Chapter Three
More frightened than Meggie had ever been before, she flew out the apartment door and pounded urgently on Quinn’s. A minute
later the door jerked open. The irritation quickly faded from his face after one look at Meggie.
“What happened?”
She was trembling so hard she could barely speak. “He called.”
Quinn stepped into the brightly lit hallway, still dressed in slacks and shirt. He glanced up and down the empty corridor.
Noticing that her door was open, he closed his own and escorted her back to her apartment.
“Did you blow the whistle?” he questioned softly.
“Quinn,” she spoke haltingly, “he knows my name . . . he said if I blew the whistle at him again, I’d pay. I think he’s going
to kill me.”
Gently, he folded her in his arms. “I won’t let him hurt you, Meggie.” The words were so infinitely tender, so assuring. Meggie
laid her head upon his chest, the even thud of his heart pounding in her ear, contrasting the staccato beat of her hammering
heart.
“I’m so frightened . . . so afraid.”
“I know.” Weaving his fingers through her hair, Quinn pressed her closer into the protective circle of his arms. “Trust me,
Meggie. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her smile was weak, shaky. She had run to him like someone seeking shelter from a turbulent storm. There was no one she trusted
more, no one who could calm her fears, assure her. No one but Quinn.
“Meggie.” Her name was issued on a soft sigh. His hand curved around her neck, long fingers curling into her hair, lifting
her face. Their eyes met in the darkness and suddenly everything was still. No longer could Meggie hear the jackhammering
beat of her heart. Nothing mattered, save this one man. Breathlessly, she stared back at Quinn awaiting the gentle possession
of his lips. She wasn’t disappointed as his mouth settled firmly over hers, drawing from her a response so complete that Meggie
was shocked.
When Quinn shifted his position to deepen the kiss, Meggie slipped her arms around his neck, her fingers investigating the
rippling muscles of his back. She moaned softly as his mouth plundered hers.
“Meggie,” he whispered, his voice shaking as he buried his face in the hollow of her throat. His arms tightened around her
waist, holding her so close she could scarcely breathe. Gradually his arms relaxed and he lifted her face, tenderly brushing
the hair from her forehead and cheeks. “Tell me what happened?”
Still caught in the rapture of his arms, Meggie looked deeply into his eyes. The dimly lit room slowly seemed to dissolve
around them.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he demanded thickly.
Meggie was surprised at the emotion in his voice, but still she couldn’t speak.
Gently Quinn’s hands massaged the rounded curve of her shoulders. “What did he say?”
Emitting a protesting sob, Meggie shook her head. “No . . . it’s terrible, the things he says to me.”
“Meggie.” Hard fingers tightened, biting into her flesh. “He knows your name?”
She pushed the wild array of hair from her face. “Yes . . . he said, ‘Meggie’; he said my name.”
Quinn released her, jerking his fingers through his hair, a dark frown furrowing his brow.
Shaking almost uncontrollably, Meggie sat in the cushioned chair while Quinn paced the floor in front of her.
“I want you to get your phone number changed first thing Monday morning. This time insist on an unlisted number. We’ll go
from there.”
“But, Quinn . . .” The fingers of both hands covered her mouth as she stared up at him helplessly. Whoever was making these
calls was after far more than a cheap thrill. The sick tone of his voice told Meggie that this was not a game.
Quinn’s face darkened. “He isn’t going to hurt you. I won’t let him.”
Meggie gave a brave smile that fooled no one. If this madman chose to come after her there was little Quinn could do to help
her. There was little she could do to help herself. As far as she knew she didn’t have an enemy in the world, so how would
she recognize him? How would she possibly know who it could be?
Her thoughts must have communicated themselves to Quinn. He knelt in front of her, taking her fingers away from her mouth
and holding them securely in his hands. “Trust me, Meggie.” His eyes implored hers, holding her gaze.
When she nodded, he very gently lifted her hands to his lips and kissed her fingers.
The next morning Meggie sat in church, but the words of the pastor’s sermon seemed to buzz around her and fly away. Again
and again she tried to force herself to concentrate on the morning message, but it was no use. She had prayed so hard that
she was doing the right thing by leaving California. Everything had fallen into place so naturally—the job, finding a furnished
apartment close to the office and within her budget. Since the break with her father, their relationship had never been better.
It was almost as if he was relieved she was gone. Just three weeks ago she hadn’t known a soul in Portland. Only now was she
beginning to form friendships: a couple of girls from the office, Quinn and Jill, the manager of the grocery store and the
warm people from church.
