Loved by Darkness

by Autumn Jordon

  He was as pretty as his suit.

  She looked at the chief. With a good two days’ worth of whiskers now covering his jawline, he definitely had the earthy rough look going on. Norris’ whiskers and confident look made her blood run hot—more so than the immaculate professional style Carter portrayed.

  When Norris told Carter about her impulsive move to dive overboard, Jolene grimaced. However, the understanding in Carter’s gaze dissipated her mortification and assured Jolene he had the same heart ninety-nine percent of law enforcement officers had. He cared. Too much at times, which the puffy bags under his eyes revealed.

  Carter turned and studied Lia.

  “She could be Abigail Burgess. She’s about the right age and the birthmark on her leg isn’t quite the same, but it could’ve changed shape as she grew.” Carter whispered so he didn’t wake the sleeping child. “However, the fingerprint markers make the case that she isn’t Abigail.”

  Carter turned away from the bedside and crossed to the window, gesturing for them to follow him.

  “Not to insinuate your staff is incompetent, Stiles, because I’m sure they’re very competent at taking fingerprints, however...”

  Jolene saw Norris’ jaw lock in anticipation of a pissing match. Pissing matches often occurred when two males from different agencies came together. The act was a law of natural order, or physics, or something to do with the male psyche, Jolene thought. It was best to stay out of the way and let the bout play out so all parties knew where each of them stood. When the dust settled they could get on with handling the case.

  “I’d want to have my man take them and run them again to be sure. You know, put the FBI certification on the docs so there is no inquiry later.”

  Jolene’s stomach tightened. She knew from experience relationships between law enforcement agencies could get nasty. Norris probably had no experience working with federal agents and Carter, who likely knew Norris was new to his command, was trying to take advantage of the fact.

  Standing between the pair, Jolene felt like she wore the shoes of the biblical David who faced off against Goliath. She had to arch her head back to look directly into Carter’s eyes.

  Her heart pounded against her ribs but she kept her expression passive. She’d be damned if she’d let either man see her desperation to keep the situation under control.

  She slid her hands into her back pockets, giving the appearance she was relaxed. This was just another day. Another case. Another set of partners.

  “I was present when the prints were taken by Norris’ officer. And I can assure you, Special Agent Carter, officer Pickett followed protocols to the letter for every procedure and dotting every I.” Jolene notched her chin higher. “If need be, I’ll put my name to the file as a witness.”

  She waited for Carter to pull his shiny badge out and compare it to the one she wore on her belt.

  Norris’ gaze shifted to her.

  She didn’t look at him. Engaged with Carter, she wasn’t about to back down. Yes. Carter cared, but damnit, they all did.

  “We all want the same thing. To learn who Lia belongs to—Lia, is the name she calls herself, by the way­­­­—and return her safely to her family,” Jolene said firmly. “Then we need to catch the bastard who kidnapped her and set her adrift on the ocean to die. So, let’s work together.”

  Carter inhaled.

  She’d squashed the match and continued: “As I see it, Chief Stiles is the one who gets to call the shots concerning this child’s welfare until she’s identified as your missing girl.”

  “And your role?” Carter looked down his nose at her.

  “I’ve offered any assistance he might need.”

  Carter pursed his lips, before turning them up into an amiable smile. “You know, I wouldn’t be here if his officer hadn’t called the Burgess family.”

  “I know the jurisdiction laws in kidnapping cases,” Norris stated flatly. “We’re not sure Lia is an Amber victim. And FYI, my officer has been reprimanded for not following protocol.”

  Carter stuffed his arms across his chest. “What are your plans, Chief Stiles?”

  “I’m moving Lia, now.” Norris checked his cell phone. “Grief clouds reason. The Burgesses will insist she’s their child. They’ll want to take her home immediately. If we allowed that and then they found out later she isn’t their daughter it will tear them apart again.”

  “And if she is their daughter, and you make them wait, Chief?”

