Deadly as the Driven Snow

by Agnes Alexander

  In a few minutes, I felt Jason’s arms around me. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “Maybe they’ll catch him.”

  “I hope so.” I clung to him.

  Someone rapped on the door.

  Jason helped me up, then picked up his pants and slipped them on. I grabbed my robe and we headed to the living room.

  “Are you, all right?” Charles asked when Jason opened the door.

  Jason nodded. “Did you get him?”

  “Pete is checking the courtyard. The Edison police picked up on the call and a couple of their guys are backing him up. I came to see if you needed help.”

  “Stay with June. I’m going to grab my coat and go see what’s going on.”

  I grasped his arm. “Don’t leave me.”

  He kissed me quickly. “Honey, Charles will be here, and I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Before I could say anything, he was going down the hall for his coat.

  “What happened here, June?” Charles asked as he ushered me to the sofa.

  Jason came back into the room, but was out the door before I could stop him. I turned to Charles. “I’m not sure what happened. I was asleep and the next thing I knew, there was a loud noise and Jason pulled me to the floor. Somebody kept shooting into our window.”

  “Thank goodness you called up quickly.”

  “Jason leaves his cell on the nightstand. I was able to grab it while he was at the closet getting his gun.” I dropped to the sofa and put my head in my hands. “When’s this going to end, Charles?”

  “If we can catch him, it’ll end tonight.”

  “That’d be wonderful.”

  He touched my shoulder. “Keep the faith. I know you have it.”

  “I’m trying, Charles. I’m really trying.”

  In a little while, Jason came back into the apartment. Allen followed him. I jumped up and Jason held his arms open for me. I went into them, gladly.

  “Did you get him?” Charles asked, Allen.

  “I’m afraid not, but they’re still looking. No vehicle left after we got here, so he’s got to be around somewhere unless he got out on foot.” Allen smiled at me. “Thank goodness you two are okay.”

  “How did they find us?” I demanded.

  They all looked at me. Finally, Charles said, “We have no idea, June. I didn’t even know where you were until you called tonight.”

  “There had to be a leak somewhere,” Allen said. “I know I didn’t say anything, and I’m pretty sure Roberta didn’t.”

  “Maybe the Webbers said something,” I suggested. “They are the only strangers who came around.”

  “I don’t know,” Jason said. “Maybe they didn’t swallow Roberta’s story, or the man didn’t believe me this afternoon.”

  Charles looked confused, and Jason told him they’d talk about it later.

  In a few minutes, Roberta appeared at the door. “What’s going on here?”

  “They’ve been discovered,” Allen said.

  “How? I know we’ve kept everything quiet.”

  “I don’t think it came from the department,” Jason looked at her. “How did you get here so quickly?”

  “Believe it or not, I got up to go to the bathroom and heard it on the police scanner.”

  Jason chuckled. “If it was anyone but you, I might question it. But you, I believe.”

  “Thanks, Boss.” She looked at me. “Now, what can I do to help out?”

  “I guess there’s nothing to do except to get out there and help look for the guy,” Charles said, as he stood. “No need to sit around here and wait.”

  “Charles is right. I’ll go put my vest on and we’ll give the Edison Police a hand.”

  “Honey—” I started.

  “Now, don’t you worry about him, June,” Roberta said as she moved beside me. “I’ll be right here with you.”

  “Do you have your gun?” Jason asked.

  “I do. Don’t go anywhere without it.”

  “Good. Why don’t you ladies make some coffee? I’m sure we’re going to need it.” Jason headed to the bedroom to get his vest.

  As they went out the door, he turned back and said, “It goes without saying, that you need to stay away from the window.”

  Roberta and I both nodded.

  After they went outside, Roberta and I busied ourselves in the kitchen. Not only did we make coffee, but we soon had the makings of breakfast cooking.

  She said, “June, why don’t you go get dressed? In case they don’t pick that fellow up, you know you and Jason are going to have to move.”

  I didn’t answer because I knew she was right. I left the cooking to her and eased into the bedroom to get my clothes on. Still leery of the room, I gathered my clothes in the dark and slipped into the bathroom to dress.

  • ♥ •

  When it began to get daylight, it looked like a restricted military area around the apartment complex. No one was allowed to go in or out of the complex without a thorough check from a police officer stationed at the entrance. Other deputies came and boarded up the broken window in our bedroom. Jason and his deputies came in and ate at different times. I got busy packing a few of our necessities. Roberta said the department would take care of anything we left.

  Because I knew it would be on the news, I called Mom and Dad. Of course, they were concerned and told us to come right to their house. I said I’d have to let them know.

  It was about seven-thirty when Maggie Webber knocked on the back door. “I just had to slip over and see if you knew what all this commotion is about,” she said when Roberta opened the door.

  “Well, Mrs. Webber, you might as well come in. Want a cup of coffee?”

  “That’d be good.”

  I came from the hall.

  “Hey, I know you.” Maggie looked at me. “I saw you on television after you shot a man.”

  “Is that right?” So, she did occasionally watch the news.

  She shattered my thoughts when she said, “Yep. They did this special program about interesting people in our area and you were one of them.”

