“So you dropped them at the house of a woman that hadn’t been a good mother to you?”
“She had been the best. Religious, strict, rules, home cooked meals, curfews, and a few well deserved whippings. I thought she was what they needed.”
“But she had a favorite,” Nate mumbled. “Nash, and he raped our mother. You knew that and placed Amy in that situation. Did you even care? Did you ever think about us before Granny had her heart attack?”
“I was drugged out of my mind. Higher than high. Nothing mattered until that phone call. It was a wakeup call. And then. . .”
Nate felt the tears in his eyes when he looked at his father. “You had two children who needed you. Two children you should’ve protected. I guess the drugs just meant more to you. It’s too bad they didn’t protect Amy from your brother. Amy told me that I should forgive you; she even reminded me that was the way that we were taught. I hope that after I get over hearing that Nash molested her more than once, I can do that.”
Nathan frowned at his son and nodded. “I might try to forgive myself, but I can’t change what happened. If I could, I would. I’d do what I had promised and take care of you the way your mother wanted. I can’t. What I can do is to help with this mess. I won’t lose another daughter.” He turned to Kyle. “The question you asked, Kyle, I have asked a million times. It’s why I advocate against drugs and attend the meetings regularly. I know that it doesn’t look like I love my children, but I do.”
“You need to make sure that Amy knows that. A person can have too much on her plate.” Kyle glanced down the hall and sighed after seeing that door was still shut. “She needs the sleep; I hope that she doesn’t have nightmares.”
Elaine watched Nathan and Barbara leave before talking to Kyle. “I was thinking that maybe you could spend the night.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want that monster to call and tell us that you’re dead. I actually want to see you and Amy discover what love can be.” Elaine smirked before glancing at Nate. “It’s up to you, Nate. Coming?” Elaine walked to her bedroom.
Kyle glanced at Nate with a question in his eyes. “So?”
“Elaine quit her job for me,” Nate answered. “I’ll get you a pillow and blanket.”
Kyle nodded. “I just want to check on Amy again.”
Nate nodded and stepped into Elaine’s room to get the pillow and blanket for Kyle. Walking out of the room, he saw Kyle watching from Amy’s door and joined him. “She’s sleeping well.”
“For how long?” Kyle asked, turning away from the room and taking the pillow and blanket from Nate. “She was crying the first time I came down. I guess I know why after hearing her talk about seeing Randy’s body. She’s lost a lot of people.”
“She has, and she was with them when they died. Kyle, she’s letting you in, and she doesn’t realize it. Don’t take that for granted, it’s a gift.” Nate watched him walk over to the couch and make his bed before turning out the light.
Kyle called Pop before turning in, letting him know what had been done and that everything had been turned over to the police. Glancing at the clock, he knew it was too late to call the restaurant and lowered his head on the pillow. He was dreaming when the phone rang from beside him and shook out his thoughts to realize that it was another one of those phone calls. He blinked when the light was turned on, and Amy was standing in the hallway listening.
Amy walked closer to the phone and answered it. “What did I do to you?!” she snapped into the phone. “Tell me, you coward.”
“He’s with you, Amy, but I will be waiting on him. You’re mine.”
“You won’t kill him. He’s innocent. Just a friend of my brother who doesn’t mean anything at all to me.”
Kyle raised his eyes when Amy slammed the receiver down and bit her lip, angry tears sliding down her cheeks. He started walking towards her before she held up her hand.
“No, Kyle.”
“Yes, Amy. What did he say?” Kyle asked before he noticed that Nate and Elaine had walked into the room. “What did he say?” he repeated.
“It’s not important.” Amy tried to control her breathing while she talked, but shivered while the voice failed to leave her thoughts. “Absolutely nothing. Nate, can we talk?” Amy lowered her eyes before Nate stepped over to her and guided her towards the hall.
“What is it, Amy?”
“I believe that Kyle might be in trouble. I don’t think that I can handle it if something happens to somebody else. Kyle hasn’t done anything.”