  “I’ll take the heat.”

  “What about her condition?”

  “The hospital doctors say she’s fine. We have their permission to move her.”

  Jolene glanced at the wall clock. Fifteen minutes had passed since the federal agent walked through the ward’s doors. Time was ticking. They didn’t need Carter’s permission to move Lia, but she and Norris wanted Carter on their side.

  “That would be hard on her too,” Jolene added, pointing to Lia. “We don’t want to placed her in a home with strangers only to be removed again in a few days.”

  Carter dropped his gaze to his shiny shoes and sighed. “Okay. I agree. It would be heartbreaking for all of them. It would be better for all to wait a few days and we can rush the DNA testing.”

  “Good,” Norris said. “I’m moving her to a more secure location. The hospital doctors approved her release. The hospital security staff is small, as is my force. We can’t protect her from reporters or someone else taking pictures of her with their cell phone here.”

  The lines in Carter’s forehead deepened. “Where are you going to take her?”

  “My sister volunteers for the county as a temporary foster parent,” Jolene said, drawing the agent’s attention. “I’m staying with her and her family while I’m here on vacation—which just got canceled with this case. Lia can stay there. It’s a secure, gated community which will add some defense against reporters if her location becomes known. She’ll be with other children. My niece, Clara, is two and half, so Lia will have someone close to her age to play with. And I’ll be there to check on her and watch over her too.”

  “Okay,” Carter responded. “I’ll want the address of course. I’d like to check on her there so I can reassure the Burgess family she’s in good hands.”

  “Not a problem.” Feeling relieved Carter was in agreement with their plan, Jolene glanced at Lia. “I hope she is Abigail for everyone’s sake, but until we know without a doubt she is, Chief Norris and I are going to work the case under the assumption she isn’t.”

  “Let’s get her out of here before the parents or the press show up.” Norris was growing impatient. “I’ll bring my car around back to the loading dock. You stay with Lia since she feels comfortable with you. Hospital transportation personnel will show you the way there.”

  Jolene had a thought. “You have your cruiser, right?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “I think it would be better if I take her in my SUV. Reporters are likely watching your car already.”

  Norris’ brow arched. “Your vehicle?”

  “My brother-in-law dropped it off last night. He put my niece’s car seat in it.”

  “You knew I’d move Lia out of here?” Norris asked.

  He was a smart lawman. She was a smart agent. They thought alike. “I thought you might want to.”

  Norris held out his hand. “Give me your keys. I’ll drive it to the back.”

  Jolene crossed the room and grabbed her purse from the back of the chair she’d slept on. She fished the keys out and tossed them to Norris. He caught them against his chest, like a pro football player catches a pass. “It’s a black SUV.”

  “Of course it is.” He turned the key fob over in his hand. “Does it have any knobs I shouldn’t touch?”

  She ignored both his jab at her being a federal agent and his smirk. “It’s parked in section H3. Don’t scratch it. I’m still making payments.”

  Jolene hit the call button for the nurse. They had to get moving. Outside th
e sun was already perched on the roof of the four-story building across the street. In another hour, the streets would be filled with early risers heading to work or to walk the sandy beaches.

  Apparently aware of the game going on between her and the chief, Carter cleared his throat to draw their attention back to him. “I’m going down to the lobby to wait for Mr. and Mrs. Burgess.”

  “I don’t envy you, Carter. It’s going to be damn hard holding them off,” Jolene said.

  “No doubt.” Carter headed for the door.

  Norris stepped up and stopped Carter from opening the door by placing his hand on the handle. “I’m going to stay with you,” he told the agent.

  “That might be a good idea since you were one of the people who found her. You can decide how much to tell them, without hampering your investigation.”

  Norris’ chin notched up. “I’ll also let them know it was my man who prematurely contacted them.”

  Carter gave a nod, acknowledging the chief’s integrity. Jolene had to admit she was impressed with the chief.

