by Leger, Lori
Carrie nodded and crouched over her dog, giving his thick, white coat one last rub. “Good boy,” she whispered. She straightened, then backed into the kitchen and closed the door. She turned to face the one officer remaining in her living room. “Did Sam tell you why we suspect he’s been in the house?”
“No, ma’am, I was waiting until you were ready.” He pulled out a pad to take notes as both Carrie and Sam explained her reason for suspecting the stalker had been in her home. When Cody asked if he could check out her bedroom, she and Sam led him there. He opened the closet door and studied the inside before leaning over to pick up something up against the edge of the wall. He straightened, holding out a single, un-smoked cigarette.
“You were right,” Cody told them.
She nodded. “That’s him, that’s what he smokes.”
They did a quick check of the other rooms in the house and ended up back in her living room. Cody made some notes, then tucked his notepad into his shirt pocket. “If this guy’s got the nerve, as well as the ability to do this, he’s one dangerous son of a gun. We’ll need to call in the troops on this one.” He walked to the front door, then paused and turned to Sam. “I wouldn’t lose sight of her until we resolve this situation.”
Sam closed the door, then pulled Carrie close for a hug.
“I should trust my instincts more, Sam. I knew something was wrong in that bedroom.” She closed her eyes and remembered the feeling of being watched—of how she’d turned away from the windows and toward the closet. “Oh, God, I undressed in front of him, Sam.” Carrie shuddered visibly, feeling violated and dirty.
“You want me to call the office for you?”
She turned to walk into her bathroom. “Yeah, go ahead and call for me. Report the cut line to the phone company, while you’re at it.”
Sam watched the door close, then heard the shower running. He stepped onto the front porch and went to Doug’s place across the street. He asked him to keep an eye on Carrie’s home while he made the phone calls.
Fifteen minutes later, he returned to Carrie’s. She sat curled up on the sofa, wearing jeans and a different sweater from last night.
“I called the office, and J.C.’s the only one there. He said he hopes we catch the bastard and to give you this.” He reached over and gave her a hug.
She hugged Sam back, imagining what her friend would have had to say. “I bet he said worse than that.”
“He did,” Sam agreed. “But I was trying not to be as vile as he was.”
Carrie gave him a bleak smile, remembering the string of curses that had come from his mouth earlier. “I want you to sit and listen to something I came up with.” She explained her plan in detail.
“You can’t be serious.” Sam’s face revealed his horror. “It’ll work, Babe.” He stood and paced the floor. “It’s too damned dangerous.”
“No more dangerous than having him lurk around here while we’re all asleep and completely defenseless,” she argued. “This is bullshit, Sam, and you know it. I won’t be his victim, and I damn sure won’t sit back and let my kids, or your son, or you be his victims either.” She pressed her hands to her stomach. “When I think what could have happened while I slept, totally clueless that he was walking around in here—” She shivered. “I get sick inside.”
Sam dropped his head accepting the inevitable, knowing she’d do this regardless of what he said. “Okay,” he finally agreed. “But I have a few suggestions—with your safety in mind.”
She nodded when he finished speaking. “I have to admit, I’d feel better if you were a part of this.”
By eight a.m., the phone company had reconnected Carrie’s phone line. With Sam by her side, she called Dave and told him she’d bring their daughters home later that morning, then broke the news about Toto.
Dave was quiet for a moment. “Have you told the twins yet?”
“No.” She covered her eyes with one hand. “And I dread it more than anything I’ve ever done in my life. Is Grant awake yet?”
“You’re kidding, right? Don’t worry, I’ll wake his lazy butt up around ten and tell him.”
Carrie cringed. “Look, when you tell him, do you think you could do it without being so insensitive? Our kids grew up with that dog, Dave. Grant’s going to be hurting.”
“Hey, I’m hurting too, you know,” Dave huffed, sounding insulted. “I liked that dog as much as you did, even if he didn’t earn his keep around here like my dog does.”
