Читать книгу Mirror Image - Laura Scott - Страница 12

FOUR

“So you must have lost your bracelet while you were removing the lightbulb,” Jenna murmured, trying to come to grips with what Claire had revealed. To be honest, she was relieved the guy had attacked her instead of Claire. There was no way the younger girl would have had the strength to fight him off.

The fact that Claire had escaped from the guy before also explained why the attack had been so personal. Why he’d seemed so intent on using physical force against her.

“You mentioned escaping from danger. What exactly happened?” Jenna asked.

Claire lifted her thin, bony shoulders in a shrug. “It’s a long story, but basically I escaped being drugged and forced into prostitution.”

Jenna gasped and curled her fingers into fists. It was too easy to imagine how scared Claire had been.

“Who did that to you? Do you have names? Where did this happen?” Griff asked, going into full lieutenant mode.

Claire shrank against Jenna, convincing her that the teen wouldn’t want to relay horrible details in front of a guy.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Claire whispered.

“It’s okay. We’ll have time to go into that later,” she assured the girl. Then she turned to Griff, imploring him to back off. “The most important thing right now is to get Claire someplace safe. Now that we know she’s still in danger, we need a different plan. I guess you were right. Going to the women’s shelter tonight is likely our best option.”

Claire let out a soft sound of distress, but Jenna did her best to ignore it.

“Agreed,” Griff said firmly. “You can give me directions and I’ll take you both there. Because you’re still in danger, as well, Jenna.”

He was crazy if he thought she was going to hide out in some women’s shelter. “I can’t let you do that,” Jenna protested. “The location of the shelter is secret and needs to stay that way. The women who live there don’t trust men, even cops. But they know me. I’ve been supporting them for years. I’ll take Claire there on my own.”

Griff stared at her, concern wrinkling his brow. “I don’t think that’s smart,” he protested. “What if that guy comes back here looking for you?”

“I’ll make sure we’re not followed, and then I’ll find someplace else to stay for what’s left of the night.”

“I don’t like it,” Griff said in a burst of exasperation. “You know as well as I do that I’m not going to breach the security of the shelter. There’s no reason for you to be so paranoid.”

“Paranoid? The women in the shelter fear for their lives and the lives of their children,” she pointed out, striving for patience. “I don’t understand what your problem is. You really think an armed sheriff’s deputy isn’t capable of taking a young woman to a shelter?”

Griff let out a heavy sigh and scrubbed his hands over his face, giving Jenna the satisfaction of knowing she’d made her point.

Her boss might not like it, but he clearly wouldn’t stand in her way. Yeah, she appreciated his help, but it was time he proved he actually trusted her abilities.

Instead of treating her like a victim.

* * *

Griff hated to admit Jenna was right. If she were any other deputy, he wouldn’t be standing here arguing about this. “Fine. I’ll head out, but I want you to keep in touch.”

“Will do. Thanks for your help.”

Griff turned and walked through the small house to the front door.

He flipped the dead bolt open, then glanced over his shoulder. “Lock up behind me.”

Griff waited until Jenna came over before stepping outside. When he heard the door lock snap into place behind him, he made his way across the grass toward the spot where he’d left his vehicle.

He pulled his keys out of his pocket but fumbled and dropped them. When he bent down to pick them up, he heard the same diesel-engine clicking noise from earlier.

He froze for several long seconds, his thoughts racing. The man who was after Claire? Maybe.

Staying low, Griff headed over toward his police-issued vehicle, using the frame for cover. When he peeked out, he could see there was a dark van, either blue, black or gray, rolling down the street without any headlights blazing.

Something wasn’t right with this picture, and he was relieved Jenna and Claire were safe inside. From what he could tell, there was only the driver, so he popped out from behind his car with his gun raised.

“Stop! Police! Get out of the vehicle.”

The car stopped. He waited as the driver’s window slowly rolled down. Before Griff could move, he saw the short barrel of a handgun. He dived to the ground mere seconds before bullets whizzed through the air, echoing through the night.

The assailant was shooting at him. At a cop!

He rolled closer to the edge of his vehicle and then eased up to a crouch. Every one of his senses was on red alert as he leveled his weapon at the sound of the diesel engine. But the driver had shot into Reverse, speeding backward away from him.

In a flash, the van executed a crazy, tire-squealing turn and disappeared out of sight.

Griff stood for a minute, his heart pounding with adrenaline. Had the man fired at him to scare him off?

