She sucked in a fortifying breath and squared her shoulders. Whatever damage had been done, it was repairable. She had brought the entire house back to its former glory. Redoing a front porch would be nothing.
As long as it didn’t happen again. Did an electrical short cause the fire? There was an outlet on the front porch and, of course, the porch light. Maybe some wiring was faulty, arced and created a spark.
Or maybe someone set the fire, hoping to scare her into giving up information. Or worse. Would he really try to kill her?
As she mulled over the possibilities, one sentence circled through her mind—Cross me, and you’ll find out you’re playing with fire.
But she didn’t cross him. She did exactly as he said.
Except for telling Hunter and Blake. And having the camera installed.
Did he find out? Did he see the camera go up? Hunter told her it had been installed before daybreak, as planned. And as of last night, no one suspicious had stopped at the bulletin board.
The ringing of her phone cut into her thoughts. She glanced at the display, expecting to see Blake’s number, and instantly tensed. The number was unavailable.
She swiped the screen and put the phone to her ear.
The caller didn’t wait for her to say hello. A hoarse voice came through the phone. “Are you ready to take me seriously now?”
“Who is this?”
It was a stupid question, one she knew would go unanswered. But her mind was spinning. There was no electrical short. No faulty wiring. The fire had been set. And all over that stupid paper.
“You’re the one who’s going to come up with answers. Not me.”
“I’ve already given you what I have.” She tried to keep the quiver out of her voice but wasn’t successful. “I posted the paper just like you told me.”
“You also had a camera installed. I should kill you for that. You’re lucky all you got out of it was a house fire. Now give me the numbers before something worse happens.”
Her shoulders sagged. He had won. Actually, he had won from the first moment he stepped foot in her house. Because ever since then, she had lived in fear, her serenity robbed. And she had gained nothing. Eight or ten sharp minds working on those numbers, and not one of them had been able to crack the code.
She heaved a sigh. Let him have the numbers. She didn’t care anymore. Her life was more important than whatever was out there. “45, 87, 45, 165, 255 and 282.”
“That’s not it.” Cold fury underlined the words.
“Yes, it is. I swear it is.” Why didn’t he believe her?
“You’re lying.”
“No, I’m not. Those are the numbers.” She squeezed her eyes shut and called up the image. It would be forever embedded in her mind’s eye.
Her eyes shot open. “No, wait. There are letters, too. R45, 87, G45, 165, R255, 282.”
“You’re still lying. How about a bomb under your bed next time? Or I could finish what I started when I had the knife at your throat.”
Panic pounded up her spine and swirled through her brain, scattering her thoughts in a thousand directions. How could she convince him that she was telling the truth?
“I’ll get the paper. I’ll ask for it back from the police.”
He responded with an irreverent snort. “And try to set another trap? I’ll pass.” His tone was thick with sarcasm. “You think you outsmarted me, finding those cameras I planted. But I’m still watching. There’s only one way you’re going to be rid of me. Give me what I’m asking for.”
“I already have.” She put some force behind the words, in spite of the band of panic constricting her throat. “That’s it. That’s everything on that paper.” She could see it as clearly as the night she discovered it. “Wait, there’s a point. The 255 is 2.55.”
Another snort. “You think I’ll be satisfied getting it piecemeal? Look, I’m running out of time. Which means you’re running out of time. Give me the whole thing. Now.”
“That is the whole thing. There’s nothing else.”
“Fine. We’ll do it the hard way. I’m coming for you, and you’re going to lead me to what I’m after.”
The phone went silent, and cold terror gripped her, along with a sense of helplessness. No matter what he did to her, she couldn’t produce something she didn’t have.
Her gaze traveled up the road and met a familiar figure on a rickety old bike. Relief washed through her. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into the safety of his arms and stay there forever. She corralled the urge and stood motionless, watching him approach. She was a strong, independent woman. She wasn’t going to act like a weak-kneed halfwit.
As soon as he reached her yard, Blake stepped off the bike and let it fall over. He reached her in three long strides. The next moment she was in his arms, her face buried against his neck, sobs threatening to claw their way up her throat. She gulped in several breaths and swallowed hard, determined not to break down.
And Blake just held her, instinctively knowing what she needed, which endeared him to her even further. Finally, she released her hold on him and stepped back.
“It was him. He called and said he set the fire. It was retribution for our having the camera installed.”
“You could have been killed.” His eyes darkened with fury, and he began to pace, agitated gestures punctuating his words. “The whole house could have gone up in flames, and you would have been trapped on the second floor.”
“It could have, but it didn’t.” She rested a soothing hand on his arm, her tone low. “Brinks woke me up.”
“Thank God.”
“I have, believe me.”
He stopped pacing to stare at her. That clearly wasn’t what he meant. A smile slowly climbed up his cheeks. “Then maybe I should, too. Someone was watching out for you.” He cast a glance at where Wade and Joe were rolling up their hose. “Have you told them it wasn’t accidental?”