  “I’ll meet up with Agent Martinez later, some place other than the station. I’ll review what my team has learned and discuss where we go.” Norris said.

  Carter looked at the chief quizzically. “Why not meet at the station?”

  “I want to keep Agent Martinez’s involvement in this case under wraps. I don’t want a reporter following her back to Lia. You’re welcome to join us, as a consult.”

  Again, her respect grew for Stiles. He had made it clear whose case this was.

  Jolene saw the lines around Carter’s mouth deepen as he pinched his lips. Feds were used to giving the orders.

  She was actually surprised when Carter replied, “Thanks. I think I will. You have my cell number. Text me where and when and I’ll be there.”

  The nurse pushed on the door and both men stepped back to allow her a clear path into the room.

  “I’ll be staying in town for a few days,” Carter said. “Do you have any recommendations where I might get a decent room?”

  “I’ll call my friend Rose. Her father owns the Seaside Hotel. I’ll make sure she has a room for you,” Jolene answered. “And for the Burgesses, if they’d like one. Rose was on the boat with us when we found Lia. I’ll instruct her not to mention it to them.”

  “That would be for the best.”

  While Norris and Carter headed down the hall, Jolene watched the nurse disconnect the IV needle used to give Lia hydration and meds when necessary.

  Lia moaned and Jolene’s heart winced. She inhaled and silently swore she would find the person who did this to the little child and she’d make sure they paid.

  ***

  By noon, Lia was wide awake, fed, and playing in the backyard with Jolene’s niece Clara.

  Under a bright sun in a crystal-clear sky, Jolene sat on the patio and watched the two little girls playing in Clara’s playhouse, feeding and rocking dolls as if they were their mothers.

  The two little girls were about the same in height and weight, so Clara’s little sundress and pull-ups fit Lia perfectly. The turquoise dress was ideal for Lia’s bronzed coloring just like it was for Clara. In fact, if it weren’t for a few distinctive facial differences which revealed their different ethnic heritages, the pair could be mistaken for sisters. Lia, of course was slathered with sunscreen.

  Martina came out of the house carrying a tray with a pitcher of lemonade, two ice-filled plastic tumblers and a dozen juice boxes for the children playing in the backyard or swimming in the fenced-off inground pool.

  “What are you working on?” Jolene pointed to the file folders Martina had placed on the table.

  “A church project. We’re starting a program to help families from poverty-stricken countries relocate to the United States.”

  “Cool.” Martina was such a giving person: fostering children, volunteering at their family’s church and other organizations. Where did she find the time and energy?

  Jolene nodded in the direction of the spirited children. “Clara and Lia hit it off.”

  “You’d swear they were best friends.” Martina poured a glass of lemonade and handed it to Jolene.

  “I can’t believe she is running around as if yesterday never happened,” Jolene replied, before she took a sip. The cold liquid soothed the dryness in her throat.

  “Kids are resilient.”

  Jolene swallowed quickly. “And they forgive too easily.”

  “We can learn from them,” Martina responded.

  Jolene dropped her tumbler against the table’s glass top with a thud. She knew that tone. Martina was approaching a subject she’d promised Jolene she wouldn’t bring up when Jolene agreed to come home for a visit.

  “We’re not going to go there,” Jolene reminded her.

  Martina sat down across from her in the shade provided by the table umbrella. “At some point, you will need to forgive them. If you don’t, and it becomes too late, you’ll carry the burden of it for the rest of your life.”

  Jolene flexed her arms over her chest, stretching her taut back muscles and rubbing her bare shoulders. “There is a lot of weight on these shoulders already. What’s a few more pounds of flesh?”

  Martina wiped a condensation ring from the tabletop with a napkin and then set her glass on the napkin. “You’ve become very cynical.”

  “It’s a side effect of the job.”

  The chair in which Martina sat screeched against the concrete when she jumped up from the table. She crossed to the pool fence and proceeded to scold her oldest child for ducking his brother.

