Forever Alexa (Book Four In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series) (18 page)

A smug smile spread across her lips as she continued down the steps. Maybe all wasn’t lost. She hurried in the den, and her smile disappeared when Carol gasped. Alexa wrinkled her nose as she looked at Jack’s stunned and staring parents snuggled on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, a movie playing on the TV.

“Honey, what on earth?”

“Alex, wait a minute.” Jack hurried in after her. “Excuse us,” he said as he pulled her into the living room. “I want you to stay here.”

She shook her head and brushed at the strands of dark blond that stuck to her glossy lips. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Go change into…
clothes
. Watch a movie with my parents.”

“I want to help, Jack. I need to.”

“I get that, but this is nowhere near safe. I’ve been straight with you from day one, and I’m telling you this is dangerous.”

“No more dangerous for me than you.”

Brow raised, he looked her up and down. “You’re playing with fire going anywhere dressed like that.”

“I’ll fit right in. I researched my outfit online.”

“You—” His eyes softened as he smiled. “You researched?”

She saw her opening and took his hand. “Please, Jack.
Please
. I have to help Abby. I’m going crazy sitting here waiting for someone else to rescue my sister. I need to be able to tell myself each and every day that I’ve done
something
to try to bring her home. Would you be able to sit patiently by if someone had Will? Wouldn’t you do anything for your brother?”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “Low blow.”

“Whatever it takes, Jack. Please take me with you tonight.”

He stared at her, jaw clenched, breath steaming from his nose. “You have to stay with me.”

Detecting a glimmer of hope, she yanked him into a hug. “Thank you.”

He eased her back and ran his hands down her arms. “I’m serious, Alex, right with me.”

“I’ll be stuck like glue.” She hugged him again, her relief huge as she stared at him, eyes level in her heels. “See? Like Elmer’s.”

He grinned. “I’m thinking more like Krazy Glue.”

She wrapped her arms tighter and hooked a leg around his jean-clad hip. “This would probably draw too much attention.” She grinned back as he chuckled.

“Probably.” He clutched his hand on her thigh, keeping her in place. Heat replaced the humor in his gaze. “You’re bound to cause a riot dressed the way you are.”

Her heart kicked into high gear as his thumb stroked lazy circles against her sensitive skin, making her shiver. His hungry stare held her captive. How many times had he looked at her in just that way while they made love? “Whatever it takes,” she murmured.

He fingered the golden strands of her chin-length wig, and his palm brushed her jaw. “I’m going to miss running my fingers through your hair tonight.”

Need tugged and pulled at her center. His mouth was an inch from hers. She was desperate to taste him. “I…”

“We need to go.” He let go of her leg and stepped away.

“I—Yes.” Her brain had turned to mush as her hormones raged. “Okay.”

He took her hand and walked with her back to the den where his parents sat, once again tuned into their movie. “Mom, Dad, we’re going to head into Baltimore.”

“Can you still watch Livy?” Alexa struggled not to squirm as George and Carol stared.

“Of course, but sweetie, why in the world are you dressed like—like
that
?”

“I’m…immersing myself in my role.”

“Dougie Masterson gave me a couple of places to check out in the city—Abby’s case.”

“Honey, I don’t think it’s safe to be going out like that.”

Alexa pressed her lips together. “Typically I would agree one hundred percent, but tonight I’ll blend in.”

“It seems dangerous.”

Carol sounded just like her son. “I need to find my sister, Mom. I have to try. I’ll have Jack close by to keep me safe. Abby has no one. We might find her.”

“We could,” Jack squeezed her hand. “But more than likely not, Alex. I don’t want you getting your hopes up.”

She met his gaze. “I stopped getting my hopes up several days ago.”

Jack pulled her against his side and kissed her forehead. “Let’s go see what we can dig up.”

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the comfort his habitual gesture brought, but not before noting George and Carol’s quick glance at each other. She eased herself away from Jack. “I’ll have my phone on me.” She plucked her cellphone from Jack’s back pocket and tossed it in her purse. “If you need anything or have any questions, don’t hesitate.”

