"Well, Miss Baxter, it looks like the place is pretty secure, but I did find this package leaning against the back door. There's no return address on it, so maybe I should call it in,” he suggested as he held the brown box in front of him.
"Please call me Lillian. I'm sure the package isn't anything to be concerned about. I've had packages delivered back there by mistake before. I'll take it and open it tomorrow morning,” Lillian told him knowing she sounded as exhausted as she felt. Ted accepted her explanation, leaving the store with her locking the door behind him before heading outside to his patrol car.
Lillian left the package by the front desk before heading upstairs.
She turned on the brass faucets in the bathtub, immediately the steam began to rise. She added some bath oils, some fragrant bubbles, anticipating the therapeutic results the bath would surely provide for her. Her body was tense, her mind exhausted, as she walked into her bedroom to get undressed. When she returned to the bathroom, the air appeared steamy. She embraced the warm mist as it caressed her skin. Leaning over the tub, she felt the water with her hand. It was hot, bubbly just the way she liked it.
As she got into the tub, she realized she had forgotten about her glass of wine. She allowed the indulgence during extra stressful times. The present situation definitely called for a glass or two. She was about to get out of the tub to retrieve the glass when she noticed the bottle of red wine. Two glasses sat beside the bottle on the counter. The silver bottle opener, from her china closet lay flat on the silver tray. It had been a heirloom and she rarely used the tray, except for company. She assumed Michael had set it up for her when he had stopped by earlier this morning. She smiled at the fact that Michael was fully aware of her relaxing ritual. Maybe he'd get there earlier than he had anticipated.
Lillian opened the bottle of wine, poured herself a glass before reentering the tub.
She closed her eyes, thankful for the peacefulness, lingering there longer than normal.
The tub made her relax, gave her much needed quiet time. Lillian closed her eyes and just soaked as she listened to the jazz music playing in the background.
The slow, sexy smoking sound of the music sent her dreaming of Michael. Her manicured fingers tapped slowly on the rim of the tub. She didn't have a care in the world.
Finally, after days of stress and emotional upset, she was beginning to relax.
Her mind drifted off with thoughts of Michael.
If someone had told her that someday she would fall in love with the town hero/most eligible bachelor, she would have called him or her ludicrous.
She laughed to herself, then glided her hand up the curves of her calves, noting the minimal amount of bubbles that remained.
It appeared that she lingered in the sanctity of peacefulness too long.
Fighting this realization, she held up her fingers. Noting they were a bit shriveled, along with the fact that the tub water was a cooler temperature, Lillian got out of the tub. She put on her favorite pink robe she always left hanging on the back of the bathroom door.
As she tied the belt around her waist, placing her hands in her pockets, and enjoying the comfort and warmth of the Chenille material, she felt the folded piece of paper.
Curious, she pulled it out, unfolding it to read the note.
"I hope you enjoyed the wine. Pour me a glass. I'm there with you now,” the note stated. She looked around the room, confused. She hadn't heard Michael come in.
She poured the glass of wine, hoping Michael would arrive soon, but the time had passed, still he hadn't come.
Lillian started to get a funny feeling. Quickly, she pulled off her robe so she could get dressed. Before she could put on all her clothing, the phone rang.
She picked up the cordless phone while she simultaneously continued dressing.
"Hello."
She heard nothing but breathing.
"Hello, who is this?” she demanded as she hooked the clasp on her bra, then started pulling on her blue jeans.
"Your body is lovelier than I imagined.” The voice was muffled, but she heard every word.
"Don't be afraid. I feel like I know you better now.” The caller took deep breaths in between sentences, causing her heart to race faster.
"Who is this?"
"You know who it is? I love watching you. I know you're going to love me touching you ... don't be scared, my Lilly. I know you so well, don't cry."
Lillian wiped the tears from her eyes just as he told her that. Is he watching me, right now?
She looked around the room, up at the ceiling.
"No, no, no ... you can't see me, but I can see you."
