Pursued

by Patricia H. Rushford

  “You sure you want to do this?” Jennie asked. “I mean…I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.” The picture of B.J. forming in Jennie’s mind was not a pleasant one and she wanted to give her an opportunity to back out.

  B.J. leaned back in the chair and hooked a leg over the arm. “You can’t embarrass me, McGrady. Now quit stalling.”

  “Okay, but just remember this was your idea.” Jennie sighed, tossed a couple pieces of popcorn in her mouth, and began. “From the size of the chip you carry on your shoulder, I’d guess you’ve had a pretty rough life. You don’t have much money, and you just recently discovered that you have a sister. Since Allison is older, I’d say your parents must have divorced before you were born. Allison grew up with her dad and his new wife, and you with your mom and maybe, since your last name is different, a stepfather.”

  B.J. stretched her legs out in front of her and leaned back. “Not bad. How’d you arrive at that?”

  Jennie shrugged. “It wasn’t really all that hard. You and Allison don’t seem too comfortable together, so I figure you haven’t known each other long. I just hooked together other pieces of information you gave me and things I noticed.”

  “That’s fascinating,” Allison injected.

  “Not really. I know how you hate to be called Al. You haven’t corrected her. That means you’re still treading softly, not wanting to upset her. Besides, if she’d been around awhile, your folks wouldn’t have made you bring her here tonight. And…” Jennie turned to B.J., “…your overnight bag is in pretty bad shape. That means Mrs. Beaumont hasn’t had a chance to take you shopping.”

  “She offered. I refused.”

  Jennie nodded. “Which tells me something else. You’re angry. Maybe at your mom for not telling you about your dad, or at your dad for not finding you sooner.”

  “I’m not mad at my mother. She’s dead.”

  “You can still be mad at her.” Jennie spoke from experience. As much as she loved her parents, especially her father, she had struggled with being angry at him for leaving and with her mother for giving up—for falling in love with Michael, and a lot of other things.

  “Well, I’m not. Okay?” Bethany insisted. “My social worker found out about Mr. Beaumont being my father when we cleaned out the apartment where Mom and I lived.”

  Jennie twisted around to a sitting position and folded her legs in front of her. “So you started looking for him?”

  “No. I didn’t want to.”

  Her answer surprised Jennie, who’d give anything to know where her own father might be. “Why?” she asked.

  “What do I need with a father? I’m nearly sixteen. I’ve practically been on my own since I was ten. Social services found him. At first he didn’t believe them.”

  “You can’t blame Daddy for that,” Allison defended.

  “There are lots of people who would say they were related to us because we have money.”

  “Yeah, well I couldn’t care less about his money,” B.J. jeered. “I wouldn’t be here at all if they hadn’t threatened to put me in a foster home.”

  “I’m glad you’re here. I always wanted a sister.”

  “I’ll just bet. Anyway…” B.J. scooped up a handful of popcorn. “Let’s just forget it. I’m sure these guys don’t want to hear about our problems.” To Jennie she said, “You’re pretty good, McGrady.” She hesitated a moment, then asked, “So, what do you think about Al’s secret admirer?”

  “It’s probably a prank. Some old boyfriend with a grudge or maybe a sore loser.” Jennie had another opinion but didn’t voice it. If she had to choose a suspect at that moment, it would be B.J. Lewis.

  “Not a chance. I’ll bet this stalker doesn’t even know Al. He probably read about her in the paper. I think we’re dealing with a psycho here. I mean one day he’s sending her flowers and love notes and the next he’s threatening to kill her.”

  “Kill her?” Lisa and Jennie asked at the same time.

  “You never told me he’d threatened to kill you,” Lisa directed the accusation toward Allison.

  “He hadn’t…until today.” Allison reached into the pocket of her cardigan, pulled out a square white envelope, and handed it to Lisa. “When I came home from church today I found this on my front porch along with…”Allison paused. Her voice broke.

  “Dead roses,” B.J. finished. “The guy sent her a dozen dead roses.”

