Mine

Chapter 13

David had stayed awake half of the night worrying about Jennie. If he hadn’t placed a call to dispatch at two in the morning and requested random drive-byes he wouldn’t have slept at all.

“I don’t understand who’s doing this. Eddie Winters is dead. The threat should be over.” David slid his chair away from his desk and ran his hand over the top of his head.

“I agree. This isn’t about Winters anymore.” Brandon tapped his pen on his notepad. “Jennie’s not telling us something.”

David sighed. “I know. I can’t get her to open up. I hate to go behind her back to Miss Emily, but I might have to if this continues.”

“Good luck with that. I’ve known Mrs. Hanover for years. She’s not about to tell someone else’s secrets, especially her niece’s.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Well, since you asked.” His partner’s grim look had David regretting he’d asked. “I heard back from the detective in Indiana.”

“What did you find?”

Brandon scratched his jaw and opened a file folder. “You’re not going to like it.”

“Spill it, man. You’re worrying me.”

“And rightfully so. You know about her late husband, Brad’s death, but what you don’t know is that Jennie Nielson and her infant daughter lived in Indiana with Brad’s friend Kenny.

Five years ago, Kenny nearly beat Jennie to death.

She was in the hospital for weeks recovering while her friend Tina took care of Zoey. ”

The breakfast he’d eaten earlier that morning threatened to come up. “Please tell me they arrested the man.”

Brandon nodded. “He was sentenced to ten years in prison.”

“Chump change for that crime.”

“Agreed.” Brandon tapped the report. “Once Jennie recovered, she came to live in her Aunt Emily’s cottage. And the rest, as they say, is history.”

David stood and paced in front of their work desks, ignoring his healing injuries. “Why didn’t she say something?”

“My guess is she’s embarrassed.”

He spun to face Brandon. “Why on earth would she be embarrassed?”

“Because this wasn’t the first time he’d laid hands on her.”

Heat climbed David’s neck. He wanted to punch something, or maybe a certain someone. Why hadn’t Jennie left him before it happened? One day he’d ask, but not today.

Blowing out a long breath, David tamped down his frustration. “Can we confirm where this Kenny guy is?”

“Not yet. I just received the file about ten minutes ago. I haven’t had a chance to do anything but read it.” Brandon glanced at his watch. “I’ll check into it once I finish my meeting with the captain.”

He snatched his windbreaker. “I’m going to find Jennie. I want answers as to what happened to her. And I don’t want to read it in a file.” David made a beeline to his car but stopped short.

A lady and young girl exited the diner down the block.

He squinted then straightened. Jennie and Zoey.

Perfect timing. He marched down the sidewalk, his temper and brain warring with each other.

After listening to the details of Jennie’s past, he had no doubt she had her reasons for not telling him.

But how was he supposed to do his job if she kept things from him.

Cool down and hear her out. He could at least give her the opportunity to explain herself.

Jennie glanced in his direction and waved.

He raised his hand to return the gesture.

A man popped out from behind a green truck and slapped his hand over Jennie’s mouth.

“Jennie! Zoey, run!” David pulled his weapon from his holster and sprinted toward the attack. “Police! Let her go!”

The assailant’s gaze met his and in one swift motion, he threw Jennie to the ground and dashed around the corner of the building.

David skidded to a stop next to her and knelt beside her.

Jennie hadn’t moved since the attacker tossed her aside.

“Jennie?” He brushed the hair from her face. Blood oozed from a cut on her temple. He yanked his cell phone from his pocket and called for an ambulance. “Hold on, honey. Help is on the way.”

Small fingers rested on his shoulder. He shifted and peered up into Zoey’s tear-filled blue eyes.

“Is Momma gonna be okay?”

“I don’t know, Zoey. But I’m going to do everything I can to help her.” Because if she didn’t survive, another woman he cared about would die on his watch.

***

The cut on Jennie’s temple throbbed in time with her heartbeat. She fingered the bandage and snuggled deeper into Aunt Emily’s couch. Her body ached, but her heart was grateful. If David hadn’t arrived when he had, she’d no doubt be dead. And what would have happened to Zoey?

“You doing okay?” David draped a blanket over her.

The material rubbed against the strawberry scrape that covered her leg. She sucked in a breath.

