Running Scared. Shirlee McCoy

taken off her coat, and the faded jeans and oversize flannel shirt she wore were as easy and comfortable as her smile. Golden-blond hair fell around her face in tangled waves that she brushed behind her ear, and Kane caught a whiff of a subtle, flowery perfume as she leaned a shoulder against the wall. She had an effortless beauty. The kind that didn’t need makeup and fancy clothes to enhance it.

      The kind that Kane had always found alluring.

      “So, let’s have it. What’s the message?” she asked.

      “Your car is back, and it’s not damaged. You can drive it. And you’ll get a bill for it, or you can go and pay for it next week.”

      “I always knew you had a good memory, Eli. Now, if you can just use it to memorize your multiplication facts while you’re waiting to go back to school, you’ll be all set.” Her tone was gentle, her eyes a soft blue, her lips deep rose. All her attention was focused on Eli, and Kane suddenly understood why his son had been so desperate to visit Maggie. The combination of beauty and attentiveness would be a hard one for a kid like Eli to resist. It would be a hard one for anyone to resist.

      “Maybe you could help me get them memorized,” Eli said hopefully, and Maggie smiled again.

      “I’m sure your father and aunt will want to do that.”

      “They’re going to be busy getting the new house ready. They won’t have time to help me.”

      “We’ll always have time for you, Eli.” Kane broke in, hoping he didn’t look as disheartened as he felt. The transition into being a family again was going to be a rough one. He’d known that going into it. He’d hoped, though. Hoped that Eli would be more eager to rebuild what they’d once had.

      “I guess so.” But Eli didn’t look like he believed it.

      “Guess so? Of course they will. You’re the only reason they’re in Deer Park, and I’m sure they’d much rather help you with math than get some stuffy old house ready.”

      Maggie’s response was light and easy, but Kane didn’t miss the concern in her eyes.

      “Maybe. But you could help me, too. If I had three people helping, I’d be the best at multiplication in the whole school.”

      “You’re quite a negotiator, aren’t you? Maybe you’ll grow up to be a lawyer.” A lawyer?

      That’s what Kane had been before he’d opened his P.I. firm, and it’s what had nearly cost him his son. Prosecuting Lee Peyton and getting him convicted of murder had been the catalyst that sent Peyton’s mother, Susannah, over the edge. Deprived of her only son, she’d decided to take Kane’s. At least that’s what the FBI agents working the case were speculating. Susannah Peyton wasn’t talking. Whether she ever would was something Kane wouldn’t speculate on.

      “I want to be a detective. Like my father.”

      The comment surprised Kane, and he had to resist the urge to put a hand on Eli’s shoulder, tell him how proud that made him feel. There was no sense in ruining the moment, and he knew from experience that physical contact with Eli would do just that.

      “Sounds like an interesting career choice.” Maggie glanced at Kane again, her expression guarded. Was she bothered by the fact that he was a private investigator? Or was she simply wishing he’d take Eli and leave?

      “It has been,” he offered, not nearly as anxious to go back to the hotel as Maggie might be to have him leave. Eli’s silence during the past few hours had weighed Kane down. Sports, school, friends, every subject he’d tried to discuss had been met with a one syllable response or no response at all. Maggie didn’t seem to be having the same problem.

      “I used to dream about being a private detective,” she said, and Eli’s eyes grew wide.

      “Really?”

      “Sure. I read just about every Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys book there was, and I wanted to be a teen detective just like them.”

      “Were you one?”

      “No. I guess I forgot the dream for a while.” Her smile faltered, and Kane wondered what memories had chased it away.

      “So you’re a teacher instead.”

      “Training to be one. Speaking of which, I have got some sugar cookies in the kitchen that I need a taste tester for.”

      “Taste tester?” Eli seemed intrigued, and Maggie offered him a hand, leading him down the hall.

      “Sure. If you like them, then the other kids probably will, and I’ll bring some in for a special treat one day.”

      “When I’m back at school?”

      “Of course.” Maggie pushed open a door, leading Eli into the room beyond.

      Kane followed, feeling like a third wheel. He tried not to let it bother him. Maggie was a familiar face, a caring adult who’d listened to Eli when no one else would. Kane was a distant memory, a faded dream that Eli probably hadn’t been sure was real. A dead man suddenly alive.

      Kane would be scared, too, if he were in Eli’s place.

      He tried to keep that in mind as he walked into the large kitchen. It was in a state of chaos. New cabinets, new floor, new paint. No countertop. No appliances. A large watermark stained the ceiling, and colorful glass tiles lay on a nicked table. A warped, cracked door let in gusts of cold air, and Kane had a feeling there were other cracks in other doors in the house. In windows. Maybe even in the roof.

      Maggie might not want a monetary reward, but it was obvious she could use one.

      “Excuse the mess. I’m still in the middle of renovations,” she said as she reached into an upper cupboard, pulled out a package of cookies and offered one to Eli.

      “It looks like you’ve done a lot already.” Kane lifted one of the glass tiles, running his finger over the cool, smooth surface. “These are going to look good when they are up.”

      “I hope so. It took me forever to pick them out.”

      “You’re planning to put them up this weekend?”

      “Maybe, but first I’ve got a couple of windows and doors to put in.”

      “By yourself?”

      “It’s Thanksgiving weekend. My friends are celebrating with family, so that leaves me. If I want to be moved in by Christmas, I’ve got to work whether I have help or not.”

      “Why don’t I see if I can hire a contractor to come in and finish the job for you?”

      “No.” Her tone was sharp, and she glanced at Eli, who’d already grabbed another cookie from the package. “I appreciate the offer, but I planned to spend the weekend working at my own pace and doing my own thing.”

      Kane wanted to argue. He wanted to remind Maggie that he owed her everything and that he’d be more than happy to make sure the entire house was renovated before her Christmas deadline.

      Wanted to, but didn’t.

      She’d already made her position clear, so he kept quiet as she offered his son one more cookie.

      His son.

      Here in the room with him.

      He’d prayed for this, hoped for it, but there had been a part of him that had given up believing that God would provide the miracle he’d wanted so desperately.

      “Want one?” Maggie asked, holding out the cookies, her hand shaking a little.

      Was she angry? Nervous? Scared?

      Something was bothering her, that much was certain. He wanted to ask what, but Eli hovered a few feet away, slowly chewing his cookie and watching the exchange intently.

      “No, thanks.” Kane smiled, hoping to put Maggie at ease.

      “I