LETHAL OBSESSION (23 page)

      "Come
in out of the chill." 

      Rick
tried to soothe his sister while Ellen went to make some coffee. 

      "What's
in the folder, Sis?"

      "Photos,
bad ones.  Check your bedroom.  There's a camera in there somewhere. Why
Richard?  Why would Gene take pictures of you and Ellen?"

      "I
don't know Sweetheart, but I want you to stay here with us. Gene is going to
know you gave these to us.  You can't go home."

      "Oh
Richard, I love him."  She started sobbing again as Rick led her to the
couch.  Ellen sat down embracing Martha as Rick opened the folder.   

      Spread
out on the dining room table were intimate photos of Ellen and Rick, that first
night sitting in a restaurant, cuddling by the stream in the forest and here in
their bedroom, making love.

      Gene
had been stalking them even as far back as the night of the singles dance.  The
thought of it sent a terrifying chill through his body.  He knew his brother in
law was dangerous.  Now Rick was thinking dangerously unbalanced.  His
obsession with Ellen has spun wildly out of control.  He didn't want to guess
Gene's intent but it could mean one or both of them could be killed.

      Rick
worked quickly making copies and placing the originals back in the folder. 
Seeking recording devices, he raced up the stairs to their bedroom as the women
followed.  "We need to look for a camera. It will be hidden so look for a
possible red light that might be flashing in a very unlikely area.  If you find
something don't touch it. Let me use gloves to remove it."

      Ellen
and Martha looked at each other than started checking every nook and cranny in
the bedroom.

      "Found
it," Rick announced.  "Ellen, I need a ladder and some gloves."

      Removing
the device from the air vent, he was careful not to leave any prints on it. 
Hopefully Gene's prints would be there but knowing the man he probably also
wore gloves.

      "What
are we going to do now," said Martha.

      "We
all need to stay safe, Sis. I feel Gene is capable of anything at this point.  Let's
sit down and talk about it. Gene is going to know you gave us the photos. When
I notify the police, he will become desperate. I'm fairly sure he has men
working for him and he's too smart to get caught even by his own people. 

      Martha
started to cry.  "Richard, I love him.  We're family.  Why would he do
this?"

      Rick
held his sister as she cried.  He looked at Ellen as he spoke.  "I need to
get in touch with my nephew and I need to report this.  After that I want to
get us all out of town.  Can the shelter spare you for a week or so?"

      "Yes.
I have capable people running things."

      "Good
because we're going to Florida to see the folks.  I think we're overdue for a
visit, right Sis?"

      Martha
looked at her brother with tears streaming.  "I want to see them."

      "Okay,
I'll make the arrangements."

      Ellen
held out her arms to Martha. "Let's get you settled upstairs.  I have
everything you need for tonight. Try not to think past that for now."

      "Oh
Ellen, this is so awful.  I didn't want to believe it.  I prayed, hoping Gene
would see the error of his ways and come to the Lord for forgiveness. Deep down
I knew he had a dark side, but I loved him so much, I just couldn't accept
it."

      "I
know. Sometimes life doesn't seem very fair.  I want you to know you will
always have a home with us and you are loved, Martha.  You are the sister I
never had."

      "Thank
you, Ellen, it helps."

      "Try
and get some sleep.  Let Rick handle things from here.  I am looking forward to
meeting your parents."

      "Oh
Ellen, they will love you."

      "Well,
I know how much I love their children."

      Gene's
truck was hidden in the trees as he watched his wife at Ellen's front door. 
The gig was up now.  Martha's betrayal has changed everything. He didn't expect
her to find the folder but maybe the sock drawer was a bad hiding place. Martha
never snooped into his paper work and the folder was sealed.  What made her
break the seal and open it this time?  Ah well, who knows.

