Kevin paced in his apartment alternating between reading the pages his father had sent him and staring out into the darkness.
Heart Island was a quaint town during the day but it always seemed to him they rolled up the streets up after ten at night, and—he checked his watch—by three in the morning, there was nothing but silence and the dark.
Taking a break from his pacing, he leaned one arm against the window frame and peered over the deserted street below. He had read everything his father had sent, but things still didn't make sense to him. "We must be missing something elementary," he whispered to the night.
The chirp of his phone pulled his attention back into the room. Who would be texting him at this hour he wondered. Curious, he crossed to the small table that took up most of the kitchenette to find out.
"Interesting," he muttered as he read the screen. An unfamiliar number was highlighted, but no name. He paused, his thumb over the delete button, and sighed. Pressing the other button, he opened the text.
You are sticking your nose into business that isn't yours. Stop now before you get hurt.
"Making you nervous," Kevin said with a slight grin. He took a screenshot of the message and forwarded it on to Nate. He may not understand what was encoded in the documents his father had sent, but it was a safe bet was enough to spook whomever was behind the mystery.
Looking around his apartment, he decided before retiring for the night, he was going to take some kind of precaution. He dragged the kitchen chair over to his door and wedged the back under the knob. It wouldn't keep a determined intruder out, but he hoped it would at least slow someone down long enough for him to take a defensive position.
Shannon punched her pillow for what she thought had to be the thirtieth time before she rolled onto her side. The clock on the nightstand glared out the time in fluorescent green numbers, reminding her she should have been asleep hours ago.
And she would have been, she thought. If only the memory of the past few days wasn't replaying itself over and over.
Closing her eyes, she forced herself to think of happy things. Flowers, running on the beach, spending time with Kevin—
Shannon's eye flew open and she groaned. "How did that slip in? Thinking about him is not going to help me sleep." Pulling the covers up over her head, she closed her eyes and tried again. The thought of Kevin being at her side when she awoke in the hospital made her smile as her breathing slowed and she drifted to sleep.
The sound of an air horn from a passing boat outside woke Shannon. Peeking out from under the blankets, she scanned the room, and was startled at how bright it was. Squinting at the clock, she gasped. "Eleven? How did I sleep so long?" she muttered.
Deciding to forgo her normal routine, she quickly dressed in jeans and her favorite old sweatshirt, and pulled her hair back into a messy knot. In less than ten minutes, she was racing through her kitchen pausing only long enough to grab an apple from the bowl on the counter.
She settled into her desk chair and bit into the apple while she waited for her computer to come on line. As soon as the programs opened, Shannon checked her business email for any updates on her current contracts.
"This is odd," she said, hovering her mouse over an email from someone she didn't recognize. Deciding her virus protection program was updated enough to protect her, she clicked on the message. As the file opened, she let out a squeak and jumped back in her chair, knocking her apple to the floor.
With her eyes wide open and locked on the screen, she felt blindly for her phone. Her focus changed only long enough to ensure she had the right number. "Kevin? Can you call Nate and come over quickly? Please."
Fifteen minutes later, Kevin rushed into the computer room and grabbed her out of the chair, crushing her to his chest. "Are you okay?" he asked as he gently stroked her hair.
"I...I think so. It's just...this is so messed up," Shannon replied gripping on to his shoulders as tight as she could. "I don't know who did this. Or why."
Kevin maneuvered so he could look at the screen. "I think we've opened Pandora's box, Shan."
Three raps came from the door followed by the sound of heavy boots crossing the floor. "What's up?" Nate asked as he came into the room.
"I got a very disturbing email a little while ago," Shannon answered, gesturing toward the monitor.
Nate leaned over and let out a whistle. "You two are going to want to be careful. Somebody sends you pictures of yourself they've doctored so you appear to be fatally injured, I'd say they're making a serious threat."
"No question in my mind, Sheriff. After the car that nearly sent us over a cliff the other day, and then getting to spend a night in the hospital, I've gathered a fairly healthy appreciation for when I'm being threatened."
Nate stuck his thumbs through his belt loops and nodded. "I'd guess you are, Shannon. But the fact is, you're not the only one who got this kind of message last night."
Shannon's eyes flashed to Kevin, and he shrugged.
"Somebody sent me a text around three this morning that conveyed about the same message."
Shannon flopped back into the chair and wrapped her arms around herself as she started shaking. "Why are they doing this?" she asked, looking at the two men. "I mean, I know this is all about money, but why are they going after us?"
Nate stuck his hands in his pockets. "As best as I can tell, nobody else has given them any problem. It would seem you and your uncle were the only ones who held out against them. Now, you're here making waves looking into what's happening. I reckon they're just trying to save their investments. Since you didn't do what they figured you would, they're taking things up a level and targeting you."
"Up a level?" Kevin snapped. "The multiple vehicular assaults, breaking and entering, sending threatening messages is taking it up a level? Really, Nate?"
"Not saying what they're doing is right, Kevin. But that's how I'd guess they'd justify it."
"From where I'm standing, I'm seeing it a whole lot differently than you." Kevin reached over and put his hand on Shannon's shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze.
Shannon moved her hand up and clasped Kevin's. Taking a calming breath, she focused on the warmth and strength of the hand she held. Finally, she turned to Nate, "So, what should we do? Do we start carrying weapons of some sort?"
Nate sighed. "No, I wouldn't recommend that. But avoiding being alone as much as possible would be a good start. Be vigilant. My guess, and this is only a guess, is your stalker is watching you hoping you're going to cave and run. If you're astute, you might find out who it is and we can take some action. I've already got the lab working on figuring who sent the text to Kevin, so if you'll forward me your email, Shannon, I'll add that in. Maybe we can identify your friend that way."
