Till Justice Is Served

by Jerrie Alexander

  With the crime scene unit in possession of the house, Rafe and Erin followed the detective to his car. Erin entered first, scooting to the far side of the backseat.

  Rafe slid inside and listened while Erin gave her version of why Linc had been in her house and what she'd witnessed upon entering. Her cell buzzed, causing her to jump.

  "It's Jeff."

  "We're done here." Beckett stuffed his notepad into his pocket while Erin got out of the car and took the call. His gaze scanned the outside of the house, eventually stopping on her. "Everything keeps coming back to Erin. None of this shit makes sense."

  Rafe didn't figure the comment required a response, so he moved farther away and called his office. His boss would know who to notify in Linc's division. Colton had already called it in and Linc's family were on their way.

  Colton's truck stopped across the street. Rafe waited at the curb for him, then identified Colton to the cop keeping onlookers at bay.

  "How bad?"

  "Hard to say." Rafe kept Erin in his line of sight as he shifted positions to speak with Colton. "Linc was caught off guard. He had no defensive wounds. Did you see any activity at Melanie's or Grace's houses?"

  "No, but I'm going right back. It's my job to keep your ass safe. I just came by to do a visual on you."

  "We're both okay. Erin's shaken up pretty bad." Rafe glanced at her.

  As if she knew they were talking about her, she ended the call and made her way to them.

  "Colton." She smiled, but Rafe could tell it was forced.

  "Ma'am." Colton tipped his hat.

  "Did you tell Jeff it was a good thing that he noticed Linc's car in your driveway?" Rafe asked her. He stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep from fixing the strand of hair that had worked its way to freedom.

  "I did." She pushed the stray hair off her face. "Since I'm going back to work, Wade said I could pick up a few more clothes. Anything I take has to be cleared and documented. My house is a crime scene, so I can't move back if I wanted to."

  "You're going back to work?" Rafe asked.

  "Yes." Her smile broadened. "The head of the school board called right after I hung up talking to Jeff. I've been reinstated. I can go back to work tomorrow."

  "That's great news." Rafe understood she'd be glad to get back to school.

  "That takes care of the daytime," Colton said.

  "What does that mean?" She raised an eyebrow.

  "Means we'll know where you are during the daytime. I'm going to check in with the narcotics boys. They'll want to know about Linc," Colton added.

  "Let's get your stuff together, and then we'll go check on Linc."

  CHAPTER 18

  Hospitals had never been one of Erin's favorite places. She'd been in a couple of ERs back in her youth. Way back. Back in a time that she tried to keep blocked from her consciousness. But the smells and cool air washing over her sent a bolt of panic streaking through her.

  Erin reached for Rafe when they neared the nurses' station at the emergency room. She found reassurance when his hand engulfed hers, folding her fingers inside his palm, holding her like a security blanket.

  "You want to sit and let me ask about Linc?" Rafe's comforting tone gave her a smidgen of courage.

  "No. Don't leave me alone. Okay?"

  "I won't turn loose." His hand squeezed hers. "Not until you tell me to let go."

  Two nurses lifted their heads to greet them. Both of them glanced at the badge on Rafe's belt. Erin figured he'd get more information than she would alone.

  Rafe spoke first. "What can you tell us about Linc Hawkins?"

  One nurse came out from behind the counter. "I was just in the trauma unit a minute ago. Mr. Hawkins is unconscious but stable. He'll have surgery as soon as his results come back from the lab."

  "How bad is he?" Erin prayed Linc hadn't suffered a brain injury.

  "The extent of Mr. Hawkins's injuries hasn't been determined, but I know his cheekbone is shattered."

  "I was afraid his skull had been crushed," she said. Rafe's grip on her fingers tightened.

  "You think that's not the case?" Rafe asked.

  "I really can't say," the nurse responded. "One of the doctors will let you know as soon as possible. You're welcome to wait, but it could be awhile before one of them can talk."

  "We'll be here." Erin couldn't imagine the pain Linc was going through or perhaps the long recovery he faced. Was he all alone? An FBI agent like Rafe, had he, too, shut out his family and friends?

