Phantom (Phoebe Reede: The Untold Story #5)

by Michelle Irwin

  By the time they’d left, I was ready to curl back up in bed, but instead, Beau reminded me that my family were due to arrive soon. They’d be walking into the shit fight without a single clue. There wasn’t much for it though. Although Mum and Dad would both have their phones on roaming, after the trip, with as many kids in tow as they had, it was likely their phones would be dead, dying, or just left off until they had somewhere to stop and relax.

  Barely half an hour later, the police came back to the house. “We’ve been through the records and cannot see Jason Freeport registered to any room, the security camera footage shows no appearance by him, and the licence plate number given to us by Mr Miller hasn’t entered the property according to the security company.”

  “No. He’s here at this resort; how else could he have spoken to me yesterday? He’s been leaving gifts. Dead roses and chocolate boxes filled with bugs.”

  “Are you certain it was him?”

  “Of course I am.” The suspicion and doubt they were showing took me back to the hospital bed, to the multitude of questions I’d had to answer after Xavier’s death and how, after everything him and Bee had done to me, I was at risk of facing a murder charge for my part in his death. I broke down sobbing. “I just want him to leave me alone. Why can’t he leave me alone?”

  “If you sign this statement, we’ll take it back to the station. However, there ain’t much more we can do today when there’re no records he’s even at the resort. That’s the most I can offer, I’m afraid.”

  “No!” I screamed, unable to contain everything I’d been holding in. I pushed up off the chair, trying to get away from the situation. My voice was pitched high and loud when I continued. “He attacked me! He pinned me against a tree and threatened my life if I got the police involved, and now I’ve got the police involved, and he’s going to hurt me. He’s going to hurt her! And it’s all your fault for not doing more!”

  “Please, Miss, you need to calm down. We’re not the enemies here. There aren’t any enemies here.”

  “I’m not making this up. I’m not. H-he attacked me when I worked with him, and now he’s attacking me again.” I couldn’t fight the hysteria in my voice.

  Beau rushed into the room, no doubt drawn by my screams. “What’s going on?”

  “They don’t believe me.” I ran to his hold and buried my face against his shirt. “They don’t believe that he’s here.”

  “What? Can’t ya see she’s traumatised by what he’s doin’.”

  The two officers looked at each other. “We can see Miss Reede is a very traumatised young woman, and we are doing what we can to minimise the risk of anyone getting hurt. We have her statement that we will take back to the station, but there is no evidence that Mr Freeport is on the grounds.”

  I wanted to tell them thanks for nothing, but I couldn’t get it out around my sobs to say it.

  The police continued to talk about what they were going to do next. All I could think was how much worse I’d made things. I’d told Beau, and I’d gone to the police. Two things Jase had told me not to do. He was in Georgia to blackmail me, and I’d just proven to him that I was scared. Had I put Angel in danger trying to solve the issue through the right channels?

  Beau held me and whispered to me that he would keep Angel and me safe even if the police weren’t going to look into it.

  The police were just getting into their car when the minivan Mum and Dad had hired arrived. Waiting for the police to leave, I stayed near the house with Angel while Beau went down to greet them and get them checked in.

  “I can’t believe that arsehole is going to get away with everything he did to you,” Angel said as we watched the police talk to each other for a moment before getting in the car and leaving.

  “I just hope this doesn’t come back to bite me.” I slipped my hand into hers. “I’ve tipped my hat and shown that I have no power.”

  “You have your family. We’re your power.”

  I was glad she’d included herself in my family.

  “We have to do something,” I said. “Figure out some way to make him show himself to others so that I have witnesses. I can’t have this hanging over my head on top of everything else.”

  “We can make a strategy with your parents and Beau. He’s not going to do anything until the police are gone at least. Worst case scenario, I can be your witness.”

  “I’m not going to get you to lie to the police for me.”

  “If he’s as vile as you described before, and Beau seems to believe he is, then I’d be doing the world a favour.”

  “Until something comes out to prove that it’s not real. Then we’d just be playing into his hands.

  By the time I got to the hotel reception, Dad and Beau were outside waiting for me. Mum must have taken the other kids into their rooms to give us some space.

  “Beau told me what happened,” Dad said. “Are you okay?”

  I wrapped an arm around myself. “Not really, but I will be. I think. I just wish the police had been able to do more. I feel like he could be anywhere watching right now.”

  “They can only work with the information they’ve got.” The way Dad’s hands clenched at his sides told me he was nowhere near as controlled as he appeared to be. “Beau and I were just talking about maybe getting Darnell Banks involved. See what dirt we can dig up on this arsehole.”

  “I just don’t want to make things worse.”

  “Darlin’, we ain’t gonna do somethin’ ya don’t wanna do, but maybe we gotta fight fire with fire. Darnell has got the information from, uh, last time that he can start with.”

  “He’s got to pay,” Angel said.

  Would I be better to let it go or try to attack him?

  “Darnell will be discreet if that’s what you’re worried about.” Dad flexed his fingers and then ran his hand through his hair. “He’ll be able to make some inquiries to find out whether there’s something we can look for to catch him out.”

