Summer Storms (Seasons of Faith Book 1) Read online

“We have a bottle of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio chilling for you in the lounge. Why don’t you go on up and relax. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He handed Elaine her room key.

  Lizzie waited for Elaine to disappear in the elevator before leaving her hiding place. She approached Stephen with a sense of victory filling her heart.

  “I couldn’t have done it better,” she applauded him.

  Stephen chuckled. “She looked pretty shell shocked when she left; think I should give her a minute to recover?”

  “She’ll be fine by the time you get up there. Throwing in the specific wine was a good touch. Shows you’re aware of her preferences and are capable of meeting her needs. That’s what she wants. Now get going. Don’t want to make her wait too long.” Lizzie gave him a high five as he boarded the elevator.

  With Stephen’s help, Lizzie was able to get out of the office a little before five. She took her time walking home, enjoying the Friday night excitement. The restaurants she passed were setting up extra tables outside to take advantage of the crystal clear evening and gentle breeze. Many of the downtown residents were streaming out of their homes. When she arrived at her house, she found a note from Mae taped to her door.

  Call or come by when you get home. That man was here again. Love, Mae

  Lizzie shoved the note in her pocket and raced across the street, eyes darting all around, fearful of being watched. She rapped on the door, anxious for Mae to appear. The seconds crawled by with no response and she rapped again. Finally Mae pulled open the door and motioned for Lizzie to enter.

  Mae led her to the living room, a spacious room with two blue recliners, a brown plaid loveseat, a straight-back chair that looked antique, a large china cabinet, and a long low cabinet with an old television console. Mae settled into one of the recliners and Lizzie perched on the edge of the loveseat.

  “I’m worried about you,” Mae’s voice trembled. “Is there anyone who can come stay with you for a few days?”

  “What happened?” Panic churned in the pit of Lizzie’s stomach, fearful Ralph Anderson had threatened her in some way.

  “He came by around three o’clock. He knocked on my door, but I didn’t answer him, then he went prowling around your house. He must have spent fifteen minutes peering in your windows and walking around the property. I get the feeling he might have gone through your garbage as well. I saw him coming from the back of the house and he was pulling off a pair of gloves. I called the police, but they didn’t seem to think it was all that important and didn’t get here until he was already gone.”

  “I’m so sorry he came here. The officer who came out the other day gave me his card. I will call him and see if there is anything he can do.”

  “He didn’t have someone driving him this time. I gave the police the information on the car, but I don’t know if it will help them any.” Mae gave Lizzie an apologetic look.

  “Thank you for looking out for me.” Lizzie felt a lump in her throat. She hugged Mae and slipped out of the house.

  Back at her house with all the doors locked, Lizzie pulled Officer Prentiss’ business card off the refrigerator and dialed his number. His voicemail picked up and she left a message with the details Mae had given her and her phone number.

  When she hung up, she opened the fridge and stared blankly, not seeing the cheese and fruit platters, cakes, and pies waiting for the next day. She let go of the handle and the door closed. She picked up the phone again and called Emma. As she waited for the line to connect, she tried to decide how much to tell her friends about the frightening man. Her heart sank when she heard Emma’s voicemail.

  “Well, nothing else I can do about it right now,” she said shrugging off her worry and focusing on final preparations for the party.

  CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

  Saturday morning Lizzie awoke to menacing clouds on the horizon. The weatherman predicted showers all morning into the late afternoon. Her heart sank as she pictured her plans for the evening falling apart. A knock at the door surprised her.

  She crept to the door and leaned into the peephole but couldn’t see anything. The person on the other side was covering the opening. Her heart began to race and she struggled to remain calm. She reached for the phone and dialed 9-1-1.

  “9-1-1 what’s your emergency?” A brassy female voice came on the line.

  “There’s a man outside my door,” Lizzie whispered.

  “I’m sorry ma’am you’re going to have to speak up I can’t hear you.” The operator sounded annoyed Lizzie was interrupting her day. There was another knock, louder this time.

  “There’s someone outside my house. He’s been here several times and I don’t know who he is.”

