Touch of Death (3 page)

“And how did she seem to you? Was she slurring her words at all or moving any slower than usual?” He stopped writing and studied my face.

“Not that I noticed. She seemed fine.”

“Did you go straight to class after that?”

“Well, I had to get a late pass from Mrs. Thompson first. Then, I went to class.”

“Did you walk past the nurse’s office on your way to class?” He was staring so intently at me that I swallowed hard. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but he was making me feel like I had.

“Yes.”

“Did you look into the office as you passed by?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?” He leaned over the desk. “This is very important, Miss Marshall. Did you look into the nurse’s office and notice anything strange?”

“No.” The word was barely a whisper. “Why? Did someone do something to her?”

“I can’t say.” He stood up, glaring down at me. “But my instincts are telling me that Ms. Steingall was already dead when you walked by her office.”

The hair on my arms stood on end. I had to get out of there. “May I go now?”

He pointed toward the door. I didn’t hesitate. I scooped my books in my arms and rushed out of there as fast as I could without looking too suspicious. I didn’t know where I was going or if the lockdown was over. My legs were moving on their own, without any direction from me. I turned the corner and saw Green Eyes. What was he doing out of class? He was leaning against the lockers with his cell phone in his hand like he’d just finished texting someone. When he saw me, he flipped his phone shut and shoved it in his pocket. He pushed off the lockers and started toward me.

I lowered my head and turned down the next hall. I was practically power-walking, his footsteps quickening behind me. I started to run when a door opened in front of me.

“Jodi, hey,” Matt said. “What’s the rush?” He grabbed my arm, and my books toppled to the ground. “Sorry.” He bent down to pick them up.

I turned and looked for Green Eyes, but the hallway was filling up with students. The lockdown was over.

“Are you all right?” Matt asked, handing me my books.

“Yeah. Rough morning. I hit a deer with my car and then—”

“You hit a deer? Are you okay?” He grabbed my arms and looked me in the eyes.

“I’ll be better once everyone stops asking me that.” I smiled at him. His beautiful brown eyes and warm smile instantly calmed me.

“Did you hear they’re letting us go home early?” He walked me to my locker.

“Really?” Nothing would’ve made me happier than going home and pretending this nightmare of a day had never happened.

“Yeah, some emergency with the school nurse or something. I don’t really know all the details. But the buses have been called, and we’ve been dismissed for the day.”

“Ugh, the bus. I have to take the bus because my car was towed.”

“I’ll give you a ride. We can even grab lunch.”

I didn’t exactly feel like eating after all I’d been through, but I couldn’t say no to Matt. We’d just started dating, and we hadn’t even kissed yet. He was the sweetest guy I’d ever met,
and
a total gentleman. Sometimes a little too much of a gentleman. “Sounds great.”

I put my books in my locker and followed Matt to his car. He drove a blue Mustang. It wasn’t new, but it was gorgeous. I had always had a thing for Mustangs. Plus, it was way better than my Civic. I was starting to feel better by the time we pulled out of the parking lot. Then, I saw Green Eyes. He was in a gray boat of a car, tapping his finger against the steering wheel like he was waiting for something—or someone. I had a sinking feeling I knew who that someone was. As Matt turned onto the main road, Green Eyes followed.

I tried to stay calm. I mean, Matt was with me, and he was bigger than Green Eyes. I didn’t have anything to worry about. Only, I was still worried.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Huh? Oh, I don’t care. Wherever you want to go is fine.”

“I’m strangely in the mood for venison.”

I thought of the deer from this morning and turned toward Matt in horror. He flashed me a smile and laughed. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Besides, you said you wanted people to stop asking if you’re okay.”

“So, you thought you’d make fun of me instead.” If it were anyone else, I probably would’ve gotten at least a little mad. But it was Matt, and he could do no wrong in my eyes.

“How about Alberto’s?”

“My favorite,” I said.