“Not yet. I had just finished the call when you got here.”
She made her way over to where the two men were working. Wade cast a glance at Blake, then offered her a sympathetic smile.
“Sorry about all this.” He tilted his head toward her porch. “Don’t start any clean-up until we’re finished with our investigation.”
She nodded in agreement. “The fire was set.”
Wade’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. He just called. Said it was a warning.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. But he’s been stalking me.”
Wade frowned. “The investigator will be in touch with you in a few hours to take your statement. Are you up to it?”
“I will be.”
Blake draped an arm across her shoulder and led her toward the side of the house. When she reentered, she would have to use the back door. The porch was no longer safe.
He drew her to a stop, concern still etched in his features. “I assume you gave the caller what he wanted?”
“I did, but he kept insisting that I was keeping something from him.”
“So he’ll be back.”
“That was a promise. He said he’s coming back for me and going to force me to lead him to what he wants.”
Blake grasped both of her hands, a sense of urgency radiating from him. “You need to go somewhere safe. How about staying with Darci for a while, just until we catch this guy?”
She shook her head. “I would never put Darci or her sweet little boy in danger.”
“Then let me at least put you up at one of the motels in town.”
What? Give up the home that she had put so much work into for a single motel room, guests on either side? She must be losing her mind, because the idea actually had appeal. Her warm, cozy home had become cold and terrifyin
g.
“All right.” She gave a brief nod, and all the tension seemed to drain from Blake. “But I pay my own way.”
“Agreed.” He looked at his watch. “It’s only three thirty. If you want to get a little more sleep, I’ll stand guard downstairs.”
She smiled up at him, her heart fluttering in her chest. He was making himself her own personal bodyguard, her knight in shining armor. And it was wreaking havoc with her emotions. He would probably stay to protect her until whoever threatened her was securely locked up. Then he would head back to Dallas and resume his life. Unfortunately, by then she was going to be hopelessly in love.
“Thanks, but I’m up now. I don’t think I’d be able to go back to sleep. But if you want to hang out, I won’t be opposed. We can see what kind of lineup early-morning cable offers.”
“Probably not great, but it’s worth a try. Then after daybreak, we’ll work on getting us both rooms.”
“Both?”
“Wherever you are, I’m going to be right next door.”
His words and the care behind them sent tears once again surging too close to the surface. The strain of the night’s events was wearing on her.
She drew in a stabilizing breath. “What about Brinks?”
He frowned. “Most places don’t allow pets. Maybe we can find someone who will keep him, just at night. Darci?”
“She’s a definite possibility. I’ll check with her.” Darci didn’t mind dogs. And a furry buddy wouldn’t be a bad thing for Jayden, either.
She reached down to stroke Brinks’s head. He hadn’t left her side since she emerged from the house.
“I hate to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t woken me up when he did. He very possibly saved my life.” She gave Blake a weak smile. “When you leave, I might not let you take him.”
“Then I might just have to stay.”
Her stomach did a somersault and settled into a quivery lump. Was he really thinking about staying? “What about your life in Dallas?”
He shrugged. “I have a life in Cedar Key now.”
“But you have family and longtime friends in Dallas.”
“They can visit us in Cedar Key.”
Her head was swimming. Had he just said us? As in the two of them, a permanent couple?
No, she was making more of it than warranted. They were friends, nothing more. He had kissed her the one time, next to the airport. But it was in a moment of high emotion. And it hadn’t happened since. He had been burned and wasn’t interested in anything permanent. He had all but said so.
Her eyes met his, and what she saw there blew that theory to pieces. The warmth in his gaze conjured up images of much more than mere friendship. He lifted a hand and cupped her cheek, then slid it back to lace his fingers through her hair. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.
His words washed over her, soft but filled with meaning. “I came to Cedar Key looking for some direction in my life. I had no intention of staying. But now that I’m here, I don’t want to leave. I feel as though we’re on the verge of finding something special. I’d like to at least explore what that is, if you’re willing.”
Her heart pounded, and she suddenly felt light-headed, as if his mere presence had sucked all the oxygen from the air. He was right. They did share something special. She had felt it almost from the start.
Was she willing to give it a try? Could she let down her guard enough to trust him with her heart?
She opened her eyes and dipped her head. It was such a small movement, but with that simple little nod, she was embarking on a new phase of her life.
Never had she been so excited and terrified at the same time.
* * *
Blake gripped the metal handle on the glass door and hesitated before swinging it open. There was nothing to be uneasy about. It wasn’t like he would be walking into a room full of strangers. He was well acquainted with at least a third of the people there.
It was just that, except for weddings and funerals, he hadn’t stepped foot inside a church in over sixteen years. Nothing from past experience did anything to draw him back. What he remembered was a long list of rules, standards he could never hope to attain. And the strong sense that he didn’t belong—that he wasn’t worthy, and everybody knew it.
