At the water’s edge she stripped down to her suit, ran lightly along the little wooden jetty and dived into the cold water.
“The feel of the water streaming past her limbs was glorious. Cold as it was, it made her skin feel fresh and clean, and the weightlessness relaxed the taut muscles of her shoulders and neck. Sarah dived and swam beneath the surface for a few moments then, as she surfaced, pushed her hands over her face to clear her eyes, smooth back her hair.
A surge of angry adrenaline made her strike out again, swimming until she was exhausted. Stopping to catch her breath, something caught her eye. Her head whipped round and her eyes raked the tree line. The skin on her neck prickled. Nothing. Nothing… wait. Movement. Someone was there.
Someone was watching her.
At four o’clock, Isaac couldn’t wait any longer. Saying goodbye to his brother, he headed to the helipad on the roof of the building and got in. The piloting lessons he and Saul had taken had proved their worth over and over – none more so than now, Isaac thought, a little smugly. In a quarter hour, he’d be with her. He thought about calling her but decided to surprise her.
She got out of the water, pulling herself up onto the jetty, never taking her eyes of the woods where she’d seen the movement. She raked the trees with her eyes, searching, seeking anything, any figure. Nothing. She let out a deep breath. Paranoia?
She tugged on her jeans over her wet swimsuit, ignoring the way her t-shirt clung to her damp skin and set of for home.
She hadn’t gone ten yards before she heard it. An inhuman scream of absolute pain, a scream that faded into a long mournful wolf-like howl.
Wilson.
Finn got home to find Caroline absent. He relaxed then, taking his time in the shower then grabbing a bottle of Jack and flicking on the t.v. It crossed his mind that Caroline was with another man. God, I hope so. Finn smirked to himself. Dude, you are so messed up.
But he truly didn’t care.
Her breath came in ragged, panicked gasps.
Sarah ran through the trees that separated the beach from the house, the thinner limbs whipping her as she scrambled her way through, away from whoever was watching her. As the woods thinned, she stumbled into the yard. Still no sound. Wilson should be going crazy by now. She yanked the barn door open, calling Wilson’s name. To her horror, she heard a pitiful whimper, followed by a hacking, vomiting retching. She cast around desperately and saw a hind leg sticking out from one of the stalls in the barn. She dashed over to where Wilson lay and cried out in despair. The dog lay on his side, a fit sending spasms through his body, blood, drool and vomit hanging from his slack jaw.
Wilson groaned in agony as Sarah scooped him up into her arms and ran for the truck.
Isaac landed the chopper expertly on Sarah’s land and got out. He frowned. Her truck was missing and the front door to the house was wide open. He walked to the house and inside.
“Sarah?”
He walked from room to room only to find them empty. Returning to the hallway, he saw a balled up piece of paper and picked it up, smoothing it out.
His breath froze in his lungs.
You will make a beautiful corpse…
Isaac cursed to himself. Going back outside, he called her name, searched through the woods and down at the beach. Finally, he got back into the chopper, remonstrating with himself for not driving, and headed into town.
Dead-eyed and exhausted, Sarah sat in the coffee house wrapped in a blanket while Molly and Finn cast worried glances at each other. A quarter hour before, she’d walked into the Varsity, tears pouring down her face.
Molly had rushed to her side as she sobbed. “Sarah, what’s wrong? I thought you had plans with Isaac tonight…”
Sarah interrupted her. “I was swimming. In the cove, I was swimming and I saw someone watching me. And then there was this scream and…”
“Someone was watching you?” Molly was incredulous. “What the hell?”
“It was Wilson, he was screaming and… god…”
Molly shook her head, not understanding.
“There was no… I ran, Molly, I ran… the trees, whoever it was had gone but Wilson…” Sarah started to cry. Finn came in and stopped, his face a picture of confusion. Molly waved him closer, as she tried to comfort her friend.
