by Kira Hillins
It was a nice night. As Zoe walked beside Renji, she tried not to think about Nicholas stalking around in the dark, watching, waiting for Renji to leave her side. She didn’t want to be afraid, but she couldn’t stop the icy chills forming on her skin.
She tucked her hand beneath Renji’s arm. When he’d transferred the vase to his other arm, he held her hand.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Millie told you about the grocery-store incident, didn’t she?”
She clung tighter to Renji’s arm. “She did a little while ago.”
“Well, don’t worry. I’m right next door if you need me. Plus, the entire town’s got your back.”
Zoe gasped. “The town knows what’s going on?”
“I don’t mean to scare you any more than you already are, but—” Renji held her hand tighter. “I found out how your apartment flooded.”
Zoe stopped, forcing Renji to a halt. She felt like a million eyes watched her from the shadows.
“How?”
“The door to the crawl space behind your apartment was broken. Someone had strung a hose from the spigot to the pipes beneath your kitchen. I told Fred, who told everyone to report any suspicious activity or vehicles.”
“Oh God.” Zoe took off for the apartment. She glanced back. Renji was right behind her. To keep up with her, he carried the vase of roses in his arms like a football.
The tip of her toe caught in a crack on the sidewalk. She sailed forward, arms waving. The concrete sped toward her face, but Renji’s hand caught her arm. He pulled her back to her feet.
She swallowed hard, throat clenched, body shaking. “I’ve got to get home and lock my doors.”
“We’re almost there.” Renji slid his arm around her shoulders and held her against his side as they walked. “It’s okay, honey. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
When they reached her apartment door, she pulled her keys from her pants pocket. “Is the crawl space fixed?”
“I boarded it up. Chained it and added a padlock.”
Zoe’s hands shook too much. Renji took the keys from her hands and finished unlocking the door.
Once Renji was inside, she shut the door. She flipped all the locks back into place and then breathed a sigh of relief.
Renji followed her up the stairs. When she turned on the light, he set the vase down on the breakfast bar.
“I wanted to walk you to work this morning, but I’d promised Hank I’d help him restock store shelves on his chip route.”
Zoe hung her purse on the back of the stool. “It’s okay. I’m glad you were here tonight.”
“Should I go home?”
The thought of being left alone was unnerving. She wanted Renji’s company.
“Could you…stay with me for a little while? I’ll make us some hot cocoa.”
“With marshmallows?”
“Yeah,” she said, smiling. “We’ll sit on the couch and listen to music like we used to.”
“Okay.” A grin crept across his face. “I wanted to tell you about Drema anyway.”
“Drema?”
He shrugged. “I spent some time with her Saturday night.”
“Oh, really? Well, then, Mr. Tanaka. Let me change into my jammies. Then I want to hear all about it.”
Zoe put on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. When she met Renji in the kitchen, he’d already started to heat the teapot on the stove. He’d set out her two favorite coffee mugs and had emptied a packet of hot-cocoa mix inside each.
Zoe grabbed the bag of marshmallows from the cabinet. “So, I’m dying to find out about Drema.”
Renji folded his arms across his chest. “I went to Holetzer’s Saturday night. I was sulking because you went out of town. Drema sat beside me. We talked.”
Zoe waited for more, but he turned his attention to the screaming pot. “About…?”
“A lot of things,” he said, pouring the boiling water into the cups. “Mainly about sports. Oh, and she wanted to know if you’d meet her this Thursday at eight p.m. She wants to ask if you mind helping her with some marketing.”
Zoe palmed her temple. She’d completely forgotten about Drema. Maybe working on a new project was just what she needed to fill in the lonely times of the week. To keep from worrying Nicholas would come after her.
Zoe dropped a few marshmallows in each cup. “I guess I could meet with her.”
He picked up her cup and handed it to her. “I can see it in your eyes, Zoe. You want me to stay because you’re scared.”
