Six Weeks Ago
PEPPER BROOKS STOOD frozen to the floor of the diner, and not because there was probably some kind of syrup still there from the day before. A cassette tape had been hidden under the poor excuse for a tip, and she wracked her brain in an attempt to figure out how… more importantly, who.
The table had been filled with teenagers obviously out past their curfew, but she couldn’t imagine them putting the tape under the money. The last time she’d seen a cassette tape was a hundred years ago. So how did it get there? She picked it up and saw that it was the single of “Every Breath You Take.”
Last week a movie poster for Fatal Attraction had been slipped under the wiper blade of her car, and the week before that a forty-five of “My Obsession” had been mailed to her here at the diner.
She didn’t need this! She already had more than enough on her mind and could feel the rapid approach of a nasty headache. Her friend, Samantha Moore, was moving to Scotland and Pepper was already missing her. When Pepper moved from California to Savannah in second grade, she and Samantha became best buds and had been inseparable ever since. There hadn’t been a day they hadn’t talked or seen each other, usually both, and Pepper didn’t know what she was going to do without her “sister” close.
“Pepper! Order up,” Hank yelled.
Pepper jumped and shoved the money and the tape in her apron. “Coming.”
Her boss was in a mood tonight… had been all day.
She made her way to the window and spent the next two hours so rushed off her feet, she forgot all about the cassette.
* * *
Pepper’s phone rang for the fourth time in fifteen minutes. She frowned and ignored it—again. The number was restricted, so she never answered, and they never left a message. But now they were beginning to piss her off. The calls had started the day after the cassette tape had been delivered. The person called three times a day, then four… now it was escalating.
“Pepper!” Hank snapped. “Where the hell is your head, girl?”
Pepper glanced at him through the food window and shook her head. “Sorry, Hank.”
He muttered something under his breath and pushed a plate through the window. Pepper picked up her order and set it in front of her customers, forcing a smile and counting the minutes to the end of her shift.
* * *
Four Weeks Ago
“Bye, Hank,” Pepper called as she closed her locker, grabbed her purse, and started toward the door. “See you tomorrow.”
“Don’t be late, girl.”
“I won’t,” she said… but she probably would be. She hadn’t slept through the night in almost a week. The barrage of mysterious calls, combined with her mother’s drunken middle-of-the-night tirades, made it impossible.
She headed toward her car, keys at the ready, and unlocked the door. As was her habit—after watching yet another horror flick alone—she checked the backseat and then jumped inside and locked the door. She hadn’t received anything from her secret admirer in three days, and instead of that making her feel better, she was more nervous than ever.
Her phone rang. She picked it up and saw Dalton Moore’s name on her screen. She almost ignored it. Almost.
“Hi, Dalt.”
“Hey. I can’t believe you answered the phone.”
“Me neither,” she grumbled.
“Is there anything I can do to make you forgive me?”
Dalton Moore was Samantha’s brother and the man Pepper had sworn never to speak to again. He was a playboy of the worst degree but in a moment of weakness, he’d convinced her to give him a chance and they went out on a series of dates. Just as she’d started to give him a piece of her heart, she’d walked in on him “enjoying” his receptionist… on the desk in his office.
The worst part of it was she couldn’t tell Sam. Her best friend never even knew they’d dated, and now she couldn’t share her heartbreak with the one person she had always told everything to.
Pepper sighed. “I’m not mad anymore, Dalt.”
“I wish I could explain.”
“I’m sure you do. But you said you can’t, so let’s just leave it, okay? I’m heading home, so I need to hang up.”
“Can we have lunch next week?”
“Maybe.” She turned the ignition. “I gotta go. ’Bye.” She hung up and rubbed her forehead. Lord, she was tired. Her phone rang again and she answered it. “Dalton, seriously, we’ll talk next week.”
A hiss came over the line and then, “It’s not Dalton.”
Pepper went very still. She swallowed. “Um, sorry, I think you might have the wrong number.”
“I don’t have the wrong number,” the low voice came.
She didn’t recognize the man’s voice… she could only tell he was southern because of his thick accent.
“I’m a little disappointed in you, you know,” he droned.
“Excuse me?” she snapped.
“I sent you several gifts and you threw all but the cassette tape away.”
She’d forgotten about the cassette.
Shit, it must be in my other apron. How did he know?
“I don’t know who you are, but you must have the wrong number—”
“I don’t have the wrong number, Pepper. Don’t hang up.”
“Why not?”
“Because if you do, bad things are going to happen.”
