by Curry, Edna
* * * *
Sheriff Ben patrolled his county often and with a sharp eye and had trained his deputies to do the same. He knew most of the local people by sight and by name, but tourists were numerous and a different story. This scenic valley was only an hour from the Twin Cities, thus a popular outdoor day trip, especially when the weather cooperated.
It was impossible to know which tourists were peaceful citizens out to enjoy the lovely river valley and which were hoodlums out to find a way to rip off others. He knew looks could be very deceiving. Some of the worst con artist thieves he’d met wore neat business clothes and talked politely.
After talking to Matt, he kept a lookout for anyone who might be Hank. He wished Loni had had a picture of the man to give him. Without one, all he had was a vague description which could fit a number of men. Besides that, if Hank suspected Loni had reported him and the police might be watching for him, he might be wearing a disguise to evade them.
He cruised past Dee’s house for the third time that evening and went back to the Flame to meet Tom, one of his deputies, for coffee and an update. He didn’t want to ask him about this over the radio.
Tom was already seated at their favorite back booth, where they could talk with a bit of privacy.
“Find anything?” Ben asked, sliding into the booth and signaling the waitress for coffee.
“Not a soul who looks suspicious, but I saw a half dozen guys who were the right age, size and weight.” Tom ran long fingers through his dark hair in a nervous gesture.
Ben nodded. “I saw several possible men, too. The trouble is, for all we know, Hank could be right under our nose, driving a different vehicle, going by a false name. Or maybe he’s dyed his hair.”
“True. We’ve got nothing to hold him on, if we do find him, do we?”
“No.” Ben said shortly. “Though if we’re sure it’s him, I can hold him for a few hours for questioning. Or I can hold him on vagrancy or littering or something, if I have to.”
The waitress brought them their usual order of coffee and hot frosted cinnamon rolls, then left again.
Tom bit into his roll. “I don’t see how arresting him for a little while on a temporary charge will help. It might make him madder and more likely to retaliate against Loni.”
“I suppose. But men who scare women like he’s scared Loni make me mad, too. I’d like to lock him up and throw away the key.” He bit into his cinnamon roll like he was taking a bite out of Hank.
Tom grinned and chewed thoughtfully. “I don’t think that’s legal, Ben.”
“Humph. More’s the pity.”
* * * *
Hank drove into Canton and followed the directions to Dee Jacob’s house he’d printed off the internet.
He’d taken the precaution of using a rented car instead of his own vehicle and dying his hair dark brown. He’d made the mistake of showing up too soon after the jewelry store heist. He’d hoped Loni would welcome a familiar face and consider him a comforting hero. Instead, she’d rejected his invitation and made the police suspicious of him. They’d even showed up at his door to question him. He’d had to be extra polite to convince them he’d just happened to hear about the robbery on his scanner and only wanted to help out a friend. When they’d asked him about her threatening phone calls, he had even suggested she’d made them up and was just a dumb blonde looking for attention.
She hadn’t seemed to mind asking the police for help then, so he had no doubt she’d done so again here in her hometown, where she might even know some officers personally. Little towns were hot-beds of buddy-buddy connections. So he had a reason to be cautious.
He had tried several times to reach her, but either she wasn’t home or wasn’t answering her phone.
Hank found Dee’s address, turned into the drive and parked his car. Nice house, in a quiet, rural setting. Lots of trees for cover and no close neighbors to snoop to see who was visiting. Good! He picked up the yellow rose he’d brought as a peace offering and went to the door.
He rang the doorbell. When no one answered, he tried knocking. Still no one answered. Giving a quick glance around to be sure no one was watching, Hank picked the lock and walked inside.
“Loni? Are you here, darling? It’s me, Hank. We had a date for dinner, remember?”
Silence.
Hank swore. The bitch wasn’t here. She’d ignored his phone message making the dinner date. Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen her car, either.
He walked into the living room and saw the answering machine on an end table beside an upholstered chair. Punching the play button, he heard his own voice, leaving the messages. Another message was from Dee, asking Loni to call her.
