Full Version: One Kind Word - Oreolover
RomanceFanFiction.net > The Highlights - A Place To Start > Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > 2008 Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > Season's Readings - Winter Challenge 2008
I am so impressed, as always, with the way you add little touches to your story that make it come alive. For example the WNTW banter and the fondue pots at the restaurant. Of course that fact that Myles appears to be about to decorate and have a real Christmas tree just pulls at the heart.
While Manheim Steamroller is quite good, I'm quite partial to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, myself. And seeing them in concert is practically to die for!
Yeah... I think they'd run away if they were to see the kinds of clothes that I wear. Sometimes, it's just not a pretty site, yet sometimes you just don't have a choice.
This was the perfect first date for Alex and Myles and since Ale has already brought up ideas for two more dates, I suppose that she'll just have to suck it up and continue to be drawn into our Harvard man.
Lindsy
QUOTE
Checking myself in the mirror, I decided that if “What Not to Wear” were secretly following me, at least I wouldn’t be embarrassed if this outfit were displayed on national television once I added some much needed blingage.
Yeah... I think they'd run away if they were to see the kinds of clothes that I wear. Sometimes, it's just not a pretty site, yet sometimes you just don't have a choice.
This was the perfect first date for Alex and Myles and since Ale has already brought up ideas for two more dates, I suppose that she'll just have to suck it up and continue to be drawn into our Harvard man.
Lindsy
I never would have guessed that Myles, as much as I like him at times, could make a request that would have me drooling to be in Alex's pointy toed shoes. Buy a tree and all the accessories for him??? Be still my heart! And Myles has got the moolah to afford the good stuff and not have to wait until the after Christmas 50-75% off sales!
Love their first date... just the right mix of awkwardness and easy conversation. Now you have me wanting to try The Melting Pot. I discovered just a week or so ago that there's one located fairly close. Now I just have to find me a Myles, er... Jack... ACK! See what you've done to me???
Tina
Love their first date... just the right mix of awkwardness and easy conversation. Now you have me wanting to try The Melting Pot. I discovered just a week or so ago that there's one located fairly close. Now I just have to find me a Myles, er... Jack... ACK! See what you've done to me???
Tina
What a delightful first date!! Very telling that Myles only had a few words about his family, but could go on and on about the team!! I agree with Tina, I don't know why Alex has decided to not mention her connection with the Bureau, but I really think she needs to let Myles know where she works!! It's going to be very awkward if he finds out on his own!!!
Helping Myles decorate a Christmas Tree - that sounds like a fantasy I could definitely get into!!! LOL
Joy
Helping Myles decorate a Christmas Tree - that sounds like a fantasy I could definitely get into!!! LOL
Joy
I am now officially passed the short story mark. Guess I'll have to make this a full. 
Thanks for all the ideas.
Chapter 7
“Sir, this one should be perfect for you,” the salesman at the tree lot said.
Myles glanced at me and I shook my head. “The trunk is too crooked, and look at that hole in the back.”
“You heard the lady. She knows her trees.” He grinned at me. “Now, can you show us your best?”
The salesman stuck his tongue in the side of his cheek. “Okay, but it’ll cost you.”
Snow had begun to fall after we left the restaurant in big fluffy flakes. I felt like I’d stepped into a Currier and Ives picture. Myles held my arm as we crossed the slippery lot, following the salesman to a Douglas fir set in the corner. I felt a little stab when he released his hold. The salesman held the tree up for our examination. Glancing at it, I calculated it as nearly three feet taller than Myles, but it was stunning. I fingered the branches and found the needles soft and pliable. “It’s fresh, Myles.”
“Do you like how it looks?”
I walked around it. “It’s beautiful, but it’s awfully tall. How much room do you have?”
“I think we can squeeze it in.”
“Myles, trees always look smaller outside than the do once you get them inside. Are you sure your ceiling is tall enough?”
He nodded to the man. “We’ll take it. I saw your sign for delivery. Can we get it tonight?”
With the tree paid for and delivery arranged, we set out to purchase all the necessary items with which to decorate Myles’ first Christmas tree. I directed him to a hobby and craft shop that I knew had a wonderful Christmas display and a vast array of themed items.
“What kind of tree do you want?” I asked him as we drove.
“A Christmas one?” he answered tentatively.
I chuckled. “No, I mean, how do you want to decorate it? Some people like trees that have special themes or color schemes. Others love to fill their trees with a topsy-turvy collection of sentimental ornaments collected through the years.”
“What’s the right way?”
“The only ‘right’ way to decorate a tree is the way that makes you smile.”
“What did you have on your tree at home?”
“I’m afraid you’re about six kids and 25 years of marriage short of being able to decorate a tree like I had. Our tree was filled with all sorts of hand made ornaments. There was even a little macramé tree my mom made when she was in Girl Scouts.” The memory of our tree filled my mind. “It was still beautiful. My mom always tied it all together with silver balls and glittery silver ribbon.” I swiped a tear from my eye.
At the stop light, Myles reached across the car and caught my hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m not upset. Just a little sentimental. It’s just that it’s my first Christmas that I won’t be home to decorate it.”
He didn’t release my hand. “Then, I need to thank you doubly for doing this with me. So, what other options do I have for decorations?”
“Well, you don’t strike me as the fairy woodland type.”
“Thank you. I think.”
“And Americana is little too folksy. What are your hobbies?”
“Reading, gardening, cooking, music.”
“Any sports?”
“I play football with my team in our yearly war against ___. Does that count?”
“Not probably enough to design a tree around it.”
We’d reached our destination, and soon we found ourselves in a forest of fake Christmas trees. Myles held up a skinny legged diva ornament with a tiny feather boa. She held a bag in her hand which read, “Shop till you drop.”
“Not your style?”
“No. Please tell me it’s not yours either.”
“Well.” I held up a pink feathery poof to my ear. “The only diva I want in my house is me.”
He chuckled and cocked his head at the next tree. Peacock feathers sprouted at odd angles from the branches and various sizes of small lamp shades adorned it rather than ornaments. The tree was topped with a small chandelier.
I shrugged. “It gets points for originality.”
“It certainly does.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “Next.”
Bypassing the Precious Moment tree, the African Safari tree, and the Mardi Gras tree, we both stopped when we spotted the next collection. I glanced up at Myles’ face and he flashed me a wide smile.
He held up a pair of glistening ruby slippers. “Alex Walton, I believe we’ve found our decorations.”
In the end, we chose a myriad of storybook characters, not just those from the Wizard of Oz, as Myles said that books had always been his best friends.
“We need a color or color scheme that will tie the whole tree together now.”
He twisted one of my curls around his finger, and locked his eyes on mine. “I’ve always been partial to red.”
Heat swept my cheeks. “Then, red it is.”
Picking up a red headed angel with feathery wings, he handed it to me. “An angel for an angel.”
The bill for the ornaments, angel, lights, ribbon, and various baubles came to an outlandish amount. I almost choked when she gave Myles the total. He took it in stride and handed the clerk his gold card.
With three bags of trimmings, we climbed into the Lexus and headed to Myles’ house. As we left the traditional boxy looking subdivisions, I knew we were headed into a more affluent community. I clenched my fists together. My stomach tightened as he pulled into the driveway of a large home, big enough for my entire family.
“This is gorgeous.”
Myles touched my arm. “It’s just a house, Alex.”
The tree, bound in a plastic net, stood propped beside the door. “I guess you were right. You ought to be able to squeeze it in.”
He chuckled. “Come on. Let’s get started.” Myles carried the bags in first and then the two of us lugged the massive tree indoors.
Pleased to see the delivered tree came with a stand already on it, I asked Myles where he wanted his piece of Christmas cheer. “With these vaulted ceilings, you aren’t limited by the tree’s height.”
“Where would you put it?”
I glanced around the room. A fireplace lined one wall, a staircase another, but I thought the large window would offer the best view to inside and out. “There. In front of the window.”
“Perfect.”
The tree nearly toppled when we stood it up, but under my tutelage, Myles manage to adjust the stand until the tree stood proudly. He pulled out a pocket knife and cut the netting binding the boughs. I stood back and admired it. “Oh, Myles, it looks lovely just as it is.”
“Fine.” He plopped down on the leather sofa. “I’ll start a fire, and we can sit and enjoy it.”
I gave him a half-hearted glare. “Not so fast, mister. I want to see this creation come alive. Lights first.”
He frowned as if he doubted the order I was suggesting, but soon we had the lights strung and gauzy gold ribbon tucked in the boughs.
“Now can we put these on?” Myles held up a Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, his eyes as bright as a child’s.
I nodded. Stepping back, I watched him carefully place each of the storybook characters. Besides those from Oz, we had princesses, the three bears, Alice in Wonderland, Humpty Dumpty, and Rudolph. We took turns hanging them: Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Scrooge. Unlike my brothers and sisters, Myles didn’t clump them together. He held up glass “Pooh” and hung it on the center of the tree. “Tara would like this one. I should have bought two.” Then, he held up the ruby slippers. “Here you go, Dorothy.”
They clinked when he handed them to me. I giggled. “We need our money back.”
“Why?”
“I’m still here.”
He stepped closer and brought my hand to his lips. “Is that so bad?”
I looked into his eyes and a smile curled the corners of my lips. Heat pooled in my stomach. “No, not bad at all.”
He kissed my hand again and let it go. “Now, for my favorite color—red.”
I strategically placed the red balls, while Myles built a fire in the fireplace.
When the fire was glowing, I picked up the angel and brushed her dress into place. “She’s beautiful.”
“She is.” He brushed his hand over my hair and a shiver coursed through me at his touch. “Do you have an angel on the tree back home?”
“Yes. My parents bought it the year they married. We always sing, ‘Silent Night’ after we put it on.”
“I’m not much of singer, but we can try. He swept his arm towards the tree. My lady, if you’d do the honors...”
“Myles, I can’t reach the top.”
