The Harvest Club Read online

  He took her hand in his, lacing his fingers with hers. “Will you be okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you going to work today?” He tightened his hold on her hand watching her face. He could look at her all day. He practically did anyway. She was in his head even when he couldn’t see her. Staying away was no help at all.

  “Yes, I’ll use the Sunday school office to answer the phones. I don’t want to be in my office today. I have to stay until 8:00 tonight because the town book club meets here, and I have to lock up when they leave. I usually go eat about 6:00 and then come back to lock the church.”

  “Call me when you’re ready to go, and I’ll stop by and follow you home.” He gazed at her thoughtfully. “I’ll see you later.”

  He handed them the note to put into evidence and walked out heading toward the exit. He passed the guys from the funeral home coming in with a stretcher to pick up the body. He told James he could have the office back to clean up for the second time in a matter of days. He held up ten and told him they were wrapping it up now.

  Matt made it to his car before he allowed himself to think about what had just happened. He was angry. He didn’t like bullies, especially ones who picked on people he loved.

  He admired Jessie and the way she was bearing up under everything. He had to admit she wasn’t the selfish, witless, shallow person he had originally thought she was. She had been an asset, a pretty one at that, and he was feeling pretty damn protective of her.

  He knew that Gina’s murder was connected to the Harvest Club. The HC had been very active for the past five years, and it was time for them to be shut down. Gina’s murder may have been their first major mistake, but today was their second. He was mad as hell and felt like putting his fist into someone’s face. He drove back to the station.

  ****

  Phase one was to tail the members and apply pressure. Hoping to get them to turn on each other and sing like little choir boys. He was prepared for the long haul, either way.

  “So what’s the plan for tonight and tomorrow?” Dylan popped his head in the office door to ask him.

  “I emailed everyone their assignments. You and I will be tailing Pastor Rick and taking care of tucking Jessie in at night. She seems to trust us, and as much as she’s been through, I hate for her to have to get used to someone else. I’ll follow her home after work, and you can come by after dinner. I already have Joe and a couple other guys on call during the day if she needs them. I think we’ll both stay there tonight because everyone is coming back tomorrow and if that guy is supposed to do something to Jessie, time is running out. He may throw caution to the wind.”

  “In other words, she needs both of us to be there to protect her.” Dylan nodded.

  “My gut tells me we need to stay close to her right now. The information we gained because of her puts her at greater risk.”

  “I’ll eat dinner and come over about 7:00, if that’s okay?”

  “She’s working late tonight and won’t be home until about 8:30. You won’t need to come until then.”

  ****

  Matt worked on the HC case for a while when he noticed a typical summer afternoon storm was building. He tapped his fingers on his desk, reaching for his phone. He put it down only to pick it up again.

  “First Community Church. May I help you?”

  “You sure can. I need to eat dinner before I tuck you in and would rather not eat alone. Meet me at Patterson’s after work, say about 6:00. See you there. Oh, you might need an umbrella. It looks like rain.” Matt hung up before she could respond.

  He made it to Patterson’s by 5:45 and got a table by the front window, so he could watch her come out of the church and cross the street. He ordered a Guinness and set back to wait.

  She was prompt, and he didn’t have to wait for long. He watched her cross the street. Her long legs looked amazing. The dress she was wearing showed them to perfection. With her hair blowing slightly in the wind and a smile on her face, she looked like a model at a photo shoot.

  Jeez, Matt, he thought, fate sends you a beautiful woman and practically hands her into your care. You need to stop lecturing her and thank your lucky stars.

  He watched her come in the door. Patterson himself went over to talk to her. She smiled at him and said something that made him laugh. Patterson’s whole demeanor changed after a few moments with her. She had a way with people. The people at the church loved her. Hell, Patterson never smiled, and she’d won him over. What did she think about him, he wondered? Or did she ever think about him? She was always in his thoughts. He frowned.

  “Hi.” She smiled and sat down in the chair across from him.

