Jessie looked up just in time to see him gaze down at her. There was sincerity in his blue eyes. “I dropped in to see you at work, Jessie. I heard about your mother’s relapse. How is she doing?”
“She’s passed, Kent,” Liz said quickly.
Kent looked like someone had struck him. “Oh, no. I’m sorry. I...lost my mother awhile back now, but I still miss her a lot.”
Jessie’s heart softened. She remembered their conversation in the park about his parents. She looked at him now in a new light. She was about to cave in and accept his condolences and perhaps even be civil to him, until she glanced across the room. The long-haired redhead smiled at her, and Jessie’s blood boiled. How dare he flaunt a new girlfriend right in front of her, then expect her to accept it?
“I don’t need your pity, Kent. Why don’t you go back to your girlfriend? Tell her all the lies you told me. Maybe she’ll believe you.”
“Jessie.” Kent looked bewildered and Liz intervened.
“Jessie’s distraught, Kent. Give her time.”
“I don’t need you to explain my actions, Liz,” Jessie said hotly. She pushed from the table. “I have a class in ten minutes. I’ve gotta go.”
She walked from the restaurant leaving Liz and Kent staring after her. Her aqua aerobic class wasn’t for at least an hour, but she could no longer stay in close proximity to Kent Morgan. And the way Liz had smiled and gushed at him was almost unforgivable. Her best friend now siding with Kent. The whole world was a mess.
She strode down the sidewalk in the opposite direction to her work place. The sun bore down warmly on her shoulders and she removed her thin jacket and tied it about her waist. She thought of the small park two blocks over and needed to sit amongst the flowers.
No flowers. Her mother had loved flowers. Why hadn’t she wanted them at her funeral? Jessie suddenly turned and broke into a jog. She couldn’t bear to visit the pretty park. Not when her mother could no long enjoy flowers — could not breathe in the late spring newness in the air — could never again smile at her.
Jessie ran past other walkers and joggers, past sputtering sprinklers with glistening arcs sweeping the smell of water- on- pavement into the air. Her nostrils caught the faint smell of flowers. No flowers. She ran in the direction of the club where she could bury her mind in work. A good workout would help her forget the pain and the heartache. But what about tomorrow?
Liz called Jessie Wednesday night and asked if she wanted her to stay over again. Jessie told her she didn’t. She crawled into her bed deciding it was time to do something about the harassment.
At noon on Thursday instead of lunching with Liz, Jessie visited the police station. Adrian Anatolli, a tall policewoman, introduced herself to Jessie. “I’ll take your report, Ms Albright, but there isn’t much we can do without more solid information.”
Jessie looked across the large, wooden desk at the serious-looking officer and swallowed. “I was afraid you’d say that.”
“I’ve had irritating e mail myself. Maybe I can help.”
Jessie turned and looked way up into a pair of brown eyes so dark they appeared almost black. The officer standing behind her, who had just spoken was a big man. And she had thought Kent was big.
The policewoman looked up also. “Harassment is more than irritating, Rick,” Adrian Anatolli said dryly. “There’s nothing we can do though, you know that.”
“Yeah?” he said. “I don’t agree. I want to hone in on e mail disturbances. Maybe this is a good place to start.”
Officer Anatolli stood up. “Go for it, Rick. But you’ll see from the sparse report, there’s nothing to go on.”
He gave her a cocky grin and sat in the chair she’d just occupied. He picked up her report. “Maybe you didn’t ask the right questions, Anatolli.”
The policewoman shrugged and walked off.
Jessie felt relieved. Maybe she’d finally found someone to take her seriously. She looked him over while he looked over the report. He had an assured and confident air about him that indicated he was probably unnerved by little. His rugged handsomeness was topped by a thick head of dark, no, jet black hair. Well groomed hair, slicked back. His nose was strong and straight, the classic kind, Jessie decided. A dark shadow over his top lip and along his square jaw-line told her he was probably one of those guys who had to shave twice daily. There was a scar on his right cheek, redder than the other skin. It puckered the flesh around the corner of his mouth making his smile appear slightly crooked. This both fascinated and attracted her.
