by C. J. Carson
She looked at me with pleading eyes. “Oh, come on, Allie. This will be fun, just give it a try!”
With a great deal of reservation, I gave in. “Okay, just let me call my appointment and reschedule it for another time.”
As I ended my call, Robert politely interjected. “Your friend is so right! We’ll have great fun. Now come with me. Jenna, let’s use dressing rooms five and six.”
They took us to a pedestal right outside of the two dressing rooms. Jenna asked Claudia to step up on it first. “Okay, honey, we are just going to check for your correct sizes.”
After taking our measurements and asking a few questions, they excused themselves. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”
They weren’t kidding. They were back inside of five minutes, each pushing a hanging rack of clothes. I thought Claudia’s eyes were going to pop out of her head. As for my face, I was hoping the shock of it all didn’t show too much.
“Uh, Robert, those aren’t colors I would normally choose for myself.”
He snapped his fingers in front of his face. “I know, honey, but you will see that with your complexion, they will look amazing! You just have to get out of your comfort zone a little. You know, liven up your life with a little amazing color! I promise; just trust me on this. Here, put this pair of jeans on with this top and shoes. When you’re done, come out and we’ll accessorize.”
I shot Claudia a look.
“Come on, Allie, give it a go.”
Off in the dressing room, I went. When I slipped into the clothes, much to my surprise, they fit well. I never got a size right on the first try when I selected things for myself. I stepped out and Robert was waiting.
“See? Great fit!”
“It feels great, but there was no mirror in there, so I have no idea how it looks.”
He chuckled a little. “That is exactly what we want. We don’t want you to see the ensemble until we have a chance to check it and accessorize it. I have a couple of things to add and then I will show you.”
Claudia stepped out of her dressing room and I couldn’t believe my eyes. She looked stunning, but before I could speak, she took a step back and caught her breath. “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about. Allie, I have never seen you look more amazing or this far-out of your element!
Robert put his hand on my shoulder. “Are you ready for the reveal?”
“I guess so.”
He walked me back over to the pedestal where there was a three-way mirror. As I stepped up, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I stood there in a pair of royal blue fitted denim, a lighter blue laced tunic with a fitted royal blue tank top underneath. He had given me a beautiful pair of black ankle boots, which met perfectly at the hem of the jeans.
He broke the silence. “So, what do you think?”
“Are you kidding? I can’t believe how I look! I would have never picked this out for me.”
Again, with his little chuckle. “We’re not quite finished.” He pulled a short, fitted leather jacket off the rack and a black clutch with a shoulder strap. He helped me to slip into the jacket and hung the clutch over my shoulders. “In case you get a little cold in the evening.”
Stepping off the pedestal, I moved over to the rolling cart. “What are the rest of the clothes on this rack?”
This time, Jenna piped in. “We pick out a selection of things you can mix and match so everything can be interchangeable. That’s what we’re best at.”
I turned to Robert. “Okay, let me see the rest.”
Two hours later, we walked to the car with our arms full of shopping bags bursting with clothes. What a fun shopping experience.
Chapter 17
IT WAS SEVEN-THIRTY SATURDAY EVENING WHEN the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, Jake and Josh were standing there, each holding a dozen roses.
“Well, come in, you two. Claudia should be here in just a few minutes, and, as usual, she is fashionably late.”
“You look, I mean, you look—”
Worried, I blurted out, “Oh no, Josh, do I look okay? Am I dressed okay for wherever you are taking us?”
“Oh yes, you look amazing.”
“I was more than a little nervous. Claudia and I went on a shopping spree yesterday at the mall and well, this is a little out of my comfort zone.”
Jake laughed. “I can’t wait to see what Claudia bought!”
“She is going to look stunning, just wait and see.”
I no sooner got the words out when Claudia pulled up in a cab. As soon as she got out of the car and started up the walk, she began apologizing. “I am so sorry, I really am. I planned to leave early to make sure I was here on time. Thank goodness I got an early start because when I went out to leave, my car wasn’t there. It was there one minute and gone the next.”
Concern covered Jake’s face. “Did you call the station and report it missing?”
“Yes, I did, and they came out and took a report.”
I chimed in. “Claudia, you’re safe and that’s all that matters, and time-wise, you are fine. It is only seven thirty-five, no worries.”
Josh turned to Jake. “Do you think—”
Before he could finish the question, Jake shook his head. “It could be a coincidence, but this does concern me. This guy is good and he could be raising the ante. His game is cat and mouse and he is going to strike where he thinks he can make the most chaos and raise the most concern. I think he knows he has our attention and he’s going to continue to escalate.”
I could feel the frustration welling up. “Look, Jake, this is scaring me. It was one thing when he was gunning for me, but now Claudia? Maybe we should just stay here tonight.”
“No, that isn’t the answer. I know there is a strong possibility he is going to keep coming after those close to you. He seems to be testing you and your ability to try to stay one step ahead of him. What is puzzling to me is that he seems to know you might have the ability to do that. At first, I thought this guy was someone you beat out of a business deal, but now—”
“But now you think it’s someone aware of these new abilities of mine?”
