by Laura Scott
She lifted her head shocked, to see Zack’s expressionless face as he stared out over the lake. Her heart sank with the knowledge that he hadn’t bothered to bow his head or attempt to pray.
It made her sad to realize he’d turned his back on God.
Her appetite faded, but she forced herself to eat, taking a bite of the crispy bacon. “This is delicious, thanks.”
He sighed and reached for his fork. “I forgot what it was like to share a meal with a Christian.”
She felt worse, knowing that Zack didn’t consider himself a Christian any more. Julie mentioned that Zack hadn’t been to church since his wife and daughter died. She wished there was a way to convince him that God could help support him through this difficult time in his life.
“You’re still a Christian, Zack,” she said. “God hasn’t given up on you, even if you’ve given up on Him.”
Zack didn’t respond, eating his food as they were in a race and he wanted to finish first. The easy camaraderie they’d shared evaporated and she had no idea how to get it back.
Did she even want to get it back?
Yes. Yes, she did.
She stared out at the lake, watching the water-skiers and tubers having fun as they flew behind their respective speed boats. Zack would likely head out onto the water as soon as they finished eating, no doubt anxious to get away from her.
She told herself it didn’t matter, that Zack was here to relax and have fun. If he didn’t want to talk about his faith or church, she wouldn’t push.
“When did Julie and Derek leave?” Zack asked.
She was startled by the change in subject. “Tuesday morning, why?”
“You’ve been here since Tuesday?” he persisted.
She shrugged, using her fork to toy with her eggs. “Yes, I stayed over on Monday night because they were hitting the road early. They dropped Lexi off at her grandparent’s house in St. Louis before they headed for a cabin they rented in the Smokey Mountains.”
“And Tuesday night the thunderstorms came through, right?” he asked.
“Yes. Why? What is this about?”
Zack was silent for a minute. “Do you see that fishing boat out there on the water?”
Fishing boat? She looked over in the direction he indicated and froze when she saw a man with a baseball cap on his head, fishing not far from the end of their pier.
Her fork clattered to her plate as her fingers went numb. Beneath the blue baseball cap, she could see the thick, bright red hair.
Blake!
Chapter Four
“No!” Merry stumbled to her feet, nearly falling over in her haste to get away from the table. This couldn’t be happening. How had Blake found her?
Zack jumped up to catch her, his strong arms holding her steady. “Merry, what’s wrong?”
She shook her head, unable to answer. Trembling with fear, she peered over his shoulder and stared out at the lake, trying to make sure that the guy was actually Blake. But the man in the fishing boat had turned around and was moving steadily away so she could only see his back.
And another glimpse of his red hair.
“Merry, who was that guy?” Zack persisted.
“I—I don’t know,” she whispered. Was it Blake? Or was she imagining things again? Every guy with red hair wasn’t Blake. Hadn’t she made the same mistake last evening outside the hospital? Yet, despite the summer heat she was chilled to the bone.
Zack must have known she was cold because he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. For a moment she rested her head on his shoulder, grateful for his strength and his warmth. Just inhaling his musky, male scent brought her a sense of calmness.
Please, Lord, keep me safe from Blake. Please!
“Let’s sit down and finish our breakfast, okay?” Zack murmured.
She forced herself to pull away from his embrace. One last glance at the lake confirmed the fishing boat was long gone. Merry sank into her seat and picked up her fork, although her appetite had completely vanished.
“Merry, you need to tell me what happened,” Zack pressed as he sat down beside her. “Has someone been bothering you? Maybe an old boyfriend?”
Ace came over and stuck his head into her lap, as if he sensed she was upset. She stroked the dog’s black, silky fur, trying to bolster her flagging courage. As much as she didn’t like to talk about her past, she knew Zack deserved some sort of answer.
“I haven’t dated anyone in over two years,” she said finally. “Since I lived in Minneapolis.”
If he was shocked by her lack of social life, he didn’t let on. “So you haven’t noticed anyone following you lately?” Zack asked.
“No, I haven’t.” Suddenly she was angry with him. “Why don’t you just get to the point, Zack? You’re the one who noticed the guy in the fishing boat. Do you think he’s following me? Why do I get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me?”
Zack grimaced. “You’re right. I did notice that guy in the boat. I thought it was a little odd he chose to fish right here amidst the boaters, tubers and skiers churning up the water. Early morning hours are best, and any serious fisherman would know that. I thought he seemed suspicious.”
She didn’t understand what he was trying to say, especially since Zack couldn’t possibly know about Blake. “But why in the world would you think some guy in a fishing boat is watching me?”
“Yesterday afternoon, when I came here to let Ace out, he went sniffing and growling by the side of the house. I thought he found an animal or something, but when I went over there, I saw a footprint in the soft soil beneath the bedroom window.”
Merry felt the blood drain from her face. “A footprint?” she repeated hoarsely.
“Yeah. So when I saw that guy in the fishing boat right next to our pier, I became suspicious. Especially when you seemed to recognize him. So now it’s your turn, Merry. Tell me who he is.”
