Guarding Light (15 page)

   Catlyn was entering the second parking lot when a sound behind caught her attention. It sounded as though someone was dragging something, slide, bump, slide bump. Halting, she turned, surveying the landscape behind her, eyes following the tree line and bushes. She didn't see anything and the sound had ceased. Giving her surroundings another once over, Catlyn turned to continue her walk across the second parking lot.

   She was tense, readying her body for flight or fight if necessary. She was unarmed, which was decided at the start of this job thinking it prudent not to be caught carrying a firearm. It would seriously compromise her cover.

   Again the nefarious slide-bump started. This time she continued to move as she looked behind her. The once breathtaking view now appeared ominous, taking on a sinister tone. The trees weren't lovely any longer but menacing overhangs for evil monsters to hide. The deep shadows became havens for ravenous animals to spring from. Catlyn's quick walk became a faster walk, then a trot to a full out run. All the while Catlyn took looks behind her to ensure she was not being pursued.

   While her attention was in back of her several things happened at once. She was struck, hard, from in front of her, the cell phone at her waist began to ring, she screamed and a knife was put to her throat as she and her assailant hit the ground. Catlyn's arm came up reflexively, blocking the knife. She forced her body and the attacker's into a roll along the concrete. He was surprised enough to lose his grip on her neck. Seeking greater distance from the dark figure, Catlyn slammed her forehead into the dark figure's face as their roll came to a sudden stop with him on top of her. An animal like howl came from the man but he didn't release her. He swiftly gained his feet, forcing Catlyn to stand, just so he could fling her back down. Catlyn's knees took the brunt of the fall, the pain so jarring that it reached to the back of her teeth.

   Swiftly Catlyn regained her somewhat shaky stance. The man came at her with the knife. The silver blade gleamed off the parking lot lights. It was a good tell when he moved his hand. He swung the knife towards her. Catlyn blocked and aimed her fist towards his face, seeking contact with his nose. "Bitch!" She hit her mark.

   The man began to circle her. Catlyn kept him in front of her as she too circled. "You, stupid bitch, I wanted your money. Now I am gonna take much more." He advanced, swung the knife. Again Catlyn blocked, swung her fist and hit her mark. The moron tried three more times with the same results. His nose should be gushing by now Catlyn thought.

   "Ready to call it quits genius?" She panted out. The man gave a roar and lunged at Catlyn, it was too quick for her to sidestep. She went down with enough force to steal her breath. The man was on top of her, all his weight making it even harder to breathe. The man lifted his fist, holding the knife. Catlyn put her arms up to block as his downward motion aimed at her chest.

   A fraction of a second before she could completely block the downward stroke another animal like howl sounded and remarkably Catlyn was freed, her assailant gone. Catlyn sat up to see what had happened. Jack struggled with the blackclad figure. Both he and the attacker came swiftly to their feet and faced off. Jack's superior body and training showed instantly. Jack had him disarmed in seconds. His hands flashing too quickly for the eyes to follow as he forced the man into submission. When the man was out cold on the tarmac, Jack rushed back to Catlyn, who was still on the ground.

   He knelt beside her. "Catlyn, are you alright?" He gently touched her cheek, pushing her hair back so he could better see her face.

   She tilted her chin towards the unconscious idiot. "Nice moves, chief."

   "Oh, thank, God." He pulled her into his arms then his lap as he sat on the ground. "My heart nearly stopped when I heard you scream and then struggling with that asshole."

   "Jack, I know you move like Superman and kiss like Superman, but I didn't think you could hear like him." Catlyn joked to help ease her shakes as the adrenaline rush seeped from her body.

   Jack's quick intake of breath had Catlyn tilting her chin, looking into his eyes. "Kitten, you think I kiss like Superman?" His smile was wide. He trailed soft kisses from her cheek to her ear.

   Catlyn shuddered and moaned, lifting her chin more to give him better access. "Well, if you don't, then he should definitely kiss like you."

   He licked the side of her neck before seeking her lips in a quick but substantial kiss. "Your cell must have been on 'any-key' answer, because it barely rang once before I heard your scream and then you struggling. I was on my way to meet you. I just wanted to talk while we walked towards each other."

