A loud noise came from the other end of the hallway and she spun instantly in that direction. She remained still, praying the sounds were the house settling. The silence was unnerving. She trembled from head to toe. Where was Chase?
Her breathing quickened. She listened one last time, not truly satisfied her imagination was the only thing at work. She exhaled slowly before pushing the door open. The creaking noise was unnerving, but she did her best to ignore it. She stepped forward and was immediately grabbed from behind. She had no time to think, no time to fight back. She moved her head from side to side, struggling to get away from the cloth over her face. Everything went dark.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Jena squeezed her eyes tightly at the sensation of something cool and damp on her face. She struggled to open them and then remembered. NO! He couldn’t be here. Panic consumed her.
“Jena? Wake up. Jena, it’s Chase.”
“Chase?” She forced her eyes open. Her head hurt.
“Not too fast,” he warned. “Here, drink this.”
He handed her a cold glass of water and she sipped slowly. “What happened?” She remembered something over her face. She sat up slowly looking at him for the first time. Her hands covered her mouth in shock. “Who did that to you?” Tears streamed down her face as she saw the bruises.
“I don’t know. I’m sure it looks worse than it is.” He attempted to smile.
“Stop it! Todd did this!” She frantically looked around the room, her eyes finally resting on Chase. His look of concern did nothing for her nerves.
“No, Jen, it wasn’t Todd. I could take him.”
“Did you see who did this?”
“Whoever it was hit me from behind and knocked me out, then used my face as a punching bag.”
“How did they get in? I thought you had such a wonderful alarm system?” Jena attempted to stand, but swayed with dizziness.
“Stay put,” he ordered. “I heard something outside when I went down to the kitchen. I opened the front door and that’s when I was knocked out. I woke up just inside the front door.”
“He did this.” Jena swallowed the lump in her throat. “This was our warning. He knew I was here. I have to go. The next time they’ll kill you.”
“You’re not driving anywhere in your condition. You either sleep here or I’ll take you to the hospital. I should probably do that anyway,” he said half to himself. “We’ll call Detective Burrows in the morning.”
“I can’t stay. They’ll be back.” Jena couldn’t think. Terror filled her mind. “I have to get out of here.”
Chase grabbed her by the shoulders and spoke to her intently. “No one’s getting back in here, I promise. I was stupid opening the door. I let my guard down. It won’t happen again. Go to sleep. I’ll be right here. Don’t let him win, Jen.”
“It’s not a game. This is real.”
He winked. “Have a little faith in me. I promise he won’t get that close again. Trust, right?”
She nodded. “Yes,” she whispered, “I trust you.”
“Good. I got this.”
****
Jena was still sleeping when Chase woke at dawn. He gingerly climbed off the bed and went straight for the window. Well, at least the pretty boy hadn’t camped outside his house all night.
He quickly showered and glanced into the mirror. Whoever had got the jump on him did a number on his face. It looked worse than it felt, but he knew Jena wasn’t going to react well. The bruise on his back where he fell against his gun reminded him how lucky he was they hadn’t found that. He slipped out of the room without a sound. He was in desperate need of a cup of coffee.
He loaded the coffee maker and went to his desk. “Where did I put that damn card?” he grumbled as he sifted through the mail he hadn’t gone through this week. “Okay, Detective, hope you’re up,” he sighed.
“John Burrows,” a grumpy voice answered.
“Detective Burrows, this is Chase Reiss. I’m sorry to bother you so early, but this is important.”
The detective cleared his throat. “No problem, kid. What’s up?”
“I’d like to talk to you in person.”
“Sounds serious.”
“Our stalker is out of the woodwork. Would you mind dressing…not like a detective? And come in a normal car. He’s watching my house, too.”
“Sure thing. I’ve got your address. I’ll be there shortly.”
Chase hung up and turned to see Jena standing in the doorway. Her hair was messed and the sleepy look still intact. “You feel better?”
She cast her eyes to the floor and slowly shook her head. “No, not really.”
“I was talking to Detective Burrows. He’ll be here shortly. You want some coffee?”
Jena focused on him for the first time. “Oh my God! Your face!” She rushed over gently touching his bruised eye.
