Jane Doe's Return (28 page)

“Thanks.”

After walking him to the door, she leaned up against it and rested her eyes. This had to end. She was sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time.

Oh, my God. I can
’
t be.

“Shit.” She opened her eyes in shock of her own thoughts.

“What?” Travis stood in front of her, with a stupid concerned look on his face.

“Nothing.” She pushed him aside.

He took her by the arm and cocked his head.

“Okay, everything!” she snapped. “I hate this. I don’t want to have to face him tomorrow. I want to crawl in a hole until…”

He rubbed her chin with his thumb, looking like he cared.

But who did he care about?

Her?

Or Jane Doe?

“No, you don’t. You’re a fighter and we’ll nail his ass. I promise.” His warm lips gently glided across hers.

It caught her breath short, then he pulled her closer to him.

“No,” she whispered, stepping back. “I can’t. We can’t.” She crossed her arms around herself.

He scowled, placing his hands on his hips.

“Shauna, I feel things for you I haven’t felt in years.”

“It’s just because we’ve been in an extreme situation.”

“This isn’t a movie. This is real life.” He took a step closer and she dodged him. “Are you trying to tell me you don’t care about me?”

Of course she did. “It’s not that simple.” She did the math in her head and she was most definitely a week or so late. Well, she wouldn’t tell him until she was sure. And Jeff Wilcox was where he belonged.

“What’s going on inside that pretty little head of yours?” He tapped his long index finger at her temple.

“You win.”

“Win what?” He cocked a brow.

“I’ll go out with you when this is over. A real date.”

“We already established that.” He took in a deep breath, like he was frustrated and losing his patience.

“But back off until then. I think you might be the one to change your mind.”

He picked up her purse. “I won’t be backing out. Let’s get back to my place.”

She followed him to his pickup, making sure no one was around to see her leave. They wanted Jeff, if he was watching, to think she was staying alone in her place.

****

The next couple of days went by in a haze for Shauna. She and Travis were busy planning a trap for Jeff.

Jeff seemed to be aware that he was being watched because he did nothing. He came to work, and then went to a half empty apartment, not leaving until morning—as far as they could tell. There hadn’t been another murder which told the world the police had nabbed their man—the wrong man.

Shauna continued to have stomach issues. Travis seemed to have lost his appetite as well. Obviously for different reasons.

Then there was this dance his niece was going to this weekend. Neither of them wanted her to go, but she had to trust that everyone in on this case right now would help take care of Jessica. The timing of the plan became very apparent to Shauna. They had to try to confront him on the night of the dance. The night that Jessica would be out of her parents’ sight and possibly in harm’s way.

****

Leaving the office on Friday evening, Shauna’s entire body ached with the knowledge she might actually have to be alone with the man who raped her.

“Are you ready for this?” Travis asked as he pulled out of the federal building parking lot. A slight breeze ruffled the treetops and the gray clouds threatened to release rain.

She took in a deep breath. “I’m ready to end this.” She didn’t look at him when he tugged at her phone on her hip.

“It’s time.”

She swallowed, feeling her throat close and then gasp for air as she dialed Jeff’s phone number. Taking the hand Travis offered, she squeezed as hard as she could. She needed every ounce of strength she could muster from the both of them.

“Wilcox here,” he answered in his normal voice.

“It’s Shauna.” Her hand shook as she tried to hold the phone to her ear. Flashes of him touching her, laughing at her, hurting her, tormented her brain.

“Well, hello.” His voice changed and rattled her to the point of near panic.

She closed her eyes, feeling her stomach fly up her throat. “We need talk,” she heard herself say.

“Really, ‘bout what?”

About your funeral, you sick bastard.
“Work stuff.” That was real professional. “I need some information about Nagel.”

“I thought you knew all about Nagel.” His tone rang sadistic in her ears.

“I wish. The cops have too many holes. I still don’t think it’s him. That file of yours had some interesting information; mind if I take another look?”

Silence on the other end.

Travis held her hand, stroking her skin with his thumb. The safety of his touch allowed her to maintain some sense of control.

“Jeff?” she questioned.

“Sorry, just looking for that file you want to
fish
through. Why didn’t you just drop by my office before you left?”

“Travis thinks I should leave it alone. He’s satisfied the cops have the right guy.”

“Okay. You’ve
hooked
me. When do you want to meet?”

“How about in an hour and a half. I’ll meet you at Capri’s.”

“I’ll see you there. Goodbye, Shauna,” he said in the voice that made her tremble in fear. The way her name echoed across the phone sent her stomach on another roll.

She flipped the phone shut, praying she wouldn’t have to have Travis pull over. Being sick again would only complicate matters more. Not

that the reason for her being sick didn’t complicate things enough.

Closing her eyes, she rested her head against the window. She could hear the slight pitter-patter of the rain as it hit the glass next to her ear.

She jumped, feeling the door open.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Travis lifted her into his arms.

“No,” she whispered.

“I just talked with Steve. Jeff’s at his apartment.”

She relaxed into Travis’s body, unaware she had been asleep. She was so tired. It was just the case. Her job. She tried to remind herself, knowing that a small entity was draining her of all her energy. She felt something soft adjust to her weight. “Have you forgiven Gina for what she did?”

