Battle Tested

by Janie Crouch

  That wasn’t what was important now. “So you took nearly $200...”

  “You have to understand, I was at a pretty low place. Everywhere I’d gone, the Watcher had found me. Admittedly, he hadn’t tried to hurt me like he has this week, but it was still wearing me down. A note slipped under my door every night or so, knowing he was that close...”

  “I’m sure it was nerve-racking.”

  “It was nerve-racking the first couple of months. By the time I met you, I was considering just killing myself and saving the Watcher the trouble.”

  He glanced over at her. “Seriously?”

  She nodded. “That night at the bar when we met, I ran in because of the rain. I’d been out watching the sunset, considering if taking my own life would be better than letting the Watcher continue to kill innocent people.”

  Steve couldn’t even bear to think about it. “Rosalyn—”

  “Then I met you,” she continued. “It didn’t change anything really, but—”

  She stopped and looked away.

  “But what?”

  “I connected with someone. With you. It was the first time I hadn’t felt alone in so long.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wasn’t using you for money, Steve. I panicked when I saw the Watcher’s note. All I could think of was getting away.”

  He believed her. She hadn’t taken his credit cards or stolen his rental car. If she’d been trying to take him for all she could, she wouldn’t have left those behind.

  “Okay, so what did you do when you left that morning?”

  “I took a bus as far as the money I stole from you would take me. I didn’t want to go back to my car—I just wanted to get out of town. That ended up being Ellijay, Georgia.”

  “Never heard of it.”

  “I’d be shocked if you had. It’s a tiny town north of Atlanta, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Population just over fifteen hundred.”

  “What was in Ellijay?”

  “Nothing whatsoever. That’s just where my money ran out.”

  She stared out the window for a long time.

  “Did Ellijay end up being good or bad?”

  “Good. Definitely good. I needed to get some money right away, so I asked the couple who owned the small café in town if I could wash dishes or do any odd jobs just for the day, for cash.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Ammons—Jim and Cheryl—said yes. I washed dishes a couple of days and didn’t really have anywhere to go.”

  Steve’s teeth gritted but he didn’t say anything.

  “Cheryl invited me to stay at their house, which was above the café. I slept in their son’s room. He had died in the army a long time ago.”

  “And you had no notes or communication with the Watcher the whole time?”

  “Nothing. I thought maybe he’d moved on or I was out of the territory he considered ‘his.’” She shrugged. “Or maybe he had followed me but once he saw I was pregnant, I no longer interested him.”

  Any of those scenarios were possible.

  “I definitely didn’t tell the Ammonses about him,” Rosalyn continued, shifting on the seat to get comfortable. “I didn’t want to take a chance with their lives. Plus, Jim was already pretty paranoid since their son died due to a military communication breach or something. Jim and Cheryl live completely off the grid. No cell phone, no television, no computers or internet.”

  “I’m glad you had someone to help you.”

  “They’re amazing. Gruff and not very talkative, and pretty old-fashioned. When I found out I was pregnant, I was afraid they might turn me out, but they didn’t even think about it.”

  “Why did you leave? If the Watcher had lost track of you, why didn’t you just stay in Ellijay?”

  From the corner of his eye he could see Rosalyn’s hands begin twisting in her lap. “As I was getting further and further along in my pregnancy, I began to think about the future. To worry that the Watcher was playing some sort of game. That maybe he was waiting until the baby was born and then would take me or both of us.

  “I like the Ammonses a lot, but they’re older, in their seventies. They couldn’t take care of a baby. So I decided to call Lindsey. To just meet with her and see what shape her life was in.”

  She glanced at him, then out the window quickly. Obviously there was more to the story.

  “And?”

  “And what?”

  “And what are you trying to get away with not telling me?”

  “Nothing. It’s not important.”

  “Rosalyn, anything having to do with you and the baby is important.”

  She shrugged. “I had Lindsey meet me in Pensacola because I was going to try to talk the hotel into giving me your info so I could contact you.”

  “For what, money?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Steve wished he could cut off his own tongue.

  Rosalyn didn’t look at him, just shifted her weight so her back was to him and she was looking completely out the window.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.” He wished he could see her face.

  “Yes, you did. At least part of you did. The part of you who knows me as someone who lied, stole from you, then showed up pregnant with what may or may not be your baby. The part of you who doesn’t want to be taken in again.”

  “Rosalyn—”

  “You know what? I don’t even blame you. You’re right to be wary. Hopefully that will keep you alive longer.”

  Steve tried to figure out how to undo the damage his words had done.

  She laid her seat back, still facing away from him. “We’ve got a long drive ahead. If you don’t mind, I’m going to rest now so I can take a driving shift later. It’ll make it easier on everyone.”

  He wasn’t sure if she meant sleeping now would make it easier or driving later would do so. Clarifying would just make it worse, so he decided to let it go.

  He knew she hadn’t been coming to find him for money. For physical security, yes, but not money.

  He shouldn’t have said what he had. Even if he did still mistrust her. She hadn’t given him much reason to trust her, truth be told.

