Safe at Home (Warm Springs Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  She was tired of paying for her mistake. She didn’t mean for any of it to happen. It had been an accident, one she’d paid a high price for. She lost her love, her future husband. She watched a little boy die in his mother’s arms, but she didn’t pull the trigger. She wasn’t the one who was trying to rob a bank for Christ sake. When was enough, enough?

  Sam raked her arm across her coffee table, flinging magazines in every direction. Her shoulders rose and fell as she fought for control. She was finally happy again. She knew better. She should’ve broken things off with Spencer. She had no right to drag him down with her. Maybe she should move on. She was sure she could sell the house. With all the work she and Spencer had put into it, it was probably worth more than what she’d paid for it.

  She stopped moving and looked around her living room at all the details that were uniquely hers. It broke her heart to even think of selling the house. It was her home now. Her new life was here. The first happy memories she’d had in years started with this house.

  Feeling tired and defeated, Sam sat down on her couch and wept.

  “Still no answer?” asked Lt. Martin.

  “No, and I’ve been trying to call her half the day.” Stephens replaced the receiver, sat back, and massaged his temples.

  “I think it’s time we brought in the local authorities from Warm Springs.”

  “I’ll get right on it.” Stephens turned to his computer.

  “After you let them know we have reason to believe Eric’s in the area, see if you can get them to send a couple officers over to Samantha’s house. Maybe they’ll have better luck.” Martin flipped his jacket back and placed his fists on his hips. “I have a bad feeling about this one. He’s been off the grid so long he could be anywhere.” Martin turned and started back to his office.

  “It’s a shame you have such shitty taste in friends.” Eric turned his knife over in his hands and watched the firelight reflect off the blade.

  A whimper sounded from Jenny as tears streaked through the dirt clinging to her face.

  “Don’t cry. I haven’t even given you a reason to cry yet.”

  Her hands were tied behind her back and she was anchored to a tree. He watched her as he kept twisting the knife. He could see in her wide eyes she assumed the worst about him and what was going to happen to her. He’d been threatening her since he’d found her stumbling away from his camp.

  He left her unconscious at his campsite while he went to dispose of her car and returned to find her trying to get away. She’d woken up a little sooner than he’d expected and she was a fighter. She surprised him by trying to kick him between the legs, but she hadn’t been steady enough on her feet so she missed the mark. He rewarded her with another backhand across the face. He hated to mess her up, but she needed to learn who was in charge.

  “You must think I’m crazy,” Eric said. “I’m not the one who’s at fault here. Do you know what that bitch did to me?”

  “No,” Jenny whispered.

  “Guess,” he said, his smile fading.

  “No, I can’t imagine.”

  “I said guess.” He pointed his knife at her.

  “Did she break up with you?”

  “Break up with me,” he screamed. His voice echoed through the woods surrounding them. He crossed over to where she was tied up and held the knife an inch from her face.

  Jenny pressed her head back into the bark of the tree. “I’m sorry, I really have no idea. I don’t know much about Sam.”

  “You know enough to call her Sam.” He slammed his knife into the earth beside her legs and placed a hand on her thigh. “What you don’t know is that your friend, Sam,” he spat the name at her, “is a murderer.”

  At the look of horror on Jenny’s face, he snickered. “That’s right poor, pitiful Sam is nothing but a murderer. A selfish waste of space, but that won’t last much longer.”

  He traced circles on her leg with his thumb. The smoothness of her skin exciting him and distracting him from his rage. Her body shook. He didn’t know if it was from the cold or her fear and he didn’t care. She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her cheek into the tree and away from him. His temper flared.

  “Look at me.” He abandoned her thigh and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You will not treat me like I’m nothing. No other friend of Samantha’s will ever treat me that way again.”

  Fresh tears welled in her eyes. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

  Chapter 29

  Their voices carried across the road. Using a pine tree for cover, Eric listened to the officers standing on Samantha’s porch.

  “C’mon, man, no one’s home,” the blond one said to his partner. “We can continue to call. Let’s go eat.”

  “Sounds good.” The officers descended the stairs and walked back to their car. “The odds of that guy being out here are pretty slim.”

  The stupid pigs didn’t realize he was less than fifteen feet from them. The one she feared. The one they’d come to warn her about was right behind them. They would fail her just like they’d failed his mother. Eric didn’t move until the cops were out of view. He wanted to torture her a little longer before the big finale, but the cops’ presence meant plans were going to have to change.

  With a final look at the dark windows, he turned and headed back to his camp. At least he had something, or rather someone, to keep him busy. He studied the bite mark on his arm and flexed. He hoped Jenny was conscious when he got back, not that it mattered.

  Sam spent the morning packing a suitcase. For now, she could head out of town and deal with the rest of her stuff later. A knock on the front door echoed throughout the house and sent her heart into her throat. She crossed to the window and looked down, but couldn’t see a car. It was too early for a friendly house call.

  Slowly, she walked down the stairs willing herself to stay calm. It was probably nothing. Plus if it were him, he wouldn’t be knocking on the door. Get control Sam. She held her breath as she looked through the peephole and saw Spencer standing on the other side. She exhaled in relief and opened the door.

