Strong Reflection: Book 2 of the Dark Series Trilogy (17 page)

The crowd was huge and hard to navigate.  Ashley kept the man’s red ball cap in her line of vision, following through the mob of people, moving as fast as she could.  She was closing the distance between them when she caught sight of another presence that also had a strong pull.  It was Detective Tyron Anderson.  Why was he walking away from the dance?  Walking away from the people he was supposed to be protecting?  And, why was he walking towards the water’s edge?

Ashley’s training, sense of duty and intuition kicked into overdrive and so she forgot about the man in the red ball cap and went after Anderson instead.

Ashley’s memories had came to an abrupt end at the point where she changed her direction to follow Anderson.  Dropped harshly back into the present she saw the man again she had seen at the waterfront that day.  He was part of a group of 4 men.  The men started towards a lower level.  Urgency flooded Ashley and she took off.

The men got in the elevator, the doors closing before Ashley could catch them.  Quickly she made a dash for the exterior stairs.  She rounded the elevator on the other side.  She looked over the wall to the stairs, to save time, instead of going around to the top of the stairs, she jumped the wall and landed neatly on the fifth step and then raced down the stairs to catch the elevator before it opened.

Fast as she was going, she missed the patrons disembark.  Ashley looked all around.  The crowd was bigger in the front of the mall.  The elevator opened onto the main floor which led to the main parking lot in front of the mall.   The mass of people seemed to get larger.   That didn’t stop Ashley from doing a systematic grid search for the man in the blue shirt that had pulled at her subconscious mind.

She didn’t know how long she looked, but, she was definitely sure the man she saw was gone.  Feeling defeated that she didn’t even get a make or model of a car, Ashley made her way slowly back towards the parking level where she had left Catlyn and Tasha.

She was on her third and final circuit of the parking level, making sure Catlyn’s car was definitely not there when she saw Jack’s SUV come to a screeching halt.

Kyle got out of the vehicle with a stern look on his face.  Oh, boy.  She was in trouble again!

“Ashley!”
 His voiced echoed off the concrete walls.

She stopped moving, waiting until he reached her, which wasn’t long his angry stride had him next to her within seconds.  He crushed her to him in a tight hug.

Stunned at first, Ashley stood unmoving in his embrace.  Then loving the feel of his strong arms holding her close, she put her arms around him, laying her head against his chest as he kissed her temple.

“Babydoll, you scared me to death!”

“I know.
 I am sorry.  I have to apologize to Catlyn and Tasha too.”

Kyle pulled back to look deeply into her eyes.  “Later, right now you and I are going to find a nice quiet corner and we are going to discuss what the hell is going on with you, ok?”

Nodding, Ashley went back into his arms.  Kyle led her to the car at the same time he dialed a number on his cell.  “I found her.  Yeah, right here in the parking garage at the mall.”  He held her door open so she could get in and when she was settled he shut the door adding, “I am going to take her out for a cup of coffee.  We need to talk.  We’ll see you at your place later.

****  

Kyle watched Ashley pensively drink her coffee.  Her new hairstyle was gorgeous, as the male patrons of the diner revealed with long looks at her.  Ashley was oblivious to the looks aimed her way.  No one was getting her attention and that included Kyle himself.

She stared into her cup as though she lost something in it.  Her look was not only pensive but sad.  Kyle decided it was definitely time for him to take his turn with 20 questions.

“Ashley, where were you born?”

“Richmond, Virginia.”

“How did you and my sister meet?”

“I met her one day at the orphanage where I lived when I was 12 years old.”

Kyle was shocked.  “You’ve know Nancy that long?  I assumed you guys met that day of the bank robbery and she ended up being one of the hostages and you got stabbed protecting that pregnant woman.”

Ashley confirmed with a nod still looking into her cup.  “Her name is Mia Winslow the pregnant woman in the bank.  I know you assumed Nancy and I just met that day when we were actually getting reacquainted.  I saw Nancy almost every day from ages 12 -17 when she used to volunteer at the orphanage.  I left about a week after my eighteenth birthday.”

Sadden about the young Ashley being alone at such a tender age, Kyle reached across and took her hand in his.  He was surprised to find her hand was cold.  He placed her chilly one between his warm ones, trying to stir her circulation.  “I’m sorry you grew up in an orphanage, Babydoll.  I am sorry you were not.”

Ashley finally looked at him.  Kyle couldn’t interpret the look she gave him.  She shook her head and then continued her contemplation of her coffee cup.

Sighing Kyle continued his questioning.  “Why were you a 31 year old virgin?”

