She woke up determined to find out where he’d stashed those damn pills. Even as she drained the orange juice he left on the nightstand for her, she was growling. Puffy, sleepy eyes watched the dark charcoal slacks and pale silver pristine shirt wander across the large room. His hands were absently working a blue and silver striped tie into a neat knot at his throat as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“Good morning,” Aaron watched the pissed off gleam she was working to hold in her eyes and on her features. “Or not…”
“I’m not talking to you.”
“That makes it difficult to exchange ideas, but okay…” He caught a slight flash of something and felt the corner of his mouth lifting. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?” She tried for casual nonchalance, cursing herself for answering when she said she wasn’t talking to him.
“Hmm…like I’m the main course at the buffet.”
“I was thinking primo dessert on the table, but the other works, too,” Catherine dropped back to the bed with a groan. “I hate those pills.”
“I know…and I’m really sorry…” he sighed, his palm out to let his fingers trail over her face. “Rest, Catherine. I left a spare key here for you along with the code for the alarm. I’ve got appointments but maybe you can meet me at the office for lunch?”
She met the dark eyes filled with concern she’d never known before and nodded. “I’ll wait a bit here…I don’t want to drive when I can’t think straight.”
“Take a long shower…find stuff in the kitchen and eat something…I’ll look for you about twelve-thirty, alright?”
“Aaron…thank you…” She accepted that it wasn’t quite as annoying to say as she anticipated.
“You’re welcome,” he bent over, kissed her fleetingly and turned to lift his jacket from the chair. Hands patted down pockets after he’d shrugged into it, dropped his wallet to an inside pocket and left her lying there.
It was an hour before she shoved her legs over the side of the king sized bed. She hadn’t realized she was glaring at her leg until she reached for the cane he had left hooked to the bottom of the large sleigh bed frame. Humor won out as she hobbled into the massive master bath. Sliced or not, she was grateful she wandered into him on the break-way.
Catherine dropped the damp gauze into the trash, grinding her teeth against the occasional bit that caught on a stitch and pulled. They warned her that muscles took a little longer to heal, a little longer to knit back together. And it was only Wednesday. Not even a week, she thought, wrapping fresh gauze around her thigh before sliding the loose khaki pants up her legs. Still not stable enough to be without the cane, but that didn’t stop her from trying as she prowled the large stainless kitchen. She settled for a frozen smoothie cup, slowly walking around his office and looking at the photos on the walls, the diplomas and bits of Aaron around the room.
Catherine stopped at the drug store on her way home. Just in case, the girl in her reminded her how easy it would have been to forget birth control when caught up in his kiss, his touch. No guy had ever blanked out her mind that powerfully before.
She was content nothing was oozing from her stitches as she changed into a pair of comfortable hip hugging jeans, tucking her tee shirt into the waist band and pulling a light jacket from the closet by the door. His office was situated on the waterway west of Tacoma, a new development being created as part of the resort that was gradually causing a great reclamation of the whole area. Simple and modern yet not flashy, she parked the sports car and growled as she worked to maneuver out of the low riding bucket seat, using the cane as a hook to pull herself up where she could lever herself against the door.
She was only growling a little when she entered the large reception area of the unit divided into two. Alice’s Garden had the right half.
“Miss Jenkins?” Delia Compton smiled at the young woman glancing around the office. “He’s expecting you…you can go on in…” she gestured to the partially open door behind her.
“Thanks…” Catherine decided she definitely had spent a good portion of her life on the less classy aspects of humanity. She listened to him talking, his back to the door, voice brisk and not leaving leeway for excuses from the other end of the conversation. She saw the cord leading from the phone, which told her he was on a headset, one elbow on the arm of the chair, a pen twirled absently as he spoke.
“It isn’t acceptable. You find the answer and get back to me this afternoon,” he turned at the reflection in the large window, a finger raised. “Then you track down the answer and the person,” he ended the call and tossed the headset to the desk, inhaling slowly and meeting the smiling eyes.
“Bet he…or she…is quaking in their boots right now,” Catherine commented, leaning on the side of his desk, the cane between her knees.
“She and I hope so…she convinced me she could handle it, now she has to be tough enough to fix things,” he said simply. “It continues to amaze how few people know the meaning of personal responsibility.”
