No Safe Haven

by Virginia Vaughan

  Mia nodded but her face was downcast. Jessica hated putting the girl out of a job, but it was better than putting her life in danger.

  “What are you going to do, Jessica?” Mia asked her.

  “I don’t know yet, but I’ll have my cell phone wherever I go. If you need me, you can call me.” Jessica hugged her. “Now go and take care of your guy.”

  “Goodbye, Jessica.” Mia walked to her car and slid inside.

  She hugged herself as she watched Mia drive away. She stared at the dark, vacant building where she’d invested the past two years of her life. Tears slipped from her eyes. She was alone.

  She locked the door to the shelter and went to her office. Her files were boxed and ready for storage. There would soon be no one here left to minister to or care for. She’d notified the department that she was unavailable for crisis calls until further notice and alerted them to the fact that the FBI was there protecting her.

  There was nothing left to do but wait. Wait for the FBI to surround her. Wait for Mitch to try to kill her. Wait to start a new life in a new town where no one could find her.

  Dean’s Den was the culmination of her passion, a calling God had placed on her life. But now she had to let it go just as she’d had to break ties with Andrew. It wasn’t fair.

  Mitch had truly taken everything from her.

  * * *

  Andrew unlocked his apartment and carried in bags of groceries. As he walked inside, he noticed Sarah sitting in a corner with a book in her hands. She got up and walked over to help him unload the bags.

  “What were you reading?”

  “Nothing.” She shrugged. “A Bible study Jessica gave me. I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed your Bible to look up some verses.”

  His Bible? Where had she even found it? He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen it. “Where was it?”

  “On the bookshelf beneath some legal thrillers. I guess you haven’t read it in a while.”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “I haven’t read mine, either. Maybe that’s why I got so messed up. Maybe that’s why you got messed up, too.”

  “I’m not messed up. What are you talking about?”

  “Andrew, look at you. You’ve lost everything. You lost your job, you’re scandalized and now you’re heartbroken, too. It would have been better if you’d never met Jessica.”

  He wanted to argue with her, but with each day that passed, his heart grew heavier. She’d shut him out completely, refusing to accept his calls or see him.

  He noticed his Bible still on the table by the window. He opened it, skimming through the pages. His mind needed to be occupied with something besides Jessica, besides the words she’d said to him...besides the idea that he would never hold her again. There had been a time in his life when he’d studied God’s word. He’d made notes in the margins. He realized it had indeed been a long time since he’d opened this book. In fact, it had been a long time since he’d turned to God in any way.

  He rubbed his hands together. Why was turning to God such a difficult feat? It wasn’t, but it was hard after so long. Humbling. Jessica’s image sprang to his mind and he smiled. She would understand why this was so hard for him. Hard to admit that he needed someone, even if that someone was God.

  God...

  Words escaped him. He couldn’t even put voice to what he needed. Protection for Jessica. A future with her. His job.

  What did he want to ask for?

  One word—Jessica.

  “God, help her.”

  * * *

  He got her voice mail again.

  Andrew sighed, frustrated by Jessica’s lockout.

  He waited for the beep then spoke into the phone. “Jessica, it’s Andrew again. I wish you would talk to me. I spoke to Margo. She says Agents Robbins and Warren have the shelter on lockdown so I’m glad you’re safe. I miss you. Please call me.”

  He put the phone away and joined Tom in the waiting area outside the conference room of the District Attorney’s Office. The heavy door to the conference room was closed, a tactic used by the prosecutor’s office to wire up defendants. He’d used it before and although he’d known it worked, he had no idea it worked so well.

  “Calm down,” Tom said.

  “How can I calm down? This is my life, my career. What did CJ say when you spoke to her on the phone earlier?”

  “Only that they’ve had new evidence come to light that would affect the case against you.”

  His mind soared. Her wording was carefully chosen. That could mean good or bad. Had they found something they thought further incriminated him? Or were they taking Sarah’s statement as an exoneration?

  The door opened and a paralegal stepped outside. “They’re ready for you now.”

  CJ and Bill were seated behind the massive table. They both had their expressions masked. Nothing would be given away prematurely.

  He and Tom sat down on the other side.

  CJ pulled at the tip of her pen, clicking it. That meant she was nervous.

  Bill spoke for the two. “New evidence has been presented in the death of Robert Young. As you know, Andrew, your sister was able to identify the man whose fingerprints were found in the Taylor house. Also, her statement seems reliable. No holes in her story. Plus, the evidence appears to support her statement that another man, this escaped convict the police have been searching for, entered Jessica’s home and killed your brother-in-law. We don’t yet know why he would do something like that. Or why he would move the body.”

  Andrew set his expression not willing to give away anything. He knew why Reynolds had broken into Jessica’s house and killed Robert, but as far as he was concerned that was none of their business.

