by Scarlet West
She gasped and moved faster. I was groaning too now, unable to contain myself as I lay there, feeling her tightness firm on me as she lifted up and lowered herself, lifted and lowered.
“Oh, Hayley…” I gasped. I was getting so close and I didn’t want to come, not yet. I wanted to delay the moment just a bit longer, to wait just a bit more. Extend this bliss for as long as possible.
I rolled over and gripped her against me, she laughing as we both rolled sideways together.
I was still inside her and I tried to stay in as I knelt up. We almost made it, and, laughing, I gently pushed myself into her again.
She gasped.
“Oh, yes,” she cried. She closed her eyes and I thought I had never seen anything as beautiful as she looked, moving under me.
My cock was harder than ever now, guiding me as I moved into her, faster and faster hearing her cry out and feeling how it pushed me to greater and even greater wanting, taking me closer to the edge.
I cried out, unable to hold back more. She gasped too, and I heard the throaty cry that meant she, too, had climaxed.
We lay together, arm in arm, and I felt the perspiration cool on my skin.
I woke a few moments later, feeling cool. I opened one eye and looked at Hayley. She was fast asleep, eyes closed, breathing regular. I stared at her, simply watching her, thinking I had never seen anything quite as beautiful. I felt my hand move, reaching out to touch her shoulder. I paused.
“Hayley?” I whispered.
“Yes?” She opened one eye. I saw the moment when she recalled where she was and smiled at me. She reached for me. I felt my whole body catch fire.
I kissed her and she embraced me, hands stroking gently down my back as she held me close. I felt tenderness like I had never felt for anyone fill me. I looked down at her.
“It’s good you’re here,” I whispered.
She stroked my cheek. I closed my eyes, loving the way her soft hand felt against my skin. I could have felt that forever.
“It’s good to be here,” she said. I lifted myself onto one elbow and stared at her. Then I felt my stomach growling.
“Hungry?” I queried.
She grinned. “So hungry, I could eat everything in the store.”
“That hungry?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “It’s you – you’ve tired me out.”
I laughed. “Thanks,” I said. “You tired me, too.”
“Not too much, I hope?”
“No,” I replied. “Never too much.”
We looked at each other and I thought that I had never felt so lucky and so happy in my life.
31
Hayley
I rolled over in bed to the smell of coffee. I lay on my side and listened to the sounds of a morning starting to unfold. It was a familiar sound by now.
“Reid? The toast smells like it’s burning.” That was Josh, sounding nervous.
“No, it’s just some crumbs that are stuck in there. We’ll shake it out later. Should be fine. Watch the eggs for me while I wash the dishes?”
“Sure!” Josh sounded elated. “Do you think I can go to the park for soccer today?”
I rolled over and stretched, a big smile on my face. Reid and Josh were getting along wonderfully; the week had been remarkable for them. I had never seen Josh take to anyone as he had to Reid before. And Reid? Well, he was losing that haunted look somewhat – Josh was a ray of sunshine for anyone’s life.
I went to the bathroom and showered quickly, putting on a white shirt and my blue slacks. Moving here had been easy – after all, my things were already in my car. We parked my car in the extra parking bay around the back, and that was that. I lived here now – it felt like I had always.
“Mommy?” Josh called from the kitchen. “Breakfast’s done.”
“I’m coming,” I said, and walked lightly downstairs.
“Morning, babe,” Reid said, kissing my cheek. That was new, too, but fast becoming familiar. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him back.
“Morning,” I said. “What’s for breakfast?”
Joshua turned around. “Toast and eggs. Same as yesterday. And coffee. Beats me why you like that stuff.”
“Want some?” Reid asked, grinning.
“No way! It’s gross.”
We all laughed and sat down to breakfast.
“I want to play soccer after school in the park. If it’s okay?” Joshua asked. He shot a hesitant look at me.
I looked at Reid. “I’m working late,” I said. “But, Reid? If you can keep an eye on Josh?”
“I’ll guard him with my life,” he nodded seriously.
“Hurray!” Josh exclaimed.
I stood to rinse my dishes in the sink. It was a very good start to the new week.
I breezed in past Ryanne, my cheeks still sore with grinning. As it happened, we’d been able to patch things up with Melissa – when I found out I was going to stay, after all, I’d had to do a lot of apologizing. As it was, she was understaffed anyway, and she was not sorry to rehire me.
“Hello,” I called to Ryanne as I went to change into my uniform. She had already changed and was working the coffee machine, a small frown on her face. She looked up as I came in and smiled.
“Hey! How’s it?”
“I’m great,” I said honestly. I felt happier than I could remember feeling. I turned to her, unable to keep my smile off my face.
“I’m glad,” she nodded. Her eyes were cautious. “Any more news from the guy?”
“My ex?” I nodded. “One text. I blocked the number. The SIM card people must wonder what the hell he’s up to.”
She laughed. “Probably.”
I grinned back. It was so good to feel able to laugh. I hadn’t heard from Joel for a week now. I was starting to think that maybe he’d given up and gone away. He thought I’d left town, perhaps. Maybe we’d finally managed to throw him off the scent.
