Nowhere to Turn (5 page)

She shook her head. “Go away, Stuart.”

“Only for a little while.”

Stuart left and Dani shuddered. He was driving her crazy. And starting to scare her. She jogged to catch up with Jenny. “How’d Chester get out?”

“I took the trash out and he barreled around me.” She sniffed. “I’m just worried because we’ve only lived here about a year. He’s only gotten out one other time.”

Jenny had moved in six months before Kurt’s death. Dani had been getting the mail when Jenny walked over to talk. Dani shuddered at the memory. Kurt had stood at the window and glowered until she’d come back in.

Jenny had apparently put two and two together very quickly, because the next day, as soon as Kurt left for work, she had come over and handed Dani a pamphlet on Winchester House. A shelter for abused women and their children.

Neither had mentioned it since and a fragile friendship had formed, then deepened over the past six months since Kurt’s death.

“What did Stuart want?”

“Nothing.”

“Looked like something to me.”

“He’s like Kurt, I’m afraid.”

“How’s that?”

“Mentally off.”

Jenny frowned. “That’s a pretty harsh judgment.”

“I know. Believe me, I know.” She took another deep breath. “But I don’t want to talk about Stuart. Let’s find poor Chester. Would he wander off toward the street?”

Jenny shook her head. “I don’t think so. He’s around here somewhere. Chester!” Jenny went left, so Dani went right with a glance over her shoulder. Stuart was in his car, the window rolled down.

“Chester!” For the next fifteen minutes, Dani searched for the little dog with no success. When she made her way back to her street, she noticed Stuart’s car had disappeared. “And stay gone, please,” she muttered.

Dani spotted Jenny’s neighbor, Mr. Barnhill, getting ready to burn a pile of leaves. “Have you seen Chester?” she asked him. “Her little white-and-gray schnauzer?”

“No, sorry. I’ve been out here working in the yard and haven’t seen the little guy.”

“Thanks.”

She moved on and found a woman sitting in her car, texting. Dani tapped on the window. The woman jerked and placed a hand against her chest, but rolled the window down. “Help you?”

“Have you seen a little white-and-gray schnauzer? He got away from his owner.”

“No. Sorry.” She lifted her phone. “I’m just looking at houses in the area and am waiting on my realtor.”

“Okay. Thanks. Good luck with your house hunt.” Dani left the woman and decided to head back toward Jenny’s to see if her friend had any luck. She pulled her cell phone from the pocket of her pants and dialed her friend’s number. “You find him?”

“No.” Jenny’s despondency tugged at her heart.

“I’m sorry, Jenny. I questioned everyone I saw and no one has seen Chester. Maybe he’ll come back when he gets tired of exploring.”

“Maybe. Will you come have a cup of tea with me?”

“Sure. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes. Let me stop off and tell Simon where I’ll be.” She could go running a little later. Her friend needed her. Besides, she’d gotten a good workout just walking the neighborhood looking for Chester. And avoiding Stuart.

After a quick stop at her house to let Simon know she’d be at Jenny’s, she walked over, rapped on the door, and stepped inside the kitchen. “Jenny?” No answer. “Jen? I’m here.” Water boiled on the stove. Two tea bags sat next to the sink. Dani turned off the water and walked toward the den. “Jenny?”

A flash of movement in the mirror above the fireplace caught her eye. A masked figure with a gun and a silencer.

She screamed and ran for the French doors.

The gun barked.

Wood splintered next to her head. She twisted the knob.

Locked.

The gun spit again, the bullet hitting the wall and sending shards of drywall into her hair. She bolted through the second doorway that looped back to the kitchen. And came up short as he cut her off with a low laugh.

Dani’s stomach twisted. He was playing with her. This was some sick, twisted game for him. Terror wanted to shut off her brain. She forced it to work. She’d been afraid before and had to think. Now was no different. At least that’s what she told herself.

Her breath strained in her lungs as she tried to figure out what to do. She started to run back to the den and he darted to intercept her. She waited until he was out of sight, then raced into the kitchen for the back door she’d left open.

Another thwack hit the door above her. She gave another scream and froze.

“Stand still or the next one goes through your head.”