  “This is a nice surprise.” She leaned in to hug him and then stopped short, when she took a second look at his face. “Or is it?”

  The bags under his eyes and the beard starting to form made him look as though he hadn’t slept.

  “Hey, Sam.” He leaned in and pecked her cheek. “I know we had plans today, but we’re going to have to postpone them.”

  “That’s no problem,” she stuttered. He wasn’t acting like himself. Guilty or worried, she wasn’t sure which. “Do you want some coffee?”

  “Coffee would be great.” He followed her inside and paused by the couch.

  She waited to see if he would say more, but he didn’t. His fingers fiddled with the edge of her couch cushions and he avoided eye contact. His actions caused her chest to tighten. She wasn’t sure she could deal with any more bad news. “There’s something I need to talk to you about, Spencer, but let me get the coffee first.”

  He offered her a half smile upon her return from the kitchen. “Thanks.” He took the steaming mug from her.

  She decided it would be better just to tear the band aid off all at once. “Spencer, I’m leaving for a little while.”

  His head snapped up and his eyes searched hers.

  “I’m sorry to spring this on you. I was going to call you this morning, but I hadn’t had a chance yet.”

  “What do you mean you’re leaving?” He set his mug on the table, his coffee untouched.

  “Some things have been happening and I think it would be best.”

  “What do you mean, some things?”

  “Well, for example, us. You’re amazing and I hadn’t planned on meeting someone like you. It’s just getting complicated and I think it would be best if we took some time off.” Her throat burned at her words. Leaving him was the last thing she wanted to do, but she needed to.

  “Sam look, we’re great, more than great actually, but w
e’ll get to that in a minute. There’s something you need to know.” He shuffled his feet and took a deep breath. “I don’t know how to say this so I’m just going to say it. We have reason to believe that the guy you’ve been running from is here.”

  Stunned, Sam simply stared at him.

  “There was a guy in town asking about you at the hotel and—”

  “Someone was asking about me?” Sam rose and headed for the stairs.

  “Yes, at the hotel. Betsy told me.” He followed her.

  “What did Betsy say, exactly?” Her hands began to shake. She hugged herself to steady them and met Spencer’s eyes.

  “Betsy just said a guy from out of town was asking for you. There’s something else though.” He filled her in on what Jake had told him about the fire, and then his eyes flicked to the suitcase lying open on the bed.

  “I really appreciate you letting me know, Spencer, but as you can see I need to finish packing.” She turned and placed more folded shirts into the bag. “Maybe you should go.” It was taking all she had not to start crying. She could feel her tears beginning to burn at the back of her eyes.

  “Sam, we should talk about this.”

  “There’s nothing more to say. If he was at the hotel, he’s in town somewhere.” Saying the words aloud made her blood run cold. “I need to lead him away from you and everyone else I’ve grown to care about before something happens.” She shook her head. “God, poor Earl and Betsy and it’s my fault. Somehow, I’ve brought this on all of you even though it’s exactly what I was trying to avoid.” Her voice rose as she started throwing clothes in the bag with more force.

  “Sam, wait.”

  The sadness in his tone made her stop and look at him. Renewed fear clawed away inside her when she saw the twisted look on his face.

  “Jenny’s missing. They’re setting up a search party today. Personally, I think they should’ve started one yesterday, but they have some sort of 24 hour rule.”

  “I’m too late.” Turning her back to him, Sam sat on the bed and stared out her bedroom window.

  “Sam, it’s not your fault. He’s the crazy one.”

  “I know,” she whispered.

  “If you want to run, I understand. I’d go with you if it weren’t for Jenny, but I have to help find her. Once we do, maybe I can meet up with you.”

  Spencer sat next to her on the bed where they’d spent more than one amazing night together. The best of her life. She thought of the friends she’d made there: all the Malloy’s, Mary, and Jenny, with her happy demeanor and bright smile. Sam shuddered. What would Eric do to her?

  “Sam? Did you hear me?”

  “I can’t leave when Jenny is out there somewhere. I want to be part of the search party.”

  “Sam you don’t have to do that.”

  She faced him as a new strength flowed through her. “I do. She’s my friend, too, and I brought this on her. Something like this could happen to you, too. Don’t you understand? This is exactly what happened before. This is how he starts and if the cops don’t find him . . .”

  “Sam, I can take care of myself and you, too, if you’d let me.”

  “You’d do better to stay away.” She stood and walked to the other side of the bed. She needed some distance from him to say what needed to be said. When he was sitting so close to her, it was too hard to think clearly. What she wanted was to collapse into his arms and let him hold her, but that wasn’t what was best for either of them, or Jenny.

  “Sam, I can’t stay away from you.” Spencer took his hat off and slapped it against his thigh.

  “You can, you’re just being stubborn. You were doing just fine before you met me and you’ll be just fine after I leave. I’ll help you find Jenny and then I’m going.”

  Spencer’s nostrils flared. “Sam, I won’t be fine without you. I was only fine before I met you because I didn’t know what I was missing, but I do now. These last months have been the best of my life. I’ll go with you or you can stay, but I will not give up on us.”

