She opened the cover and perused the images. She stopped on a photo of Jackie in a small group. Her head was tossed back in a burst of laughter and her arm was draped casually across the shoulders of two other women who were in equal stages of laughter. Kayla’s heart warmed. There were photos of Jackie engaged in various sports, her long lean figure twisted in graceful maneuvers of athletic feats. There was a picture of her holding a mountain bike over her head, covered in mud. Another was of Jackie clinging to the face of a rock like Spider-Man. Some were of Jackie at work. Kayla studied these carefully, mesmerized by the intensity of Jackie’s focus on her client frozen in some complicated movement.
As Kayla browsed the images she was struck by the passion and intensity Jackie poured into everything she did. She thought back to the day of the regatta and the pictures she herself had taken of Jackie at the finish line. Jackie’s face had glowed with determination and focus. There was a spark in her eyes that was charged with energy and life. It was that intensity that drew Kayla to her like a moth to a flame.
Several pages near the back were empty and Kayla started to put the album away thinking she had come to the end of the picture show. But when she started to close the book, a photo slipped out of the back. This picture was much older and captured the image of a little girl holding hands with a tall thin woman who looked very much like Jackie. Kayla turned the album over and opened the back cover. More photos of Jackie’s childhood were tucked loosely in a small envelope. She explored one photo of Jackie as a young girl by a sparse-looking Christmas tree. Her long hair was tangled and she held the front of her nightgown twisted in her fists. Jackie couldn’t have been more than seven or eight and Kayla was struck by the forlorn look on Jackie’s face. As she studied the images, she realized Jackie’s expression was the same in all the others. Her big eyes seemed distrustful and wounded. The pictures suggested Jackie never smiled as a child. Kayla’s unease and concern escalated when she came across one photo that made cold chills run up her spine. It was Jackie with a brute of a man. His face was twisted in a drunken smile, his eyes heavy lidded and red. One hand held a bottle of Wild Turkey, the other gripped Jackie’s shoulder. Jackie sat on the floor at his feet, her legs curled up against her chest, her chin resting on her knees, and her little fists balled around her ankles.
Kayla was beginning to understand Jackie’s reaction to the situation with Jen. Oh, baby, what happened to you? Her eyes lingered on the little girl crouched in the photo. She studied Jackie’s hands balled into fists as if she was holding back her rage, ready to fight at a moment’s notice.
Kayla looked up at the sound of the door as Jackie stepped into the apartment.
“Sorry I’m so late.” Jackie stopped in the middle of the room, her eyes falling to the photo album in Kayla’s lap.
Kayla smiled up at Jackie, trying to hide the concern and sympathy she felt for the sad little girl in the photographs. “Hey, I was beginning to wonder if you were ever coming home.”
Jackie hesitated as if she wasn’t sure how to respond. Kayla could tell by the stiffness in her posture that she wasn’t happy to find her going through the mementoes of her childhood.
“I didn’t mean to pry,” Kayla said lifting the album. “I can’t believe all the things you’ve done. You’re quite the athlete.”
This seemed to give Jackie something to grasp. A smile curved the corners of her mouth but didn’t reach her eyes. “Wow, you must have really gotten bored if you’ve had to entertain yourself with those.”
Jackie kissed Kayla on the cheek. As she straightened she lifted the photo album from Kayla’s hands, closed it, and placed it back on its shelf.
“I’m sorry if I upset you. Do you want to talk about it?” Kayla asked.
“Not really,” Jackie answered.
Jackie’s voice was cool and distant as if it was all she could do to speak. Kayla knew Jackie wasn’t ready to let her in on her past, but she wasn’t used to letting questions go unanswered and she cared enough to want to know about Jackie’s past. Had she earned the right to ask?
“Were those photos of your parents?”
Jackie swallowed hard and stepped away from Kayla. These were the questions she’d known were coming, but no matter how much she prepared she wasn’t ready to answer.
“Yes.”
“You look like your mother.”
Jackie smiled. “Thanks.”
“Were those taken in Florida?”
Jackie went to the fridge and got a beer and drank half on her way back to the sofa. “No. When those pictures were taken we still lived near here.”
“Do you ever see him?”
“No. When I left, I left for good.”
She watched Kayla watching her. She could almost read the questions as they formed in Kayla’s thoughts and a chill began to creep up her spine.
“I’m sorry,” Kayla said.
Jackie shook her head. “No need to be. It’s all in the past now.”
Kayla sat on the sofa and took her hand. The warmth of Kayla’s fingers burned against her cold skin.
“I’m certain we’ll find her.”
Jackie’s heart stopped. She had given up hope she would ever find her mother.
“I looked. She either doesn’t want to be found or there isn’t anything to find.”
“It must be hard, not knowing.”
Jackie sighed. “Yeah, it was. Look, I don’t want to talk about this stuff anymore. Can you let it go?”
Kayla reached for Jackie’s beer and took a drink, her lips slowly lifting into a mischievous smile. “It’ll cost you.”
Jackie was surprised by the change and more than a little curious. “What?”
“How about some wings to go with the beer?”
