* * *
Chris tore his gaze from the pavilion in the distance and returned his attention to the scene around him. The picket-fenced area where he sat was a flurry of activity. Children played on a huge jungle gym, swarming over its surface like multicolored ants. Others sailed one by one down a tall metal slide and circled around to do it all over again. Every swing was occupied, their offbeat rhythm of squeaks punctuating the symphony of happy voices. The carefree scene provided a welcome distraction.
Nothing in his life had improved. He had talked to the bank about his situation, hoping to get the mortgage renewed, or at least extended, but it didn’t look very promising. Both Sam and Derrick had said they would hang in there as long as they could. But if something more secure opened up for either of them, they would have to take it. Karen didn’t make any promises one way or the other.
And nothing had changed with Missy. He hadn’t talked to her since Tuesday night. But not an hour had passed that he didn’t worry about her. She needed protection—protection that Alan was too inexperienced to give. And Branch just didn’t care. So he had enlisted Ron’s aid once again. If he could just track down this Eugene creep, he would feel so much better. Missy didn’t believe Eugene had found her, but he wasn’t so sure.
His attention slid back over to the pavilion. Missy sat at the concrete table underneath, along with Kevin and BethAnn. He had seen them arrive, watched while they toted picnic supplies from BethAnn’s van. But he hadn’t approached them. And frankly, he didn’t know how. Since he arrived at twelve-thirty, he had been racking his brain for a way to keep her guard from going up instantly. At least when he showed up at the mall, he had an excuse.
But when the three of them had finished lunch and headed in his direction, the decision was made for him. BethAnn spotted him, and a wide smile spread across her face.
“Hey, Chris,” she shouted, waving enthusiastically.
Melissa’s reaction wasn’t so welcoming. Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms stubbornly in front of her. He stood to go meet them.
“It’s good to see you again,” BethAnn exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
God bless BethAnn. She was a good one to have in his corner. “Doing some people watching. It’s too nice of a day to spend inside.”
“Yeah, right,” Melissa said, sarcasm heavy in her tone. “Your showing up here is as much a coincidence as your showing up at the mall.” She turned an accusing stare on BethAnn. “You called him, didn’t you? You told him I was going to be here today.”
“No, I didn’t call him.”
“Okay, you went by the store.”
BethAnn was doing her best to stifle a grin. “No, I didn’t go by the store, either.”
Melissa planted both hands firmly on her hips, but she didn’t look nearly as annoyed as he expected. Maybe BethAnn had been working on her. “Okay, you talked to him, left him a note, wired a telegram, sent up smoke signals—somehow you let him know I was going to be here today.”
“You caught me.” She released the grin she had tried to restrain. “He called your phone while you were in the bathroom, and I answered. But it was up to him whether he wanted to come. I’d say he really wanted to see you.”
That was an understatement. He had hardly thought of anything else all week.
“But since he’s here, what do you say he tags along?” BethAnn turned to look at him. “We’re headed to the fort.”
“The fort?” He had scanned the park when he arrived. A narrow asphalt road wound through, offering easy access to about a dozen pavilions. In the distance, two small bridges spanned a thin ribbon of water that connected two lakes. The playground was at the other end. Beyond it were soccer fields. Nothing he had seen resembled a fort.
“Well, it’s not really a fort,” BethAnn admitted. “It’s actually a big mound of dirt with two short concrete block walls going up one side and down the other. It was my favorite spot in the whole world when I was eight. All us kids played make-believe there.” Her eyes sparkled with fond memories. “I was a princess being held captive in a wicked king’s castle. Then the brave knights would come charging up with their sticks and rescue me.”
“Sounds like fun,” Melissa said. “I just want to know how come I missed out on this place.”
“I’m not sure. It’s just a twenty-minute drive, but the only times I came were when I spent the weekend with my aunt and uncle over here. My cousins and I would play for hours. We were all sure the fort was enchanted.”
When BethAnn reached the edge of the soccer field, she stopped suddenly, brows drawn together in confusion. “I can’t believe it. The fort’s gone. They took my mound.”
Kevin shook his head and made a clucking sound. “Those dirty, low-down mound thieves.”
“I’m serious,” BethAnn protested. “It was right here. I’m positive.”
“Sure it was.” Kevin’s tone was patronizing.
BethAnn put her hands on her hips. “I’ll prove it to you.” She stalked over to where a small group of men and women were forming teams for a volleyball game. “Do you know what happened to the old fort that used to be here?”
Several shook their heads. Finally a woman stepped forward. “Yeah, they tore it down several years back to put in the soccer field.”
BethAnn turned defiantly to Kevin. “See, I told you I wasn’t nuts.”
Kevin grinned. “Yeah, you are, but that’s beside the point.”
She playfully punched him in the stomach, and he grabbed both her wrists. Somewhere near five foot nine, he wasn’t much taller than BethAnn. He looked like a surfer, with skin bronzed golden-brown and sun-bleached hair that he was constantly pushing out of his eyes. But according to Missy, that killer tan came from hours spent working his landscape-design business rather than riding the waves.