She didn’t move. He stepped closer, the gun held steady, almost relaxed. That sent chills racing through her. Killing her meant nothing to him.

The mask hid his features. Brown eyes glittered at her through the holes.

Her brain raced. “Please,” she whispered. “I have a son.”

“A shame to be sure. Sorry it has to be this way.”

“Why do you want me dead?”

“I don’t have time for explanations. The chase has been entertaining.” The gun shifted. “Now we’re going to walk out of here without any more trouble. Let’s g—”

“I heard screams. Everything okay over here?” Mr. Barnhill at the screen door. His eyes landed on the man with the gun and he gasped.

Dani didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the still hot water from the stove and flung it straight into her attacker’s face. He screamed and she threw herself at the door. “Run!”

Mr. Barnhill grabbed her arm and they ran. Dani fumbled with her phone and managed to punch in 911.

Dani followed Mr. Barnhill into his home. There was no way she was going back to her house if the shooter was still following her. Not with Simon there. But she didn’t want to put this sweet man at risk either. Her heart thudded as she wrestled with the fear skittering through her.

Jenny. Where was Jenny? Had he killed her? Shudders racked her. Sobs grabbed at her throat. No time for a breakdown.

Where were the cops?

“Ma’am?” The 911 operator.

Mr. Barnhill went from door to door, checking the locks. Dani positioned herself by the front door window so she could see if someone approached the house. “I’m here.” She didn’t recognize her own thin voice.

“Do you see the person shooting at you?”

“No. We’re next door.” She gave him the address. “But I don’t know where my friend is.” Dani sucked in a deep breath. “And my son is at home alone.” She gave that address. “He’s deaf.”

Dani listened as the dispatcher requested officers to head to her home.

“Officers are on the way. Just stay on the phone with me.”

Mr. Barnhill slipped up beside her. “You okay?”

His pale face and sweat-dotted brow worried her. “I’m all right. You?”

“I think so. Why’s that guy shooting at you?”

“I wish I knew,” she whispered. “Do you have any weapons?”

“No. I’ve never shot a gun in my life.” He paused and swiped at the sweat on his brow. “You see him out there?”

“No. I think he left.” She prayed he had.

Sirens sounded in the distance.
Please, Lord, let Simon stay put playing his video games.

She desperately wanted to text him, but didn’t want to worry him.

Police cruisers finally pulled in front of Jenny’s house.

And then she spotted Jenny, Chester in her arms, hurrying toward the chaos, her brow knotted in a concerned frown.

Officers descended, motioning for Jenny to get behind cover. Jenny cowered under the arm of one uniformed policeman as he led her to his cruiser. Two officers approached Jenny’s house, weapons in hand.

Dani opened the front door.

One officer held up his hand. “Stay in the house, ma’am, we have reports of a shooter in the area.”

“I know, I’m the one that called 911.”

“Then just stay there.”

Dani hung back and the minutes passed.

Finally the officer waved her over. “Looks like it’s all clear.”

Dani ran to the cruiser. “Jenny!” She slipped into the seat beside her friend. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“What’s going on?”

Dani gave a quick summary of the events and Jenny simply blinked, mouth gaping as she clutched Chester to her. The officer wrote down everything Dani said.

When she finished, she climbed out of the car. “I’ve got to check on Simon.”

“Who’s Simon?” the officer asked.

“My son.”

The two officers who’d entered Jenny’s house came out and Dani paused. The first one said, “Bullet holes are in the walls.” He looked at Dani and Jenny. “Anyone get a good description of this guy?”

Dani shook her head. “Jenny wasn’t there. It was just me. He had a mask on.” She fought through the remembered terror. “He was tall, lean. And he enjoyed taunting me.”

The officers exchanged a glance. “Taunting you?”

“It was like a game. Like he already knew the outcome and was just savoring my fear.”

“Any idea why someone would want to shoot at you?”

“No,” she snapped and glanced down the street toward her house. “Look, my son is at home alone. I want to see him.”

She started walking toward her house. One of the officers fell into step beside her. “Do you have any enemies?”

“Not that I know of.” Dani racked her brain trying to figure out why someone would want to kill her. “He didn’t want to kill me, though.”

“What?”

“He said something about me going with him. ‘We’re going to walk out of here without any trouble.’ That’s what he said.”

