Another installment is done, thanks for reading and the feedback!
They both looked at the tree but the shadow didn't move.
"What is it," she asked.
Matt narrowed his eyes to try to break through the darkness of the surrounding woods but couldn't see any outline or shape.
"It might be a reflection of one of the trees."
C.J. hoped so, but she remembered what it had been like to walk through the college campus in Berkeley at night from class, sensing Grant's presence all around her and this was after she had gotten the restraining order. She had seen his shadow everywhere the street lights cast shadows from the trees and the nearby campus buildings.
Every crackling branch had to be his footstep, every rustling leaf blown in the breeze, his voice. She had turned around after thinking she saw him out of the corner of her eye and had only seen empty space.
And then a memory slipped in front of her.
"Houston…"
He looked away from the shadow towards her, noticing that she seemed focused on something else.
"What?"
"I remembered something," she said, "I remembered Naomi."
He watched the interplay of different emotions on her face, as she remembered something from her past.
"Was she a friend of yours?"
C.J. shook her head.
"I really didn't know her that well," she said, "but she was in my forensics speech class, one of the brightest students until that day…"
Her eyes darkened suddenly.
"What happened," he asked.
C.J. sighed.
"She disappeared…just didn't show up for class one day," she said, "It was really strange because that was the day we were both scheduled to give our final speeches. Nobody ever saw her again."
"Did she just leave school?"
C.J. remained silent but started walking again.
"C.J…"
She turned to face him again.
"Oh…I was just trying to remember," she said, "Her boyfriend Clarence was brought in by police for questioning but he was as mystified as everyone else."
"Did they question Grant?"
It was a simple question but she looked at him startled.
"No…I don't think so," she said, "He was still with Julia at the time but things weren't going well between them. He was so controlling and Julia, she just hated that."
Matt could guess based on how well he knew C.J.'s friend that she would have clashed against any attempts to dominate her which spoke to how volatile their relationship had been. C.J. realized that the young woman she had sat next to in class who didn't show up one day could have been another victim of Grant's. Who knew how many others were out there that remained unknown? After all, Naomi had never been seen again, alive or dead.
They neared the cabin and C.J.'s heart began to beat normally, her muscles relaxed. Matt looked at the cabin which awaited them and they walked up the steps. They went inside and C.J. settled on the couch after flipping the light.
"I had a great time," she said, "They're so nice."
Matt had to agree even though he and Vince still clearly didn't see eye to eye on everything. One thing they did agree on was that they needed to work together to keep C.J. safe. He went into the kitchen to fetch himself a beer.
"Do you want one?"
She nodded and rested back on the sofa thinking about Naomi. What had happened to her? Had she run into Grant and had something happened to her as a result? Why would Grant harm or kill a woman and then go back to Julia as if nothing had happened? How could someone compartmentalize themselves so effectively? Obviously he hadn't been too good at it for too long because he had turned his rage on his girlfriend and those around her until that night Julia had sent him to the hospital.
Matt returned to the living room and handed her a beer. He sat down next to her and took a sip.
"They're going to find him…or I will."
"Houston, you have to be careful," she said, "Grant is very dangerous and you've been injured not too long ago. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I can handle him," he said, "and I meant what I said to Vince if he shows up here."
And of course Vince had warned him about the danger and the legal issues with such behavior, but C.J. knew her best friend and knew that once he made up his mind to do something, he was about set. She just hoped that Grant had been playing with her head when he had made those comments, sent those email. Telling her that he would be trying to find her.
She sipped her own beer, trying to push her apprehension out of her own mind. Matt saw it and he put his beer down on the coffee table and put his arm around her, drawing her close.
"I know you're worried about him," he said, "but you don't have to be."
She sighed.
"I'm not as scared of him as I once was," she said, "Your training's really helped me feel like I can defend myself."
"You won't be alone," he said, "I'll be right here with you."
She knew he meant his words and that scared her more than anything about her own safety. Watching him lying in the hospital bed for weeks had been an ordeal that she had struggled through, keeping her fears to herself and trying to put on a brave and confident front for him so he could focus on recovering. He had gotten so much stronger since he arrived here but that didn't mean he was ready for a life and death struggle with a crazed man who had killed before, albeit women who couldn't fight back.
Mallory and now possibly Naomi too, and maybe others who disappeared, remembered only by those who loved them.
Her phone rung suddenly and she reached for it.
Julia.
"Hi, how are you doing," she asked.
"Great…surrounded by enough cops to make me feel like I'm Ft. Knox."
