Shattered Lullaby

He used the key to open the door to room ten, then flipped on the light switch and handed her the key. She took Rory inside, grateful to see that there was in fact a crib in the room, set up near the bathroom.

The door closed behind her. She crossed over and gently began unwrapping the swaddling cloth that she’d used as an infant carrier. Rory squirmed, sighed and then quieted down again as she set him on his back in the crib.

For a long moment she stared down at his sleeping face, trying to find solace in the fact that he was too young to remember any of this.

A blessing, except for the fact that he would never know his mother. Fresh tears burned behind her eyelids, and she swiped them away and turned back into the room.

Rory wouldn’t be alone. He’d always have her. She’d care for him the way she knew Jill would want her to. She wasn’t sure how she would manage, but she would find a way.

There was a light tapping on the connecting door. Flipping back the dead bolt, she opened it up to see Matt standing there holding her purse, the diapers and the formula, with Duchess at his side. “I brought in your things.”

“Thanks.” She stepped back, giving him room to enter. He set everything down on the small desk, and she stole a glance at him. He was handsome, his mink brown hair longer than what most cops sported, with brilliant green eyes. He wasn’t that much taller than her own five feet and eight inches, but he was broad across the shoulders in a way that made her feel smaller than she really was.

No question, Matt looked as if he could have his pick of women. If you liked a man in uniform.

Good thing she wasn’t a fan. In her experience, macho men like her father and brother-in-law were the ones to stay far away from.

Although if she were honest, she had to admit that Matt didn’t act like her father or brother-in-law. Still, she wasn’t going to take anything at face value. Not anymore.

She crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive gesture. “Will you talk to me before you call your boss?”

He lifted a brow. “Sure, if that’s what you want.”

“I’d appreciate it.” Duchess moved over to sniff at the crib, then returned to stand beside Matt. The dog was more gold than black, the long laceration on her right side an aberration against her glossy coat.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Matt said, moving back toward the connecting door. “And leave your side unlocked in case anything happens, okay?”

She gave him a terse nod. “Good night.”

“Good night.”

When he and Duchess left the room, she made sure the connecting door remained ajar as he’d asked before dousing the light and crawling beneath the covers fully dressed.

Sleep should have come easily, but for some reason her mind decided to replay the events of the past few hours. She pressed the pillow over her ears, as if that would help silence her sister’s pleas. The subsequent gunshots.

Deafening silence.

She must have slept a little because Rory’s crying woke up her up at quarter to six in the morning. Bleary-eyed, she dragged herself out of bed, stumbling a bit as she went over to make him a bottle.

She should have made it the night before. That’s probably what Jill would have done. Using warm water from the tap, she made his bottle, then quickly changed his diaper.

It was messy, and of course she’d completely forgotten about picking up wet wipes. The washcloth from the bathroom seemed too rough against his skin, but it did the trick. Finally, she had him changed and settled in the crook of her arm with the bottle.

She eased down onto the bed and closed her eyes, feeling like a failure. Being a mother wasn’t as instinctive as she’d hoped. What else had she forgotten? The poor thing didn’t even have a change of clothes.

She kissed the top of his head. “It’s just you and me, kiddo. Just you and me.” Hopefully, she and Rory would be able to figure things out, together.

* * *

Matt groaned when he heard the baby crying, tempted to bury his head into the pillow to drown out the noise.

Although if Lacy was up, then he should be awake, too. He squinted at the clock, realizing it was barely six.

He needed to talk to his boss, his lieutenant, not his shift commander, but he wouldn’t be in until eight o’clock. A full two hours from now.

Beside him, Duchess thumped her tail and lifted her head as if asking if it was time to get up.

“Easy girl,” he soothed, lightly scratching her between the ears. “You need your rest.”

Duchess licked his wrist, then set her head back down on the mattress. Propping himself up on his elbow, he gently palpated the long laceration. The wound looked decent, considering what she’d been through. Still, she’d carry the scar with her always.

A fresh burst of anger hit hard. Not just because of Duchess’s injury, but on behalf of the woman and baby next door. That guy had killed his wife and had tried to kill a woman and her baby, not caring that he’d almost taken out two police officers.

