Fourth of July (6 page)

“I’m hungry,” he said, reaching for her. She caught him in her arms, grateful for success on her last attempt.

“Thanks.” The nurse hurried up the hall.

Alexis held the boy as he consumed a donut, two containers of chocolate milk, and a package of M&M’s.

“My belly is ouchy.” He regarded her with mournful eyes.

“I bet it is.” Alexis smiled. “Why don’t you lie on my shoulder and try to rest.”

“Okay,” Jerome yawned. “I miss my mommy and daddy.”

“I know, sweetie. We’ll go and find them after you sleep for a little bit.”

Alexis was barely successful in containing her tears of sorrow on behalf of the child. Would he still have a family after today?

Jerome fell into a fitful sleep. Half an hour passed before the same blonde nurse approached Alexis. Alexis’s eyes asked the question her mouth couldn’t quite formulate.

“We found Jerome’s father,” the woman’s voice caught, an unusual thing for a nurse in an inner-city hospital. “He’s with his wife. She...she didn’t make it.”

“Oh no.” Alexis pulled the still-sleeping child closer into her embrace.

The nurse left. Alexis’ tears fell onto Jerome’s tight curls. Oh, that she could protect him from this heartache. Her stomach churned with anger. How could someone cause such anguish to another human being? Why?

Alexis gazed at the child sleeping peacefully in her arms. What would she say when he awoke? No amount of training could prepare her for this. Should she tell him about his mom or pretend everything was okay?

Before she could solve that dilemma, Jerome’s father arrived. His eyes were swollen and red, his complexion mottled. Alexis took one look into his pain-ridden face and wished she could comfort the father as she had the child.

“I’m so terribly sorry,” was all she could think to say.

“Me too,” the man choked out.

He reached for his son. Alexis surrendered the precious burden, realizing how desperately his father needed to hold him.

“Thanks,” was all the man managed as he walked away.

“Daddy,” Alexis heard Jerome greeting him cheerfully. “Where’s Mommy?”

Jerome’s father buried his face in his son’s hair.

“Don’t cry, Daddy.” Jerome patted his father’s cheeks. “We find Mommy. The doctors have her.”

They moved from Alexis’s vision. She sank onto a chair and wept.

CHRIS PACED THE LENGTH of the short hallway. After stewing in his office for the past half hour he grew impatient waiting for Dylan. He’d compiled all the information the department had but he did better moving than staring at computer screens. He needed his partner here. Especially at a time like this.

Checking his watch, he headed in the direction of the vending machines. They had a meeting in fifteen minutes with as many agents as the department secretary could round up. Chris wanted answers for this morning’s attack, but he doubted anyone had them.

He sighed and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Maybe a Dr. Pepper would soothe his frayed nerves. Besides, it couldn’t hurt to view the scenery in the office adjacent to the vending machines. The department psychiatrist was one of his favorite people at work.

Whenever he talked to her, she blushed. Chris absolutely loved that. Most women responded to his flirtations with open brazenness. He wasn’t just flirting with Alexis, but she was so perfect he’d never attempted anything beyond conversation. She was a brilliant psychiatrist and he was a mere agent. She was also gorgeous. Her short strawberry-blonde hair highlighted an exquisite face. Large, deep brown eyes with dark lashes and full lips dominated her petite features. Those eyes seemed capable of seeing straight into his soul.

I hope she came in today.

“Hey, Half-pint.”

Alexis glanced up from her computer. Chris leaned in her office doorway. Dark, good-looking, emotionally closed off. Though their conversations seldom went deeper than him teasing her about her diminutive height, she loved it when Chris dropped in.

“Hi.” The flush crept into her cheeks. Why did she always blush when he said anything to her? She hated being so easy to read.

“You’re all dirty.” Chris nodded toward her blood-and-soot-stained swimsuit cover-up. Moving into the office, he sank into a chair opposite her desk.

“Yeah.” Alexis tugged at the short dress. “As soon as I heard the explosion I hurried downtown and tried to help. I came into the office a few minutes ago to see if anyone here needed me. I haven’t had a chance to go home and change yet.”

“I hear you do a great job of helping everyone who needs it,” Chris said.

Her eyebrows elevated. “Not that you’ve ever used my services.” She would love to get inside his head.

“I didn’t see you at the bomb scene.”

Alexis knew the only person he confided in was his partner, but she had to keep trying. “You were there?” She looked pointedly at his clean button down and dress pants.

“I always keep a change of clothes in my office.”

“The EMTs directed me to the hospital,” Alexis answered his earlier question. “I went to help for a couple of hours and then they sent me home. I couldn’t go home. I need to be doing something. The images won’t leave my mind. I’d go crazy sitting at home watching the replay on T.V.”

Chris nodded. “What hospital were you at?”

Alexis gazed into the warm depth of his eyes. “District of Columbia.”

“Pretty bad?”

Alexis bit her lip, thinking of Jerome. She blinked quickly but a single tear crested her eyelid and slid down.

Chris’ hand moved toward her cheek as if to wipe the wetness away. The instant before contact he snatched it back. He blinked twice, clearing his throat.

