Hidden Shadows (The Shadow Series Book 1) (26 page)

She extended it toward Jenna. “There’s a Doctor Vick calling you, Jenna, with urgent news. I wouldn’t have answered, but it just kept ringin' and ringin’. Thought it might be important.”

“No, thank you,” Jenna said breathlessly, rising to meet Annette, take her phone.

Ben watched as she answered, as her brows creased in confusion, in worry. He saw the fright and horror flash in her eyes, morph her face to shock even as she sank to the porch floor, turning whiter than the moon as she dropped.

He was at her side instantly, reaching her even before his mother could though she was only steps away.

He knelt beside her, placed a sturdy hand on her back to keep her sitting and stable.

His jaw clenched almost painfully and his hands threatened to move to fists as she sat, trembling, stammered, “What . . . I don’t believe it. That’s . . . horrible.”

Ben couldn’t hear Dr. Vick’s words, but it didn’t take a genius to know they were very, very troubling.

And Ben had a sinking feeling whatever the trouble was, it was the next move in the sick psycho’s game.

“Of course I’ll talk to them. Of course we’ll close. I—I just feel . . . I can’t believe it.”

Finally, Jenna dropped the phone carelessly onto her lap, stared ahead blankly.

“What happened?” Ben gripped her arm, shook her lightly.

Mechanically, she answered, “The clinic. Leigh Gonzalez . . . Leigh, my friend. She’s in the hospital. Almost dead. In a coma. Shot. In the chest.” She began to breathe heavy now, deep jerky inhales, a sob without the tears. “She was on my shift, Ben. On my shift. Teaching my class.”

He gathered her as a parent would an injured child, wrapped her as best he could with the whole of his body.

Now the tears came. “She’s going to die. Leigh’s dying.” Jenna began shaking her head rapidly, her words muffled as she pressed her face into Ben’s shoulder. “It was supposed to be me. It should’ve been me."

He squeezed tighter. “It won’t be you.”

Ben raised his eyes over Jenna, met his mother with a hard stare. “The cabin’s empty, right?”

His mother bobbed her head.

“Good. Make any plans you need to get it ready; Jenna and the kids will be staying there for a while.”

She nodded again, patted Jenna gently, and silently rose to make the plans.

Ben knew she had questions, knew she would’ve like to stay and soothe and comfort as was her way. But she knew her son. She’d seen his eyes, and from that his heart.

And his heart, and the anger burning there, said he would he would protect the woman he held in his arms and her two children. Against all odds; at any cost.

TWENTY-TWO

Four and a half hours after beginning the trip, Jenna pulled up the steep driveway to a beautiful two-story cabin in a remote cluster of homes atop the Great Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This particular cabin—Bruce and Annette’s——reminded her of Ben’s home with its dark wood and rustic feel.

Jenna climbed out of the car, irritated she’d had to drive the unreliable squeaker on the long trip. You’d think with as much money as she shelled out to insurance each month, they could spare her a better rental. Her Jeep still wasn't ready, though Ben had promised he’d check on its status while she was away.

Taking in the view, she let the mountain air fill her lungs. Thinking of Leigh, she gulped an extra breath, grateful she was able to, overcome Leigh couldn’t enjoy it and might never again.

Jenna had pleaded with Officer Cooley to let her go to the hospital and pay her respects to Leigh, to Eddie, but he’d forbidden it. So had Lieutenant Parks.

After learning Leigh had filled in at Jenna’s class that evening, both men were certain Jenna had been the intended target. In the dark, the killer obviously made a mistake, or was angry at botched plans. Cooley insisted coming to visit was too risky.

Jenna almost ignored his instructions, almost did what she knew was her duty, to personally come and apologize to Leigh and her family. If it weren’t for Jenna, Leigh wouldn’t be fighting for her life. She’d been intent on it until Ben brought up the children. For their sakes, if nothing else, she couldn’t afford to put herself in harm’s way. So instead, she’d packed up and headed to the hideaway, hoping the guilt and fear couldn’t reach her here.

As Jenna ducked inside the car, unbuckled Dawson from his seat and gave Jacy permission to get out and look around, she stated very clearly, “Be careful. It’s very different here than at home, guys. You can’t run and play without me right beside you, okay? I don’t want you to fall and hurt yourself with nobody around to help you.”

Both of them nodded, stood dutifully by while she popped open the trunk, lugged their bags out.

Abruptly, she peered down, yelled “Race ya!” before dashing off while two small voices squealed in excitement and four little feet rushed to catch up.

When she reached the door in third and last place, Jenna fished for the appropriate key on the ring, slipped it in the lock, and turned. Dawson pushed open the thick door and hurried inside.

“Wow! This is as big as the Jedi Temple!”

She followed him in, smiling. And while she didn’t know about its comparison to the temple, it was quite an impressive and expansive space. An open living and kitchen area managed to be cozy while boasting plenty of space and seats for two dozen bodies. A floor to ceiling stone fireplace served as the handsome focal point of the dual rooms, with a hearth thick and wide enough to hold a grown man. A slim flat screen, comfy furniture in earthy tones and appropriate woodsy décor completed the charm.

They needed this so much. She needed this so much. To get away. To unwind. To have fun . . . to hide. She’d have to find a way to make it up to the Astons, to Ben for thinking of it, suggesting it, to Bruce and Annette for generously offering it.

“Mom, you have to come see this!”

She followed the excited cry down a long hall to a generous master suite and bathroom with a tub the size of Texas. “It’s like a pool!” Jacy beamed with wide, amazed eyes.

“You’re gonna have some fun in that, aren’t you?”

Jacy laughed with anticipation and climbed in the deep tub. “Can we put bubbles in it?”

“I think we can manage that.”

From somewhere above, Dawson called, “Momma! Upstairs! Games, games, games!”