Yeah, capturing David Williams and putting him behind bars was definitely at the top of his list of priorities. He’d have to find a way to convince his boss to let him assist in the investigation.

The crying next door subsided, but even in the silence, he couldn’t fall back asleep. Dragging himself upright, he walked over to the window next to the door and pushed the curtain aside to sweep his gaze over the area. Convinced that nothing seemed out of place, he gestured for Duchess to come.

His partner ambled up and lightly jumped from the bed. He didn’t carry her this time, needing to understand what she was able to do. Being the trooper she was, she moved as gracefully as ever, the pain from the incision apparently not bad enough to hold her back.

“Good girl,” he praised, giving her a treat from his pocket. Deciding to leave her off leash, he pulled on his jacket and took her outside.

He was making his way back across the parking lot when the door to Lacy’s room burst open. She had the baby wrapped against her with the cloth thingy, but the expression in her eyes was full of panic.

He immediately broke into a run, heading straight toward her, Duchess keeping pace at his side. “What is it? What’s wrong?” He looked for signs of an intruder.

“I— Nothing, sorry. I thought you were leaving me behind.” Her cheeks went pink and she averted her gaze.

“No, of course not.” He was relieved there was nothing seriously wrong. He took her arm and drew her back inside the room, closing the door behind them. “I told you I wouldn’t call my boss without talking to you first. He won’t be in until closer to eight o’clock.”

Her smile was weak as she dropped back down on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry to overreact like that. It’s just...” she shrugged. “Realizing that I’m all Rory has left in the world is a little overwhelming.”

The baby was wide-awake, lifting his head and looking around with large curious blue eyes. Matt hadn’t really understood until this moment just how big of a change this was for Lacy. The reality of her situation was clearly just sinking in.

“Looks like he’s going to be up for a while. Should we find something to eat?”

Her tenuous smile widened, but then she grimaced. “That sounds great. Except for the fact that I don’t have a car seat for Rory. I’m not sure I can manage a restaurant without one.”

“Okay, how about I pick something up and bring it back? There’s a family restaurant a few blocks from here. Tell me what you like.”

“Scrambled eggs, wheat toast and bacon,” she said. “Looks like the motel provides coffee in the room.”

She had ordered exactly what he’d planned to get, which made him smile. “Yeah, but the pot only makes one cup. I’ll get us both coffee to go, too.” He turned toward his room, then looked back at Duchess. “Stay, Duchess. Guard.”

Duchess instantly dropped to her haunches, sitting straight and tall. Lacy reached out to pet her, and he bit back a protest. It was clear Lacy was feeling emotionally fragile at the moment, and it wouldn’t hurt for Duchess to get a little extra attention.

The trip to and from the restaurant didn’t take long, but he didn’t like leaving them alone. Duchess would protect Lacy and Rory with her life, but she wasn’t bulletproof, either.

And he suspected that next time, David Williams wouldn’t bother using a knife. In fact, he was surprised but glad he hadn’t used his gun against Duchess.

Matt entered the motel through his room, then knocked on the connecting door that was still ajar. “Food’s here,” he called.

“Come on in.”

Duchess greeted him with her usual tail wag, and he had to admit he loved that she was always happy to see him. Lacy had cleaned off the small desk so he could set the insulated containers down. He smiled when he realized she’d brewed herself a cup of coffee.

He pulled the two chairs over as Lacy set Rory back in the crib. Duchess went over and stretched out on the carpet in front of the crib, as if knowing it was her job to protect the baby.

“Duchess is amazing,” Lacy said, dropping into the chair beside him. “Thanks for picking up breakfast.”

“Yes, my partner is awesome, and you’re welcome.” He bowed his head and began to pray. “Dear Lord, we thank You for this food we are about to eat and for Your continued guidance and protection as we seek safety. Amen.”

There was a brief pause before Lacy added, “Amen.”

“Dig in,” he teased, thinking about how they’d always said those words after their family prayer when growing up.

Lacy picked up her plastic fork and dug into her eggs. “Do you always pray like that?” she asked.

