Chapter Eight
Quinn drew Serena against him and wrapped his arms around her. “We’ll find her.”
She leaned back slightly and looked into his face, sorrow glistening in her eyes. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose Susie. She’s been with me through some tough times. There were moments I don’t know how I could have made it without her companionship.” One tear than another rolled down her face.
He brushed them away. “She hasn’t been gone long. We’ll drive around and see if we can find her. The park is a perfect place for her to go. In fact, Brutus might be able to track her.”
“Her scent is everywhere in my backyard. He’ll just go around and around in circles. Somehow, she must be getting out.”
“What if someone took her?” He hated saying that possibility, but he had to put it out there.
“Why? She’s usually quiet and doesn’t bother anyone.”
“She got out before or someone put her in my backyard.”
“Another prank?”
“Possibly. Let’s get the news out that your dog’s missing. Do you have a picture of Susie we can put on a poster?”
She nodded. “And there’s a neighborhood group online. I can post the information there with her photo.”
“Yes. Good idea. Get the word out by any means you can. Let’s get her picture.” He stepped back and started for his house. When Serena didn’t follow, he turned toward her. “What’s wrong?”
“I have to go to school. I’ve already missed my faculty meeting. I can’t…” Her shoulders sagged forward.
He bridged the short distance between them and clasped her upper arms. “Call for a sub. All you’ll do at school is think about where Susie is while being under emotional distress. To you, she’s part of your family. That’s the way I feel about Brutus.”
“I should have been out back with her, but I overslept and—”
He placed two fingers against her mouth. “Don’t go there. Thinking about the what ifs won’t change the situation. C’mon. Let’s go to your house, call the school, and then we’ll go search for her.” He called Brutus, and they reentered his house. “Wait a minute. I need to change, get shoes on, and make sure I have my cell phone in case the fire department calls me.”
Serena pulled out her phone. While he made his way toward his bedroom, he heard her talking to her school about getting a sub. The quaver in her voice emphasized how important her pet was to her.
What if they couldn’t find Susie? He took a moment to bow his head and pray for the return of her dog.
* * *
After hours of searching the park and the surrounding streets, talking with anyone she saw about her lost poodle, Serena nailed the last poster to a utility pole at the end of her block. “If I was keeping track of my steps, I would say I’ve walked twenty thousand so far, and still no sign of Susie.” She stopped on the sidewalk a few houses from hers, not wanting to return home without her dog. “The first week I bought my place, I read about a woman selling a litter of poodles. I immediately went to see the puppies and fell in love with Susie right away.”
Quinn started forward with Brutus leading. “We didn’t get to talk to everyone on the block. We should when they return from work. They could have seen something as they left.”
“That’s what I was thinking, especially my neighbor on the other side and Mr. Fowler right across the street. Susie was especially fond of him. If she escaped my yard somehow and saw him, she’d head his way.”
“If you don’t want to go home now, you’re welcome to come to my house and rest. We can grab something to eat and then increase the area we searched. I’ll drive while you look for Susie.”
As they headed up to Quinn’s porch, she paused for a moment and scanned the street again. “You know, until I knocked on everyone’s door this morning, I didn’t realize how many of our neighbors work.”
“Which means someone might have seen Susie earlier. How familiar are you with them?”
“A lot of them I don’t know. I put in long hours at work and during the summer, I teach summer school. I know you and Mr. Fowler as well as the Stones on the other side.”
“And don’t forget your students.”
She nodded. “I make a point to know them each year. My first year teaching, I had one toilet paper my house. I caught him, and his dad made him clean it up. He never did anything like that again. They moved last January.”
Quinn unlocked his front door. “How did you catch him?”
“Susie. She kept barking. That’s why I can’t believe she didn’t bark if someone came into the yard and took her. When I get her back, I’m putting a lock on my gate like you did.”
He moved into the living room. “How about I fix a chicken salad sandwich? I’m using Granny’s recipe. She likes grapes in hers.”
