An Inner Fire (36 page)

“It looks like you’re in good hands, Darlin’.” James pecked Grayce on the cheek. “I’m going to sneak out of here. I don’t want to run into Dave, the security guard. It will be a great story with Grey Goose.”

“Thanks, James.”

James pursed his lips and threw a kiss toward Davis. “Honey, I’m available anytime to save Davis’ ass. I can still make it to Gay Bingo.”

“The police might need to talk with you,” Davis said.

“Men in uniforms? Send them over.”

“Don’t go out of town.”

James tittered. “And I thought you didn’t have a sense of humor. Ta-ta.” He waved his hands covered with chunky rings and red painted nails like a parade queen. He stepped into the elevator, pulling down his tight skirt.

Grayce pushed against his chest again. “Davis, I’m okay now. You can put me down.”

He ignored Grayce’s command and carried her into the mechanical room. Mitzi trailed close behind.

“I didn’t recognize James. What a guy. Or should I say gal?”

She pushed again. “Davis, put me down.”

He didn’t feel like releasing her yet. He knew he was holding her as much for his own needs as hers. The whole scene with Maclean had been hellish, and there would be a lot more to come. He kissed her head, inhaling her scent. He had missed her. He put her down slowly, feeling her small, lithe body move down his length. “I’m going to find something to warm you. He searched through the gear scattered throughout the small room.

She stood in the middle of the room, not moving or speaking. Davis wrapped the heavy regulation coat around her shoulders. He smiled down at her. “I think you should remain my fiancée.”

That shook her out of her despondency. “I had to give Whit some reason. Or he wasn’t going to let me stay.”

“And rightly so.”

She blinked, her large green eyes rounded. “You’re upset that I came?”

He pulled her into his arms. “Not at all. I’m trying to understand what you thought was going to happen today.”

“I was afraid that Maclean would push you off.”

“So you and Mitzi came to save me.” He wanted to laugh but knew by the way she chewed on her lower lip that she wasn’t in the mood for humor. “I appreciate what you did, more than you’ll ever know.”

The elevator doors opened to the sound of male voices.

“Let me do the talking. This is a bit complicated.”

He kissed her quickly. Her lips were still cold. He wanted to warm his valiant rescuer, who had risked herself to save him. The voices came closer. With her pale color and the violet smudges under her eyes, she didn’t look like the warrior woman who had climbed out on the halo to save him. Post-battle fatigue had struck.

* * *

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen. It might be too late to call,” Davis said. He didn’t mention that he might be in police custody or possibly jail. He held Grayce close to his side while they waited for the valet to bring her car.

Grayce put her hand on his arm. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep. I don’t care what time it is. You’ll come over?”

Her long blond hair hung down, framing her face, making her look younger. He wanted to take away the air of vulnerability that clung to her now. He pulled her close. “I don’t think I’m ever going to forget you crawling across the halo.”

“I wasn’t sure if you would understand my need to come here, to protect you.”

He rubbed his lips against her cold lips. “I didn’t think you came for the view, since it’s pretty hard to see much from your knees.” He could feel her smile against his lips. He wanted to make her laugh, to forget what had happened and what he faced next. Maclean thought he was dirty. Talk about irony.

“Excuse me, your car is here,” the valet said.

He whispered into her ear, inhaling her sweet scent, the scent of innocence and goodness. “Honey, your car is here.”

“My car?”

He couldn’t resist her bewildered look. He kissed her again. “The young man brought your car.”

Her face turned bright red. He reluctantly let her go. She began to dig in her gigantic purse.

He opened the back door. “Mitzi, come on girl. Get in the car.” Mitzi barked and climbed over the seat into the passenger’s side.

“Do you let her ride in the front seat?”

“I know it’s not the safest place in the car, but she won’t stay in the back. She wants to be near me.”

“Smart dog. I feel the same way.”

She ran her hand up and down his arms, touching, soothing him. “I’m sure the chief won’t believe for a second that you’re a criminal.”

“Thanks, honey, for your faith. I’ll call you when I’m done and you can decide whether it’s too late for me to come over. You’ve been through a lot and once the adrenaline is gone, you’ll see how tired you are.”

“I’ll be waiting for you, Davis.” And with that, she got into her car. He watched her drive down the circular drive. He turned and walked back to his car. He didn’t have Grayce’s faith that the chief would believe him. The chief would want evidence. Evidence he didn’t have.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Grayce held the hot teacup to her cheek and inhaled the fragrant jasmine vapors. Wrapped in a down comforter, she still couldn’t get warm. Mitzi lay at her feet. Napoleon was curled in a tight ball, tucked into one of the soft folds in the comforter. Both animals were subdued, mirroring Grayce’s mood.

She had been wrong. Maclean wasn’t a criminal. Her cheeks heated with the memory of lying to Whit about being Davis’ fiancée. Although mortified, she would do it again to protect Davis.

Her gifts weren’t linear or a hundred percent accurate, but that didn’t mean she should discount her instincts. Deep knowing resonated—Davis remained in danger. Someone in the department had accused him of working for the Russians.

She had been wrong because of Maclean’s hostility toward Davis.

Dr. Z had reassured her that she was learning to tame her powers and should continue to bring them under control. She slowed her breathing, focusing on someone hostile to Davis, someone with a scar and a motive. She took another deep breath and closed her eyes to meditate.

Mitzi nudged Grayce’s hand with her head.

“I know…he’s still out there.”

With her eyes closed, her eyelids flickered, deepening into relaxation. She slowly stroked Mitzi’s head.

Instead of visualizing her white light, she visualized the scar. The same ominous dread surrounded her, the image of the puckered scar slithering up the man’s arm.

Mitzi started a low growl.

Grayce closed her eyes tighter, willing herself into a deeper meditation, trying to see the details of the scar.

