Practicing Murder

by Unger, Erin;

  The woman ignored her and strode to the lobby and out the doors. She didn’t have killer written on her.

  When a workman in jeans and a black uniform shirt passed the hall, she leaned out to watch him go. Interesting. But when he pivoted on his heel and ogled her, Maddie pressed back against the wall, bumping her head. Where was Joze? She clenched the top of her collar, stifled by it. It took thought to breathe in and out. And to not look like she was about to have a panic attack.

  The man sauntered closer to the elevators.

  Should she leap in the other elevator and get out of there? But what about Joze?

  She gulped.

  He slid his fingers into the corners of his jeans pockets. “You the one looking for help?”

  “I—”

  Joze rounded the corner then stopped. “Sir, it’s the first one.”

  Joze moved to her and took her hand. Maddie squeezed back. “I’m fine.”

  Joze explained to the maintenance man what had happened in the elevator, then pulled her away. She didn’t resist. When he got her out the main doors, Joze steered her to the edge of some tall bushes. “Did you see someone familiar?”

  She checked their surroundings. In any other situation, it would seem like a superior clandestine location. Maddie did a double take. Why’d her mind go to that thought? She shook it off and pulled her hand out of his. “Um, no.”

  He gazed down at his empty palm. “You know, the chances of that being caused by someone are so slim…but still I don’t want to leave you alone.”

  She brushed the hair off her shoulder and bit her bottom lip. What if she didn’t want him to leave her alone once the bad guy was caught either?

  16

  The draw to Maddie wasn’t any good for Joze. He dropped his hand. If only she’d left her soft fingers entwined in his. He struggled to focus on the people coming and going down the sidewalk and then studied the enclosure of bushes. A good place to remain unseen. Had the unknown subject been here when they’d arrived and watched them enter the building? “If this situation is any sign, our unknown suspect has to work at this building. It would explain why the address was in the journal too.”

  Maddie shifted from foot to foot. “I don’t know. What if it’s a fluke thing? Not an intentional breakdown of the elevator? Could he have followed us again?”

  “Anything’s possible, but it’s not likely. I had my eye on the road the whole time. I didn’t see the same vehicle making turns with us.” He started to pace. “Hmm.” He looked up at the building. All the windows stared down at him. “We should get out of here. If he’s here right now, you need to be somewhere safe. And it wouldn’t hurt to call the police and report it just in case.”

  She checked the time on her phone. “I have to be home in an hour. And later tonight, all my cousins will be there. I can’t leave them alone with this crazy stuff happening.”

  What were the chances Mrs. Clare would let him stay at the house through the night? Not great. “Come on.”

  Maddie pulled onto the road, and he kept his eyes peeled behind them.

  She flipped her turn signal on and scooted between two cars. “I think we should call the police and report this.”

  Was the black SUV in the left lane following them? He strained to watch as it fell back a car length. “What could we tell them? We don’t know for sure what happened.”

  “True.” She stopped at a light in the right turn lane.

  The man behind the wheel never looked in their direction but drove through the main green light. Drumming a beat against his leg, Joze watched him pass and eased back.

  It didn’t take long to get to Anby, where Joze directed her to his parked car. The whole trip may’ve been uneventful, but he couldn’t shake the tension pulling at his muscles. “I’ll follow you, OK?”

  When he pulled into her drive, the security team sat in their van on the curb. He got out and waited for her to come through the garage.

  Two men converged on the porch, a tool bag and clipboard in their hands. They got to work planning out the installation and counting how many sensors to use. Then Maddie signed some forms and gave them reign to do what they needed to do. Sassie must’ve already worked out the general package she wanted and sent them specs on the house. What a relief they could come on such short notice.

  It took Joze a minute to stop staring at them as they headed to the back door. They didn’t need him assessing their every move. He reached out to Maddie. “Let’s read the journal. I want to know everything I can about this stalker.”

