High Anxiety (24 page)

“Because she’s insane!” Mona said. “That’s why I think you should stay with me until the police have enough to throw her behind bars.”

“I’m not going to hide from her,” I said, sounding braver than I felt.

Finally, Thad spoke up. “If you’re determined to go home tonight, I can spend the night. In case there’s trouble,” he added.

Mona, who would normally have made a snide comment, merely nodded. “Jimbo and I will stay with Kate during the day,” she said.

“I hate this!” I almost shouted.

“You can hate it all you like,” Mona said, “but no way am I going to leave you here by yourself.”

I was thankful I had a busy afternoon ahead of me; even so, I could barely concentrate during the sessions. I was relieved when five p.m. arrived.

My cell phone rang, and I snatched it up, hoping it was Jay. My heart did a triple beat at the sound of Abigail’s voice. I wondered how she’d gotten the number, then remembered she had Mona’s Rolodex.

“Kate, I’m sorry for everything,” she said tearfully. “I’ve been sobbing my guts out over this. I don’t know what has gotten into me, but I want to return your files and everything else I took.”

My hopes soared, but I was still distrustful. “That would be nice, Abigail.”

“Where should I bring them?”

“You can drop by my office.”

“No, I don’t want to run into anyone from the bank or the sandwich shop. I’m embarrassed, you know? I’ll meet you some other place.”

I remembered what Jenkins had said about not meeting with Abigail. Hell, I wasn’t even supposed to be talking to her, but getting my files back was paramount to everything else. I gave her directions to the park near my house.

“You have to come alone,” she said. “I’m feeling very afraid, and if I see a police car, I will leave.”

“I understand.” It was difficult to hear someone in so much pain. The woman was sick and needed help, but I had to take things one step at a time.

“I’ll see you at six thirty p.m.,” she said. “Like I said, I expect you to be alone.”

We disconnected. I noted how badly my hands shook. Mona picked that time to knock on my door. She came in without waiting for me to answer. “Well, that’s it for the day,” she said. “I need to go home and get out of this drab outfit. What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a three-headed ghost.”

I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’m just tired.”

“Mama is making her famous meat loaf and real mashed potatoes tonight,” she said. “I don’t normally eat meat loaf, but hers is to die for. You could bring Thad. He just called and said he was on his way.”

“I can’t make it for dinner tonight, Mona,” I said. “I need to, um, visit a patient at the hospital.” I hated lying to her, but I knew it was for the best.

“Do you want Jimbo to drive you?”

“Thad can drive me, since he’s the psychiatrist on the case.”

“Are you okay with him staying at your place tonight?” she asked.

“I suppose.” I grinned. “You seem to be taking it in stride. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you and he are almost able to tolerate each other these days.”

“Desperate times call for desperate measures. Does Thad carry a gun?”

“I hope not.”

“We’re talking about a crazy lady who is trying to hurt you any way she can,” Mona said. “You need protection.”

“I don’t trust myself
or
Thad to carry a gun,” I said. “One of us would only end up shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Thad arrived some fifteen minutes later. Mona and Jimbo said goodnight. I looked at my wristwatch.

“I’m meeting Abigail at six thirty,” I told Thad. “She plans to return the files.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“I’m supposed to be alone.”

“Then we’ll make it look that way, but I’m not letting you go by yourself.”

 

 

I pulled into
the park ten minutes early. It was already dark; the only light came from the old-fashioned streetlamps that surrounded the perimeter and lit up the side-walks but did not reach into the shadows. It was cold. I wished I had stopped by my house for my coat, which I seldom wore, since I was inside an office most of the time.

I spied a couple walking a collie, two women in sweats power-walking, and a man wearing an old coat and knit cap, rifling through trash cans for recyclable items.

I sat on a bench and tried to steady my nerves. I didn’t hear Abigail come up from behind, and I jumped when I saw her.

“You’re a little on edge, Kate,” she said and sat beside me. She was empty-handed.

“Where are the files?” I asked.

“They’re safe,” she said.

