Jane Doe's Return

by Jen Talty

  “Why not bring it up when you were first assigned to work with me?” He pulled into his parents’ driveway and turned to her. “If you did your research, you had to know who I was.” He gripped the steering wheel tight.

  “I knew,” she said. “Just trying to be respectful.”

  “Right.” He blinked, staring at the tree in the front yard. “Are you here to keep an eye on me? Did the FBI put you in my office to keep me in line?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  Her tone indicated she was being truthful, but he had reservations. Scott had been relatively cool about the off duty work Travis did with regard to his sister’s case file, but Scott had also warned Travis on numerous occasions to keep the digging to a minimum because someday Travis would piss off the wrong agent. “Do you believe Williams did it?”

  “It doesn’t matter what I believe.” She sighed. “They convicted someone, case closed. Besides, he was a badass and guilty of a lot of other shit.”

  He couldn’t argue with that, but his instincts told him she had just fed him a line. Before he told her everything, he had to find out what she wasn’t telling him.

  ****

  Shauna waited for Travis to open the door for her. He always treated her with the utmost respect. Her opinions mattered and he asked for them constantly, but when he took her hand in his, she couldn’t deny the electricity his touch created. No matter how badly she wanted to.

  A noise coming from the house caught her attention, thankfully grounding the electric pulses.

  The door to a modest, yet beautifully kept, house closed and a little girl of maybe six or seven skipped down the flower-lined walkway. Her long auburn locks bounced every time her feet hit the ground.

  “Uncle Trav!” The little girl smiled wide.

  “Hey, squirt.”

  She leapt at Travis.

  “Who’s the girl?” The young girl giggled, eyeing Shauna.

  “This is my partner, Shauna. Shauna, this is Kamy.” He smiled proudly, as he tickled Kamy’s belly.

  “Hi, Kamy,” Shauna said, reaching out to brush back a piece of the girl’s hair, but yanked her hand back.

  “You’re an agent?” Kamy said with wide eyes.

  Shauna nodded, stuffing her hands in her pockets.

  “Oh, way too cool.”

  Travis put Kamy down and she went running back toward the house yelling to her parents. “She’s pretty energetic.”

  Shauna felt a warm tingle begin at the base of her back and spread up her spine and into her muscles. Slight pressure from his hand eased the growing discomfort as they made their way up the stone walkway toward the house. Of all the places she thought she might end up, Marie’s home wasn’t one of them.

  “Well, lookie what the cat dragged in.” A very broad, muscular man opened the front door.

  He looked like a hundred year-old tree trunk. She wanted to poke him to see if he was just as solid. While the man in the door looked very much like Travis, their builds couldn’t be more different. Travis was about two inches taller, but nowhere near as broad. Not even close.

  “Hey, bro. Where’s everyone?” Travis slapped his brother’s back and motioned to Shauna to enter the house.

  “Dad took Adam fishing and Jessica’s still in bed. Teenagers. I can’t take it.” Travis’s brother shook his head. “She’s even got a boyfriend, who’s coming for dinner.”

  “You had a girlfriend at that age,” Travis teased.

  “I remember all too well what I was thinking and trying when I was fourteen.” Chuckling and rolling his eyes, the older man glanced at Shauna, then back at Travis. “Oh, man. Mom would have your head right now.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re not Mom. Shauna, this is my much older brother, Bill. Bill, my new partner, Shauna.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Shauna said with shaky voice. She had always hoped for the opportunity to meet with Travis and discuss his sister’s case on a professional level, but had never thought she’d meet Marie’s family.

  “The pleasure’s all mine.” Bill took her hand and shook firmly.

  Shauna glanced around what she assumed was the family room, but only because it felt homey. Warm colored couches graced the hardwood floors. Pictures of children playing, swimming, and being kids lined the walls. This was a room were people gathered in just to be together.

