Chapter 5
Chapter Five
The policemen escorted Addie home and checked her house.
After the first threat, they’d suggested some commercially available security system and monitoring.
She’d taken money from her savings, and the cameras and sensors were functioning properly according to the detectives.
They assured her that patrols would come by and urged her to call if she heard or sensed anything out of place.
She wrapped up in a blanket and sank onto her couch, drained.
She hated the way she’d helped set Price up.
Over the past few days, the detectives had brought in Raymond, Trey, Isaac, and a few other men from the gym and her work for questioning.
They’d even gone to the prison to chat with Jamison.
Apparently that was all ‘above and beyond’ what they’d normally have time for.
Still nothing. No leads. No red flags. After the note last night, they’d checked deeper into any emails or letters Jamison may have sent, seeing if someone could be helping him terrify her to either hurt her or scare her away from testifying on January fifth.
Still nothing. She still believed Jamison had something to do with the photos and notes, but she couldn’t do much without proof.
When the police saw the photo of her and Price last night, their captain got involved and declared he wanted to try something different with a security expert like Price.
Detective Thayne had a case of hero worship going on with Price because of Price’s job with Aiden Porter and his fancy medal from the Navy.
He didn’t dare defy his captain. He assured her they weren’t arresting Price.
She’d agreed to meet Price tonight, wear a recording device, and see if he revealed anything.
He had revealed something. That he cared about her and was a good guy. And now she’d ensured they’d never have a relationship. She’d betrayed Price’s trust after he’d treated her so kindly. He’d made certain the police were planning to escort her home and told her to ‘take care’.
The look in his dark eyes ripped at her. He’d been saying goodbye. Of course he had. She was in a dangerous situation, and she’d not only accused him of sending the notes to try to get her to hire him but had helped the police set him up.
Addie was embarrassed and sad. She’d been drawn to Price and thought they had a special connection. Honest truth, she’d believed he might be the one she’d been searching for, the one who could break through her barriers and gain her trust.
Detective Thayne called an hour after she got home, telling her, “Captain Price Sanderson is every bit as incredible as we hoped. Definitely not our guy, but we’ll find the perp.”
All that silly subterfuge and hurting Price and they had learned nothing new. She might’ve had a chance with Price, but she and the detectives listening to their captain had ruined that.
What did it matter now? If this stalker attacked, she might not live to see another sunrise.
At least the cameras would capture an image if the stalker tried to drop off another envelope.
The security company would contact the police and forward the video.
If the police could get out here fast enough.
What if the notes had only been warnings and the next visit would be an attack?
She shivered and cuddled deeper into the warm blanket, staring blankly at the Christmas tree and wondering what Christmas would look like.
She’d been planning to fly home on the twenty-third.
Her sister Daphne and Vance Gem from Jade Valley were getting married on New Year’s Day.
Everyone would be together for Christmas and the wedding.
She’d been looking forward to an amazing holiday season with her family. Now it looked terrifying.
She was still planning to go home. Would the police oppose her leaving? Would the guy follow her to Jade Valley and endanger her family, her innocent niece and nephew? Maybe she should dip into her savings and hire security.
Maybe she could hire Price.
Yeah, right. He’d probably balk after her accusing him of sending the notes to get her to hire him, and rightfully so.
What a mess. She hoped to never see Price again; it was too humiliating.
It also hurt that she’d never see him again.
He appeared to be a man she could truly learn to trust and love, but any hope of that was gone.
It was the thirteenth of December. Could the detectives possibly catch this guy before Christmas?
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this morose.
Maybe after Jamison assaulted and almost raped her or maybe when she found out Juliette and Emery’s husbands were each cheating on her sisters.
Those were both rough times. Thankfully Emery had her general now.
Reef Blackwell was the kind of man that would be loyal to her sister and her children forever.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She sighed and pulled it out.
Her sigh turned to a smile. Daphne. Her youngest sister was a delight to all of them. Addie hadn’t told her family about the stalking situation and for the moment she was glad. She could use some Daphne humor in her life.
