Sudden Danger

by Sharon Sala

  “I can’t believe you just said that,” she muttered.

  “Why? It’s the truth.”

  She felt herself blushing. “Well…that was a long time ago and—”

  “We’re still the same people, Kristie Ann. Older maybe, but still the same.”

  “Still—”

  “Show me the letters, okay?”

  Scott’s abrupt change of subject was a rude reminder of why he was really here.

  “Yes, of course,” she said, then waved toward the sofa. “Take off your coat. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”

  She walked out of the room with her fingers curled into fists and a knot in her stomach. It wasn’t enough that she was being terrorized by some unknown stalker. Scott’s reappearance in her life was something like coming face-to-face with a ghost. She dug through her dresser, grabbing the letters and tapes in short angry motions, reminding herself that there was no need to get upset. It had been a surprise to see Scott Wade again, but there was no need to make a big deal out of the fact. They’d been in love, sure, but that had been years ago. It had nothing to do with now. She strode out of her bedroom and back down the hall.

  “Here they are,” she said, and dumped them onto the sofa.

  Scott’s eyes widened. “There’s got to be at least thirty letters and a half dozen tapes. Why in God’s name did you wait so long to call the police?”

  Kristie burst into tears.

  Scott felt like a heel. He took her in his arms and pulled her close, and as he did, realized how truly fragile she was beneath the bulk of her winter clothes.

  “I’m sorry, kid, it was just a surprise, okay?”

  “I’m sorry, too,” Kristie mumbled, and pretended for just a moment that the years between them had never passed.

  Scott gave her a quick hug and then pulled her toward the sofa.

  “Sit with me,” he urged as he gathered up the letters and tapes and laid them aside.

  Kristie sat. Scott pulled a couple of tissues from a nearby box and handed them to her, then pretended to ignore her as she wiped her eyes and blew her nose.

  “Now. Down to business,” he said, and took out a notebook.

  Kristie sat with her hands folded in her lap, unable to meet Scott’s gaze.

  “Which came first…a letter or a phone call?”

  “Letters…maybe four or five before I first heard his voice. I’ve marked the tapes by date. The letters are postmarked so you can see the order in which they came, also.”

  “Very good,” he said, and sorted through the letters until he found the first one. He slid it from the envelope and began to read.

  “‘I know you’re alone. A beautiful woman like you should not be alone.’

  Scott looked at the drawn expression on her face and knew she was fighting back a fresh set of tears. He’d worked hundreds of cases during his years with the Chicago P.D., but this was the first time one had struck this close to home. He hated the fear in her eyes and wanted to take it away. He winked at her and then grinned.

  “Well, now…see, he’s already given away a facet of his personality.”

  Kristie leaned forward in disbelief. “Like what?”

  “He said you are beautiful. Now we know he has good taste.” She rolled her eyes and fell backward against the sofa.

  “For Pete’s sake, Scott! I thought you were serious.”

  Without thinking, he leaned forward and kissed her full on the mouth.

  It was hard to say who was more surprised, him or her. When he pulled away, he slid the letter back into the envelope before he spoke.

  “Don’t expect me to apologize. I’ve been wanting to do that ever since I saw you in your office.”

  Kristie’s heart fluttered softly and then settled into a normal rhythm as she stood abruptly.

  “I’ll get a bag for that stuff.”

  Scott watched her walk out of the room and closed his eyes on a sigh. What in hell had he been thinking? He looked up when he heard her returning.

  “I think this is big enough for the letters, but I didn’t have one big enough to hold your ego,” she said, dropping a clear plastic bag into his lap.

  Scott felt heat on his cheeks and knew that his face was red. He picked up the bag, dropped the letters and tapes inside and then sealed it up.

  “Just for the record, I suppose I had that coming. But I’ve never been able to see you cry, and you know it. Kissing you was just the first thing that came to mind. However, since it so obviously disagreed with you, rest assured it won’t happen again.” Then he dangled the bag in front of her. “I’ll take these to forensics. Maybe they can get some evidence from them.”