  Lisa gasped as she read the note, then passed it to Jennie. The note, carefully written in bold block letters, read:

  DEAD ROSES FOR A DEAD LADY

  3

  Jennie frowned as she handed back the note. “Did you call the police?”

  Allison shook her head. “I didn’t even tell my folks about it. What good would it do? The police just keep saying they’ll look into it. All they ever do is ask a bunch of questions about my friends, take the evidence, and drive away.”

  Hugging a throw pillow she’d grabbed from the bed, Allison shifted her teary gaze from Lisa to Jennie. “I don’t think they’re taking this seriously. They say they’re doing all they can, but…” She lifted a delicate hand to her eyes and brushed away the pooling tears. “Lisa says you might be able to help, Jennie. And I thought maybe…”

  “Cut the waterworks, Al.” B.J. leaned back in her chair and folded her arms in disgust. “My luck I’d be related to a crybaby.” She turned to Jennie and said, “Look, McGrady, Lisa said you’ve solved a couple of mysteries. So what do you say? The cops are getting nowhere. Maybe between the four of us, we can flush this creep out.”

  Before Jennie could answer, the door to her bedroom burst open and a flash of red, white, and blue streaked in. “Popcorn! Yeah!” Nick leaped into the center of the group and stuck his fist into the popcorn bowl.

  “Hey!” Jennie protested as she ruffled his hair. “This is a private party. You’re supposed to knock, remember?” Nick shrugged his shoulders. “But I smelleded the popcorn.” He looked up at her, his deep blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “’Sides, I wanted to tell you “bout the movie. It had this great big dog…” Nick spread his arms and deepened his voice. “This big. He had hair all over his eyes and this little girl was drowning and he jumped in and saved her.” Nick paused for a breath.

  “Sounds fascinating, but…” Jennie began.

  “I want a dog just like him. I asked Mom and Michael and they said, “We’ll see.”

  “Sounds like Beethoven,” B.J. offered. Then to clarify she added, “The dog, not the movie.”

  Nick’s huge eyes grew even wider as he glanced behind him, noticing for the first time that there were others in the room besides Lisa and Jennie. “Who are you?”

  Lisa chuckled. “This is Allison and B.J. And this little cutie is Jennie’s brother, Nick.” Lisa pulled him up onto her lap and hugged him.

  “Nick!” Mom called from the hallway. She stepped into Jennie’s room. “There you are. I’m sorry, girls, he got away from me.”

  “That’s okay.” Jennie introduced B.J. and Allison to her mother.

  “Oh, yes. Allison, I remember you from church. Your mother and I worked together on the clothing drive. Aren’t you the Rose Festival Princess from Trinity High?”

  Allison nodded.

  “Congratulations. That’s quite an honor.” “Thanks.”

  “Well, I’ll let you girls get back to…whatever you were doing. Come on, Nick. Let’s go down and say goodnight to Michael. He wants to read you a story before he goes.”

  “I sure do.” Michael appeared in the doorway and settled an arm around Mom’s shoulder. “How are you girls doing?”

  Jennie felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. Michael had been around for several weeks now and Jennie didn’t think she’d ever get used to his open affection for Mom. It just wasn’t right. I’d be fine if you weren’t around, Jennie wanted to say. Instead she off
ered a perfunctory “Okay” along with the others. Then in a supreme effort to be civil and to avoid a lecture from her mother, Jennie forced a smile and introduced the girls to Michael, then added, “I hear the movie was great.”

  “So was the pizza,” Michael said, “but it would have been better if you’d been with us. Next time, okay?”

  No. It is not okay. Aloud she said, “Sure.”

  “Hey, sport,” Michael shifted his gaze to Nick, “better hurry or I’ll eat all the ice cream.”

  Nick squirmed off Lisa’s lap and scampered across the room. He paused just outside the door and peeked back in. “Jennie,” he whispered, “can l have the popcorn?”

  “You guys want any more?” With their round of no’s, Jennie scooped up the still half-full bowl and took it to him. She ushered him out with a promise that he could tell her all about the dog the next day.

  Jennie dropped back onto the bed and tore open the bag of Hershey’s Kisses.