“No, what concerns me is more than that. What if he knows more than you do about the possible extent of your capabilities and wants to test you to see if you can use them against him?”
“Against him? I don’t even know who he is!”
“Maybe you do, or maybe you don’t. He could be a total stranger you have bumped into or he could be someone right under your nose. These strikes could be calculated to keep you confused until he figures out if you are a threat to him.”
Claudia grabbed Jake’s arm to get his attention. “Are you kidding me? Are we really standing here, considering that this guy is not just some crazy nutcake who has come out of the blue or just some psychopath that Allie has pissed off in a business deal, and that set him off? No offense, Allie, but you are very good at what you do and can be pretty ruthless out there in that business jungle.”
As Claudia was talking, the young girl in the hospital gown came out from behind her and stood to her right. In my mind, I heard her say, You know me, not him.
Josh brought me back around by taking my hand. As he turned to Jake. “I don’t think this should change our plans. We aren’t going to solve this here and now. Let’s have our first date and not let this psychopath ruin our evening.”
Claudia opened the door. “I agree, let’s not let this creep spoil our plans. What did you boys have planned, anyway?”
Jake turned to her. “You must wait and see. I just want to take a minute and look at you, Claudia. I have to say how great you and Allie look.”
After a few minutes of embarrassing compliments, we all climbed into Josh’s SUV. Forty minutes later, we were pulling up to Prescott Park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was lit up and there were signs everywhere promoting the Fall Festival. This was Strawbery Banke at its finest.
Josh got out of the car, moved to the back to open the hatch, and we joined him. He pulled out
a large picnic basket and a blanket. Handing the blanket to Jake, he announced, “Let the first official date begin!”
Placing the blanket on the grass near the SUV, we spent the next hour drinking and eating the incredible food prepared for us for our picnic in the park.
After our amazing meal, we spent the entire evening wandering through one exhibit after another, starting with farm animals and livestock. Several amazing craftsmen were exhibiting their talents, including a leatherworker, showing how they made shoes in colonial days. There was a needleworker revealing fashion and making clothing during the same era. Another interesting gentleman was a blacksmith, and a gunmaker proficient in producing guns from the colonial era. However, by far, I was most drawn to a woman named Jess who was a basket weaver. She showed the entire process of making baskets using the bark she had removed from trees into various weaving patterns. My grandmother tried to teach me basket weaving when I was a child, but for all my effort, I wasn’t good at it.
It was a wonderful evening. When we headed out, Claudia started running back toward the SUV, screaming, “What the heck? It’s my car!”
Jake ran after her and caught her by the arm just before she could reach it. “Don’t touch it and stay away from it until I get a unit down here.”
There it was, in all its glory, parked on the street right behind Josh’s SUV.
Josh put one arm around my waist and the other one around Claudia’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s wait over here and give him time to sort this out.”
Once again, I felt my life spinning out of control until a calmness fell over me. It was as if someone whispered in my ear, “Look on the driver’s seat. There is a message.” I repeated it to Jake. “Jake, look on the front driver’s seat. There should be something there.”
He moved to the driver’s side window. “What the hell, Allie!”
“Is something there?”
“Yes, but how the hell do you do that?”
Two unmarked cars pulled up beside the SUV. Payne got out of the first car, followed by Brian, the forensics investigator. “Okay, what exactly is going on here, Jake?”
“That’s a very good question, sir. We have been here all evening with no out-of-the-ordinary events until we came back to Josh’s SUV. Claudia noticed her car parked here as we were returning. There is an envelope left on the driver’s seat addressed to Claudia.”
“Okay, Jake, it looks like the car is unlocked. I am going to have the envelope removed, but we will have to tow this vehicle to the impound for it to be gone over. I brought Brian with me to do an initial check of the area and car before we move it. Brian, could you please remove the envelope so we can get a look at it first?”
“Sure thing, sir.” Putting on rubber gloves, Brian, with caution, retrieved the envelope from the front seat, opened it, and pulled the letter out. Dropping the envelope in a plastic bag, and with care, he opened the letter. “There are some flower petals in the fold of the paper, sir.”
Jake walked over to Brian. “And the note? What does it say?”
“Nothing is on the paper, it’s blank.”
Walking over to Jake, I insisted, “That is the message. Don’t you get it? I bet if you check those petals, they are from the flowers you brought Claudia and me this evening! He’s been in my house again tonight, took petals from the flowers, and delivered them here in the car as a message to Claudia. We need to get back to the house and see if I’m right!”
Payne raised his hand and shook his head. “No one but forensics is entering that house. Jake, can you take Josh and the girls to one of the safe houses tonight? I want them all under surveillance and protective custody for at least a couple of days.”
“Sure thing. I will check to see what is available and we’ll all settle in for the night.”
Claudia leaned up against the SUV. “What a horrible way to end a remarkable first date.”
Jake smiled. “The evening isn’t over yet. Maybe I can salvage the end of this date. Give me a minute, I have a great idea.” He walked over to Payne and returned with a key. “Okay, our end of this date has been officially saved. Come on, guys, let’s load up the SUV.”
