The Journal: Fault Line (The Journal Book 5) (14 page)

“What’s going on out here?” she heard Henry
demand. “Who are you?” Then she heard a couple of loud thumps and
then the sound of something, or some
one
, hitting the floor.
Holly barked and growled and then whimpered in pain.

“Damn dog,” the stranger said, and a door
slammed. The commotion continued as things were thrown about.

With a pillowcase filled with Christine’s
jewelry box, a wallet, a money pouch, and a laptop, he stepped over
the still body of the old man. He stopped in front of the blonde
and pulled the plastic bag off her head.

“And now for you.” He rubbed his crotch and
Christine recoiled, letting out a sob.

***

Trevor pulled the Cruiser up to the garage,
noticing that the overhead door was slightly ajar and he went on
alert. He closed the car door quietly and silently moved up to the
back door window. He couldn’t see anything at first, but he could
hear the water running in the kitchen sink. Christine wouldn’t do
that, not anymore. Something was wrong.

He turned the knob and soundlessly opened the
door, stepping into the brightly lit kitchen, just in time to hear
Christine whimper in response to a strange voice. Trevor pulled his
gun from the holster, his heart pounding hard in his ears. He
inched around the corner to see Christine tied to a chair and a man
standing in front of her, unzipping his pants. He aimed, and then
realized he might also hit Christine at that angle. He needed a
distraction to get the guy to move. He backed up and turned off the
running water.

“What the…” The assailant stepped into the
kitchen doorway and Trevor pulled the trigger.

***

Chief Mallory paced, supervising the removal
of Andy Hicks’ body, declaring it a justified shooting. Sadly, the
second gurney removed the body of Dr. Henry Palazzola, a medic
giving an initial diagnosis of a heart attack.

Christine sat on the couch holding a quaking
Holly, and Trevor holding them both.

Chief Mallory placed the garage door opener
on the coffee table. “This was in his pocket, and was his way in. I
have a suspicion but I want to follow up on a couple of things
first. I know it goes without saying, but lock up and I’ll get back
to you in a day or two.” He paused. “Trevor, can I see you for a
moment?”

Outside, the chief turned to his young
friend. “Are you going to be alright? It isn’t easy shooting
someone, even scum like that.”

“I’ll admit I’m shaken. I’m more worried
about Christine though. That asshole was just about to rape her.”
Trevor’s fury built all over again. “Plus he beat an old man to
death. I want to kill him again just for that!”

“She’s damn lucky you came home when you did.
Can I ask what you were doing out past curfew?”

Trevor looked guilty. “She thinks I was with
you, Marty. I was really out picking up her Christmas present.”
Trevor showed the chief what he had purchased.

“I’ll keep your secret, son,” Marty
smiled.

It was Christmas Eve
afternoon when Chief Malloy had enough information to share. He sat
at the kitchen table with Trevor and Christine enjoying a fresh cup
of coffee and some sweet rolls Christine found in the freezer.
Holly sat by the front door, waiting in vain for Henry to come
home.

“I spent the morning tracking where this Andy
Hicks has been. He was a busy guy.” Marty nibbled on the sweet
pastry. “He arrived in town around the time you did, Christine. I
can’t track him any further back. Hs driver’s license was issued in
St. Louis, and I’m guessing he came from the earthquake zone.
Although the car he had wasn’t registered to him, it hasn’t been
reported stolen. It’s likely the owner was lost in the quake and
Hicks took advantage of the situation.

“He managed to get a job at the auto shop you
go to, moving cars around, sweeping floors, running for parts, that
sort of thing. We already know he was the one that took your garage
door opener, which he had done to several of the vehicles being
worked on. He would break into the person’s garage and take what he
could pawn quickly, leaving the remote where it could be found.
That way no one suspected the means of entry. They all thought they
had just misplaced the gadget. This also explains the rash of
thefts that have been reported lately. It was the first time he
broke into the house when someone was there.”

“Well, he won’t hurt anyone else,” Trevor
said, squeezing Christine’s hand.

