Snowbound Security. Beverly Long

they were both laughing. And the image pulled at him. Laura, who’d been attractive in a kind of look-but-don’t-touch way, seemed way more approachable, way more likeable, way more loving.

      He couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away.

      From the swings, they went to the slide and the kid climbed the steps and came down, squealing like it was the most fun ever. And Laura clapped her hands, the first time and the fourteen other times, as if it was a spectacular thing the child was doing.

      Then it was to navigate a set of horizontal bars, but the child was way too short and Laura had to hold him or her—he still wasn’t quite sure—up while the child got across. Then the kid must have convinced Laura to try because Laura jumped and reached and her shirt came with her, showing a wide expanse of fair skin.

      From a distance, she was fit and athletic and he wished he were closer to see if there were a smattering of freckles on her belly, like there were across her pretty little nose.

      All too soon, Laura reached for the child’s hand and they started walking. He thought they might be headed back to the motel but instead, they walked into O’Grady’s, which appeared to be a small restaurant across from the park.

      He took that opportunity to let Lucky out to do his thing and expend some energy. Then it was back in the SUV.

      Thirty minutes later, Laura and the kid walked out of the restaurant. He started his car and drove back to the hotel the way he’d come, intending to be in his spot, waiting for them.

      But when he arrived, he saw a police car parked behind Laura’s Mustang. There was an officer out of his car, looking into the windows of the vehicle.

      What the hell?

      It took Laura and the kid twenty-four seconds to round the edge of the driveway. They were holding hands. And then it was like he was watching something in slow motion, the movements were so exaggerated.

      The shocked look on Laura’s face. The quick jerk of the arm. The turn. Them going back the direction that they’d come.

      He wanted to race after them but he knew he could catch them easily enough—he had wheels and they were on foot. Right now, he wanted some information.

      He got out with his crutches—always better to look a little nonthreatening when approaching a cop. He made his way to the car. “Afternoon, officer,” he said.

      “Afternoon. This your car?”

      “No,” Rico said. “It’s a beauty, though.”

      “I know. That’s why I stopped. My wife wants one. We’re celebrating our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary next month and I’m thinking of surprising her.”

      “Sweet,” he said. He put his hand on the white paint. “I’d go for this in red.”

      The cop smiled. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

      “Have a good day,” Rico said, and proceeded to walk toward the hotel office. He opened the door and a thin woman behind the counter stood. “Can I help you?” she asked.

      “Yeah, I’m looking for a restaurant called O’Grady’s,” he said.

      She used her thumb to point north. “A block up.”

      “Thanks,” he said. He turned. The cop and his car were gone.

      He went back to his SUV, started it and drove down the street. Laura and the child were moving fast, considerably faster than they’d walked before. He saw a parking spot thirty feet ahead of them and pulled in. Got out. Was leaning up against his vehicle when they got close enough that Laura could see him.

      Recognition. Then panic. He watched it play out across her face. It dawned on him that she probably thought that he had something to do with the cop being there. Like maybe he’d called the police after finding out that she’d been at the cabin without actually renting it.

      Before he could explain, she bent down, scooped up the child and started running. And she was smart about it. She got off the sidewalk and started running between houses, making it difficult for him to follow her in his SUV.

      In a foot race, even carrying a child, she had the advantage. His ankle would not stand up to that much activity.

      He got behind the wheel and took off, making several quick turns. Not knowing the town well made it hard to predict where she might emerge. He went the wrong way on a one-way, and just when he thought he might have lost her, he saw her pop out from an alley in his rearview mirror.

      He jammed his car in Reverse, backed up in someone’s driveway and floored it. He caught up with her just as she was about to cross the street. He pulled in front of her, leaned across the seat and opened the door.

      “Get in. Please,” he added. “That cop wasn’t after you. He was just admiring your car.”

      He saw what might have been hope in her pretty eyes. But mistrust quickly crowded it out. “Are you following me?” she asked.

      He considered lying but thought there was already plenty of that in the mix. “Yes. When you left this morning, I saw you turn toward the store but then shortly after that, you reversed directions. I was intrigued.”

      “You said you were going to take a shower.”

      She’d been counting on the fact that he wouldn’t be at the window, watching the road. “I know. My name is Rico Metez. I own the cabin that you were staying in last night. So I know there was no mix-up on the rental. I think you’re in trouble, Laura.”

      “How do you know my name?”

      “Because when you were getting ready to leave, he—” he nodded his head toward the child “—called you Laura.”

      He could read the dismay on her face. She’d been tripped up and hadn’t even realized it at the time. Perhaps because she didn’t pay attention to small details. Perhaps because her brain was going a mile a minute, trying to find a solution to whatever problem she was dealing with. “I’d like to help you,” he said.

      “Why would you do that?” she asked.

      “Because it’s what I do. I help people.”

      “Modern-day Robin Hood?”

      It was a rather apt descriptor. “Nothing so fancy. I own a security company.” He pulled a business card from his visor and tossed it to her. It had his picture and Wingman Security’s business address.

      “Why would I trust you?” she asked.

      “Because I think you need to trust somebody,” he said. “And I’m pretty sure I’m your best bet right now.”

      He could tell she still wasn’t convinced. He looked into his rearview mirror. “And don’t look now, but that cop is headed our direction.”

      She did look.

      He hadn’t been lying. The cop car was approaching.

      It she was on the up-and-up, it was the perfect opportunity for her to flag the officer down.

      Instead she opened the back door on his four-door SUV and she and the child got in.

       Chapter 4

      Lucky was barking and acting like this was the best day ever. He thought the dog was about five seconds from vaulting into the back seat and licking Laura and the kid to death. “Settle down,” he told the dog, and got a look back that said, Don’t you get how exciting this is? We just picked up friends.

      Laura wasn’t looking at him as if he was a friend. Her face was white and pinched, and he was pretty sure she wasn’t breathing.

      “Nice day for the park,” Rico said. He glanced in his rearview mirror. “I’d feel better if you both buckled up before we take