Dead Running Read online

  Fifteen minutes after we got there, Jared burst through the sliding glass doors.

  “Cassie,” he yelled.

  Twenty people turned to glare. He didn’t seem to care. I ran to him. Jared grabbed me, jerking me into a fierce hug. “Is she okay?”

  I shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know.”

  He nodded. “Thanks for taking care of her.” He squeezed me again. “Where is she?”

  I pointed to the double doors. “They won’t let you in.”

  Jared’s face hardened. “See if they can stop me.”

  The doors swung open. Jesse stood framed in them. Jared released me and stormed towards the doors. He rushed past Jesse and into the emergency room as the receptionist’s painted-on mouth twisted in panic. “You can’t go in there.”

  Jesse walked to her desk. “It’s all right, Donna.”

  The girl smiled and licked her lips. “If you say so, doctor.”

  Jesse reassured her for a bit too long. She was grinning like he’d asked her to the Doctor’s Masquerade Ball by the time Jesse strode to my side.

  “Is the baby okay?” I ignored my jealousy in the face of something more important.

  Jesse nodded. “The heartbeat is strong. They’re trying to determine what caused the cramping and blood loss. They’re testing her now to see if she lost any amniotic fluid.”

  “B-but Raquel and the baby are okay?” The tremor in my voice echoed throughout the waiting room.

  Jesse smiled softly at me. “Raquel and the baby are both doing great.”

  I sniffed. Jesse opened his arms. I ignored Tasha’s raised eyebrow and fell. Clinging to him, I savored his musky scent. “Thank you for rescuing me, again.”

  Jesse chuckled. “It’s becoming a habit.”

  “Maybe I could pay you back somehow.”

  He leaned close to me and whispered in my ear, “This is what friends do. Besides, fishing for my keys was payment enough.”

  I hid my face in his chest to hide my reddened cheeks. Loving the feel of him. Comfort and so much more. This spot was becoming a sanctuary.

  Week Six

  The next week I went through Jesse withdrawal. Neither he nor Damon appeared on the road. My only excitementElizabeth. Her bouncing tread approached me from behind early Monday morning. Hot Redhead sprinted to my side then slowed her pace to match mine. I tried to outrun her, I swear, but she wasn’t enough of a threat to increase my adrenaline. Especially when compared to Muscle Man. If I thought it was Muscle Man I would be sprinting and digging the pepper spray out of my sports bra.

  “Hi, Cassie,” Elizabeth sang out.

  My head swiveled to look at her in the murky pre-dawn. “Wow. We’re happy this morning. That’s a surprise.”

  Her perfect pout tilted up. “Why shouldn’t I be?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. “The race on Saturday was fun, huh?”

  I caught a momentary scowl but it was there and gone before I could comment on it.

  “I know something about you that’s going to make Damon want to keep his distance,” Elizabeth said with a smirk.

  It was my turn to scowl. “You got nothing on me, chickie.”

  Hot Redhead pumped her eyebrows. “Oh, I don’t?” Every word she spoke was like a song. I hated the lilt of her sweet soprano.

  “So what do you think you can blackmail me with?” I chuckled to show how out of whack she was, at the same time searching my brain for some stupid move I’d accomplished lately.

  Elizabeth paused to share her fake grin. I waited, wondering what she thought she could say to Damon that would keep him away from me. The thought twisted my gut. Even though I wanted to become more than friends with Jesse, I enjoyed dating Damon. I didn’t need her sabotaging it.

  Elizabeth didn’t leave me in agony for long. “What about the fact that you urinated on yourself Saturday morning?”

  I gasped, but covered it quickly. Staring at the dark road flowing under our feet, I said, “What are you spouting about now?”

  “I thought you’d gone nuts after the race. I could not figure out why you would jump in that stream, but then it hit me.” She waited until I squinted at her before sharing a haughty grin. “Your shorts and legs were wet before you went for the stream. When you bent down to take off your shoes.” She held her nose. “You stunk. I thought at first it was sweat, but nobody sweats that muchespecially when it couldn’t have been over seventy.”

  “You can’t prove anything,” I said. What would Damon think? Who would he believe?

