LETHAL OBSESSION (15 page)

      Ellen
got out of bed with a spring in her step. She hated to see Rick go yesterday.
The fly fishing was so much fun. Even falling in the river was fun. A
spontaneous laugh erupted from her. What a Kodak moment that would've been with
both of them sitting in the water.                                        

      Today
they would have all the time in the world to walk through homes, communicate
and just be together. Ellen couldn't wait to see him again.  Was it only two
nights ago they discovered each other?  True she had been seeing him as her
counselor for several weeks, but Ellen felt as if their love had always
existed.                                                         

      She
removed the wedding rings from her finger placing them with reverence inside the
velvet jewelry box.  Today would be a brand new beginning. Still chuckling over
the river fiasco, Ellen headed for the bathroom to begin her day.                 

      Just
as her mouth was full of toothpaste the phone rang.  She rushed to see the
caller ID and would have answered toothpaste and all if it had been Rick.  Her
hand hesitated. It was Gene and she let the machine pick it up.                  

      "This
is your friendly sheriff just checking on the princess to see how she is
getting along today.  You know where I am if you want to talk."                                    

      Ellen
felt a chill go up her spine.  Why was he still calling?  This was starting to
get creepy.  Gene was way too sure of himself to come across as desperate.  He
knew how she felt so why this urge to hold on? Ellen couldn't help but wonder
how Gene would feel if he knew about Rick.  Probably not good and the fact that
the two men knew each other would just make it worse. A phone call from him was
dampening her spirits.

      Ellen
was just getting ready to go downstairs when the phone rang again.  This call
had to be Rick so she answered without checking the ID, big mistake. "Hi
Rick, I'm almost ready."

      "Hello
Princess, surprise, not Rick.  Figured if I called right back you'd probably
pick up."

Ellen
felt fury with herself for getting duped into answering the phone.

      "What
is it you want, Gene?"                                       

      "For
a friend you don't sound very friendly."     

      "You're
married, Gene. We're not friends and you don't need to be calling here.  And
frankly, you're starting to creep me out."                                                              

      "Yeah,
yeah, so I'm married, so what?  I can tell you what's creepy and that's you
seeing Richard Carrington." Alarm ran through her.  How did he know? "I
have no idea what you're talking about."             "Ellen, this is
a small town, word gets around.  I know the man and he's bad news."                                    "I
don't recall asking your opinion."                         

      "You
know I'm in love with you, Ellen. I can't help it.  I didn't mean for that to
happen but it has. I'm sure in time you will come to love me too."  She
was shocked into silence so Gene continued.  "I plan on divorcing Martha so
we can have a life together."                                                           

      "I
would not want you to do that, Gene. Martha doesn't deserve to be treated like
that.  I'm sorry if you think you're in love with me.  It's your wife you need
to be in love with."    

      "Don't
think it's over between us, Ellen because it's not, and it never will be.  My
wife will just have to accept that fact."                                                              

      Ellen
had to fight to keep her voice from shouting into the phone. How could this be
happening? Gene has become seriously delusional. Keeping her voice emotionless,
she said. "There is nothing between us, Gene.  There never was and there
never will be."                                                                  

      "Don't
get involve with Carrington, Ellen."                

      "Please
don't call me again. Good-bye Gene."     She put the receiver to her
shoulder and closed her eyes.  Then Ellen broke the connection with her finger. 
Gene was beginning to scare her.  How did he know about Rick?  She didn't want
to believe Gene would stoop low enough to stalk her but that's what it sounded
like.  Her bubble of bliss had just been blown by his call.  Now she felt
paranoid and frightened.                       

      With
guilt Ellen wondered if she had encouraged him in any way.  Yes, she had, twice. 
She should probably tell Rick about the phone call but she didn't want to worry
him. She was troubled enough.              Ellen looked at her watch and
gasped.  Rick would be here in an hour. Making a mad dash for the shower, Ellen
strived to put Gene's phone call behind her.                                                                                         Ellen
had just brushed her hair and applied blush to her cheeks when she heard
Juanita answer the door.  Her heart pounded with excitement. What an awesome
euphoria this was. Rick's smile warmed her heart as she came down the stairs.
He took her hands and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.                

      "You
sure clean up good, especially since yesterday.  Are you ready to go?"                                           

      "Yesterday
was more fun than I've had in a long time."          

      "Me
too."                                                              

      His
fingers caressed her left hand then held it up to the light.                                                               

      "Look,
mine's gone too."                                         

      Ellen
took his ring finger in her hand, noticing the pale ring of skin so like her
own. "This is another first for us."

      "It
is.

      "As
they went out the front door, Ellen missed the jovial look on Juanita's face as
she folded her hands in prayer with eyes to the ceiling.                                  

      Rick
had a great looking SUV outfitted for camping and fishing.  She loved that he
was an outdoorsman.  In fact she loved everything about this man. He reached
over to hold her hand.  "I've been thinking about our conversation and I'm
really enthused about your shelter idea for women and children. I know we're
going to find the perfect place."

      "I'm
excited too, Rick. The shelter has been a dream of mine for quite awhile."

      "I'm
not rushing you, am I?"

      "Absolutely
not.  I would've acted on this much sooner if my head hadn't been in a hole."

      "Great,
let's go look at some houses."

      "I
need to tell you something, Rick."

      He
glanced in her direction.  "Okay I'm listening."

