“Any idea who it could be Maddie?”,
“No idea and I'm getting worried, Ant's organized extra security and Dad's got a private investigator trying to find out who it is”.
“Maddie could I borrow your cell phone”, Owen stood up and handing my phone to him he left.
“Don't worry Maddie we will sort it, that's what families do. Sort stuff out”. I felt reassured by Mom, the last few days had been stressful with organizing the launch on Friday and dealing with the psycho who was stalking me.
“Anyway, you coming down on Friday Mom?”,
“Wouldn't miss it for the world Maddie, saw you in the papers the other day with Daniel Ace, billionaires new squeeze”, she laughed as she picked up a folded newspaper with the same headline that Daniel showed me.
“So.. are you two an item then?, it's the first time I've heard it”,
“We're just good friends, he has contacts for Friday's launch”.
Owen came back into the room with my phone in his hand.
“The boys at the C.S.U are looking into your recent calls, should get an answer in a day or so and Ant is sending me the letter so they can see if they can get anything from it.”,
“Thanks Owen”, placing my phone back into my bag.
“If you get any more calls and whoever it is threatens you in any way then call 9-1-1”,
“Sure will do, you guys busy? Fancy going to Eastridge Mall?”,
“Yeah sounds good, drink Maddie?”, Mom moved into the kitchen and returned with a glass of ice tea, it felt refreshing.
“Gonna phone Lisha and get her to meet us at Eastridge with Eric”. A few moments later a text came back with Lisha saying she would meet us in thirty minutes at Eastridge.
“We'll head to Sears and get you guys sorted with tux's and then onto Dresses”,
“Well if you don't mind I'll skip the dresses Maddie”,
“Well, we'll won't will we Maddie?”, Mom smiled as she got up and headed to her room to change.
A few moment she came back into the room dressed in a summer frock, heading out of the door the sun shining down on us we got into my car and headed to Eastridge.
Eastridge Mall was one of those malls that had countless stores and an eatery upstairs, with Sears packed as usual. Lisha and Eric were waiting outside Subway as we walked up to them, Lisha waved.
“Hey you guys, Kate, Owen”, with the pleasantries exchanged we headed to Sears.
“So what kind of tuxedos you guys want?, all frills and velvet?” laughing at the blue tuxedos that hung on the mannequins.
“Well I draw the line at that!”, Eric moved towards a black tux with Owen already looking at it.
“That's decided then, you both wear black. I'll get my Dad a white one, so we don't all get confused.”
“Mom, shall we head upstairs, I hear the dresses calling my name”,
“You guys staying?” looking at Owen and Eric
“We think home would be a safe bet”,
“I'll get Ant to take you home”, taking out my phone to text him to pick them up.
“See you later”, hugging Eric and Owen. Watching them leave, me and my mom headed to pick out dresses for Friday.
“What about this one?”, with her showing me a slinky number in blue.
“Mm, dunno maybe this one?”, showing her a red dress with a low cut back.
“I'll try it on”, she disappeared into a cubicle as Lisha came around the corner.
“Well they’re gone, any luck with the dresses then?” Mom came out with the dress although it didn't do her any favors.
“That's a no, it makes you look odd”, handing her a lilac dress that complemented her color.
“Settled then, what about you Lisha?”,
“Well, there’s is that light blue one over there, the strapless one”, pointing to a rack on the other side of the row.
“Get naked then...”, laughing at her with Mom joining in.
“Now..Now, we'll have none of that then”, Lisha pulled the dress over her head, it suited her.
“Just me left then...”,
“Yep, Lisha what do you think we should find for her?”, they both disappeared and came back with a white dress.
“At least that's the dresses sorted, fancy something to eat guys?”, as we headed for the checkout.
“Good idea, Red Robin next to JC Penney’s, the tastiest gourmet burgers this side of Mount Hamilton.”,
“Burgers and beer?...sounds like a plan Batman”.