  “Is he trying to break into the house?”

  “Not yet, but I think he might.”

  “Ma’am we can’t do anything if he is just knocking on the door. You may want to answer it and tell him to go away.” The operator snapped her gum.

  “You don’t understand. I’m afraid he wants to hurt me.”

  “What’s the address?” the operator sighed. Lizzie gave her the address and heard the clicking of computer keys. “Huh, Officer Prentiss does have a note in here. I’ll send a car out to drive by. Should be there in ten minutes.”

  “Thank you.” Lizzie hung up but continued to clutch the phone. He knocked again, softer this time.

  She heard a car stop nearby and prayed the police had arrived. She ventured a look out the peephole again and saw the back of a retreating man but no police. She wanted to throw the door open and demand the intruder stop but fear paralyzed her. What if he had a gun? What if he turned around and stormed into the house?

  The man disappeared from her limited field of vision. Seconds later another man rushed across the yard in the direction the first had gone. Lizzie moved to the window and pulled back the curtain. She saw Officer Prentiss on the sidewalk, back to her, head hunched into his shoulder. He straightened and turned toward the house. By the time he reached the front steps, she was on the porch.

  “Where did he go?” she cried.

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Reynolds. He had a car waiting for him and got away.” Prentiss’ radio crackled with static then a deep baritone voice came across it.

  “Copy that, APB on a black, Lincoln Town Car, license plate Alpha-Charlie-Foxtrot-Niner- Niner- Seven.”

  “Are you okay?” Prentiss placed a strong hand on her upper arm and Lizzie realized she was shaking. “Why don’t we go sit down?” He followed her into the living room and waited for her to take a seat before sitting himself.

  “Why won’t he leave me alone?” Lizzie’s fear was turning to anger.

  “I’m not sure. Have you spoken to your landlord to verify this is his stepson?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve left several messages with the property manager but he hasn’t gotten back to me.”

  “I will see if we can’t step up patrols in this area for a few days and maybe that will scare him off.”

  “Isn’t there anything else you can do?”

  Prentiss gave her a sympathetic look. “I put out an all points bulletin for him, if we find him we’ll bring him in for questioning. If he didn’t have anything to hide, he wouldn’t have run from me. In the meantime you should try to contact your landlord again.” He rose to leave.

  “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

  “Wish I’d gotten here sooner.” Prentiss shook her hand and descended the steps. Lizzie shut the door and sank to the floor.

  At five, Emma and Ron arrived loaded down with paper products. Lizzie told them about the persistent visitor as they set up a buffet of finger foods on the kitchen counters.

  “Have you been able to talk to Mr. Phillips about this?” Emma asked with concern. Lizzie shook her head.

  “Why don’t you come stay with us for a few days?” Ron offered.

  “Maybe. Officer Prentiss said he would call if they found him.”

  “I would feel better if you stayed with us
or at least had someone else here with you.” Emma placed a bowl of chips on the counter.

  Lizzie drifted through the house lighting candles and pulling back curtains. She’d lived with the drapes drawn since Ralph Anderson’s first visit and she felt opening them now was an act of defiance, showing she wasn’t afraid. She ventured onto the front porch to light the citronella candles she’d set out to help with the mosquitoes. A car door slammed causing her to jump. She turned to the street and saw Stephen crossing the lawn.

  “Hope I’m not too early,” he greeted her.

  “Not at all.” Lizzie gave him a hug and took the bottle of wine he held out. “Thank you, this wasn’t necessary.”

  “I’m grateful for all you’ve done for me, even when you had so much on your mind with this place.” Stephen followed her into the house where she introduced him to Emma and Ron. Soon other guests started to arrive and Lizzie slipped into the role of hostess.

  CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

  The small house was bursting at the seams when Ian arrived. He weaved his way through the crowd in search of Lizzie. When he didn’t find her inside, he slipped out the back door, moving past three guests sitting on folding chairs within a small circle of light from the kitchen windows. He thought he saw movement at the edge of the yard and stepped forward. Lizzie sat on a swing hung from a massive rain tree, a man stood behind her, his lips close to her ear.

