Connect the Dots

by Denise Robbins

  Words stuck in the back of Charley’s throat. A KA-BAR. She shook her head, looked up and caught Jake’s gaze. He knew it was military. Of course he did. The man was a bodyguard. He would know different weapons. Did Jake know someone who used a KA-BAR?

  She did. Too many to count. Could it be someone she knew? Someone she worked with? Kyle’s killer? Charley rubbed at her temples. Who did she dare trust?

  * * * *

  Jake took the knife away and set it back on the dresser out of eyesight. When he came back to her, he sat next to her, put her plate in his lap, and fed her.

  “I can feed myself.”

  “Humor me.” He grinned and lifted another bite of eggs to her mouth.

  “Yes, dear.”

  She bit into the strip of bacon he held out for her then took a sip of coffee. Without another question, he fed her bite after bite until she ate every last morsel. After setting the plate aside, he scooted Charley forward and took a seat behind her.

  Careful not to hit any of her bruises, Jake pushed her blonde hair aside and exposed alabaster skin. Gently massaging the muscles of Charley’s neck, and shoulders, he kissed her nape.

  “Mm.”

  “Who is after you Charley?”

  Well-toned muscles under silky flesh tensed beneath his fingers. “Don’t tighten up on me. Talk to me.”

  She lifted her shoulders, tried to shrug him off, but he refused.

  “Look, from the moment we met you have worried about something.” The pulse in Charley’s neck jumped. She was nervous. Scared. After seeing his Jeep mangled and charred extra crispy, he understood why.

  “Tell me about who hit you.”

  “Gray eyes, black truck. Shiny. The truck was shiny.”

  “As in new?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Long bed? Short bed?”

  Charley rubbed at her temples and he brushed her hands away and massaged them for her. “Extended cab or regular?”

  “Um. F150 size truck. You know the kind that compensates for a man’s lack.”

  Jake choked and laughed. If Charley could tease then maybe she was not too bad off. “Really? You know this from firsthand experience?”

  “Well, no, but…” She trailed off. Smart woman.

  “What’s today?”

  Jake turned her around so he could get a good look at her eyes. The pupils appeared dilated normally and the Irises were still that beautiful topaz color, like the ocean on a clear day, but her question concerned him.

  “Are you okay? Did you lose part of your memory?”

  Charley giggled. “No, silly. I just lost track of date and time.”

  He blew out a breath of relief. “It’s Friday.”

  “Oh, no.” She jumped out of bed, stumbling over the covers as she went, but managed to right herself. “I have to meet Waldo.”

  Jake lifted a questioning brow and Charley swatted at him.

  “Waldo is a friend,” she offered him. “He’s the one who found Old Mr. Green’s place for me.”

  She turned to her closet and started riffling through it while he gaped at her. One minute she sat meekly in his arms, recuperating from an accident, and the next she had a date and had to get dressed. He would be at a loss for words if it did not piss him off so much.

  “No.”

  Her back to him, she said, “What?”

  “I said, no.”

  Charley turned, her blonde hair whipping her face. She shoved at the strands that blocked her view. “No, what?”

  “No, you cannot go.”

  Her brow lifted and she blinked rapidly. “Excuse me? I don’t believe I asked for your permission.”

  “Maybe not. Maybe I’m out of line.”

  “I’ll say.” She slammed a fist against a hip and tossed the hip saucily to the side.

  Jake bit his inside lip to keep from smirking and got to his feet, stood nose-to-nose with her. “Maybe I’m worried that you were in an accident and that it is not safe for you to drive. Think about it. How do we know the guy who ran you off the road isn’t waiting for a second chance to finish the job?”

  He had her. Head tilted back to meet his gaze, Charley gnawed her bottom lip, contemplating his words. She knew he was right. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he tugged her so they were belly-to-belly, chest-to-chest.

  “Stay right here with me,” he whispered in her ear.

  The brush of her lips against his cheek had him standing at attention and shouting success inside his head. Yes! Then Charley pushed him back a step and grinned, white teeth bared as if she would bite.

