Toss Up (The Toss Trilogy) (4 page)

Officer Billings pulled a
thin pair of gloves from his pocket. “I’ll go get that. Top drawer you said?”

“Yes, right hand side, toward the back. A paper torn from a spiral notebook, like the others
were.” At least it would prove she wasn’t making this up—not that he’d acted if he doubted her, but she was asking the officer to believe a lot on the basis of one little note. Now there could be no question of her wasting his time.

Billings paused at the doorway.
“I’ll need you to sign a complaint, Mrs. Johnston. I wish you’d called us in sooner, and kept those notes, but we’ll do the best we can.”

He sounded so much like
her father had during her teens, patient and long-suffering, that she nodded and rose to follow him from the room. “Thank you.”

“I need you to come down to the station
,” he continued. It doesn’t have to be today, but we’ll need your fingerprints for comparison I’d also like you to bring me a written description of each note, how you received them, and all you can remember of the circumstances at the time. Can you do that this week?”

“Yes, sir, I will.”

“Good. Before I go, I want to check your house and grounds… with your permission?”

“
Of course. I’d appreciate that.” Sally drove over to her house with Billings following in his squad car. Together, they walked around the outside of the house, and then through each room of her home, finding nothing.

As she opened the front door for him to leave, Officer Billings seemed to drop his professional manner, and spoke in an avuncular tone. “Everything is secure now, but you really should get deadbolt locks put on the exterior doors. A woman living alone should have more than just a keyed privacy lock. We’ll keep an eye on things as much as we can, but if you see anything suspicious, you call us right away, won’t you?”

“Yes, I will. Thank you so much for your help.”

With a nod, he turned away and returned to his car.

Sally shut the door and heaved a sigh of relief. She scrunched up her shoulders and arched her neck, rocking her head back and forth to relieve the tension. Then she stood tall and smiled. The burden was off her shoulders. The police would deal with it now. Feeling more relaxed than she had in weeks, she picked up her cell phone and called Jim.

Twenty
minutes later, Tyler burst through the door, his face shining from fresh air and happiness. “Mom! One of Mr. Sanderson’s horses is going to have a baby. We saw her and after the baby gets born, Mr. Sanderson said I can come back and visit it. Thanks for letting me go with Dr. Donovan to see.”

Sally looked at Jim gratefully. He’d turned the afternoon into a treat for Tyler. “You’re welcome. And did you remember to thank Dr. D
onovan?”

“He already has.” Jim smiled at her son,
then turned back to her. “And now I have a favor to ask. I happen to have a cooler full of Harvest Inn take-out in the back of my truck, and I need a few volunteers to eat it with me. Think you two can help me out?”

“Please, Mom, can we?”

Sally smiled gratefully. “I think it’s the least we could do.” While Jim and Tyler brought in the cooler, she began to set the table. She would have invited Jim to dinner anyway, even though cooking a meal was absolute last on her list of things she wanted to do right then.
Thank God for thoughtful friends and take-out food.
Jim had been a life-saver this afternoon, too. She’d given him almost no explanation when she’d asked him to watch her son, but he deserved one. She would to tell him everything once Tyler was in bed. Minutes later, Sally’s earthenware dishes held big Idaho bakers buried under steaming hot Yankee pot roast topped with cheese, bacon crumbles, and sour cream. Jim poured three tall glasses of milk, and they all sat down to Tyler’s “best meal ever”.

Waiting for Sally to settle Tyler in bed,
Jim busied himself scooping ash out of her fireplace. It was a mess. Did she ever empty it herself or did she merely wait for random visitors to take a hand? Perhaps the parents of Tyler’s friends… the UPS man… neighborhood moms collecting for charity? Grinning at the thought, he re-laid the fire. After she finished Tyler’s bedtime routine, he intended to get some answers. Grateful as he was that she’d finally called the police, he wanted—no, he needed—to know what had happened.

Finally she came out of Tyler’s room and
flopped down on the living room couch. Jim turned from the fire he was building and gave her a sympathetic glance. “Tough day.”
Tell me what happened, love.

“Yeah, it was. But I feel better now that the police are handling it. Thanks for taking care of Tyler. ”

“No problem.”
Gently. She’s exhausted.
“So what happened to change your mind? You sounded pretty shook up on the phone.”

“I was. There was another note. I found it when I came home for lunch.”

Jim felt the automatic kick of adrenaline. “Where?” Had the bastard gained access to Sally’s house?

“In the mailbox, on top of the mail.”

His tension dropped down a notch and he went back to tending the fire.

“I thought I was going to be sick. I drove back to the shelter and sat in the car till the police came.”

“How long did that take?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe half an hour”

Too long. Much too long.
He stifled a sigh. It looked like he’d be sleeping on her couch tonight. The stalker had been at her house, and there was no way he’d be leaving Sally and Tyler alone after that. Problem was, he knew Sally wouldn’t take kindly to the idea.

“The officer was very helpful,” Sally said, going on with her story.
“He walked me into the shelter, and after we talked he came over here and checked to be sure the house was secure. I have to go in sometime this week to get fingerprinted and leave him a report on everything I remember about the notes. I know it’s important, but it’s just one more thing interfering with getting my Economics paper done.” She grimaced. “The timing on this is lousy.”

Jim moved from the briskly burning fire to sit on the floor facing Sa
lly. He pulled her athletic shoes off and put her feet on the couch, resisting the temptation to wrap his hands around her slim ankles and massage his way up her legs. Leaning his back against a large, overstuffed chair, he stretched out his legs. “How did he feel when you told him about the other notes?” Jim knew what the answer would be, but he wanted to hear her admit it.

“Well, he was polite, but he wasn’t too happy that I only had two to give him. He said I should have called the police long ago.”

