Chapter 11

"YOU LOOKsilly," Carl said with a giggle as Rachel worked on her tablet, dressed as an early Michigan settler in rough old-time clothes. Lucas had to admit that the kid had a point.

"Thanks, Carl," she said with a grin, then made a face that made all the kids laugh.

"Why can't we go too?" Brianna asked.

Will groaned. "Because they're doing grown-up stuff tonight and we're going to stay here with Miss Karen. She's making pizza, and Uncle Lucas got us a Nintendo, so we're going to play video games."

Matthew hadn't been thrilled with the gift, but Lucas had told him that the kids were staying home because of him, so he wanted them to have something special. Rachel had hooked up the game to the big television in the living room, so they were going to have Mario Kart races in surround sound. Lucas might have to give Karen hazard pay.

Lucas was already dressed, and he went up to check on Matthew, who was still trying to pick out a shirt.

"What do you wear to an event designed to catch a stalker? Plaid, earth tones, a bloodred shirt?" He nervously paced the room. "I don't like this at all."

"I don't either, but we need to put this guy out of commission. He's reported where I am, where we are, and scared the kids. Last time he broke into my trailer on the studio, and we believe he tried to get into my house. That guy on Geoff's land was there because of the trouble Ruetoyou has stirred up." He sat on the edge of the bed. "We need to get this guy, if for no other reason than to find out why he's so damned obsessed. I keep dreaming that I'm being chased, sometimes through the woods, the last time through the grocery store, but I can never see the guy. I woke up all sweaty and scared last night."

Matthew put his head on Lucas's shoulder, and Lucas wanted nothing more than the rip his stalker apart. Coming after him was one thing, but Matthew and his family were quite another. Lucas had signed up for this shit, in a way—he was a public figure. But Matthew and the kids certainly hadn't.

"Then let's try to get this guy so we can stop those dreams of yours and have some quiet time together." Matthew didn't say anything about leaving, but it was on the horizon. They both knew it, but it was something neither of them brought up. There had been times when Lucas thought that Matthew might want be open to talking about it, like last night once the kids were in bed and Matthew had locked the door. But then Matthew had decided that talking was the last thing he wanted, and they had put their mouths and lips to much better use. Still, it was something Lucas couldn't put off much longer.

"And wear the plaid. It's sexy."

"It makes me look like an emaciated lumberjack."

Lucas bumped his shoulder. "It does not. So wear what you want and let's get ready to go."

Matthew chose a light blue shirt and shrugged it on. "Why aren't you nervous?" he asked when he fumbled the buttons. He huffed, and Lucas gently batted his hands away.

"I'm an actor," he said as calmly as he could while doing up Matthew's buttons, his hand brushing warm, smooth skin. "Just relax. The most important thing is to see and be seen. People will want to talk and say hello. They're paying for the chance to spend a few minutes with me." He smoothed the fabric over Matthew's chest. "I don't mean to sound vain or anything."

"I know, and part of why I'm going is to make sure that you're safe." He took a deep breath and then sighed dramatically. "Let's say goodbye to the kids and go." He paused at the bedroom door. "And for the record, the only reason I'm letting you do this is because I have a dozen friends who are going to be there watching out for us."

Lucas cocked his head to the side. "You're letting me do this?"

Matthew flashed him the cockiest expression ever, complete with a glint in his eyes. "Yes. I'm glad you recognized that." He opened the door, chuckling softly.

Lucas rolled his eyes and followed Matthew to where the kids were already making use of the game. They both got hugs and said their goodbyes, with Matthew promising to tuck all of them in when he got home.

"We're going to be late," Rachel said, and after a final round of goodbyes, they left.

Rachel drove them through Ludington and across the river flats before turning right and up into the bluffs that overlooked Lake Michigan.

"I was instructed to park in the employee area," Rachel explained as they turned into a drive past the main entrance. They headed up around the side, where Haven met the car and ushered them all inside.

"We have two other people dressed casually who will mix with the attendees, and they have pictures of the man we're after."

"And there are twelve friends who will be attending. They also have a picture, and they will contact Rachel if they see him," Matthew explained. "Remember that the most important thing is keeping Lucas safe."

