by PJ Nunn
The feel of the gun in her right pocket was reassuring, although she knew a handful of bullets wouldn’t help much in this situation. How long would it be before someone noticed she was missing? Too long, she thought, despairing. School was out. No classes, no work. Beth might call in the morning, but she was just as likely not to call again for days. Besides, even if she called and got no answer, she’d just assume Dani was out shopping or something. And the way Noah sounded on the phone earlier, it would be days before she’d hear from him too, if she ever did. As far as the rest of the world was concerned, Dani had no appointments or commitments with anyone. Ever.
Shuddering at the implications, Dani felt a tear escape and slide down her cheek. Noah wanted a commitment. All he’d wanted to know was whether she was willing to pursue a relationship. He hadn’t asked for forever. He hadn’t really asked anything she couldn’t give. So what was she afraid of? Afraid he’d marry her, let her pay his way through medical school, then leave her? Dani closed her eyes with a sigh. She must have been crazy. Temporary insanity. There was no other logical explanation. Noah was exactly the kind of man she needed, the kind of man she’d hoped Mark was, but never would be. And he was hers for the asking. But, like a fool, she’d let a snide remark by a woman she didn’t even know condemn the best relationship she’d ever had without even questioning it. Why didn’t she just ask him about what Caroline Crane had said instead of jumping to conclusions and throwing him out of her life? If he’d acted suspicious when he answered, she could have decided then, but, the way her luck was running, he’d have had a perfectly logical explanation and she’d never given him a chance!
The way it looked right now, Dani figured she deserved whatever she got. She took her hand out of her pocket long enough to look at her watch then slipped it back inside. Was it possible only an hour had elapsed since she got up to make coffee? It seemed like years. Dani looked up at the cellar doors, examining them closely to see if there was any way out from the inside. They had to be fastened on somehow, but she didn’t see it. Probably screwed into the wooden frame that supported the ceiling.
She glanced across the room at the shelves and shuddered as she saw one of the larger snakes slithering along the second shelf in search of a spot to coil, or in search of prey. She preferred the former thought. Any tools she had available to her would be located there, on those shelves. At this point, they didn’t seem worth the risk.
Chapter Twenty
Making his way home just after midnight, Noah drove far enough past his own driveway to get a good look at the front of Dani’s house before turning in. Tired to the bone, both in body and in spirit, he still wanted to be sure she was safe. Except for the front porch light, the house was dark and the Taurus was parked in its usual place close to the walk. All was well.
He backed up the truck, then turned into his driveway, getting out to walk wearily to the door and into a cold, unwelcoming house. Although she’d only spent one night there, he couldn’t help but remember how her smile lit up the place. Even worse was the contrast between his place and hers. Every room in her house was warm and inviting. Her personality screamed from the wildlife photographs she had hanging in the living room and hallway to the eclectic choice of mismatched stoneware she used for dishes. And especially in the contrast of the tropical print comforter she loved on the bed to the cozy flannel sheets.
Everything about Dani was a contradiction, but in her, it seemed perfectly logical. She didn’t conform to the norm because she was like no other. Dani Jones was a living, breathing contradiction in terms.
Too wired to turn in yet, Noah fixed a cup of instant coffee and plopped down in the worn out easy chair facing the front window. He’d spent the better part of the last two nights in this chair. After sharing her bed, he’d had no interest in his. The scent of her perfume still lingered on the pillow she’d used when she stayed there. He’d really done it this time.
No matter how he prided himself on detachment and being able to be objective in any situation, somehow, she’d crept past all his defenses and rooted herself irrevocably in his heart. Scowling at the bitter, lukewarm mouthful of coffee he swigged, he got up and poured it out in the kitchen sink, then retrieved a beer from the refrigerator. Maybe he’d just drink himself to sleep. He was off tomorrow. At this rate, it was the only way he’d get any rest.
With one cold beer in hand and another as a backup, he dropped back into the chair and stared out the window, tired of fighting to keep his mind from examining and re-examining the relationship. It was easier to just let it run its course. There was no argument, really. He’d settled the issues that concerned him weeks ago when he’d finally admitted to himself that he’d fallen hopelessly in love with her.
For years, he’d listened as colleagues lamented their foibles of love, secretly amused and maybe feeling even a little superior. He was above all that; it could never happen to him. He wouldn’t allow it. A harsh laugh gurgled in his throat as he opened the second beer. Like he’d really had any choice in the matter. Hell, the only choice he was allowed was whether to admit it or not. The falling was something he had no control over.
To be fair, he did understand her reluctance. After what she’d been through, he’d worry if she trusted too soon. The passion was there, no doubt. And, he believed she loved him just like he loved her. She was just terrified at the thought. How could he blame her for that? In any case, he’d never let her go without a fight. She was too precious to him. In his heart, he knew he’d never love again. Not like this. He’d never let anyone get close enough. Now that it had happened once, he knew the signs. With another loud sigh, he let his head roll back against the chair and prayed that sleep would take him to a better place.
The persistent sound of an alarm dragged him from a deep sleep. Disoriented at first, he shook his head as if that would clear it, then realized it was his phone. Still dark out, he glanced at the window. His watch said 5:04. Who the hell would call at this hour? He wasn’t on call.