  “You’re late.” He knew it to be a lie the minute he said it.

  “No, I’m not.” Her chin came up. “Did you ask me to dinner just to fight? If so, I’m leaving.” She gathered her purse and the umbrella she had just set on the chair beside her.

  “I’m sorry. I’m just having a bad day. Please stay.” His excuse sounded lame even to him.

  “Of course you’re having a bad day. I should have been more sensitive. It’s this case.” She placed her stuff back on the chair and smiled at him again. As if without thinking, she grabbed his hands. “Let’s eat, I’m starving,” she said, watching the storm clouds start to build.

  Chapter Twenty

  The storm brewed out at sea, blowing huge threatening thunderheads toward Blue Cove. Lightning lit up the sky, casting eerie shadows on the buildings. Thunder rumbled in the distance and waves crashed ashore. The air was muggy. A perfect backdrop for his plans. He crouched in the darkness behind the Dumpster, watching the door as he waited for her to come out. He rehearsed in his mind how he would take her by surprise and grab her before she could get in her car. He knew her daily movements as if they were written on the back of his hand. His boss, the meanest S.O.B. to walk the earth, had told him to rough her up and scare her. Something he was real good at. His notes and the hanging gardener in her office had been a nice touch. A little extra. Dressed in black from head to toe, he enjoyed looking the ugly brute part. It was an advantage in his line of work. She was one sweet looking job. Gina hadn’t been bad, either. He was really going to enjoy this. Fact was he was getting high just thinking of it.

  “What’s this?” he whispered. She emerged from Patterson’s with that cop fella, and people were coming out of the church. He retreated farther into the shadows. “She’s messing with my head. Be patient, it’s only a matter of time.” He watched them cross to the church and go in. He heard the cop tell her to wait in the lobby he would lock all the other doors.

  Her car was the only one left as he crept around to the front of the church. She was at the door standing alone when he heard her call to him.

  “I’ll lock the front door and meet you at my car.” She stepped out of the door.

  He was in luck, she hadn’t noticed him moving out of the shadows. Lightning lit up the sky followed by a big boom.

  ****

  The crack of thunder startled Jessie. The scream stuck in her throat, and then she saw him, his sinister face, lusting eyes, and sheer size. She screamed, dropped her keys and ran, realizing too late she was running toward the graveyard and wooded area just beyond. Stupid. Too late to run to Matt now. She gasped for breath, heart pounding in her ears.

  Making it through the graveyard to the trees, Jessie ran along them, hoping she was headed back toward the church and the lighted parking lot. He was closing in fast. Tripping over a tree root, she pitched forward into the darkness, sliding sideways down a steep embankment, grabbing at the muddy grass. She choked off a cry as she fell several feet to a ledge below hitting her head on something hard.

  She lay winded on her back, struggling for breath, looking up in the mesmerizing light show as a fork of lightning unfolded across the sky. On any other night it would have fascinated her, but now it was like a scene from a creepy movie. As she breathed deeply in and out, her racing heart started to slow down.


  “Jessie, sweet Jessie…” The man’s mocking voice floated down to her. “I’ll be back to play another day.”

  His words rang like a song refrain in her head as she crouched in the darkness. Then the heavens opened up, and it rained. She listened and waited for what seemed an eternity. Finally, wet, bruised, muddy, and tired, she inched slowly up the way she had slid down. There waiting quietly at the top was Matt with a look that said he was going to give her hell.

  Neither of them spoke a word as he took her hand, winding them through the trees back through the cemetery to the front of the church. He pulled. She tripped and limped, never complaining. But if looks could kill, she would be dead. Once in the light he could see her and swore under his breath. Lifting her up into his arms, he pushed her face against his chest.

  “What did you say?” she asked.

  “Nothing for your ears to hear.” He paused. “We need to get you home, cleaned up, and into some dry clothes. Your dress is ruined. You’re soaked.”

  “I think I lost my keys.” She sounded defeated.