  “You all think I should do this?”

  The three of them glanced at each other and then nodded.

  “If you want to,” Angel added.

  “Let’s do it then.” I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake.

  “I’ll call him,” Dad volunteered before turning to Beau. “Is there somewhere Phoebe and I can go to make the call together?”

  “You can go to my room,” Angel said, offering the key and giving him the room number.

  I followed Dad to Angel’s room, and then he got out his mobile phone and called his PI, putting Darnell on speakerphone as soon as he picked up. I answered all the questions he had about Jase, both from my previous visit to the States and his new threats. Darnell promised to look into it and get back to us ASAP.

  Once we’d hung up from giving him the information, I took a moment to gather myself. “Did you have a good flight?” I asked.

  “That’s not my biggest worry right now. Are you okay?”

  “I need to let it go, please?” I begged. “I have to try to put this out of my mind.”

  Dad nodded before saying, “I can guarantee one thing that will be a good distraction if you’re up for a bit of noise.”

  I chuckled, knowing he meant going to the family who would have no doubt been bouncing off the walls in this new environment. “I’m sure I can guess. Shall we go say g’day?”

  When we came out, Angel and Beau were hanging around in the hallway.

  “All good?” Angel asked.

  “Yeah. Are you ready to be attacked though?” I glanced between Dad and Beau, hoping they’d understand what I meant.

  “Attacked? Why?” Angel asked.

  Dad laughed. “I think that’s her invitation to come with us to greet the hoard.”

  She toed the floor. “I’m not sure . . .”

  “The whole family missed you,” Dad said.

  “I missed them all too. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I just—”

  “Angel.” I cut her off. “It’s in the past. Isn’t
that right, Dad?”

  “We’re all entitled to some time away. I assume the fact you’re back here now, and Phoebe is inviting you to come with us means that you guys have worked out your issues?”

  She glanced at me, and I could see the lust hidden behind her eyes. Now that I knew it was there, I was sure we could manage her feelings—and my own—well enough.

  “Yes, Mr Reede.”

  “They’re thick as thieves again,” Beau said.

  Dad gave her a grin that told me all was forgiven.

  “She’s even going to be my maid of honour,” I added.

  We spent the next hour catching up with my family before more guests arrived. When he could, Beau pulled me aside and discreetly told me that Mitch had been down to the honeymoon suite and couldn’t find any evidence that it was Jase staying there. Raquel, the woman in the room, had told them her husband was sick and couldn’t come to the door. Although she’d insisted his name was Peter and that they were hoping to get out to explore some more in a few days once Peter was better. That coincided with what Cassidee had said about the woman asking for more information.

  More cars headed into the car park, forcing Beau and me to leave Angel with my family so that we could greet everyone else.

  The next people to turn up were Morgan, Eden, and Max. It was the first time I’d seen Max since having a meltdown because of him shortly after I’d arrived home—the meltdown that had seen him banned from our house until something changed.

  Despite that hanging over us, I rushed to greet them. Eden led with Morgan trailing behind. Max followed behind them both, his head bowed and his gaze locked on the ground.

  “Look at you all grown up and getting married,” Eden gushed. “I still remember the day your dad first showed me your photo and told me all about how perfect you were.”

  “Thanks, Aunt Edie.”

  “This is a beautiful part of the world,” Morgan said.

  Beau beamed as if Morgan’s words were a personal compliment. Was he really sure about selling his share?

  “Hey, Maxie, thank you for coming,” I said, moving closer to him. I didn’t want him to hate himself for what had happened. Making a stupid mistake was one thing; there was no reason to suffer for it forever. “I know it can’t have been easy.”

  “It’s nothing,” he mumbled.

  “We got some motor cross bikes ’round here if that’s somethin’ ya might wanna do,” Beau said.

  Max’s gaze lifted to him. “Really?”

  “Sure. What d’ya think, darlin’, d’ya wanna go out tomorrow on the bikes?” he asked me.

  “What do you reckon?” I threw the question back at him. When had I turned down a challenge or a chance to get on a bike?

  “That . . . That would be pretty awesome. Could Brock come too?”

  I almost laughed as I pictured Brock getting around on a motocross bike. “It depends on the number of bikes there are.”

  “We’ve got four bikes and three quads.”

  Talking about going through the grounds on a bike made me genuinely excited. “Why don’t you see who else is interested and fill up the places so we can take a group out tomorrow? Ask Dad too, he might be interested even though he’s an old man.”

  Max practically beamed. “That sounds good.”

  I left the little family to check in when I saw another couple climb from a hire car and two other cars pull up into the car park. Uncle Flynn’s gaze found me immediately as he wrapped his arm around Luke, who was impeccably dressed, as always.

  “Based on their smiles, I think everyone missed ya, darlin’,” Beau whispered to me. “Not that I blame them.”

  “I still don’t know that I’m entirely ready to be ‘back,’” I said. “But I’ve gotta say I love seeing everyone again. I didn’t realise how much until now.”

  “It’s great seein’ ya so carefree ag’in.”

  “I wouldn’t say ‘carefree’. There’s still Jase.”