“Anatolli’s right,” he said, slapping the report on the desk. “Not much here.” He leaned back on the chair, which seemed to miniaturize while holding his huge frame. Jessie half expected it to collapse beneath him.
“You from the city?” he asked.
“No. I’m from Wakefield, but I’ve lived here quite a while.”
“I know Wakefield,” he said looking straight into her eyes. “A quaint little part of Nova Scotia. I wonder if the rural folk there still grow their own vegetables and go to church on Sunday.”
“Probably.” Jessie smiled.
“Such a simple way of life,” he said pulling his eyes off hers and gazing out the station window. “The blessings of a peaceful countryside. Why do we strive for more?” He looked back at Jessie. “I had grandparents there. Used to spend summers there.”
“Really? “What’s your name?”
“Ricardo Alvarez.”
Jessie hesitated then replied. “I don’t remember you.”
“We didn’t live in town...on the outskirts.” He laughed. “I’m way older than you. I didn’t hang around with babies.”
“You think? How old are you?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“You’re my brother’s age. Well, he’s twenty-six. Did you know him, Alan Albright?”
“Don’t recall. Does he still live in Wakefield?”
“No, he’s out of province, but he’s home right now. Our...mother just passed away.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I only spent a few summers there. Guess I never met your brother. Night life in Wakefield wasn’t too exciting. Squeezing lemon on scallops seemed to be the most daring thing I ever saw anyone do there.”
Jessie laughed then looked at her watch. “I’ve got to get back to work. Do you think you can help me?”
“I’ll look this over and give it some thought. Too bad you didn’t have the messages...for clues that is. For all I know you could be making the whole thing up.”
“I’m definitely not!” Jessie shot back after rising from her chair. “Why would I do that?”
He put his hands up in defence. “Hey, don’t get so angry. I believe you. Give me a call if it happens again and don’t erase it the next time, okay?”
Jessie felt hopeless. She’d thought the policeman was going to help. But he was only bluffing it seemed. The woman officer had at least been direct and honest. Why couldn’t men be like that instead of offering false hope?
She’d had a stressful afternoon. Even the psychological benefits usually derived from her aerobic exercising hadn’t improved her mood or reduced her depression and anxiety, as it usually did.
Seeing Kent waiting for her outside her apartment building was something she certainly didn’t need right now. He had been standing with his back to the street and turned around when he heard her approach. “Oh, Jessie. I’m glad you’re finally home. I have to talk to you.”
“I don’t want to talk to you, Kent.” She attempted to enter the building, but Kent reached out and caught her arm.
“Why are you doing this to me, Jessie? What have I done? That woman you saw me with wasn’t a date. She was consulting me on her business computers.”
“Let go of me,” Jessie yelled. “I don’t care. I don’t trust you.”
“Why?” Kent’s exasperation sounded in his voice. He gripped her arm tightly.
“Let me go I said.” Jessie wrenched her arm away then rubbed it while she stood f
acing him. Kent reached out to her again and Jessie backed away.
“I wouldn’t do that, fella.” Ricardo Alvarez seemed to have come from out of nowhere and stood behind Kent with one large hand clamped on Kent’s shoulder. He was a good few inches taller than Kent. Jessie relaxed. Although she felt protected finally by someone, she couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit sorry for Kent.
Kent pulled away from the officer’s hold. He turned to Jessie. “Is this your bodyguard?” His frustration had changed to anger. Before Jessie could respond he stomped off. Officer Alvarez stood with his huge arms folded.
“Thanks,” Jessie mumbled. “But he wouldn’t have hurt me.” Somehow she instinctively felt it was a true statement.
“Didn’t look so good to me,” Alvarez said, chewing his gum slowly. “That your boyfriend?”
“Not anymore.”
“Then he could be dangerous. Looks like he can’t let go.”
“He has to. I suspect him.”
“For what?”
“For being the stalker.”
“I see. Maybe we’d better talk about this.” He motioned for her to join him in the cruiser. Inside he asked, “How about a cappuccino?”