  “I didn’t realize that was your mom, Jennie,” Allison said. “I mean, you and Lisa are always together at church and I thought she was Lisa’s mom…the red hair and all.”

  Lisa giggled. “People are always saying that. Actually, Aunt Susan, that’s Jennie’s mom, and my dad are brother and sister.”

  “And my aunt Kate is Lisa’s mom,” Jennie explained. “She and my dad are twins. I take after the McGrady side of the family and Lisa looks more like the Calhouns.” She picked up the picture on her bedside table and showed it to them. “This is my dad.”

  “Then who was the guy with your mom? Are your folks divorced?” B.J. asked.

  Jennie closed her eyes. It still hurt to think about it. “My dad disappeared five years ago. He was on a special assignment for the government when his plane went down in the Pacific. They never found him. Gram and I think he’s still alive, but Mom’s given up. She met Michael at church a few months ago, and now they’re talking marriage.”

  “Bummer.” B.J. handed back the picture. “My stepfather died when I was ten. Things sort of fell apart for Mom and me after that…” B.J. shifted and, as if she’d revealed too much, quickly changed the subject. “You don’t look too happy about your mom getting married again.”

  Jennie gave B.J. a penetrating look. “Would you be?”

  B.J. shrugged, looked at the photo and back at Jennie. “Have you tried to find him?”

  “I’m working on it. My grandmother said she’d help me. We’ll start the search as soon as she gets home. Unfortunately, I can’t do much until then.”

  Allison leaned forward and extracted a piece of candy from the bag and peeled off the silver foil. “Lisa told me about your grandmother. She sounds fascinating. Traveling to all sorts of exotic places…and getting paid for it.”

  “I don’t get it,” B.J. said. “Why would you need your grandmother to search for your dad? Seems like an old person would just slow you down.”

  Lisa and Jennie exchanged a conspiratorial look and said in unison, “You don’t know Gram.”

  “She used to be on the police force here in Portland,” Lisa said. “Now she works for—”

  “She writes…” Jennie interrupted, fearing Lisa would blab about Gram’s connection with the FBI, “…for travel magazines. That’s why she gets to travel so much. Sometimes she takes us along.”

  “Right.” Lisa glanced at Jennie, indicating she’d gotten the message. “For our birthdays, Gram took Jennie to Florida and she’s taking me on a cruise. I can hardly wait.”

  “She used to be a cop?” B.J. chewed on the edge of her thumbnail.

  The way B.J. said it, Jennie wondered if the idea of being with a cop’s granddaughters made her nervous. “Gram was a detective. Which is why I need her help.” Jennie popped a second chocolate into her mouth. “Actually, I wish she were here now. She’d know what to do about Allison.”

  “You saying you can’t work on Al’s case without your grandmother?”

  “No. It’s just that Gram knows people. She has connections in the department.”

  Allison shook her head, setting her sleek blond hair in motion. “I don’t think connections would help, Jennie. Dad has a lot of clout in this town. He’s on the city council. It’s not like the police aren’t trying; they just haven’t been able to come up with anything. That’s why I talked with Lisa. I thought maybe we could do some investigating—I mean, four teenage girls might not pose a threat…Please say you’ll help, Jennie. I don’t know how much longer I can take this.”

  Allison’s voice faded. Her appeal hung on the air like a wintry mist, chilling the room.

  Warnings rang again in Jennie’s head. She could almost hear Gram saying, “This is a police matter, dear. Let them handle it.” Still, it would be great to find the creep responsible for the threats and turn him over to the police. Part of her said, You don’t have enough experience for this kind of case. Another argued, It won’t hurt to snoop around. Like Lisa said, you could just stay close to Allison and keep your eyes open.

  “Let me think about it,” Jennie said, unwilling to say no, yet knowing that if Allison’s stalker was as crazy as B.J. said, it could be dangerous for all of them.

  “Well, think away, McGrady. You guys can sit here and play guessing games all night, but I’m going to turn in.” B.J. yawned as she retrieved her bag from the end of the bed. “Where do you want us to sleep?”

