Don't Look Back

by Lynette Eason

  Between the two of them, Jamie’s duties were covered.

  Safely ensconced in Samantha and Connor’s newly wired, heavily secured home, Jamie sat at the kitchen table reviewing the files of the missing/dead girls once again. She glanced at the clock. Nearly midnight. She should be exhausted. But her mind hummed, and Jamie knew if she went to bed now, she’d toss and turn for hours.

  So, she might as well work.

  Pushing aside thoughts of a sister who wanted to meet her, she focused her attention on the details in the files.

  Concentrate, she ordered her scattered brain.

  Connor and Dakota had gone to check on something two hours ago. Samantha was sleeping, and Jamie wanted to jump out of her skin. She needed to go home. And as soon as Connor walked in the door, she would.

  Her life had been upended, her security stripped away from her, and a panic attack threatened to undo her. She needed her home. But her home wasn’t safe anymore.

  It didn’t seem to matter. The urge to flee nearly strangled her. Hands shaking, she picked up her new cell phone and punched in Maya’s number. Should she call her this late? Jamie had before and Maya never seemed to care.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Maya, sorry to call you so late.” She managed to get the words out around the tightness in her throat. Surprisingly enough, she thought she sounded almost normal.

  “Hey, stranger, that’s okay, how are you?” A rustling sound filtered through the phone, and Jamie pictured Maya sitting up in bed and turning on the lamp on the nightstand.

  “I’m not so good right now.”

  Maya’s voice took on a more professional tone, yet still tinged with the concern of a friend. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m on the verge of a panic attack. My coping strategies aren’t working.”

  “Why not? Why the attack now?”

  “A lot of reasons I don’t want to go into right now. I just needed to … to …”

  “You need some security.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You know I’m here for you.”

  “I know.” The pounding of her heart eased a bit. Still, her air felt cut off, like she couldn’t fill her lungs up full enough.

  “Talk to me.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “How’s Samantha?”

  “Pregnant.”

  A gasp. “What? You’re going to be an auntie!”

  Maya’s squeal of excitement fed Jamie’s. She pictured holding Sam and Connor’s baby. Then the baby wasn’t Samantha’s, it was hers. And Dakota’s. Her stomach did a little flip at the thought and the constriction in her chest loosened. “Yeah, I am.”

  “When?”

  Pant, suck in air, pant. “Around Christmastime, I think. She’s only about three months along. Twelve or thirteen weeks.”

  “What a wonderful Christmas gift.”

  “I need to go home, Maya.”

  “Why?”

  Anxiety twisted inside her once again. “I’m not sure. I just need to be there. I need to feel safe again.” Tears dripped down her cheeks to splat onto the file in front of her.

  A hand settled on her shoulder and she jumped and whirled, heart pounding at full gallop once more.

  Dakota stepped back, hands held in front of him. “I whistled, I promise.”

  Sam stood behind him. “You’re supposed to be in bed,” was all Jamie could think to say.

  Samantha jerked a thumb at Dakota, who stood in the doorway. “Had to let him in. Plus, I was up anyway. I have to go to the bathroom – again.” She disappeared, hand held tight to her wounded side.

  Jamie turned back to the phone. “I’m sorry, Maya, I need to go. Thanks for listening.”

  “Dakota’s there?”

  “Yes. I’m going to get him to take me home.”

  “Trust him, Jamie, lean on him. I truly believe God has put him in your life for a reason.”

  Pausing, Jamie let that sink in. “I sure hope so.”

  Saying goodbye, she hung up the phone. Her hands shook and she felt like her lungs still strained for air.

  Dakota took her hand and cradled it between his palms. “I’ll take you home. Can you wait until morning? Connor is here now, and I can come by first thing. As early as you want.”

  As much as she wanted to go … “What if it’s not safe?”

  “I’ll make sure it is. I promise.”

  She studied him. The reassurance she saw sent relief flowing through her. “Okay, I don’t know why I’m doing this. I don’t want to give in to the anxiety.”