“Well, let’s go take a look.” Jenna walked over, took both of Jacy’s hands and hauled her out of the ceramic bath.

They marched up the wide wooden staircase and found Dawson and the source of his glee—a fully loaded game room. A ping-pong, air hockey, and pool table were placed throughout the open space, stacks of timeless board games—Clue, Candy Land, and Chutes and Ladders——along with puzzles and books crowded a built-in, and another, smaller TV, filled the loft.

After letting them run out their energy, clank balls on the table, pull the games from their shelves, Jenna directed them back downstairs, wiggled her brows and asked, “Wanna see the part I’m most excited about?"

She led the way out the wide the double doors to the breathtaking view from the back deck. It was as if God’s finger had touched the land in various spots, lowering it in some, raising it in others. The dips, ebbs and flows of the hills could’ve been an ocean solidified in the midst of a mighty storm. While she didn’t know if she would ever feel complete safety until this was done, she did feel instant gratitude, and some facet of peace.

“You like it here, Momma.”

“Yes, Jacy. Very much.”

“Your eyes are happy.”

Intrigued, delighted, she picked Jacy up, hugged her tight. Scooting a nearby rocking chair underneath them, she sat, plopped her little girl in her lap. “And what does that mean?”

“Sometimes your eyes aren’t happy. It’s easy to tell the difference.”

Silently, Jenna took in the wonder of her child. As always, Jacy’s perception spoke beyond her years. She wrapped her arms around her girl, let her baby relax against her as Jenna kissed the soft, sweet-smelling hair.

Unusually quiet, Dawson stood beside them, seemingly as entranced by the landscape as Jenna. When he looked at her, she grabbed the arm of a second rocker, pulled it closer. He climbed up, rocked beside them.

“I wish Ben was here,” Jacy sighed. “Your eyes are most happy when he’s around.”

With his own understanding, Dawson quipped, “Yep. Mr. Ben makes eyes happy.”

And Jenna knew what he meant. Dawson was just plain happy whenever Ben was around.

“Jacy, what about you? What do you think about Ben?”

“He’s nice. And funny. And he gave me flowers. His Mom and Dad are super fun too.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. "And he plays with Dawson, so I don’t have to all the time.”

Jenna laughed. “It’s unanimous then.”

“What’s u-man-e-mose?”

“Unanimous, Dawson. It means we all agree. We like Ben. He makes us happy.”

Singing songs and talking of stories that made them happy, the family of three watched and rocked as the big yellow ball in the blue sky turned orange, then slowly faded behind the luminous peaks.

****

Desiree paid the delivery boy quickly and closed herself back into the dark.

The glitch in plans had made her nervous, jumpy. Afraid someone would know, would find out.

The mistake had been costly. How costly, she didn’t yet know.

While she was disappointed, very disappointed, in her untimely error, she was beyond troubled by Leigh Gonzalez’s endurance. How was that woman still alive?! Desiree had pointed the gun so accurately, made sure to specifically target the heart.

But she’d fumbled on the prey, too anxious, too eager for blood, so why should she be surprised she’d missed her kill mark?

Gonzalez had to die. When someone was dead, you didn’t have to worry about them ratting you out.

Desiree didn’t want to have to worry anymore.

She was too close.

She’d almost ended it. If not for the ever thoughtless, untimely acts of Jenna Gregor. All of this was her fault. She was the one who’d put someone else up to her job, let someone else pick up her slack.

Lazy coward. Selfish fool.

In a sudden rage, Desiree heaved a take-out bin at the wall, watched as noodles stuck, slid down in oily trails.

She couldn’t get the images out of her mind, they pressed there, weighed her down, seared themselves into her memory. The disbelief, mingled with horror and contempt, sparked in her brain, had her reliving moving to the fallen body, catching a glimpse of the much-too-old face, and realizing her awful, awful, mistake.

What could she do besides chalk it up to sacrifice? Sometimes, to get what you want, you had to stumble along the way. Make a few mistakes.

Gonzalez was her mistake.

But she would try, try again.

It might be a bit more difficult as the coward had fled like a frightened rabbit, worst of all, taking the children with her.

That really ate into Desiree’s timetable. She had things planned for them and Jenna was ruining it.

But patience was her greatest ally, a skill that had proved time and again its worth. She couldn’t let go of it now. She had to keep her cool, and wait.

After all, Jenna couldn’t stay gone forever. She had a job, kids in school, and of course, her precious little man.

Unable to eat as anger always made her nauseous, Desiree picked up a thick brush and stroked her hair lightly, imagining what it would be like to brush the little girl’s soft strands.

She glanced longingly at the two framed photos on the small table, knew soon this would all be over; she’d be happy and fulfilled at long last.

Her eyes clicked to the mirror on the wall. She walked to it, watched the woman in the reflection and talked to her as she often did.

“No more childish games. It is time. You are ready.”

The reflection smiled, grinned from ear to ear.

A new plan had just emerged. A better one. It was ingenious.

And she began to laugh. Loud, delighted, frenzied.

What a welcome home party this would be.

TWENTY-THREE

It had been an interesting, entertaining, and needed time of retreat for Jenna and the kids in the two weeks they’d been at the cabin, but she was glad to be heading home today.

Even if home would not offer sanctuary.

The rest, the isolation, had physically taken her from the horrors of home, but she didn’t think anything could take the fear until Leigh’s attacker was caught. Until Jenna knew the person lurking in her shadows was caught.

But she couldn’t hide forever. Couldn’t put her life on hold for possibilities, so home she’d go.

Home where a policeman was posted and an escort to and from work and while dropping off or picking up the kids was available at her request. If she didn’t have that assurance, didn’t have the security of Cooley being a phone call away, of Ben being at her doorstep with one word, she probably would’ve hid forever.