Yuletide Fugitive Threat
For a moment she couldn’t respond. Her mouth trembled as she realized that for years, there’d been nobody she could tell. Now a man who had been kinder to her than any other in her entire life was asking for the truth. She couldn’t refuse, but when she opened her mouth to speak, the words wouldn’t come. A keening wail drifted from her throat, and she closed her eyes as the tears began to stream down her face. She took a deep breath.
“All right!” she sobbed. “My marriage was a nightmare. Kyle was a monster, and I lived in fear that every day would be the one when he would finally go too far and kill me.”
She felt him move closer, and she glanced up just as he reached out and patted her shoulder. That only produced more tears. “Why didn’t you come to me?” he whispered. “I would have helped you.”
The sorrow in his eyes pierced her heart, and she pulled free of him and turned her face into the soft afghan she’d just folded minutes before. He didn’t say anything as she sobbed but patted her shoulder from time to time and uttered some soothing words.
After several minutes she sat up and wiped at her eyes. Her pulse was still racing, but it was freeing to finally admit to someone what her life had been like. And she was glad Lucas was the one she could tell.
“After Kyle and I were married, I discovered very quickly why my father had wanted me to marry him. He was like my father, but worse. He didn’t allow me to make any decisions, not even about the clothes I wore. He picked out everything, provided everything and wanted me at home when he got there. The abuse wasn’t too bad at first. If I displeased him, didn’t cook a meal the way he liked it, he would slap me. Then one night things escalated.”
“What happened?”
“He was watching the news, and the reporter did a story about your brother, Adam, bringing in a fugitive wanted in a high-profile case. Adam told about the Knight Agency, and he mentioned that his younger brother was serving in the navy SEALs but was arriving home on leave soon. I made the mistake of saying that I was glad you had pursued your goal, and Kyle went wild. He accused me of still being in love with you and of plotting to meet you when you came home on leave. That’s the first night I had to go to the hospital.”
Lucas’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he swallowed hard. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
She waved her hand in dismissal. “It wasn’t your fault. I’d made the mistake of marrying him. After that, though, things got worse.”
“Why didn’t you leave?”
She shrugged. “I tried to once, but he found me and brought me back. That was one of the worst beatings. He told me if I ever left again, he’d kill me. He hired a maid after that to keep tabs on me. She reported every little thing I did to Kyle.”
Lucas squeezed her hand tighter and then released it. “I’m so sorry you had to endure this. I wish I could have helped you.”
“It’s okay, Lucas. I’ve been alone for so long that I don’t expect much from anybody anymore.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she could barely make out his image even though he sat next to her. “But, please, help me now. I’m never going to be free of Kyle and the life he made me live until his killer is caught.”
He smiled at her, and for the first time in years she felt some hope. Maybe she could overcome the fear she’d lived in for so long.
“Don’t worry, Mia. I’ll help you, and I promise I’ll do everything in my power to find this guy and keep you safe from him.”
Her eyes filled with tears again. “I was so afraid to come here. I didn’t know if you’d even listen to me. I can never tell you how much I appreciate your help.”
Telling Lucas about her life hadn’t been easy, but she felt better, almost as if a dam had burst and all the memories that threatened her sanity had poured out. Maybe this was the beginning of a new life for her. She hoped so.
She had no idea what she’d do once Tony Chapman was back in jail where he belonged, but at least she’d be free. Free to go and do as she pleased. And free of everything that tied her to the past. And Lucas was going to make that happen.
THREE
Lucas walked to the window in the living room and stared outside. The discovery of what Mia’s marriage had been like had almost sucked the breath out of him. He raked his hand through his hair and groaned. Even if he had spent the past seven years trying to come to grips with the anger he’d felt for her, he would never have wanted her to endure what she’d had to go through.
He glanced around. She still sat on the sofa, her eyes downcast and her hands clasped in her lap. He’d thought she looked like a waif when she’d arrived. Now he realized she was a battered woman. Not only had Kyle hurt her physically, he had hurt her emotionally, and Lucas had no idea how to deal with it.