“So he wasn’t trying to kill you?”

She ran a hand over her ponytail. “I don’t know. Not at the house. He wanted me scared for sure, but it sounded like he meant to take me somewhere before he—” she gulped—“killed me.”

Had he mistaken her for Jenny? But what could Jenny have done to spark such evil in someone?

She ran up the porch steps and unlocked the front door to her
house. She glanced at the officer’s name tag. Officer T. Owens. “Wait here, please.”

He nodded. She darted up the stairs and into the bonus room.

Simon looked up at her entrance. He smiled and signed, “You’re back?”

He didn’t know a thing. Her heart slowed its frantic pace. She signed, “Yes. Are you going to stay up here for a while?”

He shrugged and nodded.

Dani said, “I’ll be downstairs.”

She pulled the double doors shut behind her, closed her eyes, and drew in a deep breath. “Lord, give me strength, please,” she whispered. Then headed back down to where Officer T. Owens waited in her foyer.

A half hour later, after checking on Jenny and Simon, she made her way to the laptop she rarely used. When Kurt was home, he had forbidden her to get on it. When he was gone, she was able to sneak and use it. She’d watched him type in the password often enough that she didn’t have any trouble accessing the laptop.

Between her trips to the library computer lab and finally learning how to cover any obvious tracks that she’d been on his computer while he was gone, Kurt had never suspected the things she’d discovered online. The internet had been her doorway to the outside world. She’d even made some online friends in a linguistic group. But she never told anything too personal, although some of the others did.

Dani settled herself in the chair and typed in the password.

“What are you doing?”

She jumped and spun to find Simon watching her. He tilted his head and his hearing aid squealed.

Placing a hand over her racing heart, she said, “I’m going to figure out how to disappear.”

“Why?”

Dani paused, not wanting to tell him the details of what had happened today, but knowing he had to be aware that they might be in danger. She signed and spoke at the same time. “Because someone tried to . . . hurt . . . me today and I think I need help figuring out who it was.”

“Hurt you?” He frowned. “Why?”

“I don’t know.”

He blinked and rubbed his nose, then pressed his ear mold to stop the squealing hearing aid. “Who are you going to ask for help?”

She pointed to the website she’d found a couple of months before Kurt had been killed. “Operation Refuge.”

SUNDAY MORNING
DECEMBER 7

Adam Buchanan read the email forwarded from Ron. “My name is Danielle Harding. I need help. My husband was killed six months ago. Someone just tried to kill me today. I can’t go to the cops. I have a twelve-year-old son and I desperately want to protect him and don’t even know how. If you can help me, please email me back or come to my house or call me. It doesn’t matter, just hurry, I think I’m running out of time.”

Adam stared at the name. Danielle Harding. What was it about that name that nagged at him? He’d been wrapping up another case and hadn’t had a chance to do his homework. Now it was time to get to work on her.

She’d found the Operation Refuge website and placed the plea for help late yesterday evening. Ron had forwarded the email to Adam. He dragged a hand through his rumpled hair and glanced at the clock. Eleven in the morning. He hadn’t been to bed yet but didn’t let that faze him. He looked at the email again.

Danielle Harding.

With a grunt and a prayer, Adam went to Google and pulled
up everything he could find on the woman. Which wasn’t much. An obituary on her husband, Kurt.

Who’d been an FBI agent.

That was interesting. Now he knew why her name sounded familiar. He remembered the story. An exemplary agent, killed when he confronted another agent about his illegal activities.

And now someone had tried to kill Harding’s wife. Coincidence?

Probably not.

And so now he found himself pacing in front of the window. Ron had told him to stay put, he was bringing in a case for him. A knock on the door had him spinning. And blinking. “Sarah?”

“Hey.”

“Are you okay? Mom? Dad?” His sister had never visited his office before. She only had his contact information for an emergency. For her to show up . . .

She waved a hand. “Dad’s fine.”

“Dad’s fine? What about Mom?”

She sighed and slumped into the nearest chair. “I can’t stand this.”

“What?”

“This tension between you and Mom and Dad.”

