Killer Career (25 page)

She followed him to the door.

“Bolt the lock when I leave.”

She opened her mouth, but was quickly silenced by the pressure of his
lips on hers. Before she could kiss him back, Dade was gone, leaving
her lips tingling and the rest of her wanting more.

“You better keep that man. He’s like my Joey was,” Sarah said
from behind her.

“I intend to.”

Well, at least Dade had succeeded in taking Sarah’s mind off of her
misfortune. Julie felt sorry for the woman, but it could have been
much worse. Thank God, Jimbo would be all right.

Dade’s car idled outside for over an hour, then took off. Despite
her insistence that he leave, she couldn’t help but feel a trickle
of uneasiness. If she did need to use her cell phone, it would take
precious minutes before help arrived.

The perpetrator had to be long gone. The police had combed the area.
She and Sarah had nothing to fear. Still, just in case, after Sarah
made it into her bedroom, Julie rechecked all the locks and bolts.
Satisfied, she arranged a pillow on the family room couch and
stretched out.

She was dead tired, but her mind remained on full alert. She’d
never fall asleep. At this rate she’d have no trouble hearing if
anyone broke in. She gripped the cell phone under the pillow for
reassurance. Nine-one-one was already programmed on her speed dial.
All was ready. Her eyes were awfully heavy. It wouldn’t hurt to
close them for a few minutes.

A squeaking sound from the direction of the kitchen awakened Julie
from a turbulent sleep. Was that the doorknob turning? Was someone
breaking in? What were those scratching sounds?

She had to get help. Where was her cell phone? It should be under
the pillow where she’d left it, but she couldn’t feel anything
but the cushions. Maybe it had dropped.

There it was on the floor. She grabbed it and pressed the speed dial,
but the phone was dead. When she’d lain down, it was fully charged.
What could have happened?

She had to get to the land phone in the kitchen and summon help, yet
that’s where the intruder was trying to enter. What should she do?
She wished she could make a run out the other door, but that would
mean leaving Sarah to the mercies of what might be a deranged
lunatic. She’d never forgive herself if something happened to the
sweet old lady.

The invader would be inside soon. Stumbling, Julie rushed to the
kitchen, where the shaking and rattling were more pronounced. She
reached her arm over the counter for the phone. She’d made it this
far. If luck was with her, she’d get out the emergency call before
the intruder entered. She and Sarah might still have a chance.

She pressed nine-one-one and lifted the receiver to her ear. Dead
silence. The line was cut. Any second she’d face the monster who’d
almost killed Jimbo. She had to defend herself. Which drawer had the
knives? How could she find anything with the lights off? If she
turned them on, she’d be more of a target.

Maybe she’d get lucky. She opened the first drawer. Before she
could get her hand inside, the kitchen door creaked open.

Julie swung around. With heart pounding, she faced the monster.

“It was you, wasn’t it? How could you do such a thing?”

“It was easy, and you’re next.”

The intruder advanced. Julie stepped backward. Something cold
surrounded her ankle, then clamped down on it hard. It was an animal
trap. Pain shot from her ankle, up through her thigh. She couldn’t
move. She leaned on the counter for support. She had to get this
thing off of her or she’d bleed to death.

The intruder laughed at her pain. She couldn’t believe this was
happening.

She had to free herself.

A radical thought broke in, saying,
It doesn’t have to be this
way. All I have to do is wake up.

If only it were true. If only she could wish this horror away. She’d
try just in case.

“Please, let this not be real. Please let me wake up,” she said.

She couldn’t be that lucky. There was no way out.

Miraculously, her prayers were answered. Julie found that she was not
in the kitchen facing an intruder, but on the couch, with her foot
throbbing, caught between the cushions. Once she turned and adjusted
her leg, she felt better.

The sun was peeking through the drapes, promising a beautiful day.
The snow would soon melt.

Sighing with relief, she realized the whole thing had been a crazy
nightmare. No one had rattled the knob last night. No one had
shackled her.

True, but someone had done that to Jimbo. What had happened to the
dog was no dream.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The next day, when Dade returned from the Commission, he found
Julie’s secretary, Dee, and Pam, the receptionist, huddled together
giggling.

