Fair Play (19 page)

Enjoying their one-day honeymoon, they ate breakfast in bed, then made love again. After dressing, Jace ambled into the living room to wait for Dani so they could plan their day. As his eyes wandered around the room, he spied the picture frame. He placed it on the coffee table so Dani could enjoy the pictures when she joined him.

She spied Jace sitting on the couch, then flounced playfully over to where he sat and gave him a quick kiss. Hooking her by the waist, he yanked her down on his lap for a mind-numbing kiss.

“Now that we’re married, I expect a kiss like that every morning, not that poor excuse for a kiss you first gave me.”

“Oh, now I see how it is. Now that I’m your wife, you’ve decided to turn dictator on me. Well I’ve got your number, buddy,” she murmured, poking his chest in a whimsical way.

“Since you’ve wisely decided to acknowledge my dictatorship, I’ll be lenient on you, but just this once.” He picked up the frame and handed it to her. “This came for you yesterday morning.”

Dani opened the gift, then looked at him, puzzled. “Who is this from?”

“I’m not sure, there was no card. Why don’t you turn on the picture frame? Maybe there’s a message or something on it that’ll explain who it’s from,” he suggested.

She strode to the wet bar and plugged the frame in. As she scrolled through the pictures, all the color left her face.

Jace rushed to her in alarm. “What’s wrong?”

Speechless, she stared at the frame, fright apparent on her face.

Jace watched as picture after picture of Dani rotated in the frame. Dani at various places shopping, eating at restaurants, and even walking around the casino. He curled his arms around her waist. “These are nice pictures of you. Why are you afraid?”

She shook her head back and forth as she responded in an empty voice. “They’re not just pictures of me. They’re pictures of me taken by my stalker.”

He stepped back from her, scanning her face. “What do you mean your stalker? Has someone been stalking you, and you haven’t told me?”

“I’ve had a couple of eerie feelings that someone has been watching me. But when I looked around, I didn’t see anyone so I figured it was just my imagination. But seeing these pictures, it’s obvious someone has been following me. I didn’t tell you about it because I dismissed them as nothing.”

A prickle of fear raised the tiny hairs on the back of his neck. “I don’t like this. We have to call the police.”

She started trembling, prompting Jace to hug her.

“Are you sure we should call the police? What if it’s nothing?”

“What if it’s not? Are you willing to take a chance with your life and the life of our child?”

No, you’re right. I won’t take a chance with my baby’s life. We need to call the police.”

Jace carefully grasped the picture frame with his thumb and forefinger. “They might be able to get some prints off this.” He slid it into a plastic bag. “I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself, not even to the casino.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little extreme? We don’t even know if someone wants to harm me.”

“We can’t take any chances.” Frightened when he considered the danger she might be in, he drew her into his arms. “We’re going to need to inform your parents. Maybe they can stay a little longer so you’re not left alone while I’m working.”

She frowned. “Do we really have to tell them? I don’t want to scare them.”

“Baby, they need to know. You’re their child.” His hand curved over her stomach. “If our child was possibly in danger, wouldn’t you want to know?” Reluctant to upset her anymore than she already was, he knew being forewarned was the smarter choice. Jace turned to phone the police.

Several hours later, Dani gripped Jace’s hand while talking to Detective Sweeney, the policeman assigned to the case.

“We couldn’t find any prints, other than yours. To be frank with you, there isn’t anything we can do because no crime has been committed. There’s nothing unlawful about sending presents.”

Jace sprang from the couch. “So what are we supposed to do, sit around and wait for this maniac to do something to my wife? There has to be something, some precautions we can take.”

“I’m afraid that’s all there is to do,” the detective said in a sympathetic tone. “We don’t know who’s doing this. Even if we did, we can’t arrest someone for sending a gift. I know it sucks, but our hands are tied. I, personally, think this situation is threatening, and you need to be careful.”

Jace walked with the detective to the door.

“If you get anything else, call me,” the detective said. He handed Jace his business card, then spoke softly. “Keep your eyes open, and don’t let your wife go anywhere alone.”

“Thank you.”

He sat and watched as the police went up to her apartment, but he knew there wasn’t anything they could do. He’d done his homework and knew that no laws had been broken. Thoroughly enjoying the game of cat and mouse he was playing, he mentally rubbed his hands together.

He had the picture frame delivered to scare her. He wanted her to sweat and worry about whether she was safe, just like he sweat and worried while on trial. Besides, he was much smarter than her or her husband. They wouldn’t be able to stop him no matter how they tried to prevent him from getting to her. He had planned well and knew it was foolproof. He figured her husband would keep a close eye on her, thinking he could save her, but that wouldn’t work.

The last couple of days he’d gotten everything ready. He made sure nothing could be linked to him. He went over everything with a fine-toothed comb, then went over it again and again, until he could do it in his sleep.

He became anxious as he thought about the sweetness of the kill. The wedding was the perfect time, because now he could get his revenge on Debra and Maureen at the same time. How they would all suffer. He’d dangle the women like bait on a hook. After he killed them, he wasn’t leaving right away. He wanted to stay and watch when they found their broken bodies. He wanted their husbands to rage because they lost their money and their wives. Their time was up. He was coming.

The confinement was driving Dani out of her mind. Her nerves were raw, making her jumpy. It wasn’t long before she was snapping at everyone. Even though she realized she had a short fuse, it was hard for her to control her temper, because everything bothered her. She was aware of Jace and her parents staying out of her way, and avoiding any situations that would cause an argument. What they didn’t realize was she was angling for a good fight to relieve the tension building inside of her, but no one would cooperate.

It infuriated her, knowing the person who was doing the stalking was controlling her life and making her miserable. The time for his control was over. She was going to put an end to her imprisonment. She’d be damned she’d let some low-life scum force them to worry about his next move. Her body felt like a time bomb ready to go off as she paced and stewed over this forced confinement and intolerable situation.

