Night Talk

“No, please,” she said, stopping him with a hand on his.

“We need to report this.”

“It was just more of the same stuff as before, just him getting his jollies—nothing new.”

“But the cops are going to want to know.”

“And I’ll tell them, I promise. Just not tonight. I’m exhausted and they’ll keep me here answering questions until dawn.”

He picked up the phone, offering it to her. “Call them.”

“He’s on tape, they can listen in the morning.”

“They told you to report every time he called.”

“I will, I promise,” she insisted, taking the phone and lowering it onto the cradle. “First thing tomorrow.”

Dale drew in a deep breath and gave her a skeptical look. “If you don’t, I will.”

“I will,” she vowed with mock seriousness, raising a hand. “Scout’s honor.”

Dale made a face, and pushed away from the desk. “I got a bottle in my desk drawer. Feel like a drink?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ve got a long drive home.”

“Well, if you change your mind,” Dale said, heading for the door, “give me a shout.”

“I’ll do that.”

At the door Dale stopped and turned back to her. “And let me know when you’re ready to leave. I don’t want you walking out to your car by yourself.”

She nodded. “Yes, Mother.”

Dale snorted and shook his head. “You amaze me, sitting there so cool and calm. Doesn’t it bother you knowing that nut’s out there somewhere?”

“Sure it bothers me. But you said it yourself, he’s a nut and more than likely he’s probably harmless,” she said, feeling her throat grow tight. “Although I admit, I’ll feel a lot better when the police have him behind bars.”

Dale smiled. “Believe me, we all will.”

She laughed, but as Dale pulled the studio door closed behind him she let the smile fade from her lips. She glanced down at her hands, balling them into tight fists to stop them from shaking. She felt sick—shaky and sick—and it would take more than one drink for her to forget that horrible voice over the line.

“Don’t think about it. Just don’t think about it,” she mumbled aloud.

She closed her eyes, pressure throbbing painfully at her temples, and squeezed her fists even tighter. Her nails bit into the flesh of her palms but she didn’t care—anything to stop the shaking.

Who was she kidding? She wouldn’t be able to get down enough alcohol to get that raspy, mocking voice out of her head. Besides, she had a client coming in early tomorrow. It was hard enough balancing a private counselling practice with a nightly radio program without throwing a hangover into the mix. Still, it might be worth a try. She could call her partner to cover for her and lose herself in a couple of bottles of wine.

She rubbed her fists against her temples, slowly massaging. If only Dale knew how terrified she really was—if only everyone did. But she was determined no one ever would. She was not going to allow herself to give in to the fear—she didn’t dare. Keeping up a front was the only way she could cope. Besides, maybe if she pretended long enough the awful fear really would go away… only that hadn’t happened yet.

When the letters first started showing up in the mailbag eight months ago, she hadn’t been too concerned. After all, she received so much mail at the station it was only natural there would be a few crackpots in the bunch. But after several weeks, when the letters turned to phone calls, and the phone calls turned threatening, she’d gotten very concerned—and so had everyone else.

How foolish she had been in the beginning—and how naive. But he’d seemed so harmless at first, she’d honestly thought she might be able to talk some sense into the guy. She had taken those early calls, listening as he rambled on and on in that mechanical-sounding voice about why he believed they were meant to be together and why she should accept it. She never should have taken those calls, never should have listened. The calls had grown increasingly hostile and she was never going to forget those words or the images they left in her brain.

“I’m not going to think about it. I’m not going to think about it,” she insisted, her hands starting to shake again.

“You say something?”

“Huh? What?” She jumped violently, startled by the sudden appearance of the station’s young intern at the door. “N-no.”

The young man shrugged, looking confused. “Uh, Dale said I should walk you out to your car. You ready to go?”

“Oh, right, y-yes.” Her throat was tight and she cleared it with a small cough. “I’m…I’m ready.”

She felt foolish following the young man down the corridor and into the elevator, but if the truth be known, she was grateful not to be alone. Of course, there was just the rest of the night to think about—the drive home, the empty house, the long hours until dawn. She would hear every noise, jump at every bump, wonder about every shadow—just as she had every night for the last eight months. It wasn’t much better once she finally did drift off to sleep. Dreams filled with shadows and danger and dark, looming figures were even worse.

