There was no response to the doorbell, and no sounds came from inside the tiny house. She was moving around the house, peeking through windows in the back, when she saw Vivian through the partially closed blinds, lying on the floor on her side, her arms and legs bound with rope to a chair and tape over her mouth.
“Jake,” she gasped and grabbed his arm.
He peeked through the same window and grabbed a gun from his leg holster.
“Stay here and call Mike.”
She pulled her phone and hit speed dial. Jake kicked the back door open with his weapon drawn.
Mike answered on the third ring. “Bennett.”
“Mike, thank god you answered. We’re at Vivian Drake’s house on Cherry Street. You need to send an ambulance and get here fast. We found her bound and gagged in her house.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, Jake’s inside checking out the house, but my spidey senses aren’t flaring, so I think we’re alone. Mrs. Anderson called and said the creep is at the café. Jacobs is on his way to check it out while we check out the house.”
“I’m on my way and sending an ambulance. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Please send someone to the café.”
“I’m already on it. Em, get your gun out and keep it out until I show up. If anyone threatens you, or if he comes back, you shoot to kill. Do you hear me?”
“Yeah, just get here.”
She flipped her phone closed, grabbed the gun out of her purse, and went to help her friend. Jake had already gotten a knife from the kitchen and was walking toward her. Vivian’s eyes were wide, and tears were streaking down her face. She hadn’t noticed Emma yet.
“It’s okay, Vivian. It’s me… Emma. This man’s with me, and we’re trying to get you free.” Vivian stilled in her fight and looked at Emma with pleading eyes. Emma took the knife from Jake and cut her loose.
She was trying to ease the tape from her mouth when Jake stood and walked toward the front window, peering out the blinds. Once Vivian was free, she threw her arms around Emma’s neck and slumped in her arms.
“Thank god. How did you find me? Why are you here?” Vivian managed to ask through her uncontrollable sobs.
“They cancelled my appointment, and we couldn’t have that,” Emma said, making a joke in an effort to calm her friend down. It worked. Vivian let out a small laugh, and her lips held an upward tilt.
“Did Roger do this to you?”
“Yeah, we’ve got to get out of here before he gets back. I just came back for some of my stuff while he was gone, but I didn’t get out in time.” Vivian tried to stand on her own, but her legs were as wobbly as noodles. Emma grabbed her around the waist before her butt hit the ground.
“It’s okay, Vivian. Jake’s here, and my brother is on his way, along with an ambulance.”
The sounds of sirens filtered through the open door, getting louder as they got closer to Vivian’s, proving her point.
She put the gun in her purse and noticed Jake snap his phone closed. She hadn’t even realized he was on the phone. Her concentration had been on Vivian.
“Was that Jacobs?” Emma asked. Her heart had fallen to the pit of her stomach when she saw her only friend so scared.
Jake kept his gaze on the street. “Yeah.”
“Well, was he still there?” Emma helped Vivian to the couch and walked to his side, placing her head against his arm.
The muscles in his jaw twitched. His lips pulled in a tight line. “No, he had already left.” Without looking at her, he said, “Vivian, what kind of car does he drive?”
“A 1970 Dodge Charger. It’s a muscle car.” She staggered up from her seated position and started inching toward the back door. “Why? Is he here?”
Jake turned to Vivian, his face blank. Emma knew he was trying not to scare her friend. “No, he was seen at Emma’s café but was gone by the time my man got there.”
“Oh god, he’s coming back. He’s going to come after me again.” Vivian was stepping backward.
Vivian was wigging out. Emma blocked her path before she made it to the back door. She put her hands on her friend’s face. “Look at me.”
Vivian was shaking her head. Emma thought she was possibly going into shock. “No, we have to go; he’s going to come back.”
“Look at me,” Emma said with a firm commanding tone in her voice. She needed Vivian to understand what she was telling her. “Mike will be here any minute. He will keep you safe until we find him. I promise.”
What Emma said must have registered because Vivian stopped her retreat and stood straighter, wiping away the new tears that had fallen.
“Okay, Emma, I trust you. Thank god you warned me when you did. I trust you and your gut feelings with my life.”
