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Authors: Kate Allenton

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BOOK: The Reckoning
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Elizabeth
let out a sigh. “I’m not stupid, Mike. If someone leaves a note like that on my door, yes, I’m going to lock it. Especially since my baby sister,
who is still alive by the way
, is sleeping in my living room.”

Grumpy didn’t begin to describe
Elizabeth
when she was tired. Mike grinned. “I’ll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams, Doc.”

Mike hit the button disconnecting the call she probably wouldn’t even remember in the morning. Mike drove by
Elizabeth
’s house and nodded at the patrolmen cruising in her neighborhood. She’d be safe tonight. 

 

****

 

Elizabeth
woke up with her head pounding. The light shining through her window told her that she’d slept in. After the events of the last couple days, it was a wonder that she’d slept so hard at all. Threats, relatives, and then there was Mike. With so much going on, all she wanted to do was stay in bed and pull the covers back over her head until it was all over.
Elizabeth
clicked her heels under the covers, wishing she’d wake up from the nightmare. No miracle happened, the room didn’t spin, no fairy godmother descended from her ceiling. Nothing had changed.

Elizabeth
turned when she heard her door creak open. Gracie stood in her doorway with two cups of coffee. She walked in and handed her a cup. “So what’s on the agenda?” Gracie glanced around her room. “I’m guessing since you’re not packed, you’re disobeying Dad’s direct order.”

Elizabeth
let out a sigh and slid her legs over the bed. “I am, but you’re not.”
Elizabeth
took a sip of her coffee then grabbed some clothes out of her dresser and headed toward the bathroom smiling and closing the door behind her.

“Elizabeth Marie, you’re in danger, and I’m not leaving you to fight him by yourself.” Gracie called through the shut bathroom door. “So just get that out of your head.”

Elizabeth
stilled and glanced in the mirror. The thought of anything happening to her baby sister scared her. She had to reason with Gracie, make her think that leaving was her own choice. There was no way she could keep her head in the game if she had to worry about Gracie.

Elizabeth changed out of her nightclothes, brushed her teeth, and ran a brush through her
straight hair.
Gracie had gone quiet on the other side of the door. No arguing, no moaning, just dead silence.
Elizabeth
pulled the door open and grabbed her coffee cup. She left her bedroom in search of her aggravating little sister. What she’d found in the living room made her stop dead in her tracks.

Sitting on her couch was none other than Mike Bennett.
What the hell is he doing here?

 

****

 

Mike saw
Elizabeth
’s expression the moment she noticed he was there. Remembering how grumpy she’d been on the phone last night, he pushed himself off the couch and walked into her kitchen. He pulled a fresh coffee cup from the cupboard and filled it with coffee, adding a splash of milk, just like he’d seen her do a thousand times. He took the old cup from her hands and handed her the fresh cup. “Good morning, Doc.”

He leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Glad you’re dressed; grab your purse and your keys.” Mike glanced at Gracie. “You too.”

Mike turned and left the two sisters standing there. “Let’s get going; we’re burning daylight.”

He heard the girls complaining about how demanding he was being, but he didn’t care. The quicker he got some answers, the faster he could help
Elizabeth
and get back to finding his sister and his dad’s killer.

Mike walked to the SUV and pulled open the passenger doors and waited. Gracie came bouncing through the door first toward the SUV. She stopped in front of him and cupped his cheek. “Where are we going, handsome?”

Mike grinned. Getting the answers he needed from Gracie was going to be easy. He might just have to use that if the doc wasn’t very forthcoming.

“It’s a surprise,” Mike said, shutting the door behind her.
Elizabeth
stood at the door with her back toward him jiggling her key in the lock.
Elizabeth
ran her fingers over the groove where the knife had been jammed in her door. She shook her head and turned with a scowl on her face. His little doctor wasn’t quite the morning person.

He wondered if the frown on her face was for him specifically or the asshole that had left the note. She strolled down the sidewalk, glancing at the daisies that lined her walkway. She got in the SUV without a fight. It was more than he could have asked for.

“You better hope this bright idea of yours includes breakfast and more coffee. If not, I don’t want any part in it,”
Elizabeth
warned.

Mike leaned in and kissed her. He couldn’t help himself. He was drawn to her with an invisible pull. She was so cute, when she was grumpy. “Not much of a morning person, are you, Doc? Well, don’t worry; we’re just going for breakfast.”

A grin formed on her face. It seemed food and caffeine was the way to win his little doctor’s heart. He’d store that information for when he needed it. He’d called Jake and Butch last night on his way home and had filled them in on
Elizabeth
’s note. With so much unknown, he wasn’t going to take any chances with her. They’d decided they’d come up with a plan to keep her safe once they had all the information from
Elizabeth
. So he’d planned to walk her right into the line of fire. Mike grinned as he got in the SUV and drove toward Emma’s house. These ladies wouldn’t stand a chance against his pushy, persuasive sisters.

Elizabeth
turned and pointed as they passed
Main Street
, where all of the cafés were. “Mike, you missed the turn.”

Mike glanced at her before training his eyes back on the road. “Now, Doc, I promised you breakfast; I never said where we’d be eating it.”

He watched as Gracie leaned forward and placed her hand on
Elizabeth
’s shoulder. “He isn’t going to take us out in the woods and kill us, is he?”

Elizabeth
shrugged off her sister’s hand and turned in her seat. “I already told you he’s a cop, and, Gracie… please put on your seatbelt.”

Gracie leaned back in her seat and pulled the strap across her shoulder, clicking it into place. A sweet condescending smile spread across her lips. Gracie reminded him so much of Abby it was almost funny. Mike turned down the long drive to Emma and Jake’s house and parked, killing the ignition.

