“Jessica!” He rushed to her and she ran into his arms without hesitation.
Her body shook with fear, tears streaming down her face. “He—he was in my house.”
He pushed hair back from her face then slipped out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “Wait here.”
Andrew started toward the house but Jessica grabbed his arm. “No! What if he’s still inside?”
“If he is then I want to make sure he doesn’t get away.” He pushed his cell phone into her hand. “Call 911. Tell them you’ve had a break-in.”
He hopped up onto the porch and moved cautiously toward the door. He scanned the living room, noticing the full glass of milk and open Bible and blanket on the couch. The aroma of coffee filled the house but nothing seemed out of place.
He saw the writing as he entered the bedroom. Robert had been in the house, possibly while Jessica had slept. He could have gotten to her at any moment.
Anger ripped through him. He wouldn’t let Robert hurt anyone else he cared about.
He retreated from the house so he didn’t contaminate the scene. He wanted all the evidence possible to convict Robert of breaking into Jessica’s house and terrorizing her.
Outside, Andrew pulled Jessica against him, and she didn’t protest. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder without hesitation, and it felt as if she belonged there, nestled against him.
When the police arrived, he was by her side as she answered questions about the break-in. “So you didn’t actually see anyone inside the house?” the officer asked.
Her voice was still shaky when she answered. “No, but he was there. It was the same message that was on the note I found on my car yesterday.”
“We’ll check it out.” He motioned to his partner and together they entered the house.
Andrew led her to his car and opened the passenger door so she could sit down. “I’ll go inside and ask about getting your shoes and maybe a cup of coffee.” She nodded her agreement and he dashed into the house and okayed the items with the officer.
“We’ve contacted officers to come and photograph the scene and dust for prints. After that, your girlfriend can come back in.”
He started to correct the officer about Jessica being his girlfriend but stopped before the words came as another comment the officer made grabbed his attention—the one about Jessica returning to the house. She wouldn’t really consider coming back here to stay...would she?
Not after this fright. Not after Robert had gotten inside.
He took her a hot cup of coffee, her tennis shoes and her coat he’d found hung over the back of a kitchen chair. She might not need the coat once the sun broke through the haze of the morning fog, but for now the morning air was chilly. She slipped into her shoes and the coat and took the coffee with a grateful thank-you.
Andrew knelt beside her and studied her as a flurry of activity began around them when additional police cars and the crime scene van arrived. She looked so vulnerable at the moment, but what would happen when the shock and fear wore off? Would she revert to her stubborn stance, or had this encounter finally helped her see reason? He couldn’t take that chance.
He had to act now, before the shock wore off, if he wanted to convince her that remaining here was dangerous. “I know you don’t want to hear this, Jessica, but I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay here any longer. Think about the women at the shelter. They need you. You can’t risk their lives by risking your own.”
He expected a backlash, a flash of anger to light up her face and a quick rebuke about minding his own business, but she nodded instead of protesting. “I think you’re right.”
Was there any clearer sign that she was afraid? “I’ll ask if you can go inside to pack a bag.”
“Andrew.” He turned back to look at her. “I won’t tell him where Sarah is. No matter what he does, I won’t ever tell him.”
“It never crossed my mind you might,” he told her and that was the truth. He’d seen more sides to Jessica in the past two days than he’d seen in all the time he’d known her, and the amazing thing was he was impressed with this woman more than he’d ever thought he would be.
* * *
Once the police gave the all-clear, Jessica reentered her house. Andrew was by her side as he had been all morning, sitting next to her, comforting her, bringing her donuts he’d salvaged from the box he’d dropped in the yard earlier.
From the moment she stepped back into her home, she knew it was tainted. She shuddered, realizing she couldn’t stay here anymore. She didn’t want to stay here anymore. Like the women she counseled, her home had become a place of fear and uncertainty. She’d prayed for a sign from God about whether or not to keep her little house. She’d gotten her sign. It was time to let it go.
She headed for her bedroom and Andrew helped pull down her suitcase from the top shelf of the closet. They both purposefully avoided looking at the mirror as she stuffed clothes into her bags. How many times had she been on the other side of this task, pressuring someone to pack hurriedly to avoid any potential danger? Well, no one had to pressure her. The red smears on her mirror took care of that.
She grabbed her makeup from the top of the dresser and tossed it into her makeup bag, realizing as she did that her lipstick container was missing. She glanced up at the writing—her shade of red, no doubt.
She closed her suitcase then grabbed her computer and her photograph of Dean and followed Andrew as he carried her suitcase to her car.
As she reached the porch steps, a scampering underneath startled her. She jumped, stumbling down the steps. Andrew dropped the suitcase and caught her, his muscles tightening against her.
Her heart pounded against her chest as she glanced at the bottom of her porch. “What was that?”
She’d once counseled a lady whose boyfriend had hidden under the house until the police left, then broke inside and raped her. Had Robert done that? Had he been hiding under the house the entire time the police were searching for him?