  “I have them, and I’ll drive.” He opened her door, setting her down. He took a deep breath, obviously struggling for calm before he got in the car.

  The silence between them was deafening. When they got to her house, Katie was there with a blanket to wrap her in. Dylan had the door open and lights on in her place.

  “Let’s get you inside,” Matt said. He picked her up and carried her in.

  “I’m okay, you don’t have to carry me.” She felt her face heating.

  “I want to and besides we’re in now.” He set her down on the chair.

  “Why didn’t you just throw me? It would have been faster.” She reacted to his tenderness.

  “Jessica Lynn Reynolds!” Katie imitated Jessie’s mom. “Your pride may be wounded, but it didn’t hurt your tongue.”

  Matt ignored Jessie’s remark. “Katie, would you help her get cleaned up so we can see how bad her injuries are?”

  “Sure, hopefully it’s not as bad as it looks. But no matter what, she’s going to be awful sore,” Katie remarked.

  “Help her get dressed too, and we’ll take her over to the emergency room.” Matt’s jaw flexed, and his hand tightened into a fist.

  “I’m going, too. She may need me.” Katie put a hand on Jessie’s shoulder. “Besides, you guys aren’t good in the comfort department.”

  About twenty minutes later, they were ready to go. Jessie limped. Her ankle was purple and swollen. Her big toe, which had hit the tree root in an open-toed sandal, was huge. The pounding in her head was making her irritable, and Matt wasn’t helping, either. The lump on the back of her head, the scratches, and the pain every time she moved completed her misery.

  Matt carried Jessie into the emergency room and carried her out. Her ankle was wrapped, her big toe taped, and Katie carried the crutches. She was told to walk only with the crutches for the next few days and stay off her foot as much as possible. A few pain pills and a good night’s sleep was part of the prescription.

  “You guys were watching Jessie all along, weren’t you? She was your stake out. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have stayed with her, making sure she wasn’t ever alone. I’m mad at both of you.” Katie glared at their backs. “You could have told me, Jessie. After all I’m your best friend.” She looked accusingly at Jessie.

  “What, and put your life in jeopardy?” Jessie frowned at Katie. “I was asked not to tell anyone because the case was sensitive and still is. I wouldn’t even be involved had it not been for Gina’s ghost.”

  “What’s this about Gina’s ghost?” Dylan inquired.

  “Let’s get her in the house, make her comfortable, and then she can tell you about how she got involved. Jessie, you aren’t going to work tomorrow.” He said this definitively.

  Jessie stuck out her tongue at him. Matt caught the gesture in his rearview mirror and smiled.

  Katie helped Jessie into her night clothes, and she stretched out on the couch with a pillow under her foot. She recounted the story all over again about Gina.

  Katie stood up and fluffed her pillow. She went into the kitchen and brought Jessie a glass of water. “I want to see you take these pills. They’ll help you sleep.” She waited for Jessie to swallow them. “Can I get you anything before I leave? I need to go make sure my guests are settled for the night. Do you want me to come back and to stay with you tonight?” Katie asked her.

  “No, I’m really tired, and besides, you’re supposed to stay this weekend when I’m hopefully feeling better.”

  “Sweet sleep, friend, and I’ll check on you tomorrow.” She spoke over her shoulder as she headed for the door.

  Dylan walked with Katie back to the inn leaving only Matt, Jessie, and the silence as thick as the muggy air outside, between them.

  “I know you’ve been itching to yell at me all night, but before you do, let me speak in my defense. I was standing at the door waiting like you told me to, and I hadn’t gone to my car to meet you. I stepped out to lock the door, and there he was.”

  “You should have never stepped out the door without me. I don’t blame you entirely. I never should have left you alone.”

  “Look, Matt, there is no way you can be with me every minute. Strike three wasn’t out for me just like Reba said. Maybe it will mean he’s out.”

  She rambled. “The guy was enormous. His fist could have leveled you. I’m glad you weren’t there to protect me.” She paused and then added, “He might have hurt you.”

