The shopper nodded and walked toward the front of the store.
“Annie Nichols. Annie Nichols, pick up line two.”
Annie looked up at the speaker in the ceiling when she heard her name. Who the hell would be calling me here? Annie rushed past the frozen foods, the boxes of cereal, and up to the front desk. She picked up the handset and pushed the second button.
“This is Annie Nichols.”
“Ms. Nichols,” a machinelike, non-descript voice said. “I don’t believe we’ve met… in person at least. I’m Trudie’s lover, and I’m warning you—”
Annie curbed her anger and concentrated. “You’re too late. We’re in love. Head over heels in love, and she wants to be with me, not with you.” Annie heard laughter that sounded macabre rather than jovial. It sent chills down her back.
“You may love her, but she doesn’t love you, cunt. She won’t even let you near her. It was me who told her to send you away, and she did. What does that say for her love of me? But, it will be me who makes sure you stay away.”
Annie was teeming with fury. “Let’s get one thing straight, you fuck-ass bitch. You come near her, and I will put you in the ground, head first.”
“Vivid imagination, Ms. Nichols. You should have that temper of yours analyzed before you hurt someone.”
Annie clenched her jaw. “I’m not playing your game, you idiot. Trudie has made her choice and it’s me. Buh-bye.” She hung up and walked outside. The parking lot was nearly empty, and it had begun to sprinkle. She walked around to the back of the building and found what she was looking for. A metal trash can, which folded in when she kicked it.
***
“Yes, right there, oh yes, Annie!”
“Come for me, baby,” Annie urged, as she pumped her finger rhythmically.
Trudie bucked her hips to meet the thrust. “Yes! I’m coming!”
“God, you’re so beautiful.”
“Oh, Annie,” Trudie cried.
“I love you, baby.”
Trudie woke up still throbbing in her loins. She looked at the empty side of the bed. “Oh, Annie.” Then she realized that the prepaid cellphone vibrating against the nightstand was what woke her up. Trudie grabbed it.
“Did the earth move for you, baby?”
“Oh, yes. Wait. Oh, my God.” Trudie blushed. “Annie, how did you know?”
“You left your computer on, remember? The voice-activated microphone came on, and I heard you calling my name,” Annie explained.
“That’s wonderful. I was dreaming, but knew I felt you with me.” Trudie said, walking into her office and sitting down in front of the computer.
“Literally,” Annie laughed. “I just hope I’m as good in real life, as I apparently am in your dreams.”
“How soon can you get over here? I’ll let you find out over and over and over again,” Trudie enticed.
“Oh, baby, you don’t know how bad I wish I could. But I’m trying to lure the asshole away from you, not bring them to you.”
“I don’t care about that anymore, Annie. I need to be with you.”
“I know, Trudie. And we will be, just be patient a little bit longer. And then, we will spend a week in bed relieving all our anxieties.”
“Make it two weeks and you’ve got a deal,” Trudie said.
Annie saw the mouse move on the desktop. “Shh, Trudie, someone just came online. Stay on the line with me, but don’t say my name. Act natural, okay?”
Trudie nodded. This is just too creepy.
“It’s all right, baby. Just pretend you don’t know they’re there. Turn to the side if you want so you won’t tip them off.”
Trudie did as Annie suggested, and turned sideways in her seat. “Can they hear us?”
“I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure.”
“So what’s happening?”
“They’re looking at your trash can. Weird. Hey, did you throw away a folder with my name on it?”
“No. It has our pictures from the book signing in it. I thought I had saved them to my desktop; how did they get in the trash?”
“I don’t know, but they just deleted the trash.”
“Oh, no! I loved those pictures. Luckily I still have the email with them attached.”
“Uh, not anymore, you don’t. I’m sorry, baby, they just deleted that email. But don’t worry, I have the same one, I’ll forward it to you after we catch the bitch.”
“Why? Why are they doing this?”
