On The Edge (2 page)

“Yes ma'am.” Still chuckling, he made his way down the steep, wooden steps. It wasn't the nicest basement he'd ever been in, but not the worst, either. When he was a uniformed cop on the beat, he had the fortune—or misfortune—of helping apprehend a serial killer who'd kept body parts, in barrels, in his basement. The nutcase used bleach to clean up. To this day, Jake couldn't smell chlorine without remembering the stinking, rotten stench he and his partner had stumbled into. That was the worst basement he'd ever been in.

This one was dank and musty but, once he yanked the chain and the light came on, it looked fairly non-threatening. He checked the obvious places, finding little more than a mouse, and a few spiders. He'd keep that information to himself, he decided, and bring a few traps the next time he came around. Joss appeared shaken enough; he wasn't sure how she'd handle a mouse problem.

“That wasn't so bad,” he announced, when she met him at the top of the steps.

“Any lizards?”

“Not even a little one, I promise.” He dusted off his shirtsleeves and went to the sink, where he refilled his water glass.

“So you think I'm crazy.” She seemed sad.

I hate that.
“Of course I don't. I haven't heard anything, so I can't say what's going on. But I believe you, that something's not right.”

“That's putting it mildly.” Joss crossed her arms, and sighed.

Jake took another drink,
then
lowered his glass. “The noises only happen at night?”

“Yes.”

He inhaled, and let his breath out slowly. “I suppose I could set up a stake-out, get the chief to assign a couple of men—”

“Could you stay?” She moved closer to him. “I sort of trust you, after spending the last couple hours with you. I'd rather not have to get to know any more cops.”

“You, sort of, trust me,” he repeated, with a sly grin. “Sounds like high praise coming from a jittery woman.”

Her cheeks flushed pink. “I'm not jittery. I'm scared as hell, remember. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I've got to figure out what's going on here, and I can't do it by myself.”

“I'm going to help you,” he said quickly. He realized, at that moment, that he had no intention of turning her over to other officers. This was his case, and he wanted her to be his responsibility. “I'll stay tonight, if you're sure that's what you want.”

“I absolutely do.” She seemed relieved. “I can make you a bed in one of the guestrooms.”

“That won't be necessary.
Just a pot of coffee, if you have any.
I'll camp out on the sofa, and do a bit of wandering throughout the night.”

“I have coffee.” She nodded. “I don't have much to eat. I need to go to the store, but I haven't had the energy the last few days.”

“Do you like Chinese food?”

“Sure.”

“I'm going to run to the office, tie up a few loose ends, then stop by my place for a couple of things. I can pick up dinner on my way back, if you like.”

“That sounds perfect. You'll be back before dark?”

“For sure.
Six-thirty at the latest.
You'll be okay until I get back.”

Joss rubbed her arms again. “Thank you, Jake. I feel better already.”

He nodded, and stopped at the front door.
“Any special requests from our local Chinese joint, Wong Foo's?”

“I like Moo Shu.”

“Pork or chicken?”

“Surprise me.” She finally smiled. Her face lit up in a brilliant, twinkling glow.

It was as beautiful as he'd expected, and he grinned in return. With a quick wink, he squeezed her arm gently, and slipped out the door.

Chapter Two

When he returned with the food, he saw she'd set out plates, napkins and silverware on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

“I thought this would be more comfortable than the kitchen.” She ushered him to the sofa, and took a seat on one end. “Do you mind?”

“Not a bit. I'm all about comfort.” He kicked his shoes off and settled in, as she piled food on his plate. They made small talk while they ate—discussed books, movies, along with various likes and dislikes.

After dinner, Jake drank coffee. It'd been a while since he'd been on a stake-out, and usually he had his partner to talk to. Being alone would make it much more difficult to stay awake. Hopefully, the coffee would help.

Joss finished her tea,
then
they cleaned up the dinner dishes together. “Are you sure you don't want me to show you a guestroom?”

“
Nah,
thanks. I'm going to try not to sleep. Just go to bed. Lock yourself in, if you like. You might hear me wandering around. Call out if you're concerned, I'll let you know where I am. Hopefully, I can find the source of the noise.”

She pulled a blanket and pillow from a linen closet, and set them on the sofa. “You should try to sleep. You'll hear it when it starts; don't worry about sleeping through it.”

He smiled. “I just want to stay alert.”

She covered her mouth as she yawned, then she stretched.
“No chance of that here.
I'm beat.”

“Try to relax. I intend to figure this thing out.”

Joss nodded. “I'll try. Thanks, Jake. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” He watched her climb the stairs to her room on the second floor. Every step appeared to be an effort.
She must really be exhausted.
With any luck, he'd put an end to her worries soon.

He grabbed his overnight bag, pulled a few things out and headed to the first floor bathroom. Jake brushed his teeth then splashed water on his face. Rubbing his eyes, he looked at himself in the mirror. Shaggy brown hair curled over his ears and around his collar, begging for a trim. He worked long hours and rarely thought about his appearance. When he did think about it, barber shops were closed. The high priced clip joints in the mall were probably open, but he didn't worry enough about his hair to spend big bucks on it.

He
had
taken time to shave when he ran home earlier. After meeting Joss, he was suddenly thinking about the things he usually didn't bother with. Something about her interested him, and he wanted to get to know her better. She seemed dejected, which made him want to help her all the more.

When darkness fell he went on high alert, prepared for action if the strange noises started. The house was quiet as he slipped from room to room, looking for anything unusual. He didn't see, or hear, anything out of the ordinary.