  “Better idea. You can go with me.”

  “On your date?” Jake scrubbed his face with a hand and shoved the other one in his pocket. “You must be nuts.”

  “It’s not a date. Well, not the kind you mean. Waldo owns a pizzeria and I meet him there every Friday night if I’m in town.”

  She touched his chest, gentle hands against hard muscle and he melted. “Please, Jake. I think you’ll like Waldo.” She turned her attention back to the closet. “And he might even like you.” She giggled.

  TWENTY-TWO

  When she stepped into the pizzeria, Waldo was behind the counter. He dropped the pizza dough, wiped his hands on his red apron, and as he rounded the stainless steel, slipped the apron off letting it drop to the floor, and embraced Charley in a bear hug. Tears stung her eyes as she felt Waldo’s big heart beat against her chest. She was safe.

  Stepping back, she swiped at her face then turned to see a slack-jawed Jake standing directly behind her. “Jake, I’d like you to meet …”

  “Waldo Pepper, Fighter Pilot Extraordinaire.”

  Stunned, Charley watched the obvious awe in Jake’s eyes as the green in them gleamed and his smile lit the room. Waldo, on the other hand, did not beam at anyone. Instead, he glanced toward her and she gave him a reassuring nod. Then Waldo accepted Jake’s extended hand.

  “Pleasure to meet you, son.”

  “No, sir. The pleasure is all mine.” Jake turned to look at her. “Do you know who this is?”

  Charley touched his cheek. “Yes, I’ve known who Waldo is for three years.” Jake’s jaw dropped even lower and she chuckled. “Waldo isn’t Santa Claus, you know.”

  “Might as well be for me.”

  “I said you would like him.” She winked. “I guess I was right.”

  Jake bent next to her ear as Waldo walked ahead of them to their favorite booth. “You were also right in that he doesn’t seem to like me.”

  Waldo faced them once they reached the table. “That’s because I love this little girl and don’t want any harm to come to her. You look strong enough to kill with your bare hands.”

  Charley’s heart beat a little faster. Were they going to fight? Then she glanced down at Jake’s hands. They were big and strong. “He’s a professional bodyguard,” she interjected.

  Waldo looked Jake up and down then nodded. Was that some kind of male ritual of acceptance, she wondered.

  “Take a seat. I’ll get the drinks. What will you have?” Waldo addressed his question to Jake.

  “Whatever you bring.”

  Waldo stepped away, slapping Jake on his shoulder as he went, making Jake stumble forward a step. Then Jake slid into the booth next to her.

  “How do you know Waldo Pepper?”

  “I used to live not too far from here. We became friends over my flavor of pizza and old war stories. Ever since then we’ve had a standing Friday night date.”

  “That is totally amazing, but are you sure I should horn in? I mean, Waldo did not seem thrilled.”

  Charley patted the hand Jake had laid on her arm. “He’s protective, that’s all.”

  A throat cleared.

  “That is not all. Here.” Waldo set the drinks on the table; her Corona Light and two Guinness drafts then took a seat opposite them in the booth.

  Jake handed Charley her beer then thanked Waldo for his. “Should I go put in the order?”

 
“Hell, no, those boys saw my girl walk in. They’ll be all over getting her that Hot and Sassy.”

  Waldo took a swig, wiped his Guinness foam mustache off, sat back, and narrowed his sights on Jake. Was it just her imagination or did Jake seem to cringe?

  “Who are you?” Waldo’s voice boomed and even Charley’s knees shook.

  She reached across the walnut wood and touched Waldo’s beefy hand. “He’s a friend and neighbor. He lives next door to Mr. Green’s place.”

  All of the sudden, Waldo’s demeanor changed. His shoulders visibly dropped, his balding head tilted, and a grin split his big face.

  “Jake Frisbie. I know who you are. Dan Green told me all about you. He said …”

  “Pizza is here,” Jake announced a little too loud.

  She looked at him then at Waldo. It was a simple eye contact and nods, but something unsaid was agreed to in that non-verbal exchange. What? Great! More secrets. Face it, Charley, there are some things a girl will never be a part of.

