Chapter Ten
“They’re going to catch him,” he said, his eyes focused on the gun on the counter. “The sheriff’s office and the state police are canvassing the county right now. Maybe he’ll realize that stalking you isn’t worth getting caught, but that’s what a sane person would do. Crocker is a psycho. You can’t go home.”
“What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to stay with Violet.”
He shook his head. “No. You’d only put her in danger, anyway. The sheriff’s office wants to put you into witness protection.”
“But what about my landscaping job? How long will I be gone?”
“As long as it takes. I suspect they’ll try to flush him out, but Crocker is smart, so he might realize that you’re not really at your house.”
“Where will I stay if I can’t go home and I can’t go to Violet’s?”
“You can stay with me until they find a safe place for you. We’re outside Henryetta city limits, which is why the undercover sheriff’s deputy who followed us is watching my condo.”
“So why can’t I just stay with you until it’s over?”
“Because I have to go to work, and even though the deputy can stay with you while I’m gone, it would be too obvious. Crocker and his men would find you in no time. We need to keep you hidden.”
“But how long will it take to catch him?”
“Hopefully they’ll be able to flush him out in a day or two. But I don’t want to take any chances. It needs to be somewhere outside of Henryetta city limits but still in Fenton County.”
Suddenly the answer came to me, so obvious that I felt blind for not seeing it before. “My birth mother’s farm.”
His mouth parted. “Where is it?”
“About thirty minutes out of town. My Uncle Earl has kept it up. When I asked him about it a week ago, he told me he’s been paying the electric and gas bills with my trust. He said the water comes from a well.”
“Who else knows about it?”
“Uh…” I wrinkled my brow as I counted. “Violet, of course. And her husband, Mike. Joe. Jonah. Neely Kate and my aunt and uncle. But only my aunt and uncle know where it is. Like I told you yesterday, I haven’t been out there yet.”
“And who knows about the existence of your birth mother?”
“The same people. No one else. Well, except for you, of course.”
“This could be good. It’s a secret and it’s remote. Give me the address and I’ll have the deputies check it out.”
“So I’ll just hide out at the farm?”
“If the sheriff thinks it’s a good idea, then, yeah. With sheriff’s deputies there to guard you.”
Even though I’d been the one to suggest the farm, I was having second thoughts. What if I was stuck there for days or even weeks? “I suppose I was going on Sunday anyway,” I said.
“We were going on Sunday.”
I smiled at him. “We.” We’d only made those plans two days ago, but it seemed like weeks. A new worry hit me. “Unless you changed your mind.”
He looked incredulous. “Why would I have changed my mind?”
I looked down at the table. “I don’t know…last night you couldn’t keep your hands off me and now you’re acting like Mr. Assistant DA. Maybe you decided I’m too much drama. Joe considered breaking up with me last July after the whole Bruce Wayne and Jimmy DeWade mess. Maybe you’ve decided to escape while you still can.”
“Is that what you think?” he asked in disbelief. “You think this has become too intense and I’ve changed my mind?”
I looked up into his face. “I wouldn’t blame you.”
He shook his head. “Come here.” He reached over and grabbed my wrist, pulling me around the side of the table and into his lap, wrapping an arm around the small of my back. He looked up at me with a soft smile. “Are you forgetting how we met? You were like this tornado that swept into the courthouse with the sole intent of throwing my entire life off its axis. I knew you were a pack of trouble the moment I laid eyes on you. And when you stood in front of me, completely lopsided because of your broken heel, and verbally berated my lack of manners, threatening to hunt down my mother and tattle on me, I knew I could search to the ends of the earth and never find another woman like you.”
I cringed. “I was horrid.”
“I deserved every word you unleashed.”
“Mason, I’m like a magnet for trouble. Joe hated it.”
“Joe’s an imbecile. And lucky for me that he is.” He kissed me softly and I sighed into his lips. Even in this situation, with Daniel Crocker after me, I felt safe with Mason. Cherished.
I turned to face him better, grabbing the sides of his head and holding him in place in case he changed his mind.
