Identity Crisis(98)

‘Kendra’s not a flighty person,’ Garrett said. ‘You both know that. She’s steady as a rock.’

Dee nodded. ‘If she says she saw someone, I believe her.’ She glanced out the window. ‘It’s been pouring since just before dawn, and the wind has been horrible. Any evidence security or the police might have found will have been washed away or blown away ages ago.’

For a second they all three stared out the window into the dark, rainy morning. Then Dee spoke again. ‘She won’t be happy about what you’re doing. In fact, I would want to be in the next county when she finds out if I were you.’

‘I know,’ he said, staring glumly into the pouring rain. That’s why I need you to keep her here until the news breaks, until I can gauge what’ll happen next.’ He raised a hand before either of them could speak. ‘I know she won’t like it. I don’t give a shit what she likes. I just want her safe.’

‘This is not your choice to make,’ Ellis said.

‘Yes! Yes, it is my choice to make. I hired her. I convinced her to work for me, and now I’m firing her. My choice. All my choice. Look, all I need is for you to keep her here until after I’ve made the announcement to the press, then once that’s done, I’ll come back and deal with the consequences. If I have to kidnap her and take her away someplace I will, but first I need to take care of this.’

Dee blew out a long breath. ‘Keeping her here may involve lots of rope and locking her in the wine cellar.’

‘That’s fine. Whatever it takes. I just can’t put her through any more of this. I can’t.’ Garrett looked down at his watch. ‘Look, I need to go before she wakes up. With any luck I’ll have it all over and done with before she knows what’s going on.’

Neither Dee nor Ellis looked like they believed that for a minute.

‘I won’t lie to her, Garrett.’ Dee held his gaze. ‘She’s my best friend. But I will hogtie her if I have to.’

‘Thanks. That’s all I’m asking.’ Garrett nodded his appreciation to both of them, then turned to go.

‘Garrett,’ Ellis called after him. ‘Be careful.’

Carla had managed an awkward sort of half shower in the confines of the motorhome bathroom while keeping an eye out the crack of the door to the front of Garrett Thorne’s house just in case there were any further developments. Her father had brought her clean clothes and coffee and a half a dozen maple bars from her favorite bakery, which she had polished off in short order, minus the one he had eaten.

When he’d asked if everything was all right, when he commented that she looked pale, she’d been evasive. She was overly tired, she said. She just needed a good night’s sleep. When he’d asked if there were any developments, she’d lied, something she had never done to her father before. Nothing of any consequence, she’d told him, even as she ached to tell him the truth.

She was still toweling her hair when the email arrived that made her wish like hell she’d come clean with him. It was from the stalker, who had still never given her his name.

I find it stunning just how dense the press can be at times, Carla. Even you. I would have thought you would have suspected something was afoot. Once again, you disappoint me. I don’t like being disappointed.

So here is something I think will interest you. Tess Delaney and Garrett Thorne were not on the premises last night. They sneaked out the back to spend the night in the lap of luxury over at big brother’s mansion. I know this because I saw them there. I know this because I watched them fucking like goats in the field behind Ellison Thorne’s estate. While they were supposed to be watching the stars, I was watching them from the woods. I was so close I could hear them breathing, so close I could smell their rut.

Carla, dear, I was so close to Tess, I could have slit her throat, so close I could have snapped her neck. And she knew I was there, oh, she knew it. I made sure she did. But she couldn’t see me, couldn’t touch me. She could only speculate as to what I would do while Garrett Thorne stumbled around in the thicket like a madman looking for me. Ask them about it when they return, Carla. Ask them. Of course Garrett’s powerful brother called in security, but I was back home having a midnight snack by the time they could manage more than a cursory search. Ask them, Carla. I think it won’t be much longer until they’ll have to admit Tess is being stalked, that Tess Delaney is in serious danger. Make no mistake, Carla, Tess’s life is mine for the taking. And it won’t be long. Not long at all now. Oh, and if you really want to get the jump on the rest of your Neanderthal colleagues, wait for the frightened couple in the back yard. They should be home any time now. I’m sure the limo that just left the property is our happy couple.