Built to Last

by Jean Page

  He also needed money to make a life for the two of them. His constant travelling had left him with a large nest egg, but he was not quite there on the purchase price of the piece of property he had his eye on. A couple more months of work and then he could buy it outright and only have to take jobs in the city until he wanted to retire. There were several companies throughout the Salt Lake area, but none of them needed a marble mason, so he made sure one did. He had approached Kelly before his trip to Florida, and made sure the man had very good reasons to stay there. After all, women looking for American husbands were not that hard to find, and less hard to bribe.

  Once Kelly was out of the way, he let it be known to others in his trade that he was looking for work. The rest took care of itself. Once he was working for Harden Construction, everything would line up just as he planned. Only he hadn’t expected that his boss would also be chasing his girl. He had been watching Noelle every day getting to know her routines and what she liked. She wasn’t that different from the girl he knew in college, though she partied less. So, when he caught her going out on a date with none other than Cade Harden, his blood began to boil. He had to get in there and let her know he was alive, around and interested again.

  Cade had made it easy. He had asked for a few hands to help with a charity move and gave the address. Griffin had immediately volunteered recognizing the address. She had been pleased to see him, even given him her number, and asked him to call her right in front of Cade.

  Every time he thought he was getting ahead with her, Cade was blocking his way. Now it was time to get rid of the problem. Noelle would then get to see how wrong she had been to choose Cade over him.

  Griffin had been waiting there all night. He had watched them come home and seethed knowing that they were in that house alone together; that Cade was sleeping with Noelle after she had turned on him. She was such a cunning little bitch. In any other circumstance, it might have turned him on to her even more.

  He slumped down in the car seat as he saw the door open and the two of them come out. They both climbed into Cade’s truck and took off. Griffin watched them go. He would deal with them later. Now, he had work to do. He stepped out of the car and walked up to the house. He looked around before trying the doorknob. It didn’t take more than a few minutes to pick the lock and he was inside. All he had to do was wait.

  ***

  Cade had dropped her back off at Whittaker Hall. She needed her cell phone and purse and a change of clothes. She had given him a kiss on the cheek and thanked him for everything before turning him loose to deal with his job. Once again, he was short a mason.

  She took the long way around to her room, avoiding the kitchen and the mess she knew she would find there. Her room looked the same, other than the closet, which had hangers on the floor. No doubt, the ones that had been holding the clothing she was wearing now. She quickly changed and grabbed her purse and her car charger for her cell phone, which she knew, was in the kitchen. She walked in the room and found it as she remembered it. Other than the oven was shut off, and the food inside was a two days old and cold, it looked just as it had.

  Noelle grabbed her phone from the counter and walked back out of the kitchen. She would deal with it all later. She walked out to the garage and climbed into her car, plugging in her phone and dialing the phone number for the temp agency. Time for life to move forward again.

  “Cindy, it’s Noelle.”

  “Noelle, I’m glad to hear you are all right! Mrs. Whittaker called to let us know that the police had called her.”

  Noelle sighed, she was sure Mrs. Whittaker had not been happy about it either. “Cindy, I was just calling to let you know that I was available again and that I can have my things out of Whittaker Hall by tomorrow.”

  “Now why are you doing that? It took Mrs. Whittaker three months to find someone’s resume she liked. She only called because she was concerned for your well-being and suggested that we up the time frame on hiring of the other staff, so that you would no longer be out so far from the city on your own.”

  Noelle didn’t know what to say. She had only talked to the woman a couple of times on the phone since she had started working out at the Hall. She got kidnapped from the house, managed to escape, but had police on the property, and yet still the woman trusted her enough to continue as business as usual.

  “Are you still there?” Cindy asked.

  “I am. I guess I’m just surprised is all. We could start looking at candidates this afternoon if you like. I presume you will be sending them out to me once Mrs. Whittaker has narrowed down the resumes?”

  “Precisely, but we will start on Monday. You have had a lot on your plate this week. I’ll call you later to set up a schedule of interview times.”

  Next was a trip to the clinic to have blood work done and whatever other samples the police needed to take. They had said something about testing for the drug Griffin had used on her. She started up her car and pulled out of the garage headed back into the city.

  ***

  Cade couldn’t stop thinking about Noelle, with all of her injuries as he drove to his office building. His anger just seemed to keep growing. He stormed into his office already brewing up a plan for revenge in his head. He took the notes from his secretary with the messages he needed to return and the list of appointments he had for the day. It was too long. He tossed the list on his desk, walked to his partner’s door, and knocked.

  “Steve, you got a minute?”

  “Cade, of course come in and have a seat man.”

  “Steve, I’m going to need the next couple of weeks away. I have some personal things going on and I can’t focus on work now. Do you mind cleaning up on the Plaza site? We are going to need yet another mason to finish the job. I’ll leave you a list of possibilities.”

  “Can I ask what this is about?” Steven looked annoyed by having extra work set on his shoulders. However, he knew Cade well enough to know, that man never took time off work. Harden Construction was his pride and joy.

  “It’s a really long story, and I’ll tell you just not today. I have some loose ends to tie up. I’ll have my cell, if you need me.”