“It is what it is, Sarah. I can’t change what Uncle Parker did and I can’t change what I did.” Parker Holland, his mother’s brother, had been guilty of murder and an assortment of other crimes, including being in the pocket of organized crime leaders. Adam had helped stop the man’s deadly activities, and as a result his uncle was now dead. A fact that his parents were having a hard time getting past. And forgiving.

“I know,” she sighed. “But you could do wonders for your relationship with our parents if you would go back to the marshals.”

Adam gave a mental groan. They’d been over this before. “What does it matter what I do?”

“Being with the marshals looks better.”

“For who?”

“You know for who!” She stood, her agitation clear. “Can’t you just, for once in your life, do something to make them happy?”

Adam gave a shout of laughter and she flinched at the harsh sound. He leaned forward. “I hate to tell you this, but no matter what I do, it will never be the right thing or make them happy.”

“If you went into politics, it would.” Her quiet answer took him by surprise.

“That’s not even an option.”

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. “Right.”

“What’s the real story behind your visit?”

“Are you coming tonight?”

He froze as he scrambled to remember what was happening tonight. The dinner for his cousin, Ian. Ian was running for the Senate. Frankly, Adam thought it would be a miracle if the man received even one vote after the stunt their Uncle Parker had pulled. “No.”

“They want you there.”

“I don’t want to be there.”

“Not even for Ian?”

“Look, Sarah, Ian’s a great guy. I think he’s honest and will do the best job he can if he wins the election, but I’m staying out of it. I don’t want the publicity or the cameras in my face. With my job, it could make for a sticky situation.”

“Then would you do it for Mom?”

“Mom? Why?”

He could almost hear Sarah grinding her teeth in frustration. He felt a pang of remorse, but nothing she said would get him to attend some stuffy political dinner.

“Mom’s . . . sick.”

Except maybe that. “Sick? Sick how?”

“She has breast cancer, Adam.”

The words punctured his lungs. “I . . . see.”

“I don’t think you do.”

“Then why don’t you give me the full story?”

Dani had an appointment to meet with Ron. Ron who? She didn’t know. Just Ron from Operation Refuge. Ron, who’d asked her numerous questions over the phone. Who was Stuart? Why was he after her? How had her husband been killed? What route would she be taking to the meeting? Did she think Stuart would follow her? Her heart thundered in her chest as her pulse pounded. Someone had tried to kill her yesterday. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Barnhill, she’d be dead and Simon an orphan.

And now Stuart was giving her problems again. Constantly. Her nerves were just about shot when it came to that man. Kurt was bad, but she had a feeling Stuart could be worse. He simply wouldn’t give up. “Yes, he’ll follow me.”

Now she bit her lip and held back a scream of frustration when Stuart’s white Lexus came up behind her. So she’d been right. He planned to follow her. She couldn’t even go to church without him showing up. In spite of the crazy events of yesterday, she hadn’t wanted to stay home and hide. Some stubborn part of her wanted to fight back and prove she wasn’t going to be a victim any longer.

“He’s there again, Mom.”

Simon’s voice held fear. A fear that shouldn’t be there. Her stomach clenched. “I know, hon, just ignore him.”

No kid should have had to grow up and live with what he’d lived with for the past few years. Six months free of the constant worry had softened her edges. Feeling safe had made her stop looking over her shoulder. Only now Stuart was pressuring her.
Just last night, he’d said, “It’s been six months, Dani, I’ve waited long enough so people won’t talk if we start dating. And besides, it’s my duty to make sure you and Simon are taken care of. Why won’t you let me?”

“It’s not your duty! Please, just leave me alone!” She’d resisted the urge to slam the door in his face, instead saying, “I’m done right now, Stuart. I’m closing the door. Please go away and think about what you’re doing. Think about what you’d label this if it was anyone else doing what you’re doing. It’s called stalking. And I need you to stop.”

And here he was behind her. Following her once again. She shuddered and wondered if she would ever be free of the Harding family. One thing she did know was that Stuart didn’t like rejection. She had to admit the thought crossed her mind that it had been Stuart who’d tried to kill her. Or someone Stuart had hired.

But who? Who would be willing to do something like that for him?

She sighed and glanced in the mirror again. She wanted this to be over. She wanted her life back. Memories of her days before she’d met Kurt were the only reason she knew the way she’d lived the last twelve years was not normal.

