Beauty and the Chief (14 page)

“I’m going to have to do something about Clark,” he said it under his breath, but as close as Jillian was, she heard and answered.

“I have to admit, he gives me the creeps.”

“Has he bothered you at other times?”

“No,” Jillian was quick to answer, and he could tell there was more she wasn’t saying. All he had to do was wait and it came. “I’ve seen him a couple times. He was outside the shop the other day watching from across the street. I thought he followed me, but when I looked back again, he was gone. I saw him another time when I came out of the store. I’d stopped to talk to Toby who was getting carts. He was sitting in a car, watching again.” A shudder ran through her.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, I just thought how he was taking pictures. Maybe it was him who was at the soccer practice. I thought the man was taking pictures. It might have been him.”

The tentacles of unease ran over Mark as she said the words, making him slow to respond to her next question.

“Why is he so interested in me?”

“He thinks you can lead him to a story on the killer.” Venom dripped from Mark’s voice.

“You think he set me up by putting the picture in the paper? But how could he know that was how the killer finds his victims?”

“He probably didn’t − doesn’t. We’re not sure about that, and we haven’t released it. I think he put your picture there just like dangling a carrot in front of a horse to get his attention. And it looks like he got it. Now he’s hanging back to see what story he can build. I’d guess he’s working you into a front page deal, and I just added to the pot letting him know we’re engaged.”

She nodded. “I can see the headlines. Police Chief’s Fiancée − Serial Killer’s Next Victim.”

“I’m not going to let that happen.”

“I know, but I think the reporter’s going to play it up.”

Mark didn’t want to admit he thought so, too. “I’ll have another talk with him and warn him off following you.”

“Will it help?” There was doubt in her eyes.

“Probably not,” he admitted.

“Who would have thought that I’d have to worry about the paparazzi?” she said lightly, bringing a smile to his lips.

“Now, I think we’d better call your parents and let them know you’re engaged just in case it does make the papers.” He took her hand, giving her fingers a squeeze. “Where were you heading when you went out to the car?”

“Oh, I need to meet with one of my contactors.”

He was amazed that even after all the things that had happened to her, she could show such excitement at the thought of a job she was working on.

“Okay, after we talk to your parents. I’ll drive you.” He could see her objection coming then she dropped it.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Never.”

“It’s up on Station Hill, the old Van Buren mansion. I can’t believe I get to do the restoration. This could really set me up as a designer. I mean, I’m doing well, especially being relatively new, but this is so high profile. I’m very fortunate to have been chosen. Sharon Van Buren actually saw something I did for Elsinore Reed and contacted me. The house is fascinating. It has all these odd rooms, and there are actually secret passages. She is going to turn it into a museum. I’ve been able to locate some great wallpaper and tapestry for the curtains.”

Mark nearly laughed at how animated she had become, talking about the house. When she paused to take a breath, she looked at him and blushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to go on like that.”

“Don’t worry about it. I can’t wait to see it.”

“Well, it doesn’t look like much right now. It’s sat vacant for about thirty years, ever since the timber mill closed and her brother died. It’s going to be terrific when it’s finished. The contractor doing the restoration is fabulous. He only handles restoration work. I feel very lucky to work with him.”

“Should I be getting jealous about now?”

“You have nothing to be jealous about. Ryan’s good-looking and talented, but I don’t love him.” She looked thoughtful for a second. “I don’t know why, but he doesn’t appeal to me. He’s a great guy. I guess he reminds me too much of my brothers, whom I still need to introduce you to. Anyway, the connection just wasn’t there like it is with you.” She smiled brightly at him. “You were it the moment I met you.”

Mark thought about pointing out that the moment she met him, she had just survived an attack from a psycho and was scared to death, but decided against it, because he knew what she meant. She was right for him from the start.

“Let’s make a phone call.” He held out his hand.

***

The old house was much as he expected, monstrous and grand at the same time. Neglect hung heavy on it, but he could see the possibilities as Jillian talked.

Ryan Stoddard was also close to what he had imagined, and if he hadn’t been so sure of Jillian’s love for him, he might have been jealous. The man would be considered very good-looking to women with his sandy hair and tanned skin. The man had his own six-two height by a couple inches, and his body was tempered strong from years of construction work. Intelligence blazed in the man’s blue eyes. Mark liked him from the moment they shook hands.