“He did enough damage to last a lifetime,”
Christine whispered. “I know Henry was only with us for a short
time, but I really miss him. He was a good man.” She looked over at
Holly, who had stretched out blocking the front door, still
waiting. “Excuse me. I think I’ll take Holly out in the backyard to
play for a while.”

“Before you go out, Christine, even though
I’m sure this was an isolated incident, I think it would be a good
idea for you to start carrying a gun,” the chief said. “Trevor
carries, and I’m sure he could help teach you to shoot, and I’ll
push the permits through.”

“It won’t be necessary for me to help, Marty.
Christine has been shooting a long time and is a competition
shooter,” Trevor informed him.

“I’m impressed, young lady. Where did you
learn to shoot like that?”

“My dad.”

“I’d like to meet him someday. A man that
teaches his child to defend themselves is my kind of parent,” Marty
said.

***

Christmas morning dawned with dark skies that
promised a cold rain.

“I’m sorry we don’t have a tree, Trevor,”
Christine said frowning. “I’ve only been here for a few months and
I don’t know where the artificial tree is or where the lights might
be, probably in the basement somewhere.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Trevor replied. “It’s
not necessary for us to be happy. Just think about all the people
that have less than we do.” They chatted for a few minutes,
munching on their morning toast and sipping coffee. “I remember
reading once about a young man discussing his girlfriend with his
father, and said he really liked her but didn’t know if he could
live with her. His father said he was asking the wrong question. He
should not ask if he could live
with
her, but if he could
live
without
her. I found that very profound.”

Trevor stood and moved next to Christine,
looking extremely nervous. He knelt down beside her. “I can’t live
without you.”

“Trevor?”

“Will you marry me?” he asked, producing a
ring box.

Her eyes widened and she found it hard to
breathe.

“Please say something,” he pleaded.

“Yes,” she squeaked out, and he slipped the
diamond and ruby ring on her finger.

***

“What are we having for Christmas dinner?”
Trevor asked, still wearing his new dark green jacket.

“There’s one more turkey roast pan in the
freezer, I thought it would be good to use it, and maybe some green
beans or corn,” Christine said.

“Sounds good. And I suggest a bottle of wine
to celebrate our engagement.” Trevor smiled. “I like the way that
sounds: engagement. It’s a bit scary, and I know it’s sudden, but
it feels so right.” He hugged her tenderly. “What would you say to
some company tonight?”

“Who did you have in mind?” she asked, though
she was sure who Trevor would invite.

“I was thinking Marty and Marion,” he
replied. “I know they’re alone too, just like us. They don’t have
any family in the area and never had kids. They might enjoy the
socializing. Marty once told me that as the police chief it was
hard for him to make friends.”

“I think that’s a great idea.” Christine knew
she was lucky to have such a generous and thoughtful man in her
life.

***

With a crack of thunder at noon, the sky
finally started producing sheets of icy rain that continued well
into the day, keeping everyone inside and off the roads.

***

“Dinner was wonderful, Christine, thank you,”
Marion said.

“Well, it pretty much was just heating things
up. I’ve never been much of a cook,” Christine admitted. “I’m
thinking I need to learn though.” She smiled in Trevor’s
direction.

She had heated the frozen turkey dinner in
the oven, combined a can of green beans with a can of corn, made
instant mashed potatoes, and thawed their last loaf of bread. She
was realistic enough to know that wasn’t really cooking.

“If you would like, I could teach you,”
Marion offered.

“You’d be learning from one of the best,”
Marty said. “Marion is a great cook!” He patted his shrinking
belly.

“I would really like to learn how to make
bread. I’m thinking that’s really an essential thing to know how to
do.”

Trevor lit a fire and opened a second bottle
of wine and the four settled down to enjoy the warmth of the
blaze.

Trevor stood. “I’d like to propose a toast:
To my future bride.”

“Have you set a date yet?” Marty asked.

“Not yet, Trevor proposed just this morning,”
Christine said, looking again at her new ring.

