Hidden in Shadow

by Georgia Florey-Evans

  “Well, let’s hope he’s such an idiot he tries to get us during the three minutes of an hour when Hank’s driving by. My worst student will tell you those odds stink.” Then, whatever Mitch said softened Tessa’s features. With rosy red cheeks, she turned away from Holly and murmured too low to be overheard.

  Just as Holly was about to ask if they were sharing naughty jokes, Tessa placed her phone back on the table.

  “He wants us to come to the station after school tomorrow to hear about a theory he has. He made sure we had Clarence tonight and said to double check all the doors and windows. He’s going to have Hank drive by at least once an hour all night, too, just to be safe.”

  Shelving her curiosity about blushing whispers, Holly returned to the nightmare her life seemed to have once more become. “Did he say what his theory is?”

  Clearly back in the real world with Holly, Tessa started nervously wringing her hands. “He wants to tell us in person, but Holly, he’s worried enough to have Hank watching us. And, he’d have him parked across the street if there were more officers on the force. M...maybe we need to think about going to your parents’ place.”

  Holly stood and began to pace back and forth in her small dining area. Whatever Mitch’s theory was, it obviously had him on edge. Was it fair to ask others to go out of their way, just so she could stay in her own house?

  “How about this?” Tessa stepped away from the table and walked over to her. “How about if we go ahead and stay here, but only during the week?”

  Holly waited for her to elaborate.

  “Clarence will be with us at night, and we’ll be sure to double-check the doors and windows. We can even see about putting new deadbolts on both doors and sturdier locks on the windows.”

  That was a reasonable suggestion. “Do you think your dad could help mine install them, or is he too busy at the factory?”

  Tessa’s blush returned. “Mitch is off Thursday evening. We were planning to go out for dinner, but I can bribe him with home cooking in return for installing the locks. We’ll get Luke here to help him.”

  Holly was surprised by her friend’s demeanor. Tessa and Mitch had been dating since the women returned from Massachusetts, but they had always been platonic as far as Holly knew. “Has something changed between you and Mitch?”

  If Tessa blushed any harder, they could do without electric lights. “Yes. He told me…we told each other…we’re in love.”

  “Wow.” Holly was happy for her friend, who, like her, didn’t take romantic dating lightly. “When did this happen?” Hopefully, their first declarations of love hadn’t been whispered over Tessa’s phone a few moments ago.

  “He stopped by the school this afternoon. You knew Jack Wallace tried to get to Billy?”

  Holly had wanted to go find the boy and lock him safely in her office until that animal was in custody. “Thank heavens Al Hopper came along when he did.”

  “Well, when Mitch came to talk to the boys Wallace approached, he stopped by my room. At first, I thought he was there to discuss your situation.” Her eyes glowed, and a soft smile appeared. “Then, he sat down in one of the student desks and started talking.”

  “So that’s when he told you?” As outgoing as Mitch was, Holly still had trouble imagining him blurting those sacred three words.

  Tessa took Holly’s hands in hers. “He explained he doesn’t believe in romance unless he feels like it could lead to something more serious—permanent. God has to be front and center in the equation.”

  Holly couldn’t contain her smile as her friend brought a mathematical term into their dialog.

  “He wanted to be sure I understand where he plans on going with our relationship before we changed things.” Tessa squeezed Holly’s hands and smiled beautifully. “Then, when I told him I wanted the same thing, he...he said he couldn’t wait until we were somewhere romantic to tell me he loves me. And, for the first time in my life, I said ‘I love you’ to a man—besides Dad.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Holly pulled her hands free and gave Tessa a hug. “You two share so many values; you’re meant to be.”

  “I know.” Suddenly, Tessa pulled away and sobered. “I’m sorry, Holly. Here I am going all hearts and flowers while you’re being stalked.”

  Holly shook her head. “It feels good to talk about happy, normal things. Please don’t apologize.”

  Tessa’s lower lip popped out in a cute little-girl pout. “So, is my plan to bribe Mitch and Luke with my homemade lasagna okay with you?”

