Running On Fear Read online

  “Agent McGregor needs our help. I don’t want those men out on the streets to push drugs. I’m thirteen, Aunt Melanie. Kids my age are even trying the stuff, but I don’t. And the thought of my brother being offered that stuff—it makes my skin crawl. Besides, school is out.”

  “You have one more day,” Melanie reminded.

  “Will one more day matter?” Duncan asked. “I can talk to the teachers and get their report cards. Hey we can take them in that morning and let them stay until noon. That way they don’t miss any days.”

  “I still don’t like any of this. How can you assure our safety? Especially, the children’s?”

  “Like I said, you’ll have to trust me,” he stressed.

  Melanie released a breath. “Yes, I suppose I will.”

  “Well, we’ve got to get a move on. Can’t be arguing over it now. Get your purse.”

  “For?”

  “Department says we need a marriage license. Everything has to look real. If we confront any of our friends, you and I have been secretly chatting online.”

  Melanie arched a brow. “Isn’t it dangerous to find someone through chat lines?”

  “We were instantly drawn to each other at first sight.”

  “We were?”

  “Don’t act surprised, Melanie. You wanted me to search you—remember?” Duncan said it for her ears only.

  “My vehicle. A mere slip of the tongue.”

  “Then why are you blushing like a tomato?”

  “Children, go brush your teeth and comb your hair.”

  Tiffany got a closer view of Duncan’s face. “Why is your face slightly red?” She eyed Melanie. “Aunt Melanie, you didn’t? Did she slap you, too?”

  Too? Duncan looked at Tiffany then Melanie.

  “She has a tendency to slap men when they get too close to her,” Tiffany said.

  “Well, dear, I said something that was taken the wrong way. Don’t worry about it.” Duncan felt his cheek again.

  “If she keeps slapping them, she’ll never get anyone before she turns thirty,” Matthew moaned.

  Melanie shot him a beady look.

  “Well, it’s true. But when you slapped Riley that didn’t matter. I wanted to slap him too.”

  Duncan widened his eyes at Melanie. Had Brewton tried to harm her, or…

  “Look kids. Listen to the agent and go get ready.” Melanie swallowed, while still trying to break Duncan’s look. He’d want to know more answers now.

  “Thank you, Aunt Melanie. You’ll be sure to call Mom?” Matthew asked. “She’ll want to know our whereabouts.” He raced toward the stairs. “My own badge. Don’t worry, Duncan, I’ll keep it a secret from everyone.”

  “Agent McGregor,” Melanie corrected.

  “It’s all right with me, Melanie. Part of our plan to stay undercover. You have to keep everything secret, Matt, or I’ll have to choose another boy.”

  “You can count on me. Hurry, Tif. Detectives have to be quick.”

  “Aunt Melanie, who knows? The two of you might really find love.” Tiffany smiled.

  “You’ve been reading too much romance.” Melanie put her palms over her face after they raced off. She felt a strong hand stroke the middle of her back.

  “We’ll have to drive up so you can view the body. We could arrange to marry in Tennessee, if you don’t want to worry about any blood test. We can drive back for Monday morning for school for a half-day. But I’m not letting those children out of my sight. You don’t realize what power that man can hold over our heads if he has those kids. If he has you, Melanie.”

  “If you already know it’s her…”

  “You will need closure.”

  Closure. She hadn’t thought of that. How many patients had come to her for answers? She’d always said they needed closure of some kind in their life.

  “Melanie?”

  “Just thinking. Matthew and Tiffany think this is a game. I can just imagine if they were caught … if they were touched in any way.” She turned and buried her face in his huge chest. “No. I can’t cry now. I can’t allow them to see me fall apart.”

  “It will come in time, Melanie.” Duncan inhaled the fragrance of her hair. Kind of like fruit, or was it key lime? She smelled like all woman. She was soft and situated snugly inside his arms as he wrapped them around her, smoothing her back. “I need to ask you about Brewton. Did you slap him? Did he hurt you?” He noticed the sadness filling her eyes.