Angrily, he deleted his messages. No sense giving her a sample of his voice to give to the cops. Maybe she’d gone out of town for a business trip or something? And never gotten his message.
Hope flared. Maybe she wasn’t rejecting him after all; she was just out doing something. After all, apparently, she hadn’t called her aunt, either.
Feeling encouraged, he strolled around the house. Loni had left a robe hanging in the bathroom. It still carried her perfume. He hugged it to himself, delighting in her delicious scent, then found her bedroom. He laid the yellow rose on her dresser, where she’d be sure to see it and know he’d been here, thinking about her, dreaming about them making love. Maybe she’d dream about him in return and call to set up a new dinner date. Maybe she hadn’t even heard his message.
In her clothes hamper, he found a filmy white nightgown and some lacy pink panties. He put a pair to his nose, breathing in her scent. God, he wanted her.
He lay back on her bed, burying his face in her pillow, enjoying her own special scent. He fantasized about making love to her here in her own bed. He grew hard and dropped his pants to satisfy his frustration.
If only she were here to touch him in person, he thought, accepting the substitute of his own stroking hand. He remembered the feel of her soft skin the night he’d drugged her and undressed her. He’d put her to bed and touched her all over, sliding his fingers where he wanted to enter her. Her breasts had tasted so good. His heart beat faster, remembering how it had made him feel then. He wanted her here now, under him, not this poor substitute of his own hand. He’d thought about taking her that night, had wanted to so bad he’d almost given in to the urge, even though he knew she was out cold and couldn’t respond.
But he’d resisted, wanting her awake under him, especially for the first time he took her. He needed to feel her response to him inside her, so he’d put off making love to her that night. He wanted to wait until he could convince her to willingly be his. So far, she hadn’t agreed.
But she would. Women always liked him. He could have any number of them. Why did he want this one, who was being a bitch and not a loving wench like he wanted her to be?
His hand pumped faster and faster. At last he bucked with hollow satisfaction. Exhausted with the effort, he lay back on Loni’s bed, dreaming. He didn’t understand himself. But he would have her if that’s what his body wanted.
Sitting up, he pulled up his pants. He stuffed her filmy nightgown back into the hamper, but put her pink, lacy panties in his pocket. He needed a souvenir. Besides the one he always took post-mortem, for his little crystal decanters. That one would have to wait.
When he stood up to leave, he spied some notepaper on the desk under the window. He grinned, deciding to write her a note, so she’d know how much she’d missed tonight. Maybe reading it would make her as hot as he’d been and the next time he called, she’d be more willing to let him make love to her.
Tucking the note under the rose on her dresser, he walked back to the living room.
Too bad she hadn’t left her computer or phone here. He could have copied her address book to help him keep track of her.
But listening to conversations picked up by bugs had proven too time-consuming. Most of what he’d heard had been simply girl talk, nothing useful at all, though
he had learned about Don that way. Yeah, he’d gotten one good result. So maybe the bugs weren’t completely useless.
He should go back to his apartment and see if there was any new info from the last one he’d planted. He didn’t think she’d found that one yet.
He went outside, turning the lever to lock the door again. He peeked in the window of the garage and saw her car. Anger surged hot in his gut.
So, the bitch wasn’t away on a business trip after all. She was out with someone else again. It was time to teach her a lesson she’d remember.
Glancing around to make sure no one had noticed him, he slipped inside the garage.
* * * *
Maria closed her dress shop and ate a quick supper at the Flame, then decided to drop in on Cindy. They needed to get organized for Jolene’s birthday party, and Loni hadn’t been much help last night. Luckily, she, Maria, didn’t have boyfriend troubles. Or maybe, it was un-luckily. She sighed as she punched the doorbell. She hadn’t had a decent relationship for a year.
Cindy answered the door with her two-year-old daughter, Teri, on her hip. “Oh, it’s you, Maria. Come in.”
