Seasons (32 page)

“Jaci? What happened? Are you all right?”

Jaci didn’t know who to trust. She rolled the window down slightly and said, “I’m calling someone to help me. I’m okay.”

“Who in the world could’ve done this?” Wynola asked. A suspicion of who it might have been entered her mind and a sickening
feeling began forming in the pit of her stomach.
Oh doggone! Linda has gone off the deep end again,
Wynola thought to herself.

“I don’t know,” Jaci answered. “If I did, they would be on their way to jail.” Jaci felt the first pangs of anger join the
fear. She managed to call Jason on his cell phone, relieved when she heard him answer.

“Jason? Someone has cut all my tires and broken my front and back windows. And I . . . can you come? I’m in the building garage.
Please hurry.”

“What! Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she answered in a shaky voice.

“Is anyone there with you? Maybe you should go back in the building and wait for me. I’ll get there as quickly as I can.”

“Wynola’s here. But I’m too scared to get out of the truck.”

Jason thought about it for a second and realized she was right, they didn’t know for sure who had done this. For all they
knew Wynola could be involved. “Just stay put and keep the doors locked. I’m calling the police. They may get there ahead
of me, but I doubt it. Ask Wynola to go back into the building and find the security guard.”

“But you just said you were cal—”

“Jaci, just do it!” He didn’t feel comfortable about Wynola’s being close to her. “As soon as I talk to the police, I’ll call
you back.”

She sat huddled in the truck with the phone gripped tightly in her hand. She kept shaking her head in disbelief. In typical
Jaci fashion, she started examining herself.
Lord, what in the world have I done to bring something like this into my life?

As usual, that led her mind to where it needed to be—on the Lord. The phone rang and she answered.

“It’s me, sweetheart. Have you seen anyone else in the garage?”

“No.”

“Well just stay on the line until I get there. You doing okay?”

“Yes, but hold on, I need to pray.”
Father, have mercy. I am in trouble and don’t know what to do. I am being attacked because Linda doesn’t want me to have Jason.
Father, I believe You sent him into my life and I thank You for that blessing. I know the devil wouldn’t be fighting it so
viciously if it were not Your will for us to be together. Lord, I know that where You guide, You will also provide. You didn’t
give me this fear I’m feeling. So I thank You for power, love, and soundness in my mind right now. Lord, let Your mercy prevail
and give me the victory in this situation. In Jesus’ name I ask and thank You. Amen.

Ten minutes passed before she saw the police car round the corner with Jason right behind it. She climbed out just as the
police officer got to her truck and began to walk around it, looking at the slashed tires.

“Any idea who did this ma’am?” he asked Jaci.

“Yes, I do. But I’d hate to name the person and it’s not her.”

“Why do you think it’s this person? Has she made any threats against you?”

“Yes, she has. In fact, there’s a restraining order in effect, and lots of reports on file.”

Jason listened as Jaci talked to the officer, amazed at how calm she remained. It was apparent—when this woman prayed, God
answered. He gave the officer a brief history of the threats and attacks against Jaci. The officer told her before leaving,
“Sounds like you have a mighty determined enemy. I’d be careful if I were you. Looks like it’s escalating.”

A
fter they arrived at Jason’s house, Jaci felt despair engulf her. She didn’t feel safe at home, on the job, or anywhere. Now
she didn’t have transportation. What next? Jason held her close as tears of frustration rolled down her face.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be letting this get to me like this,” she jerkily stated. “But I’m just so tired, so weary of dealing
with this. Lord, help me.”

Feeling helpless and angry, Jason wondered how he was going to protect her from any further attacks from Linda. It twisted
his insides to see her hurting like this.

“Sweetheart, why don’t you go upstairs and lie down. Later, we need to go pick up some of your stuff. I think you should stay
here for a while.”

Jaci shook her head. “No, nobody’s running me out of my home.”

“It’s not a matter of someone running you out of your home. Look at you. You’re completely shaken. Even if you did stay at
your house, you wouldn’t get any quality rest. You’re staying here with me.”

“I just think it’s better . . . That I’ll be more comfortable at home.”

“Baby, will you let me take care of you?” He ran a finger down her cheek and bent to kiss her lightly. “Please.”