Before I knew it, he lifted me up. I screeched, but he didn’t set me down. I slipped the angel over the top of the tree and connected the lights. “There.”
He lowered me to the carpet. “Why don’t you have seat and admire our work while I get us some hot chocolate?”
“You know I can’t turn that down.” I sat down on the leather sofa while he shut the lights off. The fire crackled, and I curled my knees beneath me and pulled a thick textured blanket over my legs.
Myles returned, bearing two mugs. I accepted mine, and he set his on the coffee table before sitting down beside me. He draped his arm over my shoulders, and I found myself snuggling against him. It felt warm, toasty, Christmassy, and I was scared to breathe for fear I’d I break the spell.
“Silent night,” Myles began to sing softly. “Holy night, all is calm…”
I beamed at him and joined in. “All is calm. All is bright.”
A joy filled me and I had to admit that right now, all did seem bright.
Thanks for all the ideas. Chapter 7
“Sir, this one should be perfect for you,” the salesman at the tree lot said.
Myles glanced at me and I shook my head. “The trunk is too crooked, and look at that hole in the back.”
“You heard the lady. She knows her trees.” He grinned at me. “Now, can you show us your best?”
The salesman stuck his tongue in the side of his cheek. “Okay, but it’ll cost you.”
Snow had begun to fall after we left the restaurant in big fluffy flakes. I felt like I’d stepped into a Currier and Ives picture. Myles held my arm as we crossed the slippery lot, following the salesman to a Douglas fir set in the corner. I felt a little stab when he released his hold. The salesman held the tree up for our examination. Glancing at it, I calculated it as nearly three feet taller than Myles, but it was stunning. I fingered the branches and found the needles soft and pliable. “It’s fresh, Myles.”
“Do you like how it looks?”
I walked around it. “It’s beautiful, but it’s awfully tall. How much room do you have?”
“I think we can squeeze it in.”
“Myles, trees always look smaller outside than the do once you get them inside. Are you sure your ceiling is tall enough?”
He nodded to the man. “We’ll take it. I saw your sign for delivery. Can we get it tonight?”
With the tree paid for and delivery arranged, we set out to purchase all the necessary items with which to decorate Myles’ first Christmas tree. I directed him to a hobby and craft shop that I knew had a wonderful Christmas display and a vast array of themed items.
“What kind of tree do you want?” I asked him as we drove.
“A Christmas one?” he answered tentatively.
I chuckled. “No, I mean, how do you want to decorate it? Some people like trees that have special themes or color schemes. Others love to fill their trees with a topsy-turvy collection of sentimental ornaments collected through the years.”
“What’s the right way?”
“The only ‘right’ way to decorate a tree is the way that makes you smile.”
“What did you have on your tree at home?”
“I’m afraid you’re about six kids and 25 years of marriage short of being able to decorate a tree like I had. Our tree was filled with all sorts of hand made ornaments. There was even a little macramé tree my mom made when she was in Girl Scouts.” The memory of our tree filled my mind. “It was still beautiful. My mom always tied it all together with silver balls and glittery silver ribbon.” I swiped a tear from my eye.
At the stop light, Myles reached across the car and caught my hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m not upset. Just a little sentimental. It’s just that it’s my first Christmas that I won’t be home to decorate it.”
He didn’t release my hand. “Then, I need to thank you doubly for doing this with me. So, what other options do I have for decorations?”
“Well, you don’t strike me as the fairy woodland type.”
“Thank you. I think.”
“And Americana is little too folksy. What are your hobbies?”
“Reading, gardening, cooking, music.”
“Any sports?”
“I play football with my team in our yearly war against ___. Does that count?”
“Not probably enough to design a tree around it.”
We’d reached our destination, and soon we found ourselves in a forest of fake Christmas trees. Myles held up a skinny legged diva ornament with a tiny feather boa. She held a bag in her hand which read, “Shop till you drop.”
“Not your style?”
“No. Please tell me it’s not yours either.”
“Well.” I held up a pink feathery poof to my ear. “The only diva I want in my house is me.”
He chuckled and cocked his head at the next tree. Peacock feathers sprouted at odd angles from the branches and various sizes of small lamp shades adorned it rather than ornaments. The tree was topped with a small chandelier.
I shrugged. “It gets points for originality.”
“It certainly does.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “Next.”
Bypassing the Precious Moment tree, the African Safari tree, and the Mardi Gras tree, we both stopped when we spotted the next collection. I glanced up at Myles’ face and he flashed me a wide smile.
He held up a pair of glistening ruby slippers. “Alex Walton, I believe we’ve found our decorations.”
In the end, we chose a myriad of storybook characters, not just those from the Wizard of Oz, as Myles said that books had always been his best friends.
“We need a color or color scheme that will tie the whole tree together now.”
He twisted one of my curls around his finger, and locked his eyes on mine. “I’ve always been partial to red.”
Heat swept my cheeks. “Then, red it is.”
Picking up a red headed angel with feathery wings, he handed it to me. “An angel for an angel.”
The bill for the ornaments, angel, lights, ribbon, and various baubles came to an outlandish amount. I almost choked when she gave Myles the total. He took it in stride and handed the clerk his gold card.
With three bags of trimmings, we climbed into the Lexus and headed to Myles’ house. As we left the traditional boxy looking subdivisions, I knew we were headed into a more affluent community. I clenched my fists together. My stomach tightened as he pulled into the driveway of a large home, big enough for my entire family.
“This is gorgeous.”
Myles touched my arm. “It’s just a house, Alex.”
The tree, bound in a plastic net, stood propped beside the door. “I guess you were right. You ought to be able to squeeze it in.”
He chuckled. “Come on. Let’s get started.” Myles carried the bags in first and then the two of us lugged the massive tree indoors.
Pleased to see the delivered tree came with a stand already on it, I asked Myles where he wanted his piece of Christmas cheer. “With these vaulted ceilings, you aren’t limited by the tree’s height.”
“Where would you put it?”
I glanced around the room. A fireplace lined one wall, a staircase another, but I thought the large window would offer the best view to inside and out. “There. In front of the window.”
“Perfect.”
The tree nearly toppled when we stood it up, but under my tutelage, Myles manage to adjust the stand until the tree stood proudly. He pulled out a pocket knife and cut the netting binding the boughs. I stood back and admired it. “Oh, Myles, it looks lovely just as it is.”
“Fine.” He plopped down on the leather sofa. “I’ll start a fire, and we can sit and enjoy it.”
I gave him a half-hearted glare. “Not so fast, mister. I want to see this creation come alive. Lights first.”
He frowned as if he doubted the order I was suggesting, but soon we had the lights strung and gauzy gold ribbon tucked in the boughs.
“Now can we put these on?” Myles held up a Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, his eyes as bright as a child’s.
I nodded. Stepping back, I watched him carefully place each of the storybook characters. Besides those from Oz, we had princesses, the three bears, Alice in Wonderland, Humpty Dumpty, and Rudolph. We took turns hanging them: Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Scrooge. Unlike my brothers and sisters, Myles didn’t clump them together. He held up glass “Pooh” and hung it on the center of the tree. “Tara would like this one. I should have bought two.” Then, he held up the ruby slippers. “Here you go, Dorothy.”
They clinked when he handed them to me. I giggled. “We need our money back.”
“Why?”
“I’m still here.”
He stepped closer and brought my hand to his lips. “Is that so bad?”
I looked into his eyes and a smile curled the corners of my lips. Heat pooled in my stomach. “No, not bad at all.”
He kissed my hand again and let it go. “Now, for my favorite color—red.”
I strategically placed the red balls, while Myles built a fire in the fireplace.
When the fire was glowing, I picked up the angel and brushed her dress into place. “She’s beautiful.”
“She is.” He brushed his hand over my hair and a shiver coursed through me at his touch. “Do you have an angel on the tree back home?”
“Yes. My parents bought it the year they married. We always sing, ‘Silent Night’ after we put it on.”
“I’m not much of singer, but we can try. He swept his arm towards the tree. My lady, if you’d do the honors...”
“Myles, I can’t reach the top.”
Before I knew it, he lifted me up. I screeched, but he didn’t set me down. I slipped the angel over the top of the tree and connected the lights. “There.”
He lowered me to the carpet. “Why don’t you have seat and admire our work while I get us some hot chocolate?”
“You know I can’t turn that down.” I sat down on the leather sofa while he shut the lights off. The fire crackled, and I curled my knees beneath me and pulled a thick textured blanket over my legs.
Myles returned, bearing two mugs. I accepted mine, and he set his on the coffee table before sitting down beside me. He draped his arm over my shoulders, and I found myself snuggling against him. It felt warm, toasty, Christmassy, and I was scared to breathe for fear I’d I break the spell.
“Silent night,” Myles began to sing softly. “Holy night, all is calm…”
I beamed at him and joined in. “All is calm. All is bright.”
A joy filled me and I had to admit that right now, all did seem bright.
Very sweet, very sentimental, very . . . safe . . . and that worries me . . .
Oh! That was pure magic! Please tell me the magic doesn't end for those two!
Kim
Kim
What a wonderful post... I feel like I've been shopping (and I'm not even tired!) and then decorating the tree... well, that was like watching a favorite Christmas movie. One with Bing Crosby. You know, I can imagine that Myles would sound a bit like Bing...
But, as wonderful as it was, I'm going to chime in with my concerns about the happiness these two are in the midst of... concerns that it LAST.
Tina
But, as wonderful as it was, I'm going to chime in with my concerns about the happiness these two are in the midst of... concerns that it LAST.
Tina
Lorna this is so wonderful. Please, nothing can go wrong. It's to perfect.
I give Alex points for bravery, dating someone so far out of her comfort zone. And I just love Myles attitude, not letting anything interfere with his persual of Alex. Not judging her in any way and being so real with her.
I give Alex points for bravery, dating someone so far out of her comfort zone. And I just love Myles attitude, not letting anything interfere with his persual of Alex. Not judging her in any way and being so real with her.