  “I don’t see how,” Kristie said. “I’ve handled them. You’ve handled them. God knows how many other people who work for the U.S. postal system have handled them, too.”

  “How do you seal your letters?” he asked.

  “Why…I lick them and— Oh.”

  “DNA can be retrieved from saliva and thanks to the self-stick stamps, if we’re lucky, we might even get a fingerprint off the underside of one. It’s a place to start, okay?”

  “Wow! I had no idea.”

  “Kristie Ann, is there anyone…anyone at all who you might suspect?”

  Her shoulders slumped. “No. Not a soul. I haven’t had a serious relationship in ages and especially one that went bust. There’s no one I know who could be holding a grudge against me. As for strangers, I’ve noticed no one.”

  “What about people you do know?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Is there someone who is overly friendly with you. Maybe someone who’s asked you out and you refused? Think hard. Maybe at the cleaner’s where you take your clothes…or the garage where you park your car? It could be someone who means nothing to you other than the person who regularly takes your money for a service. Do you see what I mean?”

  “Yes, I do, but honestly, Scott, I’ve been going over this in my mind for weeks. I can’t think of anyone.”

  He handed her his card and then impulsively took it back and wrote a second phone number on the back before laying it in her hands.

  “This is the number at the department where I can be reached and the one on the back is my home phone. Call me anytime…day or night if you’re afraid, or lonesome, or if you think of something you think might help.”

  She curled her fingers around the card as if it was her lifeline to sanity.

  “Yes, all right, and thank you,” she added.

  “You can thank me after we catch the bastard,” he said, and picked up his coat from the back of the sofa. “I’m going straight to the crime lab. If we get a hit on anything, I’ll let you know.”

  He paused. “Are you going to be all right?”

  She straightened her shoulders and then nodded. “Of course, but I suppose you should know that I don’t think I’m going to go back to work for a few days. At least not until after the new year.”

  “Good idea,” Scott said. “And remember…be careful who you let into your apartment.”

  “I always am.”

  “Right.”

  She opened the door for him and then stepped back, waiting for him to exit.

  Scott frowned. He didn’t want to leave her, but he had no choice.

  “Remember what I said…call me anytime.”

  “Yes, I will.”

  He started to touch her in passing and then remembered how ticked off she’d been about the kiss and decided against it. He was all the way into the hall and heading for the elevator when Kristie called out to him.

  “Scott.”

  He pivoted sharply. “Yes?”

  “Just for the record, I wasn’t disgusted by your kiss and it didn’t disagree with me. However, rest assured that I will be properly pissed if it never happens again.”

  Before he could answer, she shut and locked the door. He stood there in shock, absorbing the promise of what might come, and as he did, a silly grin began to
spread across his face.

  Properly pissed. He hadn’t heard that expression since he’d left Texas and it made him suddenly homesick for all the things of his youth, including Kristie Ann.

  Meanwhile, Kristie was heading for the phone to call her office. Michael Shay answered.

  “Shay, Tremaine and Weller.”

  “Mr. Shay, this is Kristie.”

  The concern in his voice was obvious. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, sir, but I have a favor to ask.”

  “Anything,” he said.

  “I’d like to take a few days off…maybe until after New Year’s? I don’t want to drag this awful thing into your business.”

  “It isn’t about that at all,” Michael said. “Our concern is your safety. Just give us a call from time to time to let us know you’re okay.”

  “Yes, sir, and thanks so much.”

  As soon as he had disconnected, Kristie knew there was one more call she had to make. She dialed again, only this call would be long distance. The phone rang once, twice, then three times, and just as she thought the answering machine was going to come on, she heard her mother’s breathless voice.

  “Hello.”

  “Mama, it’s me, Kristie.”

  The lilt in Shelly Samuels’s voice made Kristie smile.

  “Kristie Ann! I’m so glad you called. You won’t guess what.”

  “Probably not,” Kristie said. “What’s up?”

