Mystery Lover

by Annette Broadrick

  * * *

  CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  Contents - Next Jennifer Chisholm opened her eyes in surprise and glanced around her living room. She must have fallen asleep while watching television. She couldn’t decide what it was that had awakened her. Sam, her fourteen-pound tiger-striped cat, had made himself comfortable by draping himself across her as she lay on the couch. One outstretched paw rested softly against her cheek, the rest of him covered her to her knees. No wonder she’d slept so comfortably. She’d been sleeping under a fur coat—a living fur coat.

  The low tones from the television drew her attention for a moment. The actors in a black-and-white movie, filmed more than fifty years ago, cavorted across the screen.

  What time was it?

  The rhythmic ticking of her clock was the only other sound in the room. She glanced to where it hung over her rolltop desk in the corner. The hands faithfully pointed out to her that it was ten minutes past two o’clock in the morning.

  She had gratefully stretched out on the couch at nine in order to watch one of her favorite television shows before going to bed. Jennifer’s day had been hectic. Her days were generally hectic when Mr. Cameron was out of the office. He’d been gone for almost a week now.

  Jennifer was thankful that tomorrow was Saturday. She would have a couple of days to recuperate from her busy schedule. Hopefully he would be back in the office on Monday.

  “I’m sorry, Sunshine. I’m afraid I miscalculated this one.”

  That was what had awakened her. Chad was contacting her. Jennifer’s eyes widened. Her surprise wasn’t due to the fact that she was suddenly hearing something when there was no one there—she was used to that. What had caught her off guard was that she hadn’t heard from Chad since she’d told him off several months ago. There was only one person who referred to her as Sunshine—one person who didn’t have to communicate with her by phone or in person.

  When she was a small child she had referred to him as her invisible friend. The adults around her had been amused and a little sorry for her. An only child was often a lonely one. No doubt making up an invisible friend made life a little easier to handle.

  Jennifer had never been able to convince anyone that she wasn’t making him up. In time, she had stopped trying.

  “Chad! What’s wrong?” Her voice sounded loud in the room, but she hardly noticed. She could feel his agitation and pain, something she’d never felt with him before. Something was wrong—drastically wrong.

  She tried to sit up, but Sam’s weight on her chest seemed to hold her pressed against the sofa and cushions.

  “Nothing that you can do anything about, I’m sorry to say. I just wanted you to know how very special you’ve been to me all these years.”

  Jennifer had never heard him pay her a compliment before. She had once told him that he only came into her life to bully and irritate her, and he’d never denied the accusation. Now he sounded so full of regret . . .as though he were telling her goodbye.

  Once again she tried to sit up. Pushing against the sleeping cat, she said impatiently, “Would you get off me, darn it? You must weigh close to a ton!”

  Jennifer felt a jolt as her remark reached Chad just before he said, “I apologize for disturbing you at this hour. I should have realized___“

  He seemed to fade away. “Don’t leave, Chad!” she said rapidly. “I was talking to Sam.”

  “?”

  “My cat. Don’t you remember? I’ve had him for several years.”

  “I had forgotten the name.”

  “Please tell me what’s wrong. You seem different, somehow.‘’ She stood up, concentrating on the voice in her head.

  “That’s not important. I just wanted to let you know, Sunshine, that I love you very much___I always have. ”

  Chad loved her? The irritating, teasing, invisible friend of her youth actually loved her? Jennifer couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “No, you’re not dreaming. ” That was a perfect example of why she found him so irritating. She found it most uncomfortable to have someone who could monitor—and offer unasked-for comments on—her thoughts. But Jennifer had to admit that the past few months had been very lonely without him.

  He’d been such an integral part of her life for so long that she hadn’t realized how much she would miss his presence. If she’d known, she would never have yelled at him, ordered him to get out of her life and to leave her alone.

  He had done just that.

  Now he was back and she knew something was seriously wrong.

  “What is it?”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just needed to—”

  “I’m going to be much more than just upset if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I walked into a trap, I’m afraid. Well laid, I might add. They knew me well enough to know my curiosity would keep me following them until they had me.”

  “Will you kindly tell me what you’re talking about?”

  “It’s too late to go into it. It’s never been important for you to know what I do for a living. It’s not important now. I just wanted to tell you I love you and

  hope life showers you with the blessings you deserve.“

  “Chad, please tell me what’s wrong.” She waited for a moment but got no response. “Chad?” There was no answer.

  Frustrated beyond belief, Jennifer sank down beside Sam once more and stared unseeingly at the television.

  How could he do this to her: check in to say goodbye and then leave again?

  If she could just once get her hands on him she’d—

  But that was the trouble. She had never laid eyes on him.

