Sassy, Sexy, and Stalked

by Wall, Shelley

  “You’re a biker?”

  “On the weekends. It’s good exercise and gets me outside.” He glanced to the window. “Well, I’d better get going. See you Monday.” He raised his hand with an energy bar grasped between fingers in a salute.

  Reva followed until she reached the counter and paid for the bottles of water. Todd and Eric were still in the bathroom. She glanced at the door and could hear their voices in the small space. Amazing how long it takes for a little boy to go to the bathroom. Wasn’t that only little girls? It would be easier to wait by the car rather than the small space between the aisles. With paper bag in hand, she pushed the door open.

  Adam rolled over the engine of his truck. It sputtered and died. Reva waved and continued to her car. She heard the churning of the engine a few times, then the metal clang of the door shutting.

  “Hey, Reva!” Adam called. “Wait up. I’m having trouble with my truck. Do you think you could give me a ride down to the bike trail so I can get one of my friends to help out?”

  She glanced at the glass window, seeking Todd and Eric through the glass. What’s taking so long?

  “Um, I guess so. Can you give me just a minute to—”

  “I should hurry before they all leave. It’s real close.”

  Reva shrugged. “Sure. Hop in.” The paper bag was tossed into the console and she slipped behind the wheel. She lifted her iPhone to peck in a message to Todd.

  Adam grabbed it from her hand and slid his finger along the screen surveying the features. “You have one of the new ones. I’ve wanted one of those.” He glanced up as they exited the lot and pointed toward a dirt road a quarter of a mile ahead. “Turn there. It’s down at the end.”

  Reva watched him toss her phone in the back seat. Shit.

  ***

  Todd came out of the bathroom practically growling with impatience. Eric, for all his mature conversations and playfulness, was still a little boy. He’d wet himself on the way to the bathroom. Couldn’t hold it any longer, poor kid. Todd had noticed him squirming on the way down and twice suggested he take care of it behind a rock or the few scraggy bushes they’d passed. No. Too embarrassing in front of Reva. Fortunately, Todd had thought to bring a change of clothes in the backpack.

  After working Eric out of the clothes, washing the skinny legs and body, and slipping on the clean undies, shirt and shorts—the kid was fine. Except for the dust all over his face, and dirt on his hands. Todd lifted him over the sink and propped Eric on a knee with the water running. A bit of soap added to the mix made sure that the face was once again clean and sparkling. Ten minutes later they walked out of the bathroom with the soiled clothes in a plastic bag.

  “Dad, where’s Ms. Reva?” Eric asked.

  “She probably got tired of waiting and went outside.” The jingle of the door as they exited caught his attention. He surveyed the lot. She’d left? Seriously?

  He whipped the phone off the dashboard and sent a quick message.

  Where’d you go?

  No answer.

  You okay? he added.

  Nothing.

  Eric skipped to the car. Todd walked back inside and looked around while Eric waited in the passenger seat. The jingle of the bells over the door eerily signaled his entrance and it occurred to him that he’d heard it twice while in the store. Reva had left. Someone else too?

  The store clerk sat behind the counter watching a small television screen.

  “Did you see a woman leave just a few minutes ago? Long brown hair, tank top and shorts?”

  “Yeah. They took off down that way about five minutes ago.” The man’s tattooed finger pointed toward town.

  THEY?

  “She was with someone?”

  “Sure. The guy she was with went with her. Why?”

  “The guy she was with was me. Who did you see with her?”

  “I don’t know. Just some dude. Dark hair. Medium height. Dressed in bicycle gear.” The clerk gestured to signify height and weight. “She knew him. They seemed okay.”

  “Did you get his name? Did she call him by name?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t remember, but his truck wouldn’t start and he ran out after her.” The man gestured at the brown truck sitting in front of the window. Todd froze.

  Dark windows. Brown truck. Taillights looked the same. Shit. Shit. He dialed Officer Teckley’s number. Voicemail. Dammit. “Officer Teckley, this is Todd Grisham. I’ve got kind of a situation here. I think I found Reva’s friend. Can you call me back right away? She might be in trouble.” Todd ended the call and phoned Tim, Ben, and her parents.

