by Jill Sanders
He knew she believed she was a terrible person, but here she was, asking about his problems when the weight of the world was on her own shoulders.
“I talked to him yesterday, before…” He sighed and looked out over the water.
“Did you ask him about your mother’s death?” She leaned back, looking more relaxed now that the topic had detoured from her problems.
“No.” He leaned back beside her. “I did a little digging though.”
“And?”
“Timothy Poore.” He thought back to what he’d found out about the man. “Before my mother’s murder, the man had been in and out of several mental institutes going back to when he was ten.”
“Ouch.” She shook her head. “What for?”
“He’d stabbed his sixteen-year-old babysitter one night when she wouldn’t let him have a bag of Oreos.”
“Seriously?”
“His first wife claimed that he’d tried to kill her. She had a restraining order out against him when he got the job working for my father.”
“Do you think your dad influenced him?”
“I don’t know, but after doing the research… I highly doubt it. There was a report that my father’s secretary remembered Poore meeting my mother for the first time and how he’d followed her around the building that day. My mother had asked security to walk her out to her car. After that day, my father fired Poore.”
“Do you think Poore’s involvement in your mother’s murder, that it was just a coincidence that he worked for your father?” she asked.
“It’s really looking that way. I just don’t know why my father never told me any of this.” He glanced out to the water, remembering all the years he’d felt like his dad had played a hand in killing his mother. All the pent-up anger he’d felt. Not once had he stopped to think about what his father had felt, losing the love of his life to a madman.
In Blaine’s mind, events twisted to Jamie at the hands of Scott Alcott. If she hadn’t escaped, she could have been one of the bodies found on the compound.
Reaching over, he took her hand. “I guess I owe my father an apology.”
She smiled over at him. “It’s funny, for years I’ve been bitter towards my mother for sticking by my dad during his… many indiscretions. I’ve looked at my mother as if it was partially her fault.” She glanced out at the water again. “But, since that night, two years ago… I know I didn’t do anything to cause what happened to me. I was a victim, but it’s taken me two years to finally feel like one instead of like a murderer. My dad fucked my mother over majorly, and my mother has just been trying to pick up the pieces and live her life. She loves him, that’s her fault, but what is not her fault is my dad sleeping with everyone in a skirt that’s willing and able. He chooses to cheat on a woman who is loyal and kindhearted. That’s on him. Just as it was on Scott Alcott when he drugged me and kidnapped me.” She turned to him again. “I don’t like being a victim.”
“No one ever does.” He lifted her hand to his and kissed it. When he glanced around and saw someone eating a burger, he realized he was starving. “What do you say we head down the beach a little more. There’s a great place on the water we can have some lunch.”
“I could go for a burger.” She stood up and he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Later, what do you say we give our folks a call?”
She nodded and started walking with him again. “I’ll call my mother. I think it’s going to take a little longer before I want to talk to my dad again.”
“Are you going to tell her about… everything?” he asked.
She sighed. “I guess I’ll need to. I know the police chief said they would keep my role in everything under wraps…”
He stopped walking, and she stopped and looked back at him.
“Didn’t you find it odd that no one seemed to know anything about the detective who stopped by your place last night?”
She frowned. “I didn’t mention it, but there was something…” She shook her head. “There was a feeling I got with the detective, like with Rocko.”
He moved next to her and took her shoulders. “Was it his hands?”
“No, I don’t think so.” She reached down and took his hands in hers. “I mean, your hands are bigger than his.” She tilted her head as she thought. “I can’t put my finger on it. It wasn’t his build since you and him could be from the same mold.”
“Thanks for that.” He chuckled. “The guy was in better shape than me.”
She shrugged. “I still can’t pinpoint what it was. It had me thinking that I’m going to go the rest of my life fearing meeting men.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “Hopefully, you’ll decide I’m the last man you want to… meet.” He kissed the top of her head and she laughed.
“I don’t think I’m made for monogamous relationships.” She rested her head against his chest.
“Have you ever tried it?” he asked and when she laughed and shook her head, he smiled “You know what they say. Don’t knock it until you try it.”
He used a finger to tip her chin up until their eyes met. “So, what do you say? Wanna try it out with me?”
She sighed and sadness flooded her eyes.
“You’ll probably regret it,” she warned.
“Not a chance.”
She surprised him by leaning up on her toes and brushing her lips against his softly.
“Is that a yes?” he asked when she started walking again. She threw a look over her shoulder and smiled at him. “Hell, yeah, that’s a yes,” he exclaimed. He caught up with her and took her hand.
After stuffing their faces with massive burgers and onion rings, they walked back to his place. Jamie had been avoiding calls from Emily, so they decided to call her before they called their folks.
“Hey,” Jamie said, putting her phone on speaker so he could hear Emily’s questions.
“How did it go? Why the heck have you been avoiding all my calls and texts?”
“Sorry,” Blaine broke in. “It was my fault. I thought Jamie needed some downtime. We went and had burgers and a nice walk on the beach.”
