Chapter 10
As usual, Parker thoroughly enjoyed taking his eager group on the hike. Not only did he love the physical exertion, but it was fun watching the tourists’ reactions to the beautiful foliage and the occasional wildlife sightings.
But he couldn’t stop worrying about Genna. With two house break-ins and now a vehicle following her, the threat seemed urgent. Even if she had no idea who might be doing this or why, with a serial killer terrorizing young women, she couldn’t afford to take risks with her safety.
The thought of something happening to her made his blood run cold. And Hetty, ever perceptive, had asked him how long he’d been in love with Genna.
He’d managed to blow the question off, acting incredulous that she’d even suggest such a thing. In reality, he knew he’d been fooling no one. If Hetty thought she knew, it wouldn’t be long until everyone at RTA would be talking.
For himself, he knew he could live with gossip. With a business like theirs, run by family and employees who’d been there so long they were like family, it seemed there was always some rumor going around.
Parker and Spence tried to ignore them. Lakin had always delighted in them, claiming she found the talk hilarious.
But Parker didn’t know how Genna would handle the rumors. She’d just started working for RTA and while she’d made everyone’s acquaintance, she’d likely still feel like an outsider. With everything else she had going on, he wanted work to be a safe haven.
Returning after the hike to headquarters, he let Spence handle the checkout. He went back to the break room to grab a bottled water.
He wondered how Genna’s afternoon in town had gone. Hopefully, there’d been no more incidents with someone following her. Pulling out his phone, he saw no missed calls or texts, so he had to assume everything had been okay.
Once the last guest had trundled off, Parker made his way out front. “I’m going to head home,” he said. “You all set here?”
“Sure.” Spence grinned. “Is Genna waiting for you to get home?”
Parker should have been surprised that Hetty had already spread the news, but he wasn’t. Spence and Hetty were super close. “It’s not like that, and you know it,” he said, shaking his head at his cousin. “She’s staying in the guest bedroom after someone has tried to break into her house twice.”
At his words, Spence’s teasing expression vanished. “And now she’s had someone following her.” He clapped Parker on the back. “Sorry, man. I just wanted to give you a hard time. You know I’m all in to do whatever you need to help catch this guy.”
“I appreciate that.” Barely able to contain his need to rush home, Parker said his goodbye. He called Revis and, after his dog jumped up into the back seat, got in his truck and headed home.
As he pulled up in front of his driveway, disappointment mixed with worry as he realized Genna wasn’t there. With the truck still running, he got out his phone and called her. She answered on the second ring.
“Are you home yet?” she asked, her voice shaky. “I’ve been driving around with JB, and didn’t want to go to your place unless you were there.”
“I’m sitting in my driveway,” he said. “Did something else happen?”
“Yes and no.” She sighed. “Would you mind watching for me? I’m about five minutes away. I’ll only stop once I’m absolutely sure that I’m not being followed.”
“Revis and I will wait right here,” he promised. “Please stay on the line until I can see you.”
“I will. Right now, no one is following me. I’ve been on the lookout for a black SUV. I haven’t seen it since lunchtime.”
The fact that she had seen it again wasn’t lost on him. Though he wanted to press her for details, he knew it could wait until she was safe and sound with him and ready to talk.
“How was your tour?” she asked, her voice still shaky. Understanding her need to discuss something ordinary, he told her about the group. They’d been repeat visitors, two families who lived next door to each other somewhere in California.
“I’m almost at your place,” she said once he’d finished. “Thank you for talking.” She paused for a moment. “I really just needed to hear the sound of your voice.”
Stunned, he told himself what she really meant was the sound a friendly voice. Anyone would do.
While he waited, he opened the door so Revis could hop out, which he did, tail wagging and panting happily. For an older dog, Revis moved well. Parker ruffled his fur, telling him they were watching for Genna and June Bug. Revis’s ears perked up, almost as if he understood every word.
Finally, Parker spotted Genna’s car making its way down the road. Both he and Revis watched, waiting while she pulled into the driveway and parked.
She got out slowly, waving. Crossing around to the other side, she let June Bug out before reaching into the back seat and retrieving several shopping bags.
“Do you want some help?” he asked, ready to take some of the bags from her.
“No, thanks. I’m good.”
He noticed she’d left something in the back seat and asked her if she wanted him to grab that. She told him no, it was JB’s bed for the office and she’d leave it there until she went back to work.
