It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 21
For the love of God, where the hell had he left his cell phone? Jed jabbed his hand through each of the pockets in the jackets hanging on the rack by the door for a third time. Nothing but lint, a gum wrapper and a used tissue. He tossed the debris into the garbage then rummaged amongst the dirty breakfast and lunch dishes still on the counter. Muttering under his breath, he stalked to the bathroom, slamming the door against the wall when he pushed inside. The only thing out of place was a razor and a can of shaving gel left by the sink. He hadn’t been in the bedroom since he got up that morning. Wait. Yes, he had. He’d changed before heading out to hike off his frustration. Hunting through the clothes dropped on the floor, he came up empty. The only thing under the bed was a lone sock with a cobweb attached to the toe.
When his stomach growled, he slammed the door into the wall again then went back to the kitchen to cook dinner. He’d discovered the phone wasn’t in his pocket about four miles into the hike. On the way home, he’d kept an eye on the trail, but twilight cast dark shadows through the woods long before he reached the cabin. He’d check again in the light of day, and until then, drive himself crazy wondering if Claire had ever returned his calls.
After throwing a potato in the microwave, snapping some green beans to boil and seasoning a steak, he went outside to light the grill. While the coals heated, he wandered further into the yard and turned his face toward the star filled sky. Was Claire camped somewhere near the ocean, listening to waves crash on the beach and looking up at the moon glowing softly in the darkness? Was she missing him as much as he missed her?
A muted ring broke the silence.
“Well, I’ll be a son of a bitch!” He ran toward the woodpile, but the sound stopped before he reached it. Turning, he headed full bore back into the cabin to grab a flashlight out of the junk drawer he’d left open. Taking the steak with him, he tossed it on the grill on the way to the pile of split logs. As he flicked the light over the ground, he kicked through the woodchips until a gleam of silver reflected in the beam.
Swooping down, he grabbed the phone and checked the display. Six missed calls. Holy hell! He usually didn’t get six calls in a week. After pausing to flip the steak, he went into the cabin where he could see what he was doing. None of the messages were from Claire. Damn woman. There was a missed call from a number he didn’t recognize with a 707 prefix, which he was pretty certain covered all the northernmost counties along the coast. Had Claire called him from a phone other than her cell? That made no sense. The other five calls were from Kane. He listened to the first message.
Where the hell are you? Call me. He clicked to the next message. Damn it, Jed, pick up your phone. A quiver of fear shot through him. Had something happened to Rachel or one of the girls? Maybe his dad…he pushed a button and paced to the window.
“Jed? Jesus, it’s about time.”
“I misplaced my phone. What’s wrong?”
“Where are you?”
“At home. I told you that earlier. What’s wrong?”
There was a pause before his brother spoke. “A couple of hours ago I got a call from a police officer up in Crescent City. He couldn’t reach you and had a few questions.”
Jed’s heart stopped. He gripped the windowsill and prayed. “Did something happen to Claire?”
“She’s fine. Honestly. And I think I convinced this cop you aren’t a complete pervert. The officer—I have his name here…Edelman—finally gave me a few details, but I had to pry them out of him.”
Jed pressed his forehead to the glass pane and breathed. “Thank God. What happened?” His nostrils twitched. “Shit.” He ran to the door and threw it open.
“What?”
“I burned the crap out of my steak.” He flipped the charred meat onto a plate and turned off the grill. “Tell me what happened.”
“Some deviant decorated Claire’s motor home with half-naked pictures of her. He also left some sex toys. She was upset and called 9-1-1, but the officer said she’d calmed down by the time she left the station.”
Jed kicked the door shut. “I’m going to freaking kill the bastard when I get my hands on him.”
“Yeah, well, the cop thought the bastard might be you. Claire said it wasn’t, but he didn’t believe her after she mentioned you’d had an argument.”
He set the plate on the counter then turned off the burner beneath the beans with his free hand. His shoulders slumped. “I’m going to drive up there.”
