by Ronica Black
“We’re okay, though, aren’t we? We’re good friends, right?”
“You’re an amazing friend.”
“So are you. You’re probably the closest one to me at this point.”
“What about your lesbians? They really care about you.”
“They do, but they have each other. And besides, it’s easy with them because I’m not in lo—” She stopped suddenly.
“What?” Jayden wanted desperately for her to finish her sentence. She wanted to hear her say the words.
Kassandra’s phone rang and she plucked it from her pocket and answered. Her face went pale with shock and then distorted in anger.
“Who is this?” She paced. “Who is this? You’re not scaring me, you know.”
Jayden forced herself to sit up completely. It took her breath away, but she was too focused on Kassandra’s conversation. Kassandra yelled into the phone and ended the call. She held the phone in a tight fist as if she wanted to crush it.
“Who was it?” Jayden asked, alarmed.
“I don’t know. Just someone heavy breathing.”
Jayden carefully slung her legs over the bed. “They didn’t say anything?”
“No.” She eased herself onto the bed and palmed her forehead. “They never do.”
Jayden straightened. “It’s happened before?”
Kassandra nodded.
Jayden recalled the fear she’d seen in her after the break-in. How she’d slept with her lights on and bought extra locks. How could she have forgotten?
“What else has happened, Kassandra? And why haven’t you told me?”
She shook her head. “My porch light…the lights are gone. Someone unscrewed them, so I put new ones in this morning.”
Jayden stood as best as she could. “Come on, we’re going to your place.”
Kassandra stood alongside her. “Jayden, no. You can’t.”
“I can and we are.”
But Kassandra was insistent. She grabbed Jayden’s bicep and squeezed. “No. I took care of it. You need to let me take care of it. And you need to take care of yourself.”
“This isn’t a nuisance, Kassandra. It’s your safety. At least take Dax.”
She shook her head again and walked from the room. Jayden followed, though not as quickly. By the time she reached the living room, Kassandra had her purse slung over her shoulder and she had opened the door.
“Kassandra, wait.”
She looked back and appeared crestfallen but determined. “I’m sorry, Jayden. I just can’t accept help when you’re in so much pain. I’ll be fine. Just don’t worry and I’ll handle it.” And with that, she closed the door behind her and stepped down the porch steps into the twilight and away from the safety of Jayden and her home.
Chapter Twenty-five
Dawn had yet to break when Kassandra woke. She slipped into her robe and made her way with Lula through the living room to the front door. The days were growing cooler and nights were downright heaven-like, but she’d been too uncomfortable to leave her bedroom window cracked. So she’d slept in the stale, stuffy air of the house, since it was too cool outside for her air to kick on. She unlocked the door and opened it, ready to let some fresh air in. She stepped out for her morning paper and to let Lula relieve herself, but she felt something pierce the sole of her foot instead. She cried out and hopped back. The light filtered out through the door showing her glittering shards of glass on her front porch. She flicked the patio light switch on and off. Nothing. She retreated into the house, leaving a trail of blood along the kitchen floor as she gathered paper towels and a flashlight. She went to wipe her foot, winced, and pulled out a piece of glass. Then she half walked, half hopped back to the front door. She aimed the flashlight at her patio light. The two bulbs were busted and in pieces on the ground. Someone had shattered them, and she’d literally just replaced them.
A chill ran up her spine and gooseflesh erupted along her skin and scalp.
Something moved.
“Kassandra?”
She blinked and placed her hand on the lock of the security door.
“It’s me, Brian.”
He stood at her thigh-high gate and waved. She wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but she noticed the chill remained, her hair standing on end.
“Are you okay?” He held up his newspaper. “I was just getting my paper and I swore I heard somebody yelp.”
“Yes, yes that was me. I just stepped on a little glass is all.”
“Oh, no.” He opened the gate and stepped in, looking first at the ground then up at the lights. “Oh, man. Your lights.”
A laugh escaped her, a nervous one. “It’s no big deal. I was just getting ready to clean it up.”