But my actions ignited something in him and he slid his hands under my T-shirt and up my back, setting my skin on fire.
Mason groaned and grabbed my shoulders, pulling me back. “I didn’t touch you because I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop once I started. As much as I want you, it’s more important for me to make sure you’re safe. And if I’m the one in charge of protecting you, I’ll do a shitty job of it, because when I’m kissing you a damn nuclear bomb could go off and I wouldn’t even notice.”
“Oh.” I could see his point. “So does that mean you’re not going to kiss me?”
His eyes watched my mouth. “I don’t see how I can be this close to you without kissing you, but we can’t get too carried away. At least not until we get you somewhere safe, somewhere with a real protection detail.”
“Then why are we still here?”
He laughed and when he kissed me again, I could see what he meant about a nuclear bomb going off. There was a knock at the door, but the sound didn’t register until Mason set me on the ground and reached for his gun.
“Why are you getting your gun? Do you really think Daniel Crocker would knock on the door?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past that mental case.” He checked the chamber. “Now go hide in the bathroom. It doesn’t have any windows.”
The blood fled my head. “You’re serious.”
He looked down at me, determination squaring his jaw. “I’m dead serious. Now go.”
“No! What if it’s him and he shoots you?” Panic made my voice tighten.
His face softened. “Rose, no one’s going to shoot me. It’s probably Jeff. He told me he was going to come by after he checked out the crime scene, but I don’t want to take any chances, okay?” The pounding grew louder. “Now, go.” He pointed to a partially open door under the staircase.
I did as he asked, mostly because I didn’t know what else to do. I went inside and he pulled the door to the powder room shut on his way to the windowless front door. I sat on the toilet lid, my ears straining to hear what was happening while I studied his décor. It was all sleek and shiny with chrome and dark wood with straight lines. His living room and kitchen were the same—stainless steel and granite counters, contemporary looking sofa and chairs with glass tables. I couldn’t imagine a house more different from mine.
“Come on in, Jeff.” Mason’s voice filtered through the bathroom door. Then the door opened and his face appeared in the crack. “It’s safe.”
I stood and he pushed the door open, taking my hand and pulling me into the hall. “Rose, you remember Chief Deputy Dimler?”
“Have you heard anything about Bruce Wayne?”
He ran a hand over his head. “I confess that we haven’t. Once we got word that Crocker wasn’t in the warehouse in Shreveport, we had to regroup and focus all our attention on that. It’s why I’m here.”
Mason gestured to his living room and we sat on the sofa while the deputy took the chair across from us, leaning forward.
Mason put his arm around my back and the gesture drew Chief Deputy Dimler’s attention. “I’m sure you can appreciate that I have a personal interest in Rose’s safety,” Mason said, tightening his grip.
A frown flickered on his face before it metamorphosed into a grin. “I can see that. I didn’t realize you were dating. You never mentioned it.”
“We just started dating recently,” Mason said, then cast a glance at me as though asking permission after the fact.
I gave him a soft smile.
He turned back to his friend. “What do you know?”
“We don’t have confirmation on the prints yet, so we don’t know for sure that Crocker was the one in Rose’s house, but someone obviously was. For all we know, it could have been one of his boys.”
“How’d they get in?”
“The back window. The Henryetta Police swore they were parked in front of your house, Rose, after we notified them at three this morning, but they wouldn’t have seen anyone who came in that way.”
“So what’s your plan?” Mason asked.
“Whether this was Crocker or one of his guys, the fact that someone was in her house while she was asleep is a huge concern.”
“Do you think it was Daniel Crocker?” I asked.
The deputy hesitated.
“It was him,” Mason said, his voice low. “He swore to get revenge for what he thought Rose did to him. In his mind, she not only got him arrested, she damaged his pride. He’s gonna want the satisfaction of scaring her. I don’t think he’ll stop until he makes her suffer.”
Cold chills ran up my back.
Chief Deputy Dimler rested his forearm on his knee. “With all due respect, Mason, you just admitted you have a personal interest in her safety. That could make you jump to conclusions. You’re no longer impartial.”
