A Face in the Shadow Part 1 Chapter 12

Twelve

“Shannon you would not believe this realtor at my mom’s this weekend.”

“That good or that bad?”

“Come on down to my office.” Shannon walked around cardboard filing boxes and an oversized coat rack. “When are you going to have someone take those to storage?”

“I’ll get to it. I’ve been busy.”

Shannon was always too busy to store the files. That was why she walked around boxes from two or three years ago and drove around town to meet with clients rather than put the boxes away and meet them in her office.

“Well, tell me all about him.” Shannon crossed one leg under the other and sat down in the chair across from Rachel.

“We walk in to this awful house. It stuck like rotten food and mold.”

“Lovely.”

“No joke. But I felt really bad for the guy. He didn’t seem to think the house was anything worth buying either.”

“Did he say that?”

“No. Well I guess he did put in the flowers out front to dress the place up.”

“He put in flowers?”

“Yes. Anyway, he was really nice but you know how sometimes you can tell someone is checking you out?” Rachel pulled out Drew’s card and pecked his homepage in her browser. His photo might be up on his website.

“Yes-.” Shannon’s voice was urgent. She scooted the chair closer to Rachel’s desk.

“Okay, I’m talking about what kind of house I’d really like to see and he’s writing on this note pad. Then real quick he gives me this card.” She gave the business card to Shannon.

“Smooth.”

“That’s what I thought.” She put the card in her wallet. ““See what happens when you lie about having a date. You miss out on hot guys.”

“Oh, so he is attractive.” Shannon leaned back in her chair.

“Didn’t I say that?”

“Not really.”

“Yes, very handsome. Athletic, dark eyes and hair and stylish. Looks live one of those GQ kind of guys.”

“GQ guys are usually shallow.”

“You know, he reminds me of that really hot teaching assistant in our 300 level economics class senior year.”

“Is he that cute?” Shannon’s eyes were wide.

“I think he is.” The website popped up. “Aw, his photo isn’t loading.” she pointed to the little icon that indicated a photo should have been there.

“Keep me posted then.” Shannon got up and walked back to her office. Rachel opened her email and started scrolling down deleting spam as she went. Her cell phone vibrated on her hip.

“Hello?”

“Is this Rachel?”

“Yes.”

“This is Jeremy Wright. Our cars met last Friday.”

“Oh yeah. Hello Jeremy.”

“Mail Truck.” Her computer announced. Rachel clicked it open.

“I was calling…see if you…body shops...”

“I’m sorry there’s a really bad connection. I haven’t found a body shop.”

“Okay, I’ll…better time…names.” The line went dead. She closed her phone and scanned the email she’d just opened from Drew. It included a link to view a number of properties. She opened it and five came on the screen. She clicked on each one but the first three were nothing she wanted to look in to. The fourth one looked promising. She picked up the phone and dialed Shannon’s extension.

“Shannon I found a house I want to look at. You want to go with me?”

“Of course.”

“All right. Email is sent. I told him to call me so we could schedule a time to look at it.”

“Try to avoid the weekend or you know your mom will have us stay.”

“I went to church with her this past weekend. That should pay me up for at least a month. Looking at her house should give me another month or two for credit.”

“Good. I’m free every night but Thursday. Let me know when he emails.”

“I will.”

“We still going to Panera Bread for lunch?”

“I was planning on it. We need to go at 11:30 if we want to be back in time for our conference call this afternoon.”

“Rachel you have a call on line two.” The receptionist called over the intercom.

“Who is it?”

“Drew, with Goldman Realty.”

“Thank you.”

“Gotta go Shannon.”

“Bye.” She switched over to Drew’s line.

“This is Rachel.”

“Hello Rachel, this is Drew at Goldman Realty.”

“Hello Drew.”

You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.

Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at www.WritingCareerCoach.com

Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.

This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.

Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title then copy the address in the browser.

A Face in the Shadow Part 1 Chapter 11

Eleven

“The house is just down the block would you like to walk?” Rachel’s mom asked as she slid in to her walking shoes.

“Sure.” Rachel put her keys back in her purse and looked down at her stiletto ankle boots.

“Oh heavens you can’t walk in those.” Her mom looked down at Rachel’s feet.

“They’ll be fine…how far down is the house?”

“Ten minutes or so.”

