27. The Hostage
“Do you really think she is here?” Pamela clung to Jenkins arm. They stood together in the foyer of the mansion as the security team completed a full sweep of the property.
Jenkins squeezed her hand softly. “It looks that way.” He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but looking into her eyes melted him. I just want to keep you safe.
“I just can’t believe she was able to get away from Sam! I tried many times to leave, and every time someone in the town would spot me and rat me out. He would always catch up and drag me back to our trailer.” Her body shuddered, and she dug her fingers deeper into his arm.
“That was smart to tell the security team you had suspicions of a stalker. I guess tonight solidified the real threat we are facing.” Pamela looked up at Jenkins, who didn’t return the look or respond. He continued to watch the team move swiftly around the property.
Once I know she is safe I can relax. Until then, I need to stay focused on the very real threat ahead of us. I won’t rest until Darla, in whoever’s body, is caught and locked away.
The head of the security team, Michael, strode up to them.
“The property has been thoroughly searched. We didn’t find anyone, though the dogs picked up on a scent in some bushes along the fence line near the gate, but the trail was lost down the path.
We will keep a rotating shift of patrol tonight. ”
“What about the party across the street? Can we still attend?” Pamela implored, her round green eyes full of hope that the night wasn’t completely ruined. Jenkins and Michael shared a look.
“I don’t think that is wise.” Michael rubbed the back of his head and down his neck.
Jenkins squinted. Of course, Darla is going to come back and force us into hiding! How can she be so selfish?
Pamela’s face dropped, and her hands relaxed against his body, the disappointment radiated from her body.
“Thank you Michael, let me know if you hear anything.” Jenkins extended his hand and shook Michael’s hand before Michael waved to the team, signaling them to their various posts for the night.
Greta appeared in the kitchen. She was dressed in her nightgown with her cotton robe thrown over it. “Ma’am, I’m so sorry! I thought you had the party this evening, and I decided to turn in early until the security team burst into my room and searched every nook and cranny. What happened?”
“Someone left dead fish in a tank on the driveway.” Pamela sounded tired, her voice full of sadness.
Greta threw her hands up to her mouth. “Good Lord! Who would do such a thing?” Jenkins and Pamela shared a look, and Pamela shrugged her shoulders.
Jenkins stepped forward and dropped himself onto one of the barstools that lined the kitchen counter.
“I suspected there was someone stalking Ms. Shaw. Tonight confirmed it; whoever it was sent a clear message. We don’t know who it is but I’m working hard to keep her safe.
” He glanced back at Pamela and motioned for her to join him in the kitchen.
She obliged and slumped down on the barstool next to Jenkins.
“Well, I’m glad you are here, Jenkins,” Greta said, and placed her hand over her heart.
“This is the time Pamela needs friends around. In all my years working for you, ma’am, I wished you would find more people you could trust to be in your life.
I’m prattling on, but I just want to say, thank you.
Please let me know if you need anything.
Otherwise, I’ll be reading in my room until my nerves can settle. ”
“I’m glad you finally warmed up to me. I know we had a chilly start. I’m just glad I can be here to protect Pamela,” he replied and truly meant what he said.
Greta smiled at them and turned on her heel towards her bedroom.
Pamela dropped her head onto her crossed arms on the cool counter. Jenkins reached over and put his hand on her back, unsure of how much physical contact she wanted at this moment.
Was it only an hour ago we were embraced in the back of her car? It feels like a year has passed since then. He cracked his neck side to side, and Pamela sat up, shaking off his hand.
“Ew!” Her voice whined out, and she shook out her arms as though trying to shake off bugs crawling on her skin.
“What? What is it?” Jenkins jumped on high alert looking for what was causing her disgust.
“You just cracked your neck. That is so gross!” She gave him a half smile and nudged his shoulder with hers.
Jenkins rolled his eyes. “Oh and your knuckle cracking is okay?” She responded by bringing her hand up to his ears and cracking a few fingers. His head automatically jolted away.
“Okay, fair enough. I surrender.” Pamela laughed and dropped her hands into her lap.