Andrew slid his finger to his lips, motioning for her to keep silent. He knelt down and peered under the porch. Jessica grabbed her cell phone, ready to dial 911 again.
But Andrew’s posture relaxed and he smiled up at her. “Looks like you’ve got a squatter all right, but I don’t think he’s any threat.” He reached for whatever was beneath the porch and Jessica heard the yapping of Mrs. Brady’s dog as he pulled him out by the collar.
“What are you doing under there?” she asked the pup. “Mrs. Brady never lets him wander free.”
He squirmed and yapped in Andrew’s arms, trying to get loose again.
“What’s the matter, boy? You know me.” She looked at Andrew. “I’m sure Mrs. Brady doesn’t know he’s out. I’d better return him.”
She crossed the yard, heading toward Mrs. Brady’s home. It wasn’t like her to let Marlon out of her sight. But as Jessica approached the house, she noticed a place in the fence where it looked as if Marlon had dug his way out.
She glanced back at the little dog who’d settled down in Andrew’s arms. “Did you do that? Did you dig your way under the fence?”
Marlon yapped a response.
“Hello, Jessica!”
She turned and spotted her neighbor heading toward them. “Hello, Mr. Percy.”
“I saw the police cars earlier. Did something happen?”
“Someone broke into my house so I’ll be staying at the shelter for a while.”
He nodded. “That’s probably a smart idea. Young ladies can’t be too careful these days.” He spotted the dog in Andrew’s hands. “I see Marlon escaped.”
“Yes, he was hiding under my porch. Mr. Percy, this is Andrew Jennings, a friend of mine.”
Andrew reached out and shook hands with the older m
an.
“I’ll take him,” he said taking hold of the pup. “He probably misses his mama. I suppose you heard about Mrs. Brady.”
“What do you mean?”
“She fell yesterday and broke her hip. It’s a shame, really. She was so active. Her nephew is in from out of town taking care of things while she’s in the hospital. I met him yesterday.”
So that was why Marlon was on the loose. “I had no idea.” Jessica hated to hear something bad had happened to her neighbor. She wasn’t aware Mrs. Brady had any relatives other than the sister she’d mentioned, but it was a blessing she had family to care for her.
“He seemed like a nice young fellow, the nephew. Big guy, very charming and sure of himself. He reminded me of one of those slick used-car salesmen.”
Jessica knew the type. She knew it too well. How many times had she heard that description of Mitch? No one could believe such a handsome face could house the monster beneath.
“I’ll have to go by and visit her.”
“I’m sure she’d like that. Take care, Jessica, and it was nice to meet you, Andrew.”
“I’m sorry something happened to your friend,” Andrew said as Mr. Percy walked away with Marlon, who went into a frenzied yapping fit. “She seemed very nice.”
“Yes, she is a very nice lady.”
“It’s good that she has family to look out for her. Everyone should have that.” Andrew reached for her hand and held it.
Jessica was surprised at how much she enjoyed the feel of his strong hands surrounding hers, but his comment struck her. He must have been referring to Sarah, but she was reminded of Dean, and how she’d let him down. Why did everything have to remind her that she would never be free of her past? She was happy Andrew had been here for her today, and she would love to have more days with him around, but what chance would they have if he knew the truth about how Dean died?
She held tightly to his hand, taking comfort in his presence while she still could.
FIVE
A plea agreement in the Trevino case left Andrew with his morning unexpectedly open. He returned to his office, tossed his suit jacket across the chair and tried to concentrate on what he needed to do next. He had other cases that required his attention, but today all his thoughts were centered on Jessica and the sudden, unexpected—and pleasant—change in their relationship.
Last week, she’d been that annoying voice second-guessing his decision on domestic disturbance cases. This week, she was the woman whose touch had scrambled his ability for coherent thought. He focused on a photo of Tory on his desk. When had his attention shifted from her to Jessica? And why did it not bother him that it had?
He picked up the phone to dial Jessica’s number. He wanted to check on her, to make certain Robert hadn’t made another appearance.
He also wanted to hear the warmth of her voice.
A knock on his door stopped him before he finished dialing. Leslie poked her head into his office. “Bill heard you were back. He wants to see you in the conference room.”
Andrew hung up the phone. “Do you know why?”
“No idea, but CJ is with him.”
Andrew frowned but got up and headed down the hall toward the conference room. As he opened the door, he spotted Robert sitting with another man on one side of the massive table. Bill and CJ were positioned on the opposite side.
Bill waved him inside. “Come in, Andrew. I believe you know everyone except possibly Mr. David Carlisle, your brother-in-law’s attorney.”
“What are they doing here?”
Mr. Carlisle stood. “On behalf of my client, I want to inform you that we will be filing formal charges against you and this office for misuse of authority.”
“What are you talking about? What misuse of authority?”