“And why couldn’t you tell Kyle this?”
“Don’t try to get into my head.” Amy hissed. “God, I’m sorry. It’s just that. . .I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“I can see past it, Amy.” Nate pulled her to him. “But I think that you should tell Kyle so that he can watch out for himself. He’s not going to give up on his restaurant. That’s where he received that page today.”
“Nate, I’m scared shitless.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to see Kyle with a bullet hole in his head,” Amy glanced at Kyle before closing her eyes on the tears that were still threatening her.
“Do you love him, Amy?”
Amy looked back at her brother. “No, I don’t.”
“Liar,” Nate laughed before taking Amy’s hand and leading her over to where Elaine stood with Kyle. “Kyle, he mentioned you over the phone. Be very careful.”
Kyle watched Amy before reaching out for her hand, surprised that she took it. “I don’t want you worrying about me, Amy. Understood?”
Nate motioned for Elaine and they left Kyle and Amy alone.
Amy looked down at the pillow and blanket before looking at Kyle puzzled. “You were spending the night?”
“Nate advised me to so that you didn’t receive a phone call saying that I was dead.”
Amy nodded before asking if the couch was comfortable.
“Not really, but I was getting some sleep.” Kyle answered. “You were sleeping pretty deep when I checked on you. What woke you?”
“A dream,” Amy answered before walking into the kitchen and grabbing a bottle of water. “And then I heard the phone. I thought that you had left and it scared me to think that maybe. . .” Biting her lip again, she stared at him. “Kyle, I can’t promise you anything. Later on, I might talk about it, but I can’t now.”
“Hey, as long as you don’t try pushing me away any more, I think that I can handle just being around for you.” Kyle smiled before he stepped around the counter and joined her. “That I can promise.”
“Why don’t you forget about the couch? We can talk until I feel like I can go back to sleep.” Amy couldn’t believe the words that came out of her mouth and placed a hand over her mouth before Kyle chuckled.
“It actually sounds like a great idea.” Kyle took the water bottle and twisted the lid on it before placing it on the counter. “If I start snoring, just elbow me and I’ll turn over.”
Amy nodded. “And if I start snoring first?”
“I’ll be relieved to hear it.” Kyle stated. “You’re tired, Amy.” He walked with her to her bedroom and watched her slide under the covers.
“Kyle?” Amy snuggled deeper under the covers.
“Hmm?’ He slid in beside her and placed an arm protectively over her. “It’s all going to work out, Amy.”
She placed a hand over his before turning over on her back and staring up at the ceiling. “I don’t want to dream.”
Kyle watched her from the light of the moon which was shining through the window. “The boogey man doesn’t want to tangle with me. Don’t worry so much.” He moved so that her head rested on his chest. “Sleep, now.”
Amy felt her eyes growing heavy while she listened to his heartbeat and was soon back in the deep sleep that her exhaustion had caused earlier.
Kyle listened to her quiet snore and nodded off only waking after hearing his cell phone ringing from beside him. “Yes,”
he snapped.
“Kyle, I don’t know how to say this.” Stephanie was looking at the restaurant while she talked.
“Stephie, just say it.”
“The restaurant has been vandalized. There’s red spray paint on the windows.”
Kyle sat straight up in the bed, wide awake. He glanced down at Amy, relieved that she was still sleeping. “Did you call the police?”
“They’re on the way. Kyle, what is going on? Why is he threatening you?” Stephanie was standing with the other staff after being advised not to go inside without a police officer present.
“It’s to get to Amy. I thought I told you that yesterday. Listen, call Pop and let him know. Tell him to tell Mom that I’m fine. I don’t want her to worry about anything.” He watched Amy stir. “Send a picture to my phone.” Kyle ended the call and tried to smile at Amy. “How did you sleep?”
“Fine,” Amy whispered. “Who was on the phone?”
