Vanishing Act (15 page)

“You seem excited.” Ivey's smile was contagious, and Danielle felt her spirits lifting, despite the frustration that Nate had caused.

“I am! I just know that I'm going to get it tonight. Everything's going to make sense.” Her eyes again darted to where Nate sat, this time they stayed on him for several seconds before meeting Danielle's gaze again. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to. Her raised eyebrows were enough.

“He asked if he could come in a little early, too. He just hasn't had time to keep up with the reading.”

“Oh, sure,” Ivey said. “No problem. It'll be great. It's going to click tonight. I can just feel it.”

Almost fifty minutes later Danielle wasn't sure it was ever going to click for the other woman. She just couldn't grasp even the simple concepts of a combustion engine and how the various systems worked together to create a
working car. She tried using the example of the body, how systems worked together yet each had a unique function, but Ivey looked as lost at the end of their time as she had at the beginning.

“I'm so sorry,” she sighed. “I just thought for sure it would all make sense today. I hate to keep taking up your time, but could we try just one more time?”

“Sure.” Danielle gave her a kind smile and reassuring pat on the shoulder. “It's going to be okay. Let's do next Thursday before class again.”

Ivey's face fell a little bit. “I can't come in early on Thursday. Do you have time tomorrow?”

“Okay. I have a busy day so I'll probably start early, but you can come to the garage around two.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Just then Ivey's cell phone rang. “Excuse me. I better take this in the hallway,” she said after looking at the screen. She hurried out the door leaving Danielle alone with Nate again.

“That woman has a mental block for cars. I understood everything you said perfectly. You're a good teacher.” Nate winked at her as he stood from the farthest seat away and made his way toward her. “How'd you get into cars?”

Danielle glanced toward the door to make sure it had closed securely behind Ivey and they wouldn't be overheard. “Andy was the first person I met here in Crescent City, and he was looking for a temp receptionist while Gretchen was on maternity leave. I offered to help out, and Andy taught me about cars.” She shrugged. “It was all pretty easy for me. How an engine worked, how the pieces fit together, it just all clicked. Then I just had to learn how each make and model was different.”

He opened his mouth like he was going to say some
thing, but suddenly the door wrenched open and two students walked in.

“Hey,” the younger of the two guys greeted them.

“Hi, Frank,” Nate said.

The room soon filled with students, and the clock on the wall said they had only a minute before Danielle should begin, but there were still three seats conspicuously empty. Kirk's chair, of course, wouldn't be filled again. He was out for good. But Ridley's slicked-back hair and arrogant smirk were absent, and Ivey hadn't come back into the room.

Poking her head out the door, she saw Ivey still on the phone. A quick glance and she confirmed that the rest of the hall was empty, so she jogged toward the woman's turned back.

“All right,” Ivey said, her tone clipped and harsh, not at all what Danielle was used to. “I'll take care of it. Yes, it'll be done by tomorrow. I've got it all lined up. I'll call you when it's done.”

She spun just as Danielle reached out to tap her shoulder, offering a guilty smile for eavesdropping.

“Just stuff at home. My husband… Well, you know how he can be since the separation,” Ivey offered as she forced a smile. For the first time her skin looked tight across her face. Deep lines marred her forehead, and she looked genuinely concerned.

“If there's anything I can do.”

Now her face relaxed. “Just give me another chance to understand cars tomorrow. My husband will just ridicule me if I've wasted all this time and money on a class I can't even pass.”

Danielle gave her an encouraging squeeze on the arm as they joined the rest of the class. “Okay, let's get started,” she said as she reached the front of the room. As she spun
around she noticed that Ridley had snuck in while she was in the hall with Ivey. He sat and glared at her from his spot near the back. His eyes were angry, his mouth drawn into a tight line.

She remembered Nate's warning to stay clear of him and not let him get her alone. Was he really Goodwill's guy?

She tried to focus on teaching for the next hour, but when she finally let them go for a ten-minute break, she could still feel Ridley's gaze boring into her back. She couldn't stop the shiver that enveloped her from head to toe. Since the class began, he'd been staring at her with a gaze that seemed to say, “I'm coming for you.”

At the break everyone filed out of the room to visit restrooms or the snack machines, but Danielle felt glued to her desk. Ridley didn't move from his seat, either. But Nate was there, too. He hadn't left. She needed him to be by her side as Ridley continued glaring at her.

She tried to call Nate with her eyes, but he kept his seat, not maintaining eye contact and acting as casual as usual.