"Agreed," Rachel said. "Though getting some answers from this guy will certainly go a long way to doing that." Her eyes were darker than usual, and she definitely seemed more predatory. Rachel was in her element, and she was determined. "All questions will come through me, and I will stay close by. Haven will be more visible. He's the muscle, and I'm going to act as the eyes and ears."

"What do we do if we see him?" Matthew asked.

"Just pretend you have a message. Everyone uses their phones. Then text me where he is. Don't try to take a picture or let on that you've spotted him. We'll take it from there."

"What will you do then?"

"We aren't law enforcement, so we can't arrest him, even though there are charges pending in California. Here it's a different story. We'll try to get information out of him and then call the police, leave it up to them."

"So he hasn't broken any laws," Matthew said.

"Not as far as we know. But we believe he has in California. He's wanted in connection with the break-ins of Lucas's house and trailer. It's thin, I know, but what we really need is information, especially on why he's so fascinated with Lucas in particular."

"Okay," Matthew agreed.

"Good. We're being told that they are opening the front gates for the event, so they want you to get into position near the meeting house. People will meet you, and they will have staff dressed in costume that will keep people moving. I'll be one of them and right nearby."

"Okay." Lucas had done events like this many times. Early on in his career, he'd sat at autograph event tables for hours meeting people and signing pictures. "Matthew will stay next to me."

"Yes. You will have plenty of people nearby. If you feel uncomfortable or threatened, simply tell Matthew that you're hungry and want a banana. That will be our signal to step in." Rachel handed her tablet to Haven, who moved off. A few other people dressed in period costume joined them.

"I'm Lisa, and this is Michelle." They were both in their midforties and seemed intent on their job.

"It's very nice to meet you," Lucas said, shaking hands with both of them. Matthew did the same, and they took up positions nearby. They directed people, made introductions, and kept the line moving. Lucas chatted with everyone, smiling until his cheeks ached. The people he recognized—friends of Matthew's—kept their distance, looking at other exhibits, letting others have their moments.

About half an hour in, Eli joined those in line. "It's good to meet you," Eli said in a normal tone before adding softly, "I think he's at the end of the line. Jeans, lime green shirt, fancy camera."

Lucas's heart sped up as he spoke briefly to Eli. "Tell Rachel. She just stepped inside for a minute." Lucas kept smiling as Eli moved on. He tried not to make a big deal of attempting to see who Eli was referring to.

Fortunately, Matthew had a better view, and he nodded. "It looks like him. What do we do?"

"Nothing," Rachel said. "I have it well in hand." She stood nearby as the line continued. Lucas saw people coming through a second time, and that was fine. He played it up, watching as the man in lime green grew closer.

Matthew stepped back, slightly behind Lucas, when the man was next in line. Lucas was fairly sure he had seen him before, but he kept to his script, greeted him, and thanked him for coming and supporting the historical society, acting as though he weren't familiar.

"It was so good of you to come," Matthew added.

"I had to see Lucas." The way Matthew turned and watched him raised goose bumps on Lucas's arms and made him feel naked at the same time. "I'm a huge fan and never miss an opportunity."

Lucas had to keep any sort of reaction off his face. This was his stalker—Lucas knew it—and he was right there. Still, he had to let him continue on.

Matthew pulled out his phone, but Rachel gently patted each of them on the shoulder. "Would you like some water?" She handed them each a bottle. "I have this," she whispered, and then moved away. "Sir," she called to the man in the lime shirt. "You won the special door prize. You're the hundredth person through the line."

"I am?" he asked. "I did?"

"Yes. Lucas signed some posters from his last movie, and each hundredth person gets one."

The guy was buying her load of crap, and he followed Rachel inside. Lucas had signed some posters, but he knew she was just using that as bait. He relaxed slightly and continued talking with the guests, hoping this was finally over.

Rachel returned a few minutes later, shaking her head. Lucas inwardly groaned, but he took a drink of water and finished saying hello to everyone before going inside himself.

"What happened?" he asked once they were alone. The guests were now fanning out through the village and would come together in an hour outside the meeting house, where Lucas was scheduled to do a dramatic reading from The Scarlet Letter.

"It wasn't him. I asked to see identification, and it was local and most definitely his. A few minutes later a woman and a girl, who he introduced as his wife and daughter, hurried up all excited."