Kevin released her hands to pull her into an embrace that was half restraint, half affection. As Chris watched, a sense of nostalgia crept up on him. It seemed to hit him at odd times, triggered by seemingly innocent events. There were a lot of things he missed about his relationship with Missy. Playfulness was one of them.
BethAnn and Kevin’s horseplay was interrupted by one of the team members. “Hey, would y’all want to join us? We’re short.”
Chris opened his mouth to decline. This was his chance to talk to Missy, and he wasn’t going to waste it.
But BethAnn spoke first. “You guys go ahead. Melissa and I will watch.”
Kevin slapped him roughly on the back, and BethAnn led Missy away, throwing a monkey wrench into all his plans. But BethAnn evidently had plans of her own. As the game progressed, he repeatedly caught them watching him, engrossed in heavy conversation. The instant he and Kevin approached, their words died.
Kevin held out a hand to pull BethAnn to her feet. “You guys don’t make very good cheerleaders. You were supposed to be rooting for our team and praising all our brilliant shots. Instead you were yakking the whole time. But we still won two out of three without our cheering section.”
BethAnn smiled up at him. “We’ll try to be a little more attentive next time.”
Chris watched her slip an arm around Kevin’s waist and snuggle into his side. Missy had let him help her up but had pulled her hand free as soon as she was on her feet. And although she walked next to him, it was with that familiar closed stance, arms crossed in front of her. This was his chance to talk to her, but he had no idea where to begin.
He flashed her a weak smile. “I hope you’re not too upset at me for crashing your picnic. I really wanted to see you.”
She shrugged but didn’t respond. She wasn’t making it easy for him.
“Has anyone bothered you since I last talked to you?”
“No, it’s been pretty quiet.”
“Good.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets, not su
re what to say next. They had reached the picnic area and were heading toward one of the lakes. Kevin and BethAnn walked hand in hand some ten or fifteen feet in front of them. Missy didn’t look any more relaxed than when they had started.
“Well, I wanted to let you know I called my partner. I don’t want to keep anything from you.”
She dropped her arms to let them swing at her sides, something he took as a good sign. “And?”
“He’s doing searches, seeing if Eugene’s name shows up. If the creep was seen anywhere near here, I’d like to know it.”
“So would I.”
They stepped onto one of the two bridges that spanned the narrow canal, but instead of following BethAnn and Kevin, Melissa stopped halfway across to stand at the wooden rail. Lilies and hyacinths formed a floor far below, the shallow water hidden somewhere beneath. Towering cypress trees rose from the depths, draped in Spanish moss. The whole scene was Florida at its purest.
But Missy didn’t seem to be taking in the scenery. Her gaze was distant, fixed on some point where the canal met the lake. What was she thinking about? Once upon a time, he would have just asked.
“Missy, you know how I feel about you. Let me be there for you.”
She shook her head, her hands gripping the rail until her knuckles turned white.
“I’m not like your father, Missy. Give me a chance to prove it to you.”
“I can’t. Not yet.” She turned to look up at him, her eyes moist. “This isn’t goodbye. It’s just... I need some space. I have a lot of things to work through, and I can’t do that with you calling and dropping by all the time.”
He nodded slowly. That wasn’t exactly what he wanted to hear. But it was a far cry from what she’d told him Tuesday night. BethAnn must have presented some pretty persuasive arguments. He would thank her later.
But he didn’t just have BethAnn to thank. Over the past four days, he had sent up a lot of prayers. They had evidently been heard.
Thank You, God.
THIRTEEN
“You’re quiet.” BethAnn turned around in the seat to look back at Melissa.
Of course she was quiet. Just four days ago she had it all figured out. Now, thanks to BethAnn’s hour-long pep talk, she was facing decisions that could affect the rest of her life.
“I’m just thinking.”
“No, you’re overthinking. You need to jump in and give Chris a chance. You’ve prayed about it, but God can’t guide your path if you refuse to take the first step.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You’ve already got your Mr. Right.”
“And you very well might have yours. But you’ll never know if you keep yourself locked away, scared to death you’re going to get hurt.”
BethAnn had a point. Of course, trust came easy for BethAnn. She hadn’t had hers shattered so many times. “If it’ll make you feel any better, I didn’t give him a yes, but I didn’t give him a no, either. I left him with a definite maybe.”
“I guess that’s a start.”
Kevin eased to a stop in the gravel drive, and BethAnn again turned in her seat. “We’ll watch and make sure you get inside okay. And if you need us for anything, give us a call. I don’t care what time it is.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” She started up the front walk, empty potato-salad bowl in hand, and suddenly froze. Another envelope was taped to the front door. She spun back around, but BethAnn was already climbing from the van, face creased in concern. “It’s another note, isn’t it?”
By the time she removed it from the door, both Kevin and BethAnn had joined her. But that didn’t stop the chill from sweeping over her, or quiet her tumbling thoughts as she read.
Melissa, I never considered the possibility that there might be someone else. Watching him come and go is driving an arrow ever deeper into my heart. You know who I mean. Every time I see him with you, I can hardly refrain from taking matters into my own hands.
