Reunion on the Run Page 3

  Had Gretchen gotten through to him in a way she hadn’t been able to?

  “Colleague.” He shot a look her way. “She’s a colleague, and I trust her to keep them safe.”

  “Right.” Claire fidgeted with the hem of her cardigan as worry began to niggle at her. “Beth lives in a gated community and her house has a top-notch security system. Do you think they could be in danger?”

  Leaving her daughter behind had been the hardest thing she’d ever done. She’d only been able to go through with it because she’d been so sure that Mia would be completely safe with Beth. Far safer than if Claire had taken Mia on the run with her.

  “Gretchen will check over Beth’s security system, make sure it’s up to par. I asked her to stay with Beth and her husband until this is over. I don’t think your sister will fight her on it. She sounded frazzled when we spoke.”

  “I thought Mia would be safe with Beth,” Claire admitted. “Wouldn’t it be foolish of Xavier to go after her? It would draw unwanted attention to him, to the situation. He’s framed me, wants me to look guilty. If something happened to Mia, it would be too suspicious. Do you think I was wrong? You never answered my question. Do you think they could be in danger?”

  “You’re probably right and Mia is probably safest with Beth,” he agreed. “If he were to go after Mia, if she were harmed in any way, it would bring the investigation to a whole new level. Given how reporters are covering this story, something like that would cause a media explosion. But I’ve seen desperate people go to desperate measures. I prefer to err on the side of caution.”

  Claire’s stomach clenched at the thought of anything happening to her daughter.

  “Thank you. I appreciate the extra protection for my family. I’m sure Beth will, too,” she said. Her sister was married to a cardiologist. Though Steven was brilliant, he was in the business of saving lives via complicated surgeries. Not protecting them by fending off gunmen.

  She missed Mia so much her heart ached with it. Prior to this ordeal, she’d never spent a night away from her. Beth had always been actively involved in Mia’s life. Claire knew Mia would be comfortable with Auntie Beth. Yet the child had to be confused. Claire didn’t want her daughter to feel abandoned. She knew all too well how much it hurt to be left behind.

  “Claire?”

  Her head snapped up.

  He motioned to a sign up ahead. “We’re here.”

  * * *

  Tourist season was over for the year. The small campground was nearly deserted. It was the perfect, indiscriminate place to stay. A Place in the Pines offered small, one-bedroom cabins in addition to its nearly empty campsites. The setting was rundown—or rustic—depending upon your perspective.

  Alex scanned the parking lot as he returned to the Jeep. He was confident they hadn’t been followed. He’d driven the back roads long enough to be sure they hadn’t had a tail. Claire had not seemed happy with the prospect of spending time with him. Yet she hadn’t argued, confirming just how afraid, how desperate, she was.

  After what he’d put her through years ago, he owed her and he was going to take care of her now, the way he should’ve done back then.

  His mind was still reeling, trying to come to terms with what he’d inadvertently uncovered earlier in the day. He had a child. Though the online article he’d read hadn’t mentioned him by name, he was sure of it. It stated that Claire had a three-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. It didn’t take a mathematician to figure that one out. The fact was driven home when the article stated that the girl’s father had been absent from her life.

  At the time, he thought he had good reason for leaving. Now he wasn’t so sure.

  Regret stabbed at him when he remembered how difficult he’d been. How withdrawn. He’d been plagued by nightmares, riddled with guilt over what had happened overseas. How could he ever make Claire understand that pushing himself, going to the extreme, had been the only way to quiet those feelings? It had worked, but only for a while. The guilt always came back with a vengeance. It wasn’t until after he’d found a connection with God a couple years ago that he’d been able to find peace within himself. It had taken being jumped in a dark, grungy alley and nearly losing his life to get to that place.

  Now he did his job for the right reason. He was no longer running from the past but living for every moment when he could reconnect a person with their loved ones. Sure, his job was still dangerous, but he was good at it. He was cautious now in a way he hadn’t been back then.

  He’d returned from breaking up a human trafficking ring just this morning. Now he wished he’d returned weeks ago. He could’ve been helping Claire all along. Helping her with what, exactly, he wasn’t sure yet. He was going to find out. She’d mentioned Xavier Ambrose a few times now.

  While reading about the murder of Jared Mitchell, Xavier’s name had come up several times. They were business partners who owned a successful hotel chain.

  The media suggested a volatile marriage between Claire and Jared. His gut instinct kicked in. Claire and volatile were not words that belonged in the same sentence. If their marriage was truly volatile, he had no doubt Jared was to blame.

  Alex felt a surge of anger. His mind took off with scenarios he didn’t want to think of. If Jared had hurt her...

  He pushed out a breath. If Jared had hurt her, he would face judgment with the Lord for that. There was nothing Alex could do. Especially not now that Jared was dead.

  He reached the Jeep and hopped inside.

  “Do we have a place to stay?”

  “We do.” He held up the key. Claire’s face was plastered on newspapers, the television, the internet. They both knew she had to stay out of sight as much as possible. “It’s the one on the end.”

  He drove the short distance to the last cabin in a row of five. All were painted the same deep brown with green shutters. Only one cabin in the middle had a car parked in front of it.

