AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Stay on the line with me, honey. Cade and Trevor are on the way. They’ll be with you in less than five minutes. They were on a case nearby. This is Doris Baumgarten from the Sweetbriar High cafeteria, remember me, sugar?”
“Oh my gosh. Yes, I remember you, Mrs. B.” My voiced quivered as I fought back tears. “I’m so scared, please help me.”
“Oh, my sweet girl, I know. Stay with me. Stay on the line and don’t you worry about a thing. They’re almost there, listen for the door. They’ll shout loud to identify themselves and I’ll tell you when they arrive too. Stay on the phone with me, honey. I got you.”
The tears I’d been fighting filled my eyes, mixing with the blood and stinging the cut on my cheek as they fell. “Ouch, my cheek. Okay. I’m holding on.”
“Good, you’re gonna be just fine, sweetie. Can you hear the sirens?”
“Yes,” I breathed. It sounded like a lot of vehicles were arriving, not just Cade and Trevor in the SUV.
“That’s them, along with Matt and Quinn in their squad cars. They’re coming to help you.”
The sudden banging on the door made me jump, and I screamed. “Oh no!”
“They’re on your porch, honey. I promise you it’s them and that you’re safe now. It’s okay to go to the door.”
“Charlotte, open up! It’s Cade!”
“They’re here. You’re right it’s them.” But panic kept me still. I sat there petrified, trying to catch my breath.
“Stay on the line with me while you answer the door. Go on now, sweetheart, I’m here.”
“Okay.” I crawled out of the closet, tiptoed through my room and down the stairs to the front door, and peeked through the peep hole to find Cade and Trevor standing there. Cade’s SUV and two patrol cars were parked at the curb, lights flashing. “I see them. I’m really going to be okay.”
“I’m going to let you go now, honey.”
“Thank you, Mrs. B. I’m so glad it was you who answered.”
“Goodbye, sweetie. I’ll bring you some of my strawberry muffins in the morning.” She hung up.
I tossed my purse to the floor and threw open the door. Lights flashed from the squad cars parked at the curb, blinding me. “That was Mrs. B. on the phone, on nine-one-one, from the cafeteria at school. Remember her? She always used to give me an extra tapioca pudding cup at lunch because only me and your cousin Savannah liked them. Oh my god, Cade, I was so scared.”
He didn’t answer me; didn’t move. He was seething, his chest rising and falling with barely suppressed rage as he looked me over. I’d never seen him like this. Nervously, I swiped at my cheek. It was still bleeding a little bit, and it stung.
“What happened, Charlotte?” Trevor finally asked. “Matt and Quinn are circling the perimeter of your place. They’re about to start moving up and down the streets. They called for more backup. Did you get a look at who was here? A description would be very helpful right now.”
My hands still shook. “No, I didn’t see him clearly—”
My eyes got big as Cade stepped closer. I trembled as he swept a gentle fingertip beneath my chin to study my face, lifting it into the light and tilting it side to side. His eyes glinted with anger in the glare of the porch lamp. It was all I could do not to throw myself into his arms.
“Tell me who hurt you, Charlotte. Who did this?” He turned my injured cheek to the side, examining my wound, his soft touch belying the fury in his words, and I trembled. All I wanted was for him to hold me.
“She might need stitches,” Trevor observed.
Cade grunted his response.
Trevor gestured toward the mess of vehicles parked in front of my house. “I’ll get the first aid kit. Do you want an ambulance, Charlotte? A ride to the hospital?” he offered.
“What?” As his words registered, I shook my head. “No. I’m fine now that you’re all here. I don’t need an ambulance.”
“You had an intruder? This wasn’t random. You know something, don’t you? Tell me everything Charli,” Cade coaxed as he finally pulled me gently into the safety of his arms.
“Okay.” I took a deep breath as I clutched at his jacket, finally able to settle my nerves a bit. “The wind chimes were making noise, so I came out here. But there was no wind. Then I noticed the garage door was open. I don’t use it. My landlord keeps stuff stored in there—oh, I told you all that already. I’m sorry, I can’t think! Anyway, it’s supposed to be locked. And then someone said ‘Adaline.’ I mean, it was him. He called me that, then he started talking nonsense—”
“And your face?” Cade interrupted, pulling away to brush my hair out of my eyes and cradle my aching cheek in his broad palm.
“I fell when I was backing away from him. I slipped on the deck and hit my face there.” I gestured to the chair, where some of my blood was on the corner of the armrest.Ew. “No one actually hurt me. It was all my own clumsy fault.”