“Sounds delicious. What can I do?”
“Sit on the couch and relax. Stress can sap energy faster than physical activity.”
“What happens when I did a lot of exercise today and I’m stressed, too?”
“Take a nap. You can eat later. I’ll work on the last few boxes I need to unload.”
As he left, Serena sank down on the couch with no intention of sleeping, but before she knew it, her eyes kept closing until she laid her head on a throw pillow and stretched out—just for a moment…
He was in her house. She sensed it as she walked into the dark living room, fumbling for the overhead light switch on the wall nearby. She flipped it on. Nothing. A shadow rushed at her. A large hand clamped over her mouth, making breathing difficult. She could only draw air in through one nostril. Her lungs burned from the lack of adequate oxygen while her heartbeat thudded against her ribcage.
“You don’t seem to get the message. You’re mine. I will protect and care for you. Not others.”
The scent of licorice assaulted her senses. Her stomach roiled.
“No one is safe around you. I’m getting tired of your problems.”
His gruff words paralyzed her. What problems?
She stiffened and tried to wrench away from her attacker, but his muscular arms held her, now facing him and pinned against the wall. But still she couldn’t tell who he was. Too dark.
“They’ll never find Don. He cheated on you.”
No! What has this guy done?
“Bad things happen to people who hurt you. I’ve been looking after you for years, but I’m getting tired. You can’t tell what’s good for you.”
Fight!
From deep inside, her fighting spirit welled and coursed through her as she brought up her knee and hit him in a sensitive place. Then she kicked him in the gut, shoving him. His sweaty hands finally dropped away from her.
She spun around, raced for the front door, and jerked it open. The light from the porch streamed into the foyer. She glanced over her shoulder as a figure in black stumbled into the entry hall.
She charged out of her house, running as fast as she could. She heard him behind her and tried to look over her shoulder, but it slowed her down. Instead she focused on escaping.
She screamed and screamed…
“Serena, wake up.”
Quinn’s voice penetrated the haze of memories gripping her. She bolted awake. He leaned over her. She latched onto the concern visible in his expression. Finally, her gaze swept her surroundings.
“Bad dream?”
She sat up, throwing her arms around him. Her heart rate finally slowed as she dragged in deep, composing breaths. “Definitely a nightmare.”
He embraced her and held her against him. His musky scent drove the nauseating smell of licorice from her mind. She used to love the candy, but now it made her sick. “I have my share. Mostly after fires.”
Serena pulled back and studied the strong lines in his face, the glint of compassion in his eyes. “If I did what you do, I would, too.”
“I’m a good listener if you ever need to unload.”
She wished she could, but she spent a l
ot of money and time to make sure she was invisible. She was thankful for the Safe Haven Program that gave her a chance at a new life. But she had to be always vigilant. She didn’t even know what her tormentor looked like. All she ever saw was a shadowy figure in the dark. All she knew was that people she cared about were hurt—or dead—because of this man. One of the reasons she thought the stalker might be Brett was that his size and height had fit the guy who came after her in her house.
“I was once attacked by a man, but I fought him off and got away. I don’t know what made me dream about him. I haven’t in over a year.” When I began to feel safe again.
But was she really safe? Was Susie missing because of a disgruntled student? Or was it possibly the stalker—she couldn’t think about that right now. What’s going on, Lord?
As though Quinn could read her mind, he said, “We’ll find Susie. In a few hours, we’ll go out and talk to the neighbors who were gone earlier.”
Quinn had insisted on using his cell phone number on the poster. If it was a student, that kid didn’t need her number. “Have you gotten any calls about her?” Serena swung her legs off the couch.
“One. The dog wasn’t Susie. But the posters haven’t been up long.” He rose and held out his hand. “C’mon. Lunch is ready.”
“Where’s Brutus?” she asked as she moved into the kitchen.
