Protecting His Witness

by Marie Ferrarella

  "You know I can't think straight when you do that," she managed to get out, throwing back her head.

  "Actually, I was counting on it." She felt his words rippling against her skin as he spoke. "There's no 'straight thinking' called for at the moment."

  She was being snowed, Kasey thought. And she couldn't say that she didn't love it. "You are a wicked, wicked man, Detective Zack McIntyre."

  Zack shifted his weight over, his body covering hers as he began to nibble at the delicate spot on her throat. Stars began to pop out in her brain, a whole host of beautiful, wondrous stars.

  "Is that a complaint?" he queried in between anointing her flesh with the tip of his tongue.

  She couldn't keep from squirming. Couldn't refrain from slipping back into that hot, delicious haze that he kept creating for her.

  "Oh, hell no," she breathed even as her tongue seemed to grow too thick to wield properly. Knowing she was lost, she wove her arms around his neck, surrendering to the feeling. In her heart was the dark, growing awareness that this was probably the last time she would be able to surrender to him like this. "That was a compliment."

  "Just as long as I know."

  She thought she heard a low laugh accompany his words a heartbeat before the lightning made a reappearance, claiming her.

  * * *

  Chapter 13

  « ^ »

  Carmine Pasquale was a firm believer that patience was always rewarded. While others around him had gotten caught up in the fast-faster-fastest insanity that seemed to be the hallmark of the present generation, he was still old school and proud of it. You waited. And you watched. And eventually, things fell into place the way they were supposed to.

  Deep down, he'd known that Krystle Maller wasn't dead. It had all been far too convenient when the "event" had occurred. The press and police had attributed the fire she was reported to have died in to arson and laid the blame on his doorstep, even though there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell that they could prove it. Not unless they planted the evidence and they didn't.

  The thing was, he knew he hadn't done it and none of his people had stepped forward to take the credit. They were not a modest crew and they would have spoken up—if there was anything to speak of.

  So, if the fire had been deliberately set and neither he nor any of his people were responsible, that only left one person who could have done it. The person everyone thought was dead. Krystle Maller.

  It was the only theory that made sense.

  In a way, Pasquale had admired her. It had taken guts to burn down something that meant so much to her. Nobody could accuse Maller of not having guts. He almost hated offing her.

  But he had to. He had enough things to keep track of, enough balls to juggle and keep up in the air, without worrying about her someday deciding she'd had enough of hiding and coming forward.

  So he'd set one of his boys up to keep tabs on the old lady. Maller's grandmother. It was the only long shot he had available to play. And in the end, his patience had paid off. He'd been right.

  The old broad had gone to the hospital and his little runaway had sent someone in her place to see how Delaney was doing. The nurse he was paying off had been quick to report about the young detective and the photograph he'd brought of Maller. She'd seen it with her own eyes. She'd been well compensated for the information. And then she'd been taken care of.

  He doubted if they'd find the nurse's body for a long time. He didn't like leaving any loose ends.

  Which was why it was so important to silence Maller.

  A little string pulling here, a little cash exchanging hands there, and he'd learned the identity of the man paying Delaney a visit. An Aurora cop by the name of Zack McIntyre. He'd put one of his best men on it and McIntyre had led Tony literally right to Maller's door.

  Now all he had to do was make arrangements. Because he was personally going to take the woman out. Having an underling do the job wouldn't be showing the doctor the proper respect and despite popular belief there was honor to be found within his organization. Certainly within him.

  * * *

  Oh God, no, no.

  The protest echoed in Kasey's head as she stared in total disbelief at the stick in her hand.

  Please, dear God, it can't be true. It just can't. Heaven knew she had enough to handle right now, enough heartache to deal with without throwing this into the mix, as well. There just had to be a mistake.

  She continued to look accusingly at the stick, willing it to turn another color.

  Granted she'd been feeling sick these last few days, but she'd attributed it to the fact that, despite her stalling, she had to leave again. This time it would be Zack she'd be leaving behind instead of her grandmother. Zack who wouldn't know where she was going.

  Even when she started throwing up, she thought it was due to her rebellious nerves. It wasn't like the other two times when she'd picked up to go. Those times, it hadn't mattered much if she stayed beyond the inconvenience of pulling up stakes, of having to once more go through all the contortions of creating a new identity. Truth of it was, she'd gotten pretty damn good at working software in order to come up with a fake driver's license. After all, in this day and age, proper ID was very necessary.

  No, she hadn't minded vanishing those other two times. But those other two times, she wasn't leaving her heart behind.

  The way she would be now.

  But her early-morning communion sessions with the toilet bowl had nothing to do with the way she felt about leaving Zack. She was pregnant.

  She had always dreamed about being pregnant. But not now, not now. How was she going to go on the run with a brand-new human being growing inside of her? And how had this happened, anyway? Despite the passion and the spontaneity of their lovemaking, she and Zack had taken precautions. Zack had been very considerate about that. It was one of the things that had endeared him to her. But nothing in the world was foolproof and obviously birth-control methods fell under that heading.

