Chapter Thirty-Six
Jade was going stir crazy. She'd been at Trudy’s only two days and already she was itching to get out of the house. She wanted to stroll around the Farmer’s Market and pick out fresh vegetables, or shop at the boutiques in Fountain Square. Anything to get out in the fresh air.
Logan had forbidden it, of course. Although an agent from his office sat downstairs watching television, he didn’t want her leaving unless he could go with her.
Bella and Fiji were staying with them today. A flu epidemic broke out at her day care and Logan didn’t want her catching the bug so he kept her home. Jade was glad—it gave her time to play with the little girl. They'd already had a tea party and even Ed, her bodyguard of the day, joined in. Isabella rolled on the floor laughing when he picked up a dainty plastic cup, stuck his pinky out and pretended to sip the invisible brew.
Jade called her parents first thing in the morning and sent them on a Caribbean cruise. Trudy had graciously offered to book the tickets in her name so the stalker wouldn’t be able to trace their whereabouts, just in case. Jade insisted on paying her back. Her parents had been terrified for her when she explained why she wanted them to go away, although she left out most of the details including the murders. They knew Kyle, Sid and Nora had passed away, but they thought the deaths were the result of accidents, not a demented fan. She assured them she was in good hands and promised to check with them regularly.
Jade glanced outside and saw a brown delivery truck pull into the driveway. It must be the script Randolph promised her. She'd called him from Logan's house before she left and given him Trudy's address so he could send the package. She glanced around. She had strict orders not to open the door for anyone at any time but Trudy was putting Bella down for a nap and Ed was nowhere to be seen. He must have run to the bathroom.
What would it hurt to accept the package from an overnight courier? She was expecting it so it wasn’t like it was a surprise. She whipped open the door before the man could ring the bell, catching him by surprise.
“Ms. LaRue?”
She forgot to ask Randolph to address the envelope to her real name. The young deliveryman tried not to gawk but he obviously didn’t think the woman standing in front of him and the movie star could possibly be the same person. He probably thought they just shared the name.
“Yes.” She signed his electronic clipboard and accepted the package. He bid her good day and ambled off. Jade ripped open the package and stared at the script. This could be her first starring role, the break she'd waited for her entire career.
“Attraction Overruled” was a legal comedy, along the lines of “Legally Blonde,” and she knew how Reese Witherspoon must have felt when she read the script. The lure of star billing and the opportunity to carry her first movie were euphoric.
Bark, bark.
Jade was so caught up in the possibilities, she didn’t realize she was standing in the open doorway until it was too late. Fiji shot through the space like a fired bullet and took a flying leap off the porch.
“Fiji!” She tossed the script and bolted after Bella’s beloved pooch.
“Ms. LaRossa, don’t go out there,” Ed hollered from behind her.
Jade didn’t pause. She kept Fiji in her sights and when he stopped to do his business on a rose bush across the street, Jade made her move. She dove for the puppy as he wiped his paws on the lawn, kicking up grass. The dog yelped at having his exploring plans thwarted, but his tongue darted out and swiped Jade on the cheek. She looked at the little white poodle, his mouth open in a doggie smile, and couldn’t help but laugh. She pushed to her feet with Fiji in her arms and started back to Trudy’s house. She was crooning softly to the dog as she crossed the road and didn’t hear the car gunning the engine or notice how it picked up speed as it roared towards her.
“Look out,” Ed yelled seconds before he slammed into her. Jade screamed as she went flying sideways. She managed to twist and land so she didn’t crush the small dog.
She heard a sickening thump and turned to look for Ed. He was lying on the concrete, his arm at an odd angle, blood pooling around his head.
Oh, no! He'd been hit by the car saving her life.
Jade raced to his side, Fiji tucked safely under her arm. A revving engine sounded and she looked up to see tail lights coming her way. Jade was afraid to move Ed for fear of doing more damage. Two shots rang out and Jade froze, waiting for the searing pain. Tires squealed, the stench of burning rubber assaulting her nose. The car sped away.
Trudy was chasing it with her .38 special.
Jade slumped. She hadn’t been shot. But Ed was seriously injured. She dropped down beside him again, his low moan bringing tears to her eyes.
“I’ve called an ambulance,” Trudy said as she bent down and brushed the hair off the young man’s face. “Take this and run back to the house. Lock the door and set the alarm. I’ve scared him away for now but no telling if he'll be back or not.”
“I can’t leave Ed.”
“Go, now. Bella is alone. I don’t want her waking up and stumbling out here.”