Nodding, Shannon said, "I'll do it right away, Nate."
After Nate had left, Kevin wrapped his arms around Shannon. "We'll survive this, Shan."
"Easy to say," she sighed and leaned further into him. "But not so easy to convince myself."
"Together," he whispered. "We'll handle this together."
Shannon sat at a small table near the back of the diner; her eyes constantly scanned the faces at the other tables. Was it possible, she wondered, that one of these people—people she had known for years—could be the one responsible for what was happening to her and Kevin?
"You're lost in thought," Kevin said, pulling out the chair across from her. "Anything you want to talk about?"
She shrugged. "What's to say? Someone is making threats against us, and we don't have much to go on. Both of us have things to do, but according to Nate, we need to stick together as much as possible. Even if whoever it is doesn't manage to kill us, he's ruining our lives."
"He only wins if we let him. If we continue going about our daily lives and figure out who's behind this, then we win."
Shannon stared open mouthed at him. "Did you hit your head? How do we continue going about our daily life and keep each other safe?"
Kevin paused until the waitress had delivered their food on the table and headed for another table. "The way I see it, yes we have to make a few concessions. We start by getting you a set up in the clinic. Old Doc Carter had six patient rooms set up. After he retired and I took over, I made one into my office, three for exams and one for a file room. That means one is still left. It wouldn't take much to add a desk and computer for you. That way, you'd be able to do your work but you wouldn't be alone at home."
"I like my home," she protested.
"So do I, I mean my home, but until this is cleared up, I'm going to be camped out on your sofa. The only way we'll be able to solve this and stay safe is to watch each other's back."
"I suppose you're right, but it doesn't mean—"
Her head cocked to one side, "Kevin?" her voice was shaky.
"What's up?" Kevin asked.
"There's a man outside, not someone I recognize, who's staring at us."
"Can you describe him? I might know him, but if I turn he will likely bolt."
Shannon bit her bottom lip. "I'll try. He's maybe six feet tall, dirty blond or light brown hair. He seems to be well dressed. He's wearing a dress coat and slacks too fancy for casual wear."
Kevin sighed softly. "That could be literally half a dozen people I do know, and any number I don't."
"Use your phone," Shannon prompted. When he looked confused, she continued, "Hold it like you're checking a text, but turn it to the front facing camera."
Kevin followed her instructions and carefully manipulated his phone until the man outside came into view. "I don't recognize him either," he said after a moment. Quickly, he pressed the button and snapped a photo. "I figure this should help Nate track whoever it is down."
A shiver ran up Shannon's back. "I don't know what he wants, but he's freaking me out."
"I understand that," he replied and turned in his seat to stare at the man and pretended to dial his phone.
The man outside glared back at them for a full five seconds before he cocked his finger like a gun and pointed it at them and then walked off.
"I've already sent his picture and a quick message to Nate," Kevin said in a low voice.
"Why is it they are constantly doing things to keep me off balance?"
"They're bullies, Shan. They're most likely hoping if they keep pushing and threatening you, you'll give in and leave."
Shannon inhaled deeply, "Well, I guess they're going to be disappointed then aren't they?"
"Glad to hear it. Now, do you want dessert or should we take a stroll and try to find our friend?"
"I think both. Let's take that stroll now and work up an appetite for a fudge brownie."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Kevin said. He dropped a few bills on the table, took her hand and led Shannon to the sidewalk.
"Where should we start looking?" Shannon asked as she swiveled her head up and down the street.
Kevin stuck his hands in his pockets and took in the street. "When our friend noticed we'd pick up on him, he headed west. So why don't we head that way for now? Maybe something will catch our attention?"
"This is as good as any other direction, I guess," she said. When Kevin's arm came around her waist, she smiled and leaned into him. She wasn't sure she was strong enough to fight on her own, but being with Kevin made her feel safe. And right now, she decided, that was about as close as she was likely to come to safe until whoever was behind things was stopped.
Kevin scanned the storefronts and the parked cars as they made their way up the street. To a casual observer, they should appear like a happy couple simply taking a midday stroll. He reasoned the mysterious man from in front of the diner would be expecting them to run.
A flash to his left caught his attention.
Parked along the side of the road was a gray Mercedes sedan with heavily tinted windows. The flash was the window going up.
"Shannon," he said softly as he let his gaze turn away from the car. "Don't look directly, but across the street, the gray car," he nodded his head toward a plate glass shop window that reflected the scene. "Someone is in it and just put the window up when we got close."
He could feel her tense at his words, and hated what this unknown person was doing to her.
"Interesting," Shannon said quietly. "Check out the license plate. He's not from here."
Kevin squinted at the reflection in the window. "I can't make it out, but you appear to be right. I'm certain the plate is not from Massachusetts."
"Looks like a Pennsylvania plate." She pivoted slightly hoping for a better view of the car. "What do you think the odds of us getting a picture of the plate are?"
Kevin scanned the area. They were now close to the small park. "I'll tell you what, why don't you stand by the statue over here, and I'll take your picture. With a little luck we should be able to catch our friend in the background as well."
"I like the way you think," she rose up on her toes to kiss his cheek.
Kevin smiled as she nearly skipped to the stone figurine and threw her arms out like a dancer. He used his phone again, and snapped several shots, smiling to himself that at least half of them actually had Shannon as the central focal point.
When he was done, he decided to have a little fun with whoever was in the car, and he waved.
The Mercedes' engine roared to life and the car squealed its tires as it sped down the street. It took the first left turn and headed south out of town. "Now what?" Shannon asked.
Kevin glanced up from his phone. "I think we need to have a face to face talk with Nate."