Chapter 19

Chapter

Nineteen

December 23 rd

5:10 P.M.

A knock at the door caught her by surprise.

Jessica glanced at her watch. It was after five, and Donovan should be on his way home by now, but there was no way he could be there already. Even if he was, there was no reason for him to knock on his own front door, this was his place after all not hers.

Although she did love the pretty penthouse.

It had gorgeous views across the city, a huge living room that she could already picture the three of them sitting in together, playing board games or building with Lego. The kitchen was also huge with enough space for a large table even though there was also a formal dining room. There was another cozier living space, more of a den, which looked like the perfect spot to curl up on a cold winter’s night, turn on the TV, and binge-watch a show. There were four bedrooms, all of a generous size, and like everything else in the penthouse, the master was also huge with the biggest bathroom she’d ever seen in her life. It was kind of a shame she’d opted for one of the guest rooms since she would have loved to share it with Donovan, but she didn't want to rush things when she had a child to consider.

Staying with him was only for while she recovered. After the winter break, when Freddie went back to school the two of them would be moving back to their place. Of course, she’d keep dating Donovan, and when they both felt like the time was right for all three of them they’d get married and move in together.

But not yet.

Definitely too soon.

A second more impatient knock at the door had her giving the newly decorated room a final glance before heading for the foyer. It was likely one of the guards Donovan had hired to watch over them all while they stayed there. There were supposed to be two downstairs and one standing outside the lift so no one could get up.

Still to be safe, Jessica brought up the camera feed to check. Before he left this morning Donovan had set up her phone so she had access to all the security cameras. Just as a precaution, they’d both believed she was safe there.

Jessica still believed she was.

On the screen was Donovan’s secretary.

Worry took hold inside her. Had something happened to Donovan? There should be no reason for the secretary to be there unless there was something wrong. What that could mean, though, she had no idea. Had Donovan been in an accident? A problem at his building? Sick? Hurt? Had there been another issue with the stalker?

“Mom, who’s at the door?” Freddie asked, wandering out of the kitchen with some crackers. Her son was certainly making himself at home. He’d loved staying with Donovan’s parents, loved that they’d fallen quickly into the roles of doting grandparents, and he loved that the building the penthouse was in also had a pool.

Her little water baby was a sucker for any body of water he could go swimming in. Pool, lake, ocean, it didn't matter to Freddie, as long as he was swimming he was happy.

“It’s Donovan’s secretary,” she told him as she unlocked the door and opened it.

As soon as she did, her cop instincts sprang to life .

Something felt wrong.

Although the woman who was about her age was smiling and had a stack of brightly colored Christmas boxes in her arms, Jessica had been a cop long enough to know that trusting her instincts could be the difference between life and death.

If something felt wrong then it was.

“Jana, Merry Christmas,” she said, forcing a smile and acting nonchalant while also trying to move slightly so she blocked entry to the door. Her son was inside and while she had no logical reason to view this woman as a threat, she was going to treat her as such until she proved otherwise.

“Merry Christmas,” the woman returned, crowding forward.

Standing firm, Jessica looked over her shoulder, her gaze searching for the guard who should be out there.

When she couldn’t see him her anxiety amped up.

“May I come in?” Jana asked.

“Actually, we’re waiting on Donovan. I’m surprised you didn't come with him.” Keeping her voice polite, she also made it clear that she knew something was up. The stalker was an ex-employee, that was what Donovan had always believed, what the cops believed, but what if they were wrong?

She’d looked through the evidence. There was nothing concrete—no security footage, no fingerprints, no DNA—to prove the identity of the stalker.

Was it possible that it was actually Donovan’s secretary?

“I won't take long. I just want to drop off these gifts. Donovan asked me to,” Jana added as though that was going to make a difference.

Only it wasn't.

Whatever was going on, she wasn't going to try to figure it out now while her seven-year-old son was there. She was certainly going to be bringing it up with Donovan and the cops working on his case as soon as he got home, though.

“I’ll take them in,” she said, holding out her hands.

Taking a step back, Jana’s smile faltered for a moment before she righted it. “Actually, Donovan said there shouldn’t be any peeking,” she said with a fake-sounding chuckle .

“We have dinner on the stove,” Jessica lied, moments away from just stepping back and closing the door. Maybe she’d even call the cops now, let them sort the whole thing out. The fact that she still couldn’t see the guard was worrying her. Even if he thought Jana was a safe person to let up, he should still be there.

“Mom?” Freddie called out from somewhere behind her.

A split second too late Jessica realized her mistake.

At the sound of her son’s voice, she automatically turned her head toward him.

That was all Jana needed to take advantage.

The next thing she knew she heard the familiar sound of a gun cocking.