She shivered, and couldn’t help wondering if the man in the boat really was Blake after all? Would he really have come to find her after two long years? And if so, why? Surely, he couldn’t still be obsessed with her?
She didn’t want to believe the man was Blake, but she was equally afraid to ignore the potential threat. She pushed her plate away and struggled to her feet. “Show me the footprint.”
Zack stood and walked across the patio, around Julie’s small vegetable garden, to the south side of the house. She followed with Ace trotting along beside her.
“Right there,” Zack said, as he indicated the area beneath the bedroom window where she’d been sleeping the past few nights.
She crept closer until she could see the distinct footprint in the soil. Seeing the evidence for herself only made her feel sick to her stomach.
“I’ve taken pictures of the print, and I’d be happy to help you file a police report if necessary,” Zack was saying.
She swung around to face him. “How can I file a police report? I didn’t get a good look at the guy in the boat, so I can’t describe his face.”
“But you know who he is, right?” Zack said gently.
She let out her breath in a loud sigh, knowing that Zack’s cop instincts were not going to let this go. “It could be a guy I once dated, Blake Caruthers. He has bright red hair, just like the guy in the boat. But he lives in Minneapolis, or he did the last time I saw him. Don’t we need proof that he’s really here, following me, before we go to the police?”
“It wouldn’t hurt to file a restraining order against him,” Zack said.
She shook her head, a sense of helplessness washing over her. “There’s no point. I already have a restraining order against him and it’s active for another two years. Besides, in my experience, a restraining order isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Merry turned and walked away, unable to bear talking about Blake any more. If he was really here in Crystal Lake, then she’d have no choice but to pick up and move again.
Although that wouldn’t be easy, since she wasn’t able to
work for the next six to eight weeks. Not to mention packing or lifting boxes. She’d have to wait for her collarbone to heal.
And by then she could easily be dead. Because if Blake was really after her all this time, she knew he wouldn’t stop until he satisfied his need for revenge.
____________
Zack followed Merry to the patio, his thoughts whirling. Granted, he was the one who’d found the footprint and noticed the guy in the fishing boat, but he was still shocked to know Merry was really being stalked.
“I need you to tell me everything you know about this guy, Blake Caruthers,” he commanded when she sat back down at the table. “I’ll start investigating him, immediately.”
Merry grimaced and shook her head. “I don’t want to go into all this now.”
Zack battled a flash of temper. “Merry, we can’t just sit here and pretend this isn’t happening. This guy, Blake, could be dangerous. I’ll start investigating him, and once we prove he’s not in Minneapolis any more, we can go to the sheriff’s department here. Trust me, being in a small town will be an advantage. The Crystal Lake deputies will be far more concerned about protecting one of their citizens, especially a young woman like you, than any big city cop.”
She lifted her brow. “Aren’t you a big city cop now?”
“Don’t try to change the subject,” he warned, ignoring the light jab. “Because I can tell you right now, I’m not going to let this go.”
“It’s a long story and one that can certainly wait until later.” She stood and picked up her plate, but when she turned to the sliding glass doors leading into the house, she stopped and let out a frustrated sound. “Will you open the door for me, please?”
“Sit down. I’ll take care of the dishes. It’s not like you can do much with one hand.”
“Fine.” She thrust the plate at him, and then went around to the other set of patio doors. “I’m going to rest for a while. My head is pounding.” Merry didn’t so much as glance at him as she went into Julie and Derek’s side of the townhouse, the screen door snapping shut behind her.
Zack rubbed the back of his neck, knowing she was upset with him, but uncertain as to why. It wasn’t his fault that Blake was here, following her. All he wanted to do was to help protect her.
He stacked their dirty dishes and carried them inside. He quickly washed and dried them before grabbing his tablet out of his room.
The glare of the sun made it difficult to read the tablet outside, so he stayed inside to begin a cursory search for Blake Caruthers. When Ace whined at the door, he stood up and let the dog inside.
“Good boy,” he murmured, giving Ace a pat on the head. After seeing the guy in the fishing boat, he was even more grateful to have Ace around as a watch dog. He was tempted to put Ace in Merry’s side of the townhouse, but didn’t want to interrupt if she really was trying to get some sleep.
He surfed the internet for the next hour, trying to find anything he could about Blake Caruthers out of Minneapolis. He found a social media account for the name, but there was no photo attached to the page. According to the information on the social media account, he could see that Blake attended the University of Minnesota. He sat back in his seat, wondering if Merry had received her nursing degree at the same college. It would make sense that they’d met there.
It bothered him to think about how Merry had dated the guy. A man who’d betrayed her trust, doing something terrible enough that she was able to take out a restraining order against him. He knew for sure Blake had hurt her emotionally, but had he also hurt her physically? Sexually?
He felt sick at the thought.
Zack found a Caroline Caruthers linked to Blake’s social media page. When he clicked on the picture he saw a pretty woman with bright red hair. Very different from Merry’s reddish blonde but they shared similar freckles. Was Caroline Caruthers, Blake’s sister? Did Merry know Caroline, too? Was it possible they were all at the University at the same time?
