"Agent Officer Audrey Parker Mason; I presume?" Duke helped her out of the hatch and onto the deck.
"Yeah, thanks." Audrey bit at the insides of her cheeks to keep from smiling at him. "And you must be Duke."
"I must be." He closed the hatch after her and motioned for her to follow him down to the stateroom.
"Does Wuornos know you're here?"
Audrey smiled and even laughed a little. "Oh yeah, Nathan would shit kittens if he thought I was in the bathroom for too long by myself. When you left here, one of our guys was watching, he sent the word out and with members of the Guard being alerted and distracted by Jennifer's presumed escape... I was probably getting into place here while you were swimming. We had to make sure that the Guard member watching Nathan's house was out of the way before..."
"What do you think they did to her?" Duke turned and this time he did use his size to menace and intimidate a woman. He was furious. Jennifer was sleeping and recovering and trying to avoid getting pneumonia because of what these Guard members had done to her; all because she had come looking for Audrey.
"I imagine it's pretty similar to what they did to me. Or my mother, or pretty much anyone else."
"Did they choke you? Strip you?" Audrey paled and her jaw set. "Did they beat you?"
"No," she answered. "No. They just tied me to that chair and... Oh God, Jennifer..." She looked toward the closed door and started toward it, Duke stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Let me see if she's awake. Yesterday she thought you were dead. If she wakes up and finds you there, after everything she's been through..."
Audrey nodded. She looked appropriately stunned as she sat on the sofa and Duke crossed the space to look in on Jennifer.
"She's asleep," he murmured and closed the door gently. Before joining Audrey on the sofa he grabbed a bottle of scotch. He also grabbed two tumblers and poured drinks out for the both of them.
"Why did you send her that goddam diary?"
Audrey looked at him as though he had two heads. "I didn't. The Guard took that journal from me when they kidnapped me from my loft. Is that.... Oh, my god. That's why she's here, isn't it? They sent that to her and made it look like I did."
Duke sighed and downed a shot of the scotch.
"Yeah, she came to save you. Convinced you'd do the same for her."
"I would. I DID. The only way I knew how. It wasn't just my life and hers at stake. We're pretty sure she's connected to the bombing at The Black House."
"Probably. Two of the guys I saw on the boat with her last night were the two guys I saw going into the coffee shop before the place blew."
"Where were you when that happened?"
"Across the street at the candy shop. Jennifer went back in because she left something there, her phone, I think. She thought you were dead because she said you warned her to get out."
"I did."
"So you were there?"
"Not exactly. Not physically." Audrey took her drink in one shot too and grimaced with the burn. Duke refilled for her and waited for her to go on.
"Growing up, I could sometimes... over hear what people were thinking. For the longest time I didn't understand... It made growing up really suck. My Mom had left me... Hoping that I would get away from Haven and be safe. And it worked for awhile at least. Until I was assigned to come here and pick up a guy... That's another long story. I went into the FBI because I knew I would be good at it. I could help the right people and I could stop the right people too." She took another drink and motioned for Duke to refill for her again. "I also learned that sometimes - and it's not easy and takes a lot of work - I could get others to read my mind. That's how I warned Jennifer. I was able to pick up on what they were doing and... The rest you know.
"The Guard here in Haven... That's their history. The Salem Witch trials are famous but around here... They didn't bother with even those kinds of trials. If the Guard decided that you were a witch, they just took you out to the ocean and... did what they did to me and to Jennifer. Over the years they sort of... evolved so to speak. They now not only 'protect' Haven from witches, they also 'protect' local business owners from witchcraft and non-accidental fires, explosions, broken windows and arms... All around insurance protection."
"Special."
"Something like that."
"So this Guard.... they got ahold of you and..."
"Yeah, tied me to that chair and told me I would have three chances to confess and repent. I went in twice before Nathan could get me loose. One of the female members tried to distract him, then tried to just shoot him before he actually shot her - she lived. Anyway... he almost wasn't there in time. We were terrified something similar might happen to you..."
"Me? You mean you knew where I was going to be?"
"Um..." Audrey blushed and smiled. For sisters who weren't related by blood, she and Jennifer certainly had the same way of smiling when they were up to mischief. "Your, ah, client is one of our inside guys."
"Great."
"Don't worry, he's not law enforcement. Just someone who had had enough."
Duke nodded.
"So, you and Jennifer.... She's not really your girlfriend because you are SO not her type but... you've got something special..."
"What do you mean I'm not her type?"
"Are you kidding? You've met her. You're not her usual type." Audrey actually snorted with laughter.
"Not by a long shot."
Duke continued to stare at her and since two shots of scotch were enough to topple her she kept on babbling. He was willing to bet she hadn't eaten yet too and would be sick if he wasn't careful with her. These Mason girls were something else.