Matt reached his hand over and laced his fingers through mine. Yes, my day was starting to get a whole lot better. I even forgot about Green Eyes.

We got a table in the corner. My stomach didn’t feel like it could handle much, so I ordered a plain bagel and a vanilla milkshake. Matt ordered a foot-long sub and ate every bite.

“Where do you put it all?” I asked as he swallowed the last of his sandwich.

“Good metabolism runs in my family.” He pointed to my half-eaten bagel. “Do you always eat so little?”

“No, I have a pretty good appetite most of the time.” I cringed. I’d dated a few guys, but I still wasn’t sure where they stood on the whole girls and food issue. Did they want us to have good appetites?

“Okay, I know I’m not supposed to ask, but your day’s been kind of—”

“Crappy? Yeah.” I smiled at him. “But it’s getting better.”

The bell above the door jingled, drawing my attention. Green Eyes walked in, scanning the restaurant.

“Do you know that guy?” I asked Matt, nodding toward the door.

Matt turned slightly to look without being obvious. “No. Do you?”

“He was in my English lit class today, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.”

“Maybe he’s a transfer.”

“Maybe.” I sipped my milkshake. “He likes to stare.”

“At you?” Matt glanced at him again. “Is he bothering you?”

I put my milkshake down. “No, not really. I’m probably imagining it. My mind’s been a little crazy since the accident.”

“Come on, I’ll take you home. You look like you need some rest.” He grabbed our trash and headed for the garbage.

I got my coat, my gaze wandering over to Green Eyes. He was still standing by the door, but now he was texting. We were going to have to walk right past him. Matt helped me put my coat on and gave me his arm. I squeezed his well-toned bicep. He couldn’t get more perfect. We walked to the door, and Matt opened it for me. He nodded at Green Eyes. It was only a nod, but it spoke volumes. Matt was letting Green Eyes know I was with him. Part of me wanted to spin around and kiss him right there. But I kind of wanted our first kiss to be more special than in the doorway of Alberto’s with Green Eyes staring at us.

Matt opened the car door for me. “You’re right. He
does
like to stare at you.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Not that I can blame him.”

He drove me to my house and parked in the driveway. My banged-up car was sitting there looking pathetic. Who knew how long it would be before we had enough money to have it fixed? Matt turned in his seat so he was facing me. “Thanks for going to lunch with me. I know you weren’t really feeling up to it.”

My heart raced even though I was only sitting there. “I had fun.” I was too nervous to think of anything better to say. It was silly. I’d kissed guys before, but Matt was different. He was sweet and funny and perfect.

“I don’t believe it.” Matt sounded really annoyed. He was looking past me, out the window.

“What?” I spun around to see what he was staring at. Green Eyes was standing between the trees by the side of my house. “Did he follow us?”

“Go inside and lock the door. I’m going to have a little talk with this guy.” Matt got out of the car and came to get my door. He opened it and helped me out. He kissed my forehead again and nodded toward the front door. I went inside, locking the door behind me. I didn’t know if Green Eyes was a real threat or not, but with the way my day was going, I wasn’t taking any chances.

I went to the living room window and peered through the curtains. Matt and Green Eyes were talking. Matt didn’t look happy, but Green Eyes was smirking. Then, he snapped. He shoved Matt. I ran for the door, not having a clue how I was going to help. I couldn’t break up a fight between two guys who were much bigger than me. My five-foot-four frame was no match for either of them. Still, I flung the door open and ran outside.

“Matt!”

Green Eyes froze when he saw me. Matt swung at Green Eyes, who dodged the hit, stumbling backward.

“Stay away from her! If I see you around her again, I’ll call the cops.”

I grabbed Matt’s arm and pulled him toward the house. He came with me willingly. Green Eyes watched us go, but he didn’t leave. Matt locked the door behind us and went to the window. “What the hell is he doing?”

I joined Matt at the window. Green Eyes stared back at me. I didn’t know what I’d done to make this guy stalk me like this. All I knew was I was really freaked out.

