“Do you think anything can be recovered from it?”
“I doubt it, but I’ll have them check. Remember that package?”
“Yeah, what about it?”
“Stack of images. Numerous pictures of corpses – a woman, naked and mutilated. Ms. Noon’s face was photoshopped on the body.”
“Was it opened? She hasn’t mentioned anything about it.”
“No.”
Mitch sighed at the thought of telling her. Just another thing to upset her all in one day.
“Look, you two need to keep an extremely low profile over the next few days. Every time this guy strikes, he uses more force. Stay off the roads. Don’t leave your residence if you can help it.”
“Okay. Thanks for all your help. I appreciate it,” Mitch responded, shaking the detective’s hand.
“We’ll chat later.”
When Mitch arrived at the penthouse, he knocked on the door to Chella’s room and poked his head in. She had dozed off. As he pulled the door shut, she woke up.
“Mitch.”
“Hey, I didn’t mean to wake you. I’m back.”
“That’s okay. I wanted to talk to you, anyway, when you returned.”
“Sure, what’s up?” He walked into the room and sat next to her on the bed.
“Thank you for taking me in. Again.”
“Thank you for not fighting me on it.”
“Mitch, I’m sorry I hurt you earlier tonight. I feel like I had no other choice.”
“You do. You can trust me to handle this with you.”
“Can you promise me you won’t get hurt?”
“In this situation there are no guarantees.”
“Then based on that statement you can understand why I feel like I’m left with no choice. You getting hurt or killed is not a chance I’m willing to take. When you feel responsible for causing someone’s death, you can never live with yourself.”
“You say that like you’re talking from experience.”
“If it weren’t for me, my parents would still be alive.”
“Chella, what are you talking about? Your parents were killed in a car accident. How about it being the fault of the idiot that ran the red light?”
“You know where we were coming from when the accident happened? A counseling session with me.”
“How does that make you responsible for their death?”
“I invited Aaron into our lives. I was stupid enough to have unprotected sex with him and get pregnant. If none of that had happened, there would be no need for us to be on the road that Saturday morning. They would be playing golf as usual, and I would be at home and none of this would have ever happened. They’d still be here.”
“You can’t take responsibility for that. You were seventeen—a child. There was no way you could have known your relationship with Aaron could have turned out that way.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s my fault. I don’t ever want to make that mistake again.”
“Do you realize how irrational you sound?”
“Do I? Maybe before you realize just how screwed up I am, you should run.”
“Chella, I’m serious.”
“As I grew older, I realized that some of these thoughts were crazy, but there still is a part of me that will always feel like I played a role in their death. That’s why I can’t have you involved in this mess.”
“If Aaron weren’t causing all this misery, would you want me in your life?”
“Yes.”
“Well, let’s start there. Chella, you have to start letting go. We can do this together.”
“But what if you get hurt or killed? I would hate myself forever if anything happened to you. Not only would I lose you, but Emily would lose her dad, and I know how painful that is. I could never put her through that.”
“For once in your life could you just be selfish?”
“Not when it comes to an innocent child.”
“Maybe you and I need to sit and plan life after Aaron Stewart is arrested.”
“I’ve never made long-term plans that involved another human being before,” she replied, smiling.
“It’s time you start. Come on, you’ve had a rough day. It’s time you go to bed.”
“One more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I have to tell Craig what’s been going on.”
“Not that I’m against it, but why now?”
“Tonight really scared me. I feel like I’ve been taking too many chances. If I’m going to keep a low profile, that means staying away from work for more than a day or two at a time, at least until Aaron’s arrested. The mail room and security should monitor anything coming into the building.”
“I could think of better circumstances for me to meet the famous Craig Spencer, but I’ll have to settle for this one I guess. Did you want to call him now?”
“No, he’d only worry and not get a good night’s rest. I’ll call him when I get up tomorrow.”
“Why am I not surprised by your response? Can I get you anything else before I leave?”
“No, thanks. By the way, did my computer survive?”
“No. They’re going to see if they can pull anything off it, but Detective Carter says in the condition it was in, he doubts they will be able to retrieve anything. I’m sorry.”
“No worries. I have most things backed up, but the work I did on Friday afternoon will be lost.”
“Try not to think about that now. You’ve had an unbelievable day.”
“So have you. Are you okay?”
“Just tired. Nothing sleep can’t fix. I’ll leave your phone right here. Call me if you need anything.”
“I really don’t know how else to say thank you.”
“I do,” he said, laughing. “I’ll tell you how when I’m ready to collect. Now get to bed.” He kissed her lightly on her lips, pulled the cover to her chin, dimmed the lights, and turned in to bed himself.
The following morning Chella awoke in much discomfort.
As if Mitch had her on his radar, he knocked on the door right then.
“Good morning. I brought you some breakfast. How do you feel?” Mitch asked, setting the bed tray filled with an array of goodies nearby.
