"I wouldn't have it any other way," he answers, pressing a kiss to my lips,
as I feel his fingers stroking my sides. His movements gradually decline
as he falls asleep.
********
In the darkness, I watch his peaceful face and feel his soft breath on my lips. I'm too wired to sleep right now, especially with his girls next door. I chew on my bottom lip, thinking of where Eva might be and the danger she is likely in. My stomach tenses and my nerves only make me more anxious as I roll around in bed.
My back is to the clock and time has truly eluded me. I feel tired, but can't sleep. Jack's hand continues to rest on my hip, and the small amount of comfort puts a sad smile on my face.
My cell phone jars Jack awake and I sit up, reaching for the device. "Hello?" I question, feeling my heart pound in my chest, as Jack flips on the light and watches me.
"Samantha," I hear Eva's shaky voice, a mere whisper.
"Where are you?" I question, my adrenaline surging as I wait for her response.
"I don't know," she answers in tears. "There's a train or something nearby."
"What the--" I hear a male voice booming in the background as the phone line dies.
"Shit!" I eye Jack, as he grabs his phone, finding out if a trace on the line managed to get us an address.
"Nothing?" He lets out a sigh and runs his hand through his hair. "Yeah, she said she's near train tracks. I know it could be anywhere. Are there any leads you have to go on?" He pauses, eyeing me sympathetically. "Yeah, I'll look into it." He hangs up the phone and sits up in bed, pulling his feet off the mattress.
"Where are you going?"
"Find out about this phone call. Obviously Eva's still alive." He presses a kiss to my lips and pulls on his clothes. "I'll be back in time to take the girls into school. Keep an eye on them for me, will you?"
"Why don't you stay?" I question. "I can check whatever lead you're looking into."
"Van Doren's meeting me at the office. They have a ten-mile radius of the phone call. We're going to narrow the search and see what we can find. Stay here, please?"
I nod my head and let out a soft breath. "Be careful," I tell him, giving him a quick kiss goodbye as he fastens his gun and shuts off the light before leaving.
I lie back down, closing my eyes and imaging all the horrible things that could happen. I don't want to think such awful things, but I can't help it.
I hear a soft knocking against the curtained glass doors that separate the room. "Come in," I tell her, waiting to see Kate open the door and come towards the bed.
"Where's daddy?"
"He had to go out on a case."
"Oh, why didn't you go?"
"Someone had to keep an eye on both of you," I answer with a soft, tired yawn. "Can't sleep?" I question.
"Daddy woke me up when he left."
"Hungry?"
Kate shakes her head 'no' and stands by the bed. "Can I watch TV in here for a little while? Mommy and Daddy usually let me."
"Sure." I grab the remote, turning it on and flipping to find cartoons for Kate to watch.
"Thanks," she says as she climbs into bed beside me. I lie back down, closing my eyes to the sound of the television and finally falling asleep.
I feel warm hands in my hair and shift against the mattress. "Kate?" I question, remembering vaguely that she was in bed beside me.
"Shhh," I hear in response and my eyes lazily open to see Jack sitting on the edge of the bed.
"What time is it?" I whisper, glancing over to see Kate lying asleep beside me.
"Early," he answers, slipping off his shoes. "I'll be back," he tells me, standing up and picking up Kate from the bed to put her with Hannah.
Jack pulls at his work clothes, stripping down to his underwear and slipping in bed beside me. "It's cold in here," he whispers towards me.
"Jack, what time do your girls need to get up for school?"
"Right now," he yawns.
"I can take them; you get some sleep." I press a kiss to his forehead and slip into my clothes before waking the girls, getting them dressed and downstairs for breakfast.
Once I drop the girls off, I stop at Starbucks for two coffees and head towards the hotel. I dial Danny on my cell phone.
"Taylor," he answers.
"Hey it's, Samantha."
"I heard about the phone call. Any more?"
"No," I let out a soft breath. "At least she's still alive." I bite down on my lip, hoping that hasn't changed. "I take it you guys didn't find anything?"