  Ian paused, disappointed to find her in such an intimate conversation with another man. He turned to leave, catching a glance of the man’s hand on one of her shoulders. Even in the darkness, he could see the man was using this hand to hold her down. Lizzie’s gaze rose from the ground and met Ian’s. Her eyes were wide, filled with fear.

  Without a thought, Ian lunged forward, his hands reaching for the man.

  “Ian!” She fell forward as the man loosened his grip and raised his arms to protect himself from Ian’s attack. Lizzie curled up in a ball on the ground as Ian leapt over her, tackling the man.

  They rolled in the grass, fists flying. Ian landed a punch in the man’s gut and jaw before taking a hit himself under the chin. He felt arms pulling him off the intruder and he tried to shake them off, but they dragged him from the limp form beneath him.

  Stephen and Jeffery grabbed the man and yanked him to his feet. A siren cried in the distance. Blood streamed from the man’s nose and mouth as he struggled to free himself. Ian spit blood himself and rolled his tongue around his mouth searching for loose teeth.

  “What’s gotten into you?” Jeffrey demanded.

  Lizzie rushed to Ian’s side, wrapping her arms around him, sobs shaking her whole body. “Thank you,” she gasped.

  “Are you okay?” He held her close, her warmth erasing his pain. Lizzie nodded.

  “Excuse me folks,” an authoritative voice said.

  “Officer Prentiss. Thank goodness you’re here.” Lizzie lifted her head from Ian’s shoulder.

  “Are you alright, Ms. Reynolds?” Prentiss asked.

  “I am now.” She pointed at the man still restrained by Jeffrey and Stephen. “This is Mr. Anderson and he has been here threatening me. I hope you can arrest him now.”

  Prentiss motioned for another officer to cuff Ralph Anderson. Ralph struggled to break free, proclaiming his innocence.

  “You can give your statement at the station,” Prentiss shot at him before turning to Lizzie. “You think you can tell me what happened?”

  Lizzie nodded and addressed her guests. “Why doesn’t everyone go back inside? I’ll be in soon.”

  The crowd that had gathered after the first scream, filtered inside leaving Lizzie, Ian, Jeffrey, Stephen, and Officer Prentiss alone. They settled into the folding chairs and Prentiss pulled a notebook from his shirt pocket.

  “Whenever you’re ready,” Prentiss said with a kind smile. Lizzie slipped her hand into Ian’s and he gave a reassuring squeeze.

  “I came outside to get some fresh air and sat down on the swing. I’d only been there a couple of minutes when I felt a hand on my shoulder and another clamping over my mouth. He told me he knew I was having an affair with his stepfather and he was here to put an end to it. I tried to deny it but he wouldn’t let me speak. He was trying to pull me off the swing when Ian arrived.” She paused and looked at Ian, her eyes full of gratitude, setting off an ache in his heart.

  “Why did he seem to think you are having an affair with Mr. Phillips?” Prentiss asked.

  “I don’t know. He kept telling me he knew the business trips were trips to see me, that he knew Mr. Phillips had sent me money. He did send me money. It was reimbursement from his homeowner’s insurance for repairs I had to make after Hurricane Charley, but I’ve never met the man. My dealings have all been with his property manager.”

  She shivered and Ian fought the urge to wrap his arms around her.

  “Please tell me you can lock him up now,” she pleaded.

  “We certainly have a better case. I’d recommend you visit the courthouse on Monday and file paperwork for an injunction against him as well.” Prentiss turned to Ian. “I’ll need to get your statement also, but you should probably go to the hospital to get checked out.”

  “I’m fine.” Ian said and relayed his side of the story, leaving out the jealous disappointment he’d felt.

  “So, are you saying you believed Ms. Reynolds was in imminent danger?” Prentiss asked. Ian nodded. Prentiss took statements from the two other men, flipped his notebook closed and stood up. “I’ll need you folks to come to the station to fill out some paperwork, but it can wait until you wrap things up here.”