She then pinned him with a look that had a hint of accusation in her dark eyes, “Because, you didn’t take it when I was 25 years old.
 I don’t know why you waited so long.”

Kyle knew exactly what she was talking about.  She had been 25 when he kissed her at that auction, very well, enough said on that subject.

“Can you explain to me why you take so many chances with your life, ignoring my direct orders in the process?”

She kept her head bent and was silent for so long, Kyle didn’t think she’d answer him.  But, she spoke in a low voice, “Someone has to help those in need.  They have to know, that someone is going to be there for them and that even if it seems as if all hope is gone there is going to be someone there to save the day at the eleventh hour.”

Kyle had read about the hero complex a lot of law officials tend to acquire.  However, he didn’t think that was her issue.  Ashley was missing key parts of that complex.  She wasn’t flaunting her heroism and there wasn’t a conceited bone in her lovely body.  In fact, she shunned the spotlight when she could.  It was just that some of her rescues were so news worthy, she couldn’t avoid the limelight.  But if she could get away with the rescue without attention, she did.  

Kyle was reminded of several times when Ashley had given the credit of her good deeds to other agents. She could have passed the credit on so that she wouldn’t get another lecture from him and to avoid any disciplinary actions.  Kyle didn’t think that was the reason.

He tried to understand, “Sweetheart, if it doesn’t work out, you’d essentially be swapping your life for theirs.”

She shrugged.  “Isn’t that the job?”

“Hell, no!”  Kyle got a little loud, getting attention from the surrounding tables.  He lowered his voice, “The job is to protect those who need protecting and help get them out of trouble if they are in trouble, but, no, you are not here to swap your life for theirs within your day to day, maybe for a helpless innocent, like a baby or a child, but not for every Tom, Dick and Harry, or should I say Dwayne?”

“You’re referring to the man in the club.  Technically, it wasn’t Dwayne I was saving.  I believe his name is Rodger Rand.  Rodger had a knife pulled on him by Leroy and then Dwayne pulled a gun on me.”

Again with the pushing of his buttons, “Ashley, don’t you dare split hairs with me over some scumbag’s name.  You could have been killed.”

“So, you’re angry because the person I helped had a criminal record?
 Are you saying because he was a petty thief he deserved to be gutted on a dance floor?”

“Goddamnit, Ashley, don’t pretend to not know what I am talking about.”  Kyle was upset now.

She pulled her hand out of his, shrugging, “Basically what you’re saying is only law abiding citizens and children deserve to be protected by the law.
  You’re saying some people are worthy and some are not.  I get it.”

“That is not what I am saying at all.  I—“

“Yes, just like slavery, right?  If your skin isn’t white you deserve no better than to be treated like an animal, right, Kyle?”

“What the hell are you talking—“

“Of, course, if you’re a criminal and thief you need to be slaughtered while out dancing.”  Ashley became so disturbed she got up from the table and walked out.

Before Kyle could even comprehend what the hell he had done to lose a grip on the conversation, Ashley was out the door and out of sight.

Swearing under his breath, Kyle rushed to grab the check and pay the bill and catch up to her.

Chapter 10

Shaking uncontrollably, Ashley waited beside Jack’s SUV.  She was afraid she was losing her mind. How could she have seen her father?  Not once but twice?  She was going insane and was taking her loss of sanity out on Kyle.  

Kyle’s questions were going to lead to the night she lost her family.  The night she survived alone! Ashley closed her eyes even though the images she was suddenly flooded with were in her head and closing her eyes made them more vivid.

Images of her at age 11, so happy about her upcoming birthday, skipping to the door in response to the chimes knowing it was Chad.  Not being able to contain her excitement at the prospect of her first kiss by a boy, even if it was just on the cheek.  

Not bothering to check the peephole, she had flung the door wide with an equally wide smile.  In an instant her smile died as she had come face to face with evil.

Ashley’s eyes sprang open at the memory, meeting Kyle’s as he walked up to her beside the car.

“Why the hell did you walk out?”
 Kyle unlocked the door, opening the passenger door for her.

She ignored his question, sitting in the seat and buckling her seatbelt.

Kyle rounded the SUV and got in, but he didn’t start
the car.  Instead he turned towards her, giving her a hard speculative stare.  “What is going on with you, Ashley?  How dare you accuse me of being a racist?”

“I didn’t call you a racist.”  Her knit-picking her only defense and it was flimsy.

“Not in those exact words, but you most certainly implied I am a racist.”  He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, making it adorably disheveled.  “Do I need to remind you who I was inside of last night?”

Ashley shrugged, “Racists screw blacks all the time.  Back in the day the masters always used theirs slaves to fulfill their dirty little deviant sex fantasies.”  She was grasping at anything that would keep Kyle off balance.  She couldn’t let him know she was losing her mind, seeing her dead father walking around.