She heard the deep breathing. The haunting feeling intensified for each second she listened. Frozen where she stood, she panicked.
"I've been watching you for days now. I wish you stayed at home more. I love watching you sleep."
"You're sick! Go to hell, Martin!” Lillian yelled as she hung up the phone. She pulled on a tee shirt when the phone rang again.
"Hello” she answered it knowing it had to be him again.
"I'm not finished with you. You belong to me, Lilly, no one else. Stay away from the detective's house or he'll die because of you. If I can't have you, no one can! Sweet dreams, my love.” She waited, heard the dial tone, then started to cry.
He had gotten into her apartment even with the police around, with Michael around. She had nowhere to hide. She put Michael in danger.
She fell to the floor, hiding beside the bulky, soft bedspread that clung against the sleigh bed. How could he be watching her? How could he see everything she was doing? The phone rang again interrupting her thoughts. She jumped up, startled. She needed to call the police.
"Leave me alone, you bastard!” she yelled hysterically into the phone.
"Lilly, what's wrong? It's Michael."
Her heart felt as if it dropped to her stomach.
"Oh, Michael. Oh, my God, he's here! He's watching me!” She rambled on, crying.
"He's there right now?” Michael yelled in a panic.
"No. He ... somehow ... somehow he knows what I'm doing. Oh, God, Michael, ... hurry!"
"Hold on, baby. I'm almost there. I'm calling it in,” he told her.
All she could do was cry and wait.
* * * *
Twenty minutes later, Lillian's apartment swarmed with detectives, police, and the sheriff's B.C.I. Unit.
Lillian continued to cry, still shaken up from the events as she sat on the couch in the romance section of the bookstore downstairs.
Michael knelt down on the floor in front of her. Jimmy stood beside him.
"Listen to me, Lillian. Are you sure no one has had access to your apartment?” Jimmy asked.
"No one has. I'm sure of it."
"Anything out of the ordinary happen today or the past couple of days?"
"Nothing."
"How about strangers coming in, unknown deliveries...?"
"Wait a minute, it may be nothing, but Ted found a package by the back door today. It's on the front desk."
Jimmy went over to retrieve it.
"There's no return address."
"This package never went through the mail. It had to have been hand delivered by someone,” Jimmy stated.
Lillian looked toward Michael knowing what he had to be thinking. Martin had been to the store himself.
"Maybe he had someone else deliver it. Paid some kid or something,” Michael suggested, as if hoping, that were the case. The thought that Martin could be in town, this close to Lillian, undetected, must have caused his stomach to twist in a knot.
"Open it up. See what's inside,” Lillian demanded in anger.
"Let's get one of the technicians from B.C.I. down here to check it out first. We may be able to get some fingerprints or hair fibers, something from it,” Michael said.
Jimmy called upstairs.
The technician Teddy pulled on a fresh pair of rubber gloves. He began the tedious job of openin
g up the suspicious package. Fifteen minutes later, they were all looking at an unlabeled DVD with a letter addressed to Lillian.
The technician placed the letter and the DVD into two separate, clear plastic bags. He passed the one containing the note to Michael who read it to himself. It became obvious that he didn't want Lillian to see it.
"Michael, what does it say? Did Martin sign it?” she asked as she tried to see the words on the letter.
"I think we should take all of this to the sheriff's department to be analyze. I don't think we should look at the DVD here.” Michael gave Jimmy a look to assist him in convincing Lillian that following procedure was necessary.
"He's right, Lillian. We have to follow protocol. Let's wrap all this up, head to the department. We'll see what's on the DVD."
"No! It arrived addressed to me. Your technician said it's clean. Let me see the letter,” she demanded. He hesitated at first, then Michael passed it over. The letter written in bold capital letters, was disgusting.
