A Marshal's Promise

by Dora Hiers

  Gunner studied their surroundings. Nobody in their immediate vicinity looked familiar or out of place. Fans sported Raleigh team shirts and devoured food, just like they did. The players warmed up on the ice, darting in circles and slamming pucks into the net. The jumbo screens flashed close-ups of individuals from the growing crowd.

  The pungent smell of chili and onions and mustard wafted up his nose as someone trudged up the stairs next to him. If Mina weren’t with him, he’d be chowing down on some of those dogs, Carolina style, right about now. He smiled. But for the pleasure of her company and the possibility of a sweet kiss later, he’d do without the chili and onions.

  He looked past Mina to see Tessa stuffing popcorn into her mouth. His jaw dropped. “She’s eating again? So soon after all she ate outside?”

  “She’s a growing girl, I guess.” Mina shrugged then shivered and wrapped her arms around her middle. “I’m glad you warned us to wear warm clothes. It’s freezing in here.”

  He tugged her as close as the seats would allow. “I’ll keep you warm.”

  “Hey, no PDA’s allowed.” Regi appeared, toting a bottle of water and a bag of peanuts. Chad followed behind, carrying a soda and a bucket of popcorn ladled with butter.

  “Hey, guys. Glad you could finally make it,” Gunner teased as the pair slid into their seats.

  Tessa leaned forward and tapped Mina’s friend on the shoulder. “What’s a PDA, Aunt Regi?”

  Regi grimaced and silently mouthed “sorry” to him and Mina. “It’s short for public displays of affection.”

  Tessa nodded slowly, apparently mulling that over. “Don’t you think this is cool?”

  Obviously relieved at the change of subject, Regi smiled. “I don’t know, darling. I’ll let you know after the game starts. Are you having fun? I see you two got new sweatshirts.”

  Tessa looked down at her shirt and grinned. “Yeah. Gunner got them for us.”

  Ten minutes before the second intermission, and Raleigh’s team was ahead by two goals. Gunner settled back in the seat and allowed his spine and muscles to relax. With all of them sporting their team colors, they’d blended in with the multitude. Brugman couldn’t possibly pick them out in this rowdy crowd.

  A man dressed in team garb and wearing a security tag took the stairs at a snail’s pace, scanning the audience, stopping somewhere along their row. Gunner followed his gaze—

  Oh no.

  The man smiled. “Excuse me. I wonder if your daughter might be interested in participating in a fun game during our next intermission.”

  So much for blending in with the multitude. Gunner cocked his head, angling slightly to see if Tessa heard.

  No question. Her eyes practically bulged out of her face. She shot out of her seat, gave a little whirl. “Can I, Mom? Can I, Gunner? Please? That would be so epic!”

  Gunner dared a glance at Mina. Surprise, indecision, and anticipation flitted across her face. There was no way he could say no to Tessa. But what about Mina?

  Chad made the decision for them. “Sounds like fun. Let’s all go.” He lowered his voice and directed his words toward Gunner and Mina. “She’ll be safe with all of us keeping an eye out for her.”

  Tessa jumped up and down, clapping her hands and squealing.

  Mina snatched her daughter’s hand and pulled her out into the aisle. “Shh, honey. The game’s still going on.”

  They followed Chris, the team’s representative, down the steps and through a door leading to an entrance for the rink. Chris explained to Tessa and the other kids what they would be doing — a relay race. Two kids made up a team and each needed to dress in full team uniform including pads, but each had to retrieve a piece of the uniform at the other end. The fastest team to get dressed would win. Chris paired off the four kids into teams, and Tessa waited with her new friend at the gate.

  He licked dry lips. Maybe the hockey game hadn’t been such a good idea after all.

  Mina tugged on a curl, biting her lip. Her sneaker tapped out a frantic rhythm on the concrete floor.

  He snatched her hand and threaded their fingers together. “You’re going to make your hair straight if you keep at it.”

  “I’m going to look around outside. Regi, will you wait with Mina and Gunner?” Chad waited for Regi’s nod before he slipped out of the confined area with a flick of his badge.