“I’ll be fine.” She held the door for her mom and followed her up the street. After fifteen minutes of walking they turned down a cul-de-sac.

“There it is.” Her mom pointed to a two story white house in desperate need of paint surrounded by an old chain link fence. The grass needed mowed but there were flowers in mulched beds lining the walk up to the house. The fence squeaked as she opened it.

“Go on up.” Her mom urged her.

Already this house was a ‘no’.

“You must be Rachel.” The realtor came out the front door and down the steps to where she stood with her mom. He wore a grey suit, looked to be fine wool. She had seen similar outfits on some of the business owners she worked with. The clothes only momentarily distracted her from his painfully good looks. “I’m Drew. I’ve heard a great deal about you.”

Rachel shook his outstretched hand. His grip was firm. A confident man. She looked over at her mom. “So then my mom has told you I’m not really actively looking for a house.”

“No she hadn’t mentioned that…” he looked past her to her mom. “But I appreciate the opportunity to show you around just the same.” He opened the back door for the women then followed behind.

“The stove and refrigerator are negotiable but the sellers are taking the microwave with them to their new house.” Drew said. He stepped to the corner of the small kitchen as he spoke.

Rachel scanned the dripping faucet and scuffed countertop. To the left of the refrigerator a cupboard door was partially open. She opened it the rest of the way with her finger. The dim light in the center of the kitchen didn’t reach to the back of the shelf but she saw enough. Ripped and bubbling greenish-orange swirl contact paper lined the shelves in the cupboards. She pulled out a drawer…contact paper there too.

“You know, Rachel-,” Her mom pushed the drawer closed and walked her closer to the center of the small kitchen “Drew was telling me they recently redid the bathroom.”

“Good.” Rachel looked under the sink. No water spots but she caught a whiff of something pungent. It threatened to steal the dinner she had eaten at her mom’s house. “What is that smell?”

“Oh…uh…they forgot to clean out the freezer when they moved.” Drew pushed on the freezer door as he walked past Rachel to a small door. There is also a nice pantry here.” He pulled the door open. “It is large enough to hold cleaning supplies and possibly canned goods on these shelves.

Rachel nodded and looked again at the Fridge. No wonder appliances were negotiable. Why not have someone pay you to throw out your old stuff.

She leaned over to her mom. “Kitchen needs a lot of work.”

“You don’t cook much. Let’s not judge until we look at the rest of the house.” Rachel followed her mom to the living room.

“And the carpet could be replaced.” Drew said as he ran in behind her.

“I told you it is a lovely fixer-upper.” Her mom said.

Were they even looking at the same house? How could her mom have chosen this place for her? Nothing here whispered modern, trendy or even clean for that matter.

“What I’m really looking for-.” Rachel said surveying the great room that made the front of the house “is something newer. Maybe built in the last five to ten years if possible in this price range plus or minus fifteen thousand.” She walked over to the windows overlooking the front yard. “And no chain link fence. Wood fence is fine, no fence is better.”

She looked back. Drew was writing something down and her mom looked at her with pursed lips and arms crossed.

Find something positive to say about the place. She looked from Drew back to her mom. “But I love the landscaping. If there are perennials I’d be thrilled.”

“I did the landscaping.” Drew said without looking up from his notebook.

“You did?” Her mom’s charm returned. “Drew, you did an excellent job.”

“I agree, it’s this house’s best feature.” Rachel laughed….alone.

Drew continued, “My grandparents owned a green house when I was younger. I remember how my grandpa was convinced that you could learn all you needed to know about a person by their favorite flower.”

“You don’t say.” Her mom had folded her arms again but this time to support her fingers on her chin.

“Really-.” Drew looked up at Rachel. “He even said the color of the particular flower was important to knowing who that person was inside.”

Rachel looked back out the front window. “So what do these flowers tell me about you?” She motioned over her shoulder to the flower beds lining the sidewalk.

Drew handed her his business card with a note on the back. “That I take my job very seriously.” She looked down at the note. It said “Dinner sometime?” She slid his card in her wallet then gave him hers. “Call me with more details.”

Her mom stepped forward. “You want to go look upstairs.”

“No, I don’t think this is the place I’m looking for right now.”

“But you didn’t give it a chance.”

“Fine.”

