by J. Woods
Zoe swallowed nervously at the sound of the knock on the door. “Ms. Alcott? Police,” boomed a voice from the other side. Letting out the breath she’d been holding, she opened the door to a middle aged man in a poorly fitting suit. “Ms. Alcott?” he repeated.
“Yes.” She nodded her head, opening the door wider inviting him in.
“I’m Detective Peter Ashbrook.” He held out his hand and she took his calloused fingers in hers.
“Thank you for coming.” He nodded his head, moving into her living room as he looked around the space.
“May I see the note?”
“Of course.” She handed him the small piece of paper keeping it folded and the words hidden. She didn’t need to see them anymore, she had them memorized.
You’re mine. Our time is now. I’m coming for you.
She watched as he read it over quickly before placing it in a clear plastic bag he pulled from his pocket. “I’m going to hand this over to forensics. Hopefully they will be able to pull something off of it. You’re sure this couldn’t be from anyone you know?”
“No. I’m positive,” she shook her head. She could still feel the shake of her knees but refused to give in to the fear that was threatening to consume her. She shut her eyes tightly, trying to rid her mind of the cryptic words that made her question everyone and everything.
“And when did you receive it?”
“Sometime today, it was within the pile of mail that I brought home with me.”
“And what about the past couple of days - anything out of the ordinary?” Zoe thought back on the weekend remembering only a date with a guy whose last name she didn’t know. She explained to the serious detective about her dismal and uneventful night while he took down his number and email, the only information Zoe had on him. She quickly waved it away, the suit was dull and thinking only with the flaccid member in his pinstriped pants; he didn’t have a possessive bone in his body.
“And what about fans of yours?”
“Well I certainly wouldn’t call them fans. And it doesn’t happen very often apart from dinners and galas were there are paparazzi asking for photos that end up in the paper. I mean, I get emails and letters from people, congratulating or inspiring, but never anything that screams obscure stalker.” She watched him nod his head in understanding as he wrote what she was telling him on the small pad in his hand before lifting his head with understanding eyes.
“If you don’t feel safe here tonight I can have you moved to another location. If you choose to stay here, there will be two officers watching out front.”
“Here? There will be someone out front watching me?”
“Yes. Because of your status within the community and this particular situation I want to ensure all of our bases are covered. If your choice is to stay here I have two officers waiting for my order.”
“Okay, I would rather stay here if that’s the case then.” She preferred the idea of being somewhere familiar instead of being thrown into a foreign hotel room where she would feel even more isolated. She wanted to comforts of her bed, the warmth of her home, the familiarity of her kitchen - and the knowledge of where the knives were.
Detective Ashbrook pulled out his phone, “Jones, you and Morrison are on for tonight.” He didn’t wait for a response as he put the phone in his pocket and turned back to Zoe. “Ms. Alcott-”
“Zoe, please,” she interrupted.
“Zoe. Try and get a good night’s sleep and know you are safe. I will be coming by your office tomorrow with more information.”
“Thank you so much Detective, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”
“Call me Peter, and it’s my job. Here is my card, call at any time for anything. I have jotted down the number to Jones, one of the officers who will be on watch for tonight. You can call him and he can come right up if you need him.”
“That’s great. I’m sure I’ll be fine. Thank you again, Peter.” Zoe felt comfortable with Peter Ashbrook. He was a good looking man. Stress had taken a toll on his once young skin, with wrinkles marring his forehead when he frowned but when he looked at her it was without the lustrous heat she normally saw. Instead what she saw was if not warmth, understanding. He was a get to the point, no beating around the bush kind of guy and that was something Zoe could understand and appreciate, even in a situation such as this.
She closed the door behind him and secured both the deadbolt and chain in place, locking her safely away within her tower. Looking around, she suddenly felt very alone in her big loft when she normally relished in the quiet independence. She padded over to the window to gaze down onto the darkened car that looked on protectively below. Steeling herself she pushed away and moved into her bedroom. Stripping her clothes on the way to the shower she stepped under the scalding streams of water to rid herself of the dirt that seemed to accompany the words that had turned her night and her nerves upside down. She didn’t understand; she couldn’t remember anyone who would send her something like that. She always maintained professional relationships with her competitors, always left off with a smile and a mutual understanding after a hot night with a guy. She couldn’t wrap her brain around who would be coming after her. Stepping further under the hot water she placed her palm on the wall in front of her, closing her eyes against the heated stream washing over her face. It was times like this she wished she had a dog, or a cat, maybe even a fish. She hated the vulnerable emotions she was feeling, the emotions that slapped her with the reality of how alone she was. She never allowed herself to fall into that space of need; she’d always been an independent child, a rough and tough streak running hot through her veins. Her parent’s always joked about the nurses giving them the wrong baby at the hospital. She’d always been close with her parents. She was an only child and because her parents loved their jobs almost as much as they did her, she’d had to learn to take care of herself at an early age. She always made sure she stood up for what she believed in, never bowed down to the bullies and she wouldn’t bow down to this one. She shook her head; it was probably some punk playing games. She smiled, she had a lot of experience with punks treating her like a game and she always made sure she showed them how it was played.