“Hey, sis.”
“What does Santa use to clean his sleigh?”
She smiled. Ah, Daphne. “What?”
“Comet.”
Addie laughed, actually laughed. She hadn’t laughed in days. It felt amazing. “Tell me another one. Please.”
“All right, all right, all right.” She could imagine Daphne beaming. She loved when people thought her silly jokes were funny. “Why does Santa have three gardens?”
“Why?”
“So he can ho ho ho.” Daphne laughed at her own joke.
Addie joined her. “Thanks, sis,” she said. “I needed that.”
“Rough day?” Daphne’s voice was immediately full of concern.
“Yeah. But let’s talk about you first. How’s Vance? How are the wedding plans?”
“Vance Gem is dreamy.”
Addie’s stomach soured. She’d called Price ‘dreamy’. He was, and she’d lost any chance with him.
The shutters knocked against the house. Her heart thudded against her rib cage. It was only the wind. The shutters were secure, but they were old and always banging against the siding. She would call a handyman tomorrow and have him secure them. She refused to flip out every time she heard a noise.
Daphne chatted about wedding details and plans and then she started giggling.
Her sister was delightful, and Vance Gem was the best guy around—humble, successful, could tease with only Daphne, showing how special her sister was to him.
Addie wanted to concentrate on their happiness, not be stressing about some jerk who wanted to come hurt her and how unsafe she felt in her own home.
“What are you giggling about?” she asked, loving the sound. She looked at her Christmas tree lights and felt happier than she had in days.
“Don’t tell, but Vance told me where we’re going on our honeymoon.”
“Maybe I don’t need to know about that,” she said and felt almost normal.
“The cloud forest. Costa Rica. Ah, Addie, I’m so happy I can hardly stand it. And to think a few months ago Gregory Astle attacked me, but my hero Vance saved me.”
“It’s getting a little thick,” Addie teased, but it was only because it was natural. “Seriously, sis, I’m so happy for you. Vance is the best.” She wished her hero Price could rescue her, but that dream was gone. It would be so awkward if they ever ran into each other.
“He is, right? Even Dad likes him.”
“Now that is an accomplishment for any man.”
They laughed together, but with Juliette and Emery both going through horrific divorces, their dad was more overprotective of his grown daughters than he’d been even when they were teenagers.
Addie sobered. Even with the little she knew about Price, her dad, mom, Vance, her niece, nephew, and all of her sisters would’ve liked him.
“Okay, I’m going to stop ‘glazing’ Vance, as Linc would say. Did I tell you how excited I am to have a hilarious little brother?”
“I bet. Lincoln is a great kid.”
“For sure. Now what’s up with you? Why have you had a rough day?”
Addie paused. She didn’t want to stress her sister out. “Sweet sis, you’ve got a lot on your plate with wedding plans and nonstop kissing of your handsome fiancé. Let’s not talk about me right now.”
“Adeline Belle.” Daphne’s voice got fierce. “You spit out whatever is going on or I’m catching the next flight across the country and pinning you down until you share.”
Addie laughed. Only Daphne. She’d do it too. Daphne was a fitness guru, lean and strong. Addie wouldn’t dare mess with her. She sighed. “Don’t freak out, and don’t tell Dad.”
“O-kay?”
“You didn’t tell Dad, or any of us, about Gregory coming after you,” Addie reminded her.
“I said okay. Sheesh. A little trust and forgiveness. Now spill.”
She knew she could trust Daphne and her sister would listen and not tell their dad.
Daphne hadn’t told any of them when Gregory Astle accosted her.
They’d all forgiven her for hiding it, but her dad still was bothered by the situation.
It was that hard balance between being a grown woman, still turning to your family, and not stressing them out.
“Someone has left two photos with notes on my doorstep.”
“Like a desperate admirer? You have far too many men after you.”
“No. Definitely not an admirer. Maybe a spurned boyfriend. The police don’t know. The photos were of me in my house and me on a … date. The notes were threats … to kill me.”
