Fleeting Glimpse Page 7

  Adam steps closer to the group. “Chandra grew up in Chester.”

  Chandra nods. “Yes. I grew up in Chester. Moved away for a short time when I went to college. Moved back here right after.”

  Martha wraps her right arm around Julian’s waist. “This man grew up here and is currently the lead homicide detective at the Manchester State Police. That and many other things at the department. Weren’t you on a special task force for the FBI?”

  Chandra’s eyes feel as if they’re going to pop out of her head. She looks over at Adam, then back at Julian. “You’re a detective?”

  “Yes. Did you think I was someone else?” Julian asks.

  A young girl comes up to the group.

  “Well, I…I thought…”

  “Ms. Willis?”

  Chandra stops speaking and squats down to the little girl’s level. “What can I do for you?”

  “Would you sign this? I can’t wait any longer.”

  The young girl’s mother rushes up to the group. “Please forgive my daughter. I told her she would have to wait until you were done with your food.” The mother frowns at the little girl. “Shelby.”

  “It’s okay,” Chandra says, taking the book from the little girl. “That’s why I’m here—to sign books.” She looks at her. “Is there anything special you want me to say in it?”

  Shelby’s eyes lit up. “Yes please.”

  “What?” Chandra asks.

  “To Shelby, my biggest fan.” A big smile pushes her cheeks up high.

  “Are you my biggest fan?” Chandra begins to write in the book as she listens to Shelby’s response.

  “Absolutely. Not only am I your biggest fan, I bet I’m the youngest. I’m ten years old.”

  Chandra eyeballs the little girl. “Aren’t my stories scary?”

  The girl’s eyebrows raise. “Yes. That’s why I love them.”

  The mother’s cheeks turn bright red. “I know I’m a bad mom,” she says unable to make eye contact. “She reads on an advanced level, and she found your books on my shelf. She read them all.”

  Chandra places a hand on the lady’s shoulder. “My mother was a librarian. I can’t tell you how many books I read that my friends’ parents wouldn’t even allow in their houses.” She hands the book back to Shelby after placing a business card in the center of it. “You email me and tell me what you're doing. I expect to hear what college you decide to attend. And when you’re famous, I hope you remember me.” She winks at her.

  “I promise, Ms. Willis.” Shelby’s arms wrap around Chandra’s waist. “I want to be just like you when I grow up.”

  Chandra pushes her back, shaking her head. “No.”

  Shelby’s eyes glass over.

  “I expect you to be better than me. You understand?”

  Shelby giggles. “I’ll be better than you. Thank you, Ms. Willis.”

  “You’re welcome.” Chandra takes several books from other patrons and signs them. She gives a sideways glance towards the Lieutenant and Adam. They’re having an animated chat a few feet away. Another man is lingering near the table. He is reading the back cover of her book. She can’t see his face directly but she doesn’t recognize him from anywhere. At least she doesn’t think so.

  Adam and Lieutenant Drake walk over to Chandra.

  Lieutenant Drake crosses his arms. “Let me get this straight. You thought I was a stalker?”

  Chandra’s shoulders droop. “Adam.”

  “What? I think it’s hysterical.” Adam places his drink on the table. “I’m going to go out and make sure we’re good to go. The doors will open shortly for the crowd outside.

  As Chandra stands in front of Julian, a few special guests come over to get their books signed and take pictures with her. She cocks an eyebrow at Julian’s amused expression. “I’m glad you think this is funny.”

  “It’s not every day I get accused of being a stalker.” Julian steps to the side as the last of the group takes selfies with Chandra. Her features are even more beautiful up close. Her smooth skin, a pale beige, begs to be caressed. She covers her anxiety well. He watches as she interacts with her fans. They have no idea how truly uncomfortable she is in this kind of environment. He can’t hide his grin.

  Chandra cocks an eyebrow at him. “What’s so amusing?”

  “Just watching you,” Julian says.