Feeling refreshed, she climbed into bed. Her eyes heavy with exhaustion, Zoe took a strengthening breath, as was the ritual when her nerves were out of order, and told herself she never allowed anyone to rule her decisions or her life, that was all her. She was a strong, independent and confident woman. She was the CEO of a successful company, everything she owned she had bought herself and she depended on no one. And she most definitely wasn’t going to let some asshole affect her emotions to the point of affecting how she would live her life - she never had and she never would. Her mother often called her too independent and her therapist seemed to agree with her, but Zoe knew herself and knew from her past that if she relied on people, they usually only let her down. With a resolve to fight, Zoe closed her eyes with a smile whispering, “Bring it on” into the night.
Chapter Two
Logan’s phone buzzed the minute he stepped through his front door. Scratching Axel, his protective Doberman behind his ear as a hello, he fished his phone out of his pocket and answered immediately when he saw the name. “Ashbrook.”
“Savage, I may have a job for you.” Logan closed his eyes briefly as he fell onto his couch. He still felt the kinks in his neck from the plane he’d just stepped off only a few short hours ago. He swallowed the sigh that was building in his chest. He knew his brothers were either just starting a mission or coming off of one. They would all tell him he needed a break and echo his mother’s sentiments, and as much as he wanted to agree with them, he couldn’t. Logan was known for taking mission after mission and he preferred it that way. He knew if he didn’t, his past would creep up to haunt him and he would rather ride the high of exhaustion than the alternative. He was known for his hard exterior and the cold block that sat in the middle of his chest. His sisters swore there was a smile in
side of him somewhere, his brothers disagreed vehemently. He thought about that two days of sleep he was banking on before he answered, “Okay, what’s up?”
“Ever heard of Zoe Alcott?”
“Nope, should I have?”
“She owns Harbor Press.”
“Okay.” Logan was never up on the who’s who of celebrities, local or not, so when the name didn’t register or the website she owned he ignored the surprise in Ashbrook’s voice and waited for him to continue.
“She received a threat today. Came in the mail but it look’s legit, I’ve sent it off to forensics for any prints. I have officers parked out front her place tonight, but it’s not going to be enough going forward.”
“What do you need me for?” Logan had slipped off his shoes and pushed himself up to grab a beer from the fridge, Axel following closely on his heels.
“I need you for security. For Ms. Alcott. I need someone I can trust and I need all my guys on this case to catch this bastard as soon as possible. She’s a known name, especially in the community and the note she received gives even me the creeps. Because of her status I need all eyes open and all bases covered.” Logan knew what he meant. Zoe Alcott was obviously an important name and it was a case, no matter how new, that he couldn’t allow to fall through the cracks. One mistake, one moment of not taking whatever note she received seriously and it turned out to be just that, the entire thing would collapse on the good detectives unit and more directly onto his shoulders.
“Alright. Email me the details and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Already sent and make it nine.”
Logan took a long drink of the cold beer as he sat down, letting his head fall backward as he listened to the signifying click on the other end. He sat for a moment, enjoying the quiet as he pet Axel’s head that rested on his thigh before reaching for his laptop. Firing up the computer he went through the files the Detective sent him. He jotted down Zoe Alcott’s address into the GPS on his phone and briefly scanned her vague documented background. The last file was a picture. Logan was surprised at what he saw. She was pretty. Okay not just pretty, Zoe Alcott was damn sexy. Her long dark hair fell past her shoulders and her dark eyes sparkled along with her smile. He couldn’t see her body in the picture but he could already tell it was one he would probably appreciate. It had obviously been taken for the newspaper, the dim coloring of the image along with the older man who was smiling down on her read the caption, Zoe Alcott, CEO Harbor Press with Jim Parkins, CEO LibreCafe. With one last long look at her picture, he shut down his computer and the instant urge of protection for the woman whose smile shot straight to a foreign place in his chest before he fell into bed for a fitful night’s sleep.
***
Zoe woke to the early morning sun well before her alarm clock was set to go off. She stretched and even through the few hours of sleep she achieved, she felt a renewed strength flow through her blood.
She stepped out of the shower and pulled on a tight black and white striped, shoulder baring dress. She felt daring in it and even though it may not be work appropriate, today she didn’t care, she needed the confidence she always felt in the head turning garment. She pulled aside the curtains to find the same car sitting out front her building. Grabbing her phone she sent Jones a text telling him she was heading into work. She knew if she stayed here she would go stir crazy. She smiled when her phone buzzed with a one word response. Okay. She laughed at the apprehensive tone that was palpable even through text message - she wasn’t sure if the apprehension was directed toward her or the fact that she had sent him a text message in the first place. Slinging the large purse over her shoulder she took a deep breath and unlocked her front door to step out into the hallway. She almost laughed to herself when nothing happened. Rolling her eyes she locked the door behind her and stepped into the elevator pressing the button to take her to the underground garage.