Or had he recognized Griff as the cop who’d rescued Jenna earlier?

If that was the case, he had to believe the guy in the car fully intended to kill him.

* * *

Jenna heard the distinctive sound of gunfire and quickly grabbed her weapon, pulling Claire behind her. She reached for her phone, intending to call for backup.

She paused when she heard a loud pounding at her front door. “It’s Griff. Open up!”

“Stay here,” she whispered to Claire before she darted over to unlock and open the door. Griff barreled inside, his face pulled into a fierce mask of anger.

“What happened? Are you okay?” she asked in a rush, trying to look for any sign of injury.

“Where’s Claire?” He brushed past her to head into the kitchen, where Claire was standing up against the wall, a half-eaten slice of pizza left sitting on the table.

Jenna winced at the way Claire shrank away from him, clearly afraid.

“Where’s your phone?” he demanded.

“In my pocket, but it’s shut off, see?” The teen pulled it out and showed him the black screen. “I keep it off so no one can track it.”

“The phone can be tracked, even if it’s shut off,” Jenna said, peering over his shoulder.

He took the phone, turned it on and scrolled through the recent numbers. “There don’t seem to be any calls made in the last twenty-four hours,” he muttered.

Jenna lifted a brow, not sure why he thought there would be. Claire was hiding secrets, but the stark fear in the girl’s eyes was all too real.

“Jenna’s right. The guy who’s after you can track you by pinging this phone,” Griff said grimly. “We have to get rid of it, for your safety and ours.”

Claire winced but didn’t protest when he pulled the battery out and tossed the phone in the trash.

“Come on. We need to get out of here.”

“Tell me what happened,” Jenna demanded. “Who was shooting?”

“I suspect it was the same guy who attacked you.”

“Why?” Jenna asked.

“I saw a car rolling slowly down the street with its lights off. I heard a similar car engine earlier when we were sweeping your yard right after the attack. When I confronted him, he opened fire.”

“He actually tried to kill you?” Jenna felt sick, knowing that she’d inadvertently put Griff in danger.

Claire gasped and went even more pale than normal. “We have to get away! Please don’t take me to the shelter, either.”

Jenna wavered, second-guessing her earlier decision. It might be better to keep Claire with her. And right now they needed to get far away from her place. “Okay, pack up the food. I’ll grab some clothes and toiletries.”

“I’ll take care of the food. Just hurry,” Griff urged.

Jenna ran upstairs with Claire close on her heels. “I can help,” she said, although Jenna suspected the real reason Claire followed her was because she was still afraid of Griff.

“Here, wear this,” Jenna said, tossing a dark sweatshirt at her. “Then head into the bathroom to grab toiletries.” Jenna picked up a duffel bag and started stashing clothing inside. Claire was thin, but Jenna made sure to toss in enough clothes for her, too, including a belt so the jeans wouldn’t fall off her slim hips. Within minutes Jenna had everything they needed, and they returned to the kitchen to find Griff waiting impatiently.

He was holding a tinfoil-covered plate, and when she approached, he took the duffel from her fingers and slung it over his shoulder. “I’m going to drive around to the alley. I need you and Claire to wait near the back door until you see me. Keep your weapon handy.”

Jenna nodded. “Okay, but be careful.”

Griff gave a curt nod. “I honestly believe they’re gone. For the moment.”

Jenna silently agreed and shut off all the inside lights as she followed Griff to the front door. Once he slipped through the opening, she shut the door and slid the dead bolt home.

She returned to the kitchen, where Claire waited, looking dwarfish in the oversize sweatshirt.

“Come on. Stay close,” Jenna said. She tucked Claire behind her as she opened the back door. Gun in hand, she peered into the darkness, waiting for Griff to arrive.

Jenna took her time scanning the backyard for any sign of the assailant. She agreed with Griff that the guy probably wouldn’t return anytime soon, but that didn’t mean she was going to take any unnecessary risks. Especially if the guy was really after Claire.

The sound of a car engine grew louder, and she tensed, making sure the vehicle was Griff’s. She spotted the light rack running along the roof and let her breath out in a soundless sigh of relief.

He paused in the alley, waiting for them. Jenna knew it was time to move. “Keep close behind me,” she instructed Claire. “We’re going to stay in the shadows as much as possible.”

“Okay,” Claire whispered, curling her fingers into the back of Jenna’s denim jacket.

