Complicated Ties (The Ties Trilogy (A Contemporary Erotic Romance Novel)) (16 page)

“Hang on a min”, taking my phone out and dialling my dad who picked up after three rings as usual.

“Hullo, Maddie is that you?”,

“Yeah Dad, you bringing your girlfriend on Friday?. Need to know what color she's wearing so I can order your button hole”,

“Mm yeah she's coming and wearing pink I think”

“Cheers Dad, thanks gotta go, see you Friday”.

“Bye Honey”, he hung up as I returned to ordering.

“Pink button hole, and 300 table pieces, preferably yellow”. Giving the florist my address and card, we left the florist and headed for the parking lot where Ant was waiting for us.

“Take Mom and Lisha home and fetch my car for me when you drop me off please”,

“Yes Miss, will do. Good afternoon was it?”,

“Yeah Ant, a very productive afternoon”.

Arriving home and finding a letter shoved in my mailbox, it was from Daniel. 'Glad you enjoyed the flowers and last night, catch you later D x'. Feeling my cheek begin to blush I moved into the house. It was quiet a little too quiet for my liking, usually the dogs would be running amok with Sophie leading the gang, however there was not a peep not even a bark.

Moving into the utility room and seeing drops of blood, where the dogs usually slept, I felt a deep pang of pain start in my stomach and finish in my mouth. The doors to the back yard were locked and the other dogs were out there, their barking blocked by the triple glazing, but Sophie wasn't there. Maybe she was in her other bed in the living room and was asleep, it was wishful thinking but hoping she was alright.

Approaching the living room and switching the lights on I could see Sophie in her bed, not moving.
'Fuck, please be alright you silly dog, you better not be playing games',
the thought messing with my head.

“Sophie, come on...dinner time, your favorite”, no movement.

“Come on Sophie wake up!”, moving towards I could see she was not breathing.

Underneath her the same color paper that was used to tell me that someone was watching me was there, bold as brass.

'I can always get to you Maddie and next time it won't be your precious dogs, oh that Springer of yours has got a wonderfull coat, shame it would end up as a scarf...remember your next, watching the life leave your body would be wonderfull'.

Dropping the note and running out of the room I collapsed on the floor and screamed.

The door to the house flew open as Ant ran in, looking at me with his face flush.

“What the fuck has happened Miss?”,

“It's...its...Sop.... Sop.. Sophie”, the tears streaming down my face.

“What's a matter with Sophie...tell me!”,

“She’s...She’s...She’s...Dead!”,

Ant led back into the living room where Sophie's lifeless body lay on her bed, there was no visible signs of trauma, the only way he could of done it was with poison.

Sitting down next to her and picking her up to stroke, Ant came and sat next to me.

Grabbing the phone and dialling my mother Kate and Owen, she could tell how upset I had become.

“Honey you ok?”,

“Need.. Need you to come over something happened to Sophie”

“Alright were on our way”, the phone went dead.

“Miss Maddie the police are on the way, could you please tell me more about Mr Daniel Ace”,

“It wasn't him Ant, he's not like that...It's that bastard who's been following me, the bastard who had the gall to turn up here with those roses and the one who likes to call me and not speak!”,

“Ant, call my Dad please, that's all I'm asking you. Nothing more”,

“Ok, I'll call him.”.

The red and blue glow of Police cars filled my windows as Ant got up to open the door to them, I could see Owen's car appear behind them with Lisha in the back.

Lisha ,Mom and Owen sat down on the couch as several officers and a Detective stood where Sophie lay.

“Miss White, Could you tell me if all your doors and windows were locked while you were out?”,

“Yeah, Ant and Alice always make sure that the house is locked tight, no one could get in unless they were three inches small”,

Before I knew it the door burst open and Daniel stormed in,

“Who the fuck do you think you are bursting into my daughters house”,

“Where is she?”, Daniel's anger displayed prominently

“She's over there with the police, now button it please”, Lisha took Mom out of the room to calm her down.