"Okay. There was no one else that might be him?" Matthew asked.

Rachel shook her head. "Not that I saw, but at least we didn't give ourselves away. There are still a few people coming in. We'll have another chance at the reading. In the meantime…."

"I know. I'm all set." Lucas tried his best to hide his disappointment.

"It was a long shot in the first place, and we were counting on a number of assumptions that may not have happened."

Lucas knew that, but still, he had hoped that they could lure out their man and have this over with. Shaking his head, he returned outside and greeted people as they passed.

"Was this a last-minute event?" a man asked as Lucas shook his hand. He kept looking around, and then gripped Lucas's hand more tightly. "How are you finding your hometown after so many years? It must be a little… strange for you to be back." He smiled, and those eyes bored into him, giving him Exorcist-level creeps. "It's a nice town, but I guess it doesn't compare to Hollywood with all the things the city can offer."

"It's been very nice being home again. I've reconnected with my family and said goodbye to my father. I also got to visit with friends again." Lucas decided to keep his answers bland and uninteresting. "Hollywood is big and fast. It has its bright spots, but so does being back here, with its slower pace and the chance to get to know the people I grew up with again." He smiled and turned his attention to the family behind the fan.

The teenager held a book, and Lucas leaned forward to engage her. "I loved you as Superboy, and I didn't believe Daddy when he told me you grew up here." She put her hand to her mouth like she was sharing a secret. "He kids a lot."

"Just one more question," the pushy man said.

"I'm sorry," Matthew said, already guiding him away. "Lucas has other people he needs to speak with. But I can talk to you, if you like. Lucas and I have been friends for a long time." Matthew's voice trailed off as he led the man inside, and Lucas could just imagine Rachel pouncing on him in her settler's garb.

Matthew returned a few moments later as Haven and some of the others that Lucas assumed were part of his security hurried inside.

"What's all that?" the father asked.

"Nothing to worry about. We aren't going to let people be rude." He smiled. "Would you like me to sign your book for you?" The girl bounced on her feet and shoved it toward him. "What's your name?"

"Violet," she answered. Lucas wrote an inscription to her, signed beneath it, and then posed for pictures with her and her family. They thanked him and moved on through the village.

"We got him," Matthew said, and Lucas went on to greet the remaining people. Then he excused himself and went inside and to the front of the room, where Rachel and Haven stood with the man from earlier.

"There's no law against asking questions."

Rachel stepped forward. "That's true, but when you came in here, I was able to pull a print from where you touched that chair, and it matches one we found inside Lucas's trailer in California." She was laying her bluff on thick. "This is a long way to come for a simple story about anyone, even Lucas Reardon."

"You can't hold me," he said, squaring his shoulders. "You aren't the police."

"No, we aren't," Lucas told him. "But I pressed charges, and we can call the police and make sure we let them know that you're wanted out there. They'll cuff you and stick you in a cell to wait for extradition."

"Exactly," Rachel added. "That could take weeks or longer. After all, there's no real hurry on anyone's part. And they don't allow bail for people waiting on extradition. You simply sit in jail." That got to him. "So my question is… are you going to cooperate or not, Anthony Tedesco? We know who you are and where you live, and from there we can find out anything we need to about you." Rachel's eyes were hard as steel with a hint of fire fresh from the furnace.

"Lucas, you're expected at the reading in a few minutes, and people are going to be coming in."

Rachel nodded. "So are you going to play ball, or do we wait here for the police and let them deal with you? By the way, that doesn't mean you'll be done with us, just locked up."

Anthony shivered. "Who the hell are you, anyway?" His shoulders slumped, and Rachel's lips quirked upward for a few seconds. Then she schooled her expression.

"They're my security," Lucas growled.

Anthony looked from face to face, probably for support, and then back at Rachel. "What do you want to know?"

Rachel nodded, and Haven got Anthony out of the chair. Then he and Rachel ushered him out the back door as people began flowing into the space set up for the reading.

THE PROGRAMwas a success. Lucas had done this sort of thing before and knew how to build up the drama. He didn't read the entire novel, of course, but he did read some of the best parts, as well as speak some about the life early settlers led. Then he opened the floor to questions and ended up explaining what he could about his upcoming projects.

