UNAWARE: A Suspense Novel

by Susan P. Baker

  Getting up from the floor, Dena straightened her bathrobe and staggered a bit on the way to the front door. She looked through the peephole. Martin Richardson, in a police uniform, stood on her front porch. What in the…Her first thought was that something had happened to Zack. Her heart pounded. No. Martin would have no way of knowing that.

  She looked again and shook her head. The doorbell rang again. She’d better answer it and see what was going on. “Just a minute,” she hollered, brushing the crumbs off her robe and running her fingers through her hair. She couldn’t think of anything that would bring Martin all the way out to the west end of Galveston, especially on a rainy night.

  She pulled the door open. “What on earth are you doing here?”

  “I need to talk to you.” He stood with his plastic-wrapped police hat in his hand, water dripping from a yellow slicker that said POLICE in large letters.

  “Well, come in out of the rain.” She was eager to shut the door when she saw lightning flash behind him. “Let’s go into the den.” She led him down the short hall and knocked the newspapers from Zack’s chair. “Sit down.”

  “I can’t stay long.” Martin glanced at the kids, the cookie canister, and back at Dena.

  The children stood next to one another, shoulders touching, frightened looks on their faces. Dena bent down to their level. “There’s nothing to be worried about. This is my policeman friend, Lieutenant Martin Richardson. He’s just come over to tell me something.” She turned to Martin. “These are my children, Melissa and Paul Armstrong.”

  “Hello,” Martin said to them.

  “Hi,” Melissa said, stepping behind Dena.

  “Are you really, really a policeman?” Paul asked.

  “Yes,” Martin said, “a real policeman. I usually work in an office at headquarters, a few miles from here.”

  “I can’t believe you drove all the way out here,” Dena said. “Why didn’t you just call?”

  “I tried to several times, but I kept getting voice mail.”

  Dena scowled at Paul. “Have you been playing with my cell phone again?”

  Paul’s eyes grew wide. “I go fix it,” he said and ran down the hall.

  “Melissa, go with him.”

  “Okay, Mommy,” Melissa said and followed her brother.

  Dena tossed her head and turned to Martin. “I’m sorry. Paul likes to pretend it’s his phone. He flips switches and punches buttons and plays games on it. Never mind. What is it you want to talk to me about?”

  Martin’s face wore an expression that was a cross between concern and amusement. “I feel better talking to you in person anyway. This way at least I know you’re all right.”

  “What do you mean?” Dena studied his face, which was a bit of a blur. She’d left her glasses on the end table. “Why wouldn’t I be all right?” She shuddered.

  Martin twisted his cap. “I don’t want to alarm you any more than necessary, but have you heard from Ginny?”

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  MARTIN

  Martin stared down at Dena, waiting for her reply. If he hadn’t been so worried about his sister, he would have appreciated the chocolate rim around her mouth, which he was sure came from eating the Oreos in the cookie canister, and the sweet wine scent on her breath. He would have really enjoyed the way her robe fell open showing the light top of a bare breast. As it was, those things hardly registered.

  Her eyes had grown wide and round. She dropped into her chair. “What do you mean, ‘Have I heard from Ginny?’ She’s in Austin, recovering from the procedure with her girlfriend.”

  “No, she’s not. She hasn’t touched base with me. I called to check on her. She had called her friend and told her she wasn’t coming.”

  “Well, she probably decided to stay someplace else or something.” The color had drained from her face.

  “We’ve called some of the area hotels in her price range, but we’ve had no luck so far.”

  The children ran back into the room. “I fixed the phone,” Paul said, breathing hard.

  “No, he didn’t,” Melissa said. “I did.”

  “Okay, kids. It doesn’t matter now. You’ve just got to learn to be more careful, Paul, or only play games on your iPad.”

  “I didn’t mean to do it, Mommy.” Paul cast his eyes at the floor.

  “Never mind,” Dena said. “Come over here and give Mommy a hug.” She squeezed her son and kissed him on the head. “Go brush your teeth and wash your hands and face and get ready for bed. You, too, Melissa. I’ll come tuck you in shortly.”