***
Logan woke with the rising sun and quickly showered before he hopped into his truck to make his way toward Zoe Alcott’s apartment building. He wanted to get a head start before meeting with Peter Ashbrook to discuss Ms. Alcott’s predicament. Driving away from his secluded cabin beyond the excitement and buzz of the city, he listened to the accented voice of his GPS taking him further into the heart of downtown. Parking a block away, he climbed out and started to automatically inventory everything he set his eyes on - the number of street lamps, dark shadowed corners, apartments and rooftops that were a direct line of sight to Zoe’s apartment. Slipping into the opening underground garage, he targeted Zoe’s sleek black SUV. He rolled his eyes; of course she would have a car like this. The last thing he wanted was to be shackled with a stuck up brat who thrived and boasted about how much money was in her bank account. He knew girls like that, he had slept with girls like that and they were always the same - heartless, brainless and completely material. He pulled out his flashlight and searched first the underneath of the car ensuring no one had tampered with it. He grunted, crouching down before lying on the hard cement. Going over every line and crevasse, he was satisfied no one had touched the mechanics of her car. Pulling himself to his feet he turned his flashlight toward the interior of the car protected by the tint that covered her windows. Surprisingly her car was spotless. All the spoiled girls he knew didn’t care about the space around them, they normally had someone picking up after them anyways, maybe Zoe had that too, someone who cleaned her car after they finished wiping her ass. That wouldn’t surprise him, but then, why did he care? he thought with a hint of disgust.
“Find what you’re looking for?” His head snapped up at the sound of the feminine voice that had crashed through his distracting thoughts. He felt the breath get stuck in his throat at the woman who stood deceptively lazily against the wall watching his every move.
My god she was gorgeous.
Her dark hair fell in loose curls just below the most perfect pair of breasts he had ever seen, and they were still covered by the painted on dress that displayed every feminine curve her mouth watering body possessed. She raised an eyebrow when he didn’t answer right away and her dark eyes were a mixture of concealed fear and daring anger. Logan cleared his throat in an attempt to get his bearings firmly back in place. “Who are you?” she asked him before he could get any words out.
“Logan Savage. I work with the Vancouver Police Department.” He felt the need to explain because even though she had her cool and confident mask in place, she couldn’t stop the fluttering of her heartbeat at the base of her neck. She was nervous, that was good. He didn’t need a client that thought she was above her situation. And it was definitely a dangerous situation she found herself in. He also had to admire the flash of disbelief in her eyes. “Are you finished Mr. Savage?”
“You need to be more careful Ms. Alcott. How do you know I’m not lying, that I’m not a murderer here to kill you? You should be calling the police.” He frowned as she narrowed her eyes and pursing her lips, pondering his question. It almost made him angry how cool she was playing it even though he knew she had to be scared. What was wrong with her? Why wasn’t she screaming and running for the hills? She should be trying to get away from him, some stranger who she caught going through her car, illegally, he thought fighting the urge to roll his eyes.
“How do you know I haven’t already? And are you a murderer Mr. Savage?” His blood burned at the easy tone in her questions.
“Of course not.” He couldn’t hold back the growl in his voice.
“Well then I guess I have nothing to worry about.” She pushed off the wall and moved her heeled feet toward him. Walking past him she opened the driver door and slid in gracefully before turning over the engine. She reversed and pulled out of the garage, probably on her way to work, sticking out her slender fingers to wave at him before she disappeared into morning traffic. Logan stood motionless in the same spot. That woman was not only one of the most beautiful he had ever seen; she was also the most infuriating.
Every assignment he had ever taken that involved a woman; she clung to him like he was her lifeline, the only thing keeping her from the threat that was taking over her life. Not Zoe Alcott. She carried an air about her that told him she didn’t need anything, or anyone. He didn’t know if that was something he admired or thought was incredibly stupid. She needed to be aware of the dangers her life could be in. He took in a deep breath; he had his work cut out for him in this one. He brushed his reaction upon first seeing her as exhaustion; he was tired, just coming off of his last mission. Sure she was beautiful, but it wasn’t like he’d never seen a pretty girl before. He just couldn’t ever remember having that reaction before. He shook his head walking back down the street to his truck, trying to shake the image of the sensually delicious Zoe Alcott from his mind. She was a mission. And she would stay only that.
Chapter Three
Zoe was surprised she was able to keep her cool as she felt the tremble of lasting fear course through her. She had never been more scared in her life to find Logan Savage trying to search her car. God she hoped he was telling her the truth about working with the police. But her car didn’t blow up when she turned it on, her tires remained unslashed and her brakes were working. She took a countless amount of deep breaths before she felt her heart start to slow and she had never been so grateful to pull into the parking lot of Harbor Press headquarters.
“Hey Zoe… Are you alright?” She distantly heard Rachel’s worried question. She managed to smile and lift a hand easing her best friends concern. She would be coming in and asking questions. They’d known each other since they were kids and she could read Zoe like a book. She had to tell her; that feminine instinct arose within her to spill her secrets but she also wanted to make sure her closest friend was aware of her new secret admirer and keep her safe. Rachel was a tough cookie, but she had a soft heart; the very last thing Zoe wanted was for her to get caught in the middle of her problems.