  “Can we not discuss it now? Maybe later. But I can take care of myself. I didn’t want him around my sister, or the children. Leave it at that for now.”

  “That slap of yours has a potent sting. If it’s just the start of what you can do, I believe that you can take care of yourself.”

  Melanie grinned as she lightly touched his pink cheek.

  The toes wanted to curl inside Duncan’s shoes, that small soft hand was full of heat. She allowed her hand to drop by her side.

  “How long will we have to keep the children from the truth? I mean sometimes these things can go for months, years. They will ask about their mother when she doesn’t come home in two months. I took a month off from work to stay with them. Then they were going to Nashville with me for a month.”

  “What do you do?”

  “I’m a therapist. I left the office in the good care of my assistant.”

  “You mean you’re a shrink?”

  She withdrew from his arms. “Oh you haven’t had me completely checked out?”

  “Not completely.”

  “Well, Agent McGregor, when those children come downstairs you just keep in mind that this is a case. A case to find out who killed my sister. And something tells me that you have much more to tell me that has not yet fallen from your tongue.” Her gaze locked with his. For a moment she thought his lips would close over hers. Was she dreaming or did it seem like his face was moving nearer to hers? In a minute their lips would be touching.

  “We’re ready,” Tiffany said as the children sailed down the stairs.

  Melanie instantly moved away from Duncan.

  “Change of plans, kids,” Duncan announced.

  “You aren’t getting married?” Matthew moaned.

  “Yes, go pack some good clothing. We’re going to Tennessee. Don’t need a blood test there. You two, come here.” Duncan looked them over. “You promise to be good detectives? Not spill the beans to anyone? You have to promise.”

  “I do,” Tiffany answered.

  “I do, too,” Matthew said. “Honest.”

  “You have secret badges until I can get the others. Go pack wisely.”

  “You bet! Come on Tiffany. Let’s hurry.”

  They ran up the stairs.

  “I’m scared,” Melanie said hugging her arms. “I thought I’d never say that.”

  “You have every right to be afraid. I’m going to protect you and those kids. I promise.”

  She gazed into those sensual blue eyes. For now she trusted him.

  “Let’s go eat a slice of that pizza while we’re waiting for them.”

  “I need to pack a few items, too.”

  “First you need to have sustenance in your stomach. Then you pack while I spend some time with the children.”

  She nodded.

  Duncan took her hand and led her into the kitchen enjoying the softness of her small hand clinging to his.

  Tiffany put the letter in her backpack. “Remember, Matthew, we don’t tell them about this letter from mother yet.”

  “But Tif…”

  “Not now. Aunt Melanie will only worry. We’ll help Agent McGregor, then tell her. Promise?”

  “I’ll promise, but we really shouldn’t be withholding any evidence.”

  “Wow, you have been watching too many law shows. And it isn’t really withholding right now. It’s only keeping it safe until the time is right. Understand?”

  “Yes. You can count on me, Tif. I’m a cop now. Undercover. We both are. We just have to continue to bring up Mom to
Aunt Melanie. We can’t let her know…”

  “Shhh…” She threw her arms around him. “I love you, Matt.”

  “I love you, too, Tiffany.”

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  Chapter 2

  It was late by the time they reached Gatlinburg. Duncan had to make some calls, work out some knots and find some fake badges. He didn’t want to disappoint Matt. There was hunger in the boy’s eye at the idea of being a cop. Duncan didn’t know which Matthew wanted more: to be a cop or have a real father.

  The boy was reaching for a dream. Duncan wanted no disappointment casting a shadow over that dream. When the kids discovered their mother would never be returning from her honeymoon they would have no one but Melanie. His heart went out to them.

  Luckily, he had been blessed to still have both parents and a sister. It was a joy to be able to stay in contact with a loving family, especially during the holidays. He would have to make a point, when all this was over, to take the kids to meet his parents. He could see his mother now, pulling fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies from the oven. Matt would be smiling from ear to ear as he took his first bite. Tiffany would be asking if she could bake the next batch.