“Because I pissed them off. Try to think of it as a good thing, baby.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, and they haven’t seen anything yet.” Annie tried not to yawn, but couldn’t stop it, and her words came out slurred. “Okay, they got off now, you’re clear.”
“All right, sweetheart. Time for you to go to bed.”
“Good, maybe I’ll have the same dream you did.”
Trudie laughed. “Wouldn’t that be fun? Good night, honey.”
“Good morning, baby.”
Trudie walked into her bedroom and set the phone back down on the nightstand. She picked up her robe and put it on, and then she picked up the phone again and walked into the kitchen. She smiled the entire time.
The spell was broken when someone tapped on her door. She looked at the clock on the microwave and realized that it was after eight. She had slept soundly again and woke up refreshed in more ways than one.
Javier stared stoically at the security camera. “Ms. Youngblood, you have a packaged delivered from a Louise Youngblood, who’s on your list.”
She opened the door and accepted the package. “Thanks, Javier.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am. Would you like me to examine it closer?”
“No, that won’t be necessary,” Trudie said. “It’s from my mother. Probably a book or something.”
Trudie closed and locked the door, and walked back into the kitchen. She noticed that the automatic coffeemaker had a full pot of coffee in its carafe that was made over an hour ago. The smell enticed her to make a fresh pot. After she set it to percolate, she forgot all about the package and went to take a shower.
*
Annie set the phone on the table by the laptop and stood up. Yawning and stretching at the same time, she stopped when something caught her eye. The photograph of her and her mother was missing, and the other two picture frames were turned toward the wall. Chills ran down her spine.
“Oh shit!” She grabbed up the burner phone again, along with her car keys, her personal phone, and her pistol, then bolted for the door. Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the driveway of her mother’s modest townhouse.
“Mom!” Annie screamed, running to the front door and unlocking it. “Mom?”
Annabelle walked out of the kitchen, drying her hands with a dishtowel. “Annie, what’s wrong, honey?”
Annie exhaled. “Oh, thank God.”
“Annie, what has you so upset?”
“Mom, pack a bag, you’re coming to stay with me,” Annie insisted.
Annabelle put her hands on her hips. “I’ll do no such thing. Will you please tell me what’s going on?”
“I got cocky,” Annie replied.
“Cocky?”
“Yes, cocky, as in stupid. Mom, here sit down. Let me explain.”
“Finally,” Annabelle quipped, and sat down at the dining table.
“You remember when we talked about Trudie’s stalker?”
Annabelle nodded.
“I’m going to catch the bastard, Mom. But I didn’t anticipate him coming after you.”
“Me. Why would he be after me? Honey, you’re not making sense.”
“Because he was in my apartment and stole the photo of you and me at my enlistment. I’m sure it’s just an intimidation tactic, but just in case I’m wrong about that, too, I want you to come stay with me for a few days, okay? Please?”
“This person knows where you lived, walked into your apartment and helped himself to whatever he wanted, an
d you want me to stay with you for a few days? No, I think I’d be safer staying here, and I think that you would, too.”
“I can’t, Mom. I’m his main target now. I need to make sure he doesn’t take you or anyone else hostage. What about going to Cabot and staying with Aunt Marci for a few days?”
“God, no. She has some kind of fungus growing in her bathroom, and she hasn’t cleaned her microwave in years, and—”
“Okay, Mom, I get it. What about Uncle Donny?”
Annabelle looked down at her hands. “Donny is divorced; it would cause… complications.”
“Why? We’re not Catholic.”
“It’s not that, honey. I’m a widow, he’s divorced, we like each other…”
“Oh? Oh! Hey, I wouldn’t mind if you two hooked up. I think it would be great.”
“You’d really be okay with it? I mean it’s so soon after your father’s death.”
“Dad has been gone for two years, I think the mourning period is over.”
Annabelle smiled at her daughter. “I do care for Donny, and when he visited last week, something sparked between us.”
“Go for it, Mom. Dad would be pleased with your choice.”