“Tonight?”
“Hell, yes, tonight.”
“It’s after nine o’clock, and that has to be an eight-hour drive. I don’t want you to fall asleep and kill yourself or someone else on the highway. Anyway, you’re upset. Not a good combination coupled with a long road trip.”
“I’m upset? Imagine how Claire feels.”
“Violated. That’s the way most people react after a home invasion. But her trauma doesn’t make it okay for you to do something stupid.”
“I’m going to hang up now and call her.”
“Jed—”
“I’ll call you back after I talk to her, okay?”
“I guess it’ll have to be.”
He disconnected then punched in Claire’s number. It went straight to voice mail. He gritted his teeth and waited until her cheery message ended.
“I heard what happened, and I’m worried. I know you’re pissed at me but please call.”
He laid the phone on the counter and stared at the burned steak. His stomach rolled. Whooshing out a breath, he picked up the cell again to call Kane.
“What did she say?”
“Nothing. Her phone’s turned off.”
“I called the police station after I hung up with you. They’re driving by her campsite on a regular basis tonight. She’ll be safe, Jed.”
“I still want to be there.”
His brother’s voice deepened. “I get that. If it were Rachel…” He cleared his throat. “Why don’t you drive down here tonight? You can get a few hours of sleep then head out early in the morning. You’ll be a little closer that way.”
Jed ran a hand through his hair. He’d been up since six, chopped wood all day then gone on an eight-mile hike. He was flat-out exhausted. He knew his brother was right, but—
“What good are you going to be to her if you arrive at five in the morning? She’ll still be alone most of the night, and you’ll have to sleep once you get there. If you get there.”
“Fine. I’ll choke down this piece of burnt leather, pack then hit the road.” He glanced around. “Maybe clean up a little so I won’t face an infestation of cockroaches when I come back. I should be there in three hours tops.”
“I’ll leave the key on the ledge above the door, and Rachel will make up the hide-a-bed in the living room for you. She’s worried, too.”
“Tell her thank you for me. I don’t know if I’ll see you in the morning because I’ll be out of there well before sunrise. I appreciate this, Kane.” He hung up and tried Claire again with the same frustrating results. With a string of obscenities, he drained the beans and dumped them on his plate then pulled the potato out of the microwave. He’d force down the meal because he needed the energy. Even if it killed him.
* * * *
Jed woke slowly then jerked away from a blast of stinky breath. “What the hell?” Stretching out an arm, he snapped on the end table lamp.
Daisy, Rachel’s golden retriever, sat next to the sofa sleeper. Her tail thumped the floor. Closing his eyes, he flopped back against the mattress.
When the dog whined, he rolled over and buried his head beneath the pillow. But only for a minute. Sitting up, he swung his legs off the side of the bed and snatched up his phone. Nearly five o’clock. He should thank the damn dog for waking him.
He didn’t bother pulling on pants before heading toward the front entry. When he opened the door, the dog shot out into
the yard. Yawning, he scratched his chest and stretched. Bending from side to side, he cracked his back. He’d had four solid hours of sleep on a lumpy mattress. Better than nothing.
After dressing in the jeans and shirt he’d worn the night before, he let Daisy back in then went straight to the kitchen. He’d make coffee and grab something to eat for the road. A glance at the digital clock on the stove told him it was still too early to call Claire again. If she’d turned her phone back on in the night, he didn’t want to wake her.
“You’re up early.”
Jed swung away from the sink holding the coffeepot full of water. Wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and an old Hanover Vineyards T-shirt, his brother leaned against the doorframe. His hair, a darker shade of brown than Jed’s, stood up on one side. Blue eyes regarded him with concern reflected in their depths.
“Daisy woke me.”
Kane scowled at the dog. “Nice going.”
