Three Year Rule (The Rule Series Book 1) (9 page)

BOOK: Three Year Rule (The Rule Series Book 1)
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Josh glanced at Randy then back to Elizabeth and said, “Baby, it was hungry. It probably caught scent of the chicken you were grilling and then saw Charlie. Bears are predators. You’re right on the edge of the preserve. At least you saw it coming.”

“Thanks to Charlie,” Elizabeth answered.

Randy added, “Elizabeth, it really is incredible that Charlie got away.  It’s a miracle you both survived; you are very lucky.”

“Because of Josh,” Elizabeth gazed at Josh in admiration.

He smiled and said, “I guess that makes me your knight in shining armor. Perhaps that should be your next book,
The Knights Among Us
.”

They laughed as Elizabeth embraced him. Amy and Randy sat the sofa upright and began to clean up the mess. Elizabeth grabbed some garbage bags from the kitchen as Josh and Randy gathered up the pieces of the broken table and carried them to Josh’s truck. The sun disappeared behind the mountains, and the sky took on a sapphire hue by the time they deposited the last of the debris in the back of Josh’s truck.

Josh checked the bay window to make sure it was safe, then turned to Elizabeth and said; “We’ve done all we can for tonight.”

Randy added, “Amy and I are heading to my house tonight, unless you need us for anything else.”

Amy walked over to Elizabeth as she finished washing her hands in the kitchen sink and said, “Are you going to be okay, here tonight?”

Josh answered for her, “She’s coming home with me.”

Elizabeth turned to look at Josh.  Then turned to Amy and said, “I’m good. I’m going to see Charlie in the morning. Do you want to come with me?”

“Sure, I’ll pick you up at 9 o’clock.” Amy answered.

Elizabeth gave her a fierce hug and added, “After we make sure Charlie is okay, let’s head into town and trade that Mini in for a small SUV for you.”

Randy came up to them and said, “That’s a great idea. If you don’t mind, I’d love to go with you.”  He turned to Josh and added, “What do you say Josh, let’s make a day of it? We can head up to Bear Lake and have a picnic after we get the new car.  We could even stay the night and maybe take the boat out?”

Amy giggled in delight at Elizabeth and Randy’s suggestions, then gasped and turned to Josh, asking, “You’ve got a boat?”

Josh winked at Amy, then walked up to Elizabeth and said, “Did I mention that I own a speed boat and have a cabin on the lake?”

Elizabeth laughed and hugged his neck adding, “Did I mention that my editor wants me to write porn?”

That elicited a huge snorting guffaw from Randy that caused several minutes of uncontrolled laughter, and then they headed outside.  Josh hesitated as they headed to their separate trucks. Grabbing Randy by the arm, he immediately pulled him aside.

Josh spoke quickly in hushed tones, “I need to speak to you. Follow my lead, and I’ll explain later.”

Randy froze, confused by Josh’s suddenly serious demeanor.  He watched in silence as Josh called out to Elizabeth, “Beth, Randy and I want to check out the rear of the house. Why don’t you and Amy take my truck and we’ll meet you at my house; the doors unlocked.”  Josh pulled his keys from his pocket and escorted Elizabeth to his truck.

Randy glanced at Amy and shrugged, “Go with it.” He whispered, “I’m not sure what’s going on.”

Amy smiled and turned to head to Josh’s truck. Randy quickly followed and walked with her to the passenger door. He gave her a quick kiss and winked, saying, “Keep her busy, we’ll be along shortly.”

Amy flashed him a brilliant smile. Josh and Randy stood and watched as Elizabeth turned the large pickup around and headed back down the driveway. When they disappeared around the bend Randy turned to Josh and gave him an expectant stare.

Josh met his gaze boldly and said, “My foreman, Mike, said they found a dead fox under the back deck, and there is a blood trail across the yard.”

Randy frowned and said, “So the bear was tracking the fox and charged the house when he smelled the meat.”

“There’s more,” Josh added his tone dark and menacing. “Mike said the fox was killed with a bow and there is a blood smear across the foot of the bay window.”