Was he trying to gauge Ridley's interest, to see how far he would go? Was he using her as bait to see if he could get Ridley to strike?

Ridley's eyes shot to Nate then back to Danielle, a sneer twisting his face.

She tried to catch Nate's eye again, and took a few steps toward him, just needing to feel his strength. She realized her mistake too late. Her path would lead her right past Ridley's seat.

If she stopped or turned around, he'd know that he'd gotten to her. Maybe he was on the verge of beating her, but he hadn't won yet.

Lord, give me strength,
she prayed silently before marching in the same direction she'd been heading. She sucked
in a breath and held it as she approached Ridley. His eyes turned dark as she drew nearer, but he didn't move. He didn't look away or pretend that he wasn't watching her with an intensity meant to unnerve her.

As she passed him, she let out her breath and allowed herself a quiet sigh.

Suddenly her left wrist was caught in a vise—Ridley's hand engulfing her forearm. He tugged and she stumbled backward.

“Let's go out somewhere after class tonight.” His voice was low and it held an edge of steel. “Just you and me.”

Terror shot up her arm and she tried to yank it free. “No,” was all she could manage.

Heat suddenly filled her right side, and she didn't have to turn around to know that Nate was standing next to her. “She said no.” Nate's voice had a strength that Ridley's childish demands couldn't match.

He looked down at his own hand clasped around hers then back up into her face. She tried to keep her expression neutral, almost bored. She couldn't bear to let him see the fear and disgust at his touch that made her stomach roll.

Ridley sneered directly into her face before loosening his grip just enough so she could pull her hand free.

Immediately she turned into Nate's arms and let him guide her out of the room and into the deserted hallway.

T
he entire drive back to her apartment from the college, every time Danielle closed her eyes, she saw Ridley's face. “What do you think he meant by all of that?” She knew she didn't have to explain or expound on her worries. Nate's tightly pursed lips and wrinkled forehead spoke volumes about his own train of thought.

“I don't know.” Frustration laced his tone. “You're sure he didn't hurt you.”

Danielle rubbed her wrist again, trying to wipe off the memory of his clammy hand wrapped around it. “Yes. I'm fine?”

Well, physically she wasn't hurt. Emotionally was another question. When she'd returned to the classroom with Nate, Ridley had been gone, and he hadn't returned when she resumed teaching. But that didn't erase the evil glint in his eyes that was seared in her mind. Or the way her stomach had flipped when he'd grabbed her hand.

She'd thought that was the end. She'd been sure that Goodwill's man had found his mark, and he meant to make his move right there in front of Nate.

Nate reached over and laid his hand on hers. “You were great tonight.”

She managed a weak chuckle. “Very funny. I nearly lost it in the hallway. I think I scared some of the students.”

He nodded slowly. “You were upset. I understand. But you held it together through the rest of the class. It was impressive.”

Was he teasing her? A quick glance showed his face to be smooth and free from indicators that he was joking. But if he was serious, she didn't want to talk about it anymore. She didn't feel impressive—just determined to make it through this whole ordeal.

He cleared his throat and moved his hand back to the steering wheel. “I need to tell you something about Ridley. It's not good news, but it's not entirely bad either.”

Her brows furrowed so tightly that a headache exploded across her forehead. “What is it?”

“He's not Goodwill's man.”

“He's not?” She rubbed her head and leaned against the car door. “How do you know?”

Never taking his eyes off the road, Nate said, “Goodwill hired a professional. His man won't reveal himself until he knows he has you right where he wants you. There's definitely someone else out there. But we still need to stay on our toes around Ridley. He's angry and he looked ready to do some serious damage tonight.”

“Doesn't he know that I have enough people after me?” she grumbled. “Why does he have to join the party?”

Nate shook his head. “With a man like that, it's hard to tell. My best guess is that it's plain old-fashioned pride. You've shot him down two or three times now. A girl saying no to a guy like that—with all that slick-backed hair and expensive clothes—could be a blow to his already damaged ego.”

She inhaled, releasing the air slowly.

“Well, thanks. That was really encouraging. I feel extra
safe now.” She didn't even try to hide the sarcasm in her voice and was rewarded with a flash of white teeth reflected in the floodlight from the garage as they pulled up to her door in the empty parking lot.

“I guess I should have waited until we were safely inside to drop that one on you, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry.” He reached out an arm like he was going to put it around her shoulders and pull her into a side hug, but he suddenly dropped it and looked away. He climbed out of the car quickly, and she had no choice but to follow him to her front door.

She slipped her key into the handle and turned the knob before realizing that it felt very loose. “Nate, I think…”

“What?”