Her feathery tail waved as she walked over to her food bowl and stared at it. Kane rolled his eyes then pulled a bag of kibble out of the pantry. Nuggets rained into the bowl while Jed poured water into the tank and flipped on the coffee maker.
“Did you ever reach Claire?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Did you call Officer Edelman back?”
“I’ll speak to him in person when I get to Crescent City. I should be there by noon if this damn coffee maker would brew a little faster.”
Kane came over to put a hand on his shoulder. “Staring at it won’t help.”
“Probably not.” He propped himself up against the counter. “Sorry I woke you.”
“You didn’t.” He hesitated for a long moment. “You look like shit. Want to talk about it.”
“What’s there to say? I shouldn’t have left Claire alone. It’s my fault that pervert got to her again.”
“I thought she kicked you out?”
“She did, but I chose to go. I could have flat out refused. I was so damned worried about giving up a little of my freedom, I let her convince me she’d be fine on her own.” He turned to open a cupboard door, shut it, opened a second one and pulled two mugs off a shelf to plunk down on the counter. “I knew better. I told her this creep wouldn’t give up.”
Kane waited until Jed poured coffee into a cup then took the pot from him. “How long have you and Claire been hanging out together?”
“I don’t know. A couple of weeks I guess.”
“That’s not very long. Why do you feel she’s your responsibility?”
“I don’t. She’s super independent, irritatingly so at times. But…” He sipped and frowned. “I care. A lot. I’m sure as hell not going to sit back and let someone harass her.”
“Are you in love with her?”
He glanced away from his brother’s knowing gaze and walked to the pantry. Coming back with a bag of bagels, he sliced one in half to slide into the toaster. “Maybe I am.”
“Then why won’t you fight to keep her in your life? Christ, Jed, don’t be an idiot.”
“Hey! I didn’t argue too hard because she was right. The last thing I want is for us to wind up resenting each other. She knows what she needs to be happy, and so do I.”
“If that’s true, why are you running to her side the second she’s in trouble?”
He jerked open the refrigerator door, hunted through the shelves then pulled out a package of cream cheese. “Because I can’t not go.”
“You’re just prolonging the inevitable.”
“That’s what Claire said when she told me to go home.” He scowled as he spread white cheese over the bagel. “I hate it when you’re right.”
Kane drank from his cup, grimaced then added a shallow spoonful of sugar. “Are you hoping she’ll change her mind about you? If you run to her rescue, will she decide you’re a responsible adult ready for a commitment?”
“Doubtful. She’s a little smarter than that.”
“I like this woman already.” Rachel crossed the kitchen to make a beeline for the coffee pot, her robe flapping around bare legs. “But I’m in love with whoever made this.”
Jed grinned. “That would be me. If you dump your husband, I promise to quit obsessing over Claire.”
She laughed and gave him a hug. “No, you wouldn’t.”
He eyed Kane over the top of his wife’s head. “You’re way too pretty for him.”
“Maybe, but he puts up with my girls. I think he likes them more than I do most of the time. You don’t even want to know what Lark did last week.”
“You’re right, I don’t. I’m pretty sure if I ever have a sixteen-year-old daughter, I’ll simply lock her in her room until she turns thirty.”
“That’s an idea.”
Jed drank the last of his coffee and picked up the bagel. “Thanks for letting me crash here last night, but I have to go.”
Rachel patted his arm. “Drive carefully.” Her green gaze caught his and held. “Do you want my advice?”
“Please. You’re prettier and smarter than Kane.”
“Go with your instincts. They won’t steer you wrong. When you’re ready to make a change, you’ll know. It’s your life, and you have to live it the way you want. Sometimes that means making hard choices.”
“Thank you. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell everyone, but no one listens.”
As he passed his brother, Kane reached out to pull him in for a back slapping hug. “Call if you have any problems with the police up there. I’ll do what I can from here.”
