by Lee Rose
“Selena. Oh my god. Let’s get you inside and I’ll call the sheriff.” Dr. Anderson looked shaken up as he unlocked the clinic doors. He set his briefcase down and picked up the phone.
Selena walked slowly inside the clinic and sat in the chairs in the waiting room. She peeled off her jacket and lifted her shirt. Her side was red but it didn’t feel as bad as it had last time. She put her head on her hands and waited.
It took a few minutes for Ryan and Gabe to walk into the clinic.
“Do you need a doctor?” Ryan asked, his facial features bunched up in an angry glare.
Gabe went outside. “I’m going to look around the building.”
Ryan nodded then sat next to her.
“No, I am fine, Ryan. It doesn’t hurt as much as last time. I scraped my hands when I fell but I can wash them and bandage them. I think he was on something. His eyes were bloodshot and he was jittery.”
Harrison walked in a few minutes later looking upset and angry. He hugged her tightly and she saw Ryan get up to give them some privacy. She could feel the tremors traveling through his body. “I’m okay, Harrison. Dr. Anderson showed up just in time.”
He cupped her face in his big hands. He kissed her forehead. “Thank god for that.”
Holly and Tracy walked in and asked what was going on. Holly walked up to Selena and saw her raw, red hands. “I can bandage those up for you.”
She nodded and leaned against Harrison who couldn’t seem to stop touching her. Holly came back with a first-aid kit in her hand. Harrison stood up and went to check with Ryan. Holly bandaged her hands up. “Those look painful but they’ll heal.”
Selena sniffed, feeling a little calmer. “Thanks, Holly.”
Holly got up and went to put the kit away. Tracy stared at her from behind the desk looking impatient with all the activity going on, but at least she wasn’t saying anything. Selena did not feel like putting up with her today.
Dr. Anderson came back in to say she should take the rest of the day off. She looked up at her boss with shock. She expected him to yell at her for causing all this commotion. “Are you sure?”
He nodded without smiling. He looked around at all the commotion and frowned.
“I know you haven’t been driving in, lately should I call someone?”
“No need. I’ll take care of her,” Harrison volunteered.
She still felt a little dazed and upset. Harrison led her outside where Gabe was waiting. His expression was one of anger and she stepped a little closer to Harrison. He must have noticed because he immediately schooled his face into looking blank. Gabe took her hand. “Don’t you worry. He can’t hide for long. He ran into the woods but Ethan and Logan are tracking him. Ethan is our best tracker and he will get him.”
Some of the tension was leaving her body but in its place was a shaky feeling like she wanted to throw up. “Okay, thanks.”
Harrison put her in his Jeep but instead of taking her to Ed’s he drove the opposite way to his apartment.
“Ryan told Ed you were spending the day with me,” he explained at her curious look.
She smiled at him. She would take any opportunity to spend a moment with him. “Sounds good to me.”
“I’ll make us some coffee while you sit down. You look a little pale,” he told her when they arrived.
“I do feel shaky,” she admitted. She sat on his couch and leaned back against his cushions and closed her eyes for a minute. Harrison set the coffee down on the table until she was ready to take a sip. The hot liquid felt soothing. Just knowing he was there sitting next to her felt comforting. They sat silently for a few minutes.
“It is an adrenaline let-down.” He kissed her cheek softly, caressing her hair softly with his hands. “You are so high on nerves and tension and when it goes away you crash big time.”
She leaned her head against his chest and loved the feel of his strong arms around her. She burrowed deeper into him and let out a soft sigh.
She must have dozed off because when she heard the phone ring she forgot where she was and popped up, looking around. Harrison kissed her head and picked up the phone. He listened quietly and she could tell by the angry expression on his face it wasn’t good news.
“I’ll be right there, Ethan.” He hung up and looked down at her. She sat up and waited for the bad news.
“They tracked him and found his hideout. They had him but he pulled out a knife and fought with Logan. Logan got slashed in the arm but it is not serious.”
