The Intruder (15 page)

"I won't, Ma," she promised. "I've learned my lesson. I'm so fortunate Linc spent hours searching for me tonight, and that he was willing to risk his life to protect me. Jake and Nevin both think highly of him," she said with a smile for the man.

Linc was blushing at Jenna's praise, and he was proud of her for accepting responsibility for her actions. She wasn't the spoiled brat he first thought her to be.

"Thank you, young man, for saving my little girl," Molly said emotionally, putting down her wooden spatula long enough to give him a big hug. "Jenna is precious to me, and to all of us. I just can't bear to think of her in the clutches of that horrible man Darles!"

"We won't let that happen, Mrs. Tobias," Linc promised, meaning every word. He wanted a chance to get to know the brunette better. She was pretty, spunky, and smart, too.

There was the sound of a key in the front door, and Linc was immediately alert. He motioned for the ladies to stay where they were while he covered the door. He was fairly sure it was the Lieutenant, but he wasn't taking any chances.

* * *

Kelly looked up from her knitting to see Kari sitting motionless, looking off into space, her own knitting lying in her lap. When Kelly learned that she and Kari would be staying at the isolated farm, she decided to bring knitting needles, yarn, and a few pattern books, thinking that learning to knit would be a fun project for the two of them. But to her surprise, Kari already knew the craft, and was more than willing to teach her how to cast on, and Kari made perfect sense of the directions that Kelly found confusing to read, but much easier to do when Kari showed her how. Kelly was now making a pair of bootees for the new little life she was carrying inside her, and Kari was working on a matching sweater and cap. It was going to be a very pretty little outfit, and done in white, it would be perfect for either a boy or a girl. Kari said that she'd show Kelly how to make a blanket, too, and Kelly was excited. Knitting and talking was a good way to pass the time while they were waiting for Darles to be captured and arrested. When she looked up again, Kari was still staring out into space. "You're missing Jake," she smiled at Kari.

"I am," Kari admitted with a deep sigh. "It's only been a few hours since I kissed him goodbye, but I already miss him so much. I would love to talk to him," she admitted, and then jumped when her cell phone rang. "Oh, that has to be Jacob!" she said enthusiastically, setting her knitting aside and jumping up to grab her cell.

"Don't answer it, Kari!" Kelly raced to grab the phone before Kari did something foolish that could lead to Darles finding her. "It's not Jake, honey. I don't recognize the number, and it's not your Dad. Let it go to voice mail. Darles could find out where we are if he gets you to answer. I don't understand all the tracking stuff, but we do it all the time to find people."

"It didn't occur to me that Darles could use my phone to find out where I am," Kari admitted sheepishly. "What would I do without you, Kelly?"

"It's my job to know these things. Just try to be patient and give Jake time to catch Darles. He will; he's a good cop."

"I feel like I created this problem just by opening the door to my apartment that day," Kari admitted.

"You drew Darles' attention because you are young and beautiful, but he was already being investigated, Kari. You didn't cause this problem." The dogs suddenly started barking again. "Go and hide, Kari, while I see what is going on."

"Kelly, I just can't do that! If it is Darles and his men, you'll need my help."

"If it is Darles, I want you to stay hidden. Now go!" she ordered in a sharp tone, and then purposely softened her tone to add, "Seriously, Kari, it's probably Nevin, or Jake... If you aren't where you are supposed to be, we are
both
going to get our tails busted."

Kari decided that Kelly was right. Her backside was much too sore to contemplate another spanking so soon. She said a prayer that it was either Nevin or Jake, and hurried to do what Kelly said. It wasn't long before Kelly came to get her. "It's Nevin," she whispered, and then put her finger over her lips to remind Kari to keep her silence about the baby.

"I'm glad to see you are doing what you're supposed to be doing, Kari," Nevin said solemnly. "Jake will be pleased."

"I promised I would," she said, more than a little relieved she'd trusted Kelly's instincts. She didn't want to be responsible for getting Kelly in trouble, not only with Nevin, but with Jake, too!