  “Travis?” A beautiful woman entered the family room. Her grace and soft smile filled the space with warm fuzzies, actually calming Shauna’s stomach.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  Shauna had to blink. His mother had to be the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. And the most poised. She stood tall and proud. Her dark hair was pulled back away from her angelic face. Her crisp blue eyes were soft and welcoming. A strong feeling of understanding overcame Shauna and she immediately felt a connection to his mother.

  “Are you going to introduce me? Or do I need to give you a lesson in manners?” She ruffled Travis’s hair.

  “Mom, this is my new partner, Shauna Morgan. Shauna, meet the president.” He ran his hands through his thick dark hair.

  “Get it right. It’s a dictatorship in this

  household. Hi, Shauna. Please, call me Rita.”

  Shauna smiled, stifling a little giggle. She’d wanted to run her hands through his gorgeous hair and mess it up since she’d meet him. “I’m sorry,” she said, after a chuckle escaped her lips.

  “Don’t be, honey. Here I’ll do it again.” Rita went for Travis’s hair.

  “Mother, please.”

  “Oh, don’t ‘Mother, please’ me.” Rita’s eyes illuminated the room. “Is Jessica awake? And where’s Kim?” Rita tugged both of her son’s ears. Both gave the same playful grimace.

  Shauna’s body trembled on the inside as she took a deep breath. A warm apple and cinnamon smell filled her nostrils and a sense of love filled her heart. Not something she was used to. Her home had consisted of moldy dishes and the back of her father’s hand across her cheek. Instinctively, she rubbed her face.

  “Dad! Why do I have to get up? It’s the freaking weekend.” A voice echoed from the hall.

  “Watch that tongue of yours, young lady.” Rita glared at the teenager slinking down the dim hallway.

  “Sorry, Grandma, but it’s Saturday.” The young girl kept her face to the floor as she pushed back her dark shoulder length hair.

  “Jessica, your uncle’s here.” Rita’s tone softened.

  “Hey, Uncle Trav. Who’s the chick?” The young girl asked. She wore a pair of worn flannel pajama bottoms, rolled down at the waist, and a camisole that hid nothing.

  When Jessica lifted her head, Shauna’s heart skipped. Jessica could have been Marie’s twin. Shauna forced herself gaze toward the other people in the room.

  “Get some clothes on,” Bill barked.

  “That’s funny coming from you, Dad. Ya know he walks around the house naked all the time. It’s gross. You datin’ my uncle?” Her eyes were gold in color…and innocent. So innocent.

  “I’m Shauna, his partner.”

  “FBI?” Jessica pursed her lips, then rolled her eyes just as her father had done. “Grandma, you said he was bringing up a girl, not his partner. I think there’s a difference.”

  Rita stiffened her back. “None of you gave me a chance to finish my sentence.”

  “Good one, Mother,” Travis said before Rita pushed out her hand.

  “Okay, enough of this.” Rita waved her arms. “We all have things to do this morning. So let’s get to it.” She clapped her hands twice, then scurried off.

  “Sorry about that.” Travis took Shauna by the arm and led her though the house to a porch overlooking the lake.

  “No girlfriend, huh?” Shauna’s stomach swished in excitement. He had told her that the more they knew about each other, the better their working partnership would be. Well, she planned on milking that one to find out all she could about him.

  “Nope.” A genuine smile appeared across his face.

&nb
sp; “Gay?” She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from laughing. The contorted look on his face was priceless.

  “Excuse me?” He coughed, glaring at her.

  She giggled. “Sorry, but a guy like you?” She looked him over. “Gorgeous, sexy as hell, and a gentleman to boot; I can’t imagine why you haven’t landed yourself a girl, unless of course you lean to the other side, if you know what I mean.”

  “I’m picky.” He scowled. “I’m not gay.”

  “I know that.” She shook her head. “It was a joke.”

  “Never joke about a man’s…manhood.” He pushed open a sliding glass door and nudged her outside.

  “Wow.” Shauna closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. The crisp lake scent made her dizzy. She gripped his arm as she opened her eyes. “This is breathtaking.” She looked out over the tree-lined shore. The house was nestled on a slight incline. Her nose filled with fresh spring floral scents, and the water rippled in the sun’s dancing reflection.