“You promised to bring them!”

“First, we talk.”

“That wasn’t part of our agreement.” I tried to keep my anger and frustration at bay.

“I need answers, Kate. I need to know why you’re being so cruel to me when you led me to believe we were so close.”

The woman was clearly disturbed. I just looked at her.

“You won’t find anyone as devoted to you as I am,” she said. “Not even Mona. She doesn’t love you like I do.”

I felt myself frown.

“You and I are so much alike.” She laughed softly. “Honestly, it’s hard to know where one of us ends and the other begins.” She paused. “If you would just give me a chance, I would prove my loyalty to you. We could be happy together.” She covered one of my hands with hers.

I kept my hand still. I did not want to risk making her angry. “What do you want from me, Abigail?” I asked.

“Surely you’ve figured it out,” she said. “I want to be your best friend and lover.”

I should have seen it coming. Maybe I had and didn’t want to believe it. I had no choice but to play along. “You’ve hurt me deeply, Abigail.”

Her expression became gentle. “I didn’t want to, but it was the only way I knew to get your attention. You’re too wrapped up in Mona and Thad.”

“They’re my friends, though,” I said.

“With me in your life, you won’t need other people.”

“What about Jay?”

“Is it worth spending the rest of your life worrying that he could end up seriously injured or dead? Besides, he will never love you as much as I do.”

Behind Abigail, I saw the overhead light flash on in my car, and I knew Thad was trying to slip out. What the hell was he planning? I wondered, wishing there was some way I could motion for him to stay put. It was difficult to keep up with what Abigail was saying, even more so to keep my gaze fixed on her when I had no clue what Thad was up to.

Some sixth sense must’ve alerted Abigail, because she turned and saw the light in my car. She bolted to her feet. “You brought someone with you! I told you to come alone.” She reared back and slapped me hard across the face. “You’ll never see those files again,” she said, then ran into the shadows and disappeared.

I didn’t try
to follow her. I was too numb to move.

“I saw the whole thing,” Thad said, hurrying my way. “Are you okay?”

Tears stung my eyes. I stood. “You were supposed to stay in the damn car!” I shouted. “Why didn’t you stay in the car?”

“I was afraid for you,” he said. “I was just trying to get closer in case she tried anything. I saw her hit you. Are you hurt?”

“I’m too damn angry to be hurt.”

“Where are the files?”

“She didn’t bring them. And now that you’ve screwed up everything, she’ll probably
never
hand them over.” I heard a car and saw the white sedan heading toward the main road. “Can you tell the make and model of that car?” I asked quickly.

Thad followed my gaze. “It’s a Ford Focus,” he said. He put his hands on his hips. “What the hell excuse did she give for not bringing the files?” he asked.

“What does it matter
now
?” I said loudly. “You frightened her away. Things were going fine until she realized I’d brought someone with me.”

“What did you expect me to do, Kate? Hide in the backseat while you met with a psychopath?”

“That was the plan.”

“I didn’t like that plan to begin with.”

I swiped at the hot tears on my cheek. I wanted to punch him. “I don’t feel like talking to you right now, Thad.”

“You’re shivering,” he said, shrugging out of his jacket and draping it across my shoulders.

“She probably had no intention of bringing the files to begin with,” I said, more to myself than Thad. “As long as she has them, she has me in her clutches. She has control.” I felt hot tears on my cheek.

“Come on,” Thad said gently. “I’ll drive you home.”

“We have to go by the office for your car.”

“I don’t think you’re in any condition to—”

“I’ll be okay. I just need a minute.”

We walked to my car in silence. Thad opened the door on the passenger’s side, and I got in and strapped on my seat belt. He climbed in on the other side. Once he started the engine, he turned the heat on high and aimed the vents at me. Only then did it occur to me that my teeth were chattering. I leaned back against the headrest and closed my eyes. Thad remained quiet.

We arrived at the office building twenty minutes later. I got out and walked around to the driver’s side. I handed Thad his jacket.