"Yes, I know you promised," he looked at her and then at his wife. They were up to something and he just knew it. It showed off of both of them. His experienced eyes went over the room, taking in every detail. He couldn't spot anything that would tell him that they were plotting mischief. The only thing it appeared he'd interrupted was their knitting, something Kelly had wanted to learn to do for a couple of years now.

"Kari's cell phone rang," Kelly reported. "We didn't recognize the number."

"You didn't answer it, did you?" he demanded, positive that he'd finally discovered what they hadn't told him earlier when he called.

"No, of course not!" Kelly replied indignantly. "I know better than that!"

"Okay. Good. Let me write the number down and run a check on it," he said. Kelly handed him Kari's cell phone, and he quickly looked up the number and was surprised that the call just happened a few minutes before he arrived. Kelly hadn't hid it from him. He looked back over other calls and there weren't any that he needed to be concerned over. Kelly was a good police officer, and it wasn't like her to withhold information, and he was relieved that she wasn't doing so now. Still, something wasn't 'right', and Nevin knew it. Once he was finished with checking out Kari's cell phone, he handed it back to Kelly and then asked, "Is there anything you two ladies need?"

"No, we're just fine, babe," Kelly answered with a smile. "Are you staying the night?" she asked hopefully.

"I wish I could, but things are hectic on the Darles' case. Nevin filled them in, and Kari gasped in dismay when she learned that Jenna was also being targeted by the criminal. "Kari, Jake is about as stressed as a man can get right now. It would be a
very
good idea for you to do exactly as he told you and not give the man any guff." His voice was firm as he delivered his warning.

"Nevin, why are you scolding Kari? She hasn't done one single thing to deserve it," Kelly defended her friend. "She has done exactly as I instructed, and I don't understand why you sound so accusatory right now." Kelly's eyes were full of surprise, and there was a hint of temper in her eyes.

"I'm just concerned, Kel. I want to keep both of you safe," he admitted sheepishly. "I am sorry, Kari. I didn't mean to sound like I was scolding you."

"We aren't going to get into any mischief out here, Nevin," Kari promised. "Kelly and I have discussed all sorts of plans for 'just in case'. We don't want to upset Jake... or you. We'll be fine."

"I wish I could believe that," he stated, looking from one to the other. "Please, both of you, be cautious."

Nevin headed back to town, his instincts screaming at him and telling him the two women were definitely up to something that he and Jake wouldn't approve of. Surely his wife wouldn't agree to lure Darles out to the farm, thinking she could take him into custody without back-up? No, Kel wouldn't defy orders. It would cost her her job... and he'd spank her until she couldn't sit down for a month of Sundays for risking her life like that! But, they were up to something! He just didn't know what... yet!

* * *

"It's the Lieutenant," Officer Aiken called from the foyer.

Jenna visibly relaxed until she saw the expression on Jake's face. He didn't waste time saying 'hello', but started the interrogation, "Jenna, are you positive your window wasn't unlocked?"

"Positive, big brother. I live on campus, remember, right off a wooded area walking path. What is the one thing you stressed to me every day and night for at least a month? 'Make sure you keep that window closed and locked, Jenna. It's too easy for someone to climb inside your room without being seen.' I never leave the room or go to bed that I don't check that window, especially after Deborah was abducted. I do listen to what you tell me, Jake," she said so sincerely that he had to smile at her.

"That's good to know, honey," he admitted. "I really think the school should install bars on those ground windows," he grumped.

"It would feel like I was living in a prison if they did that, Jake. I just make sure to keep it locked, and the habit is so instilled that I'm sure to do it here at home, too."

Jake nodded, and then took out his cell phone and pressed a couple of buttons. "Officer Greene, would you go and check out my sister's room. I particularly want to know if her window is locked. Be careful entering, just in case Darles or his men are hiding inside. I don't think they would do that, but it's better to take precautions. Call me back," he ordered.

"Ma, are you sure the front door was locked before you found it unlocked?" he turned his questioning to his sweet little mother.

"I wasn't the last one to leave, dear; Jenna was. I thought she was the one who left it that way, but I took precautions, just in case. I looked through the house, and nothing was missing or out of place." She reached up and patted Jake's face, "Don't worry so, sweetheart. I'm not stupid, and I was cautious."