Jenna led the way outside and skirted the patio to make her way through the backyard. Claire hovered so close, she accidentally stepped on the back of Jenna’s shoe, causing them both to stumble a bit.

They reached the alley without incident. Jenna yanked open the back passenger door for Claire, making sure the girl was safely inside before sliding into the front seat beside Griff. The moment she closed the door behind her, Griff hit the gas.

“Where are we going?” Jenna asked when Griff made several turns, first heading in one direction and then switching course to head in another. “I suppose you’re taking us to the police station?”

“I should, but I’m not willing to do that yet. Not until I understand what’s going on.”

Jenna could barely hide her surprise. Griff always followed the rules. “A hotel, then?”

Griff shook his head. “We’re heading to my place.”

His place? She tried to hide her shock. “Don’t you think a hotel would be safer?”

“No. I believe the guy shot at me because I’m the one who interrupted the assault on you, but there’s no way he could know my name or where I live. I have a spare bedroom that you and Claire can share.” He paused, then added, “Besides, it’s almost dawn and we need sleep. In the morning we’ll use my computer to start investigating the mess that we’ve stumbled into.”

Jenna couldn’t argue his logic, even though the thought of going to Griff’s place was unnerving. She was capable of taking care of herself and Claire, but considering the fact that Griff was now in danger, as well, he was right to encourage them to stick together.

She glanced back at Claire. “Are you okay with the plan?”

Claire nodded. “As long as you’re there with me,” she said in a quiet voice.

“I will be,” Jenna promised. She turned back around. “All right, then. I guess that’s settled.”

Griff drove for several more miles, then doubled back, before pulling into his driveway. He parked in the garage, and Jenna waited until the garage door closed before unbuckling her seat belt and pushing open the door.

She looked into the back, surprised to see Claire’s head propped against the window, her eyes closed as if she’d finally given in to the exhaustion that plagued her. There were pizza crumbs scattered across her lap, indicating she had helped herself to some leftovers. Jenna was relieved the girl had food in her system.

For a moment Jenna simply stared at her, wondering about this young woman who looked so much like her.

“Need help?” Griff asked.

“No, thanks.” Jenna pulled herself up short and opened the car door, shaking Claire awake. “Come on. We need to go inside.”

Claire blinked in confusion, but nodded. She struggled to get out of the car, managing with Jenna’s help to stand on her own two feet.

Griff led the way, flipping lights on as he went. Jenna was curious about the place her boss called home, but tried not to be too nosy.

“The first door on the right upstairs is the guest bedroom, and the bathroom is across the hall,” he said. Then he frowned when he realized Claire was sagging heavily against Jenna. “I was hoping we’d get some more information out of her tonight.”

Jenna shook her head. “You’re the one who pointed out it’s almost dawn. She’s not going anywhere. It’s better for her to get some rest.”

Griff nodded reluctantly, took the duffel bag upstairs and set it inside the guest bedroom. Then he hesitated near the doorway. “Good night, Jenna.”

“Good night, Griff.”

He surprised her by flashing a devastatingly handsome smile before turning to leave them alone in the room. Jenna stared after him for a moment, trying to understand why he’d looked so happy.

It took a few seconds to realize she’d broken her self-imposed rule by calling him by his first name.

And for the life of her, she couldn’t understand why her slip would make him smile.

* * *

Griff managed to get a couple of hours of sleep before his internal alarm clock kicked in. He dragged himself out of bed and felt a little more human after a quick shower. He pulled on a pair of black jeans and a black SWAT sweatshirt.

There was no sound coming from the guest bedroom, so he headed down to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. He still had trouble wrapping his mind around the fact that the assailant had tried to kill him. Claire’s escape must be a significant threat if the guy wanted her back badly enough to risk shooting a cop.

After gathering eggs from the fridge, he began breaking them into a large bowl. Working in the kitchen wasn’t his strong suit, but he could manage to throw something edible together so they wouldn’t starve. Ham-and-cheese omelets with toast would have to suffice.

While the omelet was cooking, he took a sip of his coffee, nearly spilling it down the front of his sweatshirt when he noticed Jenna standing in the doorway.

“Good morning. That coffee smells good.”

He pulled himself together and gestured toward the pot. “Help yourself. Breakfast will be ready soon.”

“Looks great,” she said, opening the cupboards to search for a mug. She poured a cup of coffee and then rummaged in the fridge for milk.