“Sorry.” He attempted to adjust the cover and finally gave up. “Can I get you anything?”

“I’m fine, thanks to you.” She snagged his hand and held it.

“Wish I had arrived a bit sooner. I hate that he roughed you up.”

Jennie lowered her gaze. “I’m used to it,” she mumbled.

The handsome detective tilted his head and studied her.

Why had she said that? She didn’t want his pity. In fact, she’d rather not need him at all. Look where her desperation and dependence on a man got her last time. No, she appreciated David’s help, but that’s where it would end.

His mouth opened as if he planned to say something, then closed again.

Regretting her question before she asked, she continued anyway. “What’s wrong? You look like a four-year-old that had his cookie stolen.”

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Why didn’t you tell me about what Kenny did to you?”

A whimper escaped her lips. “Who told you?”

“Brandon.”

“How did he find out? No one around here knows except Aunt Emily and she wouldn’t tell.”

David paced the living room. “After we found the photos on your porch, he did a background check.”

She struggled to sit up. “You had no right.”

“I’m sorry, Jennie. I truly am. But if it helps us find who’s doing this to you, it’ll be worth it.”

Her voice quivered. “I didn’t want you to know.”

Two strides and he knelt in front of her. “Why? I can’t help you if I don’t understand who might want to hurt you.”

Her throat tightened. How would she face him now? “What did Brandon tell you?”

He shook his head. “No way. I want to hear it from you.”

“You’ll think I’m stupid.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I promise you. I see you as smart, brave, and a survivor. Anything but stupid.”

She stared into his eyes looking for honesty. She almost laughed. Being a good judge of character wasn’t in her wheelhouse. She patted the cushion beside her.

David lowered himself next to her and took her hand in his. He didn’t rush her. He just waited.

Taking a deep breath, she told him her pathetic story. “You know about my husband.”

David nodded.

“Yes, Brad was an alcoholic, but for the record, he was a good husband. He loved me in his own way and helped me get my nursing degree. He just couldn’t stay away from the bars.

” She picked at the edge of her blanket.

“His friend, Kenny, had been hurt in the accident, so I stayed in his guest room and helped him while he healed. He was really nice to me at first. Even after I had Zoey, he was super patient with her.” She smiled.

“Infants aren’t always easy to be around. ”

He returned her smile and squeezed her hand.

“One thing led to another, and he offered the comfort and love that I desperately needed at the time.” A tear trickled down her cheek and she wiped it away.

“I knew better than to live with a man I didn’t love.

Aunt Emily had brought me up right, but I was a new mother, alone in this world.

I made choices that I regret to this day. ”

“Jennie. We all make choices we regret.”

“Well, I made a doozy. You would think after Brad, I’d have been more careful.” She kept her gaze on the coffee table. She couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye. “Anyway, it didn’t take love for Kenny to entice me into his bedroom. I was desperate for a man to notice me—to take care of me.”

“When did he start abusing you?”

She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “He treated me well for the first six months after I gave birth. Like a princess even. Brought me breakfast in bed on the weekends even. Helped with Zoey. I thought. ‘How can I be this lucky?’ But it all changed, little by little.”

David leaned over and grabbed a water bottle from the end table and handed it to her. “Here.”

“Thanks.” She unscrewed the top and took a sip.

Placing the lid back on, she rolled the bottle between her palms. “At first it was verbal. Telling me how stupid I was and that no one would want me now that I didn’t have the perfect pre-baby body.

The dumb part was that I believed him. Words turned into shoves and then into fists.

He’d never leave bruises where others could see.

When we’d leave the house, we looked like the perfect couple. ”

David’s jaw twitched. “How long did this go on?”

Jennie held the cold container against the road rash on her forearm. “Four years.”

“Jennie…”

“Don’t. I don’t want your pity.”

He clamped his lips shut.

“He finally beat me so bad I lost consciousness. Tina found me and called 911. I was taken to the hospital, she kept Zoey for me, and the police arrested Kenny. Once they discharged me from the hospital and I testified against Kenny, I packed up the little I had and came home to Aunt Emily.”

David tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His touch soft and tender. Unlike anything she’d ever experienced. “I wish you would have done that earlier.”

She swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat. “Me too. But I can’t go back now. I have to live with my mistake.”

“I understand that.” His faraway gaze spoke of a story he’d yet to share with her.