“Oh my god,” she whispered and closed her eyes. How many people would get hurt before they caught him? Why was he so determined to get her? He had plenty of admirers that were willing, Della included. “So he got away?”
“For now. He had someone waiting for him in a car. Ethan got the plate number and they are running it now. I have to go to the station.”
“Of course.” She stood up and he followed. He hugged her tightly and she leaned into him, borrowing some of his strength. She felt bad that Logan got hurt and told Harrison so.
“It was a flesh wound, honey, but knowing him he will use it to get sympathy from all the ladies,” Harrison guaranteed her. “Once we find out who the car belongs to we have him.”
She hoped so. She was getting tired of Dave running around and hurting people. Why couldn’t he move on? There were plenty of women out there who would willingly go with him. Della had always bragged how popular Dave was and how she was the one who landed him.
Harrison insisted she wait at the diner until Ed could come and get her. The diner was closed but Ally and Lacy were there going over last minute details for the party.
“Don’t you worry, sweetheart.” Ally smiled after hugging her. “Those boys will get him and put him in jail.”
“I hope so, Ally. This is causing me some serious ulcers that I don’t need.” Selena tried to make a joke out of it but inside she was scared to death. She was scared someone else would get hurt before Dave was caught.
Lacy’s gaze was understanding. “Help us with all these last details. Best way to get through this nightmare is to keep busy.”
Selena nodded and looked at all the lists they were making. Maybe if she could stay busy she could forget about Dave for one minute. Her stomach was tied in so many knots she wasn’t sure how she would untangle them all.
Chapter 17
Logan was sitting in Ryan’s office with a bandage on his arm. Ryan had told him to go home but he insisted on catching Dave Matthews.
“I’m fine, Ryan. I didn’t even need stitches. It was more of a scratch than anything else,” Logan insisted. “I am just mad. I want this Matthews guy.”
“Join the club,” Harrison muttered. “He needs to be off the streets by tonight. I am tired of playing games with him.”
“He was a wild man,” Logan commented. “Do you think he is also doing drugs?”
“It’s possible,” Ryan agreed.
“Got it.” Gabe waved a printout. “The car is registered to a Jill Hanson who lives in St. Clair. Big surprise, she is a thirty-year-old waitress at the nightclub there.”
“Why do women fall for this slimy jerk?” Ryan wondered. He looked at Harrison. “So far your girl is the only one who was smart.”
Harrison nodded with satisfaction. He was proud of Selena for standing her ground and not giving in to Dave or any other man. She could have easily just given up and taken the easy road.
“I just got off the phone with Sheriff Carson and he said Matthews has been living with Jill for months now. He told Jill he was a traveling salesman and was out of town on business a lot.” Ethan shook his head. “She knows the truth now, all of it. Miss Hanson is very angry with her lover. Maybe we should let her just get him and beat him to a pulp.”
“Do they know where Dave is now?” Ryan chuckled.
Ethan frowned. “They believe he is here in Appledale. He told Jill he had one last business deal to take care of and then they would go on vacation to Florida. She was packing when the
sheriff sent his men to get her. She claims she knows nothing of what was going on here.”
Harrison stood up, feeling tense. “If he plans on leaving the state by tonight he wants to hurt Selena before he leaves.”
“He has to have the last say,” Ryan guessed. “She is the only one who rejected him and didn’t want him back. It must have been a kick to his ego.”
“I’m going to the diner.” Harrison grabbed his keys. “I know the doors are locked but…”
Ryan agreed. “Let’s go.”
Gabe looked at Ethan. “Someone should go talk to Della and see if she heard from him. If she knows he has been two-timing her maybe she won’t be so willing to lie for him.”
Ethan put his hands up. “No way. She is a scary woman. She tried molesting me last time I was there. Send Logan, he likes that stuff.”
Logan gave him an evil glare but said he would go. “Just let her try it with me today. I will arrest her for assaulting an officer.”
