Strung Out to Die (20 page)

That was true. Jim had been super busy installing cameras in everyone’s homes.

“Jim has been working overtime to help ease people’s fear.” Ginger dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “We haven’t had a moment to even grieve.”

“Oh, Ginger.” I hugged my dear friend, and snuck a quick glance at my watch.

I pictured Bernadine taking an oar to Marlene’s head.

“Let’s get the Divas together and have some girl time.” I said, and she agreed.

“Is Jim here?” I asked, just in case he was.

“No.” Ginger sighed deeply. “He’s installing more cameras.”

“Do you know where he keeps the video of the shop footage?” I didn’t want to seem too obvious why I’d really stopped by. “I think one of the teenagers might have swiped some Bali beads when I wasn’t looking.”

I lied. Again.

“Just stop by the hardware store and Joni can help you out.” Ginger leaned up against the door, holding it open.

“Joni?” I was curious to why the cashier at Sloan Hardware was handling the video footage.

“She needed extra hours, so we have her labeling the tapes and switching them out.”

I tucked that information in the back of my head. This was perfect. I’d make sure Jim wasn’t there when I stopped by to see Joni. That way, he wouldn’t run straight to Noah.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I drove as fast as I could to get home, only to find Bernadine one side of the front porch with an oar and Donovan on the other side.

Donovan. I had completely forgotten about our little meeting.

“Where have you been?” Bernadine raised her eyebrows and tilted her head toward Donovan.

“Hi, Donovan.” I smiled at both of them. “After last night, I decided I could use some one-on-one defense classes.”

Bernadine had already forgotten about Marlene, and why she rowed over to my side of the lake.

“I bet you do.” She looked Donovan up and down, and I couldn’t help but look too.

He looked much better in his jeans, thermal tee, and Puma shoes. He also wasn’t all sweaty like he was in defense class at The Moose.

“You’re looking awfully nice to be demonstrating defense positions.” Bernadine was grinning from ear to ear talking to Donovan. She flung her crimson hair behind her shoulder. “I’d be more than happy to be Holly’s partner again.”

“Oh, that’s okay.” I took her by the shoulders and pointed her in the direction of her rowboat. “I’ll call you later.”

“I know you will.” She waved over her shoulder. “Remember, I have binoculars.”

“I’ll be right back.” I told Donovan, and then jogged down to the lakeshore. “Quick, what happened to Marlene?”

Bernadine looked over my shoulder at Donovan and then back at me. “She was gone by the time I got over here.”

My eyebrows drew together in confusion.

“Yeah, weird.” Bernadine got in her rowboat, paused, and pointed to Donovan. “Can I tell the Divas about this?”

“No! This is just between you and me.” I gestured between us. “Besides, I’ve got to tell you about today. I’ll call you later.”

I stood at the edge of the water until Bernadine got halfway across the lake. I turned around and walked back up to the cottage where Donovan was still standing on my porch.

“I’m sorry about that.” I motioned toward Bernadine. “She and I walk every day, and I lost track of time.”

I unlocked the door and gave the bottom corner a swift kick like I always did, but the door flew open without the help of my foot. I teetered back and forth before Donovan put his arms around me to help me with my balance.

“Are you okay?” He laughed out loud.

I surveyed the door. I shut it and then opened it again. The bottom corner was not sticking like it always had.

“Strange.” I pointed out the corner. “I’ve always had to kick the bottom of the door to open it.”

“It could be the weather. Wood contracts when the weather changes,” Donovan said and then stepped into the cottage.

He-hon, he-hon, he-hon,
Willow was delighted with a new pair of shoes to sniff.

“You have a pet pig?” His surprise was obviously genuine, judging by the expression on his face.

“Doesn’t everyone?” I questioned him jokingly.

I probably should’ve warned him that I had a pet pig before I invited him over, but it never crossed my mind.

“What made you decide to get a pig as a pet?” Donovan laughed when Willow plopped down on the floor in front of him and rolled over with her hooves sticking up in the air.

He surprised me by giving her a good belly scratch.