  “However,” Bill continued, “we’ve determined his motives have no bearing on the case against you so the District Attorney’s Office—” He glanced over at CJ, who looked unhappy with the entire situation, indicating to Andrew that when Bill said the D.A.’s office, he really meant he’d made the decision. Anticipation licked Andrew’s soul. This part of his nightmare was about to be over.

  Bill continued “Is officially withdrawing its charges.”

  Relief sagged through him. At least one thing was over. “What about my job?”

  Bill nodded to CJ and the paralegals. They gathered their papers and exited the room.

  “There is still the matter of your behavior surrounding your brother-in-law.”

  “What behavior?”

  “You assaulted him. That is not the kind of behavior this office wants from its personnel.”

  “He’s dead. It won’t happen again.”

  “What about the next time? Are you planning to assault every man your sister becomes involved with?”

  “If he beats her then yes, I absolutely will.”

  Bill raked a hand through his hair. “Andrew, the Office of the District Attorney cannot—”

  “No, Bill. This is the problem. This office does not understand or defend the rights of abused victims. As a prosecutor, I tossed aside too many cases because I believed they were unwinnable and this office, specifically you, not only agreed with those assessments, you encouraged them. We are the prosecutor’s office. We are supposed to search for justice for our victims, but most of the time the victim is not even a factor in our work in this office.”

  “We are a government agency. We have a limited number of resources available. We prosecute what we can.”

  “How can we expect to change the opinions of the hearts and minds of the public if we won’t stand up for domestic violence victims and proclaim that they are just as important as other victims of crime?”

  “We are forced to work within the confines of the law.”

  “I’m not asking to circumvent the law. I’m asking for
a chance to make the law work for this population of offenders and their victims. Victims like Amy Vance, one woman in a long line of women victimized by Michael Shroud. We might have avoided her death had we intervened more intensely in the case.”

  Bill looked put off by his mention of the Shroud case, a case he’d personally forced Andrew to drop.

  “Andrew Jennings, you are hereby sanctioned for inappropriate behavior detrimental to the reputation of the Office of the District Attorney. Your file will be noted with this sanction. You are reinstated beginning today. We will be releasing an official notice to the press in a few hours.” He stood to leave.

  “Bill, wait. Michael Shroud?”

  “I’ve already reassigned that case.”

  “I want it back. It was mine to begin with.”

  He nodded then left the room.

  Andrew could hardly contain the grin that stretched across his face. He’d gotten his job back and he’d also managed to get Bill to let him prosecute Shroud. He couldn’t wait to give Jessica the good news.

  He glanced at Tom, who was getting up.

  “Congratulations, Andrew. You did it.”

  “I did. Thank you for your help, Tom. I really appreciate it.”

  “Glad I could help. Besides, how often do I get the chance to be involved in such a high-profile case? It’ll probably double my client base.”

  Andrew smiled. There was a time in his life when that was also how he’d equated success. “I expect you’ll remember that when you’re totaling my bill.”

  Tom grinned then turned to leave. He stopped and turned back. “If you need any outside assistance on that Shroud case, let me know. I’d like to help.”

  “Just don’t take this guy on as a client.”

  Tom smiled. “Batterers? Even defense attorneys have their standards, Andrew.”

  They walked out together. Members of the press rushed toward them, shoving microphones at them.

  Tom spoke first. “The District Attorney’s Office has officially exonerated my client for any wrongdoing in the death of his brother-in-law. He has also been reinstated to his old position as prosecuting attorney.”

  A Channel Six reporter pushed a microphone into Andrew’s face. “How do you feel about being cleared of these allegations?”

  His eyes scoped out the scene. It was amazing that something as unimportant to the world as his meeting with Bill Foster could produce such interest. He supposed it was a good story. It had all the elements of good television—blood, family and love.

  There was a time in his life when he’d craved this much attention. He’d hungered for it. He’d based the successfulness of his life and career on this attention. Now he understood it was fleeting. It offered him no satisfaction. In fact, in the past weeks, he’d come to despise it.

  But God could use him even in this. “I feel justified. I didn’t kill him, but I can’t say I’m sorry he’s dead. This man beat and terrorized my little sister. She never got justice for what was done to her. I don’t think that’s right. Beginning tomorrow, I’ll be the lead attorney on the Michael Shroud case. Mr. Shroud battered and killed a sweet young girl, a student of his. Her name was Amy Vance, and my sincere hope is that I can finally get justice for her and her family by putting her killer behind bars for a very long time.”

  * * *

  Agent Warren knocked on her office door as Jessica was packing to go to the safe house. With Deloris and Joan safely relocated, she was finally prepared to go into hiding. “You should turn on the local news.”

  Curious, Jessica picked up the remote and hit the on button. A news conference on the steps of the courthouse showed Andrew speaking to a group of reporters and the banner across the screen announced that charges had been dropped against him.

  She smiled, glad to see he was finally getting his life back. It was a good start.

  The channel replayed his speech about standing up for victims like Amy Vance and Jessica’s heart melted.

  “He seems like a good guy,” Agent Warren said.

