by SUE FINEMAN
She heard the front door open. “Billy? I hope you don’t mind. I let myself in so I could get my clothes and files.”
Andy walked into the room. “I don’t mind. Billy’s still in the car, on his cell phone. The kids wanting to know when he’s coming home.”
“I’ll try not to hold him up too long.”
He walked over to the bed and folded a shirt. “Do you need a suitcase?”
“I have one in the car.”
He held out his hand, and she gave him her car key. “In the trunk.”
Without asking, Andy picked up a box of files and carried it out of the room.
He returned with her suitcase, put it on the bed, and unzipped it. Then he carried the other box of files from the room.
Billy called, “Julie, where are you?”
“In the guest bedroom. Finished with your phone call?”
“Two calls. Let’s sit in the living room and talk.”
“Okay.” She put a pair of jeans in the suitcase and followed him to the living room with her briefcase. Andy came in and sat beside her on the sectional.
As she pulled out copies of the market analysis, Billy said, “That can wait. Dad just called me. Something happened at the jail today. With Brent.”
“I thought he was still at the hospital.”
“They moved him a couple days ago. Apparently he had a long talk with his attorneys this morning, and this afternoon, he hung himself in his cell.”
Julie couldn’t breathe. “Is he dead?”
“No, but it doesn’t look good.”
Andy moved closer and took her hand. She leaned into him, soaking up his strength and comfort. “What did his attorneys say to him?”
“Probably that he’d spend the rest of his life in a prison or mental hospital,” said Andy. “Or maybe they told him you’d sold the house he intended to lock you in.”
Billy leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Julie? Are you okay?”
“Just stunned. I never thought he’d try to kill himself. He was always so arrogant.”
Andy’s arm came around her shoulders. It felt so good to be close to him again, but she couldn’t get her hopes up. He was just playing hero again.
She pulled back a little. “I’ll be okay. Do you want to go over this market analysis now?”
Billy and Andy exchanged a long look. “We can postpone it if you want,” said Billy.
“No, I’m fine. Really. I’m sorry about Brent, but he did it to himself.”
“The press is going to have a field day with this,” said Billy. “They’ll probably dredge up the incident at the bar, so be prepared.”
“Free publicity,” said Andy, “and I don’t have the business open yet.”
Billy leaned back. “Did I forget to mention that Kayla and I bought you an early Christmas present?”
“I guess so. What is it?”
“Office furniture. They’ll deliver it Monday afternoon.”
“Great. Thanks, Billy.”
“You’re welcome. Kayla did the shopping. She has better taste than me. If anything doesn’t fit your needs, they said they’ll take it back or swap it for something else.”
These two men made Julie wish she had a brother or sister of her own. She turned to look at Andy. “So you’re starting your own business?”
“As soon as I get the paperwork done and get my office set up.”
“Where?”
“On Livingston Avenue, in the bedroom Otis used. Dad offered, and I couldn’t turn him down. I’ll live there until I get the farmhouse built.” He gazed into her eyes. “Did I show you the plans?”
“No, you didn’t show me any plans.”
“I meant to. Why don’t you stop by next week? You can help me pick out a logo for the sign and my business cards.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Andy.” She turned back to Billy. “Do you want to go over this market analysis now?”
He glanced at his watch. “If we can do it quickly.”
They moved to the dining room table and she skimmed over the market analysis. The condo was in excellent condition, the amenities were great with the gym and pool and hot tub, and it filled a market niche. She wouldn’t market to families, as she would a single family home. The ads would target busy professionals and empty nesters who didn’t want the maintenance of a single family home.
“In a city like Chicago or New York, a condo like this would sell for well over a million dollars. Here in River Valley, the condos would probably sell in the four-to five-hundred thousand dollar range. There are no guarantees, especially in today’s market and at this time of year, but the way this condo shows, I think it’ll go for close to five. All we have to do is find the right buyer.”