Lula began to bark as he took another step toward her. The light from the flashlight put him in spotlight, and Kassandra thought he looked macabre with a pale distorted face, crooked with a grin. She switched off the flashlight, the image making her uncomfortable. He looked more normal in the dim light.
He pointed to her foot that she was favoring. She could feel the blood trickling off it. She hoped he couldn’t see.
“You’re hurt.”
She looked down as if she didn’t know. “Oh, it’s fine. Just a little cut.”
“A cut? You might have glass embedded in there. Mind if I come in and take a look? I used to be an EMT. I could have you fixed up in no time.”
She took in his jeans, nice belt, and tucked in short-sleeved striped polo shirt. He had on sneakers and his hair looked freshly cut. He looked like any average guy. Only…she caught his scent and knew it was cologne. She didn’t know what kind it was, but she found it strong and thought it odd that he had it on so early in the morning and on the weekend. She reasoned with herself that maybe he’d just showered and he liked to wear it every day. But a part of her wouldn’t accept that, and she hadn’t noticed it being so strong before. She moved back and was about to flip the lock to secure the door.
“You know Katelynn and Wendy asked me to kind of keep an eye on you. If they find out I didn’t help you in this situation, then…well, you know. I’m a dead man.” He smiled.
Katelynn and Wendy came to mind and she relaxed a little. Brian was, after all, their friend. And they’d trusted him enough to set her up with him. She recalled their attempt at a blind date at happy hour and how disastrous it had been. Partly because of her confession.
She lowered her hand. She could use help with her foot since she couldn’t see it very well. And she’d definitely need help with the cleanup.
She opened the door. “Come in, please.”
He smiled again and stepped carefully along the ground and wiped his shoes on her outside rug. He followed her into the kitchen.
“Looks like you’ve been bleeding pretty bad.”
She sat at the kitchen chair and again pressed paper towels to her foot.
“You have a first aid kit?” He moved behind the counter and opened a cabinet above the sink. He pulled it out. “Oh, good.”
She watched him, wondering if that was where he kept his. He seemed to know his way around a kitchen. He placed the plastic box on the counter and dug through it, setting aside what he needed. Then he placed the goods on the table and knelt before her. He took her foot gently. “This might sting a little.” He wiped her wound with wet cotton balls, causing her to jerk in surprise and pain. He had soaked them in peroxide and she knew her wound was fizzing. It made her light-headed to think about.
“Hang tight,” he said, doing it again with fresh cotton balls. When she clenched the sides of the chair, he soothed her and then blew delicately on her wound. The sensation sent shivers through her, but not the kind of shivers she should enjoy. She shifted, growing uncomfortable, uneasy. His grin didn’t help to ease her suddenly pounding heart. He blew again, and this time his hand moved up and down her calf as if he were lightly playing her skin.
“That’s it,” he said, his voice low and creepy. “Good girl. Just relax.”
Kassandra’s hair stood up again and she pulled her foot away. “Thanks, I’ve got it from here.”
His boyish eyes flashed and darkened. He stood and tossed the cotton balls on the table. “I didn’t get it very clean,” he said. “You don’t want an infection.”
“I know, I’m uh, going to go to my doctor this morning.”
“It’s Saturday.”
She couldn’t move; she was frozen to the chair, prey caught in the eyes of the predator. “Brian, I’m fine. I appreciate your help, but I’m going to go back to bed for a while.”
“Well, at least let me help you to bed.” He was trying to hide the change in attitude and the darkness clouding his eyes.
“No, thank you.” She forced herself to stand. “I’m going to call my friend. She’ll help me out.”
“It’s five thirty in the morning,” he said.
“I know. We have some things to do today and we want to get an early start.” She knew he wasn’t buying it. It was a stupid lie, but she wished it were true. Wished Jayden would just know somehow and show. But she was so nervous she couldn’t even make it sound convincing.
