Jane Doe's Return

by Jen Talty

  “Years.” She stared him down, as if she was daring him to say something. “Those journals. He might be able to use them against us.”

  “What is in them that I don’t know? What are you keeping from me?” He took out her suitcase and placed it on the bed, dumping the clothes on the floor in it.

  “I’ve jotted down what we’ve been up to.” She placed her hands on her hips. “What are you doing?”

  “Packing…what does it look like?” He held the suitcase open and in one swift motion, he dumped the things lining the top of the dresser into the suitcase. Her birth control pills didn’t go unnoticed.

  “And just where am I going?” Much to his relief, the confidence in her voice had come back.

  “To my apartment.” He turned to her.

  Stunned didn’t describe her gaping jaw. He nodded. “No way in hell do I want a lecture from my mother if she ever found out I let you stay here after this.”

  “Leave your mother out of this. I think I can handle myself.” She sneered at him.

  “No shit, but the Princess Killer knows we’re onto him. He’s going to come after us.” He took her by the wrist and stood so close to her that it caused his heart to skip a beat. “I think we both know this killer just claimed his territory and we’re both safer if we’re together.” His nose almost touched hers and her eyes dug into his soul.

  “I can’t stay with you.” Her chest rose up and down in perfect unison with his.

  “No one has to know. We’ll leave your car here. It will look as though you still live here. But if you think I’ll let you stay alone after this, you’ve got another thing coming.”

  “Don’t you dare dictate to me.”

  “Oh, for the love of God, be reasonable. Some psycho just broke into your room. Do you want to end up like the others?”

  Her eyes widened and she swallowed. “Of course…not.” Her face paled.

  “Jesus, Shauna. I’m sorry.” He pulled her close to him, forcing her hands to his shoulders. “But you understand being alone is stupid and you are not stupid.”

  He traced her profile with his knuckles and stared into her stubborn, but welcoming blue eyes. A feeling stirred in him that he thought long ago had died. His partner brought it to life, a thought that snapped him back to reality.

  He stepped back, still holding her hips. “I’m sorry.”

  “I can’t stay with you.”

  “Then I will stay with you. I mean it. From this point on, we’re glued together.” He took a deep breath.

  “If I were a man?” she questioned. “Travis, it shouldn’t matter. I’m a field agent, just like you. Please don’t hold my brief moment of panic against me.”

  “Oh please. You’re a first and skirt, and my responsibility. Now finish packing or I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you out if I have to.”

  Shauna opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

  “Shit.” Travis tossed one of her shirts at her suitcase and walked out of the bedroom. “Nice move.” He paced waiting for her. The only thing Shauna was to him was his partner. Damn hot partner at that.

  Now his freaking roommate. “Let’s get a move on,” he yelled toward the bedroom, wondering how the hell he would get through the next few days without losing his job or getting slapped.

  ****

  Shauna started stuffing her belongings in her suitcase. Damn him. How could she let Travis affect her? The fact that the killer had to know she was Jane Doe was the only reason she would stay with him. Alone, she was a sitting duck. When she’d leapt from the killer’s moving car all those years ago, he told her he’d find her and finish what he’d started.

  Her hands trembled as she fumbled with the zipper on her suitcase. Then the tears came. She hated crying.

  “Hey. It’s okay.” Strong arms came around her.

  With an angry shove, she pushed him away.

  “What’s going on?” Travis took the suitcase from her.

  “I’m pissed this guy terrifies me, considering the badge I carry.”

  “I’d be more worried if this guy didn’t scare the shit out of you.” He handed her purse to her and guided her out of the room and down the hallway.

  “You don’t understand.”

  “Yeah. I do.” He glanced at her with accepting eyes. “We’re on the case and he’s enjoying fucking with us.”

  “I don’t like being fucked with.”

  “Me neither,” he said. “We’ll have to make appearances here and as far as the bureau is concerned you still live here. Got it?” He gave her a commanding look.