“Toto was free. You paid big bucks for Lucas, and we spent another three hundred on his eye surgery—oh, forget it. It doesn’t matter. I love your dog too—jerk.”
Dave’s voice broke unexpectedly. “Look, I’m sorry for taking it out on you.” He paused, obviously trying to control his emotions. “I’m just pissed that he died that way.”
“It’s okay, I understand.”
“No! No, it’s not okay. I apologize for being a jerk. That son of a bitch needs to pay for doing that to our dog.”
“I know he does.” She nodded at Sam. “And I’ve got a plan that can make that happen. Sam is letting me use his truck to bring the girls home, because I need to borrow something from you. It’s a lot to ask, I know, but I believe it may make the difference.” After she explained what she need from him and how it fit into her plans, he balked at first, but finally agreed.
“Thanks, Dave. Are you sure you don’t want me to tell Grant when I get there?”
“No, you’ll have your hands full telling the girls. I’ll be sensitive, I promise.”
“Thank you, Dave. We’ll be there in a couple of hours. Tell no one about this, okay? Not even Grant. It’s important that we have the element of surprise on our side. We think he’s someone from around that area.”
Dave agreed, and she ended the call. She rubbed at her forehead and faced Sam. “It’s time to tell the girls.”
Sam nodded. “You want me to go in there with you?”
“I think I should do this by myself, but thanks for the offer anyway.” She walked into the room where her daughters slept and closed the door behind her.
Carrie sat on Gretchen’s bed and held her daughters to her, one in each arm. She cried along with them as they mourned the loss of their beloved Toto. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so very sorry.” She rocked them, ached for them, while wishing she could take away their pain. Her eyes focused on a tiny spot on the bedroom door, as she told herself that Sam was out there and waiting to help if she needed him. That thought gave her the strength she needed to comfort her children.
Gretchen was the first to calm and pull away from her mother. She wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her pajama top and sniffed loudly. “If that stupid cigarette man poisoned our dog, I hope we get to meet up with him one day.” She narrowed her eyes at her mother. “I’d sure like to beat the crap out of him.”
Carrie couldn’t help but smile at her daughter’s determination and drive. “Sweetie, everyone feels the same way, even the local police. Don’t worry, we’ll get him, but we’ll always have good memories of Toto. He was such a character, wasn’t he?”
Gretchen gave her mom a tearful smile. “You remember how we’d clean him up so he could stay in the house when it was cold outside?”
Lauren joined the conversation. “Remember how he’d fart and stink up the house?”
Carrie laughed through her tears. “The faces he’d make when we’d discover it was him—poor Toto would hang his head, almost like he was ashamed.” Before long, all three of them were laughing over other memories of their beloved Toto.
Carrie reached out to smooth her daughters’ curls. “He’s not gone as long as we remember him.”
“I’ll always remember him, but he is gone,” Gretchen groaned. “And I’d still like the chance to beat the crap of that guy.”
“I’d like somebody to hold him down so we could all beat the crap out of him,” Lauren added.
Carrie smiled, hugging her girls to her, and prayed they’d end up w
ith men who wouldn’t try to take that spark away from them. “I need to bring you back to your dad’s this morning. Until this is settled, I have to know you’re all safe. Are either of you hungry?”
She patted their hands when they said no. “Get your stuff together and make the bed, please.”
Sam and Nick stood in the kitchen talking quietly when Carrie exited the bedroom.
Nick walked over to hug her and shook his head. “That’s messed up, Carrie. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, Nick, and you’re right, it is messed up.”
The girls came out the bedroom, fully dressed, eyes red-rimmed from crying. Carrie sniffed, her heart bursting with gratefulness, as they migrated straight to Sam. She watched as he held her daughters, whispering words of comfort. They moved to Nick, who enveloped them both in a consoling hug.
“Nick,” Sam spoke softly after giving them several moments. “Take the girls over to our place until we get back. Carrie and I have to make a run to the police station.”
Nick nodded and herded the girls out the door, as Carrie and Sam prepared to leave.