She wished his hand wouldn’t have stopped. She dried her face with the back of her hand. “Horrible. There were so many seriously injured. I don’t know how the doctors and nurses handled it.”

“Makes me glad I’m not a doctor.” Chris stopped. “Not that there’s anything wrong with being a doctor. I just wouldn’t want to be
that
kind of doctor.”

Alexis attempted a smile to ease his discomfort. “It’s okay, Chris, I know what you meant.”

“Being a doctor of people’s minds is different.”

Alexis cringed, remembering Robert’s comments from earlier today. “Not quite a real doctor?” She couldn’t help herself.

“No-no.” His head swiveled from side to side. “I’d never say that. What you do is amazing. I think you’re the prettiest doctor I’ve ever seen.”

Alexis’ lips twitched as she withheld a smile. She didn’t know how to reply.

Chris looked away. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” He rhythmically flicked the thumb of his left hand against the inside of his forefinger.

Alexis searched for a graceful way to respond to the compliment and his obvious unease at having made it. Glancing at the papers in her hands, she crinkled the edges. “No. You’re fine. I’m not offend...it’s fine.”

His gaze swung to her face as she stammered for an answer.

Alexis gritted her teeth in frustration. She couldn’t understand why her wit and confidence vacated the scene whenever Chris appeared. She’d had a crush on him for over a year. He greeted her every day with, “Hi, Half-pint,” after which they shared a short, meaningless conversation and he walked away.

She’d seen his tall, French girlfriend with flowing, black hair. Alexis was a far cry from that type of woman, basically a complete opposite. Regardless of the facts, she couldn’t control her racing heartbeat, sweaty palms, and blushing cheeks each time she glanced into his dark eyes or admired his strong build.

“So, how are you dealing with...all of this?” She stammered the first question that came to her mind, needing to break the silence and his unnerving stare. Her question was sincere, but it didn’t come out the way she’d planned. It sounded idiotic.

“It’s completely out of control. My worst nightmare.” His eyes flashed to obsidian. “I keep hoping I’ll close my eyes, and when I open them again this will just be a horrible dream.” He swept a hand over his face as if to erase the sickening images imbedded there.

“I know what you mean,” Alexis commiserated. “It was awful at the hospital, watching those in pain.” She met his penetrating gaze. “I held a beautiful little boy for over an hour before they located his father.” Her voice caught. “His mom didn’t...didn’t make it.”

Chris shook his head.

Alexis continued, tears embracing her words. “You know Carla from Accounting?” She tried to staunch the flow of wetness with the back of her hand as she whispered hoarsely, “She lost her husband.”

“Oh no,” Chris groaned. “That’s terrible.”

He reached across the desk and this time he wiped the tear off her cheek. Alexis started, surprised at the gentle touch of his calloused hand. She jerked open a desk drawer to hide her response. Retrieving a box of tissue, she took a moment to dry her eyes and blot her nose.

“Was Carla injured?” he asked.

Alexis nodded. “Yeah. Pretty severely. I think they transferred her to Georgetown University. She may be there a while. The poor girl, I don’t think she’s been married more than a year or two.”

“I’ve worked with her before. I’ll go and see her,” Chris said.

“What would cause someone to destroy all those families?” Alexis wrung the wet tissue between her hands. “Who could do something this awful?”

“I don’t know who they are.” Chris shook his head and ran a hand through his wavy hair. “But I’m going to find out. We’re going to find them.” His voice lowered to a soothing whisper. “I promise you, we’re going to find them. Nothing like this will
ever
happen again.”

His deep voice felt like a caress to Alexis. She smiled tremulously at him. If anyone could bring those responsible to justice it would be Chris.

He stared at her. Returning his gaze, she relished the look in his eyes, as warm and delicious as a brownie fresh from the oven. Chris’ hand touched her cheek. She wished they could forget about the heart-wrenching events of the morning and enjoy this connection.

“Chris,” Dylan yelled from the hallway; his loud call jolting them back to reality.

Chris jerked away. Alexis picked up a stack of papers. She tried to compose herself, not wanting Dylan to see them so intimately connected. The awful events of this morning had caused her to let her guard down with Chris.

Chris offered her a small smile. “I’ll see you later, Half-pint.” Rising to his feet, he strode from her office.

“Bye,” Alexis murmured, crunching the papers in her hands. She tried not to feel slighted when Chris rushed away with Dylan without so much as a backward glance in her direction.

“Back to reality,” she said to herself. “Chris has a girlfriend and I’m just someone he works with.”

Her mind tried to wrap itself around these thoughts. Chris couldn’t be interested in her. He was already involved with someone else. Her hand touched her cheek. If she shut her eyes, she could still picture him gazing at her, still feel the warmth of his touch. Anything more might be only a dream, but she allowed herself to dream for a little while.

CHRIS AND DYLAN SPENT AN HOUR rehashing scant information with six other anti-terrorism teams. The hastily called meeting frustrated Chris. The teams separated to work in pairs on projects that probably wouldn’t yield anything new, but the FBI didn’t leave a rock unturned. Chris and Dylan poured over reports and parade rosters for hours, trying to glean something useful.