By the time Jace came home that night, her fuse was lit and the bomb ready to explode. Before he even closed the door, Dani pounced on him.

“I can’t stand this anymore. I refuse to be kept a prisoner in my own home. My parents shouldn’t have to put their lives on hold because of some crazy person. I’m done with this. It’s over. I don’t care what you dictate, I’m not doing this anymore.”

“It’s okay. Calm down, and we’ll talk about it.”

She rounded on him, fire spitting from her eyes. “Calm down! You want me to calm down, when some sick son-of-a-bitch is turning my life upside down? The only way I’m calming down is if I’m left alone so I can live my life. I’m getting out of this jail, so get the hell out of my way.” She tried to push him aside, so she could open the door.

Jace slung his arm around her waist, then lifted her off the ground as she kicked and screamed at him. “Let me go. If there is an ounce of intelligence in that brain of yours, you’ll put me down. I mean it, Jace, let me go. If you want to live to see this baby I’m carrying, then you’ll put me down.”

“Honey, you’re just a little upset from being cooped up in the apartment. You need to calm down and listen to reason. You know I can’t let you leave this apartment by yourself.”

Dani struggled, pushed, and kicked, trying to get out of his grip. Furious, she clenched her teeth. “If you don’t put me down this instant, you’re going to be sorry you were ever born. Jace, I swear by all that’s holy, if you don’t let me go, you’ll be a gelding before this night is through.” She thrashed around, trying to free herself, and inadvertently kicked him in his groin, making him fall to his knees.

Her fury instantly deflated, and she knelt next to him on the floor, totally remorseful. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I never meant to kick you there. Are you all right?”

He knelt with his head down, holding his hand against himself, as he tried to catch his breath.

She touched his shoulder, trying to give him comfort. “Honey, I’m really sorry. My damn temper got the best of me. Can you forgive me?”

His head stayed down, as he demanded. “Move ... away.”

When Dani didn’t comply right away, he ground out, “Dani, just move away, and leave me the hell alone.”

Her hand flew to her mouth, then she stood up and backed away.

After a few minutes, Jace recovered and glared at her.

When she saw the murderous look on his face, it somehow tickled her funny bone. She started laughing uncontrollably, until tears were running down her face. The harder she laughed, the more thunderous Jace’s face became. It wasn’t long before her tears turned from hysteria to frustration. Sobbing, tears gushed from her eyes as she fell to her knees.

Recovered enough to move, Jace held her and let her cry out her anxiety, then led her to the couch.

Spent and regretful, Dani raised her face toward him. “I’m sorry for the tantrum and kicking you. I didn’t mean any of it. This confinement is making me crazy. I can’t take it anymore.” He reached over, and twined their hands together. “This is ridiculous. We can’t make ourselves prisoners because of a gift. What if it wasn’t meant as a threat? What if it was ... I don’t know. I just know this has to stop, or I’m going to end up going off of my mind.”

“My thoughts have been going in the same direction as yours, and I think I’ve come up with a solution.” He squeezed Dani’s hand lightly, to get her attention. “I’m going to hire two bodyguards to be with you until this is all over. You’ll be able to do your things and be safe at the same time. Your parents can return home if they like, and you won’t have to be confined to the house. What do you think?”

Dani sniffed, then cracked a half-smile. “That sounds so much better than this, although I really don’t like the idea of having someone following me everywhere I go. If that’s what it takes to get my freedom back, then I’m all for it.”

The next day Dani was ecstatic when she went down to the casino to work. It was strange to have two bodyguards following her around, but at least she wasn’t confined anymore. She stopped at the cashier desk on her way to Kathy’s office so she could say hello to Julie.

“Hi, Julie, how’s it going?”

“Hey, I haven’t seen you for over a week. I know it’s your honeymoon and all, but you have to come up for air once in a while.” She pointed to Dani’s bodyguards. “What’s up with the shadows?”

“Jace hired two bodyguards to follow me so I wouldn’t get away. I’m such a good catch, he’s afraid I’ll find someone else,” she joked.

“Serves him right, sweeping you off your feet. Speaking of feet, how’ve you been feeling, you know pregnant and all? I still can’t believe you’re going to be a mommy.”

She caressed her belly. “We’re doing great. How’s things going with you and Steve?”

Julie rested her arms on the counter, and leaned toward Dani to talk privately.

Her friend said quietly, “Right now things aren’t so good. He got pissed off because I was talking to Derek. He accused me of messing around, but all I was doing was telling Derek to kiss off. So he’s pushed out of shape, and we’re not talking.”

Dani scowled. “Why that stupid, no-good-for-nothing ass!” She spied Tony the hulking bodyguard, taking a small step toward her. Lifting her finger, she waggled it at him, then shook her head. She pivoted back around. “It has to be a guy thing. Jace did something similar to me in Chicago. Don’t let it get you down. He’ll come around.”

“I hope so. I really like him.”

“It’ll be okay. Come here, and let me hug you.”

Just as she started to lean over, she remembered her bodyguards. She swung around, faced them, then waggled her finger again at them as she shook her head. She turned back to Julie and gave her a hug. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay, kiddo. Leave the monkeys home next time.”

From his perch at a blackjack table, he watched her with her friend at the cashier desk. He also noticed the two bodyguards with her. Did her husband really think they would stop him from taking her? He almost started laughing out loud. Nothing they could do would prevent him from grabbing her. Then they’d realize how smart he really was.

He could hardly wait to wipe that smug smile off her face and hear her beg him for her life. Maybe he’d make her husband beg, too. No, a change of plans now might cost him his success, besides her husband looked like he’d be a son-of-a-bitch to deal with. Tomorrow he would go to the next step.