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“Wait, give me a minute. I’ll go with you.”
“Why, so you can arrest the poor kid and scare the shit outta her?”
“Don’t you paint me as the boogeyman here, Kane Lambert. It’s not my fault your partner can’t keep his hands to himself.”
Kane gave her a look that made her quit goading him. Instead, she gathered her weapon and followed him out to the truck.
As they drove, Jennie noticed that he still sat with his body leaning against the driver’s door while his arm relaxed over the wheel. It was uniquely Kane and she felt herself go back to her teen years. When seeing him sitting across from her had meant that everything had been right in her world.
She remembered that last time they’d driven home after spending such a wonderful day together. Him smiling over at her and reaching for her hand. Holding it, kissing it as if it were the most precious object. He’d told her how he loved her and how she made him so happy. It had been a wonderful moment when everything had stopped, and she’d felt so precious… so loved.
Turning away from the heart-breaking memories, she saw they’d arrived at the apartment.
***
Waiting at Lance’s door for Jennie to catch up, Kane put his finger over his lips and gestured that he would go first. She nodded.
He pushed the buttons to unlock the door and stepped into the hallway, seeing the faint light from the bedroom widen as the door flung open.
“Lance, I—”
A young girl froze as she saw that it wasn’t Lance but two strangers. “What are you doing here? Where’s Lance?” She crossed her arms, holding on to herself tightly.
Kane approached slowly, his hands up to show he held no threat. After closing the door, Jennie stepped beside him, blocking the way to freedom. Kane spoke first, “Lance sent us. We’re here to help, Melena.”
Melena took a step back. “Lance is helping. I need him. Where is he?” Suddenly, fear ignited. “What have you done to him?”
Jennie showed her FBI badge first and then answered. “We’re holding him for questioning in your disappearance. We need to talk with you. Your father is extremely worried for your safety.”
“Bastard’s worried about me now? He should have cared more when he raped me over and over since I was ten… when my mother died.” As if those words broke through an already weakened barrier, Melena shouted. “I want Lance. He understands.”
Silence struck, freeze-framing them all. Melena’s words were so damning and heartrending that no one moved. Frozen in place, Kane closed his eyes for a few seconds so she wouldn’t be frightened by the overwhelming anger her words had ignited.
After she’d spoken so vehemently, Melena’s strength seemed shattered. Before they could support her, she dropped to her knees. Immersing herself in a full-on tantrum, including screaming and hitting her own face. She repeated fiercely, “I want Lance.”
Kane looked toward Jennie, praying she had the words to help the girl. Fearing that him being a man might be another slash to an already shredded spirit, he stepped away and lightly hummed his remorse for her plight.
Jennie sank to the floor and crept closer to the hysterical girl. “Shush, now, baby. I’ll take you to Lance, I promise. Please don’t hurt yourself anymore. Come now. Come with us.”
Melena scooted backward, away from the stranger who’d flashed her authority with a badge and a no-nonsense voice.
Seeing things deteriorate, Kane also crouched to his knees not wanting to appear intimidating. His voice sounding like warm syrup, he spoke slowly. “Lance called me to come to you, Melena. We work together. The dude trusts me, even gave me his combination to the lock on the door.” He saw her quieting, listening to his words.
Looking over at Jennie, Kane saw her nod encouragingly, and he continued, “If you come with us, we’ll take you to him, and then you’ll never have to go back home. We can make that happen, honey. Or rather, Lance can. Do you trust him?”
Her voice small, her face hiding behind a mass of hair, she nodded. “Yes. He’s my friend. My-my only friend.” Her voice weakened. The last rasping statement forced from deep inside her body. “He cares about me.”
Suddenly, Jennie moved away, stood up, and pulled out her phone. After talking for a few minutes, she pushed the speaker button and they all heard Lance’s voice.
“Melena, honey, it’s Lance. I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried when they said you weren’t there earlier.”
Melena, mesmerized from hearing her hero’s voice, spoke haltingly. “I had to go to-to the drugstore for some tamp… uhh, stuff. I came right back. And I didn’t answer the door like you said.”
“Good, Mellie. That’s good. Look, Agent Jennie and my boss, Officer Kane, are going to bring you to see me. Is that okay?”
“Where are you?”
“I came over to the jail to make some arrangements for your freedom. Just come here, and we’ll get everything straightened out. No more hiding, kiddo, I’ll be right beside you.”
Wiping her face, Melena stood and nodded, not realizing that Lance couldn’t see her. Jennie spoke into the phone herself. “We’ll be there in a little while, Lance. Thanks.”