Jake walked to the front door and unlocked it as Mike, some additional cops, and EMS personnel entered and secured the area.
EMS started their assessment by checking her arms and legs and asking her questions as Mike and Jake stood off to the side, watching her as they quietly conversed.
Abby stomped in with Butch on her heels. She turned and put her hand on his chest. “You can’t come in here. You’ll contaminate my crime scene.” Her sister was just as much
the job
as her brother. Although she dealt with processing evidence, she had never been attacked like they had a few weeks ago. Emma didn’t blame Abby for freezing up, and she would bet Abby wouldn’t let it happen again.
Emma was proud of her baby sister; she had accomplished a lot under her circumstances. She’d studied extra hard and gotten through college. She’d graduated top of her class, majoring in forensic investigation all while raising a child, without asking for much help. John had turned out to be a great kid, and Abby was an excellent mom.
“Abby, I’ve already told you. Where you go, I go. You aren’t getting rid of me.” Butch pushed passed her, and when she turned, she noticed Jake and Emma in the room.
She yelled, “Don’t touch anything!” And stomped over to Emma.
“Emma Grace Bennett, why do you have this big bully following me around?”
“I thought Mike already explained it to you.” Emma’s lips tilted up in a grin. Butch sure did have his hands full.
“No, Mike told me it was because of the asshole after you and said I should call you. I’ve been calling your house all day, and no one has answered.” Abby put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. She was acting like Momma Mae.
Emma turned to glare at her older brother.
“What? I gave her all the information she needs.”
Emma rolled her eyes and turned back to Abby. “I’m sorry, Abby; I’ve been with Jake. Please just humor me and keep Butch with you until we find out who is trying to kill me.”
“Fine,” she said as she spun around. “But you better hurry up and figure it out before I end up hurting him.”
Butch walked over and put his arm around Emma while he spoke loudly to Abby. “Why can’t you be more like your big sister? She’s a lot easier to get along with.”
Jake doubled over laughing. “Emma put you in your place this morning, and she showed me her right hook. I think you got off easy.”
“I’ll switch with you. You take princess over there, and I’ll take care of Emma.” Butch pulled her closer to his body.
Emma’s heart raced, unsure if Jake would take him up on the offer. Did she want him to take the switch? If he did, she might be able to control her reactions to him and keep her secrets hidden. No, she wanted Jake, not Butch. It was Jake’s arms she felt safe in. It was Jake’s smile that made her quiver, and it was Jake’s touch that set her on fire.
Emma drew her brows together as she looked down. Her hand flew to cover her now gaping mouth. “I’m going to be sick,” she whispered.
Oh god…I’ve fallen for him. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Butch pulled her closer to his side. “I’m not that bad, Emma. I’ll be good to you.” Emma knew that was true, but he wasn’t where her heart was, and Jake hadn’t said anything. Did he expect her to rebuff Butch?
Jake sauntered over to stand in front of her. Cupping her chin, he lifted her face to his. With half hesitation and half bewilderment, she gazed into his eyes. The look she found in the depths of his blue gaze confirmed her suspicions He liked her too.
“This one’s taken; back off, Butch.” He pulled his eyes from her and looked up at his friend.
Mike broke the uncomfortable silence. “They’re taking Vivian to the hospital to check her out, and I’m following them there. I need to ask her some questions.”
“Mike, promise me, you’ll keep her safe. Put her in a safe house until we find this asshole. I’ve got a bad feeling about this guy.”
“Do you think it’s the same guy who’s trying to kill you?”
EMS was escorting Vivian out of the house and to the ambulance.
“It sounds like him. I was worried about her, went with my gut feeling, and told her about
everything
.” Her brother’s shocked expression was clear. From across the room, even Abby stopped in the middle of collecting evidence when she heard her reply.
“You did?” he asked, probably not believing he’d heard Emma right.
“I had no choice, trust me,” she said with a wink.
Mike dropped the subject and turned to leave. He patted Jake on the shoulder. “We have an APB out on his car. Keep her safe and I’ll call you later if I find out any more information.”