“Can you let me in on the news,” he asked with a smile.

He could use a little levity, especially after what had happened
yesterday to poor Jimbo. He’d always had a soft spot for animals.
It burned his gut to see one suffer.

The women exchanged uncertain glances.

Dee said, “I’ve got a message for Julie. Do you know when she’ll
be back?”

Her voice was breathless and excited, as if she could barely keep a
secret.

“Not long. It should be an easy trial.”

“I hope so. I’m just dying to tell her.”

“Tell her what?”

“About the call.”

Dade raised his eyebrows. “We get lots of phone calls. What’s the
big deal?”

“Not from Tyler Jensen,” she said reverently.

Hell. He’d thought Jensen was old business. Was the creep making a
comeback?

“Just think. Tyler Jensen might visit this office. He’s single,
you know,” Pam said.

“Yeah, right.” Dade turned to walk away.

In the hallway, he couldn’t help but overhear Pam say to Dee,
“What’s gotten into Dade? Do you think he’s jealous?”

He braked to hear the reply. “Maybe he’s seen the light. Wouldn’t
it be ironic if he wanted Julie now, but it was too late?”

“Can you imagine. Gee, what a difficult choice: the Boss Man or the
Great Mystery Writer,” Pam said. “They’re both dreamy.”

Dade smiled. At least the receptionist had a high opinion of him.
What about Julie? Where did he stand if Jensen was back in the
picture?

* * *

He’d had enough of juggling calls. Time to get away. Dade meandered
down the hall, knowing exactly where he was headed.

“How goes it,” he asked, popping his head into Julie’s doorway.

She glanced up from her paperwork to flash him a tired smile. “Come
on in. I could use a break.”

“You too, huh?” He pulled up his customary chair beside her desk
and stretched out his legs.

“Yes, I’m really down. I keep thinking of poor Sarah. I hated to
leave her this morning. She looked so lonely without Jimbo. What’s
so sad is he’ll have to stay at the animal hospital at least a few
weeks. Sarah’s too frail to handle a dog with a bad leg. As soon as
he’s better, she plans to sell her house and move in with her
daughter in Arizona.”

“It’s rotten for her to lose her independence like that. Are you
stopping by to see her tonight?”

“I’m picking her up. Then we’ll visit Jimbo. She insisted I not
stay overnight again. I think she’s embarrassed at the attention.”

“Any word from the police?”

“Sarah didn’t say, but then again, when I managed to get through
to her, three lines lit up on my phone. I have a feeling nothing much
happened, or she would mentioned it. I’ll ask her later.”

He nodded. They went on to discuss the morning’s trials. With each
pause, he expected Julie to bring up Jensen, yet she didn’t. He
couldn’t let the matter lie. It would kill him not to know.

“When I came in earlier, the staff was going nuts over a message
for you, you know, from the Great One.”

Hell, that had come out wrong.

“Oh, you must mean Tyler.”

She sounded nonchalant, but her face turned red. Damn it, Jensen did
mean something to her.

“You won’t believe this, but the man’s buying Grand Granada,
the historic hotel on Marine Drive. You know, the one held by the
Granada Estate.”

Dade let out a low whistle. “That baby’s up for millions.”

“Well he’s got that and more, not to mention ambition. He plans
to restore it.”

“And you’ll cash in on the attorney’s fees.”

“That’s right.” She flashed him a smug smile.

Was that the only attraction? What woman wouldn’t want to go after
the main prize, Jensen himself?

“Does that mean you’ll be staying here longer?”

“No, the deal should close in about three months, around the time I
was leaving anyway. If it extends, I’ll finish up on my own.”

Dade nodded in acceptance, though something about the setup bothered
him. It was strange for the guy to hire Julie. Sure, she was one of
the best in her field and well respected, but he had a feeling there
was more to it than that. Jensen must already have his share of
competent attorneys. Something didn’t ring right.

Dade frowned. The purchase would bring Julie and Jensen together more
often. Anything could happen.

Damned if he’d let on it bothered him. He stretched out his hand.
“Congratulations, partner. Keep hauling in the dough.”

