10
“M-Maybe it was the wind,” Lisa stammered.
“Shh…” Jennie put her ear to the door. “Footsteps.” She glanced at Lisa. “Definitely not the wind.”
Jennie switched on the light and pulled on the doorknob. When it wouldn’t budge, panic edged in. She gasped, remembering the fire…she and Sarah trapped in that cabin…Easy, McGrady, pull yourself together. There’s no fire…this isn’t Florida.
“Jennie, what is it, what’s wrong?”
“I…nothing.” Jennie looked at the large wooden door. “I’m just trying to find a way out of here.” She tried to imagine herself taking a running jump, lying flat out and hitting the door with both feet, then quickly dismissed the idea. That was more Gram’s speed. Jennie hadn’t taken a karate lesson in her life.
She glanced over at the gun case. If she had to, she could break the glass, take out a gun, and shoot the door lock. But she wouldn’t—not yet. The thought of having a way out eased her mind.
“We could call the police,” Jennie suggested, then quickly shoved that idea aside as well. This wouldn’t be a good time. If they called the cops now, she and Lisa would probably be arrested for breaking and entering. Lisa, still in her swimsuit, didn’t have her cell phone and Jennie never carried hers around. Not that she needed it. There was a phone sitting on Mr. Beaumont’s desk.
“We could beat on the door and call for help,” Lisa said as she tried the knob again, then raised her fists.
“Wait. I have an idea.” Jennie went back to Mr. Beaumont’s desk, checked the phone, and opened the drawers.
“Jennie, you shouldn’t…”
She looked up at Lisa. “Do you remember Allison’s cell phone number?”
One of the lights on the telephone flashed, and on impulse Jennie picked it up. When no one else answered, she said hello.
“Hi…um…Allison?” The voice sounded out of breath, or like the guy might be nervous.
“Who is this?” Jennie asked, softening her voice so she’d sound more like Allison.
“Did you get the flowers?”
Jennie almost dropped the phone. She put her hand over the mouthpiece and whispered to Lisa, “It’s him…it’s the stalker.”
Stay calm, McGrady ... keep him talking. She took a deep breath to slow her racing heart and said, “Y-yes.”
“Good.” After a long pause, the voice said, “I thought I’d come by later tonight so we could talk.”
“Here?” Jennie could hardly think over the boomboom of her pulse pounding in her ears. This was too weird. It didn’t make sense. Still, neither did stalking people. Her first impulse was to say no. This is your big break, McGrady. You can catch him red-handed. “Sure…” she stammered, “that’ll be fine.”
“Good. See you around ten.”
“Who is this?” she asked. But the line had gone dead.
Jennie hung up and told Lisa what the caller had said.
“That’s perfect. We’ll tell Allison and set a trap for him. We’ll call the police and they’ll nab him and it will be all over…Jennie, what’s wrong?”
Jennie stroked her chin and lowered herself into Mr. B.’s soft green leather chair. “That voice…I’ve heard it before, but it didn’t sound the same as the guy the other night…”
“Maybe he disguised his voice,” Lisa said, leaning against the desk.
“Maybe, but something about this doesn’t feel right.” Jennie set the nagging feeling aside. She’d deal with it later; right now, she had to get them out of Beaumont’s den. Jennie punched the number she’d just been on. Allison answered on the third ring, saying she’d just gotten back to her room.
Leaving out the part about the caller, Jennie told her what had happened and within three minutes, the door opened and Allison appeared. She looked like she’d been on a week-long crying binge. “I’m so sorry this happened. Who would lock you in here?” Allison grabbed at her throat and leaned against the wall. “He’s in the house. He’s…”
Jennie thought for a moment Allison was going to lose it again. She put her arms around Allison’s shoulder. “I don’t think so. If he was here, I’m sure he’s gone now, unless…” Unless the stalker is Rocky or B.J., or even your father. Jennie didn’t say the last part out loud. No sense in upsetting her any more—at least not right now. “Never mind,” Jennie finished. “Let’s get out of here before your dad catches us in here.”