Jessie drew a long sigh. “I don’t know, Mr. Alvarez, I shouldn’t. But I haven’t had supper.”
“Me neither...and it’s Rick, okay?”
Jessie’s instant relief in his company, along with his charming smile, made her feel safe and comfortable. Suddenly she was hungry. “Okay,” she replied. “But this one’s on me…for saving me out there.”
Ricardo Alvarez drove away. “It’s my job, Ms Albright. “Protecting citizens, and fair young maidens.”
There was something vaguely familiar about him that Jessie couldn’t place. In some ways he reminded her of her brother. Maybe some of the same expressions that took her back to Wakefield. She shrugged as they drove downtown. It was probably because Rick had spent time there as a child.
He pulled into a diner and escorted her to a booth near the back. The restaurant was almost filled up, but the waitress seemed to know Rick as if he’d dined there a lot. She found a spot for them even though others were left waiting at the door.
“I’m impressed,” Jessie said smiling.
“You have a super smile, Ms Albright. Use it more.”
Jessie smiled again. “Please, call me Jessie.”
“Not Jessica?”
His smile was intoxicating. His dark brows arched and Jessie was taken in by his chivalry. Like a knight on a grand horse he’d appeared out of no where to save her from Kent.
“Jessie will do. Why were you at my apartment?”
“I had a call to that area,” he said smugly. “I was checking out a lead on drug dealers.”
“Dealers? In my apartment building?”
“They’re everywhere, Jessie. Yes, even in respectable areas like yours. Watch out for your neighbours. You can’t be too careful these days.”
Jessie certainly knew that. First she’d put her trust in Gary Burke, then in Kent. Now here she was trusting Ricardo Alvarez. But he was different. He was a lawman. If you couldn’t trust a police officer, who could you trust?
They ordered from the menu. He chose spaghetti with meat balls while she chose a pasta with a fish sauce. Each drank a cappuccino while waiting for their food. Suddenly his deep brown eyes shuttered as he studied her. “This old boyfriend of yours, why do you suspect him?”
With the relaxed atmosphere and a good cappuccino, Jessie almost forgot she was there on business. She looked across at the handsome officer and felt like she might be in an adventure movie. But the question he’d just imposed upon her brought her back to reality. The thought of Kent’s deception threw a grey blanket across their festive dinner table. She tensed.
“Just a feeling.”
Rick threw back his head in laughter. “A feeling? You’re basing all this on woman’s intuition? I’m sorry,” he stopped laughing but looked amazed, “that’s hardly concrete.”
Jessie was taken aback by his reaction. “I know,” she stammered. “And I might be wrong. Liz thinks I’m wrong...even though she’s the one who alerted me to suspect him in the first place.”
“Who’s Liz?”
“She’s my best friend. She knew Kent first. But now she thinks she was too hasty in accusing him.”
“Have you confronted this...what’s his name?”
“Kent...Kent Morgan. And, no, I haven’t. I’ve been waiting for him to do something. Looking for a sign or a clue. Liz even suggested I let him move in, and if I still get messages when he’s present, then it can’t be him.”
A smile creased his mouth. “Not a good idea,” he said.
“I didn’t think so either. But she seemed so convinced.” Jessie drummed her fingers on the table and stopped talking, while the waitress placed their dinners before them. When she left, Jessie continued, “She seems as sure of his innocence now as she was of his guilt last week.”
“I’d say your friend, Liz, is grasping at straws.”
Jessie shrugged and dug into her pasta. Rick also concentrated on the meal and shortly after he drove her home.
At her apartment door he pulled out a card and passed it to her. “My private number,” he said. “Call me anytime you’re threatened. Anytime, day or night. I live alone.”
Impressed again, Jessie called Liz as soon as she entered her apartment. But when she told Liz about the policeman watching out for her, Liz objected.
“You shouldn’t have gone to the police, Jessie. That was a stupid thing to do.”
“Yeah? Well I feel better...safer.”
“Did you finger Kent?”
