by Laura Scott
“We’ll be waiting.” Isaac disconnected the call, feeling better that they had a solid escape plan.
“Who’s Bobby?” Leah asked.
She’d obviously heard the entire conversation—not a surprise, since she was sitting right next to him. So close he could smell the cinnamon scent that seemed to cling to her skin. “His brother-in-law.”
“And you helped Declan out, the way he’s helping you now?” she pressed.
He slowly nodded. “Yeah, about six months ago. We’ve always been there for each other no matter what.”
“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Ben said in a plaintive tone.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but I don’t have anything right now,” Leah said, smoothing a hand over her son’s hair. “Close your eyes and try to get some rest.”
“We can stop and pick up something once we have a different set of wheels,” Isaac offered.
“I think once he falls asleep, he’ll be fine,” Leah murmured.
“Yeah, well, all this running around is making me hungry, too,” Isaac said in a wry tone as he rose to his feet. “Stay here. I’m going to make sure we’re still in the clear.”
He didn’t really think they’d been followed, but he needed to put some distance between them. Leah’s cinnamon-and-spice scent was wreaking havoc with his concentration. She was so beautiful, even after everything they’d been through, with her naturally curly black hair and heart-shaped face. There couldn’t be anything but friendship between them, so why was he suddenly thinking of her as a woman he was attracted to?
He needed to get that thought out of his head right now. After pushing open the church door a crack, he peered outside. He couldn’t see far, but what he did see seemed quiet and deserted.
Leah hadn’t asked him how he’d gotten inside the church, and he was glad he didn’t have to explain how he’d picked the lock. He couldn’t help but think the church pastor wouldn’t be too thrilled to know how easy it was to break in. Then again, maybe he should let the pastor know so he could change the locks.
But that would have to wait until they’d gotten safely out of this mess.
Waiting for Deck and Bobby to show up was agonizing, each second passing with excruciating slowness. Isaac paced back and forth, peering outside every so often.
Finally his phone rang, and he was relieved to see Deck’s number. “Hey, are you close?”
“Yeah, we’re parked in the back behind the church,” Deck informed him. “Didn’t see anyone suspicious hanging around, either.”
“Thanks, Deck. We’ll be outside soon.” Isaac clicked off, then locked the main doors of the church before heading over to Leah and Ben. “They’re here with the car, Leah. Do you want me to carry Ben?”
She looked dead on her feet, but still shook her head. “I’m worried he’ll cry.”
Isaac understood her concern, since there hadn’t exactly been time to bond with the boy. Although he needed to spend more time with Ben so the boy wouldn’t be afraid of him.
He led the way through the church to the back door. Leah followed slowly, carrying Ben, who was once again half-asleep.
There were two cars in the lot, both with their engines running but their lights off. Isaac stayed right beside Leah, sweeping his gaze over the area to verify they hadn’t been found by the shooter.
As they approached the vehicles, a young man climbed out from behind the wheel of the older sedan and stepped forward. Isaac recognized Bobby Collins and gratefully took the keys he handed over.
“There’s a booster seat in the back for the kid,” Bobby said. “Figured that would be one less thing to worry about.”
“Where did you get it?” Isaac asked in surprise.
“Caleb donated it,” Declan said, coming out to join them. He handed Isaac a computer case. “Apparently his daughter, Kaitlin, had two of them.”
“Thank you,” Leah said with a tremulous smile.
“No problem.” Bobby ducked his head shyly and sauntered over to the other car. Declan slapped Isaac on the back and then went to join his brother-in-law. Isaac waited for Leah to get Ben settled in the booster seat before he opened the front passenger door for her.
He didn’t breathe easy until the church was far behind them. Isaac knew he needed to find another place to stay for what was left of the night, and this time he wasn’t about to tell anyone, even his friends, where they were going.
Driving through the night, he finally came across a hotel that boasted two-bedroom suites. The concept offered the best of both worlds, so he pulled in and parked.
Leah had been dozing and came awake in a rush when the car stopped. “Where are we?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.
“Brookside Suites Hotel,” Isaac said. “They offer two-bedroom suites, so you and Ben can share one room and I’ll use the other.”
“Looks expensive,” Leah murmured.
Isaac didn’t answer, because he’d already had the same thought. But they couldn’t afford to be cheap when it came to making sure they were safe. As it was, he’d need to convince the clerk to take cash when they were ready to check out.
It didn’t take long to secure a room, although the man insisted on having a credit-card number on file in case there was any damage. Apparently Isaac’s badge helped lend credibility, as the clerk reluctantly agreed to take payment in cash.
This time, Isaac carried Ben inside the hotel. The boy had fallen back asleep and barely stirred as they rode the elevator to the third floor. They had an inside room, and Isaac figured that they’d be much harder to find in a place like this, even if somehow the shooter figured out what kind of car they were driving, a nearly impossible feat.
Surely they’d be safe here.
Isaac waited for Leah to unlock the door and flip on the lights. The place was nice, as it should be for the price he’d paid. There was a comfortable living area, complete with a small kitchenette, so they could cook their own meals if they were going to stay for a few days.