Gabe laughed but followed his brother out the door.
“I’ll hold down the fort here.” Ethan waved cheerfully.
Chapter 18
Selena let out a sigh of satisfaction. “We are good, ladies. We got every last detail planned out.”
“Thank you, Selena. You are a wonderful organizer. If you ever need a career change I would let you manage this restaurant,” Ally said seriously, looking amazed at how much they had gotten done in a short time.
“Really? But what about Lacy?” Selena was intrigued by the idea. She was tired of her current job.
Lacy laughed. “No way could I do it. Ally has offered but I like being out here talking and chatting with people. Plus I am so unorganized. Just ask my husband and he will tell you all his complaints on how he can’t find anything.”
“I will think about it, Ally. I was thinking of a career change not too long ago. Actually I was thinking of going far away from Appledale and starting over.” It was hard to believe she had been thinking that only a month ago. How quickly things had changed. She had friends, a boyfriend, and a new confidence in herself.
Selena looked over at Ally. “Are you retiring?”
Ally chuckled. “Goodness no. I would be bored in a week. I was thinking of staying open later for dinner. I have had several people ask me to think about it. That means I would have to help Henry more in the kitchen, hire more servers, and running the place would just be too much for me.”
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Selena looked at the clock on the wall and couldn’t believe she had been here for more than an hour. She glanced at the door and was surprised to see Della standing there.
“Not again,” she muttered.
“You don’t have to talk to her, Selena.” Lacy’s eyes narrowed in anger.
“She will just keep bugging me if I don’t let her have her say.” Selena got up and walked toward the door.
“Make sure she is alone before you unlock the door,” Ally advised. Selena looked around and the streets looked empty. She unlocked the door but only opened it a crack.
“I came to apologize for my behavior.” Della Mae smiled and Selena could smell the liquor on her breath. “Let me in, Selena. It is cold out here.”
Selena looked at Ally and Ally nodded. Selena let Della in.
Selena led her to a table and they sat down. Lacy and Ally stayed sitting in the back to give them some privacy.
“I was wrong to ask you to drop the charges for what Dave did to you,” she began, shocking her daughter.
Selena searched her mother’s face but she couldn’t tell if she was sincere or not and that was the saddest thought she had. Even if Della meant it now she was capable of changing her mind later. All it would take was a few sweet words from Dave and a promise of money.
“Yes it was, Della. You really hurt my feelings,” Selena said in an even tone. She didn’t want to start a screaming match with Della in front of Ally and Lacy. Della was known for losing her temper easily.
Della grimaced. “I have a confession to make.”
Della leaned toward her daughter. “Sometimes I black out when I drink too much. I think Dave was with me this morning but I passed out. When I woke up I couldn’t remember if I dreamt it or not. It scared me, Selena. Maybe I do need help. This isn’t the first time I woke up with no memories.”
Selena looked at her mom. She had never heard these kinds of words coming out of her mom’s mouth. “Oh my god, Della, that is not good at all. Will you finally agree to get help?”
Della looked down at her hands. She was wringing them, showing she was nervous. “I want to, Selena. I don’t like being this way but I am weak. You are much stronger than me. I never told you this but I am proud you’re nothing like me. I couldn’t handle the disappointments of life so I turned to drinking. It started slowly when you were a few months old and escalated.”
Selena blinked her tears away. “I would’ve helped you, Della. You never let me.”
Della swallowed and breathed through her nose. “I want help, Selena. I can’t make you any promises but I want to change. I want to try. I am tired of how I live but sometimes it’s easier to take the path you have always known. Changes are scary.”
Selena went around to her mom and hugged her. She could feel Della’s tears on her shoulders.
“They can be scary but not when you have family, Della. You have me,” Selena promised. She couldn’t turn her back on her mom and live with herself.
She looked up and saw Ryan and Harrison coming through the door looking concerned.