Chapter 3

“You need to call the cops.” Matt said. “He’s not going to leave on his own.” He turned away from the window. “Jodi? Are you listening to me?”

I started laughing. I felt like a lunatic, but I couldn’t help it.

Matt hugged me, somehow understanding that I was falling apart. I squeezed him until I was calm.

“Thanks.” I stepped out of his arms and reached for the phone. I dialed 911. I’d never actually called the police before and couldn’t believe I had a reason to now.

“911. What is your emergency?”

“Hi, this is Jodi Marshall. Um, this guy has been following me all day. He followed me home and attacked my boyfriend. He’s standing outside my house, and he won’t leave.” I pushed the curtains back. Green Eyes was gone. “Where is he?”

“Excuse me?” the operator asked.

“He’s gone. I don’t see him anymore.”

“Would you like me to send an officer out to your house?”

“I don’t know. I guess. I mean, I don’t know if he really left or if he’s hiding in the bushes or something.”

“What’s your address?”

“118 Pine Street.”

“I’ll send someone out now. Please, stay in your house with the doors locked until an officer gets there.”

I hung up. Matt hugged me again. I wished I could stay in his arms all the time. I felt safe there. I made us some iced tea and popcorn—Matt was hungry again—and we watched TV until the police arrived. I wasn’t really watching; I couldn’t focus on anything except the lunatic outside. I answered the door, half expecting to see Officer Adams. That would’ve been the perfect ending to my perfectly awful day. It was a woman standing on my porch.

“Are you,” she consulted her notebook, “Jodi Marshall?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“And you called about a stalker?”

Stalker? It sounded so awful, but Green Eyes was stalking me. “Um, yeah. Come in.”

“Actually, I prefer to stay out here. You reported that the man was watching you from your yard, correct?” she asked, without even telling me her name.

“Yes, but he’s gone now. I think.” I leaned out, searching the yard.

“Do you know the man?”

“No, and he’s not really a man. He’s a student… at my school. Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before today, but he was in my English lit class. And he’s been following me ever since.”

Matt put his hand on my shoulders for support. The officer looked at him. “Who’s he? Your boyfriend?”

“Yes.” I felt my cheeks blush. We hadn’t officially started calling each other that yet, but this was the second time today it had come up. Matt squeezed my shoulder, letting me know he was okay with it.

“Did you see this guy?”

“Yeah.” Matt nodded. “He was here when I brought Jodi home. I told Jodi to go inside and lock the doors, and I went to talk to him. He got all cocky and said he hadn’t done anything wrong. I told him stalking a girl and totally freaking her out was definitely doing something wrong. Then, he attacked me. He pushed me, and we got into a fight.”

“Have you seen him before?”

“No. Never.”

She took out a notebook and pen. “Can you describe him?”

“Dirty blonde hair, green eyes, about six feet—maybe a little shorter.” I shrugged.

“Build?” she asked.

“He wasn’t that muscular, or at least I couldn’t tell from the clothes he was wearing. But he looked like he was in pretty good shape.” I shook my head, trying to get the image of Green Eyes out of my head.

“Any distinguishing marks, tattoos?”

I shook my head and checked with Matt. “Not that I saw,” he said.

She flipped her notebook closed and stuffed it in her jacket pocket. “Okay, well, I’ll check the area and keep a car here tonight to make sure you’re safe. If I were you, I’d ask around at school tomorrow. See if anyone knows who this guy is. If you get a name, you call me.” She handed me a card and left.

I closed the door behind her. Matt put his arm around me and led me to the couch. He pulled me closer to him, and I breathed in his scent. I wanted to get lost in him and forget about the rest of my day, but since we had never officially done anything, that was a little tough. I tilted my head back and looked him in the eye. He stared back at me for a minute before leaning his face toward mine. I closed my eyes and reached my hand to his cheek.