The Story of Her Life, page 18
Matt gets out of his truck to greet me as I step onto the sidewalk. “Glad you made it.” He says as he pats my shoulder.
“Thanks for coming and keeping an eye out.”
“No worries, man. There hasn’t been anything going on since I got here. Her light’s been on the entire time, but no one has come or gone from the building.”
I lay a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you. I’m going to take her back to my place for the night. She doesn’t need to be alone. Maybe now she’ll go to the police.”
“Call me tomorrow if you get a chance. Let me know how it goes.” I nod my head in agreement as he turns back to his truck. I turn around and go into the building and up the two flights of stairs to Julie’s apartment, key in hand and ready to unlock her door.
I open the door and enter the apartment to find her curled into the corner of the couch. Her knees are drawn up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them, making herself as small as possible. Her eyes are wide open and looking right at me as I walk inside and kick the door shut behind me. My heart instantly breaks taking in the sight of her still trembling and looking frail. “Oh, angel.” I gasp as I step into her apartment and walk the three steps it takes to get to her on the couch so I can wrap my arms tightly around her.
She buries her face in my chest and fists my shirt in her hands. “I’m s-sorry. You d-didn’t have to c-come all the way back for m-me.” She is still sobbing and stuttering through her trembling and tears.
“Baby, I’ll always come for you when you need me. Come on, I don’t want you staying here tonight. Let’s go grab some of your things, you’re coming home with me.”
She nods her head, still not letting go of my shirt. “O-okay.” She whispers still not letting go of me. I walk to her bedroom with her still clinging to me before finally getting her to sit on the bed, watching me as I reach into her closet to grab her overnight bag and a change of clothes. She already has quite a bit of her things at my house, but I want to make sure she has something comfortable to wear, something that she can lounge in. Most of what is already in my closet is for going out or to work. I grab a few t-shirts and some yoga pants from her dresser as well as a few pairs of fuzzy pajamas to keep her warm.
Throwing the bag over my shoulder, I help her stand. I make sure I grab her phone, purse, laptop and keys and lock the door for her on the way out. The drive from her apartment to my house was only ten minutes but that was enough time for her to pass out in the car. It makes me feel better just knowing that she feels safe enough now that she is with me that she can sleep. Pulling into my driveway, I run up the steps to open the front door, setting her things in the foyer, before returning to the car to help her inside.
She doesn’t wake when I open the passenger door, so I carefully reach in and unbuckle her seatbelt. Placing one arm below her knees, and the other behind her back, I lift her carefully out of the car. With her cradled to my chest, I bump the door shut with my hip and hold her close while I carry her inside the house. I kick the front door shut, thanking the previous homeowners for installing a self-locking doorknob on the front door.
I carry her straight to the bedroom, and set her down softly on the bed before helping her to undress. I’m sure she won’t be comfortable sleeping fully clothed, so I grab one of my t shirts out of my top drawer for her. She doesn’t wake a single time while I remove her shoes and change her for bed. I cover her with the sheet and retreat to the bathroom to get myself ready for bed.
She had rolled to her side while I was taking care of my nightly routine. I crawl slowly into the bed behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her tightly into my chest. I can feel the tension release from her body, her trembling subsiding as I tuck her in close. Feeling myself relax as well knowing that she’s now safe, I fall asleep quickly.
I wake before Julie in the morning. She is still sleeping soundly so I don’t want to wake her, she had a rough night and needs the rest. I go to the kitchen to start the coffee and start working on my photo edits from the day before.
Two cups of coffee later, I hear soft footsteps approaching behind me and turn to see my angel emerge from the hallway in nothing by my t shirt. Her hair is a mess, and she looks like she literally just rolled out of bed. All rumpled and innocent from a good night’s sleep. She looks perfect. “Good morning, angel.” I say as I stand and take her in my arms, kissing her softly on the forehead.
“Good morning, Devan. I think I need coffee. Do you mind if I hang out here today? I don’t think I want to go into work.”
“Not at all. As a matter of fact, I was going to suggest that you call in today. After the night you had, I think you need a personal day.”
“Yeah, I think I do.” She walks into the kitchen and comes back a few minutes later with both hands wrapped around a coffee mug. She sits on the chair next to me and looks at the pictures I’m currently editing on my laptop. Smiling, she says “Those pictures are really great. Did you get everything you needed? You didn’t rush back and miss out on any work, did you?”
“No, baby. I got what I needed yesterday. I had planned on checking out of the hotel this morning and coming back after breakfast. Don’t worry about it, I was happy to come back early.” I have a bunch of questions for her about what happened yesterday, but I can tell by looking that she is not ready to talk about it yet, so I decide not to push.
"Okay.” She doesn’t say anything more. She takes a sip of her coffee, then sets it back on the table, scoots her chair closer to mine, and lays her head on my arm.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and kiss the top of her head before scrolling through all the pictures that I had taken yesterday. “Do you want to see more pictures?”
