Secret Delivery by Delores Fossen

at you only minutes after that tornado trio came barreling in through here and tried to tear you to pieces. But the truth is, I don’t want to feel anything for you, Alana. Especially concern.”
    Concern. Well, at least he wasn’t feeling this crazy physical attraction. “I could use some concern. And some help. Jack, I’m scared, and I know I shouldn’t be admitting that to you. I should be trying to bluff you into thinking I’m strong enough to fight for custody.”
    He looked at her. Alana expected him to continue to snap at her. After all, she was as much of a threat to him as he was to her. But he didn’t.
    Jack reached out, put his fingers beneath her chin and lifted it. It wasn’t a hug, but it was as close to a comforting gesture as she could have hoped for.
    “Careful. I have a virus, remember?” she whispered.
    “Yeah, I remember. Just don’t breathe on me.”
    Despite the grumbled warning, his touch was warm. Welcoming. And Alana didn’t back away. She sat there and took everything he was offering.
    Until there was a sharp rap at the door.
    “Yeah?” he called out, and moved his hand. He moved his feet, too, and walked away from her.
    The deputy opened the door and stuck in his head. “Just got a call about that commitment order. Thought you’d want to know.”
    Jack glanced at her, probably debating if this was news he wanted to hear in private.
    “If this is about me, I have a right to hear it, too,” Alana reminded him.
    Jack seemed to consider that and then gave his deputy the nod.
    “I checked out the judge, Marvin Pierce. I doubt he signed anything. The guy’s been dead and buried for two years now.”
    Alana’s heart began to race. Finally, there was some proof that she’d been railroaded, but that only created more questions.
    “So, if he’s dead, who signed the order that imprisoned me?” she asked.
    The deputy shook his head. “Don’t know that, yet . It could be a paperwork snafu of some kind. Maybe someone typed in the wrong judge’s name when the file was logged into the computer.”
    That put a slight dent in the hope she’d just felt.
    “Let me know as soon as you hear anything else,” Jack instructed.
    Reyes assured him that he would, and he shut the door.
    Alana let out the breath she’d been holding. And then she studied Jack’s expression. He didn’t look as surprised and vindicated as she felt. “You suspected it might be a suspicious signature on those commitment papers?”
    “I considered it.” He paused and looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but there. “With all the otherthings that have happened, it’d be foolish for me not to be skeptical. Your unexplained departure from the hospital eight months ago. The date-rape drug Dr. Bartolo found in your blood. The incident in the alley last night, and Ted’s strange way of trying to recapture you.”
    She continued to study that intense expression. “You’re beginning to believe me.”
    He shrugged. Then nodded. Then shook his head. “I don’t want to believe you, but I don’t see how all of this could be aboveboard. Something’s wrong. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s all wrong. The commitment papers could have been legal,” he added.
    In some small way, he believed her. And that meant he might help her.
    Alana pushed harder and decided to ask for what she wanted most from him. “I need to see my son, Jack. Please .”
    She sat there, waiting, and it seemed like an eternity before he finally nodded. “I’ll let you see him. But there are some rules.”
    Alana silently cheered. She was willing to do what he asked. “Anything.”
    “You won’t leave the hospital until the doctor releases you. No more attempts to escape.”
    “Agreed.” Besides, there was no place she wanted to be other than with her son.
    “I’ll bring Joey here for a short visit. I don’t want you holding him because of the virus.”
    That would be hard, but she wouldn’t do anything to put Joey at risk. “What