Lone Wolf Standing

by Carla Cassidy

  “I hope you all find something.” Her voice was slightly husky with undisguised fear. “I felt his malevolence, Jimmy. I smelled his sweat.”

  “You’re safe now, Sheri and we’re going to keep it that way. Highway is going to be fine and we’re going to get to the bottom of this.”

  “S-so, what happens now?” she asked.

  “Since we didn’t get our friendly meeting for pizza, we’re going to do something else I’ve heard that other friends do,” he replied.

  “And what’s that?” she asked.

  He flashed her a bright smile as he pulled in front of her cottage. “We’re going to have a slumber party.”

  * * *

  Together they got out of the car and were greeted by Officer Joe Jamison. “I figured I’d hold down the fort here until you got home. How’s Highway doing?” Joe looked at Sheri sympathetically.

  “That creep in the woods broke his leg and Dr. Cusack thinks he was either poisoned or tranquilized.” Anger seethed up inside her, binding to the fear that still bubbled deep in her heart.

  “Dr. Cusack is going to keep him for a while and we’re hoping he’ll be just fine,” Jimmy informed him. “Shouldn’t be long before he’s back home where he belongs,” he added optimistically.

  “He definitely will be fine,” Sheri said firmly, needing to believe it. She absolutely refused to believe that fate would take something else away from her.

  “He’s a tough mutt,” Joe said. “And now that the two of you are here, I’m heading home. We’ll be here early in the morning to take another look through the woods. It’s fairly easy to figure out where you ran with all the broken branches along the way. Hopefully with daylight we can find something we couldn’t see tonight.”

  “Thanks, Joe,” Sheri said. She sank down on the sofa, a deep weariness stealing over her as Jimmy walked Joe to the door. A glance at the clock hanging above the fireplace mantel let her know it was almost eleven.

  She was exhausted and as she gazed down at herself she realized she was also filthy. Her jeans and T-shirt were covered in dirt and grass stains and a rake of her hand through her hair found twigs and leaves entangled in the strands.

  Jimmy locked the front door and then turned to look at her. “So, let’s get this slumber party started,” he said with what sounded like forced enthusiasm. “Although I have to confess I really don’t know what goes on at slumber parties.”

  “Both Roxy and Marlene had a couple of them while we were young. The girls painted each other’s fingernails and giggled a lot. They gossiped about other girls, listed the guys they wanted to go out with and then watched a scary movie and ate popcorn between squeals of terror.”

  “You never had a slumber party?” He remained across the room.

  “No.” She attempted a small smile. “I figured everyone came to Roxy’s because they were afraid to tell her no. They came to Marlene’s because she was easily the most beautiful girl in town. I had a feeling if stuttering Sheri tried to have a party nobody would show up, so I never tried.” She wasn’t looking for sympathy, but rather was simply stating the facts.

  “Sounds to me like you didn’t miss out on much.” He took a step closer to where she sat. “Fingernail polish has always been overrated and we both know that scary movies are really kind of silly.”

  “Jimmy, you don’t have to stay here tonight.” All she really wanted was a long hot shower and the blessed release of sleep.

  “Unfortunately, princess, this isn’t your call. Somebody tried to get you tonight and they failed. Right now you don’t have Highway as your first line of defense. All you have is a shotgun without shells.”

  He moved closer to the sofa. “This place is relatively isolated and has plenty of cover for somebody to approach the house and break inside. Even if you managed to call for help it would take fifteen minutes or so for a patrol car to get here. I’m not going anywhere tonight, Sheri. Consider me your personal watchdog while Highway is away.”

  “I hope you don’t need your belly rubbed as often as Highway does,” she said ruefully, and then released a deep, trembling sigh, realizing that she did want him here. She wanted to sleep, but she also didn’t want to be alone in the house.

  “I don’t need anything but maybe a sheet and a pillow to sleep on your sofa,” he said.

  “I think I can manage that.” Logically she knew that bad things happened in the daytime, but nights were for evil and there was no way to be sure that the evil that had chased her through the woods wouldn’t return tonight. There was still plenty of darkness left before morning.

  She rose from the sofa, once again struck by the bone-numbing tiredness of too much adrenaline spent, too many emotions played out and the gnawing worry about Highway. “I’ll get you a couple of sheets and a pillow, and then I’m going to take a hot shower. You know you don’t have to sleep on the sofa. I do have a spare room.”

  Jimmy sat in the spot she had just vacated on the sofa. “I’ll be more comfortable here. I can hear anyone trying to get into the front or back door and I don’t intend to do much sleeping anyway. The sofa will work just fine.”

  She hated that he intended to stay up all night but couldn’t help but feel relieved that he would be guarding her place, herself until morning came.

  She left the room and headed down the hallway to the linen closet where she pulled out two pale blue sheets and then went into the guest room and grabbed a pillow from the bed.

  When she returned to the living room his gun and car keys were on the coffee table. “Go take that hot shower,” he said as he took the bedding from her. “And then get a good night’s sleep because unfortunately I’ll have more questions for you in the morning.”

