“Jesus, Jake! Calm the fuck down.”
“Don’t you ever say one more word about Madi. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Is she? Ever since you met her, you’re less focused. I don’t know what happened to you. Is she that fucking good in bed that you can’t stop thinking about her pussy?”
Jake let go of his throat and turned away briefly before his fist swung and crashed into Caleb’s jaw.
“Son of a bitch!” Jake screamed, holding his hand.
Dave and Greg burst through the doors and pulled Jake away from Caleb, just as he was swinging for another hit. Dave yanked Jake out the office door.
“I know this is bad, Jake, but your hands. Don’t ruin your hands over him.” Jake glanced down as his knuckles began to swell. Dave shook his head and jutted away, coming back a moment later with a towel full of ice. “Let’s go,” he said, lifting his hand to the stairs.
“I’m not finished.”
Jake strode into the office where Caleb sat rubbing his jaw. Greg stood over him, glaring.
“How’s your hand?” Caleb asked.
“Shut the fuck up,” Jake said, crinkling his face and glaring at him. “What do you have on her?”
“On who?” Caleb asked.
“On Allison. She told me you’re blackmailing her.”
“What? You spoke with her?”
“Dammit, Caleb. Just be honest about one thing in your whole pathetic life.”
Caleb gaped at Jake, then to Dave and Greg. “She said I was blackmailing her?”
Jake knew Caleb. Something was off.
“That little bitch,” Caleb said, standing, still holding his jaw. “I wasn’t blackmailing her. She was blackmailing me.”
***
“TELL ME AGAIN why I’m here?” Kendra asked as she turned in a circle. “Not that I mind. Jeez, look at that view.”
Madi handed Kendra a bottle of water as she glanced out the floor-to-ceiling window in the condo in Chicago. “It is amazing.”
“I can’t believe he bought this. You must be better than I thought you were,” Kendra said, raising her brows.
Madi laughed. There was a thud against the door. “The reason you’re here just arrived.” Madi opened the door to a large evergreen tree. “Rob?” she questioned.
“Yep, back here. Move out of the way and I’ll bring it through.”
Madi stepped back as Rob pushed the tree through the doorway and almost fell on top of it. Kendra chuckled lightly.
“Where does this fall into his duties?” Kendra asked as she motioned to Rob.
“I volunteered,” Rob stated. He stood and glanced toward Kendra. She met his eyes and turned away quickly. Madi studied them.
“Am I missing something here?” she asked as she glared at Kendra.
“You’re missing lights and decorations,” Rob stated, pulling his long-sleeved t-shirt down his waist.
“I have those,” Madi said as she moved toward the door, closing it.
“So you asked me to come over here and work?” Kendra flinched. “This is not my idea of a fun Friday night.”
“It will be fun. Christmas is only a week away. Finals are over and we need to relax and kick back. I have pizzas in the oven and a bottle of wine. I had hoped Jake would be home—I mean back—to decorate, but things took a bizarre turn and he’s going to be there through the weekend.”
Madi watched as Kendra sighed at the enormity of the tree.
“This tree is huge. Did you pick it out?” she asked Rob.
“Yeah, why?”
“Some might say it’s a phallic symbol. That you’re making up for what you’re lacking in your pants with the size of this tree.”
Rob stared at Kendra and Madi rolled her eyes.
“Well?” she asked.
“Maybe I’m so used to looking at large things that I chose this tree in admiration of its similarity.”
“Doubt it,” Kendra huffed.
“You’ll just have to take my word for it, won’t you?” Rob asked as he bent to turn the tree.
“All men think they’re bigger than they really are,” Kendra stated.
Madi giggled.
“See,” Kendra said, pointing to Madi. “Apparently Jake does too.”
Madi shook her head. “No, Jake doesn’t think he’s big. I do.”
“TMI, Mads,” Kendra said, rolling her eyes.