“Not bad,” said Billy. “I paid just under four. If we can get close to five, that’s a pretty good profit.”
“Part of the reason it shows so well is the way it’s furnished and decorated, and the other part is that Andy takes such good care of it.”
“Yes, he does.” Billy stood. “I need to go. Write the listing agreement and I’ll stop by the office and sign it tomorrow sometime. The sooner we get this listed, the sooner we can get it sold.”
Julie stood and shook his hand. “Thanks so much for your confidence in me, Billy.”
He kissed her cheek and left Julie alone with Andy. She jumped to her feet and walked back to the bedroom to finish packing.
Andy followed, asking, “Would it be all right if I came to your place to visit Cassie?”
“Will you take her out to the farm?”
He gazed at her for so long, she had to look away. “Don’t you want me there, honey?”
He spoke so softly, it tore at her heart. Didn’t he know she loved him? Didn’t he know how much it hurt when he turned away from her?
“When did you plan to come?”
“How about this evening, around six? I’ll bring dinner.”
“For Cassie?”
“For us. Chinese okay?”
“I thought you were coming to see the dog.”
“And you.” He walked closer. “I miss you, Julie. God, how I miss you.”
She stepped back, shaking not from fear, but from desire. If he touched her now, she’d melt for sure. “I thought you were finished with me.”
He slowly shook his head. “I’ll never be finished with you, honey. I love you.”
“Then why did you shut me out? Why couldn’t you talk to me?”
Combing his fingers through his wavy hair, he said, “Lots of reasons. For one thing, I didn’t want you getting hurt if someone tried to kill me.”
She crossed her arms. “And?”
“And I was overwhelmed with losing my job, owing so much money to my brother, and the promises I made to Otis.”
“And?”
“And I’m an idiot. Was that the one you were waiting to hear?”
She smiled a little. “That’s the one.”
Julie finished packing her suitcase and Andy carried it out to the car. He wanted to kiss her, but she seemed a little wary, and he didn’t want to push himself on her. She still didn’t trust him, and he couldn’t blame her.
“Six o’clock?” he said.
“Okay. 234 Perch. It’s a few blocks from Livingston Avenue.”
He nodded. “I used to ride my bike on that street when I was a kid.”
“Then I’ll see you around six. Cassie will be happy to see you.”
Julie drove home smiling one minute and worrying her bottom lip the next. Andy said he loved her, but she wasn’t sure he meant it. Maybe his family ragged on him about the way he’d treated her. Or maybe he missed having her in his bed.
Then again, maybe he really did love her.
<>
After spending most of the afternoon packing and thinking about Julie, Andy took extra time getting ready for his dinner date. He shaved again and brushed his hair to a shine. He’d always hated his curly hair. When he was a kid, the other kids at
school called him “Little Orphan Andy.” So when he got to high school, he let it grow longer and tied it back in a pony tail. Dad didn’t like it, but the girls at school did, which irked Charlie.
On his way to the Chinese restaurant, Andy stopped at a florist for an arrangement of red roses in a crystal vase. An apology called for candy, too, and he bought the biggest box of Godiva chocolates they had in the store. He should have done this before she moved out of his parents’ home, and he would have if he’d had any sense at all. But the night she made her big announcement, he was still reeling from quitting his job and worrying about how he would pay his living expenses and the loan payments on the farm.
The house was an old cottage with a front porch, a little shabby, but with lots of personality. A brick sidewalk led from the street to the front porch. He parked at the curb and walked up to the door.
Julie met him at the door wearing a pale pink sweatshirt, worn jeans, and pink bunny slippers complete with floppy ears. He’d never seen her look more sexy. He smiled and handed her the bags of food. “I have something else in the car. Be right back.”
A minute later he handed her the flowers. She said, “Roses? Is this an apology?”
“I behaved like a fool, and I’m sorry.” He handed her the candy he’d tucked under his left arm. “Can you forgive me?”
