by Morris, T M
“I know you won’t.”
“Let’s grab some of your clothes, some of your toiletries and let’s get out of here. Plan to stay at my house for a while. You’re not coming back here until it’s safe.”
“What about Slinky? I can’t leave her out there—who knows where—all alone.”
“We’ll see if we can find her and take her with us.”
“You don’t mind?”
“I know how much you love your cat.” Devon said as he moved toward the closet and pulled a suitcase out from the mess in the floor of the closet and began loading it with Lucy’s clothes. Lucy gathered her toiletries without thinking. She was numb, until she saw the pregnancy test lying on the floor. She felt panicky as she kicked a towel over it just as Devon came into the bathroom to help her. She marveled that it wasn’t seen earlier when they were sitting on the floor after she had vomited. They didn’t speak throughout the whole process.
Once the luggage was stowed in the truck, Devon broke the silence, “Where do you think Slinky may be?”
“I haven’t a clue.” Lucy’s voice wavered with the effort of keeping her emotions tamped down. Numb was all she wanted to feel at the moment. A tear rolled down her cheek and she angrily swiped it away.
“I’ll find her. Go back inside and stay with the police officers until I come in and get you.”
“Okay. Um, Devon?”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful.”
Devon managed a weak smile. He dropped a kiss on her forehead as he said, “I will, darlin’.”
Devon walked away as Lucy went inside and sat on the couch. She looked around her living room. Papers were everywhere. Books had been thrown from the shelves. The photos on the mantel were missing. That’s odd, she thought, I wonder where they are. Lucy began to go through the trashed room looking for the photos. She couldn’t find them anywhere.
“Is there something wrong, ma’am?” A young officer asked.
“Yes.” Lucy answered, “There were three photos on the mantel. I can’t find them.
Officer Jernigan, the senior officer asked, “What was in the pictures, ma’am?”
“The pictures are of me with my cat and my parents.” Lucy choked on a sob. “What is going on? Why would someone ransack my whole house just to steal my underwear, my mother’s rings, and my pictures?”
Before the officer could answer Devon burst through the door, “Officer Jernigan. I think you might want to see this.”
Lucy followed Devon and the officer out the door and around the corner to the trash dumpster. Devon explained, “I was out here looking for her cat when I found this.” He pointed to the dumpster.
Inside was an open shoebox containing Lucy’s belongings. “My stuff!” Lucy went to retrieve the box.
Officer Jernigan stopped her by grabbing her hand, “No. Don’t touch it—finger prints.”
With gloved hands he pulled the box out of the dumpster. “How did you happen to find this?”
“The shiny gray ones caught my eye.” Devon blushed and cleared his throat, thankful the light was dim so no one could see his face. “I thought it might be Slinky, Lucy’s cat, she’s gray. But when I got close enough to see what it was I came to get you.”
“You didn’t touch it, did you?”
“No. I have seen enough police detective shows on television to know better.”
Officer Jernigan scowled. “Good.”
They turned back toward the house and Lucy fretted, “I’m so confused. Why steal this stuff just to turn around and throw it in the trash before you even leave the area? Are my pictures in there too?”
Officer Jernigan was slow to answer. “I don’t see them. We may have a thief who couldn’t find much of value so he decided to scare you. Or...” he paused, “Or you may have a stalker on your hands. At this stage it’s difficult to tell.”
“Stalker?” Lucy froze. Hadn’t Officer Bradford mentioned the possibility of a stalker? “I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. Last night in the mail, I received a cut and pasted message. It said, ‘I’m watching you.’”
“Where is this note?” Officer Jernigan asked.
“It was in the living room. Let’s go see if we can find it.”
Devon took Lucy’s arm wheeling her around to face him and asked with obvious agitation, “Why didn’t you tell me about this note?”
“It was late when I got home last night. I didn’t want to bother you and I forgot all about it today in all the excitement.”
“How could you forget something so urgent, Luce? How can you forget someone is watching you and that you’re in danger?” Devon howled.
“You don’t have to yell at me.” Lucy grated. “Let’s get out of here, okay?”
“Um, first ma’am we need to find the note.” Officer Jernigan reminded her, looking uncomfortable.
Going into the house they searched around the lower level until they found the note. Officer Jernigan slipped it into an evidence bag. “We will have this dusted for prints and have the seal tested for DNA. If there is any trace of DNA we’ll run it against the databases for a match.”
“When will I be able to get my things back?” Lucy asked changing the subject.
“It depends. I can’t give you a good answer right now.” The officer answered.
“Can I at least take some of my underwear with me?”
“Just add what you take to the list.” Officer Jernigan nodded.
Lucy donned gloves before taking the box from him. She knelt on the floor and riffled through it. “Uh. That can’t be right.” She dumped it out on the floor and sorted her undergarments. Shaking her head she got up and strode through the living room and galley kitchen to the tiny laundry alcove. Jerking open the louvered doors she reached in and pulled out the hamper and dumped it into the floor.
Oblivious to her audience she sorted through the clothing. Bewildered, she looked up. “More than half of my underwear is missing. I thought I was imagining it. I’ve been losing a couple of pair a week. I thought the washer may have been eating them like it does socks, but it couldn’t have eaten almost twelve pairs.”