Rob poured water into the base of the tree as he shifted it into place. He stood intimidatingly close to Kendra, who tried to appear unaffected. “I think you have a few too many thoughts about the bulge in my pants. I’m here to do a job. Not you, sweetheart.”
Kendra pushed him away. “Eww, I have zero interest in you or your inflated ego. I would never want someone like you.”
Madi shuffled over to the kitchen, pulling the pizzas out of the oven, listening and watching.
“That’s not what your lips said at Thanksgiving,” Rob said with a turn of his head and a quick smile.
“That was a pathetic attempt to pretend we were a couple. You suck at kissing, just like you suck at everything else.”
“I suck, huh?” he asked her, taking a step closer.
“Yeah,” she replied with her hands on her hips.
“I think not knowing bothers you more than anything, Kendra. The idea that maybe you’re wrong. The thought that maybe the rest of me is as good as that kiss has your head spinning. The only way you deal with things is by lashing out.”
“Please,” Kendra replied. “You don’t know shit about me.”
“I know you better than you think,” Rob huffed as he smiled, keeping his eyes focused on her face.
“What do you think you know about me? You think you have me figured out, spy boy? You’d better back the fuck off before I put the moves you’ve been teaching us to good use.”
“Pizza?” Madi asked uncomfortably from the kitchen.
Kendra huffed away from him and toward Madi.
“Who wears heels like that to decorate a tree?” Rob asked, pointing toward her feet.
“I didn’t know that’s what we were doing. I thought we were going out or something, so shut your face, tree killer.”
Rob rolled his eyes and Kendra took a huge angry bite out of her pizza at the breakfast bar.
Madi’s cell rang and she answered, stammering into the bedroom.
“Jake?”
“Hey, babe. Everything okay there?”
“Yep, everything’s fine. I’m at the condo with Kendra and Rob, eating pizza.”
“I wish I were there,” he sighed.
“Did you talk to her yet?”
“I’m outside her family home and just about to go inside. I’m not sure how to handle this. She swore she was being blackmailed and Caleb swore she was the one doing the blackmailing.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Madi sighed.
“I can’t believe Caleb slept with her. He said she took a video and threatened to show Diane. He claims she was the one forcing him to take the pictures of me in Australia. I don’t know who or what to believe.”
“Where’s Caleb now?” Madi asked.
“Greg’s keeping an eye on him. Are you worried about my seeing her?” he asked with concern.
“No,” she stated without hesitation.
“Not at all?” he questioned.
“I trust you, Jake. I know you love me and that you’d rather be here with me than there with her.”
“You’re absolutely right. I can’t tell you what it means to me to know you trust me.”
“I do. Just make it quick and get back here to me.”
“I’ll call you as soon as I leave her house. I’m going to drag it out of her if I have to.”
Madi chuckled. “I’d love to beat it out of her myself. I hate her, you know.”
“I don’t blame you. I’ll call you in a bit.”
“K.”
Madi ended the call and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She
glanced up to see both Kendra and Rob staring at her expectantly.
“He’s going to call when he knows something.”
Madi roamed around the breakfast bar and pulled a box toward the tree. She heard a loud clunk hit the floor. She turned to see Kendra’s heels in a pile.
“Let’s get this decorating started.” She turned to Rob. “Pour me a glass of wine. If I’m going to work, I’d better have a buzz going.”
Rob shook his head, but Madi sensed a change in the way he approached her. He handed her a glass of wine and their fingers touched briefly as she took it from him. Madi was so thankful she had them there to keep her company. She turned and pressed a button on her phone before hitting a button on a console. Christmas music filled the air.
Madi and Kendra playfully danced around the room, decorating the massive tree by the window. Rob helped with all the hard stuff. Kendra climbed a stepladder to wrap the lights around the tree. When she lost her balance and tumbled backward, Rob leapt from his chair and caught her. She blamed the wine, but Madi had a suspicion that she just wanted to see if he would save her. Madi smiled to herself when she considered the idea that Rob just might be able to save her in more ways than one.