  “Loretta and Billy had their baby last night! It’s a boy. They named him Daniel Elliot.”

  Kristie clutched the receiver and tried not to cry. Her little sister had just become a mother and she was half a country away trying not to get herself killed. Besides that, she was a far cry from having a family of her own.

  “That’s wonderful…and unexpected. I was just talking to them yesterday at your house.”

  “Yes, I know,” Shelly said. “Christmas just wasn’t the same without you. Try to get some time off and come home for Easter, why don’t you?”

  “Yes, Mama, I’ll try,” she said.

  “Are you calling from work?”

  “No. I’m home.”

  The tone of Shelly’s voice shifted. “Are you sick?”

  Kristie laughed and then bit the inside of her lip as tears spilled down her cheeks.

  “No, Mama. I’m fine. I just wanted to hear your voice again.”

  “Then why are you home?”

  “Oh…uh, I spilled something on my dress at work and came home to change.”

  “That’s too bad. I hope it didn’t ruin your outfit.”

  “No, it will be fine.”

  “That’s good. Oh, honey, if you could only see that little boy. It looks like he’s going to have red hair…just like yours, and he’s got the longest fingers and feet. Loretta says he’s going to be tall like your daddy.”

  Kristie swallowed past a lump in her throat. “How is Daddy?”

  “Wild about the baby. He went out and bought the cutest little pair of cowboy boots and the tiniest Stetson I’ve ever seen.”

  “That’s great,” Kristie said. “Give Loretta my love and tell her I’ll send a gift.”

  “Okay, sweetheart. Well, I’ve got to go. I don’t want to miss visiting hours at the hospital. Let us know about Easter when you can.”

  “Yes, I will…and, Mama?”

  “What, honey?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Kristie Ann. Take care.”

  The line went dead in Kristie’s ear. She hung up the receiver then sat within the silence of her apartment, staring at the loneliness that had become her life.

  * * *

  It was the middle of the afternoon and Kristie had just finished running the vacuum cleaner when she heard a knock on her door. She stood for a moment, wondering if she should even answer it. And then a second knock came, along with the sound of a woman’s voice, and she relaxed. It sounded like Mrs. Petrowski from upstairs. When she looked through the peephole, her suspicions were confirmed. She opened the door with a smile.

  “Mrs. Petrowski. How nice to see you.”

  Marjorie Petrowski gave her blue-gray hair a firm pat and swished inside before Kristie had a chance to invite her. Kristie stifled a grin.

  “Do come in,” she said, then added, “Have a seat.”

  But neither had been necessary since Marjorie was already in and seated.

  “I was worried about you, dear,” Marjorie said. “Are you ill?”

  “No, ma’am. Why would you think that?”

  “Because you’re home and it’s a workday. You’re never home in the middle of the day. I know because I pay attention to what goes on where I live.”

  “Oh…yes, well I’m fine, but thank you for asking. Actually, I just decided to take a few days off. I’ll be going back the day after New Year’s.”

  Marjorie nodded forcefully. “Good idea. I always say that everyone deserves a breather now and then.”

  “May I offer you something to drink? Maybe coffee or hot chocolate. It’s pretty chilly outside today.”

  “No, dear, but thank you just the same.” Then she gestured toward the heavy jogging suit she was wearing. “As you can see, I’m about to do my daily walk. Do you exercise?”

  “Not as religiously as you, I’m afraid.”

  Marjorie leaned forward and patted Kristie on the hand. “You should try it sometime. It’s quite invigorating.” Then she stood abruptly. “I must be off. I have a dinner engagement this evening and don’t want to miss my appointment with the hairstylist.”

  “Who do you see?” Kristie asked.

  Marjorie waved her hand vaguely. “I don’t frequent any particular salon.” On her way to the door, she suddenly stopped and turned. “I just had the most marvelous idea. While you’re off, you must come and have lunch with me sometime. I’m quite a good cook, you know. Just let me know if you have any dietary restrictions.”