However, he did know how to deal with danger, and, from what Mia had told him, she was in a lot of danger right now. The one thing he still hadn’t figured out was how Mia’s caller had known she was at his house. If he hadn’t followed her here, he had to have some way of keeping tabs on her. The answer hit him, and he groaned again.
“Of course. The car.” He whirled around from the window and ran to the door. “I’ll be right back,” he called over his shoulder to a startled Mia.
Once outside he headed straight to Mia’s car. It took only a few minutes to find the GPS tracker attached by a magnet to the inside fender of the back left tire. He pulled the tracker out, and an uneasy fear slowly curled through his body. When Mia had first begun to tell her story, he hadn’t believed the threat to her to be that severe. Now, with Mia’s account of the attack at her home, the threatening phone calls and a GPS tracker on her car, he knew it was serious. Deadly serious.
He stared down at the device in his hand before turning it off. Then he closed his fingers around it as he reentered the house. Mia stood just inside the front door, waiting for his return. When he walked in, her eyes grew wide. He motioned toward the living room. “Let’s go back in there.”
He followed her into the room and stopped when she turned to face him. A puzzled expression flickered in her eyes. “Why did you go to my car?”
Lucas opened his hand. “To look for this.”
She took one glance at what he held and frowned. “Wh-what is that thing?”
“It’s a GPS device that was attached to your car. That’s how your caller knew where you’d gone. As long as you kept using your car, he’d have known where you were at all times if I hadn’t found it. I think we need to go to the police and tell them Chapman is stalking and threatening you.”
“No!” A panicked look flashed across her face, and she glanced around as if in search of an escape route. “I can’t go to the police. He said if I did, I’d end up with three bullet holes in my head.”
Lucas reached out and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to an abrupt stop. “We have to, Mia. My brother-in-law, Ryan Spencer, is a detective on the force. You don’t have to go to the police station. I’ll call him and have him come over here.”
Mia tried to pull away from him. “I can’t. I’m afraid,” she cried out.
Lucas clamped his hands on her shoulders and stared down into her eyes. “I know you’re afraid, and I understand. You’ve been through things in the past seven years that would have destroyed a weaker woman. But you’re not weak, Mia. And you’re not alone anymore. I’ll help you face this.”
She shook her head. “I’m not the same woman you once knew, Lucas. I can’t do this. Maybe it’s better if I just let Tony Chapman finish what Kyle tried to do many times—kill me.”
A lock of hair had fallen across her forehead, and he reached up and gently smoothed it back into place. “You don’t mean that.”
She closed her eyes, and a tear ran down her cheek. “I do. I’m tired and scared, and I just want this to be over.”
Lucas put his finger tip under her chin and tilted her face up. “Look at me, Mia.” When she didn’t respond, he nudged her again. “Please look at me.”
Hesitantly, she opened her eyes and swallowed as she stared up into his face. “What?”
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
She gave a slight nod. “Yes.”
“Then you need to do exactly as I say. I’m going to keep you safe from Tony Chapman, but we have to report this to the police. Now, I want you to sit back down on the couch while I call Ryan. When he arrives, you can tell him your story. Then we’ll figure out where we go from here. Okay?”
After a moment she nodded, and he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and stepped back into the hallway to make the call. His brother-in-law answered right away. “Ryan,” Lucas said, “I need to ask a favor of you.”
“Sure. What is it?”
“I have a new client who’s in trouble, and she needs to talk to the police but doesn’t want to come to the station. Can you come over to my house?”
“I can. I’m on my way home now and can stop by, if that’s okay.”
“That’s great. We’ll see you soon.”
He ended the call and walked back into the living room where Mia sat on the couch again. “Did you talk with Ryan?”
“I did. He’s on his way. Would you like something to eat while we’re waiting?”
She shook her head. “No. I just want to get this over with.”
Lucas sat down beside her on the sofa. Mia shivered, and she reached for the afghan once more. “Are you cold?” Lucas asked. “Do I need to turn up the thermostat?”
“No. I think it’s just nerves,” she said as she wrapped the afghan around her.
There had to be some way to make her relax. He said the only thing he could think of. “Mia, I’m sorry I was curt with you earlier when you asked about my parents. They’re doing well.”