  Dropping her head wearily on the back of the sofa, Jennifer tried to clear her mind. Chad had a way of getting her emotions stirred up. He was good at that. He always had been___

  Jennifer couldn’t remember exactly how old she was when Chad had first made his presence known, but she knew it was some time after the automobile accident that had changed her life. Her mother, upon being questioned, had said Jennifer was just past five years of age when the accident had occurred. Jennifer remembered very little about it and often wondered if what she knew was what she had remembered or what others had told her later.

  After several days in the hospital following the accident, her father had died, leaving her mother to find a way to support herself and Jennifer.

  No one was to blame for the fact that Jennifer had trouble making friends. She was shy and often stood on the sidelines and waited for someone to include her in their games.

  As she grew older, and her mother allowed her to go home alone after school, she returned to an empty apartment where she waited for her mother to get off work.

  Jennifer had grown increasingly despondent in the months following the accident. Until Chad spoke to her one day___

  Jennifer had stood looking out the window of their Oceanside, California apartment, yearning for the days when her mother had been home and would take her to the beach. Jennifer loved to play on the beach and to watch the waves as they came rolling in to touch the shoreline. ,

  Now her mother had so little time for her. Jennifer had no one anymore.

  “You have me, Sunshine.”

  Jennifer glanced around the room. There was no one there. She glanced at the television but it wasn’t on.

  “Who said that?
” she finally asked softly.

  “I did.”

  “Who are you?”

  There was a brief pause before she heard, “Chad. ”

  Jennifer started walking through the apartment, looking behind doors, vaguely aware that although she was hearing someone, the messages seemed to come from inside her head.

  “They are,” he confirmed. “I’m sending you thought messages. ”

  “Do I know you?” she finally asked, puzzled.

  “It’s enough that I know you, Sunshine. I just wanted you to know that I’m here. You don’t have to feel lonely.”

  “Are you real?”

  “Real enough.”

  “I mean, you aren’t my guardian angel, are you?”

  She could feel his amusement. “Something like that, maybe. But I’m very much a human being. ”

  “How old are you?”

  “Oh, I’m very old. Almost ancient.”

  Jennifer didn’t doubt that at all. How many people could talk to you in your head? She’d never known of anyone who did that before.

  She asked her mother about Chad when she got home. Unfortunately her mother had too much on her mind to really tune in to Jennifer’s questions and absently replied that she supposed everyone had a guardian angel, and she was pleased to know that Jennifer’s angel went by the name of Chad.

  Of course her schoolmates made fun of her. Jennifer discovered that she didn’t care. Probably they were so busy they didn’t even hear their angels talking to them.

  She could always hear Chad.

  But by the time Jennifer reached her teenage years, she discovered that Chad was far from being an angel.

  “Why are you mooning over that picture of a movie star?” he asked one day.

  Jennifer glanced around, embarrassed to be caught gazing with longing at her idol’s photograph. Then she realized she hadn’t been caught. It was Chad.

  “I’m not mooning.”

  “Of course you are. Why do you think someone like him would never notice you? You have a very nice figure.”

  “I’m skinny.”

  “No, you’re not. And stop worrying about the size of your breasts. They’re just fine.”

  “Chad!”

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “I just wish I could see you as clearly as you seem to see me.”

  “You probably could, if you concentrated. All it takes is practice.‘’

  She had taken him at his word. Jennifer never managed to pick up anything to do with his appearance, but she had learned to contact him whenever she wished, which proved to be a little unsettling for him on one occasion.

  “Chad! Mother said I can’t go with Sue and Janey to the show tonight. You know that isn’t fair. What can I tell her to convince her I won’t get into any trouble if she’d just let me go?”

  She waited for a few moments, but didn’t get an answer.

  “Chad?”

  “Not now, Jennifer. I’m busy.”

  He’d never been too busy for her before. They’d been conversing for years now. He’d helped her with her homework, explained algebra to her so that she finally understood it. Why, Chad had always been there for her.

  “Busy? Doing what?”

  What she received then was something akin to a groan. “Thanks a lot, Sunshine. You just blew that one for me!”

  “What did I do?”

  “My dear, sweet, innocent child. There are times when my mind is on other things and I don’t need the distraction.”

  “Are you with a girl?” she asked suspiciously.

  “/ was. I’m afraid my lack of concentration at a crucial moment offended her.‘’

  “Oh, Chad. I’m sorry.”

  “Believe me. No sorrier than lam.”

  She didn’t know what to say. Jennifer had forgotten why she had flounced into her room. The idea that Chad had a life totally unrelated to hers had never occurred to her before. She had always taken him so much for granted.

  Several days passed before she attempted to contact him again.

  “Chad?”

  “Yes?”

  “Are you busy?”

  “What’s up, Sunshine?”

  “Oh.. . nothing much. I was just wondering about something___”

  “Uh-oh. Now you’re curious. I was afraid of that.”