  “I’m glad they thought I was interesting.”

  “What are you doing here, anyway? Are you a friend of the white black man?”

  I chuckled. “Actually, I’m his wife.”

  “But he said…wait a minute. On the show they said you were the sheriff’s wife.”

  “Honey,” Roberta broke in. “Take this cup of coffee and have a seat, then I’ll tell you the true story.”

  After Roberta quit talking, Maggie looked at her with her mouth open. “You mean he ain’t your brother?”

  “No, Maggie. He’s my boss, the sheriff of Edison County.”

  “And he’s married?”

  “Yes, he’s married.” I smiled at her.

  “They interview him sometimes and we were sure you’d seen him on the news. That’s why we made up the story about him being my brother. He and his wife have been hiding here.”

  “I don’t watch the news.”

  I smiled. Jason had been right, after all. She would’ve never known who we were if the incident hadn’t happened early this morning. “By the way, Maggie,” I said, “did you happen to mention anything about us to someone else.”

  “Just my husband. I was trying to make him jealous.”

  Roberta cocked an eye and I said, “Maggie came by to talk to Jason.”

  “He told me his name was Lee.”

  “Lee’s his middle name,” I explained.

  “So, you didn’t talk to anyone about your new neighbors except your husband?” Roberta prompted.

  “Nope. Just my husband. I don’t know if Carl told anybody or not. You’d have to ask him.”

  “We’ll do that.” Roberta nodded and stood to refill the coffee cups for all of us.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  “I’m sorry you didn’t catch the guy, Jason.” I snuggled close to him in the hotel bed.

  “Not half as sorry as I am, honey. I can’t keep asking y
ou to live this way.”

  “Darling, don’t you know that as long as I’m with you nothing else matters?”

  “At least, we’ll only be here a short time.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. I told Allen to let us get a good night’s sleep, then we’re going to move again tomorrow night. Probably in the wee hours.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.” He pulled me close. “Now how about getting to sleep? I think you need a good rest after what we went through last night.”

  “How do you expect me to go to sleep when this strong, sexy man is so close to me he’s turning on every inch of my body?”

  “I must say, he’s a little turned on himself.”

  “A little!”

  He chuckled. “Okay, more than a little, but I didn’t want to take advantage of you if you were too tired.”

  “Oh, come on, big boy. Take advantage.”

  Later, as he held me close, I whispered, “I love you, Jason.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m such a lucky man. I don’t know many wives who are always there when their husbands want or need them, but you’re never pushed me away.”

  “I can’t push you away. You’re too big.” I giggled.

  “Sweetheart, you have so much control over me, you could push me anywhere you wanted to with only your pinky finger. Don’t you know that?”

  “And all you have to do is look at me with those green eyes of yours and you can have your way anytime you want to.” Feeling nostalgic, I snuggled against him again. “Jason, do you remember our senior prom?”

  “Of course, I do. I took you in my old beat up truck and worried that you were going to get that beautiful blue dress dirty.”

  “You remember the color of my dress. I can’t believe that.”

  “How could I forget? All night long, my eyes kept slipping to the top of that gown where you showed just the right amount of cleavage to be intriguing to a hormonal eighteen-year-old.”

  I laughed. “You looked pretty snappy in that gray tux, too. I know we made some people jealous because we looked so good together.”

  “Especially Allen Ledbetter and J.T. Goodman and Guy Ferguson.”

  “Why those three?”

  “You know how J.T. was. He’d graduated a couple of years before, but when he brought one of the senior girls back to the prom, the rumor began to fly that you were the only one to say no to him while was in high school.” He squeezed me. “Though it meant nothing to you, I was proud to have you on my arm and make him wonder if I’d succeeded where he’d failed.”

  “Jason!”

  “Well, it’s true. A lot of people wondered about us because of our relationship. It made me feel good and I admit, I never said anything to quash the rumors.”

  “I never heard any rumors.

  “That’s because you didn’t hang out in the boys’ locker room.”

  I bopped him on the stomach and he grunted as he laughed. “Well, why were Allen and Guy jealous of us?”

  “Guy always seemed to worship J.T. He backed anything his idol put forth. Still does, as far as I know. They’re in business together, you know.”

  “I’d forgotten that.”

  “As for Allen, he was mad because I took you to the dance. He and I planned to go stag and see who we could pick up. When I told him I was taking you, he read me the riot act because I was letting you use me again. To top it off, I think he was a little jealous. In fact, I think he still is.” He kissed the top of my head. “Though I dreamed about it since fifth grade, it’s still hard for me to believe we ended up together.”

  “I know it took me longer to know that we were meant to be together, but I’m glad I finally saw the light.”

  “I realized that on our wedding night. You’ll never know how proud I was to discover you were not only the woman I’d always wanted, but you were coming to me untouched by any other man.”

  “I know; you’ve told me.” I smiled. “Of course, I admit it wasn’t easy to keep myself unspoiled for you, but it was that darn pledge.”

  “Pledge?”