Her random insult worked.  Kyle went stonily silent and started the car.

****
 

The scream penetrated the thickest of walls.
 At first, Kyle thought he was hearing Catlyn.  But as he came out of the bedroom directly across from his hosts’ room, he almost collided with Jack and Catlyn.  

The screams continued and were terrifying.
 Ashley’s screams sent chills down his spine as he ran for the bedroom he had left earlier tonight.  Jack and Catlyn were on his heels.  He flung the door open and flicked the light switch.

All three froze at the sight that greeted them.  Ashley was in the grip of some form of terror but was not awake.  She sat up in bed with nothing on except panties, wiping at her face.  She screamed her own name.

“Ashley!  Ashley!  No, no, Ashley!”  Her hysterical rant was followed by a strangled cry filled with heart stopping grief.

Kyle couldn’t stand her obvious pain anymore.  He went to her and was about to pull her into his arms, but Catlyn warned, “No!  Don’t touch her.  Let her come out of it on her own.  You might do more damage by touching her.”

Feeling useless and helpless, Kyle watched her lose her voice screaming her own name.  She wiped at her face as though she were cleaning off something distasteful.  Her screams became whimpers as she slowly seemed to fall back against the mattress.  She dripped sweat.  Her gorgeous new hairstyle was history.  Once back against the mattress she tossed and turned for a few seconds before becoming fully awake.

Her eyes popped open.  She put a hand to her throat, rubbing at the soreness there, no doubt due to all her hollering.  The other three watched her become more aware of her surroundings.

Before she even turned to look at them, she tensed and with a speed that shocked all of them she flipped across the bed, reaching into the nightstand to pull her gun and steadily aimed it at her friends.  She did that all without actually seeing them.  She had sense someone in her room and armed herself first before verifying who had invaded her privacy.  Scary!

Recognition filled her dark eyes.  She put the gun back in the nightstand and grabbed the sheet, covering her beautiful breasts.  “What are you guys doing in here?”  Her voice was raspy.

Kyle shook his head in disbelief.  Did she not know she just finished screaming the place down as though she was being murdered? “Really?” Kyle smirked, seeing that she was fine physically and remembering their earlier argument that had sent him to sleep in another bedroom.

She frowned, “What?”

Catlyn
 went to the bed touching Ashley’s forehead, no doubt checking to see if Ashley was as hot to the touch as she appeared.  “Are you alright?” she asked in concern.

Ashley shrugged.  “Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”

Kyle had had enough of this bullshit.  “Why wouldn’t you be?  Really, Ashley, you’re going to play that card after you just woke everyone in the entire house screaming bloody murder?”

Surprised eyes turned to first Catlyn and then Jack for verification.  They both nodded.  She pushed her destroyed hair out of her face and sighed.  “I am sorry that I woke you guys up.”  She glanced at the clock on the nightstand.  The digital numbers showed it was 3:00 a.m.

Jack studied her for a minute before reassuring her, “It’s not a problem if you’re sure you’re ok.”  He gave her a gentle smile, “We all have nightmares every now and again.”

Ashley gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, “Thanks for coming to my rescue again Jack.”  Her smile turned more genuine, “I imagine you’re getting tired of saving me.  I still owe you for saving me after the Slasher’s attack.”

Jack winked and teased, “Well, it’s not a hardship saving a beautiful woman, especially when she isn’t wearing any clothes.”

“Jack!” Catlyn admonished.

“Hey,” Kyle gave his friend a hands-off look, not that it was necessary.  It was beyond obvious Jack had eyes only for Catlyn.  He was trying to ease the tension in the room.

Jack nodded at Kyle, as if to tell him to handle the situation better.  “Well, if you’re really sure you’re ok Catlyn and I are headed back to bed.”

Catlyn took Ashley’s hand in hers, “I can stay with you tonight if you want, make sure you get back to sleep.”

Jack gave Kyle a hard look, telling him with his eyes to fix it.  He had better take care of this before his woman left his bed.

Kyle took the hint.  “Uh, that won’t be necessary, Catlyn.  I will stay with Ashley until she falls asleep again.”  

Catlyn
 wasn’t having it.  She gave Kyle a dirty look.  “I was speaking to Mackenzie.  I will stay with her if she wants me to.  You may still be her boss but you are no longer mine.  She is my guest, as you are, and I will take care of her as I see fit.”  Catlyn squeezed Ashley’s hand reassuringly, “I will only leave you in this room with her if she says it’s ok.”