Carrie sat with Sam in Charlie Walker’s office, discussing her plan. It took another thirty minutes to work out the details. They rose to leave, and she extended her hand to the police chief. “I appreciate your help in this situation, Chief Walker.”
“You’re welcome, Ms. Jeansonne. We’ll get this guy.”
By nine thirty, the twins sat in Sam’s truck, waiting for Carrie.
Sam pulled her to the back of the truck for a talk. “I hate the idea of you going over there without me.”
She placed her hand on his face to calm him. “I’ll be fine, Sam. I’m going straight to Dave’s, and then coming back here. No pit stops, I promise. I’m fighting the urge to cower in a corner somewhere, so I need to do this alone. It’s like getting back on a horse when you fall off, you know?”
Sam frowned but gave her a hug, anyway. “Just because I understand, doesn’t mean I have to like it. I won’t relax until you’re back.”
She turned Sam’s truck into the driveway of her old home and pulled to a stop. Dave and Grant came out to meet them.
She stepped down from the truck and cupped her son’s head in her two hands to study his eyes, still filled with grief. Toto had accompanied her son everywhere until recently, when Grant’s truck had replaced exploring on foot or bicycle. She pulled him close for a hug. “I’m so sorry, Son.”
“This really sucks, Mom.”
“I know, but they’ll get this guy.” She allowed herself several more moments to console him, then gave both him and her girls a final hug. “Ya’ll go on in the house now, please. I need to talk to your dad.”
Dave waited until their children were inside before speaking. “Do they know about the plan tonight?”
“No, I don’t want them to worry.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “When I think about him walking around my home with our kids—it makes my skin crawl.”
Dave nodded. “I know, I’m sick about it too, but they’re fine. Listen, Carrie, I want to apologize to you again for acting the ass those other times. I’m the last person to be pointing the finger at you for anything, especially since we’re divorced now.” He leaned an elbow on Sam’s truck and crossed one booted foot over the other. “I got the scoop on you and Sam last night at the club in Gardiner.”
“Oh, yeah? Who’d you speak to?”
“Your brother, Mack, was there performing with their band.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “He let me have it pretty good.”
Carrie kept her silence as Dave told her how Mack had come to her defense as well as Sam’s. She watched as he ran one hand through his thick hair.
“He said he’s a real nice guy and he makes you happy. I blew all my chances, and you gave me plenty, so who am I to complain?”
She gave him a slow nod, her eyes squinted in concentration. “What else is going on here?”
He gave her what she was sure he thought was an innocent look. “What do you mean?”
Her smile broadened. “I mean, I know you like the back of my hand, David James Jeansonne. You’ve met someone else.”
Dave’s eyes widened. “Who’d you talk to?”
Carrie’s laughter rang out. “I didn’t talk to anyone. I just know you too well, that’s all.”
He swore under his breath. “I guess you do, at that.” He grinned, looking a little sheepish. “I have met someone.”
“Does she know what a jerk you are?”
“Yeah, and she likes me anyway.”
Carrie laughed and gave him a quick nod of approval. “Good, I’m glad.”
“Why, because I’ll quit bugging you now?”
“Of course,” she added, before cringing at the laugh that had begun to grate on her nerves over the years. She shook it off and scanned the area. “Where is he, Dave? I really need to go home and put things in motion.”
Dave whistled and called to his dog. Lucas lumbered in from a nearby field behind the house. He ran to his mistress when he saw her, his tail wagging in excitement. She leaned over to rub his ears and the scruff of his neck. “Hey, buddy, I’ve got a job for you. Think you can handle it?” Lucas greeted her with happy noises at having her around to show him affection again.
“He can handle it. Do you remember his commands?”
“Yep.”
“Make sure you’re around when strangers show up so he doesn’t attack, okay?” He lowered the tailgate and told Lucas to jump in. “Good luck, Carrie, and be careful.”
Carrie slipped in behind the steering wheel of Sam’s truck and buckled her seatbelt.
