They strolled by restaurants, amusement parks, and the New York Aquarium. There was so much to do that one day wasn’t enough to do the place justice. But they did stop for a Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog. Haylee piled hers with relish and mustard, making a mess, then laughing it off.
Lucas took her on one ride that was not to be missed, Deno’s Wonder Wheel. From the historic Ferris wheel, they had views of the seaside and the rest of Coney Island. In the afternoon, they went to the beach. They could swim and sunbathe on three miles of sandy shoreline.
The sheer size of the beach and the number of visitors made blending into the crowd easier. At first, Lucas sat next to Haylee on the towels that she had brought in her bag. But they looked ridiculous wearing hats in the blazing sun.
Lucas secured a spot down the beach, making it possible to go swimming without other beachgoers taking notice. Haylee stripped off the cheap clothes and tossed the hat onto the towel. With a screech, she raced toward the shoreline and plunged into the water.
They occupied the rest of the afternoon with swimming and sunning. Lucas discreetly watched the people around them, but most of them were too involved in their own activities to notice others. The day progressed without Haylee being recognized, much to her delight.
Late in the day, they re-dressed in their makeshift disguises and went to an early dinner at Gyro Qila, a tiny place they entered from the sidewalk. Lucas chose a metal table that was positioned so he could watch the door, as well as the customers inside.
The place was busy, so their arrival went unnoticed. The waitress came by to take their orders. Haylee removed the sunglasses to scan the menu and the waitress studied her. “You know…you look a lot like that singer, Haylee Nichols.”
“I get that sometimes.” Haylee handed her the menu. “I’ll have the daily special.”
“Same for me.” After the waitress left, Lucas grinned. “Good thing you didn’t flash her that winning smile of yours. She would have recognized you for sure.”
“You specifically told me not to smile.”
“You’re a fast learner,” Lucas said. “If you get a hankering to try out special ops, I’d be happy to recommend you.”
“Very funny,” Haylee said, “I think I’ll stick to fame. But I’ve had a great time with you today.”
The waitress served the iced teas, and Lucas took a gulp. “Speaking of being recognized, I have to ask you something. We hadn’t seen each other in fifteen years, yet you recognized me.”
“Is that a question?” Haylee said, raising her eyebrows. “I couldn’t forget those copper eyes that seem to look right through me.”
Lucas put his hand over hers. “I thought of you often during those years. I listened to your music and watched your videos. I thought it was infatuation, but…”
Haylee blushed. “But what?”
“Now, I’m not so sure,” Lucas said. “I’m starting to believe that we were meant to find each other again.”
The meals arrived, so for a while their attention went to the food. It gave Lucas a chance to regroup before he said too much.
Haylee dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, making Lucas want to kiss her. “Did you ever think about the first time we met and wonder how our lives would be different, if we hadn’t gone our separate ways?”
“A thousand times.”
“So have I,” Haylee said. “I’m grateful for my son, so I wouldn’t change that. But still…”
“Yes, I guess life is strange that way.”
After dinner, they strolled along the beach. It was sunset and the horizon was bright orange and gold. Lucas could see the outline of the Ferris wheel against the darkening sky. He put his arm around Haylee, feeling closer to her than he had a right to.
Haylee stopped to turn and wrap her arms around his waist. Lucas put his hands in her hair and looked into her lovely brown eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he leaned closer.
When his phone vibrated in his pocket, Lucas groaned. It was Jake. “This better be important.”
“It couldn’t wait,” Jake said. “I may have found our stalker.”
“Talk to me.” Lucas took Haylee’s hand then put the phone on speaker. “Haylee’s with me. I’m sure she’ll want to know what you found.”
“I’ve been digging,” Jake said. “This guy had to be around. Stalkers watch their victims… Sorry, Haylee.”
“That’s okay,” Haylee said.
“The background work wasn’t netting results, so I took another approach.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Lucas said.