  She set her purse on the desk in the library. “Do you think he chased my aunt this much too?”

  “Wouldn’t your mom have known if it’d been this serious? They did share this house.”

  Maddie lowered herself into the desk chair and put her head in her hands. “My mom isn’t home a lot.”

  And she was very self-involved. Joze kept the comment to himself. His fingers itched to take the book from Maddie. With the slowest of movements, she took it out, stared at the cover, and then sighed.

  Come on, Maddie. What was she waiting for? “You want me to read it?” He knew the answer, but it was worth a shot. He put his hand out. “Please.”

  “Drag that chair over here. We’ll look at it together.”

  He didn’t have to be told twice. Lifting the chair over the desk, Joze deposited it as close to hers as he could get and sat.

  Maddie pushed one of her sleeves up and told him how many months the journal covered. “Where should we start? The beginning or what?”

  “We’ll have to do a lot of backtracking if we don’t.”

  She flipped to the first page. Several weeks of information on what went into trying to establish the new soap business seemed to be all Lonna Selby was worried about. Kids at college. Mrs. Clare not ever home. Nothing significant.

  As Maddie eased back in her chair she turned the page. “November ninth.” She rubbed her eyes. “She started working with her classmates on the upcoming reunion.”

  It was just too tempting to take the book. He reached for it, and she released it without a comment. Surprise. She went without a fight? “Want me to read it to you?”

  “Sure.”

  Joze creased the page. “OK.” He scanned a few lines. “She says she started a list of classmates and created a social media page for the reunion.”

  He read her the next several entries and then stopped. “Look.” He held it up for her to see. “She met someone from her class. She says she hopes to see him again.”

  They both stared at each other. This had to be significant. “So she was dating someone?”

  Keep reading. They had to be getting to vital clues. “She says, ‘We went out tonight. Had the best time. I can’t remember when the last time was that I’ve been out that late with a man. He didn’t get me flowers or anything. That must be a bygone thing. But still, he’s charming.’” He set the book in his lap. “She never mentioned any of this?”

  “Maybe it was short-lived. I don’t know.”

  He picked it back up and began to read. As he turned the page, the corner crumbled a little, leaving black soot on his jeans. Uh-oh, better be careful or she’ll snatch it back. He smoothed the fine paper with gentle fingers.

  One of the technicians tapped on the library door. “Ma’am, we’re almost finished. But, there are a few questions we wanted to clear with you.”

  Joze stretched forward to watch her leave and then thumbed through the book. If she caught him reading it without her there, would it start a world war? He took one more look at the hall. Where oh where was the information they really needed?

  Scanning fast, he ran his finger down each page and kept an eye on the door. More soap stuff and more laments about being home alone a lot. OK, no more boyfriend? His finger fell on the letter K again.

  Maddie hurried into the room, stopped at the desk, and thumped the table. He startled. She didn’t glance at him. Maybe she hadn’t noticed him digging through the pages
for information. He tried to look innocent.

  With exasperation, she raked a hand through her hair. “Who knew those things were so complicated? I hope I don’t forget all that stuff they told me.”

  “Did they give you a manual? We’ll figure it out as long as we have one.” How hard could it be?

  “Yeah.”

  He got up and stretched. “They left?”

  She nodded. “See, now I’m safe. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

  How could he possibly stop worrying about her now? This had gone from nothing to complicated in no time. “Yeah, but I don’t want to leave you anyway.” Did that sound desperate? He wasn’t going for desperate. “What if the police can’t get here in time?” That came out better. Bet she hadn’t considered that scenario. “And then he’s got you.”

  She frowned and fell into her seat. “I guess it’s possible but—”

  Come on Maddie, let me stay. He could sit out in his car and watch the place if she said no.

  And just like that she gave him a determined look, eyebrow arched. “I have got to get some homework done. Thanks for all that you’ve done.” It sounded like he was getting the boot. “It’s been good seeing you again.”

  Yep.