He bit into a crisp piece of bacon, glancing at her in surprise. “Yes, always. That’s the way I was brought up.”

“Hmm.” Her noncommittal response made him frown.

“I take it you didn’t grow up attending church?”

She let out a harsh laugh. “Oh, sure. We attended church every week, but it didn’t mean much. My parents only went to put on a show for everyone else. At home they argued and...” She didn’t finish, but he felt himself grow tense.

“Your father abused your mother?” He was horrified by the thought and hoped Lacy hadn’t been subjected to abuse, too.

She shrugged and avoided his gaze. “It wasn’t like she had to go to the emergency room or anything, but yeah, he liked to hit. I have no idea why she put up with him.”

He couldn’t stop himself from reaching out to put a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry, Lacy. That should never happen.”

She abruptly dropped her fork and jumped to her feet. “It wasn’t as bad as what you’re thinking. He didn’t point a gun and shoot my mother in cold blood the way David murdered Jill.”

Before he could say anything she disappeared into the tiny bathroom, closing the door behind her.

He felt terrible for opening old wounds, and gave himself a mental kick in the pants. Losing Carly had gutted him. Debra had torn his heart out and stomped on it, but even those two things were a far cry from what Lacy had experienced. Just because he needed some emotional distance from her and Rory didn’t mean he couldn’t be more sympathetic and understanding.

After promising himself to do better, he finished his meal and then cleaned up his things, leaving Lacy’s meal alone. After about ten minutes she emerged from the bathroom, her red, puffy eyes evidence of her tears.

She didn’t say anything to him, but took her seat and continued eating her breakfast.

“I’m sorry,” he said gruffly. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She nodded and finished her meal. “I know,” she said after she’d tossed out her garbage. “I’m fine. Now, tell me how we’re going to approach your boss. I’m not convinced going into the police station is the right move.”

He stared at her in amazement, wondering if she’d read his mind. “How did you know that’s exactly what my plan was?” he said. “Rather than call, I think we should show up and go straight in to talk to my lieutenant, Bill Gray.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know Lieutenant Gray, so who’s to say he’ll believe me?”

“I was there when David aimed a gun at you,” he reminded her. “And he cut Duchess, remember?”

“We assume he cut Duchess. We didn’t actually see it,” she corrected him. “Duchess could have cut herself on a fence trying to chase him.”

He didn’t like admitting she had a point. “My boss has faith in me. There’s no reason for him not to believe you.”

“Except for another police officer telling a completely different story,” she said. “And he’s had three years of lies about my sister to back him up.”

“Listen, the forensic evidence at the crime scene will speak for itself. The truth will prevail above the lies. You don’t have anything to worry about.” He hesitated, then added, “I need you to trust me on this, okay?”

Her expression was full of agony, and he felt so bad he almost gave in. But what other option was there? They couldn’t hide out here in a motel room indefinitely.

“Fine,” she reluctantly agreed. “I hope your boss is as good as you say.”

“He is.” Matt glanced at his watch. They still had almost twenty minutes before they needed to leave. He wanted to stop for warm clothes and maybe a car seat, but the stores wouldn’t open for a couple hours yet.

Lacy went over to pick up Rory and brought him to the bed. For a moment, the memory of Carly lying sick in a hospital bed flashed in his mind, and he pushed it away with an effort.

Nothing was going to happen to Rory. He wasn’t sick. And Matt would do everything in his power to keep the little guy safe from harm.

He left Lacy alone and checked his cell phone for messages. Then, since there was internet access in the motel, he decided to search for the closest big-box store, where they could get everything they needed for Rory.

The closest one opened at nine o’clock, so he figured they could stop there after talking to his lieutenant. It was tempting to call ahead to the department, to make sure Bill Gray would be there, but he restrained himself.

When it was time to go, he went back to Lacy’s room to help carry the baby’s things. He noticed she’d made a bottle for him, ready for whenever he became hungry. If she was intimidated by caring for her young nephew, she wasn’t showing it. He had to give her credit for thinking ahead.

When he had the baby stuff loaded in the car, along with Duchess’s food and water dishes, he went back inside. “Ready?”