“Ouch!” he protested. “Easy, it’s a little tender.”
“Chase, I’m so sorry.” Her voice cracked.
“What do you have to be sorry for? Did you do this to me?”
“I might as well have. It happened because of me.”
“Don’t go there. The only person at fault is Todd Richards and he’s going to pay, I promise. Anyway, since when do you allow someone control over your life?”
“Since that happened to your face.”
“I can handle him.”
“If it were you and Todd in a fist fight, yeah, my money’s on you…but whoever did this to you meant business.”
“I know that,” he whispered squeezing her hand. “Go get your shower. Detective Burrows will be here soon.”
****
Jena had buttoned the last button on her shirt when she heard pounding on the front door. Detective Burrows didn’t waste any time getting here, and he sure sounded impatient. She opened the bedroom door and headed for the stairs, but stopped suddenly at the sound of voices.
“What the hell do you want?” she heard Chase say.
“Looks like someone rearranged your face. Anyway, I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by and make sure we understand each other. May I come in?”
Jena stifled the gasp that crossed her lips when she realized Chase was talking to Todd.
“I don’t invite scum into my home. I’ll ask one more time. What the hell do you want?”
Please God, let him leave. He can’t know I’m still here.
“Okay, rock boy, I see manners aren’t your thing. I’ll put this in a way you can understand. Jena is mine. I’m sure she told you we’re getting married. My fiancée told me she gave you your walking papers. I’m here to make sure you understand you’re to stay away from what is mine.”
Jena was sure it was taking Chase every ounce of willpower he had not to punch him. He had to keep control.
Please, keep control.
“I know she was here last night,” Todd accused, his voice rising.
“Yeah, so?”
“She was supposed to break up with you. We’re getting married.”
“There was no need to have your thug deliver your message. She broke it off right before they did your dirty work. Just a head’s up… She’s not real happy with you for knocking her out. She’s gone and you’re welcome to her,” Chase said evenly.
“Stay away from her,” Todd hissed.
“And if I don’t?” Chase pressed. “Are you going to have another one of your friends beat me up?”
Jena stole a glance in time to see Todd move within inches of Chase’s face. His finger shook as he pointed it toward Chase. “Next time, I will have the pleasure of seeing you suffer. Jena will have to visit you at a cemetery.”
“Don’t count on it being me she visits.”
“Everything okay, Chase?” Jena heard the familiar voice of Detective Burrows.
“Hey, Fred,” Chase answered.
Fred? Who was Fred?
Jena was sure she heard the detective.
“No, this traveling salesman was just leaving. I’m not interested in what he has.” She knew he was daring Todd to come at him. Jena ran back to Chase’s bedroom and peeked out the window. Relief washed over her as she saw Todd head up the street. She knew he didn’t have the guts to go toe to toe with Chase, but she worried what he would do next.
Jena descended the steps, expecting to find the detective in his normal attire. All rational thought left her mind as she found him standing there in a flowered shirt, tan shorts, and high tops. The only thing missing was the camera hanging around his neck. What was going on?
“I’m assuming I’m Fred? What was that all about? And what happened to your face?”
“Yeah, well, thanks for going along with that. He was the guy I was telling you about, and I didn’t think it was a good idea for him to know your occupation.” Chase motioned Burrows toward the kitchen.
Jena couldn’t stop staring at the flowered shirt. The warmth of Chase’s hand joining hers jolted her back to reality in time to hear him say, “I’ll get you a cup of coffee and tell you the whole sordid story.”
The detective followed behind them. Chase asked her quietly, “You heard all of that?”
She nodded.
“I had the pleasure of hearing some of it, too. Come on, little lady, let’s have a cup and see what we’re going to do about this guy.”
Jena and the detective sat at the table while Chase got the mugs from the cupboard. She broke the silence. “Did you really need to push him like that?”
“It kept me from punching him in the face.”
“You’ve only made things worse.” Her shoulders slumped in defeat. Todd Richards was planning his revenge. She was sure of it.
Chase seated himself across the table from Detective Burrows and gave the highlights—Todd’s visit with Jena, the threats, the note Chase found on his truck, and their late night visitor.
