KIDNAPPED, A Romantic Suspense Novel (32 page)

“Too bad, I arrested him before you, isn’t it? While he’s going to the hospital for medical attention, we can have our superiors decided on whose jurisdiction it is.”

“Hey! What’s to keep him from escaping?” The officers tried to muscle past Matt, who held his ground.

Matt shoved Jake into the emergency van beside Sami, winking at his sister, then shut the door. Leaning into Jake’s arms, she watched her brother through the rear window and heard his parting words.

“Don’t worry, Carlisle isn’t going anywhere for a very long time. On that you can make bet.”

“I’m not, you know,” Jake whispered against her hair.

Sami wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes. For the first time since he kidnapped her, she felt calm. And the first time since her daughter died, she felt at peace.

A shaky giggle sounded from the stretcher where Nicky lay bundled in warm blankets.

Sami opened her eyes and grinned at him. “And what are you laughing at?”

“I had first swimming lesson!” He grinned at them, one tooth missing.

Jake chuckled beside her. “Yeah, little partner, a crash course.”

* * *

At the hospital, Samantha, in her element, took charge.

First thing, she ordered all news reporters kept out of the hospital. Secondly, she insisted on sharing a cubicle in the emergency room with Nicky. Then she convinced the house supervisor to let them stay in a semi-private room together.

Jake watched her in amazement as she bullied both the attending pediatrician and the social worker to get her way. His sweet, smart Samantha, knew how to turn into a hell-on-wheels mama when she needed.

Standing in a pair of green surgical scrubs one of her co-workers scrounged up for her, she currently had the hospital’s social worker pinned against the wall, her finger in the other woman’s face.

“I know damn well what the rules and regulations are regarding minors with no parents or guardians.” She edged closer. “But I’ll be damned if you are going to jerk this boy away from the one man he feels safe with. Not to mention, that I am more qualified than any foster mother to observe him for signs of infection or hypothermia. I don’t care what strings you have to pull to get him left in my custody while he’s in this hospital, you just do it.”

Jake leaned over to Matt. “Should we interfere before someone gets hurt?”

“Nah,” he shook his head. “Sami can handle her own.”

“I’m worried about the social worker.”

“True. But I figure the more my sister vents her anger on that lady, the less she’ll have for me, when I tell her I do have to take you to the police station for questioning until this mess is straightened out.”

Sami stopped mid-sentence. Her gaze slowly turned to Jake and Matt.

The social worker took that as her cue to escape.

“You can’t be serious, Matt.” Samantha squared off in front of her brother.

Jake hated the fear that suddenly edged her voice, her hand resting over her heart. He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her everything was okay. But he wouldn’t lie to her. More likely than not, he would face departmental charges at the least, possible kidnapping and child endangerment charges, as well.

“Jake?” She seemed smaller at that moment, frail and scared, something he hadn’t seen from her ever, not once, even the day he kidnapped her.

“He has to do his duty, Samantha.” Jake went to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I didn’t play by the rules, now I have to face the consequences of my actions. You wouldn’t ask anything less of me or your brother, would you?”

“Yes,” she mumbled into his shirt.

Jake couldn’t contain his laughter. “That’s my Samantha, defiant to the end. No matter what happens, just know I love you, sweetheart.”

She leaned back in his arms, raising those pale green eyes full of love to him. “I love you, too, Jake. And if Matt lets them harm one hair on your head, I’ll make his life hell.”

“You mean you don’t already?” her brother chuckled from behind them.

Before she could list how she planned to torment her brother further, a knock sounded on the hospital room door.

Jake recognized District Attorney, Brad Fallon. He was accompanied by a young woman Jake had met once before—Captain Bridges’ contact in the DA’s office and the person who’d set this whole investigation in motion—Natalie Johnson.

“May I come in?” the DA asked as he stepped into the room. “I know you have all been through a very trying ordeal, but I would like a few words with both, Detective Carlisle and Ms. Edgars before the reporters fight their way in.”