“I told him about Kent, yes.” Liz let out a long sigh and Jessie had enough. “If you can’t see my side of things anymore, Liz, maybe we’d just better cool it for a while. Gotta go.”
She hung up seething. Later, lying in bed her confusion worsened. Liz’s reactions didn’t make sense. Jessie turned on her bed lamp and called her brother.
“How are things going, Alan? Any luck with the house?”
“Surprisingly, yes. A couple of people are already interested in buying. Are you available if I come get you some weekend to help me clean out the personal stuff? That is if a sale goes through.”
“Of course. It has to be done sooner or later anyway. Sale or no sale.”
“Do you think Liz would come to?”
“I don’t know.” She hesitated to fill Alan in on her recent disagreement with Liz. He didn’t even know about the stalking, and she wasn’t ready to tell him. It was something she intended to handle on her own, or now with the help of Ricardo Alvarez. “Why? Do you want to see her again?”
“I’d like to. But we live pretty far apart for a relationship at the moment. What did she say about me?”
Jessie laughed and teased him. “She never mentioned you again.”
“Really? I kind of thought she liked me.”
“Oh, Alan, I’m kidding. She does like you. Even in the sadness at home I could see that. Come and visit me. You have a good excuse then to see her.”
Jessie’s light heart turned heavy when she put down the receiver. The thought of their childhood home being owned by strangers saddened her. There would be few, if any reasons then to ever visit Wakefield again.
Because Liz phoned at work and begged her forgiveness, Jessie met her for lunch. “I talked to Alan last night,” Jessie said.
A wide grin spread over Liz’s face. “Did he ask about me?”
“Yep, he sure did. How much do you like my brother? I mean, could it get serious?”
Liz smiled again. “It depends on him. He’s kinda far away for me to chase him.”
Jessie laughed. “He’s coming to visit me soon. I’ll call you over.”
Liz looked at Jessie and apologized. “I was out of line last night. Tell me about this cop. Why is he so interested in you?”
“It’s not me, Liz. It’s the case. He hates e mail intruders. His name
is Ricardo Alvarez and he spent summers in Wakefield. You could say we have something in common.”
Liz sighed. “I feel sorry for Kent.”
“Well, don’t. He showed up at my place last night, and when I tried to go in my apartment he grabbed me. Good thing Rick showed up.”
“Come on Jessie,” Liz urged, “Kent wouldn’t hurt you.” Then as the realization of what Jessie had just said set in, Liz’s eyes bugged. “You’re on a first-name basis with this cop?” she asked incredulously.
“We had dinner together,” Jessie replied nonchalantly.
Liz sat back startled. “Whoa. Now I’ve heard everything. He’s a fast mover.”
“It was business, Liz. And we both had to eat.”
“Oh yeah?” Liz sneered a little and that was it for Jessie.
“I’ve had it. You either stop butting in or get on my side. Remember who accused Kent in the first place.” It was all Jessie could take. Friend or not she had to duck out. Liz’s attitude lately was too much for her to handle along with the stress of her mother’s death, and the impending chance that the next time she checked her e mail another sordid message would appear.
Back at the club, Jessie tried hard to keep her mind on work. With her feet planted firmly, toes facing forward, she let her arms drop loosely to her sides. She felt her pulse racing already, and she tried to calm herself with some deep rhythmical breathing. The music began, Donna Summer sang Bad Girl, and Jessie, followed by her class, picked up her left foot and leg, raised them high then followed with the right. Up and down, up and down, the class watching, mimicking as she marched forward then back, swaying and moving with the music. Her breathing increased and she realized she was pushing her class a little harder than usual. Rotating her head from her left to right shoulders, she noticed some of the red-faced ladies looking at her curiously, but no one questioned her speed or fanatic exuberance.
She stretched her arms in front of her, fingers splayed, and felt a warm sensation in her upper body. Her mind drifted, remembering Liz chasing after her, when she’d bolted from the restaurant. But she would have none of Liz’s apology, and she’d left Liz standing on the sidewalk, her mouth in the shape of a wide yawn.
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