"I mean, that's a good thing," she continued. "I can't see ex boyfriend James doing anything for her that you've done. He'd be way too scared and would run for help or whatever. No... Jennifer's usually been pretty good at steering clear of you bad boys."
"James?"
"Think Jimmy Olsen. Before they started making him look cool." Audrey tried to keep her smile to herself. Even drunk she could read Duke like a book. One with a lot of pictures. Pictures that should make him glad she wasn't Mom or Dad.
"Great." Duke went to the kitchen. Not wanting to mull over his feelings for Jennifer next to someone who was a mind reader. "You hungry?"
"Starving."
"Cool. Waffles?"
"Pancakes?"
Duke shrugged and got breakfast started.
"Would it be okay if I just peaked in on her? I promise I won't wake her." She was already heading to the door.
"Yeah... Just... They really did beat her up."
Audrey stopped and turned to look at him.
"How bad?"
She watched his features darken and looked as gently as she could into his mind, seeing the bruises and the swelling and Jennifer's ordeal in the shower. It had taken him longer to get Jennifer to safety than it had taken Nathan to get herself to safety. This boat had been further away. And he hadn't had specialized medical equipment to handle hypothermia. She whirled back toward the bedroom door and opened it to see for herself.
Jennifer lay sleeping quietly. She appeared to be dressed in Duke's robe and was clutching one of his pillows in a tight body hug. Audrey could see gauze wrapped around her wrist and knew that it was on her other wrist as well as both ankles. From the doorway, she could see the bruises on her face as she had seen them in Duke's mind. She fought every instinct to run in and throw her arms around her little sister. Duke was right, she needed her rest and to avoid shock until she was stronger.
Duke watched Audrey sag against the door at the sight of her sister. It didn't take a mind reader to know that she felt guilty and while he wanted to rake her across the coals for it at some point, now wasn't the time. She turned tear filled eyes back toward him and carefully closed the door.
"Thank you," she choked out. "Thank you for being the kind of person who would..." She broke off and took a moment to collect herself. "Thank you for taking care of her."
"I didn't do it for you." He kept his own voice quiet.
"I know. I know what you think of me. And... You're not completely wrong. I SHOULD have done more to keep her safe. I should have found a better way. But we don't know for sure who we can trust..."
"So you trusted her to a stranger?"
"You definitely weren't part of the Guard. And you definitely had a thing for her. Nathan didn't have to be able to read minds to see that. You saved her in the woods, you took care of her after the explosion, after you found her room had been broken into..."
"I know what I did. Some time soon, I'd like to know just what the hell you did for her."
Audrey nodded. "Yeah. I guess you do." She blinked once to clear the tears and swallowed the bitterness and asked him, "do you want any help with making breakfast?"
He didn't, but he told her where to find the pans and that she could find berries in the refrigerator.
"Jennifer loves Belgian waffles with berries. Did you know that?"
Duke shrugged. "I figured she liked berries. I know she likes croissants. And the most complicated sounding latte I've ever heard." The last brought a smile to his face.
Audrey laughed. "The raspberry mocha confection? Believe it or not, she came up with that when she was stoned."
The image of stoned Jennifer made Duke forget that he was angry with Audrey and he laughed with her.
"Was this before or after you went to Quantico?"
"Definitely before. I was home from college. It really started with wanting fresh raspberries with chocolate and whipped cream. But it was Christmas break so no fresh raspberries and back then, Jennifer was REALLY picky about... everything. We spoiled her about as rotten as Mom and I could manage. Anyway, she had this stoned epiphany of sorts and demanded that I take her to the coffee shop... and the rest is raspberry mocha history."
"But, cinnamon?"
Audrey shrugged. "I don't know. The girl likes a little spice."
"Jennifer told me she was a dance teacher."
Audrey just blinked at him for a moment before shaking her head with a smile. "Our mom was. Jennifer and I both had pretty much mandatory dance classes through most of our childhood. Jennifer is a reporter for the Boston Globe."
"Was."
Audrey frowned and looked at him questioningly.
"She mentioned that she might have lost her job from..."
"Coming to find me."
"Yeah."
"Damn."
Duke just nodded and dipped some pancake batter onto the hot pan.
"Do you have a waffle iron?"
He pointed to a cupboard and she retrieved it.
"Did you change your mind?"
"No, but you and Jennifer like waffles. I assume you like Belgian or that you're okay with it. I can make them. Nathan will bring croissants. He likes them too."
Duke watched her for a moment and when asked, told her where to find the things she needed.