"No, we searched door to door all night long. Not a trace of Eva. We're not even sure where to look anymore--unless she gives us some clue," he pauses momentarily.
"She mentioned hearing a train."
"We went by every warehouse and home, and didn't find any sign of her. No one's seen her either."
"Can we get her picture on the news?" I feel my heart rate climbing once again.
"Van Doren's looking into the press. She thinks it's a hard gamble, since there isn't any family associated with her. They all figure it's a runaway."
"Who's she running from?" I point out.
"Samantha, we're not giving up just yet, but we don't have anything to go on either."
"Were any prints recovered?"
"No," Danny answers, "and the blood was Eva's. Did you hear anything else when you were on the phone with her?"
"A male voice interrupted us. I didn't recognize him though."
"Accent?"
"No," I answer as I pull in front of the hotel. "Do you want me to come in? Maybe I could be of some help--" I trail off.
"Jack already told me you're not to work this case. If it were up to me--"
"Okay, thanks, Danny." I hang up the phone and ride the elevator to our floor. I make my way inside, and see Jack going through some files spread across the bed.
"Thanks for taking the girls in."
"You owe me ten bucks."
"What for?" he questions as I hand him a warm cup of coffee.
"The girls needed lunch money," I answer with a smile. "Anything?" I let out a nervous breath, eyeing the files on the mattress.
"Not yet," he shakes his head. "I ordered some more room service. They should be up with breakfast any minute."
"Aren't you tired?" I rest my hand on his shoulder.
"A little, but can't sleep now anyways," he points out. "The problem is we don't have any solid leads. Martin and Kellar are both doing what they can, but without anything substantial---" he shakes his head with a sigh.
"We won't find her," I answer, slumping onto the bed.
"Samantha, you know her best. Were there any guys she was involved with?"
"No," I shake my head. "It's no one she knows; I'm sure of that."
"Okay." He pushes the files together, making room for me to sit beside him comfortably. "How about when you two were out. Did you notice anyone following the two of you? Anyone come to the door recently?"
"No," I shake my head. "There was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary."
"There isn't anyone from her work who was able to help us," he tells me, "so it has to be something else. She has no other family?"
"Cousins, I think. They're younger then her. They wouldn't do this," I tell him soundly.
I lie back against the pillows, feeling Jack's hands in my hair and tracing a line down my cheek. My mind reels back to hanging out with Eva, going shopping, to the video store, and then it hits me.
My eyes flash open. "Jack," I glance into his dark hues. "There was something."
"What?"
"We went shopping a while ago," I tell him. "It had to have been when she first came to live with me."
"What happened, Samantha?"
"We were at the mall, but it's probably nothing," I state. Jack eyes me to continue. "We flirted a little with this guy--Eva blew him a kiss. It was nonsense."
"Did you see him again?"
"He followed us around in the mall for ten minutes, maybe. We didn't see him again though."
"Do you remember what he looks like?" Jack eyes me.
"I can work with a sketch artist," I chew on my bottom lip.
"Come on." He grabs the folders and ushers me down to his car.
"The office?" I question.
"Yeah," he nods, as he unlocks the door for me and I slip inside the vehicle. We arrive at the Bureau, and Jack follows me to get a sketch composite.
Once it's finished, Van Doren manages to get the photo on television, hoping to break our case.
"Now we sit around and wait," Vivian points out, as I come towards my desk.
Jack comes towards me. "Uh-uh, you're off this case."
"But, Jack," I whine and he shakes his head 'no'.
"You did all that you can," he tells me, moving his hands over mine. "You should go back to the hotel."
"Jack," I plead with him.
He pulls out his keys, handing them to me. "Go home," he tells me, giving me no other option.
"Fine." I take the keys briskly from his hands and storm out of the office. I pound on the button in the elevator and head for the parking garage. As I take a seat in his car, I let out a soft breath. I know Jack's trying to protect me, but I don't need that.
As I head out onto the street, my cell phone interrupts me.
