Page 30 of The Flame of Carson
––––––––
Stacey sighed tiredly.Finally, her workday was done.She stretched her arms over her head and yawned, her muscles protesting after being hunched over the keyboard for the last few hours.She straightened back up and was just about to lean down to pull her purse from her bottom drawer when her computer dinged signaling a new email.She debated a second, then clicked it.
Did you honestly think you could get away from me so easily?Think again Stacey.
I never took you for a coward.Running?Hiding?Well, we’ll just see how this plays out won’t we?Austin, Texas huh?Nice change of scenery, guess I’ll find out.
See you soon beautiful.
Oh, one more thing?How’s the boy toy?
Anger hit first.Then fear, for the first time since this started.Stacey grabbed her phone and dialed Gage.It went straight to voice mail.“Gage?Gage?Where are you?Please, please call me the second you get this!That asshole just emailed me again and he knows I’m in Austin and he knows about you.God, where the hell are you?Call me!”
After she hung up, she immediately called Jimmy.“He knows I’m here.”
––––––––
––––––––
Gage turned off theshower, pulled back the curtain and reached for the towel.It had been a long uneventful day at the office, which was both a good thing and a terrible thing.The bad part had been the lags where his mind drifted to Stacey’s situation and his frustration at not being able to help her more.Yet, he also saw Ethan’s side and there was frustration.Slinging the towel around his waist, he walked from the bathroom and into his bedroom.Moving to his dresser, he had just opened the top drawer when the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, seconds before he heard the first sound.
Not hesitating, he threw on a pair of sweats, slipped the nine-millimeter from the holster on the dresser, and quietly headed for the door.His house was silent, which was an advantage for him.He knew his home, knew every creak and moan.Stepping into the upstairs hall, he paused.There.Someone was moving around downstairs, trying to be quiet about it too.Gage took a slow breath and started moving toward the stairs.Crouching down and peeking through the railings of the banister, he saw a figure dressed in black looking around the living room.Gage’s gut said this wasn’t a random burglar, while kicking himself for not engaging his security system.Slowly, he stood from his crouched position and started to take aim at the intruder.He didn’t get more than a second to think before the figure turned and looked up.
“Oh fuck!”Gage hissed.
––––––––
––––––––
Stacey hit the brakesoutside Gage’s house.She jumped off her Ducati, yanked off her helmet, dropping it in the yard and bolted for the door.“Gage!”
“Whoa, whoa, easy there.”Danny said, stopping her before she made it more than two feet into the house.
“Get the hell out of my way Danny, I need to see Gage.”Stacey demanded.
“Stacey, he’s giving a statement to Wilson right now.Here, let’s go in the kitchen and I’ll tell you what I know.”Danny sighed, taking her arm gently.
Stacey let Danny lead her into the kitchen while trying desperately to slow her racing heart.About fifteen minutes earlier, Ethan had called her saying there had been an incident at Gage’s house and that it appeared to be linked to her anonymous emailer.She hadn’t thought, she had just stripped off her works clothes, threw on jeans, a t-shirt and her boots, then ran downstairs to grab her helmet and jacket.She jumped on her bike and sped over to Gage’s.Shakily she slipped onto one of the bar stools while Danny went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water.
“Is...is Gage...”
“Gage is fine Stacey.I got here a minute after Ethan.Gage told us he had just got out of the shower when he said he heard a noise downstairs.He grabbed his gun and was on the landing overlooking the living room.He saw a guy standing there.A second later the guy turned, looked up and pulled out a .45.The intruder emptied it before running out the front door.”
“Oh my god.”Stacey breathed, burying her face in her hands.
Footsteps behind her had her head snapping up and she turned on the stool just as Gage walked into the kitchen.She took a breath, opened her mouth, closed it, then threw caution to the wind and rushed toward Gage, jumping into his arms.When his arms came around her Stacey felt her body break into shakes.She was shocked to feel the tears beginning to flow down her cheeks.She barely registered Gage picking her up and carrying her.
“Shh, Shh.Hey, babe.I’m okay.”Gage assured her as he rubbed her back.
“I...I’m...I’m sorry.”Stacey sobbed quietly as Gage held her and sat on her vacated stool.
Gage watched Danny slip from the kitchen.Gage sighed and held his woman tighter.“You’ve got nothing to be sorry about Stacey.Okay?You hear me?”
Stacey lifted her head from his shoulder and her gaze met his.“I hear you.”She reached up and cupped his face.“I just thought, well, I just thought he was some person behind a computer screen.Before today...”
“Before today he showed no sign of making physical contact.”Gage finished for her.
“Yeah.”She sighed.