  Kristie wasn’t sure whether she wanted to get too chummy with Marjorie. Even though she was always nice, she was a bit overbearing.

  “Thanks so much for the invitation. I’ll have to let you know later.”

  Marjorie frowned. “You don’t date much, do you?”

  Kristie was a bit taken aback by the change in conversation.

  “I’m particular, that’s all.”

  Marjorie stared for a moment, then smiled.

  “That’s smart. Don’t rush into things, I always say. Take care and I’ll give you a call.”

  Smiling politely, Kristie locked the door behind her neighbor and then went back to the bedroom to put away the vacuum.

  * * *

  The digital clock on his nightstand clicked over to 12:00 a.m. but Andrew McMartin was a long way from sleep. The fire in his belly burned slow but steady. She’d finally contacted the police. He’d been expecting it for weeks. In fact, he’d been slightly surprised that she’d waited so long. Most of the time they panicked immediately. He liked it when they freaked. It was part of his high.

  He rolled over and sat up on the side of the bed, reached for the shot glass of whiskey he’d poured a while back and downed it in one gulp. It was part of the ritual—feeling the heat of the liquor sliding down his throat and into his belly—picturing the blood in his veins getting thinner—flowing faster.

  His nostrils flared as he sat the glass down with a thump and reached for the phone. He needed a fix.

  * * *

  The shrill and unexpected ring of the phone beside her bed yanked Kristie out of a deep, dreamless sleep. She answered without thinking, her fingers curling around the receiver as she dragged it to her ear.

  “Hello?”

  He heard the quiver of uncertainty in her voice and started to smile.

  “Kristie, darling…you’ve been a very bad girl.”

  Immediately, Kristie threw back the covers and leaped out of bed. The intrusion of just his voice within the sanctity of her bedroom made talking to him an obscenity.

>   “Leave me alone,” Kristie said, and slammed down the receiver.

  Almost immediately, the phone rang again. She refused to answer, instead, counting the rings until the answering machine would pick up. If he wanted to talk, he could talk to himself. She wasn’t having any of it, but she still wanted to hear. She ran from the room and down the hall into the living room just as she heard the machine pick up.

  “Now, Kristie, surely your mother taught you better manners than that?”

  Her stomach lurched. The drawl in his voice was too intimate. So strong was his presence that it was almost as if they were standing face-to-face.

  “You called the police, didn’t you?”

  She gasped. How had he known?

  “Now you’ve muddied the waters, my darling, and you’re going to have to pay. You belong to me, beautiful lady…only me. And if I can’t have you, nobody will.”

  The click sounded, indicating he’d ended the call.

  Kristie stood within the silence of the room, her heart pounding, her body trembling from shock. Her first instinct was to run to the phone and call Scott, but reason told her there was nothing he could do. Not at this time of night and maybe not at all. It was a phone call and it was over. There was no way to trace it and nothing to indicate who it was. Just the blood-chilling sound of a stranger’s voice, promising to end her life.

  She ran to the front door just to reassure herself that it was firmly locked. The heavy metal of the dead bolt and the chain on the other lock was still in place. She leaned forward, resting her forehead on the solid weight of the door, and wanted to wail. But breaking down would serve no purpose other than to give herself another headache. Besides, it would be even more proof that her stalker was winning—and she would have none of that.

  Determined not to lose her faith or her focus, she pushed herself away from the door and strode back through the rooms, taking comfort in the familiarity of the shadows. This was her sanctuary and Scott would find out who was terrorizing her. She knew, because he’d promised, and for now, it had to be enough.

  Chapter 3

  It was five minutes after 8:00 a.m. when Kristie finally woke up. Her disbelief that she’d overslept was soon gone when she remembered that she wasn’t going to work. Not today or tomorrow, and here in Chicago, maybe never again. Somewhere around three this morning, she’d made up her mind that if this stalker wasn’t found soon, she was going home—back to Texas. She didn’t want to die before she’d had a chance to live. Besides, she was an aunt now. She had familial responsibilities that meant more to her than any hotshot job in the big city.