“That’s okay. I’ll find it. I want to look around anyway.”
Stella walked him to the back door and unlocked it. “It’s right there.”
“Thanks. Lock the door behind me and I’ll be back after I have a look around.”
Stella did as she was told and watched Andy from the window as he picked up the phone and saw the latest message. His head turned to look back at the house before he pulled out his flashlight and walked about the house. He looked in every shadow, every nook, and every cranny. He examined every lock and every window before knocking on the door at the same time she saw her brother’s minivan racing up her drive. Andy had his hand on his gun as he turned around to see who was coming.
Stella unbolted the door quickly and opened it as Andy stepped to put himself between the car and her. “Deputy, that’s my brother.”
His hand dropped from the gun as Karl’s door was flung open. He raced out with questions pouring from his lips as he ran. “Are you okay? What did you find? Did they contact you again? Did you see anyone?”
“Mr. Winters, I’m Deputy Andy Sharp. I just searched the outside. Why don’t we go inside and talk?” Karl nodded and quickly hugged his sister. The steam seemed to rush from her and anger turned to exhaustion and confusion.
“Can you unlock your phone for me, Miss Winters?” Andy asked as he followed Karl inside. Stella held out her thumb and unlocked the phone. Andy walked into the living room as he read the texts.
Stella sat next to her brother who put his arm around her shoulder and protectively pulled her against him. Stella watched as Andy’s kind eyes turned cold. White lines formed around them and around the corner of his lips as he pressed them tightly together.
It seemed as if they sat there in silence forever as Andy read the messages. He finally looked up at her, and Karl gave her a little squeeze of support. “I’m glad you called. There were a hundred an’ sixty-three messages after you stopped reading.”
“What did they say?” Stella asked, knowing her brother could feel her starting to shake again.
“Whore. Over and over again. I saw the first message. It was from someone who was watching you tonight. This person was very upset that you were with Jace. Do you know anyone who would take issue with you being on a date?”
“Rick,” Karl cursed.
“Who’s Rick?” Andy asked as he pulled out a small notebook.
“Rick Hudson is my ex-boyfriend. We broke up months ago, though,” Stella told Andy. “He didn’t put that much effort into our relationship. I don’t know why he’d put this much into it now.”
“Who ended it?” Andy asked.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because Rick is an egotistical user who only cares about how he looks and the names he can drop,” Karl spat angrily. “I’m going to beat the shit out of him.”
“Why don’t we make sure it’s him first,” Andy said so kindly that once Stella realized he hadn’t said not to beat him up, she actually laughed.
“I broke up with him because he didn’t like any of the things I like. We weren’t compatible. He liked to be flashy. I don’t like being in the spotlight. He hated the outdoors and I love it. The list goes on and on. In our case, opposites might attract, but they don’t stick once you realize you don’t have anything in common,” Stella took a deep breath and watched Andy write in his pad.
“When did he last contact you?”
Stella felt her stomach twist. “Today. He wanted to know how the opening went. Who showed up, did it go well, that kind of thing.” Karl cursed and Stella realized why. It wasn’t normal for him to continually be reaching out to her after they broke up, after she had told him several times to leave her alone.
“What’s his address and phone number?” Andy asked.
“It’s in my contacts if you’d like to copy it.”
“Do you mind if I take pictures of the texts?” Andy asked as he set down his pad and took out a cell phone.
“Go ahead.” Stella watched as Andy set her phone down on the table and snapped a series of photos. Then she saw him go into her contacts to find Rick’s information. He read over some of the texts before writing down his information and handing her back the phone. “What’s next?” Stella asked.
“We have some friends in the Lexington Police Department. I’m going to have a chat with them in the morning and pay Rick a visit to ask him about this. In the meantime, keep everything locked and call us if you get any more texts. I’m usually on nights. I can drive out a couple of times a night just to check on the house. If anything’s the matter or you just want to talk, leave a light on and I’ll come see how you’re doing.”
