Obsession (12 page)

She had stirred the fire to life before indulging in a long, hot shower that morning. Now she was ready to curl up and enjoy her hot chocolate and a good book, assuming her mind would cooperate and let her read instead of think about Charlie.

The corners of her mouth lifted as she remembered the three games of backgammon they had played the night before. He had actually been a challenging opponent, even though he hadn’t succeeded in winning any of the games. He had come close once, threatening her enough that she had resorted to taking a quick break in the middle of their third game to warm up the caramel cake she’d bought at the store the day before.

Maybe it was true that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Dessert had certainly succeeded in distracting him last night.

He hadn’t mentioned anything about seeing her today, and she wondered if she would have to come up with an excuse to go over to his cabin again. Not that she didn’t want some time to herself, too, but she had enjoyed bantering over their games last night and having someone to talk to, someone who really listened.

She had nearly told him about what had sent her into hiding, but she hadn’t wanted to ruin such a perfect evening. In her mind, it had been perfect: Dinner with just the two of them, the fire flickering romantically in the background. Their conversation had been simple and easy; no one hanging over her shoulder to listen in, no one interrupting to ask for an autograph or a picture. She wondered if her parents could understand how much she had missed out on by growing up under so many restrictions.

Kendra settled into her chair, but instead of picking up her book, she simply stared into the fire. She wished she could call and talk to her parents, to assure them that she was okay. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how to contact them without leaving an electronic trail that would lead right to her. Even though she only had her new cell phone with her, she had little doubt that someone on her father’s security team was tracking the GPS locators on all of their incoming calls.

That lesson had been learned the hard way when she was sixteen and tried to take off to the beach without her bodyguards. She had tried calling from a friend’s phone, only to have Alan show up five minutes later to bring her back home.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She looked through the window and saw Charlie standing on the porch.

She answered the door, her light mood fading when she saw the serious expression on his face. “Hi, Charlie. Is something wrong?”

He didn’t answer her question, instead motioning inside. “Do you mind if I come in?”

Kendra stepped aside and waved him in. He stood there just inside the door, not making any motion to take off his coat or boots to indicate he planned to stay for more than a minute or two. She looked up at him, prepared to ask again what was wrong. Before she could, he looked down at her and their eyes met.

“Kendra, I just saw the news on the internet.” Charlie said, his voice vibrating with both surprise and concern. “It said that a bomb exploded at your concert a few days ago.”

Kendra immediately tensed.

“What happened?” Charlie pressed.

Kendra took a step back and moved to sit down on the loveseat. She took a steadying breath before lifting her eyes to meet Charlie’s. “Do we have to talk about this?”

“Look, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you came up here right after it happened.” Charlie shrugged out of his coat now, tossing it haphazardly over the stair railing. Then he looked at her again, his blue eyes intense. “Who are you running from?”

“I’m not running,” Kendra insisted. “I just needed to get away for a while.”

“Aren’t you worried about the Malibu Stalker?”

Her eyebrows drew together. “Who?”

“The Malibu Stalker.” Charlie reached into his inside coat pocket and drew out a folded computer printout. His hand wasn’t completely steady when he dropped it into her lap. “The guy the police think is after you.”

An unprecedented sense of fear filled her as she scanned the printed words and read about the past crimes of the man the press had nicknamed the Malibu Stalker. When she looked up at Charlie, her chin quivered as she tried to fight the sudden urge to cry. “You think someone is trying to kill me?”

“I don’t know,” Charlie said, his voice soft, his eyes still serious. “But that’s what the cops think.”

Kendra brought her hand up over her mouth. Panic, fear, and terror all melded together as she fought back a sob.

“Hey, I’m sorry.” Charlie sat down next to her and reached for her hand. “I thought the reason you were hiding up here was because you knew about all of this.”

Kendra shook her head and swallowed hard. She didn’t want to cry in front of Charlie, but right now, she couldn’t get past the facts he’d laid out in front of her.

Someone wanted to
kill
her.