  “There ain’t nothin’ to worry ’bout there. We’ll keep ya safe. No matter what.”

  “Hey, kiddo, are you getting excited?” Uncle Flynn asked when he was close enough.

  “I’m promising to spend the rest of my life with this man,” I said, patting Beau’s chest. “What do you think?”

  “I think you’re lucky you found someone who makes you feel that way.” He glanced at Luke. The love they shared was just as beautiful.

  “I’m sure you two are probably ready to check in and have a nap,” I said, giving each of them a peck on the cheek. “We’re putting on a dinner for everyone at the restaurant. Be there at six.”

  “Will do.”

  We greeted Nana Reede; then Uncle Josh, Aunt Ruby, and Noah; then Nana and Pop Dawson. After the influx of people, I was surprised I was holding everything together as well as I was, but so far I had avoided falling into a heap. Only barely though.

  “I think I need to retreat for a while,” I said to Beau. “Alone, if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all, darlin’, you’ve done so well today. I’ll walk ya back though.” There was no room for argument in his tone, not that I would argue—there was no way I wanted to go anywhere on the grounds alone until I knew for certain Jase was a long way away.

  As we walked back to the house, I dreaded what we might find. Would there be another rose on the doorstep? A chocolate box by the door?

  When the front of the house was mercifully empty, I relaxed and mentally prepared to wind down. It didn’t take me long to crawl into bed and pull the blankets up over me. I didn’t need sleep as such in that moment, just to avoid other people for a while. To take a moment to recharge my drained battery.

  I must have fallen asleep at some point because when I opened my eyes next, I was disorientated. The block-out curtains on Beau’s window were effective at making the whole area black as night, and in the darkness, I could make out a silhouette.

  Who is that?

  A second later, whoever it had been was gone.

  “Beau?” As the disorientation lessened, little things registered. Why would he have left so quickly? Then I realised the shape had seemed too short to be Beau. Who else could it have been? There was only one other possibility I could think of. “Beau!”

  Beau came rushing into the room. “What is it?”

  “He was in here. Jase. He was here. In the room.”

  Even though he tried to hide it immediately, I didn’t miss the questioning look on Beau’s face. Didn’t he believe me?

  “You didn’t hear him leave?” I asked.

  “I ain’t heard nothin’. Not until ya screamed just now.”

  “I’m not going crazy,” I said, my voice defensive in the wake of the doubt he showed.

  “I ain’t sayin’ ya are. I just don’t know how he coulda got in and out without me hearin’ anything.”

  “Maybe he didn’t go out.” I could barely even whisper the words. “Maybe he’s still here somewhere.”

  “I’ll have a look ’round.”

  “Thank you.”

  As Beau left the room, I climbed from the bed and went to examine the area in front of the bed where I was certain I’d spotted Jase. At first, I couldn’t see anything that would confirm or deny his presence, but then I saw it. Tucked away, between the mattress and the bed, was a piece of paper or something. I reached for it, drawing it out to see whether it was indeed proof I hadn’t been alone.

  Instantly, my hands released the horrid thing. It was a Polaroid photo, just like the ones Bee had taken of me, only this one was different. It was innocent, it only showed me sleeping, but it was clear it had been taken during my nap. Jase had not only been in the room, but he’d been there long enough to snap that image and hide it away.

  I wrapped my arms around me as my body quaked at the thought.

  “What is it?”

  I screamed when Beau’s voice came from behind me.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare ya. Are you all right?”

  “T-ther
e’s a photo.” I squeezed my eyes closed so that he didn’t have to see the dread buried in my gaze.

  A few seconds later, after hearing his gasp as he saw the image, he rested his hands in my lap. “I ain’t gonna let him hurt you.”

  “How can you stop him if he can get in here without you even knowing he’s been here?”

  “I’ll keep ya safe; I don’t care what it takes.”

  It might have been stupid to believe him in the light of all the evidence, but he’d never let me down yet. At least, not since coming to Australia for me. If anyone had a chance of keeping both Angel and me safe, it was Beau and his friends.

  WE SHARED DINNER with all of the guests that had arrived over the course of the day. By the time some of Beau’s friends from North Carolina came down, and a few of his mates flew in from Sacramento, we had almost thirty of our friends and family surrounding us for the welcome dinner. It wasn’t just a wedding, it was a holiday.

  For everyone.

  A few days to lock down all the good things in our lives before anything could happen to me. An opportunity for everyone to see how much love Beau and I had in our lives despite the darkness that had crept between us.

  After a long dinner where we’d spent a little time with everyone, and at least as much time completely alone at our request, I was ready to go home. Because I couldn’t let Angel stay in her hotel room alone, not with the threat of Jase still hanging over the place, I went in search of her. She didn’t know about the photo or him being in my room, but I didn’t think I’d need to tell her about them to convince her to come with us. The only reason I hadn’t told her before was that I didn’t want to bring down the mood at dinner.

  “We’re headin’ off now,” Beau said when we found her out the front of the restaurant talking with Beau’s friend from Sacramento—the one whose birthday he’d been celebrating at the bar where we first met.