The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella (47 page)

“But why do you think Evan took off with her tonight?  And why would he take her to my house, especially if he knew Averee was harassing me?”  None of this makes any sense.

“It sounds like he left in a rush.  She must have said something to him to really scare him.  My guess is he was putting as much distance between the two of you as possible,” Adam tells me.

Marcus makes an observation.  “From what I’ve seen here tonight, Jette, she’s directing all her aggression towards you.  It’s your clothes she tore up.  It’s your flowers she destroyed.  It’s your love note she burned.  And it’s your dress she decided to wear.  She didn’t touch anything of Evan’s.  And she had plenty of opportunity.”

Derek looks at me, adding, “Jette, you don’t live at that house anymore.  Evan probably just thought it was safer than bringing her to his house where you’re more likely to show up.”

Emmy agrees.  “Didn’t you tell me Evan has a key to your house?  It really does make sense if you think about it.”

“But Adam, you knew she was the one stalking me.  You knew she vandalized my car.  That was hours ago.  Why didn’t you do anything?  If you did, none of this would have happened and we wouldn’t be here right now.”

“I wanted to, believe me, Jette, I tried to talk him into it most of the afternoon while you were at work.  But he wouldn’t let me.  She’s sick.  Evan wanted to quietly get her help without going public and ruining her career.  We were going to call her people first thing in the morning so they could get her to a treatment facility.”  Adam looks at me solemnly, “We had a plan.”

“Plans change,” I remind him.  I can’t sit here and listen to this anymore.  I get up, and walk around the deck, giving myself some much needed space.

Standing at the railing, looking out at the waves crashing on the surf like I’ve done so many times before, I recall the first time we made love.  I remember the first time he told me he loved me.  And the moment he asked me to move in with him.  Each memory is washing over me as if it’s happening right now.  Will we have time together to create new memories? I have so much more to share with him and so much more to tell him.  All we need is time.

Right now, surrounded by our friends, I’ve never felt so alone and empty.  They are all here for me and for Evan, but I don’t know what to say to them.  They just keep looking at me with sadness and worry in their eyes.

Evan and I talked about a night when we could invite our friends over to the house.  I pictured all of us sitting around a fire pit on the deck, lit by the light of the moon. I would be the hostess, greeting everyone and serving drinks and dessert.  We would be laughing, drinking, and enjoying life.  Tonight, most of the people on my guest list are here, but there’s no celebrating to be done.  Not yet, anyway.

Emmy comes over to me, puts an arm around my waist, and lays her head on my shoulder.  “It’s going to be OK, Jette.  Believe it.  You’ve found him.  Now he needs you to stay strong.”

“Thank you, Emmy.”  I choke back tears that are dangerously close to breaking free. 

I look over at Derek, Marcus, and Adam and they’re all huddled together talking in hushed tones.  Just a few months ago, I didn’t know any of these men.  Tonight, as we sit together, joined by our mutual care and concern for Evan, I’m deeply grateful that they’ve all become a part of my life.

Officer Harper steps out and motions for Adam to join him inside for a moment.  They disappear into the house, just out of sight.

Suppose this is it. Suppose he wants Adam to break the bad news to me.  Suppose Evan’s not coming home.  What will I do without him?  It’s hard to breathe.  I sit down on one of the deck chairs, trying to calm myself and get air into my lungs.  I can feel my hands shaking.  Derek comes up behind me and rubs my back until I calm.  When he sees my breathing slow, he backs off, giving me space and privacy.

Adam returns with Officer Harper.  They sit on either side of me with looks that I don’t like.  Neither one is smiling.  Adam’s expression is one of seriousness and gravity.  Whatever they have to say isn’t going to be good.

Officer Harper speaks first, “Juliette, the police arrived a few minutes ago and have made contact with Ms. DeVeau.  All I can tell you is that this has turned into a hostage situation and we’ve called in the State Police to try to negotiate for the release of Mr. McGuire and the surrender of Ms. DeVeau.  If you have any family you wish to contact, I suggest you start making some calls now.”