That thought circled through her mind as Charlie reached his arm around her and pulled her close. The first tears spilled over, and her body quivered as the emotions bubbled up inside her. She curled into him as he stroked her back and spoke quietly to her. She barely heard the soft reassurances he murmured, but his tone was comforting as the full force of her tears continued.

When she finally quieted, Charlie simply held her. Even though her mind was still consumed with the reality he had painted, she drew comfort from Charlie’s strength.

He shifted slightly so he could see her face. Then he reached down to wipe a tear from her cheek. His voice was gentle when he spoke. “Do you want me to see if I can get in touch with the police or the FBI for you? They can probably offer you some kind of protection.”

Kendra shook her head. “I don’t want to think about that right now.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve lived my whole life with people following me around to keep me safe,” Kendra said, wondering how she could possibly explain. “After the fire backstage, my dad was going to send me more bodyguards. I know he would have pestered me about my safety until I gave in and moved back home where he wants me.”

“I gather you don’t want to move back home,” Charlie surmised.

“It isn’t just that.” She sighed. “When I lived there, I felt like I was going to suffocate if I didn’t find some time to myself. I need some time to live my life without an audience, some time to just breathe.” She looked at him quizzically. “Does that make any sense?”

Charlie nodded. He stared at her for a moment as though lost in his own thoughts. Then he asked, “Don’t you think you should at least talk to the FBI? It wouldn’t be the same as moving back home or having your dad force bodyguards on you.”

“Maybe not, but I need some time to think about it.” She stared up at him, warmth settling through her as he continued to hold her by his side. A ghost of a smile crossed her face. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.” His hand lifted, gently brushing her hair back behind her ear.

Their faces were close, tears still moist on Kendra’s eyelashes. Her heartbeat quickened when his gaze skimmed down to her mouth. The sudden image of kissing Charlie Whitmore sent a thrill up her spine along with a skittering sense of panic. The hand on her shoulder was gentle, but his eyes were dark and intense. Then he shifted slightly, creating a safe distance between them.

“Have you eaten lunch yet? I could fix you something.”

She shook her head, still feeling like she was under a spell. “I’m not really hungry.”

Before he could respond, the rumble of an engine sounded outside. Charlie sprang up with a speed that surprised her and rushed to the window.

It took a moment for Kendra to understand the source of his concern, to remember that they were snowed in and that whoever was out there might be the person trying to hurt her, the person who wanted to kill her. Her voice was shaky when she asked, “Who is it?”

“I’m not sure.” Charlie shifted by the window so he could look out without being seen. “It could just be someone out snowmobiling.”

She let out a shaky breath and moved to the other side of the window so that she, too, could peer out without being noticed. Her heartbeat quickened when she saw a man turn his snowmobile into her driveway.

“Do you know him?” Charlie asked.

Kendra had to take another breath before she managed to focus. Then she made herself take a good look at the man in the driveway. He pulled off a helmet, his mop of brown hair spilling out wildly. “That’s Jed Burgess, Eleanor Burgess’s son.”

“Stay here,” Charlie said in a commanding tone. “I’ll go see what he wants.”

“Okay.” Kendra’s head bobbed up and down in agreement. “Be careful.”

He glanced over his shoulder then and gave her a nod of encouragement. “I will.”

Charlie controlled the urge to reach for his weapon. From what Kendra had told him after their trip to the general store, he knew that the Burgess family had lived in Pinewood for years. The fact that Jed Burgess was a white male between twenty-five and thirty-five years old didn’t mean he was a serial killer. Then again, there wasn’t any evidence that he wasn’t one either.

The moment the door opened, Jed looked up, his eyes hopeful. Then he saw Charlie, and his disappointment showed before he managed to control it.

“Hi, there,” Jed greeted him as he dismounted the snowmobile and stood facing Charlie. “You must be Kendra’s friend.”

“That’s right.” Charlie tried to keep his voice casual as he moved down the steps. “I’m Charlie Whitmore.”

“Good to meet you.” Jed tugged off his glove and offered a hand. “Jed Burgess.”