“Uncomfortable and in pain.”
“That’s because it’s time to take your medication and clean those burns. Open.” He said, holding the pills in his fingers above her mouth, then brought the straw from the glass of water to her lips.
“Thank you.”
“I wasn’t sure what you’d want to eat. I have lots for you to choose from here.”
“I’m not very hungry. Probably just some of those yummy eggs. Thanks.”
“Can you manage with your left hand, or do you need help?”
“If you hand it to me, I think I can manage.”
“Are you sure that’s all you want?”
“Yes, thank you. Maybe some orange juice and more water.”
“Okay. I’ll put the rest of this food away. Be back in a minute,” he said, carrying the tray away.
He returned a while later with a batch of clean towels and a bowl of water. She had finished eating and he handed her the orange juice. When she was done, he carefully removed the bandages from her fingers and hand, all the way to her wrist. She noticed how diligently he worked, concentrating on even the slightest move he made. He took a clean, white towel that had been soaking in cold water and cleaned her wounds.
“Have you done this before?”
“Maybe.”
“Perhaps you should reconsider your profession.”
“That good, huh?”
“Immm hmmm. You’re very good with your hands.”
“Chella Noon, are you flirting with me?”
She smiled at him, leaned over, and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you so much for doing this. I really appreciate it.”
He finished applying the antibiotic cream then gently covered the burns with gauze.
“You should be
back to normal in no time.”
“Were you a nurse or paramedic in your past life?”
“When I first went to college, I had every intention of becoming a doctor. During my school breaks, I interned at hospitals and health clinics.”
“Why did you change your major?”
“One summer I couldn’t get work at any of the hospitals or clinics, but I was able to get a job with a commercial real estate company. There I met my mentor. I realized I liked that better. Besides, after a few accidents and seeing death close-up, I realized it wasn’t something I wanted to experience on a daily basis.”
“So I learned something new about you today.”
“I guess so. Anything else?”
“What time can I ask Craig to come over?”
“Whenever you like.”
“If I know him, he’ll be here within minutes of me calling.”
“Would you like me to brush your hair before you call him?”
“You did an internship at a salon, too?”
“No, silly. I have a daughter,” he said, picking up the brush off the nearby table. “Who do you think combs her hair when she comes to visit?”
“You’re an awesome dad.”
“Thank you. Someday you’d make an awesome mom.”
“In my dreams…”
“There are ways.”
“I suppose you’re right, but let’s save this conversation for another day.”
“Like when we discuss life after Aaron Stewart is arrested?”
“Sure. Thanks for doing my hair,” she said after he’d set her brush on the bedside table. “You braid better than I do.”
“You’re welcome. Why don’t you get some more rest before you call Craig?”
“I’m tired, but I’m eager to get this out of the way. I’m a little nervous about telling him.”
“Why?”
“There’s so much I’ve kept from him for so long. He’s supposed to be the closest thing I have to family. I’m afraid he’ll be angry with me.”
“If he’s anything close to how you described him, he might be, but it won’t be for long.”
“I hope you’re right. I don’t want to shock him when he gets here. I’ll tell him I had an accident so he won’t expect me to be doing cartwheels.”
“That might be a good idea. Do you want to stay in here?”
“No, I’ll come outside. Can you get me one of my dresses please?”
“Long or short?”
“Long.”
“Would like some help out of that t-shirt and into that dress?” he flirted.
“No, thank you,” she smiled. “I think I’ve got this one under control.”
Half an hour later, the landline rang. Chella knew it must have been the concierge calling to say Craig had arrived. She had just finished brushing her teeth. She double-checked herself in the mirror to make sure she looked okay—as okay as one could get with a nasty bruise on her head and all the cuts and stiches on her arms.
She walked out in time to hear the elevator door chime open. Mitch came out of his room to be with her. When the doors opened and Craig saw Chella, he stepped out and immediately opened his arms. “God, Chella. What happened to you? You look like you’re recuperating from war.”
“Well, it wasn’t far from it. First, I want you to meet Mitch Mariani. Mitch, this is Craig Spencer.”
“Have we met?” Craig asked.
“I think we have. The Heartly’s Christmas cocktail party at their Rancho Santa Fe home last year.”
“Oh, yes, that’s right. You’re a commercial real estate investor.”
“That’s correct. I think I’ll leave you two alone.”
“I’d like you to stay,” Chella replied.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Then can I get either of you anything before we sit?” Mitch asked.
“Coffee for me, please,” Chella said.
“I’ll have the same,” said Craig. “Chella, you’ve been keeping secrets from me.”
“Let’s go inside. We have a lot to talk about.”
“This sounds serious.”
“It is.”
“The view up here is stunning.”
“Thanks,” Mitch responded.
“So Chella, I sense you’re nervous about telling me something. What’s going on?” Craig asked as he sat on the couch.
