Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Addie kept her chin up and her eyes wide open the next week. She had to consistently tell Daphne no every time she called and insisted Addie needed a personal guard. No more notes had come, and she was certain the threat would fade away.
Every time she went into the city for work, she scheduled something fun to do with Gillian to distract herself and try to feel the Christmas spirit.
They drove to the Enchanted Village in Avon, ice skated on Boston Commons’ frog pond, volunteered at the food pantry, and of course shopped and ate at several of the holiday markets, avoiding Quincy Market and any talk about Price.
Gillian was happy to spend so much time together. Addie was grateful for her loyal friend. She turned down any date offers and thought about Price far too often. She also had the unnerving feeling that someone was watching her, but she could never pinpoint a source.
No new notes was a relief. She prayed the scare was over.
Maybe someone had just been messing with her, had their fun, and had moved on to terrify some other poor woman.
The cameras were functioning and the police occasionally had a patrol car come by.
So far no one but Addie, Gillian, and the delivery guy had tripped the motion sensors.
She kept hoping Price would come by, but that was ridiculous.
He’d said he didn’t know where she lived.
He was probably off on a new assignment.
She’d ruined any chance of them dating by accusing him of leaving the notes to get her to date him.
Shame burned through her every time she thought about those awful moments outside Quincy Market and his kindness as he told her goodbye and to take care.
She’d lost her chance with Price and could only blame herself, and maybe the police captain who had the idea.
She couldn’t have eaten banana pudding to save her life.
In three days, she’d go home for Christmas break and put all of this angst behind her.
She could be truly relaxed and happy with her family.
As long as the threat didn’t follow her and endanger those she loved.
Daphne had told Brex what was happening, and he assured her he could discreetly monitor their parents’ home and make sure they were all safe when Addie got there.
Saturday she and Gillian had gone to the Newport Rhode Island mansions to see the unreal estates all decorated for Christmas. It was like being in another world, the gilded age and decadence she’d never lived around. They had lunch in a quaint café in downtown Newport. It had been a great day.
Now Addie was settled in with a cup of cocoa and lots of warm blankets as another storm was approaching.
She was safe in her home, but sadly she didn’t feel that way.
She kept waiting for another note to come or the writer of the notes to do something awful to her.
Jamison was still her primary suspect, but nothing could be found to point to him.
There was a loud rap on the storm door.
Addie froze, clinging to her cocoa cup. Her eyes darted to the door and her breath halted in her chest.
Please not another note.
The rap came again and a call of, “Addie? Addie? I can see your lights on. Open the door. It’s Travis.”
Travis Cruzie? From work? He was a data analyst at the firm, a nice guy and more than a bit awkward socially. He’d asked her out multiple times, and she always had a ready excuse.
Setting the mug on a side table, Addie pushed off the plush blanket and hurried to the door. She opened the thick wooden front door and looked out the clear plexiglass of the storm door. Sure enough, it was Travis.
Unlocking the storm door, she pushed it open. “Travis? What are you doing here?”
“Hi, Addie.” He grinned and held up two bags.
A large bag with Boston Chowda Co. printed on the side and a smaller bag with Magnolia Bakery.
“I heard you’d be home tonight and thought you might be lonely for company.
I brought you takeout from two of your favorite places. ” His smile was shy and hopeful.
Addie felt pressure to invite him in and share the takeout.
It was a very kind gesture from a friend, and he’d driven all the way out here.
How had he heard she’d be home tonight? Something uncomfortable tingled in her gut.
She’d been pressured before by seemingly-kind men.
Isaac had been charming and sweet until she turned him down for a date and he wouldn’t leave her alone.
She’d had to get a restraining order and he eventually showed up and chucked a vase of flowers at her head.
With a weirdo delivering notes and disturbing photos to her house twice and the bad experiences with Jamison, Isaac, and others, she wasn’t inclined to invite anyone in. Except maybe Price, and he wasn’t showing up.
As she studied Travis, he held up the food and smiled. Something about his smile felt really off, and a terrifying thought raced through her.
Travis had asked her out at least a dozen times and she’d said no.
What if he had sent the photos and notes?