“No, Jeff. It makes me more invested, so I might look at things you would miss. Who told you Crocker was still around town?”
He groaned. “You did.”
“Crocker’s dead set on making Rose pay. He won’t leave her alone until he’s satisfied. I’m even more certain after hearing everything that happened to Rose when Crocker thought she was his informant. Most of it wasn’t in the reports.”
The deputy scowled. “Who took the damned reports?”
“Hilary,” I said, remembering how nice she’d pretended to be. “She’s with the state police, but she was Joe’s ex-girlfriend at the time.”
“Wait. Joe Simmons?”
“Yes,” Mason said. “He and Rose became romantically involved. I suspect Officer Wilder may have let that influence her report.” Mason grabbed his notes off the table and shared the rest of my story with the deputy.
Jeff released a frustrated breath. “That information would have been helpful two days ago. There’s no question that Crocker is behind this, whether he was physically in Rose’s house or not. She needs to be protected until further notice. She’s not safe here so I’m going to take her to our safe house.”
“And where’s that?” Mason asked.
A grin lifted one corner of the deputy’s mouth. “It wouldn’t exactly be our secret safe house if I went around telling everyone where it was.”
“I’m not everyone.”
“Nevertheless…” He stood. “Rose, you’re going to come with me now.”
I blinked, startled. “What about Mason?” I looked at him for reassurance.
There was a strange expression on his face, like a mixture of regret and indecision.
“Mason’s not the one in danger,” Jeff said in a firm voice. “You are. And with all the craziness goin’ on, he’s needed at the courthouse.”
Mason’s arm tightened around my waist. “Maybe I should take the rest of the day off to be with her.”
“We’ll keep her safe, Mason. You’ll be of much more use at the courthouse. You and I both know the sooner we catch this bastard the better.”
A war of emotions played out across his face.
I leaned toward him and put a hand on his chest. “I’ll be fine. You go to work and I’ll hang out somewhere secret for the day.” I grinned and tried to keep my chin from quivering. “A day off! Imagine that. Maybe I’ll read a book. I heard Jana Deleon has a new mystery out.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“Mason, you’re already in hot water with McClary and the DA as it is,” Jeff warned. “Not to mention that incident with the Baumgartner trial.”
Mason’s eyes widened. “You know that wasn’t my fault.”
“And we both know the DA blamed you anyway. Think this through.”
Mason swore under his breath and began to pace.
I knew Jeff Dimler and Mason were friends, but the way Mason listened to the chief deputy told me that they were more acquainted than I’d realized.
The deputy turned to me. “We need to go now, Rose. I would have taken you sooner, but the safe house wasn’t ready.”
“Okay.” My voice was shaky as I stood. “But can I call my sister and check on her?”
He shook his head. “We really don’t have time and once we leave, you can’t have contact with anyone.”
“Bull shit,” Mason growled as he pulled my cell phone out of his pants pocket and handed it to me. I’d forgotten he still had it. “She can take a couple of minutes to call her sister.”
Jeff sighed. “Fine, two minutes. But don’t tell her anything except that you’re safe.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Okay.”
The two men stepped into the kitchen to talk while I dialed Violet’s number. Mason’s temper seemed like it was getting the better of him. Violet answered on the first ring, catching me off guard.
“Hello?” she asked hesitantly. After yesterday, she probably wasn’t sure what to expect.
“Vi, it’s me. I don’t have much time, so listen.”
“What do you mean you don’t have much time?” Her tone was one part concerned and two parts irritated.
Mason’s voice rose in the kitchen. “You know that I don’t give a damn about that!” I heard him say.
“Well, you should!” Jeff answered, hands on his hips.
I shook my head. I needed to focus on my conversation with Violet, not eavesdrop on Mason and Jeff’s. “Daniel Crocker broke into my house last night and left me a threatening note.”
“Oh, my word!”
“The sheriff’s deputies are taking me somewhere so he can’t find me.”
“Are you okay?” Her voice broke. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine. I promise. The sheriff is going to make sure I’m safe, so there’s nothing to worry about.” I tried to make it sound believable. I succeeded enough that I almost believed it. “But I wanted to be the one to tell you. I don’t know if they’ll call you once I’m settled.”