But he was doing this for Allison. Church was an important part of her life, her faith an integral part of who she was. He needed to at least check it out.
Or maybe he was doing it for himself. An itchy dissatisfaction had dogged him for the past eighteen months, growing with each passing week. Maybe it was there even before his accident, that nagging voice that prodded him to always go for the dangerous assignments, the increasingly risky sports, forever asking Is this all there is?
Was the answer inside those four walls? Was there something he had missed during his rebellious teen years, something that would give his life meaning and bring him the same sense of contentment that Allison obviously experienced?
He pulled the door open, and music washed over him, a guitar, keyboard and drums. Several people stood in the entry area, exchanging hugs and conversing quietly. Across the crowded space, Hunter turned then closed the distance between them.
“Welcome.” A firm handshake accompanied the greeting. “If you don’t already have a seat picked out, you’re welcome to sit with me. Allison’s up front, but she’ll join us when worship is over.”
Blake followed Hunter into the sanctuary, down the center aisle to the third row from the front. His eyes immediately sought out Allison. As Hunter said, she was already on the platform, sitting next to Darci. Her eyes were closed, and her face reflected serenity. Wherever her mind had taken her, it was light-years away from the stress of her daily life.
Her eyes opened, and the moment they met his, a smile climbed up her cheeks, adding joy to the serenity already on her face. If he had any doubts about whether he should be there, her expression laid them to rest.
With four beats on the drum set, the music changed, and everyone in the building stood. Song lyrics appeared on a screen at the front. Throughout the piece, Allison cast several glances his way, silently telling him she was glad he had come. Words flowed from her mouth, perfectly blending with the other voices so he couldn’t pick hers out. He wished he could. Somehow he knew it would be sweet, haunting, filled with meaning from the deep well of emotion she carried within.
The band segued into the next song, a slow, worshipful number, and soon she seemed to not be aware of him at all. Her head was tilted back, eyes raised heavenward and face shining with adoration. She was onstage, but she wasn’t performing, at least not for the people sitting in the pews. Instead, she was in her own private place, singing for an audience of One. As Blake watched her, he was struck with the sudden sense that he was eavesdropping on something sacred.
New words appeared on the screen, and the drums and guitar fell silent, leaving only the keyboard. A single female voice joined the tinkling melody, and he was immediately drawn in. Her voice was every bit as beautiful as he had imagined—clear, sweet and fluid. It wrapped around him, touching something deep inside.
But it wasn’t just the quality of her voice. It was the words and the way she sang them. “Draw me close to you” was a heartfelt plea. When she sang “never let me go,” she meant it. Allison’s God wasn’t the distant, frightening God of his childhood, looking on with judgment. He was a loving father, protector and friend. It was no wonder she clung to her faith—when she came to God, she found comfort rather than condemnation.
When the service was over, they made their way down the aisle and out the doors while most of the congregation greeted them.
She turned to face him at the golf cart. “So what did you think?”
“Not what I remembered.”
“Is that good or bad?”
/> “Good.”
“So dare I hope you might be a repeat visitor?”
“That’s a pretty safe assumption.” He couldn’t say he found what he was looking for. But today was a good start.
He settled into the golf cart next to her. “Where to now?”
“Lunch.” She heaved a sigh. “I’m so ready to get back into my big, fully stocked kitchen.” Harbour Master Suites’ Sea Pearl had a more complete kitchen, but it was booked. “I know it’s only been three days, but if I have to eat one more microwaved dinner, I’m afraid you’re going to see the mean side of Allison.”
“I don’t think Allison has a mean side.”
She cocked a brow at him and began to back out of the parking space. “You haven’t seen me when I’ve been snowed in and denied sunshine and fresh air for several days.”
He laughed. “In that case, what do you say we go make lunch at your place?” As long as he was with her, she would be safe.
After the fire, he had considered staying at the house and sleeping on her couch. But with two floors and windows in every room, it was too hard to secure. So they had headed to Harbour Master Suites and booked Tropical Tranquility and Corrigan’s Reef, the only two rooms with an interconnecting door.
Now for the first time since meeting her, he was resting easy. Her stalker would have to be crazy to try to accost her, with him right next door. Armed with a pink Glock. Not exactly a he-man’s weapon. But he didn’t own a gun anymore, and Allison didn’t know how to use the one she had.
So having him take possession of it made total sense. Using it would be a last resort. But if it came down to the creep’s life or Allison’s, he wouldn’t hesitate.
As they pulled into Allison’s driveway, her cell phone rang. She glanced at the screen, and her eyes lit with excitement.
“It’s Sandra.”
As Allison talked, his heart began to thud. After the fire, she had left her cousin a second, even more urgent message. It had apparently worked. Sandra was talking, evidently not holding anything back.
Shattered Haven Page 14