A short petite woman with blonde hair came to the till and rang our dresses up.
“$4800, ladies. Would you like me to bag them up or deliver them?”,
“Bag them up please Miss”, our dresses ceremonially dumped into three paper bags with Sears written in brown ink as I handed over my
Credit card. It was worth spending money on Lisha and Mom all for the launch on Friday. Ant came into the store with his usual savvy.
“Miss Maddie, the gentlemen have been dropped off, shall I take these dresses home?”,
“Yes Ant, We're gonna have something to eat at Red Robin. I'll give you a bell when we need a lift”. Putting my hand on his shoulder he took the brown bags.
“Very well Miss, have fun with the girls”. Walking to Red Robin, Lisha and Mom seemed excited about Friday, although excited I felt some trepidation and how the public would take to it.
Red Robin was busy as we came up the escalator and sat at a table,
Lisha went up and ordered for us, as she came back with a heavy laden tray with Bleu Ribbon, Whiskey River BBQ and Burning Love burgers and knowing that I could eat a single thing, I made the effort to give it go.
“So we all raring to go on Friday, I think we should all have our hair and nails done”,
“Really Mad?”, Lisha said between chomping on a burger and washing it down with a beer.
“It's a good idea Maddie, it's about time you pampered yourself...and us”, Mom laughed as a french fry flew across the table.
Enjoying their company that afternoon, eating burgers and fries was good, it took my mind off everything.
Eventually the tray revealed itself after the food had been consumed, we stood up and headed for JC Penney’s.
“Is this salon any good?”, Lisha moved towards the doors.
“Dunno Lish, they’re a first time for everything, just hope we all don't come out with pink hair”,
“Now that's not funny Maddie, really I do fancy going pink though, just get me drunk first please”, I was seriously contemplating getting her drunk and dying her hair pink and then plastering it all over Facebook, just to see her reaction.
“Can I help you ladies?”,
“Yeah can we book an appointment for Thursday, haircuts and colors”,
“Sure Miss...?”
“Miss White, party of three” the woman started to write on her keyboard.
“Thursday 2pm, with a senior stylist”,
“Thanks..”.
“Well thats another thing ticked off the list”, we walked to where we could order flowers for the tables and button holes for the men.
Pulling out my cell and texting Daniel that I had bought my dress and was about to order a button hole for him.
“We need to order flowers for Friday guys”,
“Colors?”, Lisha asked as she opened the door to the florist.
“Lilac, blue and white table decorations and the same for the button holes for the guys” a lady looked up from what she doing as we walked in.
“Hello, how can I help?”,
“Table decorations, Lilac, blue and white. Keep it simple and the same for the button holes”.
“Sure can do, lemme just work out how much this is all going to cost”, she numbered crunched and handed me a slip of paper.
“$1500 all in?”,
“Yes Miss, need your address to deliver on Friday morning”,
“Hang on a min”, taking my phone out and dialling my dad who picked up after three rin
gs as usual.
“Hullo, Maddie is that you?”,
“Yeah Dad, you bringing your girlfriend on Friday?. Need to know what color she's wearing so I can order your button hole”,
“Mm yeah she's coming and wearing pink I think”
“Cheers Dad, thanks gotta go, see you Friday”.
“Bye Honey”, he hung up as I returned to ordering.
“Pink button hole, and 300 table pieces, preferably yellow”. Giving the florist my address and card, we left the florist and headed for the parking lot where Ant was waiting for us.
“Take Mom and Lisha home and fetch my car for me when you drop me off please”,
“Yes Miss, will do. Good afternoon was it?”,
“Yeah Ant, a very productive afternoon”.
Chapter Twenty
Arriving home and finding a letter shoved in my mailbox, it was from Daniel. 'Glad you enjoyed the flowers and last night, catch you later D x'. Feeling my cheek begin to blush I moved into the house. It was quiet a little too quiet for my liking, usually the dogs would be running amok with Sophie leading the gang, however there was not a peep not even a bark.