  “Okay. ’Night, Mr. Policeman,” Paul said and ran off again.

  “Nice to meet you,” Melissa said, looking up at Dena for approval and then at him.

  Melissa sounded very ladylike for someone so small. She was a lot like her mother. He leaned down and, with a small smile, shook her hand. “You, too. Goodnight.”

  “‘Night.” Melissa stepped back and then skipped down the hall.

  Dena’s eyes followed her children until they were out of sight. Turning her attention back to Martin, she said, “You think something is wrong with Ginny.”

  “Your husband’s not home yet?”

  “He’s due back late tonight.” Her eyes were glued to his face. “I hope she’s okay. You want to sit down?”

  “That’s all right. My partner’s waiting outside. Look, I’ll be blunt. We’re checking the hotels and Southwest Airlines, but, honestly, I don’t think we’re going to turn up anything. It’s not like Ginny to change her plans and not tell anybody. Frankly, I do think something’s happened to her.” He could hardly stand to admit it to himself, but he had to tell this lady what he thought was going on.

  “You can’t know that.” She was clutching her stomach and staring up at him.

  “No, you’re right, but my gut feeling is that Sellers has done something to her.”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake. I don’t believe it.” She shook her head and started rocking back and forth in her chair. “That man was perfectly normal when he was in my office last week, just his usual eccentric self, friendly as could be. She’s probably just staying someplace else. She could even be on her way home by now. Have you checked her apartment lately?”

  He dropped his hat and crouched down in front of her. The way she was rocking in her chair was almost manic. “Yes, we have.” He put a hand on each arm of the chair and stopped it. “Ma’am, you don’t know him. He’s crazy. He can appear normal one minute, and go berserk the next. I suspected he was up to something when he let Ginny have all that stuff from their apartment, but I couldn’t prove it.”

  Dena jumped up. “I’m sick of hearing how crazy Alan Sellers is.” She fisted her hands down by her sides. “I’m sick of it. That’s all anyone said the whole time the divorce was going on. Well, if he’s so crazy, why hasn’t he been locked up?”

  He stood and picked up his hat. Anger flared in his chest. He was only trying to help her. “I didn’t come over here to argue with you,” he said, his hand resting on his sidearm. “I just came to warn you, that’s all. I hope I’m wrong. God knows, I hope I’m wrong ...”

  “Look, I’m sorry for shouting at you.” She grasped his raincoat sleeve. “I don’t know what came over me ... yes I do, you’ve scared me half to death, that’s what. I’m sitting here playing with my children, drinking a little wine, and you come over to my house without a shred of proof and tell me you think Alan Sellers has gone berserk.” Her eyes flared. She let go of his sleeve and turned away. After a few moments, she turned back and looked up into his face. “What you’re really telling me is you think I’m next, is that it?”

  He didn’t say anything. He gritted his teeth and turned his hat over and over in his hands.

  “Good God.” She clutched a handful of his raincoat sleeve again. “You couldn’t get me on my cell, so you came to see if I was still alive, didn’t you? You think Alan Sellers killed
Ginny, and he’s coming for me.” She continued to stare up into his face. “Don’t you? Because that’s what he threatened to do, isn’t it?” She put her fingers to her temples and squeezed her eyes shut.

  Martin thought she was going to faint, her face was so pale, the skin stretched tight across her bones. He grabbed her arm. “Yes,” he said. “That’s exactly what I think.”

  She put her head down in her hands and shivered. He stood watching her. He couldn’t stay much longer. Joe was waiting outside. They had to get going if they were going to find Sellers. “Dena ...”

  She looked back up at him, her eyes red-rimmed. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I always cry when I’m really angry.” She wiped her nose on her sleeve. He pulled his handkerchief from under his slicker and gave it to her. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “At least I have a gun.”

  “You do? I’m glad, but what are you doing with a gun?”

  She straightened up. “Last year a man followed me home when Zack was out of town. I didn’t have any way to defend myself or the children.”