  A smile crossed his lips. Yeah, that would make a right fine family. One day he would find a good woman to be his wife. Of course, for the time being, he had one. Melanie Bishop McGregor. The Bureau had found a place in Gatlinburg where they could easily tie the knot. Duncan’s smile broadened when he thought of the preacher pronouncing them man and wife. After the preacher had told him he could kiss his bride, the kids had urged him to kiss her on the lips.

  Melanie had protested. Matthew had insisted. Tiffany had begged. Finally Duncan had closed his mouth over Melanie’s before she could utter one more word and given her a hot kiss. She had stood breathless afterward. Matthew had been wide-eyed while Tiffany had kept repeating the word ‘wow’ over and over on her lips.

  Now they were headed up to the winding road nearing the cabin. The kids had chattered in the back of the SUV. Melanie had been sure that, if they were being watched, being in her sister’s vehicle would get them spotted. But with a bit of help from the Bureau, the Georgia plates had suddenly transformed into Tennessee plates. Just a diversion, Duncan had explained, for the time being.

  “Reckon that’s why they always put out a new atlas every year, Uncle Duncan? I mean it’s not like the states go anywhere on the map,” Matthew suggested while skimming through the pages of the atlas.

  “You’re right, Matt. I suppose they want us to know when the roads change and people put in new places for us to go see.”

  “Yeah, but it seems like we only get to use them for a year and then have to change. Of course, Mom’s had this one since 2001. I like it.”

  “Then we will always use that one.”

  Melanie glanced at the area. “Duncan, you need to take a left here. Then after going a little further, the first right. You go up the winding road. It takes us straight to the cabin.”

  “Yeah, Uncle Duncan,” Matthew began. “It is up the hill. You have to be careful when it’s winter. You could easily slide down. We get lots of snow. One time we had to stay barricaded inside the cabin for three days ‘cause of the downpour of snow.”

  “Hey, wait a minute. I thought you said only you and your sister knew about this spot.”

  “We brought the children with us.”

  “We were sworn to secrecy, Uncle Duncan, to tell no one.”

  Duncan smiled. He was getting use to the sound of Uncle Duncan and the way Matt said it. “So I see you can keep secrets.”

  “You bet. I’m going to be the best cop ever.”

  “I believe you will, my boy.”

  “Be careful up ahead, Uncle Duncan. That’s a huge drop off. Sometimes when we meet another car coming down, I’m afraid that we’ll slip off into that long gully,” Tiffany explained.

  Duncan slowly took the sharp curve around the bend. It wasn’t that dark that he couldn’t view some of the outline of the steep drop, and it sent a chill down his spine.

  Melanie noted the trepidation shadowing his face. “Duncan, you okay?”

  “Huh? Oh yeah. I bet in the daylight, it’s beautiful down that way. Everything bustling in an array of spring colors. Of course, summer is right around the corner with more foliage, colors and beauty.” His gaze veered tensely toward the edge once more before he passed the area. It could have been pitch dark and he still would have seen the drop as vividly as his mind played it over and over again.

  Melanie heard the tone in his voice. It sounded cold and flat. What was really bothering him? She cautiously watched him from the corner of her eye, determined to find out the mystery behind this man. He was an enigma.

  “There it is,” Tiffany said as lights outside the cottage popped on.

  “Got one of those sensors?” Duncan asked Melanie.

  “Yes. Daddy installed one. He wanted to be sure mother could tell if anyone drove up.” She wished her parents were here now. She needed their strong arms to comfort her and their voices to tell her everything would be all right.

  Duncan parked the car and they started carrying the suitcases into the cabin. Matthew and Tiffany came to a halt right in front of the door.

  “What’s wrong?” Duncan asked.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something, Uncle Duncan?” Tiffany questioned.

  “I locked the SUV.”

  “No,” Matthew said, turning his gaze to Melanie.

  “What? Is there a bear nearby?” Melanie asked.

  “Threshold,” Tiffany reminded Duncan. “Hello, wedding, honeymoon.”