“Livy will be fine. You two be careful.”

Jackson drove north toward the bright lights of Baltimore and glanced at Alex’s smooth, toned legs—again. How the hell was he supposed to concentrate on
anything
with that killer body of hers distracting him?

“You know, I’m actually feeling pretty good about tonight.” She smiled.

He loved seeing her bright eyes and warm smile without the strain, but she was getting her hopes up. “I want you to keep in mind that this is a first step. Surveillance takes time.”

“But it’s a step, right? You even said so last night.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Shh.” She pressed her finger to his lips. “I’m not getting my hopes up. I know how you think. It just feels good to be doing
something
that might help.”

He swallowed as a swift punch of desire clutched his stomach. Those eyes—so big, so dark and sexy. He could stare into them for days. He wanted to yank off that horrible wig and run his fingers through her hair. And her smooth, silky skin; he needed to touch her everywhere. She was hardly wearing anything. He could pull over and have her naked before he took his next breath.

She’d churned him up, and her barely-there clothes didn’t have a damn thing to do with it. When she’d held him close with her leg wrapped around him, he’d seen glimpses of the past. She’d grinned at him,
for
him, while they joked. He wanted that back, craving the fun and lightness they used to share so long ago. Alex was twisting him up.

Clenching his jaw, he stared ahead and took the exit for downtown. They were minutes from their first stop, Club Jerhico—a strictly nightclub atmosphere. He planned to ease Alex in to the night slowly. She had no idea what she was in for. Some of the spots they would visit were little more than skeezy pits of naked, strung-out women. For that alone he’d wanted her to stay home. Alex had done thorough research on the hellish conditions her sister was more than likely living in, but pictures on a computer and printed police documents were a far cry from actually experiencing it firsthand. After tonight, there would be no way to protect her from Abby’s grim reality. “Did Abby ever go clubbing?”

“Uh, I don’t think so. That’s not really her scene. Why?”

He shrugged. “Just playing with the pieces, trying to make them fit.”

“Which pieces exactly? There are a million.”

He pulled into the parking garage and rolled down the window, grabbing the ticket the machine spit out, then driving forward. “The police still can’t find the tie that connects Abby to the other victims.”

She unbuckled as he turned into a parking space. “What if there isn’t a connection between the girls and Abby? What if the cases are unrelated? The police could be chasing down leads to nowhere.”

He killed the engine and looked at her. “My gut tells me they’re on the right track. The abductions are too similar. There has to be something to it.”

“But what? I just don’t see it.”

“Well, let’s break it down, starting with the first three victims.”

She turned in her seat, facing him. “I’ve read everything I can get my hands on about the girls. Even
their
cases aren’t necessarily similar. The first two girls have the most in common: broken homes, a lack of supervision, mothers with substance abuse issues, absentee fathers, etcetera, etcetera, but not Kristen Moore.”

Alex had done her homework. He didn’t expect anything less. “She had a different home life, but there are definitely parallels,” Jack said. “Kristen’s parents are loving, quality individuals, but divorcing. She was taking the separation hard and getting herself into trouble as a result. All of the girls’ friends reported sneaking into nightclubs on more than one occasion, so that’s a connection right there. You add that up and we get three troubled young women, fractured home lives, and the Baltimore club scene. That’s the dot connecting three identical abductions.”

Alex frowned as her busy brain worked. “Okay, I can see your point, but once again, how does that bring us around to Abby? Other than the actual kidnapping—the vans and the two men grabbing her—the cases don’t sound even remotely the same to my sister’s. Abby isn’t into the club scene. She has a great head on her shoulders. She’s confident, driven, and successful in her own right. She has a degree in fashion and a minor in business. She doesn’t need a man to make her feel good about herself. We had a terrible home life—no doubt about it. The mother with serious mental health and addiction issues…and eventually suicide; the non-existent father. But that was so long ago. Money was always hard to come by, but somehow Gran pulled it off with her meager social security checks. Our first few years with my mother left little impact, especially after the counseling. Gran raised us to be strong, independent women.”

