Some Day Somebody (49 page)

“You’re very welcome, Ms.
Jeansonne
. We’ll get this guy.”

By nine-thirty, the twins sat in Sam’s truck, waiting for Carrie.

Sam pulled her to the back of the truck for a talk. “I hate the idea of you going over there without me.”

She placed her hand on his face to calm him. “I’ll be fine, Sam. I’m going straight to Dave’s, and then coming back here. No pit stops, I promise. I feel like I need to do this alone. It’s like getting back on a horse when you fall off, you know?”

Sam frowned but gave her a hug, anyway. “I understand, but I don’t have to like it. I won’t relax until you’re back.”

When Carrie turned Sam’s truck down the driveway of her old home, Dave and Grant came out to meet them. Carrie stepped down from the truck and hugged her son tightly.

“This really sucks, Mom,” he said.

“I know, but they’ll get this guy.” She gave her girls hugs. “Ya’ll go on in the house now, please. I need to talk to your dad.”

Dave waited until their children were inside before speaking. “Do the twins know about the plan tonight?”

“No, I don’t want them to worry.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “When I think about him walking around my home with our kids in it...”

Dave nodded. “I know, I’m sick about it too, but they’re fine. Listen, Carrie, I want to apologize to you again for acting the ass those other times. I’m the last person to be pointing the finger at you for anything, especially since we’re divorced now.” He leaned an elbow on Sam’s truck and crossed one booted foot over the other. “I got the scoop on you and Sam last night at the club in Gardiner.”

“Yeah...who from?”

“Your brother, Mack, was there performing with their band.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “He let me have it pretty good.”

Carrie kept her silence as Dave told her how Mack had come to her defense as well as Sam’s. She watched as he ran his hands through his thick hair.

“He said he’s a real nice guy and he makes you happy, so who am I to complain.”

She nodded slowly as her brow furrowed in concentration. “That’s good to know, but what else is going on here?”

He gave her what she was sure he
thought
was an innocent look. “What do you mean?”

Her smile broadened. “I mean, I know you like the back of my hand, David James
Jeansonne
. You’ve met somebody else.”

Dave’s eyes widened. “Who’d you talk to?”

Carrie’s laughter rang out. “I didn’t talk to anyone. I just know you too well, that’s all.”

He swore under his breath. “I guess you do, at that. Yeah...” he said sheepishly. “I have met someone.”

“Does she know what a jerk you are?”

“Yeah, and she likes me anyway.”

Carrie laughed and gave him a quick nod of approval. “Good, I’m glad.”

“Why, because I’ll quit bugging you now?”

“Of course,” she told him then cringed as he laughed
that
laugh, the one she’d grown to hate over the years. She shook it off and scanned the area. “Where is he, Dave? I really need to go home and get things ready.”

Dave whistled and called to his dog. Lucas lumbered in from a nearby field behind the house. He ran to his mistress when he saw her, his tail wagging in excitement. She leaned over to rub his ears and the scruff of his neck. “Hey buddy, I’ve got a job for you. Think you can handle it?” Lucas groaned with pleasure at having her around to show him affection again.

“He can handle it. Do you remember his commands?”

“Yep.”

“Make sure you’re around when anyone new shows up so he doesn’t try to eat `
em
, okay?” He lowered the tailgate and told Lucas to jump in. “Good luck Carrie, and be careful.”

Carrie slipped in behind the steering wheel of Sam’s truck and buckled her seatbelt.

“I almost forgot, let me get his toy.” He came back a minute later with the brown leather welder’s glove, stuffed with feathers and sewn shut. He threw it in the back of the truck and Lucas jumped after it. Carrie grinned at the sight of the dog with the stuffed glove in his mouth. She could certainly see why unsuspecting drivers and passengers of other cars sometimes thought it was a real arm.

Dave pointed to the truck bed. “Sit, Lucas...and stay.” He ducked his head to look inside Carrie’s window. “Did you ever get your car window fixed?”

She nodded. “I got it fixed at a place in Kenton.”

He hung his head. “It won’t happen again.” He took a deep breath and gave a nod of his head toward the dog. “Keep him in practice for me, will you?”

“I will...and thanks.” She put on her sunglasses and started the truck.

“You’re welcome. Good luck with everything.” After a pause, he continued. “It might be nice to be friends with you again.”

She flashed him a big grin. “It’s a possibility if you keep acting like an adult.”

