by Unger, Erin;
As they pulled out of the parking space, she looked over her shoulder. Outside the glass doors she spied a man in a white coat. She shook Joze’s shoulder. “He’s—there. He must’ve seen us.”
Jerking the car into drive, Joze swung around. “I see him. Get down.”
Maddie hadn’t known it was possible to get on the highway so fast. Please don’t start crying. “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to the police station.”
33
How had Keith Adcock discovered them at the doctor’s offices? Joze kept his eye on the rear-view mirror the whole way to the police station. This was unbelievable.
He checked Maddie for the hundredth time on the way into the station. She was failing at the tough look, and it made him want to pull her into his arms and tell her he’d do anything to protect her. Instead, he took her hand and squeezed it. “Hey, we’ve got this. Now we have a good idea who is after you and the police can progress in their investigation. It’s going to be OK. We’ll get a restraining order.”
“They don’t work.” She must’ve heard horror stories about them too.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Do you think he’ll follow me to college? I don’t know what to do, Joze.”
If only he had the answers. “We’ll figure it out.”
At the police station, Maddie dropped onto one of the hard waiting room chairs in the gray room. “I want this to be over. At this point, I’d set myself up as bait and let him come. I’m too tired to keep running.”
He sat next to her. “No, you won't. Listen, calm down and think. We’re here, and you’ve got backup.”
He went to the window and avoided resting his hands on the darkened edge of the counter. He bet he could name a hundred different bacteria in that one spot. Boy, someone needed to get out some cleaning products. One of the officers he dealt with regularly headed into the tiny space behind the glass. “Hey, Brown. Is Officer Tuttle available?”
The officer behind the counter rubbed his bald head. “Evans. I thought you were on duty today.”
“I had to take a few days off. How’s it going?”
“Been a little quiet. I guess it’s a good week for your vacation. They wouldn’t be able to do it without you otherwise, man.”
Joze grinned. “Oh, I’m sure Crozak has it covered.”
Brown hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “Jimmy boy? I don’t know.” He leaned in. “What’re you doing down here if you’re on vacation?”
“Need a little support. That’s all.”
“Let me check.” He marched away.
It probably would’ve been a better idea to call first. Tuttle could be out on patrol or off duty.
He eyed Maddie. If she’d truly trust him, he could get somewhere, but she was still holding back. He didn’t get it.
Joze pulled out his phone and tapped it to see the time. Then he parked himself beside Maddie, not quite touching the wall with his back.
Brown tramped out into the lobby. “He’s on a call. He said to meet him at the Clare residence. Can I help with anything? Is it an emergency?”
Maddie stood and joined them. Officer Brown nodded in her direction. “Ma’am.”
Should he bring another officer into the case? “No, but thanks.”
They fist bumped each other. “See you around.”
And he hoped he wouldn’t regret that decision.
34
Where was Officer Tuttle?
Joze dropped onto Maddie’s sofa and took one last look at her bandaged hand. He’d disinfected and rewrapped it. It took some Dermabond in the end to close up the wound.
He checked the grandfather clock in the corner again. Thirty minutes since they’d gotten back. That was forty-five minutes since they’d left the police station. He ran a hand through his hair. Why was he so edgy? He knew better than to think the police were even capable of running to every call. He’d been on the other side long enough to know his impatience was unwarranted. But still. The doctor saw them. He must know they were scoping him out. And now the danger level for Maddie was through the roof.
The doorbell chimed, and he bolted off the couch. “I’ll get it.”
Maddie wasn’t far behind him. When he opened the door, Joze took a step back. “Hello?”
Two women smiled at both of them. Had he seen them at the funeral? What a terrible time for visitors. What if Officer Tuttle showed up while they were there? It’d be as awkward as when Mrs. Canney brought the food the other day and had most certainly seen them fighting.
Maddie stepped in front of him and he backed away. “Can I help you?”
The shorter one folded her hands together over an orange dress that looked like a potato sack. “This may be a very bad time, but Mrs. Clare said we could pick up some paperwork Lonna had for the reunion. We’re getting behind in our schedule and hoped you wouldn’t mind if we stopped by for it.”
The other one combed through her graying hair.
He glanced at her.
“That’s right. We met at the funeral.” Maddie ushered them in. She blinked hard. Every mention of her aunt seemed to warrant that response. He fought the urge to wrap his arm around her shoulder and pull her close.
The shorter one put out her hand. “Patty Wells.”
Maddie took it, but her face remained blank. Was she still dwelling on her aunt?
The other lady sniffed and put out her hand. “Trisha Pord.”
Maddie looked from one to the other. “Let me get them.”
Joze followed on her heels. She put up a hand to stop him. “It’ll only take a second. Why don’t you seat them in the living room?”
He quirked an eyebrow. She obviously wasn’t thinking. “No way. I’m going with you. Who knows if the doc is out there? He’s had more than enough time to get here.” He tried to keep the resentment out of his voice but failed. It wasn’t any fun being on the other side of police and medical staff.