“That ring is stunning. Trevor certainly has
good taste,” Marion remarked.

Trevor sat at his work
station in the spare bedroom. He typed and read, typed and read,
and then hit send. He went back to his banking program and checked
his funds. They were lower than he would like, however he was still
pleased. He knew it was because he was spending very little, just
insurance and a minimal monthly electric bill. He had paid off the
mortgages two years ago. The insurance claim on the Spring Hill
store was approved and in process once they determined it wasn’t
related to the earthquake. It would add a much needed shot in the
arm to his bank account. When an answer came to his latest email he
opened it right away.

“Christine!” He raced through the house
looking for her and found her in the backyard playing catch with
Holly. He lifted her off her feet, swinging her around.

“What is all this excitement?” she asked with
a bewildered smile.

“Shipping has resumed! Apparently a new route
has been found through the gulf. I put in an order and it should be
here next week,” he paused for a breath. “We can reopen one of the
stores!”

“Oh, Trevor, that’s wonderful. That means
things are back to normal!”

“Not quite normal, babe, but it’s getting
closer. This is an awesome way to start the new year.” He kissed
her soundly. “Now that I know I can support us, let’s set a date
and get married, Christine.”

“I’d like that, but I want my dad here,
Trevor. I still can’t reach him. As soon as the phones are up again
where he is, we will. Are you okay with that?”

“Yes, of course. Anything to make you happy.”
He kissed her again and went back to the computer, deflated and
worried.

***

“Trevor, come look! It’s snowing!” Christine
shouted gleefully. The early afternoon sunlight had been replaced
with dark clouds and a growing chill. Large white flakes drifted
slowly from the sky. Holly chased the flakes, eating the fluffs
when she could catch them. Most hit the ground, melting
instantly.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Trevor smiled at
her, his mood lightening some at her joy.

“It sure is.” She wrapped her arm around his
waist, tucking herself under his arm. She shivered and then giggled
with the thrill of seeing the snow.

“Do you have a shovel?” he asked seriously
when the snow changed over to sleet.

“I’m sure there is one somewhere in the
garage,” she answered.

“One? That’s all?” Trevor laughed.

“Yes, just one. My dad said he didn’t want me
to ever have to shovel snow, that’s why we’re here in the south.
The one shovel is for the steps, he said. Right now he lives where
they get feet,
feet
of snow…
at a time
! I just can’t
imagine it; how do they live like that? How do they ever get
around?” she said incredulously.

Trevor laughed again, this time at her
naiveté. “I’m sure they have it figured out, Christine.” He led her
back into the warmth of the house, Holly following closely. The dog
never let Christine out of her sight, he noted. “Years ago I spent
six months working in Alaska. It snowed every day. And every day we
shoveled it, and every day the snowplows came to clear the roads.
Although it was something I got used to, I have no desire to live
there again.”

The shipment arrived on a
balmy, fifty degree day. Trevor and Christine had spent two days
dusting, sweeping, and washing the store floors. They were washing
the windows when the big semi-truck pulled up in front.

Trevor stopped the driver before he could
open the trailer doors. “We can’t take this in through the front.
If you turn the corner there,” he pointed, “you’ll see the service
road. It’s an easy pull in/pull out area. I’ll meet you at the back
doors.” Smiling, he hugged Christine and opened the back doors to
the Main Street store.

Carton after carton was loaded on the hand
truck and guided down the portable ramp. As each item was unloaded,
Christine checked it off the manifest, making sure they got
everything they were being charged for.

When it was all unloaded, the driver handed
Trevor the bill. “It’s C.O.D. Mr. Monroe. I can wait while you
write a check.”

Trevor opened the envelope and gasped. He
turned away from the driver and went inside.

“What’s wrong, Trevor?” Christine asked.

“Prices have literally doubled, and shipping
has tripled,” he said, stunned. “People aren’t going to like paying
this much.” He wrote out the check, made note of the check number
and amount, and handed it back to the driver.