"Hello?" My voice is dry and annoyed, figuring Jack or someone else is calling to check up on me.
The voice is no longer masked behind an electronic device. "Give up so soon? You were so close to finding her." His voice is deep and drips with a sound that gives me the chills. I hear a horn of some kind in the background and realize it must be the train Eva mentioned.
"What do you want?" I question.
"The same thing it's always been--your affection, and hers. She hasn't exactly taken to my liking, though. I could do wonders with you." I bite down on my lip, keeping myself from gagging.
"Let me come to you," I tell him.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?"
"Let her go, and you can have me," I offer him.
"I'll think about it."
"NO!" I shout into the phone. "Tell me where you are. There's nothing to think about."
"Feisty, now, aren't we?" His laugh is dark and full of emptiness.
"Tell me where you are," I repeat.
"Watching you," he whispers in a low, throaty voice. "I'm always watching you, Samantha."
I feel my breath caught in my throat. I glance into my rearview mirror, not seeing anyone following me.
"I'm not back there," he tells me. I quickly turn around, looking from side to side, seeing no one on a phone or chatting while driving. "Give up yet?" he asks. "Don't bother trying to call your partner or slipping him a note. There's a camera in your car," he laughs darkly. "You'll never find it."
"Where do you want to meet?" I question, feeling my stomach knot at knowing how dangerous this is, and hoping Jack will forgive me for what I'm about to do.
"The corner of 5th and Monroe--twenty minutes." The line goes dead and I toss my phone onto the passenger seat.
I step out from the car, parking it on the street corner and noticing no one in sight. The area is empty and over the fence is a set of train tracks. I glance around, seeing no one in sight and keep my hand holstered over my gun.
I walk around the corner, coming straight into a man with dark hair in his late twenties. It appears to be the same man I saw at the mall, and I reach for my gun, with no luck. I feel my body falling to the cement as I groan out in pain. I can't see if there are two people or just one, but I know I'm in trouble. I grab for my weapon, but can't manage to retrieve it. I feel the pain overtake me as I fall deep into oblivion.
********
In the darkness, I watch his peaceful face and feel his soft breath on my lips. I'm too wired to sleep right now, especially with his girls next door. I chew on my bottom lip, thinking of where Eva might be and the danger she is likely in. My stomach tenses and my nerves only make me more anxious as I roll around in bed.
My back is to the clock and time has truly eluded me. I feel tired, but can't sleep. Jack's hand continues to rest on my hip, and the small amount of comfort puts a sad smile on my face.
My cell phone jars Jack awake and I sit up, reaching for the device. "Hello?" I question, feeling my heart pound in my chest, as Jack flips on the light and watches me.
"Samantha," I hear Eva's shaky voice, a mere whisper.
"Where are you?" I question, my adrenaline surging as I wait for her response.
"I don't know," she answers in tears. "There's a train or something nearby."
"What the--" I hear a male voice booming in the background as the phone line dies.
"Shit!" I eye Jack, as he grabs his phone, finding out if a trace on the line managed to get us an address.
"Nothing?" He lets out a sigh and runs his hand through his hair. "Yeah, she said she's near train tracks. I know it could be anywhere. Are there any leads you have to go on?" He pauses, eyeing me sympathetically. "Yeah, I'll look into it." He hangs up the phone and sits up in bed, pulling his feet off the mattress.
"Where are you going?"
"Find out about this phone call. Obviously Eva's still alive." He presses a kiss to my lips and pulls on his clothes. "I'll be back in time to take the girls into school. Keep an eye on them for me, will you?"
"Why don't you stay?" I question. "I can check whatever lead you're looking into."
"Van Doren's meeting me at the office. They have a ten-mile radius of the phone call. We're going to narrow the search and see what we can find. Stay here, please?"
I nod my head and let out a soft breath. "Be careful," I tell him, giving him a quick kiss goodbye as he fastens his gun and shuts off the light before leaving.