He took a step toward her, reached out, and touched her arm. “Know what I think? I think there is no friend to call this early. I think you’re attracted to me like I am you and you’re avoiding being alone with me.”
Kassandra swallowed, desperately trying to think. “I…I…” But then she heard crunching and cursing on the patio and a voice.
“Wait, Dax, let me pick you up.”
It was Jayden. Kassandra shoved her way past Brian and limped to the door. She opened it quickly, so shocked, so thankful.
“Get in here, now.”
Jayden looked alarmed and pale with pain from holding Dax. She stepped inside and set him down. Lula barked and approached him slowly, but Dax wasn’t interested. He immediately faced off with Brian and barked, ears back.
“What’s going on?” Jayden asked, trying to calm him.
Kassandra grabbed her arm and leaned into her. “Help me,” she whispered.
Brian stared at the dog for a moment but then took in Jayden. He did not look like he approved. “This must be the friend,” he said. His eyes looked dull, void of humanity. Kassandra couldn’t believe the change in him. “Rest assured, I’ve got it covered, friend. I’m tending to her wound and fixing her light.”
Kassandra squeezed Jayden’s arm. “No. I said that’s not necessary.”
“But it is.” He clenched his jaw. “You’re hurt and the light needs repair.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Jayden said. Kassandra felt her muscles harden as her own sense of warning kicked in.
“You can barely stand,” he said, a hint of a grin on his face.
“Who are you, exactly?” Jayden asked.
“I’m Brian, a friend of Kassandra’s.”
“I’ve only met him once.”
Jayden seemed to sense her fear. “You need to go now.”
He smiled wickedly. “Says who?”
“Says me.” Kassandra steeled herself.
He moved toward the door, eyes traveling from one to the other. “I guess this is the kind of treatment you get for trying to help someone.”
“I guess so, in your case, anyhow,” Jayden said, closing the door behind him and bolting the locks.
Kassandra threw herself in her arms. “Thank God you’re here! How did you know?”
“I didn’t. I was just still concerned from last night, so I came to check things out as soon as I could move well enough. And besides, I wanted to insist you take Dax. I figured you’d be too sleepy to argue. I tried to call.”
“Any other morning you would’ve been right.” She thought about her phone. She hadn’t checked it that morning yet and it had been in sleep mode. “I didn’t hear the phone.”
“It made me worry, so I guess it’s a good thing. Did he hurt you?” Jayden held her back and searched her eyes.
“No, but he was…creepy. And the way he touched me. Ugh, God.”
Jayden walked to the plantation blinds and looked out. “He’s still there. Pacing.”
Kassandra sat on the couch, hands shaking. Her fight-or-flight mode was still coursing through her body. “If you hadn’t come, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
“He frightened you that badly?”
“Yes.”
Jayden sat next to her on the couch, and both of the dogs came to them. “Is he a neighbor?”
“Yes. And Katelynn and Wendy set me up with him at happy hour. But I told him I wasn’t interested in men anymore.”
“Really? I guess that would shock someone. It does me. It also surprised me that your friends know him.”
“They do, but I’m beginning to wonder how well.”
Jayden glanced back at the door. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the one who messed with your lights.” She stood again and checked the window. “He’s still there. I’m calling the cops.”
Kassandra hopped to the window. Brian had stopped pacing. He was now just beyond her low patio wall, standing and staring at the front window with his fists at his sides. “Jesus, he looks like something out of a Stephen King novel.”
“He looks pissed. Really pissed. Like he’s thinking about what to do next.” Jayden dialed 911 and spoke to the dispatcher. Kassandra hugged herself at hearing the reality of the situation.
“We’re safe in here,” Jayden said, turning and leading her back to the couch. She knelt in front of her and eyed her cut.
“The bandages are on the table,” Kassandra said.
Jayden crossed to the kitchen and returned with antibacterial ointment and a bandage. She looked at Dax, who stood growling at the window.
“He must still be out there.”
“Good, I hope the cops see him.” She scratched Lula on the head. Lula seemed to be anxious as well. She was whining and trying to crawl all over her.