      Ellen
hated talking about Gene.  It was such a downer to their euphoric moods. "I
got two calls from Gene this morning.  The first one I let the voice mail pick
up.  The second one I thought it was you and didn't check the caller ID which
was really stupid."

      "What
did he have to say?"

      "He
warned me to stay away from you, and he professed his love for me."  She
noticed a muscle twitch in Rick's cheek and knew the conversation was
upsetting.  "I'm sorry Rick.  I wasn't going to say anything because I
didn't want to worry you."

      "I'm
glad you told me, Ellen.  We don't want to keep secrets from each other."

      "I
know, that's why I told you.  The last thing he said was the scariest.  Gene
told me he was going to divorce Martha so we could have a life together.  It's
like he believes I return his feelings when I've said repeatedly to the
contrary."

      "Gene
is delusional.  He is going to believe what he wants to believe and we can't do
anything about that.  He followed me in his squad car yesterday."                                                  

      "Oh
Rick.  I feel like if I hadn't of..."

      "None
of this is your fault Ellen."  He placed a warm, comforting hand over
hers. "We will get through this."

      "He
really scares me."

      "Yeah,
me too."

      "Rick? 
How do you know Gene?"                         

      "Martha
is my sister."

      "Oh
my God, you must be so worried about her."

      "I
am."                     

      The
next several weeks were pure bliss for Ellen.  The soup kitchen was a new
experience and she loved it.  Watching Rick interact with the patrons warmed
her heart.  These poor people who had so little seemed happy and grateful.

      They
went house hunting, enjoyed candlelight dinners and picnics in the forest, and
talked about everything under the sun. His very presence soothed and aroused
her all at the same time.  Ellen felt as if she had known Richard Carrington
forever.

      The
only down side was Gene Stone.  He seemed to pop up whenever she and Rick were
out in public.  He never approached or spoke with them.  If Ellen happened to
catch his eye, Gene would simply wave and walk away. It felt weird that he kept
showing up.  Ellen knew these events also bothered Rick but he seemed to take
it in stride and not make a big deal out of it.  Both of them were painfully aware
that they were being stalked by the county sheriff.  There was nothing they
could do.                                             

      Rick
and Ellen had gone into Knoxville for an elegant dinner and play at the Orpheum. 
The mountain highway was dark and they had just entered Cedar Grove city limits. 
The flashing blue lights coming up fast from behind, startled them both. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

      Rick
pulled over and the patrol car stopped also. Ellen looked at Rick with alarm. "What's
this all about?"

      "I
have no idea."

      The
deputy took his time walking over to them.  When he got to Rick's side of the
car, he shined his flash light inside blinding them both. "Sir, could I
see your license and registration please?"

      As
Rick was pulling out his paperwork, Ellen leaned over to address the officer. 
"Do you work for Gene Stone?"           

      "Yes
Ma'am."                                                       

      "Why
are we being pulled over?"                          

      "This
is a DUI check, Ma'am and I need the driver to step out of the car
please."                                          

      Ellen's
anger was at the boiling point. "Now you wait just a minute.  This is not
a DUI check, this is harassment.  You had better call your boss and tell him to
back off."

      "Ellen,
it's okay."  Rick tried to calm her.

      "No,
it's not okay.  I know what's going on here and Gene is not getting away with
this."                           

      "Sir
you need to step out of the car, and Ma'am, you need to stay quiet."

      Ellen
sat in the car seat, arms crossed doing a slow burn. They had one small glass
of wine each at dinner. Then they sat through a play for one and a half hours. No
way was Rick over point zero eight.  Could Gene make this stick?  She wouldn't
put it past him to tweak the numbers.

      The
officer was on the phone and Rick stayed outside in the freezing air for a long
time. She saw him blow into the breathalyzer.  After that the deputy had him do
some field sobriety tests.  Ellen pulled out her cell to call the head attorney
for Anderson Enterprises.  If Gene Stone thinks he can throw his weight around
he hasn't seen anything yet.            

The
deputy finally came to the car window. "Ma'am, I'm taking Dr. Carrington
into the sheriff's department.  Are you able to drive his car?"

      "May
I have a word with Dr. Carrington, please?"

      "No
Ma'am but you can follow us in."

      "Fine."
Ellen slid into the driver's seat and worked at calming her breathing.  She had
better get a firm grip on her temper in order to deal with this unbelievable
situation.  Tom Sherman her attorney was damn good.  Ellen was grateful he
would meet them at the sheriff's department. She was going to have to handle
things until he arrived. It dawned on her they have seriously underestimated
Gene Stone.

      The
deputy at the front desk ordered her to have a seat which she refused to do.

      "I
demand to see Sheriff Stone right now."

      "That's
not possible, Ma'am.  He is interrogating a DUI case."

      Ellen
was so enraged she couldn't see straight. "I'm well aware of that because
I'm the case."  She paced around trying to control her wrath and get her
thoughts straight. "You give Gene Stone a message from Ellen Anderson. 
Tell him my attorney is on his way and he is looking right down the barrel of a
whopping harassment suit, got it? The media will love it."

      "Yes
Ma'am."

      "Ellen."
Gene was at the door waving her into his office. As soon as the door was shut
she turned on him.

      "What's
the point of this Gene?"

      "You
need to calm down."

      "Don't
you dare tell me what to do. Where is Rick?"

      "In
the back."

      "You
locked him up? Your own brother in law?"  Ellen glared at him.