Remember Love: Saints Protection & Investigations (15 page)

Standing in the
small hallway between the two bedroom doors, Blaise watched as Grace fiddled nervously. He lifted her chin with his fingers, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. She lifted on her toes to take the kiss deeper but he pulled back, keeping his hands on her shoulders. Hating the expression of confusion on her face, he said, “Sweetheart, there’s nothing I’d like to do more than make love to you…and make you mine. But you’re vulnerable right now, and I can’t take advantage of that.”

Her lips tingled from where his lips branded hers. “What if I want you to take advantage of me?” she whispered, her voice husky with need.

Raising his head toward the ceiling, looking heavenward for strength, he closed his eyes as though in pain. Sighing heavily, he dropped his head back, piercing her with his gaze. “What would you say if I told you that I was thrilled to learn that you didn’t have a man in your former life? That I knew we could move forward…if you wanted to?”

Her lips curved into a shy smile, her chocolate eyes warming. “I’d say that would make me happy as well. I’m not sure I would have wanted to meet up with someone that I had no memory of.” Pulling her lips in, gathering her courage, she continued. “And…I now know that gives me a chance to move forward with you…if you wanted to.” She grinned as she repeated his words back to her.

Chuckling, he pulled her closer again, kissing the top of her head. Holding her against his chest, he heard her mumble. “What’d you say, babe?”

Leaning back again, she said, “I know you said that we need to not let whoever may have been after me know I am alive, but will you promise to let me know what you find out about me?”

“Grace, I can’t imagine how this is for you…not knowing…and yet finding out things a bit at a time. That’s the reason I want us to go slow…it’s not fair, pulling your emotions into a relationship right now when you are trying to get your life…and memory…back. But, I promise that whatever the Saints find out, I will tell you. Each step of the way.” Holding her gaze for another moment, he added, “You’re safe with me, sweetheart.” Leaning down, he kissed her gently again and, this time, it was a promise.

Nudging her toward the guest room, he said, “Sleep tight,” and grinned as Gypsy, padding on a much-healed paw, followed her mistress.

*

My headlights pierced
the darkness as the winding road passed underneath my car. “Hang on, Gypsy. I’m trying to get us out of here.” Glancing in the rearview mirror, the faint glow of headlights came into view. “Fuck!” I’d been shot at and had no idea if the person chasing me was the one with the gun. Stepping on the accelerator, I pushed it as fast as I dared to go on the unfamiliar, unlit road. My tires squealed in protest at the speed I was taking some of the curves. The light became brighter and brighter as the following vehicle came closer.

Heart pounding in fear, I stared out of the windshield looking for something…anyone who might help… but the darkness was the only answer. I didn’t need to glance at the mirror anymore as the following headlights now illuminated the inside of my car. “Come on, come on,” I prayed, pushing my car faster.

The lights moved to the side. “Are they passing me?” I wondered just before the sound of metal crashing into metal rang out.

“Fuck! They hit me!” The steering wheel jerked in my hands as I tried to keep the car on the road. “NO, NO, NO!”

I could not stop the spinning movement and then the nose pointed downward. “Oh, my God, Gypsy!” Down, down, down into the blackness. The bone-jarring movements. The crashing to a stop. Something slamming into my face…

“AUGHHHHHHHHH!”

Blaise, having heard the screaming coming from the guestroom, tossed his covers, running toward Grace. Throwing open her door, the illumination from the hall cast its light across the bed. Gypsy stood on the floor next to Grace, whimpering next to her mistress. Grace was a moving tangle of legs, arms, and bedcovers.

Patting Gypsy’s head as he crawled onto the bed, he gathered Grace into his arms. “Wake up, babe. You’re safe. You’re safe.”

Eyes jerking open, panting, she fought against his arms until his voice finally broke through her terror. Gasping, she grabbed him, holding on as her mind came back from the images of crashing down the ravine.

Holding her close, he murmured comfort as one hand cradled her head against his strong heartbeat and the other soothed up and down her back. Slowly, her breathing steadied as her shaking calmed. After several long minutes, he asked, “Do you remember what you were dreaming?”

He felt her nod against his chest, but stayed quiet, allowing her to respond in her own time. Finally, her trembling voice spoke.

“I remember the crash. I remember driving down the road. Someone was chasing me. I could see their headlights getting closer, but it was so dark and the road was so curvy. I remember Gypsy in the back seat.”

She remained quiet for another moment, the images still strong in her mind. “I remember the headlights filling my car as they were right behind me. Then my car was darker and I realized they had moved to the side. I thought maybe they were going to pass me.”

Shuddering, she clutched his arms tighter. “The other car hit me…they hit me. Oh, God, they wanted to kill me.”

“Shhhh,” Blaise comforted, gently rocking her back and forth, his arms continuing to envelope her in his embrace.

“I woke up as I was crashing down the mountainside. It was dark. I had no idea where I was going to land. And then…the car slammed into something…that’s all I remember.”

“Babe, that’s good. That’s so good. And as your memory comes back, just know that I’m here for you.”

She leaned back from his naked chest, grabbing the edge of the sheet and wiping her nose and eyes. As her thoughts settled with the knowledge she was safe in his steady arms she viewed the muscular chest in front of her. Shaking her head, she thought,
I must truly be crazy to be focusing on his gorgeous body when someone tried to kill me.