MY DEAREST LILLIAN,
I HAVE WAITED PATIENTLY, PLANNED EVERY MOMENT CAREFULLY. THERE WERE OTHERS I TRIED TO SUBSTITUTE FOR YOU, BUT THEY FAILED TO SATISFY ME LIKE I KNOW YOU WILL. WE ARE MEANT TO BE, MY LOVE. NO ONE SHALL STAND IN THE WAY. UNTIL I DECIDE THE TIME IS RIGHT, BE FAITHFUL TO ME. YOUR INNOCENCE IS MY DESIRE. YOUR BEAUTY AND YOUR SCENT IS IN EVERY BREATH I TAKE.
I LONG TO TOUCH YOU, FEEL YOUR NAKED BODY AGAINST MINE. WE WILL CONSEMATE THIS LOVE BETWEEN US. NO ONE WILL DARE DESTROY IT OR THEY SHALL DIE.
I LICK MY LIPS, I TOUCH....
Lillian couldn't read any further, Martin got even more descriptive, and violent, describing what his plans for her were. She closed her eyes, pushed the letter back at Michael's chest, and walked away covering her mouth.
Jimmy read the letter as Michael gave some more orders. The chief investigator arrived and Michael filled him in. A few minutes later Uncle Phil got there, as well.
Lillian stayed away from everyone to be alone in her thoughts.
* * * *
"So what's on the DVD?” Chief Investigator Hal Johnson asked after he read the disgusting letter.
"We haven't watched it yet, sir. I don't think we should do this here. I don't want Lillian seeing whatever this sick bastard put on it,” Michael told the chief, who agreed.
"Detective Fields!” A deputy called down from upstairs asking that Michael come upstairs. Hal Johnson followed.
Uncle Phil went over to sit with Lillian who looked lost in thought.
"How are you holding up, Lilly?"
Lillian held herself, shaking with fear as she sat there in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. It had been the first thing she grabbed to throw on before running downstairs. She felt a never-ending chill run continuously through her body.
"You read the letter?” she asked him, still not making eye contact with him.
"Don't think about the letter, Lillian. This guy is sick. The people who let him out should be fired."
"There's no use in placing blame on anyone. It's all Martin's doing. He's lost it. That's what scares me the most."
"We're going to protect you, Lilly. Detectives Miller and Jacks are on their way up from Jersey. It's obvious that Martin is in town or very nearby. We could use all the help we can get to secure your safety. Michael will make sure of it."
Lillian looked at Uncle Phil for the first time. Her eyes felt red, swollen, her chest all blotchy from crying.
She wouldn't put Michael's life in danger. It became obvious to her tonight that police patrolling the area along with her bookstore, was not enough to stop Martin Crane. Martin appeared to be ahead of them. She needed to protect herself, to take action herself. She wouldn't be able to survive another beating from Martin. The thought made her stomach churn. The tears flowed even faster.
"I have to stay away from Michael,” she whispered. Uncle Phil squinted his eyes as if not understanding her meaning. Before he could speak, Lillian stood up from the couch, covering her face with her hands and turned her back toward him. She couldn't muffle the deep cry caught in her throat.
Lillian didn't face him as she began to speak again. The words sounded shaky.
"When he called on the phone, he told me to stay away from Michael or ... or he would kill him."
Uncle Phil immediately turned Lillian around, wrapping his arms around her. She naturally laid her head against his chest while he held her.
"He won't be able to do any such thing, Lilly. Michael is well trained. He's always on his toes. Besides the fact that he wouldn't dare let anyone else be your own personal bodyguard."
Lillian pulled away, looking up at Uncle Phil in shock.
"How can you say that? I could cause your nephew to get killed. It's obvious Martin's capable of it. God only knows what's on that DVD. I will not let Michel get hurt. We have to work something else out,” Lillian demanded as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Uncle Phil folded his arms in front of his chest.
"I think it's best if you two work this out yourselves. Why don't you come back to my house for tonight? B.C.I. will be here for a while. I think the store should stay closed tomorrow. My wife is probably waiting up for us, already preparing the guest bedroom."
"I want to know what's on the DVD. I want to be aware of everything going on in the investigation."