“Oh, you’ve done it now.” I bent down, giving her my own little rub. “My ex-husband, Sean, always wanted a pet pig. Right before our divorce, he went out and bought Willow without me knowing. The only problem was, a couple days later, he decided he didn’t want a pet pig or a wife either.”

Memories like those should make me happy that Sean was missing, but they didn’t help ease my worried mind. Even though he was a jerk, he used to be
my
jerk, and those feelings hadn’t disappeared along with Sean.

“I think you got the good end of the deal.” Donovan looked into my eyes and then gave an irresistibly devastating grin.

“Let’s get started, shall we?” I jumped to my feet and pulled my shirt hem down over my waistband.

“Cheri told me that your shop had been broken into.” Donovan arms hung to the ground as he bent over to stretch. “I’m glad she wasn’t home when it happened.”

I was glad too. If I’m scared to death here, I knew Cheri had to be freaked out living above the shop.

As Donovan stretched, I followed suit and wondered why we did this before class. There was no way I would say to the attacker, “could you wait for a second while I stretch out so I can be sure to be limber enough to be able to use the moves I learned in self-defense class against you?”

Despite that, I continued to mimic Donovan.

“It’s been broken into twice,” I said, referring to the shop while I raised my hands way above my head and leaned over to the right. “I hope the camera stickers in the shop windows deter any more break-ins.”

It was perfectly clear that the shop break-ins weren’t just any old break-in. Someone was after me. Just a thought, but wouldn’t he or she have to think it was the two ladies trying to get the Spinel who broke into the shop?

“Cool! I haven’t seen one of these in years.” Donovan was clearly amused when he saw my old answering machine.

“Oh, that.” I switched sides and leaned to the left. “It was working, but the tape is all bundled up around the little turn thingies.”

If only…I wondered about the message on the jumbled mess that held the answers to what Sean was saying about Marlene.

Donovan opened the cover, exposing the tape.

“Stop! Don’t touch that.” I ran over there and slammed the lid shut. I couldn’t risk compromising what little tape remained that I might be able to save.

“I was just going to see if I could fix it for you.” He pointed to the machine.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” I gestured him back over to the center of the room so we could get started. “You’re here to teach me self-defense, not to fix my broken answering machine.”

“I love fooling with old electronics. I bet I could have it back to you in a couple of days, tape and all.” He said.

“Really?” A soft gasp escaped my lips.

Maybe I should let him try. I was no closer to finding out what was on the tape, and Donovan might be able to fix it. I could finally find out the missing link to where Marlene was hiding Sean. If she was, in fact, hiding Sean.

“What do you say we do some basic self defense moves, I take you to dinner, and then I’ll take the machine home to work on it?” He asked with determination.

“Deal.” I stuck my hand out, wondering why I had agreed to go to dinner with him, but I was definitely hoping he could fix the tape.

“Okay, let’s get started.” He rubbed his hands together. “The main thing to know about self-defense is that you can use various parts of your body as powerful weapons to fight against attackers.”

I stood in awe as he made some pretty cool moves with his arms.

“Being aware of your surroundings is the first step to not get attacked.” There was defiance in his tone as well as a subtle challenge. “If you do get attacked, you need to repeat, ‘confuse, leave.’”

This was beginning to seem a little silly to me.

“Repeat after me, Confuse. Leave.” His voice rang with command. He nodded towards me to mimic him. “Confuse. Leave.”

“Confuse. Leave.” I said, half-heartedly.

“I’m serious, Holly.” His voice was calm and his gaze was steady. “Why am I here if you aren’t going to try to learn protect yourself?”

“I’m sorry.” I lowered my head in shame at his brow beating, and then I screamed, “Confuse! Leave!”

“Good. Now I’m going to show you three basic defense techniques that will help you in any situation.” He pointed to his noggin’. “You have to remember them, and not freak out while you are being attacked.”

These moves were designed to allow you to escape and flee from the attacker. These moves included head butting, getting out of a wristlock, and shin kicking.

The V-Trigger is used when you are being grabbed by the arm, wrist, or hand and your other hand is free.

“Make a tight fist.” Donovan held his fist up in the air, and then he pointed to the V formed by the first and second fingers close to the knuckle. “You need to hit that spot on the attacker’s hand with the knuckle of your free hand.”

