Chapter 33 Stella #2
“Rodney did. He said he recognized you from the Brooklyn Bats’ page.
Some party or whatever.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets.
“He actually lives in New York. I told him you’d give me enough money to get me back in the game.
I recognized the guy in the pictures, your friend or boyfriend now, whatever.
” He shrugged. “I got his last name and looked up his address, drove out here, and waited for you.”
My mind raced as I tried to take in all that was happening. That creepy guy lived in New York, had seen me with Lee, now Zach was here trying to get more money from me, and they all knew where we lived. I hadn’t heard from the detective, so I’d assumed Zach hadn’t made bail.
“You came for nothing because I’m not giving you anything.”
“Come on!” he yelled, slamming the wall. “I know about that big savings account. I just need fifty thousand.”
“Are you out of your mind?” I screeched, trying to think. I tasted bile in the back of my throat at the thought of bringing Lee and Bennie into this.
I pulled out my phone to dial 9-1-1, and he slapped it out of my hand, onto the floor. When I dropped my gaze, I noticed the dirty knife in his hand.
His eyes bulged out as the house alarm went off. I hadn’t shut it off like I usually did when I walked in, and I had been too far into shock to hear the faint beeping. Lights flashed in and outside the house as it blared.
“Shut it off,” he grunted, grabbing a fistful of my hair. I pressed the numbers slowly, trying to give it time to get the attention of someone passing by. Diane dropping off muffins would be perfect right now, although I’d be afraid he’d hurt her too.
“Don’t make me do this. Just wire me the money, and your friend and his kid won’t get hurt.”
“How did you make bail?” I kept my eyes on his while searching for something I could grab to hit him with.
“The guys from the game did me a favor since you ran,” he sneered. He looked like hell, dark circles under his eyes, greasy hair, wrinkled and disheveled clothes. The Zach I’d thought I’d known was about designer everything, never a hair out of place.
This one looked like he hadn’t slept or bathed in days and had driven here straight from Ohio with no stops.
“After you stole from me and almost broke my nose. What the hell happened to you?”
This was the price I had to pay for being half invested in my life. I had to have missed huge red flags because I hadn’t cared enough to pay attention.
“Look, I don’t care if you were fucking this guy the whole time. Just give me what I need.”
I’d thought that punch was his rock-bottom desperation, but I’d been wrong about that too.
“Stella, are you okay in there?”
My heart leaped at the sound of Jimmy’s voice, followed by a knock.
“Say one word,” Zach whispered, pressing the knife to my throat.
“Then you won’t get anything,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t see through my bluff.
“I’ve got nothing to lose,” he said, his nostrils flaring.
“I’m good, Jimmy,” I called through the door. “I need to come see you at the shop, but I can’t get out now.”
It was a feeble attempt at warning him in a code I prayed he’d pick up on.
“Okay, I’ll make sure I’m ready. See you later.”
I clenched my eyes shut, sending up a prayer he understood and was sending the cops here.
“How much do you owe?” I asked Zach, who was still leaning into me. He’d lowered the knife but continued to clutch it in his hand. Maybe if I could keep him talking, I could give Jimmy some time to get help, if he’d understood what I’d been asking.
It was worth a try.
“Enough,” he said, huffing out a laugh.
“How many thousands?”
“About two hundred,” he said, running his hand through his filthy hair.
“Two hundred thousand? How long were you doing this?”
“I was making crazy money before I hit some bad luck. Fifty gets me back in the game, and then I can pay it all back.”
The detective had been right. Gamblers were dangerous and desperate, but I’d never taken Zach to be this dumb.
“Stealing from your job and probably everyone else you know didn’t make it up? How could you be this stupid?”
He grabbed me by the throat, squeezing hard enough to cut off my air supply.
“You don’t know anything. Fuck…”
I kneed him in the balls and reached for the empty vase on the coffee table, almost grasping the rim when he pulled me back by the waist and wrestled me to the ground.
He dropped the knife and wrapped his hands around my throat.
I sputtered out a cough, trying to gulp air while I attempted to push him off me.
It can’t end like this. Lee can’t find me like this.
I rolled back and forth, trying to get my hands between us and push against his chest, when Zach fell back.
I sat up, wheezing, as I heard Lee’s voice and a loud crash.
Zach groaned, holding his face as blood gushed over his hands. Lee stood over Zach, pushing against Jimmy as he tried to move Lee away.
“Go,” Jimmy said, motioning to where I was stuck on the floor. “I got him.”
“Lee, h-how?” My throat was still closed while I tried to stammer out words.
“It’s okay. I’m here,” Lee said, dropping to his knees, his eyes roaming my face while he clutched the back of my head.
“Breathe, baby. You’re okay.” His hands shook against my jaw as he lifted my chin.
“I was almost home when the alarm company called my cell. Jimmy ran to the car as soon as I parked. We came in through the basement.”
He lifted me into his lap, resting his forehead against mine.
“We’ll get you checked out, but you’re okay.” He took in shaky breaths, murmuring, “Thank God,” over and over into my hair as he rocked me back and forth.
“He’s got a knife,” I whispered, trying to take in enough air to make words. “Or he had one.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Jimmy said, his foot on Zach’s hand as he kicked the knife away with the other. Sirens wailed in the distance as cars screeched to a stop in front of the house.
“Thank you,” I told Jimmy, my voice evening out as my windpipe relaxed.
“You’re very welcome. I said we wouldn’t let him hurt you, right?”
I managed a weak smile as Jimmy dragged a limp Zach toward the door, the desperation that had his hands squeezing around my neck only minutes ago now dissipated into despair.
“I’m sorry,” I said to Lee. “He snuck up behind me—”
“Do not apologize,” he said, taking my face in his hands. “It’s over, and he’s never going to hurt you again.”
I reached up to grab Lee’s hands and touched something wet.
“You’re bleeding,” I said, flipping his hand over. His knuckles were swollen and raw, but I wasn’t sure if that was Zach’s blood or his.
“I’m fine. I’m just sorry I didn’t come home sooner.”
“I’m sorry I left. I’m sorry I brought this to your house. And Bennie, oh my God, what if she’d been home?” I dropped my face into my hands, my neck still sore as I swallowed a sob.
“You didn’t bring us anything. We want you here because we love you.” He tightened his hold as the police cuffed Zach and dragged him off the floor. “We’ll sort the rest out later.”
We needed to sort it out right now.
I’d already wasted too much time.