That was plenty of incentive for Jade to take Trudy’s advice and race back to the house. She slammed the door behind her and bolted it. Fiji whimpered. “Sorry,” she mumbled to the dog crushed under her arm and placed him on the floor. He scampered upstairs to find Bella.
Jade grabbed the phone and punched in Logan’s private number. He answered on the first ring.
“Ed’s been hit by a car. The ambulance is on the way and Trudy's with him. Oh Logan, it’s my fault.” She quickly told him what happened and cringed, waiting for his verbal tirade. She wasn’t disappointed.
“What part of do not open the door don’t you understand?”
“Do you think you could yell at me later? I’m still shaking.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Logan promised. “There'll be plenty of yelling, I can guarantee you that.”
She didn’t doubt him one bit.
He hung up, assuring her he was on the way. Jade watched through the window as the medics loaded Ed on a stretcher and slid him into the ambulance. She said a prayer that he would be okay. Mrs. Edison was having an animated conversation with a policeman who appeared on the scene. He was scribbling frantically on a notepad and nodding. Finally they headed back to the house and Jade waited until they were on the porch before she shot the bolt and swung open the door. “How's Ed?”
“They're taking him to the hospital right now, ma’am. We don’t know the condition except that he is alive.”
She answered the cop’s questions, explaining exactly what happened. Footsteps sounded on the porch and Logan breezed in the door, followed by Luke and Detective Hurley. She went over the entire story again on autopilot.
“Did you get the make or model of the car?” Luke asked.
“It happened so fast,” Jade explained. “The only thing I know is that it was a dark color, black, brown, I’m not sure. And the windows were tinted.”
“Dark green Taurus, four door, dent in right rear fender, Disneyworld sticker on the left and Jade was right, the windows were tinted.” Trudy rattled off the license number and Detective Hurley pulled out a phone to run the plate.
Jade stared with awe at the older woman.
“What? I have two private eyes in the family. Something had to rub off.” She winked.
“How did he find me?” Jade asked.
“You said you opened the door for a package you were expecting,” Luke said. “Where was the package from and who was it addressed to?”
“It was sent from MegaPics, the movie studio, and it was addressed to me.”
“To Jade or Juliet?” Logan questioned.
“I meant to have it sent to Jade LaRossa, but it was addressed to Juliet LaRue.”
“I think it’s time we thought about putting you in a safe house,” Detective Hurley advised.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Luke said. “The safest house would be Logan’s.”
Logan shot his partner a murderous glare.
“Think about it,” Luke continued nonplussed. “You have top of the line, state of the art security not even a master thief could breach. Plus two live-in bodyguards.”
“My daughter,” Logan added meaningfully.
“I would never impose,” Jade said quietly. “If Detective Hurley can’t find a safe house, I will just go back to California and take my chances there.”
“Where you would be a sitting duck?” Logan scoffed. “I don’t think so.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Luke’s right. My house would be the safest place.”
“I don’t want to endanger Bella.”
“We'll sneak you in and as long as you don’t do anything stupid like giving out the address or standing in an open doorway, we can keep you safe until the stalker is located.”
Jade recoiled. Although everything Logan said was accurate, the truth still hurt.
“You're coming too, Aunt Trudy.”
“I will not have some crazy person running me out of my home.”
“But he knows the house now,” Luke rationalized. “You can’t stay here by yourself.”
“Of course I can,” Trudy said. “If he's still watching this house, he'll give up soon when he realizes Jade isn’t here.”
“Aunt Trudy, I insist.”
“And I just as firmly decline,” Trudy said in a stern tone. “Take Jade and get her settled at your place.”
Detective Hurley’s phone rang and he excused himself to answer it.
“Aunt Trudy—”
“Don’t try to change my mind, Logan. I'm staying here and that’s final.”
“I’m going to put another agent outside to watch your place,” Luke informed her.
“Does the name M.J. Kint mean anything to you?” Detective Hurley asked Jade as he strode back into the room.
Jade shook her head.
“The car was registered to that name. I’ve got a search going right now.”
Logan, Luke and Detective Hurley put their heads together and spoke in low tones. Jade climbed the stairs and began loading her suitcase again. How had her life spiraled so out of control?
She glanced around Logan’s old room and felt a touch of sadness that she had to leave. She felt closer to him in the room. She pulled the door closed and turned right into Logan. His arms came out to steady her. Just as quickly, he released her.
“This isn’t going to be fun, but we need to put you in the trunk,” he advised her. “Luke parked in the garage and with the door down, we can load you inside and haul you away without attracting any notice.”
With all the disruption she'd caused on other people, how could she complain?