“Oooh, I’m scared.” She snorted. “Listen, weirdo, I don’t know who you are, but you need to quit harassing me. If you don’t, I’ll call the authorities. I know people.”
She didn’t really, but it sounded good.
He laughed. “Like your friend, Dalton Moore? He’s not a real man… not like me.”
He knows Dalton? WHAT?
“And if you even think about talking to Samantha Moore, I will kill her,” he continued.
“I’m hanging up now.”
She did and shook her head. The guy was obviously a kook who had too much time on his hands. She couldn’t believe he’d actually got in her head. Tonight, she planned to have a glass or two of red wine and sleep like a baby.
* * *
Pepper stood in Jonesy’s stall and ran the brush over her beloved Arabian’s neck. “Who’s my good boy? Hmm?” Jonesy nudged her with his nose and she giggled. “Okay, okay. You did really well today. You deserve a peppermint.” She dug in her pocket and pulled out the treat. Jonesy took it gently from her palm, nodded his head, and took his time with his favorite candy.
“It’s time for you to go to sleep and me to go home.”
Jonesy let out a quiet whinny. Pepper called it his “growl.” He did it whenever she said or did something he didn’t like—at least, that’s what she told everyone. She was convinced he knew what she was saying. Pepper stayed another twenty minutes before she kissed Jonesy one more time, and headed to her car. She arrived to find her rear tire flat. “Great!”
She was the last one in the barn tonight, which wasn’t unusual, but it was dark and she hated to bug the owner. With a groan, she pulled out her phone, found her Triple A card, and dialed their number. The operator said it could take up to an hour for a tow truck to come and asked if she was in a safe place to wait. If she wasn’t she should call 9-1-1. Pepper assured her she was safe and that she’d just wait in the car.
Pepper sighed and got into the car. She hated waiting. For anything. Technically, she could change the tire herself—Samantha’s dad had taught both of them basic car care when they got their licenses—but she didn’t “do” manual labor… or grease. Not to mention, a migraine was approaching and she was out of pain meds.
Luckily, she’d downloaded the new album from Fallen Crown. She hadn’t had a chance to listen to the whole thing yet, but it was her favorite band and this was the perfect opportunity to immerse herself in the music. She dropped her head onto the headrest and settled in to wait. She was three songs in when a knock at her window elicited a quiet squeal, but her heart calmed when she saw who it was. Mario Hernandez was one of the best-looking men she’d ever met. Tall and muscular, the native Mexican had been living in Savannah since he was a teenager and working at the ranch for almost as long. Now thirty-five, he was married with two kids and was the go-to trainer for the rich and influential. He’d been training Pepper for two years in exchange for light bookkeeping and administrative duties. The arrangement was working out perfectly for them both.
“Hey, Rio.” She opened her door and stepped out. “What are you still doing here?”
He grinned. “I could ask you the same thing, but it’s not quite midnight, so you’re still within your timetable.”
She snorted. “You’re funny. Uh, my tire’s flat. I’m waiting for the tow truck.”
He frowned. “No need for that. I can change it for you.”
“Don’t you need to go home?”
He sighed. “Anna took the kids to her mom’s for the week. I’m joining them over the weekend, but for now, I’m trying to distract myself.”
She grinned. Mario loved his family and they adored him right back. Pepper grabbed her keys and opened the trunk. “Okay, then distract away. The tire’s in here. Thanks.”
Less than thirty minutes later, Mario was setting the flat in the trunk just as a truck made its way up the road.
“Oh, crud. I forgot to cancel the tow truck,” Pepper said.
“Why don’t you head home, and I’ll talk to the tow guy,” Mario offered. “You have to work tomorrow.”
“So do you,” she pointed out.
He chuckled. “Ah, but I need a distraction, remember?”
“Right.” She climbed into the car and cranked the window down. “Thanks for everything, Rio.”
“See you tomorrow for your lesson. Get some sleep.”
Pepper waved and headed down the driveway, past the truck and toward home. She was halfway home when her phone rang. “Hello?”
“Why did you let the Mexican fix your car, Pepper?”
It was him.
“What?”
“I warned you, Pepper. Do you remember?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You are not behaving the way you are supposed to. You are going to need to learn to obey me, Pepper.”
“Excuse me? You haven’t told me anything. Not that I’d listen if you did. I’d highly suggest getting back on the crazy train and heading on out of town.”
“And I’d suggest you listen to me or you’ll be in trouble, Pepper.”
“You better leave me alone, or I’m calling the cops.”
“Call them, Pepper. They won’t find me.”
Pepper shook. He was creepy as hell, and not just because he said her name after almost every sentence.