She looked at him strangely, then shook his hand. It tingled
afterwards, as he turned and walked out.

He hadn’t handled that very well, but how could he? He was in a
no-win situation. While he didn’t want to encourage Jensen’s
hanging around, if he objected it would seem he didn’t trust Julie.
She was a grown girl and could make her own decisions. His days of
playing big brother were over.

* * *

“Your tape is ready, Mr. Donovan. Anything more?” his assistant
asked, in a no-nonsense voice, as her strong hands plunked down a
huge pile of letters on his desk.

“That’s all. Thanks, Pat.”

He smiled in appreciation. At least something was on track. He didn’t
know how he’d deserved it, but he’d landed an extremely capable
assistant. The large curly haired Pat O’Brien cranked out stacks of
work and everyone liked her, unlike poor Nora.

Damn, that was a shame. Whenever he thought of Nora, his conscience
pricked him. He’d known she was unhappy, but hadn’t realized the
extent. Maybe if he’d sat down and talked things over with her,
she’d still be alive.

Dade shook his head. He’d never know.

He picked up a letter from the stack and started signing. It was
already four-forty. The mail had to get out by five o’clock.

So did he. Last week, Todd had reminded him of their weekly
basketball game. Dade had promised not to blow it off as he’d done
too often.

He was looking forward to seeing the guys again. Between his
accident, Julie’s illness, the sorry business with Nora, not to
mention the heavy case load, he’d had little time for sports and
fun. This time he’d get there, no matter what.

Resolutely turning his back on the looming files, he grabbed his gym
bag. Without a backward glance, he headed down the hallway, stopping
briefly to gaze into Julie’s darkened office. All appeared right.

He frowned, thinking of Jimbo. He didn’t like the idea of a sicko
traipsing around so near Julie’s house. Animal torturers were known
to graduate to humans. Was she safe?

Damn it, he lived too far away to keep an eye on her. Anything could
happen before he got there. For his own peace of mind, he’d make up
an excuse to call her tonight.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

From his kingdom above, Tyler gazed down at another afternoon’s
activities in Chicago’s Loop. He had it all, yet nothing. He envied
the ant-like people below who scurried to get work done so they could
go home to their families. He only had himself.

How would it feel to be loved? Before, he’d never considered the
prospect worthy enough to make the effort. Now, he’d do anything to
make it happen.

“Come into my web, said the spider to the fly.”

Tyler smiled grimly at the cliché, which he’d never plant in any
of his books. A great writer never borrowed.

Also, a writer wrote, yet he hadn’t been able to do so in over a
month. Suddenly the real world seemed more exciting. For once, he was
living and spinning actual webs, dreaming actual dreams, chasing an
actual prize. And when he held his prize in the palm of his hands,
would he be happy? Would his gray, drab destiny splash into vibrant
Technicolor?

He didn’t know the answers. He could only hope.

As he grabbed the cell phone from his pants pocket, the sun’s warm
rays poured over him. Power coursed through him, making him feel
anything was possible.

“Julie McGuire, please.”

“Hello, Tyler, what can I do for you?”

A hot dagger of desire shot through him. He reached with his free
hand for the support of the window pane. Her power over him was
awesome.

He’d fight to get what he wanted. This wasn’t about playing fair.
It was about winning.

“I know you’re busy, but could you possibly squeeze me in for an
appointment this week? I need clarification on some of the finer
points of the contract.”

She told him next Tuesday was the earliest. He gritted his teeth but
pleasantly confirmed the appointment. No mistakes this time. Adopting
a technique he’d learned from writing, he assumed the role of
“heroic Tyler,” saying what she would expect of him. This time
he’d be the man she wanted him to be. And if he pretended hard
enough, maybe he would become that mythical person.

Only a miracle could do that. She was that miracle, his chance for
love and his link to happily ever after.

* * *

He must do something with his time. Writing was his one reliable
recourse, yet he couldn’t concentrate. The monitor stared back
mockingly at Tyler. In every instance, no matter how dire the
circumstance, he’d been able to write. He stared at the screen and
willed the words to pour out, but they still eluded him.