He draped his arm over her shoulder and together they moved toward her dorm. She was so distraught Dylan’s heart went out to her. She didn’t deserve the horrible treatment inflicted on her by Robertson. It looked as if he would have to have another little talk with him. This time he would knock some sense into his thick skull. No way would he allow Robertson to continue his torture of Lacy.
She was shaking by the time Dylan unlocked her door and pushed it open. He threw her backpack on the end of her bed. Lacy fell face first into her pillow. Her soft weeping only added to his discomfort. He had never consoled a female before and didn’t know how to be of assistance. Most of the women he had relationships with were gangbangers. Women that were hard and mean. If they were upset with someone, they usually beat the hell out of them. Lacy was too soft-hearted and sweet-tempered. The fallout from the gossip would destroy her.
He pushed her backpack out of his way and sat on the end of the bed. Hand on her back, he asked, “Do you want me to call Nina or Beth?”
She sat up and squirmed against the headboard. Leaning over, she grabbed a tissue from the box on the nightstand. Dabbing at her tears, she whispered, “No, I don’t want them to know. They worry about me enough as it is.”
“I have to tell Josh. If I don’t, he’ll be extremely angry with me. He feels a sense of responsibility for your safety.”
The door swung open, Michelle and Michael Smith burst into the room. Michelle dropped her book bag and purse on the floor. In her hand was one of the provocative photos. Lacy asked through her tears, “Where did you find yours?”
The color left Michelle’s face. “On the power pole outside our building. They are everywhere.”
Michael threw a stack of pictures in the trashcan. “These were in the hall outside the cafeteria. We ripped down all the pictures we could find.” How many pictures did they make? Someone had gone to great lengths to make her look like a whore.
Lacy had to scoot over because Michelle gave her no other choice as she climbed into bed next to her. She wrapped her arm around her shoulder. “Oh, honey I’m so sorry. The person responsible should be castrated like we do bulls back home.” Her eyes shifted to Dylan. Fury stained her cheeks red. “If you hold him, I’ll do the cutting. He’ll rue the day he messed with Lacy.”
“Calm down, fireball. The law will take care of Robertson.”
“When pigs fly! They haven’t done anything to him so far. He drugged Lacy, attempted to rape her, and is still walking around free.” Dylan was glad Michelle didn’t know he was an FBI Agent or he was sure some of that anger would be directed at him. “Something has to be done.” She bolted to her feet. “I’m calling Josh. Maybe he can think of something.”
Before Michelle had time to grab her phone, Lacy snapped, “No. Do not call Josh or anyone else for that matter. I doubt there is anything Josh can do. Bret’s not stupid. There is no way to find out if he is responsible for the pictures or one of his friends.” With a whimper of distress, she replied, “My family has worried enough about me. I will not give them something else to worry about.”
Lacy spared Dylan a glance letting him know to keep his mouth shut. But he knew he had to tell Josh about the pictures. He would have to tell Josh everything.
Michael stood by the bed. “Is there anything I can get you, honey? Would you like a cup of hot tea?”
“Yes, Michael that would be lovely.” Since he was in their apartment often studying with her, he knew his way around the kitchen. She watched him fill the kettle with water and flip on the burner. He opened the cabinet above the stove and grabbed the box of tea bags.
Maybe she didn’t have as many friends as Robertson, but the ones she did have were loyal.
Chapter Ten
Lacy opened the small refrigerator and leaned in to see what options she had for a snack. She grabbed a container of yogurt and closed the door. She pulled off the foil wrapper and grabbed a spoon from the drain. She dipped it into the yogurt, placed it in her mouth, and held it on her tongue. It wasn’t really what she wanted to eat but it would have to do. Some of Maria’s chicken cacciatore would hit the spot. Earlier she had talked to Nina and she had informed her of what they were having for dinner. For dessert they were having chocolate cake. After popping another mouthful of yogurt, she felt jealous. Too bad it would be a couple of days before Saturday night when they made it a habit to get together as a family.
She curled up on the sofa and opened Hilda’s diary.
Sunday, May 26, 1912
What a glorious day. Father gives the hired help time off on Sunday to worship and rest. After church I rode Breeze to the waterfall and spent an hour in the arms of my truelove. He is my prince charming, my knight in shining armor. He knows all my hopes and dreams. Today Darrell asked me to marry him when he finishes his education. Imagine my elation as we made love in the rich green grass by the roar of the waterfall. Nothing could be more perfect than to be with the man you love in such a spectacular landscape. For an amazing hour we pretended the rest of the world doesn’t exist. We were the only two people on earth as we basked in the magnificent sunlight. I became a woman today. Darrell made me feel things I never knew possible.
May 27, 1912
Father almost caught Darrell and me in the barn today. I shudder to think what will happen if he discovers I am in love with a man that he deems beneath me. My father’s worst flaw is his bigotry. Father has definite rules about behavior. He would never accept Darrell as a worthy husband. He would insist I marry someone of my own social standing. How can I possibly change his way of thinking to mine? I shall marry no other but Darrell Talbert. I long for the day we can live as husband and wife. Does father not understand that after his studies at the university, he’ll be a lawyer? He will make a name for himself and we will live happily ever after. My heart fills with love every time we are together, which isn’t often because father is a tough taskmaster who makes sure his hired help have much to keep them busy. Darrell works hard for the paltry amount of money father pays him. Rarely is he able to slip away and lie in my arms.
