Fleeting Glimpse Read online

  You will always have a piece of my heart.

  She places both back in the box and puts it in the small drawer of the entry table. “This isn’t a fan. This is from a stalker. I know it.”

  “Well. It’s not threatening enough on its own. Keep it though. And keep anything else you get from your fan. This way, we can build a pattern of harassment.”

  “What good will that do?” Her arms flail out. “You just said this isn’t threatening. Just like the flowers sitting on my kitchen table. None of it, on its own is threatening. If I took all this to someone, the police or the guard shack, everyone would think I’m nuts.” She storms into the kitchen. “My agent and editor, probably the entire publishing company, think I’m a basket case.”

  Chandra grabs a bottle of wine from the fridge. “I called the guards and told them about someone in my backyard. They didn’t believe me.”

  “These are the flowers you got?”

  “One is from the radio station, and one showed up at my door.”

  “Tell me about someone in your yard.”

  She lifts the bottle of wine. “Would you like some?”

  “Sure.”

  She opens it while she talks. “I came home from my trip. When I came inside, I had Adam on the phone. We were going over tonight’s book signing. Standing in front of the glass doors, I thought I saw a man in my trees.” She sips her wine as she continues to tell him the story.

  Julian frowns at her. “There’s something else. What is it?”

  She looks down at her glass. “You won’t believe me. You will think I’m crazy, stupid, or forgetful.”

  “Humor me.”

  “When I pulled into my garage, the light was on.”

  “And?”

  “And what? That’s it. My garage light was on. I never leave my light on. At least I’m pretty sure I don’t.”

  “You think whoever put the dead animal in your bin, got into your house, or at least into your garage, and left the light on?”

  “See why I didn’t want to say anything?”

  “Did Thomas ever have a key to your home?”

  She shakes her head. Her eyes widen. “Crap. Yes. He did. I completely forgot about that.” She snaps her fingers. “Wait, I got it back from him. Just before he was fired.” She flops into a chair at the table. “This is too much.”

  “Let’s look at this.” He sips his wine. “I think you have a few different things going on. One, I think Thomas did put the animal in your trash. That may have even been whom you saw in your yard. I think the flowers are from someone else.”

  She points towards the front door. “And the gift?”

  “I think the same person gave you the gift and the flowers.” Julian looks at the frosted glass. “Don’t you want to see out your door?” he asks pointing to it.

  Grateful for the momentary distraction she grabs the remote from the little table. “Watch this.” She pushes a button, holding it down until the frosted glass becomes clear. “Pretty cool, huh?”

  “It is.” He stares out the large window. “Your yard is beautiful.”

  Chandra smiles at him. “I used to love going out on my deck. I would light the gas firepit, snuggle up with a glass of wine and enjoy nature.”

  “Why don’t you like it anymore?”

  She stares out the window before answering. “I don’t feel safe. I sometimes feel as if I’m being watched.”

  “How long has that been going on? That feeling?”

  Chandra sighs. “For a while now.”

  “Did it start when the gifts started?”

  “No. It’s been going on for longer than that. Which is why the gifts bother me so much.”

  Julian leans across the table. “Is there anything else, any event, that happened which coincides with the uncomfortable feelings?”

  She fiddles with the hem of her shirt. “I had more personal appearances to attend. More meet and greets to do. Radio interviews. I think those feelings started when my schedule increased.”

  Julian’s face softens. “Please don’t take this the wrong way. But I think your anxiety and fear about public appearances has you hyper aware of things.”

  Her bottom lip quivers. She rolls it under her teeth. She stares at her hands before replying. “You basically think I’m crazy, too?”

  “No. Not at all. I think your fear and anxiety are quite real. And I think it’s making you think irrationally.”

  She hangs her head. “So, this gift—I shouldn’t worry about it?”

  “I didn’t say that. But I don’t think you should jump to the worst possible scenario.”