I hope that Alex realizes how much she has to offer Myles. I have a feeling he just experiences his first warm Christmas family moment. I love how eager he was to put the ornaments on the tree.
kav
kav
I'm with Anne. Alex definately gets the award for bravery. She can see how different she and Myles are, but she isn't running away because of it.
Lindsy
Lindsy
That was definitely a scene from a Christmas movie, and I can just envision this beautiful tree, the fire in the fireplace, the only lights coming from the tree!! You add Myles, hot chocolate and a warm fluffy blanket and it's sheer heaven!!!
Now, Alex, tell Myles where you work!!!
Joy
Now, Alex, tell Myles where you work!!!
Joy
Myles strikes me as having a wonderful singing voice!
That was post so romantic, sigh!
That was post so romantic, sigh!
Chapter 8
Although I expected, maybe even hoped, Myles would kiss me good night, he delivered me safely to my door with a mere brush of a kiss on my cheek and a promise to call. Disappointment fluttered in my heart, but I brushed it away. I didn’t want anything to spoil the evening.
He didn’t call. Not on Wednesday, but after a quick check of my sources inside the FBI (Penny), Thursday, I learned his team was involved in a heavy case. The news quelled my nervousness about the lack of call.
That night, he called and asked if he could deliver that Thai food he’d promised. I hurried around, straightening my apartment and my hair simultaneously. Even though my sofa sags in the middle and the carpet of my apartment has seen one too many renters, I refused to let the condition of my home dictate my feelings any more than I let Myles’ home dictate them the other night.
We talked for hours about everything—and nothing at all. I asked him about the scariest time in his life. What he told me made my stomach clench. He’d said it was when he was shot, but thankfully he’d been wearing a bullet proof vest.
He said that night was the turning point of his life, and I wouldn’t have liked him much before. I doubted that. It was hard to imagine a time when Myles wasn’t caring and kind, but he insisted he had his moments.
When he asked about the scariest time in my life, I tensed. I wasn’t sure I wanted to share that yet. It involved why I’d moved to D.C., and I wasn’t sure how Myles would react. He seemed to sense my unease and changed the subject.
He left me that night with another tender kiss on the cheek, and an invitation to spend the evening with he and his team on Saturday. He had something special planned.
New things happened in my life Friday morning. I received a call to my supervisor’s office. “I knew your time with us would be short,” he said, “but I didn’t think it would be this short.”
My heart sank. I racked my brain. What had I done?
He laughed. “Don’t look like you saw a ghost. This is good news.”
“Sir?”
“You’re being transferred to crime scene investigation.”
“I am?”
“Yes, and they want you there A.S.A.P. You can clean out your desk here at the end of the day.” He stood and shook my hand. “And Alex, we’re going to miss you. You do excellent work.”
“Thank you.” I turned to leave, but stopped. “Uh sir, where is crime scene investigation?”
Another chuckle rumbled through his broad chest. “Why don’t I take you there personally? I need to stretch my legs.”
“Let me get my purse and coat.”
I had less than three minutes to fill Penny in on this change before my supervisor was bellowing for me. Like an obedient puppy, I followed him through the halls, into the elevator, and up to the third floor. My supervisor held the door for me, and I walked into the laboratory like office. My nose was immediately assaulted with an antiseptic smell. A row of offices, with glass fronts, lined the far wall. I followed Mr. Redman to middle office.
“Hi, John, since you’re stealing my best person, I thought I’d bring her up and meet the man she’s going to come to hate in the next few months.”
The metal placard on the desk read John Vanfossen. He stood up and offered me his hand. Even though he was obviously under six feet tall, his presence seemed to fill the room. “Don’t listen to him. He just didn’t want to lose you.”
Mr. Redman left and I was motioned to an empty chair.
“Ms. Walton, welcome to my team, but I have to caution you that this is on a trial basis.” He leaned back in his desk chair. “You have excellent credentials, so I have no doubt you’ll do just fine.”
“I’m excited about this opportunity, Mr. Vanfossen.”
“Call me Van. Everybody does.”
“Then, you’d better call me Alex. Everybody does.”
He nodded his approval and pressed a button on his phone and asked another person to come to the office. “I expect two things from my team. One, that you treat every crime like it happened to someone in your own family. That’s the level of dedication I expect and respect a victim deserves.”
“And the second thing?”
“To take care of yourself. This can be a hard and sometimes gruesome job. If it’s getting to you, talk to me. Let me know you need a break. I don’t want to lose anyone to burnout.”
I liked what I heard and I smiled. An attractive dark haired man entered the office. “Alex, this is Hector Ramira. He’s going to be your partner and mentor. He knows the ropes, and he’ll get you off to a good start.”
“Welcome Alex. Come on. I’ll show you around.”
By the end of the morning, I’d met everyone and been given a run down on procedures. I’d worried that Hector might be more brawn than brains, but found out I was wrong. He was a tough task master and kept me busy learning how this team functioned at a crime scene.
That afternoon, I got my first chance to put my new knowledge to use.
Feeling guilty about being called to a murder scene, I tried not to fidget in the SUV. Still, Hector seemed to notice.
“Excited?” Hector asked.
“A little. Nervous, too.”
“It’s not your first crime scene. You’ll do fine. Remember, don’t touch anything until Melissa gets to photograph the scene and Van does a ‘walk through.’ I know that seems like an unnecessary warning, but I’ve seen veterans get overzealous about something they seen and break the chain of protocol.”
I nodded. “Do we know anything about the case?”
“Apparently, it involves a case that’s been going on for some time. One of the teams upstairs called it in.”
We pulled up in front of white house with a large porch. Curious spectators lined the sidewalk and lawn. Not the kind of neighborhood that saw a lot of murders. I stepped out of the SUV and spotted the agents already on the scene, notebooks in hand.
My heart stopped.
Myles saw me and hurried over, a deep frown furrowing his brow. “Alex, what are you doing here?”
Although I expected, maybe even hoped, Myles would kiss me good night, he delivered me safely to my door with a mere brush of a kiss on my cheek and a promise to call. Disappointment fluttered in my heart, but I brushed it away. I didn’t want anything to spoil the evening.
He didn’t call. Not on Wednesday, but after a quick check of my sources inside the FBI (Penny), Thursday, I learned his team was involved in a heavy case. The news quelled my nervousness about the lack of call.
That night, he called and asked if he could deliver that Thai food he’d promised. I hurried around, straightening my apartment and my hair simultaneously. Even though my sofa sags in the middle and the carpet of my apartment has seen one too many renters, I refused to let the condition of my home dictate my feelings any more than I let Myles’ home dictate them the other night.
We talked for hours about everything—and nothing at all. I asked him about the scariest time in his life. What he told me made my stomach clench. He’d said it was when he was shot, but thankfully he’d been wearing a bullet proof vest.
He said that night was the turning point of his life, and I wouldn’t have liked him much before. I doubted that. It was hard to imagine a time when Myles wasn’t caring and kind, but he insisted he had his moments.
When he asked about the scariest time in my life, I tensed. I wasn’t sure I wanted to share that yet. It involved why I’d moved to D.C., and I wasn’t sure how Myles would react. He seemed to sense my unease and changed the subject.
He left me that night with another tender kiss on the cheek, and an invitation to spend the evening with he and his team on Saturday. He had something special planned.
New things happened in my life Friday morning. I received a call to my supervisor’s office. “I knew your time with us would be short,” he said, “but I didn’t think it would be this short.”
My heart sank. I racked my brain. What had I done?
He laughed. “Don’t look like you saw a ghost. This is good news.”
“Sir?”
“You’re being transferred to crime scene investigation.”
“I am?”
“Yes, and they want you there A.S.A.P. You can clean out your desk here at the end of the day.” He stood and shook my hand. “And Alex, we’re going to miss you. You do excellent work.”
“Thank you.” I turned to leave, but stopped. “Uh sir, where is crime scene investigation?”
Another chuckle rumbled through his broad chest. “Why don’t I take you there personally? I need to stretch my legs.”
“Let me get my purse and coat.”
I had less than three minutes to fill Penny in on this change before my supervisor was bellowing for me. Like an obedient puppy, I followed him through the halls, into the elevator, and up to the third floor. My supervisor held the door for me, and I walked into the laboratory like office. My nose was immediately assaulted with an antiseptic smell. A row of offices, with glass fronts, lined the far wall. I followed Mr. Redman to middle office.
“Hi, John, since you’re stealing my best person, I thought I’d bring her up and meet the man she’s going to come to hate in the next few months.”
The metal placard on the desk read John Vanfossen. He stood up and offered me his hand. Even though he was obviously under six feet tall, his presence seemed to fill the room. “Don’t listen to him. He just didn’t want to lose you.”
Mr. Redman left and I was motioned to an empty chair.
“Ms. Walton, welcome to my team, but I have to caution you that this is on a trial basis.” He leaned back in his desk chair. “You have excellent credentials, so I have no doubt you’ll do just fine.”
“I’m excited about this opportunity, Mr. Vanfossen.”
“Call me Van. Everybody does.”
“Then, you’d better call me Alex. Everybody does.”
He nodded his approval and pressed a button on his phone and asked another person to come to the office. “I expect two things from my team. One, that you treat every crime like it happened to someone in your own family. That’s the level of dedication I expect and respect a victim deserves.”
“And the second thing?”
“To take care of yourself. This can be a hard and sometimes gruesome job. If it’s getting to you, talk to me. Let me know you need a break. I don’t want to lose anyone to burnout.”
I liked what I heard and I smiled. An attractive dark haired man entered the office. “Alex, this is Hector Ramira. He’s going to be your partner and mentor. He knows the ropes, and he’ll get you off to a good start.”
“Welcome Alex. Come on. I’ll show you around.”
By the end of the morning, I’d met everyone and been given a run down on procedures. I’d worried that Hector might be more brawn than brains, but found out I was wrong. He was a tough task master and kept me busy learning how this team functioned at a crime scene.