  “He did hurt you,” Matt reminded her.

  “Not really. I hurt myself when I decided to take up flying off that embankment.”

  “You were lucky. I still shudder to think what would have happened if he caught you.”

  “Matt, the one thing I’m good at is running. I can be fast if I need to be. I ran the wrong way is all. I got spooked and what bothers me is I forgot all my training and ran toward the darkness instead of Patterson’s or someplace where there were people. I paid the price for it, but in some regards I would have rather slid down that slope than have had him get a hold of me.” She added with emphasis, “I did see him clearly though, so if he has a mug shot I could pick him out. I could also describe him to a sketch artist.”

  “When I came out the door, I saw your keys on the ground and then saw him chasing after you. My heart almost stopped. I realized where you were running and I thought you were as good as dead.” He shook his head.

  “You can yell at me if it makes you feel better, and I certainly don’t blame you.” She closed her eyes. The pain meds were kicking in.

  ****

  He let her sleep on the couch, not wanting to disturb her. He pulled the light blanket up over her, softly stroked her cheek, and smiled at her. “Finally, I’ve tucked you in for the night.”

  When Dylan came in, he told him he would take the first watch and for him to sleep in her guest room. Dylan opted to stay up for a while and watch the baseball scores on ESPN.

  “She’s sure out,” Dylan said looking at Jessie.

  Matt ran his hand through his hair. “This has been one hell of a night. She could have been killed.” He heard Jessie’s phone ring.

  “But she wasn’t.” Dylan knew what he was thinking. “You aren’t to blame for this.”

  “No? Then tell me who the hell is? If it wasn’t for the fact she’s one damn good runner and stronger than any woman I know, this night would have had a far worse outcome.” He stood up and paced back and forth.

  “Look, Matt, you were with her and stepped away for a moment. This guy wanted to get her and would have, whether you were there or not.”

  Matt scowled. “I need to call James Morris and let him know Jess won’t be there tomorrow. I want to keep her with us and have her take a look at mug shots.”

  He pulled out his phone. “James, this is Matt Parker. I know it’s late, but I needed to tell you Jessie was in an accident and won’t be able to work for a few days. She’
s on crutches and will need a few days to recover.”

  “That poor girl has had a rough few days. I’ll get someone to cover for her, and you tell her not to come in until Monday.”

  “Will that be okay with Pastor Rick?” Matt heard Jessie’s phone ring again.

  “He won’t have much say in the matter. I’ll let my wife know, and she’ll get some of the ladies to bring in some meals in the evening.”

  “Sounds great, James, I know Jessie will appreciate it.”

  “Is everything settled?” Dylan asked.

  “Sure is. At least we won’t have to worry about her being around Rick at work for a few days. The church board is going to give him the boot. I asked them to wait a few days, and they gave me until Friday. Jessie won’t be there when they tell him.”

  “Good.” Dylan nodded and went back to his baseball scores.

  When Jessie’s phone went off for the third time in the past several minutes, Matt decided he should check to see who was calling. Two of the missed calls were from Sadie and one from Jeremy. While he was holding the phone, it rang again.

  “Hello. This is Matt.”

  “Young man, what are you doing answering my granddaughter’s phone? Is she all right? I’ve been worried about her all day, and I know when something is up.”

  “The answer to your first question is that your granddaughter is sleeping, and I’m the on-duty police protection assigned to her. Second, she is all right but a little beat up from hard run and tumble she took. You were right to be concerned for her.”

  “She didn’t just run and fall down, did she? I’m not naïve.” Sadie’s voice was firm. “Someone was chasing her.”

  “You’re right, ma’am.”

  “Did you catch the guy?”

  “Nope, he got away, but she got a great look at him and she can ID him.”

  “What’re the extent of her injuries? You did have her checked out, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I did. She has a broken big toe and a sprained ankle. Add to that, some scratches, bruises, and the bump on the back of her head, and I think you’re getting the picture. She’s sore.”