  “He must not have hurt you.”

  “No. I drove to a friend’s and when I came back, he was gone. The next day I went to a pawn shop and bought a thirty-eight.”

  His eyebrows drew together in a scowl. “You were lucky. So do you know how to use it?”

  “Yes,” she said, her eyes contracting like she was poised to shoot. “You simply take aim and fire. And you keep firing until you’re out of bullets. At least that’s what I’m going to do if I see Alan Sellers around my house.”

  “Good girl,” he said. “I hope I’m wrong about this whole thing, and if I am, I’ll call and tell you, but you can’t be too careful. In the meantime, I’m going out to look for him at all his usual hangouts. I have people calling around, looking for Ginny. If I find either of them, I’ll let you know. May I search your house while you put your kids to bed?”

  “That seems silly since I’ve been here all evening, but yes, please do,” Dena said. “If you don’t, I will.”

  She looked so small and vulnerable that Martin wanted to hug her, but he resisted the temptation. “Okay, let’s start in the kids’ bedrooms.”

  Dena led him to Paul’s room where Paul was running his trains instead of getting into bed.

  “Mind if I check out your closet?”

  “Why do you want to look in there?”

  Martin smiled down at him. “‘Cause I want to know what a little boy’s closet is supposed to look like for when I have a son.”

  “Oh, it’s plenty big.” Paul followed Martin to the closet.

  Martin slid Paul’s closet door open and peered around inside. Then he walked over to Paul’s bed and sat on the floor next to it. “May I tuck you in?”

  “Okay, if you want.” Paul climbed into bed. “Is it fun to be a policeman?”

  Martin pulled the covers over Paul, smiling at him. “Sometimes it is. When you get to help people.” He reached a hand under Paul’s bed and pulled out a toy truck. “Look what I found sticking out from under your bed.”

  Paul grinned at Martin. “That’s my parking lot under there.” He leaned over the edge of the bed and lifted up the covers. “See my cars and trucks?”

  Martin looked under the bed. “My goodness, there are all kinds of vehicles under there.”

  “That’s my parking lot,” Paul said again as he scooted back under the covers. “Like it?”

  Martin stood up. “Yeah, that’s a really neat place to keep them.” He leaned over and tousled the little boy’s hair. “Well I’ve got to go now. See ya’.”

  “‘Bye,” Paul said.

  Martin exchanged glances with Dena. She kissed Paul goodnight. Martin walked across to Melissa’s room and searched it quickly before Melissa came out of the bathroom. He was through before Dena finished making a lame excuse to Paul about why he couldn’t have a story read to him.

  Martin walked into Dena’s bedroom and did a quick search of her long closet, her bathroom, and under her bed. He pulled open Zack’s closet and rummaged across the bottom of it, impressed with the man’s clothing—lined up by color, length of shirt sleeves, and the shoes neatly hung on shoeracks. He searched the spare room, the hall closet, and the little bathroom near the front door. When Melissa came out of her bathroom, he searched it just to know that he did, while Dena tucked her in.

  When Dena came out of Melissa’s room, Martin was standing in the hallway. “Well, I’ve been through the back part of your house and didn’t find anything. I didn’t think I would, but I feel better anyway. Want to check out the kitchen with me?”

  Dena nodded and walked with him through the living room and into the kitchen. He turned on the lights and searched the pantry. He switched on the light in the garage and walked inside.

  “Martin, I really don’t see how anyone could be hiding in the garage,” she called to him. “Juliet, our au pair, was in and out of there all evening doing laundry.”

  Martin looked back at Dena. “You’re probably right. I’m just being cautious.” He glanced inside the car and then toward what looked like a closet with the door standing partially open. “What’s behind that door?”

  “Zack’s tools. It’s packed so tightly that no one could fit inside.”

  He couldn’t squeeze entirely between the front of the car and the clothes dryer. Leaning sideways over the bumper, he flashed his light into the crack. He could see toolboxes stacked up on the floor and upon a shelf. He snapped off the light and backed out. “Why don’t you deadbolt this door just to be on the safe side? People have been known to rig up gadgets to electronically open garage doors.”