That afternoon, I got my first chance to put my new knowledge to use.
Feeling guilty about being called to a murder scene, I tried not to fidget in the SUV. Still, Hector seemed to notice.
“Excited?” Hector asked.
“A little. Nervous, too.”
“It’s not your first crime scene. You’ll do fine. Remember, don’t touch anything until Melissa gets to photograph the scene and Van does a ‘walk through.’ I know that seems like an unnecessary warning, but I’ve seen veterans get overzealous about something they seen and break the chain of protocol.”
I nodded. “Do we know anything about the case?”
“Apparently, it involves a case that’s been going on for some time. One of the teams upstairs called it in.”
We pulled up in front of white house with a large porch. Curious spectators lined the sidewalk and lawn. Not the kind of neighborhood that saw a lot of murders. I stepped out of the SUV and spotted the agents already on the scene, notebooks in hand.
My heart stopped.
Myles saw me and hurried over, a deep frown furrowing his brow. “Alex, what are you doing here?”
So now he knows.
Kim
Kim
How many of us think she REALLY wishes she'd told him she worked in THE SAME BUILDING as Myles, like, A WEEK AGO? 
What will he THINK?
What will he THINK?
Um... my job.
Would be the appropriate answer.
Would be the appropriate answer.
Uh-oh? Maybe?
But let's spin this... I'm wondering now why Myles hasn't asked her where she works... (or did he and I forgot)? I mean, if he'd taken an interest, we might not be sitting her wondering what he's going to think of the news... right?
Tina
But let's spin this... I'm wondering now why Myles hasn't asked her where she works... (or did he and I forgot)? I mean, if he'd taken an interest, we might not be sitting her wondering what he's going to think of the news... right?
Tina
Mione, great minds must think alike. 
Here's the next part. And by the way, this isn't a short story. 
Chapter 9
“I’m working.” Even when I said it, I knew it was a lame answer. That wasn’t the question he really wanted an answer to, and as much as he deserved the truth, this was my first day on my new team and I couldn’t let my personal life interfere with my job. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you where I worked. Would it have made a difference?”
“Yes.” Hurt and anger laced his voice. “It still does.”
“Alex? You coming?” Hector called for me from the porch steps.
I placed my hand on his arm. “Duty calls. Can we talk about this later? Please?”
Myles’ jammed his hands into the pockets of his topcoat and shrugged. “I honestly don’t know.”
Walking away, I felt tears prick my eyes. I didn’t understand why this would make a difference to him. I’d told him what I had a degree in. Why hadn’t he ever asked where I worked?
An hour later, when I exited the house for a breath of fresh air, Myles was gone. I prayed he wasn’t gone for good.
~*~*~
You can’t will a phone to ring. You can sit by it. You can look at it. You can even consider using caller I.D. to return a call from the day before, but you can’t make the person on the other end pick up the phone and call you.
Finally, after polishing off a quart of Haagen Daz, I gave up hope, put on my pajamas, and began to turn out the lights. A knock on the door froze me in place and fear shot through me.
Penny? Myles?
What if he found me?
“Alex, it’s me.”
I released a whoosh of air. Myles. Thank God.
Hurrying to the door, I unlocked it without a second thought.
Myles stood in the doorway with a gun pressed to his jaw.
“Remind me to extol to you the virtues of the peephole.” Myles used his head to motion to the man behind him, holding him captive. “Friend of yours?”
“Pet nightmare.”
“Move it, Alex, before I blow your loverboy’s brains out.”
Trembling, I moved aside and let the two men pass. I searched the doorway for anything to use as a weapon. Somehow, I didn’t think my yellow poke-a-dot umbrella would match a Glock.
“Sam, let him go. It’s me you want.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Still as bossy as ever.”
I moved in front of them. “He’s a federal agent, Sam. You’re a cop. You know what that means.”
“He’s a police officer?” Myles eyes widened.
“Yep, one of Kansas City’s finest.” The sarcasm dripped from my words like honey on a hot day. “How did you find me?”
“Federal employee data base. Someone of your talents wouldn’t work just anywhere.” Sam grinned, pleased with his investigative skills. “Now, finding your apartment was a bit harder. This isn’t your style, Alex.”
“Things change.”
“After I knew you worked at the FBI, I watched you leave.”
“I guess something’s don’t change.”
Myles’ studied my face. “He’s been stalking you?”
“That’s why I moved here.”
“Did he hurt you?”
The compassion I saw in Myles’ eyes made my shaky legs almost give way. “The big, tough cop likes to hit women.”
“Anything else?” Myles held his breath, awaiting my answer.
I knew what Myles meant. “No.”
Sam jammed the gun harder against Myles’ jaw. “Shut up, both of you.”
“What do you want?” Myles asked Sam.
“Oh, good job, mister federal agent. The first objective in a hostage situation is to determine what the perpetrator’s objectives are.”
I took a step forward. “I know what your objective is. Me. Okay, you’ve won. Let Myles go, I’ll go with you, willingly, wherever you want.”
“No!” Myles jerked forward as if by sheer will he could stop me.
Sam yanked him back. “Do that again, loverboy, and your brain will be decorating the walls of this place.”
“You said you’d go willingly?” Sam leered at me.
“Without so much as a nail scratch.”
I knew this man. We’d dated for six months. When I started to see disturbing elements in his personality, I ended it. Only Sam didn’t take no for an answer. He lurked around my home, he followed me from work, sent me threatening messages, and he’d even become violent enough to land me in the hospital. I knew he was capable of killing Myles, and I had do whatever I could to stop him.
“Alex, no,” Myles pleaded. “You can’t do this.”
But I could. If I could get Sam away from Myles, then I would.
“And what should I do with loverboy, here?” Sam smirked.
“If you shoot him, I’ll fight you every moment, every step of the way. I’ll make your life a living …”
“Uh, uh, uh, a good Christian girl doesn’t talk like that.” Then, before I knew what was happening, he drew the gun back and conked Myles on the back of his head.
I gasped. My stomach lurched as Myles dropped fell to the floor. I raced to him. Blood oozed onto the carpet. I grabbed a napkin off my coffee table and pressed it to the gash. “How could you?”
Sam yanked me to my feet. “Another word, and I’ll kill him. Let’s go.”
“Can I get my coat?”
“No, sugar. I’ll keep you warm from now on.”
Here's the next part. And by the way, this isn't a short story. Chapter 9
“I’m working.” Even when I said it, I knew it was a lame answer. That wasn’t the question he really wanted an answer to, and as much as he deserved the truth, this was my first day on my new team and I couldn’t let my personal life interfere with my job. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you where I worked. Would it have made a difference?”
“Yes.” Hurt and anger laced his voice. “It still does.”
“Alex? You coming?” Hector called for me from the porch steps.
I placed my hand on his arm. “Duty calls. Can we talk about this later? Please?”
Myles’ jammed his hands into the pockets of his topcoat and shrugged. “I honestly don’t know.”
Walking away, I felt tears prick my eyes. I didn’t understand why this would make a difference to him. I’d told him what I had a degree in. Why hadn’t he ever asked where I worked?
An hour later, when I exited the house for a breath of fresh air, Myles was gone. I prayed he wasn’t gone for good.
~*~*~
You can’t will a phone to ring. You can sit by it. You can look at it. You can even consider using caller I.D. to return a call from the day before, but you can’t make the person on the other end pick up the phone and call you.
Finally, after polishing off a quart of Haagen Daz, I gave up hope, put on my pajamas, and began to turn out the lights. A knock on the door froze me in place and fear shot through me.
Penny? Myles?
What if he found me?
“Alex, it’s me.”
I released a whoosh of air. Myles. Thank God.
Hurrying to the door, I unlocked it without a second thought.
Myles stood in the doorway with a gun pressed to his jaw.
“Remind me to extol to you the virtues of the peephole.” Myles used his head to motion to the man behind him, holding him captive. “Friend of yours?”
“Pet nightmare.”
“Move it, Alex, before I blow your loverboy’s brains out.”
Trembling, I moved aside and let the two men pass. I searched the doorway for anything to use as a weapon. Somehow, I didn’t think my yellow poke-a-dot umbrella would match a Glock.
“Sam, let him go. It’s me you want.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Still as bossy as ever.”
I moved in front of them. “He’s a federal agent, Sam. You’re a cop. You know what that means.”
“He’s a police officer?” Myles eyes widened.
“Yep, one of Kansas City’s finest.” The sarcasm dripped from my words like honey on a hot day. “How did you find me?”
“Federal employee data base. Someone of your talents wouldn’t work just anywhere.” Sam grinned, pleased with his investigative skills. “Now, finding your apartment was a bit harder. This isn’t your style, Alex.”
“Things change.”
“After I knew you worked at the FBI, I watched you leave.”
“I guess something’s don’t change.”
Myles’ studied my face. “He’s been stalking you?”
“That’s why I moved here.”
“Did he hurt you?”
The compassion I saw in Myles’ eyes made my shaky legs almost give way. “The big, tough cop likes to hit women.”
“Anything else?” Myles held his breath, awaiting my answer.
I knew what Myles meant. “No.”
Sam jammed the gun harder against Myles’ jaw. “Shut up, both of you.”
“What do you want?” Myles asked Sam.
“Oh, good job, mister federal agent. The first objective in a hostage situation is to determine what the perpetrator’s objectives are.”
I took a step forward. “I know what your objective is. Me. Okay, you’ve won. Let Myles go, I’ll go with you, willingly, wherever you want.”
“No!” Myles jerked forward as if by sheer will he could stop me.
Sam yanked him back. “Do that again, loverboy, and your brain will be decorating the walls of this place.”
“You said you’d go willingly?” Sam leered at me.
“Without so much as a nail scratch.”