Her mom grabbed her by the arm and took her up the stairs. “Look at the master bedroom, Rachel. It’s so huge.”

“Yes, it’s good size.”

“And look at the bathroom they redid.”

“It’s nice but I don’t like yellow.”

Her mom waved away her concern and walked through the room and down the hall. “There are two other bedrooms” She called over her shoulder. “They are much smaller but one could be a guest room and the other an office if you’d like.

“I try to leave work at work.” She said following behind her mom.

“Those upstairs bathrooms have all new plumbing too.” Drew yelled up the steps.

“Thanks.” Rachel yelled down. “Mom, it’s nice but not really what I’m looking for.”

“Then why did I go through all this bother?”

“Mom, I didn’t ask you to find me a house.”

“Well you have no time with all the workin’ you do. You don’t date, you don’t do anything ‘cept work and go home.”

Rachel walked down the steps and over to Drew. “Thank you for showing me the house. I’ll look forward to your call on Monday.”

“Feel free to email and tell me exactly what you’re looking for. My address is on the card.”

“Thank you, I will.” She turned to the steps and called up. “Mom, the realtor is going to email me some other properties we can look at. He said he’d get with me Monday.”

“Make sure they’re close to Woodhaven, Drew.”

You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.

Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at www.WritingCareerCoach.com

Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.

This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.

Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title then copy the address in the browser.

A Face in the Shadow Part 1 Chapter 10

Ten

Rachel maneuvered her Taurus off the highway while cars continued to rush by. You’d think it was the Autobahn the way people zipped through the stretch of highway. She turned right off the ramp and left at the first light. Construction signs flashed ahead and traffic was beginning to back up. Whe cranked her wheel to the right on to Maple instead of driving all the way down to Fairmont. She could take it a mile or two then take a connecting street over to Fairmont. The staccato ping of her cell phone’s ring tone pulled her eyes from the road for a moment. She reached down for her earpiece. Shannon Cell was on her phone display along with a picture of Shannon’s car.

“Hey former best friend.”

“Ha-Ha. You at your mom’s place yet?”

“No, you on your hot date yet?”

“Canceled.”

“I’ll bet.” Rachel slowed down and scanned the signs. She didn’t remember Fairmont being this far down.

“Have you seen…” Rachel’s car lunged forward and her phone flew off the seat ripping the cord out.

“Oh, no.” Rachel looked in the rearview mirror at the shocked driver behind her then groped around on the floor until her fingers wrapped around her phone. She opened it. “You still there Shannon?”

“Yeah, I’m here. What happened?”

“I think someone just hit me.” Rachel eased her car off to the right. The curb was almost completely blocked with cars so she double parked. “I’ll call you back.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll call you later. Bye.” She closed the phone and opened the door. A young man jumped out of his pick-up and nearly ran to her.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” She walked to the back of her car and rubbed the scuff above the wheel well.

“I got your tail light too.” His voice was young, a bit high pitched for a man his age. She walked around to the back. A four inch long section was broken out of the tail light. Enough damage to be annoying, and less than her deductible.

“It doesn’t look like there’s too much damage. Let’s exchange information.” She walked quickly back to the car and pulled out the small black wallet that held all of her information in the glove compartment. “This should be all the information you need.” She scribbled on the notebook page without looking up. “And here is my card with my phone number.” She handed him the card.

“Could I use a piece of your paper, uh” He looked down at her card. “Rachel?”

She tore off a sheet of paper and gave it to him. “What’s your name?”

“Jeremy Wright.” He leaned on the hood of his black pick-up truck and wrote his information. “Sorry again. I was changing lanes and not paying attention to what I was doing. Here’s my information.” He gave her the piece of paper. “If you don’t mind I’d like to pay for this myself without putting it through insurance.”

“Why?” A request like that came from people who were shady and not going to pay for the repair. That was Rachel’s experience.

He pursed his lips as if holding back a smile. “And my card.” He gave her his business card. She scanned it and laughed.

“You’re an insurance agent?”

“Well, I’m not actually an agent. I work for the company’s public relations department.”

“I must say I am very impressed with you as a representative of the agency.” She leaned back against her car and eyed him a moment. What was she doing? Her mom already had her prince charming waiting with a house. She straightened back up and smoothed down her clothes. “If you won’t mind paying all the repairs, and for a loaner if I need it, I won’t reveal your secret.”

