Trail of Danger

by Valerie Hansen

  “Do you think the prowler will come back?”

  What should he do? Reed asked himself. Tell her the truth and make her fearful or reassure her when he could be wrong?

  “I don’t have a clue,” he said honestly. “The only thing I am sure of is that you’ll be safer someplace else.”

  Mirroring his nod, she squared her shoulders and stood tall. “Thank you,” she said flatly. “I appreciate your candor.”

  The sight of this slightly built, lovely young woman displaying so much inner strength despite the circumstances took him by surprise. When she’d told him she possessed hidden fortitude, he’d doubted her. Now he was seeing it for himself.

  Nothing changed about her either, as she left him and went to pack. Was she really as strong as she acted or was she putting on a front to keep from showing her true feelings?

  Her bravery had to be genuine, he reasoned. When he’d first met her, she had been a basket case, so traumatized she could barely speak let alone function normally. There was no way she could be faking this much recovery. The real Abigail Jones was emerging and it gave him pause. While she’d seemed so broken, he could justify spending an inordinate amount of time looking after her. Now that she was regaining fortitude, she needed him far less.

  Reed knew he should be glad she wasn’t quite so needy anymore. Part of him was thrilled.

  The disquieting element of the change in Abigail was his realization that he was also disappointed.

  * * *

  A last look at her apartment as she locked the door behind her made Abigail feel strangely sad. It wasn’t much but it was home. No other place had ever seemed so dear, so safe, so comforting. And now that sense of peace had been stolen from her just as surely as if a thief had stripped the rooms bare.

  Reed was waiting in the hall with the dogs. “I see you travel light.”

  “I don’t need much besides my phone and a couple changes of clothes. Once you bring me my purse I’ll have everything.” She purposely neglected to mention that a large chunk of her salary was spent on others, especially the kids she was trying to coax off the streets. A Fresh Start had a budget for essentials but it barely covered the most basic necessities, and it gave her pleasure to add whatever she could. Although her boss was aware of some of her largesse the directors of the program had no clue about its scope, which was exactly how she wanted it.

  “We’ll go first,” Reed said, gesturing at the stairwell. “Stick close.”

  “Hey, if you were wearing a backpack I’d climb into it,” Abigail told him with a nervous chuckle.

  “If we didn’t have the puppy with us I could put Jessie at heel and carry you the way I did at Luna Park.”

  Hearing that caused her pulse to jump. “You what?”

  “Carried you.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Sorry. I shouldn’t talk about that night because I don’t want to influence your memories. The mind is a funny thing. People tend to fill in details they don’t know, without realizing it, because their brain isn’t satisfied with loose ends.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Really.”

  Sticking close to his back, she almost ran into him when he stopped at the outer door to check the busy sidewalk and street beyond.

  Abigail had to smile. “My neighbors will be glad to see me go. Anything to keep you from blocking traffic so often.”

  “It was necessary.”

  “I know. And I thank you. Again. I just hate to see so many drivers upset with the police.”

  “Yeah. Until they need us themselves. Then it’s different.” Reed shrugged. “Come on. Let’s get your stuff and these dogs stowed and get out of here.”

  She followed closely, trying to help yet also stay out of his way. In seconds they were back on the road.

  “Tell me about your sister,” Abigail said.

  That brought a smile. “Lani’s amazing. She’s been a dancer and an actress and also taught self-defense.”

  “I thought she was a cop, like you?”

  “She is.” Reed’s smile spread. “The last time she reinvented herself, she decided she wanted to follow in my footsteps and work with K-9s. I didn’t try to talk her out of it because I never dreamed she’d get this far. She surprised me and by not only getting into K-9 training but managing to transfer to my unit when she graduated.”

  “I’d have thought siblings wouldn’t be allowed.”

  He laughed. “Normally, they aren’t. My unit is unique, and Lani made the most of it.”

  “I hope she likes me.”