The first bedroom had two double beds, and he waited while Leah pulled down the covers so he could set Ben down in the one nearest the bathroom.
She quickly stripped the boy’s coat, hat mittens and boots off before covering him with the sheet and blanket. For a moment she simply stood there, staring down at her sleeping child. Isaac eased toward the door, thinking that maybe she wanted some privacy.
But she surprised him by turning and following him out to the living area. “It’s hard to believe we’re finally safe,” she murmured, running a hand through her hair.
Isaac had to stop himself from wrapping her in his arms and holding her close. He cleared his throat and nodded. “No one knows we’re here, Leah. The car can’t be traced to us, either. We are safe.”
Her smile was a tad pathetic, but still made his heart race. “I finally believe that.”
He cleared his throat again, hoping she couldn’t tell how nervous he was. “I’m going to go back down to get the laptop, okay?”
“Sounds good.”
He left the room, thinking for sure Leah would be tucked in bed by the time he returned. He wouldn’t blame her one bit, since he doubted she’d gotten much sleep before the tear-gas incident.
Grabbing the computer case out of the backseat didn’t take long, and within minutes he was back upstairs, using his key card to access the room. When he opened the door, he was surprised to find Leah curled in a corner of the sofa, waiting for him.
She glanced over when he walked in. “Did you want me to order something to eat? You mentioned you were hungry.”
Isaac was touched by her offer. When was the last time anyone cared about whether he was tired or hungry?
“Thanks for the thought, but I doubt they’ll provide room service this late.” He set the computer case down on the small table in the kitchenette
.
“Really?” Leah seemed surprised and then shrugged. “You’re probably right. It’s closer to breakfast, anyway.”
“Get some sleep, Leah,” he suggested in a low tone. “I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
She dropped her gaze and nodded. “I am, but truthfully, I’m afraid I’ll have nightmares.”
The urge to offer comfort was strong. “I’m sorry,” he murmured helplessly.
“It’s okay.” She uncurled herself from the sofa and stood. To his surprise, she crossed over to him and put her hand on his arm. “Thanks for keeping us safe, Isaac.” She stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss across his cheek before turning to head into her room.
It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to let her walk away, when all he really wanted to do was haul her close for a real kiss. He didn’t let out his breath until she’d closed the door behind her, the cinnamon-and-spice scent lingering long after she’d gone.
He gave himself a stern talking-to as he headed into his room. He wasn’t in the market for a relationship. And Hawk wouldn’t appreciate knowing how much Isaac thought about kissing his sister.
From here on out, he needed to keep his distance from Leah. For both their sakes.
FIVE
Leah awoke with a start, to find bright sunlight streaming through the window. For a minute she couldn’t figure out where she was, but then the events from the night before came rushing back to her.
The masked man, the Jeep sliding into a ditch, the canister of tear gas. She pushed her tangled hair away from her face, amazed that she’d slept so soundly after all that. When she glanced over at Ben’s bed, her heart flew into her throat, because it was empty.
“Ben?” She leaped out of bed and dashed over to open the door. She needn’t have worried, for Isaac had everything under control. He was seated beside Ben, the two of them enjoying a hearty meal of scrambled eggs and bacon.
“Good morning, Leah,” Isaac said. “Are you hungry? I didn’t order anything for you yet, because I didn’t want the food to get cold.”
“I— Um, yes. I’m hungry.” She was glad to see that Ben must be getting over his nervousness around Isaac. They looked quite cozy eating breakfast together.
“It will take a few minutes for them to deliver,” Isaac said as he reached for the phone. “But I have coffee here if you want some.”
“I’d love a cup.” Leah crossed over and helped herself to a steaming mug. She doused it with cream and then carried it back to her room. If breakfast was going to be a while, she’d spend the time getting cleaned up.
She emerged from the bathroom twenty minutes later, feeling much better even though her mud-splattered jeans were beyond redemption. But she pulled them on anyway, because she didn’t have anything else to wear.
Making a mental note to convince Isaac they needed to go shopping, she came out of the bedroom to the enticing aroma of bacon and eggs.
“Smells delicious,” she said, pulling out a chair next to her son. At this moment it was almost as if none of the terrible things had happened last night.
“Trust me, it is.” Isaac stood and moved his dirty dishes out of the way so she’d have more room.
“Mr. Isaac is a policeman just like Uncle Shane,” Ben said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Isn’t that cool?”
She forced a smile for Ben’s sake. “You bet.”
“Are we gonna see Uncle Shane soon?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. I think he’s working,” she hedged.
“He saves people, right, Mommy?” Ben persisted.
“Yes, he does. And so does Mr. Isaac.”
“Ben, how about we let your mom eat her food before it gets cold?” Isaac suggested.
“Okay.”
Leah gave Isaac a grateful smile and then bowed her head for a quick, silent prayer of thanks before digging into her breakfast. She had to admit the food was amazing, or maybe it was just that she was incredibly hungry.
Isaac went over to the sofa and began working on his computer.