  Cade stood and walked back out of the office. The only thing he had on his mind now, was finding out where Griffin Andersen was, and taking care of the problem.

  ***

  “Miss Fuchs?” The doctor at the clinic re-entered the room. She hadn’t expected as thorough as an exam as she had received. Urine test, blood test, physical, and they took a chunk of hair as well. She looked up at the doctor wondering what else could possibly be needed from her today. She was feeling increasingly tired and all she wanted to do was go home to her bed and sleep. She was to check in with the police station as well before that could happen. Then there was the mess at the Hall to clean up.

  “Are we done?”

  “Just about there. How long were you held captive?”

  “Three days.”

  “Well, then that certainly makes this good news. The early results of the tests show that your system is clear of any drugs. You said that you had been drugged twice? Once at the beginning of the month and then again four days ago.”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you certain that you were not raped?”

  “Yes. What is the good news you are talking about?”

  “You are pregnant Miss Fuchs. Since you did not report it, when you came in, I must presume that you have not missed a period yet. Is that correct?”

  “Pregnant?” shock wiped everything else from her mind. “But… how is that possible?”

  The doctor smiled at her sympathetically. “I take it this was not something you had been trying for with your boyfriend? And you used protection?”

  Noelle nodded at the doctor, her heart was trying to jump from her chest, and her hand had instinctively found its way to her abdomen, even though there was no way she could feel the child growing there. She thought back over the two nights she had spent with Cade during the blizza
rd. Each time they had made love, he had been wearing a condom. Except…

  “Oh God…" she groaned. The hot tub had been spontaneous, and beautiful… and stupid, and careless…

  “I am writing you a couple of prescriptions. One is for prenatal vitamins that you need to start taking daily, and the other is for an antibiotic to stave off an infection that might be in your system from going without treating this wound properly. We need to you come back in a week to check on that head wound. I suggest you make an appointment with your OB-GYN to start you prenatal checkups. You can get dressed I will leave the rest of these instructions at the desk for you to pick up on your way out.”

  “Thank you Doctor,” Noelle answered reflexively. Inside her head was awash of images of her dreams going up in smoke. She pulled her clothes on, and was out in the parking lot without realizing that she had moved. She stared out the windshield at the brick wall of the clinic. She was going to be a mother. She had taken care of her own mother for the last six years. She did it gladly but now her life was supposed to be her own. A baby… how was she going to take care of a baby? She didn’t even have a real job, and no degree to get a real job. Fear froze her in place for a long time, as the news settled into her brain. She had to call Del. Del would know what she was going to do. Right now, she needed a dose of big sister advice. She pulled her cell out of her purse, and dialed the number.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Cade climbed back into his truck to head back to his house. He was focused on what he was going to do next. He had an idea where this cabin was Griffin had taken Noelle to and he was going to start there. He didn’t think Griffin would go far without Noelle. The man was obsessed with her from the look of the altar he had made to her image in the apartment. The police were tracking down any family he had. No doubt, they had already been to the cabin, but he didn’t know where else to start.

  He turned into his driveway and jogged up to his house to get some supplies. He wasn’t sure how long he would be gone. When he opened the door, he noticed that something felt wrong. The door had opened a little too easy. He was sure he’d remembered to lock it when he and Noelle had left a couple of hours ago. He walked farther into the house closing the door behind him. He stopped in the middle of his living room and just listened to the house. A telltale creak gave away the position of the intruder. Cade grabbed his phone from his pocket and quickly dialed 911 leaving the line open and tossing it on the couch. He lunged toward the bookcase where the noise came from and grabbed at Griffin. He felt a sudden flash of searing pain in his right shoulder. He spun on his heel and faced the man, grabbing at the fresh knife would in his shoulder.

  “Thank you,” Cade said.

  Griffin laughed, “For what?”

  “For giving me another reason to kill you.”

  Griffin growled and threw himself at Cade. Cade slammed a fist into Griffin’s face hearing a satisfactory crack as he connected. Griffin stumbled backward shaking his head to clear the sudden daze.

  “I’m going to mess up that pretty boy face of yours so Noelle can’t stand to look at you ever again,” Griffin threatened taking on an attack posture. The knife was grasped loosely in his right hand.

  “Come and get me,” Cade spurred him on.

  Griffin charged him and Cade landed two more solid punches to Griffin’s ribcage narrowly missing being sliced again by Griffin’s knife. Griffin swung back at him catching him in the jaw and knocking back a few steps.

  “I had her in my bed, you know.” Griffin sneered trying to bait Cade. The men circled each other, one waiting for the other to attack. “She was all soft and supple in the right places. I particularly love the little triangle shaped birthmark on her right hip.”

  Cade’s temper rose, getting the best of him and he jumped at Griffin snarling with rage. He fell on top of the man and they wrestled for control of the knife. Griffin was the smaller of the two men, but he had the most fighting experience. It wasn’t longer before he had Cade pinned to the floor, and he was trying to shove the blade between Cade’s ribs.

