AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sorry, Zo,” her sister said. “I was in the middle of a delicate negotiation. What’s up?”
“Ethan,” Zoe managed to say, her voice shuddering.
“What about him?” Annie’s voice sharpened. No. Mel’s voice sharpened. After her stint in the CIA, Annie preferred to be called Mel.
Zoe drew a deep breath. Tried to steady herself, but her heart battered against her chest. “He’s in Seattle. He sent me a charm from the bracelet I lost. It came in the mail today.” She sucked in another breath, trying to still her panic. “I thought Ethan had taken it before Dad was killed.”
“Oh, my God,” her sister breathed. “You’re sure it was a Seattle postmark?”
“No question.” Zoe closed her eyes. “I thought… it felt as if someone was watching me a few times recently. But when I turned around, I didn’t see anyone. Maybe Ethan was following me.”
“Have you called the police?” Annie asked sharply.
“No. I called you instead.”
“Okay.” In the silence, Zoe heard the sound of a pen bouncing off her sister’s desk. “He’s probably in Seattle, but he won’t be able to get past the guard in the lobby of your building or the doorman in your condo. I’ll search the web for information about him, along with a recent photo. You’ll need that for the police, for the doorman in your building and for security in your office building.”
Mel took a deep breath. “Okay, Zo, here’s what we’re going to do.” Her voice was calm. Reassuring. “I’m going to send one of my agents to Seattle. He or she will be close protection for you. With you, twenty-four seven, until Davies is found and locked up again. The five years he spent in Middleton were supposed to treat his obsession with you. They clearly failed.”
Zoe started to speak, and Mel cut her off. “Don’t give me grief about this, Zo. I do not want you alone. At all. My operatives are well-trained. Smart. And very, very good at what they do. Once I figure out who I’m sending and get them on their way, I’ll start looking for more information about Davies. He’s been free for eight years. Something must have triggered him to come after you again. I’ll scour the web until I figure out what the trigger was. Maybe that can help us figure out how to deal with him.”
“Okay,” Zoe said, her throat constricting. “I trust you.”
“Here’s what I want you to do, Zo. Call the police as soon as we end this call. Have them send someone out to talk to you. Give them the charm so they can test it for fingerprints. Before you hand it over, though, take photos of it. The envelope, too. Tell the officer what happened in Illinois. Give him or her the backstory. Explain why this charm is a significant threat. All right? Will you do that?”
“Of course I will,” Zoe said, swallowing the sour taste of fear in her mouth.
“Ask the officer who shows up to walk with you to your car. Follow you home and search your condo when you get there. Then you stay in that condo, doors locked, with orders to your doorman that no one gets upstairs unless they show a photo ID from Blackhawk security. I’ll send your bodyguard directly to your place.
“Sit tight. I’ll get back to you as soon as I have any information.”
“Okay, Mel. I’ll do that right now.”
“Take a deep breath, Zo. I’ve got your back. My agent will keep you safe.”
Zoe wanted to tell her sister that she was over-reacting. That they both were. But the image of her father, lying on the floor in the upstairs hallway, blood pouring out of his chest, was imprinted in her brain. Always would be.
Her father had still been alive when the ambulance came screaming down the street. The EMTs had done CPR. They’d used the paddles to try and restart his heart. But nothing helped. He’d died on the floor, wearing the striped pajamas that Zoe used to tease him about. “You’re wearing prison clothes,” she told him every time he wore them.
His answer had been corny and sweet. “I’m a prisoner of love for my three girls,” he’d always said.
Choking back a sob for the sweet, kind man who’d been shot protecting her, she took a too-big gulp of her latte, then set the glass gently on the table. Picked up her phone and looked for the police non-emergency number.
It was an emergency for her, but she was pretty sure the police wouldn’t see it that way. When she was finally connected, she told the woman what had happened and why she was concerned.
“Give me your address,” she said immediately. “I’ll send an officer over.”
Zoe recited the address of the office building, then said, “We’re on the tenth floor. I’ll call the doorman and have him send the officer right up.”
“Thank you,” the woman said. “She’ll be there shortly.”
After hanging up, Zoe called down to the doorman and asked him to send the police officer up to her floor. Less than five minutes later, Janet stuck her head in the door. No smile this time. “A police officer’s here to see you,” she said.
“Send her in,” Zoe answered.
The officer was a young woman with short blond hair. Zoe stood up and held out her hand. “Thank you for getting here so quickly,” she said. “I’m Zoe Melbourne.”
“Officer Lindsay Woods,” the officer said. “How can I help you?”
