Uncharted Fate (21 page)

After guiding her to the restroom down the hall, Jeff walked back to the reception area, the glass crunching under his feet. Carruthers sat on the beige U-shaped sofa in the mayor’s office, cupping his face in his hands. Jeff sat next to him and patted his shoulder. “I’m sorry I came down that hard on you. I was upset.”

Carruthers shrugged wearily. “I didn’t know. I thought he was trying to escape.”

“I know. It happened too fast. That’s why these situations are dangerous and give cops nightmares. Anything can happen in a fraction of a second.”

“I thought I was doing the right thing.” Carruthers raised his head. “He was armed and considered dangerous.”

“As far as you knew, he was. With something like this, there’ll have to be an interdepartmental investigation. I’m sure you’ll be cleared. I'll testify for you. The papers will no doubt make a big deal out of it, but it’ll die down. I only hope Mark will be all right.”

“If he lives, it’ll be thanks to you. You threw me off some when you tackled me. Thanks.”

“Yes, thanks.” Anna spoke behind him. “You may have saved his life. I’m grateful.” Jeff turned to see her standing near. “He’s a good man. He needs a few breaks. I hope the court has a chance to give him one.”

“It’s up to the judge. Right now I can’t help but feel pretty damned angry at him for putting you in danger.”

“I’m okay. He wouldn’t have hurt me.”

“He took you hostage, didn’t he?”

“It happened because he panicked.”

“Things happen in those frantic moments you can’t plan on. Look what happened a few minutes ago. Carruthers would never have fired if he’d known Spencer was giving himself up. Mark put you all into a volatile situation and any one of you could have been killed. Any hostage situation is dangerous. You never know how it’s going to end.”

Jeff caught the look of apprehension Anna gave him. He was chattering on and on, afraid of what would happen if he stopped. The angry words they said to each other twenty-four hours ago seemed to still stand between them. They’d parted in hostility. Now that the tension of the last nine hours was gone, he wasn’t sure what to do. Probably Anna didn’t, either.

Jeff got to his feet, his teeth worrying his bottom lip. She stood in front of him, apparently trying to read his thoughts. Then suddenly, they were in each other’s arms, and any lingering anger was gone in the joy of being alive and together again. He kissed her ravenously, the tragedy earlier making him need the feel of her vibrant life. The past few hours made him realize how much she meant to him.

After a few minutes, he lifted his head. “Let me take you home. You must be as exhausted as I am, and I’m sure your kids are worried sick.”

The mayor and his wife had left, and Carruthers was giving orders to the officers who came in to take evidence. Jeff got his attention. “Will you see to this, and call the chief to let him know what happened? He said he’d be in his office all night. Tell him I said I’d write a report in the morning. I’ll stop on my way out and make a statement to the news people.”

Carruthers nodded. “Go ahead. You take the lady home before she drops.” He tried to grin, but wasn’t quite up to it yet.

Jeff had given the keys of Anna’s car to one of his men to bring over before morning, so he drove her home in his car. They had just walked to Rose’s place, when she flung her door open before they had a chance to knock.

“Oh, I did hear a car.” Her face lit up. “You're all right. Thank goodness. Come in, come in.”

“Mommy.” Mallory streaked across the floor, hair flying, and threw her arms around Anna’s neck. “You’re here. You’re okay.”

"Be careful. I have blood all over me."

"It doesn't matter. I'm just so glad you're home." Her slender body shook as she cried out all of her tension. After a while, the wracking sobs subsided, and Mallory stood back. “I was afraid I’d never see you again. I couldn’t have stood it if you’d gotten killed like Daddy.”

“I didn’t get killed, baby. I’m all right.”

Mallory wrapped her arms around Anna’s waist. “I’m so glad. I need you, Mom. All the time I was awful to you after Daddy died, I was wrong. I was upset about Daddy, and I couldn’t think straight. I love you, Mom. I really do.”

“I understand, honey. I was hurting, too.” Anna looked over Mallory’s head to see Cam, smiling, with Jeff’s arm around his shoulders.

"I came over to keep Mallory company,” he supplied.