Who would possibly want to frighten her like this? It simply didn’t make sense. But Meggie recognized that she couldn’t live
with this fear, this tension hanging over her head night and day. As it was, she wasn’t far from being paranoid, suspecting
everyone she came in contact with. Strangers on the street, people she would have normally greeted with a cheerful smile,
were now suspect. It was getting to the point of becoming utterly ridiculous.
Giving herself a mental shake, she forced herself to concentrate on the pastor’s words.
“If you’ll turn with me to the Book of Matthew,” he was saying.
Meggie flipped the pages of her open Bible to the gospel. A portion of the verse that had been assigned seemed to leap from
the page and hit her squarely. For a moment her eyes widened with wonder. The verse was a quote from the Old Testament: HE
WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU. Everything seemed to fade around her as if she was floating on a safe, secure cloud,
free of worry and fear. It was as if Christ Himself was speaking to her, telling her not to be afraid, that He had given His
angels charge of her welfare.
A slow smile touched her soft mouth. She was safe, there was nothing to fear anymore. A peace, a tranquility beyond anything she had ever experienced stole over her.
Meggie could almost visualize the presence of two strong men standing guard on either side of her. Unshed tears blurred her
eyes and she slowly lifted her head toward the heavens and mouthed the words: thank you.
Soon the pastor and the congregation came back into focus and for the first time that morning, Meggie listened intently to
all that was happening around her.
“Hi.” Jill was in front of the building when Meggie approached. Church was only a few blocks away, and the weather was lovely
so she’d decided to walk. Actually she had forced herself, imagining strangers lurking behind every bush, almost afraid to
breathe too loudly for fear of what may be awaiting her. How different the return walk home had been.
“Isn’t it a lovely morning.” Meggie smiled at the younger girl.
“Dad’s worried,” Jill said with a pinched, painful look in her eyes. “I told him you’d probably just gone to church, but Dad
never listens to me. Besides your car was still in the parking lot.”
“Just where have you been?” Quinn demanded, his face blazing with anger as he pushed his way out the front doors of the building.
Meggie was too shocked at the stark anger in his voice to respond.
“Answer me!” His eyes narrowed as he studied her intently.
Pride shot her chin up. “I was attending Sunday services at church.”
The angry, contorted features tightened all the more. Wordless, he pivoted away from her and stalked into the building.
“Oh dear, I’ve done it now,” Meggie murmured, unconsciously biting into her bottom lip.
Jill’s eyes avoided Meggie, continuing to stare down the street as if she was expecting someone. “I’ve never seen Dad like
that. He kept pacing the floor, jerking his hands in and out of his pockets. He even made a couple of phone calls, but I didn’t
hear what he said.”
Miserably, Meggie emitted a long, drawn-out sigh. There had been a time when she’d wondered if there was anything that could
ruffle this man. Now that she was aware that she was capable of doing it, she discovered the fact didn’t please her.
“I think I’d better go apologize.”
Jill glared at her, unable to hide the hurt in her eyes. “I wouldn’t if I were you. When he gets like this, it’s best to leave
him alone.”
“Oh, damn,” Meggie murmured, frustrated.
“Oh, damn!” Jill repeated mockingly. “Is that the best you can do?” Her voice was thick with sarcasm.
“Stop it, Jill, I don’t need it from you too.”
She laughed harshly. “Well listen, lady, I’ve about had it with you goody-goody types. You’ve managed to mess up my whole
weekend.”
“Jill,” Meggie gasped, glaring at the girl. For the first time she noticed the tears shimmering in the blue eyes. If Quinn
was worried and angry about her, he’d probably taken out his frustration on his daughter.
Tentatively, Meggie reached out a hand, gently touching the young girl’s arm. “Jill, I’m sorry, it was my fault. Will you
forgive me?”
Roughly she jerked Meggie’s hand away. “Just leave me alone,” she spat, and ran down the street.
Meggie stood watching her for a long time, confused and unsure. Not long afterwards, an older-model car pulled to the curb.
Jill waved to the older woman inside and ran to the vehicle. Together they sped away.
Meggie felt sick. She turned and slowly walked into the building. Instead of taking the elevator she climbed the four flights
of stairs, welcoming the exertion.
She didn’t stop at her apartment; instead, she walked down the hall to Quinn’s.
He answered her sharp raps with an angry scowl. “Yes?”