“At Haylee’s concerts, the audience is photographed a lot,” Jake said. “The guy didn’t show up in photos taken by security. This guy tends to stay toward the back, probably feels safer. But I spotted him at each of Haylee’s concerts on this tour. I was able to snag some personal photos plus a couple of shots that were posted on social media.”
“You have a picture of him?” Haylee said.
“Yes, and I’m suspicious of this guy,” Jake said. “He hangs at the back and doesn’t seem to be swept up in the atmosphere like the rest of the audience. He has been too intent on you for my liking. And I recognize his look. The dude is a predator.”
“Text the photo,” Lucas said.
A picture of a guy in his forties appeared. He had short, dark hair and a scruffy beard. His hazel eyes were close-set, and his face seemed set in a permanent frown.
Haylee stared at the picture, then gasped. The color drained from her cheeks and she put her hand to her throat. “It’s him.”
“You recognize the guy?” Lucas said.
Haylee nodded.
“Give her a second,” Lucas said to Jake.
Haylee looked up, clearly horrified. “That’s Denton Scott Kuzmin. But it can’t be him; he was incarcerated.”
Lucas held his breath, knowing there was more to that.
Haylee looked as if she had seen a ghost. “Thirteen years ago…he tried to rape me.”
Chapter 9
As darkness descended over the shoreline, Haylee huddled next to Lucas on the sand. She stared at the ocean and watched the tide come in, any feeling of safety gone. She had figured that Kuzmin would be released at some point, but she had stopped thinking about it long ago.
The horrific incident had devastated her at the time, but she had matured since then. It was in her past, something she wanted to forget. Only Kuzmin wouldn’t let her; he had reappeared in her life. It didn’t seem real. He had been gone for so many years. She never dreamed that he would return.
Lucas took her hand. “Are you okay, honey?”
Haylee looked at him. They had shed the glasses and hats, since it was too dark for anyone to recognize her. In the last glow of sunlight, she clung to the sight of Lucas, a friendly face amid the horror.
“I’m shaken,” Haylee said. “I don’t know what I feel—hatred, fear…both?”
“We have his name now,” Lucas said. “The team will track him down, in coordination with the police.”
“What can the police do?” Haylee said. “He hasn’t committed a crime yet.”
“Stalking is a crime.”
“Yes, but you have to prove it,” Haylee said. “It’s not as though the police are going to pick him up for attending my concerts.”
“I realize this is hard for you,” Lucas said. “You’ll feel better if you talk about it.”
Haylee hugged her bent knees, wishing that she was anywhere else—that she was anyone else. “If I tell you then you won’t see me the same. I don’t want that to happen.”
“It won’t change a thing,” Lucas said. “There is not one thing you could say that would change what I think of you. And attempted rape was that asshole’s crime, not something you should feel guilty about.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Haylee said. “I felt like I allowed it somehow, that I should have stayed away sooner. That—”
“Tell me what happened.”
Haylee thought bac
k to that dreadful moment and her eyes filled with tears. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and took a breath. “It was a nightmare. Thirteen years ago, Denton Scott Kuzmin was a key figure in the music industry.”
Lucas listened, giving her a chance to gather her thoughts.
“I was only twenty years old,” Haylee said, “and new to the entertainment business. It was my dream to succeed, but it wasn’t easy. I was naïve when I went off to Los Angeles.”
Lucas moved closer but didn’t interrupt.
“You have to understand,” Haylee said. “Kuzmin was a producer and he was putting me in situations that I had dreamed of. I was in the studio with stars I had idolized. I would see famous people stop by to see Kuzmin, so I told myself that he was okay—even if a little creepy.”
“What did he do that was creepy?”
“One night at a bar, he groped me,” Haylee said. “Stuff like that, but I put it aside. I just thought that I was in the right place; I just had to dodge the bullet, maneuver around his creepiness.”
“You were trying to dodge somebody who was out to abuse you.”