"Thank you so much for coming," Lucas said at the end of the program. "I hope you had as wonderful a time as I did." He waved to applause and then stepped off the dais, where Matthew met him with Rachel, and they ushered him to the car.

"What did you find out?" Lucas asked as soon as the door was closed and they were on their way back.

"The guy is a real piece of work. Anthony is the guy who stalked you last year. We apparently got close enough to him then that he gave up and moved on to someone else." Rachel headed back out toward the freeway. "That's why things were quiet for so long."

"Then why did he follow me here and pick things up again?" Lucas asked. "It's a long way to come."

Rachel slowed for a light and pulled to a stop. "That's the strange thing. He said he was contacted through his social media and told where you would be and that it wasn't likely any other of the Hollywood press would be here. They said he could have near exclusive access if he wanted it. So Anthony jumped on a plane and arrived a day after you did. He said it wasn't too hard to find you, especially with the funeral, and all he did was follow you out to the state park."

"Okay, I guess that makes sense, but what about the rest of it? Why would he put out the word on the hotel and Matthew's place? It doesn't make sense if what he wanted was exclusive pictures. Keeping a low profile would benefit him, not being a pain in the ass like that."

Rachel grew quiet for a few minutes, and Lucas began to wonder what was going on. "The thing is… someone was telling him what to do, feeding him information and getting some from him. Anthony only knows a name on social media, but he was sent funds so he could go on the trip, and he says he got more money each time he reported where you were."

"What the hell?" Lucas asked as he sat back in the seat. "None of this makes sense. Who would want to broadcast my location to the rest of the world? What sort of reward is there in it for anyone? Guys like Anthony make their money getting exclusive pictures. They don't advertise their targets, nor do they shout it to the rest of the world when they get inside information." He took Matthew's hand, agitated beyond belief. He had hoped to get some answers once they caught this damned stalker, but all he had was more questions, and none of it made any sense. His head ached. He just wanted to go back to the house and hide for a while. Never before had he been so damned tempted to grab a bottle of Scotch and drink himself into oblivion.

"Okay, wait," Matthew said. "First thing, where is Anthony now? What have you done with him?" The amusement in Matthew's voice told Lucas he was imagining all kinds of nasty things.

"We couldn't hold him, and he was forthcoming with what he knew," Rachel explained.

"And you believed him?" Matthew asked. She nodded as she drove. "But where is he?"

"Right now he's with Haven at the hotel we're using."

Lucas sighed and closed his eyes, fatigue catching up with him.

"Take us there." He was so forceful. "I have a few questions I want to ask this guy." The banked fury in Matthew's tone sent a shock of energy up Lucas's spine. "And before you ask, yes, I'm sure. This man has caused a great deal of trouble."

Rachel slowed and got off the freeway, heading into Ludington to one of the small hotels out by the lake. She parked, and Matthew squeezed Lucas's hand. "I'm coming with you." Lucas had his own questions. Still, he wasn't sure how many answers they were going to get, but he did want to ask his questions.

Rachel led them around the side of the building. She knocked and then unlocked a hotel room door. Anthony lay on the bed, a bottle of beer on the table beside him, a bag of Doritos on his belly. Haven sat at the table with a laptop, typing away.

"What are you doing here?" Anthony asked, sitting up as Lucas glared at him.

"I wanted to talk to you," Lucas told him flatly.

"I already told your hired help everything I know. They're taking me to the airport tomorrow, and I'll be out of your hair. But there will be others who follow me. There always are." He made it sound like they were a pack of rabid dogs, and maybe that was a good description.

"You said you don't know who paid you," Matthew said. "How did you know you would be paid? And are you in the habit of taking orders from unnamed people? You didn't know who this guy was, but you followed instructions like some robot."

"I get paid lots of ways, and as long as they pay, I do what I have to." His bravado seemed to wither under Matthew's intensity. Frankly, it was sexy as hell the way Matthew went all bulldog for Lucas. "It's part of this business. We get paid for the pictures we take and nothing more. So when a guy like me gets good information, we try to keep the gravy train running." Anthony took a swig of his beer and then set the bottle down again.

