Breaking into Prison

by Mairsile Leabhair

  Annie joined them again and introduced Lucy. “Lucy, this is my mother, Annabelle.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Lucy. Please don’t eat me,” Annabelle implored, holding out her hand.

  Lucy sniffed her hand and wagged her tail. Annabelle exhaled and patted the dog’s shoulder.

  Javier reached his hand out to Lucy, but she wasn’t as accepting, perhaps because he was as broad and bulky as she was. She didn’t growl, but she didn’t befriend him either.

  “I think I’d better resume my post at the door,” Javier stated, removing his hand. “And by the way, Ms. Nichols, you are on the list.”

  “Thanks,” Annie said over her shoulder as she sat down beside Trudie.

  Annabelle had placed the damp cloth on Trudie’s forehead, and another behind her neck. Trudie began to stir, and Annie kissed her hand.

  “She’s coming around, thank God. Mom, I’m going to that bookstore. Stay with Trudie, please, and don’t let her see that picture again, okay? Please?”

  Annabelle shook her head. “I don’t suppose I could talk you out of it, could I?”

  “No, Mom. These torturous games are killing Trudie’s spirit, bit by bit. It has to end.”

  “All right, honey, but please, God, be careful.”

  “I will, Mom. I made a promise to her,” Annie replied. She picked the cloth up enough to kiss Trudie on the forehead, and then laid it back down. “I love you,” she whispered, and then stood up. “I love you, too, Mom.”

  Annabelle smiled and put her hand to Annie’s cheek. “I love you, honey. Please come back safe.”

  Annie nodded and opened the door. Turning back to her mother, she said, “Lock this door behind me and don’t let anyone in.” Annie shut the door behind her and waited to hear the bolt slide into place. Then she looked at Javier. “Do not leave her unprotected, no matter what. Her life is in your hands. Understood?”

  Javier stood straighter, more defensively, and said, “Understood.”

  Annie ran the six blocks, thinking it would be faster than driving in city traffic, but by the time she got to the bookstore, she was completely out of breath. She bent over trying to catch it again. Once she could breathe, she centered herself and walked into the bookstore.

  The store was one of the few remaining mega bookstores in the South. It sold used books, new books, e-readers, gift sets, Wi-Fi to download books, and even had a large, busy, coffee shop with small tables. Upstairs were the reading rooms, the bathrooms, and booths to listen to samples of audiobooks.

  Annie kept her head down as she looked around, because, while she didn’t know what the stalker looked like, the stalker certainly knew what she looked like. Walking between the rows of shelved books, she looked at every person who walked by. Fifteen minutes later, after looking on every row, at every person, Annie changed her tactics. This isn’t working.

  “Could you page Trudie Youngblood, please?” Annie asked at the checkout counter.

  “Seriously?” the clerk question disbelievingly.

  “Yes. I came in with her, but now I can’t find her.”

  “Really? I mean, sure, I’ll page her right now.” The clerk picked up the overhead microphone and paged Trudie.

  Annie stood to the side and watched as people began to gather at the counter.

  The stalker, wearing a long coat, with a knitted visor covering most of their head, and sunglasses covering their eyes, saw Annie first and turned sharply, quickly walking out the front door.

  Annie knew it wasn’t that cold outside, certainly not cold enough for a long coat, so she ran after the person. “Stop! I want to talk to you.”

  The suspicious person darted down the side alley, and Annie ran after them. She grabbed their coat and they turned around, a knife in their hand. Annie saw it in time to block the knife with her forearm, which caused it to slice across her shoulder.

  “Son of a bitch,” Annie screamed. She clenched her hand into a fist and swung back, connecting with their jaw.

  The assailant staggered back, but remained on their feet, and quickly covered their face again. “You bitch! You can’t have her! She’s mine!” the stalker screamed in a disguised voice.

  Annie pulled her gun from the holster and pointed it at her attacker. “Make one move, and I will shoot.”

  “I think not,” the assailant said, regaining control. “A coward like you wouldn’t shoot me in the back.” Laughing, they turned their back to Annie, and ran out of the alley.