      Nothing
to be done now but get the hell out of dodge and hope the cops don't find him.
If anybody has learned to outrun the law, it was Gene. Jail would not be an
option for him.  Now they are all going to pay, he vowed. His friends would do
whatever he asked.  Fear and money could buy a lot of devotion.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

      Ellen,
Rick and Martha sat quietly while the two officers dusted the photos and the
camera equipment for prints. Ellen was stunned.  Rick had been right all
along.  She heard the officer on his phone.

      "I
want the Stone residence checked and send somebody to talk to the deputies. 
Put out an all points bulletin.  Here is the license number."

      The
manhunt was in full swing.  Ellen couldn't believe that something as innocent
as an upstanding officer wanting to help a grieving widow could end up like
this.  Was Gene capable of murder at this point?  Ellen shuddered as Rick
pulled her close.     "Try not to think too much about this."  He kissed
the top of her head.

      An
old rattletrap truck chugged down the mountain highway heading toward the state
line.  Gene, hidden under a tarp, peeked out to check for any road blocks.  So
far, so good.  He wasn't sure exactly where he was headed but for now, the
farther from Cedar Grove, the better.  Once the heat died down over the photos,
Gene would work on his next plan of action.

      The
jumbo jet touched down at St. Petersburg Airport. This was going to be a
surprise visit.  Rick did not want to alarm his parents by calling.  Ellen felt
he should've told them but he said they were in their late seventies and not in
good health.  They would fret thinking something was wrong. Trusting Rick to do
the right thing she said no more.

      Ellen
wasn't nervous about meeting the elderly couple but they would know this wasn't
an ordinary visit when they saw their daughter.  Martha wept silently for most
of the trip.  In all their years of marriage, she had not been apart from her
husband for more than two nights.  Her whole world was falling apart and her
parents would know instantly.

      This
was going to be an interesting homecoming, Ellen mused. Their daughter was
leaving a husband and their son was bringing home a future bride.  She hoped
that their health wasn't that frail.

      It
seemed to take forever to gather their luggage and rent a car but finally the
three were on their way. The tropical, balmy air felt marvelous compared to
dreary chilling rains of winter in the Smoky Mountains.

      "Ethyl,
there's somebody at the door."

      "What?"

      "Answer
the door, Ethyl."

      "You
answer it, I'm busy."

      Rick
had to smile.  He knew his dad would just sit there and ignore her. Both being
hard of hearing, they were yelling in competition with the TV at full blast. 
He figured they would be thrilled but they would also worry.  Their daughter
was coming alone although Gene wasn't exactly a beloved son in law.  Explaining
his absence was going to be difficult at best.

      "Who
is it?"  Ethyl being cautious refused to open the door to potential strangers.

      "It's
Richard, Mom."

      "Oh
dear Lord, Will, come quick, it's Richard."

      "Who?"

      "It's
your son, you deaf dolt. Richard is here." She fumbled with the heavy
front door finally pulling it open to stare at her two grown children and a
strange woman. "Richard and Martha, both of my children, oh my God, I
can't believe it." 

      "Surprise." 
Rick threw up his arms then enclosed his mother lifting her off her feet. There
were hugs and tears as the older couple ushered their unexpected guests into
their modest Florida home.

      Rick
stood behind Ellen with his arms around her. "Mom and Dad, I want you to
meet a very special lady in my life. This is Ellen Anderson."

      She
put out her hand but got a hug from Ethyl then Will. "If you're in my
son's life, she said, "then you are part of the family, Dear. 
Welcome."

      The
tiny white haired woman barely came to Ellen's shoulders.  There was so much
love here.  She knew her fiancé was a wonderful man.  Now she knew why.     

      Martha
did not have her parents fooled.  They were never fond of Gene but accepted the
fact that their daughter was totally devoted to him.  Now to have her show up
alone on their doorstep was cause for concern.  Ethyl was not going to let it
go.                                                                        

      "I'm
sorry Dear, I just don't understand. You have never visited us because you
couldn't leave Gene and he wouldn't come.  And now you're here.  Are you and
Gene having problems?"