Genna and her tiny pet led the way into the house, Revis a few steps behind and Parker bringing up the rear. He couldn’t help but reflect on how domestic all of this felt. Or would have, if not for Genna having a stalker.
Once inside, Genna carried her purchases to her room, both dogs following right behind her. She closed her door, JB and Revis still with her.
A sharp, staccato set of knocks on the front door, followed by multiple presses of the doorbell, told Parker that his brother Eli had come to visit.
Which could be a good thing or bad.
Opening the door, Parker motioned Eli in. At least his brother wasn’t in his law enforcement uniform, which meant this call likely wasn’t on official business.
“Evening,” Eli said, his eyes scanning the room. “Where’s your new dog? I’ve heard all about him and can’t wait to meet him.”
“He’s around here somewhere,” Parker replied, keeping his tone casual. He figured Eli had also come to check out the current living situation, since the gossip about him and Genna had no doubt made the rounds of the family.
“Oh. I want to meet him,” Eli said.
Since Revis had gone with Genna, Parker wasn’t about to go get him. “Do you want a beer?” Parker offered.
“Sure.” Eli dropped onto the couch. “They finally were able to figure out the identity of the second victim. It was a woman named Allison Harris.”
Parker got their beers, opened them and handed one to his brother. “I can’t believe that guy still hasn’t been caught.”
“He will be.” Accepting the bottle, Eli spoke with confidence. “Sooner or later, he’s going to make a mistake. And we’ll get him.”
Genna appeared, evidently hearing voices, Revis and JB hot on her heels. Parker introduced Genna, and then each of the two dogs. They stayed close to Genna, both of them regarding Eli with thoughtful expressions.
“You’re with law enforcement, if I remember right,” Genna said, her expression hopeful. “Are you here to tell us that the Fiancée Killer has been arrested and will be brought to justice?”
“I wish.” Eli shifted in his seat. “But I hear you’ve been having some trouble yourself. Your house was broken into?”
She nodded. “And now someone seems to be following me. It was a black SUV. Mercedes, I think. I wasn’t able to get the license plate.”
“Following you?” Eli asked, frowning. “For how long?”
Genna sighed. “Just today. They almost caused an accident at an intersection in front of the restaurant where I was eating lunch out on the patio.”
“And you don’t have any idea who it might be?”
“No,” Genna replied. “I don’t have any clue who or why.”
Though Parker had hesitated to mention it before, he thought now might be a good time. “Didn’t you say your ex-husband’s new girlfriend was harassing you before you left Anchorage?”
“Ann?” Slowly, she nodded. “But that was back in Anchorage. There’s no way she’d drive six to seven hours just to stalk me.”
Sipping his beer, Eli appeared thoughtful but he didn’t comment.
“Maybe not,” Parker allowed. “But still, it wouldn’t hurt to have Eli look into them.”
Genna looked from one man to the other. “I’m sure Eli has enough to deal with, working on the serial killer case. I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re not,” Eli assured her. “If you’ll just write down your ex-husband’s name and address, as well as his girlfriend’s, I can check them out.”
“We’d appreciate that,” Parker interjected when it appeared Genna might protest. “Just a few minutes of your time would go a long way to helping Genna feel safe.”
Genna met his gaze, her expression troubled.
“Please,” Parker said. “It can’t hurt.”
“Okay, I’ll write their info down,” Genna finally said.
“But I’m telling you, it’s not them. First up, they were cyber bullying me before as well as calling and texting.
They’re not now. Even though I’ve blocked both their numbers, they’d buy disposable phones just so they could reach me. All of that has stopped.”
“Interesting.” Eli shrugged. “Maybe they decided to torment you in person this time.”
“They did that before, too. It accomplished nothing. And I’m here in Shelby now.
They have jobs and lives in Anchorage. While it’s a beautiful drive from there to here, it’s also long.
I honestly think Ann celebrated when she succeeded in running me out of the area.
Now Chad is all hers. She has no reason to follow me here and torment me. ”
“Maybe not,” Eli answered. “But you never know with some of these kinds of people. They can become so wrapped up in vengeance or whatever it is that they’re trying to accomplish, all logic flies out the window. Let me check into them.”
“As long as they aren’t made aware, I’m fine with it,” Genna said. “I don’t want to do anything to bring me to their attention and potentially start things up again.”
“They’ll have no idea,” Eli promised.