“Russell,” his voice sounded gravelly, even to him.
“Noah, it’s Graham,” a familiar voice woke him up. “I just got something for your desk, but I thought maybe it shouldn’t wait.”
“What is it?” Noah was on full alert now.
“You know that Atkinson guy you’ve been scoping?”
“Yeah.”
“You just got a copy of a missing persons report from Atlanta PD. Says his secretary reported him missing day before yesterday but it waded through the usual 24 before it came out on the wire.”
“Fuck me!” Noah barked. “They knew I was watching him. You’d think -”
“Yeah, I know,” Graham interrupted. “I’ll put it on your desk, but I knew you’d want to know. Your girl tucked in safe for the night?”
“Far as I know,” Noah answered curtly. “Thanks Graham.”
When he hung up the phone, he wandered back to the window, peering through the trees even though he knew he could see nothing. Or maybe he could, he thought. Without bothering to grab his coat, he walked out on the front porch to get a better look. A soft glow emanated from the kitchen window. Was she up at this hour? That light wasn’t on when he came home. Maybe she wasn’t sleeping well.
He thought back to the terse conversation they’d shared last night. She sounded fine when she answered the phone, but one word answers weren’t like her. He’d assumed she was annoyed to hear his voice. Maybe it was more than that. It bothered him enough to go back inside for his coat. It would only take a few minutes to stroll over and scope out the house, just to be sure. If his hunch was right and Atkinson was in this up to his neck, he’d bet money he was in the area somewhere if he wasn’t in Atlanta.
A few minutes later, he crossed the drive and peered through the blinds into the kitchen. The light over the stove was on and there was a coffee mug and a stack of crackers beside a block of cheese on the table but no sign of movement. Quietly, Noah moved toward the front of the house. It looked like she’d g
otten up for a snack, but then where was she? Why did she leave it in the kitchen?
As soon as he came around the front corner, he saw another soft glow from her bedroom window upstairs. He tried to peer in one of the front windows but it was too dark to see anything. Something didn’t feel right. Maybe he was overly protective, but he didn’t want to take the chance.
He wandered slowly out into the center of the yard to get a better view. It didn’t look like there was any movement in the bedroom, either. He knew where the lamp was. If she passed between it and the window, it would cast a shadow. He knew she liked to read in bed, too, but she wouldn’t fix a snack then leave it downstairs. She’d either take it with her or put it up.
In spite of his unease, he really didn’t want to wake her and endure her wrath. She’d made it pretty plain she’d be happy if she never saw him again. He was prepared to work through that, but the thought still hurt. Bad. Quietly, trying to avoid the creaking boards, he approached the front door and tried the knob. Locked. Nothing to do but knock. He did. Once. Again, louder this time. There was no sound, no answering bark from Bandit, although that didn’t mean much.
Troubled, but not ready to call for reinforcements, he made his way around to the back of the house. This time, when he tried the door, it opened easily in his hand, setting off an alarm system deep inside.
“Dani?” he called out, entering slowly and closing the door behind him. His fears deepened as he moved through the dining room. She wouldn’t go to bed and leave the door unlocked. The coffee mug was full but untouched and cold. “Dani?” Silence.
He proceeded rapidly through the living room then pulled his gun as he started up the stairs. Ears tuned to any noise, there was nothing but the sound of his boots on the stairs. The bedroom door was wide open and she’d obviously been in bed at one time, but her book was propped open on the comforter and Charlie was curled in a ball where Dani’s feet should have been. A quick glance in the bathroom revealed nothing. His heart rate seemed to increase with each step he took as he moved rapidly down the hall, throwing open the bedroom and bathroom doors. All empty.
He descended the stairs two and three at a time then stopped cold when his eyes fell on the coat rack. It was empty. Surely she wouldn’t have been foolish enough to go outside in the middle of the night. In his heart, he suspected she would. Since the back door was open, he headed that way, still wondering what could have possessed her to do such a thing. He stopped in the kitchen to pick up the flashlight but it was nowhere to be found. God, please don’t let her be out wandering through the woods at this hour!
Dani was shivering uncontrollably now and had been for longer than she could think. She’d tried warming her hands over the flame from a cigarette lighter she saw on a nearby shelf, but only succeeded in burning her finger. She’d dozed off for a little while, amazingly enough. Probably a delayed NyQuil reaction. But the cold woke her up again and this time she was grateful. A quick scan of her surroundings showed that two of the larger snakes had decided to perch on the lower two steps but they were well below her feet. She didn’t know what she’d have done had she woken with one crawling on her. Her head told her she should be safe as long as she didn’t panic, but her heart told her that panic was inevitable if one should actually dare to climb on her.
At one point, she’d stirred and thought she heard Noah’s voice calling her name, but she never heard it again and figured it was just a dream. Or maybe wishful thinking. He’d rescued her from the cellar once before. Twice wasn’t likely. Or was it? If she strained her ears, she could make out the sound of grass crunching, just like when she’d walked out here. She opened her mouth to call out, then stopped suddenly. What if it was her captor, returning to see if she was dead yet?
