Authors: Jennifer Ryan
Her eyes rolled back and glassed over. If she passed out, he didn’t know what the man would do, or the girl clinging to her as a lifeline.
I do love you.
That’s good because I love you, too. I have for a long time. Hurry, Tyler, I can’t hold on much longer. There’s still more to do.
“Last chance. Let go now,” Tyler warned. If he had to, he’d clock the guy in the head with the butt of his gun.
The man let her go with a shove. Morgan’s head whipped forward and she almost toppled along with the girl out of the chair. She managed to hold on to the girl and keep her seat while officers grabbed the man and shoved him into another chair. The small room filled to capacity with officers, the man, Tyler, Sam, and the three women.
He glared at Tyler, “Why the hell do you keep talking to her like she’s talking to you?”
“She is talking to me,” Tyler said and walked past the disgruntled man.
“You can hear her again?” Sam asked.
“Yeah, I can hear her.” Tyler smiled at his partner and went to Morgan’s side and kneeled down. He brushed his hand down Morgan’s hair and kissed her on the temple.
“Thank God,” Sam said, happy they’d finally found their way back to each other.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Tyler asked softly.
“Fine,” she said and leaned her head against his chin.
“You’re not fine. I’m going to take you back to the ship.” He put his hand on her cheek and held her to him. It felt good to touch her, though her cool skin worried him. One more reason to get her out of there.
“No. Not yet.” She barely managed to get the words out.
Sam agreed with Tyler. “Morgan, you’re wiped out. You can’t keep this up.”
“Not yet. We have to finish this. I promised her I’d help.”
“There’s only one more thing we need,” Officer McCormick said, and her lieutenant nodded in agreement and handed over the forms that had fallen from the table. “Leslie, is this the man who hurt you? You have to tell us. You have to say the words.”
Morgan could feel the girl’s reluctance and fear to speak in the chilled tremble that rattled through both of them.
“She won’t say anything ’cause there’s nothing to say. She’s my daughter, and whatever lies she’s told you, I’ll deal with when we get home.”
“That is never going to happen. The bruises and burns on her back are enough for us to call Child Protective Services. Her statement will allow us to charge you with multiple crimes.”
“She’s lying!”
Morgan sat the girl up on her lap, so they were face-to-face. She just looked at her for the longest time. Not even Tyler heard the words that passed from Morgan to the girl as they sat silently looking at each other.
I will keep you safe. Your aunt is on her way and will take very good care of you. I will be at the trial, and whenever you need me. I promise you, from this day forward you will have a life filled with happiness and love from your aunt. If I knew all the rest, don’t I know that, too?
Unsure she’d gotten through to Leslie without her cooperation and her own words, the case would move forward, but make things more difficult for the prosecutor. She’d have to find the strength to speak the unspeakable. Morgan had given voice to those acts already. The next time, Leslie would have to do it on her own.
She told her all of that and ended how she began,
I will help you.
I opened the door, and now all you have to do is go through.
Speak the words, and they’ll set you free. You’ll go with your aunt. You’ll be safe. I promise.
Everyone, including Morgan, held a collective breath waiting to see what the girl would do.
Morgan didn’t know what to expect, but the girl didn’t disappoint. Hearing her first words made the last three hours worth it.
She spoke directly to Morgan. She knew they’d all hear, but she trusted Morgan, and so she spoke the words to her.
“That is my father. He hurt me. Everything you said is true. Those are my words. That is what happened to me. He did it, and I won’t let him do it again.”
“It’s not your fault, sweetheart,” Morgan said and knew Leslie believed her.
“God heard my prayer. He sent me you.” She hugged Morgan.
The officers led her father out of the room. He’d been so stunned by his daughter’s words, he didn’t start declaring his innocence until halfway across the outer office. No one paid attention to him. They only had eyes for Morgan and the girl in her arms.
Officer McCormick cleared her throat. “Leslie, I’ll need you to sign this statement. You have a long road ahead. You’ll have to speak with the prosecutor, who’s assigned to your case. There’ll be a Child Protective Services representative assigned to you, and a whole lot more. I’ll take you over to the hospital, so a doctor can look at your injuries. I’ll make sure it’s a female doctor, and your aunt and I will be with you the whole time.”