  She stood and went to the library door.

  “Why won’t you listen to me?” He set the book on the desk and stood. “I’m not trying to do anything but help.”

  Maddie pursed her lips. “I know. I really appreciate it too.”

  His fists balled at his sides. Fine. She wanted to take her chances? Go for it. “You have my number.”

  This woman made him nuts. Granted, not always in a bad way. He couldn’t deny how much he longed for the days when they were so close and had so much in common. A time when they were inseparable. Joze paced back and forth in front of his car. It took will-power not to kick the brand-new after-market tires he’d installed a few months back. How did she think she’d fend off a driven stalker? Didn’t she know that in the real world, women like her got hurt and even died because they didn’t take the situation seriously enough? He’d seen it on his watch. And he wasn’t going to let her be the next victim in his town.

  With determination, Joze sat in his car and rolled the window down. Time to do it his way.

  17

  Why’d Joze have to make a big deal about the security system and the police? Every sound from the ice machine kicking on, every movement or passing vehicle made her jerk to attention. For the fourth time, she tried to concentrate on her laptop screen.

  It didn’t make sense to send Joze away. She chewed her lip. He offered. She should’ve accepted. But it would mean she’d have to stave off feelings she’d put to death a long time ago. And it got harder with each passing hour. Which made no sense. She’d left him four years ago. Done. No going back. But now she couldn’t deny how much having him around made her want him again. Did he still care for her too? Yet the past couldn’t be forgotten.

  Wasn’t safety more important right now, though? And Joze hadn’t made a move on her yet. He’d been helpful and protective. And hadn’t she seen something in his eyes more akin to love than indifference? At the time she ignored it, but looking back Maddie had to admit it was there.

  She raked cold fingers through her hair and surveyed the yard outside the window.

  Her cell phone rang, and she checked the screen. Cousin Aster. She’d spent the day driving from New York to get home. “Hey, it’s me. Are you almost here?”

  Aster’s clear voice sounded through the phone. “I should be home in less than an hour.”

  “Great.” She didn’t need Joze after all. “Be safe.”

  They hung up.

  Devin, the oldest of Aunt Lonna’s children would be home a few hours from now. Who’d dare break in with a house full of people?

  Maddie dropped the device and got up to check the alarm system one more time. Dinner would be a good idea to make. She dug in the fridge and pulled out some ground beef. How about lasagna? It was her favorite meal to cook. She riffled through the cabinets. Was there sauce and noodles and cheese?

  After her search, everything but spinach sat on the countertop. Oh well, it would still be good without it. She started the water for the noodles, put the meat in a pan to fry, and picked up a wooden spoon.

  She plunged the spoon into the sauce and stirred. The whole time, Maddie couldn’t shake the sense of eyes watching her every move. Sheer curtains in the side window didn’t help block the view. At least there were solid blinds on the door window and the one over the sink.

  Maddie stopped herself from turning toward the window. Should she get a blanket from the closet and throw it over the curtain rod?

  She set down the wooden spoon and headed straight to the closet. Why keep suffering?

  With the job done, she stood back and regarded it. Finally, she could stop worrying that her own personal stalker was out there, peeking in.

  With the last layer of cheese in place, Maddie picked up the pan to put it in the oven.

  A beeping screamed through the house. She grasped the pan, heart in her throat. The door knob turned. She dropped the pan and it clattered on the counter.

  Aster entered through the back door, fumbling with something. “What’s that horrid sound?”

  Maddie grasped her chest. She sucked in a breath and then hurried to the alarm wall mount. What code word had she picked? She hit the silence button and put the password in. It quieted a moment later. “You scared me to death.”

  A suitcase dropped out of Aster’s hands to the tiled floor. “And that thing scared me. Since when did Aunt Sassie need a security system? She won’t even lock the doors when she’s at work.”

  How could she avoid the interrogation? She sputtered but couldn’t find the right lie. “You know, times are different. I convinced her it would be good to have one.” That sounded weak. “You never know what could happen.”