  “We’ve been having a good time together and it’s never fun when it ends, but this time it has to.”

  Spencer’s face reddened. “A good time together? Are you kidding me, Sam? This hasn’t been just a good time. I’ve fallen in love with you. We’re way past a good time and you know it. Now stop packing. I won’t lose you.” Spencer had risen to her challenge and was shouting at her across the bed nearly as loudly as she was shouting at him.

  “Well, you have to, because I love you, too, and I can’t live with the thought that I put you in danger.”

  Spencer opened his mouth and then faltered. “Wait, you love me?” He stopped glaring at her and stood up a little straighter.

  “Of course I do, you big idiot.”

  He crossed the room and took her in his arms, crushing her to his chest. “You shouldn’t have told me, now I’ll never let you leave.”

  Emotions swirled inside her like a storm.

  “We’ll figure this out together.” He pressed his lips to her hair and then pulled back to look at her. “This isn’t the way I wanted to tell you I love you, but I needed you to know.”

  Sam clung to him like her life depended on it. “Let’s go find Jenny. She needs us. We’ll figure out what to do next after we get her back.”

  Not letting go of her hand, Spencer led her downstairs and out to his truck.

  The next few hours were organized chaos. The police herded everyone into groups to cover specific areas. Search dogs sniffed articles of Jenny’s clothing to get ready for the hunt. Pictures of her were being handed out to everyone, even though most people knew her. Her pretty smile and gorgeous blonde hair were hard to forget.

  Sam was scared, but more than anything she was angry. She was tired of being so weak. She wanted this finished. She wanted to move on with her life, but most of all she wanted him to pay for Denise and Jenny. God, Jenny. She must be so scared. Sam didn’t know how she would live with herself if anything bad happened to her. Please let her be alive, Sam prayed over and over to herself.

  The whole town was there. The few people who weren’t able to search were manning the phones in case someone called with information. Sam breathed easier knowing Ann and Alex were with the phone crew. She couldn’t stand the thought of them being part of the search. It was all too horrible to process and yet, she didn’t have a choice. The local news ran a story that morning and showed a picture of Jenny smiling in one of her customary suits. It was all too real.

  Sam heard the distant sounds of dogs barking and leaves crunched beneath their shoes as she, Spencer, and Jake fanned out over their bit of woods. At least it was fall. They could be grateful for that at least. The underbrush had died down and the trees had lost their leaves, making for an easier view.

  Hours passed with no luck. The feeling of determination remained, but now a feeling of dread was creeping up Sam’s spine. Who was to say Jenny was still alive? He’d killed Denise.

  She shook her head. No. She would not let herself go down that path. Jenny was going to be okay. Jenny had to be okay. Someone blew a whistle three times signaling lunch. The group retreated and regrouped.

  “Maybe we aren’t looking in the right area?” Jake offered before taking another bite of his sandwich. “I mean, how many acres of woods are we talking about here? Be serious.”

  “We have to start somewhere, brother. We’re going to find her.” Spencer threw a reassuring look to Sam.

  “Did you see her parents? They’re beside themselves. They’re usually so pleasant and put together, but this morning. Who does this to someone? What kind of monster . . . ” Jake stopped mid rant and looked at Sam. “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t easy for you. It’s not your fault.” He added after noticing the pained expression on Sam’s face.

  “Thanks for saying that, Jake. No word from Ann?”

  “None yet. She’s trying to keep the line open, so no news means no word.”

  “Gather round people,” the police chi
ef bellowed through a megaphone. Squeezing in, the crowd stood in silence waiting for their next assignments. “We just received word that Jenny’s car has been found and there’s no sign of her.” A hushed murmur flowed through the group and then everyone quieted back down. “The car was found near Mills Park.” Everyone in the group began talking at once and the police chief held up his hands to silence the crowd. “Hold on people, calm down. Now, I realize that area is clear on the other side of town so we’ll make our way over and regroup.”

  The crowd found a renewed energy at the new information. She was thankful someone found the car. Hours had already been lost while they searched in the wrong area. Sam rode over in Spencer’s truck sandwiched between the two brothers. No one spoke on the ride over. There was nothing to say that would make any of them feel better. As the trees passed in a blur, Sam wondered if Eric was watching them from the shadows.

  Chapter 30

  Sam wished she could hold on to Spencer’s hand as they searched, but she knew it wasn’t possible. The volunteers were assigned new areas to cover. They all moved in a line as they worked their way deeper into the woods. Spencer was on her right and a lady who worked at one of the other stores on Main Street was on her left and even though they were both within her line of sight, she couldn’t shake the eerie feeling creeping over her.

  Every stick that snapped under her feet made her nerves snap in echo. Normally, she found the woods comforting; the quiet, fresh smell of earth, but today everything was different. The trees were foreboding instead of inviting and the fresh smell had been traded in for one of decay. She took a deep breath to try to even her breathing, but the little hairs on the back of her neck refused to lie down. When crows took off with loud caws as searchers disturbed their perch, Sam stifled a scream.