  With a shrug, she put it out of her mind, handed out the paper plates, and enjoyed the pizza, company, and War stories.

  * * * *

  Jake drove them back home in Charley’s SUV. It was not quite midnight when they pulled back into her driveway. Would she send him away? After the brief conversation he had with Waldo while Charley visited the women’s bathroom, he found out a little more about what had sent her scrambling to her new home. He got the distinct impression that Waldo knew much more than he shared, but Jake got the gist.

  Someone, Waldo would not say who had broken into Charley’s condominium and stolen something of value and then left a trail of micro bugs in his wake. A stalker? That would certainly explain her nervous behavior and the need to carry a weapon around with her. Would a stalker try to run her off the road?

  In spite of Charley’s conviction that his car was run off the road, therefore, he had to be the target, he was not convinced. Moreover, he did not feel comfortable leaving her alone. Would she invite him to stay?

  Hopping out of the SUV, Jake ran around to the passenger side and helped Charley out of the vehicle.

  “Thanks for taking me along tonight.”

  She peered up at him with warm blue eyes and smiled. “You two seemed to really hit it off. I’m very glad. The last person I introduced to Waldo was not such a hit.”

  Jake stiffened and pressed Charley’s back against the BMW. “How many others have you introduced?” He practically growled the question as jealousy reared its ugly head.

  “You and Kyle,” she answered panting as he nipped her neck, skimmed his tongue along the pulse that beat rapidly.

  “Who is Kyle?” He tugged on her earlobe between his teeth.

  “Dead.”

  That jerked him back. He released her lobe and stared into her face, the blue orbs that managed to glitter in the dark of night.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “We hadn’t been dating for a while when it happened.” Jake heard her swallow a lump in her throat. Old feelings? Something more?

  “How did he die?”

  Charley shoved at his shoulders. “Let me go. I don’t want to talk about this.”

  Something more. “Too bad, Charley.” He held her pinned between his arms. “Is his death the reason you’re so jumpy? Did you see something? Do you know something? Is that why someone bugged your other place?”

  She looked at him as if he had just struck her.

  “Holy shit!” He stepped back, scraped his fingers through his hair. “That’s it, isn’t it? Whoever killed your ex-boyfriend is after you. Why? Does Waldo know everything?”

  Charley shook her head and started toward the door. Jake caught up with her, hauled her up and over his shoulder as he entered the house.

  “Jake! Put me down!” She pounded small fists against his back but he ignored them and made his way up the stairs.

  “Please!”

  He laid her on the bed with care then pounced. His body pressed on top of hers, Charley shook her head from side-to-side. “I can’t tell you anything. I don’t know anything. All I do know is it’s dangerous for you to be near me.”

  “You’re being noble? Trying to save me?” he asked as his left hand deftly undid the top buttons on her blouse.

  Charley sucked in air. “Stop.” She slapped at his hand and Jake simply held her wrists above her head in one hand and went back to unbuttoning with the other. “Don’t you get it?” she wailed.

  “Oh, I get it, Shugar. You want to save me.” He slid his hand inside the undone silk. “But I have a question for you.” With the one hand, he lifted her breast and the puckered nipple met his lips. He suckled and waited for Charley to writhe beneath him. When he felt her hips arch, he released her and spoke gently.

  “Open your eyes, Charley. Look at me.” She opened them and the glazed look gave him satisfaction. “You want to save me, but who is going to save you?”

  “No one. I will save myself.”

  “From whom?”

  Her lids snapped shut and he had his answer. “You don’t know. Do you know why?”

  She shook her head as she worried her lip.

  Jake leaned down and licked that poor, abused lip then kissed it, her, until he felt the tug of her arms and he released his grasp. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled. Closer.

  “Trust me, Charley,” he whispered between kisses as he finished undressing her and she tugged at his shirt sending buttons flying. Frantic to have her, be buried deep inside her, Jake stood and whipped off his pants, tugging her slacks off and out of the way.

  He spread her wide, tasted her, felt her grab the covers and fist them in her hands. She bit her lip trying to hold back. That poor lip.