  Glad for the reprieve, Jennie hopped off the bed. “Anywhere you can find an empty space.” Pointing to her window seat she added, “This is a nice spot. You can curl up on the cushions here if you want to. I do sometimes.” Jennie removed a half dozen teddy bears in assorted sizes and colors and set them on the floor. When she got to the big white fluffy rabbit dressed in a Victorian pinafore, she paused and hugged it to her chest. “You’re welcome to sleep with one if you want.”

  B.J. grinned. “Do I look like I need one?”

  Jennie shrugged, closed the blind, and set the bunny against it. “Mom says we all do from time to time.”

  B.J. shook her head. “I don’t need anything, McGrady.” Pulling her toothbrush and toothpaste from her rumpled bag, she added, “Where’s the bathroom?”

  Jennie was about to answer when the phone rang.

  When she reached for the receiver, Allison stopped her. “No…don’t answer it. It’s him. I know it.”

  “Give it a rest, Al.” B.J. came up behind them. “He wouldn’t call here.”

  “B.J.’s right,” Jennie said as she picked up on the third ring. “It’s my private number—and it’s unlisted.”

  She put the phone to her ear and said, “Hello.”

  Jennie repeated herself several times. After a long silence the phone went dead. She replaced the receiver and looked from Lisa to B.J. to Allison. “They hung up.”

  “It was him. I knew it.” Allison buried her face in her hands. “He must have followed me. He could be waiting out there right this minute!”

  4

  “Allison!” Jennie gripped her shoulders. “Calm down. We’re safe here. It was probably a wrong number. Besides, Michael and Mom are downstairs.”

  Allison’s frailty gave Jennie a start. Allison needs your help, McGrady. Jennie dropped her hands and folded her arms. She did not want to help Allison. She didn’t even like Allison. Actually, that wasn’t quite true, Jennie realized. Face it, McGrady, you’re hooked and you know it.

  Allison drew away and sank back into the chair. “It’s him. I know it. He won’t talk if anyone but me answers. He must have followed me here.”

  Fear laced the edge of Jennie’s spine. “Okay, even if someone did follow you, how would he get my number?”

  “Maybe he knows you too,” B.J. offered. “He might be coming after you next. I saw this gruesome movie last week where this psycho stalked young girls, raped them, and cut…”

  “Stop it!” Allison covered
her mouth and closed her eyes.

  Jennie didn’t want to hear any more either. The more she got to know B.J., the more she suspected that this long lost relative was somehow involved in terrorizing Allison. If that were true, they both needed help.

  “Look, if it will make you feel better, I’ll take a look outside.”

  “Alone?” Lisa grabbed Jennie’s arm. “I…I should go with you.”

  “I’ll go,” B.J. said in a tone that booked no opposition. “If we do run into the stalker, I think McGrady and I stand a better chance of taking him down.”

  “I resent that.” Lisa, in a ready-to-fight stance, her fists balled and resting on her hips, looked up at B.J. The scene would have been laughable if the circumstances had been different.

  B.J. had a strange glimmer of excitement in her eyes, as if she knew no one would be out there. Still, there was the small matter of the phone call. A wrong number, McGrady, Jennie reminded herself. Just like you said. Or maybe B.J.’s accomplice?

  Jennie settled an arm on Lisa’s shoulder. “You have to admit B.J. has a few pounds and inches on you. Which is why I think she should stay up here with Allison, while you and I have a look around.”

  “No way.” B.J. glared at Jennie. “And I was beginning to think you had some brains.”

  “Lisa knows this neighborhood as well as her own. She and I will be able to tell right off if there’s a car or person who doesn’t belong here.”

  B.J. stood her ground, and for a moment Jennie was afraid the girl would deck her. She didn’t. Instead, she backed off, a smirk on her face that read, I’ve got you right where I want you.

  Jennie ignored it and motioned for Lisa to follow. When they reached the bottom of the stairway, she paused. Should she tell Mom and Michael about the phone call and Allison’s suspicions? If there was someone out there, Michael would be able to protect them. No, her inner voice objected. You don’t need his help. You don’t need him at all. Besides, there’s probably no one out there anyway…This is just a game B.J. has cooked up to give Allison and her folks a bad time.