Her expression was resigned, but she nodded. He opened the door and then escorted her to the SUV parked facing outward in the lot. Before she could get inside, the baby slipped down in the swaddling cloth. She’d bent over in an effort to hoist him back up when a loud gunshot rang through the air. He pushed Lacy down, horrified to see a round hole in the passenger-side window where Lacy’s head had been seconds earlier.

“Get in!” He shoved her inside and slammed the door. He jumped into the driver’s seat, determined to escape from the gunman.

More gunfire echoed, and Matt drove like a demolition derby driver, clenching his jaw, praying that the bullets wouldn’t find their mark. He headed toward the route that happened to be closer to the trees, hoping to use them as cover.

Thankfully, his ploy worked. They’d gotten away, for now. But he couldn’t rest or relax.

How on earth had Williams known where to find them?

Four

Her heart in her throat, Lacy clutched Rory close to her chest and silently prayed for God to keep them all safe. The gut-level instinct surprised her—she hadn’t really thought much about God in the years after her parents had died.

But right here, right now, with the wind whistling through the small round bullet hole in the passenger-side window, proof that David Williams hadn’t stopped searching for them, she wanted to believe that God was up there, watching over them.

That she, Matt and Rory weren’t completely alone in this.

“Are you all right?” Matt asked in a hoarse voice.

“Y-yes.” She and Rory weren’t hurt. Scared senseless, but not physically injured.

“We need a new plan.” Matt’s tone was grim. “Williams is always one step ahead of us, and I don’t like it. I can’t figure out how he knew where to find us. Regardless, I’m not going to risk taking you anywhere near the police station.”

The news should have been reassuring. She hadn’t wanted to go to the authorities, afraid that even with Matt’s support, his boss would lean toward believing David’s version of events over hers. At the same time, being here alone with Matt didn’t make her feel that much better. Oh, she trusted Matt, at least as far as his ability to keep her and Rory safe. But for how long?

Duchess woofed softly behind her. Okay, they weren’t completely alone, but still. Eventually, they’d need help of the two-legged variety. Someone to provide backup. It wasn’t as if traveling with a three-month-old and a K-9 was inconspicuous.

They were bound to attract attention.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what? Almost getting you killed?” His harsh tone didn’t make her flinch because she knew he was upset with himself rather than with her.

“You saved us,” she corrected him. “And I can’t deny I’m glad we’re not going to the police station.”

He was silent for several long moments. “We need a place to go where we can hide off-grid for a while. I want to dig into Williams’s background a bit.”

The idea of hiding somewhere off-grid was appealing, but the thought of his investigating David made her blood run cold. “He’s a sociopath,” she said in a flat tone. “His entire world revolves around him. I’m not sure you’ll ever figure out the logic behind all this.”

His gaze met hers in the rearview mirror. “Try not to worry about it, okay? Duchess and I will protect you and Rory.”

She attempted to smile. “I know. But can we please stop at a store to pick up a few things? Rory needs clothes, baby wipes and extra bottles. Not to mention a proper car seat.”

He sighed. “Yeah, okay. But I’m going to drive to a store located on the opposite side of town, just in case. And once we have what you and Rory need, I’m going to call my brother Miles.”

The news made her tense up all over again. “Are you sure it’s safe? You said your brothers work in law enforcement. I highly doubt he’ll be thrilled with the idea of us going into hiding rather than to the authorities.”

Matt grinned. “You’d be surprised. Miles has done his share of breaking the rules. He’ll be supportive of our plan, don’t worry. Besides, I need a different vehicle and more cash.”

Duchess pressed her nose against the back of Lacy’s neck, making her smile. Between the K-9 officer and Matt’s ever-present confidence, she was feeling better already. “All right. I’ll trust your judgment.”

Matt nodded and fell silent as they headed across town. The traffic wasn’t too bad, and they reached a shopping area within thirty minutes. Lacy was relieved it was far away from the scene of her sister’s murder.

She tightened her grip on Rory and blinked away the tears. Jill would want her to be strong for the baby, so she needed to stay focused on being a good mother. Once they were safe, there would be plenty of time to make sure Jill had a proper burial.