  “I forget how spoiled I was sometimes.”

  “You’re very lucky.” She forced herself to look at the lake. When he squeezed her shoulder, a small shudder shot down her spine.

  “Come on.” Taking her by the elbow, he guided her down the rocky staircase like path to the dock. “I want to go for a boat ride.”

  “Thought we had things to do?” She looked down at the path, concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other. Her heart fluttered in anticipation. But of what?

  “My job is to entertain you.” He gave her a very sexy grin.

  “Oh.” Shauna followed him toward the dock. “How many boats do you have?” she asked, searching for small talk. She felt uncomfortable because she felt so at ease with him.

  “My parents have two, the fishing boat—it isn’t here right now—and that sailboat.” He nodded to a relatively large boat moored in front of the dock. “This is Bill’s boat. He lives over there.” The gentle touch of his hand on her shoulder made her quiver. His lips were inches from her cheek as he leaned over and pointed across the bay. “The one two doors down from the marina. My mom likes it when they spend the night. So they humor her now and again.”

  “That’s nice,” she said, pulling away from him.

  He licked his lips as his eyes diverted to her mouth. “Take my hand,” he said, softly.

  Looking down at his outstretched hand, she placed hers in his and closed her eyes for a moment. She shouldn’t feel like this. Not with him.

  “Watch your step.”

  The old-fashioned wooden boat tipped slightly when she stepped on the side. “I love these old boats.” She sat down next to the driver’s seat.

  Travis untied the boat and jumped in, sending it rocking from side to side. “Sorry.” He smiled, settling himself down in the driver’s seat, turning the key. He idled away from shore, then pushed down on something, causing the boat to pick up speed. Her hair brushed across her face. “This is incredible.”

  “If it wasn’t such a commute, I might consider living up here someday.”

  A large tour boat tooted its horn as it drove by.

  “I worked on that ship for two summers.”

  “Really?” She smiled, looking at the large floating tour bus. “Doing what?”

  “Deckhand.”

  “What’s that?” she glanced at him as he slowed the boat.

  “I got to untie her, then tie her up.” He leaned forward as if to share a secret. “I even got to scrub the deck and galley.”

  “Sounds like—whoa.” The boat lurched up and smacked down against the water, sending her into his lap.

  “Hello,” he said as they locked glazes.

  Her body trembled as he slowed the boat, then shut the engine off. “Oops.” The keys dropped from his fumbling fingers. He drew her closer, tracing her jawline with his finger. “I think we might have a problem,” he mused.

  A flock of seagulls squawked from above, but that didn’t break her intense gaze with his. Try as she might, she couldn’t turn away. Or get off his lap.

  His fingers were tangled in her hair, making her body scream for the kind of human contact she’d been avoiding most of her life. She tried to utter something, but couldn’t. The desire to be wanted by this man was greater than her good senses—the consequences be damned.

  His hand cupped the back of her head, pulling at her hair with tender care. When his soft, warm lips brushed hers she moaned. The electricity that flowed between them shocked and frightened her. She’d never felt a kiss so powerful, and she’d never allowed herself to be out of control.

  At the sound of a horn, she jerked back, opening her eyes wide. The boat rocked from waves of other boats sloshing the water, but her body trembled from feelings she didn’t understand. It wasn’t like she’d never been with a man before. She’d had other relationships, a few lovers, and had been through counseling. She’d long moved past being raped. But somehow those experiences had been forgettable. In his arms, she felt like she belonged.

  “Smart ass.” He waved to some guy in a boat as it sped by, then slowed. “Sorry about that.”

  She coughed.

  “Are you okay?”

  The soft gentle tone of his words made her want to scream, No! I’m not okay! You drive me nuts and I’m the woman you’ve been searching for! She nodded. “Just caught off guard.”

  “By the kiss? My idiot friend? Or the fact that I’m far from gay?” He chuckled.

  She didn’t have time to respond. His idiot friend just pulled up. While Travis was distracted, she took the time to pull herself together, and shift as far from him as she could.

