Hiding Out Read online

  Samuel suddenly turned his attention to the ad campaign they had been working on, biting on his cheek to keep from smiling. He knew it had to be killing Beth to admit how petite Haley was and that her flaw was one most men would relish.

  “I’ll be back around lunch time. Can I set up in here?” Beth asked him merely as a technicality.

  He knew he had no choice but to agree to her terms. He nodded. “I may be in a meeting in another part of the building,” he said professionally.

  “Well, I really need you to be here to sign all the necessary paperwork,” she said with a hint of annoyance.

  “Of course,” Samuel said smoothly. “I just don’t think I need to be in the room while Ha…while Miss Iverson is trying on her cocktail gowns.”

  “We’ll be using a screen, of course.” Her tone was growing icier.

  “I will be around. I will be accessible. That is my best offer.” He leaned over the desk and gave her a look that she understood to mean she needed to stop pushing.

  Nodding, she left the office.

  “Thank you so much, Mr. Davenport,” Haley began quietly. “I’m really looking forward to this.”

  “Me too,” he said with a warm smile. “I really appreciate having you accompany me. I hate going to these things alone. If you survive, I plan on asking you to repeat the experience…often.” He watched her reaction. And though she said nothing, he could see her pondering the implications with the hint of a smile playing on her lips.

  Moments later, when Haley returned to her desk, he located Ellen’s number in his Blackberry and dialed. Like the rest of the civilized world, Ellen had Caller ID and seemed surprised to hear from him.

  “Mr. Davenport?” She asked her breathing labored as though she was walking at a brisk pace.

  “Did I catch you at a bad time?” He asked, trying to be pleasant. He wasn’t one for small talk, but he knew that in this situation he would have to tread with care.

  She laughed. “No, I’m just trying to get out of the recliner. I don’t know why I thought I could sit in that thing,” she mused. Suddenly her voice grew concerned. “Is Haley working out? I mean, she’s overqualified. If you could just be patient with her…” Her voice trailed off as she waited for his list of her friend’s shortcomings.

  “It’s nothing like that,” he began, searching for the right words. “She is efficient, organized, pleasant, and as you pointed out, over qualified.” He cleared his throat. “I’m just concerned about her.”

  The shock in her voice was evident. “You are concerned.” And suddenly she grew bold in ways she had never been previously. “The man who sent me shopping for my own wedding present, who accused me of being selfish for getting pregnant and needing maternity leave after I devoted three years of my life to his career, the man…”

  But this time Samuel rolled his eyes and interrupted. “I get the point Ellen. And yes, I’m concerned.” He turned his chair to face the window. “She is very jumpy, seems unhappy much of the time, she won’t go out alone at night…” He prepared to catalog all of Haley’s more telling characteristics.

  “I know,” Ellen said quietly. “Please believe me when I say she wasn’t always like this.”

  “So she said,” he responded with a sigh. “I don’t suppose you’d tell me what changed.”

  Ellen sniffled. “I don’t think she’d want me to tell…anyone.” She sniffled again while Samuel waited patiently, knowing instinctively that she’d eventually fill the void. “Haley showed up on my doorstep on New Year’s Day after a brief call from the train station. Then, I almost shut the door on her, since I didn’t recognize her. Her face looked like it had been used for sparring practice. It took a month for me to get her to even leave the apartment. And then it took another month for me convince her to find a job and rejoin the world.”

  “When did she reveal what happened?” Samuel asked. His stomach was already in knots as he pictured Haley all battered. He could feel the heat rising in him as he struggled to control his emotions.

  “She never did,” she answered quietly.

  “Well, then how…”

  Ellen interrupted him. “Her dreams. She would wake up screaming and shaking about the same time every night. At first I tried to wake her up and let her know she was safe, but being touched freaked her out even more. I just kind of put two and two together, if you know what I mean.”

  He grappled for a moment with the new information she had disclosed. Again he was tormented with images of Haley waking up alone in that apartment in the middle of the night terrified because of reliving her horrific experience. “Do you know who hurt her?” He realized that he had just snapped his pencil in two while he waited for her answer.

  “She wouldn’t talk about it,” Ellen said seriously. “I really need to go.”

  “No, you don’t,” he said sadly. “You just don’t want to talk about this anymore.” He sighed. “One more thing, then I’ll let you get back to struggling out of your chair. Where is her family?”

  There was a brief whimper, after which Ellen said quickly, “I really have to go.” Then she hung up.

  Normally Samuel would have been fuming over someone having the audacity to hang up on him, but now he just swore. Obviously, Haley’s family was no longer in the picture. This woman was truly alone in the world. He felt an unfamiliar surge of emotions when he thought about it. Gripped with a new restlessness, he rushed to the door bent on seeing Jake and discovering what he had accomplished in the last twenty-four hours, but as he wrenched open the door, he chastised himself.