  “You’re worn down. You’ve been through so much and now you find your attacker is back. Give yourself a break, Jamie.”

  His compassion nearly did her in. Sucking in a deep breath, one that finally hit her lungs full blast, she closed her eyes and drew on the strength she hadn’t been able to find only moments ago. “All right. I’ll be all right.”

  “You will, I promise.”

  “Why are you doing this, Dakota? Why do you care so much about me?”

  His intense gaze bored holes into hers. Then he whispered, “I think you know why.”

  “I don’t want to lose you,” she whispered back.

  Then his eyes smiled. “Not a chance, lady.”

  Standing on tiptoe, she pressed her lips to his, then stepped back.

  Dakota didn’t move. He didn’t dare. She’d just taken a huge step forward and he didn’t want to make a wrong move. Lips still tingling, heart so full he couldn’t speak, he didn’t really have to worry about making any kind of move. The word frozen came to mind.

  Then she pushed out a nervous little laugh. “Did I just do that?”

  “Uh-huh.” He blinked.

  “So, say something.”

  “Um … how do you feel?”

  “Like I can breathe now.”

  “I’m glad you can.”

  She caught his meaning and breathed a little laugh. Then she blinked up at him. “You’ll take me home first thing in the morning?”

  “Sure. I’ll go home and grab a couple of hours of sleep and then pick you up.”

  His mouth worked, but his feet wouldn’t move.

  “Dakota?”

  He blinked. “I’m leaving.” Still nothing.

  She grasped his hand and tugged, freeing him from his stupefied paralysis. Lifting his other hand, he traced her lips with a finger. He couldn’t help the emotion that sprang from somewhere he didn’t know existed. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  A silent nod from her.

  Then he left with a lingering glance that burned itself into his mind. She stood in the doorway watching him go, her expression hopeful, longing.

  Which caused hope to rupture within him.

  The night couldn’t go fast enough, as far he was concerned.

  Tuesday

  Tuesday morning, his mind still unable to completely let go of the fact that Jamie had willingly kissed him the night before, he drove on automatic pilot back to the house he’d left only a few hours before.

  One thought kept circling his mind.

  She’d kissed him.

  Wow.

  He almost thanked God. Thought about it. Tried it out. Thank you, if that was something you did.

  Arriving to the Wolfe residence, he barely had time to climb out of the car before Jamie exited the house and walked toward him.

  A slight blush covered her cheeks, and he figured she was a little embarrassed from the night before. Uncertainty swirled in his midsection. Should he say something?

  How about hello? Good morning? He mocked himself into untying his tongue.

  “Good morning.”

  She smiled and met his eyes. “Good morning. Thanks for doing this.”

  “Not a problem.” Dakota held the door for her and waited until she was settled before he shut it.

  He climbed back in the driver’s seat and an awkward silence filled the car.

  Road construction on one of the back streets to Jamie’s house he
ld them up about twenty minutes, and during that time, he kept shooting her looks, trying to read her expression.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes,” she gave a little laugh. “I guess I just feel silly. I don’t know what happened back at Sam’s house last night and I’m embarrassed,” she admitted. “I was just thinking about everything and remembering and …”

  He took her hand, kissed her knuckles. When she flushed and looked up at him through her lashes, his heart thumped. “It’s okay, Jamie.”

  “Thanks.” She squeezed his fingers and left her hand in his. Finally, the road crew waved them through. Then they were at the house.

  Jessica, the cop who’d been there the day he’d gotten conked in the head by the creep, sat out front. They still kept someone on Jamie’s house at all times in case the guy decided to come back.

  She waved as Dakota pulled into the drive.

  Jamie climbed out, pulled her keys from her bag, and acted like she couldn’t get inside fast enough.

  “Hey, hold on a minute okay? I want to have a look around, all right?”

  She jumped, nerves obviously back. “Oh, okay.”