  “I’ve seen you at a few of my signings here in town. Right?”

  He laughs. “Yes. One, I wanted to get the nerve to talk to you. Two, I wanted to get the nerve to talk to you.”

  She narrows her eyes. “That’s why I thought you were a stalker. Why didn’t you buy my book? I would’ve signed it, and you could’ve spoken to me.”

  “Too easy.” He follows her to the front of the store.

  Chandra walks towards the table. “Hey, Adam, are we ready?”

  “Everything is set up,” Adam says adjusting the sign behind the table.

  Chandra turns to face the Lieutenant. “Can you stay? Maybe you can help me figure out how to handle my would-be stalker.” Chandra pulls another chair over near her table. “You can sit here.”

  Adam nods at Julian. “Yes, stay. We could use some help on what to do.” He glances at Chandra. “Or actually what we can do to prove to Chandra she doesn’t have a stalker.” He wiggles is eyebrows at her.

  “What do you think she has?” Julian asks.

  “I think she has a superfan or several fans, and a grumpy neighbor. Possibly even a few superfans. Nothing more.”

  Chandra bites her bottom lip. “It doesn’t matter. I’m sure I’m over reacting, but I would still like the help. Could you?”

  Julian bows slightly. “Your wish is my command.”

  Just as she’s about to say something, the doors open and the crowd flows in. People rush to the stacks of her books. Some come with books in hand. Not wanting to turn anyone away, Chandra obliges and signs all copies.

  “Ms. Willis, I love your books. They keep me up at night,” one lady says as she waits for Chandra to sign her book.

  “I’m thrilled to hear you say that. Tell me your name.”

  “Amanda.”

  Chandra signs the book, handing it back to her. “Thank you for your support, Amanda.” Glancing up, the line has thinned considerably. The clock on the wall says nine p.m. She looks around the room before coming back to Julian. “Where’s Adam?”

  “He received a phone call. Said he would be right back.”

  Chandra signs the last customer’s book. Giving the patron one of her hardback books sitting on the table as a gift, signing it as well.

  “What a nice thing for you to do,” Julian says, as he stands and stretches.

  “I’ve made it a habit. Whoever is last in line gets a free copy of the hardback book. Don’t remember when I started doing it.” She begins to pack up the standing banner. Along with the box of remaining hard cover books. “Always less to pack than to unpack.”

  Caleb and Christine walk over to her. “Chandra, this has been one of the best nights at my book store. I can’t thank you enough.”

  Christine hands her a box of cookies. “These are my special recipe. I wanted to give you something from us.”

  Chandra lifts the lid off the small tin and sniffs. “These cookies smell wonderful. Thank you.”

  Adam joins them. “Hey, sorry.”

  “Anything wrong?” asks Chandra.

  “No. I need to go back to the office. I’m closest and Jane left a contract on her desk. She’s flying out in the morning to LA.”

  “Adam, it will take you forever to take me home then drive to the office. I can call a cab.” Chandra pulls her phone from her purse.

  “Chandra I can’t let you call a cab. I can drop you off, drive over to the office, then head to Jane’s.” Adam stacks everything on the fold up dolly. Securing it.

  “I can take you home,” Julian says.

  Chandra’s butterflies
return. “No. No. I can’t ask you to drive me home.”

  Maneuvering the dolly towards the door, Adam says, “What a perfect idea. And a solution to our problem.”

  “I don’t know him.” She turns to Julian. “No offense.”

  “None taken. But technically, I’m not a stranger.”

  “And he’s a cop. How much safer can you be?” Adam asks, shifting his gaze between the two.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Sweat beads at the base of Chandra’s hairline. “I really don’t think….”

  Martha Vantrese walks up to the small group. “Well, I’m off.” She turns to Julian, reaching out to take him in a hug. “Tell your parents, I said hello. And I expect to see them at the City Council meeting next week.”

