by Sara Orwig
“And I have a question,” Rebecca said, interrupting cheerfully. “Who is volunteering to clear the table tonight?”
Tara groaned, while Sissy studiously looked at her plate.
“I think I'll be your volunteer,” Jake said. “If I don’t keep in practice, by the time I get home, I'll forget how.”
The girls grinned at him happily, and he was relieved the questions about his job were over.
After dinner he shooed Rebecca from the table and quickly cleaned the kitchen. Rebecca was settled in the living room, working a puzzle with the girls, while he moved through the house, checking windows. Finally he stepped out the back door to walk around the house, gazing off toward the barn and getting a wave from McCauley, who had come on duty again.
Jake went inside to watch Rebecca continue to work a puzzle with Tara and Sissy, and then sat in the living room and listened to a five-minute news announcement on television. When Rebecca left to draw a bath for Sissy, the child came over to stand beside his chair and study him. He smiled at her while her big blue eyes continued to stare at him.
“When you get married, do you want a little girl?” she finally asked.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “Little girls are sweet.”
“I like you here with us,” she said shyly.
“Thank you, Sissy. I like being here.” She was a charmer.
“Do you like Mommy?”
“Yes, I do,” he said, wondering if Rebecca could hear her questions. Judging from the sounds of water splashing into the tub, she probably could not.
“Will you date Mommy someday?”
The question surprised him. What did Sissy know about dating? She couldn’t have any idea what she was asking about, and he wondered what her concept of dating was. He looked down into wide, expectant blue eyes. For an instant, he thought of the empty condo that he did not miss, and the fact that he didn’t miss it surprised him. He shook his head.
“No, Sissy, I don’t think your mommy and I will date.”
Sissy’s lower lip turned down, and she looked so crestfallen that he was sorry he hadn’t cushioned his answer.
“Sissy, bath time,” Rebecca said from the doorway.
With relief, Jake watched Sissy run from the room, wondering what questions Rebecca would get now.
He glanced across the room at Tara, who seemed absorbed in a book and oblivious of the conversation.
“Tara, bedtime,” Rebecca called.
“Yes, ma'am,” she said reluctantly, sliding out of the chair while she continued to read. Amused, Jake watched her navigate a path across the room and down the hall as she seemed to continue looking at her book the entire time.
He stood and moved around, turning down the lights and finally standing near the front window to gaze at the trees across the road. Where was Meskell?
* * *
Lenny Meskell leaned back in the sleek black car and relaxed. How long until the car would be reported stolen? Not for a few hours, he thought. He had taken it only minutes after the dude left it and went into the movie. There was no one out here in the wilds looking for it, anyway.
He reached across the seat and ran his hand along the cool barrel of his rifle. Tonight. Tonight he could take out the cop, and the blond would be his. When he came back this way, she would be his.
He licked his lips, thinking about her. She’d beg him to let her go. He’d head down south, be across the border, stop first to get some money. Hit a couple of places. He glanced down at the duct tape. He had it all planned, been dreaming about it for the past few days. He would climb into her bedroom window tonight—and if the cop had it locked, he’d bust through the glass and get her before that cop ever got to her.
Lenny remembered her house. Her bed was close to the windows. Damn close. He’d get her in a flash.
Once he had her, the cop would have to lay down his gun. Lay down his gun and die. Meskell chuckled. What a pleasure it would be to gun down the bastard.
And she would go with him so willingly, because of her children.
Once they got back to the car, he’d take her before he bound her up. His breathing became fast. It had been too long since he’d had a woman. He’d haul her up to the car, rape her—that would calm her down—and then he’d bind her up and throw her into the trunk. They’d be off to Mexico, crossing the border, maybe taking a different car. It wouldn’t matter. Whatever he could sell best in Mexico.
And when he tired of her, he’d put a bullet through her. He licked his lips, clenching and unclenching the steering wheel, anxious to get to his destination.
He topped a rise and saw pinpoints of twin red lights ahead. Who the devil was on this road at night? He seldom saw anyone. No one farmed out this way. It was the edge of the city. Farms were farther out, and there was no industry in this particular area.
He drove, watching the lights, wary of anything unusual. He had been out here only once before—the day the cop came to stay. He’d come back later, and a cop had passed him on the way out. Lenny had figured they had found the note and that the place was probably swarming with cops, so he had turned around and headed back into town.
He knew where the copper lived. It had been tricky to get past the guy at the desk. Meskell thought about how he had swiped a bouquet of flowers from a floral delivery truck and then waited until he saw two elderly ladies going inside the apartment house. He had fallen into step with them, holding up the flowers and conversing politely with them as they passed the security desk in the lobby. Then he had asked the talkiest biddy if she would mind asking at the desk which apartment belonged to J. Delancy, because he was supposed to deliver the flowers to him and he had lost the apartment number.
Lenny remembered standing around the corner in the lobby and listening when she stepped to the desk and the security guard greeted her politely and answered her question without hesitation.
“Do you want me to call Mr. Delancy and see if he’s in?” the guard had asked.
