Harper
At the end of the week, I reluctantly returned home to Sugar Falls. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Chase every day, and I was really going to miss him, but our relationship needed to go back to the way it was, which was much more casual. I wasn’t interested in a relationship and what I was doing with Chase was starting to feel like one. I had some weird trust issues. I trusted him with my body and with my safety, but I didn’t trust him with my heart...and he was worming his way into my heart whether he intended to or not. Oh, my therapist would have a field day with this, if I was still seeing her.
While driving to Sugar Falls, I decided it would be best to put some distance between the two of us. To do that, I would not initiate contact with him. When he called or texted to get together, I would tell him I was busy and brush him off for a few weeks. I figured that should be enough time to put things back to the way they were before my little visit to Croftridge. I felt good about my plan and fully intended to stick to it.
When I pulled into my driveway, I was mentally and physically exhausted. I really could have used a day or two to catch up on some sleep, but that wasn’t an option. As tired as I was, I was still happy to be returning to work. I absolutely loved my job. Right after graduation, I landed a job as a licensed clinical therapist at a crisis center for children.
After my ordeal when I was a child, Duke moved us to Devil Springs immediately after he rescued me. We had family there, and both of us needed a support system. For me, I needed more than that. I needed someone to talk to that understood my feelings or was at least trained to help me work through them. Unfortunately for me, there was no one like that in Devil Springs. As I got older, I decided that I wanted to be that someone for other children. Working at the crisis center was literally my dream come true.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t see it right away. It wasn’t until I went to insert the key that I noticed my front door was open. I automatically took two steps back and surveyed the area while I removed the gun from my purse. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, and I didn’t hear any sounds, but I was still unsure of what to do. Finally, I decided to get back into my car and call the police to come check things out.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long for the police officers to show up. They asked me to remain in my car while they checked the house. I sat in my car and anxiously awaited their return. It took everything I had not to pick up my phone and call Chase. I didn’t want to want him here with me, but at that very moment, I wanted him there more than anything.
A tap on my window had me jolting and letting out a high-pitched scream...and almost pointing a loaded gun at a police officer. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Didn’t mean to startle you. You can step out of the car now. And, please leave your weapon in the car.”
I nodded and placed the gun on the passenger seat before I exited my car on shaky legs and faced the officers. “I take it no one was in there?”
“No, ma’am, but we would like to clarify a few things with you. Follow me.” He turned and walked toward the front door, his partner right behind him. What the hell did I need to clarify?
My question was answered the moment I stepped into my living room. In the center of the wall above my couch, someone had painted what looked like a game of Connect the Dots, in a color that I could only describe as blood red. What the hell? And where was the series of framed black and white photos that had been on the wall?
“Ms. Jackson?” I turned to face the officer, who apparently had said my name more than once. “I take it that this wasn’t your doing?”
I shook my head. “No, sir. I had framed photos hanging there.” I continued to stare at the wall in disbelief.
“If you’ll follow me, just a few more things.”
I followed him through my house as he pointed out broken picture frame after broken picture frame. Any frame that included a photo of Duke or my parents had been broken.
When we arrived in my bedroom, I found my bed covered in peas. Peas. What in the ever-loving fuck?
“Have you noticed anything missing?” the officer asked.
“No, sir. Let me check my jewelry box and the places where I keep some of my small valuables.” I returned a few minutes later to let him know that everything was accounted for.
“Well, Ms. Jackson, it appears that this is of a personal nature. Does any of this make any sense to you? Do you have any enemies? Recently had a disagreement with someone?”
“No, to all of those questions. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I got into any kind of disagreement with someone.” Well, there was the girl that tried to kidnap my nephew and kill Reese, but he didn’t need to know about that. She was in custody, so she couldn’t be responsible for this.
“Okay. If you notice anything missing or think of anything we need to know, give us a call. In the meantime, I’ll finish up the report and send you a copy of it. We checked your door, and the lock is fine. Might not hurt to consider adding a security system. You take care, Ms. Jackson, and call if you need us.”
I thanked the officers and quickly locked the door. When I was sure they were gone, I ran around the house and turned on every single light before I went back through the house and made sure every window and door leading outside were locked. Then, I sank to the floor and cried.
CHAPTER TEN
Carbon
This wasn’t good. She hadn’t been gone more than a few hours, and I was already missing her. I wasn’t supposed to miss her. I wasn’t supposed to have feelings for her...nothing more than that of a friend anyway. A friend would call and check to make sure another friend got home safely. So it was perfectly reasonable for me to call and check on her.
Once I had that rationalized, I grabbed my phone and touched her name. I was beginning to think she wasn’t going to answer when she finally picked up.
“Hello,” she said into the phone. Something in her tone had my hackles instantly rising.
“Harper, what’s wrong, baby?” I asked.
A loud sob followed by several gasps filled my ear.