  Chandra stands, putting the wine in the fridge.

  “Chandra, what else has Thomas done?”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Stop.”

  She looks up. The hair on her arms stands on end. “Why are you angry?”

  Julian’s lips form a tight line. “I’m not. I’m trying to help.”

  “He called me. Told me he wanted to get even with me for having him fired. Jane said not to worry. She thinks he’s mad because the publishing company is going after him for harassment.”

  Julian pulls a small notebook from his back pocket. “Tell me his full name.”

  “Thomas Rheingold.”

  He jotted a few notes down. “I’ll look into him.”

  Chandra’s eyes widen. “I would rather you didn’t. If he thinks I sicced you on him, he will only ramp it up. I want it left alone. I don’t want you doing anything.”

  “Chandra, we need to look at him and make sure he isn’t capable of anything else. I don’t think he is sending the gifts. I think Thomas is the one making threatening calls and trying to stop you from testifying.”

  “Fine.” She picks up the empty wine glasses. “What do you plan to do?” She places them in the sink. Turning towards him, she crosses her arms.

  Julian smiles at her. “I’ll check on him. See if he has a record. See if I can track his whereabouts without anyone suspecting anything. I will also look and see if any other women from this community has complained of being harassed, just in case. That way we can rule out someone creepy targeting this area. You know, detectivy kinds of stuff.”

  “Is that a word? Detectivy?”

  “It’s my word.” He stands and moves in front of her. “I promise. We’ll figure out what’s going on.” He reaches out to her, sliding his hand up and down her arm.

  Chandra slips out from between him and the counter. “I appreciate any help,” she says, walking into the living room.

  Julian admires her shape as she slinks away. A tingling sensation fills his chest. “When do you leave for your trip?”

  Near the front door, she stops. “In two weeks.”

  “It will take me a few days to get some information, ask a few questions. I’ll contact my friend tomorrow. That’s the guy who can help with your security issue. However, if between now and then you have any problems,” he hands her a business card, “call me. That’s my direct line.”

  “Thank you, Julian,” she says as she slips it into her back pocket.

  He pulls open the front door, turning back to Chandra. “I’m a phone call away. We’ll talk soon.”

  Locking the front door, she moves to the window, watching him as he gets into his car. When he looks up, their eyes meet. She waves, standing a moment longer as he pulls out of her driveway. Chandra glances around her home. Theo is asleep on the sofa. She’s about to go up to her bedroom when her phone pings with an incoming message.

  “Where the heck is my phone?” Remembering she left her purse in the entryway, she retrieves it. Opening her messages, her heart stammers. Chandra’s feet are rooted to the floor.

  You looked at ease tonight. Everyone seemed to enjoy the signing. I can’t wait to see you again. Did you like my gift?”

  Chandra’s breath catches in her throat. Her hands tremble as she grips her phone. Her mind is
rushing through snap shots of the evening. Concentrating on the patrons at the bookstore, looking for someone who looked out of place. She remembers the guy at the table, but she can’t remember what he looked like.

  She takes a deep breath, fighting the urge to call Julian before he gets out of her neighborhood. “It’s just a fan. You have to relax,” she says out loud trying to convince herself. Plus, if she tells Julian or Adam, they will only think her anxiety is getting the best of her. “I’ll just handle it. I can figure this out.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Late Thursday morning.

  Chandra sits at her office desk shifting her gaze from one end to the other. She came in prepared to work, but there’s something out of place and she can’t figure out what it is. She opens her lap top. “Maybe writing will help me figure out what’s bothering me.”

  Staring at her screen, the words won’t come. She stands moving to the far wall. Now she has a bigger view of her desk and the window. “What the heck is bothering me?”

  She puffs out a breath. “I have to work.” Staring at her screen once more, she concentrates on her story. She manages to jot down a few sentences before she glances at the clock. She searches her phone for any missed calls or messages.