  Some of that he could alleviate right now. He knew Rosalyn was asleep, so he called his office.

  “Cynthia,” he said to his assistant by way of greeting. “I need everything you can give me about Rosalyn Mellinger. And anything you can find on Jim and Cheryl Ammons. North Georgia.”

  “Got it.”

  “I’ll need you to call me back and read it to me. There’s been a change of plans. We’re driving from Pensacola back to HQ.”

  “That’s quite a trek.”

  “Couldn’t stay in Pensacola any longer. Had two attempts on our lives in under twelve hours.” Steve explained about the driver and fire.

  “Damn, boss. Do you want me to redirect an Omega plane to you? Or send Liam or one of the guys out to meet you for protection?”

  “No, I got rid of how he was tracking us. We should be fine now. We’ll stop at a hotel tonight, but I should be in the office by tomorrow afternoon.”

  “I’ll make sure Joe has all the party paraphernalia gone by then.”

  Steve snickered. Joe Matarazzo was the team’s hostage negotiator and was known for his partying. Or had been until his wife, Laura, reined him in a few months ago.

  Rosalyn hadn’t budged during his entire conversation. Her breathing hadn’t changed; there’d been no sudden tension to make him think she was awake. She was exhausted. She’d barely gotten any sleep before the fire had awakened them again.

  She was still sound asleep two hours later when Jon Hatton, one of Omega’s best profilers and Steve’s personal friend, called him back.

  “Hey, boss, Cynthia and I have been gathering the info you wanted.”

 
; “Anything interesting?”

  “Rosalyn Mellinger, twenty-four years old. Daughter of Crystal Mellinger and twin sister to Lindsey Rose. Hey, I see what the mom did there with the names—”

  “Yeah, already got that, Jon. Keep going.”

  “No father listed on the birth certificate. Arrested as a teenager for shoplifting. That’s where her prints are from and that sealed juvenile record was a bitch to get opened. But that little run-in with the law must have scared her straight because she’s been straight as an arrow as an adult. Went to college, became an accountant. Worked every day until the day she quit. Not even a parking ticket.”

  Steve glanced over at Rosalyn, still asleep. “Okay.”

  “Sister has been in and out of juvie rehabs, then adult versions since her mid-teens. No college, barely finished high school. The mom is pretty much a deadbeat also. Alcoholic. Lives on welfare.”

  Okay, so no family support for Rosalyn. That explained why she’d been on the run by herself for a year.

  “In the last few months Rosalyn’s name has been mentioned in multiple police reports, all over the Southeast and Texas. She’s been talking to them about a stalker, but nothing has come of any of the investigations. Nobody has been taking her seriously.”

  “Well, I’m taking her seriously now, Jon. Someone nearly killed us twice in the last day.”

  “I’ll see what I can dig up on the reports.”

  “Thanks, Jon. And if you can find out all you can about a Detective Johnson in Shreveport—he would’ve died of a heart attack eight or nine months ago—and a mechanic in Memphis who was killed in a random act of gang violence. Shawn something.”

  “Okay, these two related?”

  “Just look for anything suspicious in either.”

  “All right, and we’re still checking on the Ammonses. All I can find so far is a dead son in the military nearly fifteen years ago. They keep a low profile, whoever they are. I can’t even find a bank account.”

  “That fits with what Rosalyn told me. Let me know if there’s anything else.”

  “Got it. You watch your six, boss. I’ve already got a hinky feeling about this whole thing.”

  Steve took Jon’s “hinky” feelings very seriously. Not to mention, Steve felt like they were dealing with something pretty major too. He said his goodbyes and disconnected the call.

  Rosalyn turned in her sleep toward him, obviously finding it difficult to get comfortable. He had thought about driving all the way through the night and getting to Colorado Springs in one push.

  But that wouldn’t work. Rosalyn needed a bed where she could get a proper night’s rest. Somewhere where no one was trying to run her over or set the building on fire or slipping notes under her door.

  Rosalyn had been on her own for way too long. Steve planned to show her she wasn’t alone anymore.

  Chapter Eleven

  She awoke to Steve’s voice again, but at least this time he wasn’t trying to tell her the building was on fire.

  “Let’s get you inside. Then you can go back to sleep if you want.”

  She looked at the handsome man, so strong and able, who had her tucked into his side leading her into the hotel lobby. Oh, she wanted, but sleep wasn’t it.

  She wanted him. Sometimes he said stupid stuff, but she still wanted him.

  He used the key card to enter their room and turned on the light. This was a much nicer room than the ones she’d slept in for the last year when she hadn’t been at the Ammonses’ house. Generic, sure, but clean, tasteful, new. With a king-size bed in the middle of it.

  She walked all the way in, then turned to him. “No hot tub this time.”

  She almost smiled at the speed with which his eyes flew to hers. Good. She wasn’t the only one affected by the heat between them.

  “Yeah, a shame.” He pulled himself together and turned to close the door behind them. “Sorry we don’t have any change of clothes. Once we get to Colorado Springs, I’ll make sure you get something right away.”

