the nursery, safari animals in Hayley’s room, and a circus theme in Bethany's.