Tours of her favorite nurseries dissolved the multi-year gap between visits as Julien observed proprietors not only remembering her parents, but Adara’s enthusiasm as well. Several dahlia specimens and a hybrid tea rose caught her eye and would make nice additions to his yard.
The sun’s descent braided subtle scents of their surroundings with the colorful hues of the western sky to breathe in new inspiration free of psychopaths, greed, and vengeful co-workers while the abrupt changes in Adara’s life reminded him of the frailty of human existence. Experience of losing friends in his special ops unit had taught him to appreciate special treasures such as Adara.
When pausing en route to his vehicle, her smile morphed into concern as her gaze rested on the windshield. A thick envelope bulged under the wiper.
“Something from your brothers?”
“Probably.” A touch of the remote unlocked the car doors on approach. A surreptitious inspection of their surrounding yielded nothing to indicate imminent danger. “Let me grab it while you secure these on the back seat.” He set the two dahlias and tea rose beside the back passenger door. “There’s a couple of towels on the floor you can use to protect the seats.”
“Okay, thanks. You think of everything.”
“No problem. It’s certainly turning out to be a peaceful day.” His smile, meant to reassure, received a pasted facsimile in return.
Instinct dictated the package contained an item of warning. Curiosity and a background dealing with thugs mandated he open the legal-sized, manila envelope with as little handling as possible.
The contents were something he hadn’t seen since his military days. Disgust with the theatrical message challenged his ability to maintain a neutral expression.
Turning his back to Adara, he used two fingers to tug on the plastic bag in the envelope. The macabre view greeting him forced a hard swallow despite the item’s lack of odor.
“Jesus.”
It was a human tongue, bloody with jagged edges. An indication of someone talking out of turn?
The note beside the gift consisted of white, unlined, paper, soaked in blood. Mindful of where he put his fingers, he opened it to reveal block handwriting that issued a warning. Adara’s would make a better trophy. Leave her alone or she’s next. Handling the package by one corner, he slid the contents back, closed the flap, and pulled out his cell to make a call. Adara’s stalker just upped the ante.
“Everything okay?” Adara’s demeanor slipped back into a world of fear and uncertainty with her tight expression and forced smile.
“We’re fine, but I need to make several calls. Why don’t you have a seat and open the windows.” He’d parked in the shade of a large oak.
A muscle in her temple ticked as she caught the key ring tossed to her. Without hesitation, she slid into the front passenger seat and slipped the key into the ignition.
When an unmarked police car rolled to a stop beside him, a brief glimpse of Adara’s expression necessitated a quiet word of reassurance before approaching the detective, an old teammate from the military. “We’re fine, Adara. I’ll explain what’s happening in a few minutes.”
Once again, Julien tried to fit pieces of a mismatched puzzle together to form a picture. Nothing fit.
“Hey, Sarge, glad you’re the one to catch this call. Its been a while.”
“When I heard who requested assistance, I figured I’d find out if you’re still the troublemaker of the family…” A casual suit marked the officer’s diligence in appearance.
In short order, Julien explained the prior note and late-night uninvited visitor, a report on everything to date.
“How about we meet back at your firm where I can get a statement from you both? Let me grab an evidence bag big enough for that envelope.”
Tears brimmed Adara’s eyes when he slid into the car. Pale complexion contrasted midnight locks and betrayed her expectations. Without detailing the package’s specific contents, he pointed out the necessity of filing a police report.
Heavy breathing callers and nasty notes are one thing, body parts another. He prayed the appendage didn’t come from Graham. It all begged the question of what sadistic tendencies her uncle displayed. The quiet ride disrupted the morning’s progress in easing her tension. She remained pale and contemplative.
Julien relayed brief experiences with the detective through military experience, their paths crossing at regular intervals. She knew of his history in the service, but not the gory details.
* * * *
Adara tried to relax at the conference table. Existence as the center of attention always proved a bad thing. “Is anybody going to tell me what was in the envelope?”
Four Crofton brothers sat around the table, concern etching their expressions. The police officer remained stoic, except when his gaze landed on Adara.
Even Conner deferred to his younger brother’s preference with only a suggestion, “She deserves to know.”
A rough explanation depleted warmth from her skin while the brothers’ continued discussion in the background. It all added up to buzzing in her ears like the white noise of early morning television.
Please do be dead, Graham.
Adara couldn’t detail the sexual abuse leading to her fleeing her home while seated among five men. Each retained an air of quiet respect when first one then another quizzed her about Simmie and their non-relationship, as well as her knowledge of Graham.
“He’s a good friend and would never try to scare me., Simmie, however, along with my uncle and cousin, are different stories. I didn’t know Dad co-owned the drug company with Simmie’s father. He never talked much about business.” Slight furrows wrinkled her brow. “Do you think Simmie’s involved in this?”
“We don’t know, hon. That’s why we’re making statements now. We will figure it out.” Julien’s hand covering hers offered a reprieve from the swirling vortex of stress crushing her chest.
The recorded conversation lasted a lifetime in her mind, knowing past experiences would replay in her nightmares in horrific detail. Dread’s mantle settled once again when Julien, Nate, and Conner went into her boss’s office and closed the door once the detective left.
Marc kept her company and engaged her in conversations about their trip to the arboretum and nurseries. So similar in appearance, his lighthearted approach to life contrasted with Julien’s no-nonsense attitude. Thirty minutes later, Julien, Nate, and Conner returned, a puzzled frown etched in each of their expressions.
This can’t be good.
Upon seeing her, Julien smiled and offered his hand. “How about we make tracks out of here? I have an idea.”
The arts and crafts store carried appropriate supplies to bring years’ worth of visions to scale. Julien continued to engage her in conversation specific to each, yet his preoccupation indicated her situation involved more than first suspected.
Once back in his home and sitting at the kitchen bar, the flow of concepts took shape on her sketch pad and proved a much-needed distraction.
“Hey, not bad. Maybe you’re in the wrong line of work.”
She smiled when he shoulder surfed to scrutinize the design.
“What’s this?” With BBQ tongs grabbed from a drawer, he indicated a special area outside the kitchen door.
“A butterfly herb garden. Since you like to cook, I figured it would come in handy. I outlined the wings with Greek oregano. Inside are the herbs you use most often. The body of the butterfly is made of tumbled glass in different colors. It’s all bordered with a hybrid lavender. Everything is used, not to mention colorful.”
“Wow, it’s fantastic. Beauty and function integrated.”
When he set thick packaged steaks on the counter, she realized how natural and relaxed their interactions had become, ordinary and domestic.
“These steaks look great—and huge.”
“Don’t worry. Nika will finish anything we can’t.” He glanced at the drawing again. “I think your talents are definitely wasted in the office.”
“I always figured if I couldn’t make it as a gymnast, I’d open up a gardening center. Then after my folks died, I knew all those dreams were dead. But then I came to work for you, to learn what I’d need to escape and stay under my family’s radar. I think the only reason Tony allowed me to work is he figured I’d never have the courage to run or stand up to them. Along the way, I just gave up on thinking about the future.”
“Adara, you will never have to run from them. And—once we make them understand your position, they won’t bother you. We’ll make it clear it would be in their best interest to leave you alone. That’s if they’re not in jail.”
“In just a couple of days, you’ve completely changed the direction of my life.”
“Learn to live in the moment and be happy, Adara. Just be happy.”
“I am, Julien. For the first time since my parents’ death, I truly am.”
“So, after steaks on the grill, how about a movie, maybe a romantic comedy?”