  “It’s no problem. I’m sure I’ll be okay for one more day in these.”

  Maybe it was the fact that she’d slept most of the day or maybe it was because Steve had found the electronic transmitters and that just explained so damn much, but Rosalyn felt different.

  For the first time since this nightmare began nearly a year ago, she was positive there would not be a note under the door tonight.

  All those times she thought she was crazy, that the Watcher could hear her thoughts, that he lived inside her head? He’d simply lived inside the fiber of her clothing, able to hear who she’d talked to, where she’d checked in. That’s how he’d found her.

  All the times Rosalyn had talked to herself, he’d been privy to those conversations. Embarrassing, but at least it all made sense now.

  The fact that he had gotten close enough to put transmitters on her clothing was terrifying. Steve had found two. Who knew how many more there might have been in the clothing that had been destroyed by the fire.

  But there weren’t any transmitters anymore. Rosalyn didn’t even mind the ill-fitting supermarket clothes she was wearing now, because it meant nobody could hear her. Nobody but she and Steve knew where they were.

  She hadn’t realized how much weight she had shouldered for so long until a great deal of it was lifted. It allowed her to focus on other things.

  Like how she was in a hotel with a gorgeous man. Six feet of muscle and awareness. Dark hair and green eyes staring at her like he was slightly nervous about what she would do next.

  She hadn’t had anyone but him hold her in the last year. No one had kissed her or pulled her into any embrace at all except for Steve. No one had touched her.

  Sure, Jim and Cheryl Ammons had given her a brush on the shoulder or pat on the back here and there. Physical demonstration of affection wasn’t the older couple’s way. They weren’t heartless, and cared about her for sure, but they just weren’t very demonstrative in showing it.

  It wasn’t like she missed it. Rosalyn had been raised in a house where affectionate touches were few and far between. It was one of the things she’d promised herself her child would never go without. Her son would be hugged and kissed until he squirmed to get away. He would know every day he was loved, not just by words but by gestures.

  But watching Steve cross the room, secure the door to make sure they were safe and turn those intense green eyes back on her, Rosalyn was quite sure of the type of touch she wanted right now.

  And a hug wasn’t it.

  She wasn’t looking for comfort, like she had been six months ago. She wanted the heat she and Steve had felt together.

  He slowly took a step toward her. She smiled at his hesitancy. The cop in him must be aware of the predator in the room.

  Her.

  And he was the prey. Big, strong sexy man probably wasn’t used to that.

  “Do you want to take a shower first or do you want me to?” he asked.

  “What about taking one together?”

  “Rosalyn...” His words were a protest, but she saw the tightening of his body. The slight flare in his eyes.

  She took a step toward him. “We’ll at least save water that way.”

  “I have a feeling we’d be in there too long to save any water.” He tried to step around her so he could get to the other side of the room, but she moved so she was right in front of him.

  “So take a shower with me and don’t save water.”

  She could almost see his conscience pour over him. “Rosalyn, it’s been a really long couple of days. Traumatic couple of days.”

  The words were for her benefit, not his. She raised one eyebrow and gave him a little snicker. “And you’re tired? Need a little you time? Drink a chai latte or something?”

 
She saw the smile he fought against. He wanted her—she knew he did. She wasn’t going to give up at his first token protest.

  “No, I’m talking about you. You’ve had a rough couple of days, hell, a rough few months. There’s no need to jump into anything just because you’re relieved or grateful or whatever.”

  “Generally I don’t pay my debts with sex, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  He winced. “No, I didn’t mean you were trying to pay me. I just meant—”

  She stepped closer to stop him from saying anything further. He was digging himself a hole and she was afraid he was going to piss her off with whatever asinine thing came out of his mouth next.

  “Steve, don’t overthink it.”

  “Somebody needs to overthink it. Or at least think at all.”

  He was protective of her and she appreciated that. But right now she didn’t want him to use his strength to protect her. She wanted him to use his strength to help her celebrate how good it felt to be unfettered for the first time in as long as she could remember.

  She ran both her hands up his arms. She felt him tense but he didn’t pull away. She leaned in closer.

  “I’m happy to be alive. I’m happy no one is going to find me and slip a note under the door tonight. I’m happy we’re both safe here together.”

  She slid her arms to his shoulders, then around his neck, pulling his lips down to hers.

  The heat was still there. Thank goodness it wasn’t just something she’d remembered, something she’d dreamed about. His lips were still as firm and hot and inviting as she’d known they would be.

  But he wasn’t pulling her to him. His hands were on her waist, but they seemed neutral—neither encouraging nor discouraging.

  “Rosalyn...” he groaned against her mouth.

  He was going to let her go, she could tell.

  “Steve, you got me away from a lunatic. I want to celebrate that.”

  Those were the wrong words. He stepped back from her. “You don’t owe me anything.”

  Were they really back to that again? “I know. And I appreciate very much that you’re not the type of guy who would try to lord that over my head. But that’s not the point.”