N. Walters - Jackson’s Jewel

“You sure you’re okay with him?”

“Don’t worry,” Topaz replied dryly. “I can handle John Knight.”

They said their goodbyes and Emerald hung up the phone. She’d barely had the receiver back in the cradle when Jackson scooped her into his arms and carried her straight upstairs to bed. She hadn’t had time to think, let alone worry about anything.

The sound of a vehicle approaching broke into her reverie. Jumping from her chair, she hurried into the house, swearing under her breath when she realized that she’d left her glass outside. There was nothing to be done about it now. She closed the back door and locked it. It was probably only Erin or Nathan. She saw quite a bit of both of them these days. They were always checking on her to make sure she was okay. But she couldn’t take any chances. As far as the rest of the town was concerned, she was long gone.

She went into her room off the kitchen and carefully tugged back a corner of the curtain. She tensed when she didn’t recognize the vehicle, but relaxed when she saw the familiar logo on the side. It was the mail truck. Sweat trickled down her back, partly due to the heat, but partly due to fear. It was so easy to relax and feel safe, but there was still someone out there who meant her harm.

Watching from the window, Emerald waited as the mailman climbed out of his truck clutching a box. He ambled over to the door and knocked. He tried the handle, jiggling it several times before just leaving the package on the porch. Turning, he strolled back to the truck and hauled himself back inside. Seconds later, the truck was barreling down the road. She was alone again.

Unease filled her as she went straight to the door and unlocked it. It was just nerves, she assured herself as she tugged the door open. The package was indeed addressed to Jackson and the tension seeped from her body.

Shaking her head at herself, she leaned down and picked up the box, carrying it in and laying it on the kitchen table. She’d barely laid it down when the phone rang. She always let the answering machine pick up. Always. She wasn’t supposed to be here. But she was so rattled by what had just happened, she didn’t think. It was an automatic response that had her lifting the receiver and saying hello.

Dead air met her. She chewed on her bottom lip, not knowing if she should just hang up or continue talking. She could always pretend it was a wrong number. “Hello.”

“Whore,” the distorted voice spit at her. She froze, the receiver glued to her hand. “Did you think I wouldn’t find you?”

“Who is this?” Anger surged through her blood, driving out all thoughts of caution.

Laughter filled her ear. Something was being used to distort the voice, but she could tell it was male. She pressed down the record button on the answering machine and prayed that it would work.

“I bought you that beautiful dress and you ran from me. That,” he paused and it seemed even more menacing than his words, “displeased me.”

Shivers raced down her spine. This guy was crazy. “Why would you send me a wedding gown? I don’t even know you.”

“Don’t you?” His words were eerily calm. “Come home and all will be forgiven. Stay there and face the consequences.”

“What consequences?” Fear for her sisters shot through her. Her hands shook as she clutched the phone.

“You’ll see,” he continued in that placid, almost pedantic tone. “Oh, did you get the package I sent you?” He was laughing when he hung up on her.

She turned to face the brown-wrapped package sitting in the middle of the table. It was addressed to Jackson. Terror unlike any she’d ever known filled her. Her stalker had found her. He knew where she was and he was threatening Jackson. She had to warn him first. Then she had to leave, and quickly. It was the only way to protect him.

But first, there was something else she had to do. Her fingers dialed the number posted by the phone. She felt detached, somehow removed from the situation. Logically, she knew it was from shock and fear, but she couldn’t seem to care. When a man picked up on the other side, she didn’t speak at first but could hear his deep voice on the other end.

“Who is this?” he repeated.

“Nathan?” she managed to push the word past her frozen lips.

“Emerald? What’s wrong?”

She was trembling so hard that she had to lean against the wall for support. “He called here.”

Nathan was quickly putting things together. “The stalker?”

She nodded until she remembered he couldn’t see her. “Yes.” The ice that had been encasing her began to thaw as anger began to flow hotly through her veins. “He sent a package too. And Nathan,” she didn’t quite know how to tell him this.

“I’m on my way there now, Emerald. Lock the doors and stay inside. Keep away from the windows.”

“Nathan,” she yelled. “The package was addressed to Jackson.”