“I’m on it.” Jake took hold of her hand, pulling her toward the door. “We’re leaving,” he said to Butch in passing.
“I’m calling you later on your cell, and you better pick up. It seems we have lots to talk about,” Abby said as she walked them toward the door. She drew Emma in for a hug before Jake pulled her out the door.
Jake and Emma got in the SUV and sat in silence until he put the car in drive. Emma knew things had now changed. Somehow, he had torn through the wall she’d erected around her heart. This is the man she wanted, the one she trusted, but could she trust him with her secrets? It was all giving her a headache.
“Where we headed now?” she asked.
“Back to my place. I need to see what I can come up with on Roger.”
“Mrs. Anderson’s description sure fits him.”
“I’m not sure, but it’s the first thing I’ll ask the asshole when I find him.” Jake grabbed her hand and squeezed.
Emma was quiet the entire trip back. She glanced his way a few times and noticed him watching the rearview mirror and the vehicles around him. She rubbed her shoulder to relieve the knots she felt forming, but it didn’t seem to help.
“You can relax in a bath while I’m researching our friend.”
“That sounds great.” Emma’s mind had been working overtime. “Thanks again for helping me,” she said shyly.
They arrived at his house. Jake carried her suitcase in, and all was quiet. Emma followed Jake to the kitchen, dropped her purse on the table, and plopped down in a chair as Jake went to the fridge and pulled her out a water bottle. She was a bundle of nerves. Someone was trying to kill her, and she didn’t know what to do about Jake. She pushed the latter of her two problems to the back of her mind to analyze later. Maybe when she was out of danger, she would get a grip on her feelings.
“Prop your feet up and I’ll go start your bath,” Jake said as he ran his hand across her shoulder when leaving the kitchen. The light intimate touch was reassuring. Emma’s emotions hung on a thread, the last thread bound to break soon. His sweet gestures and the care he showed her were breaking her resolve. She had enough in her head with the battle to figure him out to give her a migraine. She trusted him with her life. Could she trust him her secret and leave herself open for possibly one of the greatest hurts of her life?
Momma Mae appeared in the seat next to her. “You have to learn to trust again, baby girl. Not all men are going to hurt you like it did when your daddy died.”
“Can I really trust him, Momma?”
“Any new venture is hard, baby girl. Learn to trust your instincts and they will show you the way. They are like the glow from a lighthouse, telling you which way is home.”
“I’m scared.”
“Emma, I won’t lie to you. It’s going to be hard but have faith that man will understand and love you all the more for your gifts. It goes against my rules, but when the time’s right, I’ll help you make him believe. I’ll prove to him what you say is true.”
“What are you scared of?” Emma spun in the direction of the deep voice. Jake was standing at the door. Oh god, how long had he been there, and how much of her talking to herself had he heard? She turned toward the now empty chair. Momma Mae had vanished as quickly as she appeared.
“I’m scared for my sisters.” The lie flew off her tongue and out of her mouth before she could stop it. It was second nature to keep her secrets, but she didn’t want to lie to Jake, not to him.
“They’ll be fine, Emma. I’m going to have the guys bring them over tonight, so you can spend some time with them.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and started to massage the tight muscles there. “I thought that might do you all some good.”
“Thank you,” Emma said for what seemed like the thousandth time. She felt vulnerable from her admittance to Momma Mae, and she didn’t like it one bit.
Emma stood up and looked longingly into Jake’s eyes. Would he honestly believe her and not think she was some freak? She put her arms around his waist and leaned into his chest. His strong arms came around her, and he pulled her close. Jake stroked her back in slow circles, she guessed trying to reassure her.
“It’s all going to be okay, angel,” he whispered in her ear.
She felt safe in the steel arms holding her. His strength and emotional support would get her through this. The light went on in her head, making her decision crystal clear. In that moment, she knew she would tell him the truth about everything. Emma wanted this man in her life. No, she
needed
him in her life, as much as she needed her next breath.
Jake leaned down and placed a kiss on top of her head. She would lay her soul bare to him and pick up the pieces where they might fall. This man was worth the effort, and she would put her heart and soul into making this work, whatever it was they had.