After a quick tour of the house, including a jaunt through the maze of secret passages, he stood back and listened while Ryan and Jillian discussed the restoration and the next steps to take on it. They were finished and about to head out to the car when the contractor asked if Mark could help him support one of the scaffolding pieces, while he secured it.

“Sure.” Mark agreed then turned back to Jillian as she spoke.

“I’m going to take these to the car.”

“I don’t …”

She cut him off. “I’m just going outside. I’ll be right back. I’ll even leave the door open if it’ll make you feel better.”

He wanted to protest, but it sounded foolish. When he looked back at the contractor after watching Jillian walk out, it was obvious Ryan agreed.

“There’ve been some threats against her.” Mark felt the need to explain as he helped hoist up the two-inch diameter metal tubing.

“You’re kidding.” The man froze. “Who’d want to hurt her?”

“A very sick individual who’s already killed several women.”

“You can’t be serious. The guy I’ve read about in the paper? He’s after Jillian?”

“It’s possible.”

“Wow, so that’s why you’re with her. I mean, beside the fact that you’re engaged.”

“Yeah. Listen, I’d appreciate it if you could make sure she’s never alone here, even with Nan. I know Jillian thinks Nan is enough, but I don’t think so.”

“You got it. I’ll make sure I’m always here before she gets here and leave after she does.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Mark said as the man tightened down the cross piece. Mark reached for another section just as a scream pierced the air.

Jillian set the tote in the back of the SUV, smiling at Mark’s silliness. Like something could happen to her twenty feet from the front door, but his concern was so sweet. She closed the tail gate and turned just as a man burst from the bushes. She was stumbling back before she recognized him, but by then, it was too late. Gravity and mud on cobblestones took control of her body, and she went down.

The cry ripped from her lungs as she hit the ground.

“You’re going to marry him!” Toby yelled at her, eyes wild, tears flowed down his face. “No!” he shouted at her then repeated it as Mark burst through the door, followed by Ryan. Toby looked at her, the anguish in his face shifting to fear.

“Toby.” Jillian recovered enough to get his name out, but it was too late to get him to listen to reason.

“No.” It was a whimper this time, and he took off, sprinting across the massive overgrown lawn. She watched helplessly as he disappeared.

“Stay with Jillian,” Mark ordered Ryan as he sped past.

It was Jillian’s turn to yell. “No!” But it did no good.

Mark was in full pursuit mode, though Toby had a huge head start on him. Mark cleared a three-foot-high shrub at the edge of the drive in perfect hurdler’s form. “Mark!” She tried to call him back as Ryan skidded to a stop beside her, almost going down himself.

“Are you all right?” He knelt beside her.

“Yes, I just slipped.”

“Don’t worry, he’ll get him. Are you okay for me to help you up, or should I get an ambulance?”

“No. I’m fine. You need to go after Mark.”

“I’m sure he can handle him.” There was no doubt Ryan was trying to soothe her, but he wasn’t getting it.

“No, it was just Toby. He wasn’t trying to hurt me. He just startled me. We have to get Mark back. He frightened him.” She looked toward where the men had disappeared. “We’ve got to go after them.” She started to rise.

Ryan caught her hand to help her up.

The pain in her ankle was more pronounced than it had been earlier, and she almost went down when she touched her foot to the ground. There was no stopping the gasp of pain that escaped her. “Twice in one day,” she ground out, fighting back the tears that threatened to fill her eyes.

“You’d better stay still.” Ryan tried to lower her back to the ground.

“No, it’s just my ankle. I twisted it a little. Please, I need you to go after Mark to stop him. He’s frightening Toby.”

“I can’t leave you,” the man said firmly. “Let me help you sit down.”

“I’m fine. Please help Mark.” Her plea ended as she caught sight of Mark coming through the trees marching the dejected form of Toby in front of him, controlled by hands cuffed behind his back.

Jillian broke away from Ryan and hobbled toward them as they approached. “Mark, no.” She reached for the frightened young man.

“Jillian, stay back.”

“No, Mark why did you cuff Toby?”

“He attacked you and took a swing at me.”

“He didn’t attack me. He startled me, and I fell. And you frightened him.” In the distance, she heard the sound of a siren and groaned. “Mark, he didn’t attack me, please.”

“Jillian, he’s following you. You can’t argue that. He came after you.”