“Hi!” Teri said, and leaned forward, reaching chubby arms out to Maria.
Maria gave her a kiss and asked, “Hi Sweetums! How’s my girl today?”
“Crabby and running a slight fever,” Cindy answered for her daughter, closing the door behind Maria.
“I’m sorry to drop in like this. If tonight isn’t convenient, I can come over tomorrow night instead?”
“No, no, tonight is fine. I have to put Teri to bed, and then I’ll be with you.” She waved a hand at the family room where the TV was blaring. “Make yourself at home. Harvey’s at a Lion’s club meeting, so we have the house to ourselves for a couple of hours. Tell Maria nighty-night, Teri.”
“Do I have to?”
“Yes, you do. It’s past your bedtime.”
“Sleep tight, Sweetheart,” Maria said and gave her another kiss and wave goodnight.
Teri eyed her over Cindy’s shoulder as her mother carried her up the stairs.
Maria watched them disappear down the hall, then sank into the soft, slip-covered sofa and picked up the remote from the end-table. No one was watching the TV, so she turned the sound down to a bearable level and changed the channel.
Cindy’s house was clean, but cluttered with toys and books. Definitely relaxed and lived in. The kind of house she hoped to have someday, if she ever found a husband and got a house. Her little apartment was nice, but it got pretty lonely there.
Cindy returned with cold sodas. She handed one to Maria and sank into the chair opposite her. She popped her can open, took a long drink and sighed.
Maria eyed her as she popped the top on her own can of soda. “I take it you’ve had a long day?”
Cindy nodded. “She’s got more energy than I ever thought a kid could have. She’s in bed now and I hope she’ll sleep through the night.”
Maria asked, “Has she been keeping you up nights? Isn’t she a little old for that?”
Cindy laughed. “Sorry to disillusion you. Teri is cutting a back molar, so has been crabby and running a temperature for days. She’s had far more trouble with those than she did any of her other teeth. But you didn’t come here to hear about babies.”
“I love hearing about her. I thought we might put the final touches to the plans for Jolene’s birthday party.”
Cindy sighed. “I take it you and Loni didn’t get that done last night?”
Maria sipped her soda and shook her head. “No. Loni was pretty distracted.”
“Oh? What happened? Is Dee okay?”
“I’m sure her aunt is fine. No, Loni was upset about an old boyfriend. I think that’s what he is, anyway. He sent her a fresh yellow rose and she threw it in the trash.”
“Really? How odd. Did she say why?”
“Only that he won’t take no for an answer. Apparently she broke up with him but he keeps pursuing her.”
“Maybe he really loves her?”
Maria lifted a doubtful shoulder. “She doesn’t seem to think so. Or at least, she acted more afraid than flattered.”
“How odd. Nobody we know, I assume?”
“No,” Maria assured her. “She said she just dated him a few times in Chicago.”
“Maybe we’d better keep an eye on her then. Where is she tonight?” Cindy leaned back in her chair and slipped off her shoes.
“I think she’s out with Matt. At least, I saw them leave the mall together earlier tonight.”
“Aha. Maybe she just doesn’t want the old boyfriend to know she has a new one.”
“Maybe,” Maria said. “But I think it’s more than that.” Hadn’t she told Jolene there was something odd about Loni’s behavior when she first came back to town? She had a bad feeling about this.
Chapter 10
Four hours later, Matt and Loni cuddled in the king sized bed in the Duluth hotel.
He kissed her and stroked her curls back from her face. “Did you like the movie?”
“It was a cute love story.” Loni moved restlessly.
“Oh!” he groaned. “You know what you’re doing to me, wiggling like that, don’t you?”
“I can’t get comfortable enough to fall asleep.”
He trailed a finger along her arm and down her breast, tracing the tip until she shivered. “You need a sleeping pill.”
She frowned at him. “I never take pills to sleep.”
“I didn’t mean that kind of pill.” He grinned, cupped a hand over her mound and slipped a finger lower to tease the center. “This kind.”