  Not another word was said until they reached his apartment. Grateful, Shauna used the quiet to try to figure out how the killer knew about her. And how she was going to tell Travis who she really was.

  “I can hear your wheels spinning.” He opened the door to his apartment for her, carrying her bag. “Plan on filling me in?”

  She glanced around the family room. The last time she’d been in his apartment she’d been too immersed in him to notice how nicely the room had been decorated. The new furniture was accented with deep colors and he even had some plants near the front window. Travis Brown had a soft sensitive side. And that made him even more sexy.

  “Shauna?”

  “Thought left me.” Did it ever. And it was replaced with thoughts of Travis holding her, kissing her, and comforting her. Not thoughts she should be equating with her partner. The only thoughts that should be going through her mind

  were those related to nabbing a rapist.

  But she’d rather notice Travis. And she did just that as she followed him into the spare bedroom. It, too, had been impeccably decorated. He used dark masculine earth tones that made her want to take his aftershave lotion and spray the bed covers with it. She blushed.

  “We have to share a bathroom. I need at least forty-five minutes in there.” Effortlessly, he tossed her suitcase on the bed. A pillow bounced off.

  “I can dry my hair and put on my makeup in here. I’ll take it first and then be out of your way in less than fifteen.” What the hell was she doing? Protecting herself from a ruthless rapist and killer.

  She shivered, then rubbed her arms with her hands. “Whoever this guy is, he knows we’re working together and he’s watching us.”

  His long finger traced her jawline. “He knows a lot more than we’ve given him credit for. I’m afraid the killings will increase and he’s going to try to rub our noses in it.” His eyes scanned over her face. “You’re trembling.”

  “He has my thoughts. That journal had things I’ve put together trying to connect him to Marie, to others.” He knows who I am, she wanted to scream.

  Travis rubbed his jaw. “Why have you been doing that?”

  “When I did the case study in college, accused the professor of being incompetent.”

  Travis snickered.

  “Don’t laugh. That happened to get me in a whole heap of trouble. I’ve gotten emotionally involved.” Emotionally involved, but not in the way she was portraying herself.

  “You’re not supposed to let that happen.”

  “Yeah, well, take a good look in the mirror.”

  He smiled. “I’ll order a pizza.”

  “I’d like to take a bath first, if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all.” He squeezed her shoulder and then waltzed out of her new quarters.

  Moments later, Shauna twisted the hot water faucet to the tub, letting the bathroom fill with a dense cloud of steam. She liked her bath hot, almost scalding. Her toes rippled the water as she settled into the bubbles. Letting her head rest on the tub, she tried to rid her mind of all the bad memories that haunted her daily existence. She wanted to cleanse her mind, body, and soul. If nothing else, she would try to feel safe. Something she hadn’t felt since…well, ever.

  Taking a deep breath, she let her lids flutter closed. Her body demanded a rest. A faint knock at the door made her realize the water had become lukewarm.

  “Shauna?
You fall in?” she heard him call.

  “I’m coming,” she said, stepping out of the tub. Quickly, she dried herself and threw on her sweats. Taking a good look at herself in the mirror, she adjusted her ponytail high on her head. “Why do I care?” she said, softly. He had seen her without makeup before.

  “Pizza here?” she asked, entering the kitchen trying to act nonchalant, as if this were all normal. It must not have been working because he chuckled, pouring some soda.

  “You don’t drink much, do you?” she asked.

  “Got me in trouble when I lived in New York City. Almost lost my job. Did lose my focus. I decided it wasn’t worth it, but I do like a beer now and then. What about you?” He handed her a slice of pizza on a napkin.

  “My dad was the town drunk and I don’t like losing control.” She bit into the pizza. “Oh, God.

  This is good.”

  She got the feeling he was staring at her as she stuffed her face. Her hunger had gone unnoticed until she smelled pizza that could only have come from Capri’s. She wiped her mouth with a napkin and turned to face him. “What?”

  “You’re beautiful.” He continued staring.