Jackie pursed her lips. “Hmm. No more questions?”
Kayla smiled. “For now.”
Jackie kissed Kayla’s chin. “Deal.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Really, you don’t have to do this, let me take you out to dinner.”
Kayla had arrived at Jackie’s apartment with groceries in hand, determined to cook.
“As nice as that sounds, I really want to stay in. It’s been a grueling day and I’m going to be eating restaurant food for the next two weeks. Besides, it’s the least I can do for imposing on you all week.”
Kayla took Jackie’s chin between her thumb and fingers and placed a quick kiss on her lips. “Thank you for taking care of Jen and me, that was very sweet. And you have been very considerate despite having me intrude into your space.”
Kayla grinned at the blush coloring Jackie’s cheeks and lifted her mouth to Jackie’s for another kiss.
Jackie grinned. “I think that worked out in my favor. I hate sleeping alone.”
“Really? How do you usually remedy that issue?” Kayla regretted the question the moment the words were out of her mouth. “Never mind. I don’t want to know the answer.”
Jackie laughed. “Actually, I think it’s a new affliction. You seem to be the only remedy.”
“Hmm.” Kayla smiled. “Good answer,” she said and stole another kiss.
She moaned as Jackie’s hands gripped her hips and pulled her against her, creating a luscious pressure in her center that made her pulse inside.
“You know, I’m really not all that hungry,” Jackie murmured as she sucked Kayla’s earlobe into her mouth.
“Oh, really?” Kayla leaned back and appraised Jackie. “You look hungry to me.”
Jackie shuddered. “God, you have no idea what you do to me.”
Kayla laughed. “Wait till you taste dinner.”
Jackie flashed a wicked grin and raised a suggestive eyebrow. “What’s for dessert?”
Kayla brushed her finger across Jackie’s lower lip. “You are.”
Jackie groaned as a familiar wetness flooded her middle and soaked her jeans. God, this woman was heaven. She licked her lips imagining the taste of Kayla on her tongue. “Tease.”
Kayla
smiled and turned her back to the groceries that lay scattered across the counter. She finished the salad and reached to take the marinated chicken from the fridge when her phone buzzed, the vibration amplified by the granite countertop as her phone danced across the surface. She looked at the screen and frowned.
“What is it?” Jackie asked.
Kayla shrugged as she answered the call.
“This is Kayla McCormick.”
A stern look of concentration creased Kayla’s brow as she listened. She opened her mouth as if to say something but no words came out.
Kayla lowered the phone and punched in several digits before bringing the phone back to her ear.
“Yes, I understand. I’ll be right there. Thank you.”
By the time Kayla hung up the phone Jackie was about to pounce. She sat rigid against the back of her chair, her fists clenched on her knees like she’d done as a child when things happened that she couldn’t control. Something was wrong—she could feel it.
“I’m sorry, but I have to bail on dinner. Someone broke into my house. That was my security company. The police are already there.”
“Shit.” Jackie stood abruptly. “I’m coming with you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. You shouldn’t go there alone.”
Relief washed over Kayla when Jackie offered to go. She put the groceries in the fridge and grabbed her keys.
Jackie closed her hand around Kayla’s, sliding the keys from her fingers. “I’ll drive.”
To Kayla’s relief, Jackie didn’t let go of her hand, instead lacing their fingers together, letting her know she wasn’t alone.
*
Splinters of wood jutted out at odd angles around the frame of Kayla’s front door. She stood transfixed as reality arrested her ability to take another step. The door stood open and the lights were on inside the house. Two patrol cars were parked in front of the house, and flashing blue lights made the image in front of her seem like something out of a scene in a movie. But this was no cinematic production, this was her home, and it had been violated.
A knot of fear grew in the pit of Kayla’s stomach as she looked into her living room, and a chill ran down her spine as an officer stepped up beside her.
“Ms. McCormick, I’m sorry about all this. I know this isn’t easy, but can you think of anyone who would do this?”
Kayla frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Well this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill burglary. This guy was clearly sending you a message.”
Kayla was in shock but the officer’s comment filtered through the fog clouding her thoughts. She looked up at him. He was so young. He couldn’t be more than twenty-three. His shoulders were squared and his posture was rigid in an attempt to show authority.
Kayla shook her head. “I’m sorry, could you say that again? I’m having a little trouble taking this all in.”
He nodded curtly and gestured toward the room with his palm up. “We need you to take a look around and see if anything is missing.”
As if fighting her way out of a dream, Kayla tried to focus on the words, tried to make sense of what was happening. “I’m sorry, but did you say something about a message?”
The officer nodded again and glanced toward the back of the house. “I can show you as soon as we finish in the master. We’re still processing that room, so I can’t let you in there just yet.” He shifted his stance to move directly in front of her line of sight, drawing her attention back to him.
“Is there anyone you can think of who might want to harm you? Any problems with a boyfriend?” He glanced over Kayla’s shoulder at Jackie. “Or girlfriend?”
Kayla blinked at the absurdity of the question.