Officer McCormick didn’t know what else to say. After all those hours, she’d finally spoken and confirmed everything Morgan told them. They didn’t need any further proof to confirm Morgan was the real deal. Morgan looked wiped out. Officer McCormick could only imagine what it had taken for her to do what she’d done. Completely whipped, she wanted to go home crawl into a hot bath and wash away this day.
“Sam, would you please go and get Leslie’s aunt?” Morgan asked. “She’s just now coming in the precinct. She’s anxious to see Leslie and doesn’t need to run into her brother-in-law.”
“I’m on my way.” Sam headed out the door as quickly as he could without running over the five people standing in the doorway looking in at Morgan. She’d become a celebrity in the precinct and everyone wanted to meet the psychic.
“Could I have a minute alone with Leslie?”
Tyler nodded for everyone to leave. He kneeled next to Morgan again. “I’ll be right outside. I’ll take you to the ship when you’re done.” He kissed her, holding his mouth to hers, letting her know in some small way he loved her, was proud of her, and needed her to be okay.
She reached up and touched her fingertips to his lips and nodded her agreement, too tired to do anything else.
When they were alone, she made Leslie take the chair next to her. They sat face-to-face and Leslie took on her usual posture of looking down at her hands in her lap. Leslie pulled away, afraid Morgan would leave her.
“Leslie, look at me.”
Leslie met her gaze. “You don’t look so good.”
“Thanks,” Morgan said and smiled. “I want you to listen to me. I’m going to make you a promise. I want you to see I mean what I say. I promise I will be with you every step of the way. I will be sitting behind you in court when they bring your father to trial. I will be the one you look at when you sit on the stand and tell your story. I don’t want you to be afraid anymore. You know how I knew all those things about you?” Leslie nodded. “Then believe me when I say your aunt loves you and has waited a long time to see you again. Don’t blame her. She tried to get you away from him. She tried more times than you realize. She’ll be the mother you lost, and she’ll keep you safe. Do you believe me?”
Leslie hadn’t taken her eyes from Morgan. For the first time in more years and days than she could count, she felt hopeful. “I believe you. You’ll help me,” she said, and believed her own words too.
Morgan took a notebook out of her purse and wrote down her cell phone number and handed the paper to Leslie.
“Will you be okay going to the hospital with your aunt and Officer McCormick?”
“I’ll be okay thanks to you.”
Morgan took Leslie’s hands and pulled her up with her as she stood, and then she held her in her arms. “You’ll be safe from now on.”
“Thank you, Morgan. You’re my gift from God.”
“I’m glad I could help you. You’ve been a gift for me, too. If you open that door, you’ll find your aunt waiting for you with Sam and Tyler. You can stand on your own now.”
“Because you’ll be there to support me if I need it.”
Overwhelmed by this girl, she had such strength welling up and just beginning to bloom. When she blossomed, she would be a force.
“Yes, honey. That’s exactly right. You’ve got me, and you’ve got your aunt. Lean on us when you can’t stand on your own.”
Leslie smiled shyly. “I think you should sit down, now. You look like you could use someone to lean on yourself.”
Morgan caressed her cheek. She did need to sit down. “Go. Your aunt can’t wait much longer to see you.”
Morgan dropped into the chair and laid her arms and face down on the table as Leslie went out the door and into her aunt’s arms. When she heard the happy hellos and the tears of joy, she blanked out.
Tyler and Sam found her that way, passed out with her head on the table.
“Did you two make up enough so you can take her back to the ship and stay with her until she recovers from this? Or should I call Happy Jack?”
“Happy Jack?”
“My new nickname for him since she likes him so much because he’s always happy.”
Tyler got the joke and the hint; don’t take her to the ship if he was going to bombard her with anything but happiness and benign emotions. “I’ll take care of her. We’ve worked out some things. Actually, I worked out a lot of things, and have finally realized I need her in my life. She’s the one.”
“We’ve been telling you that for years,” Sam said and slapped Tyler on the back. “Get her out of here before anything else happens.”