  The nurse stepped closer. "We have one of the best reconstructive surgeons in Texas on our staff. He'll do everything possible to reduce scarring."

  "Thank you. When can we see him?" Erin asked.

  "I really can't say. It won't be tonight for sure."

  Rafe guided Erin to the waiting room and to a back corner where they could wait. Finding a comfortable spot was impossible. She'd been in a few waiting rooms. In fact, she'd been in a few of those small ER rooms where they pull the curtain closed and tend to your wounds.

  "Hey." He nudged her knee with his. "We both hate that Linc was attacked, but there's more going on with you. Walking in this hospital triggered something." Rafe's eyes were dark with concern. "You can tell me anything, you know. It won't change the way I feel about you."

  Erin's breath caught. An ache started in her chest. He'd been undercover, had worked drug cases. Her past probably wouldn't shock him. He draped his arm around the back of her chair and gently massaged the rigid tendons in her neck.

  "I'm surprised your dad never told you. I'm sure Jeff confided in him." She took a deep breath. "I made more than one trip to the ER when I was a kid. I used to bring my mother in to get patched up. That changed when I got old enough for my stepfather to turn his attention on me."

  "The bastard beat both of you." Rafe's body stiffened with his statement.

  "They both would get drunk. They'd quarrel, and he'd take his anger out on her. I tried to stop him once, and he broke my arm."

  "I can see how visits to the hospital would bring all those memories back. Nobody ever got suspicious?"

  "I lied just like I was told to do. My mother kept thinking things would get better. When I turned thirteen, his interest in me changed. He started out by sneaking up on me, standing too close. Then he began touching me, trying to force me to touch him." Tears surged, surprising and angering Erin. She willed them away. Rafe's hand moved to her shoulder, gripping her in a supportive gesture. "I begged my mother to make him leave me alone. She accused me of trying to take him away from her." The next words hung in her throat, sent her stomach churning, and started a pain in her heart. "For a while, I got really good at avoiding him. One day he came home early. I was alone in the kitchen, and he came up behind me. Grabbed my breasts and warned me that if I went to my mother again, he'd make me pay. He said my friends wouldn't recognize me when he got through."

  Erin turned to face Rafe. What she saw in his eyes filled her chest with relief. His gaze held no condemnation, no disgust, only compassion and understanding. Would that change when she told the rest of her story?

  "I lost it. Went crazy. Decided I'd rather fight than have him rape me, so I slashed out with the knife I had been using to cut potatoes. The blade sliced into his hand. He called me a bitch, and then he lunged at me. I still don't remember what happened next, but he was on the floor, and the knife was in his side. I ran."

  "And lived under a bridge."

  "Yeah. There's no telling where I'd be today if Jeff hadn't caught me stealing food."

  "Did your stepfather die?"

  "No. I hadn't hit one of his vital organs."

  "For future reference, if you're going to stab somebody, go for the diaphragm. It's right below the lungs."

  She rolled her eyes and finished her story. That Rafe wasn't passing judgment meant a lot. "I was a scared kid and didn't think anybody would believe me. Turns out, when I told Jeff my story, he believed every word."

  "Where is this bast
ard stepfather today?"

  "He died of cancer while in prison. Thanks to Jeff and Lotty, I found the strength to tell the police everything. I testified in court, and twelve people believed me."

  "Your mother?"

  "Who knows? The bastard swore he'd kicked her out after I knifed him. Said he had no idea where she went."

  "She never came forward?" Rafe sensed the pain rolling off Erin. Her tone had shifted from calm to a bone-chilling icy.

  "Never. I've always wondered if he killed her." Erin's chest rose and fell in a sigh. "So now you know the rest of the story. The snotty smartass you asked to the prom came from prime stock."

  "I'm sorry we didn't go. You still owe me a dance."

  "I'll try to be a little nicer to you next time you ask me to the prom."

  "That's a deal."

  ****

  Erin hadn't mentioned her father, and Rafe could tell she was through sharing. He felt honored she'd shared some of her past with him. After all she'd been through, she was a testament to what a person could overcome.