“I know that now,” Haylee said. “I just didn’t expect him to push it. But it didn’t end. He belittled me, demeaned me for not having sex with him, for not being willing to have sex to advance my career.”
“He actually demanded sexual favors?”
“It’s not uncommon in the industry,” Haylee said. “Another big producer who crafted hits for some big names drugged and sexually abused one of the singers he worked with.”
“And got away with it?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Haylee said. “I made friends in L.A. and heard plenty of stories.”
“So, you knew what to watch for?”
“I started to catch on,” Haylee said. “But not soon enough. I should have dumped Kuzmin and had nothing further to do with him, but I thought I could manage it. My career was taking off and he poured on the admiration. I suppose he shifted tactics to throw me off guard.”
Lucas took Haylee’s hand.
“One night after a concert, I left out the back.” Haylee took a breath. “I didn’t have security then; I wasn’t that well known. It was dark and Kuzmin met me back there. He appeared in the shadows and it scared me.”
“Were you alone?”
Haylee nodded. “He started coming on to me, and I told him to get away. Only he was a lot stronger than me and I couldn’t escape.”
Before continuing, Haylee glanced at Lucas. “This part is hard for me. Things turned violent. Some of it I don’t remember clearly. He shoved me against the brick wall and…”
“I’m listening.”
“He tried to rape me,” Haylee said. “I tried to fend off his advances, but he reached up under my skirt and tore off my underwear. He had his hand over my mouth so I couldn’t scream.”
Haylee closed her eyes, trying to block out the terror.
“I fought, tried to knee him,” Haylee said. “Much of it seems like a blur after that, but I remember resisting. Kuzmin got pissed and started roughing me up. Then the theater’s security guard showed up. I remember him shouting. But Kuzmin was crazed; I don’t think he heard. I saw the guard start to run toward us, then Kuzmin slammed my head against the wall. My vision went blurry and…”
Lucas looked at her.
“That’s all I remember.” Haylee let out a long breath. “I woke up in the hospital. I had a concussion and required stiches on my leg. The guard said that Kuzmin shoved me into a metal stairwell.”
“What happened to Kuzmin?”
“I found out that he was arrested and charged with sexual assault,” Haylee said. “Because I was knocked unconscious and injured badly enough to require stitches, the sexual battery charge was bumped up to a felony.”
“How many years for the crime?”
“I testified against him and the security guard was a witness,” Haylee said. “Kuzmin was charged with attempted rape, in addition to assault. With the combined charges, he got eight years. Before I married Ryan, I moved back to Philly, so I didn’t think I’d see him again…ever.”
“If my math is correct, Kuzmin completed his sentence more than five years ago.”
“That means that he’s been out for a while,” Haylee said. “I don’t know why it took him so long to show up again.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Lucas said. “I won’t allow him to touch you. To get near you, he will have to get past me, and that isn’t going to happen.”
“When I accuse him of stalking, he will come after me…”
“Let him,” Lucas said. “I can’t wait to get the asshole in my sights and give him what he deserves.” He pulled Haylee into his arms and hugged her tight. “This time you’re not alone.”
Haylee pressed closer, glad Lucas was there. She wanted to believe he could protect her, but Kuzmin was one ruthless son of a bitch. And she guessed that the years in prison hadn’t done much for his outlook on life. If anything, he was probably more dangerous.
*****
The day at the beach had ended with Haylee pouring her heart out. Lucas understood that her stalker was vicious enough to do real damage. He took her back to the hotel, and into the care of her security. Amy was back from her sister’s house, so she stayed in the room with Haylee.
Lucas met with Adam to discuss the new development. He didn’t like a criminal on the loose, following Haylee around on tour. After revealing Kuzmin’s identity and his background, Lucas stated that he would work with his team to gain more information. Meanwhile, Adam would coordinate with the local police.
