Chapter 16 #2
“Suspect on site, Zoey Nielson claims someone is after her. She’s locked herself in the bathroom.”
“Brandon and Hanes are on the way.”
“Thanks. Keep me posted. Use Jennie’s phone. Zoey’s on mine.”
“Got it. And detective, keep that little girl safe.”
“I’m going to try my best.”
He hung up and focused on Zoey and Jennie’s conversation.
A clank of metal pierced the air, and a male voice sounded. “Zoey? Come on out. You can’t hide forever.”
Zoey whimpered.
David sucked in a breath. He was going to be too late. “Stay strong, princess. Help’s almost there.”
Sirens sounded in the background.
A curse filled the room, and a door slammed shut.
Panic clawed up David’s throat. “Zoey?”
Soft sobs filtered over the line. “I’m here. I think he’s gone.”
***
Jennie followed as David flashed his badge at police officers creating a perimeter around the elementary school and grabbed her hand.
They sprinted into the school and hurried down the quiet hall since the students were on lockdown in the classrooms. Her worst nightmare had almost happened if it hadn’t been for her daughter’s quick thinking, and David giving Zoey his phone number.
When they reached the bathroom, David called out, “Zoey?” He eased inside, weapon drawn.
Tears pricked Jennie’s eyes. She held her breath as she waited in the hall. At least she tried. Unable to handle not knowing what was happening, she peered around the corner.
Zoey peeked out from the bathroom stall. “Mr. David?”
“Come here, sweetie.” He holstered his gun and held his arms open. Zoey shot from her hiding spot and fell into his embrace. “I think someone else needs a big hug.” He released her and shifted her to see Jennie.
Jennie swallowed past the lump in her throat and stepped into the doorway. “Zoey.”
Her daughter launched herself into her arms. Jennie staggered. David’s hand reached out and steady her. Zoey’s arms squeezed around her already sore neck, but Jennie ignored the pain. It was worth it to have her daughter safe in her arms.
“Let’s head out and see what Brandon and Randy found out.” David spoke softly into her ear.
She nodded, unable to speak past the emotions clogging her throat.
David escorted her and Zoey to the front office and offered her a seat.
She lowered onto the cushioned chair. Zoey curled up on her lap. At least as much as a ten-year-old could.
David squatted beside them. “Zoey. Did you know the man after you?”
Zoey’s face scrunched. “I don’t think so. But…”
Jennie brushed the hair from her daughter’s face. “It’s okay, honey. If you know something, you should let David know.”
Zoey’s blue eyes met hers. Fear flickered in them.
“Go ahead, tell him.”
Zoey sighed. “I didn’t recognize him, but there was something familiar about him.”
David tilted his head. “As in you’ve seen him around school before?”
“No. I don’t think so.” Zoey’s little fingers traced the hand marks on Jennie’s neck. “Like in a picture or something.”
“David, could Kenny be responsible for this?” Her heart hammered against her ribcage.
Her daughter shook her head. “It wasn’t him.”
“Do you know what he looks like?” David asked.
“She’s seen pictures of him. I made sure of it.” Jennie had struggled with that decision, but in the long run, she wanted her daughter to have the information for her own safety.
“So, not Kenny.” David scratched the growing scruff on his jaw.
Brandon rushed in. “Do you need the ambulance?”
David’s gaze never left her as he responded to his partner. “No. Zoey’s scared but not hurt.”
Brandon cleared his throat and stepped closer. “I got a call right before dispatch sent us here.”
Jennie’s face heated. “And?” She demanded.
Brandon’s gaze darted between her and David. “Kenny didn’t do this. He hasn’t violated his parole. He’s with his new girlfriend at a resort in Indiana. Confirmed by security footage.”
“Then who is tormenting us?” Jennie rested her cheek on Zoey’s head and let the tears fall. The only thing she knew for sure was that she had to keep Zoey safe, no matter what happened to her.
***
David collapsed on the recliner in Jennie’s living room.
He closed his eyes and thanked God for protecting Zoey.
The cloud of failure of figuring out who targeted Jennie and her daughter hung over his head, but he refused to allow it to consume him.