Jaci didn’t argue with him anymore. How could she? Over the years, she had prayed for someone she could lean on during a season
of trouble. Now that she had someone, here she was fighting it. One of her grampa’s favorite sayings came to her.
“It’s wisdom to know when you’re blessed. It’s a terrible thing to complain when you ought to be giving thanks.”
As usual, her grandpa had been right. She decided she would gratefully let him take care of her—for a few days anyway.

After she went upstairs, Jason called Ron and Walt and asked them to come over. When they arrived, he told them what had happened.
“I’m about at my wit’s end with Linda. We’ve done everything we know to keep her away from Jaci, and she’s still finding ways
to get to her. I don’t know what to do. We have her arrested, but she’s out again before we can turn around.”

Ron was thoughtful for a minute before saying, “Remember I told Linda that whatever she did to Jaci, we would do to her. I
think it’s time to keep that promise.”

Jason shook his head. “Naw, man! That kind of retaliation is not the answer. There has to be another way.”

“I’m thinking I don’t want to hear this conversation,” Walt said. “Ya’ll do realize I’m an officer of the criminal justice
system. Maybe I’d better go.”

“All right, Judge. But just remember, you’re going to need help one of these days,” Ron told him.

Walt threw his hands up. “Okay, but I’ll swear I’ve never heard any of this before.”

“What else can we do, Walt?” Jason asked his friend. “We’ve filed charges against her, put a peace bond on her, and called
the police on every incident. But like I said, she’s out of jail in no time and right back to her attacks.”

Walt thought for a moment. “Well, I think if you give her a little time, she’ll eventually do something that’ll send her up
for a while. But in the meantime . . .” he shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Ron made a sound that indicated his irritation. “And what’s Jaci supposed to do in the meantime?” he asked. “Maybe ya’ll wanna
sit around and wait for Linda to seriously hurt or kill Jaci, but that’s not my style. What I’m thinking about might not be
your way, but it might send Linda a message that enough is enough. I’ll take care of it, and don’t worry, it won’t be anything
physical—just something to keep her so occupied she won’t have time to mess with Jaci.”

“Okay, renegade. Like I said, I don’t want to know,” Walt said, shaking his head.

J.P. remained quiet for a minute. Ron’s words,
“hurt or kill Jaci,”
kept running through his mind. “Okay Ron, I’m with you. But remember, whatever you do, make sure it’s nothing that’s going
to make this any worse than it is. Did I tell ya’ll I found out that Linda and Wynola are sisters?”

“What!” “You got to be kidding!” Ron and Walt responded simultaneously.

“No, it’s true. And I’m sure Wynola is the one responsible for that crazy woman working in my office. I guess she figured
if she couldn’t get any play with me, she would sic her sister on me. Herbert hired her on somebody’s recommendation. He doesn’t
even remember whose it was. I almost fired him when I found out those two are sisters. He didn’t even read the application.
It’s right there in black and white.”

Ron laughed. “You think he’s going to admit to anything beyond what’s already known? I know I wouldn’t if I were him. Give
him a break, he didn’t know the woman was crazy.”

“Linda even has Wynola harassing Jaci at work, trying to build a case to fire her. She’s accused Jaci of working below par,
discourtesy to citizens, and anything else she can come up with to discredit her. The latest thing is a letter she produced
from some woman accusing Jaci of having an affair with her husband and breaking up her family. Jaci got a formal disciplinary
letter, with the threat of total dismissal if another complaint comes in. What do you bet another complaint is forthcoming?”

“Whew!” Ron whistled through his teeth. “The woman just took the letter at face value, huh? Without giving Jaci the benefit
of an investigation?” At J.P.’s nod, he continued. “That stinks. It sounds like she’s gon’ have to be included in our little
retribution package.”

“Yep. I got that covered though,” J.P. said. “That was a big mistake on Wynola’s part. I’m on Ed Shannon like white on rice.
So are some other people in the department. And Pop has talked to the mayor about it. You know Pop is crazy about Jaci. Anyway,
Ed had no choice in the matter, he had to take action. You know Wynola didn’t get that job on her own merit. She’s a political
appointment. Not by this current administration, but she’s managed to hang on over the years from one mayor to the next. Somewhere
along the way, she forgot her husband’s political clout will only go so far. No politician’s going to stick his neck out for
her over some mess like this. Her butt is already on the way out the door. So what are you planning?” he asked Ron.