Christmas was less than three weeks away. This year, she was going to give her son the kind of Christmas he deserved. One without fear, without worry, and without stress. Without Stuart and his grating presence.

She glanced in the mirror and chastised herself. First she had to get away from him—again. Lately, he’d followed her everywhere. It was getting old. Not to mention totally creepy and she was scared.

“Why does Uncle Stuart keep following us? He’s starting to scare me, Mom. It’s not normal.”

Simon’s voice cracked on the last word. Not because he was
getting to that age where his voice changed, but because he was doing his best not to give in to the fear she could see starting to consume him. The fact that he had voiced her thoughts told her how much Stuart was keeping them both on edge. But Simon was right. Nothing about Stuart was normal. And she and Simon seemed to be the only ones who could see it. Just like Kurt.

She bit her lip. Or was there something else behind Stuart’s obsession with her?

She wondered if he was involved in Kurt’s illegal activities. She didn’t know. What she
did
know was she didn’t want to be alone with Stuart. Ever. After the incident at Jenny’s house yesterday, it was time to get some help. Help that she hoped lay just ahead.

“Where are we going?”

Driving with her left hand, she signed with her right, “To meet someone who’s going to help us.”

“Who?”

“His name is Ron.” She spelled the name for him.

“How’s he going to help us?” He checked the side mirror again.

“I’m not sure. But we’re going to find out.” Would he be there like he’d promised? And what was she going to do about Stuart? Pull over and tell him to leave her alone?

He drew closer and honked at her. Pulling over wasn’t an option right now.

The road narrowed. Cars passed her on her left. The four-lane road would soon turn into a two-lane. For a brief moment, she thought about stopping anyway and demanding that he leave her alone, but a quick glance at Simon’s white, pinched face told her she couldn’t do that.

And the promise of help ahead kept her hopeful.

She came to a red light and stopped. Stuart stayed behind her. He flashed his lights indicating he wanted her to pull over.

Through the next traffic light, then the next. Until she hit the
little two-lane road that would take her the back way into the neighboring city of Duncan. Up ahead, she saw a lone figure leaning against a dusty vehicle with the hood popped.

The rest of the stretch loomed empty.

A quick glance showed Stuart right on her tail. Closer, closer. What was he doing? Then she saw his expression in the mirror. Determination glittered.

Frustration filled her. Fine. He wanted her to stop, she’d stop. In pure fury she slammed on the brakes.

Only he was closer than she’d anticipated and he rammed the back of the Navigator. She shot forward. A scream welled, she bit it back. Her tires caught gravel. Simon hollered and grabbed the door.

The man leaning against his car straightened and looked back.

Her car swung around and she lost control. The vehicle lunged into the open field. Dani kept her foot on the brake, her only thought to bring the big car to a stop.

The wheels spun, Simon screamed, and Dani prayed.

When the car finally ground to a halt, she turned to Simon and grabbed his shoulder. He opened his eyes and stared at her, his terror striking a chord deep within her.

Panting, sweat pooling at her neck and running down her back, she signed, “Are you okay?”

“He wants to kill us.” His hands trembled.

She signed, “No, he wasn’t trying to kill us.” At least she didn’t think so. Dani searched for Stuart, her gaze darting from one mirror to the next. Had anyone seen the accident? “He was just trying to stop us.” The white Lexus sat on the side of the road behind her.

Then Stuart’s fist came down on the window. She flinched back and screamed. “Go away! What are you doing? Leave us alone!”

Stuart’s dark eyes glittered with suppressed wrath. In that
moment, he looked so much like Kurt, Dani thought she might vomit. “Get out of the car, Dani.”

“Stop! You’re scaring us.”

He flinched. “I don’t want to scare you, I just want—”

A hand reached over and jerked Stuart from the window. Dani jumped and stared. The man with the broken-down car.

Stuart pulled his weapon and Dani opened the door to stumble from the vehicle. “Stuart! No!”

Her scream distracted him for a fraction of a second. Long enough for the stranger to bring a fist down on Stuart’s forearm. The gun dropped, Stuart hollered and swiveled, but not fast enough. The man gave a solid punch to Stuart’s chin and Dani saw Stuart drop like a rock.