Baltimore 03 - Did You Miss Me?

of temper rushed out as fast as it had rushed in. His eyes stung. No . He willed himself not to cry. A tear would leave his face wet.
    That was really stupid, you fuck . The pack had landed on the side of the road, in the snow. Now he’d have to wade through a snowdrift to get his shit. The pack still had a strip of jerky. And that girl’s purse.
    Heather . Perspective returned and with it, determination. The girl might be alive. Kim might be alive. But you won’t be alive if you don’t move your ass .
    Keep going . One foot in front of the other . Grimacing, he threw his right foot forward and prepared for the pain. And then he heard it. Ford went still, afraid to hope. But there it was, behind him.
    An engine. A car was coming. Thank you, God . Thank you .
    Shuffling, he turned around. Headlights. Thank you . The lights came closer, growing larger, then blurred as his eyes filled with tears. This time he let them fall. His face burned and he didn’t care.
    Finally . Hurry . Please hurry .
    He lifted his arm to wave as the car grew closer.
    Not a car. A van. It slowed, then rolled to a stop.
    The headlights blinded him and he shielded his eyes with his forearm, wincing. The door opened. Someone got out. Ford couldn’t see the face. The headlights . . .  So bright .
    ‘Hel—’ Only a croak emerged. He cleared his throat. ‘Hello.’
    A sharp crack split the air. Sharp points puncturing his leg.
    ‘No!’ The roar burst from his chest and then all he knew was the pain. Not again . He fell to his knees, convulsing. Not again . Then he fell face-first into the snow. He saw the shoes, inches from his face, felt the pressure in his back. A knee.
    Fight . Dammit, fight . But his body was disconnected from his brain.
    A hand yanked back the collar of his shirt a split second before the needle plunged into his neck. Ford could smell the aftershave. Same as before. Him . It was him again . Warm breath bathed his ear and he knew what would come next.
    No . Not again . Please .
    ‘I’m back,’ the man purred. ‘Did you miss me?’
    It was happening again. And there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.
    Baltimore, Maryland, Tuesday, December 3, 11.50 P.M.
    Joseph was following his father to the kitchen when he heard a small voice calling his name. He looked up the stairs and smiled.
    ‘Holly-bear,’ he said softly.
    She was dressed in a soft, thankfully modest robe, pink bunny slippers on her feet. She padded down the stairs, her expression tentative. ‘You’re staying here tonight?’ She got to the bottom step and looked up at him. Holly was only four-ten so she tended to look up a lot.
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘Good. I’ll make you breakfast.’
    ‘I’d like that. Dad’s making me dinner now.’
    ‘But it’s almost midnight. It’s not good for you to eat dinner so late.’
    ‘Been too busy to eat today. I have this case.’
    ‘I know. Ford. I wanted to call Daphne, but I know she’s busy.’
    ‘What do you want me to tell her for you?’
    ‘Just give her a hug and tell her it’s from me,’ she said with a small smile that quickly faded. ‘Joseph, are you mad at me?’
    ‘You mean about the sofa? No. Of course not.’
    ‘Because it’s normal for couples to kiss.’ Her eyes went sly. ‘Even you kiss girls sometimes.’
    The memory of kissing Daphne against the door came back with a rush and he felt his face heat. ‘Sometimes,’ he allowed.
    Holly smiled, delighted. ‘You’re blushing, Joseph.’
    ‘Maybe I am. Maybe I caught some of your blush from earlier. As I recall, that’s all you were wearing.’
    She rolled her eyes. ‘Joseph.’
    ‘Mom says he’s getting ready to pop the question.’
    Her chin lifted slightly. ‘You think I shouldn’t.’
    ‘I never said that. I’d like to meet him and I’ll try not to kill him,’ he added wryly. ‘He’s just got to be good enough for my little sister.’
    ‘Paige likes him. She says he’s good for me. So does Daphne.’
    Daphne knew about those two? ‘You and Dillon take karate together from Paige?’
    ‘Not in the same class. I’m with the girls. I met Kimberly there.’
    ‘You mean Ford’s girlfriend?’
    She nodded, frowning. ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Talk to me, Holly. What did you see?’
    ‘Nothing.’ She leaned close to speak in his ear. ‘I heard , but I didn’t know if I should say anything.’
    ‘Tell me and I’ll help you decide.’
    ‘She’s got another boyfriend. That’s wrong, Joseph. But it would hurt Ford to