  Even here in the harsh fluorescent light, he thought she was beautiful. Now she'd taken on a new glow. Damn, he was proud of her. He had to touch her, so he leaned over, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her. Soft, warm lips met his. Enticing and welcoming. Reluctantly, he kept their contact brief.

  "Everybody has a chapter in their lives they'd like to erase. Our history helps shape us, but our character makes us who we are. You're a smart, caring, amazing woman. I can't tell you how proud I am of the person you are today."

  Her cheeks flushed at his compliment. "You turned out pretty good yourself." She glanced at her watch. "It's been hours since they took Linc to surgery. Maybe it's time I put my bad memories away and made peace with this hospital." She stood. "I'm going to see if the nurses have heard anything."

  "Want me to go with you?"

  "No. I can do this." She walked into the hallway and started in the direction of the nurses' station. "I'll be right back."

  Rafe was on his feet and had her in his line of vision in seconds. Watching Erin walk, shoulders back, head held high, hips gently swaying, would never be a hardship. Her endlessly long legs gave her a graceful stride, the stride of a strong, beautiful woman.

  He could watch her walk forever. The word forever brought his thoughts to a screeching halt, sending the hair on the back of his neck quivering. He refused to think in terms of forever. Planning on forever wasn't an option.

  She struck up a conversation with one of the nurses. In minutes, the two women were chatting like old friends. As if she knew he was watching, she looked over her shoulder and smiled. She had managed to stir something inside him best left at peace.

  The vibration from his cell got his attention. He pulled it from his pocket to find his boss on the line. Rafe moved to the end of the hallway to ensure privacy and still keep an eye on Erin. "Did you reach the Hawkins family?"

  "I did. There's a shitload of them, too. Best I could tell, his mom, dad, and two of his brothers are on their way. I offered help with travel arrangements, but they're handling everything themselves. How is Agent Hawkins?"

  "Don't know yet. We're still waiting to hear," Rafe said.

  "I appreciate you getting involved in the case and helping a hometown friend. But I have to ask if you're okay. You haven't had time to grieve the loss of your father, much less get his things in order."

  "I'm fine. This friend is important to me."

  "Good. I'm glad to hear that."

  Rafe caught movement from his right side. He turned, his hand instinctively reaching for the pistol riding at his right kidney. A small-framed woman wearing a loose-fitting, drab-green hospital jacket looked up at him. A surgical mask sagged just under her chin.

  "Linc Hawkins family?"

  "The doctor is here. Let me call you back." Rafe ended the call and directed his attention to the woman. Dark circles under her eyes gave her an alarmingly sad expression. The lady was either the bearer of bad news or she was extremely tired.

  "Yes, ma'am. We're not blood related, but we're both federal agents. Linc's immediate family have been notified and are on their way."

  "Doctor Winston." The diminutive woman shook Rafe's extended hand. Her fingers were icy cold, and for some odd reason, that surprised him. That and the fact her stoic expression hadn't wavered set his nerves on edge. "Mr. Hawkins is a lucky man."

  Rafe quirked an eyebrow at such a preposterous statement. The good doctor chuckled, changing her sad expression to that of a pretty but tired woman. "Lucky because his skull remains intact. His cheek was a different matter. That procedure took a little longer than usual as I had to piece him back together. We'll watch him closely for the next twenty-four hours. Once he continues to gain strength, we'll turn our attention to additional reconstructive surgery. You should go home. It will be hours before you can see Mr. Hawkins."

  Erin! Rafe whirled in the direction of the nurses' station, expecting her to be hurrying toward him and the doctor. She was nowhere in sight. Furious at himself for turning away from her, he felt his heart pounding against his rib cage. Dr. Winston was still talking when he sprinted down the hall.

  "Where is the young woman who was asking about Linc Hawkins?"

  "She went to the restroom." The nurse pointed. "It's just around that corner."

  Rafe ran to the door with the word WOMEN on it. He put his hand over the word and pushed. "Erin," he called loudly. Giving no thought to whether or not the place might be occupied, he hurried to the first stall. Empty. As was the next one. He was alone. "Damn it."