  Cade struggled, his hands wrapped around Griffin’s holding off the knife. He managed to twist his wrist, knocking him aside, and the blade went skittering under the couch. Cade rolled away, grabbing a heavy candlestick of his mantle to swing at Griffin. He was feeling dizzy and tired.

  “I got you Cade, and I’m going to finish you. Then, I am going to find that pretty little bitch and make her mine. You hear me? She is going to wish she were dead, when I’m through with her!”

  Cade looked down at his side, and noticed for the first time that he was bleeding. The dark red stain was spreading quickly. There was no way he was going to let Griffin win. He knew the police would be coming, he simply had to hold Griffin off long enough. Cade gritted his teeth and swung at Griffin again. Griffin ducked and tackled Cade into the coffee table. Wood splintered around them and the air went out of Cade’s lungs. Dazed for a moment he took two more blows to the head before getting one in himself knocking Griffin into the couch. He stumbled to his feet readying himself for another attack. Griffin grinned at him, knife in hand again.

  Cade was losing a lot of blood. He was beginning to feel light headed and he stumbled as he tried to dodge Griffin’s next attack. He felt the knife make another slice into his ribcage and he dropped to his knees. His only thoughts were of Noelle as Griffin moved in to finish him.

  An explosion of wood sounded through the house, as police kicked the door in and charged into the room guns drawn. Griffin froze over Cade’s now prone body with the knife uplifted.

  “DROP THE WEAPON!” several officers hollered repeatedly and Griffin did so. He was immediately shoved to his knees next to Cade and handcuffed. One officer led him from Cade’s home, while another radioed dispatch to send an ambulance.

  “Mr. Harden hang on, help’s on the way,” the officer kept saying but the blackness took over.

  ***

  Del and Noelle met at a coffee shop. She had rushed straight up to see her sister leaving her boys at daycare so she could. Noelle had sounded like she was in a panic when she called. The two women ordered and sat down.

  “Did Griffin try to contact you?” Del asked taking a stab at why her sister was so agitated.

  “No, I’m pregnant!” she blurted. The next table looked at her with annoyance before returning to their coffee.

  It took Del several seconds to process the information. “How pregnant?”

  “Griffin didn’t… that is… the baby is Cade’s.”

  Del smiled feeling this news was a spot of joy in an otherwise dark ugly week. “Well then congratulations. I’m happy for both of you.”

  “I’m not! What am I supposed to do Del? I can’t be pregnant right now. I just told Cade this morning that I needed my space so I could figure out who I am again before I get swallowed up by him. And now? What? Do I just walk up to his door and say ‘Hey sorry about this morning, forget what I said, oh and by the way I’m pregnant!’ ”

  “First off, knock off the dramatics Elle. You have wanted kids since you were one. Secondly, you know who you are. Sure, you have been wrapped up in Mom. But why does that mean you lost who you are? When have you ever been that weak Elle? You, who didn’t wait to be rescued but instead found a means of escape from Griffin. You are a strong capable courageous woman who can do and has done anything she puts her mind to. This is the new beginning of the person you always wanted to be. Becoming a mother is just a part of it. Cade’s crazy about you Elle. You should have seen him when you went missing. He was beside himself with worry. Even after they cuffed him and held him under suspicion of your disappearance. What is it you can’t discover about yourself while he’s by your side or with a baby in your arms? You keep saying you are afraid that you will lose yourself if you get involved in a relationship; I think you are just afraid of losing someone else you love if you let them into your heart.”

  Noelle just stared at her sister and blinked several times; as she let what Del had
said sink in. She frowned and crossed her arms across her chest not ready to accept the truth of it. The television over the counter caught her eye. A picture of Griffin flashed across the screen she was sure of it. She stood and walked to the counter.

  “Could you turn that up?”

  Del joined her as they watched the news being reported across the screen. The image of Cade’s house appeared with the police leading Griffin out in handcuffs. Noelle was holding her breath as the broadcaster told the story.

  “Cade…” she looked at Del. “His truck is in the driveway.”

  “I’ll drive you. He’ll be okay.” Her sister tried to reassure her.

  Noelle pulled out her phone and dialed Cade’s number. It rang several times and then someone picked up.

  “This is Officer Garrett speaking. Is this Noelle?”

  “Yes, but how…”

  “Caller ID listed your name ma’am. Mr. Harden was asking for you. He has been taken to Pioneer Valley hospital.”

  Noelle nearly dropped her phone. She looked at her sister with such fear in her eyes that Del immediately grabbed her around the waist afraid she might faint.

  “It’s Cade…” her voice was barely a whisper as her eyes stared straight ahead seeing nothing. “We have to get to the hospital.”

  Del face turned hard ignoring the looks from the other coffee house patrons. She stirred Noelle into action, forcing her toward the car. “Buckle up Noelle, and focus. I will get you there as fast as possible. Don’t fall apart on me now.”

  ***

  Noelle raced into the hospital and straight to the emergency room desk. “Cade Harden. He was brought in just a little bit of go.”

  “Are you family?”

  “I’m his girlfriend,” she stated, the word feeling both strange and right at the same time.

  “I’m sorry ma’am, only family members are allowed.”