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Every muscle tight, she pressed her ear against the door, straining to listen.
“Charli?” Finn’s voice through the phone made her jump.
“Yes?”
“I’m outside the door, Charli-baby. No one’s here.”
She unlatched the lock, peeking out the crack before opening it fully. She fell into his waiting arms, relief crashing into her from his touch.
“H-h-he was here. Is he following me?”
Finn squeezed her tight against his chest, his head swiveling left and right. The muscles under her hands bunched tight, as though his body was on alert. “No one was out here when I got out of the theater. We should call Bently.”
She nodded stiffly, her entire body shaking uncontrollably.
Finn rubbed her back, pulling her closer into his body and wielding it like a protective shield. “Bently . . .? We have a problem . . . Charli and I are at Seaside Cinemas, and she said the man who attacked her was here . . . She’s safe. I’ve got her . . . Okay . . . will do.”
With her face still pressed close to his chest, the sound of fabric rustling suggested he’d put the phone away in his pocket.
“Bently’s on his way. He said to go out to the front and wait for him.” Finn kissed her forehead.
Charli tried to walk, but her legs locked up and wouldn’t budge. Her chest constricted, making it hard to breathe.
“Hey. Hey. Shhhh. You’re safe now. I’ve got you. No one is going to hurt you, honey.” Finn wiped her cheeks, his hands coming away wet from her tears.
“I was alone, and I thought . . . I was so scared.” The confession burst out in a sob.
Finn picked her up, cradling her like a child as he carried her to the main lobby and out the double set of glass doors leading to Main Street. “If that prick thinks he can come for you, he’s got another thing coming. I won’t let him hurt you again, Charli. The old me might not have been able to protect you, but I will. I’m here. You’re safe.”
Sirens in the distance got louder as Bently’s familiar patrol truck skidded to a stop, another patrol car pulling up next to him.
Bently jogged over to them, with Deputy Vargas and Officer Rafe Owens following swiftly behind him.
“Did he hurt you?” Bently asked Charli.
She shook her head. “I saw him and ran.”
Bently nodded and pointed to the other two police officers. “You two take the east side. I’ll go west. We’ve got unit three guarding the exits.”
Vargas and Owens didn’t waste time, darting inside the movie theater.
Bently brushed his thumb along her cheek. “We’ll get him.” Hope burst in her belly, fluttering up her chest.
I hope so. She wanted to put this nightmare to rest.
His gaze turned to Finn. “Get her home and lock the doors. I’ll stop by after for a statement.”
Finn nodded and carried her to their car. He opened her door and set her inside before getting in the driver’s seat. His hand immediately found hers, holding tight as if he knew he was her only lifeline right now.
Their day had come full circle. And here she was, back to feeling like her world had just been turned upside down again.
* * *
As they arrived home, Bently’s name flashed on her phone. She answered, pushing the speaker button.
“Did you get him?” she asked, not bothering with greetings.
Bently’s sigh on the other end told her all she needed to know. “He got away. We searched the whole place. I’ll review the footage from the concession stands and exits. Maybe we can get a lead. We’ll get him, Charli. I promise.”