She turned her head toward him and smiled. “Really? That’s good to know.”
“In fact, they’re doing great. Dad’s enjoying retirement, but Mom still works part-time as a nurse. We all had dinner together at their house last night.”
“All?”
“Yeah. Adam got married about a year and a half ago. His wife, Claire, works as the receptionist at the agency for us. They’re expecting their first child in a few weeks. My sister, Jessica, married Ryan Spencer, the guy we’re waiting for, about six months ago. She works with us, but she was Ryan’s partner before she left the police force.”
A smile tugged at the corner of Mia’s lips. “That sounds like a wonderful family group.” She hesitated a moment before she spoke again. “And what about you? Is there someone special in your life?”
Lucas chuckled and shook his head. “If you mean a woman, then the answer is no. If, on the other hand, you meant to say something special, then you must be referring to my motorcycle, and the answer is yes.”
Her eyes crinkled at the corners the way he remembered as she giggled. “Oh, Lucas, you always could make me laugh.”
The chiming of the doorbell sounded before he could reply, and he jumped to his feet. “That must be Ryan.”
When he opened the front door, Ryan hurried into the house. “It’s getting colder by the minute. I hope I don’t get called out on a case tonight. I’m looking forward to spending a quiet night at home.”
“I’d like to do that myself,” Lucas said, “but I don’t know about that at the moment.”
Ryan cocked an eyebrow as he shrugged out of his coat. “You said you have a new client? What’s going on?”
Lucas hesitated a few seconds as Ryan hung his coat on the hall tree. “It’s kind of complicated,” he said.
Ryan glanced toward the living room and then back to Lucas. “How?”
Lucas cleared his throat. “Has Jessica ever said anything to you about Mia Lockhart?”
Ryan nodded. “She’s mentioned her. She was your girlfriend in college. Right?”
“Yeah. Well, she’s in trouble, and I think the police need to know about it.”
He led Ryan into the living room where Mia sat on the couch, her hands clasped in her lap. A worried expression covered her face, and her fingers trembled. She glanced from Ryan to Lucas as they entered. Ryan stepped over to the couch and held his hand out.
She reached up and shook his hand, and he settled on the couch next to her. “Mia, I’m Ryan Spencer, Lucas’s brother-in-law. I’m a detective with the police department. Lucas said you’re in trouble. Do you want to tell me about it?”
Her gaze darted to Lucas and then back to Ryan as she grasped the edge of the afghan and pulled it up to her neck. “Are you familiar with the Kyle Lockhart murder case?” she asked.
Ryan nodded. “I am. I know the detectives working the case against Tony Chapman. He must have some friends in high places if they were willing to post such a high bail. It didn’t surprise us when he jumped bail.”
“Kyle was my husband, but I never met Tony Chapman until after Kyle was killed,” she said.
Lucas settled back and listened as Mia began to tell her story to Ryan, who made notes on a pad while she talked. From time to time he would ask a question, and she would respond. When she finished, Mia leaned back against the cushions of the sofa as if she was exhausted. Throughout her story, she hadn’t mentioned anything about the abuse she had suffered from her husband. Maybe she thought the police already knew, since it was a matter of public record.
Ryan glanced over the notes he’d taken before he looked back at Mia. “And you have no idea what Chapman wants from you?”
“No.” Her eyes grew wide, and the muscles in her throat rippled as she swallowed. “If I knew, I’d give it to him just to get rid of him. But I have no idea what it is.”
Ryan flipped the notebook closed and inhaled. “It seems that he’s determined to get whatever it is. Lucas did the right thing in getting you to talk to me. The police have been looking for Chapman, and we have some leads we’re checking out. With Lucas on the case, too, hopefully it won’t be long until he’s caught. Until that time you need to be in a safe place. It doesn’t sound like you should go home. Are there any family members you can stay with?”
Mia shook her head. “No. I told Lucas I could go to a hotel.”
Ryan glanced at Lucas. “That’s probably best. Maybe it will only take a few days for us to have him back in custody. Why don’t you check into a hotel but stay in close touch with Lucas? We’ll keep you posted on developments.”