  Haley had grabbed at her chest and was now attempting a smile, but couldn’t quite pull it off. “Damn it, Haley,” he murmured as he squatted next to her desk. “I’m sorry.” Samuel struggled against reaching out to her. He closed his eyes for a moment as he imagined crushing her to his chest and burying his face in her hair. He took a few deep calming breaths then opened his eyes.

  When his gaze met hers, he found her eyes welling up with tears and it was more than he could stand. “Come on,” he said quietly, grabbing her hand and leading her into his office. “Please sit down.” He gestured to the leather sofa that so frequently held his napping brother.

  “Now I’m sorry,” Haley said, dabbing at her eyes. “I feel so silly. I don’t know why I’m crying.”

  He passed her a Kleenex then said, “Yes, you do. Take a moment then explain it to me.”

  She sighed, but soon her words came spilling out of her. “You looked so sorry and so sad and so helpless. And I can’t help but think that I put that look on your face.” She was exasperated. “All of a sudden you are treating me like blown glass, which is nice and scary and unfamiliar all at once. It’s like you really care or…” Haley faced him with a stricken look. “You know.” Her body shuddered and she eyed the door, something he had watched her do on more than one occasion.

  And he now knew what it meant. “Don’t go,” he said quietly. Then he added seriously, “I don’t know anything for certain. All I know is that it is painfully obvious someone hurt you. And that,” he said almost whispering, “breaks my heart.”

  Looking down at her lap, Haley sat stone still. Part of her wanted desperately to pour her heart out to him, but she feared that this knowledge would be too much for him. “Someday,” she whispered. “Someday I’d really like to tell you. But it can’t be today. And it can’t be now.” She swallowed and looked up at him with her glassy emerald eyes. “Can you be patient with me?”

  That was what everyone he had come into contact with had warned him. The good doctor, her friend Ellen…and he knew he could. She was worth it. “Yes,” he responded. Samuel wanted to say more, but a voice chimed out.

  “Knock, knock,” she sang.

  Samuel glanced at his watch. She certainly hustled right back here. And seconds later, Beth had pushed through the door, her arms laden with garment bags. Her assistant came scampering in behind her, setting up a rack and a screen while Beth tapped her foot impatiently.
“Thank you,” she said in a way that suggested she wasn’t thankful at all, merely annoyed.

  Samuel stood up and prepared to vacate the office while the assistant led Haley behind the screen. “I’ll be back shortly,” he announced.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” Beth said seductively. “I need you to fill out a few papers before I let you get away.”

  He sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was sit at his desk while Haley disrobed fifteen feet away. “Be quick,” he nearly snarled while taking his seat.

  Beth walked over provocatively and handed him the papers while offering her most alluring smile. “Just sign here and here,” she said through pouty lips and batted lashes.

  At that moment, Haley emerged shyly from behind the screen. The dress was a scarlet halter with a dangerously low cut back. Her cream colored skin gleamed. Her neck looked long and graceful. And the cut of the bust still left plenty to the imagination. In Samuel’s mind, the dress was perfect. “Um, not this one,” she said quietly.

  Beth turned her back on Samuel to give the dress her full attention. “Nonsense, with your coloring and body type…” She moved to appraise Haley. “Turn around,” she commanded.

  Haley bit her lip. “I’d rather not,” she said stiffly.

  The hairs on the back of Samuel’s neck stood upright as he gave her his full attention. He knew something was going on. Haley’s eyes were fixed on him in this pleading gaze. Beth shot her an annoyed look and the assistant, in an effort to be helpful, spun Haley around so Beth could get a look at the back. At that, Haley let out a high pitched squeak and Beth gasped while Samuel shot out of his chair and came within a foot of her. Down the middle of her back, Haley had a smooth six inch scar.

  He was ready to explode. He wanted to demand some answers. Instead he decided to pass it off in front of the ever judgmental Beth. “Is this from the incident?” Samuel asked quietly. She nodded in response. As early as a week ago, she would have been unable to meet his gaze, but this time her eyes never left his. He straightened. “Whatever she selects will be fine,” he said to Beth in as authoritative a tone as he could muster. “I really must go to my other meeting. I’ll be back in an hour or so, Miss Iverson.” And he marched from the room, more determined than ever to find some answers.

  “Damn,” Jake commented as Samuel let himself into the office and took a seat in the chair nearest the window. “You look like hell.”

  “Thanks,” he said sullenly. He tucked his thumb under his chin and laid his open fist against his lips while he thought for a moment.

  Jake arched an eyebrow at him. “Seriously, I have never seen you look like this before. Is it about this new case?”

  Without actually responding, Samuel asked, “Have you found anything out yet?”

  “It’s that urgent?” Jake asked. When his boss nodded, he said, “Well, before about four months ago, Haley Iverson never existed.”

  Now he had Samuel’s undivided attention. “Really? So, that’s not her real name.”

  “Well, not entirely, I don’t believe.” Jake studied him for a reaction. “And as for the whole checking out her lifestyle bit…that would be easier without your interference,” he said sarcastically.