Lenny laughed. He hadn’t waited to hear the answer, but had taken the elevator and stepped out two floors above Delancy’s and waited in the alcove by the cold-drink machine, giving enough time for security to check and make certain no one was trying to get into Delancy’s place.
And then it had been sheer pleasure to tear the place apart. He laughed in the darkened car. Delancy would know who had done it. He would know the moment he saw his door kicked in, because Lenny had sworn to get him.
Lenny watched the red taillights ahead, wondering about the car’s destination when suddenly they swung off the road and disappeared into the darkness.
He frowned and stared into the night as he sped along. There weren’t any side roads leading into this one for another mile. They had just crossed a road, and there wouldn’t be another one in sight yet.
He frowned and jammed his foot on the brake and slowed. The car hadn’t pulled off to one side on the shoulder and then turned. It had just turned and disappeared into the night.
He continued another quarter of a mile, then slowed and pulled to the side of the road, debating whether to go back and try again another night. He cut his lights and sat in the darkness, letting his eyes adjust, estimating it must be another half mile where the car had turned. He could have sworn he hadn’t seen roads leading off this one except the regular county road, and the car had already crossed that and then turned.
Could it have been farther along than he thought and turned onto the next county road? The lights had just disappeared into the night. He sat lost in thought, deciding to wait and think what he should do. Whoever had been in that car had pulled off and driven into the woods, just the way he himself had planned to do.
That bothered him. While he sat there and thought about it, he saw the beam of headlights splash over trees in the distance and then turn onto the road. The car was coming back!
He didn’t want to be seen by anyone. He switched on the motor and turned into the brush without turning on his lights, rolling down a slig
ht incline. He hoped to hell he could get back out of the place. He peered through the darkness, saw a tree looming dead ahead and jammed on the brake. He hit the tree, but it was only a slight bump. He cut the motor and waited, seeing the lights of the approaching car.
A car raced past. It was black, twin spots on it.
Lenny got a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. Suppose the cops had staked out the place after his note?
He swore and hit the steering wheel with his fist. He picked up the rifle and fingered it, wanting to blast away. He had waited to get the bitch. He wanted her, and he wanted his freedom.
He replaced the rifle. It might not have been a cop, but he’d wait. And he’d come back earlier tomorrow night, back to this same spot, and see if a car passed him and turned off the highway.
He swore as he turned on the motor, jammed the car into reverse and backed onto the road, swinging around without turning on his lights. Glancing at the odometer, he made a note of the mileage, wanting to be able to come back to the same spot.
Lenny drove slowly, glad for the moonlight, looking at the gray ribbon of road while his thoughts churned. If that had been a cop, he was too far away to watch her house. Were the cops watching the damned road?
At the first intersection, he turned away from the city and sped away, switching on the lights and swearing. He needed to ditch this car, get something he could drive cross-country. He would be back tomorrow night.
* * *
Jake stared at the trees, wondering about Meskell and where he was, beyond the circle of light from the motion detector lights. He moved quietly, walking around the house, looking at Rebecca’s drawn drapes. Some of them had little tears, and if someone got up close, he might be able to see into the house when the light was on. Meskell had better not ever get the chance.
The idea of his stalking Rebecca sent a charge of white-hot anger through Jake. He realized how tense he was; he relaxed, unclenching his fists. She has you tied in knots, he told himself. He’d better keep his emotions out of the way or get someone else out here to sit with Rebecca. He wouldn’t be any good to her if he didn’t keep a cool head.
He looked at Rebecca’s windows. Her room was dark, and he knew she was in the bathroom with Sissy, or with the girls in their bedroom. He inhaled deeply, knowing he was in full view, but counting on McCauley and the surveillance team to be doing their jobs.
The moon was white and full, shedding a silvery glow over the countryside. Not a breath of air was stirring; it was hot and heavy. How long since the last rain? He couldn’t remember.
He wiped his brow and moved on, treading carefully. He turned the corner and listened to the air conditioner puffing away. Even after Meskell was caught, Rebecca needed to consider moving closer to some neighbors. It wasn’t safe for her or the girls out here. He shook his head. Let the lady live her own life, he thought. She’s an adult, doing what she wants to do. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want your opinions. And you have no claim on her.
Annoyed with himself, he strode back to the house noisily, his thoughts on the beautiful widow, unaware of the crunch of gravel and the swish of grass beneath his boots. He entered the house and slammed the door.
When he stepped into the living room, Rebecca appeared from the hall, her brows arched in question. “Anything wrong? I heard a door slam.”
She was flushed from helping Sissy with her bath, and her cotton shirt was unbuttoned slightly, far enough for a tempting show of flesh. Strands of blond hair curled damply about her face and she looked disarrayed, approachable, sexy. His gaze flicked over her and then met hers, seeing her curiosity change to awareness.
“I was checking around outside.”
“Oh?” Her brows arched higher. “You don’t usually slam doors.”
“No, I don’t,” he answered evenly. “I was thinking about your living out here after this is over.”
“Oh,” she said again, and a cool look came to her features. “I'm tucking the girls in.” She turned and left, and he looked at her long legs and the sexy sway of her fanny as she walked down the hall.