"Michael will fill us in the morning. Let's go tell him where you'll be. I'll see if you can go upstairs to get a few things. We'll put a closed sign on the front door. You can call your aunt and employees in the morning."
"Okay,” Lillian agreed as they rose from the couch.
* * * *
A half hour later, Lillian stood in her bedroom along with a bunch of plain clothed detectives and uniformed officers. As she gathered up some belongings, the technicians were finding the hidden micro cameras that were scattered around the apartment.
Lillian went toward her dresser drawer. She was stunned at the sight in her home, mortified that her every move had been viewed by Martin. She felt violated, unsafe. She wondered if she would ever be able to feel safe in her home again.
She paused a moment by the dresser drawer as the image played back in her mind.
The other day when she came by her apartment with Michael, she noticed the top lingerie drawer stood ajar. She recalled a slight smell of saw dust combined with aftershave. It wasn't Michael's. Tears once again filled her eyes.
"Come on, baby, let's get you out of here,” Michael whispered as he put his arm around her waist.
"He stood here, in this room."
"I know, everything is going to be all right."
"He touched my things, Michael. I should have questioned when the top drawer appeared opened. There was a smell of aftershave and saw dust."
"He was sneaky, Lilly. You had no idea he would do something like this. The cameras are connected through a satellite dish. There's a small one located on the roof, all the wires run through the attic. All he has to do is log onto a website, watch from his computer or directly from his TV. This is high tech stuff. He covered his tracks pretty good, but the technicians feel they might be able to pinpoint a location or at least a vicinity to where the signal went to. This could help us find out where he's staying. Who knows. But for now, I want you safe. Try to get some rest. Uncle Phil said you can stay with him. I have a few officers guarding his house already."
"What about the DVD? I want to see it, Michael. I want to know what's on it,” she asked as she pulled some more things together, placing them into an overnight bag.
"I'll let you know in the morning.” He didn't make eye contact when he told her. Lillian had a feeling that he wouldn't tell her. In his state of worry, he would withhold information from her.
Lillian looked around her place one more time noting all the strangers that were there, invading her personal things, her personal life, but nothing bothered her more than the fact that Martin had been watching her without her knowing.
She thought about the dresser drawer,
the smells of aftershave and saw dust. That must have been the time she stayed overnight at Michael's house. The day before that, they were there at her apartment, had made love the first time. The cameras couldn't have been hooked up yet. At least she hoped they weren't. She was relieved, knowing that Michael and she had only been intimate at his place. The thought of something so personal so meaningful, exploited by Martin, instantly made Lillian nauseous.
"I'll come by my uncle's house in the morning to see you. I love you, baby,” Michael told her as he kissed her goodbye. She glanced back knowing Michael watched his uncle walk her out of the apartment.
"She'll be safe with Uncle Phil,” Jimmy stated.
"I know she will be, but I'm still worried. There were cops patrolling this place like crazy. Look what he accomplished. That letter, it's sick, Jimmy. The guy is fucking insane."
"I know that, Michael, but we'll find him. I heard from Jacks. He and Miller will meet us at the department in thirty minutes."
Michael took a deep breath and helped wrap things up in Lillian's apartment. They were all in for a long night.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 12
Michael, Jimmy, Detectives Miller and Jacks, and Chief Investigator Johnson, gathered in the computer-analyzing lab, at the sheriff's office. Michael allowed only one computer analyst and technician in the room. He wasn't sure what they would find on the DVD. He didn't want just anyone viewing it. He knew Martin had been watching Lillian on hidden video cameras. Forensics found one camera located above her bed, another directly above the bathtub. He felt sick, angry, just thinking about it.
"This is the most direct thing Martin's done by writing a letter, stating his intentions, and recording Lillian. Now, leaving evidence behind. He's helping us build a case against him, the idiot,” Detective Miller said.
"It seems foolish on his part, considering he's already served some time in prison, then again, he's obviously not dealing with a full deck,” Jacks added.
The technician said the DVD was ready.
Lillian's Love Page 14