There was silence for a second on the other end and then Nathan continued as if she hadn’t said anything that was particularly upsetting. “Where is the package?”

“On the kitchen table. Did you hear what I said?”

“Yes.” His voice was clipped. “Go upstairs. Get as far away from the package as you can without leaving the house.”

“Ohmigod. You don’t think it’s dangerous, do you?” Stupid question. Of course he thought it was dangerous. He wouldn’t have told her to get away from it if he didn’t.

“We’re not going to take any chances. I’m going to have to call in the bomb squad. We don’t have one here in Meadows, so it’s gonna take a while to get them here.” She could hear the sound of traffic and knew Nathan was moving as he talked to her. “I’ll be there as quick as I can. When you see me, come downstairs and wait by the back door.”

“Okay.” From the noises she was hearing, she could tell that Nathan was in his vehicle and already on his way.

“Hang up this phone and go upstairs. I’ll call back and you can answer on the cordless phone in Jackson’s room.”

Emerald licked her dry lips, wishing she had her iced tea. Was it only a few minutes ago she’d been sitting on the porch enjoying a perfect summer’s day? It seemed a lifetime ago. “I’m hanging up now. Oh, and I taped the conversation with him. Or at least I think I did.”

“Good. That’s good.” Nathan’s calm, deep voice was reassuring. She knew she should hang up but didn’t want to severe the connection between them. “Honey, hang up the phone and I’ll call you right back.”

She took a deep breath. She could do this. There was no reason to be this jumpy. It was just a phone call and a package. Nothing to hurt her. “Okay, I’m hanging up now.” She turned to glance at the package one final time as she hung up the phone.

Shoes, she needed shoes in case she needed to run. Racing to her room, she grabbed her sneakers and a pair of socks. She’d put them on upstairs. As she entered the kitchen, the phone rang. Nathan was quick. She passed the table and was almost to the stairs when the explosion hit.

Something knocked her in the back and sent her flying through the air. She landed facedown at the base of the stairs, her face hitting the floor hard. Her head spun. Her entire body felt as if it were on fire. She coughed and realized that smoke was filling the air. Was the house on fire?

Digging her fingers into the floor, she dragged her body toward the front door. There was no going back through the kitchen. She thought about her laptop and moaned. It was certainly destroyed along with all of her new work. Which wouldn’t matter at all if she didn’t get out of here. It was getting harder to breathe and she coughed again.

The door seemed to be getting farther away rather than closer. Still, Emerald persevered. One inch at a time, she pulled herself closer to safety. When her hand hit the door, she almost cried in relief. The handle seemed a long ways away, but she pulled herself up, ignoring the agony in her back. Wrapping her hand around the knob, she turned and tugged. It didn’t open. She tugged again, harder. Frantic now, she pulled again and again until a little voice in her head reminded her that the front door was locked. Jackson made her keep it locked at all times when she was home alone.

It was hard, but she forced her hand away from the knob and found the locks and turned them. Her head was spinning and something was in her eyes. She swiped at them and stared at her hand when it came back bloody. A siren rang out in the distance and she knew that Nathan was coming for her.

Determined now, she grabbed the doorknob, turned it and pulled. The door came back with such force it hit her. Moaning, she dropped back to the floor. Fresh air hit her, reminding her of what she needed to do.

Shoving her shoulder against the screen door, she pushed it open, all but toppling onto the porch. She lay there totally spent, half in and half out of the house. Just as the world closed in around her, she thought she heard someone calling her name.

Terror unlike anything Jackson had ever known flooded his veins as he raced toward the house. He’d been on his way home for an early lunch when he’d heard the explosion. He’d started to run when he saw the smoke and knew it was coming from the direction of the house.

Yanking his cell phone from his back pocket, he dialed the house. It rang and rang, but no one answered. Swearing, he disconnected and dialed Nathan’s number.

“Emerald!” his brother’s voice barked into his ear.

His gut clenched. “No, it’s me. There’s been an explosion at the house. Call the fire department and get out here.”

“I’m almost there and the fire trucks are just behind me. Emerald heard from the stalker. He’d sent a package to the house addressed to you.”