Annabelle nodded decisively. “All right. I will. But I’m still not going to stay with him for a few days.”
“That’s okay, Mom. I think I have a better place for you to stay, anyway. I’ll be right back.”
Annie pulled out her prepaid phone and walked into the bathroom. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey, there, Zachery.”
“Trudie, this is going to be completely unfair of me, but I need to ask you for a favor. I know it’s incredibly presumptuous of me, I mean, we haven’t even consummated our relationship yet, so I want you to feel comfortable with saying no. I promise, it won’t hurt my feelings. I have no business asking, and I don’t want you to feel pressured in any way, and—”
“Good heavens, what kind of favor do you need?”
“Is that water I hear running?” Annie asked, distracting herself for a moment.
“Yes, I’m in the shower, or I was until you called.”
“Man, I wish I was there with you. But um, in lieu of that, how would you feel about babysitting my mother for a couple of days?”
“I don’t understand. You want her to stay with me? Why? What’s wrong?”
Annie swallowed her anxiety and said, “It’s a long story, but I think the stalker may be after her.”
“Bring her here immediately.”
“It’s just for a few days, I promise. But you have the safest place that I know of, and—”
“Did you hear me, honey? She is more than welcome here.”
“Oh, baby. Thank you so much. We’ll be right over.”
***
The home office was large, with a mahogany wooden desk, a matching bookshelf, and a merlot, tufted leather office chair. Overhead, a European-style six-light wave bar spotlighted the four walls and the desk. The desk was positioned oddly, facing a blank wall instead of the window. But with the push of a button, the wall slid to the side and another room was hidden behind it. The three walls of the secret room were full of photographs of Trudie. The pictures were taken at book signings, with Leigh walking by the river, and at a ribbon cutting for a new bookstore. The wall to the right of that one was full of screengrabs of Trudie sitting in front of her computer. Smiling, frowning, and crying. The wall to the right of that one had only three photographs, all of them were of Annie. All three pictures had a red X across her face.
The inbox dinged indicating a new email had arrived. It was a confirmation alert affirming that the package had been delivered. And now for the fun part. The stalker clicked on the camera program that a hacker was paid handsomely to create, and Trudie’s office and hallway came into view. “Come on, my darling, just one little peek-a-boo.” Not taking their eyes off of the monitor, the pursuer inserted the cable into the headphone jack of their cellphone and turned on the phone voice-changer. Tapping in *67 first to hide their phone number, they tapped in Trudie’s phone number from memory.
Damn it! It went to voicemail. No matter. “Darling, I sent you a special gift this morning. Your little trick pretending to send her away was cruel, and I am forced to punish you again. This will hurt me more than it will you. No, that’s a fucking lie! Don’t fuck with me again!” The stalker ended the call and slammed the phone onto the desk. “Damn it!” They pounded their fist on the desk until the pain finally penetrated their rage.
Taking a deep breath to quell the shuddering nerves, they called Trudie back. “I’m sorry, darling. You know how bad my temper gets when people try to trick me. I’ve tried to tell you that no one comes between us. And now I have sent you a token of my love that will convince you, once and for all.”
Ending the call, the stalker picked up a printed photo from the printer and a knife from the desk, then walked over to the wall with Annie’s pictures on it. With one angry stab of the knife through Annie’s face, the stalker hung the fourth picture on the wall. The knife was eight inches long, with a steel blade engraved with gold inlays of flowers. The hilt had an ivory handle with scrimshawed hearts on either side. It was the same knife that killed Leigh.
***
Trudie stepped out of the shower and toweled off. She looked at herself in the mirror and felt suddenly exposed. Slipping into her robe, she began drying her hair. A few minutes later, Trudie walked back to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. Taking a satisfying sip, she noticed the unopened package still lying on the counter. She picked it up and examined it. No return address, but it had her mother’s name in the upper left hand corner. Tearing it open, she pulled out a square object wrapped in the cartoon section of the Sunday newspaper. Curious now, she unwrapped it and looked at the picture.