"Ma, any time you come home to an unlocked door when you know it
should
be locked, you should call me and have me come and check it out for you. It's my job as a Police Officer, and my duty, responsibility, and act of love as your son to do so."

"That is so sweet, Jacob. I'll remember that the next time," she patted his cheek once more. "Are you hungry, dear? I made plenty of this stir fry," she told him, hurrying to take out plates and serve the food while it was steaming hot.

"I could eat, Ma," Jake admitted with a smile before he looked at Jenna. "Honey, are you positive you locked the front door when you left?"

"Yes, same reason as before, Jake. I remember testing the door knob to make sure it was locked, and I used my key to lock the deadbolt. I also checked this back door," she told him, and Jake promptly went over to try the door. It wasn't locked!

"Damn it." His cell phone rang as he was making sure to lock the locks on that door as well. "Tobias," he growled.

Jenna felt sorry for the person on the other end of the call. Her brother was in a very testy mood, and she had yet to live through a 'discussion' with him on the subject of guns.

"Son of a bitch!" he muttered under his breath. "Lock it, Officer. I'll station someone in the room. I don't want any of the other kids who live in that dorm put at risk. I want you to move Deborah off campus and into a hotel suite, someone inside her room and with her at all times, someone just inside the door to the suite. I'll send some help."

"Darles was in my dorm room?" Jenna asked fearfully.

"Yes. The door was unlocked; your window unlocked, too." When her eyes filled with tears he said, "We'll catch him, honey. In the meantime, you have to promise me that you'll do as I tell you."

"I will, Jake. I am in over my head, and I don't blame you for being so upset with me. I was unbelievably foolish to think I could take on Darles."

"Yes, you were," he nodded, but then added, "Your heart is in the right place, though, and I respect that you want to put the bastards away for what they did to Deborah. But, you can't just shoot them, sweetheart, not even if you're licensed to carry a concealed weapon."

"Shooting is too good for those men, Jake," Jenna's dark eyes flashed angrily as she jumped to her feet to put her hands on her hips. "I want them to go to prison, and I hope they're raped over and over while they are there! They should suffer
exactly
what they put Deborah through," she burst into tears, and if Jake was surprised when Linc pulled Jenna into his arms to hug and comfort her, he didn't let on.

"Jenna, dear, sit down and eat something. Food always helps," Molly insisted, and was well aware that her children looked at each other and smiled the moment they thought she wasn't looking. She knew they thought her a bit silly at times, but that was okay. Food prepared with love always helped, no matter what the situation. "Sit down now," she said firmly, placing plates on the table. "You too, Linc. You saved my daughter's life and that makes you family."

"Thank you, Mrs. Tobias," he said politely.

"Call me Molly," she insisted. "While we eat, you can tell us all about your family and where you come from."

Jake knew he should probably rescue the young man, but if he was right about things, Linc was already under Jenna's spell and would actually be family when the time was right. His Ma certainly thought so, and she knew these things. Jake decided that Linc was a good man, better than some of the flakes that Jenna had dated in the past. He'd personally scared off a couple of those, and Jase took care of another one that he knew was doing drugs. They weren't about to let Jenna marry someone who wasn't right for her. Linc would be 'right'. He had a good record with the department, and Jake had studied his personal file before assigning him to guard his little sister. He wasn't about to risk putting her with just anyone!

"We still need to discuss this gun situation, little sister," Jake said when they were nearly done eating.

"I have every right to carry a gun, Jake. I did it legally, and I took classes to make sure I know how to safely handle a gun." Kelly had been planning her defense for the last couple of hours.

"Honey, I don't like the fact you have a gun. It's not safe to have them... A criminal could take it from you and shoot you with it," he said. "Or, God forbid, someone you love could show up late at night, and you would get frightened and shoot them. I've seen a lot of cases that support this!"

"And those are the ones you hear about, Jacob. You don't come in contact with all the gun owners who are responsible citizens. And, I will remind you, Jacob, that the right to bear arms is given to all citizens in good standing." Molly was defending her daughter.