“Twelve pairs?” Officer Jernigan asked, incredulous.
Standing she straightened to her full height and began running her fingers frantically through her hair. “I don’t like to do laundry. I have—had enough to delay washing delicates for five or six weeks. Between the dirty ones here and what is in there I’m missing at least twelve pair.” She shouted, yanking her fingers as she tried to free them from her hair.
Taking Lucy’s hands in his, Devon managed to disentangle them as he asked, “Can I take Lucy now?”
“I guess...could I get a phone number if I need some more information? Here’s my card. Call me if you need any more questions answered.”
He nodded as he took the card from the officer as he recited his list of phone numbers. Devon scooped up the box someone had filled and steered Lucy toward the truck as he told her, “We’ll come back in the morning and see if Slinky has come back, okay?”
Numb, Lucy managed to nod as she climbed into the cab. Devon closed her in before rounding the front of the truck and climbing behind the wheel. Before she could think half a thought, Devon was speeding down the road to his house. He was taking her to his house. She would be safe there.
Parked in the shadows of a tree the driver of a late model foreign sedan sat stock-still, watching. He did not want anyone to notice him. He wasn’t supposed to be there. He had to see for himself, however, how Lucy would react and how she would get out of this mess. But damn Devon James, he was right there with Lucy. The witless sap had made himself part of the problem. He was going to pay a heavy price for his error.
The shadowy figure leaned deeper into the shadows as Devon drove past. Devon was talking to the beautiful Lucy—who was sitting right beside him with his arm around her. Devon James had been warned, had he not? Now he was going to pay. Further down the street a shadow moved deeper into the
darkness.
Driving down the dark unlit road which would take them to his house Devon muttered, “I don’t understand any of this. What kind of trouble have you gotten us into?”
“Me? I’m not the one causing the trouble. Last time I checked I am on the receiving end of the craziness.” Lucy’s ire rose. “It’s not like I wanted this kind of excitement in my life. I like to live a calm quiet life.”
Devon glanced over to see her face lit by the lights of the instrument panel. She looked angry, then like a flash of lightning her features changed to terror as she screamed. He looked out the windshield to see a car careening down their side of the road at top speed headed right for them. He swerved to the right and onto the shoulder all the while blowing the horn as the other car continued to speed down the road on the wrong side. “Are you all right?”
Lucy’s face held a horror like he’d never seen. “Are you all right? Lucy?” He reached over and gave her a shake.
She turned to face him. “No.”
“No? Are you going to say anything else?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it might have been the same car that rear-ended me last night.”
“How can you be sure? You said you couldn’t tell what kind of car it was and there’s no way you could have got a good look at this one.”
“I wasn’t the one trying to keep us on the road. It was a white sedan.”
“It’s got to be a coincidence.” Devon scratched the side of his nose.
“I don’t know. I must be tired and seeing things. I don’t know.” She rubbed her temples.
“Let me get you to my house where you can rest. You’ll safe there.”
Devon pulled into the driveway and silenced the engine. He took a deep breath steeling himself against his feelings and Lucy’s effect on him. He was beginning to think he should have taken her to his aunt’s. If he were a wiser man he would restart the engine and race her over there without a second thought.
Lucy broke into his thoughts when she asked, “Is something wrong?”
He started to rest his hand on her knee but swiftly changed direction and pulled the keys from the ignition as he answered. “I’m beginning to think I should have thought this through more thoroughly. Maybe I should take you to Carmella’s or even to my dad’s. After all, staying with me is probably not a good idea.”
“Ya think?” Lucy tried to sound sarcastic when she answered but sounded deflated, “It’s late. I’m too exhausted to worry about appearances and I’m sure you’re just as tired. Not to mention both your dad and your aunt are already in bed and asleep by now. I promise to behave tonight, if you do. Now, point me in the direction of your guest room.”
He nodded, “Okay. Let’s take this a day at a time, shall we? Maybe tomorrow we can arrange for you to stay with Carmella or my dad. It’s not the appearance of indiscretion bothering me. It’s the temptation.”
“Fine. Let’s go inside now—I’m getting cold.” She began to shiver.
“Yeah. Inside.” He fiddled with his keys, trying to take hold of the right one, as he climbed out of the truck. He turned to help Lucy out. “I’ll come back out and get your things once I get you inside and warming up.”
He unlocked the front door and stepped back holding the door open to allow Lucy to go in before him. She looked around the small living room. “It’s a cute little house.” She smiled. “I like it—I think it suits you.”
Devon led her into the small kitchen. "Most of my money is going into the cabin in Gatlinburg. I have been thinking about selling.”
“Selling this house? Why?” She asked. Her eyebrows creased into a frown.
“Not this house, the cabin.” He watched her to gauge her reaction.
Lucy’s mouth dropped open and her emerald eyes almost popped out of her head. She wailed, “You can’t sell it!”
Her reaction piqued his curiosity. “I said I was thinking about it. I haven’t made a decision yet. Right now I’m going to carry in your things and put them in the spare bedroom. Why don’t you make yourself some tea or something? I’m sure you can find everything you need.” He disappeared out into the dark.