He scrounged around the townhouse to find paper and pencil. He caught a glimpse of Lexi’s many sketchbooks and decided his niece wouldn’t mind if he borrowed a few pages.
Taking notes helped keep his simmering anger at bay. If this Blake guy thought he was going to hurt Merry again, he was sorely mistaken. After Zack took notes on the scant information he’d been able to find, he searched on the public access simple case search function to find the restraining order. The information was there, but there wasn’t much detail. Just that Blake Caruthers was supposed to stay at least twenty feet away from Merry Haines.
He stared at the computer, wishing he could find a way to prove Caruthers had already violated the court order. There were other violations in the system for Blake, too. Zack read each one, noting that Caruthers spent time in jail for possession of illegal drugs, theft, disorderly conduct, and breaking and entering. Obviously the guy didn’t seem to learn from his mistakes.
Zack scowled and reached for his phone. He called his buddy, Colton Wallace, the guy who’d covered his shift for him.
“Cole? It’s Zack.”
“What’s up? Are you enjoying the lake?”
“Sure am,” Zack replied. It wasn’t a lie, he had enjoyed his brief swim. “But I need a favor. There’s a young woman in town being harassed by some guy, and she already has a restraining order against him. I found a copy online, but I need to know what kind of vehicle this guy is driving. Can you look up his driver’s registration for me? His name is Blake Caruthers and he lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.”
“Sure.” He could hear Cole typing on a keyboard in the background, each squad was equipped with a computer. “What’s his date of birth?”
Zack gave the information he’d found on-line, making a mental note that Caruthers was two years older than Merry.
“Got it,” Cole said.
“Give me the tag number of his vehicle.”
Colton rattled off the information and Zack wrote everything down.
“He actually drives a minivan?” Zack asked incredulously.
“That’s what’s registered to his name, although I suppose he could have purchased a different vehicle without bothering to notify the state.” There was more tapping of the computer, and then Cole let out a low whistle. “Wow, this guy has quite the rap sheet.”
“I know,” Zack muttered.
“You better watch your back,” Cole warned. “This guy is no stranger to crime.”
No kidding. And it really made him mad that Caruthers was likely out here, stalking Merry. “Thanks for the help, Cole. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will.” Zack disconnected the call, grimly realizing he might need Cole’s help again.
He wasn’t going to rest until he found Blake Caruthers, proved he violated his restraining order and sent him back to jail, locking him up where he belonged.
____________
Merry took some ibuprofen and tried to rest, but she couldn’t seem to get past the brief image of the red-haired man on the boat. She told herself that if that guy really was Blake, at least he knew she wasn’t here alone. He would have seen Zack and Ace both sitting beside her on the patio.
But the knowledge wasn’t exactly reassuring, since she knew all too well what Blake was capable of.
She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to relive the past. It was over and done. Zack was right about one thing—Blake wouldn’t find it so easy to get to her here in Crystal Lake. She knew many of the deputies by name, since they often accompanied car crash victims or DUI violators to the emergency department. Plus, Julie and Derek were her friends, and Derek was one of the sheriff’s deputies, too. Being on a first name basis with the police would certainly help.
With a rush she sat up in bed, making her head pound with the sudden movement. Wait a minute, she didn’t have to pick up and move. She could ask Julie and Derek to allow her to rent the other half of the townhouse. Then for sure, Blake wouldn’t be so
brazen as to violate the restraining order. Not when Derek, another sheriff’s deputy was living right next door.
Feeling calmer at having a rational and workable plan, she settled back down. She must have dozed a bit because when she opened her eyes, she realized well over an hour had passed.
The nagging headache lingering behind her eyes had faded, so she swung out of bed and made her way back into the kitchen. She poured a tall glass of sun tea, one of her favorite beverages, and looked longingly outside. Realizing that attempting to hide from Zack was just plain stupid, she forced herself to go outside to sit on the patio.
“Merry? How are you feeling?” Zack asked, as he came outside to meet her. Ace acted as if she’d been gone for days instead of hours, greeting her with a wagging tail and happy doggy kisses.
“Better,” she admitted, giving Ace the attention he craved. “My headache is mostly gone.”
“I’d offer to take you out on the boat, but I’m afraid that hitting the waves would make your headache come back,” Zack said with regret. “But maybe we can go tomorrow, if it stays nice and doesn’t rain.”
She shouldn’t have been so thrilled with his offhand invitation, but she was. “I’d like to go out on the boat. Couldn’t we try this afternoon?”
“Tomorrow is soon enough,” Zack said firmly. “You just got out of the hospital, remember?”
“I suppose you’re right,” she said with a sigh. She glanced out at the water, instinctively looking for the fishing boat. “Any sign of him?”
“No, but I’ve done a little research while you were resting,” Zack admitted. “Do you know Caroline? Is she Blake’s sister?”
Her mouth fell open in surprise. “How did you know?”
“I went through social media websites to find him and found her, too. I noticed you all went to college together.”
She was amazed he’d found out so much information in such a short period of time. “Yes, we did.”
Zack leaned forward, his gaze earnest. “Look, I don’t want to upset you, but the only way I can keep you safe is if you tell me what happened.”