“I’m not late,” she said hurriedly, her grin matching his as he stood up and lifted his keys at the same time his phone sounded.
He glanced at the readout and tapped the speaker button. “A minute, please. Anna? What…”
“It’s not Anna, Aaron, it’s Crystal,” came the hurried voice through the line.
“What’s wrong, Crystal?”
“I don’t know…I don’t know…Aaron, she came in from outside and was…was white as a sheet and…and mumbling…”
“Where is she, Crystal?”
“She’s in her office and she won’t answer. I’ve been trying for the last ten minutes…I thought I could get her to open the door and talk to me, but she just keeps telling me to keep an eye on the store.”
“I’ll be right there.” Aaron ended the call and barely looked up at Catherine, her hand out to take his. He had his phone out, his thumb tapping in the new number he’d added. “Carter, it’s Aaron…I just got a call from Crystal, something is wrong and Anna’s locked herself in her office. Did anything happen that…”
“I’ll be right there,” came Carter’s brisk, flat answer through the phone. “She was fine this morning, Aaron.”
“Thanks…”
“I’ll drive and don’t even apologize,” she said firmly, struggling for stability when her leg wouldn’t give her the power she was accustomed to throwing into her stride.
“Thanks,” was all he said, sinking into the plush leather seat and waiting while she slid behind the wheel. He saw her put the little light on the dash, and wished for a little humor to tease but couldn’t find it. Something in Crystal’s voice worried him. “I don’t know what…”
“The girl on the line sounded seriously scared, Aaron.”
“I know. And that bothers me. Crystal has been with Anna since she got out of high school,” Aaron watched traffic move out of the way and when it didn’t, her control of the car had him smiling despite his worry. “Anna’s brought her along as a second in charge of the nursery and she’s handled everything well, according to my sister. But something must have seriously broke Anna’s control…she’s never let…”
His voice trailed off, another five minutes before they pulled into the busy parking lot, people hauling carts filled with plants or dirt to various vehicles waiting. He caught sight of Carter striding from the side, his pace slowing but impatience obvious.
“Carter Shipley…Catherine Jenkins…” Aaron held her at his side, moving with her toward where he knew their offices were. The young blonde was pacing, relieved when she caught sight of him.
“She won’t answer, Aaron…I mean, she’s…she’s mumbling…I can’t make out what she’s trying to tell me…”
Aaron put his hands on her shoulders firmly. “How about you go take the nursery half and let me take care of this? I’ll find you when we get her talking, Crystal, I promise,” he accepted the relieved nod, watching the young woman stride off with a purpose. He reached out and tried turning the handle. “Anna? Anna, open the door…”
“No…no, I can’t. Not right now. Go away. Just leave me be…I have to think…” She said firmly. Pacing the large office, her hands up and on her ears. It was impossible. She knew that. She KNEW it!
“Anna!” Carter moved closer to the door, his voice striking through the walls. “Open the door, Anna.”
“I – am – fine,” came the concise words through the closed door. “Both of you go away and let me think!”
“The hell you are,” Carter murmured, dropping to his heels and working a small device in the lock for a long, quiet minute until there was a click. He stood up, his hand sliding into his pocket even as he pushed the door wide, a pair of wide dark eyes staring at him in disbelief.
“We need to discuss the hobbies you two have,” Catherine said in amazement, looking from one man to the other.
“How did you…damn it…go away…both of you…I have to think…I have to…it couldn’t be…it couldn’t,” she repeated, waving her palms at them and putting them back on her ears. “Go away…go away and let me think…it couldn’t be…”
“Anna…” Both men called her name, both stepped forward only to have her back up, frantically shaking her head, ignorant of the tears streaming over her cheeks.
“Don’t touch me!”
Catherine leaned the cane against the sofa, bracing herself on two feet, her voice hard and clear.
“Anna!”
She was banking on the difference making it through whatever she was battling inside her mind and she won. She met the dark eyes that blinked in confusion, her pacing stopped and hands crossing her body to cup each shoulder.
Biting her lip, Catherine stepped forward and pulled the hands free, holding tightly as she met the dark eyes so familiar. She took a cautious step back, silently grateful for the firm hands at her waist. She turned slightly, one hand moving to Anna’s shoulder and pushing her into the sofa.