Slipping his hand into Samantha’s, Jake pulled her back to sit on the edge of Nicky’s bed. The boy had talked for a few hours, but fallen asleep since then. Even Samantha’s tirade against the social worker hadn’t roused him. She laid her hand on his forehead, once more checking that his temperature felt normal.

“What did you need to speak with us about, Mr. Fallon?” Jake pulled Sami in closer, reassuring himself she was all right, just as she had reassured herself regarding Nicky.

The DA closed the door behind them, then cleared his throat and pulled at his tie once. “The District Attorney’s office had no knowledge of Assistant DA Madigan’s involvement with the Kreshnin crime family. At least until three hours ago, when your brother, David, announced the fact to the policemen who arrived at the scene of the gun battle in the old factory district.”

Samantha started to say something, but Jake squeezed her side in a signal to wait and see what else the man had to say.

“As you can imagine, this has become somewhat of an embarrassment to my office.” He cleared his throat again. “We were also the people who issued the arrest warrant for Detective Carlisle. Unfortunately it was at the request of Mr. Madigan, which has only added fuel to the fire.”

“What is it you wish us to do to help?” Jake offered the man a bone, an idea forming in his own mind.

“If we told the same story, spinning it so the best possible light shone on all of us, and we somehow act as one unit on this with the reporters…”

“Jake has to be cleared of all charges,” Samantha interrupted him. Jake’s heart warmed at her quick defense of him. Her support would take some getting used to. “And no departmental repercussions, either. He had nothing to do with Captain Bridges’ death. I’m an eyewitness to it all.” 

“So, your brothers informed me, Ms. Edgars.” The DA had the political savvy to act chagrined, although Jake had a feeling the fiery woman beside him could take the man down a peg or two if she wanted. “And of course, not only will Detective Carlisle be cleared of all charges, he will be awarded a Medal of Valor for bringing down the newly emerging Kreshnin crime gang. Which Ms. Johnson, here has attested to the undercover work she and Bridges had involved Mr. Carlisle in.”

“Then it’s a deal,” Samantha announced beside him.

“Hold on a minute, Samantha.” Jake hated to take away her victory. Something more important than his career lay on the bargaining table.

Samantha grasped his hand in hers. “Jake, he’s agreed to clear you, what more do you want?”

Jake fixed the DA with a determined eye. “If you want me to help you smooth this over with the press, you’re going to have to give us a little help with Nicky.”

Fallon nodded with great enthusiasm. “Of course, Carlisle. We’ll see that he’s placed in the best foster home we can find.”

“Not good enough.” Jake stood, making sure Fallon understood him completely. The man had a nightmare of a PR problem. Jake had the man over a barrel, and he wanted to be sure he knew that. “If you want my cooperation, and the cooperation of Samantha’s family, then you’ll cut through every inch of red tape and see that Nicky goes to live with Samantha. That she has clear access to adoption rights and no one, I mean no one questions the arrangement.”

“Jake?”

She slipped her hand in his, but he didn’t take his gaze off DA Fallon’s face. He simply squeezed her hand for reassurance. “You fought to save him, Samantha. He deserves a mother willing to die for him.”

A very happy politician’s smile split the District Attorney’s face. He held out his hand to Jake. “It’s as good as done, Carlisle.”

Jake released Samantha’s hand to seal the deal with the other man. “When you have the papers giving Samantha free and clear custody of Nicky, then I’ll give the reporters any story you cook up. Until, then it’ll be no comment.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Detective. But you have me in a corner. The papers will be here this afternoon.” With that, the wily politician excused himself.

“Matt, if you could excuse us.” Jake nodded toward the door, and Samantha’s brother took the hint.

“Jake? I thought you would want Nicky to come live with you.” Samantha tilted her head in curiosity.

“I do.” Jake turned to her, pulling her into his arms.

“I don’t understand. How can you have him live with you, if I have custody of him?”

Jake kissed her softly. “If you marry me, then Nicky will be both of ours. Our son. Yours and mine.”

The wonder that filled her eyes, as his words settled into her heart, surprised him. She hadn’t expected his proposal.

“I mean if you don’t mind being married to a loner cop, a renegade of sorts.”