“That’s true.” She sighed, swiped a hand across her forehead, and then pivoted on her heel and returned to the foyer. “You two can be seated if you’d like.”
The women scuttled into the living room and looked around as if it was the first time they’d been there, checking the antiques on the mantel and studying a few old photos on the wall.
Joze and Maddie went straight to the office. Joze’s gaze darted over the yard and woods. On full alert, he checked the backside of the building before heading upstairs.
Maddie took the one pile of papers they’d set on the desk.
He studied every corner of the room. Had it only been yesterday he’d admitted to believing her about Todd? And where did they stand now? Once she came around, they’d worked together like a well-oiled machine. One that needed the other’s input. Her ferocious care for her family was beginning to include him, too. He loved that about her.
How nice it would be to pull her close. He pushed back the dangerous thoughts. Right now, he needed to hyper focus on their surroundings.
Maddie cleared her throat. “You OK?”
Heat rose up his face. “Uh, yeah.”
She moved closer, almost in the same spot as yesterday and he gulped.
Joze dropped the papers. He placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her closer. How good it was to have her in his embrace. And he had to touch her lips. He lowered his mouth to hers, not quite touching. Like the other night. But this time there were no interruptions. Would she let him kiss her?
She blinked. His breath picked up speed. And hers. He was so close.
Her eyes shined up to him. She seemed to be wrestling with want too. “Joze.”
“Maddie,” his response was soft.
Her hand went to his chest, and his heart beat strong against it.
He stayed just close enough. “We’ve wasted so much time.”
Maddie narrowed her eyes, but he continued, “Not here. I—I mean since the incident.”
“Those two ladies. We have to get back to
them.”
She tried to leave, but he pulled her back. “Wait.”
He could almost taste her lips. And then his mouth was on her hot and moist yet soft mouth.
Maddie stiffened, but he pulled her closer until she yielded.
“Please forgive me,” he said.
“I don’t know.” But she didn’t back away.
So many emotions clogged his thinking. He should stop, keep a level head while the stalker remained on the loose. But his body refused.
“We need to get downstairs before they wonder what happened.”
Good common sense. He loosed his grip on her, but she continued to look into his eyes. He knew he couldn’t let her return to her old life without him.
Maddie put a hand to her cheek. “Come on.”
He stayed put. “Say you feel the same as I do.”
She looked down. With distracted movements, she scooped up the papers he’d dropped.
Fine. He could wait. For her.
When she stood, she touched his arm. “Later, OK?”
Just as he thought she was about to reach up to touch his lips, she laughed and moved away. “Later.”
Sure. He fought the desire to ignore her comment and yank her into a tight embrace. How did she have so much restraint? And why couldn’t she admit she felt the same way he did? He could see it in her eyes.
They locked the door behind them and took the papers to the women, but his eyes were only on her the whole way and not the yard and road where they should’ve been. Maddie sifted through them one last time. “I hope what you’re looking for is in there. I don’t know of any other forms pertaining to the reunion.”
Patty took them and flipped through the pile. “Here’s the main one we need. Look Trisha.”
Trisha peered over Patty’s shoulder. “Yes ma’am.”
With a wave, Patty went to the door. “Thank you so much for taking the time to see us.” She paused, her hand on the door. “Isn’t it sad how your Aunt Lonna finally found love again and now she’s gone. Just when she was starting over. And the soap business….”
Maddie grasped Joze’s arm and pressed close to him. “Do you know who that person was?”
Hadn’t they already figured out it was the doc? He gave her a questioning look.
Trisha screwed up her face. “She didn’t tell you? It was Robert Adcock.”
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who was that? They’d found Keith Adcock not a Robert Adcock. “Do you mean Keith Adcock?”
Both women frowned and Patty said, “No. Robert. We went to school with him.”
Maddie tightened her hands into a knot. “Is Robert Keith’s middle name by chance?”
“We don’t think so. His middle initial in the year book was a B. I remember because I was writing up the now and then photo forms for the photography company only last week. But I think he may’ve had an older brother.”
Joze held the door for them. Dusk crept across the porch. “Well, thanks for the information.”
Maddie yanked him into the living room. “What in the world? I’m confused.”
Not more than him. “Two men with the same last name? It’s got to be part of the fraud your aunt was checking out.”
She froze. “My aunt would’ve known if the guy wasn’t the same man she went to school with.”
He stroked his chin and paced the floor. “What if they’re related and look a lot alike? Hence the reason she didn’t pick up on the difference. It has been what…thirty years? It’s a long time and plenty of people change after high school.”
With a glimpse out the window, Joze noted the street lights blinking along the street. The almost dark was always so hard to see into with the gray filtration of dark and light mixed. He moved to the side window and squinted to see into the woods. Where was Tuttle? Energy pulsed through his veins making it hard to sit still. The sooner all this was over, the better.
Maddie tinkered around in the living room, looking as nervous as he was. She fluffed pillows, moved a set of books several times, and even pushed the rug an inch with her foot to straighten it.
They’d missed lunch and his stomach growled. “I’m calling the officer again. It’s been way too long.” He pulled out his cell phone. “I keep forgetting I don’t have his number.”