“Talk to me, Anna. I’m with the police. Tell me what happened.”
“I heard him…I know it was him,” she whispered, lost in the world of a four year old. “But it’s not possible…it isn’t…it can’t be,” she whispered painfully.
“No…what were you doing…where were you?” Catherine kept her voice hard, clear, demanding and forcing Anna’s mind to go somewhere else.
“Customers…” She stared into the pale eyes and saw where she was. “I was working. People planting…spring time…there are so many questions,” her voice slowly returned to normal. “What kind of plant for shade, for full sun…we were swamped and I was helping a customer select some seeds.”
“Then what happened? Who did you see?” Catherine sighed and sunk into the chair Aaron brought behind her.
“A van…a TV van…I thought it was just another of those fluff pieces, you know…spring time and planting…then I saw another man. In a suit. He had two people with him, a man and woman on either side of him…” suddenly her breathing increased.
“No…no, Anna…look at me…just at me…” Catherine leaned forward, her hands taking Anna’s before she could retreat. “Look at me…you’re safe here. Carter and Aaron won’t let anyone hurt you…you know that…you know you’re safe here.”
“It was him…I heard him talking to the woman…his voice…different words…but words…I know…I know…” She whispered vehemently. “I know the voice,” she insisted adamantly, silently pleading that they believe her.
Words. Catherine straightened up at the single reference. “You recognized the man speaking?”
Anna nodded rapidly, swallowing hard, her eyes immediately going to her brother’s face. “It was him, Aaron. It was…I…I know I haven’t heard it in…in forever, but it was him! I swear it was!”
“Aaron told me you kept a journal, Anna…do you have a picture of this man?” Catherine looked from one to the other, watching the gentle hand stroking over the dark hair at her side.
Aaron went to her desk, opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a thick, time worn paper binder held together with thick rubber bands. He saw Anna nod and handed the book to Catherine.
“That was thirty years ago…” Carter watched the exchange, pulling Anna against him, his arms surrounding her from behind.
“Let me…” Anna held out her hand, carefully removing the rubber bands and turning the beginning pages.
“I…you have drawings of all the people you saw when you were little, Anna?” Catherine asked quietly, watching her turn pages and point, stopping when the date changed. “Six of them…alright…” Catherine took out her phone and carefully centered and took pictures of them all before turning the phone and making a call. “Morris…Jenkins. I’m sending you six photos. I want them run through the aging software…bring them up thirty years then run them through the recognition program. Yes, I’m very serious…make sure to include deceased, if we have them in the system at all, I want to know. Immediate…yeah, yeah…convo…that’s me…resting and rehab…good, you got them? Call me if you get hits, thanks.”
Carter looked at her curiously. “You’re with the police?”
“I am…at least for another thirty days,” Catherine leaned back in the chair, idly glancing around the room. “You have video coverage of the nursery?”
“Yes. All areas,” Anna said quietly, nodding to the computer. “You can access it through there…my name…password wonderland.”
Catherine accepted the strong palm held out to her, and tried offering a reassuring smile. She sunk into the chair behind the desk, hands moving expertly over the keyboard once she found the program she wanted.
“What time, Anna? What time did the TV van show up?”
“I…a little before noon…but I don’t know who the man was…I’d never seen him before…but I know his voice…I know…”
Catherine keyed up the time frame, watching the parking lot until the van pulled into one of the slots. She watched the man come into the screen, teeth tight together when she pushed a long breath between them.
“William Barrows…”
“Congress hopeful?” Carter said curiously.
“Yeah…and two of his entourage…probably PR and bodyguard,” Catherine froze the picture and printed it out. “Now maybe it’s just my naturally suspicious nature…I get the TV truck being here for a fluff piece…..why would a politician come to a nursery with a camera crew in tow in the middle of the week?” She looked from the photo to Anna. “No one contacted you about him showing up for a publicity deal?”
“I don’t do politics and I don’t allow it done on my nursery,” Anna said firmly, her control slowly being pulled around her. “I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…you all…I…Crystal…I need to apologize…” The breath she drew in was shaky but better. “I couldn’t think. I was…I was a child again…I heard him…I could feel him touch me…”
“Don’t make me smack you, sis…you know better,” Aaron finally let out a slow breath, one palm up and rubbing over his neck.