THEY WERE CAREFUL to make sure they weren’t followed to her home. He turned and nodded his head to Dave, who waited near the car. Jake rang the doorbell and waited. After ringing it two more times and knocking loudly, he slowly shook his head and stirred back to Dave.
“Are you sure she didn’t leave?” Jake asked.
Dave’s face crinkled as he spoke into a walkie. “I thought you said she was home. When was the last time you saw her?”
The muffled voice came through. “Her parents left two days ago, but there’s been no movement outside from her since.”
Jake sighed. “Please tell me we didn’t lose her.”
Dave walked toward the house. Jake pulled out his cell phone and dialed her number. As he attempted to peer through a window, he noticed it was cracked open. “Dave, the window’s open.”
Dave rounded the corner and shushed Jake. They could hear her phone ringing from inside. “She’s got to be in there,” Dave whispered.
“Allison!” Jake lifted the window slightly and yelled through it again. There was no answer.
“The hell with this.” Jake pushed the window upward and put his leg over the side, climbing into her home.
“Jake, stop. I don’t think this is a good idea,” Dave replied with concern.
Jake leaned down to him from inside the house. “You’re an ex-cop. I’m a friend who’s concerned for her safety. Isn’t that enough reason for me to go in?”
Dave shook his head. “Unlock the front door. If you’re going in there, then so am I.”
Jake wandered to the front door and turned the lock. Dave stepped into the house. It was eerily quiet. “Ms. Gregory, this is Dave O’Riley. I am an ex-Los Angeles Police Officer. I am here with Jake Morgan, your friend, and we’re concerned for your safety. We’re coming in to make sure you’re alright.”
Jake watched and listened to Dave with furrowed brows. “Now can I go in?” he asked impatiently.
Dave motioned for him to move forward.
“Allie? Are you home?” Jake shouted.
They walked through the foyer, past the staircase and toward the back of the house. They glanced into an empty family room. They turned to the left and saw a bottle of red wine shattered across the floor. There was glass everywhere. It looked fresh.
Dave pulled his gun out of his pocket and held up his hand for Jake to stand behind him. They slowly walked around the kitchen, following purple footprints up the back entrance to the stairs.
Dave motioned for Jake to be quiet and stay behind him. They slowly ascended the stairs. The footprints faded as they climbed. Dave peered into the first room to the left and shook his head no to Jake. They inched to the right and Dave peered into another room, shaking his head. They made their way down a hall toward a loft, which overlooked the other side of the house. Dave turned his head around the corner with his gun in front of him.
Jake heard him sigh as his head bowed and his gun fell to his side. Jake rounded the edge and stopped as his arms fell slack. Allison hung from the banister with a rope around her neck.
He rushed over to her in a panic, shouting her name. He reached for her, but Dave stopped him. Dave put his fingers to her neck and felt for a pulse. After a few seconds, he turned to Jake and shook his head no.
“We need to call the police. I can’t let you touch anything, Jake. It’s a crime scene now.”
Jake fell to his knees, his mouth gaping open. Dave dialed 911 from his cell and spoke to the police, explaining what had happened. Jake leaned back on his heels and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, he stood and pivoted to leave the room. That’s when he saw a piece of paper on the desk. Scribbled in large print were the words, “I’m sorry.”
***
MADI CURLED IN her legs as she flipped a blanket over her. Murphy jumped onto the couch and lay at the end with his head on her feet. Madi had turned down the lights after Kendra had left and Rob had gone to sleep in the next room. Jake had insisted Rob stay there while he was away. She slumped into the soft couch in the dark, staring at the soft glow of white lights from the tree. They illuminated the room, making it warm and cozy. The fire blazed and added to the mood. As much as she loved the condo, it never felt as good as it did when Jake was in it. Wherever she was, it always felt like home with him.