  “Not only is it okay with me, I think we should let Clarence stay home, and spend our weekends at my parents’ house. It will give everybody involved a chance to relax.” The idea grew on Holly and eased her guilt over all the trouble people were going to for her.

  “Okay. I’m going to check the locks right now. We can stop at the hardware store on our way home tomorrow and buy whatever we need. I’ll even pay half.” It was all too apparent Holly’s answer relieved her friend.

  “We’ll do that, but this is my house, so I’m paying for everything.” That wasn’t up for discussion. “You can buy dinner for us, though. We won’t have time to cook between shopping and Bible study.”

  “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

  Holly watched as Tessa walked to the back door and checked the lock. She better check and see where Clarence had bedded down. He slept very soundly, and if he had taken up residence on her bed, it would be a challenge to get him off it.

  Thank You, Father, for giving me my friends and family. I know you never give us more than we can handle...with your help. And, I see the help you’re giving me through the people you’ve blessed my life with. I am truly grateful.

  She felt a peace settle on her as she went to try to relocate a dog.

  Chapter 14

  Luke pulled on a denim jacket as he stepped out of the house, Clarence right in front of him. His day had started off rough and failed to improve. He was looking forward to picking Holly and Tessa up and taking them to Rob Sanders’ for Bible study.

  Clarence was going with him now so he didn’t have to make a second trip after the study was over. The dog could stay in the Sanders’ fenced-in backyard and turn up his nose at their purebred Labradors.

  Luke was nearly to his Jeep when he noticed it was sitting strangely. “What’s going on, Clarence?” He walked closer to the vehicle and saw the problem.

  “We have a flat tire, boy.” He walked to the back of the Jeep to get the jack and spare. As he walked past the right rear tire, he realized something else. “Two flat tires?” What was going on? With a feeling of dread, he circled the Jeep. All four tires were flat.

  He rubbed his hand down his face. “Okay, Clarence. The tractor not wanting to start and cutting out badly all morning can be explained. I can even accept the fence on the south property line being down, and Mrs. Pickler’s goats making themselves at home in my field. But there is no way on earth all four of my tires went flat at the same time.” He suddenly had a terrible thought. The truck. He headed toward the lean-to he kept his pickup parked under. He could see before he got there the back two tires were flat, so he wasn’t surprised to find the other two in the same shape.

  Luke nearly dropped his phone when it rang before he had it all the way out of his pocket. He quickly checked caller ID, hoping Mitch was calling him for some reason. The caller was unknown.

  “Hello.”

  “You won’t take my Holly anywhere tonight, will you? I told you to leave her alone. Stay away from my Holly, or your tires won’t be the only thing slashed.”

  The line went dead.

  That wasn’t a vague “you’ll be sorry," but the threat of physical harm.

  “I have to call Mitch, but I’d better call Holly first.” Clarence nodded in agreement. Luke thought for a moment. He wouldn’t tell her what happened yet. He’d wait at least until after she was home from Bible study. She’d be safe there while Mitch helped him deal with this mess. Then he would borrow
one of his dad’s vehicles to take Clarence to her house. “That’ll work.”

  Holly answered on the second ring.

  “You sound happy.” It was nice to hear a smile in her voice.

  “I’ll be happier after you get here and agree to do me a favor.” Was she teasing? It seemed like forever since she’d done that.

  “What favor are you asking?” He decided to join in on the fun. “Because I’m not giving Clarence a bath. He’s not due for one for at least another week.”

  Her laughter was beautiful. “You can at least brush his teeth. I woke up this morning with his face hanging over mine, and he adds a whole new dimension to the idea of morning breath.”

  “At least he didn’t kiss you.” Luke had gotten into the daily habit of just pulling into the driveway and opening the door for Clarence to get in. Holly and Tessa were busy getting ready for work, and he needed to get started on his day, so it quickly became a routine. The only bad thing was the missed opportunity to talk to Holly.

  “He’d better not, either!” Another giggle came across the phone. “He’s not my type, you know.”

  “So, what do you need me to do?” As much as he wanted to continue their conversation, he needed to call Mitch and deal with his vehicles.