Should she give his name to the police? How did he even know her address?
First she had to get him to leave while acting normal and not revealing she suspected him of anything except being an overanxious bearer of dinner and dessert.
“It is so kind of you to bring dinner, but I am absolutely exhausted. Gillian and I spent the day in Newport. The mansions were incredible for Christmas.” She pasted on a fake and upbeat smile.
“You have to be hungry then. I drove all this way. Can I come in and share this food with you?”
Travis had always seemed like such a nice but awkward guy. Now she was second guessing if he might be the one who threatened her. Either way, she was not inviting him into her house. If he didn’t leave soon she’d slam the door shut and call the detectives assigned to her case.
“No,” She kept her voice firm. “I’m far too tired, and I’ve had some … issues with men coming into my house before. I don’t invite men in.”
His eyes widened and he looked injured. He stepped in closer and pushed the food bags and his arm through the opening in the storm door, widening it. “I bought all of this food and my … somebody said you’d let me in and like me if I brought your favorite foods.”
“Who said?” Her fingers were chilled and would lose pigment soon. She clutched them together. She wanted to get him to leave, lock the doors, and burrow under her blankets.
He looked away and mumbled, “I don’t know. I get notes.”
Notes? Her stomach tumbled. Maybe Travis wasn’t a threat, but the note sender was trying to mess with her even more.
“How do you even know my favorite foods? How do you know where I live?” Was whoever sent the notes someone who knew her well?
That would fit with the old boyfriend theory.
She wanted to draw Travis out and get some answers, but now was not the time.
She’d send his name to the detectives. It hadn’t been on her original list.
Addie was isolated out here. She looked around but couldn’t see any of the neighbors’ lights on tonight. Was the note sender watching even now? Would she get a picture of her and Travis in a few days? Her gut churned with apprehension and ice rubbed at her spine.
“Well, I … the notes told me, and in the summer I used to follow you and Gillian at lunch.”
Gut churning immediately morphed into bile climbing her throat. Her palms began to sweat despite the chill. The note-sender was involving Travis, and this seemingly-nice guy had been following her and Gillian.
“That is disturbing and unacceptable, Travis. Please leave.” She would have the detectives talk to him. She’d call Detective Thayne after she was safely deadbolted in her house.
“But I brought you all this food. You have to let me stay. The notes said this would work. I think you’re the most beautiful woman on earth, Addie. You have to let me in. You have to.”
Travis jutted out his chin and suddenly didn’t look so uncertain. He shoved the bags through the storm door even as she tried to close it. She sprang back and grabbed the wooden door, but he was already around the storm door and pushing his shoulder against the front door.
“Travis, stop,” she commanded.
“No!” he yelled.
A blur darted out of the shadow of the porch and Travis was wrenched back from the door and landed flat on his back, the food bags splatting on the porch before Addie could let out a cry of surprise.
“The lady asked you to leave,” a deep, confident voice proclaimed as the dark shadow hovered over Travis, both hands shoving Travis into the wooden deck.
“Help,” Travis squeaked.
Addie put a hand to her racing heart and ventured, “Price?”
Price glanced up at her, his mouth in a tight line, his dark eyes serious. He was wearing black sweats and a hoodie. He looked dark and dangerous and inspiring all at the same time. “Have the police found the perpetrator?”
She shook her head. She was both stunned and grateful he was here.
“Please call them.”
“Okay.” She pulled out her phone and pushed on Detective Thayne’s number.
Neither Price nor Travis moved while she made the call to Detective Thayne. She could hear Travis muttering something, but Price was stoic.
She ended the call and slid the phone into the pocket of her joggers.
“The police are on their way. They’ll take him in for questioning and Detective Thayne will come take our statements.”
“Great. Do you have some rope?” Price asked.
“Sure.”
She rushed into the semi-warmth of her house, searching with aching fingers through the junk drawer and finding a length of thin rope.
Hurrying back out onto the porch, the cold seeped through her socks as she gave it to him.
Price’s warm hand brushed hers and set off a chain reaction of warmth, safety, and gratitude.
She had no idea how he’d come for her, but she was grateful he was there.