But the predestined time has not arrived. When it does, I will prove my worthiness. I will climb the highest mountain, cross the deepest sea, rehang the moon and the stars. Then you will understand the strength of my love for you. You are a prize worth fighting for.
She closed her eyes, and a shudder shook her shoulders. The chill sank deeper into her bones, penetrating all the way to her soul. Who was stalking her? This wasn’t penned by an angry young man like Dennis. And it didn’t fit with what she knew of Eugene, at least not the Eugene who had pinned her against the wall with a knife at her throat. That Eugene had no words of adoration. Only threats.
“He’s getting weirder and weirder,” BethAnn whispered, “totally losing touch with reality.”
“And he’s threatening Chris,” Melissa added. “All the more reason for him to stay away.”
BethAnn gave her a wry smile. “Somehow I can’t imagine that deterring him.”
“I guess I need to call the police again.” She sighed and refolded the note. “I always hope for Alan but usually get stuck with Branch. He looks down his nose at all us lowly civilians, but he especially dislikes me and my family.”
Kevin nodded. “You know what they say about love spurned.”
“What? Who?” She looked from Kevin to BethAnn, but BethAnn’s blank stare reflected her own.
Kevin went on to explain. “After your father left, Branch kept hitting on your mother.”
“He did?” She wrinkled her nose. “I remember him coming around a lot. I just thought that’s what policemen do, you know, watch out for women and children who don’t have a man to protect them.”
BethAnn looked at her with raised eyebrows.
“Hey, I was nine,” she said defensively. “So Chief Branch had the hots for my mom. That’s actually kind of gross.”
“Evidently your mother thought so, too. But Branch wouldn’t give up. He was persistent to the point of being laughable.”
BethAnn eyed Kevin suspiciously. “And you know all this how?”
“I was an incredibly mature fifth grader at the time. You two were mere babes.”
BethAnn poked him in the ribs. “We’re just a year younger than you.”
Kevin laughed. “My older sisters used to talk about it. He made quite a fool of himself.”
Melissa nodded slowly, letting the revelation sink in. “So that explains why Branch has it in for the whole Langston family.”
She pulled out her cell phone and punched in Harmony Grove’s nonemergency number. Maybe she would end up with Chief Branch. But now that she knew the reason behind his dislike for her, it would be much harder for him to push her buttons.
* * *
Chris looked at the number displayed on his phone, and his heart jumped to double time. Ron was calling back with the information he’d requested. “What have you got?”
“Not much. Seems the guy is lying low. But a Eugene Holmes did get stopped about four weeks ago near Lake City. Got cited for a headlamp out. He was in an ’84 Chevy Malibu, which matches the description your lady gave in several of her reports. I’m going to call Florida and have them put out a BOLO, just in case he’s still there. And I’ll keep checking, too.”
“Thanks.” He changed the sign from Open to Closed and armed the store’s alarm system. What was Eugene doing near Lake City? Did he have business there? Or was he headed to Harmony Grove? If so, Missy was in more imminent danger than she realized. He had to let her know. And he couldn’t tell her over the phone.
Just Saturday he had promised to give her her space. Well, that was a promise he wouldn’t be able to keep. Because now that Eugene had been spotted in Florida, he was afraid to let her out of his sight.
As he sped toward Harmony Grove, the sun sank lower in the sky. Was Eugene lurking somewhere nearby, waiting for darkness to make his move? God, he prayed, I’m putting her in You
r hands. Please protect her. The worry abated for a brief moment, then slid right back in, turning his insides into a tangled mass of nerves. He was too new at this whole prayer thing.
He reached the end of her street, and the lump in his gut grew. The long gravel drive was empty. She should be home by now. It would be dark within the hour. He stepped from the truck and paced the front yard, trying to relieve the tension spiraling through him. It didn’t help. Neither did calling her, because when she didn’t answer, his imagination went into overdrive.
Twenty minutes passed before the crunch of gravel announced her return. She eased to a stop and stepped from the car. “What are you doing here?”
“Where have you been?” The accusatory words escaped before he could censure them, and earned him just the reaction he expected.
“Where I’ve been is none of your concern. I told you to give me my space.” She started to brush past him, but his hand on her shoulder stopped her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I thought you would be here, and when you didn’t answer your phone, I feared the worst.”
Her eyes flicked over him, and her features softened. “I had a deposition that ran late. Then I had to stop and pick up a few things. I guess I left my phone on vibrate.” She pressed a button on her key fob, and the trunk released. “So why are you here?”
“I heard from Ron.”
She spun to face him, whatever was in the trunk momentarily forgotten. “And?”
“A Eugene Holmes was stopped for a traffic violation near Lake City four weeks ago. He was driving an ’84 Chevy Malibu.”
The color leached from her face, and she sagged against the side of the car, clutching her stomach and shaking her head in denial. “No, he couldn’t have found me. I was so careful.”
The fear in those wide blue eyes snagged his heart, and he longed to just wipe it away. But he wouldn’t give her false security. “It could be nothing. He may have had business there. Lake City is only four or five hours from Atlanta. But he could also be here. I didn’t want to worry you, but I had to let you know.”
Midnight Shadows (Love Inspired Suspense) Page 13
