I run my hand across my unshaven jaw. I’m so fucking tired. Of course, I came home to an empty fridge a couple hours ago, so here I am at the store, waiting in line behind the lady arguing about expired coupons. I close my eyes, shake my head, and sigh. This day can’t get any longer.
Ever since I was instructed to come home a week early to help with a case, my nerves have been on overdrive. The last few months have been a true test of my sanity. My heart belongs to someone who might not want it. My thoughts have tormented me daily, from thinking about her beautiful body to her words. Her words about how the blood running through my veins has destroyed her life. I’ve tried so hard to move on, but I can’t. Now I’m home and I have no clue what’s next for us. If there still is an “us.” I have no control when it comes to Addison, and I hate it.
I take in a deep breath, shaking my thoughts from my head, bringing me back to the present. I look at the lady still arguing and now asking for a manager. Looking around to see if there’s a shorter line, but not finding one, I drop my head onto my arms that rest on the cart.
Don’t pull out your gun and shoot her, I say to myself. I just want to go home and sleep.
My head bolts up at the sound of screams and then gunfire. Panic fills the air with more screams and people rushing to the exit doors. I pull my gun out and instruct everyone to get out. The cashier looks at me with a deer in the headlight look. “Go, now!” I growl. He nods and dashes out with everyone else.
I run toward the direction of the shots and stop at the sound of a scream coming toward me. A small girl comes barreling down an aisle. I grab her, needing her to stop screaming.
“Don’t touch me!” her little voice screams, hitting me with her tiny fists.
“Shh … I’m the police,” I say quietly. When she quiets, I immediately notice who she is. This is why I’m home early. I caught up on the case and read about her on the plane ride home. “Alexandra Collins?” Her eyes widen and she slowly nods. “Is someone after you?” Again, she nods.
Fuck! The serial killer might be here. Where is her detail? I quickly glance around but don’t see anyone. I need to put her somewhere safe. Seeing the manager’s office, I run over, open the door, and put her down.
“You stay in this room. Do not open the door for anyone. Do you understand?” Tears fall down her little face as she nods. “I need a secret word from you that only I will know. Don’t open for anyone who doesn’t know the secret word.”
She nods in understanding, and I can tell she’s thinking of a word. Holy shit, any day now, kid. I scan the area, looking for movement. When I don’t see any, I look back to the girl. “Alexandra, I need a word, right now.”
“Tater tot,” she says.
“Tater tot?” I ask slowly. She nods with a small smile. Okay. Tater tot, it is. “Remember, do not open this door.” I close the door behind me, making sure it’s locked, and run in the direction she came from.
I hear the sound of sirens outside. As I clear an aisle, I silently run down to the end. Peeking around the corner, I notice a body on the floor. A woman. I creep toward her, my gun drawn and ready. Reaching down to feel for a pulse, I notice a gunshot to the head. She’s dead. Fucking hell.
I glance around the place. Where are you, asshole? As I’m standing up, SWAT surrounds me. “Hands up!” they scream. “Drop your weapon.”
I slowly put my weapon on the ground, lifting my hands in the air. The last thing I need tonight is to get shot. “I’m FBI. Agent Aiden Roberts. My badge is in my pocket.” An officer comes over and reaches in my pocket for my badge, inspects it, and hands it back.
“Sorry, Agent Roberts,” he says as he bends down and grabs my gun for me.
I report what happened to the officer, station a police officer outside the manager’s office, and then call Damon to get his ass here.
“We found Officer Kale.” I hear another officer say grimly.
I look at the officer standing with me. “Alexandra’s detail?” He nods slowly as he radios it in. Son of a bitch. “We need to get security video ASAP. Make sure that asshole isn’t hiding in here somewhere,” I command. “Get the dogs in here. He couldn’t have gone too far.” I look at my watch. It’s only been fifteen minutes since I heard the first scream. “I need to get Alexandra out of here, but I want to make sure that the unsub isn’t in here hiding out. She’s safe in that room for now.” I glance at the door to make sure an officer is outside, waiting.
FBI’s here within a few minutes. It’s not too long after that they have the place cleared. The bastard escaped again, but now we know he’s after Alexandra. Damon stops me on my way to get the girl.
“Aiden, we need to talk.”
“Can’t right now. I need to get the girl. She’s probably scared out of her mind. Let me get her handled and then we’ll talk,” I say over my shoulder as I’m walking away. He mumbles something, but I don’t hear what he says.
Alexandra. Life sucks for her right now. First her family was murdered and then her only relative is murdered because a psycho is trying to finish the job. I read she was staying in an undisclosed location until her aunt came to get her. We’re going to have to take her to a safe house. She has no clue how much danger she’s in.
When I get to the manager’s door, I knock, but I don’t hear anything on the other side. “Open up, Alexandra. Secret word is tater tot.” Nothing. I try the door handle, but it’s still locked. I look to the officer and he shrugs. I dart to an employee telling him that I need the keys to the office.
Opening the door slowly, I breathe out a sigh of relief when I see a little girl nestled under the desk asleep. I crouch down and scoop her up in my arms. Her eyes fly open in surprise. “Hey there, Tater Tot.”
Recognition reflects on her face so she swings her arms around my neck in a tight embrace. She whispers in my ear, “Is my aunt dead?” Her unemotional question stuns me. This little girl shouldn’t know death.
I sigh. “She is.” She lays her head on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Alexandra. We won’t let anyone hurt you.” I’m at a loss for words. What do you say to a five-year-old who has had her world ripped from her … twice? I don’t know what else to say, so I try and comfort her until Child Protective Services can get here.