  While Jamie sat in the car with Jessica, Dakota walked the perimeter. He found nothing out of place or any reason to be alarmed.

  Back at the front door, Jamie joined him, opened it, and paused on the threshold.

  He nearly ran into her. “What is it?”

  “My alarm wasn’t on.”

  “What?”

  “When I opened the door, there wasn’t any sound. There’s always the long beep that warns you that you have forty-five seconds to punch in your code before the alarm sounds. That didn’t happen.”

  Dakota pushed around her and pulled his weapon. “Wave to Jessica to get in here. Then you stay right on my back, all right?”

  Jamie shoved down the familiar fear and waved Jessica over.

  The woman exited the car, frowning. Approaching, she placed a hand on her weapon. “What is it?”

  “Someone’s been here.”

  “That’s impossible. I’ve been here since seven o’clock this morning.” Even so, she pulled the gun from her holster.

  “I know, but my alarm wasn’t armed. Did you reset it after you got my stuff the other day?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I thought so but had to ask.”

  They entered the house and Jamie found Dakota in the den. “Come in here and see if anything seems off to you. We’re going to sweep your house together. Be like glue on my side.”

  Jamie stepped in and looked around. She shook her head. “Everything looks fine.”

  “Do you have any gloves?”

  “You mean like surgical gloves?”

  “Those would do.”

  “Yes. I have a few more. Stitching you up only took one pair.”

  Surprise at her sassy comment in the midst of the serious situation made him blink.

  She closed her eyes. “Sorry, I’m scared.”

  “I know, Jamie. Can you get them?”

  “Sure.” He led her through the house and into the bathroom, looking in every direction as they went, gun trained in front of him. She opened the linen closet door and pulled down the first aid kit from the third shelf. Slipping the gloves on her hands, she looked at him.

  “Okay, let’s go back in the den.”

  “No,” she said slowly, thinking. “If he was in my house, he would have made whatever he was up to personal. Breaking in my house is personal. Invading my space at work. That’s personal. Attacking my sister …”

  “Personal,” he nodded. “Okay. What’s left?”

  She looked at him. “My bedroom.”

  “Didn’t he leave that picture in your Bible?”

  “Yes. But if he came back, he had another message to leave me.”

  Dakota motioned toward the back of the house. “Let me check it first. When you go in, keep your eyes open for anything remotely strange.” He looked back at Jessica. “Call Jake and Connor, will you? Tell Jake to rap three times on the door so I know it’s him.”

  She nodded and got on her phone.

  Jamie followed Dakota into what used to be her haven. Now, it just looked like any other room. A place she wouldn’t feel safe sleeping in anymore.

  Just one more thing he’d managed to take from her.

  Clenching her gloved hands into fists, she tamped down the bubbling anger. Not now.

  Dakota asked, “Well?”

  She went straight to the end table near her bed and opened the drawer. Pulling out her Bible, she opened it. The well-worn pages crinkled under her fingers as she flipped through it.

  “Nothing in here.” Putting it back, she turned, went to her dresser and rummaged through every drawer, her skin crawling at the thought that he might have done the same thing only hours ago.

  “I don’t see anything out of place.”

  Giving a disgruntled sigh, she placed her hands on her hips and gave the room a three-sixty.

  Everything in its place.

  Then her gaze landed on the door to her bathroom.

  Closed.

  Now that was odd. She always left it open. Heart thudding, she approached it, and with trembling fingers reached for the knob.

  “Wait!”

  She stopped, breaths coming in hurried pants.

  “Jamie, look at me.”

  Dragging her gaze from the bathroom doorknob took superhuman effort. She focused in on his eyes. Those intense blue eyes that seemed to see into her soul. “Why?”

  “What is it?”

  “The door’s closed. I don’t normally close it.”

  Jessica stepped into the room. “Jake and Connor are on the way.”

  Without taking his eyes from Jamie’s, he asked Jessica, “Did you close this door after you packed up Jamie’s things?”