It was 2:00 a.m., but Madi couldn’t make herself sleep. She hadn’t heard from him and was trying her best not to worry. She scrolled through her calls to make sure she hadn’t missed anything, but refused to let negative thoughts invade her mind. She wouldn’t let herself even consider a bad thought about him.
The turn of the key in the door caused Madi to leap from her seat. Jake opened the door as the alarm began to beep. Rob ran from his room with his gun drawn. The minute he saw Jake, he breathed a sigh of relief and excused himself back into his room. It took Jake multiple tries to input the code. Madi almost ran to him excitedly, but there was something in his posture and in his eyes that made her feel afraid.
His body slouched as his head bent into the wall above the alarm. Murphy danced around him, but Jake didn’t move. Madi knew something was terribly wrong. She hurried to him, pulling her robe closed around her. She didn’t say a word as she placed her hand on his back and he turned his face to her. His eyes were a mix of exhaustion and sadness. Her eyes bounced around his face as she tried to understand what had happened to him without asking. He took a step forward and buried his head in her neck, wrapping his arms tightly around her. She placed her hands around the back of his head and held him close. She knew it was what he needed.
They stood there for several minutes before he released his hold on her and glanced into her nervous eyes. He sniffled and kissed her forehead. As his eyes rose above the sightline of her head, he saw the tree and his lips curled into a small smile.
“You got a tree,” he whispered softly.
She pulled away and stared into his eyes. “Um hmm.” She nodded.
He clutched her hand and led her to the couch.
“I have something to tell you,” he said as they settled down together.
Madi watched him closely, trying to predict what he might say.
“I knocked on her door and she didn’t answer. There was a window open, so Dave and I went inside. There was a broken bottle of red wine and footprints leading up the stairs.”
Madi’s eyes darted over his face as she listened to him speak. He kept his eyes pinned closed.
Jake paused and opened his eyes to look at her. “She hung herself.”
Madi gasped and pulled back in shock. “What? No!”
“She left a note saying she was sorry. I spent four hours with the police going over everything that happened. I should have checked on her. She seemed distraught, but I didn’t know it was that bad. It’s going to be all ov
er the news, Mads. There’s no way around it. It might even be out there now. The press was all over her house. They got pictures of me with the police. It’s bad, babe. It’s really bad.”
Madi scooted herself onto his lap and pulled him to her. He took a deep breath, as if he were trying to inhale her. His hands stroked her back as she took small, shallow breaths, trying to understand what he had seen.
“You found her?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Oh God, Jake. I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine… Are you okay?” she asked, pulling his face into her hands to regard him.
“Worst fucking day,” he whispered.
Madi kissed his forehead, then his temples, before gently kissing his eyes. He moaned softly into her.
“I couldn’t stay there. I needed to be with you—home, with you.”
Madi nodded as she pressed her lips into his cheek.
“I need a shower. I need to get out of these clothes and out of my head.”
Madi slid off of him and held his hand as he stammered to the bathroom.
He stood in front of the shower in a daze. Madi studied him briefly before she turned on the water and began to remove the shirt from his unmoving body. His head bowed down as she undressed him. When he was naked, he stepped into the shower and let the water rush over his face.
Madi removed her robe and sleep shirt and climbed in behind him, wrapping her arms around his chest and placing her head on his back. She wanted to fix him, but deep inside, she knew another piece of him had been broken beyond repair.
HE COULD HEAR her voice in the distance and it brought him out of his slumber. The sound of the front door closing caused him to sweep upward into a sitting position. He rubbed his eyes before sliding his glasses on his face and climbing out of bed. He stretched his arms above his head and immediately inhaled the uplifting aroma of bacon.
He pulled on a t-shirt and roamed into the kitchen. He saw her before she saw him. She was standing at the stove in a pair of light-blue sweats and a tank top. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and she scratched the back of her leg with her bare toes as she turned the sizzling bacon in the pan.
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