  She nodded, grateful that he wasn’t going to insist on any more questions tonight. She headed for the bathroom and within minutes was standing beneath a hot spray of water, using the bar of soap she’d ordered from an online store that smelled of lilacs and lavender.

  Jimmy might have questions for her in the morning, but she feared she wouldn’t have any answers. She had no idea who the man in the woods was or what he wanted with her. She had no idea who would want to hurt Highway in an effort to neutralize his duty and desire to protect her.

  She squeezed her eyes tightly closed and leaned weakly against the glass enclosure as she thought about her beloved companion. The idea that somebody had intentionally broken his leg and then poisoned or tranquilized him shot a pain through her heart that was nearly debilitating.

  What kind of person attacked an innocent animal? A monster, that’s who. It had been a monster chasing her through the woods.

  Tears fell as she raised her face to the spray. They were tears for Highway and for herself. Tears of relief and of the fear of danger still too close.

  She finished rinsing off and then shut off the water and grabbed the towel she had waiting for her. Drying off, she said a small prayer for Highway and grabbed the short lavender nightgown and matching robe that hung from a hook on the back of the bathroom door.

  Brushing her wet hair into some semblance of order she noted that her skin was unusually pale and she appeared not just tired, but stressed. Her eyes looked hollow and her mouth trembled slightly.

  The only thing that made her feel a little bit better was the fact that one of Wolf Creek’s finest was sitting in her living room and would remain there until morning.

  Tomorrow she intended to get ammunition for her shotgun and if anyone attempted to get into her house without a personal invitation she’d shoot first and ask questions later.

  As she exited the bathroom she smelled the scent of pizza baking and realized Jimmy must have found the frozen pie she had in her freezer.

  He was just pulling it out of the oven when she stepped into the kitchen. He placed the pizza stone on a pot holder in the center of her table an
d smiled. “I hope you don’t mind. I figured since we didn’t get pizza out, we could get it in instead.”

  She was surprised by the pang of hunger that stirred in her stomach. In anticipation of her meeting Jimmy for pizza, she’d skipped lunch that day. “Actually, I don’t mind at all. I guess life-threatening drama makes me hungry.” She slid into one of the chairs at the table. “No need for silverware or plates,” she said.

  “What about drinks?”

  “There’s cold soda in the fridge.”

  “Perfect.” He grabbed two colas from the refrigerator, ripped off a couple of paper towels from the holder on the counter and then joined her at the table.

  For the next few minutes they ate in silence. It was a comfortable quiet, as if words were not necessary between them. She was spent, emotionally and physically and he appeared to not only recognize it, but respect it, as well.

  “Not as good as the Pizza Place fare, but it definitely is hitting the spot,” she finally said as she reached for her second piece.

  “Tastes great to me, but I was starving, too. Besides, you’ll sleep better with a full belly. And you need a good night’s sleep.”

  His eyes were dark pools of compassion and for just a moment she wanted to fall into the depths, forget the pizza and curl up on his lap. She wanted him to wrap her in his big strong arms and take away the taste of terror that still lingered in the back of her throat.

  Instead she looked down at the pizza in her hand and took a bite. Jimmy was here not just as a friend, but as a detective doing his job, and his duties didn’t involve holding her so close that she felt his reassuring heart beating against her own.

  By the time she’d finished her second piece, her eyes were drifting closed and she knew it was her body’s need to escape her thoughts and worries about Highway and the memories of being chased in the dark.

  “If you don’t go to bed you’re going to find yourself face-first in the rest of the pizza,” Jimmy observed.

  “You’re right.” She scooted back from the table and stood.

  “I’ll walk you to your room,” he said, also getting up from the table.

  “That isn’t necessary,” she protested, knowing he wasn’t finished eating.

  “But it is. I need to check and make sure windows are locked and you need to sleep with your bedroom door open so that I’ll hear if anything goes amiss.”

  His words reminded her once again that the danger hadn’t passed; it had only potentially been postponed. She was acutely aware of him stopping at the coffee table to grab his gun and then walking in front of her down the hallway to her bedroom at the end.

  Where the rest of her house was done in warm, earthy colors, her bedroom was an explosion of deep, lush purple...the color of royalty and befitting a princess.

  Thankfully, Jimmy made no comment as he headed to the single window in the room and checked to make sure it was locked securely. He then turned and walked back to where Sheri stood just inside the doorway.

  “Remember, door open all night and don’t hesitate to call for me if you hear something ominous or just get the willies.” He stepped closer to her. “Or if you just need some reassurance.”

  He stood so close to her that she could smell the woodsy scent of his cologne, feel his body heat radiate outward to steal some of the chill from hers.

  His eyes darkened, and somewhere in the back of her mind she knew she should step away from him, but her feet were frozen in place as he raised a hand and gently stroked it down the side of her cheek.

  “Sweet dreams, princess,” he murmured.

  She saw the kiss coming. He leaned forward and for just an instant his intent gleamed boldly from his eyes. Before she had an opportunity to process what was about to happen, his lips were on hers.

  Achingly warm, soft and sensual, his mouth took complete possession of hers. It was definitely a friendly kiss, but so much more than just friendly.