“Wait for me,” he said. “I want to follow you.”

We met back at my place. Mike growled at Thad when he stepped inside the door. “It’s okay, girl,” I said, reaching down to pet her. Nevertheless, she did not take her eyes off him.

“She obviously doesn’t like me,” he said.

“Normally she’s very friendly, but I think she senses something is wrong.”

Thad grabbed a throw from the sofa and wrapped it around me. I couldn’t seem to get warm. “Here, sit down,” he said, leading me to a chair. I sat. “You need to drink something hot.” He hurried into my kitchen. I heard him opening and closing cabinet doors, heard the hum of my microwave.

He returned a few minutes later with a mug. “It’s hot chocolate,” he said, offering it to me. “It should take the chill off.”

“Thank you.” I gave it time to cool off. Thad paced the floor as I took tentative sips.

The phone rang. I froze. Thad’s gaze met mine as we waited, but the caller hung up. I knew it was Abigail.

Thad sat down on my sofa. “What does she want from you?” he asked.

“She wants us to be lovers. More than that, actually. As weird as it sounds, I think she wants to
be
me. That’s why she went to so much trouble to look like me.” Thad was quiet as I finished my hot chocolate. The phone rang again. I tensed. After three rings, the caller hung up. I wondered how long it would go on.

“Are you hungry?” Thad asked.

My stomach felt hollow. I realized I hadn’t eaten all day. “I could make us a grilled cheese sandwich,” I said.

He laughed. “Now, there’s an offer I haven’t had in a long time. You still don’t know how to cook, do you?”

I knew he was trying to lighten the mood. “I can cook,” I said defensively. “It’s just easier to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Besides, you used to like them.”

“I’d love to have one, if you’re up to it,” he said.

I’d finally stopped shivering. I went into the kitchen and gathered the ingredients I needed and pulled out a skillet. The phone rang again, and I felt my shoulders sag. I was relieved when Mona spoke.

“Kate, if you’re there, pick up.”

I heard the urgency in her voice. I grabbed the phone. “Hi,” I said.

“Abigail Davis just called me,” she said. “Why would you ignore Officer Jenkins’s advice and meet with her when you know she’s dangerous?”

“She promised to give me the files,” I said.

“And?”

“She lied.” I gave a huge sigh. “Why did she call you?” I asked.

“She wants me out of your life. She said the two of you were in love, but that I was getting in the way. Those were her exact words.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling weary. “I never meant to get so many people involved.” My voice cracked.

“Is Thad with you?”

“Yes.”

“Let me speak to him,” she said.

I handed Thad the phone. I went about making the sandwiches as he gave Mona a summary of the evening’s events. “Kate’s a little shaken over it, but who wouldn’t be?” he said. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”

He and Mona chatted for a few minutes before he hung up. We ate our sandwiches in the living room so I could watch CNN and get the latest on the fire. The good news was they had it about fifty percent contained. The camera panned out and captured at least a dozen Native Americans dancing. They were painted and feathered; some wore ornate headdresses. Not far away, a prayer group held candles.

“How long do you think Jay will be gone?” Thad asked.

“He won’t leave until the fire is out.”

“Maybe you should drive down and visit him.”

“He hasn’t invited me,” I replied glumly.

“You need a break from all this,” he said. “If you can get out of town without Abigail following you, you’ll be able to relax for a couple of days.”

“Are you and Mona afraid I’ll go off the deep end?” I asked, giving a rueful smile.

“We’re all on the same side here, Kate,” he said.

“I know.”

“The problem is, we have no idea how long this is going to go on.”

Once we’d eaten our sandwiches, Thad turned to the sports channel, and I curled up on the sofa beneath the throw, pretending to be interested. I thought about what he said about me getting out of town, and the thought of seeing Jay made it even more tempting. Of course, I would have to tell Jay what was going on.

I yawned and closed my eyes.

“Kate?”

“Huh?”

“You should go to bed.”

“That would make me a pretty crappy hostess.”

“I’m a big boy; I can entertain myself.”