Moving into the utility room and seeing drops of blood, where the dogs usually slept, I felt a deep pang of pain start in my stomach and finish in my mouth. The doors to the back yard were locked and the other dogs were out there, their barking blocked by the triple glazing, but Sophie wasn't there. Maybe she was in her other bed in the living room and was asleep, it was wishful thinking but hoping she was alright.
Approaching the living room and switching the lights on I could see Sophie in her bed, not moving. 'Fuck, please be alright you silly dog, you better not be playing games', the thought messing with my head.
“Sophie, come on...dinner time, your favorite”, no movement.
“Come on Sophie wake up!”, moving towards I could see she was not breathing.
Underneath her the same color paper that was used to tell me that someone was watching me was there, bold as brass.
'I can always get to you Maddie and next time it won't be your precious dogs, oh that Springer of yours has got a wonderfull coat, shame it would end up as a scarf...remember your next, watching the life leave your body would be wonderfull'.
Dropping the note and running out of the room I collapsed on the floor and screamed.
The door to the house flew open as Ant ran in, looking at me with his face flush.
“What the fuck has happened Miss?”,
“It's...its...Sop.... Sop.. Sophie”, the tears streaming down my face.
“What's a matter with Sophie...tell me!”,
“She’s...She’s...She’s...Dead!”,
Ant led back into the living room where Sophie's lifeless body lay on her bed, there was no visible signs of trauma, the only way he could of done it was with poison.
Sitting down next to her and picking her up to stroke, Ant came and sat next to me.
Grabbing the phone and dialling my mother Kate and Owen, she could tell how upset I had become.
“Honey you ok?”,
“Need.. Need you to come over something happened to Sophie”
“Alright were on our way”, the phone went dead.
“Miss Maddie the police are on the way, could you please tell me more about Mr Daniel Ace”,
“It wasn't him Ant, he's not like that...It's that bastard who's been following me, the bastard who had the gall to turn up here with those roses and the one who likes to call me and not speak!”,
“Ant, call my Dad please, that's all I'm asking you. Nothing more”,
“Ok, I'll call him.”.
The red and blue glow of Police cars filled my windows as Ant got up to open the door to them, I could see Owen's car appear behind them with Lisha in the back.
Lisha ,Mom and Owen sat down on the couch as several officers and a Detective stood where Sophie lay.
“Miss White, Could you tell me if all your doors and windows were locked while you were out?”,
“Yeah, Ant and Alice always make sure that the house is locked tight, no one could get in unless they were three inches small”,
Before I knew it the door burst open and Daniel stormed in,
“Who the fuck do you think you are bursting into my daughters house”,
“Where is she?”, Daniel's anger displayed prominently
“She's over there with the police, now button it please”, Lisha took Mom out of the room to calm her down.
Daniel spotted me and he came over to hug me tight,
“Mr Ace I presume?”,
“Yes”
“I'm Detective Callaghan, San Jose PD, please take a seat” his forcefulness was apparent.
“Miss White, I need to know about the phone calls and gift you received, we know you have engaged the services of a private investigator, but when something like this happens, it's a job for the Police”.
“There have been a few calls and dead roses delivered by a fake UPS guy and now this!”,
“What's this about a stalker?” Daniel piped up with a drink in his hand for me.
“A stalker Daniel, someone who likes to make me feel crazy”,
“Would you mind sitting down please Mr Ace, or I’ll arrest you for interrupting me”,
“Sure...Sure”, Lisha came back in with Mom after she had calmed down
“Now I know you’re upset Miss White and something of this nature is not to be taken lightly, whoever this guy is, he knows your movements. Would you have somewhere to stay for a few days, just so we can make inquires”.
My sister's place crossed my mind and I knew it would be a safe place to hide.
“Yeah, my sister's place, it's safe enough”,
“Ok Miss White, I think the crime boys have finished, unfortunately we have to take the dog back to lab to ascertain what caused death.”. The thought of them taking Sophie tore at my heart, but it had to be done.