  Julian brushes his lips against her cheek as he winks at Chandra. “I will tell them, Martha.”

  Martha turns to Chandra. “What a pleasure to meet you in person, young lady. Keep the wonderful stories coming.” She wraps her scarf around her neck.

  Adam holds the door for her.

  Chandra grabs her purse from under the table. “Adam, can I help you take the books out to the car?”

  Adam rolls the boxes out the door. Turning around, he shakes his head. “Nope, I got it. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He nods at Julian. “Thanks for taking her home.”

  Julian turns to Chandra. “Am I taking you home?”

  Chandra’s eyes dart to Adam, who is now at the back of his vehicle. She looks for Caleb or Christine, but they seem to have vanished into the back of the store.

  “Well?” Julian asks, gesturing towards the door. “I don’t bite, you know?”

  A weak smile pulls her lips back. “Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asks following his extended arm towards the door.

  “Not at all.” He pulls the door open. “Your chariot awaits.”

  Chandra chuckles. “Oh, brother.”

  Julian follows her out onto the sidewalk. “What, can’t a man be chivalrous these days?”

  “I don’t know what that is.”

  “What…what is?” Julian asks as he points to his car at the end of the block.

  “A chivalrous man. I think they’re almost extinct,” Chandra says.

  Using the key fob to unlock the passenger side door, he opens it for her. “My, we’re a tad bit cynical, aren’t we?” He closes the door walking around the front of the vehicle to the driver’s side.

  “It’s nice and warm in here. How did you start the car?”

  He holds up his key ring. “Remote start. You should’ve worn a jacket.”

  “I always forget. Until it gets really cold, anyway.”

  “Now, about you being cynical.”

  Chandra giggles. “I’m not really. I guess I haven’t been out with anyone recently to experience all this,” she says.

  “All what?”

  “Opening doors. Giving damsels in distress a ride home.”

  Julian pulls away from the curb. “Where am I taking you?”

  “I live in Chantilly Estates.”

  Julian whistles. “Fancy.”

  Chandra frowns at him. “What are you implying?”

  He laughs. “I’m kidding. It’s a nice place. I didn’t know writing paid well enough to live there.”

  “I didn’t know being a detective paid well enough to buy a high-end luxury car.”

  “Things aren’t always as they seem.”

  She turns to him. “What do you mean?”

  “I bought it at a police auction.”

  She huffs. “Anyway, writing doesn’t pay well.” She crosses her arms. “And you’re right, things aren’t always as they seem. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I got a pretty damn good publishing deal. Not enough to buy my place, and I’m not rolling in money.”

  “How did you afford it?”

  “When my mother died, she left me a small amount of money. Enough to buy the smallest house in the community.”

  “Why there?”

  She shrugs. “I don’t know.”

  Julian flashes a quick smile. “You do remember I’m a detective, right?”

  She laughs. “Okay, okay. I like the location and the security.” She shakes her head. “Well, at least I thought it had the best security.”

  Julian maneuvers the car onto the freeway. “What has happened to make you change your mind? Tell me everything.”

  Chandra turns to stare out her window.

  “Chandra? Is something wrong?”

  She sighs. “You’ll just laugh at me. Or think I’m crazy. Like Adam and everyone else.”

  “Again, I remind you, I’m a detective. Maybe I can help.”

  Chandra shifts in her seat. She watches him as he drives. “I don’t even know.” A nervous laugh escapes. “I thought you were my stalker. Obviously, I’m a nut case.”

  “You now know it isn’t me. Tell me what has you so rattled.”

  Chandra explains the recent events. She can still smell the dead animal as she tells him about it in her bin. She tugs on the ends of her sleeves, sitting in silence as she waits for the burst of laughter.

  Julian takes the exit leading to her neighborhood. “Do you know which neighbor may have put the animal in your trash?”

  “No clue. I keep to myself. I hardly speak to anyone. Jane, my agent thinks it could be Thomas.”