“What’s wrong, what’s happened?” Finn put a hand on Sarah’s back and as she turned to him, he wrapped his arms around her, his eyes full of concern. Sarah sobbed out something but he just shook his head.
“Sarah, I don’t understand, just tell me, honey.”
“Wilson…he was lying down in the barn and having fits, there was blood and vomit…”
“Oh my God,” Finn pressed his fist to his forehead, realizing what she was about to say.
“He wouldn’t stop, the spasms, so I picked him up and I just ran for the truck. The vet said… I had to say…” Sarah was sobbing now,”…goodbye, but I couldn’t… he was in so much pain, Finn.”
He pulled her into his arms and she sobbed against his chest. He held her while she cried herself out, rocking her gently.
“He was poisoned. The vet said there was no doubt. Someone poisoned my dog. Why would anyone do that?”
There was a commotion outside and the three of them looked up to see a helicopter land in the middle of the street. Sarah’s eyes widened. “God… Isaac… what he must have thought.”
Molly patted her shoulder. “I’ll go get him, fill him in.” She went out into the street and Sarah could see her talking to Isaac. Finn’s arms were still locked around her and as Isaac come in, she saw his eyes flicker with something as he took in the scene. Finn released her and walked to Isaac and she heard them talk in low tones. Isaac’s shoulders slumped and he came over.
“I’m so sorry, Sarah.” He pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips against her forehead. Sarah sank into his embrace, feeling her energy drain out of her. After a moment, Isaac held her at arm’s length and stared down at her. “We need to talk.”
Dumbly she nodded and sat down at the nearest table. Isaac turned to Molly and Finn, who were discreetly giving them space, and waved them over. “I think we all need to talk about this – and, Chief?” He nodded at Finn. “We might need you in a professional capacity.”
All four settled at the table. Isaac took Sarah’s hands. “Darling…. I was at your house, as you know. Sarah, I found the note.”
He pulled it from the table and smoothed it out so Finn and Molly could read it. Finn cursed viciously and got up, his hand in his hair. Molly covered her mouth with horror. Isaac rubbed his thumb gently on the back of Sarah’s hand.
“There have been more, right? Am I right?”
Sarah nodded, resigned. “Yes.”
“How many?”
There was a long silence. “Twenty seven.”
Molly gasped and Finn pounded his fist down on the table. “Jesus. H. Christ, Sarah, are you crazy? How did you not tell us?”
Sarah looked at Isaac, who was blank-faced. “It’s just a crank. A sicko trying to scare me.”
Finn cursed again and Isaac shook his head slowly.
“No, sweetheart. This is a death threat. I assume the others were along a similar vein?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“For how long?”
She lowered her eyes. “Six months.”
“And now someone killed your dog.” Finn was almost wild with anger. She looked at him.
“Calm down, Finn. Do you want to know why I didn’t tell you? Because I thought the letters were a sick prank – and we all know the only person spiteful enough to do that is…”
“…Caroline.” Finn gritted his teeth. “Well, we’ll soon find out.” He stalked out of the coffee house. Sarah sighed and put her head down on the table.
Isaac stroked a finger down her face. “Look, why don’t we get your things and go back to my place? We can’t do anything tonight. You need to rest.”
She smiled at him gratefully and Molly got up
. “Look, I have my car, let me drive you back home to get your stuff. Isaac, why don’t you stay here and talk to Finn?” She locked eyes with him and he nodded. He kissed Sarah, brushing his lips over hers.
“Come back soon.”
“I will.”
Molly and Sarah left and Isaac waited in the coffee shop for Finn to return. He didn’t have to wait long. The police officer came back with a disgusted look on his face.
“She’s denying everything, of course. And I don’t think she’d go as far as poisoning Wilson. She hasn’t the brains to think of that.”
Isaac studied the younger man. “Can I ask you something?”
Finn tried to smile. ““Is it why am I married to such a bitch”? Because I haven’t got an answer for that, buddy, I really don’t.”