“Are you okay?” Emily’s tone turned from irritation to concern quickly.
“Yes.” Jamie smiled.
“My dad filled me in on everything.”
“Good.” Jamie relaxed slightly.
“The police claim they’re up to ten bodies now,” she said softly, so softly they had to lean forward to hear Emily.
“Ten?” Jamie’s eyes closed as she took a deep breath.
“Yes. Some have been there longer than two years. Which means…”
“Alcott could have been a killer as well,” Jamie finished.
Some of the latest reports had claimed that all of the bodies were from the past two years, leading some people to believe that Alcott might have been a victim of the serial killer as well. Now, however, with her coming forward, the police were positive Alcott had worked with a partner who had continued killing after Alcott’s disappearance.
“I’m so proud of you,” Emily added. “Are you coming back tonight?”
“No.”
Blaine sat up and glanced over at Jamie. “I’m going to take her out tonight. Someplace quiet and relaxing,” he assured Emily. “She…” He shook his head. “We both need it.”
“Okay, I have something for you. A present.”
“What is it?” she asked, eagerly.
Emily chuckled. “Just something my dad and I got for you. I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”
“I have classes…”
“So do I. We can meet beforehand?”
“Okay, thanks.”
“Now, go have fun.” There was a pause. “Jamie, I love you.”
He could see in Jamie’s eyes that she returned Emily’s love, but instead of saying so, she hung up.
“Don’t tell me you think the same thing about Emily? That her love for you won’t last either?” he asked.
She sighed a
nd leaned back on the sofa. “I’ve had friends before. None of them have stuck.” She glanced at him. “None of them could hold a candle to Emily though.” She smiled, then sat forward. “Are you really going to take me out?” She glanced down at her outfit with a frown.
She’d changed into a pair of jeans she’d left at his place, along with the teal top from earlier. She looked casual and comfortable.
“Yes, and what you’re wearing is perfect.” He was wearing his own comfortable jeans and T-shirt. An evening on the water was calling to him, especially after the week they had both had. “I was thinking of watching the sunset from the water. Are you up for it?”
She smiled instantly. “I’d love it.”
“Good. We can make some food to take with us, maybe even a bottle of champagne.” He remembered seeing one in the fridge earlier.
She nodded and leaned on his shoulder. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“Don’t thank me yet. We still have to call our parents.”
She groaned.
“I’ll call my dad first.” He pulled out his phone, took a deep breath, and hit his father’s number.
He was expecting the call to go to voicemail, like it normally did, but this time his father answered as if he hadn’t looked at the screen before answering.
“Brandon Fisher.”
Blaine could hear that his father was walking and wondered if he’d called him at an inconvenient time.
“Dad? Did I catch you at a bad time?” he asked.
“No, I’m just heading out for the day. What’s up?”
Normally, when he called his father, there was nothing but irritation in his tone. Blaine had been hearing that tone all of his life.
“I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.” He hated the way the words tasted, especially when he remembered all the years of abuse the man had caused him. Still, he knew that the only road to enlightenment was a clear conscience.
The line went quiet, and he wondered briefly if they had been disconnected.
“I did a little research and found out more about Timothy Poore.”
“The man was a psycho,” his father said.
“Yes, so it would seem. I wish you would have told me the full history earlier on. I wouldn’t have spent so many years believing you had something to do with Mom’s murder.”
“Me?” His father’s voice rose slightly. “Why would you…” He broke off. “I didn’t.” He heard him sigh. “I lost the only person I cared for that day.” His father’s voice broke slightly.
His words stung. “You had me. Still do. But that’s for another day.” He closed his eyes and felt Jamie’s hand rest on his arm for support.
“I never got over Adena,” his father said as if he hadn’t heard him. “I know I may not have been the best person after she was gone, but I did the best I knew how.”
Blaine shook his head, remembering the feel of his father’s fist against his body before and after his mother’s death. Still, it was a start and he wasn’t willing to overlook the opportunity.
“I just want you to know that I’m sorry I believed you had something to do with Mom.” He felt the tightness that he’d held in his chest all of his life dissipate a little.
Again, his father was quiet.
“Thanks, son. I’m late for a dinner. Maybe we can talk again later this week?”
“I’m here. You have my number.”
“Blaine?”
“Yeah?” he asked, holding his breath.
“I’m real proud of you, with your school and working at the hospital. I also heard you purchased your condo last week.”
“Yeah.” He smiled. “It’s all mine.”
“Heard you got a boat too.” His father’s voice softened, and he could hear him walking again.
He laughed. “You’ll have to come out and see her. She’s a beauty.” His eyes rested on Jamie.
“I’ll do that, soon. Talk to you later.”
“Bye.” He hung up and felt as if a big weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “You’re turn,” he said to Jamie.
“Oh god.” She searched her phone and then held her finger over the button. The image of her mother was one from a tabloid a few years back.