The elevator doors slid open, the sound echoing through the nearly deserted parking garage. And the hollow sound of their footsteps along the concrete made it feel even emptier.

“I like your car,” the intern said as the automatic door locks opened with a chirp.

“Thanks,” she said, eyeing the interior of the SUV carefully. When she was sufficiently sure no one was hiding inside, she slid onto the seat. “And thanks for walking me down. I really appreciate it.”

“Not a problem. Take care,” he said, raising his hand in a wave as he started back for the elevator. “Hasta.”

“Yeah, hasta,” she mumbled, slamming the door and quickly triggering the doors to lock again.

She hated living like this. It wasn’t fair, her life was not her own anymore—and all because of that…that creep. He was out there somewhere, doing what he wanted, going where he wanted to go, no restrictions, no fears. She was the one living in a prison, constantly looking over her shoulder, afraid of what might be around the corner, and she resented it.

“And that’s exactly what he wants,” she concluded aloud into the silence of the car—which only added to the insult. He wanted to terrify her and he’d managed to do that very effectively.

Frustrated, she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street, punching at the radio and turning up the volume to full blast. Maybe he was out there. Maybe he was watching right now—and she almost wished he was. If he wanted to see her cower and hide, he would be disappointed. She may be frightened, her nerves may be frayed and on edge, but he wasn’t going to get the best of her—no way in hell.

“Finally! The mountain man has arrived” Ted made his way through the small cluster of people milling about in the church foyer, waiting for the rehearsal to begin. With arms outstretched, he grabbed Jake in a bear hug. “Am I glad you’re here!”

“I’m late, I’m sorry,” Jake apologized, returning Ted’s hug. “The 405 was like a parking lot. I didn’t think traffic would be so bad this time of day.”

“Now I know you’ve been up on that mountain too long,” Ted said, pulling back. “This is L.A., have you forgotten? Traffic is bad here—period! It doesn’t matter what time it is.” He rested a hand on Jake’s shoulder and took a deep breath. “You’ve got to help me.” He ran a hand over his stomach. “Honest to God, I think there are butterflies in there. I’m not cut out for this.”

Jake couldn’t resist the urge to smile. Ted’s tall, lanky build and sun-bleached hair may have had him looking more like a California surfer than a seasoned cop, but that only proved just how deceiving looks could be. Typically restrained and self-controlled, not much ever ruffled his feathers, and even if it did, you would never know. But he definitely looked worse for wear now.

“Don’t tell me you’re nervous. A tough cop like you?”

“Felons I can handle. What I need is protection from the wedding planner.”

Jake frowned. “What’s a wedding planner?”

“Not what—who,” Ted clarified, turning slowly and gesturing to a small, well-dressed woman chatting with a group of people in the church. “Although, if you ask me, she’s more like the wedding Nazi.”

Jake turned to look at the woman. “That tiny little lady? You’re afraid of her?”

“Don’t let her size fool you,” Ted warned. “I’ve known prison guards who could take lessons from her.”

“Want me to go over there and rough her up?”

Ted made a face. “Funny, very funny.”

Jake laughed. “Well, calm down, the cavalry has arrived. I’ll protect you if…” He glanced at the petite woman and laughed again. “If Minnie Mouse over there decides to get mean.”

Ted laughed then too. He gave Jake’s shoulder a good-natured pat and his smile faded just a little. “But I admit, I do feel a whole lot better now that you’re here. I miss having you around.”

Jake’s face grew sober. Ted knew better than anyone this trip to L.A. wasn’t going to be easy for him. “Maybe I’ve got a few butterflies too.”

“No reason to,” Ted assured him. “We’re all friends here and everyone is really anxious to see you. They all miss you.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

“Yeah, well,” Jake said with a shrug. “There’s no way I was going to miss your wedding.”

“I was banking on that. I don’t think I could get through all this without you,” Ted confessed. He looked at the activity happening around them and shook his head. “Just look—all this fancy, foofy wedding stuff—it isn’t me. What am I doing here?”