“Please don’t read that…” Anna was up and across the room, taking the journal and replacing the rubber bands.
“I’m sorry. Habit…we haven’t been introduced…Catherine Jenkins,” she held out her palm. “Your brother’s told me a lot about you.”
“Anna…I’m sorry…” she shook her hand and held the book to her chest tightly for a few seconds before tucking it back into the drawer. “I haven’t looked in this for a long time…I think part of me was afraid to look again…”
“I can’t say I ever expected to find anyone from…hell, thirty years ago…in the middle of our lives now,” Aaron paced the office, his jacket shoved back and hands in his pockets.
“Have you always lived in this area?” Catherine looked from one to the other.
“Within five blocks…pretty much,” Aaron stopped, two hands up and pressing palms against his eyes. “I can give you the address of each of the other houses…the first ones…we tracked them when we were older. Curiosity for the most part…both of them were in high end neighborhoods.”
“With the exception of college…we’ve lived in the same area,” Anna agreed, shrugging and sinking to the sofa, letting herself be tucked against Carter. “Is it okay to feel like an idiot? You all interrupted your days because I’m having a…a…weird flashback…”
“I’ll smack you around later for it, okay?” Carter teased, his lips brushing her forehead when she chuckled.
“It’s just another excuse for you to drug me,” she murmured testily.
“Huh….we seriously need to have lunch and discuss your brother’s tactics, Anna,” Catherine said with a glare. “Breaking into my car…”
“He has gadgets…” Anna said with a shake of her head. “Always has…fiddles with them…picks locks…” Her head popped up with the phone on the desk sounded, Catherine’s hand out and voice answering instantly.
“Jenkins,” she said curtly, listening with a deepening frown. “Really? Now isn’t that interesting…send them to me here…yeah…I don’t know what I have yet, Morris…thanks for your help.” She set her phone down and put her hands on the keyboard, her eyes closed for a minute until she remembered how to access from outside the department. “I’ve got problems with dots…that don’t make the right picture…” Catherine looked up, noting with a corner of her mouth lifted. “Can I use your white board?”
“Of course…I…I have to talk to Crystal…” Anna pushed away and stood up, shoving her shoulders back and taking a deep breath. “Thank you…all of you…I’ll be right back…”
“Christ…” Aaron stood up and paced to the wide window, shoving it wide. “You know…I used to think I’d handle it better when I got older…when she gets thrown back to being four years old, I feel helpless…just like I did then…”
“No…you’re not helpless…” Catherine looked from one grim expression to the other. “You’re both here for her…your voices broke through…I’ve seen terrorized, raped women too much the last dozen years…it becomes almost coma like just to escape it. It’s hard on you because you’re not there with her…she’s in there alone. It had to be next to impossible to grasp when you were kids…”
“She woke up screaming last night…” Carter said softly. “I usually watch the news…half attention…there was a story on about some kids found in an abandoned building that exploded because of a drug making operation. It must have stuck in her head…”
“And I kept you awake,” Anna stepped back into the room, tears glistening in her eyes as she closed the door and leaned against it. “I’m sorry…I warned you…”
Carter ignored the gesture that told him not to, rising and crossing to her, his arms gathering her against him, pale lashes closed behind his glasses.
“Yeah…and I listen well…” He led her to the sofa and crossed to the small fridge. He shook the small bottle and handed it to her. “You missed lunch, didn’t you?”
“I…it was just coming up lunch time…I would have eaten something…” She made a face at him, relieved when Aaron and Catherine joined his laughter. She set the bottle down and crossed to her brother, her hands going around his waist for a long, slow hug. “Thank you.”
“Hey…big brother’s got important jobs…you know…monsters under beds and stuff…” Aaron worked to keep his voice light even as his arms tightened around her.
“I messed up your lunch…all of you…didn’t I?” Dark eyes went around the room and met with instant and adamant denial on each face. “You’re all lousy liars.”
“Ahh…alright boys and girls…let’s look at what my nifty work buddy managed to pull together for us,” Catherine held the pages in one hand and used the cane, tacking the photos on the white board with the little magnets and stood back to look at them. “Now…what we have here…is a very interesting collection of citizens…”