“Thanks.” He drew in a breath and kept walking. Right now, all he cared about was reaching Claire. Once he saw she was okay with his own eyes, he might be able to relax. Then, and only then, would he think about all the advice everyone seemed hell bent on giving him. And make a few decisions, including one that just might break his heart.
* * * *
Her phone was ringing when Claire turned off the water. Grabbing a towel, she wrapped it around her middle, scooped up the cell and pushed the connect button with a slippery finger.
“Hello.”
“Are you okay?”
She dropped onto the wooden bench outside the tin shower stall, wet hair dripping down her back. Jed’s voice did more to warm her than a heat lamp.
“I’m fine. I thought you were the police calling me with news.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
“You didn’t. I mean…” She let out a shaky breath. “I was going to call you back, but it was so early I didn’t want to wake you.”
“I’ve been driving for two hours already.”
Juggling the phone, she tried to dry off with the damp towel. “Oh, where to?”
Is that sound his teeth grinding?
The faint noise stopped. “Where do you think? Crescent City. If I don’t get pulled over for speeding, I should be there in about three more hours.”
“You’re coming here?” Warmth spread from her dripping head down to her toes curled against blue rubber flip-flops.
“Did you think I wouldn’t once I heard what had happened? Not that you bothered to fill me in. My brother called.”
“Kane? How did he—”
“Officer Edelman contacted him. Apparently, he thought I was the pervert bothering you.”
“I told him you weren’t responsible. I’m sorry, Jed.”
“You’re sorry?” His voice rose. “You didn’t do a damn thing wrong so don’t be sorry.” A long breath gusted through the phone. “I’m the one who failed you. I should never have left you alone no matter what you told me to do…or where you told me to go. You better believe I won’t make that mistake again.”
“But—”
“No buts. Look, I should probably hang up. I don’t need a ticket for speeding and talking on my cell phone while I’m going ninety.”
“Jed!”
“Where are you? Are you someplace safe?”
“I’m at the campground sout
h of town. It’s the only one, so you’ll see it.”
“Are the cops still keeping an eye on you?”
“I hope not. I just stepped out of the shower, and I’m naked and dripping.”
Silence echoed over the line.
“Jed, are you still there?”
“I’m here.” His voice took on a husky quality. “Thanks for the mental image. I won’t need any more coffee to keep me wired after that.”
Her breasts tingled, and heat shot straight to her core. Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the cinderblock wall. “You didn’t have to drive up here, but I’m glad you’re on the way.”
“I’ll be there soon. Stay safe.”
He disconnected before she could answer. A smile spread as she finished drying off, scrambled into her clothes, gathered together her belongings, then headed back to the motor home. Nothing had changed between her and Jed, and the stalker was still out there somewhere. Waiting. Watching? God, she hoped not. Glancing around, she picked up her step then smiled. Despite lingering fog hanging in the trees, the morning suddenly seemed a whole lot brighter.
Chapter 22
Damn it all to freaking hell. Lafferty was back.
After staying clear of Claire the previous night since she’d gone and called the cops—not a move he’d anticipated—he’d cruised by the campground a couple of hours earlier to check on her. Catching a glimpse of her outside with the dog, he’d thought about approaching her. Good thing his sense of self-preservation screamed no. Better to wait until she was down at the ocean taking photographs. The campground was relatively crowded, and if she panicked…too risky. He’d rather take his chances on a lonely stretch of beach.
Now his plan was shot to hell.
Lafferty stood close, his hands resting on her shoulders while Claire gazed up at him. The moron bent his head and kissed her.
He jerked down the gear shift and stomped on the gas. Gravel spit from beneath the tires as he swung out onto the road.
Damn Claire. Why’d she have to call the man and ruin everything? His hopes had skyrocketed when he realized the idiot had left Shady Bend without her. Maybe it had made him cocky, and he’d gotten carried away and overplayed his hand with the pictures. Instead of turning Claire on, they’d frightened her. Would she have reacted differently if she knew who’d taken them?
Every Vow She Breaks Page 22