C.J. smiled.
"It's for your own safety," she said, "Grant's still out there somewhere and no one can find him."
"He better not show up near me," Julia avowed, "or he'll wind up in the hospital again."
"Julia, you have to be careful and do what the police tell you."
"Are you doing that C.J.," her friend said, "How many cops are guarding you right now?"
C.J. sighed.
"It's different here," she said, "It's Houston and there's an LAPD cop with his family not far away."
She thought she would hear exasperation in Julia's voice.
"Well make sure that you stay safe and that goes for Matt too."
"I'll tell him," C.J. said, "I'm hoping that the police, any police, find him soon."
"Me too…the tension is killing me."
C.J. heard weariness in her friend's voice and grew concerned because after all, Julia had been fighting illness and was currently in remission.
"You take care not to wear yourself out…"
"I'm feeling just fine," Julia said, "Especially now that my guy is here."
C.J. relaxed, happy at least that despite her friend's hardship, she had found a man who loved her without needing to control her. She looked over at Matt.
"I'd better let you go now," she said, "Take care and stay safe."
"You too and you and Matt take care of each other."
C.J. clicked off her phone and after putting it down, turned to Matt.
"Julia's doing okay," she said, "Her family and the cops are taking good care of her."
Matt nodded.
"Would you like some officers stationed here?"
She shook her head.
"I'm fine with having you here."
He wrapped his arms around her.
"This is actually quite nice. "
She agreed, liking the way she felt secure in his warmth.
"Houston…"
"Mmmm…"
"Do you miss L.A.?"
He grew silent and she knew he was thinking about it.
"I mean there's not as much of a social scene out here in the woods."
"There's plenty of socializing right here."
She sighed.
"You know what I mean," she said, "You sure you don't want to give Crystal a call or is it Wendy or Pilar?"
Actually at one time or another it had been all of the above but he hadn't really given them much thought since he and C.J. had left the hectic civilization of the big city and had gone to the cabin in rustic surroundings.
"C.J. you're a hell a lot more fun than any woman back in the city."
"Really," she said, "How can that be? I mean you miss the sex don't you?"
She might as well as dropped coffee in his lap.
"Uh, C.J. what are you getting at?"
"Houston, it can't be all that thrilling to be spending weeks up in a cabin with…"
"I wouldn't be with anyone else," he said, "Where's this really coming from anyway?"
She bit her lip.
"I mean if you wanted we could…"
She moved in his embrace and then she lightly touched his mouth with her fingers before she kissed him. A light brushing at first which flowed gently into her lips caressing his own. At first, startled, he soon began kissing her back. His hands began rubbing her arms, and her own hands found his hair.
They shifted position on the couch to get closer to each other.
"Ouch," she said, suddenly.
"Sorry about that…"
"It's okay…this isn't the best place to…"
She pulled away suddenly.
"What are we doing anyway?"
"I thought it was obvious," he answered dryly.
"I mean…we're friends, not…"
"Lovers…I believe that's the word you're looking for," he said, hopefully.
She shook her head.
"This isn't what we should be doing at all."
He narrowed his eyes.
"How do you figure that," he said, "I thought that things felt just fine."
Her cheeks flushed.
"I know…I felt that too."
"Then what's wrong?"
She sighed.
"This…Houston, you're my best friend and I don't want to jeopardize my friendship with you…for a quick roll in the hay."
He listened, knowing this wasn't the first time they had this conversation as it had happened a couple times previously including on a business trip they had taken together to Tokyo. But to him, nothing seemed wrong with it. They were young, single and in a cabin by themselves with time on their hand. What was so wrong with throwing caution in the wind and exploring another dimension in their relationship? It's not like their longtime friendship would come crashing down if they hit the sheets.
At least not in his opinion. Her opinion clearly was much different but he never understood the logic of it. Whatever happened between them would be memorable and very pleasurable and how could that possibly be wrong?
She just withdrew from him, getting on her feet and looking at him, a little bit sadly.
"This just isn't going to work out," she said, "I'd better go…"
Matt knew that right now he needed to go…take a cold shower. He wondered if that was where she was heading and if they had to suffer through it, why not together?
She must have read his mind because she waggled her finger at him.
"Houston…do not follow me," she said, "I'm going by myself and I'll see you in the morning."
He watched her walk away from him, and sank back on the couch with a sigh, as he heard the door close and her turning on the shower.
Seriously why was she making everything between them so complicated?
Inside the bathroom, as the water ran, C.J. sank on the floor and started crying.