Randy went to his truck and pulled out a large flashlight.  He said, “Let’s go take a look around out back. We’ll have to come back tomorrow to follow the blood trail. I’ll meet you here while the girls are at the vet; let’s keep this to us in the meantime.”

Chapter Six

 

 

Elizabeth peered through the window of the small, red SUV. The white interior was a stunning accent to the crimson exterior; it screamed
Amy
. The salesman appeared with the keys and happily climbed into the back seat as Amy sat down in the driver’s seat. Elizabeth sat in the passenger’s seat and handed the salesman her business card with the back facing up.

He glanced at it and then smiled back at her and winked. Elizabeth turned quickly around to face forward and said, “It’s a shame Randy had to go search for a rabid dog, but I’m glad Josh went with him.”

Amy started the car and pulled out of the dealership saying, “We’ll swing by his office when we finish here. They’ll be done by 2 o'clock. That leaves us plenty of time to get settled at the lake before dinner.”

The test drive didn’t take long. Amy had made up her mind before she turned the key. They signed the paperwork, and while Amy waited for accountant to run her credit report, Elizabeth wrote a check for the balance.

 

                                                                      ************                                                                     

 

Josh scanned the trees as Randy pointed in the direction of the blood trail. There were several large trees in the distance offering sufficient cover and enough height for a bow hunter. Josh turned back to face Randy who knelt down to examine the spot where the fox had died.

Josh said, “If he used a compound bow, then he could have been in those trees over there.  It’s quite a distance, but a compound bow would have made it, easy.”

Randy nodded and rose, “The fox bled out here.”  He pointed down at the dark stain in the dirt.

Josh came over and surveyed the area.  “Looks like they didn’t gut it here, but judging by the lengthy blood pool, I’d say they sliced its throat and dragged it off toward the cabin. There’s no doubt they intended to attract a predator and lead it to the cabin.”

Randy frowned and glanced up at the sky. “I don’t like the sound of this. It’s possible she has a stalker.”

“What are you talking about?” Josh asked, staring at him.

Randy said, “I talked to Amy last night and she mentioned that Elizabeth’s iPad went missing from the house a few weeks ago. I think they may have had two break-ins in the last two months. The first was minor when her iPad was stolen. The second was the destructive invasion that resulted in a jewelry theft. Stalkers have a tendency to escalate with each new encounter. I’m sure it’s the same person.”

Josh knew better than to question Randy when he’d come to a conclusion.  Randy didn’t speculate.  He never spoke until he was sure.

“Tell me,” Josh asked quietly, not sure he wanted to hear.

Randy turned to head deeper into the woods. Josh walked at his side, listening as he explained. “I found footprints in the dirt outside the front window the night of the break in. I found the same size tracks near the bay window last night, and this morning near the kill zone for the fox.  They appear to be hunting boots. Big shoes, size thirteen, broad too. This is a big man, six foot three to six foot five. They lead off into the woods. This is someone who is not concerned about walking through the mountains at night.”

Josh asked, “Why Elizabeth? What could she have done to rate this?  If it’s a fan, how did he find her?”

Randy explained, “Stalkers are sociopaths. They’re very resourceful and devious. A couple of minor comments during a public appearance or on a Facebook post can lead a sociopath right to you. There’s a service road back up behind her property. It leads to the preserve’s Injured Bird House. I want to check for tire tracks. The ranger’s station confirmed there are no animals in the Bird House right now, so that road should not show any use.”

 

                                                                      **************                                                                     

Elizabeth parked next to Amy at the Sheriff’s office.  Randy and Josh pulled up in the Sheriff’s truck as they got out of their cars. The sun sparkled in the clear blue afternoon sky reflecting off Amy’s shiny new SUV. Randy and Josh climbed out of the truck and went directly to Amy’s car. Amy opened the doors and popped the hood so they could have full access. Gleefully, Amy listed all the extras and demonstrated the built in NAV system. Afterward, both men gave her their stamp of approval.

Randy unlocked the office door after he gave Amy a quick kiss.  He said, “Congratulations on the car Amy, it’s a beauty.”

“I haven’t told you the best part yet.” Amy announced as they walked inside out of the summer heat. “The truck is my bonus for my cover work on the
If Life Were a Garden
series!”