“Out back. Sit. I’ll bring your food to you.”
“I’m not used to being pampered.”
Quinn took two plates out of the refrigerator and set her sandwich in front of her. “Iced tea?”
“Yes.”
When he returned with their drinks, he sat catty-cornered from her. “I did notice Mr. Fowler and his health companion drive into the garage. We could go talk to him after we eat.”
“Good. I feel like I should be doing something to find Susie. After I talk with Mr. Fowler, I’m going to make more posters.”
“We can put them up later if you want.”
Quinn took a bite of his sandwich then washed it down with a gulp of iced tea. “When I heard you scream, I thought someone was attacking you.”
“I was reliving that assault I told you about. It felt as if it was really happening. For months after it, I could hardly get any sleep. And I didn’t get much until I left my home and moved here. I put a lot of miles between him and me.” She’d told Quinn more than she had anyone else in Cimarron City.
“Why wasn’t he arrested? Did you see what he looked like?”
“He ran away. No one could say what he looked like, not even me. His face was covered.” She picked up her chicken salad sandwich and ate part of it, needing to find another subject to discuss. She didn’t want to go back to that time where she was afraid of every sound and sudden movement. “Look at Brutus. He keeps scratching at your back fence. Do you think he’s going to tunnel under it again?”
“At least it won’t be into your yard. I don’t understand this change in his behavior. Female problems?” He grinned.
“Missing his gal? Possibly. If so, I’m right there with him.”
When they finished their lunch and cleaned up, Serena and Quinn crossed the street to Mr. Fowler’s house. The eighty-year-old had enjoyed visiting with Susie when she and her dog were outside. She rang his doorbell, looking forward to seeing Mr. Fowler. He’d only been back at his house recently, and she hadn’t had a chance to talk to him.
The health aide, whom she briefly met once, answered the door. “Can I help you, Serena?”
“Is Mr. Fowler available, Zach?”
“He’s resting right now, but I’ll tell him you stopped by.” He switched his attention to Quinn and held out his hand. “I’m Zach Davis.”
Quinn shook it. “Quinn Taylor. I live next door to Serena.”
She held up a picture of Susie on her cell phone. “Have you seen her today? She’s missing.”
“No, we haven’t. I’m sorry to hear that. Mr. Fowler and I have been at the doctors most of this morning. He had two appointments that wore him out.”
“Does he have dietary restrictions?”
“He loves sweets, and he can have some as long as he doesn’t overindulge.”
“Great. I’ll bake him a pie. Tell him I came by and will come to see him again.”
Zach smiled. “Of course. He talks about you. I’m sure he’ll want to see you. Good luck finding your dog. If I see anything, I’ll let you know.”
The health aide stood in the entrance while she and Quinn left and crossed the street. As they headed back to Quinn’s place, Serena slanted a look at Mr. Fowler’s house. Someone appeared to be looking out the living room window, but she couldn’t tell whom. Had Mr. Fowler been awake the whole time?
“What’s wrong?” Quinn opened his door and let Serena enter his home first.
“Nothing really.” She swung around and faced Quinn in his entry hall. “Did the health aide seem overprotective?”
“Not too much. He said all the right words but not a lot of emotion behind them.”
“I guess when you deal with a sick person I can see trying not to get too emotionally invested in your patient.”
“Let’s make some more posters and go put them up. Then we can pay another visit to the neighbors who weren’t home earlier.”
Serena and Quinn worked in the kitchen on the posters, and then he went outside to bring Brutus into the house. She watched from the kitchen window. The Great Dane was still at the back of the fence. Quinn squatted and inspected the area. Was there something that drew Brutus’s attention?
When they came inside, Serena could tell something wasn’t right. “What did you find?”
“Nothing on my side, but I think there’s a board broken on your side in the corner behind a bush you have. Susie’s small. She could have gotten out that way. The neighbor behind you has a chain-link fence. It’s possible she climbed it. Being on the street behind you, she might have lost her bearings.”