“I’m toying around with something very appropriate for Linda. I can’t get into it with the good judge sitting here though.”

“Man, one of these days you’re going to step into something that’s gon’ cause you to stink for years. Let that be a warning,”
Walt told Ron with a chuckle.

“Ain’t gonna happen,” Ron said confidently. “See, I’m a dude who knows how to cover all my bases. And I’m not afraid to steal
a base when I need to. You wimps just done got old and lost all your nerve. If you ever had any.”

“Have at it, brother,” J.P. said. “I bow to your prowess. I’m certainly not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and if
you can do something to help, I’ll be grateful, and I know that woman upstairs will be.”

Ron was currently designing a facility for a restaurant owner. This client had a long history with the criminal justice system
but had managed to stay just beyond the long arm of the law for the past ten years. Ron remembered one of the man’s specialties
had been breaking and entering. He had bragged that there wasn’t a lock anywhere he couldn’t pick.

When Ron returned home that night, he looked up the number and called him. “Hey, Johnson! Have I got a deal for you! But first,
let me explain the situation. A crazy woman is stalking and threatening my brother’s fiancée and nothing has been able to
stop her, not even the police. This sicko needs to get a taste of her own medicine, but I don’t want her physically hurt,
just some things done, you know, like messing with her doors and windows, something that would scare her so badly she won’t
have the time or the inclination to think about stalking anyone. You with me so far?”

“Yeah. I’m with you,” Johnson answered. “What’re you offering?”

“I’m willing to give you a break on your fee if you can hook me up and help me out with this.”

“Hey, doesn’t sound like much of a challenge and I’m definitely interested in knocking something off your high-priced fees.”

“I want you to think about this, man,” Ron said. “I don’t want you jeopardizing your freedom. Like I said, I just want some
minor things done to scare this woman off. I stress that no physical harm is to come to her. I just want her to leave Jaci
alone.”

“Jaci? I know a Jaci. Good-looking lady who works over there for the city. She helped me get some property demolished and
got the city off of my back. Is that the woman you talking about?”

“Yup, that’s Jaci. And that other woman is making Jaci’s life miserable, man.”

“Jaci’s a nice lady. I would help her without getting paid, but since you offered . . . and Ron, you know I’m not into rough
stuff. I did my thing to make a living, and I’m through with all that now. But for a good cause, and a cut in my fee, I can
easily get this done.”

Misgivings about what he was asking shot through Ron’s mind, and he said to Johnson, “It’s very distasteful for me to ask
someone to break the law, but like I said, this woman is a loose cannon, and I’m afraid she’s going to do some real harm to
Jaci if she’s not stopped. Don’t worry, we’ll work out something that’ll make it worth your trouble.”

“Hey, man, consider it done. All I need is the four-one-one on this stalker.”

“You’ll have it tomorrow. And Johnson, keep it clean, and be careful, okay?”

“Yeah, man. Piece of cake.”

T
hree weeks later, a frustrated Linda hung up the phone after still another harassing call to Jaci. She relaxed on her pillow.
I’m getting rusty. There was a time when I could come up with all sorts of stuff for a situation like this. There has to be
something else I can be doing to get to that heifer.
The calls, threats, attacks—weren’t working. Jaci and J.P. were still planning to get married. She wasn’t happy with how
slow her sister insisted they move on the “Jean White” thing. But it was almost time for Jean White to write another letter.
Wynola had assured her that Jaci’s dismissal would be certain after it was pointed out that Jean White was so distraught she
was thinking about going to the mayor and to the media. Jaci wouldn’t be so desirable to J.P. if that happened!

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when something came crashing through her bedroom window. She rolled out of bed to the
floor, thinking someone was shooting into the house. When she finally lifted her head and looked around the dimly lit room,
she saw a brick lying on the floor. She crawled over to pick it up and crawled out of the room into the hallway. She was afraid
to turn the light on in the bedroom. With shaking hands, she removed a piece of paper tied around the brick, opened it, and
read
“From a friend.”
It was after two in the morning, but she picked up the phone with shaking hands and called her sister.