“Can I watch cartoons, Mom?” Ben asked as he finished his eggs. “Please?”
“Sure,” she said, glancing at Isaac. He smiled and picked up the remote, finding a children’s channel without difficulty.
Ben abandoned his dirty dishes, running toward the sofa. Without a moment’s hesitation, he climbed up and settled in beside Isaac.
For a moment Leah stared at the two of them sitting together, wishing for something she couldn’t have. She gave herself a mental shake and concentrated on finishing her breakfast.
The sound of cartoons reminded her of Saturday mornings at home. Sometimes, if he happened to be off work, Shane would come and join them.
Thinking about her brother made her push her empty plate away with a heavy sigh. Here she was, enjoying a nice breakfast, while her brother was who knew where, fighting to stay alive. What was wrong with her?
Quickly, she cleared away the dirty dishes, stacking them on the tray and pushing it out into the hallway for the hotel staff to pick up.
“Isaac? Could you come over here for a minute?”
He looked surprised, but set his computer aside to stand.
“Please bring the laptop,” she added.
Isaac’s eyebrows rose, but he did as she requested, unplugging the cord and carrying everything over to the small table. “What’s wrong?” he asked in a low voice.
“We have to do something to find Shane.” She wasn’t about to take no for an answer. “There must be something we can do to help him.”
“I understand how difficult this must be for you,” Isaac said. “But I offered to help your brother and all he asked was that I keep you and Ben safe.”
“Yeah, but who’s helping him?” she asked in an exasperated tone. “We can’t just sit here twiddling our thumbs. Shane admitted he’s in trouble, and we have to do something to help.”
“Do you have any idea where to start?” Isaac asked.
Her shoulders slumped in defeat. She didn’t have any clue where Shane might be. How could she? Her chest ached with the sick realization that it was her own fault. She’d allowed him to keep the dangerous aspects of his job a secret. In fact, she’d forced the issue, often changing the subject if he brought up something that reminded her of the way they’d lost their father.
Losing their dad had destroyed their family. Her mother had turned to alcohol, Shane had gotten into trouble and she’d buried herself in her studies, trying to block everything else out.
But no more hiding from reality. She drew in a ragged breath. “There has to be something we can do,” she insisted. “What about Shane’s partner? Trey Birchwood? Couldn’t we try to find him and talk to him?”
“That might be a good place to start,” Isaac agreed. “Hawk said not to trust him, but that doesn’t mean we can’t ask him a few questions. But first I have to find out what he looks like.”
Leah sipped her coffee as Isaac punched the computer keys, pulling up Trey’s driver’s license. He spun the computer toward her so she could see the screen. “Does that look like him?”
She chewed her lower lip as she stared at the grainy photograph on the screen. “I only met him once, but I’m pretty sure that’s him.”
“All right, I’ll take a drive past his place, see if he’s around. When I called the Fifth District police station late last night, they said he was off work this weekend.”
“Wait a minute. I want to go with you,” she protested with a frown.
But Isaac was already shaking his head. “I can’t put you and Ben in danger. I promised Hawk I’d keep you safe.”
“I understand, and trust me, I want to keep Ben safe, too. But we also need to buy a few things, at least a change of clothes and something to help keep Ben entertained fo
r a while, as I’m sure cartoons aren’t going to hold his interest for long. Couldn’t we go to one of those big-box stores? And maybe cruise past Trey Birchwood’s house on the way?”
Isaac scowled, but glanced over at Ben, as if considering her idea. “I guess you’re right,” he admitted finally. “We should probably pick up a few things.”
“I have some cash,” she said, in case he was worried about how much she planned to spend. “And I have my debit card, too.”
“Cash only,” he said in a stern tone. “We don’t want to leave an electronic trail.”
She pursed her lips, mentally calculating how much she had on hand. Luckily, she’d gotten in the habit of carrying a small, secret stash of cash for emergencies, and this was definitely an emergency. “All right, no cards. When can we leave?”
Isaac hesitated. “Soon, since it’s almost checkout time.” Her disappointment must have shown, because he added, “I’m not sure if staying here another night is the right thing to do. I feel like we should keep moving, just in case.”
She glanced around the cozy suite, wishing they could stay another day, but knowing that it was far too expensive. And besides, moving around was probably the smart thing to do.
“All right, that gives us roughly thirty minutes or so. Is there anything else we can search for on the laptop?”
“Mom, cartoons are over,” Ben shouted. “Can we go swimming? Or find a playground?”
Isaac shut down the computer. “We’re going shopping first, okay?”
“Shopping, yuck,” the boy muttered with a pout.
“I thought maybe you’d like to get the new handheld video game that’s out,” Leah offered. “But if you’d rather not...”
“I do! I want it!” Ben’s mood instantly did a three-sixty, making her smile.
Isaac chuckled, too. “All right, let’s get going.”
Leah ducked into the bathroom to gather up the toiletries and stuff them into her purse. She was desperate to wash her hair, but needed to purchase a brush first or her curly hair would be nothing but a snarled mess.