  Tears filled her eyes. This was the wrong time, the wrong place in her life for this to be happening. How was she going to handle being a mother?

  And yet, she knew she wasn't going to take the road that so many other women before her had opted to travel. For better or worse, this was her destiny. This was what was meant to be. She couldn't just wipe away this little person who had all but magically come into her life.

  Somehow, she was just going to find a way to deal with this latest twist her life had taken, just as she had dealt with losing Jim and giving up her life, all because she'd been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

  Maybe someday she'd be back here in Aurora. Back to show Zack his son or daughter.

  But right now, if that baby had a prayer of coming to term and being born, she had to get out of here. The same instincts that had helped her flee from that hotel room the first time urged her on now. She couldn't explain why, but she just felt as if she had to leave.

  Before she couldn't.

  "I'm sorry, Zack," she murmured as she sat down at the small desk in her bedroom and began to write.

  It was her farewell note. In it, she told him how much their time together had meant to her. How he had opened up the world for her. But that she had to go, as much for him as for herself. She asked him to think kindly of her every now and then, and told him to move on with his life, the way she had to move on with hers.

  She did not tell him that he was going to be a father in eight months or less. That would all but guarantee that he would leave no stone unturned looking for her. She knew what he was like.

  Funny how she'd become so knowledgeable about him in such a short amount of time.

  "I'm really, really sorry," she said as a tear fell on the paper. She tried to dab it up as best she could. "But there's really no other way. You can't protect me. These people are much too powerful and if you could figure out who I was, then they can figure out where I am. I won't risk you—or anyone else in your family. If something happened
to you or any of them, I would never be able to forgive myself. Please try to understand that this is for the best and please don't come looking for me. You'll never find me."

  She was about to sign her name when she thought she heard a noise just outside the house. Everything inside of her froze. She was becoming progressively jumpier. Now that she was about to hit the road again, all her old quirks returned in droves. The fear, the uneasiness, the cold fingertips and the amplification of any noise she heard or thought she heard.

  Maybe at the new place—wherever that was going to be—she'd get a dog. A big dog that would alert her to any strangers approaching. A dog that could protect her. Maybe that would make her feel more secure.

  The way she didn't feel now.

  There it was again, that noise. Was there someone walking by her window? Or was that just the wind through the trees and her imagination playing havoc with the sound?

  Looking down at her arm, Kasey saw gooseflesh form. She took in a deep breath, trying her best to calm down. Maybe she should wait until morning to leave.

  Morning, without night's shadows to fuel her imagination and make her feel as if every tree branch was the enemy. Everything always looked a lot better, a lot more hopeful, in the morning. Maybe she'd even pass by the store, tell Edwin she was leaving instead of just not showing up. She owed it to him. Edwin had been good to her.

  There was a knock on her door.

  Kasey's heart all but stopped beating in her chest. She remained where she was, in her bedroom, frozen in place as her mind raced to form options. Glancing at her bedroom window, she debated crawling out that way if whoever was at the door tried to break in—

  She jumped when her cell phone rang.

  Fumbling, she pulled it out of her pocket. And then exhaled a long sigh of relief when she saw the number on the LCD screen.

  Zack.

  She pressed the phone to her ear, trying to hear above the pounding of her heart. "Hello?"

  "Why aren't you answering your door?" she heard him ask.

  Her head jerked in the direction of the front door. "That's you?"

  She heard him laugh shortly. "Who else were you expecting?"

  Getting up, she crossed to her bed to get the suitcase she'd just finished packing. She shoved it into her closet and quickly pulled the wardrobe door closed again. "Nobody, that's just it. Aren't you supposed to be working tonight?"

  "I am. But I'm not due in for another half hour. I thought I'd stop by to see how you were doing." She heard concern in his voice.

  Guilt assaulted her, but she'd already made up her mind. Still, she didn't want to spring it on him just yet, not face-to-face. So she opened the desk drawer and swept the blue sheet into it, then shut it again.

  "Fine," she croaked. "I'm doing fine."

  "So does that mean you'll let me in anytime soon?" he asked.

  "Oh, sorry. Sorry," she apologized again, striding across the living room to the front door. God, she was really rattled. Otherwise, she would have already opened the door for him.

  Flipping the locks, she yanked the door, then fought the very real, strong urge to throw her arms around his neck. Part of her felt as if she'd already left and was even now yearning to see him again. The other part had never wanted her to leave in the first place. It was opting to stay and fight for this new life that she'd unexpectedly stumbled on. It made for a horrible internal tug-of-war.

  Get a grip, Krys, she upbraided herself even as she forced a wide smile to her lips. A second later, her lips became otherwise occupied as Zack leaned in and kissed her. Tilted the scale a little further toward her staying in Aurora.

  Taking a breath, her eyes momentarily shut to savor the sensation he always created within her, Kasey stepped back.

  "This is a surprise," she said, opening her eyes to look at him. She'd deliberately picked tonight to leave because he'd told her he was working. She hadn't thought he was just going to swing by like this.

