Never again would she allow herself to be vulnerable and give up control of her life to a man. To anyone, for that matter. She only trusted God. The shame of her decisions and the fear of dying at Kenny’s hands had forced her to face her mistakes and ask God for forgiveness. He’d given her five years of peace. She should be thankful, but she couldn’t help wondering why He’d allowed pain into her life again.
She exhaled, picked up her phone from the end table, and called Aunt Emily. Relief filled her that Zoey stayed with her aunt, but concern continued to strangle Jennie. She had to warn Aunt Em to be on alert for anything strange while caring for Zoey.
“Hello?”
“Aunt Em, how are things going?” Jennie flipped on the nightlight in the kitchen on her way to the bedroom. A requirement for her sanity after her final hospital stay.
“Fine, honey. Zoey’s in bed reading. Do you need to talk with her?”
“No. No. I called to ask you to keep a close eye on her while she’s with you.” She stepped across the threshold of her bedroom and froze. She scanned her room. Her gaze landed on the closed closet door. She gripped the phone tighter. Her hands trembled.
“Of course. What’s going on, Jennie?” Aunt Em’s words broke through her terror.
No use hiding what happened from the older woman. She’d discover the truth in minutes if she set her mind to it. The police should hire the woman to interrogate criminals. They’d spill their secrets before she finished saying hello.
Jennie sighed. “Someone emailed pictures of Zoey and me. Pictures we didn’t know the person had taken.” Her steps faltered the closer she got to the closet door.
“How awful. Did you call Detective Whitman? Would you like to spend the night here?”
Jennie held her breath and opened the door. She swiped her clothes to the side. Empty. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Jennie?”
She shook her head. “Sorry. I’m still here. No, I’m good, and David knows. Could you keep Zoey until late-morning since she doesn’t have school tomorrow? I know how she loves her baking time with you.”
“Sounds good, honey. Take care of yourself. Come over if you need to.”
“I will. Thanks again for everything, Aunt Em.”
“Love you, sweetie.”
“Love you too.” She tapped the end button on her phone and placed it on her dresser. Her emerald heart pendant necklace that Kenny had given her lay in a swirl next to her jewelrybox. She furrowed her brow. Hadn’t she disposed of that piece of jewelry before she’d moved? Maybe Tina had packed it, not realizing where it had come from. But still, why was it out?
Zoey. Her shoulders relaxed. It had to have been Zoey. She’d ask her daughter about it tomorrow.
Jennie chucked the necklace into the trashcan. After one last look around, she changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed.
Her skin prickled, and her gaze darted to each corner of the room. Something triggered her anxiety. But what? She scrambled out of bed, retrieved her phone, then returned and pulled the covers to her chin.
Her fingers itched to call David, but she had to be strong. She refused to show weakness. Refused to let someone control her ever again.
The curtains hung motionless. Her dresser knickknacks all in place. The teddy bear Tina had bought her during her hospital stay sat on the chair in the corner. Nothing appeared out of place except the necklace she’d thought she’d thrown out years ago.
See, no reason to panic.
She would not let fear win.
The claws of doubt grabbed ahold and dug in.
Would her stubbornness get her killed?
Chapter 6
Saturday 11:00 a.m.
David’s feet pounded in the soft dirt along the edge of the lake. His tender ankle ached and the sweat trickling down his arm burned his stitches. The late start to his morning had delayed his jog. He almost threw his running shoes back into his closet, but with his thoughts cluttered from the events of the past few days, he knew exercise would clear the cobwebs.
His rhythmic breathing held cadence while his mind swirled. Last night when he’d stared into Jennie’s deep blue eyes, his heart betrayed him. He’d vowed to keep his distance from any relationship until he left the law enforcement profession. That way, when he failed to keep the woman he loved safe, he wouldn’t feel like a complete failure.