“Forgiven her?” He pinched his brow. “I suppose.” His voice was flat and unemotional.

“I mean, could you go on with your life? Have a family with someone else?”

“She’s not why I gave up on the idea of having a family, not entirely.” The couch lifted under her as he sat down next to her, pushing her head into his lap. “Gina and I had problems before she had the abortion. Looking back, the only reason I wanted to marry her was because she was pregnant. I’m not sure I really loved her like husband is supposed to, and she wanted me to give up on finding Marie’s killer. She said I was obsessed.”

Shauna took in a deep breath. “You are.”

Travis cleared his throat. “I want a family someday. But I want it to be because I’m in love, not solely because of a baby. I don’t think it would be fair to bring someone into my mess.”

His fingers stroked her hair, then tingled down her arm.

The soft touch of his skin made her want to curl up like a kitten in his lap and forget all about putting Wilcox away. His scent, which she could never really place, filled her lungs. It was manly, but there was that sensitiveness to him, even his smell. This was a man who loved deeply.

But could he love her? The real her.

Deep down she knew he’d love his child and be there for him or her. But she couldn’t be in loveless marriage. She wouldn’t marry a man because she carried his child and she didn’t think Travis could love her, for her.

“And I’ve only thought about family stuff lately. Before, I pretty much stayed away from women.”

Opening her eyes, she sat up and searched his. “I don’t believe that. You’re the kind of guy women flock to.”

That caught a throaty laugh. “I don’t put myself out there. The women I’ve dated over the last few years haven’t been the marrying type.” His hand ran down the back of her head sending a warm glow all through her body.

She felt safe and cared for. But who did he really care about? “No serious girlfriends since her?”

He shook his head. “In the beginning, I was too upset. I took it out on all women. Then I decided to stay away from the intellectual type, until recently.” His smile was playful.

“You mean women who have a plan.”

He shrugged.

“I have a plan.” She pulled away. Even though he said he didn’t want marriage because of a baby, she knew him well enough to know he’d demand it.

“Really?” He leaned back on the armrest of the sofa, still with that playful smile plastered on his face. She wanted to stuff her foot in his mouth, better yet his foot.

To her mortification, she let out a little chuckle.

He lifted his leg and put it on her lap, nudging her ribs. “The plan?”

“Oh, yeah. Go to Quantico, work with you, catch a killer and then, catch a few more.” She took his foot in her hand.

“You can do that here, you know?”

“I’ve got to move on. Too much of the past here.”

“That’s bullshit.” He yanked his foot from her hand, squirming.

She grabbed it back.

“Stop.” He wiggled on the couch, laughing. “Revenge is something I do well.” He lifted both brows.

She released his foot, for the moment. Tucking her feet under her behind, she welcomed both his feet in her lap. “Someday I’d like to go to work at the national office.”

“What about being a wife and mother?” His stare was so intense her breath caught.

“I’ve never really thought about it. Trusting a man with my whole heart isn’t something I’ve spent any time considering and I like my job.” She had to admit to herself, though, that she did trust Travis. Her heart pounded so heavy and fast she thought for sure he could hear it. “Besides, I always worry about the possible hereditary factors in child abuse and alcoholism.”

“That’s about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard you say. You, my sweet, would make a wonderful mother. You’re kind, loving, and generous, and it would be a privilege to be loved by you.”

End of conversation.

“Well, I’m not the settling down type.” She picked up his feet and pushed them to the floor. “We need to go.” She rose from the couch and moved as fast as she could toward the door. She didn’t want to talk anymore. Why she even brought it up she would never know.

Except that they might be having a child together.

Chapter Fifteen 

Travis tapped his watch with his index finger and then held it to his ear. Jeff was late, but Jeff was good at being late. It seemed the only thing he was ever on time for was court, and only by a hair.

Travis opened the door to his pickup and got out. He needed to stretch his legs. It was almost eight and Jeff should have been at Capri’s a half hour ago.

Something
’
s not right.

He flipped out his cell phone and dialed Steve’s number. “Damn it.” He got the voice mail. Cracking his knuckles, he decided to go in the restaurant. This being one of his favorite spots, it wouldn’t be unheard of for him to just show up for a beer. Besides, he didn’t like the idea of Shauna being in there all alone.

Entering the bar and grill, he scanned the room. Nothing out of place. Bonnie waved and pointed to the corner booth in the back. Shauna had eyed him the moment he pushed open the door, but didn’t look too happy to see him.

“What the hell are you doing?” A scowl formed across her pretty face.

“Steve’s not answering,” he said, as Bonnie brought him a diet cola with lemon. “I don’t like this.”

Fear flickered in behind her cool blue eyes. “You should go check on him.”

“Not without you.” He squeezed his lemon and stirred his drink.

“I need to wait here in case Jeff shows.” She swallowed, looking over Travis’s shoulder at someone entering the bar.

He followed her stare, but it was just another patron. “We stay together.”

Silence followed.

Travis chewed on a piece of ice and tossed a ten on the table, glancing at his watch. “He’s up to something. It’s been too long. I think we need to go.”

“Where?”

“To find Steve,” Travis said. “Or Lake George. Hell if I know.”

No sooner were they in the car and driving down New Scotland Avenue, his phone rang. “Brown here,” he answered.