  “Stop!” Annie screamed, giving chase. By the time she turned the corner, Annie had lost them. She found the coat, knitted visor, and sunglasses on the sidewalk. The assailant blended into the crowd and disappeared. “Damn it!”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lucy sat beside the couch with her head next to Trudie’s legs. Bruno was getting acquainted with Annabelle, who was scratching her head.

  “Annie?” Trudie said, trying to sit up. Her head was spinning too much, and she laid back. “Oh.”

  “It’s okay, honey. Just lie still until you feel better,” Annabelle suggested.

  Trudie looked up at her, and knew that she had to be Annie’s mother. “Um, who are you?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Annabelle, Annie’s mother.”

  “I thought as much,” Trudie said, sitting upright. “She looks just like you.”

  “Thank you. How are you feeling?” Annabelle asked.

  “Like I just got off the tilt-a-whirl ride.” Trudie looked around. “Didn’t Annie come with you?”

  “Yes, of course. But she had to leave,” Annabelle explained.

  Trudie focused on Annabelle’s face and saw only concern and kindness. “She saw it, didn’t she?”

  “Saw what, honey?” Annabelle asked as she picked up the cat.

  “The picture of you two together. I’m so sorry, Mrs. Nichols.”

  “Hush now. You are not responsible in the least.”

  Trudie started to refute that when Annabelle held up her hand.

  “Nope, not a word, young lady. Nothing you can say will convince me that any of this is your fault. Annie told me what happened, how you live here in fear for your life. That is no way to live, and I know my daughter will not stop until she catches the stalker.”

  “And that’s what I’m afraid of,” Trudie said, standing up slowly and waiting a moment for her equilibrium to level out. “Can I get you some coffee or tea, Mrs. Nichols?”

  “No, thank you. And call me Annabelle, please.”

  Trudie walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. “So, um, Annabelle. What else did Annie tell you?”

  She came back into the living room and the two women sat across from each other on the couch. Lucy settled in her spot by the door, and the cat was nowhere to be seen.

  “Nothing much, really, because she’s been so preoccupied these days. But she did mention that you were a fantastic author who was… let me see, beautiful, smart, funny, compassionate, and…” Annabelle leaned closed and looked into Trudie’s eyes. “Yep, and the sexiest violet eyes in the world.”

  Blushing, Trudie laughed. “Thank you, I needed a good laugh.”

  “Oh, it’s no joke, hon, Annie has it bad for you. Is it, um, the same for you?”

  “Oh, yes, ma’am. I fell in love with her the minute I saw Lucy sitting on top of her. She was so calm and cool under pressure. And so incredibly adorable. Did you know she took care of me when I had pneumonia? She cooked and cleaned for me. She even emptied the cat litter for me.”

  “Oh, yes. It must be love because Annie never did chores like that at home.” Annabelle laughed. “No, I’m kidding. I also had pneumonia and Annie took care of me the exact same way. She was always sensitive like that as a child.”

  “What was she like, as a kid? She’s an only child, right?”

  “No. Annie had an older brother, Jonas, Jr., whom she adored. He died when he was six years old of a respiratory syncytial virus.” Annabelle’s eyes welled up, but she had shed so
many over the years that she had become indifferent to them.

  Trudie shook her head. “Oh, no. Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “No, I’m sure you didn’t. Annie was five when he died, and it was quite traumatic for her. At that age, she couldn’t understand why he wasn’t there anymore. She cried herself to sleep for days until the funeral. Her father took her up to the casket and explained that Jonas wasn’t here anymore, he was in heaven, looking down at her. Annie didn’t believe him so he lifted her up and she touched Jonas’ cheek. It was then that she began to understand. When she said her prayers at night, she would look up to heaven and ask Jonas if she could play with his toys.”

  Trudie was close to blubbering.

  “Oh, dear. No, honey. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up such sad memories.”

  “It was sad, yes. Very sad. But it was happy too. I had six wonderful years with Jonas. I will never regret that, no matter how badly it hurt when he died.”

