Page 9 of Only for You: Tap and Taryn
“It started with a phone call right after you left.”
Tap’s muscles tightened.He’s got surveillance on her.“Right after? That sounds like more than a coincidence. What did he say?”
Tap reached out and grabbed the arm of a fellow EMT. “Find out how far out the cops are from Taryn’s house. Her ex is there, trying to break in. She called them first.”
“Jesus, Tap. Go, we’ll cover your shift.”
That settled him, and he realized he’d been jangling his keys for a while. “Yeah, I’m on my way.” He spoke to Taryn, “Baby, I’m on my way. Fifteen minutes, max.”
He could hear Ricky in the background say something, and then silence. “Taryn? What’s going on?”
“He’s leaving. He’s in his car and is driving away. What does that mean, Tap?”
“Means he doesn’t want to get introduced to the local cops. Can you get a license plate? What kind of car?” Tap’s gut tightened even more. Ricky wasn’t one to just give up. This would be a strategic withdrawal, and meant they’d have to be even more on alert.
“Same car as yesterday.”
“Good, because I have the info the cops will need. Stay on the phone with me, Taryn. At least until they get there. I’m on my way.”
A week later Ricky showed up at Taryn’s work. Tap had already talked to her boss and coworkers, so they destroyed any chance the asshole had at getting to Taryn. Not physically. Mentally was another thing, though. Being on guard against another foray was grinding down both of them.
***
Tap pulled up in front of the local coffee shop. He was on a mission to get Taryn’s favorite drink, not caring that it was more flavors and whipped cream than it was coffee.
He looked to the side as he eased from the cab of his truck and paused in place. The car three down the row looked exactly like the one Ricky was driving. He turned and scanned the faces of folks inside the shop, holding his breath until he identified the man one back from the counter.
“Hey asshole.” Tap stepped to the side of the line, nodding at folks he knew. “Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Lahmeal, good to see you.” He stopped next to Ricky who was staring at him with an expression of disbelief. “Asshole, why are you still in town? Taryn has been clear with her wishes, and she never wants to see your face again. I’m sure there are folks back in the slime you crawled out of who’d be happy when you returned. You need to go home, man.”
The coffee shop owner had left her station at the register, and she came up beside Tap. “This is the guy that’s harassing Taryn?”
“Yup. This is the guy.”
“Banned.” She pointed to Ricky. “You’re banned from this place of business, as is my right to do. I’m not going to serve you. I’ll make a couple of calls, and you’ll be kicked from the hotel, too.”
“Denise, you’re a good friend.” Tap glanced over at her and smiled.
A blow his high on his arm and Tap whirled to find Ricky with both paws up, as if this was a civilized boxing match.
“You do not want to do this.” Tap easily dodged the next punch. It was slow and telegraphed. “Seriously. Just stay away from Taryn. Not a hard ask.”
“Calling the cops.” Denise already had a phone up to her ear.
“No need,” Ricky said, but still danced back and forth, as if he were a bantam fighter facing an opponent.
“Lotsa need,” Tap said and reached out with one hand, grabbing both of Ricky’s hands and yanking the man through the door and into the parking lot. Ricky struggled to regain control of his hands, but Tap hadn’t been lifting weights just to ensure he could be an asset at an accident. He might not have known it, but this was the reason. “Bad guys lose, good guys win.”
A cop car slid to a stop next to them, red and blue lights bathing the storefronts along the street. “Let him go, Tap.”
“Come get him. I’m holding onto him for you.”
Minutes later Ricky was secured in the back of a patrol car, Tap and Denise had given their statements, and they were just waiting on an all clear.
The sound of a straining engine pulled Tap’s attention to the end of the street, where he saw Taryn’s little SUV halted at the periphery of the situation.
He lifted a hand to the cop and pointed at Taryn. “I’m going to be just over there.”
The cop nodded. “If he’s called her today, we’ll want to talk to her anyway. Get your girl, Tap.”