“Stephanie. I guess she was worried because I wasn’t there yet.” Kyle lied before his phone buzzed with the text Stephanie sent him. He tried to move the phone where Amy wouldn’t see the picture, but failed after she had sat up and leaned against the back of the bed.
Amy saw the picture and tossed the covers from her. Standing, she glared at Kyle. “Worried because you weren’t there? I guess you’re just going to speed out of here and ignore the threat.”
Kyle noticed the tears in her eyes and froze. “How about if I take Nate with me?”
“Nate has a job.” Amy stormed out of her bedroom and bumped into Elaine in blind anger.
“Where’s the fire?” Elaine asked before seeing the anger in Amy’s eyes. “Are you and Kyle fighting again?”
“Fighting? No. I’ve got nothing to say to him.” Amy glanced at the phone and answering machine angrily and unplugged it from the wall. She wouldn’t make the mistake this time. She carried it out through the sliding door and slammed it as hard as she could against the brick wall.
Kyle stepped out the bedroom and watched before noticing that Elaine was already on her cell phone.
“Why is Amy upset, Kyle?”
“My restaurant was sprayed with red paint, threatening me and her. I tried to hide the picture from her.” Kyle responded. “Elaine, is there any coffee?”
Elaine pointed towards the counter while she talked to Nate explaining what was happening. She ended the call and looked at Kyle. “Nate just finished dressing. He wants to go to the restaurant with you. He’s asked for a few personal days to help Amy.”
Kyle poured two mugs of the coffee and nodded. He stepped outside and handed one of the mugs to Amy. “Nate’s going to drive out with me. Okay?”
“Whatever.”
“Amy, he’s not going to hurt me. There are cops all over the place right now. I have to go because I’m the owner. You call Pop. I’m sure Della will clear your schedule.”
“So I can sit around and mope? I don’t need any favors.”
“You told me that you wanted to draw for fun. Why don’t you do that today instead of for your campaigns? If anything happens to you, Pop will have my ass. That being said, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be out there on your own.”
“I would argue with you, but you actually make sense this time. The only problem is that I just tossed the phone against the wall, and my cell was taken for evidence.”
Kyle handed her his cell phone. “I’m not leaving until I hear his answer.”
Amy noticed that Kyle had already pulled up his stepfather’s number and called. “Kyle says that I have to call in today and wants to know if that’s okay with you. It is? I told you that you did everything that they wanted. No, Sonny. Sure two days, but I’m not happy with this. Do you want to talk to Kyle?” Amy glared at Kyle before she handed him the phone. “I guess you got your way.” She turned and walked into the apartment while Kyle talked on the phone.
“Yes, Pop. I know. Stephanie should be safe with all the people that are with her. I understand. No, I’m not going alone. Nate is going to go with me. I’ll call you when I get there.”
Chapter 18
Amy paced around the apartment, restless and uneasy, after Kyle and Nate left and only stopped when Elaine walked into the living room dressed for the first day of her new job.
“Don’t go out, Amy, not even for a jog.” Elaine mumbled after stepping into the kitchen and refreshing her coffee. “I’m serious.”
“I get that,” Amy snapped. “I’ll be fine.” Amy walked over to the couch and sat, grabbing the television remote. “Have fun, Elaine.”
Elaine glanced at Amy wearily. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what? I said that I was fine. Gees, you’d think that something bad was going on around here the way all of you are acting.” Amy smirked. “I said that I would be fine. I’ll lock the deadbolt and be my own prisoner.”
“If you need anything, call.”
“I don’t think that’s possible, Elaine.” Amy raised her eyes before pointing to the place where the phone had been. “I said that I would be fine. Don’t be such a worry wart. I’m sure that Nate will be back soon.”
“Not soon enough,” Elaine grabbed her keys from the bowl and opened the door. “You shouldn’t have busted up the phone.” She waited until Amy walked over to the door and sighed. “I don’t like this.”