“Of course.” He looked down at her card again. “You don’t live in Woodhaven?”

“No, I’m visiting my parents.” She rubbed the dent. It should be an easy repair. “I should thank you for making me a little late.”

“Really?”

“My parents are a little-.” She searched for the right words. “Eager to get me back in the neighborhood…preferably with a husband for me and grandchildren for them.”

“Okay, welcome to the neighborhood.”

“I wouldn’t go that far yet.” She walked to her driver side door and put her hand on the handle. The traffic had thinned down considerably.

“Call me as soon as you get the bill.” He said, waved and walked to his truck.

You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.

Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at www.WritingCareerCoach.com

Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.

This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.

Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title then copy the address in the browser.

A Face in the Shadow Part 1 Chapter 9

Nine

“It’s okay. Momma will be back soon.” Logan spoke quietly to Mrs. Nylski’s dog, Sammy. The dog was nearly senile according to the vet. The man wanted to murder the poor dog but Logan had insisted the dog be allowed to live out his days. It sickened him that people were so willing to kill a dog at the first sign of sickness.

“Dogs deserve better don’t they boy.” He carefully lifted the dog to his shoulder and rubbed him with his cheek.

“Oh now Sammy that boy’s gonna spoil you.” Mrs. Nylski said as she came back in the living room. “A man like you with so much love to give should have a family rather than passing your days with an old lady.”

Logan stood and gently set the dog on the couch so he could help Mrs. Nylski in to her chair. “I made you something for dinner. It’s in the oven so it stays warm.”

“A young man who cook-.”

“Careful-.” Logan helped lower her the last few inches then brought Sammy to sit on her lap.

“Thank you, dear.” She stroked Sammy while Logan positioned her walker so she could get back up when she needed to. “Why don’t you stay on and have supper with me this evening.”

“If you don’t mind.”

“Of course not. You don’t have a meeting with a young lady friend, do you?”

“No.” Jen’s smile popped in his head but he pushed it away. The pain of her betrayal still fresh. “I start my new job at the senior center next week.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” He picked up a bit of trash and tossed it in the waste basket. “I’m going to work two days a week there.”

“The one in Woodhaven?”

“That’s the one. If you’d like I could drive you over on days I work and you could spend the days with them.”

She smiled, her dentures loose in her mouth, then looked back down at the dog on her lap. “I don’t know. Sammy would get lonely.”

“Take’em along.” Logan scratched the little dog’s ears.

“I’ll set the table and we can eat now.”

***

You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.

Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at www.WritingCareerCoach.com

Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.

This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.

Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title then copy the address in the browser.

A Face in the Shadow Part 1 Chapter 8

Eight
Rachel pulled up the entrance ramp to the interstate.
“You have got to be kidding me.” All three lanes in each direction were creeping along. She slowly nosed to the left only merging in when someone let her in. She waved a thank you and flipped on the radio
And we’ll have your next traffic update in ten minutes on WJ-
She clicked it back off. August sunlight was stronger than her air conditioning. She clicked the fan to four and held her hand over the vent.
“Great, one more thing to fix.”
She turned the fan as high as it would go and pointed the vents to her and dialed her mom’s number.
“Mom, it’s me.”
“Hey, darlin’ I was settin’ the table. You on your way?”
“Yes but I’m stuck in some nasty traffic. We’re moving about twenty under right now.”
“Get here when you can. I’ve got dinner waitin’.”
“Hopefully I’ll be there in about ½ an hour. I had a last minute project dropped on my desk.”
“We’re meeting Drew at 7:30.”
“Who?”
“Drew, the realtor.” She had to be kidding. Rachel looked over at the clock. It was 5:37.
“He’s coming over?”
“No, we’re meetin’ him down the way. Owners just knocked $15,000 off the price.”
“You told him I’m not really in the market to-?”
“Rach, other line’s beepin’. We’ll talk when you get here.”
She flipped her phone shut and set it in her lap. Up ahead traffic was starting to move. The State street exit always slowed things down on Friday. Should have remembered that.
Shannon had managed to back out at the last minute. Some lame excuse about a last minute date. A few minutes later she passed the State street exit and accelerated to a little over the speed limit. She moved toward the center lane on the highway to avoid the rush hour racecars that plowed through this two mile stretch of highway.
It would be nice if her mom bugged Adam half as much as she did Rachel. Rachel pushed down on the accelerator and zipped past a VW bug. The man inside was hunched over the wheel and looked way too tall for such a small car.
“What kind of guy drives a bug anyway?”
Maybe once her parents stopped treating her like a child and acknowledge that she had done something with her life. Her older brother Adam was the golden child married to a beautiful woman who could have modeled. Mom would add ‘if it hadn’t caused a brother to fall to the sin of lust.’
Rachel loved Adam, didn’t like him too much though. He was too judgmental, too much like their parents and -.
A streak of red flashed past on her left. A dodge squealed in to her lane. She slammed her brakes to avoid running in to him.
“This is why I stay in the office until 6:30.” Her voice echoed in the near silent car. She was not in the mood for this traffic, a visit with her family or the guilt picking at her. Two CD’s were in her glove compartment. She reached over and took the first one her fingers wrapped around. No time to mess with the thoughts in her head. Accept who your family is and don’t try to change them. Let them be who they are, and limit contact. It had worked in the eight years since graduation.
She turned up the volume and let the music take her thoughts away from the cacophony in her mind.


