Chapter 13 #2
But it was the last paragraph that had fear and rage icing his veins. "You don't deserve those babies, and they shall be taken away from you. I will see to it. You think you can hide in your ivory tower, but I will find you."
"Can you think of any of your fans who would send you these?"
She shook her head and wrapped her arms around her waist. This was new to her.
She had heard of some of her colleagues going through fan adulation that had taken a turn.
She knew of one actress who had gone out for coffee and was followed.
The man had tossed acid at her, but fortunately, it had not made contact and he had been apprehended.
Her fans had always been friendly. Some of the men were overzealous, and she had had several marriage proposals. But nothing like this.
"I always try to be friendly, you know. I never wanted anyone to feel as if I'm unapproachable."
"And maybe that's the damn problem." His expression softened at her stricken look.
Shoving the offensive letters aside, he came to sit next to her on the sofa.
She had waited until he did his usual ritual of looking in on the children and spending some time with them before telling him the news.
"In the line of work we're in, there are bound to be enemies.
" He had seen her taking pictures with fans and stopping, no matter how busy she was, to sign autographs.
He did not have time for all of that, but his wife had a soft spot for people.
"Is it unnatural?" she asked quietly, turning to face him.
"Is what unnatural?"
"Having four babies at the same time."
His brows creased, and he simply stared at her. "Don't piss me off on top of what I'm currently feeling. Are you going to listen to some mad person's drivel and let it get to you?" He tipped her chin up. "I expect better from you."
She shrugged. "I know, it's just that it's not the first time I've heard it."
"It's perfectly natural, and we will not think about it any further. I'm going to call Angelo. He will know how to deal with it."
A smile ghosted her lips. "I like Angelo. He was one of those who taught me the ropes, what a detective's life is really like. Oh, Samuel, I'm scared."
"I'm hiring some guards. We have to tell the nannies not to take the children out on their own. We're not going to allow some mentally challenged person to keep them chained inside the house, but we're taking precautions."
She snuggled against him. "I'm so happy you're here, and I'm not going to allow this to spoil the children's first Christmas."
Determined to give her a break from the ugliness, he asked teasingly, "Aren't you putting in a lot of effort for the occasion? They're just babies, barely three months old."
"We're taking lots of pictures." She lifted her head to look at him. "I thought you were supposed to go to New York?"
"No." He shook his head, fingers combing through her hair.
He had noticed her significant effort at working off the extra weight.
Even though he told her he loved her the way she was, he knew his wife and knew she would not be comfortable with the extra weight.
She had slimmed down considerably, and he could feel the benefits of her strenuous exercise program.
"I'm not going anywhere while there is a potential threat to my family." He kissed her lips. "You have my word."
"I hate feeling so helpless."
"I won't let anything happen to you and our children," he vowed. "Why don't you join me in the shower and tell me all the holiday plans?" he suggested.
"You just want sex," she murmured, and her mood was already improving.
"Twofer." He grinned at her. "Sounds perfect. And baby? You know I always want sex," he added with a leer.
"Fortunately for you." She rose and dragged him up with her. "You have a saint of a wife who loves having sex with her husband, no matter how burdensome it is."
"Burdensome, huh?" She squealed when he hauled her up and over his shoulder, his hand clamped around her buttocks. "Why don't we see if I change your point of view?"
"Looking forward to it."
*****
Angelo Sanchez was a hard-bitten detective who had seen the worst of the worst and knew exactly what people who claimed humanity could do to one another.
He usually worked undercover but had surfaced six months ago after the case he had been assigned to almost ended his life.
He had been shot in the chest when his cover was blown, and had barely managed to take down his assailant, stopping the bastard, as he put it, from putting another bullet in him.
He was now on desk duty and was thinking of taking Samuel up on his offer to come and work for him.
The money was too good to pass up, and after narrowly escaping certain death, he wanted a more relaxed working environment.
Besides, his wife was threatening to divorce him and take away his two kids.