Jim’s back jolted upright. “Two!”
Shit. What else hasn’t she told me?
“What two?”

Sally looked at her hands. “Well, I wasn’t entirely straight with you last night.” She faced Jim head on. “The notes here began six months ago…”

Jim eased back against the chair and tried to keep his face expressionless as Sally talked, but inside he was raging. Six months, and not a word to him—or anyone. Was the woman detached from reality? Never mind that the notes had been “encouraging” at first. She should have gone to the police as soon as the second note came—or surely after the third! Self-reliant she may be, but clearly Sally needed looking after.
And stupid sap that I am, I’ve volunteered myself for the job.

“Stop looking at me like that. I said I should have told you sooner.”

Jim wiped the scowl off his face and looked at Sally. Male instincts kicked in—he immediately grabbed the high ground. “You’ll be less touchy when you’ve had some sleep. You’re worn out. You should go to bed.”

Too much in need of rest to bother protesting, Sally agreed. “Sleep sounds good. Thanks for the dinner, by the way. It was much, much a
ppreciated.” She swung her legs off the couch, stepped over him and walked to the entryway where his coat hung. Waiting, she looked back.

Jim stood. “You’re welcome. It was no problem.” He crouched in front of the fire stirring it and adding a few new logs. As he rose, he u
nbuttoned the cuffs of his plaid flannel shirt and folded them back. He saw the small frown on her face as she watched.

“Jim, I don’t mean to be unappreciative, but I’m really tired. I’d like to go to bed.”

“No problem.” He sat on the couch and stretched out his khaki-clad legs toward the fire. “I’m tired myself.”

She stood there, staring at him.
She doesn’t get it yet.
Jim braced himself for a fight. She was exhausted. He figured that would give him an extra second or two… Wrong.

“Jim,” she said warningly, “I’m asking you to go home.”

“I know you are. But I’m not going anywhere until the shelter volunteers arrive tomorrow.”
Let’s get this over with, love.

“Look, I know you think you’re being helpful, or noble or som
ething.” She spoke with forced patience. “But I have a ten-year-old son sleeping in the back bedroom and there’s no way he’s going to wake up in the morning and find you here.”

“I’ll tell him my truck wouldn’t start.” Jim looked at her calmly.

She pressed her lips into a thin, uncompromising line.
If he thinks…
She steeled herself. “Look, I hate to be like this after all you’ve done, but if you don’t leave right now, I’m going to call the police and have them throw you out for me.”

He didn’t move except to settle in deeper on the couch. He didn’t even bother to look at her glaring at him.

Smart moms don’t make empty threats.
She marched into the kitchen, where she’d left her phone and reached to pick it up.

Out of nowhere, a large, strong hand clamped onto her wrist, sto
pping its movement toward the phone.

A shiver of fear ran up her spine. She hadn’t heard a sound.

“No, you’re not,” Jim said. He turned her to face him, holding her in place with a lean, long-fingered hand on each shoulder. “You’re tired and you’re not thinking clearly. This is a stalker we’re talking about. Where he came from or why we don’t know yet. Whether he’s dangerous or just annoying we don’t know yet. But know this. I am not leaving you alone—out here where it takes the police half an hour to get to you—until this guy is found and stopped. So deal with it.” He dropped his hands from her shoulders, and in one fluid movement seized and pocketed her cell phone.

Sally stared. It looked like Jim, it spoke with Jim’s voice, but it sure wasn’t acting like Jim. She rallied. “Look, don’t be absurd. You can’t stay here. I won’t have it. Thanks for your concern, but the police will take care of everything.” She was warming up now. “I have a child to think of. I have a reputation to think of. I don’t believe we’re at risk in the house. It isn’t a public place. There are locks on the doors and windows. I sleep—usually— with my cell phone in reach. And I’m anything but some tiny, helpless female. So stop playing hero. Go home!”

For several heartbeats, Jim simply stared at her. Then, in one long stride he backed Sally up against the wall, holding her in place with his body.

Adrenalin spiked and her heart rate shot up, but before she could move he slid his hands down to trap her arms against her sides. He tilted his head sideways.

She barely had time for one outraged gasp before he took her mouth with enough force that she went still. Her mind spun for purchase, then slipped completely off the track. Nothing but sensation had a hope of claiming her attention. His body was hard, and pressed firmly against hers. With less than an inch difference in their height, they met chest to chest, belly to belly, thigh to thigh.

Less than an inch difference, yet he was in complete control and she
felt helpless, completely at his mercy. A bubble of fear rose slowly up her spine and burst open in her brain. She knew struggle would be futile.

But there was no demanding invasion of her mouth, though her lips were parted against his. There was no movement against her at all, e
xcept the pressure of his lips on hers—hard, strong, overwhelming.

Her brain became aware of desire and relief as both flooded through her, making her head light and her body weak. This was Jim. She was safe. Desire surged higher, far outstripping relief. This was Jim? Tent
atively, she began to kiss him back.

He lifted his mouth from hers, and she felt lost, disoriented. Then, moving with speed and strength she had never seen before, he simply scooped her up and strode to her bedroom door. As her brain struggled to grasp what was happening, he set her on her feet, turning her to face the open door. “Think about that,” he growled, and gently nudged her into the room, shutting the door behind her.

Sally stood, rooted for a moment, with her fingers on her lips. Her body swayed, hollow and empty. She stepped back to lean against the closed door in the darkness. Rational thought revived. It hadn’t been a seductive kiss—far from it. His intent had been to trump all her arguments with his essential maleness and superior strength. She should be furious. Instead, her heart was racing, and every nerve ending she possessed was tingling. Her lips felt swollen and hot as she stared wide-eyed, seeing nothing. His name sounded in her brain with every heavy breath she took.