Heat flashed through her body as her adrenaline went into high gear. The footsteps were coming closer. She was definitely in danger. Carefully, she wrestled the gun out of her pocket and clicked the safety off. There was no way in hell she’d scoot down the stairs to mingle with the reptiles. She’d have to take her chances with the human kind of threat. He’d get a good surprise when he opened those doors this time. She’d have a gun pointed right at his face.
As she sat poised, waiting, she tried frantically to recall all Noah had taught her about facing a potential threat. He’d said never pull a weapon unless she fully intended to use it and don’t wait and give them a chance to get it away from you.
Best she could tell, she had two things going for her. One, he wouldn’t be expecting it, and two, he’d have at least one hand busy trying to open the door. She’d have to move fast. Her heart hammered as she heard the padlock clank against the door. She had to fight to keep from closing her eyes in fright, but she was ready. It clanked again. Any moment now.
Her life wasn’t passing before her eyes, maybe that was a good sign. But what was taking him so long? Confusion crept in and her arm was getting tired but she didn’t dare lower the weapon. She heard a man’s voice. Was it Noah? Or was it the one who put her in here? All of a sudden she didn’t know what to do. If it was the man who put her in here, she’d want to be quiet, let him think she was dead so she could surprise him. But if it was Noah, looking for her, he might see the lock and think there was no use looking in here. Suddenly, it came to her. What had drawn her here in the first place?
“Bandit!” she hissed, hoping she couldn’t be heard from the outside. “Bark Bandit!”
Bandit heard her. He pressed his nose against the cage and whimpered.
“Louder, boy!” she encouraged with another whisper. “Bark! Roof!”
He wiggled and whined, but no barking.
“Roof, roo roo!” she tried to imitate his sound the best she could, but her whispers just weren’t exciting enough. She heard footsteps again, but this time they seemed to be moving away. It was now or never.
“Roof! Roof!” she barked louder, hoping like hell it sounded like a dog from outside. “Roof, roo roo, roof!”
Catching the idea, Bandit joined in at full voice, bringing tears to her eyes. She tried to focus on outside sounds between barks. Was it soon enough, or had he already gone too far away to hear it? No. There it was again, another step.
“Roof!” she encouraged Bandit again and was rewarded by a voice outside calling “Bandit!”
It was Noah! Thank God! Summoning her voice, she was unable to speak around the sob that choked her. “No…Noah!”
“Dani?” Sharp and clear, it was like an angelic message. Noah came for her!
“Noah! Noah!”
“Hold on, I’ll be right there!”
As long as she lived, Dani knew she’d never hear anything sweeter. A moment later, there was pounding then the doors flung open wide and Noah’s strong arms reached out to pull her to him.
“Whoa!” he said, spying the gun still clinched tightly in her hand. She sobbed as he pried it from her fingers, put the safety back on and shoved it in his pocket. “Where’s Bandit?”
“Oh, God, Noah,” she clung to his jacket and peered fearfully back down in the hole.
“Holy shit,” Noah said, looking over her shoulder.
“It’s crawling with snakes,” she offered in a trembling voice. “Bandit is in a dog carrier up on the top shelf.” Her apparently inexhaustible supply of tears flowed freely down cheeks that were rapidly numbing again from the cold wind.
“Is he alright?” he asked softly.
“So far, but Noah…”
“Baby,” he took her chin in his hand, “we’ll work it out and we’ll get him down. Right now, you need to go inside where it’s warm.”
“Noah, please……… don’t leave me,” she wailed. All the reserves of strength she’d depended on the last few hours vanished like a whiff of smoke in a high wind when she was in his arms again.
“Inside,” he said, firmly pointing her toward the back door.
She sank gratefully into a dining room chair, never letting her eyes off his magnificent form as he strode to the phone a
nd punched in the numbers. Once he’d summoned the troops, he put on a pot of coffee, then pulled up a chair beside her and rubbed her cold hands between his own.
“Whatever were you thinking?”
Dani examined his face, meeting his eyes without reservation. “I couldn’t sleep then I thought I heard Bandit barking. I was afraid he’d freeze to death.”
“He ran off again?”
“Two days ago.”
“How’d you get in to the cellar? I tried the key. It didn’t work, or did you change that too?”
“No,” she said miserably. “There was no lock on it when I heard him. And my flashlight wasn’t working very well so I had to go all the way to the bottom to turn on the light in the cellar. When I did and saw the snakes, I tried to get back up the stairs but someone was up there and they closed the door. I guess they locked it.”
“You didn’t see them?”
She shook her head. The lights of a squad car caught her attention through the dining room window. Noah got up to meet them and left through the back door. Dani followed him and stood watching inside the screen, not wanting him out of her sight. If nothing else, the experience she’d just endured showed her how wrong she’d been. What if Noah hadn’t come looking? Sooner or later she’d have fallen asleep. Just one copperhead visitor and a twitch in her sleep, she’d have been dead.
Noah heeded her request and came back in the house once he’d explained the situation to the officers. Dani was vaguely aware of halogen lights being set up behind the house and a flurry of officers and technicians busy about their tasks.