Chapter 16
What a difference a week made. With Thanksgiving over and everyone in Hopedale finding out she and Crash were finally together, she felt happier than she had in a long time. Nobody seemed surprised by the news, not even her son.
Cameron was happy for her but warned Crash to treat Allyson right. She wasn’t worried about that. He’d always treated her with respect and never lost his temper, at least with her. She was lucky to have him in her life.
Allyson wasn’t surprised when her father dropped by to give his opinion on her new relationship. He liked Crash, but Lewis Donnolly wasn’t about to admit that to anyone. Her dad looked Crash in the eyes and told him if he didn’t take care of Allyson, he knew people who could take him out.
Allyson laughed because her dad, at sixty-four, spent his time with senior citizens and his woman friend, as he called her. Her dad didn’t have a violent bone in his body, but to Crash’s credit, he hadn’t laughed; he told her father that he would treat her with all the respect and love she deserved. That seemed to appease her dad, and he shook Crash’s hand.
Allyson folded the last of the second load of laundry and smiled as she piled the clothing into the basket. Most of it belonged to the kids. It wasn’t surprising the little ones accumulated so many dirty clothes in the two weeks they’d been there.
Crash joked that Mila seemed to hate being dressed in clean clothes because she would end up with something staining her shirt or pants as soon as he changed her. Caleb tended to be less likely to spill something, but the knees of all his pants would always somehow have dirt on them by the end of the day. As a little boy, she remembered Cameron had been the same way.
Crash told her he and the kids would move into his house in two days. He’d spent the last three days cleaning out Wyatt and Ellie’s house to put it up for sale. He wanted to put the money into a trust fund for the kids. Keith’s brother Mike was helping with that since he was a family lawyer.
Allyson lifted the clothes basket off the counter and left the laundry room. She wasn’t looking forward to being alone again but knew the arrangement was temporary from the beginning. It was depressing to think about sleeping alone again. She sighed and tried to push the thoughts from her mind, but she’d gotten used to the noise, so with the kids and Crash gone for the afternoon, it was way too quiet.
“Maybe I should sell this place,” she muttered.
Cold air swirled around her legs as she walked by the living room to head upstairs. She glanced into the room, but the patio door was closed. She hadn’t opened it since Crash put the security bar on it. She placed the basket on the bottom of the steps and checked the front door. It was closed, but before she could turn around, a hand covered her mouth, stifling her screams.
“Allyson, it’s me,” a male whispered into her ear.
She couldn’t place the voice and struggled to pull away, but he held her tightly against him. Why would someone try to keep her quiet if they were friendly?
“I’m going to let you go, but you have to promise to be quiet,” the man said.
Allyson nodded but fisted her hands, prepared to fight him when he released her. He slowly lowered his hand, and she spun around, ready to shove her fist into his nose.
“Axel?” Allyson froze with her hand in the air.
He pressed a finger to his lips and motioned to get behind him. Axel leaned forward and peeked out through the small window in the door as if he was hiding.
“What’s going on?” Allyson asked, keeping her voice quiet.
He didn’t say anything, but he locked the door and continued to peek out through the window. Allyson knew this guy was Crash’s friend, but his behavior made her uncomfortable.
“Allyson, I need you to get your phone and find somewhere safe in the house. Call Brent and tell him someone is creeping around your house. I didn’t grab mine out of the car when I ran in here.” Axel stated without looking away from the window.
Allyson moved as fast as she could upstairs and locked the door to the master bathroom. She fumbled with her phone and dropped it twice before unlocking it and hitting Crash’s number.
It rang several times, then went to voicemail. She tried again but got the same result. She cursed under her breath as she tried to think. Crash was probably running power tools at his house, and he couldn’t hear his phone. She knew she could call any of the guys from NES, and they would be there in a heartbeat, but she tried Crash again before contacting any of the others. After the third ring, she almost cried when she heard his voice.
“Hey, Ally,” Crash sounded out of breath.
“Brent… Brent… Oh my God. Axel is here, and he said to tell you someone is creeping around my house.” Allyson whispered.
“Where are you?” Crash asked.
