Janie Crouch - Battle Tested

Racing through sand wasn’t easy but Steve knew he was gaining ground. From the corner of his eye Steve could see the perp was slowing down. Probably because he didn’t see Steve behind him. Or maybe he was trying to blend in with some other tourists now that he was closer to the hotel.

Steve didn’t slow down as sand gave way to a sidewalk, then to the asphalt surrounding the hotel. Glancing over, he saw the hooded figure slip down a slim walkway between two buildings. This was his chance.

Steve forced another burst of speed out of his body. He had to make it around the corner and to the walkway before the guy got through and made it into the parking lot. Steve wouldn’t have much chance of finding him then.

Steve barreled around the corner ready to make a flying tackle if necessary, but the guy wasn’t there. He immediately scanned the parking lot but saw only one group of teenage girls getting into their car and two parents removing kids from car seats in another.

No hooded man. Damn it.

Steve squinted in the fading light. He could be hiding behind a vehicle. Or had made it around the corner and run the other way.

Something caught his attention away from the parking lot. About halfway down the corridor he’d been expecting the perp to run through, a head stuck out, looking the other way. It was the guy, looking for Steve but looking the wrong way.

Steve flattened himself against the wall and began making his way toward the man. He pulled out his weapon, although he kept it low and pointed to the ground. He didn’t want to cause any panic for vacationers who might alert the suspect that Steve was coming up behind him.

Quickly but silently, Steve approached the hooded figure, who still watched the other way.

“I’m armed law enforcement,” Steve said as he made his last few steps and pointed his Glock directly at the man. “Very slowly put your hands behind your head.”

Steve saw the guy stiffen and stepped closer in case he tried to run again or fight. He was small, but Steve had seen plenty of small people who could do a lot of damage. Hell, he’d helped train some of the best himself.

Steve didn’t have cuffs with him, so he’d have to call Sheriff Palmer to come make the arrest.

“Just stay right there,” he said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

The guy began to turn around.

“Hey, did you hear me?” Steve poked him in the back with his weapon. “Just stay right where you are.”

“Steve.” The voice was soft. Almost a whisper, but it sent a bolt of electricity through him.

Steve did something he hadn’t done in twenty years of law enforcement: lowered his weapon in shock.

This wasn’t a man at all. It was a woman.

“Rosalyn?”

She reached up and lowered the hood of her Windbreaker as she turned completely around.

It was her. Beautiful black hair, gorgeous blue eyes. Even the splattering of freckles over her nose. Rosalyn was alive.

Which was impossible because he’d just ID’d her dead body a few hours ago. Steve didn’t care. By whatever miracle she was here—and he would get her to explain it all, no doubt—he would take it.

He holstered his weapon and pulled her into his arms. Then yanked her back immediately, looking closer at the rest of her body.

Rosalyn was here. She was alive.

And unless he was very, very wrong, she was definitely pregnant.

Chapter Six

Steve stared down at her belly for a long time. He finally looked up at her face again.

There were so many questions in his eyes she hardly knew how to start answering them all.

His hand gently touched her stomach, so that’s where she started.

“Yes, I’m pregnant. Six months.”

It wasn’t terribly difficult math, so she let him work out for himself that the baby was his. She didn’t want to say it outright, because she wasn’t sure if he would even believe her. They hadn’t parted on the greatest of terms, after all.

He studied her for a long time without saying anything. Rosalyn just stood there. She was as surprised to see him as he was to see her.

“I just identified your dead body,” he finally said.

Okay, maybe not quite as surprised.

“My twin sister,” she whispered. “Lindsey Rose. I didn’t know she was dead until today. I was coming into the police department when I saw you leaving.”

She’d been skeptical about going to the police station anyway, knowing the Watcher would probably be waiting for her there. When she saw Steve exit the building, she’d been totally thrown.

What was he doing there?

Steve was the last person Rosalyn expected to see. His presence had to have something to do with Lindsey’s death. Why else would he be here from Colorado?

“Have you been following me from the police station?”

“Yes.”

Steve’s eyes narrowed. “Why? To tell me about the baby? Why did you run when I saw you at the bar?”

He fired off the questions faster than she could answer them. Not that she knew how to answer them anyway.

She hadn’t expected to see Steve. She’d been about to cross the street into the police station, knowing her sister was dead and the Watcher had found her again.

She was six months pregnant, alone, frightened and grieving. She’d pushed back the terror, so her only thought had been identifying her sister so Lindsey could have a proper burial.

Then Steve had walked out the door. He’d looked so strong. So capable of handling anything life threw at him.

Rosalyn had gotten in her car and followed him without even meaning to. When she saw he was going to the same hotel and then the same bar where they’d met, she’d felt a little hope inside.

Maybe he didn’t hate her.

Maybe she could tell him about the baby.

Maybe she could tell him about the Watcher and everything that had happened.

She needed help.

But when his eyes had flown to her at the bar, obviously suspecting trouble, she’d panicked. She’d run—well, run as fast as her body would let her—to get away.

But she hadn’t gotten away. He’d caught her and said—

He was law enforcement?

“You’re a cop?”

He took a step closer, obviously trying to use his size to intimidate her. “You didn’t answer my questions.”

She couldn’t get into the entire story now. They were too out in the open. “I will answer your questions, but not out here. You told me you were in management before.”

Steve shrugged. “I never said what sort of management I was in. And I want answers to my questions before I arrest you.”

“Arrest me for what?”

“How about the theft of nearly $200 six months ago?”

Rosalyn’s face heated. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t have any other choice. I was desperate. My whole time with you I was pretty desperate.”

That wasn’t the right word, or at least she should’ve phrased it differently, she realized when he stiffened and stepped back. She hadn’t meant that she’d spent time with him because she was desperate, but he’d obviously taken it that way.

“I guess your little souvenir from our time together—” he gestured at her belly “—wasn’t what you wanted, then. Is the baby even mine?”

“Yes.” She took a step toward him without even meaning to. “I know you probably don’t believe me, but you’re the only man I’ve been with for a long time.” The only man she’d allowed herself to trust in a long time.

“Yeah, well, once the kid is born, there are paternity tests that are probably in our best interests to complete.”

Rosalyn knew she shouldn’t be hurt given what had happened between them but she couldn’t help it. “Of course. I don’t expect you to just believe me.”

Now that the Watcher had found her again, she needed Steve’s help whether he believed her or not. She had more than just herself to look out for. Steve didn’t know the entire situation but at least she knew she could trust him.