“Good idea,” Lisa said, guiding them out and closing the door. “I know it sounds terrible with so many more important things going on, but do you think we could eat dinner? I’m starved.”
The detour to food and hostessing mobilized Allison to action. She glanced at her watch. “Oh…of course, it’s almost seven. That’s a great idea. Let’s order a pizza. We’ll send Rocky over to Antonio’s.”
The girls went back upstairs and spent the next few minutes putting together an order. Rocky shifted impatiently as Allison specified their pizza toppings. He clearly did not want to go, and Jennie couldn’t help but wonder why. After all, he was supposed to be working for the Beaumonts.
Jennie, Lisa, Allison, and a disgruntled B.J., whom they’d found sulking in her room, took the pizza and drinks to the pool area. For the next half hour they gorged themselves. Detective work—or maybe it was being scared out of your wits—sure gave you an appetite. The four of them managed to put away a large pan pizza supreme and two pitchers of diet cola.
Reluctant to talk about the stalker, they kept the conversation on a safe level and discussed the party instead. At least Lisa and Allison did. B.J., strangely silent, stared at some spot on the other side of the pool. Was she involved in all this…and if so, to what extent? Had B.J. written the message on the mirror? Had she locked them in her dad’s office? Did she know the guy was coming over? That might account for her behavior.
Soon Jennie would have to broach the subject of the stalker’s visit. She’d wait as long as she could, but sooner or later, Allison would need to know about her guest. Jennie glanced at her watch. Eight-thirty. But not yet. In half an hour, she promised herself.
Jennie leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. The trouble with mysteries was that there were always so many angles…so many questions.
Who would want to stalk Allison? Why would someone steal a gun from Beaumont’s gun case? Why stalk Allison? Why send love notes one time and threats the next? Why write a message on Allison’s mirror? Why lock her and Lisa into Beaumont’s den? And why would the stalker call to announce his arrival as if he were setting up a date? It didn’t make sense.
Jennie opened her eyes and caught B.J. staring at her. The girl quickly looked away then jumped to her feet. The chair she’d been sitting in clattered to the concrete floor. She stooped to pick it up. “Look…” she began. “I-I have something to tell you. I…”
Jennie leaned forward.
“Not here,” B.J. said. “Al’s room.”
They silently took the remains of their dinner into the kitchen and headed upstairs. Once inside the cotton candy room, B.J. closed the door and leaned against it. “I’m the one who locked you in the den.” B.J. dropped into the chair nearest the door. As though reading the question in Jennie’s mind, she added, “But I didn’t write that message, I swear it. I guess I was just upset that everyone suspects me.”
Jennie opened her mouth to deny the accusation, but B.J. cut her off. “Don’t bother denying it…I can see it in your eyes. Anyway, when I came in from the pool I heard you downstairs and…I don’t know…I guess I just wanted to scare you or something. I’m sorry.”
“I never suspected you.” Allison came up behind B.J. and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Thanks.” B.J. hunched her shoulders forward. “Anyway, I think I know who the stalker is.”
All talk about the den was forgotten. “Who?” the girls asked together.
B.J. straightened. Her arrogant look had returned. Jennie half expected her to say, “That’s for me to know and you to find out,” or “You’re the detective, you tell me.” But she didn’t. She glanced at the door and whispered, “Rocky.”
Jennie let out a long breath. She’d suspected him herself, until the phone call in the den. Now it didn’t seem likely—unless the call was just another ploy to scare Allison and he had no intention of showing up. “Do you have proof?” she asked.
“No—not exactly. It’s just that I’ve been watching him. Dad hired him a couple of days after I came. There’s something weird about him. He’s no gardener, that’s for sure. He’s always snooping around.”
“That’s true,” Allison said. “I catch him looking at me all the time. Part of the problem is that Dad asked him to keep an eye on me. I don’t mind when we’re out running around, but it certainly isn’t necessary in the house.” Allison drew in a ragged breath. “He gives me the creeps.”
“Have you told your folks?” Lisa asked.