“You have no idea who jumped you?” the detective questioned.
“It was dark and they hit me from behind.”
“And you didn’t see who left the note?”
Chase shook his head. “Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when I found it.”
Jena spoke for the first time. “He’s crazy and he’s dangerous. He threatened Chase’s life if I don’t go along with this. And Andrea’s,” she added worriedly.
“He threatened Andy?” Chase turned to Jena with an angry expression.
“Only if I don’t stay away from you,” she replied quickly.
Chase opened his mouth to respond and was thankfully interrupted by the detective. “All right then, Miss Shea, meet your Uncle Fred.”
Jena looked at the detective with puzzled eyes. “Excuse me?”
“Well, you can’t stay here in hiding. He thinks the two of you are done and that’s what you wanted him to think, right?” Detective Burrows didn’t wait for an answer. “You can’t see Chase until we get this guy. I’m your new bodyguard.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Chase shook his head.
“No, not a good idea,” Jena agreed.
“I understand, Chase, it’s not easy to give up control of her safety. I promise you I’ll keep her safe. If we’re going to nab him I need to be close to the situation. You…” he said with authority, “can’t be anywhere near the situation. You could put yourself or Jena at risk. Maybe even your niece.”
Jena sighed. “He’s right. We have to think of Andrea.”
“I don’t like this,” he said angrily.
“It’s the only way. I want a life with you. We have to put Todd away.”
“Jen…”
“Please.”
He turned to the detective. “What’s your plan?”
“This guy doesn’t know your family, does he?” he asked Jena.
“No. We never spoke of anything too personal, why?”
“Well, I’ll be your Uncle Fred visiting from, let’s say,” he rubbed his chin, “Arizona.”
“Why Arizona?” Jena asked curiously.
“Because I’ve been there and old people like to retire there. This is the reason I haven’t been to Ohio to visit. I’m old-fashioned, you understand. I don’t believe a lady and her beau should be un-chaperoned. I, after all, keep an eye on you since your parents passed.”
A look of uncertainty passed between Chase and Jena before the detective continued. “When your housekeeper can’t be there I’ll be glued to your hip.”
“How will I get information from him if you’re always there?”
“Jena…you’re not going to be alone with him,” Chase warned.
“I’ll see to that,” the detective assured him. “Get your things together. We’re heading home.”
“I should get in my truck and hunt this guy down and be done with it—the old-fashioned way.”
Jena’s lips parted to protest, but her response was cut off by the buzzing of her phone. She lifted it slowly. There really was no need to look at the screen to identify the caller.
“Is it him?”
Jena sighed and nodded. Why wouldn’t this nightmare end?
“Give the phone to me,” the detective ordered. “We might as well get this show on the road. Hello,” he grumbled into the phone.
All Jena could hear was the detective’s side of the conversation and he was playing his part like an Academy Award winner.
“Well, let me tell you, young’un, I’m none too happy about this change of events. One minute she’s all gooey over a rock singer and the next week she’s engaged to a weasel. I don’t care if you take offense to that, boy, this is my niece we’re talking about. She’s not marrying without my say so.” He paused with a grin. They could hear Todd yelling on the other end. “Listen, boy, you aren’t scoring any points with me. I don’t care if you never heard of me, ’cause I’ve never heard of you either. I don’t believe you need to talk to my niece right now.” The detective hung up and handed the phone to Jena. “Don’t answer that without my say so, hear?”
“Okay,” was all she could manage. No coherent thought formed in her mind. She glanced at Chase, waiting for his response. She was sure one was coming by the look on his face.
“Are you sure this is the way to go about it? Maybe you could wire me and I could get him to admit everything.”
“It’s like this, Chase. This guy’s a real piece of work and I should be able to lock him up for that very reason. Problem is, I can’t. We have no crime we can tie him to. A couple of threats and no eye witnesses won’t stand up in court.”
“You won’t use Jena as bait.”
“I’ll be fine,” she reasoned.
“She won’t be anywhere near any trap,” the detective promised.
Jena reached across and covered his hand with hers. “We can do this.”
Chase reluctantly nodded, taking her hand in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Now…where’s that note?” the detective asked.