Chapter 27 – Haley
That evening, my phone rings nonstop. First, it’s my mom calling to ask me how I am. I’m not surprised Dad called her to let her know about the tracking device and the upcoming sting operation.
She puts Dave on the line. He’s his usual supportive self, while I can hear mom in the background peppering him with more questions to ask me.
Then Erin calls.
I tell them all pretty much the same thing.
“I’m okay.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I’m safe here.”
“Philip’s fine. Everyone’s fine.”
“You’re pretty popular,” Philip says when the calls finally stop.
“Yeah, but not for a good reason. They’re all worried sick.”
It’s a few minutes before nine, and we’re both sitting on his bed leaning against the headboard. I’m doing homework, and he’s reading a Stephen King novel.
Philip captures my hand and brings it to his mouth to kiss. “I’m proud of you. You handled everything really well this evening, especially your dad. He can be intimidating.”
I laugh. “That’s an understatement. But he means well.”
Someone knocks on Philip’s bedroom door, and we look at each other.
“I thought they were in the security shack,” I say. “We’re busted.”
“It’s just me, guys,” Charlie says through the door. “I know you’re both in there. If you’re decent, let me come in.”
“Of course, we’re decent,” Philip says. “Come on in.”
Charlie opens the door and stares at the two of us. “Aren’t you two cute? Doing homework together?”
“She’s doing homework,” Philip says. “My homework days are far behind me. I’m reading.”
“Adorable.” She walks farther into the room. “Haley, if you have a minute, can you come downstairs? There’s something I’d like to show you.” She tosses a glance at Philip. “That’s if it’s okay with you, Romeo.”
* * *
“Please don’t blame Philip because I was in his bedroom,” I tell Charlie as we walk down the main staircase to the foyer. “I kind of insisted.”
Charlie chuckles. “Oh, honey, I don’t care. I was just giving him a hard time.”
We follow the main wooden staircase down to the foyer and into the parlor, where we find Mateo waiting for us.
The stately grandfather clock in the foyer chimes nine times.
“I think a bit of self-defense training is in order,” Charlie says. “Just in case.”
That catches me off-guard. I’m not exactly the physical action type. “I’ve never—I mean, I don’t know how to—”
“I know,” Charlie says. “That’s why I’m going to teach you a few basics.”
Philip follows us into the living room. “Teach her what?”
“Some self-defense moves.” She points at the sofa. “Have a seat, Romeo.”
Mateo laughs at Charlie’s new nickname for Philip. I think it’s cute.
“I can help,” Philip says.
Charlie shakes her head. “No, Mateo’s going to help. You’re going to sit on the sofa and watch.” She points to a spot on the floor in front of her. “Stand here, Haley.”
When I do as instructed, Charlie motions for Mateo to stand behind me.
“Now, be careful with her, guys,” Philip says as he sits forward. He looks like he’s about to shoot to his feet. “She’s not used to rough—”
“Shut up, Phil,” Charlie says with an eyeroll. “We’re not going to hurt your precious girlfriend.”
Philip scowls at her. “I’m serious, Charlie.”
But Charlie ignores him. “Let’s start with a simple wrist grab. Mateo, grab Haley’s wrist.”
Mateo does as she asked. Automatically, I try to pull free, but Mateo’s grip is too strong for me. I can’t budge him. I try several times, and the only thing I’m managing to do is hurt my wrist.
“Now, Haley,” Charlie says. “Watch closely.”
Mateo lets go of my wrist and grabs Charlie’s wrist instead.
“Clamp your free hand on top of your assailant’s hand, like this,” Charlie says, demonstrating the move in slow motion.
“Then, twist your wrist, like this, so that you can grasp his wrist. Then push down hard, twisting your opponent’s forearm in the process.
” As she demonstrates, Mateo grunts in pain and goes down on one knee to relieve the pressure on his forearm.
“We’ll do it again,” she says, repeating the actions and getting the same outcome. “Now you try it.”
Mateo grabs my wrist, and I follow the steps Charlie showed me. At first, it’s awkward, but after a few more tries, I succeed in breaking Mateo’s grasp.