“I’m a little spooked. Just the thought of the creep out there running free, able to come into my town, my life, whenever he wants—it’s just downright scary.”
“I can’t believe he had the nerve to talk to Millie. How she must’ve felt. I’ll kill him if I ever see him around here.”
“Then you’ll go to prison.”
“It’d be worth it.”
She sat at the breakfast bar and took a sip of her hot drink. Her house phone rang.
“Don’t go storming off if it’s Ben,” she said in a laugh.
“I promise I won’t do that anymore.” He stepped toward the living room, cup in hand. “I’ll be right in here waiting for you.”
She picked up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Zoe.” Ben’s voice sang in her ears.
“Hey, Ben! I received the most beautiful roses today,” she said swirling a melting marshmallow around in her cup. “I think I have a secret admirer.”
“I’m jealous,” he replied. “I may have to come down there and steal you away.”
She laughed as she leaned her elbows on the table. “It’s good to hear your voice. I really, really miss you.”
“You okay?”
No chance would she tell him anything about Nicholas. “I’m all right. Just sitting here with my friend Renji, drinking hot cocoa.”
“The guy who ruined your apartment?”
She opened her mouth to tell him that Renji had nothing to do with it, but a light tapping caught her attention. Something moved away from the kitchen window. It was just a blur, but it was there.
Icy fingers crawled across her shoulders. Zoe squeezed her eyes shut. It was just her imagination. Maybe it was the branch of a tree scratching against the window. No way was Nicholas lurking in the dark.
“Ben, I—” She opened her eyes and stared at the window. The fingers crept down her spine and then up again.
“Hey. The Aurora gig was canceled, so we’re playing Goodland Saturday night. I was thinking I’d come down there on—”
Loud static on the phone made her jump. She exploded from the chair. It tipped over. When it crashed to the floor, she screamed.
“Zoe?” Renji said from the doorway. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s outside. They’re tapping on my window. My phone—” She dropped it from her trembling hand. “It’s not working.”
Two more loud raps on the window startled her. “Renji!” She fell into his arms and huddled against him.
His fingers closed around her upper arms. “Stay here.”
“No, wait!” She caught Renji’s wrist before he could leave. “Where are you going?”
“To check it out.”
Zoe’s gut churned. “No! You’re not leaving me here alone.”
“You’ll be okay, Zoe. Just lock the door behind me.”
“Renji, please.” She hugged his neck. “Be careful.”
He lowered her hands to her sides. After giving her a peck on her forehead, he left the kitchen. As he descended the stairs to the front door, Zoe followed.
The moment he left the apartment, she twisted all the locks and hung the chain. She leaned back against the door and stared up at the wall between the hall and kitchen.
Nicholas was doing this. He had to be. He’d done this before, back when she’d learned the hard way what a violent drunk he was. She’d locked him out of her apartment—the old place on the othe
r side of town. And he’d busted through the kitchen window to get in.
Renji could take care of himself, but this was Nicholas. He’d always been out to get Renji. The thought of something bad happening to him outside, in the dark, motivated her to move away from the door.
On shaky legs, Zoe hurried to the kitchen. She retrieved her cell phone from her purse, about to dial 911 when it rang. Renji’s name lit the screen.
“Hey,” Zoe said. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. You can unlock the door and let me in now.”
“Did you see anything?” She made her way down the steps.
“I found an empty bottle of tequila behind your apartment.”
Zoe twisted the locks. Her skin tingled as she unlatched the chain and opened the door. When Renji walked in, bottle in hand, she shut the door again and locked it.
“You can use your phone now.” He turned to face her. “The wire connected to the main box was loose. I just had to push it back in.”
“Oh God,” she said, staring at the empty bottle of tequila. An ocean of chills swept through her. Wave after wave, they came. A cold sweat formed on her temple as nausea crept into her throat.
“Yeah. I remember this was Nicholas’s choice of drink.” Renji shook his head. “I called Fred.”