  “Yes. At Mt. Calvary Church they passed out those pledge cards when I was a teenager. It was a promise to stay a virgin until we married. I was only fifteen or sixteen at the time, so I thought it would be a cinch to keep the promise since I planned to be married to my favorite rock star by the time I was eighteen. I signed the darn thing and you know me, when I give my word, I keep it. Especially when I promised God.” I sighed. “When you put that wedding ring on my finger, I knew I didn’t have to keep that promise anymore.”

  He laughed. “So, that’s why you married me?”

  “Of course. My curiosity got the better of me.”

  “I’m glad I was good for enlightening you.”

  “Not only that, but you’re the most important person in the world to me, Jason. I wouldn’t have married you if I didn’t love you with all my heart.”

  “And you’re just as important to me.” His lips covered mine and he mumbled, “As you said earlier, as long as we’re together, nothing else matters.”

  It wasn’t long until we fell into a peaceful sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  It was past midnight the following night, and Jason and I were sitting on the side of the bed in the upstairs bedroom where Mom used to keep her sewing machine, ironing board, and off-season clothes. Allen had left, and Mom and Dad had gone to their own room.

  “Jason, I don’t want to do this.”

  “I knew you wouldn’t want to, but it’s the best way, June.”

  “But I want to be with you.”

  “Honey, I’m going to stay with you the rest of the night. Then, we’ll be together again soon.”

  I couldn’t help it. I began to cry.

  Jason put his arm around me. “We’re going to catch him and then it’ll all be over.”

  “You knew last night that you were going to do this to me. That’s why you were so sweet and—”

  “June.” His voice stopped me. “That’s not why I was ‘sweet’, as you say. Last night was because I love you and I know you love me, too.”

  “I believe you, Jason. I’m sorry. I’m just afraid to be here without you. What if something happens to Mom or Dad and you’re not here to protect them?”

  “We’ve covered that. Celia and Brad won’t tell anyone you’re here. Not even your siblings. You’re in this room because there won’t be a change in the light pattern if anyone is watching the house at night. Your mom comes into this room now and then and turns on the light, so it won’t be unusual if you use it sparingly. We knew if you were in the guest room downstairs, someone might notice that light being on.” He smiled at me. “Now I know we can’t go long without seeing each other, and I’m working on something so we can be together.”

  “That sounds good, but you and I know things can go wrong.”

  He ignored my statement. “You have the secure phone I gave you. We can be in touch at any time. You know I want to hear your voice several times a day.”

  “But won’t you be uncomfortable at the station?”

  “I’ll be fine. They’ve put up a bed in the storage room and you know we have a full bathroom.” He brushed my hair back from my face. “I’ll miss you, but I’ll be thinking of you every minute.”

  “Why can’t I stay at the station with you?”

  He pulled me to him and I rested my head on his chest. “Honey, you’d be too distracting.” He kissed my forehead. “Besides, I don’t want my deputies to become too involved in our private life.”

  “I guess I understand.”

  “Good. Now, let’s not waste the time we have together tonight.”

  I watched as he stood and went to flip off the light.

  After we made love, I went to sleep in his arms.

  When I awoke, I was alone. Thinking he was probably in the bathroom, I sat on the side of the bed. There was a full moon and I could see pretty well without a light. I
t was then I noticed the note propped against the lamp on the nightstand. I grabbed it and ran to the bathroom where I could turn on a light and read the note.

  My darling June. Know that until I can again hold you close in my arms, I’ll hold you in my heart. Always yours, Jason.

  I hurried back to the bedroom as the tears fell. I crawled into bed, pulled the covers around my chin and continued to cry. I had never felt so alone in my life.

  • ♥ •

  An hour later, I got up, took a shower and dressed in a warm jogging suit. Dad and Mom were in the kitchen when I came down.

  “Hi, sweetheart,” Mom said. “Want some coffee while I fix you some breakfast?”

  “Just coffee is all I want, Mom. I’m not in the mood to eat.”

  “You have to eat something, June.”

  “I’ll eat later.”

  Mom started to say something, but Dad interrupted. “Let her be for now, Celia. She’s missing her husband and I don’t think food will fill that empty spot.”

  I half-smiled at him. “You’re so right, Dad. When did he leave? Do you know?”

  “I think it was about four or four-thirty this morning when I heard him slip down the stairs.”

  “I hope he didn’t get cold waiting for Allen.”

  Mom handed me the coffee. “Honey, I’m sure he was fine. His work clothes are pretty warm.”

  Without saying anything, I only sipped my coffee.

  Without a word, Mom put a plate of muffins on the table.

  I didn’t acknowledge it. “He hasn’t called, has he?”

  “No, honey. If he calls, I’m sure he’ll ask for you.” Dad smiled at me. “I bet he’s missing you as much as you are him.”

  As if by cue, the cell phone Jason had given me rang. I grabbed it out of my pocket. “Is it you, Jason?” I could hardly get the words out.

  “Of course, it’s me. What other man is going to call you on our special phone?”

  “None.”

  “There had better be none,” he teased, then he grew serious. “How are you, honey?”

  “I’m lonely.”

  “Why? You’re used to me being gone during the day.”

  “Yes, but I’m not used to waking up alone and not getting my good morning kiss.”