“Addie!” Daphne shrieked. “What are the police doing? Are you in a safe space? We need to hire private protection.”
“Calm down, sis. I’m safe. The police are all over it. Don’t get your shorts in a twist.”
The police had done a lot, but still she felt like she was cowering in her own home. She hated it.
“You tell me everything. Right now.”
Addie didn’t even consider holding back. She’d shared with Gillian, but she didn’t have the trust and lifelong relationship with Gillian that she had with her sister.
She began with the two meetings with Price at Quincy Market, banana pudding, the first photo and note, the second photo and note, and then she explained about the captain demanding she and the detectives play along with meeting Price this evening and trying to see if he’d reveal anything.
“Okay, first of all, terrifying. I’ll be praying nonstop for you. Second of all, I’m sure the detectives are doing a great job, but this Price works for Aiden Porter? Why don’t we hire him to protect you?”
Addie pushed out a breath. It would clean out her savings to hire a full-time Aiden Porter professional, and she wasn’t a charity case.
“No way, sis. That bridge has burned and fallen into the raging river. I hurt him playing along with the detectives’ idea. I hope I never run into him again.” She wanted to, but she could only imagine the disaster it would be. The hurt and concern in Price’s dark eyes had about killed her.
“Maybe, but sis, do you know how amazing and gorgeous you are? He’ll forgive you.”
Addie grunted. “No he won’t. You weren’t there. It was awful.”
“You know Vance’s brother-in-law Brex works for Aiden too. Let me see what they can do. I’m not saying it has to be Price, but these guys are topnotch. They could come watch over you, figure out who sent these notes, and body slam them into the hard, cold earth.”
All of that sounded reassuring, but it was overkill, and she knew Daphne. She’d request Price be her bodyguard and that would not only be uncomfortable for both of them, but it would be forcing Price into an awkward relationship. No. She wished she and Price had a chance, but it was over.
Besides, there had only been the two notes. She had cameras set up and the police were doing drive-bys. They’d questioned everyone she thought it might be. Maybe it would all blow over.
“I don’t need a bodyguard,” she insisted.
“What is a bodyguard’s favorite type of music?” Daphne asked.
“What?”
“Guard-ian rock.”
She gave a half laugh. The joke wasn’t that funny.
“Sis, please think about it and pray about it. I’ll pay for it.”
“I can pay for my own security. If I wanted it.” Addie had a good job.
True, she wasn’t some top influencer who owned her own gym like Daphne, but she had savings and could pay for security if she needed it.
Maybe. She had no idea what security might cost. If only she could hire Price. No. That was never happening.
“I know you can, but I want to do this for you.”
“No,” Addie said firmly. “I appreciate you, sis, but the police have been great. It will blow over. Plus I’m flying home in ten days. I’ll talk to Brex when I get there and he can help us with a security system or whatever he recommends.” She had bear spray on hand but wished she had a gun.
“I don’t like this,” Daphne said.
“Neither do I, but I’ll be fine.”
There was a long pause. Daphne tried to wait her out, but Addie could be as stubborn as her baby sister.
“I’ll keep praying and check back in tomorrow,” Daphne finally conceded.
“Thank you for your prayers. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
Addie set the phone on the coffee table and stared blankly at the Christmas tree. She appreciated her sister caring so deeply and knew if she called Jules or Emery or her parents, they’d be there for her and pray for her as well.
The shutters rattled in the wind, and Addie shivered and burrowed deeper into her blanket.
She hated being fearful and cowering at home.
Tomorrow she’d do something Christmas-y in the city.
Gillian would do something fun with her if she asked.
It wouldn’t be the same as Price or one of her sisters, but at least she had a loyal friend and could distract herself with a joy-filled Christmas activity.
If only she could go buy banana pudding, but that felt too special with Price. She and Gillian would find another treat. Treats were plentiful at Christmastime.
Addie felt marginally better. She prayed the note-leaver would leave her alone.