You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title then copy the address in the browser.

A Face in the Shadow Part 1 Chapter 7

Seven
He hated this part of relationships. The exhilaration of firsts had ended. The first glance, the first date, the first time their hands had gently brushed each other. He held her hand in his and stroked her icy fingers. Neither person said a word. He studied the beauty of her well-manicured nails. She was leaning back in the tub. Eyes fixed on Logan.
“I’m really sorry things didn’t work out better.” He let go of her hand and it dropped back in her lap. She had no words left to say.
He really was sorry. The smell of bleach and ammonia burned his eyes. He lifted her perfume and inhaled deeply. The vanilla bean scent flooded his nostrils and cleansed his conscience for a moment. He sprayed it on her and for a moment he remembered their first date. He had been sure Jen was the One.
No, she lied. She failed the test.
“Do you mind if I use your cell phone?”
She didn’t answer.
“Of course you don’t.” It was polite to ask anyway. He slid on his black leather gloves before he pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed the number.
“9-1-1 What’s your emergency?”
“I’d like to report a murder.” He made his voice deep, much deeper than his true voice. It didn’t sound fake. That was an amateur mistake. He kept his voice calm and measured. The deed was done. Losing control of ones emotions is what led to people getting caught. No reason to get excited.
The first one had been exciting but each time they got easier, more routine. He lightly kissed his gloved fingers and pressed them against her bottom lip.
“The address is 7815 Wi-.” He flipped the cell closed. The police would have to look for a while to find the place. When they did everyone would likely assume that loudmouth on the second floor who was searching door-to-door for her had done it.
A stroke of luck really.
He gently laid a white rose on Jen’s chest next to the Alpha Mu Epsilon charm. The metal rings on her shower curtain scraped as he pulled the curtain almost closed. He turned on the hot water and watched it cascade from her forehead down the length of her body.
The evidence would wash away along with his painful memories. When the room started to steam up he pushed in the lock and closed the bathroom door. Emotions roiled inside him with alternating waves of regret and rage. Why couldn’t she have been faithful? Been worthy? He screamed out a word usually reserved for foul-mouthed bar-hoppers or other such riffraff then went in to the kitchen and dropped her cell phone in the bucket of bleach he’d used to clean up the blood in the bathroom.
He had invested almost a year in this relationship and now she was gone. Certainly there was a woman out there who would appreciate all he had to offer.

You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.
Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at www.WritingCareerCoach.com
Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.
This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.
Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title then copy the address in the browser.

A Face in the Shadow Part 1 Chapter 6

Six

Jenny stood a few feet from the door.

“Open up.” The man boomed from the other side. She held the knife, blade pointed toward the door and tiptoed toward the living room. She slid her trembling hand behind the curtain to check the window latch. She didn’t want to risk seeing another shadow peering at her from the darkness. She felt the slide inside of its latch but lifted just a bit on the handle to be sure it was locked. She slid her hand back out and clipped the curtains closed with a clothes pin.

“Thanks for holding the door.” The door rattled hard. Then he yelled an explicative again and stomped down the steps.