  “Uh … I’m not sure, I mean, I could have. If it was open, I don’t think I would have, though.” Her brows drew together. “I’m sorry, I just don’t remember.”

  “Stand back and cover the door,” Dakota said. “How far out is Connor?”

  “He was at the hospital. He’s probably in the driveway by now.”

  Jessica slid sideways and Jamie moved out of the way, but made sure she could see what they were doing. Sweat slicked her palms. That familiar chest-tightening sensation closed over her. Not now, not now.

  Three raps sounded on the door.

  No one turned.

  Breathing shallow breaths, Jamie kept the attack at bay. Focusing on Dakota and Jessica, she wiped her palms on her jeans.

  Stance tense, nerves tight, Jessica held her gun pointed toward the door.

  Connor entered the room, his steps silent, his presence bringing comfort. Glad Dakota and Jessica had backup, Jamie faded back against the wall next to Dakota.

  Jessica stayed ready but allowed Connor to take her place on the side of the door. Dakota stood opposite.

  The two men exchanged nods. Dakota reached out a hand to twist the knob.

  With a shove he opened the door.

  A blinding flash exploded from the room.

  Connor, Dakota, and Jessica flung themselves backward and hit the floor. Dakota rolled and pulled Jamie down beside him.

  “What was that?” he hollered.

  “A camera flash,” Connor grunted as he hauled himself to his feet.

  “Stay here.” Dakota’s words filtered through the fog of terror. But she kept control. Breathe.

  Connor disappeared inside the bathroom. Jessica followed. Her gasp, Connor’s “Aw, no …”

  Jamie stood on shaking legs. Dakota held her upper arm. She tried to enter the bathroom and pulled up short when Connor came back out. Jessica stepped around him and disappeared from the bedroom, phone tucked to her ear.

  “What is it? What did you find?” Jamie knew it had to be bad. Connor’s face looked like he’d dipped it in bleach. “What is it? Let me see.”

  Connor shook his head. “You’re not goin
g in there.”

  Dakota raised a brow, focusing on Connor’s face. “It’s …” He swallowed.

  With a sudden twist, Jamie was out of Dakota’s grip and past Connor before either man could move. “Jamie!”

  At first she didn’t see what had so upset Connor and Jessica. Then she moved to the tub and stopped, transfixed, horrified by the scene before her.

  Maya, her friend, counselor, and prayer partner, lay in Jamie’s tub, eyes staring at nothing, throat slashed. The note taped to the ceramic tile above Maya’s head read “Stop trying to find me. I’ll find you when the time is right. Enjoy the picture. Save it so I can add it to my collection.”

  Jamie’s old cell phone sat on the back of the toilet.

  It began to ring.

  27

  Dakota looked for something to pick the phone up with. He needed gloves. Before he could find something, Jamie had the phone in one of her already gloved hands and pressed the answer button.

  Without him having to ask, she put it on speakerphone. The way her hand trembled, he was afraid she was going to drop the device, but her jaw had that determined set to it that said she was doing what she had to do once again.

  He doubted she realized tears streamed down her cheeks.

  He waited for her to speak. She said nothing, just stared at the phone.

  Agitated breathing came over the line.

  Still Jamie held silent.

  He mouthed, “What are you doing?”

  Her eyes flicked from his back to the phone. The stubborn set of her mouth didn’t change. The tears had trickled to a slow drip.

  A noise from the bedroom caught his and Connor’s attention. Connor motioned he’d take care of it. Jake and Serena, no doubt. He turned his focus back on Jamie.

  Why didn’t she say something?

  Rustling came over the speakerphone. Then a low-pitched noise. A growl?

  “Hello, Jamie. Being stubborn like that sister of yours, I see.” Dakota strained to hear the gravelly voice, wishing he could tape the call or trace it.

  Jamie closed her eyes and clamped her upper teeth into her bottom lip. And still she didn’t respond.