Alana Candler, Marked for Murder (19 page)

Jaydn ran his fingers through his hair with vehemence. “I haven’t been staying at the house in Landeville. I’ve been staying at the company apartment so I could be close to the office.”

“That horrible place! Why in the world are you staying there?” She leaned over close to him and crooned into his ear. “I thought I told you to stay in my apartment if you needed to be closer to work.”

It was all he could do not to recoil from her touch. How in this world had he let this relationship progress this far?

His thoughts soared to the petite woman back at his apartment. Comparison was inevitable. The difference between the two women made him sick. Patricia was a fun-seeking, selfish, instantaneous type of person, while Alana was level-headed and stable—the word
permanent
kept stabbing at his brain.

When finally he realized Patricia was waiting for an answer, he pulled her hand away from his arm and walked to gaze out the small outside window. “Patricia, I don’t know if—”

“Jaydn,” she interrupted with a calculated lilt. “You promised to take me. After standing me up last night, I think it’s the least you can do. If I’ve heard you say it once, I’ve heard you say it a million times, you hate people who don’t keep their word.”

Jaydn rubbed his jaw ruefully. She was right. He’d have to take her to the banquet.

He’d call Alana and tell her he wouldn’t be home for the evening. If he left right after the award presentation, he might not be gone that long.

“All right, Patricia. What time do you want me to pick you up?”

The determination in her eyes softened, and she picked up her purse from his desk, triumphantly swaggering to the door. “About eight o’clock.” She turned when she reached the door. “By the way, wear your tux. It’s a formal affair.” She blew him a kiss and walked out the door.

Suddenly a cloud of gloom descended over his head, and he sank in the office chair—not interested in business any longer. He stared at the phone for a full minute, before picking up the receiver and dialing the police department in Landeville.

“May I please speak with Brad Candler?”

He waited wearily for Brad to pick up the phone. What a marvelous evening to look forward to: a stuffy dinner with ultra-ego personalities concerned about their appearance and nothing more. He tried to shake the downcast feeling that such a hollow evening would leave.

A more exciting evening was what he had been planning. An evening with Brad and Alana would be much more enjoyable. He rubbed his forehead. Why did time with her seem so important?

“This is Brad Candler.”

“Brad, this is Jaydn. I just wanted to let you know I won’t be at the apartment in Ross this evening until late. I wanted to spend the evening with you and Alana, but I had a previous engagement that was just brought to my attention.”

“Don’t worry about it, Jaydn. I need to spend some time with my sister, you know? She’s going through a lot, and she needs to know I’m watching out for her.”

“Listen, why don’t you plan on spending the night? We have several spare rooms, and it’ll keep you from having to drive back tonight.”

Brad’s laugh was genuine. “I’ll confess, I was hoping you’d ask. It’s a long road to drive that late at night. I was planning on staying in a hotel if you hadn’t asked. Are you sure your company won’t mind us being there?”

“Not at all.” Jaydn’s conscience pricked a little as he twisted the truth to suit his needs. “I told you, the apartment’s here for anyone with business in Ross. It’s fine.”

“Tell me how to get to the apartment. I haven’t been in downtown Ross in years.”

Jaydn had a sudden thought. “Hey, since you have to come through here anyway, why don’t you stop by my office and follow me there? That will be easier than trying to follow my directions.”

“That’s a good idea, Jaydn. I’d like to talk to the police chief in Ross anyway and see if he has new information about Alana’s apartment. I should be leaving here sometime after lunch. I’ll stop and talk to Chief Carlson, and then I’ll call when I’m close to your office. That okay?”

“Great. I’ll be waiting.”

Jaydn hung up the phone, then picked it up again and dialed the apartment number.

Naomi answered with a cheery, “Hello.”

“Hey, Naomi, can I speak with Alana for a minute?”

“She’s asleep, Jaydn. Do you want me to wake her up?”

“No.” Jaydn let out a relieved sigh. “I’ll be home a little after seven. Then I have to go out later. Tell Alana . . . Never mind. I’ll tell her myself when I get there. Just keep her happy for the day, okay?”

He hung up the phone and frowned.

You are a chicken, Jaydn Holbrook!

THIRTY-EIGHT

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, DEARIE
?”

Alana jumped and opened her eyes, trying to focus.

Naomi’s voice was quiet and comforting as she sat on the edge of the bed and touched Alana on the arm.

Alana rolled toward her and gazed up at her compassionate face. “I’m okay.” Even Alana could hear how sluggish her speech sounded.

Naomi patted her on the arm. “I’m sorry to wake you, but I was afraid if you slept any longer, you’d be up again tonight like you were last night.”

Alana propped herself on her elbows and looked at the kind woman. “How did you know?”

“Most young people your age don’t have dark circles under their eyes unless they miss a few nights of sleep.”

Alana blew out a troubled breath.

“Trust in the Lord, dearie. He’ll take care of you.”

Alana considered her with renewed surprise. “You’re a Christian, aren’t you?”

Naomi smiled her pleasure. “I gave myself to God forty-one years ago, and I haven’t had a single moment of regret.”

“I’ve been trying to trust Him, but it’s hard when I can’t understand why He’s allowing all these things to happen. What’s the purpose?”

“Does there have to be a purpose?”

Alana thought about that question for a minute before answering.

“I know we’re supposed to glorify God in all things, but how can someone trying to take my life glorify God?”

“It’s not God’s taking away the trouble that glorifies Him—it’s our praise of Him even in the midst of trouble. That’s what glorifies Him.”

Alana stored that thought in the back of her mind for future analysis. The wisdom of this woman made sense. How had Jaydn escaped believing in God’s existence when this woman influenced his life daily?

“Jaydn doesn’t believe God exists, does he?” Alana asked.

