She honestly didn’t think the two had anything to do with her stalking, but she wanted to know what he thought.
“You were right about them. Bullies. Ready to prey upon anyone they perceive as weaker than themselves. But I don’t think they’re who we’re looking for. They don’t have the imagination for it.”
“That’s what I thought. They don’t have the patience for this kind of thing. They’re motivated by instant gratification. Power. Money.”
Jake nodded. “Another thing—if Brooks were behind this, he’d arrange it so that he could see your fear. He feeds on that. He’d want to see your reaction, your revulsion, your terror.”
“And Newton?”
“Newton’s motivated by greed. Unless there’s something in it for her, she can’t be bothered. It’s no wonder she chose poison as her weapon. She’s filled with venom.”
She’d been right about Jake’s perception. “You’re good at reading people.”
He dipped his head. “I have my moments.”
That got a laugh from her. “Yes, you do.” The laughter died from her eyes. “We’re back where we started, aren’t we?” Discouragement dragged at her. She wanted this over. She wanted her life back.
“No. We’re ruling out who isn’t behind this. The more people we rule out, the closer we come to finding out who is.”
“Thanks. I needed to hear that.” A chill peppered her arms, and she rubbed her hands over them. “I’m scared, Jake.”
It cost her to say that. Admitting fear didn’t come easily. She’d fought too long and too hard to get where she was to give in to it, but that didn’t change the fact that she was spooked, especially after the delivery of the dead bird.
Her willingness to share such feelings with Jake surprised her. Then again, maybe it shouldn’t, since she didn’t know whom she could trust.
Jake was right. Someone she knew was doing this.
The idea that a colleague or friend, someone close to her, was trying to terrify her filled her with revulsion as well as bafflement. What had she done to inspire such hatred? She knew Trevor and Sarah were jealous of her position, but she didn’t regard them as enemies. Try as she would, she couldn’t think of anyone she’d hurt so badly as to do this. She was a loner in many ways, keeping to herself. Her circle of friends was a small one, but she’d believed they were devoted to each other.
“Why?” The single word came out in a broken cry. “Why is someone doing this to me?”
Jake drew her to him, cradled her head against his chest. “I don’t know. But I promise you—we’re going to find out.”
She clung to him, drawing comfort from his words as well as the solid feel of him. It wasn’t like her to cling to a man. Nothing about this was like her at all.
After a long moment, Jake set her away from him. “We’ve got work to do.”
She scrubbed her hands over her face as though scrubbing away her earlier fear. “Let’s get to it.”
“One more thing—I want to have a code word between us. If someone gives you a message, supposedly from me, make sure they give you that word.” At the question in her eyes, he said, “Just an added security measure.”
Dani didn’t have to think about it. “Grace.”
“Grace? Why that?”
“Everything I have, everything I am, is because of God’s grace.” So intent was she on their conversation that she scarcely registered the sound of her office door closing.
* * *
On Sunday, Dani got ready for church, choosing a peach-colored dress and matching jacket.
“Nothing’s going to happen to me at church,” she said when Jake protested her decision.
“Our guy’s not the boogeyman who’s going to jump out at you from a dark alley,” Jake said. “He’s someone who you know, someone who knows you. And,” he added significantly, “he knows your schedule. He knows where and when you attend church.”
In the end, Dani won. She wasn’t going to let whoever was doing this take away her Sunday worship.
The service was beautiful in its simplicity, and Dani basked in the quiet words of instruction and prayer.
Following its conclusion, the minister, a family friend, looked at Dani with concern. “You look lovely as always, Dani, but tired. Is something wrong?”
Unwilling to burden him with her problems, she shook her head. “I guess I am tired. Too many cases.”
The minister nodded. “Your father tells me how hard you work.” He winked. “We see each other on the golf course every once in a while. I wish he would join you at services on Sundays.”
Dani swallowed. “Ever since my mother...ever since she left, Dad’s been distant. He has this block about church, religion. I know he still believes, but...” She lifted a shoulder in a small shrug. “It’s been hard.” Her mother’s disappearance had affected Dani and her father differently. He’d turned away from his faith while Dani clung to hers, as the only constant in a mixed-up world.
She didn’t trust herself to say anything more. First, she had to let the lump that was crowding her throat dissolve, otherwise she knew the silent tears that were building behind her eyes would trickle down her cheeks.
He pressed her hand. “I understand.” He turned to Jake and waited while Dani made the introductions. “I hope we’ll be seeing more of you, Mr. Rabb.”
“Jake’s just visiting,” Dani said quickly.
“Of course.” With one more look divided between the two of them, the minister left to visit with other members.
“How long have you known him?” Jake asked as they walked back to the car.
“Years. In fact, I can’t remember when I didn’t know Dr. Oleson.”
“You didn’t include him on the list.”
“You can’t seriously believe he’s involved.” Her voice rose in incredulity. “He’s a minister.”