Watching Jenna making herself at home in his kitchen created an intimacy he wished he hadn’t noticed. In the last year of his marriage, there hadn’t been many Saturday mornings like this. Helen worked way too many hours at the law firm, including weekends, even the ones he happened to be off duty.

Griff concentrated on making sure the omelet didn’t burn, then turned to push the toaster handle down. Jenna was standing so close he could smell the strawberry scent that seemed to cling to her skin.

He gave himself a mental shake, reminding himself that she and Claire were in danger. He couldn’t afford to be sidetracked.

Especially not by a woman who reported to him. A woman who reminded him of a life he didn’t deserve to have.

A few minutes later the food was ready and he was relieved when Jenna took the seat across from him. When she bowed her head to pray, he remembered his grandmother doing the same thing and found himself looking down at his hands as he waited for her to finish.

“We need some sort of game plan.” Jenna dug into her omelet and took a bite. “Wow, this is good.”

“You were expecting poison?” he asked drily.

She laughed, the husky sound sending shivers of awareness down his spine. “No, of course not. I just didn’t realize you were a great cook.”

He wasn’t, but quickly filled his own mouth with food so he wouldn’t make a bigger fool out of himself.

“Claire’s hiding something,” Jenna continued as if she hadn’t knocked him sideways with her laugh. “I understand she’s scared, but we need to know exactly what we’re up against.”

“I’m sure she’ll cooperate now that she’s safe,” he said.

Jenna took another bite, looking thoughtful. “I don’t know. I get the feeling there’s more to her situation than she wants to tell us.”

Griff frowned. “Are you saying you think she may have participated in something illegal?”

Jenna sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose in a familiar gesture. “Yeah. I hate to say it, but that’s the vibe I’m getting.”

He always told his deputies to trust their instincts. Jenna in particular knew how to read abused women. If she thought there was something else going on, then he believed her. “Maybe you should talk to her alone.”

She glanced up at him in surprise. “Really?”

He knew better than to micromanage his team. “Yeah. Why not? Claire trusts you.”

“Okay.” She took a sip of coffee. “Have to admit, it was creepy finding that newspaper clipping of me in her pocket.”

He couldn’t agree more. “I’ll start a background check on her while you two talk. Hopefully there isn’t a warrant out for her arrest.”

Jenna’s expression turned grim. “I guess I wouldn’t be too surprised if there was.”

There was a muffled thump from upstairs, indicating Claire was awake. Griff finished his breakfast and then rose to his feet, intending to make Claire’s omelet.

“Good morning, Claire.” Jenna greeted the girl as she hesitantly stepped into the kitchen. “Help yourself to coffee.”

The girl wrinkled her nose and slipped into the vacant chair closest to Jenna. “No, thanks. I’d rather have a diet cola.”

Griff took a soft drink from the fridge and handed it to Claire, noticing she was wearing her charm bracelet. It didn’t take long for Jenna to comment on it, too.

“Who gave you the bracelet?” she asked. “A boyfriend?”

Claire paled and shook her head. “No, my mother gave it to me shortly before the stupid woman from child protective services took me away from her. It’s all I have left.”

Now it was Jenna’s turn to go pale. She pushed her plate away and wrapped her fingers around her coffee mug as if craving warmth. “What happened to your mother?”

Claire grimaced. “I don’t know. I’m going to try and find her.” Jenna lifted a curious brow. “I know she had problems, but they had no right to take me away.”

“Drugs? Alcohol?”

“Drugs,” Claire admitted with a heavy sigh. “She’d stay clean for a while, but then one day I’d come home from school and find her strung out.”

Griff tightened his grip on the spatula, imagining what Claire had suffered. Maybe she had broken the law at some point. He only hoped that the crime wasn’t so bad he couldn’t help her get out of it.

He slid the omelet onto a plate, added toast and set it beside Claire. She glanced up and gave him a nod of thanks.

Jenna paused for a few minutes, allowing her to eat. Claire eagerly dug into the simple meal, making Griff glad that he’d taken the time to cook a hot breakfast.

He’d fully intended to leave them alone, but since Claire seemed willing to keep talking, he decided to clean up the kitchen a bit, admittedly eavesdropping on their conversation.

“How old were you when you entered the foster system?” Jenna asked in a gentle tone.

“Eleven, almost twelve, and I hated every minute of it,” Claire said flatly. “My mother’s rights were terminated a year later. I was adopted by an older couple, but I didn’t handle it well. I caused a lot of trouble for them, so I couldn’t really blame them for giving me up for re-adoption.”