  “Listen, I hate the thought of her alone. If I can prevent that…” His voice trailed off and he shrugged his shoulders.

  “Hey, first of all, what makes you think she’d be alone?” Samuel opened his mouth to protest, but Jake silenced him with a look. “Secondly, I can’t check out her routine if you interfere with that.”

  Scowling, Samuel asked, “Is there a third?”

  “Just this.” He passed a medical file across the desk. “Since you kept her out of the apartment for a few hours, I took a moment to search it.”

  “You broke in,” he said accusingly.

  “You have to admit, her building isn’t the most secure you’ve ever seen, right?” Samuel still wasn’t impressed. He fingered the folder and mentally prepared to open it. “So, anyway, this file gave me a much better jumping off point. Open it. You’ll see.”

  Taking a deep breath, Samuel opened the file. Instantly, his stomach lurched. He was greeted with color photos of Haley. He might not have recognized her, and not simply because of the brilliant copper hair. Her injuries were about as bad as Ellen had described. The left side of her face was swollen almost beyond recognition. That eye was nearly sealed shut. Crusted blood around her swollen lips and nose suggested more violence. The pictures of her body were just as appalling with the bruising around the upper arms, as well as the abrasions and bruising of her breasts and inner thighs. He swallowed hard, trying to imagine who could have ever done something so horrible to the gentle, innocent woman he had grown to care about. Then he saw the photo of her back, which required stitches at the time. Haley had not been taken gently.

  Samuel read through the file with a grim expression on his face. He registered that it was a knife wound on her back, created when the attacker had cut off her bra. Her nose hadn’t been broken, nor had any of her facial bones, probably just sheer luck, judging from the photos. And then the word that he hoped desperately he wouldn’t see flashed before him. The rape kit came back positive. Haley! His heart screamed.

  She had refused to give a statement, had walked to the hospital. No family or friends came with her or after her. And as he read through the itemized list of her cataloged possessions, he saw one item listed that made him pause. A diamond engagement ring.

  Finally, after trying on no fewer than ten dresses, Beth and Haley agreed that the midnight blue strapless gown was the best option. The classic coloring was perfect for the time of day, and, Beth was quick to point out, it covered that hideous scar. Haley had pasted a brave smile on her face at Beth’s assessment. And maybe the flawless Beth would consider her scar hideous, but as scars went, this one wasn’t so bad. It was white and flat, damn near perfect, as far as Haley was concerned. She had been warned that it could remain pink and raised, but instead it had healed rather nicely. She had healed rather nicely.

  Even though she knew that having a routine was dangerous and could make her an easy target, Haley survived on her new lifestyle. The routine meant security. After work each day she ran, not in the open air, but in the safety of a gym. She never arrived home after dark because she was always alone and felt safer in the light. She knew that during the dark winter months life might get a bit tricky, but she was confident that she could somehow survive. She had first taken up her new hobby while staying with Ellen. The treadmill sat in a corner collecting dust and laundry until Haley recognized it’s potential and struggled to reach hers. In the past she had thought that one should only run if being chased, but now she had refined that belief. One should run to prepare for the chase. And since she had been caught before, Haley ran like one possessed.

  In the beginning, she was so numb from the experience that she would walk then gradually pick up the pace, keeping in motion for an hour or more. Before long she was up to doing an easy five miles per day. Now she was working towards extending the distance she could run at a full out sprint. If she couldn’t overpower her attacker, next time she would at least be able to out run him.

  With a hint of excitement, Haley realized she was gradually changing her routine. Aside from the fact that she was going out to dinner with Mr. Davenport and some clients, when she had returned from lunch in the break room, she had discovered a pass card on her desk and a note. Mr. Davenport had offered her use of the company gym after work. And seeing it as a means to save some money on gym fees and transportation, she had decided to try it out.

  The door closed dully behind her, the gym all but vacant. In fact, once she changed it was completely empty. Haley selected a treadmill near the window so she could watch the city as she ran. By the time she was concentrating on the sprint portion of her routine, Samuel was standing in the doorway watching her.

  Aside from the cocktail dress, he had never really been able to study her figure. Apparently she was riskie
r with her workout wear. Sporting black spandex shorts and a gray running bra enabled viewing of her flat abdomen and toned muscles. He would have sworn that she had less than five percent body fat. Too thin. Was she running too hard? Could she not afford to eat right? Was she depressed? These were just a few of the questions that plagued him.

  Sensing she was slowing down, he decided he had better announce himself rather than risk startling her. “I’m glad to see you took me up on the use of our facilities,” he began in a louder than normal voice.

  Turning off the machine, Haley nodded. “Thank you for the offer. It was very generous.” She stepped off the treadmill and began her warm down stretches.

  He had much he wished to discuss with her, but he knew he had to build her trust first. He was about halfway through his jog when he noticed she seemed to be heading to the locker room. “Um, Miss Iverson,” he said slowly.

  She smiled quietly. “You can call me Haley outside of the office.”