Amy shook her head and shoved her the rest of the way out before closing the door and turning the deadbolt. Sighing, she walked to the sliding door, locked the screen and window, closed the blinds, and then walked back to the couch. She glanced at her sketchbook and frowned. She could hear her mother telling her to draw what she saw.
≠
Kyle studied the painted windows in anger. Not so much because it had soiled his restaurant, but because it was a threat for the public to see. Glancing at Nate, he shook his head. “I want this creep.”
“We all want him, Kyle.” Nate glowered. “It didn’t take him long to zero in on you. Have you told anybody how you feel about my sister?”
“No, just her. You joked around about it while we were playing basketball, but other than that, we’ve kept it quiet.”
“My ass you did. You kissed her in your restaurant in front of that Eccard guy. That places him number one on my suspect list.”
Kyle hadn’t thought about that until Nate’s reminder and frowned. “He’s got plenty of motives without using me. Why not go after the company that refuses his business? Why go after one person? It doesn’t make sense. Plus, he’s married which doesn’t exactly free up his time to be constantly watching Amy. I’m sure that his wife would alibi him.”
“Then what sicko is doing this?”
“Dunno, Nate. I think that you should go back to the apartment. Didn’t you say that Elaine had to go to work?” Kyle heard his phone ringing and pulled it out his pocket, answering without looking at the caller ID. “Hello?”
“You can’t protect her now, Kyle.” The muffled voice spoke into the phone. “Your poor business. Do you like the artwork?”
Kyle glanced at Nate and placed the phone on speaker. “Where are you?”
“I’m watching your girl. She’s too relaxed, stretched out on the couch without a care in the world. Did you make love to her last night? I plan on taking my turn with her before I slit her throat. You left her alone. That was a big mistake.”
“You won’t touch her.” Kyle started walking towards his car, and Nate followed close behind him. “I’ll kill you.”
“All she’s wearing is a pajama top. It’ll be easy.” The voice laughed. “I’d tell her how turned on I was if she hadn’t smashed her phone.”
Kyle jerked the door of his car and slid behind the wheel after hearing silence. “What the hell was I thinking? We left Amy home alone. She would’ve been safer if she had gone to work.”
Nate reached over from the passenger seat and turned the ignition. “Go, Kyle.” It was all he said before thinking about his sister. “It’s not your fault the idio
t played us like a violin.”
“Yes, it is. I should’ve seen the signs.” Kyle jerked the car into drive and sped away from the restaurant. “And how did he get this number? It has to be somebody that we know.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you.” Nate watched the apartment complex come into view and released the buckle on his seat belt. “He hasn’t had enough time to do anything. Come on.” He had manually unlocked his door before Kyle had a chance to jam the car into park.
Nate pounded on his sister’s apartment door and looked around him before he heard the deadbolt turn and stared at Amy in relief while she looked at him puzzled. “Put on some clothes.” Nate snapped, pushing himself into the apartment and looking around at the windows. The blinds were drawn. He turned toward Amy after checking the lock on the back door. “He couldn’t have seen in here. Amy, clothes.”
“What is the deal with you?” Amy snapped back at him.
Kyle stepped over to Amy and grabbed one of her hands. “He knows what you’re wearing. He knows that you smashed the phone. He called me.”
“How?” Amy looked around her, jerked her hand away from him, and hugged herself. “How is that possible? I’ve closed all the windows. Nobody can see in.”
Kyle’s phone rang again, and he answered it on speaker.
“You must have broken some speed limits, Kyle.”
Kyle watched Amy after she recognized the voice.
“Good for you. Is she turning you on right now?” The voice laughed. “You have to admit that she’s really hot, and the sexuality of the night shirt is tormenting me. You won’t be able to protect her all the time. She will be mine. Hold on a minute- will you?”
They listened while a woman moaned and then the voice came back.
“I’m just warming up. Amy, I know that Kyle has his phone on speaker. I’m watching you now. You’re next.”
Amy Page 17