Of course, Claudia was always too curious. “Hey, Jake, what’s the plan? Where are we headed?”
“Payne has a cabin up in Ossipee. I’ve been there before and it is much nicer than any of the safe houses.”
An hour later, we were pulling up a long, gravel driveway surrounded by thick woods. As we approached the cabin, Josh laughed. “I’m sure this is much nicer than any safe house we could have gone to.”
We parked right at the front entrance. As we climbed the front stairs and entered the door, I couldn’t believe how amazing it was, and it appeared neither could Josh and Claudia. It was an open concept and rising on the far side of the room was a massive stone fireplace, with post and beam ceilings. A large staircase led to a loft that served as a large living space.
Jake asked us to wait while he checked the house, after which he gave us a tour. A screened-in deck and pool area was off of the back of the house. Upstairs were four, master bedroom suites.
“This is Detective Payne’s second home? He doesn’t live here all the time? I sure would love to see his first home if this is his vacation home!”
Jake chuckled. “Where he lives full time, Claudia, is nothing like this. It’s a modest cottage-style home close to work. This home has been in his family for many years. He likes to joke about it being his countryman castle.”
Josh nodded. “Hey, Jake, do you think it would be okay to get a fire started and let the girls go upstairs and choose what rooms they would like for the night?”
“That’s a great idea. Let’s get some firewood from out on the front deck and get things going.” He turned to us. “I know from staying here before there are plenty of robes and sweats upstairs for guests if you want to get comfortable for the fire.”
Claudia took me by the arm. “Come on, Allie, let’s go upstairs and see if we can get comfortable.”
We entered the first bedroom at the top of the stairs. On the wall next to the bed was a wardrobe. I opened it and sure enough, there were drawers with fresh towels, Champion sweatshirts and pants, and the whitest, softest terrycloth robes I had ever seen.
“Claudia, why don’t you take this room? I’m going to see if there is something in one of the other rooms to slip into.”
“Okay, Allie, I’ll meet you downstairs.”
I took the room at the other end of the loft. It was inviting and was on the rear of the house. There was a second staircase at that end of the hall that led down to the kitchen area.
Soon we were all downstairs, curled up in the big easy chairs in front of the fire. We laughed and talked for hours. It was the end of an almost perfect evening. Since no one wanted to call it a night, I took the lead. “Well, you guys, I think I’m going to turn in.”
Josh followed me. “I think that is probably a good idea. I’ll walk upstairs with you and turn in as well.”
Josh walked me to my room and stopped at the door like a proper gentleman. “I think I owe you something this evening, Allie.”
“Why, what could that be Josh?”
He gently leaned over, put his mouth against my ear, and dragged his lips across my cheek to my lips, lingering there for what seemed like forever, breathing gently on my face. I couldn’t wait a minute longer before my lips pressed against his as we embraced for the first time. Every inch of me vibrated with anticipation.
He gently pulled away. “I think maybe we should wait a bit longer when we know we are totally alone. Then we can take our time and linger as much as we want.”
As I backed into my room, he kissed me on the forehead. By the look in his eyes, this was as painful for him as it was for me.
I immediately went to take a shower and shake off the feeling of lust rushing through me. I knew my senses had heightened lately, but this was the most amazing and frustrating feeling I had ever encountered. Forty-five m
inutes later and I still couldn’t quiet my mind; I knew I couldn’t just lay there. If I got up and went for a dip, it might relax me enough to come back to bed and sleep. I slipped off my sweats, put on the terry robe, and headed downstairs for a swim.
As I entered the pool area, I questioned if swimming was a good idea as the evening air was cool. I slid my robe off, hung it on the railing of the pool, and dipped one foot in the water to check the temperature. It was nice and toasty, just like a heated pool should be. I slowly submerged up to my neck into the water and relaxed.
I swam down to the opposite end of the pool and when I turned to swim back, Josh was standing on the stairs of the pool in his robe. “You couldn’t sleep either?”
He slid his robe off and dropped it on the edge of the pool. The moon was shining just enough to outline his muscular physique. He was amazing and my body responded again, as did his.
“Josh, what are you doing?”
That signature smile of his came across his face. “We are alone now and, to tell you the truth, I don’t think I can hold out another second! I was a fool to think I could wait another minute, much less another day!”
He waded into the water and swam toward me. As our bodies met for the first time, flesh against flesh, I thought I might just pass out. Never in my life had I experienced anything like it. We moved to the end of the pool where we could stand as we embraced and kissed so passionately it felt as if we might swallow each other whole.
We became one in the unrelenting passion of the evening. There were no words to express the sensations running through my body at that time. I was completely and utterly drained, in a wonderful way. Josh lifted me in his arms and carried me out of the pool. Stopping at the edge of the pool, he released me and gingerly wrapped the soft robe around me. I found myself swept up again in his arms as he carried me off to my room.
I barely remember Josh putting me in my bed. The next morning, Claudia was waking me up with a hot cup of coffee.
“Claudia, it’s way too early, go away!”