Jake’s gaze narrowed. “You’re not having any…second thoughts, are you?”

“About marrying Cindy?” Ted shook his head. “No way. She’s…well, she’s…perfect! You’re going to love her.”

“As long as you do, that’s all that’s important.”

“Oh, I do,” Ted assured him, gesturing to the activity around them again. “Enough to put up with all this.”

Jake looked around then too and nodded. “Must be true love.”

Ted started to smile, but spotting the diminutive wedding planner headed their way, suddenly bolted to attention.

“We’re starting in five minutes, boys,” she declared as she breezed by. “Find a seat inside.”

Ted’s gaze followed as she passed, then slid to Jake. “You heard her, we better get moving.”

Jake chuckled as they turned and started into the church. “But aren’t we missing the bride? When do I get to meet this woman who has enticed you to endure all of this?”

“I don’t know, she should have been here by now….” Ted’s words trailed off when he spotted the car pulling up to the curb outside. “There she is. Come on, I want you to meet her.”

Jake followed Ted back outside and across the walk to where two women stepped out of the parked car—one brunette, one blond. In one smooth motion, Ted swept the brunette up in his arms and into his embrace.

“I take it this is the bride,” Jake said when he’d reached the tall blonde standing by the car.

“Either that, or Ted has some explaining to do,” she commented dryly.

A sudden chill had the hair on the back of his neck standing up straight. Something registered in his brain, something so…so peculiar it left him feeling a little unsettled. Turning to the woman beside him, he studied her as he extended a hand.

“I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Jake Hayes.”

“Kristin Carey,” she mumbled, ignoring his hand and slipping a pair of sunglasses over her eyes. “So when is this thing supposed to start?”

He’d admit to having been rebuffed by a woman a time or two in his life, but never quite as resoundingly as that. “According to Minnie Mouse over there,” he said, nodding to the wedding planner, “in five minutes.”

“Minnie Mouse?”

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “Just a joke.” But from the look on her face, she obviously didn’t think it a very funny one.

“Cin,” she said, pushing past him and calling to the woman in Ted’s arms. “I think the wedding planner is trying to get your attention.”

But Ted was already pulling his bride-to-be in their direction.

“Here she is, Jake,” he announced. “This is Cindy.”

“Cindy,” Jake said in a low, formal voice.

Reeling a bit from the rather rude encounter with the icy blonde, he wasn’t sure what kind of reception to expect from Cindy. Should he try to shake her hand, bow or just stand there like a dope? But Cindy didn’t seem to have any doubts. She completely surprised him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Jake, at last!” she gasped, her blue eyes bright and sparkling. “I can’t believe I’m actually talking to Jake! Ted talks about you so much I feel like we’re already friends.”

“Just promise to give me a chance to defend myself,” he said, liking her immediately. “There’s no telling what this guy’s been saying.”

“Oh, it’s all been very complimentary,” Cindy assured him. She slipped an arm through his, shooting Ted a wink. “But I’m depending on you to fill me in on all the secrets.”

“I keep telling her there are no secrets,” Ted insisted. “I’m really a dull guy.”

Jake turned to Cindy. “Well, he is right about that. He is dull—really dull. Which makes me wonder, what do you see in him anyway?”

Cindy laughed. “Anyone who knows me knows I love a challenge. Right, Kristin?”

“The bigger the better.”

There it was again, that curious tickle in the back of his brain. Did he know this woman? Is that why she’d given him the cold shoulder? Only he couldn’t imagine forgetting someone who looked like her. Ms. Kristin Carey may be a bit frosty around the edges, but the fact remained that the tall, slender blonde was probably one of the most striking women he’d ever seen. If they had ever met before, he was sure he would have remembered.

“Jake,” Cindy said then. “This is Kristin, my sister.”

Jake nodded. “Actually, we just introduced ourselves.”

“That’s great,” Cindy said, reaching a hand out to her sister. “Because as best man and maid of honor, you two are going to be spending a lot of time together the next couple of days.”

Jake felt something in the pit of his stomach go tight. “Wonderful.”