  “No holding back, Charley.”

  His tongue thrust and she shot over the edge, arching, screaming his name. Before she settled back to earth, Jake entered her, let her clamp around him, then moved. Not slow building strokes, but short fast strokes that dragged her to the edge and when they reached it plunged them over together.

  TWENTY-THREE

  After slipping into a pair of day-glo green running shorts, white tank top, and running shoes, Charley headed out the door for an early morning, pre-sunrise run. She hoped Jake would be up and gone by the time she returned but somehow she doubted that would be the case. The man was persistent, not to mention one heck of a lover!

  Put him out of your mind. Concentrate on clearing your head. Her feet crunched on the gravel driveway as she made her way to the road that led to her place. When she hit the dirt, she took off in the direction of the wreck at a steady jog keeping to the center. The further Charley ran, the more trees lined the roadway, and the more she enjoyed the country.

  Arms pumping at her sides, Charley inhaled deeply, and took in the aroma of a New Hampshire spring day. There weren’t any horns honking, no smog to cloud her vision of the blooming tulips. It was pure heaven out here. Picking up her pace, she made out the sound of a whippoorwill. When she looked toward the sound, she watched it lift up from a tall tree branch, flap its wings, and boom. A shot blasted the air, the bird dropped like a stone.

  “What the—”

  Hunters? Charley sprinted toward the fallen bird, but before she made it five yards, there was another loud crack. Earth flew up in the air in front of her and a rock went flying. Pulse racing, she jerked back, skidded, and searched in the direction the bullet traveled. What the heck was she thinking? She ran!

  The road sloped down into trees on the shoulder where the bird fell and that was her destination. She could get some kind of cover there. As she reached the edge of the road, another bullet sang in the air and hit the dirt not two inches from her right foot. She jerked and jumped in reaction. Losing her footing, she toppled into the brush, skidding down the embankment on her butt. Rolling and sliding, her legs flailed while her arms tried to grasp grass, branches, anything to stop her freefall.

  It wasn’t until Charley hit a big fallen tree with a thud,
her descent finally halted. For a second she lay there dazed and confused, unable to move or catch her breath. Then she tried to get to her feet but a searing pain shot up her side and she fell back down. Just as she did, wood from the log splintered near her face. She made herself flat against the ground, trying to not give the shooter anything to aim at.

  Not hunters. That was a rifle shot. Sniper? A really poor one, she thought, but if he kept at her, he would hit his mark sooner or later. Flipping over onto her stomach, Charley belly crawled around the log for more cover and time to come up with an escape plan. Her head snapped up when she heard the sound of footfalls and the cracking of twigs. Someone was on her side of the road.

  Searching for a weapon, she came up with a heavy rock and a broken branch with a sharp, pointed end. Crawling on her stomach made her vulnerable. With her face low to the ground, Charley sought a spot where she could prop herself up out of the shooter’s line of sight, and at the same time be prepared to strike at whoever she heard trampling in the woods. Her gaze landed on a giant old maple tree about ten yards away. The width of the trunk would hide her from the shooter and give her a solid structure to prop herself against.

  All she had to do was get to the tree. Yeah, no problem. With the rock in one hand and the branch in the other, Charley snaked toward the tree, pulling her body through the brush with her arms. Every foot gained meant another scratch on her legs and arms. So much for a morning jog. Maybe she would invest in a treadmill after she got out of this mess. Provided she did get out.

  “Don’t think like that,” she mumbled as she inched forward. “Just a few more feet.”

  Charley figured she could outrun the sniper, not out run his bullet, but the guy could not anticipate his shot. Having been through the training, she knew that what made a successful sniper was not just the ability to hit the mark from some very challenging places, but anticipate the target and hit it even when it moved.

  “Finally.”

  She breathed out a sigh of relief and started to roll over onto her back. A shot cracked the maple tree she was about to sit behind, splintering the wood, sending shards flying. Charley grabbed at the pain in her shoulder and felt the wood chunk sticking out of her skin. She plastered herself to the ground.