He’d spent the last four hours reassuring the mother daughter duo that he and Brandon wouldn’t stop until they arrested whoever had turned their life upside down.
Jennie stirred on the couch. She tucked Zoey tighter against her and relaxed, falling back to sleep.
The pair had wormed their way into his heart. He’d do anything to protect them.
The front door opened. He popped to his feet and reached for his Glock. Brandon waltzed in. David’s shoulders sagged in relief. He held a finger to his lips and whispered, “Shh. They finally fell asleep twenty minutes ago.” He motioned for his partner to join him in the kitchen.
“Here’s what you asked for.” Brandon handed him the item and dropped onto a seat. “How are they doing?”
David pocketed the rubber bracelet. “Worried. Exhausted.” He pulled a chair near Brandon and collapsed onto it. “I’m at a loss. We know Eddie isn’t after them, and Kenny’s out of the equation, assuming he didn’t hire someone, but that doesn’t seem likely. We have nothing to go on.”
His partner drilled him with a stare.
“What?”
“There’s a reason I came over.”
David lifted a brow and motioned for him to continue.
“The police department where Tina lives called the station a little while ago. Tina came home from her work trip to a break-in. Someone destroyed her home, looking for something specific.”
“And?”
“Once they allowed her into the house, she had a bad feeling about the motive and immediately went to her safe.”
“Would you please get to the point?”
“It was open.” Brandon wiped a hand down his face. “That’s where Tina stored Jennie’s address and any pictures they share.”
David closed his eyes and took a shuddering breath. “Whoever broke in is after Jennie. And knows where she lives.”
Brandon nodded. “The officers said, according to the evidence, the break-in occurred the day Tina came to visit Jennie.”
The new information swirled in his mind.
David rose and strode over and placed his hands on the kitchen counter and lowered his head.
“Who would do that?” Sweat popped out on his forehead and swallowed the bile creeping up his throat.
“It’s someone from Jennie’s past. Only a friend or acquaintance from her time in Indiana would know she’d confide in Tina. ”
“We need to wake Jennie and get a list of people she knew from back then. But, David, there’s another problem.”
He swung around to face his partner. “What?”
“The emergency key ring Tina kept in the safe is missing.”
“Don’t tell me.” David stomach twisted into a knot.
Brandon exhaled. “Jennie’s house key was on the ring.”
“What about my key?” Jennie’s question had both men freezing in place.
***
Jennie had tucked Zoey in on the couch and went searching for David. She hadn’t expected to discover him and Brandon talking about her house key. The headache that she’d woken up to and the stress of the day had taken a toll. Her patience was running low right now.
She shoved her fists on her hips and glared at the men in her kitchen. “Well? Are you going to stand there or are you going to tell me what’s going on.”
“I…uh…” Brandon shoulders drooped. “I got a call from the PD where Tina lives. Someone broke into her house.”
“And?”
“They found your address.”
“They have my house key, don’t they?” Jennie wrapped her arms around her waist. The person who had come close to taking Zoey had access to her home. Her eyes drifted toward her bedroom. Had the man been in here?
David moved in front of her. “Jennie? What are you thinking?”
“The other night, when we were on the phone, I felt like someone was watching me.”
“I remember.” He stiffened. “Brandon.”
“I’m on it.” Brandon strode from the room.
“What’s he doing?”
David’s gaze landed on the floor. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Tell me. Don’t keep secrets from me.”
“He’s checking for cameras in your bedroom.”
She gasped. Had her tormentor watched her sleep?
David placed his hands on her shoulders. “We will figure out who is behind all this.”
Unable to wrap her mind around all that had happened, Jennie nodded.
A few minutes later, Brandon joined them. He held up the teddy bear Brad had given her years ago in one hand and a small device in the other.
“What’s that?”
“This is a camera. Someone hid it in here.” He pointed to the stuffed animal’s eye.
Tears sprang in her eyes. “And it was pointed at my bed.”
Brandon’s apologetic look almost took her to her knees. “Yes.”
“He’s been in my house. Touched my things. Watched me.” Her body shook at the revelation.
“Jennie.” David’s hands moved up and down her arms. “We will find him.”
Tears streamed down her face. “But will it be too late?”