In the Arms of Danger

If not for the chills rushing over her skin and multiplying quickly, Taylor Mitchell would think today's stroll in the park was like any other day with her daughter. A soft, autumn wind blew through the trees and stirred a lock of hair against Taylor's cheek as if to soothe her. It didn't work as she had wanted. Today was not the day to be calm. Instead, fear pumped through her like a disease, cold and impetuous. She peered over her shoulder and glanced at the cluster of trees near the edge of the park. A few people strolled hand-in-hand along the path lined with budding flowers and a small pond nearby where four ducks swam. Two bicyclists rode on the bike trail. Five children were on the swings as their parents pushed them. But nobody looked her way. Still, Taylor knew something wasn't right. It was as if somebody's gaze crawled over her. She sucked in a quick breath. Remember, breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Trepidation of the unknown raked through her like jagged fingernails. Taylor tightened her hands on the handle of the baby stroller and pushed it faster. Instead of walking to the swing-set like she'd promised her daughter, she headed back toward the parking lot. Four-year-old Megan tilted her head and looked at her with sad eyes. "Mommy? I wanna swing." "Not today." Taylor bit her tongue, wishing her tone hadn't been so sharp. Instinct told her to get out of there as fast as she could. Meggie's big blue eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip protruded. "I wanna swing." Taylor tried her best to smile, but her unsettled nerves made her lips quiver. "Meggie, let's go home and make some cookies. Doesn't that sound fun?" Meggie shrugged. "O-tay, but I wanna swing." Taylor glanced around the park, taking in the number of people standing by the fenced pond, the park benches, and the jungle gym. Since it was lunchtime, many walked toward the group of trees near the picnic areas. Out of all the people who surrounded her, there wasn't one she detected watching her every move. Still, the unidentified terror rushing through her testified differently. The closer to the parking lot she came, the more she wanted to break into a run. It was bad enough her poor daughter's head bounced in rocky rhythm as they dashed over the grassy knoll. The heavy pounding of Taylor's heart knocked through her chest, overriding the steps her athletic shoes made as they slapped the ground. Her car wasn't much farther. Who'd be doing this to her? Could it be one of the many people threatening her father? She should be used to this since he'd been threatened so many times in his profession. Although, this time was different. Her father had acted differently. She clenched her jaw. Two nights ago, her father informed her he'd been receiving threatening letters again. Threats weren't unusual for multi-billionaire Leland Mitchell, but he had mentioned hiring a bodyguard to protect her. She'd argued. Her safety had been just fine during her twenty-six years. So why was she fearing for her life now? Perhaps she should have accepted the bodyguard. Her little Meggie meant everything to her. Taylor couldn't allow anything to happen to her daughter. Almost to the car... Taylor slowed as she neared her shiny silver Audi. She slowed her breathing, hoping to ease the panic lodged in her dry throat. When she stopped, her legs trembled and her hands shook. Silently, she cursed the unknown fear doing this to her. As she reached to unlatch her daughter, she glanced over her shoulder. The cars that filled the parking lot held no immediate threat… none she could see, anyway. Meggie giggled and clapped. "Fun, Mommy. Do it again." Taylor didn't want to laugh, but the sweet cherub face of her red-cheeked daughter had her smiling anyway. "I don't think so, honey. Mommy's all out of breath from running." "You were fast." Meggie giggled. "Tickled my tummy." The burning in Taylor's throat matched the pain in her chest, and under her breath, she grumbled for feeling like she was out of shape. She wasn't, but fear made her body weak. She bent and rested her hands on her knees, breathing in deep gushes of air. Perhaps she was overreacting. She glanced behind her at each car. As far as she could tell, nobody had followed. She blamed her father for putting fear into her. He'd drained the fun out of her childhood and teenage years by being so overprotective; she didn't want him doing it any longer. She'd told him time and time again she needed to control her own life, not live under the Mitchell Dynasty's thumb. Once she helped Meggie out of her stroller, her daughter ran to the back of the car to help put it