  “Your face will be all the proof I need.”

  “So what?” I challenged, anger overcoming my fear. “Damon is impressed with how hard I push. How many runners can claim they’ve kicked it hard enough to pee on themselves?”

  Elizabeth’s eyebrows arched. “Why would anyone want to claim that?” She raced around me and called over her shoulder, “Have a good run, try not to have an accident.”

  I shook a fist at her retreating back. Like I peed on myself daily. I felt like the little kid who gets caught wearing her grandma’s Depends at a sleepover and no, that never happened to me.

  I watched Elizabeth prance down the semi-lit road. I knew she was right. Urinating down your own legs was nothing for any woman to brag about. Hot Redhead quickly disappeared from my view. Dang her.

  * * *

  Nana and Tasha both waited for Damon to appear Saturday night. I sat between them on the couch, uncomfortable, ready to be saved by my date. I hoped he’d still want to date me when Elizabeth revealed my bladder problems. What if she had already? My brain spun with excuses and funny comebacks. I couldn’t let Hot Redhead make Damon think I had the urinary control of an infant.

  Nana’s knitting needles flew with her fingers. She pulled a length of yarn and said, “When are you going to stop this running nonsense?”

  I stared from her to Tasha. This was why Nana wasn’t sitting in her chair. This was why Tasha wasn’t out flirting with some man. This was why they’d sandwiched me. “Who says it’s nonsense?” I asked. I gave her an indignant, picked-on look. I could have sworn Nana had given approval. That she knew one of the reasons I was doing this marathon was so my dead parents could have a reason to brag about me to their angel buddies.

  Nana shook her head and kept knitting. “I don’t want you to get hurt. You’ve had passions before, but none of them were dangerous to your health.”

  “Dangerous to my health?” I asked, shifting the ice pack I held against my knee underneath the couch cushions.

  Nana pointed at the ice pack with her needle but said nothing.

  “Come on, Cass,” Tasha piped in. “Damon is interested in you, not the fact that you’re running a marathon. You got the guy. It’s time to give up the dream.”

  “I am not doing this for Damon.” I jumped to my feet. Rushing to the front window, I pushed the curtain aside and prayed for a low-slung silver car to arrive.

  “You’re never going to be able to finish this,” Nana said. “Just like all those businesses you started. The charities you want to organize. The hobbies you pick up. You never finish anything. Stop now before you waste more time and get seriously injured.” She yanked the ice pack from the couch cushions and held it aloft as proof of her argument.

  My shoulders rounded. My stomach ached. Was it too much to ask for my loved ones to believe in me? Wait a minute. I lifted my head. I’d spent the past week taking care of the one person who never ragged on me, or at least only cussed me with significant cause. “Raquel believes in me.”

  Tasha snorted. “Raquel believes in the Easter Bunny.”

  My eyes narrowed. “My parents would be proud of me.”

  Nana exhaled and closed her eyes. “Raquel is only helping you so you won’t injure yourself worse than you already have. Jared thinks the entire thing is nonsense.” Setting my future afghan aside, Nana rose and crossed the room. “There are plenty of other things you can do that would make your parents proud, like your new personal train
ing business.”

  Tasha nodded in agreement then picked at her fingernail polish. She obviously didn’t want to be in on this intervention. But nobody said no to Nana. Except me. I straightened my shoulders.

  “Tasha was right. You obviously started this for Damon.” Nana pointed out the front window. Damon strode confidently up our walk. The sight of him was like a stone in my stomach instead of a flutter. What would he think if I gave up? What would Jesse think if I gave up?

  “He likes you for you, Cassie,” Nana said, patting me on the arm. “You don’t have to kill your body to impress him.”

  I shook off her hand and looked down my nose at her. “I’m not doing this for him and I’m not giving up.”

  Nana stared at me, pursing her lips. “We’ll see,” she muttered.

  The doorbell rang. I rushed to it and slipped out before Damon could say hello to my naysayers.

  He gave me a quick hug. “You look beautiful. How are the legs?”

  I put on a brave smile, cursing Nana for starting my date with a negative feeling. “Twenty more ice packs, a hundred more shots of Ibuprofen, and they should be golden.”