  Zack lightly brushed his hand along her cheek. "Just making sure you're okay."

  It was hard for her not to just blurt out everything when he watched her that way. Somehow, she held her ground, telling herself it was for the best. "Why wouldn't I be?"

  Zack didn't answer right away. Instead, he stared at her for a long moment. His gaze seemed to penetrate her very brain. As if he had the ability to read her thoughts.

  Now there was an unnerving notion. She had to stop letting her imagination run away with her, she silently chided. Zack was just a man.

  But there was no "just" when it came to Zack. It was a case of bad timing. And now, there was no way she would allow him or any of his family to risk their lives for her. And Carmine Pasquale had a very long, long reach.

  Zack didn't want her to think that he was undermining her ability to stand on her own two feet, to handle whatever she was confronted with. But that didn't change the fact that he was worried about her. For so many reasons.

  "No reason," he replied lightly. "You just seemed very upset the other night." He slipped his arms around her, drawing her back to him. Fitting her nicely against his torso. "You realize that I should have been the one who was upset because you didn't trust me." Zack kissed her again, more languidly this time. "No more secrets, okay?"

  The very air left her lungs as she forced out the single word. "Okay."

  It killed her to agree, to lie again, when she was literally living a secret right now. Two secrets: the fact that she carried his child and that she was about to disappear again, both while smiling guilelessly up into his face and telling Zack only what he wanted to hear.

  There's a very special rock in hell set aside for you, Krys. I hope you know that.

  Releasing her, Zack looked at his watch. It was getting late and he needed to spell Frank. "I should have come earlier," he lamented. It would have given them more time together.

  "Earlier I was working," she reminded him. "But why? What happened earlier?"

  "If I'd come over earlier—and you were here," he added with a hint of amusement at her interjection as he let his finger trail along the tips of her hair, "maybe we would have had a chance to snag a little early evening delight."

  Even as he said it, she could feel herself reacting to the thought of making love with him one last time.

  Get over it. It's not happening. You need to go.

  She smiled up into his face. "I would have liked that."

  More than you could possibly know.

  He stole one last, quick kiss and left her with a promise. "Maybe I can come by later, after my shift is over."

  Her heart quickened. He was coming back? How much time did that give her? She tried to sound calm as she asked, "When will that be?"

  He thought about what he and Frank had arranged. "In eight hours."

  Eight hours. She'd be long gone by then. The thought punched a hole in her stomach, filling the space up with incredible sadness. But she managed to keep a lid on it as she nodded.

  "All right, I'll keep a candle burning in the window for you," she promised.

  He laughed softly. "I think I can find my way without the candle."

  There was something in his eyes, just for a fleeting moment. Something she couldn't begin to fathom. And an odd note in his voice.

  Did he suspect?

  No, that wasn't possible. There was no reason for him to think she was going to leave. She'd given him every indication that she intended to stay here.

  "Good to know," she murmured. She suddenly rose up on her toes and kissed him one last, last time. The sadness within her widened to almost unmanageable proportions. Struggling not to cry, she threw her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, putting her whole heart and soul into it.

  Wanting him to remember this moment because it was going to be their last together.

  No way would she be here when he returned from his shift. Even if she hadn't made up her mind already, he would have made it up for her. She didn't care if it was pitch-black outside, she had to le
ave almost as soon as he did. The longer she delayed her departure, the harder it would be to execute.

  So she would just have to learn to live without him. She'd done it before she'd ever met him, no reason to think that she couldn't manage it again.

  He drew back, as if sensing the tension that was coursing through her body. He cupped her face in his hand. "Baby, what's the matter?"

  "Nothing." She tried to laugh off his obvious concern and make him believe that there was no reason for it. "I just realized I loved you."

  The loaded word hit him like a ton of bricks. They'd never talked about this, not out loud. But she'd already placed it in the past.

  "Loved?" he echoed, his eyes never leaving her face. "As in past tense?"

  "Love," she corrected. "As in the present tense." Here, at least, she wasn't going to lie. She wanted him to know. To remember. To understand that she hadn't left because she didn't love him but because she did. "That doesn't scare you off?"

  His smile was swift to take his lips. Swift and engaging. It was a huge responsibility to have someone love you. Six months ago, he would have been certain that the very notion would have made him take to the hills. But not now. Now, he embraced it. "Oddly enough, it doesn't."

  She allowed a deep sigh to escape her lips. "It scares me," she admitted freely.

  He didn't want her to be afraid. Of anything. Ever again. Zack caressed her face one last time. "When I come back, we'll see what we can do about that," he promised.

  And then he was gone, retreating into the night. She stood there for a moment, framed in her doorway, until she heard his car start up. He was already too far away for her to see. With a feeling of overwhelming reluctance, she stepped back and closed the door. On him. On their life together. On her happiness.

  He was gone. And in a few minutes, she would be, too.

  Her feet felt like lead even though she knew she should hurry, just in case he'd come back. She couldn't go through that twice, silently bidding him goodbye even as she let him think that she would be waiting for him right here when he got off duty.