“You assaulted my client during the abduction of his wife from her home.”
Anger pulsed through him. “I rescued her from that prison.”
“That will be for the bar association to decide.”
He ran a hand through his hair and glared at Robert. “You go right ahead and try these lame attempts to get to me, but you will never get to Sarah from behind bars.”
Bill cleared his throat. “That’s another reason I asked you in here. We won’t be pursuing a case against Mr. Young.”
He turned to Bill, dumbfounded. “Why not?”
CJ spoke up, her tone chiding him. “You tainted our case by assaulting the man.”
“I was protecting my sister.”
Bill interrupted their tiff. “The restraining order will still be in place for your sister’s safety.”
Mr. Carlisle stood. “I think we’re done here.” He motioned for Robert, who stopped beside Andrew and flashed him a smug smile before walking out.
When he was gone, Andrew turned to Bill. “How could you do that? That man is a monster.”
CJ responded. “You’re an officer of the court, Andrew. Don’t think the defense wouldn’t use that to insinuate harassment in any case we bring against him that you’re involved in. Carlisle was practically drooling to drag this office through the ringer for your behavior.”
“What about my sister’s safety? He’s already violated the restraining order.”
“Next time, have her call the police instead of you.”
“Enough, CJ.” Bill turned to Andrew. “The District Attorney’s office cannot afford to be involved in a scandal. Imagine how that would affect our authority. All of your cases, past and present, would be tainted.”
“He’s dangerous, Bill. He needs to be locked up. He’s terrorized my sister for months plus he trashed my apartment. He’s been harassing Jessica for information about Sarah’s location and there’s no telling what lengths he’ll go to to find her. Does he have to make good on his threats to kill us all before this office will step up and put him away?”
“We go after the cases we can win,” CJ reminded him.
“Look, Andrew, I feel for you. I really do, but we’ve been through this. We had no choice but to drop the previous charges because your sister wouldn’t substantiate them. Now this assault is tainted, as well. I’m sorry, but our hands are tied in this matter.”
“We have to do something to get him off the streets before he kills someone.”
“Legally, we have no recourse.”
Andrew stormed out and headed back to his office. He slammed the door and paced in front of it. It wasn’t fair. Robert was going to get away with beating and terrorizing his sister and there was nothing he could do about it.
He sat in his chair and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. As he glanced up, he noticed a box on top of his filing cabinet. He knew what was inside that box. He pulled it to him. He’d ordered the file from storage after Margo shoved the case into his face. He’d been hoping to justify himself and his case, but he’d never opened it, never reviewed it.
He knew why.
He opened it now and read through the evidence. Things kept popping out at him, things he’d refused to see. Threats he’d insisted were inadmissible. Medical records he hadn’t fought hard enough to include in order to establish a pattern of abuse. He should have done more to protect this woman from her husband, but instead he’d focused his case on the assault against the innocent bystander. It was a quicker and easier win. At least it had seemed so at the time.
He unfolded the newspaper he’d stuck in the file. The headline screamed at him about the slaughter Tim Meadows had inflicted on his family only two months after his release. The D.A.’s office, and Andrew particularly, had received a lot of criticism for not stopping this madman, for not protecting the innocent. Maybe he couldn’t have won the case, but he should have tried harder.
But he knew something most of the general public didn’t understand. His job wasn’t to pr
otect. It was to prosecute.
Sarah was no better off. The law was not going to protect her from Robert. They would merely be there to pick up the pieces once he made good on his threat. Now she had only him for protection, him and Jessica.
He closed the file and pushed it away, realizing that Jessica had been right about him. He’d had an attitude that downgraded domestic violence... That is until it had hit him personally.
* * *
Andrew stood as Jessica entered the café and spotted him.
“Thanks for coming,” he said as she approached the table.
“I’m glad you called.” She ordered an iced tea with lemon from the waitress who delivered his drink, then slid out of her jacket and hung it across the back of her chair.
“What’s going on? You sounded upset on the phone.”
He sat down. “I just found out the D.A.’s office isn’t going to pursue charges against Robert.”
“Why?”
“Bill and CJ seem to think I contaminated the case when I hit him.”
She shook her head. “Ridiculous.”
“Now he’ll think he’s invincible. There’s no telling what he’ll do to get to Sarah.”
He was right. The threat Robert posed to Sarah had just increased. They needed to take more drastic measures to protect her. “I’ll call around to find a safe house for her where she can stay.”
“It’s not just Sarah I’m concerned about.” He reached across the table and touched her hand. “You need to think about your safety, too.”
She turned her hand and locked fingers with him, enjoying the idea that he was worried about her. “I’m already staying at the shelter full-time. I routinely double-check the safety measures. I don’t know what else I can do. The fact of the matter is that if someone is really intent on getting inside, there are always ways. That’s why I recommend sending Sarah to a safe house.”
No Safe Haven Page 7