Isaac nodded then sighed. “Listen, I take these threats seriously. Sarah’s a beautiful woman and any freak could have fixated on her. I just want her safe.”
Finn nodded. “Preaching to the choir, Isaac. These last two years have been pretty…strange.”
“You didn’t think much of Daniel Bailey, did you?”
Finn looked uncomfortable and Isaac held his hand up. “Strictly between you and me.”
Finn sighed. “I thought he was too in love with himself. He could be very charming, even genuinely friendly and I do believe he loved Sarah but conditionally. He hated anyone else looking at her and if she talked to any other man for too long, he would sulk. Like a two-year-old. I think he was dreadfully insecure at the same time as being totally narcissistic. It was all about him.”
Isaac nodded, taking his words in. “Can I ask you something?”
“Shoot.”
“Are you in love with Sarah?”
Finn gave a genuine laugh then and he leaned forward, clapping Isaac’s shoulder. “You been talking to my wife? No, Isaac, me and Sarah are family, sure, but nothing more, I promise you.”
“Okay, just needed to hear it from the horse’s mouth.”
“Fair enough. Look, let’s work together here – get what you can out of Sarah about the other letters and ask if anything else has happened that we should know about. I’ll investigate here, go to the house and make sure that it’s secure.”
Isaac offered his hand to Finn. “Deal. Sorry for asking… you know.”
“I do. Look, man, take care of her. She could do with someone to look after her – although, don’t tell her I said that, she’ll kill me.”
Finn grinned and Isaac laughed. “Our secret, I promise.”
He opened the door to his apartment and stood aside to let her in. She’d changed into a pale blue sundress, brushed out her hair and was now looking brighter than earlier. She smiled at him.
“I’m almost afraid to look. Will there be gold taps and animal print bed sheets?”
Isaac pretended to look affronted. “But of course – and carpet on the ceiling.”
“Fancy.”
He was glad she seemed more like herself. “Come on in then, your palace awaits.”
He was more nervous than he would admit. He wanted her to like his place, to approve of his taste. In the short time they had known each other, she had become more, much more to him than just someone with whom he enjoyed amazing chemistry and had incredible mind-blowing sex. She had become his friend, his confidant, his buddy. It was a new sensation for him to let someone get this close.
Sarah walked into the living room. “Huh. I kind of expected a minimalist nightmare but this is kinda like my place.”
Isaac grinned. It was like her place, a place of enjoyment, of comfort, bookshelves stuffed to full, an admittedly top range music system, huge, over-stuffed couches. Sarah turned to smile at him, nodding to the huge flat screen.
“Boys with their toys, of course.”
“Of course. Look, why don’t we order a pizza and stay in tonight?”
She sighed. “That sounds heavenly. Have you got a big tub?”
Isaac grinned. “Oh yes, enough room for two. Plenty room for splashing too.”
Sarah grinned. “You know what?” She caught the spaghetti strap of her dress between her fingers and pulled it slowly down her shoulder, followed by the other.
Isaac grinned. “Wait…” He sat down in one of the couches and got comfortable. Sarah laughed as he gestured grandly. “Continue.”
She stood in front of him, stripping slowly, enjoying his obvious admiration. “You like what you see?”
“God, yes. Unclasp your bra, beautiful, let me see those spectacular tits.”
Sarah grinned at him. “If I’d have known you like the dirty talk…” She eased her dress down, letting it fall to the floor and unhooked her bra, freeing her full breasts. Isaac sighed happily.
“Christ, have you any idea how beautiful you are?”
Sarah smiled, a scarlet blush coloring her cheeks. “As long as you think so.” Naked except for her panties, she straddled him, bending her head to kiss him. Isaac spanned her waist with his big hands, cupped her breasts in his hands. He grinned up at her.
“I am going to fuck you senseless tonight, Miss Bailey.”
“Damn straight.”