  Lizzie thanked Officer Prentiss for his help and walked him to the door. When the police had left, the guests gathered around her to find out what had happened. She told the story of Ralph Anderson’s first appearance and subsequent prowling. She caught Mae’s eye and gave her a look of thanks.

  “We should all go,” Monica said, looking around at the concerned faces.

  Lizzie nodded. “I’m sorry to cut things short.”

  Her friends all dismissed her apology and gathered their things, offering hugs and kind words as they left. Emma and Ron said they would stay to clean up while Lizzie went to the police station.

  “Just load up the dishwasher and I’ll worry about the rest later.” Lizzie lingered in Emma’s embrace.

  “We’ll be here when you get home,” Emma replied in a firm tone, letting Lizzie know there was no room for discussion. She followed the boys outside and they all piled into Stephen’s SUV.

  CHAPTER FORTY NINE

  It was a silent ride to the police station. Jeffrey recognized the ferocity of Ian’s attack of Ralph Anderson and wondered how long Ian had been in love with Lizzie; wondered if she knew. For some reason the idea of Ian and Lizzie as a couple didn’t sit right with him, but he didn’t know why. They were perfect for each other in many ways, especially their shared interest in saving him. Jeffrey smirked at the thought of Lizzie and Ian plotting ways to bring his faithless soul to salvation.

  He glanced in the backseat. Lizzie’s head rested on Ian’s shoulder. Ian’s arm was wrapped around her protectively, his gaze trained on her blond curls. Jeffrey felt a pang in his chest. Those were the moments he missed most with Camylle - the quietness, the closeness, the trust. A pain shot through his head as though he’d been hit. Trust. That was the thing he’d missed most and suddenly realized he hadn’t felt that loss since meeting Lizzie. He had that same intense sense of trust with her that he’d had with Camylle.

  Ian’s gaze lifted and his eyes met Jeffrey’s. Years of words unsaid, flowed between them in that instant and Jeffrey knew Ian finally understood the fear and grief he’d felt when Camylle had lain dying. All the anger and resentment toward Ian flowed out of his heart.

  “Here we are,” Stephen announced as they pulled into a parking lot.

  Jeffrey jumped out of the car and rushed to open the door for Lizzie. She scooted across the seat and took Jeffrey’s waiting hand to help he
r step down. Stephen and Ian came around the car and waited until Lizzie was ready to enter the building.

  The police station smelled of burned coffee and aftershave. The fluorescent lights cast a harsh glare on the white tile floors. Lizzie walked up to the reception desk where a thin woman with olive skin, silky black hair, and amber eyes greeted her. Lizzie gave her name and asked for Officer Prentiss.

  “Yes, he’s expecting you. Have a seat and I’ll let him know you are here,” the receptionist replied. The quartet moved to a group of plastic chairs along the wall.

  Five minutes passed as Lizzie sat with her legs crossed, foot shaking with impatience and nerves. She felt as if a hundred pair of eyes were drilling into her and kept her own gaze glued to the floor. She tried to count the multi-colored flecks in the floor tiles but her vision would blur each time she reached fifty. Her shoulder ached where Ralph had gripped her so tightly and she longed for a shower to wash the feeling of his hands from her body.

  A door swung open and Officer Prentiss stepped out. “Thanks for coming.”

  He ushered the group down a hallway into a cramped office. He pulled in two more chairs and took a seat behind a gray metal desk covered in papers and file folders. As Lizzie took a seat, the chair rocked on uneven legs.

  “Mr. Anderson is in booking right now. He hasn’t been cooperative, but I have been able to get in touch with Mr. Phillips. He was unaware his stepson was down here and asked me to apologize to you. He’s flying in tomorrow.” Prentiss pulled a stack of papers off the printer behind him as he spoke.

  “I have printed up a copy of the statements you gave me earlier. If you can just review them, make sure I have everything correct and then sign them please.” He handed out the reports and reached for another form.

  “Ms. Reynolds, I assume you would like to have Mr. Anderson trespassed from the property?” At Lizzie’s eager nod, he handed her the form and asked her to complete it.