Chapter Forty-Two Savannah
| Forty-Two |
Savannah
Bennett had left early that morning and the house already felt empty. Felicia was due to arrive any moment and Savannah put the kettle on, determined to get on her good side. She looked at Finn.
“We’ll go for our walk in a little bit.”
His tail wagged and he sat up expectantly. She shouldn’t have used the W-word.
“Not yet, sweetie.”
After a few moments he lay back down, looking dejected. The door opened and a burst of wind came in.
“It’s bloody freezing!” Felicia said, shutting the door and shivering.
“Cup of tea?” Savannah asked.
“Maybe later, got to get a move on. Lots to do.”
“Please? Bennett’s away, and the house is so empty. I’d really love to get to know you a little better.”
“Well, I suppose a quick cup would be okay.”
“Great!”
Savannah prepared some Earl Grey for each of them and set out some cream and sugar. She’d baked sugar cookies last night and put them on a plate on the kitchen table.
They sat across from each other. Felicia added cream to her tea.
“Please, try a cookie,” Savannah said.
“Don’t mind if I do.” She took one from the plate and bit into it. “Did you bake these?”
“Yes. I’m not much of a cook, but I do like to bake.”
“Delicious.” She took a sip of her tea and nodded approvingly. “Must be hard being newlyweds and he had to leave so soon.”
“It is. I wouldn’t have minded going, but he said he’s got too much writing to do.”
Felicia shook her head. “Works too much, that one. I’m always trying to get him to relax more. Maybe you’ll have more luck.”
“I don’t know about that. But I’m staying busy working on my own book. Went to the coffee shop you suggested. It’s nice. I was planning to go back this afternoon, although Bennett surprised me by finishing my office. He told me he’d prefer me not going out so much.”
“He’s a worrier, that’s all. Doesn’t want something happening to another wife.” She waved a hand. “That was an insensitive thing to say. So tell me about your book. Or are you superstitious like Bennett and can’t discuss it?”
“Not at all. It’s story about a female bounty hunter. Mostly hunts men who’ve hurt women.”
Felicia cocked an eyebrow. “Sounds like my kind of gal.”
“Mine too. I wish I were more like her.”
Felicia took another sip of her tea and leaned back in her chair. “What kind of gal are you?”
Savannah shrugged. “Not as brave. People-pleaser. Kind, I hope.”
“Kindness is greatly underrated.”
“Felicia, I wanted to ask you about some of the mail he gets.”
“Yes?”
“Someone left a note on his car when I was at the dog park last week. The thing is, it was meant for me.”
Felicia’s brows rose.
“I showed it to Bennett, but he dismissed it as some fan blowing off steam. He said you’ve seen all kinds. What do you think? I mean, this person knows his car. Probably knows where he lives.”
“Do you still have the note?”
Savannah nodded. “He threw it out, but I took it from the trash can.” She reached into her purse, where she’d put it for just this reason. “Here.”
Felicia looked at it and frowned. “Most of his mail is fan mail. Once in a while someone writes that he’s demented or crazy to write what he does.” She shook her head. “But you’ve got nothing to worry about. This is probably another lovesick fan. The women go crazy for him, you know.”
“Do you think I should go to the police?”
“No. I think it’s some kook playing tricks.” She pushed her chair in and stood. Then to Savannah’s horror, she began tearing up the note.
“I wanted to keep that in case—”
“It’s junk. Don’t need to keep bad vibes like that. Now I’ve got some cleaning to do.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll take Finn on his walk.” She grabbed her coat, hat, and gloves and called out to Finn. “Let’s go, boy.”
She thought about her conversation with Felicia.
It hadn’t been her place to destroy the note.
No matter what she said, this person could be more than a lovesick fan.
They could be dangerous. But Savannah was prone to overthinking.
Her mother always told her she was too dramatic.
And they had had their share of crackpot letters sent to the literary agency from writers whose work had been rejected.
Threats and promises of revenge, and nothing ever came of it. She would let it go for now.
She and Finn made three fast loops around the park, the cold making her walk faster than she thought possible. There was only one other man and a German shepherd, and they were at the other end of the park.
“Come on, Finny, let’s go home and warm up.
” She turned in the direction of the car and walked toward the fence.
Her stomach plummeted when she saw a figure in a long black coat standing by the driver’s side.
She couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman.
Was it the same person who’d left the note?
As she got closer, her heart began to beat faster.
What if the person was dangerous? She was about ten feet from the car, and she looked over her shoulder to see if the man was close by. He wasn’t too far.
“Excuse me,” she called out. There was no way she was getting any closer until she saw who it was.
The figure turned around and Savannah saw that it was a woman. She felt a momentary relief but then thought a woman could be just as dangerous.
“Can I help you?” Savannah asked.
The woman began walking toward her. She was pretty and looked to be in her thirties.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. You’re Bennett’s new wife, right?”
“Yes,” Savannah answered, wondering how the woman knew. “How did you know that?”
“You’re in danger. Your husband has killed three women that I know of. One of them was my best friend.”
Savannah shrank back, too shocked to speak. Finally, she managed to whisper, “Who are you? What are—”
The woman’s eyes widened as she looked past Savannah. “I have to go. You’ve been warned.” She abruptly turned and jumped into a dark green Jeep and drove off.
Savannah looked behind her to see the man with the German shepherd coming up behind her. Was that why the woman had rushed off? She must be crazy. Bennett a killer? Impossible. But she couldn’t help thinking back to what Molly had said about Bennett at the conference where they met.