CHAPTER 16

Rose woke with an uneasy feeling.

She slowly opened her eyes, fear clutching her throat with steel fingers as she looked around the room.

It was as empty as it was when she had gone to bed. Glancing at the alarm clock she noticed it was just before eleven pm. She had basically just drifted away and woke up again.

Cole’s car had left early evening, she refused to let that, or him, bother her any longer and had spent the evening going over some work emails. Best medicine for heartache and grief was always work, according to Rose.

She turned over and pulled the blanket up until it reached her chin. Closing her eyes she breathed deeply hoping the fear would subside.

Nightmares, night terrors and a good dose of paranoia was expected after what had happened to Emmaline and the victim that followed, she told herself as sleep refused to settle.

She heard it again. It was coming from outside her window.

Paranoia, she told herself even as she got out of bed and moved towards the window. The shades were drawn, but Rose pulled it back an inch and hoped the moonlight would cast enough light on the garden for her to see clearly.

Rose saw the dark figure keep his head down and shoulders hunched as he moved through the garden. Her breath caught as her heart started to hammer against her ribs.

Calm, remain calm Rose. Breathe. She admonished herself as she watched the figure move around the house.

She quietly walked to the bedside table where her phone was and dialed 911.

“911 What’s your emergency?”

Rose rattled off the information of the intruder along with the recent murders and ended with her address.

“M’am, please lock your doors and stay inside, help is on the way.” The operator assured her calmly.

Rose felt anything but. She moved to the kitchen where she grabbed the biggest knife she owned and padded softly back to the bedroom.

Settling herself against the headboard; knees drawn up to her chin she held the knife ready to defend if necessary before help arrived.

She would never disregard any mention of a sixth sense again, if she hadn’t woken up…

Refusing to go there she started counting, trying to drag her mind away from what the man outside was capable of. What he had done to Emmaline.

She heard the sirens wailing by the time she reached two-hundred. As soon as they sounded close enough, Rose lurched from the bed and ran for the front door.

“Hello!” She called as she pulled open the door, she ran across the lawn to meet them. “He’s round back in the garden.”

The police men tipped his hat in acknowledgement before he indicated his partner should get left and he’d go right.

Rose knew the lurker had already escaped when he heard the loud wailing sound of the sirens, but refused to go inside nonetheless.

She sat on the step of her porch, knife still in hand and waited for them to return. Her breathing had just normalized when she noticed the door across the road open and Cole walked out. He wore sweat pants that rode low on his hips. Rose caught a glimpse of his sculpted torso before he tugged the sweater over his head.

“Rose?” He called even as he started running to her. “What the hell happened?” He crouched in front of her, running his hands over her icy arms. “Are you alright?”

Rose looked into the blue depths of his eyes and recognized concern, even if he didn’t want to admit it he did care. “I’m fine. There was someone in the garden.”

“Hey folks! What’s going on here?” A voice said from behind them.

“Thank God it’s you Mark. I think the murderer was just in my garden.” Rose said fervently to the security guard she had met a few days before. “I woke up and thought I’d heard something and then when I went to go look…”

“Hush now, the cops are here and I’m doing patrols all night. We’re all doing everything to make sure another murder doesn’t happen.”

Rose nodded appreciating the effort; they had received a notice that morning from the Owner’s Association that the security efforts would be buffed up.

The police men came from behind the house sharing a disappointed expression.

“Sorry M’am. It’s seems he must’ve run when he heard the sirens. We’ve got some mud marks against the back wall where he must’ve jumped over but not a clear enough print or shoe size to use it.”

“So that’s it. Sorry try again next time?” Cole said furiously as he straightened up and faced the police man.

“I know this is hard sir, but there isn’t much else we can do. This community is on our priority response time at the moment and I know ever since the second murder Detective Vanguard is working his butt off on this.”

“Right.” Rose smirked.

“We’re doing everything we can at the moment; if you’ve got any more trouble let us know, we’ll stay close through the night.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Cole said pulling Rose up by her hand and taking the knife from her. “I’m taking Miss Adler home with me until this is sorted out.”

“Now wait a damn minute,” Rose said defiantly. They were treating her like an errant little girl. “I’ve got my own house and obviously I sleep light.”

“Honey, you barely slumbered in. Your light only went out about an hour ago.” Cole drawled as he tugged her closer to him.

“You watched me?” Rose asked, temper rising as she pushed him away.

“No I didn’t watch you.” Both policemen and Mark turned to Cole. He put his hands up and raised his eyebrows. “I happened to be closing my curtains and noticed you switch off the damn light.”

“Oh.” Rose huffed.

“Come on, you’re not staying here. You won’t get any sleep anyway.”

Rose shrugged, he was probably right. She wanted to make him promise not to touch her but that would‘ve been awkward with a security guard and two police men watching. “Fine.”