  “Can I just ask you when you get here? It’ll be harder for you to tell me no in person."

  Luke was beyond disappointed. “I’m sorry, Holly. That’s why I called. I’m going to have to miss Bible study this evening.” He hesitated. “I have a flat tire.” Plus seven.

  “That’s okay.” She was still in a good mood. “Tessa and I can fit in your truck with you.”

  Oh, what a tangled web...Luke sighed. “It has a flat tire, too.”

  The line went silent for a moment before Holly’s soft voice spoke.

  “What happened, Luke? Please tell me the truth.”

  He had no choice. “All the tires on both my Jeep and pickup are flat.” At least, he could spare her the horror of the stalker’s threat of slashing for now.

  “He did it, didn’t he?” The happiness disappeared from her voice, replaced now by despondency. “He let the air out of your tires.”

  “Yes.” He tried to sound reassuring. “They’re just tires, Holly. You and Tessa go ahead to Rob’s. I’ll borrow Dad’s truck and run Clarence to town after Mitch leaves. Okay?”

  “Why don’t we come out and get him?” He could hear the guilt in her voice.

  “You don’t need to be out at that time of the night. I don’t mind bringing him.” He realized something and lightened his tone of voice. “What favor do you need?”

  “It’s okay. You have enough trouble.”

  “I want to help you,” he insisted. “Now, what’s the favor?”

  He heard her shaky breath and wondered if she was trying not to cry. “Tess is fixing homemade lasagna tomorrow evening. We wanted you and Mitch to come for supper, and install new locks on my doors and windows.”

  Luke didn’t hesitate. “I’ll be there. What time?”

  “Is five too early?”

  He would have rearranged his entire day if it meant helping her. “I’ll be there.”

  There was still a tremor in her voice as she spoke. “Thank you, Luke. For everything.”

  “I told you, Holly, I would do anything for you. I meant it.”

  Her voice was so soft he barely heard her. “Goodbye, Luke.”

  He said good-bye to an empty line.

  “Well, I’m pretty sure she’s crying.” Clarence, who was sniffing a deflated tire on the truck, turned and looked at him. “I wish at least one of us was there to comfort her.” Not that he could imagine Holly cuddling with his dog.

  He dialed Mitch’s number. At this rate, he was going to have to put his friend on speed dial.

  Within twenty minutes of his call to Mitch, the squad car pulled in behind the Jeep.

  “He seems bent on making your life miserable.” Mitch made the observation as he walked around the Jeep, using his flashlight to inspect the tires. “I don’t know what he used to slash these with, but it has a big blade. You won’t be able to patch them.”

  Luke had only told Mitch about the tires. He had to tell him the rest.

  “Mitch, he called again.”

  Mitch looked up sharply. “Another threat?”

  Luke nodded. “Pretty specific this time. If I don’t stay away from ‘his’ Holly, my tires won’t be the only thing he slashes.”

  Mitch stuck his flashlight in his pocket before pulling out his pad and pen. “Can you tell me, as accurately as possible, his exact words?”

  Luke tried to repeat the caller’s words verbatim. Mitch wrote them down.

  “Whether it’s a recorder or more like a microphone, I really think he’s using one of those voice altering devices.” Even with his face only half-lit by a security light, Mitch’s determination was visible. “Luke, we really have to face the probability this is not a stranger.”

  “I know.” Luke had reached the same conclusion, unpleasant though it was. “The girls are safe at Rob and Annie’s this evening, but do you think it’s a good idea for them to stay at Holly’s house anymore? The guy knew I was picking Holly up, and he’s threatening me. What if he decides to blame her for not staying away from me?”

  “I’ve been giving this a lot of thought.” Mitch returned his pad and pen to his pocket. “I think they’re as safe at Holly’s as they would be at Tony and Susan’s. I don’t know if you’ve talked to Holly today, but they’ve come up with a sensible plan.”

  “Holly asked me about installing new locks tomorrow night.”