“Oh.” She blushed and tried to wiggle away. “I thought you were tired.”
“I’m never too tired for that.” Matt trailed kisses along her neck and then moved lower to nip the pink tip of her breast. She gasped and arched against him, then reached down between them to tease him in return.
This time the lovemaking was slow and sensual. “I want to find every sensitive spot on your lovely body,” Matt assured her, and proceeded to do just that.
* * * *
Sunday morning, Matt and Loni slept late then spent quite a long time leisurely swimming in the hotel pool. Later, they checked out of their room and spent an hour shopping at the mall. Her stalker and the problems back home seemed far away, even unreal.
As they walked back to his car, Loni asked, “Would you mind making a quick stop before we head home?”
“Sure. Where would you like to go?”
“My Uncle Pete lives a couple miles off Interstate 35 on the way home. I haven’t seen him in ages. He’s sort of a loner, but I’m sure he’d love to see us.”
Matt frowned. “I didn’t know you knew anyone up here.”
“I guess I haven’t mentioned him.” She shrugged and raised an eyebrow. “Have you told me about every one of your relatives?”
“No, but how do you know he’ll be home?”
“He’s always home. And he’s nice, Matt. He won’t bite you.”
“Whatever you say.” A bad feeling about doing this slid through Matt, but he said no more. What could he say that would make any sense? She’d been through so much already. He couldn’t deny her the comfort of seeing a beloved relative. He’d keep his eyes open.
“Turn here,” Loni said as they drove down the Interstate. “He lives down this road a couple of miles.”
After they’d followed a blacktopped road for a few minutes, she directed him to stop at a neat, white frame house set back off the road and surrounded by evergreens. They drove down the short lane and parked in front of the garage. A large pile of split wood was stacked neatly beside the porch. A wooden swing hung from chains, seeming to invite them to sit and watch the sunset. “What a peaceful setting. No wonder he likes living here.”
“I agree. Come on,” Loni encouraged, getting out of the car.
Matt followed her as she ran up the steps and rang the bell.
A gnarled, gray haired man open
ed the door cautiously. “Loni!” He stepped out and wrapped his long arms around Loni in a bear hug.
“For heaven’s sakes, what brings you up to this neck of the woods?”
“We were in Duluth, Uncle Pete, and I just had to stop and say hello before we went back. This is Matt Bennes, a good friend.”
Pete reached out to shake his hand, then, commanded, “Come in, come in. I’m so glad you stopped. I was just making myself a pot of tea.”
“We’d like some tea, Uncle Pete.”
They followed him into the kitchen where a teakettle whistled on an old-fashioned wood burning range and a red checked cloth covered the wooden table. The delicious scent of ginger filled the air. Loni pulled out a ladder backed chair and dropped her purse on the floor.
“So how’s Mindy doing? And Dee?” Pete asked, pouring hot water over tea bags.
“They’re fine. Why don’t you call them and ask them yourself?”
He tossed her a grin. “Well, I do now and then. But, you know me; I hate to spend money on just breezing. Not much new up here to talk about, you know.”
He waved Matt to take a chair, and set the cups in front of them, then filled a wooden bowl with cookies and put it in the middle of the table.
“Ah, gingersnaps! You’ve been baking.”
Pete grinned. “It’s either learn to cook or go hungry when you live alone.”
“Have your boys been home lately?” Loni asked.
“Tom was here on layover last weekend. He’s an airline pilot,” he informed Matt proudly. “Haven’t seen Joe for a while. Should be popping in soon, though.”
“I’m sure he will,” Loni murmured.
“He keeps wanting me to move to Minneapolis, but I’m not too fond of crowds. I’ll go when I have to, but not before.”
They’d visited for an hour when the phone hanging on the far wall rang. Pete got up to answer it. He turned back to them with a puzzled look on his face. “It’s for you, Loni.”
“Me?” Loni said. She turned pale, but got to her feet and moved to answer it.