  Damon chuckled. “Always the truth with you.”

  Wrapping his long arm around my waist, Damon escorted me to the car. I wondered who I was being honest with. Was I really as tough as I portrayed to Damon or was I a loser who would quit like Nana had prophesied?

  Week Seven

  Creeping down the slight bank of the river that ran through Smithfield Canyon, I was impressed with myself. I'd finally grown a brave bone. My idea to recreate a scene that gave me almost as many nightmares as Panetti chasing me with a knife was idiotic, but the possibility of the murder never being solved grated on me.

  I reached the spot where I’d found the body that fateful race day and just stood there. The police caution tape had been removed weeks ago. As far as I knew, my detective buddies had seen no progress on the case. Why did I think I could help?

  My legs started to tremble as the memory of the man invaded my brain. I sank onto my knees to avoid running away. Someone had killed that man and taken his identity. I was sure of it. Maybe if I could remember something about the body, besides his gouged-out head, it would spark some memory and I could give the policemen some kind of clue.

  I stared at the spot I’d found him, reliving the awful moment when I had turned the body over. Fighting back a wave of queasiness, I bit the side of my tongue. It was all I could do to not start screaming again. Look past the face. Look past the face. I could see long, lean arms poking out of a T-shirt, but that was it. I couldn’t tell how tall the man was, what color of hair he had, or anything else about him.

  I closed my eyes, wishing I hadn’t willingly let the memories come. Now I couldn’t shut them out.

  Twigs cracked. A bird flitted away. My eyes popped open. I jumped to my feet, ready to sprint for safety.

  Jesse held out his hands defensively. “It’s okay, Cassidy. It’s just me.”

  His eyes were dark chocolate and oozing concern, but I wasn’t in the mood to be rescued. He crossed a couple more feet. I backed away, thumping into a scratchy pine tree.

  Jesse stopped, watching me warily for several seconds before asking, “Are you all right?”

  I shook my head.

  “What are you doing here?” His tender voice and broad shoulders exuded the need to shelter me.

  I wrapped my arms around my stomach, wishing I didn’t want his protection so badly. Who was he? The good-looking bad boy or the kind-eyed plastic surgeon? “I could ask the same of you.”

  “I saw you from the road.”

  My stomach lurched. I swiveled my gaze to the lush vegetation: bushes, weeds, pine and aspen trees. It was impossible to see the road from here. A quiver of fear shot through me. How could a man be so attractive and so unsettling at the same time?

  “Are you following me?” I demanded.

  Jesse grinned and the attractive factor shot above my unease. “It isn’t the first time.”

  Unsettling and attractive were now battling. Was I just being paranoid? I had plenty of reasons to be. I clutched my hands behind me, the poky pine needles embedded into my palms. “Who are you really?”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  “You seem like this nice, good-looking, smart guy, but no way are you just showing up every time I need you.” I jabbed a finger at him. “You’re following me, and,” my voice quivered as I produced a lie, “I don’t like it.”

  Jesse’s lower lip protruded slightly. He jammed a hand through his dark hair. I felt like such a jerk. I took several steps towards him. A soft breeze brought his musky scent to me. “Okay,” I said, “so maybe I like it, but you’ve got to understand why I'm a bit freaked out.”

  Those eyes met mine. Everything in me melted.

  “I feel like . . .” Jesse crossed the remaining distance between us. The way he held me with his eyes incapacitated me. Reaching out, he brushed those wonderfully calloused fingers down my cheek. “I’m very protective of you, Cassidy.”

  I gulped, loving his touch, yet still terrified by his words. “Why do you need to be protective of me?”

  Jesse’s hand dropped. He studied a grove of aspen trees. “I can’t tell you.”

  Shivers radiated throughout my body. Who was he? What did he know that I didn’t? Was he in league with Muscle Man and Greasy Beanpole or was he safeguarding me from them? I didn’t dare ask. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

  Jesse stroked my arm. “Please don’t be afraid. I’ll make sure you’re okay.”

  “You promise?” I yearned to believe he could protect me if Muscle Man returned. His brown eyes caressed me. I held my breath, praying for the right words.