Charlie shook his hand and let his curiosity show on his face. “What brings you up this way?”

“Just following orders.” Jed opened the storage compartment on the back of his snowmobile.

Charlie tensed, his right hand lifting slightly in case he really did need his gun. Then Jed pulled a white pastry box out of the storage compartment and turned to offer it to Charlie. “My mom was worried that you and Kendra might not be able to get out with all of this snow. She wanted me to deliver this cake and pass along her phone number in case you needed anything.”

“That was nice of you to bring this by. I’ll make sure Kendra gets it.”

He nodded and passed the box into Charlie’s hands. Then Jed looked up at Kendra’s front door. “So I guess you and Kendra are dating?”

Charlie banked down on his conflicting emotions and tried to consider how best to handle the probing question. “You could say that.”

Jed mounted his snowmobile and gave him a subtle nod. “You’re a lucky man.”

“I guess I am,” Charlie managed.

Jed motioned to the box Charlie now held. “One of Mom’s business cards is inside. We’re supposed to get another eight to ten inches of snow tonight, but if you think of anything you need, I can run a delivery up here before the storm hits.”

“I appreciate that, but I think we’re okay for now.” Charlie stared at the man in front of him. Logically, he doubted that Jed Burgess was the man responsible for six murders in California. He decided to trust that logic for a minute. “I wonder if I can ask you and your mom a favor though.”

“What’s that?”

“Kendra and I came up here to get away from the paparazzi. People may come through town looking for us.”

“And you don’t want us to tell anyone that you’re here,” Jed finished for him.

“Yeah.” Charlie nodded. “Most people wouldn’t be able to find this place without directions.”

“Isn’t that the truth.” Jed let out a short laugh. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with us.”

“There’s one more thing,” Charlie added. “Could you let me know if anyone does show up looking for Kendra?”

“No problem.” Jed patted his jacket pocket. “I don’t have a pen on me, but you can give Mom a call and leave your phone number with her. We’ll watch your back.”

“Thanks a lot.” Charlie waited until Jed started the engine and turned the snowmobile back down the road.

The man seemed harmless enough, but just to be safe, Charlie would have Elias run a background check on him. It should be easy enough to prove whether Jed had been in LA on the dates of any of the murders.

After Jed disappeared from view, Charlie moved back to Kendra’s front door. She was safe for now, but he doubted he would get much sleep tonight until he could eliminate Jed as a suspect.

Charlie had a feeling that thoughts of Kendra would keep him up even if he didn’t have any potential suspects to worry about. He had been prepared for her tears. He’d provoked them deliberately. What he hadn’t counted on was the way he’d felt when he held her.

Somehow he had to get back on level footing, especially until he could tell her why he was really here. He pushed open the door to find her waiting nervously by the window. He banked down the urge to go to her, to gather her close. “Jed was just delivering a cake for us from his mom.”

“Oh.” Kendra’s eyes followed him as he moved to the kitchen and set the box on the counter.

Charlie lifted the lid to reveal a German chocolate cake. He pulled the business card with Mrs. Burgess’s phone number out of the box and tucked it into his pocket.

“What was that?” Kendra asked, following him into the kitchen.

“Just Mrs. Burgess’s phone number. Jed gave it to me in case we need him to bring us any supplies.”

“That was thoughtful of her.”

Charlie nodded and considered for a moment. “How well do you know Jed?”

“Not very well, actually,” Kendra said. She opened her mouth as though she was going to say something else, but then she stopped and simply shrugged her shoulders.

“What?”

“I know this isn’t very nice to say, but he always gave me the creeps. Every time I came into town, he just stared at me, but he never said anything.” Kendra shrugged again. “I used to think he was just shy, but then he’d stop by and talk to Grandpa every time I came to town, and he didn’t seem shy at all.”

“Did he ever give you a reason to be scared of him?”

“Not scared, exactly.” Kendra blew out a breath. “Uneasy is probably a better way to describe it. I always felt like he was staring at me, especially when I wasn’t looking.”