“Okay, everyone inside. Time to get started.” They all turned in unison as the wedding planner approached, clapping loudly. “There will be plenty of time for chitchat later. Everybody into the church.”

“It seems the wedding Nazi has spoken,” Ted grumbled, pulling Cindy to him. “And my advice to you is to do what she says.”

Jake watched as Ted and Cindy started arm in arm up the walk. Turning slowly, he gave Kristin a hesitant look. “Shall we?”

“We probably better,” she said as she passed. “Wouldn’t want to keep Minnie Mouse waiting.”

Chapter 2

Kristin stood in the church foyer waiting for her cue. She glanced down at the gaudy tissue-paper bouquet in her hand and steeled herself against a wave of nausea. Of course, tomorrow she would be holding the real thing—a spray of pale pink roses and baby’s breath—and probably feeling even worse.

Her gaze shifted to the long center aisle leading to the altar and she felt her stomach turn again. How was she ever going to make it down that walkway without tripping, fainting or throwing up?

“Just breathe,” she reminded herself aloud, drawing in a deep breath. This wasn’t her. She wasn’t a nervous, fidgety person. She’d always prided herself on the ability to keep a cool head and steady hand. But a stranger had come into her life and changed all that, a stranger who had her edgy and uneasy and seeing danger around every corner.

Wasn’t it supposed to be the bride who got the jitters and the maid of honor who calmed her down?

Kristin turned around, watching her sister as she talked with Ted’s father. With her sparkling eyes and radiant smile, Cindy looked anything but nervous. In fact, Kristin couldn’t remember seeing her sister looking more beautiful, or more serene.

Which was only the way it should be. If there was one person on this planet who deserved to be happy, it was Cindy.

Cindy had barely been out of high school when their parents had died. Not many young women would have welcomed the responsibility of a thirteen-year-old sister, but Cindy had been determined that the two of them stay together. She had worked hard to make a home for them, and later, when Kristin had considered foregoing college because of the financial hardship it represented, Cindy wouldn’t hear of it. She’d insisted Kristin apply for every scholarship available, and what they didn’t cover, the money Cindy earned waiting tables in the evenings after a full day at her job with the Los Angeles Probation Department did.

Which was why Kristin didn’t want to do anything to spoil Cindy’s wedding. One way or another she was going to do this, she had to—for Cindy.

“For Cindy,” she whispered, taking courage from the words.

Her gaze shifted to Jake Hayes as he stood in his position to the left of Ted. Thinking about how rude she’d been to him made her feel queasy all over again. He’d been friendly and pleasant and she’d practically cut him off at the knees.

He was watching the wedding planner, listening to her instructions and moving as she prompted him. He really did seem nice—not that she was surprised. Ted had described him as a good guy. Under normal circumstances she probably would have enjoyed getting to know him. The problem was, these weren’t normal circumstances. Things hadn’t been normal in her life for a very long time. Still, she hadn’t intended to be impolite. It was just that despite all that Ted had said about him, to her he was a stranger, and the grim fact of her life was that strangers terrified her.

“That’s your cue, dear.”

The loud clapping sound had her looking up.

“Hello? Are you listening?”

“Oh, uh, y-yes,” she stammered, feeling her cheeks flush red.

“That’s your cue,” the wedding planner said again. “Start walking now.”

“Y-yes,” she stuttered again. “I’m…I’m sorry.”

Flustered and embarrassed, she clutched the paper bouquet tightly in her hands and took a few hesitant steps forward.

“No, no, no,” the woman said, shaking her head, marching up the aisle toward her. “You’re not trudging through mud. Try and smooth it out a little, dear. Nice and easy.”

Kristin watched as the wedding planner demonstrated, then on stiff, wooden legs, Kristin tried again. She didn’t think her awkward, wobbling gait was any better, but she did the best she could. She felt ridiculous and terribly self-conscious, and without having to look, she could feel Jake’s gaze burning through her, turning the narrow aisle into an endless corridor of embarrassment. It wasn’t until she’d finally reached the end and slipped into her spot alongside the altar that she actually dared to glance up. Almost instantly, Jake’s gaze caught hers and he gave her a broad smile. She nodded stiffly in response, a move that only made her cringe even more.