“I almost forgot, let me get his toy.” He came back a minute later with the brown leather welder’s glove stuffed with feathers and sewn shut. He threw it in the back of the truck and Lucas jumped after it. Carrie grinned at the sight of the dog with the stuffed glove in his mouth. She could certainly see why unsuspecting drivers and passengers of other cars sometimes thought it was a real arm.
Dave pointed to the truck bed. “Sit, Lucas. Stay.” He ducked his head to look inside Carrie’s window. “Did you ever get your car window fixed?”
She nodded. “I got it fixed at a place in Kenton.”
He hung his head. “It won’t happen again.” He took a deep breath and nodded toward the dog. “Keep him in practice for me, will you?”
“I will, and thanks.” She put on her sunglasses and started the truck.
“You’re welcome. Good luck with everything.” After a pause, he continued. “It might be nice to be friends with you again.”
She flashed him a big grin. “It’s a possibility, if you keep acting like an adult.”
Dave pursed his lips and stared off toward the house. “Damn, I hate that you’re always right.” He leveled a serious gaze on her. “Don’t you ever get tired of it?”
Carrie shrugged. “It doesn’t seem to matter. Nobody ever listens to me anyway.” She shifted the truck into reverse and slowly backed away from him. She cringed as Dave put his head back and laughed. “I hate that laugh, you know.”
“You do?”
“Yep. For years now.” When Dave laughed again, Carrie grinned at him. “See you later, asshole.”
Carrie parked Sam’s truck in her driveway and lowered the tailgate to release Lucas. While he was getting used to the yard, she called Sam and Nick to come over. She met them outside. “Come on back here guys, so I can introduce you to the other family pet.” As soon as they approached the gate, the large dog barreled up to them, growling at the two strange men standing near his mistress.
“It’s okay boy, they’re the good guys.” She scratched his head and he immediately calmed down. “Sam—Nick—come here and get acquainted with him.”
“I don’t know about that.” Nick rubbed one hand at the back of his neck. “That’s a big freaking dog, Carrie.”
Sam had to agree with his son. “I’ve seen a couple of Mastiffs and St. Bernard’s in my time. He’s nowhere
near that size, but for any other breed, he’s near the top of my list.” Sam reached out slowly to let Lucas sniff his hand. “Look at that head and the size of those paws.”
“I’m too busy looking at his teeth,” Nick said.
Carrie waved him over. “Come on over here, Nick. He needs to be able to recognize friend from foe.”
Within ten minutes, Sam and Nick were petting Lucas like he was an old friend. The dog moaned, enjoying the attention. Carrie tossed the stuffed arm to Nick as Lucas wagged his tail expectantly. “Throw it for him, Nick. He’ll retrieve all day, as long as the weather’s cool or he’s in water.”
Sam and Carrie left Nick in the backyard with the dog and walked inside. Sam made one phone call to the police department, and within minutes, Kenton police officers started showing up in unmarked vehicles. Carrie made sure she was present for all arrivals of officers, detectives, patrolmen, and even a few curious Sheriff’s deputies. She laughed at Lucas, who was clearly enjoying all the unaccustomed attention.
Sam never left her side, and by three p.m., Lucas and the entire police department were all best of buddies. It was a necessary step to protect the officers, so they could have the freedom to protect Carrie and her family in the future.
By seven p.m., Carrie had called Lucas to the back porch, and commanded him to sit and stay. She entered her kitchen and peeked through the window, comforted by the sight of him, then made adjustments to her blinds.
She showered, her vanity chair jammed securely under the doorknob for security. After changing into her pajamas, she prepared a ham sandwich and ate her supper watching television. By nine p.m., she could almost feel the change in the atmosphere. She forced herself to walk up to the window on the northeast corner of the house, and peek out toward the street. He’s out there. The street lamp kept part of the area well lit, but a strip between the window and ditch was black as India ink. She shivered as prickles of warning caused the hair to stand up on the back of her neck.
She ignored the nausea caused by her nervous stomach and picked up her ringing phone. “Hey, Sam.”