“I don't know. The handle…it feels funny.”

Suddenly he grabbed her arm, tugging her behind him and nudging the door open with his toe. With his other hand he reached beneath his jacket and pulled out his gun. “Stay behind me,” he whispered. But the warning was redundant as his arm snaked around her waist, keeping her so close she could feel his body heat through the layers of clothing.

He flicked the light switch right inside the door, his body sweeping to face every corner. In steps that she was sure he measured to let her keep up, he walked toward her bedroom.

On tiptoe she peeked over his shoulder. Her bedroom door was only open a crack. “Wait!” she whispered. “I left it open. I left my door wide open.”

“Get back in the car. Now.” She shook her head against his back and felt the muscles there tighten. “Go back,” he said more urgently. “Lock yourself in.”

“I'm not leaving you,” she managed around the lump in
her throat that betrayed the fact that she wanted nothing more than to do what he commanded. With clumsy fingers she knotted fistfuls of his jacket into her grip.

He shook his head and let out an aggravated sigh.

Then his boot connected with the bedroom door, and he roared, “I know you're in there. Get out here, now!”

 

Nate wasn't even close to being surprised when, after some shuffling in the dark bedroom, Ridley emerged. While conceited and completely self-serving, he used those things to mask his own insecurities. Men like that were easy to control.

“Whoa! What's going on here? There's no need for that.” Ridley's hands shot up in a position of surrender. He swore under his breath, his eyes never leaving the barrel of Nate's handgun.

“What's going on here?” Nate couldn't keep the contempt out of his voice. “What's going on here, is you broke into my friend's home. You waited for her in her bedroom and were planning to do what? Wait. Don't tell me. I don't want to know what kind of sick, twisted guy you are, but this is not okay.” Against his back Danielle tried to break free from his hold on her waist. He could feel the anger radiating from her in waves.

“What? That's not it at all. She invited me here. She told me to be here. Gave me a key and everything.”

“I did not!” Danielle burst from behind him, hands on her hips, practically breathing fire. Her petite frame turned stiff, ready to pounce.

Ridley looked like he'd just swallowed his tongue as Danielle charged him. Apparently the stress of the looming threat, coupled with the ego-maniacal imbecile standing before them, was enough to make Danielle a little more than crazy. For an instant Nate was tempted to let her take
a swing at the other man. With the fight raging inside her now, he guessed Ridley was no match for the spitfire.

Just before she reached him, Nate snatched her around the waist, hauling her back to his side. She was clawing at his arm, eyes still trained on Ridley. “Do what I say or I'll let her go, and then you'll have to tell the police what a girl did to you.”

Ridley's eyes grew large, and his jaw dropped to his chest. “You wouldn't. Sh-she wouldn't.”

“Don't tempt me.” Nate's voice was deep and demanded no argument. He'd trained it to sound that way for just such situations. “As for her—” Nate nodded slightly in Danielle's direction “—she's having a rough couple of weeks. You don't want to mess with her.”

Nate could see the progression of thoughts crossing Ridley's mind reflected on his face. He went from disbelief to uncertainty to straight-up fear.

“Fine. Fine. I'll do whatever you tell me to.”

Nate smiled. “Good. Danielle, call the police.”

“Hey! You didn't say anything about calling the cops.”

“Shut your trap.” Any trace of good humor disappeared and with it his patience for this fool. “You're going to get everything coming to you.” He looked down at Danielle, his arm still wrapped around her. She'd stopped fighting him, but her eyes were squinted almost closed as she glared at her would-be attacker, lips pursed in anger. “Danielle, will you call the police?”

She was still for several seconds, then finally nodded. “Okay.” He let her go, and she immediately went to the phone, picked up the receiver and dialed.

Ridley stayed still, disbelief on his face, but he was smart enough to stay silent. In fact no one said anything after Danielle made her phone call. They simply waited like
statues. Ridley looked nervously at the gun that a glowering Nate pointed at his chest, while Danielle stood on the opposite side of the couch near the front door.

It seemed like hours before the sound of the sirens finally penetrated their silent stand off. Gravel outside crunched beneath a car, two doors slammed and then fists thumped into the door.

“Ms. Keating? It's the police,” hollered a woman. “We received a call.”

Danielle jumped at the almost simultaneous pounding on the door and call of her name, but she quickly recovered and turned to open the door.

“Officers,” she greeted. She swept her hand into the room and two uniformed officers, a man and a woman, followed her lead. Spotting Nate and the weapon in his hand, they both reached for their own weapons.

