Authors: Melissa Price
Sixty-eight
On the way home, they stopped at the grocery store. They were standing at the tomato sauce on sale on the bottom shelf and she pointed, “Can I get four cans?” She still had a little trouble with balance and the shelf was low.
“Oh, you want the dead horse.”
Taylor giggled. She stiffened, “Don’t turn around.”
Sean frowned, “Am I about to be eaten by a giant python?”
“No, worse. Don’t look. Amanda is heading this way with a big smile plastered on her face.”
“Damn.” He stood very close to Taylor, “Where is she?”
“Half way down the aisle and walking faster.”
Sean pulled Taylor to him and kissed her thoroughly. When they came up for air, he smiled at her. “That was fun.”
“She’s gone.”
“Not surprising since I would never have kissed her in public.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I don’t kiss women in public.”
She tilted her head, “Uhm. What about the museum, the movie theater, the restaurant, the hospital, and now the grocery store?”
He grinned, “That’s because it’s you. I’ll kiss you anywhere, anytime. By the way, we need to talk about lunch and your wandering hand.”
She grinned at him, “It worked, didn’t it?”
“We also need to talk about the cannolis.”
“There’s no talking about them, there’s just making them.” She gave him a kiss of the cheek, “Take me home and I’ll prove it. Or should I say you’ll prove it?”
Sean got them home as fast as possible.
Sixty-nine
Sean stretched and looked at her early the next morning. “Day two.”
“It bothers you doesn’t it?”
“All of it bothers me. So how are you going to keep me entertained today?” He ran his hand over her face.
“Hm, how about we do some yard work, and house cleaning and…”
He shut her up with a kiss.
Later, they took Tango for a walk and raked up the yard. Sean had piled the leaves and Tango jumped into it barking and the leaves scattered. Sean raked them up again and Taylor jumped in. Sean laughed, “How are you going to get out of those leaves now?”
She gave him a cheeky grin, “Why don’t you come down here and I’ll tell you.”
Sean jumped into the leaves and pulled her close. They kissed and she laughed, “You.”
The next morning Sean went back to work. He left early and as soon as he got in, he looked for Mayfield and asked to talk to him. They went into a conference room and Sean told him about what happened to Taylor.
”Does she want to press charges?”
“No. She’d be upset if she knew I told you, but I wanted you to be aware that Barrett needs to stay out of my face and I’ll avoid him as much as possible. He’s lucky I’m going to be civil to him.”
“Sean, even if he says something, ignore him. Don’t stoop to his level. He’s not worth getting in trouble over. Taylor wants to put it behind her and you should too.”
Sean nodded and left for roll call.
Taylor went to the gym and did her exercises. The doctor had said she should keep doing it twice a week and then rest.
When she was done, the attendant who was usually there for her, Derrick, said, “Congratulations.”
She looked at him curiously. He explained, “All the cops coming in are talking about you and Sean getting engaged.”
She grinned, “Oh. Thanks.”
“Sean’s a great guy, I’m glad for both of you.”
“I appreciate that, Derrick.”
“Don’t stop coming in to do your exercising. Sean told me you don’t like it.”
Taylor laughed, “I guess it’s hard for two guys who do it all the time and like it to understand why I don’t.”
Derrick laughed and said good bye as she turned to leave.
Outside, the sun was shining. Taylor smiled. It was a beautiful day and she was so happy. She got into her car and drove to the diner to meet Sara. It was their favorite place to eat and meet.
At the diner, Taylor met Sara in the parking lot. Taylor got that odd watched feeling again. She glanced around. Then she realized Sara was looking around too.
“Do you have that creepy, watched feeling too?”
Sara nodded yes and walked faster. Inside they sat at a booth and Taylor looked at her friend with a slight frown. “Sara, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just feeling odd. Maybe it’s being pregnant.” She gave Taylor a weak smile.
“I’m not buying it. Something is bothering you. Talk.”
Sara looked at the menu, “You would think as much as I come here I would know the menu by heart.”
They put in their order. “Sara, please. I’m worried about you.”