Kyle’s eyes drilled into Ashley’s.  “Well?”

Ashley looked between the man she loved who was also her boss and her best friend.  She turned to Catlyn, “I am alright, Cat.  It’s ok.”

Catlyn looked at Kyle with even more disapproval, “Mack, are you sure?”

Ashley gave Catlyn a hug and whispered something in her ear.  Catlyn accepted whatever Ashley told her, returning the hug and then rising to join Jack at the door.

They said goodnight, closing the door.  Kyle moved slowly towards the bed.  

Ashley gathered a sheet around her, getting up, “You can have your side back after I change the sheets. They’re sweaty.”

Kyle frowned, “Why were you on my side?”

She stared at him for a few seconds and then said in a low vulnerable voice, “It smells like you.”

Kyle closed his eyes at the pain evident in her tone.  He opened eyes blazing with regret, looking deeply into hers, “I’m so sorry about our argument.”

She nodded.  “I am too.  I didn’t mean it Kyle.  I know you aren’t a racist.  I don’t kno—“

He came to her, gently putting a finger across her lips, “Ssh, it doesn’t matter now.  Let’s get the bed changed and get back to sleep.  We can talk in the morning.”

In a few minutes Ashley was settled in his arms and falling fast asleep.  Kyle kissed her forehead promising that he wouldn’t leave her alone again.  She was obviously having some kind of PTSD reaction to her attack by the Newburgh Slasher.  Perhaps being back in Newburgh was causing some of her memories to manifest, Kyle prayed she wasn’t dreaming about her attack, specifically not the details of her being sodomized by that animal.

****  

Ashley awoke slowly to a gentle caress to her back.
 Kyle was holding her in his arms, touching her softly.  She lay against his chest.

He felt her stir and squeezed her tightly to him.  “How was your night after you went back to sleep, any bad dreams?”

She stretched her body along his, shaking her head.  “No, when you are next to me, I sleep like a baby.”

He turned until she was lying beneath him.
 “I think we need to talk seriously about what is going on in your head, Ashley.”

She sighed and tried to get up.  Kyle held her down, crowding her even more, staring deeply into her troubled eyes.  “No!  You’re not going to pull the crap you did yesterday, distract me with insults and cause me to defend myself against phony digs at my character.”

Shamefaced Ashley turned her face away, unable to hold his eyes as he revealed the truth.

Kyle tenderly turned her face back to his.
 “Ashley did you mean it when you said you were mine now?”

Her eyes went wide, “Of course, I didn’t take the commitment lightly.  I want to be yours and you mine.”

“Then sweetheart you have to start letting me in, I can’t help you if I don’t know what is wrong.”  He gave her a disappointed look before continuing, “And, I, in all good consciousness cannot approve your return to full active duty, knowing something is obviously wrong.”

This time when she went to sit up he didn’t stop her, instead moved one of his hands to rest at her hip as she sat facing him.  “Kyle that isn’t fair.  You know I am capable of being in the field.”

“Do I?  Ashley, you nearly got yourself killed or seriously injured getting thrown off a catwalk.  You went headlong into a river without any exact knowledge of where the car actually was located and you got in the middle of a knife fight with guys twice your size.”  Kyle cupped her cheek, “I am sorry honey but those are not the actions and thought process of an agent ready for full active duty.”

Tears sprang to her eyes as she plead with him, “Please, Kyle, you can’t do this to me.  What do I need to do to prove to you I am ok to be in the field?”

“Oh, Babydoll, don’t cry!”  He wiped at her tears that had started to fall, “Your tears just gut my insides, ssh, ssh, baby, don’t cry, it’s going to be all right.”  He took her in his arms holding her tight to ease some of her shaking.  “Ashley, talk to me.  Tell me what is wrong, please, baby.”

“K-kyle, I-I I’ve been having nightmares about the day I was attacked by the Newburgh
 Slasher.” Ashley decided a half-truth was better than continuing to create friction between them.  She had to give him something.  She would tell him about the other dream she had been having lately, not the one she had more often and had had last night.

“Oh, baby,” Preparing for the worst, Kyle pulled her onto his lap, holding her against his chest, knowing it would be easier for her to tell him while not looking at him.  He put his chin on the top of her head. “Tell me.”  His nerves worked as he waited to hear the horrible details of her being sodomized by the Newburgh Slasher.  

Her voice started out low but then got strong as she continued.  “In the dream I start out right here in Jack’s house, eating breakfast with them, listening to Jason talk about his evil twin. Then I am at the waterfront and the dance is in full swing.  I-I g-get this strange feeling I am being watched so I turn my head and there 
he
 is, just staring at me with this weird intensity.”