I did exactly what he told me as he pretended to be my attacker by holding my wrist.

“Good. Now turn around, yell, and run.”

I screamed, “Confuse! Leave!” and ran down the hall. I could hear Willow squeal from fright in the bedroom.

“You don’t yell ‘confuse, leave’ when you are being attacked. Just yell to draw attention to yourself.” He was laughing hysterically.

“What do you do if your attacker is wearing gloves?” Donovan pulled some gloves out of his jean pockets, and put them on.

“No clue. That’s why you’re here.” I danced on my tiptoes like Rocky.

I was feeling pretty good and pumped up.

“The V-Trigger isn’t going to work if your attacker has these on.” He held his gloved hands in the air. “So we need to learn to use a different part of your body.”

Donovan grabbed me by both my hands to show me one way that I could be attacked. He gestured for me to take his wrists as if I was the assailant.

“You are going to use the Shin Insertion method. Drag your foot up at a 45-degree angle to get your toe up and into the shin, as if you were doing a high-step walk.” He demonstrated and looked like he was marching rather than walking. “Generate as much force as possible. Kick until the attacker lets go.”

He pretended to kick me. When I let go, he screamed and ran down the hall. He didn’t come back. I looked to see where he’d gone, and he came strolling out with Willow in his arms.

“I think we’re scaring her.” He let her give him piggy kisses. “Do you think you can remember those two basic moves?”

I made some of the motions in the air. “I do,” I said with confidence.

It did make me feel a little bit more confident and safe.

“These are moves you should practice on a daily basis.” He put Willow down on the futon and made the motions as he said them. “The V-Trigger is just like knocking on a door, and the Shin Insertion is like marching. There is no need to build muscle or learn karate.” I erased the last part because I didn’t know what it meant.

I punched the air while high stepping around the room.

Donovan wiped the sweat from his brow. “I think you can remember those moves.”

I nodded. I might not be able to remember the exact moves, but I could remember the parts that would hurt Marlene…I mean my attacker.

“Good. I’m starving. Let’s go get some grub.” He patted his belly.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that Marlene was the only other person who had a key to my shop. She was the last person I wanted in there.

“You ready to go?” Donovan asked.

I put my hand up to my head and bent over. “Thank you, but I’m going to have to pass. I just got the worse headache.”

I really did enjoy his company and wouldn’t mind going out to dinner under different circumstances, but I had to get my key back from Marlene and fast.

“Working out really hard can do that to you. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids during the day and especially after practicing like we did just now.” He said and picked up the answering machine. “I’m expecting a rain check on dinner though.”

“Definitely.” I held the door open for him.

Donovan gave Willow one last rub before she snorted off down the hall.

Chapter Thirty

I tossed and turned all night long. I gave up and got out of bed when I realized I wasn’t going to get any sleep until I knew that Sean was safe and sound and Marlene was behind bars. Well, if Marlene was behind it.

It was almost time to get up anyway, so I let Willow out. Bernadine’s house was still dark, which wasn’t unusual because she was a late sleeper.

I practiced a couple quick self-defense moves so I wouldn’t forget what I had learned while Willow was out doing her business. I let her in as soon as she scratched at the door and she darted straight for the futon. Instead of jumping on it, she slid, hooves out, butt in air, and squealed like I’ve never heard her squeal before.

“Willow!” I bent down next to her, and clapped my hands. “Get out of there now.”

This pig was acting all sorts of strange lately. I poked her butt because it was the only body part sticking out from
The Under
, only it made her squeal louder.

“Willow?” I put my hands on her butt, and tried to pull her out, but she was stuck. “Willow?”

The poor pink thing was becoming a nervous piggy. Her back hooves were clawing the hardwood trying to free her, but she wasn’t budging.

I got on one side of the futon and gripped the armrest. I had to lift up my side enough so she could get out. On a wing and a prayer, I hoisted my end up, Willow flew out and ran straight back to the bedroom.

I put the futon down, wondering what was under it that would make Willow dive for it. I lay on the floor to see what it was. I squinted. I couldn’t see anything. The dark
Under
wasn’t going to deliver the goods without a fight.