  “Tomorrow morning we’ll have to run into town,” he said. “I’ll need a couple changes of clothes. I had a duffel bag in the vehicle I left behind, but we’re obviously not going back there.” He tapped the backpack she clutched on her lap. “Do you have enough to get by?”

  “I should.”

  “Let’s get you into the cabin.” He got out, pulling the seat forward. Roscoe dropped to the ground with a grunt. His stubby tail wagged as he scoped out their new surroundings.

  Claire clutched her backpack as she followed.

  Alex quickly opened the door, flipped on the light and ushered Claire in.

  The cabin was sparsely decorated but appeared to be clean. When he went into town for clothes, he’d have to grab some groceries, as well. There was no telling how long they would be there.

  “It’s not exactly paradise,” he said to Claire, “but it’ll have to do.”

  She gave him a cool look. “Compared to where I’ve been staying, it is paradise. At least it has running water.”

  “How did you get by in that shack?” Alex asked.

  “I took the Jeep into town a few times a week. There’s a truck stop that has showers. I had a propane cookstove, water jugs, a cooler. I made it work.” She moved into the cabin, placing her backpack on the table.

  “You went into town and no one recognized you?”

  “I was careful.”

  “How careful?” It seemed like an awfully big risk to take. She had told him a bit about the Jeep. He already knew she’d purchased the Jeep it in cash from an old farmer. She hadn’t changed the title card on it and the thing didn’t have insurance.

  They should ditch it as soon as they had the chance. Not only was it illegal to drive, but Xavier’s men had seen it. They’d be on the lookout for it.

  “I wore a disguise every time I went to town.” She frowned. “I had no choice. I needed an internet connection. I used the connection at the
local library. They had chairs scattered all over the upper level. I could charge my laptop and research at the same time. No one paid any attention to me.”

  “Care to tell me what you were researching?”

  “I can do better than that. I’ll show you.”

  She tugged the backpack’s zipper down. Reaching in, she pulled out a black binder. “Xavier Ambrose killed Jared. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough evidence to prove it.”

  She handed the binder to him.

  “Tell me what you need from me.”

  A sharp laugh cut through the cabin. “What I need from you?”

  He realized that could be a loaded question. Or maybe not. She was looking at him as though the only thing she needed was for him to go away.

  “You need help,” he said firmly. “That’s obvious.” He offered up a small smile. “Though I have to admit, seeing you take down two men with nothing but pepper spray was a pretty amazing sight. You must’ve used the good stuff. Police grade.”

  He knew the stickier spray wouldn’t blow back in the sprayer’s face. The heat of the red pepper spray would be debilitating. Because it was a gel, it was harder to clean off. She had made a good choice.

  “I didn’t take them down with just pepper spray,” Claire corrected, “I took them down with Roscoe’s help. Without him startling them the way he did, I think the outcome would’ve been very different.”

  He couldn’t argue with that.

  “Read through that information and tell me what you think,” Claire requested. “That’s all I need from you right now.”

  He clenched the binder in his hand.

  Roscoe whined as he leaned against Claire’s leg.

  Alex knew he was being ridiculous, but he felt as if Roscoe was holding a grudge. Though Claire was too panicked to realize it was Alex coming out of the woods at the shack, he was pretty sure Roscoe had known. The dog had stuck by Claire’s side, not acknowledging Alex until he’d commanded the dog’s attention. Even now, Roscoe was making it clear who his real owner was.

  Alex couldn’t blame him. He’d abandoned the dog, as well. It didn’t seem to matter that Alex had spent countless hours working with Roscoe, turning him into the disciplined animal he was today. They’d spent many afternoons going for jogs or playing fetch. But in the end, the dog had become Claire’s, and Claire’s alone.

  “I should take him out,” she said.

  “I’ll do it. I’m not having you walk around out there in the dark.”

  “You said there was no chance we were followed.”

  “I stand by that.”

  “Then what do you care if I’m outside, alone in the dark?” She wrapped her arms around her slender waist.

  He heard the challenge in her words and sighed.

  “Look, Claire, I don’t want to fight with you. I think we’ve done enough of that to last a lifetime.” He raked his free hand through his hair. He wanted to ask her about Mia, but one look at Claire, so on edge, warned him it wasn’t a good time. He couldn’t imagine the conversation going well right now. So, he’d wait. Instead he asked, “Can we call a truce? Can we concentrate on the current problem instead of getting bogged down by the problems of the past?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry.” Her shoulders drooped, and she seemed to deflate in front of him. “I’m not myself these days. I’m exhausted. I’m terrified I’m going to spend the rest of my life in prison, paying for a crime I didn’t commit.”

  “That’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.” It was a promise he intended to keep. “You’re not on your own anymore. I’m going to help you figure this out.”

  And if he didn’t? If they couldn’t find the proof she needed? He had a backup plan. He’d get her and their daughter out of the country. He had the resources to do it. He wouldn’t allow her to be sent to prison when he knew she was innocent. And then...well, he couldn’t let himself think too far ahead. His mind was still reeling from what he’d discovered earlier in the day. He and Claire needed to have a serious talk about the little girl staying with Beth.