  Was this guy nuts? She glanced down at her oversized FBI training sweatpants. “Thanks, I think.”

  He took the pizza from her hand, tossed it on the counter and then moved so close to her that she could hear his heart beating. “We have a huge problem,” he said, tracing a path across her bottom lip.

  Huge could only mean one thing. She glanced down.

  “Not exactly what I was referring to,” he said with an amused chuckle.

  “Ugh.” What was her problem?

  When he cupped her face and searched her eyes, amusement had been replaced with passion. “I want you,” he said with soft words.

  “No.”

  He dropped his hands to his sides. “You feel the same way.”

  “Yes and then very much a big fat no.” She slid from his intense stare. “I’m going to bed.” Abruptly, she turned and marched herself into her new room. No way would she finish this conversation. It was absurd. Even if she did find him attractive, she had to work with him.

  ****

  Travis entered the bathroom after he cleaned up from pizza. Another anal habit his mother taught him. “Christ.” The whole room smelled like bottled sunshine that came from the lake on a hot summer day. It smelled like her and he could

  most definitely drown in her wake.

  Quickly, he got himself ready for bed, trying to rid himself of the mounting pressure in his boxers. He was harder than he had ever been in his life with no relief in sight. “Damn it.” He dropped the toothpaste on the floor. Huge would be an understatement at this point. Painful would be a better descriptor. Hopefully, once in his own room, and away from everything she left behind, the pressure would lessen.

  But that didn’t happen. He tossed and turned, and uttered a few curses. Then Travis just gave up and stared at the ceiling. The only thing that could get Shauna off his mind was a psychotic rapist and murderer.

  A murderer who had made it very clear he knew Travis was onto something and he was going to use Shauna to get to him. But why Shauna?

  The journal pages. Travis had to find out what Shauna had written in those journals. He grabbed his cell and punched Jake Hansen’s number.

  “Jake Hanson’s phone,” a female voice answered.

  “Lana?”

  “Hi, Travis. Jake said he caught you kissing some gorgeous woman out on the lake, says she’s your partner.”

  “Oh, she’s my partner all right. Hope I didn’t wake anyone up.”

  “Jake’s trying to help settle Brent and Kyle down. So, do tell.”

  “Nothing to tell.”

  “Come on. You were kissing her.”

  Travis shifted under his sheets. “She’s good-looking, but nothing’s going on. You’re becoming as bad as my mother.”

  “Yeah, well. You’re a like-able kind of guy. I take it you want to talk with Jake.”

  “Actually, I like talking with you.”

  “God, you’re such a flirt. Hey, honey, its Gumby Boy.”

  Travis shook his head. That woman would never let him forget his stupid youth.

  “What’s up?” Jake had spent fifteen years as a Green Beret working in top-secret government stuff that he was never allowed to talk about. Travis knew Jake had spent a few years chasing down members of Al-Qaeda in some remote area, but something happened and Jake retired. Now he ran his own private investigating firm and constantly bugged Travis to join him.

  “You know anyone with the Saratoga Police?”

  “As a matter of fact I do. Why?”

  “Would you mind asking him to do a little digging?”

  “I never mind. Who?”

  “Shauna Morgan.”

  “You’re going to dig on your own partner?”

  “No, you are. She’s been collecting information for years on my guy. She even did a paper on my sister’s file in school.”

  “Hmm. That’s interesting.”

  “That’s all you have to say?” Travis stared at Jane Doe’s picture on his ceiling.

  “What do you want me to say? She’s your partner.”

  “Don’t you find it odd she’s spent so much time on this?” Travis asked.

  “I suppose. Have you thought about asking her?”

  “Of course not, that would be too obvious. Besides, if she’s hiding something from me, she’d still lie.”

  “Have a little more faith in your partner,”

  Jake remarked.

  “I have faith in my instincts…and you.”