“I had an amazing dress I was going to wear to the party tonight. I guess we will have to find another event to wear it to.” Pamela stacked her fists on top of each other and rested her chin atop.
“Maybe we can have our own party here.” He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, but he smiled at her when she perked up, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Really, I want to take you somewhere safe and far away from here.
“Really? You’d do that?” She twisted in her seat and rested her hand on his thigh.
A jolt of electricity ran through him, starting from where her hand touched his leg. Oh my God, you have no idea what I would do for you. Ask, and it’s yours.
“Yeah, but we have to stay inside and away from windows.”
Pamela kept her hand on his leg and furrowed her brows as she considered his offer. “Deal. I’ll ask Greta to get some things together. Meet me in the library in fifteen minutes.”
Before he could say another word, she dashed off towards Greta’s room. He collected his suit and duffle bag from the foyer and headed towards the guest wing. The shopping bags laid in a haphazard pile from them being rushed inside earlier. His stomach dropped as anxiety chewed away at him.
He looked back in the direction of Greta’s room. She’s fine. There is security everywhere. I will see her again in fifteen minutes.
He was dressed and ready in five minutes. Once he was in the library, Greta appeared and lit the fireplace. The fall chill outside crept inside, and he welcomed the warm blaze. Two bottles of wine and two glasses were placed on the small table in front of the couch.
His breathing accelerated with every passing minute, and he kept glancing at his watch. If she isn’t here at the fifteen-minute mark, I’ll go looking for her. He pulled the sleeve of his suit over his watch and stared at the flames, allowing the warmth to wash over him.
At the fifteen-minute mark, he turned to leave, and as he looked up to the doorway, Pamela entered. His breath hitched in his throat.
She wore a gold satin dress that was a halter turtleneck top.
The back scooped down low, and the gown cascaded down to her feet.
The light from the fire made the dress look as though she herself was on fire as the reflection of the flames flickered and danced on the material.
She did a little spin to allow Jenkins to see her entire outfit.
Her blond hair was pulled up into a soft, low bun, and it looked as though she only wore mascara on her bare face.
“How do I look?” She finished her twirl and held her hands out before dropping them to her sides. Jenkins brought his hand to his chest and clutched it. His heart pounded, and he could feel it all the way up in his ears.
“Pamela, you look stunning.”
She smiled and shyly looked down at the ground. “Thank you. You look very handsome as well. It’s a shame everyone at the party is missing out on this.”
“I disagree, because now I don’t have to share you with anyone.” His voice dropped low and protective. Pamela rolled her eyes playfully and moved around the chairs. She picked up one of the wine bottles and glanced at the label.
“I’m not going to pretend like I know what anything on this label means. Which one should we open?” She asked and held up both bottles for him to inspect. Jenkins chuckled and reached out for the white wine in her hand.
“Let’s do this one. It is a nicely-chilled chardonnay,” he said and popped the cork off. Thank you, Greta for pre-corking these, he thought as he poured two glasses. He handed one to her, and she delicately lowered herself into one of the chairs facing the fireplace.
He held out his glass, and they clinked their glasses together.
“Wait! Shouldn’t we say a toast first?” Pamela clasped her hands around her glass and looked at him expectantly.
Jenkins sighed. “I’m not usually one for making speeches, but considering the turn of events tonight, I guess I can say a few words.” He cleared his throat, though a new lump formed and his eyes stung.
“For many years, I felt alone in life, like I didn’t fully belong.
But these last six months have shown me that there is a chance for me to finally find a place to call home.
Because being around you, I finally feel understood and seen, and to me that’s how I know I finally belong.
With you. Thank you for being you, and cheers to whatever the future holds. ”
And cheers to Darla being found so that Pamela is safe forever.
Pamela wiped a tear and tried to clap against her glass, causing the liquid to slosh around before she jumped up and pressed herself against him.
Their lips met and, breathing her in, Jenkins forgot all about his worries.
He wrapped his arm around her waist. The world fell away, and they were the only two people who mattered.
They parted and rested their foreheads together.