“Priests were among those who testified against Christ,” Jake reminded her. “You can’t exclude anyone.” He paused, letting that sink in.
Her earlier joy in the morning’s service evaporated under his suspicions. “This monster is stealing my life, making me suspect everyone, even a man I’ve known since I was a child.”
Jake held the door open for her. “I’m sorry. I know it’s hard.”
He didn’t know how hard, she reflected with a droop of her shoulders. “Please take me home.”
That evening, Dani retired early, more discouraged than she could ever remember being, even in those dark days following her mother’s disappearance.
“Dear Lord,” she prayed. “Please give me faith. My own seems to be missing in action.”
FOUR
Dani awoke with a surge of optimism and a determination to live this day with courage and faith. She refused to let the monster who was stalking her control her life.
“You can’t change yesterday and you don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Live today.” Those were among the last words her mother had said to her.
So when Victor Wingate called early Monday morning with an invitation to lunch, she accepted.
“Gordy’s will be fine,” she said, naming one of Atlanta’s popular eating spots. At the same time, she ignored Jake’s scowl. “Noon. I’ll see you then.”
She put down the phone and lifted her chin at the censure she read in his eyes. “I can’t stop living just because some crazy person has me in his sights. All he’s done is try to frighten me. If I change my life, he wins. I’m not going to give him that satisfaction.”
Jake scowled. “I’m going with you.”
“Fine. But keep your distance. I won’t have you scaring Victor.”
Jake didn’t answer. He’d made his feelings about Victor plain, without saying a word.
It was true she had ended things with Victor,
but he’d been a good friend, one she had grown to depend upon, especially in those first horrible weeks following her mother’s disappearance. He’d held her hand, both literally and figuratively, during the long hours of waiting by the phone, praying for a word, something, anything, to tell them what had happened.
When the days had stretched into weeks, the weeks into months, she’d finally accepted that she was not going to find the answers she needed. It was then that she had realized what had happened with Victor.
She had mistaken gratitude for love.
In the ensuing years, they’d reclaimed much of their lost friendship, for which she was thankful. She didn’t have so many friends that she could afford to lose one.
She worked through the morning with Jake doing research on the computer. He interrupted her only rarely to ask a question or two about a name on the list she’d compiled.
“The secretary. Clariss Trenton. I can’t find much about her. What do you know about her?”
Dani put down the yellow legal pad where she’d been making notes. “Clariss? She’s quiet, tends to stay to herself, but she’s a hard worker. We’d be lost without her around here.” She slanted a curious look his way. “You can’t seriously think she’s behind all this?”
“I don’t know. Are you close to her?”
“Not particularly, though I like her well enough. She’s barely twenty-three, just out of college.” Something in her tone alerted him.
“What is it?”
“A year ago, she asked me to falsify information on her application to law school. I refused. Things were tense for a while, then eventually smoothed over.” Dani paused. “I think she has a boyfriend.”
Jake made a note and then checked his watch. “We’d better be on our way if you’re going to get to Gordy’s by noon.”
At Gordy’s, Jake made sure he got a table where he could both see and hear what was going on between Dani and Wingate. Though he’d met the man only once, he didn’t like him.
His research showed that Wingate was a defense attorney who rarely lost a case. As he specialized in criminal defense, he was not popular with the Atlanta P.D. Nothing surprising there. There was nothing about him to raise a red flag, but Jake couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling about the lawyer. Maybe it was the way he looked at Dani.
“I’m glad you have protection,” Wingate said with a nod in Jake’s direction.
“Your father was right about hiring someone, though I’d do anything for you. You have only to say so.” He reached across the table to press her hand. “You know that, don’t you?”
Dani squeezed his hand in response, grateful for his offer. “Of course I do. But you’re not trained to act as a bodyguard, and I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you.” A shudder raced through her at the thought.
Jake disguised a laugh with a cough. Dani glared at him.
He picked up his cup of tea, content to sip it while Dani and Wingate ordered a full meal. Jake made no attempt to disguise the fact that he was listening in on their conversation, despite the warning looks Dani darted at him.
“I was delighted that you accepted my invitation,” Wingate said. “It’s been too long.”
Dani smiled. “It has. Things have been crazy at the office, what with the cases I’m trying.”
“And your stalker.”
Her smile died. “Yes. And that.”
“If you’d give me the word, I’d take care of you,” Wingate said in a rush and moved his chair closer to Dani’s. “You’d never have to worry about anything again. I make more than enough to take care of the both of us.”
If the man had been paying attention, Jake thought, he’d have noticed that Dani froze at the suggestion.
“I like my job, and I’m good at it,” she said evenly. “I would never think of leaving it.”
“Dealing with all those lowlifes, it’s probably that job that’s turned someone into a stalker. I told you that no good would come of you taking it.” A peevish note entered Wingate’s voice. He continued to inch his chair closer to Dani’s. Either he didn’t notice that she backed away with every move he made or he chose to ignore it.