  The buzzer for the last intermission sounded. The ice-resurfacing machines wheezed and groaned as the drivers steered them onto the rink. A long rug stretched out where Chris ushered the kids onto the rink for their event.

  Gunner moved farther out, past the overhang, and glanced around. A flash of movement at the top of the arena caught his eye. A wave of anxiety rippled through his gut. A man, dressed in all black clothes, crept across the catwalk, pausing every few steps to peer into the crowd with a pair of tiny binoculars.

  16

  The jumbo screen flashed a giant picture of the four kids on the ice. Lord, this was not my idea of blending in with the crowd.

  The cat-walker, so intent on staring out into the crowd, missed seeing Tessa on the big screen. Two-thirds of the way across the metal path, he continued his stalk.

  Gunner held his breath. Come on. Come on.

  “What’s your name?” After introducing the other three contestants, Chris held the microphone to Tessa’s mouth.

  “Tessa Berkshire.”

  The stalker on the catwalk froze, and his face snapped to the screen then to the ice. He looked across the catwalk, first to the left, and then to the right, apparently debating on his best plan of attack. He chose the direction closest to Tessa but farthest from his exit.

  Gunner forced the air in and out of his lungs. He could do this. He had to do this. This wasn’t just a job. This was about protecting Tessa. And Mina.

  He snapped the phone from the clip and pulled up Chad’s number, turning slightly away from Mina so she couldn’t hear his voice, but still maintaining a visual on Brugman as the man progressed across the metal contraption. “Chad, come on, pick up!”

  Voicemail.

  He disconnected and mashed the number again. “Come on, come on. Answer.” When Chad didn’t respond, he tamped down a curse word that used to be part of his regular vocabulary.

  God, I need Your help here. I surely can’t handle this on my own. You know how precious Mina’s daughter has become to me. I don’t want anything to happen to her, not only for Tessa’s sake, but also for Mina’s and mine. Help me keep my girls safe.

  Out on the ice the contest had started. Tessa, partially decked out in team gear, raced across the rug to tag her partner.

  He pressed Chad’s number again, his gaze still tracking Brugman. Didn’t waste breath with greetings when the call connected. “Look up at the catwalk.”

  “What am I looking for?”

  “Just do it. You’ll see what you’re looking for.”

  Good girl, Tessa. After beating her opponent, she helped her partner.

  “This our guy?” Cool, calm, collected. That was Chad Colburn.

  “Yeah. Where are you?”

  “Midway.” Muffled voices sounded in the background then shoes pounded the pavement. “I could probably beat him before he gets down.” Chad huffed for air, as if sprinting. “But it’s intermission and everybody’s out getting snacks.” Another huff. “People are mobbed all over. But I’m on it. We’ll get him.”

  Chris announced Tessa and her teammate as the winners. Regi said something to Mina that he couldn’t hear. Good, that meant Mina couldn’t hear his conversation.

  “I’m getting our girls out of here.” Gunner disconnected and clipped the phone back on his belt just as Tessa skipped back through the opening with the other three contestants.

  “Gunner, we won! Did you see it? We won. I can’t believe it. Did you see us, Mom?” Tessa’s face beamed as she held up her prize, a stuffed bear decked out in hockey gear. “Look what I won!”

  “What a good job you did, sweetheart.” Gunner
gripped Tessa’s upper arm with a light touch and snatched Mina’s hand to escort them to the exit. “We have to go. Now.”

  “But the game isn’t over. I want to watch—”

  Gunner stopped his stride and crouched down, cupping Tessa’s tiny shoulders with his hands. “Sweetheart, I wouldn’t ask you to leave if it weren’t important. I need you to do everything I tell you without questions. All right?”

  Mina’s worried expression stared down at him over Tessa’s small head. Regi peered over Mina’s shoulder, questions on her face.

  “Can I answer all your questions after we’re in the truck? Will you trust me?”

  Tessa nodded, lips puckering and chest heaving. She was trying to put up a good front. Gunner was proud of her.

  “Yes!” Mina answered, and Regi waved her agreement.

  He stood back up and reached for Tessa’s hand. “Good girl. I promise I’ll explain everything in a few minutes. And we will go to another hockey game. You have my word. But now we need to hurry.”

