Page 42 of Unexpected Danger
The notecard from Dustin lay on the table beside the flowers. It wasn’t in his handwriting, which she’d only seen once at her former job. Had he called in the order? If so, would the florist be able to identify him?
Londyn reached for the remote on the table and clicked on the TV. Forty channels ranging from home improvement to game shows, from news channels to soap operas, were at her fingertips. Nothing sounded appealing, but she needed todistract herself from the flowers and possibly seeing Dustin at the window.
She closed her eyes and attempted to calm herself. She called to mind Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
In the verse, the Lord offered reassurance that one needn’t worry. That He would provide strength, help, and the ability to forge ahead. He would uphold her.
Why then did her heartbeat fail to return to a normal rhythm, and why did the monitor indicate her normally low blood pressure at elevated levels?
She must have fallen asleep at some point because she startled when the sound of the door latch clicked. Londyn kept her eyes closed. It was likely Dorena arriving to take her vitals.
How Londyn had been able to sleep at all due to the circumstances was beyond her.
Likely exhaustion.
She rolled her head to one side, wincing at the pain. When he spoke, a chill barreled through her. Londyn’s eyes fluttered open.
“Hello, Beautiful. Well, maybe not so beautiful with the head bandage and bruising.” His familiar laugh caused her stomach to roil, and her heart to pound in her ears.
Dustin stood near the chair Brodie vacated, arms folded across his chest. But even so, she could see the disposable gloves on his hands.
What was he planning to do?
Her gaze drifted to the closed door. She was trapped.
Lord, please help me.
Dustin’s unblinking gaze settled on her. “Did you like the flowers?”
“You need to leave.”
“Is that any way to talk to a friend?” He offered a grin she’d once found charming.
Fear crept up Londyn’s spine. Dustin had already attempted to kill her. Would he try again? She perused the immediate area. If he did, she had nothing to protect herself, except a call button.
Which she pressed.
“You need to leave,” she repeated, hating how her voice quivered.
“Nah. I think I’ll stay.”
“Why are you doing this?”
And why wasn’t someone answering the call button?She pressed it again.
“Come on, Londyn, you know why.”
Was her rejection enough to cause him to stalk her and threaten her life?
For Dustin Haack, it apparently was.
He stomped toward her and ran a gloved hand down her arm, the latex cool against her skin. “Need me to remove the IV for you?” He plucked at it, and the jiggling motion tugged at her tender skin. She pushed him back with her other hand.
“No, it’s just fine.”
He studied her, his hardened eyes never blinking. Londyn held his stare while simultaneously recalling something Mr. Brenneman had told her and the others in the women’s self-defense class.“When your life is in danger, remember many things can be weapons.”
Not much to defend herself in a barren hospital room. A pen lay next to a thin three-by-five-inch notebook on the table beside the landline phone and the bouquet of flowers.