Daniel spotted me and he came over to hug me tight,

“Mr Ace I presume?”,

“Yes”

“I'm Detective Callaghan, San Jose PD, please take a seat” his forcefulness was apparent.

“Miss White, I need to know about the phone calls and gift you received, we know you have engaged the services of a private investigator, but when something like this happens, it's a job for the Police”.

“There have been a few calls and dead roses delivered by a fake UPS guy and now this!”,

“What's this about a stalker?” Daniel piped up with a drink in his hand for me.

“A stalker Daniel, someone who likes to make me feel crazy”,

“Would you mind sitting down please Mr Ace, or I’ll arrest you for interrupting me”,

“Sure...Sure”, Lisha came back in with Mom after she had calmed down

“Now I know you’re upset Miss White and something of this nature is not to be taken lightly, whoever this guy is, he knows your movements. Would you have somewhere to stay for a few days, just so we can make inquires”.

My sister's place crossed my mind and I knew it would be a safe place to hide.

“Yeah, my sister's place, it's safe enough”,

“Ok Miss White, I think the crime boys have finished, unfortunately we have to take the dog back to lab to ascertain what caused death.”. The thought of them taking Sophie tore at my heart, but it had to be done.

“We'll have a car parked outside for the next 48 hours, just to see if this bozo turns up again”,

“Thanks Detective, I appreciate it”, the police officers and the detective left the room and Ant came over with another drink for me.

“Well this is just fucked up Mad”, Lisha's had a valid point.

“Your telling me, Owen is furious”,

“Ok guys it's been one of those nights, all fucked up and Sophie is dead”,

“Where the fuck was Alice then?”,

“It's her night off remember, she's seeing that dude from the supermarket”,

“Fuck, I forgot about it” standing up and looking out of the window I could see the Police cars leave the drive with their lights flashing at me.

“How the fuck did they get in?, if all the windows and doors were locked, who is this guy, God damn Houdini?”, Owen had a point, there was no signs of forced entry and he had managed to lock the dogs outside after being bit by one them, which explained the blood on the floor.

“The smart ass must of used a lock pick, fucking a-hole”, Mom looked at me and drank her glass dry.

“Maddie, I'll look after your dogs while you head to your sisters it's the least I can do”. Daniel's offer was helpful and would ease the pressure a little.

“And I'll see them everyday ok?”, Ant took Daniel into the utility room to get the dogs ready to go.

“Mad, you know you should get yourself a gun, just incase the asshole comes back”,

“Ant's got these security men around, but as usual they saw nothing. This guy knows what he's doing!, and guns and me don't mix”,

“If I ever see him I'll fucking take his knee caps off”, Mom had a little too much to drink and was starting to vent her anger.

“Yeah ok Mom...Lish would you give me hand to get these dogs into the Daniel's SUV”, we both got up and joined Daniel and Ant in the courtyard where he had parked.

Daniel and Ant had already brought the dogs out and we helped them into the crates at the back of the car,

“Here's their food for the next few days Daniel, I'll come by some point”.

“Thinking ahead, I rather come to yours tonight and settle the dogs, they get a bit nervous in new places”,

“Sure?”, Daniel opened his door and got in.

Daniel drove out of the courtyard with Oscar's head half out the passenger window taking in the night air.

“Mom let work know that I won't be able to make it for the next few days ok?”,

“You sure honey, although that's a good idea, don't want this psycho turning up and holding you hostage”, shivering at the thought Lisha came out with my over night bag.

“Thanks babe, lets hope this all blows over before Friday”,

“They should catch the bastard soon enough, if he's smart he'll stay away from here”, Lisha hugged me.

“I'll bring Nelly to Daniel's tomorrow for the dogs to 'hang out'”,

“Yeah sure Lish, go home and be with your Dad. We'll be fine at Daniel's, don't want to bother my brother this time of night.”.

