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“Caleb, Alex, and Damian, who you’ll meet tomorrow, and I are going to put our heads together. They’re coming by in the morning. I’ll try to give you as much normalcy as I can, but you have to understand that I’m not going to take any unnecessary chances with your life. So cut me some slack, and let’s try to relax for a while. Alex and Sabrina are coming by to bring your things. If there’s anything else you need, tell me now so we can make sure to get it.”
“What if they’ve already left?”
“They’ll go back.” I take a few steps to grab a pen, and put that and a notepad in her hand to have her write out what she needs. I also text Alex to see if they’ve sent anyone yet, because they may have to go back. Lucky for me, Alex catches them before they leave. After that call, I decide to order in. I’m starved, and I’m sure Jasmine is as well. “Do you like Indian food?”
She beams a smile so bright, it’s like the sun is streaming down right on me. “It’s one of my faves,” she replies.
“After you make that list, make another one with what you want for dinner. I know a great place that delivers that will make you never order from anywhere else again.”
“I don’t know,” she teases, “India Time is the best I’ve had so far, and I must say, nothing has compared so far.”
“Be prepared to be dazzled.” Then she laughs, a real throaty, wholehearted laugh that seeps into your bones and makes everything in the world seem right.
* * *
Jasmine
Dinner was the bomb, and as much as I hate to admit it, Bombay Grill rivals my go-to place. We ate and talked, and much to my surprise, Zeke and I have a lot in common. We both love hiking and the outdoors. We’re both into art, although I’m not nearly as talented as Zeke. He showed me some of his drawings, and they’re fantastic. His work is more refined, and mine is more raw.
I was stunned when he told me he’s the youngest of nine kids. I’m an only child and adopted at that. I came to my parents as a baby. All I know about my birth mother is that she got pregnant as a teenager and decided I was better off with a family who could give me what she couldn’t. Before I started high school, my parents told me all they knew about her, which wasn’t much, and even offered to help find her if I was interested. I wasn’t.
My birth mother made a decision in my best interest, and I’m glad she did. She has a life of her own and I have mine, and I wouldn’t change a damn thing about the way I grew up.
I’m entranced by all the stories Zeke’s telling me about his brothers and sisters.
“It’s so cool that you’re all so close. Do you miss them?” I ask.
“Sometimes. But in all honesty, I like having space between us. When I go home, it’s great. But it’s loud and busy. This is home now,” he says.
When there’s a knock on the door, I nearly jump out of my skin. My eyes dart to the door, then to Zeke. He gets up to peer through the peephole. “It’s Alex and Sabrina.” He opens the door, and a beautiful woman with dark hair and lovely warm green eyes comes through. She plants a kiss on Zeke’s cheek before making her way to me. While I’m being enveloped in a hug by this sweet stranger, Alex follows her in. I remember him from the station. Alex claps a hand on Zeke’s back and hands him a bag. I know that bag. It’s mine.
“Hey, Jaz. This is my fiancée, Sabrina.” Alex introduces us. “Brought the stuff you asked for.”
“Not to worry, I packed it,” Sabrina adds as she pulls back. Taking hold of my hand, she drops onto the sofa, tugging me with her. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you. I hope you don’t mind Alex filling me in on what’s happening. How are you doing?”
Sabrina’s sweet, and I can see that she genuinely cares. “I’m better. I just keep racking my brain on why anyone would want me gone. Then I wonder if I should call my parents in case this is a family vendetta. But that’s even more unlikely. My parents never hurt anyone. They’re retired in Florida with their friends, leading a simple life. That’s the way they’ve always been. Mom worked as a secretary and Dad was a carpenter. They volunteered for local charities, always giving back to the community. None of this makes any sense,” I say with frustration.
“Have you had any run-ins lately? Bad dates? Do you remember when this all started?” Sabrina asks.
“My fiancée is vying for our jobs, Zeke,” Alex says.
Sabrina glances over her shoulder at him. “Well, I can’t very well not pick up on the lingo when I hear you every day,” she says with a grin. The two of them together are adorable. When Sabrina looks at Alex, you can see how much they mean to one another.
“I think this started a month ago, but I can’t be sure. I remember some crank calls. Hang-ups, really. I just figured it was a wrong number and never thought any more about it. My neighbor, Mrs. Dickson, says she’s seen some guy in the hallway leering around my door. Etta’s wonderful, but she’s eighty-two and her eyesight isn’t the greatest. Again, it could just be someone lost in the building.”
“Maybe we pay a visit to Etta and see what she has to say. It could be she can give us a lead,” Zeke says, his words mainly directed to Alex.
“I don’t want her to be frightened,” I say.
“We do this all the time, Jaz. We’ll go gentle,” Alex says.
“Honey, why not take Jasmine with you, or bring Etta here? They can have a visit. I’m sure Etta’s worried about Jasmine,” Sabrina suggests.
“That can be arranged,” Zeke says. “We’ll call her in the morning and set it up. Maybe Damian can pick her up and bring her over.”
“I talked to him earlier, and he’ll be here with Chloe around ten tomorrow. We’ll be back then too. Expect Caleb earlier. That man has got to learn to relax. I left him at the precinct scrutinizing the statement to look for commonalities,” Alex tells us.
“That’s why he’s good,” Zeke says.