Elizabeth came up beside her and said, “She deserves it. Not only have I found a killer editor in Amy, her flare for artistic book covers is unmatched. They are fantastic. Three large distributors have nominated us for cover of the year. I’m so lucky to have Amy as a partner.”

Amy giggled and hugged Elizabeth then said, “That’s what I love about you Beth.  You treat me like an equal, not an employee, and it means the world to me.”

Elizabeth hugged her back and said, “When this weekend is over we need to sit down and start working on promoting your artwork.  This nomination is only the beginning for you.”

Randy stepped behind his desk and said, “Why don’t you contact the Salt Lake City Art Museum about setting up a display during the annual art festival? They are really great about helping out local artists.”

“That sounds awesome!”  Amy jumped at the thought.

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”  Elizabeth smiled.

Randy added, “We’ve got my truck loaded with enough supplies for a few days.  We were hoping you both would be willing to extend the weekend a few days.”

Josh wrapped his arms around Elizabeth and added, “We checked the cabin and everything’s fine. So, if Charlie is doing well there’s no reason to head back tomorrow.”

Elizabeth kissed him quickly and said, “She’s awake and responding. The Vet said we could bring her home today if we can keep her quiet.”

Josh glanced at Randy and asked, “Why don’t we take her up to the lake with us?  It’s quiet and calm. She could rest just as well there as at home, maybe better given the circumstances. We have to run by my house and pick up Kilo. I can take the huge dog bed that Kilo refuses to use. We can follow Randy and Amy up so Charlie can lie down in the back.”

 

 

The trip to the lake took a less than an hour. When they pulled up to Josh’s cabin, Elizabeth noted the similarity to the house Josh was building for her. The lake house had three dormered peaks just like Elizabeth’s, but the exterior was slate and stained cedar. An oversized three-car garage stood on the left side of the house. Tall bushes stood on either side of the doorway with a variety of flowering plants decorating the base of the trees and lining the sidewalk to the house.

Josh noticed the surprised look on her face and said, “It appears you and I have similar tastes. We reviewed over ten possible floor plans. The one you chose was just slightly different from this. My cabin has six bedrooms and a walkout basement that leads to a large patio with an in ground pool.”

Elizabeth opened the truck door to climb out saying, “Why would you need a pool when the house is twenty yards from a huge lake?”

Josh grinned and walked around to the back of the truck. “Actually, it was easier to teach the kids to swim in the pool and Molly has a thing about fish nibbling on her toes.”

Elizabeth met him at the back of the truck and stood back as he opened the hatch.  Kilo jumped quickly out. Charlie lifted her head up and gazed at Elizabeth. Her tail twitched slightly.  Elizabeth reached out and patted her head as Josh leaned in and scooped Charlie up in his arms.  He sat Charlie gently on her feet on the gravel driveway and stepped back so Elizabeth could kneel beside her. Kilo came up and licked Elizabeth’s face. Charlie gingerly turned to face her.  The fur was gone around Charlie’s neck and chest. A large scar ran down the right side of her neck down to her breastplate.

Josh lightly smacked his thigh and Kilo moved quickly to his side. Randy and Amy appeared behind him. Josh said, “Let’s get Charlie inside. Randy and I can unload the truck while you two girls take a look around.”

The view from the deck was breathtaking. Waves of crystal blue water moved slowly across the lake. It was speckled with the sails of small boats and lines of white water that flowed in the wake of fast moving brightly colored boats. The orange and pink hues of the sunset flowed across the horizon as the boats below began to scatter and disappear with the approaching darkness. Elizabeth and Amy went back into the large kitchen. The dark brown speckled granite countertop ran the length of the kitchen. A large island breakfast bar sat in the center of the room.  Elizabeth recognized the luxury Viking Appliances and designer cabinets. Josh clearly chose the very best for this lake house.

She gazed past the kitchen into the living room. The vaulted ceilings held dark beams running across the room toward the fireplace. The rustic design and decorations were perfect for a lake house setting.  Elizabeth smiled at Charlie who was relaxing on Kilo’s dog pillow in the living area by a large fireplace.  Randy and Josh immediately brought in the supplies, and Amy opened a bottle of wine and filled four glasses.

