The Runner's Daughter

by Jessica McCrory

She shook her head slowly and began to remove her clothes. He turned and did the same, then covered himself with a robe. “I’m going to turn around now,” he warned, and when he didn’t hear her object, he turned, and felt like he had been punched in the gut.

  He told himself to stay professional, that he was checking her for injuries and nothing more, but as she stood in front of him in nothing but small shorts-looking underwear and a bra, it certainly made things difficult.

  Focus, he told himself and looked her over. She was nearly blue from the cold, and other than a split lip, the bruising on her throat, and abrasions on her arms and legs from where she was bound to the chair, she was fine. He turned back around so she could continue undressing, and waited until she said she was done before facing her again.

  “I’m going to take these to Mildred. Do you want to sit in here for a minute?”

  She nodded, and he stepped out into the hallway.

  “I’ll get these right in the dryer for you,” Mildred said with a smile and held up an empty laundry basket for the wet clothes.

  “Thank you.”

  “Stop thanking me. I don’t mind. If your friend wishes to lie down for a bit, she is more than welcome.”

  “I’ll let her know. Another cop will be here in about an hour, possibly sooner. His name is Detective Lance Zarbey. He’s going to give us a ride back to town.”

  “You two stay as long as you need.” She smiled. “I can make you some tea if you’d like? Or coffee if you prefer.”

  “Coffee would be wonderful, if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. It’ll be ready in about ten minutes.” She turned down the hall, and Caid walked back to Jemma.

  He panicked for a moment when he didn’t see her in the room, but one glance in the closet and his heart broke.

  She was sitting in the corner rocking as a small child hiding from a monster would. Her arms were wrapped around her legs and silent tears streamed down her cheeks. It made him wish he would have put a bullet in Charmont when he’d had the chance. But if he had, he would have never been able to rescue Jemma.

  “Hey.” He knelt in front of her, but she didn’t look at him, just continued staring into the empty space next to him. “Jemma.” She squeezed her eyes shut and more tears escaped. He reached forward and pulled her into his lap where he cradled her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. To him, she was.

  “I thought I was going to die,” she whispered so quietly he nearly missed it.

  “I thought you were too. I was absolutely terrified when I saw him with that gun to your head.”

  “You came after me. You could have had him there, your biggest case closed, but you came after me instead.”

  He lifted her chin to look at her and felt something shift into place. “Of course I did. You mean something to me, Jemma. I can’t explain what, but I know that my life without you in it would not mean nearly what it has since the moment I ran into you in that gym.”

  He leaned down slightly and pressed his lips to hers. It was gentle, and he felt her sweet surrender when she parted her lips and buried her hands in his hair. She tasted sweet, and he wanted to do nothing but drink all of her in.

  He pulled away and rested his forehead on hers. Fuck, what was happening to him?

  19

  Caid walked into the kitchen, only feeling slightly awkward about being in a robe in a stranger’s house. The scent of coffee filled his lungs, and in that moment, he would have begged for a cup. Luckily, he didn’t have to -- one was already sitting steaming on the countertop.

  Mildred sat at the counter, a book in her hands, and she smiled at him when he came into the room. “I wasn’t sure how you liked your coffee. There’s cream in the fridge and sugar on the counter.”

  “Black is fine, thanks.”

  “That’s how my Mikey took his.” She smiled sadly and pointed to a photograph on the counter. “That’s him.”

  “He was a good-looking guy.”

  She nodded. “He certainly was. How’s your friend?”

  “Better. She’s had a rough day.” He looked back at the stairs and hoped she was relaxing some.

  “It looks that way. I hope you two get done with whatever needs to be done with no more injury.” She patted his hand.

  He smiled at her. “Thanks.”

  “Do you have any kids?”

  Caid shook his head. “Haven’t gotten around to it yet. You?”

  “I have six.”

  “Dang, you are a brave woman.”

  Her eyes crinkled with a smile. “That’s what I’ve been told, but I never saw it that way. I was an only child, and I knew I wanted a huge family one day. Lots of kids and grandkids I could hold.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  She nodded. “I have ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.”

  “You’re a busy lady.”

  Mildred raised a silver eyebrow. “That’s the way I like it. Is your friend going to be okay?”

  Caid sighed. “I hope so. She’s been through a lot but--”

  “Now she has you. You know, I met my Mikey because I got into a little trouble with the law.”

  Caid couldn’t have looked more surprised.

  “Don’t look like that, you’ve only just met me. I’m not all innocent.”

  “What happened?”

  “I was with a boy I’d known for years, high school sweethearts. And wouldn’t you know, he was spotted kissing another girl!”

  “No.”

  “Oh yes. I was so angry that I threw a rock through his windshiled.” She smiled at the memory, but Caid could tell it was what followed that made her happy. “He called the police, and my Mikey showed up. He escorted me away and asked me if I wanted to grab a bite!” She let out a laugh, and Caid couldn’t stop the wide grin from splitting his face. “Can you believe it? I had just committed a crime, and he wanted to eat. That was it for us; from that day on we were inseparable.”