“No. I assure you that isn’t the case.” She sighed. “But I did have an incident this week involving my work and the husband of a colleague of mine, a friend. I have a restraining order against him. His name is Mike Harris.”
The officer wrote down the information and Kayla provided details about the incident.
“Could you tell me about this message you mentioned?”
Before the officer could respond he was called to the back by another officer. He nodded and gestured for Kayla to follow.
Kayla’s legs were like rubber. Her heart thundered against her chest so hard her body vibrated. Her hands shook and her skin was cold. She stopped at the door, her gaze falling on the words carved into the wall of her bedroom.
SHE’S MINE.
Kayla gasped. In an instant her emotions ricocheted around in her mind making the room spin. Her fear turned to rage. Why would anyone try to intimidate her this way? Her emotions flipped again and the rage was quickly replaced once again by fear, not for herself, but for Jen.
Mike obviously didn’t know where Jen was and Kayla wasn’t about to lead him to her.
“It’s him. He wants Jen.” Kayla glanced first at the officer, then to Jackie, who had moved into the room so silently that Kayla hadn’t even felt her move.
Kayla wasn’t sure what she saw etched in the lines at the corners of Jackie’s eyes or in the set of her jaw, but her eyes were dark, emotionless voids. In the instant it took for Kayla to search Jackie’s face, she felt the distance grow as if a giant cavern had opened up between them. She could feel Jackie withdraw, walling herself off.
Part of Kayla wanted to reassure Jackie. She wanted to make her believe everything would be all right, but for the first time in her life, she wasn’t sure that was true. How could she convince Jackie everything was okay when she didn’t believe it herself? Mike had crossed a line. He had not only harmed her physically, he had invaded her home, her sanctuary. There was no telling how far he would go or what he was capable of doing. As long as he was out there, she wouldn’t be safe.
*
Jackie followed Kayla through the house, surrounded by the methodical movements and chatter of the police officers on the scene. Her limbs were numb and she wasn’t sure if what she was seeing was happening now or somewhere in her past. Kayla was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. She could feel fear radiating off Kayla, her usually confident stride had become hesitant, and there was a faint tremble in Kayla’s hand.
Something inside shifted and Jackie closed her left hand, expecting to feel the soft plush ear of the stuffed rabbit she had carried everywhere when she was a little girl. She flinched when her fingernails bit into the palm of her hand. Her father’s voice echoed in her mind, laughing at her fear. He always knew how to use fear to control her.
Jackie stared at the words carved into the wall as she stepped past Kayla into the room. The words had been cut into the drywall in jagged fierce strokes. She imagined the rage and insanity behind the act and her mind shut down. She wanted to run away, but she wasn’t a little girl anymore.
Jackie jumped at the faint brush of fingertips against her arm. Kayla peered at her, her eyes clouded with fear and worry. She slid her arm around Kayla’s shoulders and guided her out of the room and down the hall until they were outside by the porch swing. Jackie was thankful for the comfort she found in the soft sway of the swing and the faint groan of the chain. She took Kayla’s hand, hoping to feel something other than fear.
“Are you all right?” Kayla asked shakily.
Jackie forced a smile. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that question?”
Kayla chuckled. “Maybe, but I asked first.”
The playfulness fell away from Jackie’s voice. “What are they going to do about this guy?”
Kayla’s shoulders slumped and she sighed. “Unless there’s some evidence it was him, I don’t think there’s anything they can do. He has thirty days to get the evaluation for the court, but until then…I don’t know.”
“He’s trying to control you with fear.”
Kayla nodded. “So far it’s working.”
“What are you going to do?”
Kayla thought about her answer and couldn’t com
e up with anything. “I’m not sure. He wants Jen. I think he’s trying to get me to lead him to her. I don’t think he’s really after me.”
“You don’t know that,” Jackie said with an edge of anger in her voice. “He’s backed into a corner and he thinks you’re the way out. Right now you’re the one he thinks stands between him and what he wants. If he removes you from the equation, he thinks he’ll have Jen.”
“That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t.”
Kayla stiffened and anger once again came to the forefront of her emotional battle. “What do you think I should do then, call him up and tell him where she is?”
Jackie slid her arm around Kayla’s shoulders and pulled her close. “No. Of course I don’t think that.”
“What then? What am I supposed to do?”
“Drop it. Walk away. Don’t go back to court. Let someone else take over that he doesn’t know. Let him burn himself out.”
Kayla felt heat rise in her cheeks and she pushed away from Jackie. She stared at her in disbelief.
“I can’t just turn my back. I can’t leave Jen to deal with this alone.”
“Jen isn’t dealing with it,” Jackie snapped back. “She left. She’s safe. She isn’t the one with threats carved into her bedroom wall. She saw her way out and she took it. She left you.”
Kayla bit down on her anger. She knew there was something more going on with Jackie, but she didn’t know what exactly, and this wasn’t the place to discuss it. The last thing she wanted to do was lash out at Jackie when she was obviously carrying so much of her own pain, her own fear.
“Are you sure we’re still talking about Jen and me?”
Jackie paled. “Don’t.”
Unbroken Page 18
