Baby On The Run. Hope White

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      She set the toddler down and put on her jacket, tucking the pepper spray in her pocket for easy access. Eli stumbled a few feet away, arms flailing, trying to get away from the shrill alarm.

      Across the room, the doorknob twisted right and left.

      In an almost disassociated state, Jenna unlocked her desk drawer, removed the false bottom and grabbed her stash of emergency money.

      One at home, one at work. Be ready for anything.

      Money tucked safely into her pocket, she shouldered the diaper bag, picked up Eli and handed him the polar bear. Clutching the bear, he continued to cry, so she unclipped a pacifier from a strap on the diaper bag and offered it to the little boy. He took it and instantly quieted, his eyes rounding like saucers.

      Flinging her messenger bag over her other shoulder, she headed again for the storage room. Since the building had once been a school, it had connecting classrooms that would give her access to the north exit, closer to her car.

      As she passed through the storage room, she noticed a few car seats they used when taking children on field trips in the van. She grabbed one and forged ahead.

      She was a woman on a mission, a warrior who was not going to lose this battle. Not this time.

      The wail of sirens echoed from outside. Good. That should chase the intruders away. Violent men connected to local law enforcement—not a surprise to Jenna.

      She finally made it to the north end of the school. This was it. She actually might get away safely.

      There was no might about it. She’d made a promise to protect Chloe’s child.

      Jenna would not fail.

      Clinging to Eli, she pushed open the door to the outside. Floodlights designed to discourage trespassers lit the playground all the way to the secondary parking lot. A strong gust of wind slapped her cheeks as she headed for her car.

      What if the men were right behind her?

      Traumatic flashbacks replayed in her mind like a video on accelerated speed. She quickened her pace, as if running could get her away from the images.

      He can’t hurt you if he can’t find you.

      She approached the corner of the building.

      Only a few hundred feet from the parking lot.

      Her car.

      Freedom.

      * * *

      Matt Weller had been on a break, eating a sandwich in the custodian’s office and listening to the hockey game on the radio, when he’d heard a woman scream. He thought he’d imagined it at first and checked the closed-circuit video feed. Two men were dragging Mrs. McFadden to the exit. Just as Matt got up to help her, Chief Billings entered the building.

      And strangled Mrs. McFadden.

      Matt’s first reaction was to get his weapon.

      As he sprinted across the playground, the fire alarm rang from the building. Why would the perps lure the fire department to the scene? That made no sense whatsoever.

      He approached the truck and considered his next move. They would have surely taken Mrs. McFadden’s body away by now, removing the evidence.

      But Matt knew there had been more than one woman in the building tonight. The lovely Jenna North had been at the center working late, as she often did.

      The building was so peaceful when she was there, one of the reasons he liked the night shift.

      Until tonight.

      Matt climbed into the front seat and took a calming breath. He needed to be smart about this, needed to protect his cover and Miss North at the same time.

      Something caught his eye across the lot—Jenna North carrying a child and a car seat. Hang on—he knew she wasn’t married and didn’t have kids.

      Then Matt saw them—the two perps heading straight for her on the other side of the building.

      The woman was going to get herself killed.

      Matt shoved his truck into gear and drove slowly toward the building where the innocent Miss North was about to walk straight into trouble.

      He couldn’t let that happen, no matter the risk.

      As Jenna approached the corner of the building, Matt sped up. All it would take was an effective block. Yes, he’d innocently pull up between her and the men and play out his role of night janitor by warning them to leave the premises due to the fire alarm.

      He stopped the truck, got out and motioned for Jenna to get down.

      Instead, she whipped out a canister of pepper spray.

      Matt put out one hand in surrender and pointed around the corner with his other hand.

      Her green eyes widened.

      He motioned for her to stay low, and then went around the back of his truck to confront the men.

      But there was only one guy. Not good. Where was the other perp?

      “Get away from the building!” Matt shouted. He had to play his part, although his navy blue custodian’s uniform should make it clear who he was.

      “My wife is in there!” the guy, midforties, wearing a knit ski cap, shouted.

      Yeah, his wife.

      “Have to wait for the all clear from the fire department!” Matt shouted.

      The man nodded and turned away. Good, an easy fix.

      Then Knit Cap Guy snapped around and took a swing at Matt. He dodged the blow and slugged the man in the stomach. He doubled over, coughing. With fisted hands, Matt readied himself for another assault.

      The wail of sirens grew louder. The perp jumped to his feet and took off. Matt the FBI agent would chase after him; Matt the janitor would not.

      He went back to the other side of the truck to help Jenna.

      But she was gone.

      He scanned the playground, the surrounding woods, the nearby parking lot. Knit Cap Guy’s partner couldn’t have gotten to her in the thirty seconds that Matt had been engaged in a fistfight.

      Matt needed to find her, protect her.

      He climbed into his truck to get his weapon and slammed the door.

      A squeak echoed from the back seat.

      He froze as he reached for the glove box and spun around. The little boy was sucking on a pacifier, eyes wide and curious, clutching a white stuffed animal.

      “Are they gone?” Jenna said from the seat directly behind Matt.

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