Lucas frowned. “Do you really think a hotel is a good idea?”
“There’s nowhere else I can go, Lucas,” Mia interrupted as she rose to her feet. “I’ve taken up too much of your time today. I’ll find a hotel and let you know where I’m staying.”
Lucas jumped to his feet, too, and shook his head. “No, I don’t want you to go alone. I’ll go with you and get you settled somewhere.”
“Lucas, you don’t have to—” she began.
“I think he should go with you, Mia,” Ryan interrupted as he rose. “It’s always better to be safe.”
She shrugged. “Okay. If you think that’s best.”
Ryan turned to Lucas. “I’ll check with you in the morning, but let me know if you need anything else tonight.”
“I will,” Lucas said as he ushered Ryan toward the door. “Tell Jessica I may be late getting to the office in the morning. I’ll make sure Mia’s okay before I come in.”
“Will do.”
Lucas closed the door behind Ryan and turned back to the living room. Mia still stood in front of the couch, her hands clasped in front of her. Her lips trembled as a slight shiver rippled through her body. Lucas stopped in front of her and frowned. “Are you okay?”
She sucked in her breath and blinked. “Yeah, just tired. Except for my nap earlier, I haven’t slept much in the last few days.”
“Then let’s get you to a hotel. You can order some room service and get settled for the night. I think we should leave your car here. If Chapman comes by to check on it after he realizes his tracker has been turned off, he’ll see it and think you’re still here.”
“Okay.” Her purse lay on the coffee table, and she reached for it just as a chime alerted her from the phone inside that a text had arrived. She looked up at him, a startled expression on her face, before she pulled the phone out. She stared down at the text, and then her body began to shake.
“What is it?” Lucas asked.
The phone slipped from her hand and dropped to the floor. Lucas reached down, picked it up and read the words of the message. I told you not to talk to the police.
Mia’s hand clutched at her throat, and her head shook from side to side in denial. “How does he know I talked to the police?”
“I don’t know,” Lucas muttered, “but he does. We need to get you out of here right away.”
He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward the kitchen and out the door into the enclosed garage. Opening the back door of his car, he pushed Mia inside. “Lie down on the seat and don’t sit up until we get to the hotel.”
Then he jumped in the driver’s seat, started the engine and raised the automatic garage door. As he backed out to the street, he scanned both ways in hopes of seeing a car where Chapman might be hiding, but he saw nothing unusual along either side of the street. A movement caught his eye as he shifted gears, and he glanced around to see the automatic garage door opening at the house of Mrs. Peterson, his elderly neighbor across the street. Where could she be going at this time of day? But sometimes when her daughter got off work, they met for dinner. She was probably headed to a restaurant right now to do that.
He dismissed the thought and turned his attention back to Mia, who lay in the backseat of his car. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“We’ll be at the hotel in a few minutes.” He glanced in the rearview mirror once more as he turned the corner and pulled into the heavy afternoon traffic.
She didn’t say anything, and he sighed as he rubbed his hand across his eyes. Hopefully, he was doing the right thing in putting Mia in a hotel. It didn’t seem completely safe, but he didn’t know what else he could do. This had certainly turned out to be the most surprising day he’d spent in a long time, and it had brought up too many memories he’d tried to ignore for years.
Maybe Chapman would be caught soon, and Mia could return home. Then he could put her out of his mind again and get on with the life he’d built for himself.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later Lucas unlocked the door to a room on the second floor of a midtown hotel and held it open for Mia to walk past him. She stopped just inside the door and turned to him. “Thank you, Lucas, for getting this room for me. I’ll repay you.”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. The agency will put it on your bill. For the time being, order your food from room service, and don’t leave this room.”
Her eyes blinked, and her breath hitched in her throat. For a moment she had almost forgotten that this was a business arrangement. Of course Lucas wasn’t helping her out of the kindness of his heart. She’d hired him to do a job for her, and this was just part of the services his agency supplied. His concern for her safety was no different than it would have been for any stranger who came to him for help.