“Okay. I never leave any downstairs lights on so if you see them on, you’ll know I’m awake,” Stella said as she and Karl stood up.
Andy was about to put away his pad when he stopped. “Can you think of anyone else who wouldn’t like to see you dating?”
Stella shook her head. “No. It’s actually quite the opposite. Everyone I know wants me to date.”
Andy nodded as if understanding. “Call me if you think of anything. I, or someone from the department, will check on you tomorrow.” Andy turned to look at Karl. “Are you staying here tonight?”
“I am.”
Stella looked at her brother and shook her head. “No. You don’t have to do that. Eden and April are at home.”
“Eden and I both insist. She wanted me to call her as soon as I checked in here. I’ll do that now, and then I’ll sleep on the couch tonight.”
Karl stepped into the kitchen to call Eden and Stella walked Andy out to his cruiser. “Do you think I’m in danger?” Stella had wanted to ask this before but didn’t want Karl to worry even more.
“I think it’s too soon to tell. It’s clear someone isn’t quite in their right mind and is very angry for some reason. Now, many of these cyber bullies never come out from behind the screen.”
“But some do,” Stella said, finishing Andy’s thought.
“Exactly. Let me investigate and then I’ll have more information for you. There’s no reason to think he’ll do anything right now, though. Usually there’s quite a buildup before in-person contact is made. At the heart of it, they’re cowards. Go about your life. Just use common sense and let me know immediately if anything unusual happens. Okay?”
“Will do. Thank you, Deputy.”
Andy waited for her to go back into her house and shut the door before he drove away. Karl was waiting for her with her phone in his hand. “I’m keeping this with me tonight. I’ll call Deputy Sharp if you get any more texts. I want you to go upstairs and try to sleep. Tomorrow is a big day for your business, and I know how important that is for you.”
Tomorrow was going to be crazy as the sun would be shining and, she thought optimistically, the place would be packed. Now that she already had some deposits for the larger commercial jobs, she could hire some help. “Thanks, Karl. You’re the best big brother ever.”
“Night, sis.”
Stella patted her leg and Jimmy was by her side in an instant. She hurried upstairs and got a pillow and blanket for Karl, then found herself lying in bed next to Jimmy and cursing Rick. Why would he do this to her? He hadn’t really cared about their relationship. He was only mad because she was the one to break it off. His texts over the past months had been a minor annoyance, but nothing that scared her. Hopefully a visit from the cops would be enough to put an end to this.
Hopefully.
8
Jace looked over at his cousin and frowned.
“Riley, I’m worried about the protein levels in your urine. They’re rising. Not much, but enough for me to notice them. Your blood pressure is also creeping up to the highest end of normal that I want it.”
Jace saw his cousin clasp her husband’s hand. Matt Walz might be the sheriff of Keeneston, but he couldn’t protect his pregnant wife from preeclampsia.
“Can I make it to full term?” Riley asked.
This was their first pregnancy after a long time of trying, and it had been a rough road. Riley had stepped down from the state legislature, and Aniyah had stepped up from being Riley’s secretary to the newly elected state congresswoman. Riley had given up so much for the health and protection of her baby and never thought twice about it. Now he had to tell her she’d never reach her goal of a full-term pregnancy. She was at almost thirty-one weeks and they’d be lucky to make it to thirty-four, never mind thirty-seven.
“I doubt it. Every day we can get will be crucial. I’m starting you on one blood pressure medicine that won’t hurt the baby. I’ve been talking to your specialist, Dr. Estes in Lexington, and we’re in agreement on this. She wants to see you next week. You’re to check in every day with me until then. I want to keep things as easy as possible, and I will be doing all my exams at your house daily. How is seven-thirty in the morning?” Jace asked.
“I’ll do whatever it takes. If I have to stand on my head to keep this baby in here, I will.”
Jace smiled at Riley and shook his head. “Please don’t try that.”