“You want me to call him?”
It might be better considering she was the victim. “Go ahead.”
He planted himself beside her and tried to listen through the other side of her phone. The voice on the other end came through clear. “Miss Clare, I’m on my way.”
Joze nodded at her. Maddie replied, “See you soon.”
When she hung up, Joze helped her off the couch. “Think we can get something to eat afterward? I’m starving.”
“Sounds good to me.” Maddie brushed her hands through her hair and pulled at her shirt.
“You look fine. Make sure you have the flash drive. I need to use the boys’ room. I’ll be right back.”
“Oh, sure. Sorry if I forgot to put a clean towel in there to dry your hands.”
He shooed away her worry.
Five minutes later, Joze treaded down the hall. Why was the house so quiet? Deadly quiet. “Maddie?”
No answer.
Blood rushed to his head, and his heart pounded. Dread filled his gut. “Maddie. Where are you?”
Only silence answered.
35
Dirt and leaves filled Maddie’s mouth as she struggled against the hard grip of the man pinning her down, her face to the ground. Earthy decay filled her nostrils. She tried to scream, but he smashed her even harder into the loose soil, sending mud up her nose. She kicked and flailed against his body that pinned her, but her zip-tied wrists made it impossible to get her bearings. Why had she opened the front door? All she had to do was wait for Joze to return. He wouldn’t have fallen for the costume police hat. Tears burned the corners of her eyes.
Something overhead creaked, and the man flipped her over and pointed the long barrel of a gun toward the slats of the porch above.
The front door opened and Joze rushed out. He was talking, almost yelling into his cell, “She’s gone.”
Using her eyes, she pleaded with the man. Please don’t shoot him.
Dr. Adcock nodded toward Joze. The street light barely reached through the lattice work along the bottom of the porch, but she got his meaning.
As the stairs groaned, Joze’s boots clumped down them and his voice grew quieter as he headed to the woods.
Keith heaved her toward the tiny section of loose lattice work where he’d dragged her in. “Don’t say a word.”
She nodded, eyes big.
At the opening, he pushed her out and half-dragged her to the neighbor’s driveway. She scanned the yard. All lights were out and no cars were in the drive. Just as she was about to scream, he guessed her thoughts and threw his arms around her neck and over her mouth, pulling a few strands of hair out. She swallowed a squeal. Her nose burned from the dirt forced in when her face slammed into the ground. She tried not to breathe too deeply. The burning was bad enough.
He yanked her around to the backyard and shoved her against the corner of the old Victorian house. After surveying the area, he forced her across the grass and through two more yards, and then cut along the side path to the front of Mr. Conner’s house.
The tan sedan waited in the empty drive. Bile filled her mouth. He threaded his hand through her tied arms and opened the trunk, setting her off balance. She struggled to remain upright. Numbness threatened to overtake her mind. No. She needed to take in everything, but her body began to give in to the terror permeating her being.
“No. Please.”
The gun went to her head. “Get in.”
Maddie pulled back, shaking her head.
“Now. Or I’ll hog tie you.”
She clambered over the bumper and into the trunk. He threw the hat in beside her. The door clanked close and encased her in dank darkness as black as a quagmire. Her sobs echoed in
the little space.
Streetlights flooded in a second later. She breathed in fresh air and relief. Had Joze found her and stopped the doctor?
A man towered over her. She squinted to see him, but he blocked out the light and his shadow covered him. He was too tall to be Joze. Maddie cried out. The doctor stuffed a cloth into her mouth. Maddie gagged and tried to move her head away, but he wrenched a clump of her hair back and held her tight while he shoved it in a bit more. The roots of her head stung.
And the door closed again.
Maddie tried not to gag and throw up. She didn’t want to die like this.
The car reversed and threw her into the metal framework. Her head pounded against the wheel well, surging pain like lightning across her skull.
It hurt to do anything, but she had to stay vigilant. Think. What direction was he going? She tried to keep up with his turns but there were so many she couldn’t. With her hands tied behind her back, Maddie couldn’t reach anything except the wires to the speaker system. She pulled as hard as possible. One by one they gave.
The car squealed to a stop. How long had they been on the road? Not more than thirty minutes.
The trunk door slid open again. This time all she saw was a huge metal flashlight as the doctor swung it through the air and at her head.
36
Officer Tuttle pulled up to the Clare house beside Joze, who paced a hole in the front yard. He yelled, “Where have you been?”
The officer’s hands went up. “Calm down. Four squads are on their way. Now tell me what happened.”
With all the strength he could muster, Joze thrust his hands to his side and not across the officer’s face the way he wanted to. “I left her alone for five minutes. That’s all. The alarm was on. Everything was locked up. And when I came out, Maddie was gone.”
He went back to pacing, waving his hands as he spoke. “Do something now.”
The officer marched to the side yard, flashlight out and hand on weapon.
“I already checked the woods, the backyard, across the street.”
More light began to bounce around the trees as more cruisers pulled up. Brown climbed out of the second car. “You OK, Evans?”