  “Would it be possible for us to meet sometime?”

  “Possible, but not practical.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t live in Oceanside.”

  “Oh!” She had never given his residence any thought either. “Where do you live?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Because I’d like to get to know you better.”

  “What do you want to know?” Before she could say anything she felt his laughter. “Whoa, whoa. Wait a minute. Some of those questions are indecent. And no. I don’t look anything like your favorite television hero. ”

  “How old are you?”

  “Much too old for a little girl like you.”

  “Are you married?”

  “No.”

  “Do you intend to get married?”

  “Maybe.”

  “When?”

  “Maybe I’m waiting for you to grow up.”

  “What good will that do, if I don’t know who you are?”

  “Ah, but I know who you are and that’s what counts.”

  “You mean you’ve actually seen me?”

  “Of course.”

  “When?”

  “Whenever I come to Oceanside.”

  “Where are you now?”

  There was a hesitation. “I travel around considerably. Part of my job. ”

  “What’s your job?”

  “If I thought you needed to know, Sunshine, I’d tell you.”

  “You can be so irritating. Did you know that?”

  “Now that you mention it, you aren’t the first person who’s pointed out that trait to me. Perhaps I should work on it.”

  “Perhaps, nothing.” Jennifer was walking home from school and realized that more than one person passing her had given her a strange look. She supposed she did look a little peculiar, walking down the street arguing with someone who obviously wasn’t there. “Are you serious about waiting for me to grow up?”

  There was a long pause and she thought he wasn’t going to answer her. “No: I’m not serious, Sunshine. I guess I was just trying to be irritating, as usual. My life-style isn’t conducive to a marriage arrangement, I’m afraid. ”

  “Oh.” Jennifer could feel the depression settling through her.

  “But I’ll always be here for you, no matter what. Don’t forget that.”

  “How will I ever explain you to my husband?” she said, attempting to convey a lightness she didn’t feel.

  “You won’t have to. I would never intrude when you didn’t need me. Once you’re married, things will be different.”

  “I don’t want to lose you, Chad.”

  Jennifer could still hear herself repeating those words. Even when she’d gotten so angry at him, she hadn’t really meant for him to take her so literally and to drop out of her life.

  Chad was special. They had a very special relationship.

  Now he was in some sort of trouble. If only she could figure out something she could do to help him. She’d do anything.

  “Anything?”

  “Chad! You’re still there! Yes. Tell me what to do.”

  “I’ve been thinking___”

  “Yes?”

  “You are my only contact with the world right now. My abductors figured all the angles but that one.”

  “Your abductors! You mean you’ve been kidnapped?”

  “More or less. They aren’t holding me for ransom, though. They just don’t intend for me to show up again.”

  “Could I call the police or something?”

  “I’m working on that. Why don’t you get some sleep while I think through my plan a little more thoroughly. L
et me know when you wake up. Surely there’s some way we can utilize our special communication.”

  She laughed. “I’d love to. You’ve done so much for me. Now it’s my turn.”

  “We aren’t playing games here, Sunshine. These people mean business. I really walked into a hornet’s nest with this one. Now, go get some sleep.”

  Jennifer checked the door to be sure the chain was on and the lock secure, turned off the television and snapped off the lights. He was right. She would have to get some rest. If Chad felt he could wait until morning, then she’d try to get a few more hours of sleep.

  She had a hard time quieting down her mind once she crawled into bed with Sam curled up behind her drawn-up knees. After all these years, she now had the chance to meet Chad in person.

  Chapter Two

  Contents - Prev / Next By nine o’clock the next morning Jennifer was driving her five-year-old Toyota toward Las Vegas.

  For the past five years Jennifer had been living and working in the Los Angeles area. She was pleased with her job, her apartment and her life-style. To be more precise, she was content to stay in the shallows of life, never tempted to seek out the depths and excitement that others seemed to crave. Chad had a lot to do with her way of thinking. He had spent many hours talking to her about some of the trouble young women could get into if they weren’t careful, especially if they were trying to prove something, to either themselves or other people.

  Jennifer realized she didn’t have such a need. She was content to be who she was and live her own rather unexciting life.

  Therefore, this would be her first visit to Las Vegas.

  Jennifer wasn’t particularly looking forward to arriving there. Her attitude could be traced back to the fact that Chad had been less than forthcoming about what he wanted her to do.

  Following his instructions, she had immediately hopped into the shower as soon as she awakened, quickly donned her clothes, then contacted him.

  He immediately responded.

  “How are you?” she asked, more out of concern than politeness.

  “I feel a little groggy, but that’s to be expected,” was the reply.

  “Have you been drinking?” she asked, surprised.

  “No. But I got a fairly hard clout to the head last night.”