  It was hot, it was breathtaking and it was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. She instantly got lost in the sweet sensations that flamed through her entire body. She wanted to kiss Jimmy forever.

  With an abruptness that startled her, he broke the kiss and stumbled back from her, his eyes glazed with a heat that was both thrilling and unexpected.

  Without saying a word, he turned on his heels and walked away from her, disappearing back into the kitchen as she remained standing, stunned by her visceral reaction to the kiss.

  She finally moved toward her bed where she drew down the purple comforter and turned on the lamp on the night table. She shrugged out of her robe, turned off the overhead light and then got into bed.

  As she turned off the small lamp next to her, she tried to forget the kiss that had just occurred. She particularly needed to forget her reaction to it.

  The last thing she wanted to do was feel an attraction to a man she was certain wasn’t the prince she was waiting for. Jimmy could stay on her sofa for the rest of tonight, but tomorrow he had to go.

  If he kissed so sinfully she didn’t even want to imagine what it might be like to make love with him. She tossed and turned and finally fell asleep with the taste of pepperoni and sweet temptation in her mouth.

  Chapter 9

  Jimmy returned to the kitchen and tried to eat another piece of pizza, but all he could think about was the taste of Sheri’s lips, the feel of her so soft and yielding in his arms.

  He shouldn’t have kissed her.

  But he hadn’t been aware that he was going to kiss her until he had actually taken her mouth with his. And he hadn’t considered that the consequence of that single kiss would be the desire to repeat it and more.

  He wrapped up the last of the pizza, put it in the refrigerator and then cleaned off the table. He checked the back door to make certain it was locked. He also noticed that Highway’s doggie door had latches on it as well, and he made sure they were in a position that would keep any animal or man from crawling inside.

  With the kitchen clean and secure, he wandered back to the living room and sat on the edge of the sofa, trying not to think about how kissing Sheri had been a mistake he wanted to continue to make.

  From the moment she’d come into the kitchen wearing only that lavender nightgown and robe, desire for her had sprung to life inside him. He’d wanted to let the pizza burn while he swept her up in his arms and carried her to one of the bedrooms where he could make love to her until dawn appeared in the eastern sky.

  She’d been quite clear that she was waiting for a prince in her life, which he wasn’t. They’d both agreed that a friendship between them would be nice. She wasn’t offering a friends-with-benefits kind of deal and he shouldn’t be thinking about such a relationship.

  What he should be thinking about was who had been in the woods. Was the attack on Sheri somehow tied to Ramona’s unexpected reappearance in town? To Liz Marcoli’s disappearance? Or had Sheri made a deadly enemy she was unaware of?

  He leaned against the back of the sofa, a headache beginning to pound in the center of his forehead. What would have happened had he not come here to find Sheri? What would have happened if he’d just decided he’d been stood up and had gone on home?

  Would he instead have found Highway dead in the woods and Sheri also vanished? Or would he have found both the dog and Sheri dead at the hands of an unknown assailant? Thank God he had decided on the action he’d taken.

  The pounding in his head increased as he thought of Sheri running through the woods, helpless and terrorized. Why? Like both of his partners, Jimmy believed that one of the most important aspects of a case was motive. If the motive could be figured out, then suspects would eventually come into clearer view.

  He’d have to wait until morning to grill Sheri more thoroughly on who might have a beef with her. He also wanted her to repeat everythi
ng that had happened. It was possible by morning something that had happened—a sound...a scent—might be remembered that she hadn’t thought of in the aftermath tonight.

  But he’d known she couldn’t handle anything more tonight. She’d worn her weariness, her worry for Highway like a crown too heavy on her head. Hopefully after a good night’s sleep she’d be able to help identify anyone who might have an issue with her.

  He got up and grabbed his gun and moved to the kitchen window where the clouds that had been so heavy earlier in the evening had finally blown away, leaving behind a near-full moon that spilled down on the lawn and the encroaching woods.

  Was he out there now? In the darkness of the forest? Watching her home? Plotting another attack? His fingers tightened around the butt of his gun.

  “Not tonight,” he muttered to himself. Nobody would get through him to get to Sheri this night. What he had to figure out was how to keep her safe every night after this one.

  He’d offer himself up as her personal bodyguard and move in here, but after sharing that kiss with her he knew that probably wasn’t the best idea.

  It was possible that if Dr. Cusack could identify the poison or tranquilizer that had been used on Highway it might be a lead to a potential suspect.

  He left the kitchen and returned to the living room, realizing it was going to be a long night.

  And it was.

  He spent the long hours alternating between thumbing through one of the romance novels that were on a bookcase and getting up to walk through the house, peering out windows and doors.

  More than once he checked in on Sheri, who was a tiny bump beneath a plush purple throw. Each time he stood in her doorway she appeared to be sleeping soundly and for that he was grateful. The last thing he wished on her was nightmares of what she’d endured.

  She was going to need all of her strength to get to the bottom of this, as was he and his partners. They already had two unsolved cases on the books...Agnes Wilson, who had disappeared two years before and Liz Marcoli, who had now been missing over three months.