“He sent me upstairs. I’m in the bathroom, but Axel is by the front door watching whoever it is.” Allyson sat on the floor by the locked door.
“Ok. I’m coming for you. Ally, don’t leave that bathroom until you hear one of us.” Crash told her.
“Okay,” she choked.
She hugged the phone to her chest and waited. Allyson heard no noise, but that didn’t mean someone hadn’t entered the house. She dropped her head on her knees and prayed.
“I’m coming for you.”
Crash’s words played in her head. He was going to come and probably run into someone who was there to hurt her or maybe him, and she was hiding in the bathroom. She wouldn’t let someone harm him, but what could she do? Then she remembered the bat.
Allyson jumped up and hurried into her bedroom. She put the bat back in her room after the day Elijah showed up in her house. She picked it up and took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to let anyone hurt Crash.
She opened her door and tiptoed down the hallway to the top of the stairs. As she crept down each step, she held the bat up so she could swing if someone came at her. She hit the bottom step as Axel and Crash dragged the last person she expected to see into the kitchen.
“Witt?” Allyson glared at him.
“I knew I saw you before,” Crash snapped as he pushed Witt into one of the kitchen chairs.
“Who are these Neanderthals, Allyson?” Witt tried to stand up, but Axel shoved him down again.
“We’re the men going to beat your ass if you don’t tell us why the hell you’re creeping around outside of Ally’s house.” Crash grabbed Witt by the front of the shirt.
“Get your hands off me,” Witt shouted.
“Buddy, I’d tell him why you’re here because he’s about five seconds from rearranging that preppy face.” Axel stood next to Crash and crossed his arms over his large chest.
“Allyson, are you going to let them disrespect me?” Witt didn’t sound as confident as he usually did.
“Don’t talk to her. Why the fuck are you here?” Crash shook him.
“I wanted to ask Allyson to dinner,” Witt finally said.
“Not happening.” Crash shoved Witt back in the chair.
Witt looked toward Allyson as if she would stand up for him, but she wasn’t about to do that. She’d told him one too many times that she wasn’t interested.
“Allyson?” Witt stared at her with wide eyes.
“Don’t talk to her. I told you it wasn’t happening.” Crash grabbed Witt by the neck and pulled him to his feet.
“Brent, wait.” Allyson walked toward him.
Witt smirked, but it disappeared when she glared up at him. With Axel on one side of her and Crash holding the cocky doctor by the back of the neck, the guy must have known better than to open his mouth and say something stupid.
“Why were you on my property?” Allyson demanded.
“I… I was…” Witt winced when Crash’s grip tightened.
“No bullshit,” Crash practically growled.
“Well, if you’d stop trying to strangle me…” Witt didn’t finish because Crash spun the man around and slammed him against the wall.
“You’re lucky I don’t fucking beat you senseless for creeping around like some sort of stalker,” Crash said through gritted teeth.
“I wasn’t creeping, and I’m not a stalker,” Witt explained, his voice slightly quivering.
Allyson needed to stop Crash before he hurt Witt. The last thing he needed was an assault charge because she knew the doctor well enough to know he would do it.
“Brent, let him go so he can explain.” Allyson touched Crash’s shoulder.
She didn’t think he would for a moment, but with one more shove, he backed away. Witt slowly turned around and glared as he tried to muster some of his dignity.
“Talk,” Crash snapped.
“I was in Hopedale to consult with a patient. I was driving by and saw someone sneaking behind the house.” Witt straightened his tie.
“I was outside, but I didn’t see anyone going around the house,” Axel interjected.
“You wouldn’t have seen him from the front of the house. If you let me move, I’ll show you.” Witt pointed to the living room.
“Show me.” Allyson motioned for him to go ahead of her.
At first, he didn’t move because Crash and Axel blocked his movement. Both men moved when she cleared her throat, and Witt quickly shuffled around them.
He stepped next to the patio door and pointed toward the back corner of the house. It was the only part of her yard that didn’t have a fence around it. It used to contain her father’s old tool shed, but she tore it down several years ago because it was a hazard.