“Good going,” he told himself under his breath, knowing he had annoyed her. He didn’t want to watch television, and he switched it off. He didn’t want to sit still, either. He moved around the small room, wondering if tonight would be the night Meskell made his move. It was time. If he waited any longer, Meskell’s nerves would be stretched thin.
Tonight should be the night. And it was a scorcher outside. The weather report on the news earlier had given the temperature in the city today at 111 degrees. Tonight should cool to a mere 88. In a small box of a house without central air-conditioning, it would be a furnace.
How early would Meskell try to come? Jake guessed about two or three in the morning. Maybe a little later. Make sure everyone was asleep. About four. Still dark enough for cover. Which way would Lenny come?
Jake guessed from the woods behind the house where he had been before. Jake clenched his fists. He wanted a chance at Meskell.
Rebecca’s voice floated on the air as she sang a lullaby, and Jake paused to listen. She sang softly, yet he could catch the lilting phrases.
* * *
Rebecca leaned down to kiss Sissy good-night and Sissy touched her hair. “I like Mr. Delancy, and he can be my new daddy.”
“Honey, we barely know him,” Rebecca replied, startled by Sissy’s remark.
“We know him,” Sissy argued vehemently. “We know him real well.”
Rebecca felt a rush of sympathy at the longing in Sissy’s voice. “I don’t think Jake wants to be a daddy,” Rebecca replied carefully. “Getting married just isn’t what he wants to do.”
“He doesn’t like children?” Tara asked, frowning.
“Yes, he likes children, but that’s different from becoming a father.”
“How?” Sissy asked.
“A father has some big responsibilities toward his children. That’s different from just liking children.”
“How’s it different?” Sissy persisted. “What responsibilities?”
“A father has to take care of them?”
“Mr. Delancy would do that. He takes care of all of us.”
“No, he doesn’t. He’s protecting us from a bad man, but that’s different.”
“I want him for my new daddy,” Sissy said, her lower lip thrusting out.
“Sissy, this is his job. When they catch the bad man, Mr. Delancy will go to his next job, to protect another family or catch another bad man,” Rebecca said, afraid that Jake was beginning to fill too many voids in their lives. And she hurt for Sissy and Tara, because Dan had been a wonderful, loving father.
“I don’t want Mr. Delancy to go,” Sissy said.
“Well, he isn’t going now, so don’t worry about it. He'll be right here to eat breakfast with you. Now sweet dreams.”
Sissy smiled, seemingly satisfied again, and Rebecca kissed both girls again before leaving the room and switching off the light.
Her gaze went beyond them to the darkened windows, and she wondered how safe they were. When would Meskell do something? Jake said it would be soon. Rebecca felt threatened, and was glad to know Jake was only yards away.
Knowing she should stay to herself, yet aware that Jake would be gone all too soon, she went back to the living room and curled up on the sofa to talk to him. It had been a long time since she had had a man around to talk to, and soon enough she would go back to her solitary nights.
“The girls had a wonderful time riding in the truck today and getting to play outside and in the barn. You're good with children, Jake. It’s too bad you aren’t a marrying man, because you should have your own family.”
He gave her a cynical glance. “I've had my family. I've been a dad since I was a little kid. I've supported my brothers, raised them, done everything a parent would do. I'll marry someday, after I retire to the ranch.”
“You might be a little set in your ways by then,” she said with amusement. “When
is this retirement going to take place?”
“I'm thirty-four. I started so young that I can retire and draw a pension before too many more years. I figure after I'm forty, the department will retire me, and I'll move to the ranch and get married.”
“And you accused me of being too regimented and scheduling my life.”
She studied him. “Be careful, Jake. You might have to toss aside your planned future. It would serve you right, after demolishing my schedules.”
“My future isn’t set in concrete. I just have a general idea.”
Her soft laugh was a taunting invitation, and Jake wanted to get up and go over to the sofa, yet he knew he’d better stay right where he was.
“How long have you had your ranch?”
“I bought the first parcel of land about seven years ago, and I've been adding to it steadily.”
“Did you go to college in Austin?” she asked.
“Yes, with a major in criminal justice. I started with the department when I was eighteen and went to college at night. It took me so many years to get a degree, I thought all my brothers would have one before I did.”
Rebecca wondered about him; all the responsibilities he’d had to shoulder at such a young age were probably part of the reason he took command of everything around him. He glanced at her and she looked away, as always feeling a strange flutter when he caught her staring at him.
They continued talking about his ranch and then about the girls. It was three in the morning before Rebecca went to bed. In her room she stared at the clock, amazed she had stayed up so late talking to him.
The time had flown past, and she felt another strange mixture of opposing emotions, because she liked talking to him. She had to admit to herself that she had enjoyed most of the day with him. At least she had enjoyed it since the volatile moments at breakfast.
She didn’t want to lose her heart to Jake Delancy. Beneath his easygoing charm there was still the hard cop who lived with danger daily, and she must not forget that for a second. If she was tempted to forget, all she had to think about was the pain of losing Dan.
The house creaked and she became tense, looking at the windows, sitting up and glancing toward the hall. With Jake in the house, she slept with her door almost closed, but she was tempted to open it so that she could see into the girls' room and reassure herself about their safety.