“I already have, Andy. You didn’t have to buy me flowers and candy.”
“Yes I did.”
“I didn’t know about your job.”
“I know. And I didn’t know you were moving out without me.”
“She gave him a gentle peck on the lips, and it was all he could do to keep from pulling her against his hot body and giving her a real kiss, something they’d both remember.
Cassie pushed between them, and Julie laughed. “She’s turned into a real watchdog. She even growls at the mailman.”
Andy rubbed Cassie’s head. “Good girl.”
As they sat down to eat, Julie said, “Thanks for letting me take Cassie, Andy. I was a little apprehensive about living alone again. I know she’ll be happy to get back to the farm when you get the house built, and I should be all right alone by then.”
He wanted to ask her to live on the farm with him, but he was in no shape financially to make any promises. He had to get his business running first, start making a profit. That would take time. But if he waited, he could lose Julie for good.
“Don’t wait too long,” said Otis, sending chills down Andy’s spine.
“Mmm, this is good,” she said. “I love Chinese food.”
The phone rang, and Julie answered it in the kitchen. “Hello. Hello, who’s there?” She listened for a few seconds. “If you’re there, I can’t hear you. Please hang up and try again.”
She slid into her chair at the table. “That was either a wrong number or someone with a bad connection. If it’s important, they’ll call back.” She speared a bite of sweet and sour pork. “If Brent wasn’t in the hospital, I’d think it was him, but I don’t think he’ll be calling anyone. I talked with Bob this afternoon, and he said there’s no brain activity, and Brent is on a respirator. At some point, Bob will have to make a decision, and I don’t envy him. No parent should have to make that decision about their child.”
“Do you feel sorry for Brent?”
“I’m sorry his life has to end this way, but if he was going to kill again, I’d rather he killed himself than someone else. It’s too bad the doctors couldn’t do something to fix his problems, but I know they didn’t get any cooperation from Brent. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with the way he behaved.”
Cassie lifted her head and growled low in her throat. Andy asked, “What’s wrong, girl?”
Andy couldn’t remember locking the front door. “Julie, call 911. Now, honey. I think there’s someone out there.”
Cassie growled again, and the hair rose on the back of her neck. Yes, there was definitely someone out there. Andy immediately flipped the lock on the front door, then ran back to check the kitchen door.
“The phone is dead,” said Julie, and Andy handed her the cell phone from his pocket.
Seconds later he heard a whoosh, and a bright orange glow came through the front windows. “Tell them to send the fire department and the police,” he called to Julie.
Whoever was out there had torched his car.
And it wasn’t Brent Bosch.
Cassie snarled and clawed at the front door. Andy heard Otis say, “Go get him, Andrew.”
Andy opened the door and Cassie raced toward a man wearing a black ski mask. She sank her teeth into the man’s leg, and he let out a howl of pain.
As the man raised what looked like a baseball bat, Andy ran toward the man screaming, “Don’t hit the dog.”
The man kicked Cassie so hard she yelped and he turned on Andy with the bat. He grazed Andy’s head before Andy could grab the bat and twist it away from his assailant. Andy slammed the bat against the man’s knee. The man swore and grabbed the front porch rail.
Yanking the ski mask off his assailant’s face, Andy said, “Byron?” He never thought Byron would turn violent.
Cassie recovered enough to go after Byron again, and Andy called, “Cassie, come here, girl.” He didn’t want that jerk kicking her again. The dog backed off, but even though she was hurt, she snarled and guarded Andy.
Defeated, Byron hobbled out to his car. Andy let him go. Blood poured from his head and he sat on the porch step. Neither man was in any shape for another confrontation.
Julie ran outside. “Is he gone?”
Andy turned toward her and she gasped. “You’re hurt.” She ran in the house and returned seconds later with a towel, which she pressed to the side of his head.