Sporadic raindrops pelted the window. Thunder grumbled, rolled closer. She moved to the window and peered out into the darkness. A streak of lightning lit up the sky and Lacy jumped. “It’s just a little storm.” A clap of thunder followed and Lacy felt the whole floor vibrate under her. Another bolt of lightning seemed to split the sky into pieces. A deluge of rain fell from the sky. In the past she loved the energy and power she felt during a storm, watching nature’s show. But tonight all she felt was unease.
Ashamed of the photos being distributed around campus, she had skipped school and stayed in her dorm room all day. Staring at the same four walls all day had her nerves on edge.
The lights flickered before the room became completely dark. “Great, no power.” Even the street was entirely dark. She couldn’t even see the huge oak in the yard below. She fumbled around in the darkness until she found the flashlight they kept on the tiny kitchen counter for just such an emergency. With a trembling hand, she flipped on the flashlight.
Lacy hoped Michelle and Tommy were okay. They went to dinner and then a movie. Tommy said they would be late but she couldn’t help but worry. Something always seemed to worry her of late. Bret was responsible for her anxieties. She never knew what he would do next.
She moved back to the window to watch the storm while she ate her yogurt. She placed the flashlight on the table and scooped yogurt off the spoon with her lips. Casting a look at the sky, she watched the lightning dance across the heavens lighting up the whole yard. Lacy paused, with the spoon nearly to her lips. The yogurt and spoon dropped to the floor spilling all over her bare feet. Bone deep terror vibrated through her when she saw someone on the street looking up at her window. She couldn’t see his face because he was wearing a raincoat and hat. It didn’t matter what he wore, she knew it was Bret.
Her body was cold with fear as seconds passed. She closed her eyes and opened them again willing him to d
isappear. When another steak of lightning lit up the yard, she saw he was still there. A scream tearing at her throat, she clutched a hand to her throat. The dark form faded into the shadows.
Sprinting to the door, she checked the locks. Tommy had added a safety chain and she made sure it was secure. As a precaution she ran to her bed, dropped to her knees, and fumbled around for her bat. The silence of the room was stretching her nerves to the breaking point. At the moment she couldn’t put two rational thoughts together. Eyes on the doorknob, she waited to see if he was going to try to enter her room.
Lacy’s phone was on the table. She picked it up and tried to call the last person she had spoken to. With trembling hands she tapped at the redial button. After three attempts, she heard it ringing on the other end. Dylan answered, “Hello.”
Surprised to hear his voice, it took seconds for her to speak. She expected to hear Michelle’s voice believing she was the last person she had spoken with on the phone. She tried to speak very slow and precise. “Bret Robertson is outside my building.”
“I’ll be right there.” She could hear the panic in his voice. It would take him at least fifteen minutes to arrive. Lacy knew it would be the longest wait of her life. She wondered if she should call the police. In the end she decided not to waste her time. By the time they got there he would probably be gone.
Besides, she didn’t actually see his face. What would she tell them? I think Bret Robertson is stalking me. They would probably think she was crazy. Instinct wouldn’t prove anything to the police. They needed cold, hard evidence.
Almost too afraid to look, she crossed the room on trembling legs. From the side, she peered at the yard below and waited for a streak of lightning. No one was there. Was he hiding in the shadows or had he fled? Time ticked by as she stood in the same spot, bat still in her hand.
It wasn’t fair that Bret was torturing her. Something was going to have to be done because she couldn’t go on living in fear. It was too horrible to contemplate what he would do next. It was beginning to affect her health. She couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. This time she had to find a way to make him stop stalking her. Thoughts of all the possibilities swirled in her head. All of them were against the law. She couldn’t do something that would jeopardize her scholarship. Besides, she couldn’t break the law. It just wasn’t in her nature.
A knock on her door had her holding her breath. She placed the bat on her shoulder and gripped it with both hands. “Lacy, it’s me, Dylan. Let me in.”
She dropped the bat, grabbed the flashlight, and raced across the floor. Nerves caused her to jerk the door open without removing the chain. The door caught jarring her arm. She slammed the door and took a deep breath to calm down. Sliding the metal bolt, she opened the door and jumped into Dylan’s arms. She felt the dampness of his shirt penetrate her thin tee-shirt. The light from the flashlight cast eerie shapes in the dark hallway.
Dylan pushed her back into the room and closed the door. Blinking rain from his eyes, he turned the lock and held her by the arms. He was soaking wet because he didn’t take time to throw on a rain jacket. “Are you absolutely sure it was Robertson?”
“No, but who else would be standing in a raging storm outside my building looking up at my window. It was too dark to see his face. The man is skulking about in the bushes watching me.” Her voice was raw with fear. With a sigh, she let herself be gathered close, let her head rest on his wet chest. Her breath caught on a sob. “I can’t take much more of this.”
