A Hero In Uniform - The Complete Series (4 page)

Jackson didn't answer, but it didn't matter, because at that moment, Daniel saw the name on the file. He swore and looked at his boss, demanding, “How the hell did this happen?”

“
AFP Agent Michael Blake told NAVCOM that Ronald managed to manipulate a guard and that's what led to his escape.”

“
This is dated a week ago!” Daniel exclaimed. “He could already be here!”

“
Calm down, Coleman.” Jackson ordered. “You'll be no good to either the Navy or Kelley like this.”

Daniel shut his mouth, but he was far from calm.

“
Now, I've spoken with Commander Richardson and he's agreed to let you have some more time off.” Jackson told him.

“
I can't do that, boss.” Daniel protested. “It'd be good, but I just got back from a months leave.”

“
Coleman, you've given the RAN twenty years of service with no problems. Last month was your first holiday since you signed on at eighteen in 1993 .” The Captain said. He placed his hands on his hips and added, “Take the leave and go protect that innocent woman.”

Daniel didn't know what to say, so he just nodded.

The Sydney would be returning to port tonight for refuelling and supplies, so he'd be able to get to Kelley and warn her. Then, once she was safe, he'd never let her out of his sight for as long as he lived.

Kelley had just shut the door on the delivery guy and was ready to tuck into her dinner when the doorbell rang again.

Not bothering to care what her mystery guest thought of her eating her dinner, she opened the door with the pizza in her mouth.
Daniel stood on the threshold, grinning that grin that made him look even more handsome before he snagged her half-eaten slice and finished it off himself.

“
What are you doing here?” She asked as she stood back and let him in.

“
I smelt the pizza and thought I'd stop by.” He joked with another grin as he dropped his duffel bag onto the hardwood floor.

Kelley smiled and grabbed another slice as she said, “Not that I'm not happy to see you, but what are you really doing here, Daniel?” 

He sobered so quickly, Kelley couldn't be sure she'd even seen him smiling.

“
Danny?”

“
I've been granted time off until a certain issue has been resolved.”

“
What issue?”

Not one to beat around the bush, Daniel told her, “Ronald broke out of jail.”

Kelley felt her legs go weak and she managed to sink to the couch before they gave out, her dinner forgotten. Her voice was barely audible as she stammered, “H-h-how did this h-happen?”

Daniel sat down beside her and told her everything the AFP notification had said.

“
A week ago?” She repeated. “He could already be in Queensland, or here!”

“
He won't find you, Kel.” Daniel said, his voice strong with conviction. “I won't let him.”

“
How are you going to stop him?”

“
For starters, I'm taking you to my family's home in Weipa. Dad won't let Ronald back onto the property and you'll be safe there.” He placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her to his side, adding, “I won't let Ronald get to you.”

Kelley heard that conviction in his voice and she wanted to latch onto the anger and strength he had.

But she only felt fear and she knew she and her baby wouldn't be one-hundred-percent safe until Ronald Coleman was back in jail. Or dead.

Six

Before Daniel could even think about taking Kelley further north, a few minor details had to be taken care of in Cairns.

First, her apartment was vacated and all her furniture put into storage under Coleman. Second, she had to inform her boss at the cafe where she worked that she had to quit because she was going north and didn't know when she'd be back. Third, the AFP had to be notified that she was changing location.

When all that was done, they each packed their clothes into suitcases, got into Daniels GT and hit the road.

The trip would last just under fourteen hours, and the first few, Kelley was grumpy. The baby was making her uncomfortable and the heat wasn't helping. She made Daniel stop at every shop they came across because she was constantly hungry and couldn't find anything to satisfy the bizarre cravings she was having – seriously, where was she going to find a steak dinner with all the trimmings in the middle of nowhere?

Daniel found the whole experience amusing, and had to admit to himself that Kelley looked cute and beautiful when she was grumpy and annoyed.

Nine hours in and it was one a.m on a Monday morning. They both needed sleep, so he pulled into the first place he came across, which turned out to be a cute little B&B on the edge of some tiny, tiny town run by two seniors.