  “You’re an amazing woman, Annabelle.”

  “I think you’re pretty amazing too, taking me in like this. And you tried to protect Annie. For that I will always be grateful.”

  Trudie shook her head. “But I didn’t protect her, did I? She’s out there now, risking her life for me.”

  “Honey, you’re going to have to get used to that if you’re going to be with her. Annie has a very strong drive in her to protect and serve. She’s been to war and seen horrible things, and yet she’d go back today if they asked her to, knowing that she might be killed over there. It took me a very long time to come to terms with that, but I understand now that it is part of what makes her who she is, and I wouldn’t change her for the world.”

  “Thank you, Annabelle,” Trudie said, wiping her eyes. “I will try to keep that in mind.”

  “What about you, Trudie? Did you have a happy childhood?”

  “I did. I come from a large family. I have two sisters and two brothers. We’re all very close. They were there when I needed them most after Leigh was killed. They turned a deaf ear when I cursed them, and a blind eye when I went crazy, all with unconditional love.”

  “They sound like a wonderful family, Trudie.”

  “Yes, ma’am, they are. I wish I had the guts to go see them.”

  “Is that what happened today?”

  Trudie lowered her head. “I really thought my love for Annie would be enough to help me leave here.”

  “Nonsense. Your love for her isn’t a magic cure all, but it will give you the strength to try again someday.”

  “I see now who Annie gets her wisdom from,” Trudie said with a smile.

  Before Annabelle could thank her, Trudie’s prepaid cellphone rang. She snatched it up and answered it immediately, forgetting to use the code name.

  “Annie. Annie, are you all right?”

  “I’m all right, baby. Are you okay?”

  “Yes. Confused, but okay. Where are you?”

  “I didn’t catch him, Trudie. He got away,” Trudie could hear the anger in her voice. “I’m so sorry.”

  Trudie shook her head. “I don’t care about him, Annie. I was worried sick about you.”

  “I’m all right.”

  “Then why won’t you tell me where you’re at, and why do I hear background noises that sound like you’re in a hospital?”

  Annabelle gasped and moved closer.

  Damn it. Trudie clicked a button on the phone, and said, “Annie, I put you on speaker so your mother could hear you also. I apologize, Annabelle. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “I understand, Trudie. Annie, tell us what’s going on this instant.”

  “I’m okay, Mom. And Trudie’s right, I am at the hospital getting stitched up. The maniac had a knife and I got cut, but it’s nothing serious, I promise.”

  “Do you need me to come pick you up?” Annabelle asked.

  “No, Mom. I’m just going to go home and take a nap.”

  Annabelle didn’t say it out loud, but she knew that meant they had given Annie a pain killer. “Then I’ll come to your apartment, and—”

  “It’s not necessary, Mom. I’m all right, really. And you’re safer there with Trudie. Is it still all right, Trudie?”

  “Oh, yes. Your mother and I have been having a wonderful chat, all about you,” Trudie replied.

  “All good I hope… right, Mom?”

  “Sure, honey. Whatever you say,” Annabelle teased.

  “Trudie, do you remember meeting anyone at the book store that stood out to you?”

  “No, I meet hundreds of people at those book signings. Except for Leigh, none of them left a lasting memory.”

  “Well, someone sure thought they did.” Annie stated.

  ***

  Annie walked into her apartment, locked the door and threw her keys and pharmacy bag on the table. She stood there for a moment looking around, and then drew her pistol from its holster. She made a sweep of the apartment, looking under her bed, in her closets and bathroom. Satisfied, she holstered her Beretta and went into the kitchen, pulling a beer from the refrigerator. Her arm was in a sling and the Novocain was starting to wear off, but it wasn’t bad enough for the pain pill yet. It was bad enough to make her grimace as she used a bottle opener to pop the lid off of the beer bottle.

  The doctor had wanted to admit her to the hospital because the gash was so deep, and she had lost a lot of blood. But Annie refused, agreeing only to the sling and antibiotics. After speaking with the police about the assault, she went to the nearest pharmacy and got her prescriptions filled, and then she came home. But she wasn’t planning to stay home long.