And hopefully by then David would be behind bars, paying for his crime.

“Ready?” Matt asked. He’d backed into a parking spot, and she belatedly realized he’d done that just in case they had to make a quick getaway.

“Yes.” She unlatched the seat belt and curled her arm protectively around Rory as she pushed open the car door. Matt was there, offering his assistance. She put her hand in his, instantly aware of the warmth of his fingers curling over hers. As soon as she had her feet under her, she let go, uncomfortable about her odd awareness of him.

Matt was the complete opposite of the few men she’d tried dating in the past. One fellow teacher had expressed interest, but she hadn’t experienced even the slightest flicker of attraction toward him. Then there was the accountant who did her taxes, but that hadn’t been any better.

So why was she reacting to a man who was virtually a stranger?

No clue. And it needed to stop right now.

The stern lecture to herself helped. They entered the store and Matt grabbed a shopping cart. She wove through the aisles, quickly finding the baby items she needed. A glimpse of the prices on the car seats made her grimace.

“They’re so expensive.” She glanced at Matt. “I only have about fifty dollars on me.”

“It’s fine, I have enough to last until my brother brings more. Which one do you think is the best?”

She looked at the various styles, then pointed at the one Jill had purchased. “This one.”

“Okay.” He picked up the box and set it in the cart. “Pick out everything you need for the baby, then we’ll get you a light jacket.”

She wanted to protest, but spring in Wisconsin was unpredictable so she gave in. She picked out two outfits for Rory, a warm zip-up onesie with a hood to cover his head and then a packet of baby wipes. The smallest box of bottles contained six, so she tossed that in the cart, too. Silently counting up what they owed made her stomach clench with worry.

“Women’s clothes are over there,” Matt said, turning the cart in that direction.

“I’ll just get a heavy sweatshirt. No need to pay for a coat.”

“You should get both, just in case.” He apparently wasn’t about to take no for an answer. And he didn’t stop there. After she picked out a navy blue jacket, he pushed the cart over to the sundries and waved a hand. “Get what you need—hairbrush, shampoo, etcetera. I’ll pick up a few things, too.”

She hesitated. “If we’re going to another motel, they’ll provide some of this stuff. No reason to waste your money.”

“We’re not going to a motel,” he countered. “It’s too hard to find the ones that are dog-friendly, and they’re not all willing to take cash, either. Besides, I want you and Rory far away from the area.”

“So where are we going?”

“I have a friend who owns a cabin located about thirty minutes outside the city limits. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s warm, has two bedrooms and a kitchen. It’s the best place I know where we can hide out for a while.”

A cabin sounded nice, if maybe a little too cozy. And since the accommodations sounded better for Duchess, how could she argue? She began filling the cart with the bare essentials. Matt tossed a few items in, too.

The grand total was just as bad as she’d feared, even though many of the items they’d purchased were on sale. She wondered how on earth she’d manage to repay Matt for his kindness.

Matt didn’t seem concerned as he carried everything back out to the SUV. Right in the parking lot, he opened the box and quickly pulled out the infant car seat. Lacy bundled Rory into the new winter onesie and then fastened him into the car seat. Matt took over from there, securing the seat with ease.

“You look as if you’ve done that before,” she said as she slid into the front passenger seat.

He froze for a moment, then shrugged. “A couple of my brothers have kids.”

“A couple?” She fastened her seat belt then looked at him. “How many brothers do you have?”

“Four older brothers and a younger twin sister.” He started the engine and let it run for a moment.

She tried not to gape at him. “Six? There are six of you?”

He pulled out his phone. “Yeah, crazy, huh? Marc is the oldest, and works for the FBI. He and his wife, Kari, are due to have another baby early next month. Miles is the second oldest and works as a homicide detective. He and his wife, Paige, are also expecting in early May. My twin, Maddy, just married my former partner, Noah Sinclair. Mitch, an arson investigator, and Mike, a private investigator, are still single, like me, which is good because we can balance things out.”

All the information he was tossing out about his family made her head spin. And she hadn’t missed the fact that he’d emphasized he was single and not interested in changing his status. Fine with her. “And you’re sure they won’t force you to take me in?”