I sit and stare into the flames of the fire pit, trying to make sense of everything.  I can’t speak.  I can’t think.  I can hardly breathe.  All I can do is stare.  His words are swirling around in my mind ... hostage ... surrender ... negotiate ... over and over until it sinks in.  There’s only one way she could possibly be holding Evan against his will.

I look at Adam, “Does she have a weapon?” I blurt out.

Adam replies with one word.  “Yes.”

Sweating Bullets

S
he has a weapon.  That’s all I need to hear.  No more sitting.  No more waiting.  I turn to Emmy, “Please take me to him.  I have to be there.  I need to know what’s happening.”

“I’ll drive you, Jette.  Please let me help,” Adam offers.

“Don’t you think you’ve done enough for one night, Adam?  If you’d done the right thing when you first found out, we wouldn’t be here.  Emmy, Derek and Marcus would still have a job and I would still have ...” I can’t finish that sentence.  I can’t finish that thought.  The place where that thought leads me is a dark place, and I cannot afford to let myself go there right now.  I need to stay positive and hopeful.  I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to forgive Adam if anything happens to Evan.

“Jette, it’s not Adam’s fault that Averee went over the deep end.  You can’t possibly blame him for this.”  Does Emmy think she can reason with me right now?  There is nothing about this situation that can be rationally explained or clarified.

“Really?  Watch me.”  I snarl.  “Are you going to take me or not?”  I ask Emmy.

“Of course I am.  But what about Evan’s parents?  Aren’t they on their way here?”  Damn, I forgot about them.

“I’ll call them on the way.  They can meet us there.  Let’s go.”  I can’t wait one more minute.  All I can think about is how badly I need to be closer to where he is.

Derek tries to help, too.  “Jette, slow down.  You didn’t see what it’s like out there.  There are all kinds of police cars and news vans in front of Evan’s driveway.  They know who you are.  You’re not going to make it to Emmy’s car without being mobbed.  Let the three of us go with you, too.  We can help.”

“What kind of help?”

“Listen, between Marcus, Adam and me, we won’t let one person slow you down or get in your face.  We’ll be your wall.  They will have to go through us to get to you, and that’s not going to happen.”  Derek has a determined look on his face that tells me he means business.

All three men are standing, facing me now, and fiercely nodding their heads in agreement.  “Fine.  But only if we can leave right now,” I insist.  I couldn’t ask for a more loyal and trustworthy group of escorts.  I may not like the choices Adam made, but I have no doubt that he will do anything and everything to make sure that nothing else unfortunate happens tonight.

The five of us make our way around to the front of the house.  The pandemonium awaiting us cannot be adequately described with words.  The moment we turn the corner and step into the driveway, overzealous reporters run straight for me, followed closely behind by their cameramen.  There are only five or six of them here, but their aggressive shouting at me makes it seem like there are ten times as many.  They all want to know what’s going on inside and if I have any news about Evan.  How do they even know this is happening?

The boys do a great job of safely escorting me to Emmy’s car.  Adam leads the way, Marcus is on my left flank, and Derek is following behind.  Just as promised, they form an impenetrable brick wall.

The five of us squeeze into Emmy’s car, and Emmy takes off like a bullet.  Once we’re on our way, I have to ask the question that’s on my mind, “How do you guys think the press found out about this so quickly?”

Marcus replies, “Police scanners, probably.  The boardwalk was crawling with reporters and photographers, and as soon as they got wind of this, they all high-tailed it here quicker than you can say ‘SNAFU’.”

“Snafu?” I ask.

“Sorry, that’s military slang for
Situation Normal, All Fucked Up
,” he explains.

Police scanners are a pretty good assumption.  So that means that this is something else I can blame Adam for since he’s the one who called the police.  Briefly, the logical part of my brain tries to remind me that I can’t be mad at Adam for not calling the police sooner while at the same time, be mad at him for calling the police now.  But I really don’t care.