“That’s Blaine’s yard. His parents both work. We can go by the house and see if one of them is home, but I don’t think they will be.”
“I’m taking Brutus in case we need him to follow a trail. We’ll go to the house, and if no one is home, we can check out the backyard. With a chain-link fence, we won’t even have to go into the yard.”
On the way to his garage, Quinn stopped her and showed her where he’d hidden a key to the gate. “That’s where I keep the key. If Susie gets out again, you can get in to see if she’s in the backyard.”
Quinn drove around the block and parked in front of her student’s house. After ringing the bell to see if anyone was home and not getting an answer, they rounded the corner and went to the gate to examine the place.
Serena stared at the gap in her fence. “That wasn’t there when Susie escaped that first time we met. I inspected it.”
“Do they have a dog?”
“Not that I know of.”
“I don’t see one, but I need to go farther in to see everything. You stay here.” Quinn opened the gate and took a step inside.
“What are you doing?” a deep, gruff voice asked.
Serena spun around to find a man, about six feet tall with blond hair and a full beard, standing in the neighbor’s yard. Heat flushed her face. “There’s a hole in my fence, and I think my poodle got out of my yard that way this morning. Quinn’s checking to see if Susie was trapped back here.” She showed the guy her photo of Susie on her cell phone. “Have you seen her?”
“No. I’m sorry she’s gone. I’m Adam Winters.” He pointed toward her house. “Is that where you live if I find your poodle?”
“Yes, thanks.”
When Quinn returned to Serena’s side, he introduced himself to the neighbor then said, “No sign of Susie.”
“So, you’re the owner of the Great Dane I see peeking over the fence in my backyard?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
Adam shook his head. “That fence is yours. What’s his name?”
�
�Brutus, but he’s well trained and friendly.”
“That’s good to know with a name like that. Nice meeting you.” The man made his way to the front of his two-story house.
“I guess we should move on and put up the posters later.” She couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice.
Quinn slung his arm around her. “We’ll find her.”
“But no productive calls so far.”
He opened the car door for her. “I received another call earlier while you were sleeping. It was about a larger dog. I think he found something like an American Eskimo.”
For the next hour, they put up the rest of the posters and then walked through the Cimarron City Park again with Brutus. As they were leaving it, they ran into Keith with his two younger brothers.
“I thought you were sick today,” Keith said as he approached.
“No, I’m looking for my poodle. She went missing this morning. Have you seen her or heard anything about her?”
“Nope. C’mon. We don’t have a lot of time before Paul gets home.” Keith started forward.
The fear she saw in Keith’s two younger brothers sent alarm bells clanging in her mind. “Who’s Paul?”
Keith pivoted and walked backward. “Mom’s new husband.”
The trio disappeared around the bend in the path.
“Did you get the feeling they don’t like their stepdad?” Quinn crossed the street.
“Yes. I’m going to keep an eye on the situation. This may be one of the reasons Keith is getting angrier.”
“He wouldn’t be the first. I had a buddy in high school who had an awful, demanding stepfather. The guy didn’t last six months, thankfully.”
“Maybe Keith needs someone to talk to. I’m going to see if he’ll talk to our male school counselor about his future plans. He’s a junior and needs to start thinking about the future.”
“I might try and catch him at the basketball court. I’d wanted to be on the basketball team but chose to focus on baseball and pitching instead. At the time, I wanted to be a major league baseball player.”
“What changed your mind?”
“I had to have surgery to repair my rotator cuff in my pitching arm. I sat out for the last half of the season in my senior year. I started thinking about a backup occupation. I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. One of my neighbors where I grew up was a firefighter, and I had a lot of respect for him. He’s now the fire chief in the department. I have the privilege of working for him. That and Granny are the two reasons I returned to Cimarron City.” Quinn stopped in front of Serena’s house.
Obsessed Page 6