“Cam is going to help me stop smoking pot,” Mallory said. “He says I can call him whenever I feel like I need a joint and he’ll talk to me.”

“What if it doesn’t work?” Jeff asked.

Mallory stood up straight and looked him in the eye. “Then I’ll go to AA or NA. Either way, I’ll do it.”

“Good. I believe you.”

Anna looked around. “Where’s Brian?”

“I got him to lie down on my bed,” Rose replied. “I’ll take you in.”

Anna followed Rose and found Brian, still dressed, sprawled on top of the spread. “Brian?” She woke him up gently. “It’s Mommy. I’m home.” Brian sat up, wide awake in an instant, and Anna pulled him onto her lap. They sat rocking, until Brian felt secure enough to climb off and give her a big grin.

“I sure am glad you’re back, Mommy. I was terrible worried. I didn’t want to be alone.”

“You’re not going to be alone. I’m here.”

“Good. Are we going to go home now?”

“We sure are. We’ve got to let Rose get some sleep. Let’s go.” Anna thanked Rose over and over again and decided to send her a big arrangement of flowers in the morning.

They all traipsed over to her house, and Anna made cocoa. While she put her two to bed, Jeff called the hospital to inquire about Mark. He was still in surgery, but it was going well and Mark would likely be okay.

Cam retreated to the rec room when Anna returned, and Jeff sat with Anna’s cheek nuzzled against his neck.

He ran his fingers through her hair. “Do I dare repeat my proposal? Everything that has happened tonight has made me realize how much I need you, how much I love you. I want to marry you. Will you reconsider it?”

She leaned back in his arms. “This hostage thing has made me realize I do love you.” She watched him smile broadly. “But I can’t marry you. Not yet.”

His smile faded. “What do you mean, not yet?”

“I still need some time, Jeff. I was right about what I said last night. I’m just beginning to come into my own, to feel like a strong person, an independent person. Mayor Stanton mentioned he might be able to pull some strings to get me a job in social services and I could work toward my degree as I go. I’d like to do that. I imagine I have a good many of the humanities credits I can transfer, and I’ll need to pick up the courses in my major. If I take a few each semester, I should be able to graduate in a couple of years.”

“You want to wait two years?”

She had to laugh at the dismay on Jeff’s face. “No, silly. I do want to get a good start on my own, but I don't think I'll be able to wait two years. Someday, when we know the time is right, we’ll have a small, quiet wedding. But in the meantime, do you think you could find me a gold chain so I can wear my ring on it until you can put it on my finger? I decided I wanted it close to my heart.”

"You can have anything you want, my darling. You already have my heart." He pulled her tighter against him and swooped down for a kiss.

She kissed him back with a depth of passion fueled by what they'd gone through together. His strength, his compassion, and his passion thrilled her. She felt like crawling inside him.

Pulling back a little, she gazed into his eyes. Jeff?"

"Hmm?" he mumbled, obviously distracted by nuzzling her ear.

"Today, when I was being held in the mayor's office and you kept calling to deal with Mark . . ."

He raised his head and gazed at her. "Yes?"

"I just wanted to let you know that, even though I was scared by the situation, knowing it was you taking care of everything, made me feel safer. Because you're the best man in the world to take care of me and everyone else. And I love you for that—along with every other reason I love you."

His eyes glistened with emotion. "It humbles me to hear you say that. I don't deserve it."

"Yes, you do. You're the best cop in the world. And I know you'll make the best husband."

They came together in a blazing, passionate kiss. He scooped her up and carried her to the stairs.

Anna leaned back to look at him. "The kids—”

"The kids can do without you for a little while. I just want a few minutes alone with you." He laid her on the bed and whispered, "I love you so much, Anna. I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to you. The moment I found out it was you up there in the mayor's office, I think my heart stopped. You've become my life. Somehow nothing else matters to me but you."

She pressed her hand to his cheek and he covered it with his own. "I love you too, Jeff. I talk about being independent and able to stand on my own two feet—and I do need that—but as long as you're there with me, my life is complete."

He groaned. "I don't know if I can wait a year or two to be together."

"Eh.” She grinned at him happily. “Two years, one year, six or seven months . . . who knows?"

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