Lucy felt sick again. How could he sell the cabin? Didn’t that night mean anything to him? Or maybe, he wanted to be rid of the memory. Who could know what his motivation was for selling the cabin? She blew out a heavy sigh and looked in the pantry for tea bags and sugar. Then she took the teapot from the stove, filled it with water, and set it back on the burner. As she suspected, she was able to find cups in the cupboard next to the sink. She was waiting for the pot to boil when Devon passed through the kitchen with her suitcases in his hands. Without a word she followed him to the spare room.
“Here it is.” He motioned her into the room. It was small and cozy. The full sized bed, side table, and dresser filled the room appeared to be from the 1950’s. The walls were painted such a light blue they were almost white. The one window, covered by a simple mini blind, was otherwise unadorned. There was a picture of his mother sitting next to a small alarm clock. “It’s not much, but the bed is comfortable.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. Devon, I have to thank you for letting me stay here. You don’t have to, you know. I could have gone to a hotel.” She said as she looked into his eyes.
He looked away. “I couldn’t let you go to a hotel, Luce. I don’t want to leave you unprotected. Someone out there wants to hurt you.”
“Why do you feel you have to protect me?” She snapped, moving past him to answer the screaming teapot.
He followed her at a distance. After a few moments he answered, “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you seem to always find your way into trouble.”
She gave him a sharp glance trying to keep from crying. But it was no use. The tears spilled down her pale cheeks. She swiped at the tears while blubbering, “I never used to get into trouble—not until I met you.”
“Are you saying this is my fault?” He was incredulous as he took her into his arms in an attempt to comfort her.
Lucy rested her forehead against the expanse of the strong chest and she sniffed, “I’m sure the evidence is purely circumstantial.”
He continued to hold her. He stroked her back and he rested his chin on the top of her head. The teakettle continued to whistle. Lucy sighed, “I guess I had better make some tea.”
“Do you still want some? I know I don’t.” He held her to him brushing her hair away from her tear stained face.
“No. I thought you did.” She sniffed.
“I don’t.” He said reaching over to turn off the stove.
She looked up. “What do you want?”
Devon dropped a soft kiss on her upturned lips. He then released her and was half way across the room before he said, “I’ll show you where the bathroom is and where you can find the extra towels. It’s very late and you look as if you could use at least twelve hours of sleep.”
Dazed by his kiss Lucy stared after him. “So to answer my question, you want to go to bed?”
He smiled. “Alone. I won’t take advantage of your emotional state."
Lucy mustered all the sarcasm she could find and snarled, “Good! At least we have that cleared up.”
As he showed her where to find the bathroom and the linen closet he teased, “Yeah, you had better hurry up and get in bed. You’re getting cranky.”
“Goodnight, Devon.” She muttered as she closed the bathroom door in his face. She could hear him chuckling to himself down the hall as she locked the door for emphasis.
A few minutes later Lucy emerged from the bathroom with her face pink from washing and clean teeth. She looked down the short hall to see a dim light burning in the living room. She could hear Devon talking. He was speaking to someone on the telephone. Deciding she couldn’t deal with another heart wrenching encounter, she went into the spare bedroom and closed the door. She changed into her pajamas, turned off the light, and climbed into bed. She didn’t hear Devon come in to check on her a few minutes later
. She was already sound asleep.
The phone rang once before it was answered. “Hello?”
“Hey. It’s me. Devon took Lucy home with him.”
“What do you mean? She’s at Devon’s? She's staying in his house? This isn’t working. You’re useless.”
“Now don’t go getting all bent out of shape. It’ll work out. It’s just going to take a bit more time.”
“Stuff it. This is not working.”
“You don’t have to be rude. I know it’ll work out, don’t worry. I’m doing everything you said to do, just like you said to.”
“You are the epitome of stupid.” The line went dead.
Chapter Sixteen
Lucy rolled over, pushed a wavy mass of tangles from her face, and stretched. She was in Devon’s spare bedroom. Her throat tightened as she struggled to push back more tears. She was a verifiable nut case for most of the night and she was exhausted.
Her fluctuating hormones were beginning to get the best of her. Waves of nausea would overtake her without warning and she would have to fight to maintain her composure and not vomit every five minutes. How could she be so sick so soon? How was she going to keep from being sick in Devon’s house with him right there all the time? She couldn’t risk Devon finding out about his baby. He would reject her in a heartbeat; she knew it in the depths of her soul. It would be just like she’d been told all her life. ‘Give a man what he wants and as soon as you turn up pregnant he’ll high tail it in the opposite direction.’ And how would she find another job with a baby on the way?
Again Lucy stretched then snuggled deeper under the coverlet. After a quick glance at the bedside alarm she realized it was much earlier than she had thought. She decided to roll back over and try to get another two or three hours of sleep.
“Luce?”
Lucy reached out and clutched Devon to her, “They’re in the house! Don’t leave me. Oh Devon, I’m so scared. Call the police!”
“Hush, now, hush.” Enveloping her in his arms, he tried to comfort her. “Lucy you are having a nightmare.”