I knew this man. We’d dated for six months. When I started to see disturbing elements in his personality, I ended it. Only Sam didn’t take no for an answer. He lurked around my home, he followed me from work, sent me threatening messages, and he’d even become violent enough to land me in the hospital. I knew he was capable of killing Myles, and I had do whatever I could to stop him.
“Alex, no,” Myles pleaded. “You can’t do this.”
But I could. If I could get Sam away from Myles, then I would.
“And what should I do with loverboy, here?” Sam smirked.
“If you shoot him, I’ll fight you every moment, every step of the way. I’ll make your life a living …”
“Uh, uh, uh, a good Christian girl doesn’t talk like that.” Then, before I knew what was happening, he drew the gun back and conked Myles on the back of his head.
I gasped. My stomach lurched as Myles dropped fell to the floor. I raced to him. Blood oozed onto the carpet. I grabbed a napkin off my coffee table and pressed it to the gash. “How could you?”
Sam yanked me to my feet. “Another word, and I’ll kill him. Let’s go.”
“Can I get my coat?”
“No, sugar. I’ll keep you warm from now on.”
Oh dear...
Oreo... my mind isn't working this way... LOL
I'm not liking this Sam guy...
Oreo... my mind isn't working this way... LOL
I'm not liking this Sam guy...
Wow Lorna!!! What an amazing story so far. You have us going on this wonderful budding relationship between Myles and Alex (which is an absolutely brilliant original character) and them BAM!.....you hit us with Mr. Stalker/Pyscho Guy!!!!! What a way to set us up in this "storybook" land of chivalry, old-fashioned romance, and Christmas only to pull the rug out from beneath us! Absolutely brilliant! I can't wait to see where you are going to take us on this phenomenal literary ride! I don't think you are going to make the deadline, but the WIP section is ready and waiting for you! Keep up the phenomenal work!
ps-I've just loved your dialogue in this story. I mean a couple of the lines just had me laughing outloud. And you've given Alex such a great midwestern feel....laid-back, down-to-earth, tells it like she's sees it, you know what I mean. As a fellow Iowan, it made me a little homesick!
Can't wait to read more!
Smiles from texas.................................Lisa
psps-you should have lots of time to write because I hear you AREN'T spending a lot of time outside. My parents keep complaining about how horrible this winter is! All the ice and snow and more ice is definitely starting to get on their nerves. Hope you are staying warm and toasty!
ps-I've just loved your dialogue in this story. I mean a couple of the lines just had me laughing outloud. And you've given Alex such a great midwestern feel....laid-back, down-to-earth, tells it like she's sees it, you know what I mean. As a fellow Iowan, it made me a little homesick!
Can't wait to read more!
Smiles from texas.................................Lisa
psps-you should have lots of time to write because I hear you AREN'T spending a lot of time outside. My parents keep complaining about how horrible this winter is! All the ice and snow and more ice is definitely starting to get on their nerves. Hope you are staying warm and toasty!
Um..Um...Um..
kav
QUOTE
Myles stood in the doorway with a gun pressed to his jaw.
Talk about lulling us into a false sense of security with a blossoming kind of klutzy, kind of awkward romance and then walloping us up the back of the head with terror filled angst!!!!!!!!!!!!! kav
QUOTE(Oreolover @ Jan 7 2009, 11:48 PM) 
What if he found me?
“Alex, it’s me.”
I released a whoosh of air. Myles. Thank God.
Hurrying to the door, I unlocked it without a second thought.
Myles stood in the doorway with a gun pressed to his jaw.
“Remind me to extol to you the virtues of the peephole.” Myles used his head to motion to the man behind him, holding him captive. “Friend of yours?”
“Pet nightmare.”
In that little portion of dialogue, we learned so much about Alex's past, about why she hadn't told Myles anything about her past, and that Myles was interested enough in her to seek her out. Unfortunately, Sam, the pet nightmare, found her, as well. Now you've got to hurry back so that we'll know Myles hasn't bled to death on her doorstep, and most of all, how she's going to get AWAY from this character!!! And I don't mean "character" in the literary sense, this time . . .
Wonderful writing, Lorna!
Wow. I didn't see that one coming. I gasped when that dememted fiend conked Myles on the head. I
Talk about blind sided!! We knew there was something in her past, but this??? Nope. Didn't have a clue... just like poor Myles. Speaking of whom... how's he doing? I can see him lying there with a napkin stuck to his head (almost funny, but not quite) while jerk-face makes off with Alex. Merry Christmas to you too, Oreo!!
Tina
Tina
I knew there had to be a really big reason why Alex had moved to DC and why she hadn't been able to go home to her family for Christmas. I just don't think I ever expected this. Something else, maybe, but not this.
Eek!
Lindsy
Eek!
Lindsy
Chapter 10
One thing was for sure. Turquoise Target pajamas decked with flamingoes and umbrellas did not provide any warmth outside the bedroom. Rubbing my arms, I shivered uncontrollably inside Sam’s pickup. The fear racing through my veins didn’t help in the least.
“Knock it off. It’ll warm up soon enough.” Sam kept the gun trained on me. “And don’t get any ideas about jumping out. You know how good a shot I am, and I wouldn’t miss at this range.”
At least Sam had let me slip my feet into my snow boots. I tried to wipe Myles’ blood off my hand on a rag in the seat. Tears sprang to my eyes. It was my fault this had happened to him. He didn’t deserve this. I swallowed the wreck in my throat. “Lord, please help him.”
“Sam, where are we going?”
“Home. Where you belong.”
For the first time in my life, the word “home” struck terror in me. First of all, we were days from Kansas and second, if Sam was headed home where Myles would surely send someone when he woke, then Sam was even more deranged than I imagined. Unless, he thought Myles wouldn’t… I couldn’t bear to consider the possibility. Another wave of shivers shook my body.
Sam shot me a leering gaze. “It’s warmer over hear by me.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ll change your tune soon enough. You’ll soon realize that I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“I highly doubt it.” For that, I was rewarded a back hand that had me seeing stars.
Myles-Point of View
Consciousness returned in a fuzzy haze. I opened my eyes and pain exploded in my head. Where was I? Face down on some hideous carpet?
Someone was shaking my shoulder. A woman’s voice. Alex?
I rolled over and groaned. “Alex?”
“No, I’m Penny, Alex’s friend from next door.”
I forced my eyes open and then the memories rushed back in. I struggled to sit up. “Alex! Where is she?”
“I don’t know. That guy took her.”
Trying to get my legs to cooperate, I grasped the edge of the table and used it as leverage to stand.
Penny grabbed hold of my arm and helped me. “Easy. I’ve already called 911. I don’t think you should be moving around even if you are a Special Agent.”
“You know who I am?”
“Your Alex’s Myles. I work at the Bureau, too. Fingerprinting.”
“How long?”
“A couple of years.”
I shook my muddled head. “No, how long ago did he take her?”
“Not more than five minutes ago. I heard noises in the hall and looked out the peephole. You’re lucky she left the door open, or I wouldn’t have known you were here.”
While Penny rattled on nervously, I managed to get my cell phone out of my pocket. “Jack, I’ve got a emergency. Can you meet me at 327 Morningside, Apt.3A?” The room spun and I sunk into a chair. “Yeah, I’m still here. A man broke in Al… my girlfriend’s apartment and took her.”
A uniformed police officer, who looked like he’d graduated from high school yesterday, and a rescue squad showed up moments later. I pulled out my badge and gave them a run down of what happened. “We need to find out the name of a cop in Kansas City whose first name is Sam.”
“Sam.” The officer wrote the name down slowly. “And the girl?”
“She works at the FBI. Her name is Alex –Alexandra Walton. Caucasian. Red wavy hair. 5’8” Wearing blue pajamas.”
“Are you certain she went involuntarily?”
I pushed the paramedic’s hand away and stood. “Listen. The man who held me at gun point to gain access to her apartment and used that same gun to knock me out is now using that same gun to hold her captive, probably in his vehicle. Do I need to tell you that time is of the essence?”
“Sir, just sit back down and try to take it easy.”
If Jack, Sue, and Bobby hadn’t rushed through the door at that minute, I probably would have wrung the pubescent officer’s pimpled neck.
“Nice shade of green, mate.” Bobby pushed me back into the chair. “Let the medic do his job.”
“He needs to go to the hospital and get checked out, but he’s refusing.”
Jack, who’d flashed his badge at junior cop, had taken control of the situation. “Bobby, get on your phone and call Tara. We need the full name of this Sam and know what he’s driving. Meanwhile, we’ll search through Alex’s things and see what we can find.” He turned to me. “You—hospital. Sue, go with him and make sure he gets there.”
“Jack, you know I can’t leave.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. “We’ll find her. I promise. Soon as the doctor clears you, Sue can bring you back.”
One thing was for sure. Turquoise Target pajamas decked with flamingoes and umbrellas did not provide any warmth outside the bedroom. Rubbing my arms, I shivered uncontrollably inside Sam’s pickup. The fear racing through my veins didn’t help in the least.
“Knock it off. It’ll warm up soon enough.” Sam kept the gun trained on me. “And don’t get any ideas about jumping out. You know how good a shot I am, and I wouldn’t miss at this range.”
At least Sam had let me slip my feet into my snow boots. I tried to wipe Myles’ blood off my hand on a rag in the seat. Tears sprang to my eyes. It was my fault this had happened to him. He didn’t deserve this. I swallowed the wreck in my throat. “Lord, please help him.”
“Sam, where are we going?”
“Home. Where you belong.”
For the first time in my life, the word “home” struck terror in me. First of all, we were days from Kansas and second, if Sam was headed home where Myles would surely send someone when he woke, then Sam was even more deranged than I imagined. Unless, he thought Myles wouldn’t… I couldn’t bear to consider the possibility. Another wave of shivers shook my body.
Sam shot me a leering gaze. “It’s warmer over hear by me.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ll change your tune soon enough. You’ll soon realize that I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
“I highly doubt it.” For that, I was rewarded a back hand that had me seeing stars.
