by Dana R. Lynn
“I’m sorry. I’ll let you think. I don’t mean to be a pain.”
She started to pull her hand out from under his. In a surprising turn of events, he wouldn’t let her. She raised her eyes to meet his, but he was looking away again, lost in thought. So she let the hand lie still beneath his.
Looking for something else to calm and center her thoughts, she was surprised when the idea popped into her head: Why not pray?
Pray? Where had that thought come from? Oh, sure, she had prayed before, but...
She couldn’t really think of a good reason not to pray. She certainly had nothing to lose for trying, and she apparently had the time. Here goes, she thought.
Okay, God. I hope You’re still listening to me. I’m not sure what to say. Please, Lord, my kids need me. Please let me survive. Get me home to them. And please protect Dan. And heal his scars, whatever they are. Uh, thanks. I mean...Amen.
A sense of peace flooded her, making her eyes sting. She marveled at it. Never in her memories could she recall feeling the presence of God, but she felt it now. Soothed and comforted by it, she drifted off to sleep.
A long while later, Maggie awoke when the flight attendant announced they could turn their devices back on. The city below was becoming clearer. Wow. They were already descending. Sometime during the flight Dan had released her hand. Maggie couldn’t wait to tell Dan what had happened. He was looking at his phone again, she noticed with a grin. She reached out to him, thinking of getting his attention. All thought of telling him vanished a second later when he broke the silence with a shocked exclamation.
Dread curdled in the pit of her stomach.
NINE
Quickly, she sat up, alert, her eyes wide. Her throat was dry and her heart pounded.
“What’s wrong? Is someone hurt? My kids...” A shaking hand went to her throat, her imagination running wild. She barely noticed the slight lurch as the plane touched down.
It was Dan who reached across the seat to her. He took the hand nearest him, gently prying the clenched fingers open so he could hold the hand. His thumb rubbed in soothing circles on her palm.
“Shh, Maggie, Siobhan and Rory are fine. So is your mom.”
“Then what is it?”
Shaking his head, he sighed. “I guess you need to know. Wait until we get off the plane, though.” Without moving his head, his eyes slid to the side, clearly indicating the other passengers surrounding them.
The tension returned as she waited. And waited. How long did it take to taxi to a gate, anyway? The view outside the window came to a halt as the plane stopped. Finally, people started to move. She jiggled her leg up and down while waiting. As soon as it was their turn to move, she shot out of her seat and into the aisle, only to have to wait again for the passengers in front of her to mosey off the plane.
The second they had cleared the ramp, she grabbed Dan’s uninjured arm and dragged him to an empty corner. “Spit it out!” She rounded on him, arms folded across her chest.
“Paul had a phone call from the prison. Robert Hutchins was found—dead. He’d been strangled during work detail not long after we left.”
Maggie swayed. His hand flashed out to steady her. She allowed the contact for a few seconds before stepping back.
“What else?” She knew he wasn’t done.
“We had to sign in. Whoever ordered the hit would have found out who was visiting and where we’re from.”
“So we’re targets? Again?”
When would it end?
“I don’t know. I can’t promise we’re off the radar.” Dan ran a hand over his chin. “What I do know is that there is no way I’m gonna let you step foot on another airplane. The only way we could have gotten here this fast was by plane. There’s only one flight from here to Erie for the rest of the day. We’d be trapped and putting others in danger if they’re watching for us at the other end.”
“Um, how will we get back to LaMar Pond?” She planted one hand on her hip and tilted her head, frowning.
He flashed a weak grin. Oh, no. she wasn’t going to like it, whatever it was.
“Relax, Mags. I got it covered.”
“Yeah, I can tell. If you’re so confident, why don’t you just tell me what we’re going to do?”
Casting a wary glance around, he pulled her deeper into a corner, backing her in so that her back was to the wall. If anyone came after them, they would have to get through Dan before they could get to her. She suddenly had to swallow past a lump. It was such an automatic move on his part. Instinct, she thought.
“I sent a text to one of my foster brothers,” he rumbled. “An alternative mode of transportation is on its way. We just have to wait. And keep vigilant until it arrives.”
“An alternative mode of transportation? You mean a car.”
Slowly, he shook his head. Not looking good.
“What exactly—”
“Trust me,” he murmured.
She did trust him. But she still wanted to know.
“Dan,” she began in her most threatening tone.
“I’m starved,” he butted in. “Let’s see if we can get something to eat, then go somewhere out of the way. Somewhere we can see and not be seen.”
And that was as much as she was going to get. She opened her mouth to argue, then stopped. He was rubbing his side again. A sigh escaped as she gave in. He’s probably faking, just so I will feel sorry for him and give in. It’s working. With a scowl, she followed silently.
“How many foster siblings do you have?”
Dan shrugged. “I had several through the years. Ty was the only one I was ever close to. I didn’t bother to stay in touch with the others.”
His phone whistled. He showed her the text from Chief Kennedy. Someone had been asking about them, her specifically, at the Erie airport that morning.
“Paul had called security at the airports. He was to be notified of anyone asking about us. That’s how they knew where we were headed.”
“What about privacy laws?”
“Nothing is absolutely private.”