“Look, I don’t know what you want. Just tell me and I’ll see what I can do,” she said.
A sardonic chuckle sounded through the phone. “I want you, Pepper. It’s always been you.”
“Well, you can’t have me. Just leave me alone!”
“I will have you, Pepper. One way or another.”
“Creep!” She hung up and glanced in her rearview mirror. Maybe he was following her. She decided to take the long way home, just in case. She arrived at the badly-in-need-of-repair box her mother called home, and parked in the driveway. Shaking off her impending sense of doom, she made her way inside.
She closed the front door and frowned. Her big black lab usually met her at the door.
“Rover,” she called.
Nothing.
“Mom?”
Still nothing.
She sighed. Her mom probably locked Rover outside when she went out with Jeff, the new “sweet, but misunderstood” ex-con who’d swept her off her feet.
Her mother’s cat, Morris, was pacing the length of the sliding glass door and meowing. Pepper dropped her purse on the kitchen counter and, after grabbing a dog biscuit, made her way to the door and opened it. “Rover?”
She flipped the outdoor light switch, but nothing happened. “Wonderful.” She couldn’t see much, even the moon was hiding from her, so she flipped on the lamp inside the door. Rover was lying on the concrete patio slab next to his dog house.
“Rover? Hey, buddy, why aren’t you in your cozy bed?” She knelt beside him and her stomach turned. “Rover? Come on, buddy, you need to wake up.” She continued to try to wake him, but the reality was that her beloved dog was dead. As the tears streamed down her face, she sat back on her heels and let the stress of the evening cover her.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she answered it. “Hello?”
“It was a painless death, Pepper.”
“What?” she squeaked.
“Next time, maybe you’ll listen to me, hmm? I warned you that something bad would happen if you didn’t do what I said. This time it was your dog, Pepper. Next time it might be your mother. Or perhaps even Jonesy… although, I think I’ll leave him until last and make you watch.”
“Why are you doing this to me? What do you want?”
“I want you, Pepper. I have always wanted you.”
“I don’t even know who you are!”
He chuckled. “Oh, you will. But in the meantime, we should really get to know one another, hmm? We’ll start slow. Answer my calls. Every time, Pepper. Understand? Do as I tell you and as you earn my trust, you’ll be rewarded.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Don’t push me, Pepper. One of the things I like most about you is your spunk, however, your mouth has gotten you into trouble, and I think we need to work on that. Now, bury your dog. I’ve taken the liberty of digging a grave in the corner of your yard.”
Her blood ran cold. “What?”
“I know you like to be taken care of, my love. I’d never make you do manual labor.”
Pepper swallowed. “Leave me alone.”
“I can’t do that, Pepper. Take care of your animal before he starts to decompose and I’ll call you in the morning before your shift at the diner. I’d like you to wear that pretty blue scarf you wore to the airport when you said good-bye to Samantha. This will show me you’re willing to do as you’re told.”
The phone went dead.
* * *
Pepper hadn’t answered the stalker’s calls or worn the scarf. He wasn’t happy. Neither was Hank when he received a call in the middle of the night informing him the diner was on fire.
Pepper was frantic to tell the police who she suspected set the fire, but she didn’t even know where to direct them. She still tried, though. They were helpful up to a point. They hadn’t finished the investigation on the fire, so they wouldn’t share what they’d found. If anything. There also wasn’t any evidence she was being stalked. Not even a record that she’d received phone calls from anyone other than the people in her phone contacts. And since she didn’t know who he was, they couldn’t help.
He’d been able to cover his tracks better than she could have imagined. When she told the police about Rover, they’d come out to the house to find the “grave” wasn’t there. All they saw was fresh sod. The creep had apparently dug up her dog and refilled the hole.
A canvas of the neighbors revealed nothing. No one had heard or seen anything, and she quickly realized she might be dealing with a crazy person, but he was a smart crazy person. When he called two mornings later, she answered it.
“Ahhh, Pepper, you entertain me so, my love. Are we done playing our little game?”
Pepper bit her lip, willing the tears to stay away. “Yes.”
“Excellent. Now, you have that training session with your Mexican today. Wear the blue scarf and make me proud. It’ll be the last time you ride your beloved horse, after all.”
“What? No! You can’t hurt him.”
“But you are to be punished, my love. You disobeyed me.”
“Please don’t hurt him,” she begged. “I’ll do anything.”
“Anything?”
She bit her fist in an effort not to sob. “Yes.”
“Sell him.”
“What?” She shook her head. “Sell him?”
“Yes. Sell him. You have two days.”
He hung up.