“He was upset. He must’ve overheard us talking about being engaged.” At her words, Toby made a heart-wrenching mewing sound and dropped to the ground.

“Toby.” Jillian stepped toward him, ignoring Mark’s scowl. “Toby, I’m sorry. I would’ve come to tell you.”

He jerked back when she moved to lay her hand on his shoulder.

“Toby, there wasn’t time to tell you yet. We just got engaged today.”

The man was rocking back and forth, sobs racking his body.

“Can’t you release him?” She looked up at Mark who shook his head.

“Toby, why did you try to hit Mark?” Tears flooded her eyes as the police car pulled up. “Please, Toby, won’t you talk to me?” She felt lost. Pain jabbed in her at the forlornness of the boy-man.

Behind her she heard Mark talking to the officer, and the man came to take Toby to his cruiser. “No!” Jillian tried to object, but Mark’s arm locked around her, holding her back. He turned her, and Jillian went weak as tears swamped her. “No, please.” She pleaded into his chest. “He’s frightened. Don’t you see he’s frightened?”

Mark was at loss what to do. Jillian’s words and pain ate at him, but he couldn’t release the man. No matter what Jillian thought, he’d been following her, and he had attacked her.

More disturbing, though he hadn’t told Jillian, Toby knew not one but two of the other victims for certain. And though he didn’t want to believe it, he had to take him in for questioning. He fit the height, and he had taken more than a couple of swings at him. His side throbbed from the contact, but it didn’t hurt as much as the tears of the woman he loved, and was afraid he was losing.

The groan almost ripped free. This couldn’t be happening. They had only been engaged a couple hours and now this. It should have been one of the most beautiful days in their lives. He tightened his hold, afraid she would slip away. Her words deepened the feeling when she pulled back.

“I want to go with Toby.”

“Jillian, I can’t let you do that.”

“You really don’t think Toby could’ve killed those women do you?”

He wished he could give her the answer she wanted, because he really didn’t want to believe it, but he wasn’t going to take the chance, not with Jillian’s life on the line.

A howl split the air when the officer tried to ease Toby into the cruiser. He went wild, thrashing back and forth.

“Toby!” Jillian broke free, rushing toward him. Mark caught her hand, and she spun to face him. “Let me go.”

The anger in her eyes froze him. He lost his grip.

She hobbled her way to the car, getting between Toby and the officer. “Toby!” she yelled, gripping his shoulders. She almost fell as he spun. Instead she wrapped her arms around him and held tight. “Toby, you have to calm down,” she pleaded. “You have to calm down. Shh,” she continued when a wail broke free. “It’s okay. It’ll be okay, but you have to calm down. All right? You’re making this bad. Please, Toby.” She stroked his head, and he dropped it her shoulder.

Her body bowed at the weight of holding him up, but Mark didn’t dare step to her. Whether in fear that he’d incite Toby again or Jillian would shun him, he didn’t know. Her voice had dropped to a soothing level as the man cried on her shoulder. She rocked him like she would a hurt child, which in some ways was what Toby was. It was evident when Toby lifted his head like a chastened child and sobbed.

“I’m sorry, Jillian.” He sniffled. “I shouldn’t have hit Mark.”

She wiped the tears from his face. “No, you shouldn’t have.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt him. I didn’t mean to make you fall.” He cried harder.

“I know. It’s okay.”

“You’re mad at me.”

“No, I’m not mad at you. But, you have to be good. You have to go with the officer. Okay?” She waited, and he finally nodded. “They will call your mom. Okay?” He nodded again, and she forced a smile. “Look at how exciting. You get to ride in a police car.” She injected brightness in her tone, and the smile spread to Toby, then he looked over her shoulder to Mark.

“Do I have to apologize to him now?” He looked abashed.

“You probably should, but if you want to wait until later that would probably be all right. I know he scared you.”

“He chased me because he was mad.”

“Yes, he thought you hurt me.”

“I’m sorry. I was mad at you.”

“I know. I’m sorry your feelings were hurt. Will you go with the officer now?”

He nodded, and got in the car.

Jillian turned to the officer. “Please, he didn’t mean to cause problems.”

“I’ll handle him with more care, talk to him about what’s happening.”

“Thank you.” The smile she gave the man was warm. Mark wondered what her expression would be when she turned back to him. Would he be as easily forgiven?