  Gunner glanced at the sign with the section number to get his bearings. Good thing he had been to this particular arena a hundred times. Finding their way to the truck would be relatively easy and fast. Now if they could just swim through all these people.

  “Excuse me.” Gunner pushed his way through the masses milling about eating and stretching in the corridor, tugging Tessa along behind him. He turned around to check on Mina and Regi. Relief cursed through his veins when he saw them hanging tight. “Stay close, ladies. Hold on to my sweatshirt if you need to. Don’t lose me.”

  “Don’t worry, Gunner. You just lead the way. We’ll be right behind you.”

  Gunner nodded in acknowledgement and kept his head up and eyes alert as he pulled Tessa toward the exit. The buzzer sounded for the start of the third period and fans now cut in front of them to make their way back to their seats. They were fighting a losing battle, like salmon swimming upstream.

  He reached down and hoisted his niece to his back. Poor thing. She probably felt like she played tug-of-war, trying to maneuver her way through this crowd at chest level. They could gain more ground this way, get out of here quicker. Tessa roped her arms around his shoulders and snuggled her face against his neck. Probably not a bad idea since Malcolm would be looking for her at a child’s height.

  He forced himself to take deep, cleansing breaths. Stay calm.

  They finally made it to the exit, and Gunner flung the glass door wide open. Cold air seeped into his burning lungs and rain splattered against his forehead. Thank you, God, for getting us this far. Please keep us safe until we get to my place.

  He set Tessa down and grabbed her hand again. He rearranged the bear that she clutched in her other hand and coaxed a faint smile from her. Mina and Regi tumbled out the door behind him.

  Regi looked up at the dark sky and wrinkled her nose when a raindrop fell on her face. “Oh, no, it’s raining.”

  “Yep. Let’s go.” Gunner hated barking commands like this, but he didn’t want to waste time with pleasantries.

  They sprinted, not stopping until they reached the truck. Breathing heavy, Gunner finally released Tessa’s hand to unlock the doors.

  “Get in. I’ll take care of Tessa,” Gunner shouted, helping his niece into the seat behind the driver and fastening the safety belt. He dived into the driver’s seat, locked the doors, and cranked the engine in a single beat. “Everybody in?”

  He didn’t wait for responses, relying on a mental head count of the belt clicks. He jerked the vehicle into reverse and backed out of the slot. “Hang on!”

  Mina grabbed the handle above the door, her face pale and drawn, her lips compressed in a rigid line.

  Slow it down there, buddy. Everybody’s safe. No need to frighten everyone. He mashed the accelerator, not nearly as hard as he wanted to, and exited the parking lot at a normal speed. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the message window for any missed calls.

  Nothing from Chad. Which meant one of two things.

  Either he had Brugman in custody. Or the guy had blended in with the crowd.

  ****

  Willow sat down on the edge of the bed and waited for Tessa to scoot against the pillow before handing her an ibuprofen tablet and a cup of water.

  After Tessa took the medicine, she grabbed her bear again and settled her head on the pillow. “Mommy, do you still like Gunner?”

  A big question coming from a little girl cuddling a stuffed animal. “Of course I still like Gunner. We wouldn’t be here if I didn’t like him.”

  Tessa wrinkled her nose and rolled dramatic, pre-teen eyes. “You know what I mean, Mommy. Do you still like him? Like you did when you were in college?”

  Okay. Even though Tessa clutched that stuffed bear, maybe she wasn’t so little anymore. She deserved an honest answer. Trouble was Willow didn’t really know the answer. Or did she?

  “Tessa, sweetheart, the answer to that question isn’t quite so easy. Gunner and I have changed since we were in college. It was a long time ago. We’re different people. And I’m not by myself anymore. I have you to consider. I would need to get to know who Gunner is now a little more before I could answer that question truthfully.” And get to know herself a lot more. Shake free from the resentment and bitterness that still clung to her like mold on a grimy shower wall. A visit to her father might help in that regard.

  “I can see why you liked him when you were younger. If I were old enough, I would marry him right now.” Challenge sparked from Tessa’s brown eyes. A dare, perhaps?