   "I am so very glad you did." Catlyn whispered, leaning her head against his chest as he held her close to him.

   "Me too." Just then an ambulance, patrol car and an unmarked pulled into the parking lot. The vehicles surrounded them in a semi-circle. Jack, Catlyn and her attacker were displayed in bright lights.

   Detective Anderson reached them first. "Jag, you guys ok?"

   Jack nodded. "I am fine. Catlyn needs to be seen by the medic."

   She started to protest. "No arguments, Agent Lyte." Jack's tone brooked no argument. It was obviously his C of Ds voice.

   "Ok, I will get looked over." She conceded.

   "Thank you, sweetheart." He whispered into her ear. Jack stood with her still in his arms. His biceps flexed as he moved to the ambulance.

   One of the patrolmen had cuffed, Mirandized and placed the perpetrator in the back of the squad car. "Chief Gard, you ok?" The other officer asked.

   "We're good officer, thank you. After a medic sees him, take that piece of garbage to lockup. Miss Lyte will give her statement in the morning."

   "Yes, sir."

   "Thanks for showing Detective Anderson." Catlyn smiled at him as he gave a slight bow.

   One of the paramedics was checking her for injuries. He then began to clean the bloody scrapes on her knees. Jack stood next to the open doors of the ambulance, holding Catlyn's hand.

   "Is it him, Jag?" Anderson asked, watching as the patrol car pulled out of the driveway.

   Jack shook his head. "No, but I think we just apprehended the guy that has been grabbing purses down here for the past few months. He even got one of our victims' purses before she was murdered."

   "Well, that's good we got him." Anderson looked at Catlyn. "You gonna be alright?"

   Catlyn smiled and started to answer. Jack spoke first. "Dude, take those smooth moves somewhere else. The lady isn't interested and she is fine."

   Anderson winked. "She is hella fine!"

   Catlyn laughed and once again Jack answered. "The lady is also taken. Beat it punk."

   Anderson laughed and walked over to the gawkers that had assembled across from Gully's. Catlyn squeezed Jack's hand that was holding hers. "Why do you speak to him that way?" He was only looking out for me, this afternoon too. He helped me again by helping you bring in all that furniture."

   Jack turned his watchful eye from Anderson, looking at Catlyn. "The guy is so irritating. I mean his success with the ladies is legendary around here and in my special ops unit. He flashes his pearly whites and women drop their panties."

   Catlyn looked over at the seasoned detective. "He is very handsome and has a body that doesn't quit. I can see why the ladies are dropping their panties."

   Jack came to his full height. "What?!"

   Catlyn laughed at the stricken look and added in a whisper, mindful of their surroundings. "But, he doesn't have unbelievably gorgeous green eyes, an even more impressive body that won't quit, and isn't over all an incredibly sexily put together package that can make me cream my panties with a look or make me come so hard I thought I died and gone to heaven."

   As she continued to list all the things she liked, Jack became relaxed, leaning his forehead against hers, pulling her close. "Ah, sweetheart, what you do to me."

   Catlyn leaned back and looked up into the unbelievably gorgeous green eyes. "Don't worry chief, he does nothing to my panties or my heart beat."

   Jack gave a very male smile cupping her rib cage on both sides just under her breasts, leaning down he softly kissed her lips and whispered against them. "Mmm, that's right. This beautiful body only responds to me."

   Catlyn laughed out loud. "Careful, Jack, I do believe your smugness is showing."

   "Damn, right! I have every reason to be smug. Have you even looked in a mirror? Any guy would be smug if he had you as his own."

   Thoroughly charmed, Catlyn kissed him, initiating one of their heated exchanges for the first time.

   He gently pulled back. "Can I take you home, Agent Lyte?"

   Smiling she nodded and whispered. "Please, Chief Gard, take me." Jack look at her in wonder at the double entendre.

   His eyes got smoky and his voice dropped an octave. "I – "

   Before he could finish the paramedic spoke. "She's cleared. Her vitals are good, no internal injuries detected. Just a little banged up and scrapes to her knees. The other guy isn't so lucky. He needs a trip to the emergency room."

   Jack gave the paramedic a glare. "Actually, he's very lucky. Lucky I didn't break his neck for daring to put a finger on her."