“I loved your Gran. She was amazing. She did a hell of a job.”

Alex smiled. “Yes she did.” Her smile dimmed “And that’s what makes this so much worse. We’ve all worked too hard for this to be it for Abby.”

“This isn’t the end of her story, Alex. That’s why we’re out here tonight.”

She blew out a breath, fluttering her fake blond bangs. “You’re right.”

“One of the most important things we can do for Abby is keep an open mind. After my conversation with Detective Canon today, I know the authorities are seriously considering a lure.”

“A lure?”

“Yeah, someone who seeks out the ideal ‘candidate’—tells them what they want to hear, promises them love, fame, drugs—whatever it takes—before they bag ‘em.”

“See, again, that doesn’t fit with my sister. She’s not the ‘ideal candidate.’ Abby lived in Federal Hill with three other fashion majors. Maggie, one of her roommates’ father, owned the row house they stayed in. It’s a beautiful place—very upper class. They split the utilities four ways. It was very reasonable. Abby did a bit of modeling here and there to pay for her classes and room and board. She didn’t need anyone to promise her love, money, or drugs. That wasn’t what she was after. Abby isn’t a party animal like you were. She’s obsessed with her sketchpads, sewing machine, fabric, and mannequins. She was usually at school, a fashion show, home with Livy and me, or working on her art.”

“Would she have gone to a club if one of her roommates wanted a friend to tag along?”

She shrugged. “Maybe, but I can say without a doubt she wouldn’t have been a regular. When you knew Abby, she hadn’t discovered her passion yet. She was still finding her way.”

Jackson grinned. That was an understatement. “Abby was pretty relaxed about school.”

Alex chuckled. “‘Relaxed.’ I like that. Gran and I certainly pulled a few hairs out over Abby’s nonchalance. But that was before Gran’s downstairs neighbor started making Abby’s senior prom dress. Halfway through, Ms. Beesley fell ill and was hospitalized. Gran tried to work on the gown, but with her hands the way they were, it was impossible. She called me once, upset because she was afraid Abby wouldn’t have anything special to wear. My skills with a needle and thread are passable at best. I was pregnant, exhausted, and stressed out with student teaching and finding a job, but I told her I would come home over the weekend to see what I could do to help. Gran called me the next night and said not to worry about a thing. Abby finished the whole dress and added a flourish or two of her own. From then on, Abby was obsessed. She applied to schools and sent designs along with her applications. Despite her grades, they accepted her. She’s amazing, Jack. Gran was so proud.”

“She was proud of you both.”

Alex took his hand and squeezed it, smiling. “She was, but Gran and Abby shared something…a little bit different. I think I was always more guarded with my feelings. I was my mother’s first, whereas Abby was always hers.” Her smile dimmed, and she pulled free of his grip. “I’m so glad Gran’s not here to deal with all this. It would’ve broken her heart.”

He took her hand back and stroked his thumb over her knuckles. “You’ve had a right to your ‘guard,’ Alex. You dealt with more than any one person should have to. I’m sorry you and Abby are going through this. If I could make it go away…” He wanted her to smile again.

“You’ve been just what I’ve needed. I don’t know how I’d be getting through this nightmare without you.” She pulled his hand to her face and rested her cheek in his palm—an old gesture that surprised him and gave him his first inkling of hope.

He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. “Let’s see what we can find out tonight.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Twenty minutes later, after a two-block walk, Jackson gripped Alex’s hand as they made their way through the mobs of people dancing to the pounding bass and multicolored lights of Club Jerhico. He scanned the alarmed exits and noted the hordes of patrons surrounding the bar. There was no way in hell Abby was here. There were too many opportunities for escape among the chaos. This was either a dead end or a front for lures. He would give them half an hour to figure it out before they moved on.