  “That’s a wonderful story.”

  “It is. The point of it all is that sometimes you meet someone at the most inopportune time, but that doesn’t make it wrong.”

  “You trying to pick me up, Mildred?”

  She slapped his arm gently but laughed. “I couldn’t keep up with you. You kids these days like to ‘Netflix and chill’, and I’m a bed at six-thirty kinda girl.”

  Caid laughed. “You are a special lady, Mildred.”

  “I know.” She smiled back and then stood to grab some more coffee. A buzzer went off, and Mildred turned to Caid. “Clothes are done.”

  “I can grab them. Where’s the laundry room?”

  “Down the stairs in the basement. More coffee?”

  “Yes, please, that’d be great.”

  Jemma sat on the edge of the bed staring at the closed blinds. She couldn’t stop feeling her own weight as the chair dragged her down into the water. The way her lungs burned when she couldn’t breathe. The icy temperature of the water that surrounded her.

  She closed her eyes and began to rock slowly. She had to move past this, she knew. But she worked so hard to be strong, and in that moment, she couldn’t have felt weaker. She could still feel the coolness of the barrel as it pressed against her temple, and it brought back the images of her mother kneeling on the floor.

  Had she felt the same fear? Or had hers been worse knowing she was leaving a daughter behind?

  Her hands clenched into fists in her lap. She needed to move forward. Thoughts of the kiss she and Caid had shared came back into her mind. He had been so gentle, so loving in that moment, and it had helped a part of her she never thought she’d feel again slip back into place.

  She relaxed slightly as she mentally revisited the first time they sparred together, the first time she had ever seen those gorgeous blues.

  “Jemma.” As if her thoughts summoned him, Jemma turned to see Caid standing in the door. “Clothes are dry.” He handed her a pile of warm clothes, and she just stared at them in her lap
.

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For caring enough to save me.”

  “Anytime, Saige.” He winked at her and left the room carrying his own pile of clothes.

  She was falling for him, and the thought terrified her.

  “Thank you so much for everything, Mildred.” Caid pulled the old woman in for a hug, and she smiled.

  “A hug from a handsome man is thanks enough.” She winked and turned to Jemma. She reached out and gripped both of Jemma’s hands. “You stay safe, dear, and keep your eyes on this one.” She leaned in closer to Jemma. “He’s the good kind of trouble.”

  “Thank you.” Jemma offered a smile. “I will. Thank you for everything. I’m sorry I wasn’t more social.”

  “Don’t apologize for anything. Maybe after everything is done, you two can drop in on an old woman and let her know you’re okay.”

  “We will,” Caid and Jemma both said.

  “I look forward to that. Go and get whoever you need to.”

  They followed Lance to his car, and Caid opened the back door for her so she could climb in. They waved at the woman who had opened her house to strangers, and then pulled away from the curb.

  “Can you get a uniform to patrol this area?”

  “You think they will come looking for you?”

  “I wouldn’t put it past them to go after anyone who helped us.”

  Lance nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem. My family has a cabin on the outskirts of the city. I’m gonna take you guys there, I think. It’s going to be the safest place for you right now.”

  Jemma leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes to try and get some sleep.

  “So, want to fill me in on what the hell happened?” Lance asked as he drove.

  After glancing back in the seat to check that she was really asleep, Caid looked back out the windshield. “They found her at her safe house and dragged her out. Took her to the docks. By the time I got there, he had a gun pressed to her fucking head.”

  “Glad you got there in time.”

  “Nearly, but she was tied to a chair looking utterly terrified. I’ve seen her in the midst of a panic attack, but I have never seen anyone look so afraid. Then the fucker tossed her through a hole in the floor right into the fucking water.”

  Caid saw Lance’s hands clench on the steering wheel.

  “I had a choice to make. Shoot my way out and arrest him, or save her.”

  “If it’s any consolation, you made the right choice.”

  “I know I did. It was never an option for me to let her drown.”

  “What can I do to help?”

  “You are helping now. I really don’t want to drag you down any more than I already have.”

  “Listen, if you’re worried about my life, I chose to be a cop. I don’t run when things get tough.”

  “They will come after family if they can.”

  “Let me worry about that.”

  “If you’re sure, who am I to turn down help? Especially when I have no idea who the hell I can trust anymore.

  “You can trust me.”

  “I get the feeling I can.”

  “Good. So how did they find her safe house?”

  Caid’s jaw tightened. That was something he didn’t have an answer to. “I’m not sure. She said she buried this place even deeper than her main apartment. It’s possible he just has the resources to find her, or--”

  “Someone tailed you two.”

  “The only place we went other than the docks, which if they had followed us from there I think they would have made a move sooner, and to meet you, was the bureau. Unless someone tailed her from our meet up. But I was gone for hours. You think they would have moved in the second they got her alone.”

  “Could someone have tracked you from your office?”

  Caid thought on it. “Possibly. My boss said she got those who she discovered to be working with--” He stopped quickly and turned to gently wake Jemma.

  “What is it?” she asked sleepily.

  “That thumb drive, you swore it wasn’t blank.”