   The paramedic looked from Jack to Catlyn and back again. "Wow, really?"

   Jack took a deep breath and started to spew some form of wisdom Catlyn was sure but she quickly placed her hand over his mouth. "Thank you so much. Have a good night."

   Catlyn stepped down from the back ledge of the ambulance with Jack's assistance. "Come on, Chief Gard, you are taking me home."

   Jack put his arm around Catlyn's shoulders, giving the paramedic one last glare he led her to the unmarked Anderson had arrived in. He settled her on the back seat. "I will be right back."

   He shut the door and went over to Anderson talking to some of the crowd. Catlyn watched them exchange a few words. Anderson handed Jack her purse and phone. Jack nodded and headed back to the car. He called a uniform officer over, indicating the front seat. Jack got in the back, taking Catlyn into his arms. He told the officer where to go and settled back against the seat for the very short ride.

   Once inside Catlyn's apartment Jack checked all the windows and doors, ensuring they were secure. Catlyn watched him as he went from room to room, checking and re-checking the windows. When Jack saw her watching him, he shrugged. "Better safe than sorry, two of the victims were taken from their apartments in the middle of the night."

   Catlyn gave a small smile. "I wholeheartedly agree. Carry on, chief."

   Jack walked to her, stopping directly in front of her. "We need to talk."

   Sensing the change in him, Catlyn tensed, "What about?"

   Holding her gaze he said, "Us."

   Catlyn's brow furrowed. "What about 'us'?"

   He turned and started a short pacing from the doorway to the coffee table. "Sorry unspent energy I need to burn off."

   Catlyn nodded her understanding. Waiting for him to speak, it was obvious he was picking his next words very carefully. "Catlyn, have you thought about what I asked you to before you went to work?"

   Sighing deeply she answered. "Yes, I did."

   Jack came back to her, once again stopping directly in front of her. His eyes were intense, deeply probing as he tried to see her thoughts. "Catlyn, I want you to know that I-I want you." He said it as though he were imparting a great secret.

   Catlyn turned towards the sofa. "Yes, I know. I felt how much you wanted me this afternoon on my bed."

   He swung her back to him, his teeth clenched. "That's not what I meant and you are deliberately misunderstanding me."

   Catlyn glared at him. "I don't like being man-handled, Chief Gard." She pointedly looked at his hand still on her arm.

   Jack instantly released her. "God, I hate when you do that. Make me feel like a first class jerk for touching you."

   Catlyn continued to the sofa and sat. "So don't touch me."

   Jack ran an agitated hand through his hair as he looked at her. "Is it really that simple for you Catlyn?"

   "Yes."

   Her one word answer seemed to anger him. "Well, damn it, it's not that simple. I have had feelings for you since we were kids. I have agonized nearly to death over you in one way or another since that first day I found out what Dark was doing to you."

   Catlyn quickly stood and started for the bedroom. "I am not talking about that animal."

   Once again, Jack stopped her, using her own momentum against her, he swung her back to face him, holding her still in his arms. "Yes, we are talking about this."

   Catlyn struggled to get out of his arms. "You have no right to say this to me or t-touch me." She was starting to get emotional. She wouldn't be able to keep the tears at bay much longer if he didn't let her go.

   "My loving you gives me rights." Instantly they both froze. Both wore the identical expression of surprise. He hadn't meant to say those words, at least not yet. He released her.

   They stood about a foot apart each studying the other. Jack's strong jaw clenched and Catlyn looked at him from beneath her lashes. Jack spoke first.

   "Once again, I am screwing up a talk with you. God, this has got to be some kind of record."

   Catlyn just continue to watch him carefully as he started pacing again. "Listen Catlyn, I wanted to ask you tonight if you would consider making this 'new love interest' thing real. I mean, I know, we have to put on the show out there." He pointed towards the windows. "But, I wanted to know if we could really get to know one another again while we are alone, in private and maybe build on that."

   "Jack, I – "She started but then stopped totally at a loss. "I don't know what to say."

   "Well, you either do or you don't want to try being with me, really being with me."

   Catlyn sat back down on the sofa. "Jack, I-"Once again words failed her.