“Pull yourself together,” she muttered. She was acting as though she’d never been around a man before, clumsy and ungainly.

But when she looked up and caught sight of Cindy as she started down the aisle, she suddenly forgot about being embarrassed or uncomfortable. It was only the wedding rehearsal but her sister looked radiant and Kristin felt her eyes sting with tears. This was Cindy’s time to shine and she was determined nothing was going to get in the way of that—not her problems, not her inhibitions….

Her gaze slid to Jake Hayes.

And certainly not her trouble with strangers.

Jake watched the wedding planner and waited for his cue. It would be all downhill from here on out. The mock ceremony was over and all he had to do now was follow Ted and Cindy back up the aisle and out of the church. Piece of cake. Although with Kristin on his arm he wasn’t expecting it to be particularly pleasant. But she would only have to tolerate him just long enough to make it out of the church. After that, he would be more than happy to stay out of her way.

For the life of him he couldn’t figure out why she seemed to dislike him so much. After all, they were virtually strangers—at least he thought so. She didn’t know him well enough to dislike him. Granted, he wasn’t the most charming guy in the world, but it usually took a woman a little longer to find him annoying.

Of course, his paranoia made him wonder if Kristin’s attitude toward him had anything to do with what had happened three years ago, either with the shootings, the task force or his resignation from the police department. Had someone said something to her about any of it? But common sense told him that wasn’t the case. For whatever reason, the woman had taken an instant dislike to him and he just had to accept it.

When the signal came, he was ready and moved slowly into the aisle. Looking at Kristin as he offered her his arm, he expected to see nothing but ice in those clear brown eyes of hers, so he was taken aback when he didn’t. In fact, her face was full of emotion. Could it be the Ice Queen wasn’t so icy after all?

Her hand on his arm felt warm as they moved together and he could feel the slight brush of her body along his as they walked. He wasn’t sure what had brought about the change in her, but he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Emotion had a way of softening her beautiful features and frankly he liked the effect.

Still, he had to admit, her transformation had left him feeling a bit unsettled. He wouldn’t have pegged her as the sentimental type. Weddings had a way of getting to people, though. Even he had felt a tug of emotion and this had only been the rehearsal. And it was probably that same sentimentality that had him turning to Kristin and giving conversation another try.

“That wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” he whispered as they made their way up the aisle. “And the good news is that we only have to do it one more time.”

“But the bad news is, the next time we’ll be doing it in front of a church full of people,” she pointed out darkly.

“You have a point there,” he acknowledged. Since she hadn’t snapped his head off, he boldly pushed on. “Feeling a little anxious?”

“Only about tripping, fainting or throwing up,” she groaned. “Or any combination of those three.”

“That could be a little embarrassing,” he agreed with good humor. “But you did great this time. There’s no reason to think tomorrow will be any different.”

“No?” She released his arm as they reached the large double doors leading outside and tossed the paper bouquet aside. “Maybe you’d like to try it in four-inch heels and carrying a handful of flowers.”

Just like that it was back—that hard edge, the sharp words—and he was surprised at how disappointed he felt. “Somehow I don’t think they’d go too well with my tux.”

She didn’t so much as blink, let alone crack a smile. She simply turned and left.

He stood in the open doorway and watched as she ran down the steps and across the drive toward Ted and Cindy. He felt strangely winded, as if he’d just taken a punch in the stomach. What was her problem? Was there something actually wrong with her or was she simply incapable of being civil to him?

“You win some, you lose some,” he muttered, doing his best to remain philosophical as he started down the steps.

He really shouldn’t let her attitude bother him. After all, it wasn’t necessary that they like each other. It just would have made the next couple of days a little more pleasant, that’s all. It wasn’t a big deal, certainly nothing he was going to lose any sleep over. It was just that there was something so…what? Familiar? How was that possible? He was certain he had never seen her before today. So why did he have this ridiculous feeling that he knew her, that there was a connection between them?

“You’re frowning.”

Jake glanced up at the sound of Cindy’s voice. She’d broken away from the rest of the wedding party, who had gathered outside the church, and her expression was full of concern. “Was I?”