  Soon.

  Just not quite yet because, despite how anxious he was for answers, Claire looked as if she were about ready to collapse from exhaustion.

  “Thank you.” Her words were a breathy whisper. “I don’t think I’ve said that yet.”

  “You don’t need to thank me.”

  “I do. Even though you’re standing right here, I’m having a hard time grasping the fact that you came after me.” Her lower lip trembled as he watched her fight for composure. “I was so sure I’d never see you again.”

  Did she really think so little of him that it surprised her that he was there to help? She probably did. Worse yet, he probably deserved it. When he’d walked out on her, he had been in a bad place emotionally. He’d thought he was doing the right thing. He’d been sure cutting her free was the kindest thing to do. She’d deserved better than to be tied to a man who was so miserable to be around.

  Maybe he’d been wrong.

  He didn’t know.

  “I’ll never be able to tell you how sorry I am about the way I ended things,” he admitted.

  She studied his face for a moment, looked as if she wanted to say something and then forced a weak smile. “You were right. My current problem is big enough. It would be silly to drag up problems from the past.”

  Roscoe released a loud, theatrical whine. He didn’t appreciate being kept waiting. Alex reached for the doorknob, ready to let the dog out, but twisted back around when Claire spoke again.

  “I’m just happy to know you’re alive and well,” Claire said. “I prayed for you. Every night. I prayed for your safety and for healing.” She dropped her gaze, unable to look him in the eye. “I pray for you still.”

  “I didn’t know you were the praying type,” he said, feeling somewhat surprised. Maybe he didn’t know Claire as well as he thought he did.

  “Things change.” She lifted her chin. “After you left, Beth convinced me to start attending church with her. A lot of years had passed since I’d stepped foot inside a chapel. Once I did—” she gave a small shrug “—it made me question why I ever let myself drift away from the church in the first place. I started reading my Bible again and I began to pray. I prayed a lot.”

  “God heard you,” he said gently. “He heard you loud and clear. It took some time for me to listen to Him, but He finally helped me get my head straightened out.”

  Claire looked at him quizzically. “You’re a Christian now?”

  “Yes,” he said firmly. “Maybe sometime I’ll tell you how that came about. But it’s a story better saved for another time.”

  She looked like she wanted to push the matter, but a yawn cut off her words.

  It was for the best. Maybe sometime he’d tell her about the stabbing that had taken place in the alley. Maybe he’d tell her how it had changed his life. But he didn’t want to get into that tonight. It was clear she had enough weighing on her and he didn’t want to add to that.

  “Get some sleep,” Alex suggested as he motioned toward the bedroom. “I’ll take the couch. You’ll be safe here.”

  She shook her head. “You can think what you like, but until this is over, I won’t be safe anywhere.”

  “Claire—” his tone was firm “—I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  She leveled him with a look that clearly stated he had already hurt her more than anyone else could.

  “You’re right,” she said quietly. She picked up her bag, edging away from Alex as she headed toward the bedroom. “I should get some sleep. I’m tired. I can’t deal with any more tonight.”

  He thought she probably meant she couldn’t deal with him any more tonight. He couldn’t blame her. He would help her clear her name. It wouldn’t absolve him of his past mistakes, but it was something. Then he would allow her to get on with
her life.

  THREE

  Claire struggled to force her eyes open as she fought against the sensation of water filling her nose, her mouth, threatening to fill her lungs. Her limbs vibrated with anxiety as a feeling of dread flowed through her body. She tried to move but her arms felt weighted down, too heavy to budge.

  She gasped for air as she willed herself out of the nightmare that had plagued her since Jared’s death. She tried not to think of that awful day, but the memories consistently wound themselves into her dreams. Jared had drowned...and she’d nearly drowned trying to save him.

  Blinking into the dimly lit room, she felt disoriented.

  Where was she?

  She scrambled into a sitting position, heart hammering wildly. Hazy light crept through the sides of the curtains, barely offering enough light to see by. Unfamiliar walls surrounded her. A strange door was straight across from her. Panic sizzled through her veins as the foreign room came into focus. She jerked fully awake as she tried to get her bearings.

  A soft nudge against her hand immediately calmed her. Roscoe whimpered, as if sensing her panic. He nudged her again, the action instantly setting her at ease. She let her hand drift over his head. His silky fur felt familiar and comforting under her palm.

  She hated reliving the moment she’d found Jared facedown in the pool. She’d jumped in without thinking, her fleece bathrobe weighing her down, pulling her under, anchoring her below the surface. She’d struggled with the tie around her waist, fighting to get it undone so she could slip free. Once out of the robe, she’d broken the surface of the water, gasping for air even as she swam toward Jared. She’d dragged him to the edge, pulled him out. Her efforts had been in vain. He had died within moments of being shoved into the pool. The blow to his head incapacitating him enough that he’d dragged in a water-filled breath and that had been the end of him.

  Her own lungs burned as she dropped back onto her pillow. She shoved the nightmarish memory aside. Other nightmarish memories quickly seeped in, filling her mind with another brand of terror as she thought of the harrowing evening she’d had.