The coffeepot was empty. Jake debated making more, when the grandfather clock in the hall struck two a.m. He didn't really want more coffee, just needed to close his eyes for a minute. The house was locked tight, he knew that. There was nothing more he could do, unless something happened. It was doubtful anything would. As he settled against the pillow on the sofa, he wondered what he'd say to Joss in the morning, if it was a quiet night. She'd probably be pissed that nothing happened while he was there, instead of being grateful for a good night's sleep. As much as he loved women, he knew that's how they thought. Chuckling, he closed his eyes.

The clock chimed four a.m. Jake stretched on the sofa. He hated clocks that sounded on the hour. Most people slept through the noise, but he never could. Just as the fourth knell sounded, he closed his eyes in search of more sleep.

Blaring sirens pealed through the house, followed by the roar of racing engines. Jake sprang from the sofa, fully awake, and ran for the stairs. The wails and revving sounds became almost unbearable as he reached the second floor. He covered his ears.
Which room are they coming from? And how could they be so blasted loud?

He threw open the door to the first bedroom but, before he could go in, Joss appeared in the hall. Her hands covered her ears, tears streaked her face. “Make it stop!” she screamed.

Torn between tracking the sounds and comforting her, his heart got the better of him. He reached for her, pulled her into his arms.
“Shhhh.
It'll be okay.” He nestled her face into his chest, so one of her ears was pressed against him. He covered the other with his hand. Bending to press his lips to the top of her head, he continued soothing her, hoping his voice was loud enough to be heard above the din. “Nothing's going to hurt you. I'm here, I've got you.”

Joss clung to him, her tiny body shaking. He wrapped his other arm tightly around her, and rocked back and forth. “It'll stop soon.” When he realized he didn't know how long the noises had lasted in the past, he added, “I hope.”

He heard her snicker, and thought it was a good sign. Maybe more humor was called for. “Ever wanted to be the flag waver at the Daytona 500?”

“No!” she yelled, as the house fell silent. “Oh! Sorry.”

Jake grinned, and turned her loose. “No problem. I won't be able to hear for awhile, anyway. Stay here. I need to look around.”

“Don't leave me!”

He squeezed her shoulders. “I'll be right back. Hang tight.” Jogging down the stairs, he checked all the doors, windows, even went into the cellar, but all was normal. Back upstairs, he went into each room searching for something—anything—unusual.

Joss was sitting on the edge of her bed when he returned.
“Anything?”

“No, damn it,” he muttered. “I need to keep looking around while the noise is blasting. Maybe next time I can track its source.”

She looked up at him.
“Next time?”

“Of course.”

Standing, she continued to look into his eyes. “That'll be tomorrow. It never happens twice in one night.”

He nodded.
“Tomorrow night, then.
I promised to help you out, and I meant it.”

“You're a good cop. But maybe what I need is a ghost buster.”

“I don't think so, Joss.” He took a step toward her. “I told you, I don't believe in ghosts. There's something fishy going on here. I'm pretty sure what you need is a cop.”

She touched the lapel of his button-down shirt. “I could use a friend, I know that much.”

He gazed at the beauty before him. She wore nothing but a short, soft cotton nightgown, which was tantalizingly sheer. “Joss,” he began,
then
hesitated. This was a bad idea. “I, uh, need to go downstairs.”

She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer. “I wish you'd stay. I really don't want to be alone.”

He nodded to a chair in the corner. “I'll sit over there until you fall asleep, if that'll help.”

“Jake,” she murmured. Her eyes were half-closed, unfocused, and she appeared groggy. “Kiss me.”

He moved her toward the bed. “I'm sure I'd enjoy that. But it's not going to happen when you're only half awake, and I'm on duty. Get some
sleep,
we'll talk in the morning.”

“But—”

“Sleep.”
He cut the protest off, settled her in bed, and drew the covers up over her. “I'll see you tomorrow.”

She sighed, snuggled in, and seemed to fall asleep instantly. He stood by the door watching her for a few minutes,
then
returned to the main floor. It was doubtful he'd get any more sleep, but he had to try. He'd need all his energy and his wits about him to figure this craziness out. But he'd figure it out.
I have to
.

* * * *

Jake stared at the living room ceiling. The grandfather clock, which didn't seem so noisy anymore, chimed nine a.m. He knew he should get up, but wasn't quite ready. He did some of his best thinking in the morning hours, when things were fresh.

Joss hadn't imagined the noise. It was as real as he was. There had to be a logical explanation for where it came from. Why was a different matter, and probably not so easily explained.

He'd work on one thing at a time.
First, the where.
They might have to tear the house apart to find the source. He'd start on that first thing.
No, second thing, after a shower.
He needed a morning shower to clear his head.
And breakfast
. He was hungry—could definitely eat. Tearing the house apart would be the third thing on his list of things to do, after a shower and breakfast. Jake smiled to himself, wondering if everyone divided their life into neat little lists like he did, or if he was a total nut. A game plan in mind, he tossed his legs over the side of the sofa and sat up.

Glancing around the room, he had a sudden thought. If I am a nut, I fit right into this house. The head of a buck stared at him from above the fireplace. A stuffed bobcat stood on the bricks next to the hearth. Several other animals were placed strategically around the room. He wasn't sure if they'd all been alive at some point, or if they were imitations, but he was sure they were flat out creepy. He liked animals as much as the next guy, but this was ridiculous.