  Jesse exhaled slowly and said, “I’ll do my best.”

  He was physically and mentally strong, but still Jesse couldn’t promise to protect me. The disappointment was bitter, but somehow I knew he was giving me all he could. I was actually grateful he hadn't given me an empty promise. Jesse would do his best and it was all I could hope for right now.

  I allowed myself to enjoy his touch and gaze for a moment before sidestepping around him. As much as I wanted to trust him, I still wasn’t sure why he wanted to protect me or if he was good or bad. The warm look in his dark eyes was too tempting. The only thing I was sure ofI couldn’t trust myself to be alone with him right now. I was milliseconds away from throwing myself against his chest and begging him to stay with me every moment.

  I scurried up the incline, but had to look one more time. Jesse watched me. I ran. The only other choice was to leap into his arms.

  * * *

  “Are you sure you’re supposed to be riding the bike this far?”

  Raquel’s legs rotated slowly so she could stay next to me while I ran. She’d volunteered to ride next to me, keeping me company for a few miles of my long run. She pushed back on the handlebars, adjusting on her padded seat. “Sure I’m sure. My doctor said light cardio would be good for me. It’s been weeks and we haven’t seen any more blood.”

  “But doesn’t the bike hurt . . . down there?”

  “Not too bad. Jared put an extra-soft seat on for me and the baby is doing fabulous. Stop worrying.”

  I smiled, settling into a steady rhythm of steps. “Glad to hear it. Maybe I can stop doing your dishes.”

  Raquel laughed. “I wish you and Jared could relax that much. So, have you seen Jesse lately? I sure like him."

  I swallowed. Unfortunately I liked him more than I should and who knew if he actually liked me or was just “protecting me.”

  “He's been busy,” I muttered.

  There was silence for a few minutes before she asked, "How was your date with Damon Saturday?”

  “The date was great.” I concentrated on the road. “It would’ve been better if Nana and Tasha hadn’t tried to sabotage it before I left.”

  Raquel’s eyes burned into the side of my cheek. I studied the well-kept homes and l
awns that eased past us.

  “Nana and Tasha are in league again? Last time they got together they talked you out of traveling to South America to volunteer in orphanages.”

  The bright morning sun crested the roofline of the house we were using for shade. I squinted and groaned. “How did I let them do that? I was all set up and excited to go.”

  “It was a month after your parents died.”

  I stared at the road. She would have to bring that up.

  Raquel sighed. “What are they giving you a hard time about now?”

  The blacktop swam underneath me. “Nana claims that you and Jared don’t think I’ll finish the marathon either.”

  “What? Why would we say that?”

  “I don’t know. Well, I could see Jared saying it, but I thought you said you were proud of me. That my parents would be proud of me.”

  “Yes, I did, and yes, they would. Hell-freeze, Nana,” Raquel mumbled something else, probably a swear word I wouldn't approve of. “Your grandma always has to manipulate everything for herself. Is she upset because your knee is hurting or can she seriously not stand for you to succeed?”

  “Something like that.” I kicked at some loose stones on the road as I shuffled by. In her own twisted way Nana had my best interests at heart. “Come on, El. Tell me the truth. Does Jared really believe in me?”

  The uncomfortable silence gave me all the answer I needed. I sniffed, increasing my leg speed. This was supposed to be a slow, long-distance run but I needed some space.

  Raquel caught me in seconds with her bike. “You know what a Papa Bear Jared is. How much he worries about you. He’ll be really proud of you when you cross that finish line.” She arched over her handlebars to peer at my face. “Are you tearing up on me?”

  I turned away from her. “The leaves on that poplar tree are huge.”

  Raquel snorted. “Honey. It’s okay to be mad at your family. Nana, Jared, Tasha. I know, Tasha’s been your best friend since you used to wear Depends to sleepovers.”

  I cringed, why did Tasha have to share that with everybody?

  “But all of them act like jerks once in a while,” Raquel continued. “I know they’re all trying to take care of you, protect you from yourself, but you’re a tough lady, Cassie. You can handle things on your own. You could’ve handled South America and you can definitely handle this marathon.”