Mitzi jumped on the couch next to Grayce and howled in distress.

“I don’t know, Mitzi. All I can see is a big arm.”

The man’s arm was huge. She wanted to laugh at the absurdity of her newest clue, a man in the fire department with a huge arm. She had narrowed the suspects down to at least half of the department.

Grayce went to her bedroom and opened her childhood pink jewelry box with the dancing ballerina. She fingered her sister’s pendant, a golden heart with a ruby in the center.

Cassie would be laughing right now, entertained by Grayce’s escapade on the Space Needle. No matter how embarrassing, Cassie would’ve remained firm in her acceptance of Grayce’s gifts. Her hand tightened around the necklace.
Cassie, I need your help. Davis is in danger.

She didn’t have any sudden insight except that Davis needed her help. She reverently placed Cassie’s necklace around her neck, then dialed Davis’ cell. He didn’t pick up.

Waiting for him to call her back, Grayce, with Mitzi following, paced back and forth in the small living room

She sent a text. “Be careful. You’re still in danger.”

Mitzi gave another hair-raising howl.

“You feel it too. Something’s about to happen.”

Mitzi ran to the back door and jumped up, yipping loudly.

“I’m getting dressed.”

Mitzi jumped at the door in response.

It was time to rescue Davis. Again.

* * *

Grayce and Mitzi scurried across the slippery cobblestones of Pioneer Square, determined to speak to Davis. The mist created an eerie twilight on the historic buildings. She could smell the salt water of Puget Sound in the thick air.

When she entered the silent department headquarters, apprehension grabbed at her, causing her breath to quicken and her pulse to race. The vast space was usually filled with bustling humanity. She walked toward the front desk in the strangely quiet building. Niles, the chaplain, came down the hallway with a broad smile. Maybe this trip wasn’t a mistake.

“What a surprise, Dr. Walters. I thought you would need to recover after this morning.”

“You’ve already heard about the Space Needle?” If her cheeks got any hotter, she would catch fire.

“Davis told me about this morning’s mishap before his meeting with the chief. I was worried and thought I should check on you.”

Niles’ concern for her caused a ripple of suspicion to wind its way through her.

The huge man bent down to pet Mitzi’s head. The dog pulled back, retreating behind Grayce. Her anxiety was contagious.

“I had hoped to talk to Davis.”

Niles’ eyes examined her face. His close scrutiny felt intrusive, disturbing. “Are you okay?”

Instead of feeling reassured by the man of the cloth, she felt agitated, her senses overwhelmed. She had experienced this paradox before when the outer-world clashed with her inner-world and people weren’t what they seemed to be, like friendly people who abused their pets.

“I got worried when Davis didn’t answer his phone. I thought his meeting would be over by now. Is there any way I could see him?”

“Why don’t you come into my office, and I’ll go check whether the chief’s door is still closed. Come this way.”

Niles pointed at the empty hallway. Grayce looked down the long white distance to Niles’ office. Mitzi pushed against Grayce’s leg. Her heart thudded loudly in the silent space.

“My office will be a calm place to wait.”

His soothing voice grated on her frayed nervous system. She shook her head avoiding eye contact. “I’m more exhausted than I thought. I think I’ll go home.”

“My office is a refuge, a great place for Davis to meet you after his difficult meeting.”

She scanned Niles’ face. His skin was gray, and there were dark circles below each eye. He looked exhausted, like he hadn’t been sleeping. His eyes flickered with an emotion she couldn’t decipher.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll just wait at home. Come on Mitzi.” Her nerves were jittery as if she had overdosed on caffeine.

Grayce started to turn when Mitzi lunged for Niles’ arm. The poodle locked her teeth on Niles’ shirt sleeve.

“Mitzi!”

“What in the hell?” Niles shook his arm, trying to dislodge the 100-pound poodle. Mitzi held tight to Niles’ shirt and continued a menacing, low-pitched growl.

“Call her off, damn it.”

Niles jerked his arm violently. The force ripped his shirt and sent Mitzi flying.

The poodle had bits of white fabric clenched between her teeth when she hit the wood floor.

A long jagged scar ran the entire length of Niles’ forearm. All of Grayce’s senses exploded—the sound of Niles’ harsh breathing, the light bulb flickering above them, the threatening silence in the hallway and the revelation that Niles was the one, the connection to the mob.

Her heart ran marathons, racing against her chest. Mitzi stood and shook herself.

Niles inspected his arm for damage. “What is wrong with that dog?”

“Did she break the skin?” Grayce asked, trying to disguise the quiver in her voice, in her body.

“No. I’m okay,” Niles grumbled.

“I don’t know why she would act this way.” Grayce bent and petted Mitzi, avoiding looking at Niles.

Mitzi acted on instinct. Grayce would do well to pay more attention to her own instincts. Grayce kept her back to Niles, afraid she would reveal her panic. “I know Davis will pay for the damage.”

Grayce flashed through her options in escaping. She could scream for Davis but how would she convince anyone that Niles’ scar proved him as the conspirator. The man was the chaplain.

Niles weighed close to 300 pounds. To use aikido, she would need to provoke him, using his weight and momentum against him. She wasn’t confident she could take him down.

Deciding to run from Niles was her best option with the possibility of using her aikido, Grayce gathered Mitzi’s leash. “I’m taking Mitzi home. She’s still upset about going up on the Space Needle.”

Niles’ voice darkened, “I’m sorry, Dr. Walters. I can’t let that happen.”

“Can’t let Mitzi go home?”

“You know…don’t you?” Niles edged closer. “I need one more day and this will be over. Trust me.”

Mitzi growled.

Niles squinted, watching her closely, as if he knew her plan to run. He was right. She was going to make a dash.