  She thinks of calling Adam or Jane, and telling them about the gift, but she doesn’t want anyone to know. She doesn’t want the press getting wind of this. Especially if it turns out to be nothing. Then she will really look like a crazy cat lady.

  Frowning, her finger hovers over the call button under Julian’s name. She presses the button, then quickly hangs up before the call goes through. “Stop, Chandra.” Scrolling through her list of contacts, she finds the front gate.

  “Security.”

  “This is Chandra Willis.”

  “Hey, this is George. What do you need Ms. Willis?”

  She cringes as she figures out a way to ask without giving to many details. “Um, by chance, did you guys see anyone around my mailbox yesterday evening, or my house?”

  “I wasn’t working yesterday. Let me check the log. Did something happen?”

  She pinches the bridge of her nose. “No. Not really. I had a note in my box. There isn’t a signature, so I was hoping someone might have seen something.”

  “There isn’t anything in the log. You know, a lot of people know who you are.”

  Her skin prickles. A burning sensation spreads as if she has just broken out in hives. “What do you mean, know who I am?”

  George chuckles into the phone. “You, being a famous author, have a lot of fans in this community. We’ve even had a few people trying to get through the gates to see you.”

  Chandra’s jaw hangs open. “I didn’t know that. You guys never told me any of this.”

  “There was nothing to tell. We stopped them.”

  “I think you should’ve told me people were trying to get in here. My safety is at stake.”

  “Listen. No one got in. Nothing….”

  Chandra cuts him off. “What about the other night? When I told you someone was in my yard? Maybe someone did get in and you didn’t know it.”

  “Ms. Willis, I’m positive no one has entered the community that wasn’t supposed to be here.”

  “Okay. Sure. Thanks.” She hangs up. “I can’t believe they never told me.” Sighing, she places her phone on the desk. “Theo, tell me what to do,” she says to the sleeping cat.

  He yawns, making no effort to move from his perch at the corner of her desk. He stretches, before curling into a tighter ball and covering his face with his front paws.

  Chandra squints at the cat. “How rude,” she says as she turns her attention back to her newest chapter. Four paragraphs are all she has managed to write. She peeks over at her phone. She reaches out, yanking her hand back before her fingers can grab it.

  The fear of this getting out in the news adds another layer of worry. What little privacy she thought she had living here, is slowly slipping between her fingers. All the media will need is a story about fans trying to get into her neighborhood.

  “Ugh, what am I doing?” She runs her fingers through her hair, tugging on the ends. “Sitting here doing nothing isn’t going to help.” Standing and stretching, she decides she needs to get a security company out here. The last thing she wants to do is call the guard gate again.

  As she turns to leave, she quickly looks at her desk. The picture of her mother is on the wrong side. She frowns, picking it up. “How did this get here?” She shakes her head. “I must be going insane.” She puts the frame back in the spot she normally keeps it. Heading towards the door, she looks back over her shoulder. “Hmm,” she says, shrugging. “I must have moved it when I cleaned my desk last time.”

  She heads to the kitchen for something to drink. Her stomach growls. “Food is always distracting. And soothing.”

  Opening the fridge, she grabs the Chinese takeout and dishes up a little of everything, leaving enough for dinner. “I really need to go to the store,” she says placing the cartons of food back in the fridge and removing a bottle of water. Checking her watch as the microwave time ticks down, her head bobs from side to side. “It’s eleven now, if I leave in an hour, I can get my shopping done before traffic gets bad.” A task she hates, now even more with the thought of people recognizing her.

  Balancing the water and her plate in one hand, she gets a fork from the drawer, placing everything on the table. Before sitting, she grabs a pad and pen from the counter.

  Theo waddles in, sniffing the air. Jumping up on the table, he sits directly across from her plate. His nose twitches as he ogles her.

  Chandra shakes her head. “You come running at the first sign of food, don’t you?”

  He reaches his paw out, touching the edge of the plate.

