Hope White - Baby On The Run

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

He closed his eyes. “The Avalanche were winning. I was in my office listening to the game.”

“You don’t remember Chloe screaming?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Or finding me outside with Eli?”

“No. I need to figure out how much time I’ve lost.”

She recounted what happened in the last hour, starting with her friend being strangled, Jenna asking Matt to drop her at the truck stop and then her coming to his rescue after he was assaulted in the parking lot.

“That’s pretty much it,” she said.

Not quite. “I left you at the truck stop when I knew you were in danger? That doesn’t sound like me.”

“A misunderstanding.” She hesitated. “I thought you were a serial killer.”

He shot her a look of disbelief.

“What? You had a gun, zip ties and duct tape in your glove box.”

“The gun and zip ties are for work. I used the duct tape to fix a broken hose.”

“Oh, okay. Sorry,” she said.

“Trusting doesn’t come easy for you, does it?”

“I trusted Chloe,” she said quietly.

Silence stretched between them.

“Why were you working undercover at the community center?” she asked.

How much should he tell her? He knew she needed enough information to make good decisions.

“We think a drug cartel is laundering money through the foundation,” he said. “By taking a job at the center and assimilating into the community, my goal was to discover who’s involved.”

“Assimilating into the community?”

“Through work, volunteering, attending church.”

“That seems hypocritical, to pretend to attend church.”

“I wasn’t pretending. I enjoy church.”

“Whatever.”

He’d upset her but wasn’t sure why. He’d figure that out later. In the meantime, he’d call for backup. He searched his pocket for his phone but came up empty.

“Your phone’s in the console,” she said.

He looked at her.

“You dropped it when they attacked you.”

“Thanks.”

“And here, you’ll probably need this.” She pulled his gun magazine out of her pocket and handed it to him.

He took it, trying to figure out why she had it.

“I thought you were a serial killer, remember?” she said.

“Right.” He pulled the gun out of his waistband, shoved the magazine in place and put it in the glove box.

“You’re not keeping it on you?”

“It’ll raise questions in the hospital and I don’t want to jeopardize my assignment.”

“Oh, right.”

Matt called his supervisor, pressing the heel of his palm against his temple to ease the pain. It went to voice mail. “It’s Weller. I was assaulted and need backup. Send an agent to St. James Healthcare in Butte. I’m with a woman and child who need our protection.” He pocketed his phone and leaned against the headrest.

“You don’t have to take care of us,” Jenna said.

“Excuse me?”

“We’re not your problem.”

“No, you’re not my problem. You’re my responsibility.”

She smirked and looked away. Why? She didn’t know anything about Matt. She didn’t know how he’d failed Sarah.

“I’d like to find Chloe’s cousin to help us, not be taken into FBI custody,” she said.

“I’m trying to keep you safe.”

She shook her head, unconvinced. Man, what had happened to this woman?

A few minutes later they exited the highway, and she turned into the hospital parking lot. “Do you want me to drop you at the main entrance?” she offered.

“No, we should stick together until help arrives.”

She found a parking spot, turned off the vehicle and tried to hand him the keys.

“Keep them. Just in case.”

“I can’t take your truck.”

“For my peace of mind.”

With a curious frown, she got out of the car and retrieved the sleeping child. His head rested on her shoulder as she carried him through the parking lot.

“Want me to carry him?” he offered.

“You’ve got a concussion. You shouldn’t be carrying anything.”

Good point, which just went to show that his brain was muddled. As they approached the hospital, the state trooper joined them. “I’ve gotta go. When you’re done being treated, call this number.” He handed Matt a business card. “They’ll send someone to take your statement.”

“Thanks,” Matt said.

The cop turned to Jenna. “Ma’am, don’t worry. They’ll take good care of your husband.”

When Jenna didn’t correct the “husband” remark, Matt glanced at her. She looked like she was about to burst into tears. Why? Because she was worried about Matt’s condition? No, something else was going on.

“Thanks again, Officer,” Matt said, and motioned Jenna inside.

Once they were seated in the waiting area, he noticed her hand trembling as she stroked the little boy’s back.

“It’ll be okay,” Matt offered. “Help’s on the way.”

No reaction. She didn’t nod, shrug or even roll her eyes. She continued to stare straight ahead with a dazed look on her face.

“Jenna?”

She seemed lost in another world, as if she was having a flashback, and not a good one. He touched her arm that held the boy against her shoulder. She didn’t look at him. The child was asleep, sucking on a pacifier and clinging to his stuffed bear.

Matt slid a chair in front of her and blocked her view. “Jenna, look at me.”

She blinked, and her wounded green eyes connected with Matt’s. It felt like he’d been slugged in the gut.

“You’re okay,” he said.

“I...I don’t like hospitals.”

“What happened?” he asked.

“I’m sorry?”

“To make you not like hospitals?”

She took a deep breath, opened her mouth and closed it again. Then she said, “I got hurt.”

The way she articulated those three words reminded him of a little girl who’d fallen on the playground. But Jenna wasn’t a little girl, and he suspected she’d suffered a lot worse than a skinned knee.

“You’re not hurt now,” he said, gently squeezing her shoulder. “You’re A-okay.”

She was more than okay in Matt’s eyes. This woman was strong, smart and determined to do the right thing, to protect her friend’s child.

“I won’t be okay until this little boy is safe with his cousin.” The fear in her eyes turned to anger.

“I understand, but I need to ask you something. What about the boy’s father? I mean, at this point you could be accused of kidnapping.”

“His mother begged me to protect Eli, especially from Gary. What would you have me do, hand him over to an abusive father?”

“Of course not, but there are laws and procedures for cases like this.”

“What about the law for murder? Or does that not apply to cops? The police are obviously involved, so excuse me if I don’t have much faith in the law.”

“If Chief Billings killed—”

“If? You don’t believe me?”

“I do, but we need more than your word. In the meantime, we have to protect you and the little boy. My people can help.”

“Cops won’t help me.”

“The chief is one bad cop out of what, twenty on the Cedar River Police force? That doesn’t mean they’re all bad.” That I’m bad.

“Chloe’s husband is wealthy. I’m sure he can make them bad by throwing money at them.”

“You’re awfully cynical for such a young woman.”

“Well, at least I’m not dead.”

That comment stopped him cold. Was she referring to her friend or herself? Had someone threatened Jenna’s life, putting her in the hospital?

“Mr. Weller?” a nurse said from the examining room door.

He put up his hand, indicating he’d heard her. Matt studied Jenna. “Will you come in with me?”