  Jolene leaned back on her chair, pushed her sunglasses back on top of her head and turned her face toward the sun. She shoved away the guilt Martina tried to hand her. It was a perfect day for the beach but Jolene had other plans. Ones that included Chief Stiles. There was no way she would want to be in his shoes or those of SA Carter’s this morning when they’d faced Mr. and Mrs. Burgess with the update. The couple probably went bat-shit crazy on them both.

  Coming back to the table, Martina interrupted her thoughts. “I’m changing the subject, sis.”

  “Okay.” Jolene slid her glasses down.

  “Be honest with me.” Her sister’s face was tight with worry.

  “I always am. You know that.” She casually picked up her drink and sipped.

  “No. I know no such thing. You’re not a secretary for the U.S. Marshals, are you?”

  Jolene knew sooner or later she would need to come clean with her sister about her job. She thought maybe the time would come when she’d been wounded in action. Or maybe the discussion would never happen—for instance if she were killed in the line of duty. Knowing how betrayed her sister would feel under those circumstances made her confess. “I know you’ve suspected... I’m a field agent.”

  Martina’s hefty chest pushed against her tank top. “I thought so. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “When we were kids, you were always protecting me. We’re not kids anymore. You can’t protect me and I didn’t want to worry you.”

  Martina’s hand covered hers. “I’ll always worry about you. That will never change.”

  Tears blurred Jolene’s vision. She had missed her sister and wondered why she’d taken so long to return home to spend time with her. She rolled her lips tight and nodded, noting moisture also glazed Martina’s walnut eyes.

  Martina squeezed her hand and then let it go. She notched her chin toward Lia. “What time do you need to meet Chief Stiles?”

  “At three. We’re going to meet at the coffee shop on Lexington. What time is it?”

  Martina glanced at her cell phone that lay in the shade of the umbrella. “It’s a nearly two-thirty.”

  “I’d better go change out of these shorts.” Jolene pushed back from the table. “I should be back in a couple of hours, in time to help you with dinner. Are you sure you’ll be able to handle Lia?”

  Martina laughed and waved her hand toward the scene in front of them.
“Really? I have four kids of my own and two foster children who come with a whole bunch of friends. One more only adds to the fun.”

  “With our background, how did you become such a great mom?” Jolene asked in a serious tone.

  “I didn’t want my kids growing up feeling the way we did. One day you’ll be a great mom too.”

  Jolene shook her head. “Not me. I don’t ever want children.”

  At that second, Lia ran up to Jolene and tossed the doll she’d been playing with onto Jolene’s lap. The little girl babbled something and it took Jolene only a second to realize Lia had removed the doll’s clothing and wanted her help putting another outfit on her. When she’d done so, Lia gave her a smile that had the power to melt her heart and—if she weren’t careful—to start her biological clock ticking.

  ***

  Jolene’s black SUV pulled into the parking spot next to his Jeep at the same moment Norris pushed open the driver’s door. She was right on time. Good to know she was someone he could count on to be on time. He climbed out and met her at the rear of her vehicle.

  Seeing him, she pulled up short. Then she nodded toward his “baby” whose shine had been lost nearly a decade ago. “Ditched your cruiser, I see.”

  On a slight breeze, her soft floral scent surrounded him.

  Again, he ignored the urge to touch her tanned skin though his fingertips itched. Yesterday, in the Coast Guard’s raft, when his upper arm had rested against hers he’d enjoyed the softness covering her hard muscles. “It wouldn’t make sense for me to drive my cruiser to our meeting, would it? And if a reporter followed me when I left the station, he’ll think I’m a dimwit, local flatfoot who still works his nine-to-five shift even when a big case drops in his lap.”

  “But it’s only three,” she replied, cocking her head.

  He shrugged and smiled. “So I took time off to meet my girlfriend. I worked extra hours last night.”

  “Girlfriend huh?” A smile lifted her lips and Norris felt something give in his chest.