Page 9 of Talon
“This is her,” he said to Jake before turning to continue pacing while he pulled up the message and read it.
**Madison: Yes, I know who it is.I’ve known him as long as I can remember.He was my dad’s best friend.After Dad died, he changed.So far he’s just been a bit creepy and scary, but I think he’s escalating.
Before he’d finished reading that message, another came in.He continued reading.
**Madison: I’m scared, but I’m not helpless.Dad taught me to survive.
**Madison: I wouldn’t say no to you being here, but I don’t want to cause problems for you.
Talon stared at the screen for a moment then typed out a message.
**Talon: I’m on my way.Text me your address and I’ll be there as soon as I can.
“I gotta go.She said she’d like me there.I’ve got to go talk to Lurch.”Talon turned away from the bunkhouse and headed to the house where the ranch foreman and his wife lived.
Fifteen minutes later he’d received her address.In the time it took him to get approval, borrow a pickup, and pack a bag with enough to last a couple of days.It took longer than he’d hoped but he was on the road.He made the eighty mile drive in under forty-five minutes.
As soon as he parked, he grabbed his phone, making sure there were no new messages and sending one more to Madison.
**Talon: I’m here.I’ll be up in a minute.
Then he looked around to see if anyone was watching him or the building before he grabbed his bag and the extra pistol that Lurch insisted each truck have and carried both with him as he climbed the stairs.At the top of the stairs, he knocked then turned and looked around again, scanning as far as he could see in every direction for anything that stood out or even seemed off.He didn’t see anything but what did that mean?For all he knew this guy was hiding out somewhere in a ghillie suit, watching every move she made.
The door opened behind him.Talon glanced around to make sure it was Madison then backed into the apartment, closing the door as soon as he was inside and throwing the lock.He dropped his bag next to his feet and pulled her into his arms.
“How are you doing?”he asked as he pulled her close and just held her letting the knowledge that she wasn’t alone anymore sink in for a moment.
“Better now.Thanks for coming.”Her arms snaked around his middle and held on tight.
“Tell me more about what’s going on.How long has this been happening?”He loosened his grip on her, not wanting her to feel like he was trying to hold her there if she didn’t want to be, but her arms around his waist didn’t loosen and she didn’t move away.
Talon liked her here like this.Holding on to him.He kept his arms wrapped around her and dropped a kiss on top of her head.He listened while she told him about this Billy Morgan.She told him about how the man had changed, treating her differently almost from the moment her father had passed away.
He had questions but he held his tongue until she was done as he didn’t want to interrupt her and not get to hear the whole story.When she was done would be soon enough for his questions.While he listened he glanced around the place, taking in the layout.That they seemed to be standing in front of the only entrance, and that she stood in his arms wearing a pair of sweats and an oversized t-shirt.Her feet were bare and her hair still a little damp, and it smelled like honey and some flower he couldn’t name.She must have showered at some point.He wanted to hold her tight and promise her nothing would happen to her, but that promise was impossible to keep, and he didn’t want to lie to her any more than he had to.
Still holding on to her, he toed out of his boots then nudged them into place beside her shoes before moving farther into the apartment.Spotting the sofa, he steered her in that direction, not letting her go as he sat, but letting her find a position she was comfortable with.
“Okay, tell me more about this Billy.I need to know what I’m up against.”
She shook her head.“I don’t know what’s up with him.I can’t imagine Dad actually did what he’s claiming, but even if he did, I don’t think of Billy like that.I never have.I never will.I don’t know why he can’t just take no for an answer.”She sat up and buried her face in her hands.“I thought moving away, leaving everything there behind would help, but it hasn’t.”
“Is he escalating?”
Madison was silent for several seconds.Talon thought she was thinking about everything this Billy had done and trying to decide if he was getting more extreme.
“I don’t know.I think so, but I may be too close to be objective.”
“Can I see the notes?”
Talon watched as several emotions crossed her face, but he didn’t know her well enough to identify them before they were gone.
“Its okay if you don’t want me to see.I just thought an unbiased eye might give you a better idea on how quickly he might be escalating.”He tried to keep his voice gentle and calm, so he didn’t alarm her.
She took a deep breath and watched him for a couple minutes.Seeming to make a decision, she pushed herself to her feet and went to a desk situated against one wall.It had a laptop sitting on it, but she ignored the computer and opened the large bottom drawer.Without digging or looking for more than a second or two she pulled out a manilla file folder.
“I saved them all.I hoped eventually the police would take it more seriously and I wanted to be prepared for that.You can read them if you want, but I don’t know if you’ll learn much.I’m going to go into the other room while you do.I can’t stand to read them again.”She handed him the folder then turned away and took several steps before stopping.“Can I get you anything to drink?Or eat?Did you have dinner before you came rushing to my rescue?”
“I’m okay.You don’t need to wait on me.”Talon glanced at her and set the folder on the table in front of the sofa but didn’t open it.She didn’t want to read them again so he would wait until she left the room to do that.