We’ll be at my house soon, and before we get there, I have to let Evan’s parents know what’s happening.  Jill answers the phone on the first ring.  She must have her phone in her hand, anxiously waiting for any updates.  “Juliette, do you have any news for us?”  She sounds as just as worried as I feel.

“Very little.  We’re on our way to my house.  He’s still there.  If I text you my address, can you meet us there?”

“Keep driving.  We’re going to Juliette’s house.  No, that’s where he is.  She’s going to text it to us, John.  I don’t know, let me ask.”  She’s trying to talk to her husband and me at the same time.  “Juliette, dear, is
she
still there with him?”

“Yes, she is.  But the police are there now, Jill.  I’m hoping that by the time I get there, this will all be over.”  I’m trying to put a positive spin on it for his parents’ sake.  They’re driving on the highway, and the last thing we need is for them to have an accident because they are unable to drive safely.  I promise to call her again once we get there.

When Emmy approaches my street, I can see the flashing of red and blue lights.  As we get closer, I am shocked at the number of emergency vehicles lining the street.  There are both police and ambulances here, not to mention numerous news vans.  Emmy stops the car halfway down the block from my house.

She barely has the car in park when I throw open the door and jump out.  I need to get as close as I can, in the house with them if possible.  There’s a police line cordoning off all access to my house, but I don’t care.  Evan is in there, and that’s exactly where I need to be, too.  Maybe if I run fast enough and hard enough, they won’t be able to stop me.

As I run, I quickly scan for any way through the line.  Out of the corner of my eye, I can see an opening.  There are a couple of officers talking with their backs to me.  I’m nearly certain they haven’t noticed me coming.  I give it everything I’ve got and I make a dash for it.  All that running on the beach is now paying off.  When I reach the yellow tape, I duck under it as swiftly as I can without stopping or slowing.  Without missing a beat, I head straight for the front door.

I’m nearly there.  Just a few more steps.  I reach out to grab the doorknob, when suddenly I feel a pulling.  Something is stopping me.  There is a pair of strong arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground and taking me away.  “No!  Evan!  Evan!  Please!”  I scream, but it doesn’t help.  I’m being forcibly taken away from the house when I should be inside by now.

I fight furiously to force whoever has his arms around my waist to release me.  My arms and legs struggle to find something to make contact with. I immediately stop fighting when I hear a voice thundering from inside the house through the open window.  “Get her the fuck out of here.  Now!” he shouts.

It’s Evan.  He heard me.  He knows I’m here.  His voice sounds loud and strong.  The momentary relief I feel is immediately washed away when I realize I’m no closer to getting to him now than I was an hour ago.

I hear glass breaking inside my house and a female voice shouting.  I cannot make out what she’s saying, but she’s definitely angry. 

My feet are placed back on solid ground, and I see it’s Adam who was carrying me.  “What the hell, Adam?  I was almost there.”

“And what, exactly, did you think you were going to do?  Run in there and save the day?  How?  What were you going to do, Jette?  Tell me,” he demands.

“I don’t know!  But I’ll be damned if I’m going to just sit back and do nothing like you did!” I shout.  The truth is, I don’t know what I would have done once I got in there.  I guess I was planning to make it up as I go along.

“If you want to help him, get your shit together and calm down.  You’re the one who led the police here.  It’s your house that he’s holed up in.  Let’s find someone in charge and find out what else we can do to help.”  Adam grabs me by the hand and drags me towards the police chief’s car.

Adam and I introduce ourselves to the Police Chief, Herbert Bennett.  He’s an older man, tall but stocky, with tightly cropped gray hair.  His face is strong but kind, with dark eyes that reflect a lifetime of experience and knowledge.

He’s keen to get a better understanding of this situation, so our story is one he is deeply interested in hearing.  He listens as we explain in great detail how we got to this point tonight.  He peppers us with pointed questions and thoughtful insights.