Slow, deep breaths. Calm down now, everything is fine. “God has not given me a spirit of fear…He has not given me a spirit of fear…God has not given me a spirit of fear.” She whispered and pulled back the edge of the curtain covering her sliding glass door. The broom handle was still wedged in the track. She let the curtain fall back. The apartment plunged in to darkness other that the faint glow of street lights that slipped around her blinds.

She stepped backwards softly from the window.

“Hello beautiful.” The sultry voice behind her was less than five feet away. Her breath caught in her throat and with it her ability to scream. The last drops of adrenaline pulsed through her veins. She spun around, heart racing.

“Aren’t you going to answer me?” The voice said again. She grabbed her chest in relief, flipped open her cell phone and without a hello gushed in the phone.

“I could kill you for that stupid ring tone!”

“Why?” Logan’s voice, the one on the ring tone, was like melted chocolate.

“Because it scared the life out of me.” He started laughing. She still held her chest but the burning heat of fear was fading. She set the knife down on her end table and sat on the couch.

“What happened?” His voice suddenly commanding without a hint of laughter remaining.

“I found a flower in my car after I hung up with you then-.” She glanced again to the clothespin holding the curtain shut.

“I’ll be over in five minutes.”

“But it’ll take you at least fifteen or twenty to get all the way -.”

“I’m just around the corner from you. I didn’t like the way things ended on the phone. I got a little something for you.”

“Logan, someone followed me in to the building.”

“Was it him?”

“I don’t know but he’s really angry. He pounded up and down the hall looking for me and-.”

“I’ll call when I’m in the parking lot. Buzz me up. I dare him to say a word when I’m around.”

“Thank you.” She didn’t hide the relief in her voice.

“I’ll talk to you soon.”

She went down the short hall to her bedroom and flipped on the light. Quickly she pulled off the yoga suit she had worn home from the gym and slid on jeans and her cream colored shirt.

“I need to change that ring tone.” She said then set the phone on vibrate and clipped it to her hip. Why did Logan like this outfit on her so much. White wasn’t a slimming color, but he always insisted she looked beautiful in cream colors.

She straightened the blankets on her bed and draped her new chenille throw at an angle across it. The room was neat and tidy like Logan wanted it. He loved structure and order-

“He’ll be here any time.”

Her eyes lingered on the side of her bed that was empty night after night. She imagined Logan there beside her, protecting her when she slept. She had never met a man who knew how to make a woman feel beautiful and special like he did. Even his constant need for structure was adorable with him.

“I want to marry him.”

It was a light bulb flashing on in her brain. The stupid fears of being saddled in another bad relationship had nearly stolen the man who completed her. She spun to the oval mirror hanging above her dresser. Quickly she put on her makeup and brushed through her hair. She would tell him yes today. She beamed at her reflection. Logan, he will plop down on the couch shocked.

“No, he’s going to throw his arms around me and kiss me.”

She scurried back down the hall to the living room and fixed the pillows on her couch. Her cell vibrated against her hip.

“Come on up.” She said then flipped the phone shut and buzzed the security door release. Wonder if he has the ring with him? He probably didn’t. She had already turned him down once tonight.

“Jen it’s me.” He called gently through the door as he tapped. She pulled the door open, threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately. He pulled her close and returned the kiss. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight against him. She pushed against his chest for air but he grabbed the back of her head and forced her tighter.

“Lo…gan.” She gasped. He loosened his hold a little and allowed her to breath.

“What in the world was that?” She said smoothing down her shirt.

“Sorry, I was glad to see you.”

She studied him for a moment then took him by the hand and led him to the living room. “I’m glad to see you too I want-.”

He spun her around with a jerk. His eyes grabbed hers and his fingers pressed hard in to her arm.

“Logan, you’re hurting…me.” She wiggled but he squeezed harder…and smiled.

“Isn’t it okay for me to kiss you, Jen? Are you going to say no to that too?”

“Of course I want to-. Logan, you’re hurting me.” She grunted and pried at his fingers that were digging in her arm. The last time he looked at her like this was the night he had taken her purity. She had surrendered to him, but only because he’d made it clear it could have happened with or without her permission. Once she relented to him he was gentle and loving but-.

“So he left you another rose?” He released his grip with a jerk. She stepped back and rubbed her arm.