Naomi shook her head sadly. “He had a hard childhood, that one did. His father just about beat all the believing out of him. But, I’ve seen a change in the last couple of years. He’s mellowed some. I don’t think it would take too big of a push to get him moving in the right direction.” She looked at Alana with a smile on her face.

A deliciously spicy fragrance wafted into the room, and Alana sniffed the air.

Naomi stood up and glanced toward the door. “Are you hungry? I’ve been keeping lunch warm for you. You can come down anytime you get hungry.”

Alana looked at the clock on the wall beside the door. It was two o’clock. No wonder her stomach was doing flips, trying to get her attention.

“I’ll be right down, and thank you.”

Naomi patted her on the arm and, with a smile, walked out the door.

Alana gazed at the open doorway where Naomi exited and wondered if she would ever be as confident in her faith as the saintly woman who managed to calm her worries.

Thank you, Lord, for that encouragement!

To Alana, the rest of the afternoon seemed to drag. Just a few hours turned into what seemed like days. Too restless to watch a movie or read, she followed Naomi through the house helping with the housework until finally begging Naomi to let her help with supper.

“No, dearie. There’s nothing you can do. It’s all taken care of.” She looked at Alana’s frustrated features. “Now, let’s see. Jaydn said to keep you happy, and that means keeping you busy, right? Why don’t you go for a swim? There’s a pool for the apartment building out back, if you like to swim.”

When Naomi saw Alana frown, she quickly added, “Or, you could just watch the kids from the apartment’s day care as they swim. The owners bring them out to play in the water every afternoon.”

Alana thought for a minute and then smiled. “That might be fun.”

As Alana walked toward the pool area, she heard excited voices of children playing and loud splashes of water on cement. Crepe myrtle bushes full of red, pink, and white blooms hugged the chain link fence surrounding the pool.

She strolled through the open gate and found an unoccupied lounge chair. The chair, warmed by the sun, welcomed her, and she stretched out and relaxed. The antics of the children playing in the pool kept her entertained. She laughed aloud when an impish little boy drew both legs up as he jumped into the pool yelling, “Cannonball!” Water splashed up over both his teachers. Both of the ladies screamed and leaped away from the pool’s edge.

“Okay, Jimmy Lance, I guess that means you’re ready to get out of the pool,” said the younger of the two as she wiped her face with a towel.

Moans and groans from all the kids grew until the teachers had all the kids lined up and marching back to the building.

It was so peaceful by the pool that Alana stayed there after the children left. She wondered whether Brad would be arriving soon. Jaydn would surely be arriving before long; it had to be near suppertime.

The sparkling water invited Alana to dip her toes in its warmth. Swimming was something she had no interest in after nearly drowning, but dipping her feet in the clear water would be fun. Alana took off her sandals and sat down on the deep side of the pool, dangling her feet into the water. She smiled.

Sparkles reflected across the clear water—magnifying the turquoise patterns of the liner and making them sharp and clear.

Clouds overhead were lined with a deep red and orange hue that glittered in the fading sunlight. The sun hovered just above the trees forming a halo of white and yellow around each pine frond. She smiled and sighed with contentment. She was safe here, surrounded by beauty.

Then she looked at the water in the pool. Memories of water filling her lungs at the lake made her shiver.

She closed her eyes and prayed for peace and protection.

Footsteps sounded behind her. A smile began to spread across her face, sure it was Jaydn or her brother coming to greet her. She took her feet out of the water, preparing to stand and turn around. Before she could complete the action, strong hands hit her back and shoved her into the pool.

As she sank beneath the water, Alana fought the panic rising in her chest. Who had pushed her in? Was this some kind of cruel joke?

Struggling back to the surface, Alana could see a dark figure standing at the edge of the pool with a long pole—his face covered with a dark hood.

Horror froze her limbs until she realized she had to get away. Adrenaline gave her the energy she needed to strike out for the opposite end of the pool—to put distance between her and her attacker. If she could get out of the water on the other side of the pool, she could scream for help. Surely someone would hear her. Terror circled her like the fog in the mountains.

When she broke through the surface at a full swim, she felt something close over her head and push her back under water. She reached up to grapple with it, and her hands met metal and netting. Clawing and pushing with her hands, she tried to remove the stiff material from her head, but the person above her was jabbing the net harder onto her head, forcing her to the bottom of the pool. Her lungs begged for air as she fought to free herself. Hysteria rose in her throat and threatened to engulf her.

Lord, help me! Help!

THIRTY-NINE

JAYDN MET BRAD ON THE
street in front of his office and smiled.

“Hello, my friend,” he said as he shook Brad’s hand.

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

“Too long.”

“Yep.” Brad nodded. “Talking with you the other night brought back good memories, Jaydn. I really enjoyed the fun we had in school together. How did we let ourselves drift so far apart?”

Jaydn shrugged. “Going to different universities didn’t help. Then I guess we both got caught up in our jobs and responsibilities. It happens.”

Brad tilted his head and grinned. “Best I remember, you were the best quarterback the school ever had. I sort of figured you’d get a free ride to college on a football scholarship.”

“Nope,” said Jaydn proudly. “I ended up with a master’s degree in business administration.” His sheepish grin peeped out of his reddening face. “To be honest, the only reason I played football in high school in the first place was because of the cheerleaders.”

Brad laughed. “Yeah, you
were
pretty popular with the ladies.”

They both laughed, and Jaydn’s eyebrows rose in a teasing sort of way. “I remember a couple of interesting facts about you too—like you being named ‘King of the Wrestling Team.’ And, I think those toned muscles of yours seemed to draw a few flies of your own.” He rubbed his mouth with his hand, and Brad could tell he was hiding a grin.