  “Gee, thanks. I’ll let you know what I find out.” The phone went dead. Jake had a way of hanging up when he was done, regardless of the other person. “Thanks.” Travis turned out the light and prayed for sleep. Slowly, it came to him. That was until an ear-piercing scream came from his guest room.

  Springing from his bed, he grabbed his gun and took off toward another scream.

  “No! Leave me alone!” Shauna sat in the bed and punched at the air. “Stop! You’re hurting me! No! Please. No,” she whimpered.

  “Shauna?” Travis put his gun on the nightstand, sitting on the edge of the bed.

  “Please don’t hurt me.” She sobbed.

  “It’s okay.” He pulled her close. “I’m here. No one’s going to hurt you.”

  She continued to cry, wrapping her arms around him. She held him tight and shook like a scared baby animal left alone to fend for itself.

  He tucked himself in bed with her and stroked her hair until he knew she had fallen into a deep sleep. “What happened to you?” he whispered at her temple, planting a kiss there.

  Her secret might be as simple as someone hurt her.

  But who?

  And why?

  Chapter Seven

  God, that smell. Shauna inhaled deeply, taking in a scent she could wake to everyday. It smelled like a mixture of early morning mist rising from the lake and soft pine from the mountaintop on a cool fall morning. It smelled like Travis.

  She opened her eyes in shock. That delicious aroma was right under her nose.

  A faint gasp escaped her before she could cover her mouth. The male version of Sleeping Beauty lay curled up next to her, his hair perfectly rumpled. Why the hell was he in her bed? She didn’t remember him joining her. Worse, she didn’t seem to mind.

  She blinked and then looked beneath the sheets. Thank God, she was fully clothed. With a sigh of relief, she crept from under the covers, grabbed her running clothes, and then snuck out of the bedroom.

  The clock on the wall said it was six. She’d have plenty of time for a run, but a better idea came to mind. She peeked back into the bedroom. He lay on his side, one hand tucked under the pillow, the other where her body had been. He looked peaceful. God, he was a perfect specimen.

  Don’t do it, Morgan. She tiptoed toward Travis’s bedroom. You could learn so much from what a man kept in his ro
om, and she just couldn’t help herself. Taking in a deep breath, she pushed open the door and scanned. Way too neat for her taste. Not a stitch of clothing lined the floor. He had a few magazines on his nightstand, but even those were organized.

  She glanced around the room and had to admire his taste as she ran her hand across his hunter green bedspread. The walls were a lighter green and the curtains were blue and green with some khaki folded in. She chuckled. Travis Brown was unique.

  She picked up the latest fishing magazine. “Oh my.” She tossed that one aside and glanced at some French cooking magazine. “Fishing to cooking to…well.” She laughed, tossing the fishing magazine over his girlie mag, mildly amused.

  A warm sensation filled her body. Just thinking about him sent her hormones into overdrive. In hopes of stifling her inappropriate reaction to her partner, she glanced at the ceiling. “Oh, God.” Pictures of girls stared down at her. “Good, God. Is that…oh shit, it is.”

  Without a second thought, she climbed on his bed and glossed over her own picture, which was next to Marie’s and slightly separate from all the other girls she knew to be his victims. So many more than she’d found, but Travis had been doing this longer. Thank God he knew the real killer lurked behind a dark shadow.

  “What are you doing?” Travis asked.

  The bed didn’t hold her footing and she fell over, landing on her butt. She bounced.

  “What are you doing?” he asked again.

  He had the sheet from her bed wrapped around his waist and a gun in his hand. And his hair was…messed up, but still looked damned good. Not fair. She ran a hand through her hair, then squinted. “Care to explain?”

  “Victims who I think were murdered and

  raped by the same guy, but no one else does.” His tone was terse.

  She shook her head. “Not that. Why were you in my bed?” She waved her arms, feeling her face flush. She tried to keep an angry look, but she really wanted to run her fingers through his thick dark hair.

  In less than two paces, he stood in front of her, placed his gun on the nightstand, and continued to look at her. His intent unmistakably sexual. “You had a bad dream.”