~*~*~
Myles-Point of View
Consciousness returned in a fuzzy haze. I opened my eyes and pain exploded in my head. Where was I? Face down on some hideous carpet?
Someone was shaking my shoulder. A woman’s voice. Alex?
I rolled over and groaned. “Alex?”
“No, I’m Penny, Alex’s friend from next door.”
I forced my eyes open and then the memories rushed back in. I struggled to sit up. “Alex! Where is she?”
“I don’t know. That guy took her.”
Trying to get my legs to cooperate, I grasped the edge of the table and used it as leverage to stand.
Penny grabbed hold of my arm and helped me. “Easy. I’ve already called 911. I don’t think you should be moving around even if you are a Special Agent.”
“You know who I am?”
“Your Alex’s Myles. I work at the Bureau, too. Fingerprinting.”
“How long?”
“A couple of years.”
I shook my muddled head. “No, how long ago did he take her?”
“Not more than five minutes ago. I heard noises in the hall and looked out the peephole. You’re lucky she left the door open, or I wouldn’t have known you were here.”
While Penny rattled on nervously, I managed to get my cell phone out of my pocket. “Jack, I’ve got a emergency. Can you meet me at 327 Morningside, Apt.3A?” The room spun and I sunk into a chair. “Yeah, I’m still here. A man broke in Al… my girlfriend’s apartment and took her.”
A uniformed police officer, who looked like he’d graduated from high school yesterday, and a rescue squad showed up moments later. I pulled out my badge and gave them a run down of what happened. “We need to find out the name of a cop in Kansas City whose first name is Sam.”
“Sam.” The officer wrote the name down slowly. “And the girl?”
“She works at the FBI. Her name is Alex –Alexandra Walton. Caucasian. Red wavy hair. 5’8” Wearing blue pajamas.”
“Are you certain she went involuntarily?”
I pushed the paramedic’s hand away and stood. “Listen. The man who held me at gun point to gain access to her apartment and used that same gun to knock me out is now using that same gun to hold her captive, probably in his vehicle. Do I need to tell you that time is of the essence?”
“Sir, just sit back down and try to take it easy.”
If Jack, Sue, and Bobby hadn’t rushed through the door at that minute, I probably would have wrung the pubescent officer’s pimpled neck.
“Nice shade of green, mate.” Bobby pushed me back into the chair. “Let the medic do his job.”
“He needs to go to the hospital and get checked out, but he’s refusing.”
Jack, who’d flashed his badge at junior cop, had taken control of the situation. “Bobby, get on your phone and call Tara. We need the full name of this Sam and know what he’s driving. Meanwhile, we’ll search through Alex’s things and see what we can find.” He turned to me. “You—hospital. Sue, go with him and make sure he gets there.”
“Jack, you know I can’t leave.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. “We’ll find her. I promise. Soon as the doctor clears you, Sue can bring you back.”
What a twist, Oreo!! I just knew Myles was going to get upset about not knowing Alex worked for the F.B.I. Knowing Myles as we do, he had to go through his thought processes and decided that he was ready to talk about this!! Then, BAM!! Alex's past and pet nightmare shows up and all you know what breaks loose!!!
What a ride!! I'm loving every minute of it!! Except for the part about Myles now lying unconscious on Alex's floor and Alex being kidnapped!!!
Joy
What a ride!! I'm loving every minute of it!! Except for the part about Myles now lying unconscious on Alex's floor and Alex being kidnapped!!!
Joy
Phew! I held my breath all the way up until Jack took over. Thank goodness the team is on the case. And thank you for making sure Myles gets looked at. And this made me grin:
kav
QUOTE
my girlfriend’s
kav
Oreo, I missed your last post!! So Myles here - giving the police and medics a bad time!! Jack and the team are on the scene now - Sam doesn't stand a chance!!!
Joy
Joy
QUOTE(Kav @ Jan 8 2009, 12:30 PM)
Phew! I held my breath all the way up until Jack took over. Thank goodness the team is on the case. And thank you for making sure Myles gets looked at. And this made me grin:
QUOTE
my girlfriend’s
kav
Me, too . . .
Now get on the road and FIND HER!!
Gee, I used to LIKE the name Sam... but not this one. What a colossal jerk. I know I'm always the one clamoring for a fist fight and everyone else is decrying the use of violence, but I still hope Myles has the chance to deck him! And I'm not talking the "deck the halls" kind of deck...
SO glad to see Jack and Sue and Bobby! Of course, I'm ALWAYS glad to see Jack, but this time it's because Alex needs all hand on board to help find her!
Tina
SO glad to see Jack and Sue and Bobby! Of course, I'm ALWAYS glad to see Jack, but this time it's because Alex needs all hand on board to help find her!
Tina
Hey Tina - what do you mean you USED to like the name Sam?? 
There is nothing wrong with that name other than the twit in this story.
Sam
There is nothing wrong with that name other than the twit in this story.Sam
QUOTE(silkvelvet2000 @ Jan 8 2009, 01:15 PM)
Hey Tina - what do you mean you USED to like the name Sam??
There is nothing wrong with that name other than the twit in this story.Sam
ooops. That is so scary! I'm so glad the team is there to help!
Chapter 11
Alex
Christmas lights blurred in my watery eyes. I blinked away the tears, praying that Myles had awakened and was being cared for. The truck had warmed and the stress and the two hours on the road were beginning to take their toll on me. My head bobbed, but if I slept, I might miss my chance to escape. I pressed my cheek against the cool window. Surely, Sam would have to stop soon.
As much as I hated to face it, I knew there was a possibility I’d never see my family or Myles again. If Sam’s dangerous driving didn’t kill me, he might end up using the gun. If it came to that, I knew what evidence they’d need to convict him. I’d wiped the blood that had spurted from my cracked lip on the same cloth that held Myles blood. Now, I tore several strands of hair from my head and tucked them in the seat crevice. Thinking like this made my stomach roil, and I fought the urge to get sick.
“You have a sack or something?” I asked.
“Don’t you dare toss your cookies in here.”
“Then, maybe you should pull over.”
“Not in this lifetime.” He waved the gun at me. “Now, suck it up.”
Myles
Sue smoothed the hair from my forehead. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
“We’ve only been dating about a week.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t take too long to know that person means a lot to you.”
“I can’t just lie here.” I tried to sit up, but Sue held me in place. I marveled at the strength she had.
“Myles, the doctor is checking the CT scan. He said he’d be back in soon. Just relax.” She released me and poured me a glass of water. Her Blackberry vibrated on her hip and she picked it up. “It’s Tara. She found out his name. Sam Johnson. They have an A.P.B out on him and his pick-up. They are working on getting it up on the Amber Alert system. She’s asking how you are.”
Sue typed in an answer which I was certain contained the words incorrigible and obstinate. “Tara says she’ll be here soon.”
I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. “No offense, but the only one I want to see soon is Alex Walton.”
A week ago, I didn’t know Alex existed. But in our short time together, she’d turned me inside out. Never had anyone made me feel more at ease and accepted—except maybe Sue, but that was different. A knock on the door signaled the doctor’s return. I opened my eyes and touched Sue’s arm.
“Good news, Agent Leland. There’s no skull fracture.”
“Then, I can get out of here.”
“Not so fast. I understand you’re anxious to get out of here, but you have a nice little concussion, and I’d like to keep you around for at least another hour to make sure we aren’t missing anything. If, and I mean if, I release you, you’re going to have to take it easy until after Christmas.”
The doctor left and gave Sue my most pleading look. “Any chance you’ll help me escape?”
Sue crossed her arms over her chest. Jack had sent the perfect body guard, but I guessed he knew that. Sue’s stubbornness would keep me just where the doctor’s wanted.
I closed my eyes and willed the pain both in my head and in my heart to subside. I awoke a while to Tara’s hushed voice.
“Hi,” she offered quietly. “How are you feeling?”
“Incarcerated. Impatient. Irritated. Incensed.”
“Don’t forget ill-tempered,” Sue added.
Tara smiled. “I see your vocabulary and your alliteration hasn’t suffered.”
“Tara, any news?”
“They sent out the Amber Alert about fifteen minutes ago. They’ll find them.” She took a seat beside Sue. “As a police officer, Sam Johnson was quite successful. However, it appears his use of unnecessary force has been called into question on more than one occasion.”
“How did he stay on the force after he’d hurt Alex?”
Tara looked through the papers in her hand. “What? There’s nothing in his file about that?”
I shook my head. Had I imagined what she said? Nothing seemed entirely clear. “She said she ended up in the hospital after an altercation with him. He’d been stalking her. She’s not the kind not to file charges.”
Tara’s mouth formed an upside down “u” and she closed the folder. “I found some …holes…in his service record.”
“Someone was covering for him.”
Sue held up her Blackberry. “It’s Jack. They found the truck. It was empty.”
~*~*~
Alex
When Sam finally left the interstate to get gas, my heart leapt. Maybe, just maybe, I could get free.
“We need another car,” Sam announced.
“And how do you plan to get that?”
“Take one.”
Switching vehicles would narrow my chances considerably. “Sam, when we get to the station, I need to, uh, go.”
“I can’t take that chance.”
“What do you want me to do? I said I’d come without fighting you.”
“I’ll stop along the highway somewhere. I can’t take a chance of anyone seeing you.” He pulled into a station. “Get ready. When the next car stops, we’ll let the person fill it, then we’ll take it.”
I scanned the area for cameras. Sam knew what he was doing. The only camera was a small one aimed just at the pump. By staying out of its line of sight, anyone checking would have no idea we’d ever been there.
A woman arrived in a silver P.T. Cruiser and hopped out to fill it.
“Get over here.” Sam yanked me close, fingers digging into my arm. “Now, we’re going out my side. One wrong move, and I’ll kill the lady at the pump.”
“Why not me?”
“I’ve gone to too much trouble to get you.”