  “But that wouldn’t be wise, sweetheart. Before you marry someone, you want to make sure you have plenty of time to get to know them, to trust that person, to believe they are the one you could spend the rest of your life with. You don’t want to rush into anything.” Did she really believe that? A year and a half hadn’t been enough time to know what was going on in Gunner’s brain when he broke off their engagement.

  “Gunner is a good guy, Mommy. He would never hurt you now.”

  Now? She swallowed a huge lump in her throat. How did Tessa know Gunner had hurt her back then? “I don’t intend for anybody to get hurt, especially you.” Willow tapped a finger against her daughter’s nose. “I think it’s time you get some sleep, or you’ll be a grouchy bear in the morning.”

  Willow tucked the blanket around Tessa and stroked her silky hair. “Sweet dreams. I’ll leave the bedroom door cracked, and Gunner, Regi, and I will be in the living room. Try to dream about the next hockey game he’s taking us to, all right?” Anything to get her mind off the crazy lunatic chasing them.

  Tessa nodded and closed her eyes, a smile covering her angelic face as she drifted off to sleep.

  Willow shook her head. She’s out like a light already, and I’ll be awake all night!

  She eased off the bed and tiptoed out of the bedroom, leaving the door cracked open like she’d promised.

  Gunner lazed on the sofa with the television playing softly while Regi worked on her laptop. Willow could do with something warm, might help her to sleep. “Anybody want some hot tea or coffee?”

  “No, thanks,” Regi mumbled, eyes fastened to her laptop.

  “I think I’ll make some hot chocolate. Would you prefer that?” Gunner lifted himself with athletic grace from the sofa and joined her in the kitchen.

  “No. I need the strong stuff. Some orange spice, decaf.”

  “Whoa! I hope you don’t think I have some of that stowed away somewhere in my kitchen.” Gunner chuckled and opened the refrigerator door. He loaded his arms with a gallon of milk, chocolate syrup, and a can of whipped cream.

  “Yum. I reconsidered. I will have some of that instead of the spiced tea.” Smiling, she pulled two mugs from Gunner’s kitchen cabinet and set them on the counter.

  He filled them with milk and stirred in the chocolate syrup before depositing both mugs in the microwave. He turned the timer to two minutes then parked his rump against the counter to wait, arms crossed over his che
st.

  Willow rested a hip against the counter next to him. “Has anyone heard from Chad?”

  “Not yet.” Gunner’s voice was edged with worry.

  “Have you tried calling him?” Seemed simple enough to her.

  “I don’t want to interrupt anything important. He knows to call.”

  Gunner’s doorbell rang. Three heads jerked toward the door in unison. Gunner bolted from his stance against the counter and made it to the front door in three strides. He looked out the peephole before unlocking the door and yanking it wide open.

  Chad trudged inside, weariness encasing his steps and frustration drooping his shoulders. He glanced first at Regi, then Willow, who had come to stand beside Gunner. “I lost him. I’m sorry.”

  Gunner nodded. “I figured that was the case or you’d have called us back to talk to the police. No worries. He’ll mess up like he did tonight. We’ll catch him.”

  Willow’s heart sank, and she fought to keep a neutral expression, the discouragement in check. She forced her shoulders back and her chin up. “You did your best, Chad. It couldn’t have been easy fighting through that crowd, trying to find a man dressed in black.”

  The microwave dinged, and Gunner moved back into the kitchen. “Want some hot chocolate, Chad?”

  “No, thanks. Actually, I stopped by hoping to convince Regi to go out for some coffee.”

  “Oooh, coffee sounds good.” Regi slapped the lid of the laptop down and stood, ignoring Willow’s gaping mouth. Hadn’t Regi just rejected Willow’s offer of something to drink?

  Gunner stirred the milk again and fizzed some whipped cream on top. He handed Willow a cup, his lips turned up at the edges. “Sorry, Mina. I guess Chad’s coffee offer sounded better than yours.”

  Willow smiled and waved a hand in the air. With her hands cradling the mug, she sipped the beverage, happiness for her friend warming her belly as much as the hot chocolate. This was the first guy Regi had gotten excited about in years. But what would happen when this nightmare ended? When they finally caught Malcolm, and they all returned to their own homes and normal daily routines?