He sent a quick text back to the chief. Within a minute, another call came through.
“Ah.” Dan nodded. “The man in question did not buy a ticket.”
“So we’re good?”
“Not yet. Just because he didn’t doesn’t mean someone else didn’t. If I were them, I would have someone else on the plane. That way airport security wouldn’t view the person as suspicious.”
“That makes sense.” Too much sense.
Minutes later, she had reason to be grateful for Chief Kennedy’s warning. With a suddenness that made her stumble, Dan jerked her into a gift store.
“I feel like a human-size yo-yo,” she groused.
“Sorry,” came his distracted reply.
Following the line of his gaze, she swallowed a gasp. A woman was out there showing her picture to passersby. People were stopping and talking to her. Her face was earnest and desperate. Maggie had a clear image of the photo she was passing around. It was a picture from before she had disappeared. Her face had been fuller then—she had been newly pregnant. And her eyes and lips were made-up.
“Wonder what she’s telling them. What an actress.”
“We have to hide your hair,” Dan whispered.
“Maybe a ball cap?”
He eyed her, lips pursed and brows furrowed before he discarded the idea. “Too much hair. Hold on. Keep low.” He marched away. She went to the T-shirt rack and kept her face hidden as best she could. Soon he was back with a hooded sweatshirt. She quickly donned the shirt and pulled up the hood.
“Good. Good. Slouch your shoulders a bit. Yeah, like that. Put your hands in the front pocket. Eyes down. Sweet.” He started to head out the door.
�
�Wait! Are you crazy? She’s still there.”
“Honey, as long as you keep your eyes down and don’t smile, we should be fine.” Dan pulled a ball cap out of the plastic gift shop bag he was holding, put it on and left—motioned her to follow. Maggie was relieved to see that he at least had the sense not to approach the woman. He skirted behind her while she was talking with someone else and pulled Maggie into the midst of the crowd heading to the shuttle. They drifted just close enough for them to hear the woman say “...my sister. I need to catch her...father ill...”
Maggie held in a snort with difficulty.
“I’m sending a text to Paul. She needs to be detained, but I can’t alert security without endangering you,” Dan murmured.
They flowed with the shuttle line, eventually boarding the bus. They got off on the other side of the airport and immediately joined in with another crowd, trying to blend in. Maggie’s patience was wearing thin when Dan’s phone whistled again.
A wide grin spread across Dan’s face. Her breath caught in her throat. He was magnificent. She crushed the thought as soon as she realized what she was thinking. But she couldn’t quite stem the tide of color flowing up her neck and into her face. Grateful for the hoodie, she tucked her head inside the hood.
“Good news, Maggie. Our ride is here.”
Somehow she didn’t think this was going to make her as happy as it did him.
She was right. Dan raised expectant eyebrows. There was only one thing she could say.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
* * *
Dan refused to let her lack of enthusiasm dampen his. He felt like a kid. It had been years since he had ridden his motorcycle. And what a gorgeous bike it was! All black and shining silver. He had lent it to Ty before going to Afghanistan. Between his combat injuries and his work schedule, he’d never gotten around to getting it back. So Ty had kept it with him in Pittsburgh. Dan ran a hand over the seat. Man, he was happy to have her back.
“Dude, thanks!” He slapped hands together in a shake with Ty. His foster brother hadn’t changed a bit. Still fit and muscular, with an engaging air about him. His dark curls and skin hinted at his Mexican-American heritage. He looked like a young man without a care, but Dan knew he had some deep scars. Scars just as deep as Dan’s.
“No problem. She has gas. I kept the inspection good, and she’s been taken out regularly,” Ty answered easily, his attention wandering to Maggie with open curiosity.
“Don’t have time to talk, buddy. We are in a police situation. I’ll call you later.”
“Sure, I understand.” Ty’s open smile vanished, replaced by concern. “You be careful. If I don’t hear from you in a couple days, I will not be happy. Si?”
Dan rolled his eyes, but he really didn’t mind. Very few people had ever shown concern for his well-being. He was starting to get used to people caring for him. “Si. I will call you.”
“Good.”
“The helmets are in the truck.” Ty sauntered over to his truck and tossed two helmets to Dan, who handed one to Maggie. She held out her hands for it with obvious reluctance, her pert little nose wrinkling. He bit back a smile. She sure was a spunky thing.
Slamming the helmet on his head, Dan swung a leg over and kicked the bike into gear. He couldn’t contain his smile. Just for kicks, he revved the engine. He grinned at Maggie and laughed as she gingerly placed the helmet on her head. She stepped up to the bike with great care, as if it were a living animal ready to bite her. Dan motioned for her to climb on. She did so, but it was obvious she had no idea how to sit. He helped her situate herself, then took off. Her shriek nearly deafened him on one side. It didn’t matter.
He swerved through traffic, always with care. When possible, he got off the interstate so they could avoid traffic jams. Not to mention, he thought they had a better chance of arriving safely if he kept a low profile. Even though he hadn’t been seen on the bike for years, better safe than sorry.