  He rushed into the hall, unsure of which way to look. Panic boiled through his veins.

  Erin was missing.

  My fault! The two words reverberated through his mind. He hadn't been there when Nick needed him. He hadn't been there when their dad died. And now, he'd let Erin down.

  "Rafe?"

  He whirled to find her walking straight toward him, a cup of coffee in each hand. His knees almost buckled. And his heart rate? That didn't slow down one bit. "Damn it. You disappeared. I was seconds from declaring an emergency, placing hospital guards at every exit, and calling the cops."

  She held her arms forward as if to make sure he saw the cups in her hands. Fire flashed from her eyes. She fucking had the nerve to be mad at him.

  "I can do without you overreacting."

  "Overreacting?" Rafe stormed toward her, ready to raise hell with her for scaring the shit out of him. But when he reached her, stood face-to-face with her, looking into her beautiful eyes, he pulled her into his arms instead. He held her tightly, hoping she couldn't feel his heart beating a rhythm against his chest wall.

  Erin's spine went rigid, stiff as a board. He hadn't given any thought to the two coffees in her hands. He released her, took his cup, taking a long drink of the lukewarm sludge.

  "A simple thank-you will suffice." Her words were chilling, but the tone in her voice suggested humor.

  "Don't do that again. I can't take it." He wrapped his free hand around her elbow, smiled apologetically at the frowning nurse who'd heard his tirade and come running, then led Erin back to the waiting room. "I turned my back on you for less than a minute, and you disappeared. What was I supposed to think?"

  "I didn't realize the coffee machine was that far down the hall. I was already there and figured we could both use a shot of caffeine. Maybe I was wrong."

  "After all this is over, we're going to sit down and figure out why I panicked. Losing control goes against my nature, my training, everything I've learned. Staying calm can be the difference in living or dying sometimes." Rafe struggled with his reaction to her being out of his sight for a few minutes. He dragged his hand through his hair.

  "Maybe you care more about me than if you'd been protecting a stranger." Erin set her cup on a table and brushed her fingers across his forehead, patting his hair back into place.

  Her words had defined the situation perfectly. She'd cut right through his
bullshit and looked into his heart. He couldn't let her know she was right nor could he let his emotions get out of hand.

  "Linc's doctor and I had a brief chat."

  "How is he?"

  "I'll explain on the way home." Rafe tossed back the cold coffee and stood. "He's going to live, but he's apparently got some reconstructive surgery ahead of him. We can't see him, so let's stop by the nurses' station, leave our phone numbers for them and his family, and then we'll get out of here. You're bound to have a to-do list."

  She looked up at him. Her head tilted to the side. "A to-do list?"

  "You're going back to work tomorrow, remember?"

  Her lips spread into a smile. "I'd forgotten. You're right. I've got things to do."

  ****

  Leaving the hospital was no hardship for Erin. Even with the renovations and updating that had been done, she'd hated being inside. Outside, she breathed in the night air and tried to concentrate on tomorrow.

  Rafe's hand resting on the small of her back as he guided her to the car made concentrating on anything except the heat he generated very difficult. Erin should have felt guilty for scaring him, but she couldn't. Instead, it gave her hope that he actually felt something stronger than friendship for her.

  "My going to work in the morning relieves you of your babysitting responsibilities, at least during the day."

  He opened the car door, waited until she settled in the seat, then leaned inside. "You're not out of the doghouse. I haven't decided if I can trust you enough to drop you off and pick you up."

  He was too close. So she leaned forward and kissed him. The intention was to plant a sweet, innocent peck on his lips. Instead, his hand clasped the back of her head and held her tightly while he ravaged her mouth. Erin was almost panting when he released her.

  "Never scare me like that again." Before she could gather her thoughts, he'd closed the door, walked around and seated himself.

  When his phone rang, Rafe fished out his cell. "What's up?"

  Erin was amazed that in a blink of an eye, he was chatting with Colton as if the earth hadn't just rotated off its axis. The romantic air previously filling the interior of his car vanished, replaced by the cool, calm voice of the law.