Only problem was, they only had one room left on account of the rodeo that was passing through on it's way to Cairns.

“
Just take the room, Danny.” Kelley growled. “I'm tired and I need some sleep.”

Daniel grinned and told the kind old lady behind the counter, “I guess we're taking it.”

She offered him a smile, charged his credit card and handed over the key.

As they headed to the room, Daniel silently wondered how he was going to get through the night when he had to share a bed with the woman he was developing feelings for.

It was nine in the morning when Kelley and Daniel arrived at the Coleman farm in far north Queensland.

At just under two months pregnant, Kelley was still able to enjoy things that didn't have doing too much moving around, and the Coleman property was beautiful enough to get her excited about staying here.

The house was a long, one-storey brick home with lush green lawns and even a pool. Not far from the house was a large stable and barn, a a small cluster of large buildings Kelley assumed housed the equipment and other items needed to run a place like this.

“
You left this place to join the Navy?” She asked as she looked around, taking in everything that she could see.

Daniels only response was a quick, “Yeah.”

He grabbed their bags out of the back of the GT and she followed him into the house, where they were met by a woman with grey hair wearing a yellow shirt and white capris.

“
Well, well, well.” She said, placing her hands on her hips. “If it ain't the sailor boy himself.” Then she grinned and held out her arms. “Get your butt over here, Daniel Coleman.”

Daniel dropped their bags and went to her, a grin on his handsome face as he greeted, “Hey, Mum. How are you?”

“
Now that you're here, I'm good.”

“
Come, I want you to meet someone.” He said. He pulled Kelley to his side with an arm around her shoulders and made the introduction. “This is Kelley. Kel, this is my mother, Yvette.”

Surprise, a bit of sadness and some regret came over the woman's face as she looked at Kelley and asked her son, “This is the woman Ronald attacked?” 

Daniel nodded. “Yeah, Mum.”

“
Oh, honey.” Yvette moved closer and pulled Kelley from Daniels side and into a tight hug as she said, “My son had no right to do what he did to you, and I'm sorry that he did.”

It amazed Kelley that Ronald became the man he is, despite having come from a family that is obviously loving and caring for each other. But she didn't say that to Yvette. Instead, she smiled and said, “Thank you.”

“
You're welcome, but enough about Ronald.” Yvette said. She took Kelley's hand in her own and started down the hall as she said, “You look exhausted. How about you get some sleep before lunch.”

Kelley smiled and agreed, “That would be great. Thank you.”

“
Think nothing of it, dear.” As she led Kelley down the hall, Yvette turned to look at her son and said, “Go say hi to your father, Daniel. He's out by the shed, working on that damn tractor.”

Daniel grinned and said, “Aye, ma'am.”

Yvette took Kelley to one of two guest rooms and opened the door, gesturing her into a room that was furnished with dark wood pieces with nature-themed pictures on the walls and a stone fireplace in the corner. In the middle of the room was a large wood-framed bed that looked soft and inviting and, after Yvette left her, Kelley removed her shoes, crawled into the middle of the bed and was asleep almost instantly.

It was seven at night when Kelley woke up.

After washing up in the bathroom attached to the room, she headed out to the front of the house, where she found Daniel, his mother and a man she guessed to be his Dad seated around the table, eating a roast dinner with all the trimmings.

She was about to announce herself when part of the conversation reached her and she paused, listening.

“
I think it's only fair to warn you.” Daniel was saying to his parents.

“
Warn us about what, son?” The man asked.

“
If Ronald shows his face here, I'm going to shoot him.”

Neither parent looked surprised by the declaration, but Kelley was. She'd never known Daniel to be a violent man and it shocked her to hear the raw anger and genuine conviction in his voice.

Yvette nodded her head and stated, “Given what he's done, I can't say I'd blame you if you did.”

Daniels dad nodded his head in silent agreement and silence fell as they continued on with their meal. Kelley decided it was a good time to make her presence known.

“
There you are.” Daniel greeted as she walked in and took the seat next to him. He kissed her cheek and asked, “How are you feeling?”

“
Better now that I've rested.”