“I’d love to.” We sit silently for several minutes just looking through the pictures on my laptop. I am perfectly content to sit here holding her for as long as she needs me to. What she doesn’t realize is that, as much as she needs my touch to comfort her, I need to touch her in order to be comforted myself. Just thinking of what could have happened to her yesterday almost broke me on my way back last night. I need to keep her close, to feel her against me, just to know that she’s truly okay, and that she’s still here with me.
“Are you hungry?” I ask after she finishes her second cup of coffee.
“A little. I didn’t eat anything last night after I got home and the only thing I had at lunch yesterday was coffee.”
“I’ll fix you something to eat. Do you need me to get anything for you first? I brought your laptop. Or I can grab your phone if you want it.”
“Both would be helpful if you don’t mind. I’d get them myself but I’m not sure where they are.” She looks at me and blushes slightly. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember getting into bed. I guess I was more tired than I thought.”
“It was no problem, angel. I carried you in and put you to bed. You were already passed out by the time we pulled into the driveway.” I went to the living room and gathered her things for her. Bringing them back to the table and setting the laptop and phone in front of her, I lean down to kiss her head again before retreating to the kitchen to scramble some eggs and cook bacon. I haven’t eaten yet either, waiting to have breakfast with her when she woke up.
Returning to the dining room with two plates of breakfast, I sit down beside her again. She pushes her laptop away from her to make room for her plate, and I push mine to the side. We sit and eat in silence before she says “I called and talked to Travis. I told him what happened last night, and he told me to take the rest of the week off. I can work remotely to finish up my stories in time for the deadline tomorrow afternoon and just email them to him.”
“That’s perfect. So, in other words, you’re mine for the next four days.” I say with a grin.
She giggles lightly which lifts my spirits, knowing that she is already starting to feel better. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Hmm. Whatever shall I do with you?”
“I don’t know. But I’m sure you’re creative enough to think of something.” She answers.
Chapter 20
Julie
I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed. Taking a personal day yesterday and today has undeniably been what I needed. Not to mention the added benefit of spending a four-day weekend with Devan. I stretch my arms over my head, feeling the pleasant soreness between my legs from last night. If he continues being that creative, this will be a great weekend indeed.
Rolling over, I notice that Devan is already out of bed. I walk into the master bathroom to find it empty. After brushing my teeth, I walk back into the bedroom and look at the clock on the nightstand. It’s already 10:30, no wonder I’m alone in the bed. I haven’t slept that late in years.
I pull on a pair of black yoga pants and a tank top from the overnight bag that Devan had thrown together a couple nights ago. After pulling my hair back into a loose ponytail, I open the bedroom door and am welcomed by the smell of coffee.
“Good morning sleepy head.” Devan says as I enter the kitchen, following the blissful scent of caffeine.
“Wow I must have been tired. I haven’t slept this late since before going to college. Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“Personal day, remember? I knew you were tired, especially after last night.” He wiggles his eyebrows and gives me a lopsided grin. “And you deserved the chance to sleep. It’s not like you’re going to work today.” He answers, winking at me with that sexy half smile of his.
“Thank you. I feel so much more rested today. And a little silly.”
“Silly? Why would you feel silly?” He raises an eyebrow in question.
“For acting like a child the other night. I freaked out when I got that note and it was stupid.”
“No, angel. It was not stupid.” He grabs my arm and pulls me into his lap, resting his hands on my hips and looking into my eyes. “You were frightened. Rightfully so. This is nothing to take for granted and I still think that you should have gone to the police.”
“I know and I’m still thinking about it. I do plan on talking to the head of security at my building though on Monday when I go back to work. I want to know who that guard was that was working the other night and why he wasn’t willing to escort me. We had an agreement that I would be escorted any time that I left the building, and he should have known about it. Someone dropped the ball somewhere and I intend to get to the bottom of it.”
With a smile, Devan wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest. Resting his chin on top of my head, he says “Beware the wrath of Julie, right?”
“You bet. They do not know what they’ve got coming. They might be like ten times bigger than me, but I can still take ‘em.”
“My money is on you any day, angel.”
I set my coffee on the table and wrap my arms around his neck. “I love you, Devan. I don’t think I can thank you enough for what you’ve done for me since the other night.”
“Don’t mention it, angel. I told you I wanted to be here with you. You needed me and I love you more than any job. There is no distance great enough to keep me from getting to you when you need me.” He kisses me softly on the forehead. “Are you hungry? I’ll make you something to eat.” The rumble in my stomach gives me away and we both laugh. He helps me off his lap and walks into the kitchen to cook some eggs and toast.
Devan spends the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon editing photos from his last job. I can’t wait to see the advertising they come up with. I had never seen buildings as beautiful as the ones he was able to capture before he came running back to me.
I finish up my stories for work and send the email off to Travis. Before shutting down my laptop for the rest of the day, I decide to check my emails just to make sure I haven’t missed any since I have not been at work. “Devan.” I look up at him, not sure how he’s going to feel about what I have to say. “I got an email back from my source.”