Riley rolled her eyes at him in response.
“Keep meditating and also sleeping on your left side. That will help with your circulation and can help ease your high blood pressure.” Jace looked over at Matt. “I’m sorry, but I don’t carry that medication here. You’ll have to go into Lexington. I’m sending it in now to the pharmacy. It’ll be ready by the time you get there.”
“Not a problem. I’ll do anything for Riley and our baby.” Matt helped Riley up from the exam table and once she was standing, turned back to him. “Oh, and I’m sorry to hear Stella had a problem last night. It’s so strange. She’s such a nice person. I don’t know who would do that.”
Jace froze. His heart stopped beating as he processed what Matt said. “What happened to Stella last night?”
Matt bent down and picked up Riley’s purse. “She got a bunch of nasty texts. Over a hundred and sixty of them calling her a whore for having dinner with you last night.”
“What?” Jace didn’t believe what he’d heard. That couldn’t be right.
“Yeah, some unknown number texted her that they’d seen her having dinner with you and then called her a cheap whore a hundred and sixty times,” Matt explained as he wrapped his arm around Riley who was shaking her head.
“That’s so sad. It’s a horrible way to welcome someone to our town. You have to bring her over to our house so I can meet her,” Riley said.
“How is she?” Jace asked Matt, ignoring Riley’s invitation for the moment.
“Shaken up. Andy made sure she was safe and left her last night with her brother. He called Detective Braxton this morning and stayed over the end of his shift so he could drive into Lexington to talk to an ex-boyfriend of Stella’s,” Matt explained.
“Was he arrested?”
“No. He showed them his phone and there were no text messages anywhere on the phone that Andy could find. He was home alone at the time the texts were sent. There’s not enough evidence to do anything.”
There had to be something, but Matt would have done it if there were. “So we just wait for this asshole to screw up?”
“Unfortunately. Night shift will be doing a drive-by at least once a night. Andy said he’d do them at least twice for a while.”
“Thanks for telling me,” Jace said before finally remembering to breathe.
“I thought you might be interested after I heard about your date last night and the amount of bets being placed on you two right now. The sad thing is I don’t know if it’s better for you to be around her to protect her or stay away from her to protect her.”
There was no question as to which action he’d do. He’d already sent her a text that morning asking her out again. Stella was constantly on his mind. He couldn’t step away now when she was in danger any more than Matt could walk away when Riley needed him.
Matt grinned at him. “Well, I see you already came to the same conclusion I did, which is why I told you. Be safe, Jace. You’ll have a new cousin to take care of soon.”
Jace walked them to the clinic door and locked it behind him. They were technically closed that day, but he saw emergency cases and always scheduled Riley for the open day. The second he locked the front door, he was out the back and in his car heading for Stella’s.
* * *
Jace was pulling into the bustling garden center less than ten minutes after closing his clinic. He saw cars with license plates from all the surrounding counties as he parked. Jace spotted Karl first. He was leading a woman with a cartful of flowers toward the barn.
“Dr. Davies!” was the only warning Jace got before April flung herself at him. Jace caught her and lifted her up so she could wrap her little legs around his waist. “Did you bwing Cwicket?”
“I didn’t, but I can ask my mom if she plans on stopping by today.” April nodded her head, sending her blonde pigtails swinging into his face.
Jace sent the message and his mom instantly responded. “She said they are going to come over to see you in just a little bit. Now, can you tell me where Aunt Stell is?”
April shrugged. “I can’t keep up with her. My mommy is in the barn taking money and my daddy is cawying heavy things to cars for people. Aunt Stell is walking around answewing questions. I saw her in the twees.”
Jace looked around. There were too many rows of trees to count. His best course of action was to stay around the main area and keep an eye out. “It looks busy, and I bet your daddy would appreciate some help.”
Jace let April drag him to her father. He had dark circles under his eyes and he was constantly looking around as he smiled at each customer. There was a look of relief when he saw Jace.