I lie back down, closing my eyes and imaging all the horrible things that could happen. I don't want to think such awful things, but I can't help it.
I hear a soft knocking against the curtained glass doors that separate the room. "Come in," I tell her, waiting to see Kate open the door and come towards the bed.
"Where's daddy?"
"He had to go out on a case."
"Oh, why didn't you go?"
"Someone had to keep an eye on both of you," I answer with a soft, tired yawn. "Can't sleep?" I question.
"Daddy woke me up when he left."
"Hungry?"
Kate shakes her head 'no' and stands by the bed. "Can I watch TV in here for a little while? Mommy and Daddy usually let me."
"Sure." I grab the remote, turning it on and flipping to find cartoons for Kate to watch.
"Thanks," she says as she climbs into bed beside me. I lie back down, closing my eyes to the sound of the television and finally falling asleep.
I feel warm hands in my hair and shift against the mattress. "Kate?" I question, remembering vaguely that she was in bed beside me.
"Shhh," I hear in response and my eyes lazily open to see Jack sitting on the edge of the bed.
"What time is it?" I whisper, glancing over to see Kate lying asleep beside me.
"Early," he answers, slipping off his shoes. "I'll be back," he tells me, standing up and picking up Kate from the bed to put her with Hannah.
Jack pulls at his work clothes, stripping down to his underwear and slipping in bed beside me. "It's cold in here," he whispers towards me.
"Jack, what time do your girls need to get up for school?"
"Right now," he yawns.
"I can take them; you get some sleep." I press a kiss to his forehead and slip into my clothes before waking the girls, getting them dressed and downstairs for breakfast.
Once I drop the girls off, I stop at Starbucks for two coffees and head towards the hotel. I dial Danny on my cell phone.
"Taylor," he answers.
"Hey it's, Samantha."
"I heard about the phone call. Any more?"
"No," I let out a soft breath. "At least she's still alive." I bite down on my lip, hoping that hasn't changed. "I take it you guys didn't find anything?"
"No, we searched door to door all night long. Not a trace of Eva. We're not even sure where to look anymore--unless she gives us some clue," he pauses momentarily.
"She mentioned hearing a train."
"We went by every warehouse and home, and didn't find any sign of her. No one's seen her either."
"Can we get her picture on the news?" I feel my heart rate climbing once again.
"Van Doren's looking into the press. She thinks it's a hard gamble, since there isn't any family associated with her. They all figure it's a runaway."
"Who's she running from?" I point out.
"Samantha, we're not giving up just yet, but we don't have anything to go on either."
"Were any prints recovered?"
"No," Danny answers, "and the blood was Eva's. Did you hear anything else when you were on the phone with her?"
"A male voice interrupted us. I didn't recognize him though."
"Accent?"
"No," I answer as I pull in front of the hotel. "Do you want me to come in? Maybe I could be of some help--" I trail off.
"Jack already told me you're not to work this case. If it were up to me--"
"Okay, thanks, Danny." I hang up the phone and ride the elevator to our floor. I make my way inside, and see Jack going through some files spread across the bed.
"Thanks for taking the girls in."
"You owe me ten bucks."
"What for?" he questions as I hand him a warm cup of coffee.
"The girls needed lunch money," I answer with a smile. "Anything?" I let out a nervous breath, eyeing the files on the mattress.
"Not yet," he shakes his head. "I ordered some more room service. They should be up with breakfast any minute."
"Aren't you tired?" I rest my hand on his shoulder.
"A little, but can't sleep now anyways," he points out. "The problem is we don't have any solid leads. Martin and Kellar are both doing what they can, but without anything substantial---" he shakes his head with a sigh.
"We won't find her," I answer, slumping onto the bed.
"Samantha, you know her best. Were there any guys she was involved with?"
"No," I shake my head. "It's no one she knows; I'm sure of that."
"Okay." He pushes the files together, making room for me to sit beside him comfortably. "How about when you two were out. Did you notice anyone following the two of you? Anyone come to the door recently?"
"No," I shake my head. "There was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary."