  Eons later, he’d rallied the group and realized that, for all their preparation, the plan to saturate the neighborhood and ward the guy off had failed. He’d failed. His iPhone buzzed into action and Todd jerked it to his ear.

  “Todd.” It was impossible to mask the impatience now.

  “Wow. Having a bad time, sweetie?” Annie’s voice surfaced a cringe.

  “What do you want, Annie? I don’t have time to talk.”

  “I just wanted to check on Eric. We’re going out to eat tonight and I need him home asap.”

  Todd rolled his eyes. Not now. Eric sat in the car, glancing through the book he’d slid out from under the seat. He was completely unconcerned with Reva’s disappearance.

  “Sorry, but I can’t bring him. I have something going on and I can’t leave. You can come get him.”

  “You’re addicted to your work, you know. That’s why it never worked for us. I’ll be over in thirty minutes.”

  “I’m not getting into an argument with you right now, Annie. I’m not at home. We’re still at the park.”

  “Still at the park? And you can’t even drop him by on your way home?” Her voice rose.

  “Look, Reva’s missing. I’m not leaving until the police get here and we can figure out what happened or she calls.”

  “Reva? She went with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “But I told you—”

  “And I am telling you, it’s none of your business. She’s none of your business. We’re not discussing this. If you need Eric home, come get him. Otherwise, I’ll drop him by as soon as I can. Reva’s in trouble. Get it? Or don’t you care?”

  Todd hung up. He jogged to the street and peered both ways down the road, hoping to see her car. Nothing. The brightness of the sun glared off a broken glass down the street as if to wink at him. Sure, they were likely way gone by now but he could hope, right?

  “Dad! Where’re you going?”

  He turned back to Eric. “I’m not going anywhere, bud. I was just checking for Reva’s car.” He looked at the cover of the book Eric held. Todd had an idea. “You remember those walkie talkies we used when you and Mom first moved around the corner?”

  “The red and blue ones that I called you on before bedtime?” Eric asked.

  “Yes! They’re under the back seat of the car with the other stuff your mom gave me a while back.” It wasn’t time to explain that Annie had told him Eric needed more independence and his need to call Todd whenever he got scared had been a problem. “Can you get them?”

  Eric pulled the car door. When it wouldn’t budge, he leaned backward and yanked with both hands. Todd smiled despite his worry as the door gave way and his young son scrambled to get the toys.

  “Got ’em.” Eric held one up and pushed the button on the other. “They’re not working, Dad.” He shook them, then pushed the button again.

  “The batteries are probably dead. Here, take this money in and get some new ones. The guy inside will help you. We’re gonna need them.” It was a big job for a little guy, but Eric was smart and puffed proudly with the trust he’d been given.

  Minutes ticked off. Todd heard gravel spray as Ben’s pickup flew into the parking lot and spun to a stop. Tim jumped out, followed by a petite blonde, then Ben.

  “You find her?” Tim asked.

  “Not yet. Cops are on the way though.”

 
Sirens in the distance punctuated his statement. The blonde stepped forward and held out a hand. “I’m Ben’s wife. Ben talks about you a lot.”

  Todd nodded. She swirled the bottled water in her hand and took a sip. He looked past her to Eric’s small frame running toward him.

  “I fixed them. Look.” His big eyes beamed up as the child held out the walkie talkies. They both clicked into action and hissed as he pressed the buttons up and down. Wasn’t it amazing how a small victory could boost a kid’s confidence?

  “I knew you would. Thanks. Now, listen up, son. I’m going down the road there and I need you to take this one. I’ll take the other. We’re going to play a game sort of. This is going to be the command post and you and Ben here are going to be in charge of it. Tim is going with me. Reva’s hiding and we’re going to find her, okay? You can be Ben’s lieutenant.”

  Ben nodded when Todd lifted a brow his way. He understood. They had to get moving. If this guy, whoever he was, had her—they’d already given him too much time. He switched his gaze to Tim. “Let’s go.”

