"Harper, when you tell them this, they are going to demand…"
"That we do whatever is necessary to keep you safe, and an explanation about why they weren’t told sooner. They love you, Kels, get used to it." She leans in, giving me a very gentle kiss. Staying with me after, our foreheads touching, she continues, "We’ll get through this together."
"He wants me, Harper."
"He can’t have you, Kelsey. I got dibs." She grins a little. She’s not making light of the situation, she’s just being supportive. It’s a wonderful feeling to know I’m not alone, because I’m scared as hell. "But, right now, we need to go fill in my family. My brothers are already downstairs. Papa called them the moment Mama told him there was a problem. Never accuse the Kingsleys of waiting until the last minute to get involved."
"Wouldn’t think of it." I try to smile, for her at least. I know I don’t feel like smiling.
I’ve lost track of how many women have died because they look like me. And he’s taken further action by stealing my car. Not that the car means anything, but, my God, he was that close to my home. Hell, for all I know he was stealing the damn thing while I was on the phone with Erik.
I need to call Erik and warn him. "Erik…," I whisper as we head down the steps. "I need to call Erik."
"Honey, Erik is fine. Bear went up to check on the condo after they found your car. He talked to Erik and filled him in. He’s okay."
"Thank God." I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him because of me.
We make our way into the kitchen. Mama immediately guides me to the table, placing a cup of tea in front of me, then places a kiss on my temple as her hand strokes through my hair. "Are you all right, ma petite?"
"I’m fine, Mama. Thank you."
She settles down next to me, never releasing my hand, listening intently as Harper stands behind me, filling everyone in on what’s going on. I block it out. I can’t listen to it again.
"I don’t see why you cannot simply stay here until this monster is caught," Mama says, bringing me back into the conversation. "Kelsey would most certainly be safe in this house."
"We can’t hide, Mama," Harper sighs, her hands massaging my shoulders.
Papa nods. "That’s the problem: once you start running, you never stop. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be extremely cautious. This one has plans, that’s for sure."
"Do you have police protection arranged?" Robie asks.
"Ever since they found the fibers, yes. One of my buddies is on the LAPD, and we have the head of the Threat Management Unit working on the case too. We just don’t have protection while we’re on the road. He doesn’t seem to follow us on our stories. He’s local and staying local."
"Makes sense, from his point of view," Jean mutters.
"It makes no sense at all," Mama disagrees. "Comin’ after this little one makes no sense at all." I feel her hand making broad strokes across my back. It’s very soothing. My own mother never touched me like this.
"Is the FBI involved?" Gerrard inquires.
"They are. But, we’ve never talked to them," Harper explains, taking a seat next to me and wrapping her arms around me. God, it feels good to be able to sink into her arms without worrying what the people around us are thinking.
"Why not?" Mama is indignant.
"The link between my stalker and the killer was only recently made," I tell her, trying to get involved, instead of sitting here like an idiot.
"Gerrard, can’t you do something?" Mama is almost acrimonious toward him with her request. I have to chuckle a little into Harper’s shoulder. That’s what he gets for being a judge.
"I will, Mama. I have some friends in the Bureau. I’ll give them a call and find out what I can." Gerrard excuses himself from the table and goes into the living room to make the phone call.
"I’d like to see him come down here and try something." Robie leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. "He’d have to go through every one of us to get to Kelsey then."
"Robie, don’t go all macho Cajun on me," Harper tells him. "This is one scary psycho and I don’t want any of us near him. For any reason."
"He knows I’ll come back to LA eventually. He doesn’t need to go anywhere. He can do it at his time on his own terms." I shake my head to help the shiver pass that runs down my spine at the mere thought of what he has in store for me.
Harper’s hold on me increases and she places a soft kiss to my hair. "Sweetheart, nothing bad is going to happen to you, I swear it. They’re gonna catch this sick son-of-a-bitch and lock him away for ever and ever."
"Amen," Mama intones. Guess Harper’s swearing is okay in this context.
I really like being a part of this family. I hope I live long enough to enjoy it.
<fade out>
Scenes from Next Week’s Must Read TV:
<fade in>
I head for the phone to call the police. I pick up the receiver and punch in 9-1-1. It’s when I wait for the operator that I realize the line is dead.
Oh shit!
I need my cell phone. Where is it? Where the fuck did I put it?
Purse. It’s in my purse. In the goddamn living room. God, I swear I’ll start picking up after myself if you don’t let anything bad happen.
Harper. Where are you? I need you.
<cut to>
"The management and staff of KNBC are deeply concerned for the safety of our colleague, Kelsey Stanton. We are giving the police our full cooperation and assistance in this matter. In addition, we are offering a reward of $100,000 to anyone who provides the police with the information leading to Kelsey’s safe return, and the capture of this violent criminal. We ask that anyone with such information contact our Crime Stoppers Hotline at 213-555-KNBC. KNBC staff will assist the police in answering and responding to all calls we receive."
<fade out>
Episode Twenty-Three: Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
I hear the elevator doors slide open and glance at my watch. Harper isn’t due back for another two hours. I didn’t miss the buzzer, did I?
"Erik, hon, are you expecting someone?" I call across the hall to his room. Since he’s leaving for a well-deserved vacation in the Bahamas, it might well be his most recent ‘personal assistant.’
God, I’m glad I’ve never seen anyone’s name in quotes like that about me. I’d have to give up women. Well, maybe. Actually, that article really pissed me off. With everything that’s going on in my life right now, we don’t need the stress of some ass trying to ‘out’ Erik.
Even Harper, who is so out, agrees with me. In order to help the public image, while she went to The Rio to play cards the other night, Erik and I made an appearance at a trendy restaurant in Hollywood. We were followed, of course, very discreetly, by a couple of Bear’s friends on the force. Harper had her cell phone on at the game, despite the usual protocol, in case anything happened while we were out. Apparently it did little for Harper’s concentration and she lost close to a hundred dollars.
I made it up to her later.
Erik comes down the hallway and signals for me to be quiet. He pushes me back in my room and pulls the door closed.
Somehow, I don’t think it’s his new boyfriend.
I head for the phone to call the police. I pick up the receiver and punch in 9-1-1. It’s when I wait for the operator that I realize the line is dead.
Oh shit!
I need my cell phone. Where is it? Where the fuck did I put it?
Purse. It’s in my purse. In the goddamn living room. God, I swear I’ll start picking up after myself if you don’t let anything bad happen.
Harper. Where are you? I need you.