  She wiggles her finger at him. “Don’t even think about it.” She eyeballs him as she continues eating and making out her shopping list.

  Theo looks up with sad, droopy eyes.

  “That’s pathetic,” she says. “Here.” She places a few morsels in front of him. Watching as he wolfs it down. “You’re going to get fat.”

  Theo scowls, huffing at her remark, while glancing between her and the plate of food.

  Laughing, she gives him a few more pieces before finishing it off. As she’s loading the dishwasher, her security phone on the wall rings. “Hello?”

  “Ms. Willis? This is George from the front gate.”

  “Yes George, what can I do for you?”

  “I have a security company here. The driver said Lieutenant Drake sent him.”

  Chandra’s mouth twitches. She bites her bottom lip, resisting the urge to smile. “Okay, send them in.”

  “Will do.”

  “Oh, George?”

  “Yes, Ms. Willis?”

  “Can you put Lieutenant Drake down on my list of approved visitors?”

  “I can. He’s a regular visitor out here.”

  Chandra tilts her head. “I don’t understand. Why is he a regular visitor?”

  “One of his divisions covers this entire area. When we have any trouble, if it isn’t his men, he usually responds to the call.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” She hangs up the phone. “Why wouldn’t he tell me he comes out here regularly?” She pulls her phone from her jeans pocket.

  “Lieutenant Drake.”

  “Hey Julian, it’s Chandra.”

  “Chandra. Hi.”

  “Did you call a security company for me?”

  “Crap. I did. Is he there?”

  Chandra chuckles. “Yes. He should be driving up any minute.”

  “I’m sorry. I got really busy and forgot to call you after I set it up this morning. He’s going to put in a system for you. It won’t be expensive. Chad is a buddy of mine. I’ll come over later and check on you. Say around six?”

  “I look forward to seeing you. Thanks again for your help.” Chandra looks over her shoulder towards the so
und of her doorbell. “Hey, he’s at my door. I’ll text you when he’s done.”

  “Okay. We’ll talk later.”

  Sticking the phone back in her back pocket, she answers the door. “Hey. Are you Chad?”

  “Yeah. Chad Richardson.” He points in the direction of his van. “Richardson Security. Julian Drake asked me to come over.”

  She pulls open the door, waving him through. “Yes. I just spoke with him.”

  “He informed me you’re having some trouble. Says someone is harassing you and may have gotten into your home.” Chad pulls out a card from his tool bag. “This is the system I think will work best for you.” He hands her the card, moving to stand next to her. “I want to install flood lights with motion sensors, on all the corners of the house.”

  He points to another picture on the card. “The next thing I want to install are motion cameras. When triggered, they will automatically record. Those recordings will stay on the system for ninety days.” Chad steps off to the side. “You doing okay so far?”

  Chandra’s nervous laugh echoes in the quiet room. “So far? How much more is there?”

  Chad touches her shoulder. “One more thing. On the front door, windows, and mudroom entry point, along with the side door in the garage, I’m going to install some alarms. If those are triggered, they will alert the front gate. Bringing you help, immediately.”

  She nods. “I like it. How much is all this?”

  Chad smirks. “Five grand.” He waits a beat. He laughs at her wide-eyed expression. “Just kidding. Two thousand for the system. I’m installing it for free.”

  “I don’t think I can let you install it for free.” Chandra’s heart quickens. Moisture skims the palms of her hands. She wipes them on her jeans as she glances around her home.

  “No worries. I owe the Lieutenant a favor. This is how I’m paying him back.” Chad pulls out a tablet from his bag and begins punching in some information. “I’ll need to go in and out several times as I install the system. I have another worker with me in the van. He’ll be helping me.”

  Chandra sticks her hands in her pockets. “Fantastic. I’ll be in my office. I’ll keep my cat with me. I don’t want him to get out.” She points down the end of the hall. “Let me know when you need in there, and I will move.”