Allison nodded. “Daddy just told me I was imagining things and that Rocky came highly recommended.”
Jennie dropped into a white wicker chair with a pink pad. Recommended by whom? “Not that I don’t trust your dad, Allison, but I’d sure like to know more about Rocky. Do you think we could find out where he lived before he moved in here?”
Allison frowned. “Dad would probably have records in his computer—or in the file cabinet in his office, but there’s no way…”
“Well, never mind,” Jennie said, an idea forming in the back of her mind. “Maybe between us, we can ask the right questions. In fact…” Jennie turned to Lisa. “You’d be perfect. He hasn’t really met you yet. Why don’t you get him alone and ask him about his past?”
“O-o-oh.” Lisa grinned. “Undercover work. I like that.” She turned her back and looked over her right shoulder, giving the others a sultry pout. “How’s this? Think he’ll be so swayed by my charms he’ll tell me everything?”
Jennie laughed. “He’ll probably run the other way. Just act natural.”
“Look,” Allison called from the window. “There he is now—cleaning the pool.”
Jennie and B.J. hurried to the window and looked over Allison’s shoulder. “Perfect. Okay, Lisa, this is it. Go on down there and pretend you’re interested.”
Lisa joined them at the window and peered into the garden below. “That won’t be hard. He’s really cute.”
She ran out of the room and returned only seconds later with her emerald swimsuit and headed for Allison’s bathroom. She stopped in the doorway. “Ah…Jennie…what about…you know.”
“Go ahead and get your suit on. I’ll tell them.” “Tell us what?” B.J. asked.
Jennie told them about the phone call she’d taken earlier. “Like I said, Rocky could be involved somehow; it didn’t sound like him, but who knows. He could be disguising his voice to throw us off.”
Lisa came out of the bathroom and headed for the door. “I’m ready…I guess.” She sounded reluctant and Jennie didn’t blame her.
“You don’t have to do this,” Jennie said.
“I know, but you’re right. I’m the only one he doesn’t really know. Besides, you’ll be here—won’t you?”
“He won’t try anything with a house full of people,” B.J. assured.
Jennie gave Lisa the same assurance, but as she stood at the window with the others, she offered up a prayer just in case.
11
Jennie wished she’s thought their plan through more thoroughly. She should have had Lisa take her cell phone with her. An open line would have allowed them to hear the entire conversation. Oh, well, they’d just have to wait until Lisa came back.
For the next twenty minutes they watched an animated discussion between Rocky and Lisa. Lisa laughed, flirted, talked, and listened as Rocky—Jennie hoped—told her his life story.
At nine-fifteen, Lisa and Rocky both stood. She turned away from him and headed into the house. He watched her go.
“He’s definitely interested,” B.J. said. “The jerk,” Jennie muttered.
“I should tell Daddy,” Allison said. “Maybe if he knew Rocky was flirting with one of my friends he’d fire him.”
Lisa bounced in, her eyes bright with excitement. “I did it. His real name is Robert. He’s from Vancouver. He’s twenty, single, and…” Lisa paused and sighed. “If I were allowed to date older guys I would definitely be interested.”
“Lisa,” she scolded, “you sound like you want to go out with him. He’s a suspect, remember?”
“I know…but he’s just so sweet, you know. I don’t think he’s the one. He doesn’t seem like the criminal type to me.” Lisa’s smile vanished. “I botched it, didn’t I? You sent me out to get information and I come back with a hunk report.”
“You did great,” Allison soothed. “Probably better than any of us could have.”
“Right,” Jennie said. “We’ve got enough to do a background check—providing he told you the truth. Did he tell you his last name?”
“Kennedy. Robert…Kennedy.” Lisa’s voice trailed off as she realized the joke was on her. She winced. “Oh, no…wait’ll I get my hands on him…”
“We’ve been had.” B.J. made a fist and socked the bed. “Do you think he knows we suspect him?”