“My name is Nate Andersen,” he said quickly. “I'm a special agent with the FBI. My badge and ID are in my pocket. I'm going to pull it out to show you.”

“Go ahead,” the man said, his hand still on his own piece.

Nate pulled out the black-leather case and flipped it open. The woman walked forward to take a closer look and nodded to her partner. “Looks good. What's going on here?”

“This is my home,” Danielle piped up. “Nate was just dropping me off and I noticed that my door handle had been tampered with. He came in first to check it out, and he found Ridley in my bedroom.”

“You know this other guy?” the policeman said.

“Yes. I've been substitute teaching a course at the community college, and he's enrolled in it. He threatened me tonight when I said I wouldn't go out with him.”

The woman with red hair walked toward Ridley,
handcuffs in hand. “Turn around, and put your hands behind your back.”

At first it looked like he was going to comply. He spun around, but then continued, doing a complete three-sixty. Suddenly he sprinted toward the front door, banging heavily into the female officer and shoving her to the floor. In a flash there was only one person between him and freedom. Danielle.

The male officer was running toward the door, but he was too far away and wouldn't make it there in time. “Don't let him get away!” he yelled.

Danielle jumped out of the way. Then, just as Ridley passed her, she stuck out one foot, catching his. He flew to the ground, grunting in pain as the wind was knocked out of him.

Danielle hopped on one foot, a smile on her face, as the two officers jumped on the fallen man, cuffing him and charging him with assaulting an officer and resisting arrest. They were reading him his rights as they escorted him to the back seat of the cruiser.

“I'll be right back to get your statement,” the woman said to Danielle, who nodded. She looked about ready to sink into a puddle, and she still stood gingerly on her right foot.

“Did you hurt your foot?” Nate asked, as he came alongside her, putting his arm around her back for stability.

“I think I twisted my ankle when I tripped him.”

“Let's sit down then.” He helped her to the couch, then jogged to the freezer and pulled out a bag of beans. “They're not peas, but they'll do,” he said, as he laid them on her ankle. His joke earned him a smile just as the officers came back in. They sat in the chairs across from Nate and Danielle, offering reassuring smiles.

“Tell us what happened tonight.”

Danielle obliged, going into detail about her first encounter with Ridley in the parking lot at the college the week before and the look on his face at church the previous Sunday. She explained how she felt creeped out by his watching her, and how he'd threatened her that night.

And she did it all without ever saying Goodwill's name.

She knew that if she brought Goodwill into this mess, it would become even harder to separate the good guys, the bad guys and the really bad guys.

A swell of pride filled his chest and he had to physically stop himself from hugging her close to his side.

“And what about you Special Agent Andersen? What brings you to Crescent City? You're a ways from your home office.” Apparently Officer Henderson had read his ID closely.

“I'm just taking some continuing education courses at the college and visiting my friend Danielle.”

“Mmm-hmm,” the officer grunted. He didn't sound like he believed Nate, but the pair stood and moved toward the door. “Stay close to town in case we have other questions for you.”

“Will do. Thank you officers,” Nate said, as he closed and locked the door behind them. Returning to sit by Danielle on the couch, he let her put her head on his shoulder. They were silent for a long time.

“Can I get you anything?”

“I don't think so,” she said. “I just feel so all over the place tonight. I was terrified. Then I was just so angry at him that I wanted to scream. This is going to sound crazy, but I was mad at him for not being the real person I should be afraid of. I was mad that he was trying to make me scared when I have plenty of that going on without his help.” Her voice hardened. “I was mad that he was in my
home, the place that's supposed to be safe. I was just mad, and then I couldn't even see straight. I wanted to tackle him.”

“And now?”

“Now I just want to sleep. I'm so tired.”

He glanced at his watch. “It's almost midnight. No wonder you're so tired. I'll go. You get some rest.”

“No. Please don't leave yet. Stay for a little while longer.”

He was halfway up, but slowly lowered himself back to the couch at her plea.

“Okay. Just a bit.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and she snuggled into his embrace.

She exhaled, her head falling onto his shoulder once again, and her eyelids drooping slightly. “Is it always going to—” A yawn cracked her jaw, and she giggled. “Sorry.”

“Is it always going to what?”

“I don't know. Be like this?”

Squeezing his eyes closed, he prayed he could dodge the bullet he knew she was asking, and the unacceptable answer he had to give. “I doubt it. Once we nail Goodwill's man, everything will calm down. I don't think there's anyone else out there looking to break into your house.”