  “Lani likes everybody. She can be a bit overwhelming if you’re not used to her personality. Just go with the flow.”

  With a silent sigh Abigail leaned back in the seat and folded her hands in her lap. Isolation and quiet was what she loved about the apartment she’d just left. Chaos often haunted her at work and she looked forward to calm, solitary evenings reading a good book or maybe watching an old movie on TV. Moving in with Reed and his sister, plus the dogs was likely to make going to her job seem like a sanctuary instead of the other way around.

  Well, it couldn’t be helped. She’d cope. Somehow. After all, the change was only temporary. Her apartment would be there when she was ready to go home.

  A catch in her throat brought unshed tears to her eyes and she coughed to cover the reaction. When she had thought of home just now, she had realized that her feelings had been altered by the presence of the prowler. He might not have taken concrete objects from her, but he had stolen just the same. He had robbed her of what little peace she’d had left and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it.

  Casting a sidelong glance at Reed, she wondered how long his altruism was going to last. What if his sister pitched a fit at him for bringing home a houseguest and she had to find other accommodations? Where would she go? She could barely afford one place to live. Paying for a second one while trying to break her lease in Brighton Beach was out of the question.

  Abigail turned to stare out the side window, barely heeding the passing cityscape. Her heart and mind turned to the only true anchor she had, her wavering yet tenacious faith. Sensible prayer was difficult when she was so confused, so adrift.

  Out of her scarred memory came a Bible truth. God takes care of the flowers of the fields and the birds of the air, so consider how much better He will provide for his children.

  It didn’t spell out the path she must follow, but it did speak of trusting the Lord. Given her current circumstances, Abigail figured that was the best advice around.

  All she had to do was make it happen.

  Easier said than done.

  Faith was not a tangible thing that could be grabbed and stuffed into a box for safekeeping. It was a state of mind, an acceptance of God’s invisible power and unqualified acceptance, no matter what a person had or hadn’t done. That was why turning your life over to Christ was sometimes so difficult.

  And yet, over time, Abigail had experienced the Lord’s kindness, His leading, His unending presence in the midst of her worst trials. Looking back, it was easy to see how He had protected her in the past and had guided her steps into the present. Setting aside her misgivings, she knew without a doubt that she was blessed.

  Her gaze drifted to the driver on her left. A week ago they didn’t even know each other, and today she was on her way to live in his house. Either that was divine guidance or she was about to dive into worse trouble than she’d ever imagined.

  Hopefully it was the former and would turn out to be another blessing. That was certainly her unspoken prayer.

  TEN

  Reed’s residential street in Queens was different from hers in Brighton Beach. For one thing, it was quieter. He slowed, waved at a group of neighbor kids shooting hoops in a driveway, then pulled to the curb across the street. “This is it.”

  “Wow. Parking practically in front
of the house!”

  He laughed. “Living out here has its perks. I would have stopped in the driveway if I thought our upstairs tenant was home. He gets the garage. I park outside. Having a police car out front is a great crime deterrent.”

  “I would think so.”

  Glad to see her spirits rising, Reed wisely avoided mentioning the mood change. Instead, he climbed out, leashed the dogs and released them. The pup was so excited she was running circles around Jessie and twisting together their light leashes.

  Abigail retrieved her overnight bag and joined him. “Looks like they’re glad to be here.”

  “Yeah. Me, too.” He gestured at the white, two-story dwelling on its narrow lot. Houses on either side were clearly the same floor plan but had been modified over time by their various owners. The Branson place had a stone facade with short pillars next to the sidewalk to denote the beginning of the entry path. What lawn there was had been mowed recently, and flower beds graced a narrow strip fronting the porch.

  “It’s pretty,” Abigail said. “Very welcoming.”

  “You can thank Lani,” he replied. “She’s the one who plants the flowers. I will admit I did some of the painting but only because she made me.”

  “Made you? I doubt that.”

  “Okay, she guilted me into helping her.” He knew there was a goofy grin on his face but for some reason it felt right.