“John said the same thing. It’s hard to keep things from him.”
“John is a smart man and he loves you so you are probably worrying him too.”
“I know but I don’t want to talk to him about it. He’ll freak out and get overly protective and it’s probably just my imagination. Maybe it is the pregnancy jitters or something.”
“Please tell me. I can help.”
Sara looked at her long and hard before answering. “I could use your support. I think I keep seeing this homeless man and it feels like he is following me and watching me.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“Just a couple of days or so.”
“Are you sure it’s the same man?”
“I think so. Promise you won’t tell Sean because I know he will tell John.”
“Okay, but I think you should tell John. He’s a cop, he’ll know what is best.”
“Maybe if I see him again. Then I’ll tell John.”
“Well, you are not going anywhere without me for awhile.”
Sara started to protest but then smiled, “It would make me feel better to have you with me. Maybe he will see you and leave.”
“Or I’ll punch his lights out.”
Sara laughed. “Taylor, superwoman and protector.”
“Darn right.”
“Do you want to go to the mall? The kids won’t be coming home for awhile from school and I cannot stand the thought of sitting around the house and peeking out the windows.”
“You haven’t seen him near your home have you?”
“No, just in town. So how about the mall?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
Taylor looked around carefully when they came out but saw no one that looked like he was staring or homeless. They spent a couple of hours at the mall sitting at the fountain, looking in windows, talking, and trying on silly hats at a vendor. They were both laughing at each other. When it was time to go, Taylor said she would follow her home.
When they came out, they headed to their cars which were parked next to each other. As Taylor made her way to her car door, she heard a gasp. She looked over to see a dirty, disheveled, bearded man standing next to Sara’s car.
Seventy
He was staring intently at Sara. Sara was staring back.
“Danny?”
He got a grimace on his face. His eyes were dilated and red. “Hello, sis.”
“Danny, what’s happened to you? You know you can’t come near me. I have a restraining order. You have to go now before you get caught.”
Taylor came around to stand behind Sara. She was already dialing Sean. The man paid no attention to her.
Sean didn’t answer which meant he was busy.
Sara repeated, “Danny, you need to go before someone catches you and puts you in jail.”
Taylor tried Sean again.
Please answer.
Sean answered. “Hey. Can I call you back?”
“Sean, we need help.” she talked fast in case the man tried to stop her.
Sean heard someone shouting. “I need money and you are going to go get it for me. Do you hear me, Sara?”
He pulled out a gun from in his waistband. He seemed to realize that Taylor was there. “Get off the phone.”
Sean became immediately alarmed. He signaled to John who was writing a ticket. He put the phone on speaker when John came immediately because of the look on Sean’s face.
The man looked down at Sara’s belly, raised the gun in the air and aimed it at her. Taylor yelled, “No.” She pushed Sara against the car and when she turned, she was looking into the barrel of a gun. “Don’t make me have to kill her, Sara. Get in the car and we will go get the money. I have nothing, Sara. I don’t even have a dime to buy food.” He pointed at Taylor, “She comes too.”
Taylor put the phone to hear ear and heard Sean. “Taylor, do not go with him, do you hear me? Taylor, are you okay?” She heard John asking, “Is Sara okay?”
Sara pleaded, “Danny, leave her here. She hasn’t done anything. I’ll get you some money. I don’t have a lot but I can help.”
Taylor shoved her phone into her back pocket but left it on. Maybe they could find them. Her GPS was enabled.
When he hesitated Taylor spoke up, “No. You are not going without me, Sara.”
Sean and John looked at each other. Sean knew Taylor would not let Sara go alone, but he still wasn’t happy about it. John pulled out his phone, “Keep that phone on. I’ll call for backup.”
Sara’s brother twisted her arm and shoved her at the door, “Get in.” Taylor hopped into the back.
John called Mayfield. Sean strained to hear anything. Taylor cautiously pulled her phone out of the back pocket and hid it behind her.
“Danny, I can go to the bank and meet you somewhere. Anywhere you want.”
“Drive. We’ll get rid of her and then go.”” She followed his directions for another ten minutes.
