Page 44 of Strictly Forbidden

I wouldn’t put it past her for a second to offer a passive aggressive reminder that my deadline was only twenty hours away. I answered the call without hesitation.

“Stop worrying, Vicky. I only have forty pages left to edit. I will make the deadline.”

The sharp sound coming from the other end of the line forced me to pull the phone away from my head. I’d never heard interference that bad, even from a landline phone. However, this was a town nestled close to the mountains and a storm was brewing.

“Vicky? Can you hear me?”

The sound occurred again, only much quieter. It was at that moment I realized exactly what I was hearing. I’d been driven into a horrible black abyss more than a dozen times since escaping, but the black boxes of protection I’d placed around myself during my captivity had been suffocating.

Just like this moment, both triggered by a sound that would forever remain in the back of my mind.

The bastard’s makeshift claws scratching down a chalkboard-like surface, only whatever it was allowed the sound to reverberate.

I was instantly sick inside, frozen to the spot, although I was able somehow to keep listening, trying to figure out if a tiny part of my mind had just shattered.

Hearing nothing else, I realized the line had gone dead. Everything in slow motion, I pulled the phone away from my head, staring at the screen for a full fifteen seconds before something happened I hadn’t experienced before.

Rage.

I wasn’t going to allow anyone to derail me. It was possible I’d heard nothing but static. I redialed the number, hoping I’d reach Vicky and all would be right with the world.

“We’re sorry but the number you’ve reached is no longer in service.”

The words hung in the forefront of my mind. By that point, Max had returned, whining as he did when he was worried about me. I did what I could to try to remain calm yet I fell onto the seat of my desk chair, shaking so badly I was certain I’d fall off.

Woof. Woof.

“It’s okay, baby. Mommy just needs to check on something.” I tried to hold my shit together as I searched for the detective’s phone number. Of course there were a bunch of crazies in this world who liked to torment people. Some were even psycho lovers, almost like groupies. I’d been forced to change phones, including my number three times already. I guessed this would be the fourth.

Since I was hiding in plain sight, my books still being published, I’d known and accepted that I could remain a target of bashers and naysayers. I’d even had those who’d believed I’d been part of the psycho’s murder spree given I’d played out the scenario page by page. Which was only partially true. I might have a vivid imagination, but I certainly couldn’t imagine or fabricate the horrible atrocities James had performed.

I grabbed the detective’s business card in my hand, his personal cellphone number written on the back; I took a deep breath before dialing it. Fortunately, even thought it was almost ten in the even here, it was an hour earlier in Seattle.

Thankfully, he answered on the second ring. “Detective Finley.”

“Detective, this is Noel Young. I just received a threatening call and I wanted to make certain Mr. Jones did not get out on bond.”

He kind of half laughed. “Ms. Young. You have nothing to worry about. Even with James Jones hiring a bigwig attorney out of New York, the judge laughed when bail was requested. The man is on high alert lockdown wearing wrist and ankle shackles at all times, monitored by someone twenty-four/seven. Since he was in court today for attempting to bite the officer sliding his food in, I know he’s safely tucked away. What was said?”

This is the part I knew he might laugh at me. A closer rumble of thunder almost pummeled me from the chair. I gripped the arm with enough strength I was certain I’d break it off.

Calm down. Just calm down.

I took several shallow breaths on purpose. “Nothing was said. I heard claws being scraped down a board of some kind just like I used to hear.”

As soon as I’d issued the words I cringed. At least he didn’t burst into laughter. I’d told him several times about the sound during the course of the horrible investigation.

“Ms. Young. Don’t take this the wrong way but that’s not much to go on. Plus, I hate to say this, as tight as the agents who took over the case have tried to be with evidence, but it is entirely possible that leaked. In addition, given the judge is determined to bring this to trial much faster than normal, it’s been all over the news here. You’re still a public figure and sadly, cellphone numbers can be found. However, I’ll send you info on having one unlisted and so far under the radar no one will be able to find it. You’ll need to pay a few hundred bucks but at this point, I think it’s worth it.”

What I wanted to ask the man was why the hell he hadn’t offered this before but I held my tongue. Of course he was right about the evidence being distributed. I knew it happened all the time. “The Feds took this over?”

“Yep. We knew they would as soon as he was caught. They let us do the dirty work of hunting and capturing him before taking over. I don’t give a shit at this point. I’m just glad the man is being brought to justice.”

Exhaling, I tried to put the evil genie back into the bottle. “I’d appreciate that information and I will get another number.”

“Happy to, and make certain to email that number when you have it so I can keep you up to date.”

“I’d appreciate that. Thank you for taking my call.”

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