“We'll have a car parked outside for the next 48 hours, just to see if this bozo turns up again”,
“Thanks Detective, I appreciate it”, the police officers and the detective left the room and Ant came over with another drink for me.
“Well this is just fucked up Mad”, Lisha's had a valid point.
“Your telling me, Owen is furious”,
“Ok guys it's been one of those nights, all fucked up and Sophie is dead”,
“Where the fuck was Alice then?”,
“It's her night off remember, she's seeing that dude from the supermarket”,
“Fuck, I forgot about it” standing up and looking out of the window I could see the Police cars leave the drive with their lights flashing at me.
“How the fuck did they get in?, if all the windows and doors were locked, who is this guy, God damn Houdini?”, Owen had a point, there was no signs of forced entry and he had managed to lock the dogs outside after being bit by one them, which explained the blood on the floor.
“The smart ass must of used a lock pick, fucking a-hole”, Mom looked at me and drank her glass dry.
“Maddie, I'll look after your dogs while you head to your sisters it's the least I can do”. Daniel's offer was helpful and would ease the pressure a little.
“And I'll see them everyday ok?”, Ant took Daniel into the utility room to get the dogs ready to go.
“Mad, you know you should get yourself a gun, just incase the asshole comes back”,
“Ant's got these security men around, but as usual they saw nothing. This guy knows what he's doing!, and guns and me don't mix”,
“If I ever see him I'll fucking take his knee caps off”, Mom had a little too much to drink and was starting to vent her anger.
“Yeah ok Mom...Lish would you give me hand to get these dogs into the Daniel's SUV”, we both got up and joined Daniel and Ant in the courtyard where he had parked.
Daniel and Ant had already brought the dogs out and we helped them into the crates at the back of the car,
“Here's their food for th
e next few days Daniel, I'll come by some point”.
“Thinking ahead, I rather come to yours tonight and settle the dogs, they get a bit nervous in new places”,
“Sure?”, Daniel opened his door and got in.
Daniel drove out of the courtyard with Oscar's head half out the passenger window taking in the night air.
“Mom let work know that I won't be able to make it for the next few days ok?”,
“You sure honey, although that's a good idea, don't want this psycho turning up and holding you hostage”, shivering at the thought Lisha came out with my over night bag.
“Thanks babe, lets hope this all blows over before Friday”,
“They should catch the bastard soon enough, if he's smart he'll stay away from here”, Lisha hugged me.
“I'll bring Nelly to Daniel's tomorrow for the dogs to 'hang out'”,
“Yeah sure Lish, go home and be with your Dad. We'll be fine at Daniel's, don't want to bother my brother this time of night.”.
Ant opened my door for me and getting in the dogs started barking, they knew what had happened and there was nothing I could do about it,
“Ant, tell Alice to stay somewhere safe and not to come back the house, lock all the doors and make sure the alarm is working this time”,
“Yes Miss, Will do. Will you be ok at Mr Ace's?”,
“Yeah, Don't worry I'll be back as they say”.
Winding my window up and listening to the dogs howl reminded me of when Oscar was just a little puppy who decided that the Christmas tree lights would make a good snack, the vet who treated him told me he would never make it, resulting in Oscar dying three times and contracting a bug which didn't help. As I entered the room with Mom and Owen, Oscar seemed lifeless but as he saw my tear strewn face he looked round and in his own way smiled at me. Dr Van Beek wanted me to have him euthanised, but as usual Oscar proved everyone wrong.
That night proved to be my undoing, feeling violated and distraught at the sight of Sophie lying lifeless in her bed. Whoever the man or woman was they had the ability to push all my buttons, make me feel like this. Hoping to God that the next few days would be a peaceful and uneventful, but knowing my luck it was unlikely.
Complicated Ties (The Ties Trilogy (A Contemporary Erotic Romance Novel)) Page 14