  “That, I can believe.”

  As Reed shepherded his little group up the steps and onto the porch, he experienced an unanticipated surge of emotion. Lacking a different definition, he named it joy. Really? In the midst of all the conflicts in his work and home life, he was actually joyful? That seemed wrong, particularly in view of the mourning his unit was doing over their late chief, Jordan Jameson. Plus, they were all worried about Katie, Jordy’s widow. Katie had been newly pregnant when Jordan was murdered six months ago and not only was she going to have to raise the child alone, she was still in limbo about the identity of her husband’s murderer. They all were. So what right did anyone have to be this happy?

  Reed had to smile at his twisted thoughts. Jordan Jameson had been a Christian. He’d see his family again someday. It was finding clues to his killer or killers that should be foremost on everybody’s mind. Just when they thought they were getting closer to resolving the puzzle, something happened to pull them back. Crime never took a vacation. Drugs, gangs, muggings, drive-by shootings and myriad other events kept the entire police force engaged 24/7.

  Opening the door for Abigail, he held back the dogs and paused to give his and Jessie’s jobs serious thought. He couldn’t help but be thankful that they were tasked with tracking instead of, say, bomb detection. Reed wasn’t keen on working with a K-9 whose nose was trained to seek out destruction. His Jessie found lost people and that was fine with him.

  Case in point. His gaze fastened on Abigail as she perused the small living room. If he hadn’t been assigned to look for Snapper on the boardwalk at exactly the right time, not only might he have failed to meet her, she might have received more serious injuries. That thought deposited a boulder in the pit of his stomach. Thank God that he was around when she’d needed him.

  “This is lovely,” Abigail said. “You and your sister share the downstairs?”

  “Yes. And the kitchen. Lani keeps telling me that cooking isn’t necessarily a woman’s job so we take turns.”

  “In other words, you order out?” Abigail was smiling at him and his cheeks warmed.

  “Sometimes. I make a mean hamburger when I can grill in the backyard.”

  “How often have you done it with snow on the ground?” she asked.

  Reed had to laugh. “A few. How did you know?”

  “I’m a good guesser.”

  Reed passed her, leading both dogs. “I’ll go let these girls out the back door and then show you your room. When I phoned Lani she said she’d move and give you her room but I figured you’d turn it down. The same goes for mine.”

  “You know me pretty well.”

  “I like to think so.”

  Just then the front door burst open, startling everyone. A young blonde woman wearing workout clothes that accented her athleticism was making her usual theatrical entrance. “Hi! You must be Abigail.” She dropped overfull totes on the floor and stuck out her right hand. “I’m Lani, Reed’s sister. Welcome to Queens. I picked up a few groceries. We’ll order a pizza for supper. You like pizza, don’t you? Of course you do. Everybody loves a good New York pizza.”

  Abigail briefly shook hands. “Hello.”

  “Has Reed shown you your room? I told him you could have my bed but he was sure you wouldn’t accept it so I made up a cot in the spare room. It’s usually an office. I hope you don’t mind. I know it’s not much but it’s all we have.”

  Watching Abigail’s reaction to Lani’s monologue brought a grin and almost made Reed laugh out loud. His sister was a whirlwind of enthusiasm no matter what she was doing. Today was no exception. If Abigail ever managed to get a word in edgeways he was certain they would find common ground and get along well.

  He held up a hand. “Whoa. Calm down, sis. We just got here a minute ago. I haven’t even had time to put the dogs out.”

  Lani returned his smile and shrugged. “Sorry. I just want our guest to feel at home.”

  “I’m sure I will,” Abigail said. “Right now, everything is kind of overwhelming.” She met Lani’s gaze. “Did Reed tell you about my loss of memory?”

  “He mentioned it, yes.” Lani took Abigail’s hand and patted it. “We’ll get you back to normal soon, I promise. He said you were attacked. I used to teach self-defense, you know. While you’re here I can give you lessons.”