“You’re safe now, Lacy. He can’t hurt you.”
“But what about tomorrow, and the next day, the day after that? You can’t protect me every minute of the day.” She pulled away from him, placed the flashlight on the table with the beam pointing toward the ceiling, and dropped onto the sofa. She let her head rest against the back. Pressing a fist to her heart, it lurched.
Dylan slipped out of his wet shoes and left them on the rug. He grabbed the throw on the back of the sofa and wrapped it around him before taking the place next to her. It was tight with both of them sitting on the small leather sofa. Lacy propped her legs on the table and crossed them. Splatters of yogurt covered her feet. She had completely forgotten she dropped the yogurt on the floor. She bolted off the sofa, padded to the counter, and grabbed some paper towels. After wiping the yogurt off her feet, she cleaned the floor. Dylan just sat there watching her.
When she was satisfied that everything was back in its place, she plopped down on the sofa. He took her hand. “I’d talk to the judge but I don’t know what good it would do. Robertson would only deny being here. We need some hard evidence.”
She rubbed her tired gritty eyes. Maybe she should tell him about her suspicions. “Five nights ago I’m almost positive Bret was in my room.”
He sat on the edge of the sofa placing his elbows on his knees. “Explain.”
“I was sleeping and could have sworn someone kissed me. I opened my eyes and no one was there.” The story sounded strange even to her ears. Did he think she was on the edge of madness?
When she became quiet, he coaxed, “Please, continue.”
“Call it a feeling or whatever you want to call it, Dylan. Bret had been standing over me watching me sleep. My cameo is missing. It is the only piece of jewelry he has seen me wear. I remember removing it and placing it in the box where I keep my jewelry. I think he took it.”
“Did you see any evidence someone tampered with the door or a window?”
“No.” She rubbed her hands against her legs. “I’m almost positive I heard the sound of the door close when I was waking up. I think that was how he gained entrance. I jumped out of bed, tested the door, found it was locked.”
“Was anything else missing?”
“No, nothing. That’s why it’s so strange. If someone would have robbed us, they would have taken more of my jewelry. I have some expensive pieces.” Lacy stood and walked into the dark bathroom. She opened the cabinet door, and fumbled under the sink until she found the carved wood jewelry box. When she placed it in his lap, he held out his hands to keep from touching it.
“Maybe I can get some prints.”
“Please, you know better than that. If he was in my room, he wore gloves. It’s possible he is mentally sick. Could be he gets excited by almost being caught.” She flipped open the lid and picked up her pearls. “These alone are worth a fortune.”
Dylan placed his fingers on the silver filigree bracelet. “This is very pretty.”
“Both pieces belonged to my ancestor Hilda Reynolds.” She held out her hand. “This ring also belonged to Hilda.”
Dylan huffed out a long breath and gave her a chilly stare. “Talk about obsession. Don’t you think you carry this thing for Hilda a little too far? Sounds a little morbid to me.”
How could she explain her strange behavior? In the end she decided not to even try. Let him think she was strange. People had been thinking her odd for years. She learned long ago to harden her heart to the ridicule.
He closed the lid and placed the box on the side table. “There’s no validity to your accusations.” He shook his head then shifted his gaze to study her. “We need something else. Give me some time and I’ll come up with something that’ll get him locked away. That’s the only way he is going to leave you alone. Like you, I believe he is psychotic. He can have most any woman he wants without drugging them. That alone proves something isn’t clicking properly in his brain. He gets off from having the control.”
“What makes him have the urge to rape? Do you think he has been abused by a scout leader or something? It’s not normal to have these urges is it? You see this kind of behavior all the time.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “What happened in his life that made him a monster?”
Dark eyes assessed her. “Past abuse isn’t always the answer to violence. Children are abused and mistreated every day, but still grow up to be honorable citizens. Some people are born with urges.” His eyes clouded with a memory. Just like she had see
n in his face before, he was remembering something tragic in his life. She wanted to ask him but feared his reaction. For some reason she didn’t think he liked to talk about his past.
“I’m scared he is going to harm me.” After a little pause, she says, “Commonsense should have kept me from going to that party.”
“Stop beating yourself up. What’s done is done. At least you have learned from your experience to watch out for wolves. A life lived in the shadows is no life at all. Life is waiting and you need to experience things.” His mouth pressed in a thin line. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I said I’d take care of Robertson. Stop worrying.” She wondered what was going on in his mind. It was obvious he was plotting something. She didn’t really care what he did, short of murder. As long as Bret was unable to terrorize her, she’d be happy.
He pulled the throw tighter around his shoulders. “I’m cold. Could I trouble you for a cup of coffee?”
“Sorry, the stove is electric.”
“I’m going to get out of these wet clothes.” He reached over for the flashlight. “I’ll be right back.”
The storm raged on outside her building. Shrouded in darkness, Lacy relaxed and listened to the rain and wind hit against the window. She could hear Dylan moving around in the bathroom. She closed her eyes and imagined him removing his clothes. Reliving the kiss at the sports bar, she became warm all over. The feel of his hands on her body, the feel of his lips.
Secrets of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Book 3) Page 13