Jace leaned down to April and smiled kindly at her. “Thank you for helping me find your daddy. If you see your Aunt Stell, can you tell her I’m here?”
April nodded enthusiastically. “I’ll tell her!”
Jace stood and the two men quietly watched April run off with Jimmy trailing after her until she was out of earshot. “How is she?” Jace asked. There was no need to say who the she was. It was clear Karl was worried about his sister.
“Pretending nothing happened. It was awful, Jace. I felt so helpless to stop the messages. Just the word whore over and over and over. Deputy Sharp was there when I arrived, but I could see Stella’s eyes were red and swollen from crying. She had been so scared when she’d called me.”
“Matt—he’s the sheriff—told me Andy talked to Stella’s ex this morning.”
Karl’s mouth tightened. “Rick Hudson. They dated for seven months. He is such an egotistical user. He only cared if you could do something for him. Deputy Sharp stopped by after he talked to Rick to return Stella’s phone and said there was no evidence it was Rick who sent the messages. He’d seemed surprised by the news but not overly upset. He cooperated, but I saw the texts. They were from an unknown number. Rick could have used a burner phone.”
“I’m sorry for whatever role I played in it,” Jace confessed. The guilt had been eating away at him since Matt had told him about it.
Karl looked surprised for a second before shaking his head. “It’s not your fault. It’s his. He can’t stand to lose and that’s what he felt happened when Stella broke up with him. It was an insult to his ego.” Karl used his dirt-covered gloved hand to refit his baseball cap in frustration. “Look, don’t let Rick ruin something that could be really good for you and my sister. You’re a good guy and you two deserve to be happy or at least have a shot at it.”
“Do you think Stella wants to see me?”
“I’d say yes, based on how fast she’s walking over here,” Karl said as his lips turned up into a tired grin. “I’d better get back to work or the boss will yell at me.”
“I’ll be right there to help you out. I’m off for the rest of the day and can lend a hand.”
“Thanks, Jace,” Karl said before heading off for the barn to help the next customer with
their larger orders.
Jace walked toward Stella. The need to be near her had him walking quickly to the middle of the garden center. They were surrounded by flower, herb, fruit, and vegetable displays when they finally met.
“How are you?” Jace asked as soon as he stopped in front of Stella.
“You heard?”
Jace’s lips tilted up as he tried not to laugh at her surprise. “It’s a small town. Everyone probably knows. It also helps that the sheriff is my cousin-in-law.”
Stella unexpectedly burst out laughing. “Camila was right, there are so many cousins.” Jace enjoyed the moment when she completely forgot about the texts. It didn’t last long, though, and soon her smile slipped. “It was horrible, Jace. I’ve always thought of myself as strong. I’m a single woman who has built my own business from nothing to this. I’ve always lived alone and never feared going toe to toe to fight for what I want. It frightened me and made me feel weak.”
Jace saw her suck in her breath and look away. Her lashes batted as if she were trying not to cry as she took some slow deep breaths. “You’re not weak for being upset. I’d be more worried if you just ignored it.”
Stella reached out and took his hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “Thank you. And thank you for the text this morning. It was a nice one to get after being afraid of every time my phone got a message. I had a great time, too.”
“Do we dare try for a second date?” Jace asked with hope that she’d say yes.
“I’d like that very much.”
“How about I come pick you up and take you to my place? I can cook dinner in the privacy of my home. No one will know.”
He saw the relief in Stella’s face along with the excitement. “That sounds perfect.” Stella’s gaze went to something behind him. “I’m sorry, but I see someone who needs help.”
“Go be the successful business owner you are. I’m going to help your brother. I can take you to dinner once everything is done for the day.” Jace liked that plan. It let him keep a protective eye on Stella all day. Only there was one problem, and he had a remedy for it. He’d have to pay for it, but he’d do anything for Stella.
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