Jayden wet a folded paper towel and soaked it in peroxide. She pressed it to the wound. Kassandra was too keyed up to react to the pain.
“It’s not very deep,” Jayden said. She then applied the ointment with a cotton swab and bandaged the wound. “Do you have thick socks? It will help to protect the bandage.”
“My top right drawer,” Kassandra said, pointing to her bedroom.
Jayden stood slowly and walked to the bedroom. Kassandra heard her opening and closing the drawer.
“I see you added some curtains to cover your blinds,” Jayden said, returning. “They’re nice.”
“They make me feel safer. Like now no one can see in at all.”
Jayden handed over the fleece socks and walked back to the window. She nearly jumped back and snapped the blinds shut. “He’s sitting on the wall, staring at the window.”
“What?”
Jayden held up a hand to keep her at bay. “Stay there. He might try to do something to the window.” Dax barked and growled and Jayden led him away to the couch. They all sat together with Jayden holding Kassandra’s hand.
“Thank you for caring enough to come,” Kassandra said.
Jayden squeezed her hand. “Of course. You do the same for me.”
Dax barked again and they heard shouting. The police were calling out orders. “Come on.” Jayden took them to the back bedroom as the shouting grew louder. Kassandra could hear that Brian wasn’t cooperating. And after repeated orders, there was more shouting and a scuffle. Her heart raced wildly and Dax went crazy while Lula hid under the bed. Jayden stood guard at the door until the shouting stopped and there was a knock at the door. She crossed the living room, unbolted the door, and opened it a crack. Kassandra came to join her.
“We have the suspect in custody,” the officer said. “He resisted, so we are taking him in.”
Kassandra opened the door farther. “I think he’s the one who damaged my lights.”
The officer, who was thick with muscle and sweaty from the encounter, nodded. “You’re safe for now. Someone will take yo
ur statement, so please stay put.”
Kassandra thanked him and they left the door open for the cooler air. Then she collapsed on the couch as an officer knocked softly and entered, Jayden showing him to a seat. He took her statement, and she reported everything she could recall and more. He made notes and then closed his small notebook and sighed. “As soon as we got his name after the arrest, I called my colleague, Officer Jensen. He’s the one who’s been investigating your break-in.”
“Yes,” Kassandra said, growing more and more nervous.
“It seems the surveillance tape from your elderly neighbor, Mr. McRoy, has been cleaned up by our techs. They are going to view it this morning. But it is our belief that our suspect, Brian Edison, may be responsible. Our investigation has been pointing his way.”
“What?” Kassandra shook her head. “He’s the one who broke into my house?”
“We’ll know for sure soon enough. In the meantime, stay by your phone and answer it when we call. Officer Jensen says he’s left several messages for you to call him. He’s also stopped by.”
“I’ve been at Angel’s Wings. I’ve just been so busy.” She didn’t tell him that she’d purposely not returned his calls. His messages telling her the man still wasn’t caught had only frightened her. Which was another reason why she’d stayed away from home as much as she could.
He stood. “Officer Jensen will be in touch.” Jayden showed him out and reassured him that they would remain at the condo, by the phone. She locked the security door and left the main door open. She gave Dax a command and he lay right at the door.
“Come on,” Jayden said, holding out her hand. “Let’s go lie down.”
Kassandra was too drained from stress to argue. She took her hand and stood and they made their way to her bed, where Jayden pulled back the covers and helped her settle in. Then she lay down beside her and spooned her from behind, making her feel so safe and so warm. She closed her eyes, slowed her breathing, and fell asleep.
*****
It was quiet when Kassandra woke, save for the birds and the sound of a distant wind chime. She looked down to see Lula curled next to her stomach and a beautifully tanned hand resting over her arm. Behind her, she heard steady breathing and felt the warm press of a strong body along her back. She snuggled down deeper, wanting to return to sleep. But she glanced at the clock and knew they had to rise, for Officer Jensen would be contacting them at some point.