Josh led them out onto the deck. The sky began to blend from pink shades into blue and purple hues. They sat on a wicker bistro set overlooking the pool and the lake beyond. Kilo dashed down the steps and ran down the path that led to the shoreline. Randy quickly rose and began to pace.  Josh knew it was time to tell the girls what they had found.

Josh leaned forward, set his wine glass on the small bistro table, and said, “Ladies we need to talk about the two break ins at the cabin.

“Two break ins?”  Elizabeth said, frowning at Josh.

“Yes,” Josh met her gaze and added, “Randy believes the first break in resulted in your iPad theft. He thinks both thefts are related to the bear attack.”

Elizabeth leaned up to sit on the edge of her seat and glanced at Amy, then said, “That makes no sense.”

Randy moved back to his seat and sat down.  He explained, “Elizabeth, I need you to think about anything that’s happened recently out of the ordinary. Something that you may have thought was odd, but you dismissed it immediately.”

Elizabeth’s questioning gaze moved from Josh to Randy.  She said, “I don’t understand.  What sort of things are you talking about?”

Randy nodded and said, “Phone calls where no one was there, a misplaced item that never turned up, unusual car you keep passing on the way to the store. Someone you may know casually that you keep running into on a regular basis. Strange posts on your Twitter account, Charlie barking in the middle of the night for no apparent reason.”

Elizabeth sat back in her chair and asked, “What are you saying? Are you telling me I have a stalker?”

Josh rose and kneeled beside her, “We found a blood trail leading to the bay window. Someone stuffed a fresh fox carcass under the deck. We think someone killed the fox in the woods and dragged it to your cabin. They smeared blood across the foot of the bay window. Someone lured the bear to the cabin. The scent of blood, the chicken on the grill, and Charlie running in the yard was the perfect combination to work that bear into frenzy.”

Elizabeth stared at him, stunned at his words. Amy rose and went to Randy, who rose to meet her. She asked, “Who is it?”

Randy reached out and pulled her close saying, “Honey, I don’t know yet.  But I promise you I will figure it out quickly.”

Elizabeth rose and headed into the house, saying, “I haven’t noticed anything unusual other than what you know.  I’m going to check on Charlie.”

Josh shot Randy a knowing glance, then followed her.

Randy sat down, pulling Amy onto his lap.  She snuggled against him and said, “This makes no sense. Beth hardly ever leaves the house, she’s always writing.

“If someone is stalking her. . .” She sat up suddenly adding, “If this person stalked Beth in New York or St Louis, they’d be out of their element here. It would be almost impossible to stalk someone here. There aren’t any skyscrapers out here to peer out from or crowds to hide behind.”

Randy nodded, “I made some calls this morning. We are looking into it. It’s also possible that she has a fan that lives in this area. They could have been cyberstalking her for months, even years, and now that she’s close it’s escalated.”

Amy glanced at the house, then met Randy’s gaze, asking, “Are they trying to kill her?”

Randy looked at her. Her big blue eyes were moist with tears. He brushed away a tear from her cheek.  She was beautiful.  Her golden hair looked like spun silk. Randy sighed and said softly, “I don’t think they intended to kill Elizabeth. It looks like they were after Charlie.”

Amy burst into tears and sobbed, “Charlie is the sweetest, non-threatening dog I’ve ever known.  Why would a stalker try to kill her?”

Randy wrapped his arms around her as she buried her head in his chest.  He whispered, “A dog is a huge barrier to a stalker. Charlie’s mere presence probably kept the stalker at a distance for quite a while. Charlie was an obstacle that kept them from coming into the house while you and Elizabeth were home. If the stalker has not made contact with Elizabeth, then she has not jilted them yet so the chances are they do not want to kill her. I guess they just wanted to make sure the bear was deep in the yard when Charlie came out the back door. I don’t think they meant for the bear to crash through the window. Josh had his man, Mike drop the carcass off at the Vet for an examination. The bear was injured and thin. It’s a safe bet it was starving. That made it desperate.”

BOOK: Three Year Rule (The Rule Series Book 1)
5.47Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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