“Babe?” he asked. “You okay? Your face is flushed.”

Blushing harder, she choked out, “Yeah, yeah. Just trying to make sense of…everything.”

Sitting up, she said, “I guess it’s a good thing I’m going to the counselor today, isn’t it?”

“I think the timing’s perfect,” Blaise agreed. “Are you going to be able to go back to sleep?”

“Um…sure. Gypsy’ll keep me safe.”

He hesitated as he started to rise from the bed, then turned back to see her vulnerable face peering up at him. “I could stay…if you wanted.” Her smile illuminated the room even more than the light from the hall.

“I’d like that.”

Sliding back underneath the covers, straightening them around their bodies, he gathered her in his arms once more. Spooning her back to his front, he pulled her body in tightly, offering his warmth as well as his protection. Kissing the top of her head, he said once again, “Sleep tight,” then added, “I’ve got you now.”

With that, she fell into a dreamless sleep.

P
ulling up to
the K-9 dog training facility, near the Marine base north of Richland, Blaise and Chad stepped out of their vehicle. The grounds contained several buildings and a large grassy field to the side. Stepping inside, they moved to the front desk. Pulling out their identification, Blaise said, “We’re here to see Douglas Wilkins, concerning a former trainee. He should be expecting us.”

Just then, an older, fit man with a military haircut, greying at the temples walked from the back. “Gentlemen, I’m Douglas Wilkins. Welcome to our facility. Come on back.”

Receiving visitor badges from the receptionist, they followed him to a small, uncluttered office. As Douglas walked around the desk, he motioned for them to take the seats in front.

“You said in your phone call you’re investigating the disappearance of a recent graduate of our program.”

“Yes, sir,” Blaise began. “Ms. Grace Kennedy has been missing for a couple of weeks.”

At this, Douglas’ eyebrows shot upward in surprise. “Grace?” Shock evident on his face, he added, “Missing? No one’s seen her? What about her dog? Any sign of her either?”

“No, they’re both missing. It was reported by a friend and we’re trying to retrace her last known steps.”

“I haven’t seen Grace or Gypsy since the graduation we had here about six weeks ago. I remember them well. Good reflexes, good instincts.”

“Ms. Kennedy or the dog?” Chad quipped.

“Both, both,” Douglas enthused. “Both the dog and the handler need to work together as one. Those two were special.”

“We’ve read about your facility. Can you give us some insight into your school and her career aspirations after she graduated?”

“We have some people who come here to train the dogs for other handlers to then take possession of. Some employers have their own dogs and kennels. Others come with their own dogs that have been trained since pups. That was Grace. She came to us with Gypsy and her career goals were heading toward TSA. Some of our trainees go DEA, ATF or police. She and Gypsy trained and excelled with the drug sniffing and she had already interviewed with the TSA. In fact, if memory serves, I think she had already begun the training portion of her career with TSA in Richland.”

“What can you tell us about her friends or fellow trainees? Anything about her time here?”

Rubbing his hand over his face, he appeared to ponder the questions. “Well, can’t say that I recall much about her and the other trainees. She got along well with everyone. Nice. Polite. But focused…I’ll say that about her. She was really all about the job.”

Douglas glanced outside the window overlooking the grassy field, now filled with dogs and their handlers. “Hate like hell, she’s missing.” Coming out of his musings, he said, “I do remember she used to talk more to Carter Boren and Jocelyn Montez. Now that I think about it, those three hung out more than I saw her with anyone else. Carter was also going to TSA and Jocelyn, I think wanted a job with the local sheriff’s office. I know Carter probably felt some competition with Grace.”

“Competition?” Chad prodded.

“The Richland International Airport needed another TSA handler and she and Carter were both up for the same job. Now, quite frankly, I think they both would have landed jobs there because the TSA is always adding new positions. But when they left here, she had the position.”

“We’ll need Carter and Jocelyn’s contact information. If you need, we can have the FBI make the formal request, although we are investigating with their authority.”

“I understand. The FBI contacted me yesterday to say that I was to cooperate so I’ve got no problem.” He began typing into his computer and pulled up the records on previous students of the program. His printer began to whir, spitting out the information. He leaned over, grabbed it and handed it to Blaise.

“Gentlemen, I wish you success in your search. She was a real nice girl. Smart. Self-reliant. Easy to get along with and had a fucking great relationship with her dog. I hate that something may have happened to her. Any chance you can let me know what you find?”

“We’ll keep you apprised of our investigation to the extent that we are able,” Blaise answered noncommittally. Standing, he and Chad made their way back to the receptionist desk, turning in their badges.

Walking back to his jeep, Blaise was unaware that eyes followed the pair before making a phone call.

*

Miriam and Bethany
sat in the waiting room as Grace met inside with the counselor. “I wish we could be with her,” Bethany said.

“I know,” Miriam agreed. “Somehow, it actually seems harder sitting out here, doesn’t it? But I know Dr. Saren will be good for her.”

Bethany nodded her agreement, her blue eyes seeking the dark gaze of her friend. “It’s hard to believe it was a year ago that I was stalked by a serial killer and met Jack.”

The two women, so different in appearance with Bethany’s tanned body and blonde hair, blue eyed, girl-next-door look in contrast with Miriam’s dark hair, dark eyes, and slightly exotic visage. But having both been rescued by Saints, they formed a bond along with the other women in their group.