  The black puppy was tugging at the leash and trying to chew it. Reed ignored her long enough to counter his sister’s suggestion. “I don’t think that’s such a great idea, Lani. Abigail will be plenty safe staying with us. She doesn’t need instructions in hand-to-hand fighting. She’s far better off relying on the police.”

  By the time he finished making his point, both women were staring at him. Lani was making a silly face and Abigail looked irate. That was not good. He figured he was about to learn plenty about her opinion. When she fisted her hands on her hips he was positive.

  “You’re joking, right?”

  What could he tell her except the truth? “Um, no.”

  She rolled her eyes at him, then at Lani. “Do you believe this guy?”

  “Sure,” Lani said with a chuckle. “He’s my brother. He’s always underestimating me.”

  “Me, too.” Abigail began to smile. “I’ll be ready for my first self-defense lesson when you are. In the meantime I’ll help you carry the groceries to the kitchen.”

  “My kind of houseguest,” Lani said with enthusiasm. “C’mon, Abby. Grab a bag.”

  “She doesn’t like that nickname,” Reed called after them. A lot of good it did him. They disappeared into the kitchen together as if they had rehearsed a stage exit from one of Lani’s little theater productions.

  “Humph.” Reed looked down at the dogs. Jessie was waiting for a command while Midnight nibbled on the bloodhound’s ear. “I’m surrounded,” he quipped. “Outnumbered by females.” Starting for the back door he said, “All right, girls. Let’s go outside and get some air. I need a break as much as you do.”

  Boy, was that the truth! When he’d suggested that Abigail meet and share a home with him and Lani, he hadn’t imagined a joining of forces. It wouldn’t hurt Lani to absorb a little of Abigail’s sweet nature, but he sure hoped the influence didn’t flow both ways. If it did, he was going to have more trouble than ever convincing Abigail to take his advice.

  * * *

  It struck Abigail funny that she had taken to both Branson siblings so easily. They were not terribly alike, yet each had a way of making her feel welcome. While Lan
i called to order a pizza, she busied herself pulling fresh vegetables out of the totes and lining them up on the counter.

  “This romaine looks fantastic,” Abigail remarked. “There’s a greengrocer’s close to my place in Brighton Beach. I shop there often.” When I’m not hiding from my own shadow.

  “Fresh is always the best. I have to walk a couple blocks farther but it’s worth it.” Lani paused. “Reed tells me you’ve had it pretty rough lately. I hope staying with us gives you a break. I can’t imagine being by myself all the time.”

  Puzzled, Abigail tilted her head to one side. “Really? Why should you be worried when you’re a cop and you know self-defense?”

  Lani smiled sweetly. “I’m not afraid. I just know I’d be lonesome, even once I get my K-9 assignment. I like people around me.” She giggled. “Even my stuffy brother.”

  “Stuffy? I never noticed that about Reed. He’s always seemed very helpful and upbeat.”

  “Yeah? Pass me the salad makings,” Lani said, opening a crisper drawer in the refrigerator. While she was bent over, putting the produce away, she said, “Personally, I think Reed is a great guy, too. Trouble is, he eats, sleeps and breathes the K-9 unit. That doesn’t leave time for a social life.”

  Abigail was fairly certain Lani was issuing an unnecessary warning, so she countered with her own explanation. “I’m sure there is nothing social about your brother’s concern for my welfare. He was the officer who first found me after I was attacked and has kindly shepherded me through the beginning of my healing process. It’s not personal.”

  “If you say so. He seems to like you a lot, though. I’d hate to see him hurt.”

  The notion of her self-appointed protector being hurt, physically or emotionally, slammed into Abigail like a rogue Atlantic wave. All this time, while Reed had been looking after her welfare, she hadn’t properly considered his. Well, she would now. The immensity of his sacrifice was just beginning to register. Before, she had let herself fall into the trap of feeling helpless and hopeless because of her lapse of memory. From now on she intended to be proactive.