“Really? What did he have to say?” He keeps his eyes on his laptop, editing his photos. I can see the tension in his shoulders and know that he’s trying not to react.
“He’s ready to meet.” I take a moment to judge his reaction. I know he’s been worried about me meeting this source in person, and after what happened Wednesday, I may have to bribe him into letting me go. If these threats do have anything to do with this story, then I need to get to the bottom of it. “Tonight, if I’m available.”
He places his hands flat on the table to either side of the laptop, closes his eyes and releases a heavy sigh. “Julie, are you sure tonight is good? What about what happened the other night?” He opens his eyes and looks at me. I can see the concern etched across his face and know that he’s not happy about me going anywhere to meet this guy.
“Devan, I have to. I need this story. I just have a few pieces of information to confirm and it’s done. I need it to be done. I’ll meet him in public. How about the coffee shop up the block from my office?” I notice the time stamp on the email was just fifteen minutes ago so I shoot him a reply telling him to meet me at Club Coffee at 6:30. That should give me enough time to take an Uber back to my apartment and grab my car.
“Do you really trust this source, Julie?” Devan asks as I grab my keys.
“They’ve been right so far, Devan. I need this information to break the story. You know how hard I’ve been working on this. Between what answers I get from him, and what I’ve been able to gather on my own, I might be ready to write this story. I only have a few questions to ask him anyway, so I won’t be long.” I use the app on my phone to order a car to take me by my apartment before the meeting. “Hey.” I lay a hand on his arm trying to calm his nerves. He’s looking down at the table and not at me and I don’t want him to be angry. “Let me get the last of this information from him. Then, Monday morning, you and I will take everything to the police.”
He looks up at me then, narrowing his eyebrows and tilting his head slightly to one side. “You’ll go to the police with me?”
“Yeah. I want this to be over. I’m really close to breaking this story wide open, Devan. I think after I get a few answers from this source, I’ll be able to piece the rest of it enough to hand it over to the police.”
“Just please be careful. You know how I worry about you. Please call me as soon as you’re done.”
“I will. I promise I’ll text you as soon as I leave the coffee shop. I’m going to stop by the apartment before I come back here if that’s ok. There are a few more things I want to grab for the rest of the weekend. Then I’m all yours for the next two days.” He squeezes my hand and only nods in agreement. I grab my purse, throw my phone inside, and go to get my jacket out of the entryway closet. Devan walks me outside to wait for the Uber and I give him a quick kiss when it arrives. “I’ll be back soon. I love you.”
“I love you too, Julie.” He closes the door for me, backs away putting both hands in his pockets, and stands in the driveway as the driver pulls away from his house.
Once I arrive at the coffee shop, I order my usual and grab a table in the corner. I came early so that I would have a chance to get my thoughts together before he gets here. Not to mention, it gives me a few minutes to look around and make sure I am not being watched. Not that I would know what to look for, but so far, I am not getting any weird feelings like I had the other day when I was here with Marie.
I finish my coffee and return to the counter to order another one. It only takes a few minutes after sitting with my refill for a man to walk up to my table. He is not a tall man, maybe only a few inches taller than me. He appears to be in his forties with grey hair at his temples and a light scruff of a beard. His clothes are casual but wrinkled like he has been living out of a suitcase or the backseat of his car for several days and I wonder if this is the guy I’m waiting to meet or a homeless person off the street coming to beg for spare change.
“Are you Julie?” He asks, standing over me and speaking quietly.
“Yes I am.” He’s holding his hands in front of him and twisting his fingers together nervously.
“Thank God. I wasn’t sure if you would come or not. Sorry if I’m late.”
“You’re not, I came early so I could get us a good table. Please have a seat. Would you like for me to get you anything?
“No, I’m good. Look, I don’t want to alarm you, but I don’t feel safe. It would be best if we made this short so we could both get out of here before anyone realizes I’m talking to you.” He sits in the seat across from me. The table is small, so we don’t have to talk very loudly to hear each other. He leans forward in his chair and places both elbows on the table to get a little closer.
“Of course. I only have a few questions for you anyway, I won’t take up much of your time. Is it okay if I record this?”
“That’s fine, this is still anonymous, though right?” He seems nervous tonight. He keeps his hands fisted together on the table and looks over his shoulder ever few seconds as if looking for someone that may have followed him here. Not that I expect any different.
“Of course.” I assure him. “Just tell me what you know, I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Okay. I’m not sure where to start.” He looks down at the table and chews his bottom lip.
“You could just start at the beginning.” I tell him as I set my audio app to record and place it on the table between us.
“Okay. A couple of years ago, I was working in insurance. I was a claims adjuster so I was one of the guys that would go around investigating burglaries, vandalism, accidents. The types of things that generally resulted in a claim being filed against insurance. Basically, my job was to figure out who or what was at fault and tally up the numbers before a claim check could be sent out.” He proceeds to tell me about his job in insurance and how it had led to several sketchy claims that caught his attention.
“So how does this connect with the burglaries that are going on now around the city?”