She took a deep breath as a wobbly smile pulled at her lips. “I won’t leave the room.” She looked down at the jeans she’d been wearing since she left home. “Do you think it might be safe enough for me to go home tomorrow and get some clothes? If I’m going to be here for a while, I need to get some things.”
He pursed his lips and frowned. “I don’t know. We’ll talk again tomorrow. For now, call the concierge downstairs, and he’ll have anything you need sent up from the hotel’s shop. You can charge those to the room, also.”
“And you’ll add them to my bill?”
His face flushed, but he nodded. “Yes.”
She reached for the door handle and smiled again. “Thank you, Lucas, for all you’ve done for me today. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
A frown pulled at his brow. “Don’t you want me to come in and check out your room?”
“There’s no need in that. I’m sure it’s fine.”
He took a step back. “Then I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll come by before I go to the office.”
Mia nodded. “I’ll see you then.”
Without waiting for him to reply, she closed the door and stood staring at it, her hands clenched to her side. Should she have asked him to come in? After all, he’d opened his home to her today and tried to make her feel safe.
After a moment she shook her head. Keeping her safe was his job. He’d already told her that their relationship would be purely business. She and Lucas had taken different paths, and they were no longer that young boy and girl who’d once loved each other. She’d seen to that, and she didn’t think she would ever forgive herself for the choice she’d made.
With a sigh she walked over to the bed, sat down on the side and switched on the television with the remote. After a few minutes, she grew restless and wandered over to the window to look outside. The view of the parking lot behind the hotel left something to be desired.
Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten anything since Lucas had fixed her breakfast. She glanced at the desk in the room and spied a coffeepot. A cup of coffee and a sandwich was just what she needed. Once she had the coffee brewing, she called room service and sat down on the bed to flip through the channels to find something to watch. She’d just settled on a public television documentary when a knock sounded at the door. She glanced at her watch. No way could room service already be here.
She eased off the bed, tiptoed to the door, and leaned against it in hopes of hearing movement in the hall. When she heard nothing, she called out. “Who is it?”
“Maid service, ma’am. I need to put some clean towels in the bathroom,” a man’s voice called out.
Mia glanced at the closed door to the bathroom and frowned. She hadn’t looked in there yet. Maybe the maids were behind schedule today and hadn’t left towels earlier. She remembered seeing a man cleaning a room down the hall when she and Lucas had arrived earlier. Still, Lucas had told her to be careful before opening the door.
She took a deep breath. “Just leave them outside the door,” she said.
“I can’t do that, ma’am. The manager would fire me if he found out. I’ll only be a minute. Quick in and out.”
Mia reached for the doorknob and then pulled her hand away. She leaned forward and peered through the peephole into the hallway. A maid’s cart piled high with clean towels and linens sat in front of her door. She couldn’t see the man, but she caught a glimpse of his arm with towels draped over it. Underneath the towels she noticed a jacket like the one she’d seen on the hotel employee earlier.
She grasped the knob again and pulled the door open a few inches. “Okay, come on...”
Before she could finish her sentence, the door flew open, striking her in the chest with such a force that it knocked her backward where she landed like a sack of potatoes on the floor. Shaking her head to dispel her blurred vision, she scrambled backward as she stared up into the angry face of Tony Chapman. He slammed the door behind him and took a menacing step toward her.
“We meet again, Mrs. Lockhart,” he snarled as he came nearer. “You went to the police after I warned you not to. I hope you remember what I told you.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she shook her head. “Please, leave me alone. I’ve told you I don’t know what you want.”
A sinister smirk creased his mouth. “I think you do. Maybe you just need a reminder. Get up.”
“P-please,” she begged. “I don’t know...”
“Get up! Don’t make me kill you right here.”
Mia pushed to her feet and held a hand out in front of her as she backed farther away from him. “You need to get out of here before I scream for help.”
He laughed and took another step. “Scream and it’ll be the last sound to come out of your mouth.” He reached inside his jacket, pulled out a gun and aimed it at her. “Now do as I say. We’re going to walk downstairs and out of this hotel. I will be right beside you with a gun in your ribs, and if you so much as raise an eyebrow to anybody, I’ll kill you and whoever you try to alert. Do you understand?”