This time, the threat had more meat. Angelo decided that since he loved his wife and adored his kids, it would be prudent for him to think hard and accept his friend's offer.
Now standing in their elegant living room and combing through the "evidence," he felt anger churning inside his chest. He liked Eliza.
Before he was introduced to her, he had figured her for another one of those phony celebrities, with too much beauty and not enough manners.
But after the first meeting, he had to revise his opinion.
"The suspect seems to be of the female kind," he murmured in his deep, scratchy voice.
"What gave you that impression?" Samuel asked sharply.
Last night, after making love to his wife, he had pretended to sleep so she would, too, but had spent most of the night staring into space and devising ways and means of dismantling the person threatening their peace of mind.
He was smart enough to realize that it could be anyone.
And that scared the living crap out of him.
You cannot fight who you cannot see. And the person could be coming from any direction.
"From the tone of the letters and the fact that she refers to the unfairness of Eliza having four children.
It sounds to me like this is a dried-up old crone with the inability to bear children.
" He looked over at Eliza and flashed her his crooked grin.
"And if you dare to reprimand me about the slur, I'm leaving. "
"You won't leave."
"And why wouldn't I?"
"You're afraid of my husband."
"The truth is I'm completely in love with you and that's the only reason. I carry a gun and your husband don't."
"That's where you're wrong. Now get back to the subject. What do you suggest?"
Shifting his eyes back to the letters, he hunched his bulky shoulders restlessly. "I would like to think that the person is just spewing venom and that's it."
"But you don't think so."
"No." Angelo glanced over at his friend. "I'll put some plainclothes guys to work patrolling the place. You have a very sophisticated system here, one that's not easy to get under."
"We all know that no system is foolproof," Samuel reminded him grimly.
"We're thinking of getting a puppy," Eliza spoke up, avoiding her husband's stare.
"We're in the discussion stage. Darling, we cannot introduce a dog at this period of our lives. It will take work. I thought we agreed that we would circle back to it when the children were older."
"And a puppy would not work. If you're thinking protection, you'd have to go hardcore. Like a Rottweiler."
"No, thanks," Eliza said with a delicate shudder.
"In that case, let's go with my suggestion. I will look into these. The perp is smart. These are all handwritten, so no computer. Either she is bent on not leaving evidence, or she does not know how to use a computer."
"Or she wants to make it more personal."
Both men turned to stare at her as she made the comment.
"That's a thought," Angelo said slowly. "Which will make it more difficult to trace her.
" He rose, putting his empty cup aside and wishing he could stay for another cup of the excellent brew.
But duty called, and if he knew his friend, and he certainly did, Samuel was expecting him to get right on it.
"My men will follow you at a distance whenever you leave the house. "
"I don't think they should go anywhere."
"I'm not staying a prisoner in my own home because some lunatic thinks I don't deserve my children." She folded her hands over her chest and gave her husband a stubborn glare.
"I agree with you. We need to draw the person out." Angelo held up both hands when Samuel swung his lethal gaze toward him.
"I will not have my wife and children out there as bait. Find the asshole who's making these threats, and make it fast."
"At your service." Angelo saluted smartly before crossing over to plant a kiss on Eliza's lips.
Ignoring his friend's snarl, he hooked an arm around her waist and smiled into her eyes.
"You're still the most beautiful woman I know.
I cannot believe you carried four babies inside you. Darling, you look terrific!"
"Thank you." Eliza grinned at him. "Now unhand me before my husband shoots you with your own gun."
"Ah, he's a softie," Angelo murmured but wisely released her. "I'll be in touch. I will stop on my way to the precinct and talk to your agent." His expression turned sober. "I will nail this thing down, that I can promise you."
Eliza stepped into her husband's arms and snuggled, breathing in his scent. "I feel marginally better now."
His arms came around her. "I meant what I said before," he told her softly. "I won't have you being bait."
Lifting her head, she touched his cheek lightly. "And I meant what I said as well. I refuse to become a prisoner in my home. I want this over and done with, darling. The sooner the better."