“Is Fred going to arrest him?” she asked in a strangled voice.
“He’s sending someone to patrol the apartments, but he can’t arrest Nicholas on suspicion.”
Zoe sat on the step and put her head in her hands. “What am I going to do?”
“What you always do.” Renji sat beside her and shoved his arm up against her shoulder. “Don’t let him control your life. Go to work. Play games with your boyfriend. Let Ben come visit you.”
“I don’t want him to come here anymore.” Zoe shook her head. “Not with Nicholas around.”
Renji set the empty bottle on the floor. “Does Ben know about him?”
“No,” she replied. “I don’t want him to know either.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “I’m afraid he’ll decide it’s too much for him to deal with.”
“Nah. I don’t believe that for a second.” Renji leaned his elbows on his knees. “He lent you his car. I don’t know about him, but I wouldn’t have done that unless I really cared about the woman.”
Zoe bit her bottom lip and then smiled. “Thanks, Renji.”
“Anytime.” He grabbed the bottle and stood up straight. “Call if you need me.”
Zoe rose. “Will you stay here tonight?”
Her cell phone rang. Ben’s name lit the screen.
“I think you’ll be just fine.” He touched her cheek with his palm. “If you get too scared, I’m like twenty feet away. Right?”
Zoe nodded as he unlocked the door. “Keep your phone next to you.”
“Promise.”
She watched him walk toward his apartment. She scanned the parking lot and spotted the patrol car Fred had sent sitting along the curb near the main road.
After a short breath of relief, she shut the door. She locked the locks and then answered her phone.
Chapter Fifteen
With the effort of Millie’s family, and Renji’s uplifting words that everything would be fine, Zoe started to feel safe again. The police patrolled the area at night, and sometimes Fred stopped by to see how she was doing.
By Thursday, Monday’s incident had moved to the back of her mind. Though scared that Nicholas would eventually show his ugly self, she concentrated on the good things to come.
Since Ben’s band was playing in Goodland Saturday, he’d asked if he could visit on Thursday. He wanted to bring his motorcycle this time and take her for her first ride.
She’d wanted to keep him away from this town for fear he’d learn about her terrible past. But there’d been no more incidents. She was pretty sure everything would be fine.
At eight p.m., Zoe parked at her apartment. She’d just finished meeting with Drema Holetzer about the grand opening of the bar. The event was happening next month. Drema needed a band to play. When Zoe said she’d ask Ben, Drema thanked her profusely, offered her one night of free drinks, and then talked about her crush on Renji for fifteen minutes straight.
Zoe hurried into her apartment and shut the door. As she locked herself in, her cell phone beeped.
She looked at the display and read the message
Zoe. It’s Nicholas. Some bullshit cop came to my door asking where I was Monday night.
Zoe tossed her phone down on the table. It slid to the edge and stopped. Her pulse quickened. The silence of the apartment deafened her as she stared at her phone, hoping it wouldn’t chime again.
A mist of perspiration formed on her upper lip. Her hands felt clammy as she picked up the phone to call Renji. It beeped again.
I was at my house all night with my girlfriend. If I find out you’re telling lies to get me in trouble, I’ll press charges for harassment.
He’ll press charges for harassment?
The very thought of that made her cheeks burn. Fire spread through her veins to her fingertips and toes. She hated being scared. More than that, she hated him for making her feel like she couldn’t be happy. This wasn’t how she wanted to live her life—in fear of what he’d do next.
Maybe it was because Ben was on his way here, or that the police were nearby keeping an eye on her, but she couldn’t stand this anymore. It was time to take charge of this situation. Enough was enough!
If she had any chance of alleviating the fear and anger Nicholas had instilled in her, she’d need to tell him to go away.
She’d send him one message to tell him to leave her alone. Afterward, she’d change her phone number. Maybe she’d rent a new apartment under a different name. She shuddered as she typed in her message.