Sami stood on her tiptoes, kissing him hard. “You aren’t a loner anything anymore, Mr. Kidnapper. We’re a team now.”

He pulled her tight against him, kissing her just as hard. “You taught me something very important.”

“Mmm, I did?” she murmured against his lips.

“To do my job right and be a whole person, I need more than just myself. You showed me it’s okay to lean on someone else.”

She grinned at him. “You can lean on me anytime, Jake.”

“Me too!” Nicky announced behind them, a semi toothless grin spread across his face. “We family now, Big Partner?”

The couple moved to his side. “If it’s okay with you, Little Partner, we’re going to make it official pretty soon.”

A warhoop sounded from the little boy, which signaled the room’s invasion from the hallway, where Samantha’s entire family had waited patiently.

Jake shook hands with her father and was engulfed in the arms of her tiny mother. Dave introduced him to Judy, his very pregnant wife and their daughter and son. Luke took over the telling of the gun battle to anyone who would listen, especially the pretty young nurse in charge of Nicky’s care.

Another knock sounded on the door. Doyle stood on the threshold, uncertain whether or not to intrude. Samantha slipped her arm through his and pulled him into the melee.

Jake shook his old partner’s hand. “Thanks, Doyle. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

“I’m just sorry I didn’t put it together sooner.” He rubbed his hand nervously over the injured hip Madigan caused in the brief time he partnered Doyle, the one that cost him his career. “The boy and Sami never would’ve been in danger if I’d been on the ball.”

“You sent me to save them, old man. I’ll never forget it.” Jake noticed everyone’s attention on him. He pulled Samantha in tight against his side. “I hoped you could do me another favor.”

Doyle nodded. “Anything you need.”

“How about being my best man?”

Once more the room erupted in warhoops and hugs.

EPILOGUE

A blanket of snow lay over the rolling hills and barren trees of the land surrounding the cabin. The couple inside didn’t mind the peaceful isolation as the wind whipped across the roof and rattled the windows.

Samantha snuggled against Jake in the big bed, gazing at the fire in the fireplace joining the cabin’s main room with the bedroom.

“It was a lovely wedding,” she murmured sleepily against his chest.

Jake slowly ran one hand up and down her back, raking his nails across her soft skin and firm muscles. “Yep. Well worth waiting for.”

“We couldn’t get married before the holidays were finished. I wanted Nicky to know what family means at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s all new to him.”

Jake chuckled. “He certainly has taken to your family like a duck to water.”

“Our family.” She leaned on one elbow, her eyes staring intensely at him. “They’re your family too, now. I even think my mama loves you more than me.”

“She just loves the fact that your smile is so contagious these days. I plan on keeping it that way.”

Samantha swallowed hard at the power of that promise. “Your kidnapping saved my life.”

“Are you kidding? It almost cost you your life, not to mention Nicky’s.” He tried to rise, but she pressed herself on his chest, forcing him to stay down.

“Listen to me for a minute.” She blinked back her tears. She needed him to understand how close she’d been. “When Aimee died, I was numb. I’d fought so hard and so long, there wasn’t anything left for me to give. The depression I fell into lasted forever. Nothing mattered to me. I was a walking corpse. I lived in an emotional coma. My life consisted of work, sleep and work. I’d even started considering...”

She shuddered hard as some memory haunted her.

“Consider what?” he prodded her with his gentle question.

“I have something to show you.”

She scooted out of the bed and padded naked across the room to her purse. The sensual scene of her naked in the firelight had him growing hard with need once more. When she climbed back in bed, he pulled her tight against him.

“The night you kidnapped me I’d just gotten these.” She held up three slips of paper.

He’d had enough prescriptions in his life to recognize them. He held them up and couldn’t pronounce the names. Concern crept along his spine. “What are these?”

“Sleeping pills.” She swallowed hard. “I just wanted to go to sleep and end the pain. I’d finally decided to do something about my depression…if you hadn’t come along and forced me back into the real world…the world of the living,” a deep sigh escaped her, “I’d planned to fill those that night, and take them all.”

“Oh God, Samantha.” He pulled her tightly into his arms. “I could have lost you before I ever knew you existed.”