“Cheers.” She finally said, her breath warm against his face. Jenkins’s body reacted to the closeness, and he shook his head, trying to regain his focus.
I can’t get distracted. My job right now is to keep her safe.
They took a sip of wine, and Pamela shrugged. “Tastes the same as a ten-dollar bottle.”
Jenkins nodded. “I’ve never been much of a drinker. After seeing what alcohol does to people, the original Pamela and my uncle, I told myself a long time ago that I wouldn’t let it rule over me.”
Pamela sat back down in her chair. “My parents were heavy drinkers, too. I tried to avoid it, but with the constant waves of abuse from Sam, the only solace I could find was at the bottom of a bottle.” She swirled the drink around.
Jenkins scoffed. “We really do make quite the pair.” He ruffled his black hair. Movement outside the window caught his eye, and he darted over in time to see one of the security guys making his rounds outside the house.
“What is it?” Pamela watched as Jenkins returned back to the seating area and dropped himself in the opposite chair.
“Just one of the security guys walking the grounds.” He tipped the glass to his lips.
“Some party, huh?” Pamela gave a small wink at Jenkins, and he had to spit the wine in his mouth back into his glass.
“I’m sorry. I know I’m bringing the mood down.
I just can’t get Darla out of my head. All I can think about is keeping you safe.
The fact that she is so close has me on edge, and I don’t want to get too distracted and let something happen to you.
” His tone turned serious, desperate for her to understand how much he wanted her safe.
“Well, isn’t that sweet?” Jenkins and Pamela turned to the doorway behind them.
Callie’s shadowy outline framed the doorway.
It was hard to fully see, but the hair on her head looked bright orange in the light of the fire.
It was cut short and splayed in every direction except down.
She was dressed head to toe in all black.
“Hi, Jenkins. Hi, Pamela.” Callie used one hand to form quotation marks when she said Pamela’s name, and Jenkins could see that in her other hand she held a gun. He put his wine glass down on the table and stood, holding his hands up to try and calm the situation.
“Oh my God, it’s Callie. I mean, me. Uh—” Pamela struggled to put the thought together, her gaze focused on the gun pointed at them.
“We don’t want any trouble.” Jenkins looked to Pamela, trying to assure her with his steady voice. He saw her chin tremble.
I swear Darla, or Callie, whoever you are, if you hurt her, you will wish you were never born—or reborn—or whatever it is you are. He clenched his fists into balls in the air.
“No, of course not! I just want to have a little chat with the two of you. This is supposed to be a party after all, right?” Callie used the gun to point at both of them. “Now, pull up another chair.”
The gun followed Jenkins’s movements as he dragged a nearby chair over, facing it to the two chairs they had previously occupied. She motioned for them to sit, using the gun. The open wine bottle sat between them. She picked it up and took a long swig.
“Oh, that is some good stuff. Good year too.” She glanced at the label before sitting down in her own chair.
“So, lovebirds, I think you know why I’m here. And let me tell you, it was not easy getting away from that brute of a man.” Callie focused on Pamela. “If I were you, I would avoid going back home for a while. After we switch, I mean.”
“Why is that?” Jenkins spoke up, saving Pamela from having to speak.
“I’m sure the police there are going to have some questions for her.”
Jenkins’s stomach dropped, and he looked over at Pamela. She mouthed the word no, and brought her hand up to her mouth.
“Yeah, you see I tried to get back here right after the switch, but Sam caught me and dragged me back. Beat me up real good. I played the part of a defeated wife. But I was patient, and when he least suspected it, I took him out.”
Jenkins knew that Pamela would never wish that to happen. Despite how badly he had treated her, she was kind and good. Darla, you are evil, and you must be stopped no matter what. He wanted so badly to comfort Pamela but stayed still in his seat.
“How could you?” Pamela whispered, as her green eyes pooled with fresh tears.
“Honestly? I needed to learn how to use this thing.” She waved the gun around in a small circle next to her head.
“Now, on to more important matters,” she scoffed, before pointing the gun back at Jenkins.