Page 23 of Degrees of Control
Message:What are you doing?
Reply: Reading. What are you up to?
Message:Can’t sleep. Can you call?
I hit Jenny’s number, and she answers almost immediately. “What’s the matter?”
“I just need to talk for a while. Is that okay?
“Of course it is. Ty didn’t try to contact you, did he?” I ask.
“Kate, he didn’t, but… well, it’s hard to talk about. I haven’t been sleeping that well. You know, at first, I was just scared, hurt and angry. Then when the police found Ty roughed up, I felt a little avenged. After that, I was able to sleep a little,” she says.
“And now?” I ask, still uneasy about Chase’s involvement in that.
“I feel like I am always looking over my shoulder. I’m jittery, Kate. I’ve never been scared to be alone, but now I can’t sleep through the night. I’m petrified he’s going to come crashing through the door any minute. I just need sleep,” she says, softly sobbing on the other end of the line.
“Jenny, I am so sorry.” I wonder how many nights she has lain awake at night scared to be in her own home. “I’ll come over and stay with you tonight.”
“I don’t want to bother you,” she says.
“Stop, Jenny. I’ll get someone to drive me into the city,” I say.
“Kate, I didn’t realize you weren’t staying at the condo in the city. Seriously, we can talk tomorrow,” she says.
“Jenny, it’s not a big deal. Why don’t you try to relax and I’ll be there shortly.”
Message:Chase, I need to go to Jenny’s. How?
Reply:What happened? I’m on my way up.
Message:I need to spend the night with her.
I have barely sent the text before he appears in the doorway.
“What’s the matter, Baby?” he says, walking into the bedroom.
“I just got off the phone with Jenny. She’s scared to death and hasn’t gotten any sleep for nights. Meanwhile, the monster that did this is living it up in Hollywood,” I say.
“Baby, I can assure you he’s not living it up by any means. Now that Jenny’s started counseling routinely it may be bringing all of the issues to the forefront. We’ll take the helicopter and I’ll fly with you,” he says.
“Chase, you can’t leave everyone here. I just need a ride,” I say.
“The team is coming with us. Matt can stay with you at Jenny’s. Jay will coordinate putting another team on the perimeter. I’ll stay at the condo tonight with Jay and get the rest of the plans wrapped up from there,” he says.
“Okay,” I say, knowing he has already worked through it. I shake my head at the need for such stringent security, throwing some clothes and personals into an overnight bag.
It is a matter of minutes before we are soaring over the dense forest, skirting Lake Michigan, and heading for the city. Chase is on the radio, but my headset has been muted, and I can’t make out what he is saying. It is a quick flight and when we land Chase escorts me to the limousine. Jay, Matt, and Sheldon are not far behind conferring with each other as we reach the car. Chase holds the door open for me and I recognize the driver who retrieved my mom’s computer in Naples. Matt gets in the front seat beside him.
“Keith, nice to see you, again,” Chase says.
“Likewise, Mr. Prestian. I was thrilled to get assigned to the Chicago area for a while.”
“Please, call me Chase. Jay mentioned your wife is due with the first child and he’s been trying to keep you close to home. We need our most skilled and trained employees stateside right now, but either way, we would have made sure you were close to home for the arrival of the little one,” he says.
“Greatly appreciate that, Chase.”
“Can you drop Katarina and Matt off at the address Jay gave you and then take me to the condo? Sheldon and Jay will meet me there. After that, take the rest of the night off. Jay already has another team watching the apartment,” Chase says.