Ant opened my door for me and getting in the dogs started barking, they knew what had happened and there was nothing I could do about it,

“Ant, tell Alice to stay somewhere safe and not to come back the house, lock all the doors and make sure the alarm is working this time”,

“Yes Miss, Will do. Will you be ok at Mr Ace's?”,

“Yeah, Don't worry I'll be back as they say”.

Winding my window up and listening to the dogs howl reminded me of when Oscar was just a little puppy who decided that the Christmas tree lights would make a good snack, the vet who treated him told me he would never make it, resulting in Oscar dying three times and contracting a bug which didn't help. As I entered the room with Mom and Owen, Oscar seemed lifeless but as he saw my tear strewn face he looked round and in his own way smiled at me. Dr Van Beek wanted me to have him euthanised, but as usual Oscar proved everyone wrong.

That night proved to be my undoing, feeling violated and distraught at the sight of Sophie lying lifeless in her bed. Whoever the man or woman was they had the ability to push all my buttons, make me feel like this. Hoping to God that the next few days would be a peaceful and uneventful, but knowing my luck it was unlikely.

Arriving at Daniel's that night and seeing his security by the elevator made me feel a little more secure.

“Miss White”

“Mr Ace informed us of your arrival, we'll assist you in taking the dogs to the Penthouse”,

“Thank you Mr?”

“Just Raoul Miss White and these are my associates, Johnson, Peterson and Cabern”,

“Glad you're here”.

Grabbing Maizie and the puppies in their crate and Raoul picking up Mitzie, Bella and Phoebe we moved into the elevator and up to Daniel's sanctuary.

“Where's Oscar?”,

“He's upstairs with Mr Ace, Miss White”, the elevator stopped and the doors opened as I stepped out onto the marble floor and seeing Oscar playing with Daniel.

Without warning Oscar came bounding across the floor, attempting to keep his footing. Putting Maizie and her pups down, Oscar jumped up at me knocking me onto the couch his tongue flapping all over my face.

“Maddie!”, Daniel walked over towards me and put his arms around me, his hug felt good.

“Daniel, thanks for doing this for me, appreciate it”,

“No worries Maddie, shall we put Maizie in the office, Raoul had a whelping pen brought in for you”,

“Thanks, how much?”,

“Nah, Don't be silly. Thought it would help”, helping me with Maizie and the pups we entered the office where the pen stood. We both sat down with Maizie and her pups with the door open to the whelping pen, Maizie being her usual self with her plonking down on Daniel.

“Don't mind her Daniel, she's just taken to you that's all”,

“Nah, she's ok”.

Giving Daniel the puppy that he chose he looked a little hesitant,

“Is ok to hold her then?”,

“Yeah, it's ok. Don't look so scared, it's not like Maizie will jump up and bite you”,

“I think we should leave them to settle in Maddie”,

“They should be ok, I know it's a bit of a culture shock having them sleep in a strange place”,

“They'll be ok, the main thing is that you'll be ok. Remember they'll catch the son of a bitch who's doing all this shit”, Daniel reassuring me made me feel like nothing could hurt me.

“Going to have a word with your security about the dogs”,

“Go ahead Maddie”.

Moving out of the office and into the main living space the guards were by the elevator looking all mean and professional.

“Guys, a quick word please”,

“Sure”,

“Make sure my dogs are looked after would you?, if I find anything wrong with them I will hold you all accountable”,

“Yes Miss White”,

“Their schedule will be given to you tomorrow ok?”,

“Yes Miss White”

Daniel came into where I was and sat down on the couch,

“You know they will look after them for you, the best guys in the business”,

“Make sure you do too Daniel, they are my everything”,

“I wouldn't do anything to harm them Maddie, you know how much you mean to me”,

“Could you call Ant up here Daniel, need him to go back to mine to collect some stuff”,

“You sure, it could be dangerous, that lunatic could still be around”, Daniel had a point but I needed my files to sort out Friday.