He’d seen her parents’ pictures so many times, almost more than he’d seen his own father’s in the past few years.
“Mom?” Jamie asked when the phone was answered.
“Jamie? What’s wrong?” her mother started. Jamie had put her on speaker, and he could hear the loud noises in the background.
“Well…” Jamie glanced over at him. He nodded in encouragement. “Do you have a minute to talk?”
The noise stopped after a clicking sound of a door closing.
“Yes,” her mother replied. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Jamie sighed and rested back on the sofa, then began telling her mother everything that had happened to her.
Halfway through the call, Jamie paused to tell her mother that she was sorry her dad was such an ass to her.
Jamie filled her in on every detail, including the fact that Lee Stokes was representing her and that she’d been given full immunity for her testimony when it came time for it. She’d barely taken a breath in between her words, as if afraid that if she stopped rambling, her mother would burst in and accuse her of being a killer.
When she was done talking, her mother was quiet.
“Mom?” Jamie leaned forward, worry flooding her voice and eyes.
“Oh, Jamie, I’m so sorry you went through something like this. I wish… I wish I could be there to comfort you.” They both heard the soft sounds of her mother crying.
By the time Jamie hung up the call, her eyes were wet, and she was wiping them dry.
“That went…” He sighed. “She loves you.”
“How could I have gone all these years thinking she was weak? She’s had to deal with my father for twenty-seven years. She’s the strongest woman I know,” Jamie said into her hands.
He wrapped his arms around her and held onto her.
“I need some air.” She stood up and visibly shook off the heavy mood. “Take me away from all this.” She turned to him with a slight smile on her lips.
They spent a few minutes packing up some items for dinner, including a bottle of pink champagne he had found in the bottom of the fridge. He would owe Rafe a new bottle but doubted that his friend would mind them taking it tonight.
By the time they pulled the boat out of his slip, the sun was already sinking. He figured they had about an hour of sunlight left.
He steered them into the open water while she set up dinner on the small table.
They talked about school and work plans while they ate. He didn’t mind avoiding the topic of their future or the killer since they were both trying to take their minds off everything for a few hours.
When the sun slipped beneath the horizon, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her until he felt her melt against him.
Making love to Jamie under the stars in the open water had been on his bucket list. He never imagined that it would mean so much to him. Nor how painful it would be when his heart slipped further from him towards her. He’d never loved someone as much as he loved Jamie.
The only thing that was clear to him now, as they made their way back to shore, was that he was going to spend the rest of his life convincing her that being loved and loving someone in return was the best investment one could make.
Chapter Seventeen
By the next morning, Jamie was so over being a victim. The talk with her mother had cleared the air between them. Her father had texted her that he’d heard about her “ordeal” and was going to send one of his own lawyers down to meet with Lee Stokes later that week.
She should have known that her father wouldn’t be able to stay out of things for long. At least they weren’t coming down themselves. She didn’t think she could deal with seeing them this close to everything.
Besides, she ha
d Blaine, Emily, and Rafe to help her cope.
Blaine had dropped her off at her apartment early that next afternoon, since she’d spent the night with him again. He had to head to work, which meant she had a few hours to kill before her evening classes.
She had expected Emily to be at the apartment, but instead there was a note saying Emily had gone to run a few errands and would be back shortly.
She was just making herself a sandwich when Emily walked in.
“Hey,” she threw over her shoulder.
“Hey.” Emily moved over and gave her a hug.
“What’s that for?”
“Yesterday,” she answered, then pulled a small box out from behind her back.
“What’s this for then?” Jamie asked, setting down her sandwich and taking the box. She loved getting gifts, no matter what they were.
“This is from me and my dad. Well, mainly my father. It was his idea.” She shrugged. “Open it.”
Jamie ripped open the wrapping on the small box and looked down at a small pink diamond-shaped pendant on a silver keychain.
“It’s…” It was so not her style, but she didn’t mention it.
“It’s a GPS locator.” Emily smiled. “I told him it was silly, but then after…” She shook her head. “I know it’s silly, but I figured you could at least keep it in on your purse or book bag.”
“Like for a lost kid?” she asked, taking the thing out of the box. It wasn’t ugly, just… very ordinary looking.
“He bought one for me, too.” Emily showed her a matching keychain on her purse.
“He thinks that we need them in case…” She shook her head. “If you pull them, they let out a high-pitched sound.” She set her purse down. “No!” She stopped Jamie from pulling it to hear. “Trust me, you don’t want to do it unless it’s necessary.” She laughed. “I did it in the store. I don’t think they’re going to let me back in anytime soon.”
Jamie laughed and snapped the keychain onto her purse. “Okay. Tell your dad thank you when you see him. Want a sandwich?”
“Can’t. I have to swing by the hospital and check my new schedule before school.” She sighed. “I’m not even supposed to be here.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m going to be late for class if I don’t leave now.” She grabbed her bag. “See you later?”