in the trunk. "No, honey, we'll just put this in the back seat." Meggie shrugged and skipped to her side. The keys rattled as Taylor reached with a shaky hand to hit the unlock button. She took a deep breath. Steady. Aiming, she clicked the remote and the doors unlocked. She yanked the door open and motioned to her daughter. "Hurry inside, honey." Heavy footsteps thudded on the pavement behind her. She turned her head and glanced in the direction of the sound. A man barreled toward her wearing a gray jogging suit and a black knit cap that covered most of his forehead. His heavy shoulder slammed into Taylor and her body struck the car. Pain raced up her spine as breath whooshed from her. The keys fell from her hands. He yanked Meggie and hooked her underneath his arm. Her daughter cried and stretched with outstretched arms. Fear gripped Taylor's throat and made it impossible to scream. She lunged for her daughter and grabbed at the man's baggy sleeve. With his elbow to her side, he shoved her away. The corner of the door struck her back with the force of a sledgehammer, and she collapsed to the pavement. The man zigzagged between the vehicles and dashed away. Regardless of the pain, she yelled, "Help me. He's got my baby." Tears sprang to her eyes and blurred her vision. She scrambled to her feet and broke into a run. Her lungs ached, her throat burned. The faster she ran, the weaker her legs became, but she couldn't stop. She also couldn't stop screaming, although nobody seemed to care, or help. The man headed for the clump of trees while Meggie cried out for her. Held like a football in this monster's arms, Meggie's head bounced as she reached out her arms toward Taylor. Big tears streaked down her daughter's face. As he ran toward the other side of the park, fear suffocated Taylor. Soon he'd be out of sight. She tripped and her body flew through the air. When she landed, her heart crumbled. An intense sting ripped through her bruised knees and scratched hands. A loud sob tore from her throat and tears streamed down her face. She couldn't stop now. Limbs shaking, she struggled to her feet, once more. A man in a business suit ran by her, holding a gun, as he headed directly for the monster who'd taken Meggie. The man in the suit suddenly stopped. Standing still, legs apart, he pointed his gun. A different kind of panic rushed through her. In an instant, she imagined the man shooting, but the bullet missing the kidnapper and striking Meggie, instead. "No! Don't shoot…" Taylor sprang toward him, adrenaline pumping through her weak limbs. The precise pop of the gun made her heart leap to her throat. She stopped and clutched her churning stomach. The kidnapper staggered then fell. Meggie slipped from his hold, screamed, and ran. The man in the suit darted in the direction of the attacker. When he reached her daughter, he swept her up in his arms. Meggie's white face stared up at him, her head bobbing to whatever the man said. He looked Taylor's way, pointed, and set her down. Meggie's eyes widened and she broke into a run. Sobbing, Taylor rushed to her daughter with open arms. Meggie barreled into them and Taylor crushed her daughter against her chest. Relief flooded through her. Tears continued pouring down her cheeks and she cried with her terrified daughter. In the distance, sirens wailed. When Taylor's distorted vision cleared, she focused on her daughter's rescuer who'd handcuffed the jogger and yanked him to his feet. As the kidnapper limped forward, blood oozed through the right leg of his sweatpants. Taylor looked down at her daughter. Brushing her hand over Meggie's wet face, she pushed away the long, wavy brown locks that had fallen into her eyes. "Are you okay?" Meggie's bottom lip trembled when she nodded. Without a word, she buried her face in Taylor's chest. Within minutes, a group of people surrounded Taylor and Meggie, inquiring to their welfare. Taylor wanted to shout accusations at them for not helping her when she cried out for help the first time, but knew it wouldn't do any good now, anyway. Instead of being bitter, she answered their questions as politely as she could under the circumstances. Two men in blue uniforms moved through the crowd and to Taylor's side. "Ma'am? Are you all right?" She nodded. "And the little girl?" "Yes." She sniffed. "We're fine, thanks to him." She pointed toward her rescuer. Who was he? The man acted like a cop. Thank heavens her rescuer was at the right place at the right time. She couldn't wait to thank him in person. For a brief moment, he looked familiar, but she brushed away the thought. And yet, tingles of remembrance rushed over her and bothered her greatly.