All the energy she’d stored up on her return from the hospital faded. “I’m sorry, David. But I need to go to bed. I’m fading fast.”

“That’s understandable. Let me help you to your room, then I’ll ask Miss Emily where the bedding is for the couch.”

She whipped her head around so fast the room spun. She gripped the back of the couch. “Excuse me?”

“After what happened today, I’m not leaving you or Zoey alone. I’m staying right here until this guy is caught.”

All she could do is blink at him. He couldn’t be serious.

***

David’s proclamation had drained all the color from Jennie’s face.

He knew she’d fight for her independence.

And after what she’d told him it hadn’t shocked him.

But if she thought he would leave her to fend for herself, she had another thing coming.

He’d let down his fiancé and she’d died. Not going to happen with Jennie.

David clutched her elbow and guided her to her bedroom doorway. “Anything I can do for you before I go find Miss Emily?”

She bit her lower lip. No doubt holding back a protest. “No. I’m good. Thank you for all you’ve done today.”

“I’d say it was my pleasure, but I never want to see you lying motionless on the ground again.”

She touched the bandage on her temple and smirked. “Can’t say I want to repeat the experience.”

“I’ll be in the living room if you need anything.”

She nodded.

“Goodnight, Jennie.” He turned and headed off to find Mrs. Hanover. They needed to have a discussion that was long overdue.

Emily stood at the kitchen sink scrubbing the bowl and utensils from baking cookies with Zoey earlier that evening. It seemed as though the woman loved to supply treats to everyone in town. Especially the police and fire departments.

He rapped on the molding framing the entryway.

The older woman pivoted. Spotting him, she grinned. “Come on in and have a seat.” She wiped her wet hands on the apron tied around her waist. “I think I can rustle up some snickerdoodles and a glass of milk.”

“That sounds amazing.”

Plating four cookies and filling a glass, Miss Emily placed the treat in front of him.

“Thanks.” He sank his teeth into the soft treat. “Mmmm. Only you can make them this good.”

She laughed and patted his shoulder. Sliding out a chair, she plopped on it. “So, what can I do for you?”

He tilted his head and stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“Pardon my bluntness, but you look like someone dragged you through the woods and dumped you in the barn.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Where did you come up with that?”

She shrugged and grinned. “Something my mother-in-law used to say.”

Sighing, he returned the cookie to his plate and dusted off his hands. “Miss Emily, why didn’t you tell me about Kenny?”

Emily set her jaw. “It wasn’t my story to tell.”

“I needed to know.”

“He’s still in prison. If I thought he had anything to do with this, I’d have spilled the beans.”

“Miss Emily, he’s been released.”

Wide eyes stared back at him. “Why would they let him out early?”

“According to the documents, they paroled him based on good behavior.”

Tears pooled on her lashes. “That man almost killed her.”

He covered the woman’s hand with his. “Does he know where she lives?”

“The only person who knows is Tina, and that girl would give her life before she’d let Kenny know where Jennie went.”

He made a mental note to find Kenny’s whereabouts just in case he had discovered Jennie’s location. “We’ll do some more digging and see if we can find Kenny.”

Emily patted his hand. “You’re a good man, David.

I’m sorry she didn’t trust you enough to tell you before.

But you have to understand, she’s ashamed of her choices and for the longest time wouldn’t show her face around town.

She finally came around, and I gave her the keys to my cottage rental.

Told her it was hers for as long as she needed it. ”

“When did she start working at the hospital? I’ve lived in Pinewood Shores for a few years now and haven’t ever seen her.”

“She got her Associate Degree in Nursing in Indiana before Brad died. During the time she hid out here, she took online classes and finished her bachelor’s in nursing.

It didn’t take her long to finish. Soon after, she applied to the hospital.

She worked on the medical floor for several years, then transferred to the Emergency Department about six months ago. ”

“Strange I’ve never seen her before. She still likes to stay in the background, doesn’t she?”

“Of course. She has Zoey to protect.”

“But Zoey isn’t Kenny’s child. Why would he want anything to do with her?”

“Because the man is insane. He thinks that Jennie is his property and that includes Zoey.”

David rubbed the back of his neck. “Miss Emily, I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

Had Kenny somehow found Jennie and been behind her attempted abduction?