Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
They wandered back to the pool, area. Images of Dylan in various stages of undress filled her brain, so distracting she didn’t even notice Calvin Clark sitting in the chair until she was practically on top of him.
“How are you this afternoon, Ms. Ross?”
“I’m fine, Mr. Clark. And yourself?”
He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Raleigh, it’s Calvin, please. I was wondering if you could join me for a moment? Alone.”
Dylan moved to step in front of her but she stopped him. “Sure Mr. Clark.” She looked up a Dylan and gave a small nod. She couldn’t afford to piss off Clark. He was close to the Harrises and he was a big deal in Bedford Hills.
“I’ll be at the bar.” Dylan gave Clark a hard look and then strode off to the bar.
“He’s rather protective, isn’t he?” Clark smiled. “What are you up to this afternoon?”
Not that it was any of his business. Raleigh gave a silent sigh. “I have to finish up a piece I’m working on and review some prelim notes I made for tonight’s barbecue.”
“I see. Well, it should be a good time.” He smiled again. His white teeth bright against his deeply tanned face. “You’ll have to save me a dance. I understand there’ll be a good band playing.”
“I’m sure it will be fun,” she said, side-stepping his invitation altogether.
Calvin Clark had been nothing but polite to her in the past, but she was getting a strange vibe from him now.
Maybe it was all her imagination because of her stalker situation, but she didn’t think so.
“I can’t imagine Lydia would allow anything less. ”
Calvin chuckled. “Yes, she sure does know how to throw a party, and she has impeccable taste.”
Calvin stood up and dragged his chair closer until he was almost on top of her.
She ground her teeth and tried to plaster a semblance of a smile on her face. The bad vibe pitched into high gear. “So how goes the run up to the electoral race?” she asked, hoping to distract him.
“Oh”—he forced a chuckle—“you know politics. It changes like the weather. You need a good compass and a strong hand at the tiller to guide you.”
“I guess so. Do you think it will be hard to beat the incumbent? She’s still quite popular.”
“Well, that’s true, but you just don’t know how things might change. Lots of time yet before election day.” A triumphant smile slid across his face, and his eyes practically gleamed.
Something was definitely up. Her spidey-sense started tingling again.
The waitress came by with a couple of drinks on her tray. Calvin smiled up at her. “Ah, here we are.” The waitress handed one to Raleigh and then started to hand the other to Calvin, but she accidentally sloshed a bit of it onto his lap.
“I am so sorry,” the woman said in a rush. “I can’t believe I did that!”
Raleigh caught the look of fury on Calvin’s face as the waitress apologized and handed him a napkin.
He started to say what was most certainly going to be some sort of reprimand but caught himself in time.
His politician’s smile slid back into place.
“No problem. No, no, it’s quite all right.
” His smile was totally forced, and his teeth were gritted as he accepted another napkin from the waitress.
“It’s fine. Thank you,” he snapped as she apologized one last time.
The waitress and Raleigh exchanged a look before the woman scurried away.
Raleigh wanted to do the same thing but couldn’t think of an excuse fast enough.
“You would think that a resort of this caliber would ensure a better level of service.” He brushed at the stain on his pants.
“I’m sure it was an accident,” Raleigh said.
“Yes, but still.” He shook his head. “Did you know they actually put polyester pillows on my bed? I knew as soon as I laid my head on them. I had to call housekeeping immediately. And the towels were totally disheveled in the bathroom. It looked like someone had just thrown them on the rack.”
Fear clawed its way out of Raleigh’s belly and wound around her throat.
Clark just smiled at her. Was it her imagination, or was he trying to tell her something?
“And the flowers in my room were daisies. Daises! I expected at least some lilies, although roses are my favorite.” He looked at her. “You aren’t looking so well, dear. Are you okay?”
She broke out in a cold sweat. “I—I’m f-f-fine. I just, um, I think I’ll head back to my room.”
When she moved to get up Clark put his hand on her arm.
“There’s no rush. Stay and enjoy your drink.
” He ran his hand down her arm and then rested it on her thigh.
“You know, I heard you live in Long Island City. What’s it like over there?
I hear it’s got quite the restaurant scene.
Invite me over for dinner one night and show me all the hot spots.
” His hand was moving steadily up her thigh now.
Raleigh tried to shrink away from his touch. The breath whooshed out of her lungs. He knew where she lived. He liked roses. Panic rose in her throat.
Calvin Clark, the want-to-be future mayor, was her stalker.
“Mr. Clark,” Dylan growled as he clamped a hand on Clark’s shoulder. “I think it’s time you finished your drink somewhere else.”
Clark’s head whipped around. Dylan was standing at the head of his chair.
Clark’s face was a mask of shock, which quickly morphed to anger.
His lip actually curled with it. She was sure he was going to snarl at Dylan, but whatever he saw in Dylan’s face must have made him change his mind because his face smoothed over into a polite mask, and he removed his hand from her thigh.
“Perhaps your friend is right. We can continue this at a later time, hon.” He gave her a wink as he stood up and adjusted his clothes. He tried to go around Dylan, but found his path blocked.
He and Dylan were nose to nose, and the aggression was boiling over.
Raleigh quickly reached up and grabbed Dylan’s hand, squeezing it.
“Let him go,” she whispered. Please, she mouthed.
Dylan looked down at her and then back at Clark. His glare was enough to freeze hell. Finally, he moved just enough to let Clark pass. The older man made his way toward the bar, and Dylan immediately sat down in his vacated spot.