He dragged me from the truck. When we passed the pump, I made sure I faced it. I remembered Myles telling me about a member of his team who read lips, so I mouthed the word “cruiser GTV.” That was all of the license plate I could see. Sam threw open the passenger door and the woman screamed. He fired the gun, and she sank to the ground. He shoved me inside. “Drive.”
Alex
Christmas lights blurred in my watery eyes. I blinked away the tears, praying that Myles had awakened and was being cared for. The truck had warmed and the stress and the two hours on the road were beginning to take their toll on me. My head bobbed, but if I slept, I might miss my chance to escape. I pressed my cheek against the cool window. Surely, Sam would have to stop soon.
As much as I hated to face it, I knew there was a possibility I’d never see my family or Myles again. If Sam’s dangerous driving didn’t kill me, he might end up using the gun. If it came to that, I knew what evidence they’d need to convict him. I’d wiped the blood that had spurted from my cracked lip on the same cloth that held Myles blood. Now, I tore several strands of hair from my head and tucked them in the seat crevice. Thinking like this made my stomach roil, and I fought the urge to get sick.
“You have a sack or something?” I asked.
“Don’t you dare toss your cookies in here.”
“Then, maybe you should pull over.”
“Not in this lifetime.” He waved the gun at me. “Now, suck it up.”
~*~*~
Myles
Sue smoothed the hair from my forehead. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
“We’ve only been dating about a week.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t take too long to know that person means a lot to you.”
“I can’t just lie here.” I tried to sit up, but Sue held me in place. I marveled at the strength she had.
“Myles, the doctor is checking the CT scan. He said he’d be back in soon. Just relax.” She released me and poured me a glass of water. Her Blackberry vibrated on her hip and she picked it up. “It’s Tara. She found out his name. Sam Johnson. They have an A.P.B out on him and his pick-up. They are working on getting it up on the Amber Alert system. She’s asking how you are.”
Sue typed in an answer which I was certain contained the words incorrigible and obstinate. “Tara says she’ll be here soon.”
I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. “No offense, but the only one I want to see soon is Alex Walton.”
A week ago, I didn’t know Alex existed. But in our short time together, she’d turned me inside out. Never had anyone made me feel more at ease and accepted—except maybe Sue, but that was different. A knock on the door signaled the doctor’s return. I opened my eyes and touched Sue’s arm.
“Good news, Agent Leland. There’s no skull fracture.”
“Then, I can get out of here.”
“Not so fast. I understand you’re anxious to get out of here, but you have a nice little concussion, and I’d like to keep you around for at least another hour to make sure we aren’t missing anything. If, and I mean if, I release you, you’re going to have to take it easy until after Christmas.”
The doctor left and gave Sue my most pleading look. “Any chance you’ll help me escape?”
Sue crossed her arms over her chest. Jack had sent the perfect body guard, but I guessed he knew that. Sue’s stubbornness would keep me just where the doctor’s wanted.
I closed my eyes and willed the pain both in my head and in my heart to subside. I awoke a while to Tara’s hushed voice.
“Hi,” she offered quietly. “How are you feeling?”
“Incarcerated. Impatient. Irritated. Incensed.”
“Don’t forget ill-tempered,” Sue added.
Tara smiled. “I see your vocabulary and your alliteration hasn’t suffered.”
“Tara, any news?”
“They sent out the Amber Alert about fifteen minutes ago. They’ll find them.” She took a seat beside Sue. “As a police officer, Sam Johnson was quite successful. However, it appears his use of unnecessary force has been called into question on more than one occasion.”
“How did he stay on the force after he’d hurt Alex?”
Tara looked through the papers in her hand. “What? There’s nothing in his file about that?”
I shook my head. Had I imagined what she said? Nothing seemed entirely clear. “She said she ended up in the hospital after an altercation with him. He’d been stalking her. She’s not the kind not to file charges.”
Tara’s mouth formed an upside down “u” and she closed the folder. “I found some …holes…in his service record.”
“Someone was covering for him.”
Sue held up her Blackberry. “It’s Jack. They found the truck. It was empty.”
~*~*~
Alex
When Sam finally left the interstate to get gas, my heart leapt. Maybe, just maybe, I could get free.
“We need another car,” Sam announced.
“And how do you plan to get that?”
“Take one.”
Switching vehicles would narrow my chances considerably. “Sam, when we get to the station, I need to, uh, go.”
“I can’t take that chance.”
“What do you want me to do? I said I’d come without fighting you.”
“I’ll stop along the highway somewhere. I can’t take a chance of anyone seeing you.” He pulled into a station. “Get ready. When the next car stops, we’ll let the person fill it, then we’ll take it.”
I scanned the area for cameras. Sam knew what he was doing. The only camera was a small one aimed just at the pump. By staying out of its line of sight, anyone checking would have no idea we’d ever been there.
A woman arrived in a silver P.T. Cruiser and hopped out to fill it.
“Get over here.” Sam yanked me close, fingers digging into my arm. “Now, we’re going out my side. One wrong move, and I’ll kill the lady at the pump.”
“Why not me?”
“I’ve gone to too much trouble to get you.”
He dragged me from the truck. When we passed the pump, I made sure I faced it. I remembered Myles telling me about a member of his team who read lips, so I mouthed the word “cruiser GTV.” That was all of the license plate I could see. Sam threw open the passenger door and the woman screamed. He fired the gun, and she sank to the ground. He shoved me inside. “Drive.”
AAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCKKK!!!!But good on Alex for remembering that Sue could read lips. I hope they find her soon. I don't think I like what Sam just might be capable of.
Lindsy
ACK! 
He shot her!! Oh, PLEASE, check the security cameras at the pumps!! Surely someone heard the shot . . . I'm going to have to wait until tomorrow to read more, aren't I? 
He shot her!! Oh, PLEASE, check the security cameras at the pumps!! Surely someone heard the shot . . . I'm going to have to wait until tomorrow to read more, aren't I?
Mercy, but this is a gripping tale! Alex's CSI background is certainly standing her in good stead. Loved the altercations between Myles and Sue.
kav
QUOTE
Sue typed in an answer which I was certain contained the words incorrigible and obstinate.
kav
He shot that poor woman! Oh, I heartily agree that I hope they check that camera.
Alex is a smart lady who is keeping her wits about her.
Alex is a smart lady who is keeping her wits about her.
That Sam is a piece of work now isn't he.
Kim
Kim
Alex sure is a smart woman! She's really able to keep her wits about her in a dangerous situation. Leaving the message for Sue to read was brilliant! I think Myles will see she's well-suited for the F.B.I. Hope the team is able to catch up to them quickly!
Why, oh why did I wait until just before bed to read this?! Alex is in so much danger! That creep actually shot that woman?? Sorry (our) Sam, but he's not doing much to reinstate your name to my good graces.
But Alex is one smart cookie - between the evidence she's leaving (which I'm confident they'll only have to use to prove that jerk-face kidnapped her and that she didn't go willingly) and her message to Sue, she's going a long way toward her own rescue!
GREAT story Oreo... loving it.
Tina
But Alex is one smart cookie - between the evidence she's leaving (which I'm confident they'll only have to use to prove that jerk-face kidnapped her and that she didn't go willingly) and her message to Sue, she's going a long way toward her own rescue!
GREAT story Oreo... loving it.
Tina
Disclaimer: No real Sam's were used in the making of this story.
It'll be close, but I think I'll make the deadline. Keep your fingers crossed.
Chapter 12
Myles
After the message from Jack, Tara and Sue gave up restraining me. Johnson had shot a woman and stole her car. Thankfully, the woman was alive. They hadn’t gotten her name yet. Her purse had been in the car, and she was now in surgery.
I promised the Tara and Sue that I would be on my best post-concussion behavior, but I swore that if I had to stay in that bed any longer, I was going to go crazy. When the doctor saw how elevated my blood pressure had become, he was prone to agree. He released me on Sue’s word that I wouldn’t exert myself.
Bobby picked us up and explained we were driving to where they found the truck. “It’ll be a while, mate, so just try to get some rest. You, too, sheilas.”
Leaning the passenger seat back, I tried to sink into the worry-free world of sleep, but my mind kept bring up Alex’s distraught face back in her apartment. If Johnson was desperate enough to shoot a stranger, what would he do to her? He’d hurt her before, I had no doubt he’d do it again.
I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, Bobby was nudging my arm. “We’re here.”
Jack met us at the SUV. “We still don’t know the victim’s name or what she was driving. The cashier didn’t see anything. He was mopping the bathrooms. But we found a shot of Alex on the pump. She says something, Sue. I’m hoping you can tell us what it is.”
We followed Jack to a back room in the convenience store. He pressed play and Alex’s face filled the screen. My eyes fell to her swollen lower lip and my anger surged.
Sue leaned close to the screen. “It’s so fuzzy.”
“Let me hook it up to my laptop,” Tara offered. “I can get it cleaned up in no time.”
While she worked, Jack turned to me. “How long have you been dating this Alex?”
“Not long, but you know better than most, that that doesn’t mean a lot.”
He glanced at Sue. “You’re right. I do.”
“She was at the scene today. I saw you speak to her, and she said something that upset you.”
“That’s the trouble with working with agents. They don’t miss much.” I sighed. “She didn’t tell me she worked for the FBI.”
“Because she would have had to explain why she left Kansas.”
“He was stalking her.” I drew my hand through my hair and winced.
“Would it help to know that today was her first day in crime scene investigation? She just received the promotion from fingerprinting.”
“A promotion, huh? Now, I really feel like a jerk.”
Bobby wandered over and grinned. “But mate, it’s not like that’s a new experience for you.”
I glared at him.
“Jack!” Sue called. “I think she said, ‘Cruiser GTV.’”
“Think? Aren’t you sure?” My muddled head refused to wrap around the letters.
“Easy, Myles.” Jack smiled at Sue. “Good work.”
