Page 51 of Behind the Cascades
“Thanks, babe! I’ll let you get back to shoot’n guns. I love you!”
Chapter Thirty-One
Hayes
“Love you too. Let’s celebrate tonight!”
Charlie ends the call and I grin at my phone before putting it back in my pocket. She’s earned that promotion and it’s nice to see that she’s being recognized for it. I’m more excited that she’s so happy, though. The last few months have been tumultuous at best, always waiting for the next sign of Carter.
“What’s up with Charlie?” Levi asks, before handing back the Glock G19 pistol he was checking out. We’ve been at the shooting range most of the afternoon, celebrating my new concealed handgun license. After spending 18 months with a gun on me at all times, I felt naked without one. I was itching to get my CHL from the minute I moved here. Part of that required me to have a valid Oregon driver's license. That was the easy part; the hard part was getting my CHL appointment. I didn’t want to pull any strings with Zeke, but now, looking back, I should have. Due to the backlog, it took me an additional six months to get my CHL. Thankfully, as of yesterday, I can finally carry my Sig around again.
Dan smirks at me. “Let me guess? Big promotion?”
Levi looks between the two of us and I nod. “Yep, she’s got an official title and everything.”
“Hell yeah. Olivia’s business has been thriving now that she’s not doing it all by herself. No offense, D.”
Dan chuckles. “None taken. Liv was a rock star before but now she’s unstoppable. The two of them are going to own the entire town by the time they’re done.”
“Good plan. I could use an early retirement.”
“Ha. You and I, both.”
From the other side of me, Luke asks, “You talk to your friend at all? See if he can confirm it was Carter that’s been sending the flowers in town.”
“He did a little sniffing around. Carter is apparently very good at covering his tracks, but it’s looking like the flowers were from him. Same with the phone calls. Problem is, we can’t exactly prove it the legal way. Detective Paul is aware of everything, but it’s still in limbo without a warrant. A small town receiving flower bouquets isn’t exactly reason enough to go to a judge. The guy's grandma died while he was in prison, too. Left him with a shit ton of money, a fancy house, and a private jet.”
I watch as Levi taps his fingers on the glass case, clearly wanting to say something but keeping his mouth shut.
“Say what ya need to say, Levi. You’re makin’ me nervous.”
“Even though I’m the son of the Sheriff, I’m a firm believer that the legal way isn’t always the best route to go.”
Dan rolls his eyes. “Always a hothead.”
Levi shrugs. “Just hope the asshole gets what’s coming to him. That’s all.” It’s the first time I’m starting to see another side of Levi. The more I’m around him, the more he reminds me of Everett. Always making a joke, but ready to kick someone’s ass the second they cross a line.
I look him dead in the eye and nod once, letting him know Iknew exactly what he meant. Levi just moved up a few points in my book. The always goofy one, ready to be the next vigilante with me.
If he wasn’t affecting our day-to-day lives so much, I may be able to let Carter’s bullshit go and wait for his inevitable slip up. However, he’s messing with Charlie’s head to the point where she’s scared of her shadow. I’m tired of it all. Tired of her being scared to answer her cell phone. Tired of the nightmares she has. Tired of how much of our lives are consumed by this asshole.
With every unknown call she gets, my patience wears thin. I’m teetering on the edge of hunting this asshole down once and for all. It’s a good thing Charlie picked one of the furthest states away from South Carolina, putting an entire country between us. My mind has already thought of a hundred ways I could make him disappear and I’m not above doing any of them. After all, what’s one more scar on my already calloused heart?
Chapter Thirty-Two
Hayes
Tuesday, October 1.
The calls haven’t stopped coming, but the town has at least taken care of the flower deliveries. All of the locals know by now that if they receive any white roses, they need to call Zeke and report them before immediately throwing them away. We know Carter is choosing out-of-town florists to deliver them and not leaving a paper trail. I don’t know what his endgame is, but each delivery is only enraging the town. They’re almost as out for blood as I am.
Zeke has been doing everything he can as Sheriff, but there’s only so much he can do. He’s talked to every florist in a sixty-mile radius, spoke to Detective Paul and his superiors at length, and spoken to Carter's probation officer. Even the well-seasoned Zeke seems to be getting a little more ragey with every day that passes.
Yesterday, the phone calls never ended. The second the phone stopped ringing, a new number was calling. All day long.I ended up shutting her phone off and holding Charlie while she cried for hours.
This morning she insisted on having a normal day at the office, so I’m sitting in the conference room across from them that they never use. I’ve kind of claimed it as my own, with Olivia’s permission, that is. I get to watch out for Charlie, study for my classes, or help with the kids if they need it.
Grabbing my phone, I decided to call Drew and Everett. If they can’t talk me off the ledge, I’m about to cash in that “alibi and hide the body.”