  Jessica smiled. “He’s a wonderful man who didn’t deserve everything that happened to him.”

  Agent Warren put on her official face. “We’ll be leaving in two hours for the safe house. Make sure you have anything you want to take packed.”

  Jessica turned off the television then went back to her packing. She picked up her phone. She had three voice mails from Andrew, messages that she hadn’t yet listened to. She closed her eyes, longing to hear the sound of his voice even if it was only in a voice mail.

  She put down the phone. She had to be strong. He was already beginning to get his life back and she wouldn’t drag him down with her again.

  Her phone rang and she ignored it, fully expecting it to be Andrew. He would want her to know. He would want to share his good news with her. A tear slid down her face. She wanted to share it with him, but that wasn’t possible and she couldn’t give him false hopes by speaking to him.

  She picked up the phone to turn it off, but noticed it wasn’t Andrew calling. It was Mia.

  She hit the answer button and heard Mia’s frantic plea. “You have to help me, Jessica.”

  Her heart lurched. Had Mitch somehow gotten to Mia? “What’s the matter? What’s wrong?”

  “I need you, Jessica. I have a friend who needs your help. She called me hysterical a few moments ago. I’ve been trying to convince her to leave her husband and tonight she escaped. She’s alone, and I’m out of town. Can you help her?”

  “Mia, I can’t.”

  “I would normally just tell her to come to the shelter but I can’t do that, can I? Please, Jessica, she’s terrified. She needs someone to help her and I don’t know who else to call.”

  Jessica stared at the clock. Agent Warren had said they were leaving in two hours. Surely that would be enough time to go and get this girl and take her somewhere safe. But her FBI bodyguards would never allow her to do that.

  “Jessica, please!” The intensity in Mia’s voice cracked through. The girl was afraid for her friend. This girl must be in real danger...and Jessica could never turn down someone in need.

  “Where is she?”

  She wrote down the address then promised Mia she would take care of her friend. But first she had to find a way to sneak past two FBI agents and, assuming she managed that, find a way to get there.

  She thought about taking the shelter’s van but the keys were up front. She would never make it past the agents if she tried to go get that key. Then she remembered the spare key in her desk drawer. She rummaged through until she found it.

  Now to sneak outside without being spotted.

  She slipped from her office and down the hallway toward the back door. She heard the agents moving around and talking from the common area. Fortunately for her, they were concerned with someone getting inside, not someone getting out.

  She punched in the number to the alarm by the back door and it went offline. She opened the back door and crept quietly down the steps. She opened the gate and slipped out, moving quickly to the van.

  She cautiously opened the driver’s door and slid inside. She knew once she started the van, the agents would come to investigate. They would see the van missing but perhaps they would think it was a simple robbery. Perhaps they wouldn’t immediately notice she was missing too.

  She took a deep breath then turned the key in the ignition. She jolted the transmission into gear and took off before either of the agents inside could follow.

  TWELVE

  CJ seemed smug as she handed over the box of files on the Shroud case.

  “I’m glad to be handing this one over to you,” she told him. “This case just got even more complicated.”

  “How?”

  “I spoke to a young woman a few days ago who claims Amy
Vance had been threatening and harassing her. She’s an old ex of Shroud’s but says he wouldn’t leave her alone. Then Amy got in on the harassment. Her testimony could tarnish the victim’s reputation.”

  “We aren’t putting the victim on trial, CJ.” He skimmed through CJ’s interview notes. “Amy was probably acting on behalf of Shroud.” He thought back to the speech Jessica had given at the school. “It’s called stalking by proxy. Typically, an assailant will have someone else, usually a new girlfriend, stalk and harass the victim.”

  He thought back to the classroom and the girl’s discussion about how her boyfriend had asked her to place notes in another girl’s locker.

  He stopped as another thought hit him. How had Reynolds gotten so close to Jessica without someone noticing him? The FBI was acting on the assumption that someone was hiding him. Was it possible someone was helping him?

  Someone close to Jessica?

  He went over in his head all the events of the past few weeks. Jessica’s stalker had been inside her house, in her yard, in her car, even at the shelter. Reynolds could never get that close on his own without someone noticing.

  His mind played over the women in Jessica’s life. Any one of those women was vulnerable to being used by Reynolds either through intimidation or charm.

  Joan?

  Danielle?

  Amber?

  Pamela?

  Sarah?

  He couldn’t imagine she would be involved with Reynolds...but then he couldn’t have imagined she would let Robert beat up on her, either.

  Suddenly, the text from her to come to Dalton Lake clicked into place. Had she placed that text? Had she helped Reynolds set up her own brother?

  He picked up his office phone and punched in his mother’s telephone number. Sarah should have arrived there by now and he needed to hear the truth from her own lips.

  She sounded bright and happy when she answered. Would she have left town if she was truly in cahoots with Reynolds?

  “I have to ask you a question, Sarah, and I need you to answer me truthfully. It’s important.”

  “Is something wrong, Andrew?”