He grabbed
Elizabeth
’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “
Elizabeth
, just remember this is for your own good. All we want to do is help you.”

Elizabeth
pulled her hand from his. “What the hell are you talking about, Mike? What have you done?”

“Damn, Lizzy, is there something special in the water here? You didn’t tell me they were
all
beautiful; especially the eye candy on the end. He’s yummy.”

Mike was saved from having to answer
Elizabeth
’s question as Gracie jumped out of the car, not waiting for them. Abby, Sam, Jake, Thompson, and Emma, holding Lily in her arms, stood on the porch.

Elizabeth
pushed her door open and rolled her eyes. “Gracie Lou, don’t molest Thompson. Keep your hands to yourself.”

Emma glanced at Abby and smiled. It was a good thing Claire wasn’t witnessing this. If she had, she’d set her sights on matchmaking the pair, and then all hope of Gracie leaving town would fly right out the window.   

Mike walked to the front of the SUV and took
Elizabeth
’s hand. His big hand engulfed her petite fingers. Hell, all of him engulfed her.

After a few brief introductions to Gracie, they all walked into Emma’s kitchen. The entire table was covered with place settings and food. The smell of bacon hit his nose, making his stomach growl.
Elizabeth
smiled up at him. “The food looks great, but where’s the coffee you promised, Bennett?”

Mike laughed, and the tension he’d been carrying around for days eased. “I see you haven’t lost your charm.” Mike pulled out a chair for her. “Have a seat, and I’ll get your caffeine.”

Mike walked over to the counter where Sam and Butch were propped up next to the coffee pot, watching everyone mill around. “Where’s Claire?”

“She had a pit stop to make. She had to go meet Mrs. A at the coffee shop. She should be here any minute.”

Mike poured Elizabeth and himself a cup of coffee. “Good.” He released a sigh of relief. He had a feeling that Claire was going to be crucial in getting answers from the little brunette. Mike glanced over his shoulder at Gracie and shrugged his shoulders. It seemed like Thompson might have a better chance at finding out what Gracie knew before any of them found out what
Elizabeth
knew. Gracie had planted herself right next to Thompson and propped her chin in her hand. She looked like a teenager with the way she was staring at him.

“I think we’re going to need her. Your girl has her arms crossed. I don’t think she’s going to be giving up many answers.” Butch patted him on the back before walking away.

He turned to Sam. “I thought Abby said that you’d be back today. Did you catch an early flight?”

“After I talked to her last night, I cut my meeting short and came home. I’m worried about the girls.”

“Me too,” Mike whispered under his breath.

Mike pulled out a seat next to
Elizabeth
and handed her the coffee that she’d been dying for. “Eat up, Doc. I have a feeling you’re going to need your strength.”

Elizabeth
smirked and grabbed a piece of bacon. “Bring it on, Bennett. I can handle whatever you’re dishing out.”

If he hadn’t known any better, Mike would have thought it was a typical meal. Claire had arrived, and the talking and bantering had started. It seemed like a typical Sunday breakfast with family and friends. That was until the breakfast was over and the interrogation began.

Mike pushed away from the table and started pacing back and forth across the kitchen tiles. He stopped, placing his hand on the back of Abby’s chair. He looked
Elizabeth
square in the eyes. “Doc, we just want to help you. Tell us what is going on.”

Gracie pulled her attention from Thompson and stood from her chair, walking to stand behind her sister. “Listen, I don’t know who you think you are or how you can possibly help her, but she doesn’t have to tell you anything.”

Mike knew Claire heard enough. Lines were being drawn, and fences were being built. If she didn’t do something soon, all hope of helping
Elizabeth
would dwindle right before his eyes. Mike’s heart fell into his stomach. He had to help her. He had to fix this and make things right for her.

Claire stood and walked around the table. She held out her hand to
Elizabeth
. “Come take a walk with me. I met the most extraordinary man while I was in town. Mrs. A introduced him to me as your father.”

Mike knew that Claire wouldn’t use her gift of reading minds on the unsuspecting doctor since the danger wasn’t centered around her family. He trusted Claire might talk some sense into her, at least get her to open up and make it more comfortable for the two of them to talk.

“Oh crap.”
Elizabeth
pushed to her feet, almost knocking her chair into Gracie and glanced at her watch. “I forgot to call him.”

 

****

 

Claire linked her arm through
Elizabeth
’s and started walking toward the French doors. “It’s all right, dear. He knows you’re safe. I sent him to your house and told him you’d be along shortly.”

Elizabeth
’s mouth dropped open. “And he listened?”

Claire smiled and winked. “Mrs. A and I can be very persuasive.”

Elizabeth
couldn’t believe he’d taken orders from a stranger,  that he wasn’t demanding to see his daughters and know their whereabouts. It was so out of character for the General that, for a brief second, she thought Claire must have been talking about someone else.

“Are you sure it was my dad? He’s not the type to take orders.”

They walked through the doors to the garden and sat on the stone bench. The floral scent of roses wafted to her nose. The garden was beautiful, incorporating colors of roses she’d never seen before. 

“Oh, sweetie, I’m sure it was him. All I had to do was explain that we were your friends and all we wanted to do was help you, and I think that shocked him. After that, I’m not sure what Mrs. A said to him, but he left without saying another word.”

Huh, she wondered what the old woman had said.

Elizabeth
turned toward Claire. “Uh…thank you. I think.”

Claire took her hands into hers. “Sweetie, we just want to help. No matter what the problem is, we can help you.” Claire stood, walked to the roses, and plucked one. “We may look sweet like this rose, but we have thorns that draw blood.”

BOOK: The Reckoning
3.31Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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