“I don’t want to talk about that…Logan I’ve been thinking about us getting married and-.”

“So have I.” He stepped toward her. His eyes narrowed. Jen took a corresponding step back. “I’ve wondered why our relationship was moving forward until some strange man started leaving you flowers.”

“That had nothing to do with it. I-.”

“Oh no? You gave yourself to me, Jen. I thought that meant we were going to be together forever.”

“And I-.” Jen bumped up against the couch and fell down.

“You what, Jen? You want me to come night after night and be your savior and expect nothing in return? You expect me to-.”

“Logan, I want to m-.”

“Jen, you hurt me. I can’t let some other man come between us.”

“But there is no -.”

“I had to know.” He grabbed his head with both hands. See, Jen, Just like God put the Tree in the Garden with Adam and Eve to give them a choice, I gave you a choice.”

“What?”

“Every day Adam and Eve looked at that Tree and they made a decision if they would love and obey God or if they would obey their flesh. The tree was there so they could decide who they loved. I needed to know who you loved, Jen.”

“I love-.”

“No, Jen. You don’t. See you can’t force love. You have to choose it. I needed to know if you loved me more than anyone else.”

“I do-.”

“No you don’t.” His voice was a low growl and his eyes were two white slits on his red face.

“Yes.” She squeaked out. He straightened. The red faded and his natural color returned.

“See Jen. That’s all I needed to hear.” He was calm and charming.

“What?” She scooted up on to her elbows but still felt vulnerable on the couch.

“Yes. All I needed to hear from you was yes. I’ve loved you Jen.” His voice rose again and he moved his arms wildly. She sat up and planted her feet on the ground.

“Logan?” Who was this man standing in her apartment. His eyes were intense and narrow. His voice commanding.

“What’s the matter, Jen?” He took a step toward her.

“I just-. I don’t know why you’re acting like this. I thought that…after I told you…what I wanted to tell you…that maybe…you’d…uh…spend the night.” Her voice betrayed the fear pulsating through her veins.

“Good.” He tiled his head down a bit and gawked at her. He curled the right side of his mouth up.

“I brought you a little something, Beautiful.” He stepped back toward the front door and picked something up from the floor in the hallway. “A little something special for my girl.” He picked up the white rose with a black ribbon tied around it.

“That’s not funny.” She whispered.

“No, I agree. It’s not funny that you love a man that would hurt you more than a man who tried to love you.”

“But-.”

“I brought you this too.” He held up the small silver charm.

“No.” She scampered to her feet but Logan blocked the exit.

“Jenny, don’t run.” He taunted. She stood on one side of the table, Logan on the other. He kept the rose to his nose and smiled at her.

The door. She remembered the patio door behind her. He didn’t have a weapon. Without breaking eye contact she backed herself to the sliding glass door. Logan tossed the rose on the couch and stepped toward her. Closer. She waited…He stepped closer and lifted the Greek charm. Closer.

“No!” She screamed at the same instant she kicked him with all the force her tired legs could muster. She spun around, jumped behind the curtain and unlocked the sliding glass door then jerked-.” It barely budged.

“C’mon.” She grimaced. It opened only a smidge. The bar-.

“Jenny.” Logan yelled.

She knelt down and flipped the bar out of the door track.

Thud

Something thudded against the glass over her head. She stood up quickly and grabbed the door handle of the sliding door. She would rip it open, run out on the balcony, then jump.

Fingers wrapped around her throat. She released the door handle and reached up to pry them loose.

Air. She needed.

“How dare you.” Logan jerked her in the apartment and shoved her down. “You are mine, Jenny. Alpha Mu Epsilon.”

It made no sense. His words were like echoes in her mind, incoherent really. Her head was in a vice grip as she fought for air. He had her on the ground. He was sitting on her and holding her throat with his right hand. Her tired limbs were pinned down. The darkness enveloped her with only a glimmer of light slicing down Logan’s calm expression.

He held the charm in front of her. Jenny kicked her legs around but couldn’t push free. She needed to breathe. He leaned down in her face. His breath was hot against her ear.

“Alpha Mu Epsilon.”

***

You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.

Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at www.WritingCareerCoach.com

Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.

This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.

Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title then copy the address in the browser.