  “Don’t be surprised if we get out of range. I’ll use the cell if there’s a signal.”

  They scrambled into his Jeep and he careened it toward town. The patrol car whizzing by would have to talk to the others. No time for delay. He had no idea where to go or how to find her. He hated not having a plan. The man’s truck was at the store so they couldn’t be far, right? The sun glared off the broken glass he’d noticed earlier on the road and he swerved to miss it. The rearview mirror showed a bottle rolling to the grass by the pavement—not broken glass, a water bottle. A completely full water bottle.

  He jerked the wheel and did a one-eighty. “What the hell?” Tim peered sideways.

  “Look!” Todd pointed at the ruts that disappeared into the trees beyond where the bottle had slowed to rest. He grabbed the radio from the dashboard and clicked the button to call Ben and Eric. An unfamiliar voice said, “Here.”

  “Where are Eric and Ben?” The radio crackled when Todd released the button.

  “They walked over to talk to the cops.”

  “Who are you?”

  “I’m David, Reva’s cousin. She’s told me a lot about you.”

  “Yeah, well, she hasn’t told me shit about you.” Todd knew his patience wasn’t making any friends but he didn’t care.

  “I’m the family lawyer.”

  “Good for you. Tell Ben we turned down the first dirt road on the right.” Todd tossed the radio to the dashboard.

  “I wouldn’t get on his bad side just yet.” Tim rolled down his window and the scent of leaves and dirt pelted in on them. “He’s going to help you with Eric.”

  “No kidding. How’s he going to do that?” Todd checked the rearview but dust clouded so high it wasn’t possible to see.

  “You’d be surprised what David can do. He’s a pit bull when it comes to the law and Reva spent most of last night telling him what a great Dad you are. Since David’s divorced and only sees his kids once a month, you’re his next big case. He has a soft spot for kids. And dads.”

  Well,hell.

  CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

  Reva took a sip from the bottle of water and rested her arm on the open window. The day was still young but the trees blocked the afternoon sun. As she lifted the bottle for a second sip it slipped from her hand. She reached down to grab it, saw the bag from the store, and tossed both out the window.

  She slid a glance toward Adam. “There’re bike trails down here?” she asked.

  “Yeah, it gets a little rough, but when you get closer to the river it opens up and there’s a lot of trails along the water and up into the trees. It’s more for mountain biking, not street bikes. You ever do any of that?”

  “No. I jog. Never took up cycling. I’m not sure why, I just didn’t. I think it’s cool that you do that though.”

  “You play softball too.”

  “Yes.” She remembered when she’d been in a hurry to get to practice. “So, were there a lot of people out here today? I don’t see any cars or bikes.”

  “Just my group. Not many. Turn up there where the tire tracks are.”

  She gulped down the last of the second water and tossed it out the window as she spun the wheel. It was a long shot but she had nothing else to use. From what she saw, very few traveled this way. What possessed a person to take off on a deserted road just on a whim?

  “You shouldn’t litter.”

  “It’ll deteriorate. Those new bottles are biodegradable.”

  “Yeah, in a hundred years.” His voice grated. The birds chattered away in the trees. A siren in the distance increased in volume to signify an emergency vehicle approaching. Adam rested an arm over the seat and glanced back. “Must be a fire somewhere.”

  “Hope not. We’re right in the middle of a forest full of dry trees in the middle of a drought. How far is this place where your friends are?”

  “Just up there.” He pointed at an opening in the trees where a dock extended over river water that barely rippled.

  Reva pulled to a stop just clear of the trees and got out. The only sounds were birds and wind rustling through the leaves. Adam stepped out also and walked toward the dock. She thought it odd that he wore a fanny pack on his hips. Didn’t those go out of style years ago?

  “They’ve already gone,” he said without turning back. “So, what do we do now?”

  “I can take you back to the store. My friends are waiting for me.”

  He whirled around. “Who? There wasn’t anyone with you.”

  “They were in the bathroom.”