He took a nipple into his mouth as she unzipped his pants, reaching and freeing his cock from his underwear. She stroked the length of it, her hands moving gently at first then as it swelled and hardened under her touch, she began to pull gently, urging it to thicken until it stood ramrod straight. She pulled open his shirt, revealing the smooth chest and hard pecs. In one swift movement, Isaac flipped her onto the floor and she smiled up at him as he tore the rest of his clothes off, and tugged down her panties. He kissed her mouth and moved down her body; kissing the hollow of her throat, the valley between her breasts as his fingers caressed her clit then slid inside her, pressing hard, making her wet and slick. Sarah ground her hips against his hand as she pressed her lips against his skin.
“Tell me what you want to do, Isaac,” she whispered in his ear as his long fingers spread her labia gently and the crest of hic cock nudged tantalizingly at the entrance of her sex. Isaac groaned.
“I want to fill your sweet little cunt with my cock, make you scream, make you never want to leave my bed.” With one hard thrust, he sank deep inside her and she moaned so beautifully he nearly came right away. They moved together, mouths hungry, hands gripping each other’s, fingers digging into skin fiercely, bruising and clawing. They fucked hard and long, driving each other into a pitch of screaming frenzy. Isaac gave a long moan as he came, his cock spasming as he shot into her, burying his seed deep inside of her. Sarah tightened her legs around him, her arms twined around his neck, whispering his name over and over.
Breathless, he gazed into her deep brown eyes. “Sarah… my Sarah…”
She smiled up at him, her eyes soft. “I love it when you say my name like that…”
Isaac traced her bottom lip with the tip of his finger. “I love you, Sarah Bailey.”
She grinned delightedly. “And I love you, Isaac Quinn and just so you know, I never want to leave your bed.”
“Glad to hear it.” He pulled her in the crook of his arm, his leg hitching over hers, curled around her. “Let’s not move from here for a while.”
“Deal.”
For a few minutes, they lay in silence, listening to their breathing, skin-on-skin. Sarah tilted her head up to him. “Thank you. For making this day better. You make everything better.”
Isaac was touched. “That’s nice to hear. Sarah, I only want you to be happy and safe. Whoever is doing this to you, we have to find out who it is. For now, can I ask you to stay with me while Finn checks it out?”
Sarah sighed but nodded. “I hate to be run out of my own home.”
“I know. And you’re probably right, it’s probably a spiteful, jealous person looking for cheap thrills but just to be safe, okay?”
Sarah nodded but stayed silent. He studied her expression. “You really think its Finn’s wife?”
Sarah rubbed a hand over her ey
es. “I don’t know. We have never gotten along, not since we were kids.”
“Still, why would she do something so spiteful?”
“Because that’s who Caroline is. Can we talk about something else now?”
He kissed her forehead. “You got it, beautiful.”
Later, in his bed, with Sarah asleep in his arms, Isaac lay awake, his mind whirling. It wasn’t the notes or the poisoning of Sarah’s dog that had him worried. It was what his private detective had found out. Or rather, what he hadn’t.
“I’ve found marriage records, five years ago to Sarah Hannah Li but before that nothing. Literally nothing. No employment records, no medical records, no birth certificate – at least nothing legal. Nothing. Guy’s a ghost.”
Isaac had been unsettled by the detective’s incredulous tone. It was, he told him, possible to disappear into the vastness of the US, but usually there was always some trace, some footprint. Whoever he was or had been, Daniel Bailey was not who he told his wife he was.
Sarah stirred in his arms. He smiled as she muttered something inaudible and snuggled deeper into his arms. He had no regrets, no doubts about telling her loved her. It was more than true; he’d known for weeks, hell, had known almost from the beginning. He loved her easy manner, her wicked sense of humor, her intelligence and warmth. He loved the way she would shove her glasses up her nose when she was reading, or she would laugh at the stupidest jokes – the sillier the better. He loved that she loved her food and didn’t pick at a garden salad like so many of his vapid ex-girlfriends. He loved the fact her butt jiggled when she washed her hair in the shower and that she didn’t care.
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