  “Yes, they’re having us do that.” Mitch absent-mindedly scratched behind Clarence’s ears. “But they’ve decided to spend weekends at the Morris farm. Holly figures it will ease everybody’s minds. Safety in numbers, plus Tony is there.”

  Luke thought of Holly’s plan. “At least with those Coonhounds, nobody will get close to the house without Tony knowing it.” Biscuit and Lemon were probably the most idiotic animals the good Lord put on the face of the earth, but they liked to bark and howl at anything that moved. “I think it’s a good idea.”

  “Don’t tell Holly, but it’ll help out a lot. I have Hank driving by her place on the hour every night. You know with budget cuts, we’re stretched thin the way it is. If the county board finds out I’m focusing that much attention on one person, I’ll be raked over the coals.”

  Luke felt a deep gratitude for his friend. “Thank you. I know Holly wouldn’t want you to risk your job for her, though.”

  “I won’t be if I don’t have to send Hank out on weekends. He can make it part of his cruising pattern on weeknights without it being a big deal. If he comes in on weekends to do it, we’re looking at overtime, which is a big fat ‘no’ in the boss’s book.” Mitch patted Clarence’s head and stepped away from him.

  “Thanks just the same, Mitch. I appreciate it.” It encouraged Luke to know others were looking out for Holly.

  Mitch straightened. “Tell you what. You aren’t going to be able to do anything about these tires tonight. I’ll write up a report for your insurance, and then I’ll take Clarence to town with me.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Clarence was liable to develop an attitude if all this attention kept up much longer. He’d feel important riding in the squad car.

  “I don’t mind a bit.” A growl came from deep in Clarence’s throat, and something thudded behind the lean-to. Mitch went into action. “Stay put, Luke.” He unsnapped his holster and grasped the flashlight in his other hand as he slowly walked toward the back of the lean-to.

  “Who’s back there?” Mitch’s deep voice echoed off the aluminum siding.

  A loud rustle was followed by the sound of running feet. Luke grabbed for Clarence’s collar, but he wasn’t fast enough. His dog tore around the structure and took off in hot pursuit of the runner. Mitch ran after the figure, too, the beam of his flashlight bouncing with each step. Luke started after
them but slowed to a stop and surveyed the direction they were headed. If he ran fast enough, and the trespasser stuck to the treeline, Luke might be able to head him off.

  Luke hadn’t made it more than a few yards when, to his right, Clarence’s barks became louder and more rapid. Mitch shouted, and then there it was—another voice, yelling obscenities. At the sound of his dog’s growls, Luke took off at a dead run.

  “Shadow County Sheriff–stop or I will shoot.”

  Brush rustled and a mixture of men’s grunts and a dog’s growls led Luke to the scuffle. Just as he ran through the brush, Mitch seemed to fly into him, as though launched. The two men went down hard.

  “Where’s my gun?” Mitch’s elbow caught Luke in his solar plexus as the giant managed to get on his feet.

  At the sound of his dog’s yelp, Luke scrambled to his feet. “Clarence!”

  Mitch straightened with his gun in hand and even in the moonlight, relief was visible on his face. Clarence came bounding straight to Luke and nearly knocked him over with an enthusiastic jump.

  Instead of taking off, Mitch shook his head. “Too dark out here. I could walk right past him.”

  Not feeling any wounds on Clarence, Luke gently pulled the dog off him and back to all fours. “Did you recognize him?”

  “No.” The sheriff sounded disappointed. “He was wearing something over his face, and his voice was…weird. I should have at least managed to get some kind of identifying feature.”

  Luke didn’t like seeing his friend blame himself. “Mitch, that guy sent you flying. He must be a giant.”

  “’Bout my size, but he’s strong—our guy works out, Luke. A lot.” Mitch reached down to scratch behind the dog’s ears. “Good job, Clarence. You nearly had him.”

  “What now?”

  “Now, we get back to the squad car and I call for every kind of help I can find. The guy’s on foot in these woods. If I can get some manpower out here, we may be able to pen him in. We may have Holly’s stalker in custody before the night is over. “Mitch was already shoving branches aside and walking toward the farmhouse.

  Luke stayed close behind him.