Dave pursed his lips and stared off toward the house. “Damn, I hate that you’re always right.” He leveled a serious gaze on her. “Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

Carrie shrugged. “It doesn’t seem to matter. Nobody ever listens to me, anyway.” She shifted the truck into reverse and slowly backed away from him. She cringed as Dave put his head back and laughed. “I hate that laugh, you know.”

“You do?”

“Yep...For years now.”
When Dave laughed again, Carrie grinned at him. “See you later, asshole.”

Carrie parked Sam’s truck in her driveway and lowered the tailgate to let Lucas out. While he was getting used to the yard she called Sam and Nick to come over. She met them outside. “Come on back here guys, so I can introduce you to the other family pet.” As soon as they approached the gate, the large dog barreled up to them, growling at the two strange men standing near his mistress. “
It’s
okay boy, they’re the good guys.” She scratched his head and he immediately calmed down. “Come here and get acquainted with him, guys.”

“I don’t know about that. That’s the biggest freaking dog I’ve ever seen,” Nick said.

“He’s near the top of my list,” Sam commented as he reached out slowly to let Lucas sniff his hand. “Look at that head on him and the size of those paws.”

“I’m too busy looking at his teeth,” Nick said.

Carrie waved him over. “Come on over here, Nick. He needs to be able to recognize friend from foe.”

Within ten minutes, Sam and Nick were petting Lucas like he was an old friend. The dog groaned with pleasure, enjoying the attention. Carrie tossed the stuffed arm to Nick as Lucas wagged his tail expectantly. “Throw it for him, Nick. He’ll retrieve all day as long as he’s cool.”

Sam and Carrie left Nick in the back yard with the dog and walked inside. Sam made one phone call to the police department, and within minutes, Kenton police officers started showing up in unmarked vehicles. Carrie made sure she was present for all arrivals of officers, detectives, patrolmen, and even a few curious Sheriff’s deputies. She laughed at Lucas, who was clearly enjoying all the unaccustomed attention.

CHAPTER 22

Around seven o’clock
Carrie called Lucas to the back porch, and told him to
sit
and
stay
. She entered her kitchen and peeked through the blind, comforted by the sight of him, then made adjustments to her blinds.

Carrie showered, her vanity chair jammed securely under the door knob for security. After changing into her pajamas, she prepared a ham sandwich and ate her supper while watching television. By nine p.m. she could almost feel the change in the atmosphere. She forced herself to walk up to the window on the northeast corner of the house, and peek out toward the street.
He’s out there.
The street lamp kept part of the area lit up, but a broad patch between the window and the ditch was black as India ink. Prickles of warning caused the hair to stand up on the back of her neck, in turn creating a series of shivers.

She ignored the nausea caused by her nervous stomach and picked up her phone.
“Hey, Sam.”

“Hey, Carrie,” the deep voice resounded over the line.

“Listen, I’m tired and I’m not feeling all that well. I’m going to take something to sleep and go to bed early. Poor Toto, I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

“Yeah, but you had to expect that with a dog that age.”

“I know, and those damn heart worms, I guess the excitement of a new place was too much for him.”

“I guess so, Carrie. You sure you’re okay?”

“Oh, yeah.
I’ll be fine now that I have my phone back. The phone company said it was faulty wiring.”

I sure hope they replaced it with a better quality.”

“They said they did. You want to come over for breakfast in the morning?”

“I’ll be there.”

“Good, I’ll see you then...Goodnight Sam.”

***

He watched through small slits in her blinds as she walked around her house. By some twist of fate or fortune, they weren’t shut tight tonight. She walked right up to the window and stared out onto the street. No way could she see him in the inky black cover of the winter night. The thick cloud coverage obliterated any chance of moonlight illumination. It was the perfect night to take Carrie away from this place...away from
him
.

He listened in to her call with Sam, able to hear both ends of the conversation clearly with the wireless device he’d acquired the other day. As simple as this mission was, he had no need for anything more high tech than this.

She ended the call and popped what looked like some kind of sleep aid medication before disappearing into her bedroom. No Sam, no kids, no shaggy, white mutt to blow it for him, and
she’s drugging herself. A frown tugged at his mouth. No challenge at all, actually a little too easy for his taste. He’d watch her sleep first. Play the game for a while before he let his urges overcome his will power. Only then, would he allow himself to touch...to control...
to possess.
Tonight’s the night.