  Her mouth formed a grim line. “Okay. I will after you leave.”

  “Be sure you do.” He sounded like a stern father, but he didn’t care. He wanted her to take him seriously.

  “I will,” Dena snapped. “You’ve scared me so badly that I’ll probably check and recheck every door a dozen times before I go to bed.”

  “Good.” He glared at her when what he wanted to do was wrap an arm around her and take care of her. At least she sounded like she would heed his warning. “Well, I’ve got to go. Be careful. Don’t be afraid to call dispatch if you hear anything suspicious, and you have my cell number, too.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that.” They walked back toward the front of the house. “I probably won’t sleep until Zack gets home anyway, so I’ll be awake to hear the slightest sound. Will you call me if you find out anything about Ginny?”

  Martin turned as he reached the door. “Look, I hope I’m wrong. I really do. If I hear anything at all, good or bad, I’ll definitely let you know.”

  “Thanks. You be careful, too, okay? If he knows you’re looking for him he might go after you.”

  “He doesn’t have the guts.” Martin yanked the front door open. He stepped onto the small concrete porch and glanced over his shoulder at her. “Be sure and lock this door. I’m going to search around your house before I leave, so if you hear anything in the next few minutes, it’ll be me.” He took one last look at her before putting on his hat and dashing out into the rain. Thunder rumbled overhead like cannon fire and a bolt of lightning flashed from the direction of the beach.

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  ALAN SELLERS

  Sweat rolled down his body. When he heard Martin’s voice in the garage, he had almost pissed in his pants. Martin’s light had flashed on the toolboxes, missing the tops of his shoes by a hair. If he hadn’t been standing up to stretch when he heard the kitchen door open, he wouldn’t have been able get out of the way soon enough and would have been caught.

  Damn, he hated that man almost as much as he had hated his own father. Martin had better not ruin things for him. Martin might be big, but Sellers wasn’t afraid of him. Sellers’ years on the waterfront had made him wiry and muscular. He wished he could do to Martin what he had done to his father when his father mess
ed with him once too often.

  His father had failed to realize that time hadn’t stood still. As the years went by, his father had grown older and weaker. He’d underestimated Alan. He’d taken Alan’s short stature as a sign of weak boyishness—a fatal mistake. The scales had finally tipped the other way. In Alan’s favor, not his father’s.

  As for Martin, Alan probably couldn’t take him face-to-face. Martin was huge and trained as a cop. He did have that bum leg, though. A bum leg would slow him down. That was something Alan would have to think about—how to use that bum leg to his advantage. Doing Martin would have to wait until after Ginny. First, Lawyer Armstrong. Then, Ginny, whenever she returned from wherever she went the other day. Finally, Martin. But only if Alan still felt like it. He might just take Armstrong’s money and start over someplace else.

  Right now, he needed to focus. How long would it take Martin to clear out? How long would it take Lawyer Armstrong to settle down? It was too dark to see what time it was. He wished he’d brought his cell so he see the time, but he’d been afraid it might ring or light up at a bad time.

  He didn’t know how long it had been since Martin had almost caught him. Seemed like only a moment ago and yet, hours. Time was meaningless in the dim closet where he couldn’t see anything clearly. He could only hear thunder in the distance and the patter of light rain from the direction of the garage door. The smell of motor oil was close to suffocating him.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

  MARTIN

  Martin walked out to the waiting patrol car and leaned over the driver’s window. “She’s okay, Joe. I talked to her and told her what’s going on. I searched the house. Everything seems to be in order. Just give me a minute to look around out here.”

  Joe jerked the door open. “I’ll help you. It’s boring just sitting here.” He rolled up the window and slammed the door as he got out, popping on his plastic-covered hat.

  “Sorry,” Martin said. “I didn’t mean to take so long. I just didn’t want to say anything in front of her kids. Any calls?” They jumped the leaves and water rushing in the gutter and headed for the back of the house.