Lacy went up to them and whispered something Selena couldn’t hear. Ryan locked the door and followed Lacy to the back table. Selena looked up at Harrison and gave him a shaky smile. He frowned but followed Ryan.
After a few minutes Della sniffed and sat up, drying her tears with a napkin. She stood up and looked at the small crowd in the back of the diner. “I’m sorry for my behavior, sheriff.”
Ryan got up and walked toward her. “I have a friend who can help you if you’re serious, Della Mae. I can get in touch with him and have him call you.”
Della nodded. “Thank you, sheriff. I was telling Selena I think Dave was at my house this morning. I was already drunk and I have been having blackouts. That is what scared me. I don’t remember what he said to me. I do know he has been doing drugs for weeks. He tried to get me to take them too but I refused. They make him act all crazy.”
Ryan nodded and told Della and Selena how he had a girlfriend in St. Clair. “She told us he was here. She had no idea what was going on here in Appledale. He lied to her too. She also admitted she thought he was taking something even though he denied it.”
“I am not surprised,” Della admitted shamefully. “I knew he was as slick as a snake, but when you drink a lot it is easy to fool yourself into thinking what you want. I am so sorry for that now.”
“At least you are willing to get help.” Selena hugged her mom. She hoped her mom kept her word but she would not get her hopes up yet. She was learning life was always going to have ups and downs but she just had to roll with it.
“Let me call the bed and breakfast and get you a room for the night,” Ryan suggested. He turned to his mom. “Mom, call Mary and let her know. Charge the room to the department.”
Ally nodded and got up to make the call.
“Do you think that is necessary, sheriff?” Della asked calmly but she looked a little scared too.
“We know Dave is in town. He had plans to leave for Florida in the morning. He told Jill he had one thing left to take care of,” Ryan answered.
Selena shivered with fear. “Me?”
Harrison immediately went up to her. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her head. “That’s why we’re here. I am not letting him get his hands on you, baby. I promise you that.”
Selena snuggled into him. “I know, Harrison. I trust you.”
“Is this your boyfriend, Selena?”
Selena smiled and turned towa
rd her mother. “Yes, Della. This is Harrison Vaughn, the man I love.”
Della reached out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Harrison. I am so glad she has someone in her corner. I am ashamed it wasn’t me. I feel really exhausted and my head hurts. I don’t think I have eaten in days. I think I am ready to go, sheriff.”
Ryan nodded. “Mary is a nice lady who will take good care of you, Della. Let us get you settled in safe and sound.”
Lacy and Ally followed Ryan. Selena hugged her mom good-bye one last time.
Harrison opened the passenger door for Selena. When he got in he looked at Selena. “I don’t think your mom remembers meeting me when I went to get your clothes.”
“Probably not. She says she has been blacking out for a while now.” Selena sighed sadly. “I wish I knew that sooner. I would have tried harder to get her to accept help.”
“At least she is now. That is a big step for her, baby.” He started the car and started driving away from the diner. “I tried helping my parents. I begged and pleaded but if a person doesn’t want to change no force will make them.”
“I know,” she whispered. Her heart ached for his situation. One day she and Harrison would start their own family and she would do whatever it took to make it work.
They were both silent and lost in thought. Suddenly bright lights came up behind them.
“Geez,” Selena muttered with annoyance. “That is way too bright.”
Harrison cursed under his breath and sped up. The car sped up too. He had both hands on the steering wheel. “Pick up the radio mic and get ahold of Ethan.”
Selena’s hands were shaking but she followed his instructions until Ethan came over the speaker.
“Selena?”
“Yes. We are being followed.” The only reason she wasn’t sobbing hysterically was because Harrison was stone-cold calm. “I think it’s Dave.”
“Tell him we’re on Main and tenth,” Harrison said calmly. “I’m heading out of town so we won’t involve others.”
She repeated his words.
“Gabe and Logan are on their way,” Ethan told her. “Hang on.”