As he took a tight curve, he felt Maggie’s arms grip his middle harder. He was conscious of her tucked up against his back. She hadn’t wanted to get on the bike, but she hadn’t complained, either. She was brave, he thought again. If he’d had the time, he would have taken a more scenic route. Certainly, he wouldn’t be traveling with any traffic. But time was one thing they were short on.
On another occasion, he might have enjoyed the ride. Right at the moment, though, he felt vulnerable. His shoulder blades were tight, and every now and then he felt like twitching. It was as if he was under a microscope. He couldn’t help but think they might as well have painted a bull’s-eye on their backs.
On Maggie’s back.
Man, he hated that she was such an easy target. How could he protect her if someone started shooting from behind? Dan didn’t like not having that kind of control. Suddenly, the excitement he had felt when Ty had brought the old bike melted, morphed into a grim determination. He had forgotten his past, his failures, for a small time while enjoying this ride with a beautiful woman whom, he suspected, he was beginning to have stronger feelings for than was safe. What had started as a quest to redeem himself and bring a woman home safe to make up for those he had allowed to die had become personal. He needed to get this done. Fast. But he had a sinking feeling that he was too late to save himself from a broken heart.
It was nightfall before they finally arrived in LaMar Pond. The small town was lit up, and the main street was far more crowded than normal, even for a Saturday evening. Dan parked his motorcycle near the library. The town square was blocked off. There was a local band belting out popular country tunes in the gazebo, which was situated in the center of town. Traffic that normally would flow around the square in one direction was nonexistent, the streets crowded instead with vendors and customers.
Maggie slid off the back of the motorcycle, gripping his arm to steady herself. She kept hanging on as she took in the crowds and lights around her, wide-eyed. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. Dan smiled.
“Heritage Days. I had forgotten they do this every fall. I bet they had the parade this afternoon, didn’t they?”
“Yeah, I guess. I don’t usually go. I’m not a parade person.” Dan wasn’t prepared for the way she swung around to face him, way too close. But she didn’t back away. Maybe she didn’t notice that she was in his personal space bubble, but he sure did.
“Not like parades! Are you feeling okay?” She laid a hand on his forehead in mock concern. As her hand touched his face, his skin tingled with awareness. Her startled eyes connected with his. Electricity hummed between them. Heat climbed into her cheeks, and he suspected his own face had gone a shade pinker.
Pulling her hand back as if stung, Maggie stumbled back from him. As she moved away, he breathed easier. She shifted her gaze awkwardly.
“Um, parades,” she stammered. “Yeah, I love them. I can’t wait to take the twins to one. As soon as this mess is finished, I mean.”
She was babbling. So she had felt the attraction, too. And like him, she seemed to want to ignore it. That was fine with him. Peachy, in fact. So why did he feel disappointed?
A blaze of color burst in the sky above them. Fireworks. Great.
A cold sweat broke out on Dan’s brow. There was no way he could stay and watch. And he sure didn’t want Maggie to witness what was sure to come. He grabbed her hand and began pulling her away from the square.
“Come on,” he snapped, urgency making his voice harsh. “We can’t stay here. Too open.”
Too late.
A white flare burst above them, the resounding boom echoing like a gunshot. Exactly like a gunshot. The sound swallowed him. Caught him up in the snare of memories. Gunshots. Fire. Screams. He couldn’t save her. His clothes were on fire. But he couldn’t get to her. Or get the kid. They were going to die. And it was his fault.
TEN<
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“Dan? Dan!” Maggie grabbed at his arms. He pushed her back. She grabbed again and bodily dragged him behind a hot sausage vendor and into an alley. No one appeared to pay any mind to them. The crowd was too busy oohing and ahhing over the dazzling fireworks. Any other time she would have been doing the same. But right now all her attention was focused on the man in front of her. Her heart ached at the lost look on his face. That strong face that was now twisted in anguish.
“Can’t,” he gasped.
“Dan?”
“Can’t get her out. My fault. She’s gonna die. My fault. Should have gotten here faster. Should have...”
“Dan! Snap out of it! No one’s caught! No one’s dying.” Maggie grabbed on to his jacket and shook him, gently at first, then harder when he didn’t react. “Dan! Look at me. Please? It’s me, Maggie.”
At her name, he looked down at her as if seeing her from a distance. He frowned. Then his eyes widened, horrified.
“Maggie?” His arms reached up to grab on to her wrists. She hadn’t realized she was still gripping his jacket. “What happened? Where are we?”
She was reluctant to answer. Some inner feeling told her he knew exactly what had happened, but he was too ashamed to discuss it.
“The fireworks started and you had some sort of, um, I think it was a flashback?” Her sentence ended on a question. She had never encountered a person caught in a flashback before, although she had read about them. “I dragged you into an alley. I don’t think anyone saw us.”
His head flopped forward, rested on the top of her head. He heaved a sigh that stirred her bangs. “I was afraid that would happen. Fireworks are one of my triggers.”
Leaning back so she could see him, she pulled one wrist from his grasp. He lifted his head slightly but stilled when she ran her free hand down the side of his face. It was a tender gesture, one she used to calm the twins when they were upset. When she realized what she had done, she was shocked and started to withdraw her hand. He caught it again. Keeping her hand in his, he started walking down the alley.