I went to change into my uniform, my mind full of half-made plans for the day. I worked until six, but that left me with enough time to make a meal to surprise Reid and Joshua. I started thinking through the possible menus as I went out to the front room to see the first customer of the day.
I was run off my feet until midday, when I ducked into the kitchen to grab something for lunch. As I ate, I checked my phone idly. There was a new text from an unknown number. I frowned, reading it.
Don’t think you can hide from me. I will find you. I always do.
I blocked the number, ignoring the dire-sounding threats swiftly. He always said things like that. I was safe, now. I was with Reid. If he came near us, Reid would protect us.
I ducked out when Morgan arrived to come on shift at two, to take Joshua to the apartment. Since Reid wasn’t working at the moment, I could leave him to watch Josh in the afternoons, which made me feel so much better. I drove to the school to fetch him, feeling calm.
32
Reid
I was walking back from the ATM when I heard my phone go. I reached into my pocket, smiling to myself. I was so calm.
I’d been sleeping properly for the first time in ages, I felt well. And I felt lighter inside, as if the chance to talk to Hayley had cleaned some of my burden away. I had spoken to her a few more times, telling her my memories of DeShawn and Amery and the others. It felt so good just to have someone to listen.
I noticed the call was from her and answered instantly.
“Hayley?” I was smiling. “How’re things?”
“Reid! Thank Heavens! Is Josh with you?”
“No?” I frowned. “I’m about a block away from the house. Why?”
“Reid! I came to the school to fetch him. He’s not here! Where is he?”
I felt my blood freeze. “Did anyone see him go? A teacher? A kid?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Reid, I’m so scared. What if…”
“I know,” I said. I was thinking the same thing. What if her ex had found out where Joshua went to school? It wouldn�
�t have been hard for someone like him.
I got to my parking lot, jumped in my car and drove to the school, steaming ahead at much faster than the speed limit specified.
“Hayley?” I said, running up to her. She was standing in the front of the playground, by the fence. She saw me coming and turned to face me. Her face was soaked in tears.
“He went with someone,” she said, sobbing again, loudly. She stepped into my arms as I held them wide for her. “His teacher saw him. He left with a man. In a red car.”
I shook my head. I felt mute rage building up in me, a frightening sensation I’d never had before. Even in the heat of battle, I’d never felt this; especially not there. In that arid mountain pass, in a gully filed with my dead men, I had felt something close to it. I’d thought then that it would drive me mad. It was nowhere near as bad as this.
“We’re going to find him.”
“How?” she sniffed. “Reid, I’m so worried! He could have done anything. He could kill him.”
“His number,” I said.
She frowned at me blankly. I had to pause and regroup, trying to make myself speak and think slowly, to make everything make sense.
“Do you have his number. Any number, where he’s contacted you.”
“I have,” she said softly. “I blocked it, but…”
“Well, unblock it,” I said swiftly. “Chances are he’s not using it now, but you never know. He may be.”
Hayley looked up at me and I could see fear in her eyes.
I bit my lip. I had my doubts that a guy as twisted as Joel was going to volunteer anything useful. But if we pushed him, he might reveal something by accident. I tried to think about my training. What did Joel want? What could we use, to make him agree to tell us something?
“Why is he doing this?” I asked Hayley. She frowned.
“To hurt me?” she offered. “I don’t think he could believe I got away from him. It was a blow to his ego that anyone would ever leave him.”
“So he just wants to hurt you, huh?”
“Yeah.”
I frowned. This was tricky. As it was, Hayley was clearly distressed. If he wanted to hurt her, he’d done it. All we could rely on was the possibility that he’d taunt her with something. I shrugged.
“Should we call from inside?”
She nodded. “We can go into the hall. It’s empty.”
“Will you do something?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. She sounded desperate.
“Put the phone on speaker? So we can both hear? We might each notice different things – any information is important.” It often worked that way with contact with the enemy – we all listened, to see if anybody else could pick up added, different information.
“Okay.”
We went inside. I waited while she dialed the number.
“Joel ? Joel! It’s Hayley. Have you got my son?”
“You mean my son?” the voice on the other side said. Commanding, clipped, and petulant, it washed through my veins and curdled in my blood the need to kill. “Have you called to find out about the whereabouts of my son? Say it!”
“Have you… have you got your son?”
“That’s better,” the voice said. It sounded relaxed. Satisfied with this small victory. I felt my hands ball into fists. “And, yes. I have. My son is here with me right now.”
“Joel! Please. Let me talk to him. He needs me.”
“I don’t think so, Hayley. Why would he? Nobody needs you.”
I breathed out, trying to control my rage as I saw the shattered expression in her eyes.
“Maybe you don’t. Maybe he doesn’t,” Hayley said in a small voice. “But I need him, Joel. I need to know he’s safe. Where is he?”
“I told you. He’s here, with me. As he should be. He’s fine.”
“Joel, please…” she begged.
The voice on the other side was happy. The more she begged, the more it stroked his monstrous self-importance. I wanted so much to break his nose, to see blood on his face. See him feel important then!