“Excellent,” Charlie says, clearly pleased with my performance. “Now, let’s try something else. How about a chokehold maneuver?”
Mateo moves behind me and wraps his arm around my neck.
“Now, Haley, if someone grabs you from behind—” Before she can get another word out, a bunch of shrieking alarms start going off.
Philip and the others grab their phones to peer at the screens.
“Front porch motion detector,” Charlie says, suddenly all matter-of-fact. “Philip, take Haley upstairs. Mateo, monitor the backyard. I’ll check the front.”
Mateo pulls a black handgun from the back of his waistband—I didn’t even know he had it—and races to the kitchen.
Philip grabs my arm and leads me up the main staircase and into his bedroom.
He locks us in, goes into his closet, and comes out a moment later holding a black handgun.
After tucking the gun into the back of his waistband—and damn, if that’s not a sexy move—he opens his door so he can monitor what’s going on downstairs.
“What’s happening?” I ask as I sidle up behind him.
“Not sure yet. Please step back from the doorway.”
Before long, Charlie yells up the stairs, “All clear.”
We come downstairs and meet the others in the kitchen. Charlie lays a sheet of notebook paper on the table for us all to read the handwritten note.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, HALEY?
COME BACK TO CAMPUS WHERE YOU BELONG.
ARE YOU HERE WITH HIM?!? WHY?
Everyone is silent for a moment.
“Is this what set off the alarms?” I ask.
“There are motion detectors outside,” Charlie says. “He walked right up to the front door and left this on the welcome mat.”
Mateo pulls out his phone and brings up an app. “The video surveillance caught him, but his face is covered.” He shows me the video. “I doubt you recognize him.”
I shake my head as I look at a figure dressed in dark clothing, wearing a dark mask and hood. Average height, average weight. “There’s nothing to recognize.”
“Are you okay?” Philip asks me.
“He knows where we are. This was supposed to be my safehouse, but it doesn’t feel quite so safe anymore.”
He was here.
Right outside.
Just minutes ago.
* * *
After all the commotion dies down, I head up the stairs to get ready for bed. Tomorrow’s Saturday, so I don’t bother to shower this evening. It can wait until morning. Fortunately, I don’t have any plans tomorrow. I plan to lay low all weekend.
Once I’m in my room, I change into a pair of sleep shorts and a T-shirt and then, with the light off, I walk over to the window and push the drapes aside so I can see outside.
The street is dark and quiet. No one’s out tonight except for one guy across the street who is putting his trash cans out.
Why me? Why does anyone care enough to want to terrorize me?
There’s a quiet knock on my door. “Haley? Can I come in?” It’s Philip.
“Sure, come on in.”
When he sees me standing at the window, he frowns. “Please come away from there.”
I let the curtain fall shut, and as I walk toward him, he meets me halfway and wraps me in a crushing hug.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” he murmurs, his lips in my hair. His hand comes up to cup the back of my head. “I know you’re scared, but you’re safe, babe. I promise you. He’s never going to get to you. He’d have to come through me first, and that’s never going to happen.”
I slip my arms around his waist, and when my hand brushes against the cold metal of his handgun tucked into the waistband of his jeans, I flinch and drop my arms.
“Sorry,” he says as he steps back. He reaches behind himself, removes the gun, and lays it on top of my dresser. “The safety’s on.”
He holds his arms out to me, and I return to his embrace. “You’re my emotional support person,” I say as my throat tightens. I press my nose against his shirt and breathe in his familiar and comforting scent. “When I’m with you, I feel safe.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I’m glad.”
“I want to sleep with you tonight,” I say.
He doesn’t even argue. He takes my hand and leads me from the room, pausing only to grab his gun off my dresser.
I’ve never seen him handle a gun before today, and I find it a bit unnerving. I’ve always envisioned him as more of a big teddy bear than a tough guy, but now I realize there’s a different side to him as well.
His words from a few moments ago echo in my head—he’d have to go through me first, and that’s not going to happen.
Great! Now I have to worry about his safety, too.
It would kill me if he—or anyone else, for that matter—got hurt on my account.