"I got this now. I can, actually, cook. Without burning things. Go on. Go... be with her." Audrey looked slightly uncomfortable and Duke studied her close. "She's having a nightmare about last night. And you're right, she doesn't need the shock of knowing that I'm here yet. You'll have to prepare her."
Duke turned to go to his room.
"And Duke?" When he turned back she was smiling at him. "She had a pretty tight grip on your pillow there. Good luck getting it back."
When closed the door behind him again he could see what Audrey meant. Jennifer was having a nightmare and she did have his pillow in a death grip. She wasn't moving, in fact she was eerily still and obviously tense, her breathing too rapid. Fortunately, there was no telltale sound of a rasp or rattle in her breath. Unfortunately, Duke didn't really know how to deal with anyone having a nightmare.
"Fucking Audrey and her fucking machinations." Duke didn't have any real animosity toward the woman. It was hard not to like her despite his disapproval of how she had handled Jennifer's rescue. For all any of them knew, the Guard would have simply killed her and Jennifer both if she had made a more open attempt to protect or warn Jennifer.
Duke moved to sit behind Jennifer on the bed and stroked a hand over her hair. Left to dry on its own, her hair had quite a lot of curl. Her jaw was clenched tight and his pillow case was knotted in her fist. He reached for her hand and brushed his fingers over her knuckles, dipping into the tightened lines between her fingers. Jennifer felt a persistent caress over and between her fingers. Something warm and gentle pulling her out of the cold water and hard beating. Duke kept rubbing her hand until she began to relax her fingers with a deep breath. Until her hand opened and he clasped her hand and eased down to lay beside her again, nuzzling her hair and pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. She let go of the pillow and uncurled, her breath coming even and soft and her fingers clasping his.
Duke closed his eyes and savored the softness of a woman who didn't steer clear of him.
Jennifer felt a familiar warmth and form behind her and around. She smiled slightly before opening her eyes; musing that she was getting used to feeling Duke at her back with his arm or arms around her. At least this time he was holding her hand and not her mouth closed. She was starting to lose track of the times he had pulled her from danger. She studied the way their hands were entwined. His, so much larger, and capable of engulfing hers but still his fingers laced around hers while covering and cradling at the same time.
Duke heard her sigh and knew she was awake. He gave a gentle squeeze to her hand.
"Hey," he whispered.
She turned her head a little toward him. "Hi."
"You okay?"
"Better. Thanks." She still couldn't really see him, but she could feel his breath and his heat.
"You were dreaming."
"MmHm. More like remembering."
"I'm sorry."
"You saved me." She took a deep breath and swallowed the crying away. "A lot."
Duke was quiet for a moment, sorting through all the things he wanted to say.
"I can think of much better ways to get you into my bed."
Jennifer laughed and twisted around a little more toward him. Duke slid his other arm further under her head and helped her. Her eyes were brighter with some lingering wetness.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, a little.... They wanted me to call Audrey somehow. These guys seem to think that she and I have magical powers. Or at least that she does. And I think she's alive."
"Yeah."
Jennifer looked up at him curiously and Duke let go of her to sit up. "What if I told you... That I was where I was in time by someone's design and that...."
"Audrey's here?"
Duke nodded and when she tried to sit up, offered his hand to help. "You're definitely feeling stronger."
"I am. I'm sore as hell and my head is killing me... but thanks to you and whoever got you in the right place at the right time, I'll live. Which is totally the opposite of what those guys had in mind."
"I'm sorry."
"Duke, it wasn't you - "
"I knew you were headed into danger and I knew that I didn't have to leave as early as I said. I thought you would chicken out, and then I refused to think about what could happen to you if you went ahead and went up to that apartment. I just finished raking your sister over the coals and blaming her for what happened to you when I was the one who let you..."
"If you'd gone to that apartment with me, we'd both be dead. And if Audrey had tried to contact me or meet me then they probably would have killed the two of us. These people... They HATE us. Audrey and me, and probably you too."
He nodded. "You're right." He brushed his knuckles down her cheek and when she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch turned his hand to cup her cheek. "I still hate that you had to..."
"I do too. But it worked. You were there and you..." She took a steadying breath and straightened. Duke's hand dropped away. "Audrey is here, you said? Did she sneak onto the boat while you were gone?"
Duke nodded. "She and that detective Wuornos have at least one guy on the inside of the Guard."
"I want to see her."
He smiled at her. "She's waiting. I wanted to tell you first. I didn't want it to be a shock since yesterday you thought she was dead."
Jennifer smiled back at him. "You've done an awful lot for me in the last couple of days, Duke Crocker."
He grinned as he stood and crossed to the door, turning back to her with a wink. "You can make it up to me later."
He opened the door to an anxious and smiling Audrey.
No comments:
Post a Comment