  Aster set the rest of her things down and ran to hug Maddie. “I missed you. It smells good in here. Please tell me that’s your lasagna.”

  “It is.” She relished the hug. “I want to hear all about college in New York.”

  Her cousin pulled away. “I’ll be right back. Potty break.”

  Maddie picked up the pan again and deposited it in the oven. Twenty minutes would do.

  She moved her cousin’s things to the bottom of the stairs. Could she convince Aster they should bunk in the same room tonight? Somehow, she didn’t think it would go over too well since they hadn’t done so in over ten years.

  That’s right, Devin would be home tonight too. She let her chin fall to her chest as she leaned against the stair railing. Too much stress was making her sick. Her stomach rumbled with acid.

  It was going to be OK, wasn’t it? If only she could call on God as she had as a child. But He would never answer her, not after she’d decided to forget His existence. Maybe He’d sent the present trouble. Why would He get her out of it, even if she wanted to believe in prayer again?

  Aster practically skipped toward her. She pushed her glasses up on her nose, and her blue eyes sparkled. “Hey.” Her hand was warm on Maddie’s shoulder. “What’s going on?”

  Everything. “Nothing.” She shifted her focus. “I just can’t believe what’s happened to Aunt Lonna. I never thought we’d be here dealing with this. Not right now.”

  Aster didn’t hold back the tears the way Maddie did. Maddie took her cousin in her arms and rubbed her back the way she had when they were kids and Aster was upset or hurt. Aster’s soft blond curls blocked her vision for a moment.

  “You’ve always been like a little mama to us, Maddie. Thank you.”

  Maddie couldn’t stave off the stinging in her eyes. “You’re welcome.” She pulled away. “I better check the lasagna.”

  Tangy spaghetti sauce and basil aromas filled the air. At least the normalcy of a meal with family could keep the creeps out of her mind for a while.

  The shrieking alarm split thro
ugh the room again. Good thing the pan wasn’t in her hand yet. Maddie hopped up.

  Mom.

  She ran to reenter the code again.

  Sassie set her briefcase down. “I see they came.”

  When was the last time Mom had bothered to come home so early? “I wasn’t expecting you ’til late.”

  Mom kicked her shoes across the floor. “You made your lasagna?”

  “Uh-huh. Except it’s missing the spinach.” Maddie tilted her head and studied her mom. “How was work?”

  “Good. Busy.” She stood from peering in the stove. “I do hear you, ya know.”

  Better not get into that discussion in front of Aster. “Thanks, Mom. Want to eat in the dining room?”

  Mom smiled. “That would be nice. Let me change.”

  Maddie and Aster set the long oak table in the beige and cream room. Aster put a fork at each setting. “When’s Devin going to be here? He didn’t make it home for Christmas. I miss him.”

  He never did maintain contact well. “He should be home by nine tonight.”

  Mom came back wearing yoga pants and a cotton T-shirt. “I’ll get the glasses.”

  With fingers crossed, the meal had a slight chance of happening with minimal tension. Maddie took the pan out and brought it to the table.

  The doorbell sang a song from the front foyer. Who could that be? Maddie dropped the napkin onto the table and hurried out of her chair. “I’ll get it.”

  Aster beat her to the dining room doorway. “Let me. You cooked. Relax.”

  She opened and shut her mouth. What if—?

  The alarm system beeped. Good, her cousin remembered to disarm it.

  Joze’s voice carried down the hall. “It’s good to see you again.”

  As the voices drew closer, Aster giggled. “Yeah. I didn’t know you were back.”

  Maddie put her hand to her forehead. What was he doing here? Great. Mom and he would be the death of the meal for sure. She stood and worked to stabilize the shrill in her voice. “Hey, Joze.”

  Mom’s eyes grew big, but her gaze stayed on the cheesy mess on her plate. “Joseph.”