  “Who is Thomas?”

  “He’s my former editor. He’s been fired. He blames me.”

  “That could be a way for him to get back at you.”

  “And, I hadn’t removed him from my approved list of visitors. So, at the time it happened, he still had access to my neighborhood. The time line also makes sense.”

  “Have you taken him off the visitors list?”

  She nods. “Yes.”

  “Okay. That should make it harder for him to get in.”

  “Harder for him to get in? I thought he wouldn’t be able to get in at all.”

  “Anyone can get into a gated community. Takes a little ingenuity, but it can be done.”

  “Adam told me about guards being bribed.” She blows out a breath. “I guess I need to realize I can’t live in my little cocoon.”

  “Don’t like being in the limelight, huh?”

  “No. I really don’t.”

  “Do you have a security system?”

  She shakes her head. “No. One of the guards at the front gate has a list for me. I keep forgetting to get it from them.”

  “I have someone who can help you.” He turns to look at her. “If you want my help.”

  “I guess. Although I don’t know what good it will actually do.”

  “Catch someone in the act, for one. If you put up a system with flood lights, if anyone comes near your home, the lights will trip on, flooding the area with light.” Julian pulls up to her gate.

  “Punch in 2768.”

  He flashes an evil grin. “Telling a stranger your gate code. Shame, shame.”

  Her eyes narrow in on him. “They change the code weekly. They will change this one,” she cocks her head to the side. “Sunday, I think.”

  “Wow,” he says, punching in the numbers on the keypad. “How do you keep up with the code changes?”

  “The residents have a bar code on their windshields. The codes are for back up, instances like this. Most in here have a list of approved visitors or add someone when needed. They send out a message with the new code.”

  Driving through the gate, Julian admires the homes. “These are nice.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “In Londonberry.” He pulls into her drive. “Your home is quaint, compared to the other mansions in this place.”

  Chandra’s laughter fills the car.

  “What did I say?”

  “I have never had my house described as quaint.” Containing her laughter, muffled giggles escape. “I think it fits perfectly.” She sighs as she catches her breath. She sits up in
her seat. “That’s strange.” The soft lights around her mailbox illuminate the area enough for her to see something is attached to the door.

  Julian looks around. “What’s strange?”

  “Something is on my mailbox.” Chandra jumps from the car, racing to the walkway.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  A red bow is tied around the door latch. She reaches out to open the door, and changes her mind.

  Julian walks up next to her. “Well?”

  She looks at him, then back at the handle. “There’s a bow.”

  “Was it there earlier?”

  “No. And I didn’t put it there.”

  “Did I say you did?”

  She crosses her arms. “No. But I can tell from that look that you think I’m stupid.”

  Julian lifts his hands in the air. “Whoa, I never said or implied you were stupid.”

  “Your smirk says otherwise. One of the guards gave me the same look.”

  “I’m not the guards. Open it.”

  She hesitates then pulls the door open. A small box wrapped in a red ribbon sits in the center. Her hand trembles as she pulls it out. “Great.”

  “Let’s take it inside and open it.” Julian holds his arm out.

  Chandra walks to her front door unlocking it. Theo scampers out from the living room to greet her. She places her purse on the entryway table, along with the gift.

  Theo bypasses her to rub against Julian’s leg. “Hey buddy.” He picks him up. “Great cat.”

  She takes him from his arms. “He is. He loves attention.”

  Julian lifts the box. “Open it.”

  She glares at him. “I don’t want it. Whatever it is.”

  “Let’s see what it is.” He holds it out to her.

  “Fine.” She places Theo on the floor. Taking the box from him, she pulls the ribbon off, lifting the top. Inside on a small leather choker is a silver half heart. She lifts it up. “I don’t want this.”

  Julian pulls the card from the box. He reads it and hands it to her.

  “What does it say?” she asks.

  “Read it.”

  Flipping the small card open. Her breath stops.