“A guy dressed in black was crouching next to that corner. I thought it was suspicious and came to see if you were okay. I’m not a bad person, Allyson.” Witt turned to face her.
“No, you’re a pushy bastard,” Crash grumbled.
“I call it persistent,” Witt replied.
“I call it annoying,” Axel snorted.
“Can you describe the guy?” Crash asked.
“His back was to the road. I couldn’t see his face.” Witt shrugged. “Look, I wouldn’t hurt anyone, and I certainly wouldn’t stalk anyone. I wanted to ask Allyson out, but I get the feeling she’s unavailable.”
“You’d be right about that feeling, but why did you tell us you were here to ask her out instead of telling us about the guy in the first place?” Axel asked.
“Put yourselves in my shoes. Someone comes charging out of the house, and another grabs you from behind. You could’ve been with the guy at the back of the house. He looked as big as you two.” Witt waved his arm up and down at Axel.
The man had a point, and Allyson couldn’t blame him for panicking when he was shoved around like a rag doll. She glanced at Crash, who was starting to relax and, much to his credit, looked embarrassed.
“Look, I’m sorry we got rough. We’ve been having some security issues around here, and you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Crash held out his hand. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention.”
Witt slowly reached out and shook both Crash and Axel’s hands. He glanced back out through the patio door and then back to Allyson before he buttoned his suit jacket.
“I doubt the guy is still there, but there is no way he didn’t leave a trace of himself. Maybe you should check it out while I briefly talk to Allyson.” Witt nodded toward the side of the house.
Crash’s relaxed look turned tense in an instant at Witt’s suggestion. When he stepped toward the doctor, Allyson quickly stepped between them and pressed her hands against Crash’s chest.
“Witt is right. Please check outside,” Allyson whispered.
“But…” Crash started, but she pressed her finger against his lips.
“I’ll be okay.”
Crash and Axel finally left before Witt was given a not-so-subtle shove. When she heard the front door close, she turned back to Witt, who looked as if he was ready to bolt at any second.
“What do you want, Witt?” Allyson asked.
“Are you being held against your will?” Witt whispered.
Allyson stared at him for a few seconds before she burst out laughing. She held her stomach as he continued to suggest he could go to the police, and they could get her out.
“I don’t see how this is funny, Allyson.” Witt finally said with a huff.
“Witt…Witt, I’m more than safe, and I’m certainly not being held against my will. There’s been some security issues, and he’s worried,” Allyson said as she tried to stop laughing.
“You’re sure?” Witt pressed.
“Absolutely, but I appreciate the concern. Thank you for stopping by to let me know what you saw. I’m very grateful.” Allyson gently touched his arm.
“Grateful enough to have a drink with me?” Witt grinned.
“No.” Allyson rolled her eyes.
“I’m guessing the guy with the attitude is why you’re off the market.” Witt wasn’t asking.
“Brent and I are together, yes,” Allyson admitted.
When they entered the house again, Axel looked angry, and Crash was on his phone. Their expressions sent a chill up her spine when she realized what could’ve happened if Witt hadn’t driven by her house. As much as he irritated her, she was grateful for his interference.
“I found some impressions, but I don’t know if they’ll be there when you arrive. It’s starting to rain.” Crash was frustrated.
“Someone was there, and from the footprints, they’d been there a while,” Axel told Allyson.
“If you have a tarp or some plastic, you could put it over the prints until the police get here,” Witt suggested.
Allyson had several tarps in her laundry room left over from when she’d had to repair her roof. She retrieved one and brought it to Axel. He quickly rushed outside, but when he returned, he was wet. The rain had gotten heavier.
“A.J. asked if you could leave your information so he can get your statement.” Crash shoved his phone back in his pocket.
“I can wait around. I don’t mind,” Witt offered.
Crash didn’t seem to like the idea, but what could he have said? Allyson wasn’t going to kick the man out after he risked his safety. Not that he was in danger from the stranger, but Crash and Axel could’ve punched first and asked questions later.
“I’ll make some coffee.”
Allyson needed to do something before she let the panic bubble up. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but knowing someone was sneaking around her home made her want to run and hide.