The police pulled up, followed by the fire department. Andy’s car was still burning, sending acrid smoke into the clear evening sky. Neighbors stood outside their homes, staring at the burning car and at Andy, probably wondering what happened.
A fireman shouted, “Anybody in that car?”
Andy yelled, “No.”
The cop ran over and Andy said, “Byron Kent torched the car and was about to burn the house. He left his gasoline can on the side of the porch. I didn’t touch it.”
“Dear God,” Julie said, still holding the towel against his head.
“Where is the suspect now?” the officer asked.
“Gone,” said Andy. “The dog bit his leg, and I hit his knee. He’ll need medical help.”
Andrew died from a blow to the head, but Andy was still very much alive. His ears rang and he couldn’t focus his eyes, but he was alive. And relieved. All those weeks he spent worrying about the gypsy’s predictions, and he didn’t die like Andrew.
Cassie limped toward them. Andy knew she was hurt, but he wasn’t in any shape to help her. He asked the officer, “Can you have someone take the dog to the emergency clinic? That jerk kicked her so hard, I’m afraid he broke her ribs. Her mouth is bleeding, too.”
The paramedics pulled up with another police car, and a police officer tried to coax Cassie into the back of the cruiser. “It’s okay, Cassie. C’mon, girl. You’re going to see the doctor.”
Julie said, “It’s okay, Cassie. Go on. It’s okay.” The dog jumped in and lay on the seat. “Tell the vet I don’t care what it costs. I want her to have the best of care. Whatever she needs.” She gave the officer her cell phone number. “Be gentle with her. She’s a hero.”
The paramedic motioned Julie away from Andy. “I’ll take care of him.” Andy immediately missed the warmth of her body.
One of the officers asked, “Is he going to be okay?”
“Looks like a concussion, maybe a fracture, but he’s a Kane,” said the paramedic. “They all have hard heads. The last Kane I treated was Charlie.”
No surprise there, thought Andy.
The police car took off with Cassie in the backseat. Julie wanted to go with her, but she couldn’t leave Andy. She’d die if she lost him again.
She stared at the can of gasoline on the corner of the porch and wondered if that man intended to burn them up with the house. Byron Kent. Was this the same Byron who stole Andy’s designs?
Would he come back and try again?
Chapter Twenty-Three
The ambulance sped to the hospital, where Andy’s family waited by the emergency room doors. Hannah’s face had drained of color, and Donovan’s eyebrows knit in a worried expression. Charlie tried to act nonchalant, but Julie knew he was just as scared as his parents.
Inside the emergency room, people dressed in white whisked Andy away to the back, while a police officer took Julie’s statement. Donovan stood close by, listening to every word. She didn’t see the fight, only the aftermath and the burning car, so there wasn’t much she could tell the officer.
“Do any of you know this Byron Kent?” the officer asked.
Charlie said, “Isn’t that the guy who stole Andy’s designs, the guy he turned in to that professional organization?”
The officer scribbled notes. “You just answered my next question. Why he’d want to hurt Andy.”
A nurse came out of the back and called, “Kane?”
Julie stood back while Andy’s parents walked over. Donovan reached back and motioned her forward. “He’s asking for you.”
“But you’re his parents.”
Hannah hugged her. “He wants to see you, Julie.”
Julie followed the nurse into the back, where Andy lay on the narrow bed with a bloody bandage wrapped around his head. The hospital gown looked like a doily on his strong body.
He reached for Julie’s hand. “I have a giant headache and my hair is sticky, but I’ll be okay. They’re sending me for an X-ray, and I have to stay overnight for observation.”
“I’ll stay with you.”
“You don’t have to stay, honey.”
“Yes, I do. Isn’t it my turn to play hero?”
“Wonder Woman?”
“If I was Wonder Woman, I would have fought that guy myself.” She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it. “I was so afraid the gypsy’s predictions were coming true. I couldn’t live like Paulina, Andy. If I lost you for good—”