Sam turned to leave, but got blocked in by the half a dozen people behind them looking in the door at Morgan. “Back to work, people. She’ll be fine. She’s just drained.”
Tyler scooped up Morgan into his arms and held her against his chest. Sam grabbed her bag and they walked out of the room. Tyler felt ten feet tall when Morgan wrapped her arm around his neck and buried her face in his neck.
“I’ve got you, honey,” he said into her ear.
It’s just so sad.
He held her tighter when he felt her finally give out and fall asleep in his arms. They were walking through the many cubicles toward the lobby when the officers stood and applauded Morgan. Sam and Tyler stopped in their tracks and turned around. Morgan was completely out.
Sam put his palm on Morgan’s back and rubbed. “You feel that, Morgan. You did an outstanding job,” he said for only her and Tyler to hear.
The officers knew how hard it was to get a child to tell what happened to them. Not to mention the fact they all knew at one time or another they might have passed the girl in the lobby without a second thought. The worst case of child abuse they’d ever seen or heard had been solved because Morgan came into the office and saw Leslie’s secrets.
“Hear that, honey. I’m so proud of you.” Tyler held her tight and kissed her head softly.
Police work took a toll on the emotions, especially when the case involved a child. These officers just wanted to acknowledge Morgan and her gift. Tyler and Sam nodded to them and left the station to get Morgan to the ship where she could recover. He had no idea if the acknowledgement from the officers had gotten through to Morgan. He hoped it had. Quite an impressive sight to see all those officers recognize Morgan in such a way.
M
ORGAN WOKE UP
with the most wonderful feeling of contentment. She hadn’t felt this good in a long time. In fact, she couldn’t remember ever feeling like this. She snuggled deeper under the covers and discovered why. Her head rested on Tyler’s left arm and his right arm wrapped around her, holding her to his warm body. His rough whiskers tickled her neck as he kissed her and pulled her closer. Warm and wonderful pressed against the full length of her back and legs.
“Quit wiggling, or I’ll forget to be a gentleman.” His voice groggy from sleep, he nuzzled his nose into her hair. For the first time ever, waking up with a woman didn’t bring on any anxiety, or worry about what was or wasn’t happening between them. Waking up with Morgan in his arms seemed so natural, so right. Everything was perfect. He inhaled the fresh sweet scent of her and sighed.
“Gentleman? I’m half-naked under here.”
“Sam had you completely naked when you got shot and he brought you back here. I’m a saint. I only took off your pants—without peeking, I might add. The room was dark. I swear. Cross my heart. You should be impressed with my restraint.”
“Restraint, huh? What’s pressed up against my backside isn’t any indication of restraint.” She wiggled her butt against his straining cock. She wasn’t nervous or uncomfortable lying in bed with him. In fact, she didn’t want to be anywhere else. Well, maybe closer.
He groaned and spread his big hand over her hip to get her to stop fooling around. “A man can only take so much.” He sighed and hugged her. “Yeah, I took advantage and crawled into bed with you. I couldn’t stop myself. You looked so wiped out after everything you went through yesterday. I just wanted to hold you and be close to you. You scared me. You looked so drained and lifeless. I thought if I held you close, comforted you, you’d know I was here protecting and watching over you and it would help.”
Maybe he’d gone too far and taken too many liberties. Last night it seemed like a good idea. He’d needed to keep her close. Nervous and worried, he hated to think he might have jeopardized the tenuous bond they’d reconnected.
He hid a mischievous smile. “I told the truth though; I didn’t look.”
He wanted to, but he hadn’t. At this point, nothing much escaped his imagination.
Her hips shifted and rubbed against his throbbing cock. He squeezed her hip and she did it again. “Come on, baby, you gotta st—”
She cut off his words by rolling over and planting her mouth over his. She snuggled her body down his full length. Holding herself above him, her full breasts pressed to his hard chest, she looked down into his sleepy eyes and beard-stubbled face. “Is that
come on, baby
an invitation?” Her voice notched down into a deep sultry whisper.
Her eyes danced. Bright, the clearest softest blue he’d ever seen. Completely on top of him, her toes softly rubbed his shins. She gave him a bright smile, something mysterious and wonderful not quite hidden in her grin.