The man had no boundaries, Jake concluded. He didn’t take the hints that Dani was so clearly giving.
She put down her napkin. “Thank you for lunch, Victor. I’d love to stay and chat, but I’d better get back to the office.”
“To your job.”
“Yes. To my job.” She stood. “Please don’t get up. Finish your lunch.” She walked away without looking back.
Jake started after her, but not without a warning look in Wingate’s direction when the man made a move to follow her.
Outside the restaurant, Dani was fuming. “I remember now why I broke it off with Victor. He delights in telling me what to do, always assuming that he knows best.”
“He doesn’t seem like the type who likes being thwarted,” Jake observed.
“He’s not.” She left it at that.
Jake grabbed her hand. “C’mon. Let’s take a walk.”
“I have to get back to work.”
“It’s early. Let’s grab a hot dog. I know a great place where they pile on the pickles and onions and chili.”
“I just had lunch.”
“You pushed some overpriced lettuce around on your plate. That’s not lunch.”
“No, it’s not,” she agreed. “A hot dog it is. But I think I’ll pass on the onions and chili.”
The hot dog was infinitely better than the fancy salad she’d ordered at Gordy’s. Perhaps it was the company, she thought, with a glance in Jake’s direction. Blunt, bossy and irritating as he might be, he made her laugh, and he made her feel safe.
Truth be told, she wasn’t exactly anxious to return to the office. Ever since word had gotten out about the stalking, everyone had been treating her like fragile goods, politely keeping their distance, but she felt the stares, the whispers behind her back.
She didn’t blame them. No one was comfortable being around a victim, and she didn’t like being one. She lifted her chin. No one was going to make her a victim. Whoever was stalking her had better watch out.
A child’s laughter caught her attention, turning her gaze to a young couple, a little boy between them, walking down the sidewalk. Their joy in each other was unmistakable, as well as their love for the child. A fierce longing swept through her to have that for herself, even as she recognized that it wasn’t likely, given her current situation of not having a man in her life or even a date in four years.
“They make a pretty sight,” Jake said, echoing her thoughts.
She couldn’t help noticing the way the sun reflected off his deeply tanned skin and picked out glints of hazel in his dark eyes.
He dabbed at her chin with his napkin. “Mustard.”
He tossed the napkin away but reached out to caress her cheek, and she heard herself sigh. Felt him draw her into the shelter of his arms.
The sweetness of the moment lulled her into forgetting they were standing on a city sidewalk for all the world to see. Suddenly aware of where they were, she pulled away, appalled at her behavior. Her smile felt awkward, stiff, but she managed it.
“I’ve never been able to eat a hot dog like a lady.” It occurred to her that, despite all the trials of the past few weeks, she was happy. More, a lot of that happiness had to do with Jake.
A frown crossed her face at the direction of her thoughts. No, that wasn’t right. It wasn’t Jake. She wasn’t dependent upon a man for her happiness. It was simply the joy of being alive, of knowing that she was doing a job she loved and that she was making a difference with it.
Jake was there to keep her safe. Nothing more.
His deep, rich laugh made her spine tingle for no other reason than she liked the sound. “Ladies
don’t eat hot dogs,” he said. “At least not those from a sidewalk vendor.”
“You’re right. If Mama could see me now, she’d raise her eyebrows and wonder where I’d been brought up.” A smile trembled on her lips at the memory of her mother’s lectures on manners.
“For all that, though, she loved me. I never doubted that. Until—”
“Until she left.”
Dani nodded unhappily. “Until she left.” Unwillingly, she felt her thoughts slip back to that time.
She shook the unhappy memories away and focused on the present. “I shouldn’t have accepted Victor’s invitation.” She squared her shoulders. “I knew—or I should have known—what would happen. He never changes.”
“He’s the type who wants to tell others what to do and expects them to obey. Or else.”
Did Jake realize that he had described himself, as well? she wondered. He and Victor had nothing in common other than that both liked to tell her how to run her life. She kept that to herself, knowing he wouldn’t appreciate the comparison. It served as a reminder, though, to not become involved with a man who was too fond of giving orders and expecting them to be obeyed.
“You know practically my whole life story,” she said. “What about you? Were you ever engaged?”
Jake hesitated. “Once upon a time, I thought there was someone special,” he said. “I was home on leave and went to a buddy’s engagement party. His fiancée’s sister caught my eye. Made me feel like some kind of hero. I was flattered. She was the daughter of a diplomat, class all the way. Or so I thought. We dated for five months and fell in love.” His smile was rueful. “I’d saved up every penny I could, borrowed some more and bought a ring. I planned to propose to her the night before I shipped out.”
“What happened?”
“I did the whole thing—got down on one knee, gave her the ring. She laughed in my face, then told me she was slumming to teach her boyfriend a lesson. Turns out, they’d had a fight and she wanted to bring him to heel. I guess it worked, because they got married two weeks later.
Keeping Watch (9781460341285) Page 5