Get rid of me? What did that mean? Taylor looked around for anything she could use as a weapon. Nothing. Not surprising. They had kids and John was a cop.
Sean, I really need you right now. Damn it. She was not going to die. Not today. She was going to go home. To Sean and Tango. And she had just gotten engaged. She was going to spend her life with her two guys and that was that. This crazy man was not going to take that away from her. And Sara from her husband and kids.
What was with this gun thing? At the school some crazy man had been using one and now Sara’s brother had one. Enough of the guns.
Seventy-one
Sara followed his directions and kept looking in the rear view mirror at Taylor. They pulled into an old yard. There were a couple of warehouses that looked dilapidated and forlorn. Signs with the words No Trespassing and Do Not Enter were plastered all over the outside walls. Junk lay everywhere. It had obviously been closed awhile. Weeds were starting to creep in and around the piles of pallets and broken wood and the patches of dried grass were long and thin. No guard around to keep the site safe. A guard would really be nice.
Taylor held her phone between her knees and hoped Sean would hear. “Where are we?” She asked loudly.
Sara and Taylor’s eyes met in the mirror and Taylor gave a slight nod of her head. Sara replied, a little loudly, “This used to be a factory but now it is closed. Just an old bunch of warehouses and buildings now.”
Danny shouted, “Stop here, we’ll walk the rest of the way.”
Taylor put her phone back in her pocket. Sara helped her out and put an arm around her. She whispered, “I’m so sorry, Taylor. We are going to be okay. John and Sean will find us.”
They walked in front of Danny. There was a trailer not too far away. What had been the office, she assumed. Its aluminum siding would be no protection from bullets even if they could make it there. She had no desire to get shot again.
As they stepped around trash and broken boards, some with nails protruding out, Taylor remarked, “At least we aren’t wearing high heels.” Sara nodded.
Taylor searched the ground for anything she could use. She walked as slowly as she dared, hoping she was giving the police time to get there. If they were coming. She had to believe they would. Sean wouldn’t let her down. She should personally thank Martin Cooper for inventing the cell phone if he was still alive. She had read an article about him not too long ago. A crazy thought right now, but it helped her cope. But that phone may be able to save them.
She considered running, but wasn’t willing to die. Not today. And she was not leaving Sara alone with this drugged induced psycho.
“In there.” He pointed to a rusting door. The lock had been broken. Sara pushed hard and it slowly creaked open. Taylor wanted to recoil. It was dark and cold and smelled musty. He shoved Taylor and she fell into Sara who staggered in.
“How much money can you get?”
“Why are you doing this, Danny? I could have helped you without this. What about mom and dad? They would help too if you asked.”
He banged his head with his fist, “No, no, no. They hate me, you hate me, your cop husband hates me. No one will help me. I need money. That’s all. I need something to make me feel better. I’m done talking. She dies or I get my money. Your choice.” He pointed the gun at Taylor. He held out some plastic ties. “Tie her up.” He pointed to Sara.
Taylor tried to make the binds loose but he pulled with one hand and made them tight. Sara winched.
“Her legs too and this time make them tight.”
So he had noticed. Still, Taylor was able to make them a little looser.
He shook his head. “Never mind, give me your purse.” He yanked her wallet out and pulled out her bank card. “What’s the number for access?”
“Danny…”
He screamed, “What’s the number?”
“3495.”
“If I try this number and it is not right, I’m coming back to kill you both. Understand me?”
Sara’s eyes widened with fear. He shoved her onto the floor.
Taylor stood perfectly still. She thought about Sean. Last time he had told her not to provoke the unbalanced man. She didn’t move as he walked up to her. He had an odd look in his eyes. His pupils were dilated and his eyes were red. Was he that high on something? He seemed jittery.
He pressed the gun in Taylor’s stomach. “Get on the floor.” She thought about fighting him, but then he had the gun and she had found out what it was like to be shot. She knelt down and closed her eyes, wishing this was all over. Then she changed her mind. She looked at him defiantly.
He hit her in the head with the gun butt and she blacked out.