“My guess would be a P.T. Cruiser. Maybe the rest is a license plate.” Bobby turned to Tara. “Luv, can you cross reference those letters and P.T. Cruisers?”
Tara’s fingers were already flying. “In three states in fifteen minutes.”
He gave her a wink. “That’s my girl.”
As if our presence alone would hurry the results, we dared not move. I couldn’t tear my eyes from Alex’s ace which remained on the monitor. Maybe it was the worry. Maybe it was being around Sue. Maybe it was the fact that after my scare, I’d started attending a local church, but I found myself doing something I’d seldom done before. Praying.
“I’ve got three P.T. Cruisers with GTV license plates in the surrounding states. One is dark blue. Even though the video footage was black and white, we know the color was light, so I think we can cross that out.”
“And the others?” Jack asked.
“Just going by the person who lives nearest here, I think our victim is Sarah Nelson. The car is licensed to her and her husband Tom.”
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “You two have been studying that tape. Would you recognize a photo of the victim?”
Sue nodded.
“Why don’t you and Tara go find out if the car is home, ask to see a photo, and, if necessary, inform Tom of his wife’s situation?”
“You’re not going to wait for confirmation to put out an APB, are you?” I snapped.
“No, Myles, I’m not. “
Bobby pulled out his phone. “I’ll take care of that.”
The team dispersed and I sank into a rickety office chair. Pain shot through my head at the slightest movements. Yet, every time I closed my eyes, the only thing I could see was Alex’s bruised face. The damage had been minimal, but what had he done to her since then?
~*~*~
Alex
Gripping the steering wheel so hard that my hands hurt, I drove down the highway mindlessly. Sam shot that woman in cold blood. Any thoughts of making it out of this safely were slowly dissipating.
The clock on the dash read 3 a.m. I’d been driving for nearly an hour. I rubbed my neck, trying to ease the tense cramp in it. Exhaustion’s grip was taking a firm hold of me. I took several deep breaths. If I could outlast Sam, then maybe I could get the gun away.
So far, I didn’t see that happening.
As if he could read my mind, he held up a thermos of coffee he’d found in the car. “Extra strong. I probably won’t sleep for a week. Too bad, huh?”
“Sam, there is no way this can work out now, you know that. You shot that woman. The police will be after us.”
“I know. That’s why we’re changing vehicles in the next town.”
My heart raced. Any clues I’d left would be useless. My chances of rescue were wearing thin.
”Don’t look so scared. I’ll hotwire this one. No witnesses to kill that way.” He motioned to the side of the road. “Pull over and we’ll switch places.”
“I’m fine. I can drive a while longer.”
“I said, ‘Pull over.’”
I complied, driving the Cruiser onto the shoulder of the road. I scanned the area. A farmhouse stood less than 30 yards from the road, and from the way I parked, Sam would have to negotiate a the edge of steep ditch to get to the driver’s side.
If I had any chance to get free, this was going to be it.
It'll be close, but I think I'll make the deadline. Keep your fingers crossed.
Chapter 12
Myles
After the message from Jack, Tara and Sue gave up restraining me. Johnson had shot a woman and stole her car. Thankfully, the woman was alive. They hadn’t gotten her name yet. Her purse had been in the car, and she was now in surgery.
I promised the Tara and Sue that I would be on my best post-concussion behavior, but I swore that if I had to stay in that bed any longer, I was going to go crazy. When the doctor saw how elevated my blood pressure had become, he was prone to agree. He released me on Sue’s word that I wouldn’t exert myself.
Bobby picked us up and explained we were driving to where they found the truck. “It’ll be a while, mate, so just try to get some rest. You, too, sheilas.”
Leaning the passenger seat back, I tried to sink into the worry-free world of sleep, but my mind kept bring up Alex’s distraught face back in her apartment. If Johnson was desperate enough to shoot a stranger, what would he do to her? He’d hurt her before, I had no doubt he’d do it again.
I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, Bobby was nudging my arm. “We’re here.”
Jack met us at the SUV. “We still don’t know the victim’s name or what she was driving. The cashier didn’t see anything. He was mopping the bathrooms. But we found a shot of Alex on the pump. She says something, Sue. I’m hoping you can tell us what it is.”
We followed Jack to a back room in the convenience store. He pressed play and Alex’s face filled the screen. My eyes fell to her swollen lower lip and my anger surged.
Sue leaned close to the screen. “It’s so fuzzy.”
“Let me hook it up to my laptop,” Tara offered. “I can get it cleaned up in no time.”
While she worked, Jack turned to me. “How long have you been dating this Alex?”
“Not long, but you know better than most, that that doesn’t mean a lot.”
He glanced at Sue. “You’re right. I do.”
“She was at the scene today. I saw you speak to her, and she said something that upset you.”
“That’s the trouble with working with agents. They don’t miss much.” I sighed. “She didn’t tell me she worked for the FBI.”
“Because she would have had to explain why she left Kansas.”
“He was stalking her.” I drew my hand through my hair and winced.
“Would it help to know that today was her first day in crime scene investigation? She just received the promotion from fingerprinting.”
“A promotion, huh? Now, I really feel like a jerk.”
Bobby wandered over and grinned. “But mate, it’s not like that’s a new experience for you.”
I glared at him.
“Jack!” Sue called. “I think she said, ‘Cruiser GTV.’”
“Think? Aren’t you sure?” My muddled head refused to wrap around the letters.
“Easy, Myles.” Jack smiled at Sue. “Good work.”
“My guess would be a P.T. Cruiser. Maybe the rest is a license plate.” Bobby turned to Tara. “Luv, can you cross reference those letters and P.T. Cruisers?”
Tara’s fingers were already flying. “In three states in fifteen minutes.”
He gave her a wink. “That’s my girl.”
As if our presence alone would hurry the results, we dared not move. I couldn’t tear my eyes from Alex’s ace which remained on the monitor. Maybe it was the worry. Maybe it was being around Sue. Maybe it was the fact that after my scare, I’d started attending a local church, but I found myself doing something I’d seldom done before. Praying.
“I’ve got three P.T. Cruisers with GTV license plates in the surrounding states. One is dark blue. Even though the video footage was black and white, we know the color was light, so I think we can cross that out.”
“And the others?” Jack asked.
“Just going by the person who lives nearest here, I think our victim is Sarah Nelson. The car is licensed to her and her husband Tom.”
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “You two have been studying that tape. Would you recognize a photo of the victim?”
Sue nodded.
“Why don’t you and Tara go find out if the car is home, ask to see a photo, and, if necessary, inform Tom of his wife’s situation?”
“You’re not going to wait for confirmation to put out an APB, are you?” I snapped.
“No, Myles, I’m not. “
Bobby pulled out his phone. “I’ll take care of that.”
The team dispersed and I sank into a rickety office chair. Pain shot through my head at the slightest movements. Yet, every time I closed my eyes, the only thing I could see was Alex’s bruised face. The damage had been minimal, but what had he done to her since then?
~*~*~
Alex
Gripping the steering wheel so hard that my hands hurt, I drove down the highway mindlessly. Sam shot that woman in cold blood. Any thoughts of making it out of this safely were slowly dissipating.
The clock on the dash read 3 a.m. I’d been driving for nearly an hour. I rubbed my neck, trying to ease the tense cramp in it. Exhaustion’s grip was taking a firm hold of me. I took several deep breaths. If I could outlast Sam, then maybe I could get the gun away.
So far, I didn’t see that happening.
As if he could read my mind, he held up a thermos of coffee he’d found in the car. “Extra strong. I probably won’t sleep for a week. Too bad, huh?”
“Sam, there is no way this can work out now, you know that. You shot that woman. The police will be after us.”
“I know. That’s why we’re changing vehicles in the next town.”
My heart raced. Any clues I’d left would be useless. My chances of rescue were wearing thin.
”Don’t look so scared. I’ll hotwire this one. No witnesses to kill that way.” He motioned to the side of the road. “Pull over and we’ll switch places.”
“I’m fine. I can drive a while longer.”
“I said, ‘Pull over.’”
I complied, driving the Cruiser onto the shoulder of the road. I scanned the area. A farmhouse stood less than 30 yards from the road, and from the way I parked, Sam would have to negotiate a the edge of steep ditch to get to the driver’s side.
If I had any chance to get free, this was going to be it.
A cliffie. Her heart must be racing at top speed. I hope she can out distance him and that there are helpful folks at that farmhouse, but if she runs she could be putting them in danger as well. What a dilemma.
Is there a "hand-wringing" smiley? It would be SO much better on my nails . . . 
I have a scenario running through my brain... I just hope I can transmit it telepathically to Oreo... I'm concentrating....
Please tell me that creep-face is going to slip up and let his guard down for just a bit? Just a few seconds...
Tina
Please tell me that creep-face is going to slip up and let his guard down for just a bit? Just a few seconds...
Tina
You know, Oreo, part of me doesn't want you to finish it to the deadline just so I could keep on reading on Myles and Alex...
I love the way you write him! But part of me wants you to come back here and post so we could see Myles and Alex together again!
I love the way you write him! But part of me wants you to come back here and post so we could see Myles and Alex together again!
Tension, angst, trauma...I just can't take it anymore...I'm almost afraid for the next post. I wonder if I can read it with my eyes shut?kav
I had forgotten how comfortable it is under this bed!! I wish I had thought to grab the oreos before I dove under here!!!
Oreo, I love the way you are giving us both Alex and Myles!! I love the way you write Myles and Sue!! I love the way you write Bobby and Myles!! I love the way all the team jumps in and works together!! I love everything about this story!!!
I'm going to love when you allow Alex to get away from Sam!!!
Joy
Oreo, I love the way you are giving us both Alex and Myles!! I love the way you write Myles and Sue!! I love the way you write Bobby and Myles!! I love the way all the team jumps in and works together!! I love everything about this story!!!
I'm going to love when you allow Alex to get away from Sam!!!
Joy
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