  While at the hospital, Annie had left a message at Dr. Chun’s office for her to call. Annie had questions about the escalating violence and what she could expect next. Everything she had researched online told her that if the stalker doesn’t have control of their victim, they might kill them rather than give them up. That was the real reason Annie didn’t return to Trudie. She was afraid now. Afraid that no matter how protected Trudie and her mother were, it wouldn’t be enough against a homicidal manic. She had inadvertently put the two women she loved most in the world in the same room with a murderer.

  Sitting down on the couch, Annie took a drink from her beer. She sat the bottle down and pulled up the monitor on her laptop. Thank God this was closed when the bastard stole my picture. Annie made a mental note to be sure and close the laptop after every use. She pulled up Trudie’s camera and looked across the hall into Trudie’s bedroom. Although she knew that she shouldn’t be, she was disappointed when she didn’t see Trudie. She leaned back and rested her head against the cushion.

  Thirty minutes later, Annie’s cellphone rang, waking her up. Trudie! She picked up the prepaid before realizing it was her regular cellphone that was ringing.

  “Dr. Chun. Thank you for returning my call,” Annie said, rubbing her stiff, throbbing arm.

  “Of course. How are things progressing?”

  “Not as well as I would like. I almost captured the stalker, but they got away.” Annie went on to explain what happened, and Dr. Chun waited until she was finished to voice her opinion.

  “Now you must be bold, Annie. You tried luring them out, and they evaded you, and almost killed you in the process. Now it is time to lure them in.”

  “Lure them in? Do you mean to Trudie’s apartment?”

  “Yes. Set the snare and see if they take the bait,” Dr. Chun advised.

  “And if they don’t?”

  “Then there is always plan C.”

  “What is plan C?” Annie inquired.

  “I have family in China; you could live there for a while,” Dr. Chun said seriously.

  “No offense, Doctor, but I don’t like that plan.”

  “No offense taken. But it is an option you may have to consider if this doesn’t work. It’s always important to have another option.”

  “I agree, but I’ll kee
p that option to myself for now. Thanks, Dr. Chun.”

  “Please let me know how things turn out, all right?”

  “Will do.”

  Annie ended the call and immediately made another. “Hey, can you meet me for pizza and a beer in an hour?”

  ***

  The Italian Bistro was a popular pizza tavern that filled up quickly on the weekends, but on a Tuesday night, it was only moderately full of patrons. Annie, Donny, and Jeff were seated straightaway, and a pitcher of beer was ordered immediately. Annie made introductions, but waited until they ordered pizza before she began her brainstorming session. First, however, she had to explain to Donny why her arm was in a sling.

  “They had a knife and came at me quicker than I anticipated. It only took like eight or nine staples, so it’s not that bad.”

  “Damn it, Annie,” Donny groused. “What if… no, never mind. I might as well be talking to a brick wall.”

  “Thanks, Uncle Donny,” Annie sneered. “Anyway, I need your help. Both of you. I talked with an expert, and she said it’s time to lure the bastard in. To set a trap and catch them red handed. I thought maybe you’d help me come up with a plan.”

  “You’re going to get yourself killed,” Donny complained. “And your mother and Trudie, too.”

  “We’re past that now, Uncle Donny. If I do nothing they could be killed anyway.”

  The waitress brought their pizzas over and asked them if they needed anything else before she left.

  All three picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite before Annie asked, “So, any ideas?”

  Jeff verbally went down the list of what he knew. “We know they hacked Trudie’s computer. We know they figured out who you are and where you live. And we know they hate your guts because you’re a threat to them.”

  “And apparently they don’t know that Trudie is afraid to leave her condo,” Donny added.

  “Right. If they knew, they wouldn’t have told Trudie to come to them.”

  Annie shook her head. “Are we sure? She tried to leave. She got a couple of steps out the door before she fainted. Maybe next time she’ll go further.”