A Face in the Shadow Part 1 Chapter 5

Five

“Rachel, your mom is on line three.” Shannon yelled from the receptionist desk.

“Thanks. Did you find the papers yet?” She yelled back.

“No, I have no clue where I put them.” Shannon walked in the office. “I’ll look more tomorrow. We have plenty of other work to do before then. Aren’t you going to pick up line three?”

“Do I hafta?” She laughed.

“At least she only called twice today.” Shannon scooped up the sales analysis they’d been discussing.

“Yes but I know she’s going to bug me again about visiting.”

“Your fault for saying ‘in a couple of weeks.’”

Rachel pushed the button for line three. “Hi Mom.”

“Hi. How’s your day?”

“Busy. I had meetings all afternoon.”

“Lots a new clients or are you servicing the ones you got?”

“Little of both.”

“Things keeping you pretty busy.”

“Uh-huh, it is.” She looked over the charts and graphs on her desk. “Probably got another hour of work to do.”

“When do you ever sleep?”

Rachel looked up at the clock. “Mom, it’s almost eight. Why did you call me at the office?”

“I tried your cell first but you didn’t answer.” Rachel reached in her purse and pulled out her cell phone.

“Oh, sorry. I had it on vibrate earlier. I must have forgotten to put it back on ring.” Five missed calls? She scrolled down through them. Mom, mom, mom, their new sales man, mom.

“Why weren’t your phones forwarded?”

“We just left them go since we were here.”

Rachel caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye. Shannon held up a legal pad with two stick figures inside of a heart.

“No.” Rachel mouthed without speaking.

“The reason I’m calling is the house on the corner went up on the market today. I saw the realtor when he was putting the sign in the yard.”

“Did it?” Rachel drew a box with a triangle roof on her notebook and held it up for Shannon.

“A house?” Shannon said.

“Yes.” She whispered back.

“What?”

“Nothing mom. I was answering Shannon’s question.”

“I was saying. It’s such a great deal. Little bit of a fixer-upper but being s’ close dad could help you with the bigger jobs like drywall and plumbing. I can help you with decorating, wallpaper, paint and those kinds of things.”

“That’s fine mom but I’m really not looking for a house right now.”

“I need a house.” Shannon yelled over.

“Mom, Shannon said she needs a house.”

“There ya go. Shannon can be your roommate.”

“No, I’m too neat for Shannon.” Rachel cleared three files from her desk. “I like my apartment. And your house is half an hour away from my work.”

“I know but you drive twenty minutes as it is. Nevermind, just trying to help out a bit.”

“I appreciate it mom but I’m in a lease-“

“And I was thinking with interest rates going back up. Might be a good time to get in a place.”

“I know but-“

“What is ten minutes more when you’re traveling twenty already? And it’s such a nice little place. Three bedrooms, two baths, a fenced double lot and a basement. Basement is nice sized and could be finished off.”

“Okay, I’ll come look at it.” Why was she even trying to win this fight?

“Sucker.” Shannon sang over from her desk. Rachel swatted at her.

“Come up Friday night for dinner. You can look at the house and go to church with us.”

“Friday? I think I have plans.”

“With who? Tell Shannon she can come along. We always have a wonderful time when she visits. There’s a nice young businessman who started attending our church. Maybe she’d like to meet him.”

“Oh really? A guy Shannon’s type started going to your church. I’ll have to tell her.” Shannon waved both of her arms in an X motion in front of her. Rachel nodded her head back at Shannon. “All right mom we’ll come up but we have to get these monthlies looked over if I’m ever going to get out of here tonight.”

“That’ll be just fine. I’ll talk to you in a couple a days. Mean time I’ll give the realtor a call and figure a time to see the place.”

“Okay mom, bye.”

You are reading A Face in the Shadow by Tiffany Colter.

Tiffany is a writer, speaker and writing career coach. She is a frequent contributor to print and online publications in addition to her regular marketing blog at www.WritingCareerCoach.com

Get each new chapter delivered to you by signing up for the Tiffany Colter Fiction Blog using the link on the right.

This story is copyright Tiffany Colter. 2007. It may not be copied, distributed, sold or included in any larger work without the expressed written permission of Tiffany Colter.

Bloggers may comment on or link to this blog from their own blog. To link directly to this posting click the title then copy the address in the browser.