“Why didn’t you let me tell him off?” The muscles in his jaw were working, trying to expend some of the energy that had clearly built up inside him. “That man needs to be put in his place. He had his hands all over you. No one should be allowed to get away with that, no matter who they are.”
“I know,” she said in an undertone, “but there’s a bigger issue. I think Clark is my stalker.”
Dylan, who had been watching Clark lean up against the bar, whipped his head around and stared at her. “Clark? Your stalker?”
“I-I think so.” Tremors started in her hands, and she knew if she tried to stand, her knees would give out.
“Why? What happened?”
She relayed to him the whole story of what Clark had said and how he’d said it.
“It all makes sense. We’re always at the same events, he likes roses, and he’s kind of OCD.
Josh always says that he demands everything be done exactly as he says.
It has to be perfect or he goes ballistic.
That’s my stalker. Everything is always left exactly the same way after the stalker visits my house.
He makes it super neat and orderly. I always thought it was so I would know he was there, but what if it’s because he’s OCD and everything has to be right or he flips out? ”
Dylan held her hands as she talked, squeezing them to stop them from shaking.
He asked her a couple of questions about what Clark had said and how he’d said it.
“It’s a possibility, I guess,” he admitted.
“I mean, he’s certainly a man who will cross the line.
And you’re right, he would have a pretty good idea of your schedule.
He’d know that you’d be out covering certain events, so the coast would be clear for him to enter the house. ”
“Yes, exactly. Dylan, I know it sounds crazy, but if you could’ve heard the way he said everything… It was like he was trying to send me a message. Like he wanted me to know it was him.”
Dylan frowned and ran his hand through his hair. “If that’s the case, then I need to check in with Gabe. Like I said, I’m pretty sure your stalker isn’t a first timer. If Clark has stalked someone else, we’ll find out. It will only strengthen your case.”
Her belly rolled queasily. The thought that other women had suffered at the man’s hands made her want to vomit. She’d do everything in her power to stop him from hurting anyone, including herself.
Dylan got out his phone and then grabbed her hand.
“The thing is, Raleigh, we have to be very careful if it is Clark. He’s a prominent member of not just Bedford Hills society but the Hamptons too.
His family is very well known. He’s running for mayor.
We can’t just make unfounded accusations.
We need rock-solid proof that he’s our guy.
That’s going to take time, so be patient, okay? ”
Raleigh’s grip on Dylan’s hand tightened so much her knuckles hurt. Anger flashed through her. “I have to be patient while he stalks me. It is so unfair.”
“You’re right, honey, it is. But we’re going to do this right so he can’t bug anyone else again, okay? I’ll look after you. Promise.”
She nodded, so grateful that Dylan believed her and he was helping her figure this out.
“Now, I’m going to be right over there.” He pointed at an empty table a stone’s throw a way. “I’ll have my eyes on you the entire time. Will you be okay while I make the call to Gabe?”
“I guess.” Her fingers were icy. It didn’t matter that it was sunny and hot; she was freezing.
“I’ll stay here in the chair. You don’t think he’ll come back, do you?
” Her voice shook a bit, and she hated herself for that.
She was usually so strong, but this was different.
She had been inches away from the man she believed had been terrorizing her.
“No. He’s drinking with some of his cronies over at the pool bar. He won’t risk it now. I’ll stay within sight. You’ll be okay.” He smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. “Promise.”
She flashed him a half-hearted smile, and he got up to make his call. Once he was gone, she frowned. She glanced back at the bar area. Sure enough, Clark was still chatting with some other local bigwigs. She looked away quickly. The last thing she wanted to do was make eye contact.
She watched all the people relaxing and enjoying themselves around the pool.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt carefree and worriless.
It seemed like for the last few months her head was always on swivel, making sure no one could sneak up on her.
She’d given away such a huge part of her life to her stalker.
Clark had taken her freedom and, more importantly, her peace of mind.
How dare he take away her life? And what an idiot she’d been to let him! She’d allowed him to take her power, make her afraid. Well, no more. She glanced back at the bar. Clark was laughing at something his drinking companion had said. She had the urge to go over there and punch him in the nose.
Her hands had curled into fists.
Punching him would make her feel better temporarily, but it wouldn’t help her in the long run.
She would be the one who ended up in jail, and he would get off scot-free. No, she needed to prove what he was doing so she could take him down. She took a deep breath and relaxed her hands.
Her gaze fell on her bag, and she reached out and grabbed it.
Her laptop was in there along with a pad of paper.
She could review the pictures that Phil sent her earlier and start on the write ups.
She should also check with Donna to see what else Lydia wanted for today.
She needed to make a list of the influencers who had already featured the wedding on their social media.
They couldn’t overdo it and she still wanted some press for the big day.
Really, she just needed something to do to settle herself.
After unzipping the bag, she started rummaging around for a pen.
Her hand hit an envelope instead. She grabbed it, then pulled it out of her bag.
Her name was written on the outside in neat letters.
Puzzled, she flipped it over.
The back was blank, but the flap was sealed. Had Clark left her a note? That would be new. She hadn’t gotten any communication from the stalker before this. Direct wasn’t in his nature.
Maybe Donna had dropped off a note from Lydia? She tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter. All the oxygen was sucked out of her surroundings. Letters cut out of magazines. No, a font that looked like letters cut from magazines.
I am disappointed in you. You are not following the rules. You should know better. I will not tolerate you cheating on me. Dump the fake boyfriend or you will be sorry. I won’t warn you again.