"There isn't anyone from her work who was able to help us," he tells me, "so it has to be something else. She has no other family?"
"Cousins, I think. They're younger then her. They wouldn't do this," I tell him soundly.
I lie back against the pillows, feeling Jack's hands in my hair and tracing a line down my cheek. My mind reels back to hanging out with Eva, going shopping, to the video store, and then it hits me.
My eyes flash open. "Jack," I glance into his dark hues. "There was something."
"What?"
"We went shopping a while ago," I tell him. "It had to have been when she first came to live with me."
"What happened, Samantha?"
"We were at the mall, but it's probably nothing," I state. Jack eyes me to continue. "We flirted a little with this guy--Eva blew him a kiss. It was nonsense."
"Did you see him again?"
"He followed us around in the mall for ten minutes, maybe. We didn't see him again though."
"Do you remember what he looks like?" Jack eyes me.
"I can work with a sketch artist," I chew on my bottom lip.
"Come on." He grabs the folders and ushers me down to his car.
"The office?" I question.
"Yeah," he nods, as he unlocks the door for me and I slip inside the vehicle. We arrive at the Bureau, and Jack follows me to get a sketch composite.
Once it's finished, Van Doren manages to get the photo on television, hoping to break our case.
"Now we sit around and wait," Vivian points out, as I come towards my desk.
Jack comes towards me. "Uh-uh, you're off this case."
"But, Jack," I whine and he shakes his head 'no'.
"You did all that you can," he tells me, moving his hands over mine. "You should go back to the hotel."
"Jack," I plead with him.
He pulls out his keys, handing them to me. "Go home," he tells me, giving me no other option.
"Fine." I take the keys briskly from his hands and storm out of the office. I pound on the button in the elevator and head for the parking garage. As I take a seat in his car, I let out a soft breath. I know Jack's trying to protect me, but I don't need that.
As I head out onto the street, my cell phone interrupts me.
"Hello?" My voice is dry and annoyed, figuring Jack or someone else is calling to check up on me.
The voice is no longer masked behind an electronic device. "Give up so soon? You were so close to finding her." His voice is deep and drips with a sound that gives me the chills. I hear a horn of some kind in the background and realize it must be the train Eva mentioned.
"What do you want?" I question.
"The same thing it's always been--your affection, and hers. She hasn't exactly taken to my liking, though. I could do wonders with you." I bite down on my lip, keeping myself from gagging.
"Let me come to you," I tell him.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?"
"Let her go, and you can have me," I offer him.
"I'll think about it."
"NO!" I shout into the phone. "Tell me where you are. There's nothing to think about."
"Feisty, now, aren't we?" His laugh is dark and full of emptiness.
"Tell me where you are," I repeat.
"Watching you," he whispers in a low, throaty voice. "I'm always watching you, Samantha."
I feel my breath caught in my throat. I glance into my rearview mirror, not seeing anyone following me.
"I'm not back there," he tells me. I quickly turn around, looking from side to side, seeing no one on a phone or chatting while driving. "Give up yet?" he asks. "Don't bother trying to call your partner or slipping him a note. There's a camera in your car," he laughs darkly. "You'll never find it."
"Where do you want to meet?" I question, feeling my stomach knot at knowing how dangerous this is, and hoping Jack will forgive me for what I'm about to do.
"The corner of 5th and Monroe--twenty minutes." The line goes dead and I toss my phone onto the passenger seat.
I step out from the car, parking it on the street corner and noticing no one in sight. The area is empty and over the fence is a set of train tracks. I glance around, seeing no one in sight and keep my hand holstered over my gun.
I walk around the corner, coming straight into a man with dark hair in his late twenties. It appears to be the same man I saw at the mall, and I reach for my gun, with no luck. I feel my body falling to the cement as I groan out in pain. I can't see if there are two people or just one, but I know I'm in trouble. I grab for my weapon, but can't manage to retrieve it. I feel the pain overtake me as I fall deep into oblivion.