A sour feeling started at the pit of Jennie’s stomach. She didn’t want to think about the implications. “He might,” Jennie said, “but I don’t think he’ll do anything as long as we stick together. We’ll keep an eye on him for now.” Later, Jennie decided, when everyone was asleep, she’d have a look in Beaumont’s office and see what she could dig up. She thought about telling the others what she had in mind, then decided against it. Might be better to handle this one alone. In the meantime, they had another urgent matter to deal with.
“It’s past nine,” Jennie said. “We should decide how we’re going to handle Allison’s visitor. He said he’d be by around ten.” The girls decided to wait on the patio off the guest room on the second floor where Lisa and Jennie were staying. Wisteria wove through the wood slats making a perfect privacy screen, allowing them to see anyone approaching the house. They’d no sooner gotten settled when they heard a motor and saw headlights turning into the driveway.
“Do you think it’s him?” Allison had turned almost chalky white again.
“You can relax, Al.” B.J. leaned out over the balcony. “It’s Paige…and Ed.”
Allison joined her sister at the railing. “Hi! We’ll be right down.”
“No, don’t bother,” Paige said. “We just had to come by and make sure you were okay, Allison. I—I’m sorry I didn’t stay…I just couldn’t…”
“It’s okay.” Allison leaned over the railing. “I understand. Are you staying over?”
“Ah…no. We rented a movie. I’ll be over in the morning.”
“Hey, Allison!” Ed popped up through the sun roof of Paige’s yellow VW. “Paige told me what happened. Cops have any idea who did it?”
“No,” Allison said, “but I’m sure they’ll find him.”
“Hope so, for your sake. Hey, if there’s anything I can do, call me. See ya tomorrow.” He popped back inside and leaned toward Paige.
Paige gunned the motor, practically obliterating their goodbyes. They waved as they tore down the driveway, over the traffic bump, and bounced into the street. Jennie watched their taillights disappear, then turned back to the others.
“I can’t see what Paige sees in him,” B.J. muttered. “He thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”
“Eddie’s not bad,” Allison defended.
B.J. snorted. “Right. His ego’s bigger than his brain. Besides, any guy who would make a hit on his girl’s best friend is pond scum.”
“You have to admit, he is kind of cute,” Lisa added
as she moved from the railing and sank onto one of the patio chairs. “All that dark, thick, curly hair and those gorgeous brown eyes. I could name a dozen girls right now who are dying to go out with him. I hear he kisses like a dream.” Lisa sighed. “If I wasn’t going with Brad I’d be tempted to date him myself.”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Allison warned. “He and Paige are engaged, remember.”
“I’d have to side with B.J. on this one.” Jennie leaned back against the railing and rested her elbows on the ledge. “I bet I could name a dozen girls he’s dumped who’d like to…” An approaching car cut her off. Jennie whipped around. She’d have recognized the old Ford truck anywhere. “Hey, that’s Jerry Shepherd. What’s he doing here?” Jerry, originally from Texas, lived in Battleground, just north of Vancouver. Jennie stared openmouthed as Jerry parked in the driveway and rang the doorbell. “Hi,” he said to whoever answered the door. “Is Allison in?”
That voice. He’d been the one on the phone earlier…Jennie was sure of it—well, almost sure. There were a lot of people with southern accents.
“Well, well, well,” B.J. said, mimicking his drawl. “Looks like we got us a stalker.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Allison laughed nervously. “Jerry wouldn’t hurt a fly.” She went to the railing and waved. “Jerry, come on in…we’ll be right down.”
Lisa seconded Allison’s assertion. “Jerry’s president of our youth group at church. We’ve been friends for years.”
“Yeah, well what’s he doing here now?” B.J. held up her watch. “It’s exactly ten p.m.”
Jennie was wondering the same thing. You’re imagining things, McGrady. Jerry would no more stalk Allison Beaumont than rob a bank. He’s the nicest guy, next to Ryan, that you know. He’s your friend, for Pete’s sake.
He’s also tall, with blond curly hair and blue eyes and a cowboy hat. He fits Tricia’s description. Before joining the others, Jennie scanned the grounds. She’d called the police earlier and reported the strange phone call.
Pursued Page 7