“I’ve had this ongoing problem with an ex.”
“What ex, Chella? In all the time I’ve known you, you’ve always appeared to be single.”
“That’s true, but this goes way back to before Mom and Dad died. I’ve been stalked and harassed by this man for over ten years. The last time I was away from work, it wasn’t because I had pneumonia. It was because, after a year and a half, he found me again. In the last few weeks, Mitch’s business and car have been vandalized, I’ve moved twice, I’ve been bitten by a scorpion intentionally placed in my room, and last night I opened my mail, and it exploded. I’m sure I might have left out one or two incidents, but those were the highlights.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner? Are you okay?”
“I was afraid to get anyone involved. I still am. The only other person who knows is Mitch, and even though I’m in his house, I still have concerns about his involvement in my life because of this situation.”
Mitch brought in a pot of coffee, placed it on the coffee table, and poured them each a cup.
“So you’ve been dealing with this on your own all these years? Your father would kill me. I obviously haven’t done a very good job of looking out for you.”
“Craig, that’s not true. You’ve always been there for me since Mom and Dad died. You’ve never forgotten a birthday or Christmas.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. So where is this guy?”
She took a deep breath. “He’s been on the run. The police are having a hard time tracking him down. The FBI and ATF got involved in the case last night.”
“Wait a second… that explosion on the news last night at Coronado…that was you?”
“Yes. I didn’t even realize it was on the news.”
“It was. That’s how I found out,” Mitch said, taking a sip of his coffee.
“But they said there were unconfirmed reports that a young woman was killed.”
“I’m still trying to figure out where they got that information,” Mitch said.
“I’m glad you told me, but why now?”
“The police advised me to keep a low profile. They don’t think he’s going to stop until he kills me.”
“What?”
“This will affect your business if I’m not careful. He’s already cost Mitch thousands of dollars in damage. I don’t think he knows where I work, but the mailroom needs to be careful—especially with mail coming in for me. This is all happening to Mitch simply because he’s in my life. I don’t want it happening to you, too. I’m so sorry about this.”
Craig responded in an unusually firm tone. “You have no control over what some psychotic idiot does. Whatever you need, we will facilitate. I don’t want you to have any concerns about your job. I’m more worried about your safety now, both inside and outside the office.” Craig softened his tone, held her hand, and looked into her eyes, “Maybe it’s my fault I didn’t make this clear to you growing up. You are the daughter that Maggie and I never had. I love you like a daughter – That relationship comes first, not Chella my Marketing Executive. In the future, come to me. I know not everything is my business, but Maggie and I will always be there for you.”
“Thank you,” she replied as he pulled her into an embrace.
“Is there anything I can do for you, Chella?” asked Craig.
“My computer was destroyed last night. I’m going to get it replaced soon. Can you have the IT department send me a copy of my backup files from Friday?”
“I will, but not for another week. You should be in bed resting.”
&
nbsp; “I am. But it was important for me to talk to you about this.”
“Mitch, thank you.” Craig stood and extended his hand. “Thank you for helping her through this. God alone knows what would have happened if you weren’t in her life.”
Mitch firmly shook his hand then responded, “She’s fought me every step along the way. Don’t worry. She means the world to me, too. We just have to be careful and make sure all security measures are in place.”
Mitch’s phone rang. He said goodbye to Craig, excused himself and answered the call, leaving Craig and Chella alone.
“So he’s Mr. Forgive-me-flowers?” Craig asked as they walked to the foyer.
She blushed at his words and couldn’t stop the enormous smile from creeping over her face.
“Wow. I’ve been waiting to see you like this for a long time, Chella. He’s a keeper.”
“You think so?”
“Definitely,” he said, kissing her on her forehead. “Now get some rest and be careful. Call if you need anything.”
After Craig left, she could still hear Mitch on the phone in his study. She returned to her room, curled up on the bed and eventually fell asleep.
Several hours later, Chella got up. She glanced at her watch and realized that she had slept the entire day. Bright orange from the setting sun cast funky shadows across the walls in the otherwise dimly-lit room.
While getting ready to go into the great room, she could hear the clinking of pots and pans along with sizzling sounds coming from the kitchen. She knew Mitch was cooking dinner—his favorite pastime.
“Looks like you have your hands full.” She slipped onto one of the island bar stools.
“Almost done. I know you must be starving. You’ve barely eaten all day.”
“I am,” she replied. “Can I help you with anything?”
“Nope. Everything’s ready. Let’s go out on the veranda to eat.”
After they sat, he fixed her a plate.
“Any news?” she asked.
“Detective Carter came by. Aaron’s face is going to be all over the local news tonight.”
“Good. I hope they can make an arrest soon, because if things don’t change, it won’t be long before we feel like we’re under house arrest. They’re not mentioning my name in the news report are they?”
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