  She nodded. “But Pax--”

  “I trust you,” he said quickly. “It wasn’t blank? You checked it?

  She nodded. “I never looked at the content in the files, but I know they were on there.”

  “What are you thinking?” Lance asked when Caid turned back around.

  “I need to think on it a bit first.”

  “You got it.”

  They were silent for a moment before Jemma cleared her throat. “Those girls?”

  Lance smiled in the rearview mirror. “Their families should be arriving soon. As soon as I drop you guys off, I’m headed back to make sure they all get somewhere secure until this is over.”

  “They are safe now?”

  “Absolutely. They’re with my partner. She’ll take care of them.”

  Jemma nodded and leaned back again.

  20

  “Here we are,” Lance announced as they pulled into the drive of a small cabin. “I didn’t have time to stock it up for you guys, but there should be bottled water and some canned chili in the cabinets. I usually come out once a month or so.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  Lance nodded, and they walked into the cabin. It was small, two bedrooms from what Jemma could see, an impressive kitchen, and television set complete with an Xbox and a large collection of action movies.

  “This is really nice,” Jemma commented.

  “Thanks. It’s my escape from the city. I try to make it up at least one weekend a month and just unwind and veg out. I don’t have a spare car, but there is a bike in the garage if either of you can ride a motorcycle.”

  “I can,” Jemma and Caid both said, and when the men turned to stare at her, she blushed. “I had some time on my hands and thought the knowledge could be useful.”

  “Well, you guys have it handled. I’ll pick up some food and clothes for ya. I can probably stay slightly more under the radar than you can. My partner can grab your clothes on the off chance I am being followed. That way it only looks like I’m buying myself some new threads.”

  Jemma smiled. “That’d be great, thanks. I can write down my sizes.”

  “Perfect.” He handed her a pen and paper.

  “If you guys need anything, there’s a payphone about five miles north. I don’t have anything but electric, gas, and water out here.” He let out a laugh. “I do have internet for live gaming, but that’s about it.”

  “The essentials.” Caid said with a laugh, and Lance grinned.

  “See, you get me. All right, I need to get back. You good?”

  “Were good. Thanks, man.” Caid followed him to the front door.

  “There’s a safe in the garage, code is 3489. I keep a rifle, two handguns, and some ammunition in there.”

  “Thanks, man. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

  “Don’t even mention it. I’ll keep my ear to the ground and see if I can’t find out what’s going on.” He started to leave, but turned back around. “On the off chance my parents or brother show up, please don’t shoot them. I’m going to head over to see them after I make sure the girls are okay, but if for some crazy reason they get here before I can tell them to stay away--”

  “I won’t shoot anyone who isn’t trying to shoot me.”

  Lance smiled. “Thanks, man.”

  After Lance stepped outside, Caid locked the door and closed the curtains on the windows.

  “Come on.” He pushed the couch to the edge of the living room.

  “What?”

  “You need this. Shit, I need this.” He sat and took his shoes and socks off.

  She followed suit and relaxed slightly when he took his stance. Honestly, she would have been happy if it had been sex he was talking about, but the physical release exercise would give her would work, for now anyway.

  She was exh
austed, but she charged first. The only time her mind was ever at ease was when she was sparring. Since they had no gloves, they simply grappled until they were both exhausted and lying in the center of the floor.

  “I did need that, thanks.” She finally felt relaxed, and it had given her the feeling of strength back. Caid was tough, and if she was able to wear him out, perhaps she wasn’t weak after all.

  “Anytime.” Caid got to his feet and helped Jemma to hers. He stared into her eyes for a moment before turning toward the kitchen.

  “I’m going to go get a shower.” Jemma made her way into the bathroom and stood staring at herself in front of the mirror. Despite her physical exertion, she was still wound up. And there was literally only one person on the planet who could unwind her. Question was, did he feel the same?

  She started the shower and began stripping off her jeans and shirt. The second Lance brought her new clothes, she was going to burn these. She folded them neatly and set them on top of the counter.

  Her heart skipped when she heard a creak outside the door. She saw the shadow of someone standing outside, and then it disappeared as they walked away. Without thinking it through, she pulled the door open.

  For the second time that day, Caid got a vision of Jemma in nothing but a bra and matching panties. His mouth went dry as she stared at him. He should avoid her at all costs. Turn and run away as fast as he could, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. She was everything he shouldn’t want, but exactly what he needed.

  He dropped the bottle of water in his hand and rushed to her. The water would do shit for him anyway; she was the only one who could quench his thirst.

  Their mouths met in a frenzy of tongue and teeth as he crushed her against the wall. Her hands fisted in his hair, and he lifted her so her legs wrapped around his waist. Her body was hard and hot against his, and he released her only long enough so she could pull the shirt up over his head. Their skin was still slick with sweat from the workout before, and as they pressed together, it heated them both further.

  Jemma pushed him back and dropped to her knees to remove his pants. She traced her tongue up his abs as she stood. The second she was back to her feet, he was on her again. He carried her out of the bathroom and into the nearest bedroom.