NEVER EVER come see me. Don’t ever call or text me. I don’t want anything to do with you. Worry about getting your own life together and leave me alone.
She pressed Send. After a minute, her cell phone chimed.
Holy shit, Zoe. You’ve grown a pair, haven’t you? Don’t you believe in rehabilitation? I’m not the guy I used to be. I’ve never even set foot in your town. Whatever. Stop blaming shit on me. Bye.
Just like him to turn things around and make him look like the victim. If she ever heard from him again, she was calling Fred and pressing charges. Of course, he’d barely spent any time in prison for what he’d done to her. He’d probably get off with a hand slap for the text.
Her home phone rang this time. Caller ID read Unknown. She debated on whether to answer, but with Ben on his motorcycle and on his way here, she couldn’t take the chance that it could be an emergency. “Hello.”
The line was silent.
She glanced at the screen. The call was still in session.
“Hello?”
She hung up. How quickly the anger fled, and in its place came back fear. She stood in the center of the kitchen, unable to move or breathe. Heart beating at a mad pace, she hugged her torso.
Ben was on his way here. It wouldn’t be long until she found comfort in his arms. She wouldn’t be alone.
Imagining him beside her, caressing her, telling her everything was all right, calmed her down enough to draw in a deep breath.
The cell phone rang, loud in the quiet kitchen. She jumped but recovered when she saw Ben’s number light up the screen. She answered, eager to hear his voice and tell him she wanted him here. Now.
“Ben!”
“Hey.”
“Please tell me you’re almost here.”
He sighed. “Ran into a bit of a snag.”
“Snag?” She swallowed hard. That one deep, calming breath turned into a pant. “You okay?”
“Well,” he muttered, “a big white truck ran me off the road about ten miles outside of town.”
“Oh my gosh. You’re not hurt, are you?”
“A little scraped up, but I’m fine. The bike’s in the ditch with a bent r
im. Can you come get me?”
“I’m on my way.”
She grabbed her purse and keys off the counter. She hurried down the steps, breathing as if she’d run the Boston Marathon. She unlocked the door. When she opened it wide, she stopped.
A chill crawled across her shoulders. The streetlight on the other side of the parking lot cast Ben’s car in shadow. Her gut churned. She had to do this. She had to save Ben from the side of the road.
She stepped onto the sidewalk. She shut the door and locked it. Heart in her throat, she started her walk through the dark.
“Just stay on the phone with me, okay?” she whispered.
“Why are you whispering? Is something wrong?”
“No.” She pressed the remote to unlock the door. It gave a short, loud honk that sent her into a brisk jog. The last thing she wanted to do was draw attention to her location. If Nicholas was here, he’d have heard the car disarm. “I’m getting in the car now. Hang on.”
She hurried into the driver’s seat. She slammed the door shut and shoved her hand down on the lock. Safe inside, she set the phone on the passenger-side seat and started the car.
Thank God. She shoved the car in gear and took off down the road.
It seemed like everything went wrong when Ben came to town. With her luck, maybe a tornado would set down on top of her and blow her into oblivion.
Her cell phone rang again. Crap. She’d forgotten she’d still had Ben on the line. It must have been him calling back.
She glanced at the screen as she drove closer to the edge of town. Unknown. It was just like the call she’d received at the apartment.
Her hair stood on the back of her neck. This was Nicholas toying with her. It had to be. She regretted texting him earlier, but what else could she do? She couldn’t let him continue harassing her.
Her cell phone chimed. She looked at the display and read the message. Hey, Zoe. I’m a jerk. Aren’t I?
What the heck was that supposed to mean? A vehicle sped up fast behind her in the other lane. High beams glared in the side-view mirror. Zoe squinted, wishing the person would hurry and pass.
When it reached her side, she looked over to find a white truck sitting on four very large tires. She inhaled a sharp breath. Was this the same truck that ran Ben off the road?