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t know. They won’t tell me.” I tried to keep my voice from breaking. “But I’ll call you as soon as I can.”
“Okay.” I could tell she was crying. “Rose, I’m so sorry about yesterday.”
“I love you, Vi. No matter what. No argument will ever change that.”
“I love you too.”
Jeff moved toward me, or more accurately, away from Mason, who looked close to erupting.
“I have to go, Vi. Be safe.”
“You too.”
I hung up the phone and stuck it in my pocket.
“I’m sorry, Rose.” Jeff grimaced apologetically. “You’ll have to leave your phone behind.”
I reluctantly handed my phone to Mason, and he pulled me into a tight embrace.
I desperately wanted him to come with me. I was terrified and Mason was the only one who could give me any kind of reassurance. But I also didn’t want to be selfish. What if he lost his job over me? I had caught enough of their conversation to figure out that Chief Deputy Dimler thought it was a possibility. I couldn’t do that to Mason.
I leaned back and cupped his cheek, looking into his eyes. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”
“I have a really bad feeling about this, Rose.”
My mouth lifted in a half-smile. “I do too. But Jeff is right. There’s no need for you to sit around doin’ nothing with me. Besides,” I glanced over at the deputy “that’s what the sheriff’s deputies are trained to do. Protect people.” It didn’t seem like a good time to remind him that I’d been kidnapped from the sheriff’s office a month ago right under their noses.
“I’ll come see you as soon as I can.”
“Mason,” Jeff groaned. “You know we’ll need to limit outside contact.”
His face reddened with anger. Before he could open his mouth, I grabbed his shoulders and stood on tiptoes so I could look him in the eye. “Just do your part and help me come home,” I whispered. “To you.”
Mason pulled me into the kitchen and kissed me with a ferocity that surprised me. I clung to him, scared to death to go into hiding without him, but I didn’t have a choice. Instead, I absorbed as much strength from him as I could.
“Be careful,” he murmured, searching my eyes. “Do what they say and don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger.”
“You too,” I said, tears burning my eyes.
Alarm spread across his face when he saw a tear fall down my cheek.
“I’m fine.” I pulled away from him and walked toward the chief deputy. “I’m ready.” If I didn’t leave now, I’d change my mind and beg Mason to come with me. And I knew I’d always regret that.
“Rose,” Mason called out from behind me, but I ignored him as I followed Jeff to the door.
The deputy’s phone rang and he scowled when he looked at the caller ID. “Wait here,” Jeff said. He ducked outside, closing the door behind him.
I sniffed, hoping I could hold it together long enough to get out of the house.
Mason pressed his chest to mine, pushing me backward until my back was against the wall. His mouth devoured mine, working me into a frenzy of desire and need. “I’ll see you tonight,” he whispered in my ear. “I’ll find a way to get to you.”
“I don’t want you to get into any trouble, Mason.”
“Don’t worry about me. Just worry about you.”
“Will you call Neely Kate and let her know? She’ll be so worried. And Jonah?”
His face softened. “Of course.”
“And check on Muffy.” My voice broke. “I’m sure she’ll be fine with Violet, but I forgot to ask about her, and—”
He grabbed my hand and lifted it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. “I know how much she means to you. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”
“Thank you.”
The door opened again and Jeff poked his head through the crack. “Okay, we’re ready.”
Mason opened my hand and placed another kiss in my palm. “I’ll see you soon.”
I leaned into him and murmured against his lips, “I’m counting on it.” Forcing myself to step away, I followed Jeff out the door.
“Rose, why don’t you ride in the back and I’ll have you duck down as we drive through downtown Henryetta, okay?”
I nodded and slid into the back of his unmarked car.
Jeff climbed behind the wheel and started the engine while I watched Mason stand there in his doorway. Our eyes locked and we stared at each other, both of our faces expressionless, while Jeff backed out of the driveway. As he drove down the street, I turned to watch Mason grow smaller and smaller. And when he disappeared completely, I swallowed a sob.
I had never felt so alone in my life.