“I told you. My son is where he should be.”
“Joel… please!”
The sound of the phone blurred slightly, as if traffic moved on a road. I heard a high whistle, and then Joel’s voice again.
“As much as I’m enjoying this, I can’t say yes. Not everybody can give into you all the time. Sometimes, I get to have my own way, Hayley. It’s been too long since I had that.”
“Joel! Joel. Wait! Let me talk to him. Joel! Please…”
I thought I heard the sound again, distant and remote. Then the call dropped.
“Damn it!” Hayley yelled. “He hung up. What are we going to do, Reid?”
I shook my head. “We’ll wait for a minute or two, then call again. Okay. In the meanwhile, maybe we should call Ryanne? She and her mom can help us look. And we should ask the teacher to inform the police about the sighting.”
“Okay,” Hayley said. She sounded so unsure. I wanted so badly to find this asshole and obliterate him. I ached to do it even more when I saw the pain on her face.
“I’ll go talk to the teacher, if you like,” I said steadily. I was trying to think clearly, but it was hard. And you call Ryanne. Then we’ll call him again, okay?”
“Okay,” Hayley nodded again. “I’ll call her.”
When she was on the line to her friend, I ducked into the secretary’s office. I explained who I was and asked to talk to Joshua’s teacher.
“Mr. Collingwood?” the teacher said hesitantly, when she came down to the office. “I don’t think I can divulge information to you. You’re not related to Joshua, and…”
“Not mister,” I said.
“Huh?” she frowned.
“Not, Mister Collingwood. I’m Lieutenant Collingwood. And I need to know what you saw, and that you will call the police.”
“Oh.”
That seemed to change matters. She trusted me after that. I listened carefully to the information, shaking my head as I did so. A red car, heading toward the highway. A tall man, with black hair. Nothing any more or less than she’d told Hayley.
When I was sure she’d call the police for us we marched back to the hall to find Hayley. She turned, startled, when I came in, a frightened look on her face when she heard the noise, before she saw who was there.
“Ready?” I asked.
We called again. This time, we got nothing. The line went straight to the voicemail. I saw Hayley’s face crumple.
“He isn’t going to answer again.”
I shook my head. “Let’s go. We can try and start looking. The teacher said the car went left – toward the highway. Maybe we can find someone who saw them.”
Hayley sniffed and nodded. “Yes,” she said. “Let’s go. We need to try and find him.”
We drove down the road, heading for the high. We stopped at a restaurant and asked the waiters if they’d seen a car go past round two o’ clock.
“No, sorry. I didn’t notice anything.”
I swore. By the third time we’d had an answer in that style, I was starting to get desperate.
“They can’t have disappeared,” I said to Hayley, as I returned to the car again. “Somebody must have seen them.”
“They could be right out of town by now,” she said. “Though why they’d go by road, I’ve no idea. His folks are in Colorado; it would take ages to go up there by road.”
“It’s easy to get to the airport from here,” I started to say. “They could get a bus at the train station, and then…” I stopped. “Trains!”
I suddenly realized what that noise had been. It was the sound of a train whistle. They were at the station. That was probably exactly what they’d done. They could stay there and wait for a flight next morning, and then be out of there, first on the train and then a plane. But even Joel would have to wait for a night – the flights out of here were irregular, and everything interstate would probably need a stopover at LA anyway.
; “I think I know where they are,” I said swiftly. “Are you ready to go?”
“Where are they?” Hayley asked, staring up at me with awe.
I told her as we drove. She smiled – the first time I’d seen her smile since sometime this morning.
“I think you’re right, Reid,” she said. “I really think you’re right.”
“I hope I’m right,” I said grimly. It had been years since I lived in this town. I could easily be wrong. I hoped things hadn’t progressed more since I’d left. But the noise I’d heard was definitely a train. And that meant we were at least getting closer.
I put my foot on the gas and we sped off down the motorway, heading for the train station.
It was our best chance of finding Joshua.
33
Hayley
I sat beside Reid in the car. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe without thinking of Josh and wondering if he was still alive.
He wouldn’t kill his son, would he? His own boy?
I looked at my hands and made myself breathe.
“Hayley?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you had any news from Ryanne? Where is she?”
“She and her mom have driven past the school. Like you said, they went the other way. They’re in the main street.”
“Good,” Reid nodded. “Hayley, it’s okay. We’re almost there.”
I nodded. “Good,” I said. My voice was very tight and hard in my throat. “Thank you.”
We sped on. It was starting to get late, a soft twilight falling over the scene. I guessed it to be about five-thirty. I looked around, feeling more afraid than I had ever felt in my life.
“Is this it?” I frowned, as Reid slowed the car.
The scene in front of us looked like something from a bad dream. A train station, small and ill-maintained, stood at the head of some rail tracks. I could see one train parked nearby, and another sped past, lights blinking on the back. A tall building stood nearby; a concrete structure designed in the early sixties, by the look of it. In the twilight, it had a sinister aspect. I shivered.