  “Shauna, this is Jake Hanson. Jake this Shauna Morgan.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Jake said.

  “Likewise.”

  “How are things going?” Jake asked.

  “The same,” Travis said.

  “Make any connections?”

  “Nope. What about you?”

  “Nothing concrete, but I’ll let you know what I find out.” Jake said. “How long are you here for?”

  “Just the day.”

  “Too bad. Lana would have loved to see you. Not to mention meet your new partner.” Jake smiled. “Besides, you haven’t seen the twins yet. Cutest little buggers you’ve ever seen. I really out did myself this time.” Jake grinned.

  Travis laughed. “And Lana had nothing to do with it.”

  “She’s got Katie.” Jake smiled.

  “Katie’s a daddy’s girl.” Travis shook his head. “I doubt I’ll get over this trip, but I do need to pick your brain sometime.”

  “Anytime.” Jake waved and buzzed off.

  Shauna looked the other way. That kiss still lingered on her lips and she didn’t like it. To be honest, she didn’t like the fact that she liked it. She couldn’t afford to be distracted. Finding out what Travis knew and nailing her attacker were the only thing she should be thinking about.

  ****

  Travis pulled the boat into the slip with ease, but he’d mentally given himself a good tongue lashing for trying to kiss Shauna. Not one of his most brilliant moments. Regardless of the sparks that had been flying, kissing her was literally his kiss of death.

  The rest of the day he let her get overtaken by his family, just so he could stay away. Every time he got near her, he forgot why he was with her in the first place. He liked women, but most didn’t affect him to the point of distraction.

  Sitting out on the front porch, legs stretched up on the railing, Travis held his sister’s picture in one hand and a soda in the other. There were moments he missed her so much it hurt, like now.

  “Jessica looks a lot like her,” Shauna said, pulling up a chair.

  “Jesus.” His feet hit the floor with a thud. “You shouldn’t sneak up on armed men.”

  She took the picture from him. “Is Jessica like Marie at all?”

  “Marie was very stubborn, like my brother Larry. Bill and I always tried to just get along. Those two were rebels w
ithout causes. Jessica is kind of in between. She acts all tough on the outside, but I suspect she’s just like her father.”

  “A big teddy bear on the inside.” Shauna smiled.

  “He’s married.” Travis smiled back. She had a way of breaking down his defenses and making him feel like he could tell her anything.

  “Married, but adorable.”

  “We try not to mention the similarities too much. Bill says the whole thing seems to really bother Jessica.”

  Shauna pointed her face in the direction of the sun and Travis took advantage. He let his gaze enjoy her creamy looking skin and her touchable curves. But he kept his hands to himself.

  “Why’d she run away?”

  “There are times I’m not sure she did runaway.” He stretched his arms out to the side, tilting his head. “She’d told my parents she was staying after school with some friends and she’d take the late bus home. She wasn’t on that bus and it was three days before they found her.”

  “I’m really sorry.” Her gentle touch sent a feeling of understanding through his skin to his heart. He glanced at her face and studied her deep expression. “What are you thinking?” He touched her knee.

  The sparkle in her eyes from the reflection of the sun off the crystal blue lake made it difficult for him to focus on anything but her.

  “If you look at the open cases, it looks like we have two killers. One who rapes, kills, and just dumps the bodies in the woods,” she said.

  “The others are cleaned, as if he is trying to get rid of any traces of rape. Or maybe cleanse their souls.” He scooted to the edge of his seat, riveted by her instincts.

  “The same killer wouldn’t change his MO,” she commented, pausing, biting her thumbnail. “But what if it everything hinges on whether or not the girls were virgins?”

  “Not easy for a dead girl to tell us her past sexual history.”

  “I take it you have already thought of that?”

  He’d never seen her bite her nails before. Something about this conversation made her nervous, which in turn made him nervous because she was the most confident woman…no, FBI agent he’d ever met. “I once presented it to one of the other agents when I first started. I was informed that it would have to be perceived virginity, since it is possible for the hymen to be broken other ways.”