The officer looked over to him and nodded.

Mark nodded back, but his attention stayed fixed on Jillian, who didn’t turn to look at him. The officer got in the car and drove off. Jillian stared after them, her arms clamped in front of her.

Mark started toward her, aware that Ryan had disappeared. He stopped a step behind her, unsure how he would be received.

He couldn’t take it any longer. “Jillian,” he groaned out. To his astonishment, she turned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist, pressing her face to his chest. Mark was more than happy to return the hug. The fear that gripped his heart slackened. He still didn’t dare move, afraid to break whatever spell had her in his arms, but the words slipped out. “I was so afraid you were angry at me.”

“I am.” Her hand fisted and smacked his chest then ran up to circle around his neck, pulling him even tighter as she cried with deep sobs. “I feel like something is trying to tear us apart. I wish it would all end.”

“I’m so sorry. I wish I could make it all go away.” He pressed a kiss on the top of her head, helpless to do anything else but hold her and pray he wouldn’t lose her. Several minutes passed before her crying stopped. When her hand came down to wipe her cheek, he eased her back. “Jillian?”

The voice came up but her head didn’t rise. “How could you arrest him?”

This time, his groan made it out. He placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. The sadness in her eyes did him in.

“I’m sorry. I know you’re used to befriending him, but Toby keeps popping up in our investigation. He’s a person of interest. If I go with my instincts, I’d say he’s not involved, but the evidence continues pointing to him and I can’t ignore that. Everything needs to be checked out and investigated thoroughly.”

Tears again filled her eyes.

They ate at him.

“But,” she shook her head in protest, “you can’t.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I have to. Please don’t be mad at me.”

“I can’t help that.” She raised her hand, wiping away tears from her cheek. “Just like I can’t help loving you. It’s just not easy right now.”

Mark grimaced. At least she said she loved him, though the other didn’t bode well. He decided to try for the positive. “Let me take you home. Your pants are muddy and wet. You’ve been through a lot of turmoil − your emotions have been ricocheting up and down.”

“I should go to the station with Toby until his mother can get there.”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.” He knew he was already weakening. “I’ll tell you what. We’ll pick up Abby at your shop, then I’ll drop you both at my place. Jordan can keep you company, and I’ll go down and check on Toby. If you stay there, I promise not to press charges unless we turn up some hard evidence and need to hold him. Will you agree to that?”

She was quiet a moment then her shoulders dropped in defeat, though Mark felt like he was the one who lost.

He felt more lost four hours later when he walked back into his house. He moved quietly toward the family room where he heard a movie running. The two people he loved most in the world were watching the screen.

Jillian was stretched out on the couch. Jordan lay on the floor with Abby pressed along his side. Mark’s heart would have soared if it hadn’t been so heavy. He knew his news was going to crush Jillian. As if sensing his presence, she looked back over her shoulder, stood, and came to him.

***

Jillian didn’t need to touch Mark to feel the tension in him. Something was wrong. Her head started to shake in denial, but his pain pulled her forward. She wrapped her arms around him and held tight until some of his stiffness eased.

“What is it?” She brushed her hand across his cheek, intrigued by the rough texture against her finger tip.

He caught her fingers and brought them to his lips.

“Mark?” The unease soared in her as she met his eyes.

He led her into the kitchen, released her hand to pace the floor a couple times before coming back to stand in front of her. “We found Toby’s car parked down the block from the mansion.”

He gritted his teeth, and she started to shake her head before the words even finished their way out.

“Inside there were several pictures of you. There was also a copy of Beauty and the Beast.”

“No.” She couldn’t keep the cry in.

“Yes. He’s been following you. It was him there at the soccer practice that scared you.”

“No!” She didn’t want to believe it, couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, the picture was there. You with Jordan and Sam, others of you going into your apartment, out by the pool, at the store.”

“But still−”

“No, Jillian. There’s more I’m not at liberty to discuss. I’m so sorry.”

“It can’t be him.” She cried, frantic in her fight to right her world. “It can’t be Toby. I pulled the mask off. The guy’s head was bald. It wasn’t Toby, it wasn’t.”

Mark wrapped his arms around her. She wanted to fight and cling to him at the same time. Clinging won. She pressed her face into his chest, unable to keep tears back. “It wasn’t him. I felt the rough skin on his head.”