Curiosity turned to shock, which turned to fear. She screamed and dropped the framed photograph, shattering the glass when it hit the floor.
Javier pounded on the door. “Ms. Youngblood, are you all right? Ms. Youngblood?” He continued to knock and ring the doorbell but no one answered.
Trudie, almost blind with fear, stumbled down the hall and into her bedroom. Mumbling, crying, shuddering convulsively, she struggled to get dressed and pull on her shoes. Then she looked at the prepaid phone on her nightstand. She started to reach for it, but changed her mind, and walked out of the room.
Trudie put her hand on the doorknob and inhaled slowly. Then she swung the door open and looked at Javier. “I’m leaving,” she said, and walked through the door and into the foyer. The elevator dinged, startling her, and she grabbed her chest, gasping for air. She fell to the floor, unconscious.
“Are you all right?” Javier asked, bending down beside her. When he got no response, he felt for a pulse on her wrist. She must have fainted. He scooped her up in his arms and stood up.
Just as he opened the door to the condo, Annie and her mother stepped out of the elevator. Annie took one look at the scene unfolding and drew her weapon, pushing her mother behind her. “Freeze,” she shouted, cocking the Beretta and pointing it at the man’s head.
“Whoa, easy now. I’m Ms. Youngblood’s private security guard. My name is Javier De Almeida. I have identification in my back jeans pocket.” Javier turned his hip slightly.
Annie looked at the chair and backpack, and then at Trudie, limp in his bulky arms. She eased over and retrieved his wallet, which she handed to her mother.
Annabelle opened it up and checked his driver’s license. “He’s telling the truth, honey.”
Annie wasn’t convinced. “Who hired you?” she asked, still pointing her gun at him.
“Noella Rutherford, but Ms. Youngblood signs my checks,” he responded.
Annie lowered her weapon, but she didn’t put it away.
“Let’s get the poor thing inside,” Annabelle insisted.
Javier looked at Annie, who nodded and holstered her weapon.
Annabelle pushed past Annie and Javier and opened the door
. She did a quick survey of the living room and said, “Put her on the couch. I’ll get a damp cloth for her.” Annabelle walked into the kitchen as Annie guarded the guard. He gently laid Trudie on the couch and stepped back. Annie quickly moved beside Trudie and held her hand.
“Should we call for an ambulance?” Annabelle asked.
“I think she’s only fainted, Mom. Having the EMTs hovering over her would have an adverse effect.”
“I need to know your name, Miss,” Javier said. “If you’re not on the list, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Annie stood up angrily. She put her hand on her gun and stared at him incredulously.
“Oh, no,” Annabelle exclaimed. “Who would be so vicious?”
“Mom?”
Annabelle waved Annie over. “Look at this, Annie. I think it’s what set her off.”
Annabelle handed Annie the photograph. Annie’s upper body had been cut out and taped across her feet, as if it were laying on the floor. A printed note covered her mother’s image, and it read, If you want to save that cunts life, come to me now. Go to the bookstore where we first met. It’s only six blocks from where you live. You can make it. Hurry, darling. I’ll be waiting. And no tricks!
“Shit!” Annie carried the picture over to where Trudie lay on the couch. “Shit!” she said again. Then she sat the picture down on the coffee table and turned to Javier. “My name is Annie Nichols, and I doubt I’m on your list, but you’ll have to kill me to get me to leave.”
Javier looked at the determination in her eyes and sensed that there was more between Annie and Trudie than he was privy to. He felt that he could trust her, but he checked the list just the same.
Annie heard Lucy scratching at the door to her room. She walked back, calling her name and opened the door. Lucy was excited to see her and wiggled her tail vigorously. “Go find Trudie, girl. Protect her.” Lucy took off down the hall and stopped suddenly. She didn’t know the two people standing beside the couch, and she became defensive.
“Oh dear, that is a very large beast,” Annabelle whispered cautiously.
Breaking into Prison Page 20