  “Oh yeah. Let’s sit this luggage inside first. Melanie stay put for a second.”

  Melanie started to go on in but Duncan placed a hand to her chest. Was that a tinge of heat rushing through her? His manly palm was against her chest. “Didn’t you hear your husband? Stay put.”

  Crossing her arms, she half-heartedly hummed while she waited. Tiffany, who had remembered to bring the camcorder, decided to do some more taping. The girl had video taped the wedding, the kiss and the whole trip. Melanie stood, thinking about that hot kiss. ‘Wow’ was right. No man had ever kissed her like that—ever. Sure, she’d been on dates, had a few pecks here and there. But this was a hot tamale kiss. Now she was married to this handsome hunk. Somehow she was going to have to keep her distance.

  How could that happen when the kids were pushing for them to be the next Bo and Hope under cover in Tennessee. All they needed now was their own soap opera and a magazine so they could be displayed on the front cover.

  “Earth to Melanie. Are you ready, darling?”

  There was that sexy drawl again. That was going to be her downfall, along with his looks and his voice. “Sorry, I was thinking.”

  He arched his brows playfully. “About our honeymoon night?”

  “Our what…?” she asked, as he swept her into his arms.

  “Tiffany, babe, you getting all this?” Duncan asked with raised eyebrows.

  “Sure am.”

  Duncan carried Melanie inside, then turned to lock the door.

  “You can put me down now.”

  “I kind of like you in my arms.”

  “Put me down gently, please. The children.”

  “Are enjoying this.” He grinned.

  She hissed.

  “All right.” He stood her on her feet. “Is there an alarm that you have to set?”

  “I already took care of it, Uncle Duncan,” Matthew answered. “I’ll give you the code later, when we men are alone.”

  “Oh, please,” Tiffany moaned. “I know it, too, silly.”

  “But some things should be shared in confidentiality.”

  “Ever since you became one of the gifted children you think you’re blessed to know more than me.”

  “It’s not being gifted. It’s being a man.”

  “Matthew Dunbar one more word…” Tiffany raised a fist.

  “Hey! H
ey, you two. Let’s play nice. We don’t want to upset Aunt Melanie on her wedding night.” Duncan’s smile stretched from ear to ear.

  “Tiffany, you and Matthew go upstairs. Take your things. And get ready for bed. I’ll show Duncan the cabin.”

  “Will you be up shortly, Uncle Duncan?” Matthew asked.

  “You bet. Got to tuck in my family.”

  Melanie’s heart melted.

  Matthew started toward the stairs, then turned and flew into Duncan’s arms.

  “Whoa. What’s all this about?”

  “Thank you for deputizing me. I won’t let you down. I wish…” Matthew stopped and eyed Melanie for a moment. “I wish I’d had a father like you all those years in my life. Someone to play ball with, and a dad to come to the school meetings on father’s day.” He hugged Duncan again, then turned and raced up the stairs.

  Melanie put a hand over her mouth. Matthew was eleven and Duncan was the closest the boy had come to having a father figure. In just a few short hours Matthew had taken a huge interest in Duncan.

  Her eyes lingered over the agent. “He thinks highly of you.”

  “I hope he can continue to feel that way when all this is over.”

  She touched his arm. “I believe he will. But something inside me says it is going to be hard saying goodbye. I just hope we aren’t making it worse on the children in this way.”

  “Melanie, it will be okay, I promise.”

  She inhaled. “Let me show you the place.”

  The kitchen was the first room entered if coming in the back way. They had. The front door led them to a long porch with two rockers. Beyond the kitchen was a dining room, that led inside. There was a bath that had been built not far from the dining room. Next was the living room with another door that extended out to a connecting wrap-around porch containing a jacuzzi and a porch swing. There was even a grill for barbecuing.

  Stairs from the living room led to the loft where Matthew would be sleeping. He always called it his fort away from everyone. Not too far from the loft sat a washer and dryer, then another bedroom came next where Tiffany would be sleeping. It was connected to another bathroom that also had a door leading into the small hallway separating it from the third and final bedroom.