Lucas faced the challenge of keeping Haylee safe during the upcoming concert. Since Haylee was distraught over the news about her stalker, Amy stayed up late with her and slept on the sofa bed to keep her company.
Lucas shut the connecting door to his room, but he didn’t do much sleeping. He tossed and turned, then was up early to prepare. The Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island was a new venue for him. After two cups of coffee, he went for a five-mile run, then showered and went to the boardwalk to scope out the location.
The amphitheater was huge, including the five restaurants inside. The VIP lounge and rooftop bar were a new addition. Guests could enjoy food and cocktails in the airy space. The breezy layout was a good spot for friends to gather for the show, or to catch the sunset on the warm summer night.
But Haylee wouldn’t be able to enjoy the ambience. No matter how inviting the place was, her safety came first. Lucas couldn’t keep her hidden from the public while she was dressed in full costume. It occurred to him that it wasn’t fair. She should be able to enjoy attractions like anyone else.
It began to sink in why Haylee was retiring so young. Lucas didn’t know how stars dealt with having their lives on public display. But there were more concerns about the place than not being able to visit the bar—the amphitheater was huge.
The size of the place presented problems. There were too many places to stay out of sight, too many ways to blend in. If Kuzmin wanted to hang around, it would be damn hard to find him. The theater held five thousand, and that didn’t count the staff.
Lucas tried to think like Kuzmin would. Since the guy had worked in the industry, he wouldn’t waltz into the joint in full view. It was more likely that he would use a disguise, since Haylee could recognize him. What he didn’t know was that Lucas would be able to also.
Beginning with the outside, Lucas checked out the setup. The amphitheater was a covered beachside concert area on the boardwalk. The open access made it less than secure, and the crowds from the boardwalk increased the risk. The surrounding areas were no better; there were just too many people in Brooklyn.
After spending long enough to be familiar with the area, Lucas found a place for breakfast and took the opportunity to strategize. He played through various scenarios, trying to spot any weaknesses in security and plan effective escape routes, if needed.
Later that day, Lucas met with the head of securit
y for the amphitheater, finding that he was experienced and competent. There would be plenty of on-site security—plus Haylee’s team would be present, which was reassuring.
Lucas had learned to expect the unexpected. Kuzmin had something planned, and Lucas would be a lot more confident if he knew what. From the minute Haylee left her room until she returned safely, Lucas would stay close to her as protection. He would even take a bullet for her, but it was likely that Kuzmin wouldn’t be that blatant in his attack. Whatever he did, he would want to stay out of the limelight—which still left too many options.
But Lucas wasn’t the new guy on the block. Situational awareness was second nature to him. He would watch for anything out of place, or any person out of the ordinary, and act accordingly. Kuzmin didn’t know who he was up against. Still, Lucas wished that Haylee’s safety wasn’t on the line.
During the day, Lucas spent time watching visitors in the area of the amphitheater and along the boardwalk. He figured if he was casing the place then Kuzmin might too. It was a long shot, but Lucas hoped to spot him. That didn’t happen, but the time was well spent. Lucas had a sense of the activity in the area and the people—all the better to spot someone who didn’t fit.
Late in the afternoon, Lucas returned to the hotel and coordinated with Haylee’s security team. She would get to the theater in plenty of time to set up ahead of the arrival of the crowds. The last thing he wanted was for her to show up and have to wade through a sea of fans.
Haylee wasn’t quite ready when Lucas got back, so he paced the hallway to wait for her. She had finished with hair and makeup, but Amy was helping her with some last-minute adjustments to a special costume. It seemed that her assistant was capable of handling just about anything.
While Lucas waited, he got a call from Jake. “Do you have a minute?”
“Yeah, but not much longer,” Lucas said. “When Haylee is ready, I have to take off.”
“I’ve been doing some digging on Denton Scott Kuzmin.”
“Talk to me.”
“He’s an interesting dude,” Jake said. “And not in a good way.”
Lucas (Must Love Danger Book 5) Page 7