  He nodded and she knew he didn’t believe a word. Adam smiled and strode toward her. “So, what is it with you and me, Reva?”

  “Huh? There is no you and me. What are you talking about?”

  “Why is that? You obviously are attractive and so am I. Haven’t you thought about it?” Adam stepped in a bit too close.

  Reva went into her protective mode. She stared down and kept a monitored awareness of his movements. “Off limits, Adam. I’m your boss. But since you’re asking—no, I hadn’t thought about it.”

  “Never?”

  “Never.”

  “Why not? You’re fairly active, socially.”

  “What?” Her eyes shot up. Active?

  “Well, you date a lot. If that’s what it is.” The chill of his forefinger trailing down her arm caused a shiver. She stepped back. Her shoe crunched on dried leaves and twigs underneath.

  “How do you know whether I date or not? That’s none of your business.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  The only way he would possibly notice something like that would be if he had watched. He had watched. With another step backward, Reva glanced into the trees on both sides. The birds ceased their chatter as if sensing a pending storm. The silence punctuated his movement as Adam clamped a hand around Reva’s forearm.

  “Adam, let go. We need to get back. My friends will be concerned.”

  He laughed a single snort but dropped his grip. “Yeah, right. There’s no one back there. And we’re going to stay right here. It’s kind of romantic, don’t you think?”

  No. No. Not Romantic. Not a bicycle trail. Not even safe. Reva’s gaze swiveled again to the trees, searching for an escape. She glanced back at her car. She’d left the door open, keys in her pocket. Unfortunately, his door was also wedged open and ready.

  “I’m going back,” she announced. “You can either go or stay. That’s up to you.” She turned and tromped three steps toward the car. Three steps that took great strength and escalated the tension building in her gut.

  “Why do you hate me so much? Are you afraid I’m better than you? That I’d actually do a better job? They all like me, you know. At the office. They like me a lot more than you because I can talk and joke with everyone. And I make sense when I talk about the project. I don’t try to over-explain or condescend like you do.”

  She kept moving. Step. Step. Step. One after t
he other, slowly so that it didn’t alarm him. The crunch of his feet on the ground behind her kept pace. “I don’t hate you, Adam. You’re an employee. Your success is important to mine. We’re too big of an organization for it to only be about one individual.” She felt the cold metal of the keys in her pocket but held them still so he wouldn’t hear.

  “The truth is, Reva, dear,” Adam said, “I don’t really care about anyone else’s success. Neither do you. You only care about you. That’s why we belong together. We’re the same, you and I.”

  Adam strutted past and shoved the car door closed. The thump sent a few birds fluttering above. The crunch of tires against the dirt and gravel road caught his attention. They both turned and squinted behind her car. The rumble of a motor signaled an approaching vehicle. Adam growled.

  Through the fading light behind the trees, Reva made out the shape of a truck bumping along the ruts of the road. The engine revved and sped closer as if the passengers had seen them too.

  “Your friends?” she asked before she recognized the vehicle color and silhouettes inside. No, mine. Relief almost made her giddy. It definitely warmed the cold feeling that had started through her shoulders.

  ***

  Todd saw the light glance off Reva’s car before they were close enough to recognize anything else.

  “Look,” Tim acknowledged, as he pointed at the beam of light flickering between the trees. “There’s a car.”

  The truck bumped over the worn ruts in the dirt path that had once held gravel. As they eased closer Todd made out the outline of two people on the other side of the vehicle. A man and woman. The woman looked over her shoulder at their approaching vehicle. The simple gesture confirmed what he already knew. Todd pressed the gas and lunged the vehicle forward over the remaining bumps and ruts. He didn’t care that it bounced Tim’s head against the roof, nor did he care that something in the back of the pickup clanged loudly.

  “Call back and let them know.” Todd tossed the radio at Tim, flung the truck into park, and leapt out before it stopped rolling. Reva stood close to the man. He had one hand behind his back and the other at his side. Todd didn’t miss the fact that he’d dropped it from her arm only seconds earlier when they appeared through the trees. He squinted to take in Reva’s face as he approached.