Leave
it to Ethyl Carrington to cut right to the chase.  Martha was on the verge of
choking up again and Ellen felt for her.

      "Mom,
it's very hard for me to talk about.  Just give me some time please."

      "Let's
go walk on the beach and see the ocean."  Rick got up and took his
mother's hand. "I've been wanting to do that for years.  Then we can all
go out for a delicious seafood dinner, my treat."

Leave
it to her wonderful Rick to save his sister from a painful interview and divert
his parent's interests in another direction.  Then he took his mother aside.

      "Mom,
Sis is going through a hard time right now. She will talk to you when she's
ready.  Meanwhile let's just let her relax and get her feet back under her,
okay?"

      "Well,
you're the psychiatrist.  What do I know?  Oh and by the way, I really like
Ellen.  It does my heart good to see you  happy again.  It was so horrible
when...oh never mind."  she wiped her eyes.  "We won't talk about
that."

      "The
here and the now is so much more joyful. Let's stick with that, Mom, okay?"                                       

      Ethyl
leaned up to kiss her son. "I will darling, I will."

      "Now
where is that husband of mine?  Probably off puttering somewhere.  I swear to
goodness Richard, your father is getting more senile every day."  Her
voice raised to a roar. "William, where are you?  We're going to the
beach.  Get your shoes on and for God's sake put on some half way decent
pants."

      Seven
days went by so fast Ellen couldn't believe it was time to fly home.  Spending
time with Ethyl and William Carrington was a pure joy.  If only she had been
raised in the bosom of such a loving family, but she wasn’t.  Rehashing the
past was not what Ellen wanted to do.  She had been lucky to have two wonderful
men love her.  Rick’s family accepted her like one of their own.  The only dark
spot marring their future was Gene Stone.

      Ellen
dreaded going back to the black cloud waiting for them but there was no choice
in the matter.  She wondered if the police had caught up with Gene and what his
alibi was.  Ellen was sure he had an airtight one.  Having Gene on the other
side of the law was not going to be a pretty sight. His fixation on her was
scary enough but hidden cameras really made the situation creepy.

      As
the hum of the jet engines had her closing her eyes, once again Ellen's guilt
crept up to choke her.  What could she have done to trigger Gene’s obsession
that he would actually plant cameras in her bedroom.  Surely she had to be at
fault in some way.  Rick’s hand tightened over her own.

      “What
are you thinking about?”

      “You
know me too well.”

      “I
want you to stop it. You are not the cause of Gene’s problems. Trust me on that.”

      “I’m
the one he’s obsessing about.”

      “That’s
not your fault.”

      “I
did encourage him at one time.”

      “Ellen,
look at me.  The man is mentally unstable and has been long before you came
along.”

They
both turned as Martha stared at them. Large tears glistened in her eyes. “I’m
sorry, Sis.”

      “I
know you’re right.  I just didn’t want to see it.  I knew about the women.” 
Martha reached over and took Ellen’s hand.  “I’m not blaming you. I know Gene came
across to you as single.  That’s why you were so shocked that day at the fair.
I knew what he did to you and there’s a part of me that hates him for that.”

      “Oh
Martha,” Ellen wanted to cry. “I am so glad you are going to be my sister.  If
there is any good to come out of this mess, it’s that.”

      They
arrived home to a quiet little mountain town where very little had changed
except there was no longer a Sheriff Gene Stone.  The man had disappeared off
the face of the earth. Everybody who knew him was questioned and that was a lot
of people.  Nobody seemed to know anything.  It was either that or they were
not talking. 

      The
police had reached a stalemate.  It was concluded that the stigma of a scandal
would be too much for his political career and Sheriff Gene Stone decided to
vanish.

      Martha
wanted to live in her own home despite objections from Rick and Ellen.  If her
husband really wanted to do her harm it would not matter where she lived.  Martha's
anguish was not that her husband would harm her but rather of not ever seeing
him again.  That fact was ripping her heart out.