Lucas sat on the side of the bed, hoping whatever darkness made this guy do what he did didn't rub off on him. Lucas sat there quietly, watching this weasel of a man, when something that had been niggling the back of his mind came into focus. "You said that you stopped pursuing me last year because you thought we were getting too close to you." He found that strange, because as far as he knew, they hadn't gotten that close at all.

"Yeah, what of it? I thought I did a good job of covering my tracks. All I thought anybody had on me was some dumb screen name." Anthony leaned forward. "But then I got a message at home to back off or else. That scared me, so I did as they asked. Getting threats online is no big deal, but they knew where I lived."

"Who sent you the message?" Lucas asked.

Anthony shrugged and then leaned forward again, his eyes becoming more animated. "I didn't know at first. But I'm pretty good at finding shit out. The top of the page had been cut off, and I didn't know why until I figured out they used paper from their office and cut off the letterhead. From there and from what a neighbor told me, I thought it was from your manager's office."

"Leon Sanders?" Lucas asked. "You think he was onto you?"

Anthony shrugged. "Yeah. So I backed off." He smiled a little weakly. "I always liked your movies. That was why I started following you in the first place. I was a fan, and I got some really good pictures. I guess I let things get out of hand. Sometimes I get caught up in shit and I don't know when to stop. But when I saw that note at home, I knew I had gone too far." He finished his beer and leaned back against the headboard.

"What's so special about Lucas?" Matthew asked, and Lucas felt himself scowl. "I didn't mean it that way, and you know it," Matthew added quietly, placing his hands on Lucas's aching shoulders.

"He was always a nice guy, even when we were trying to get pictures of him. He would smile and wave sometimes, like he thought of us as people. I actually came to like you," Anthony added. "I think that was why I get it in my head that… well… I got obsessed in a way. I used to follow you all over the city all the time. But then you got security, and this note shows up, and I knew I'd gone too far, so I left you to other people."

Matthew gently massaged Lucas's muscles. "Do you think your agent got involved?"

Lucas's mind ran in circles, and he needed a chance to think a minute. "Leon knew who you were and how to find you."

Rachel nodded and scowled.

Lucas shrugged and stood. "Thank you for answering our questions. One of the security people will take you back to Grand Rapids and put you on a plane home. From there, what you do is up to you. I'll make sure that the complaint against you is dropped."

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Rachel asked.

Lucas kept his gaze on Anthony. "I do. Because now this man owes me a favor. I could send him to jail, but he cooperated, and I know he isn't going to cause any trouble for us any longer. Isn't that right?" He waited until Anthony nodded. "Good. Make sure he gets on the plane and makes it home." Lucas stood and left the room, then returned to the SUV. He waited in the back seat for Matthew, hugging him as soon as he got inside.

"I take it your agent never mentioned anything about knowing who your stalker was," Matthew said. Lucas shook his head. "What do you think he was trying get away with?"

Lucas sighed. "I don't know. The last time I talked to him, he was asking me where I was. I gave him evasive answers, but now I'm wondering if there wasn't something more to it than I thought. I was just after a little privacy. I didn't think…." That was the problem.

"What are you going to do?" Matthew swallowed hard, his eyes filling with worry.

"It seems I'm going to have to have a heart-to-heart with Leon, and I'm probably going to need to do it sooner rather than later."

Matthew nodded slowly. "So when are you going to leave?" He sat back in the seat and said nothing more, but his shoulders slumped. "I know you have to go, but…."

Lucas took a deep breath and glanced at the back of Rachel's head, wishing they had privacy for this conversation. Even though he knew Rachel would say nothing and would immediately forget anything that was said in the car, it seemed wrong, and yet there were things he had to say. "I would love nothing more than for you and the kids to come out to LA. I could sell my house, and we could get one together that would be big enough for the kids to have their own rooms. I'd… I don't know. Make room for all of you. The kids could go to the best schools, and they would have all the opportunities possible. They would have everything the city has to offer."

"Yeah?" Matthew asked. "And what about you? Would we have you in our lives, or would you be gone for months at a time? Losing Eden made me realize that all the money in the world isn't going to fill my life with love, and that it's the people that are really important." He took Lucas's hand, squeezing it. "I know that you would do your best to make room for us. I have no doubt. But…." He hesitated and seemed to search for the words. "The temptation would be too much. I know you love what you do, and I worry that you'd resent us. You've been with the kids for a week or so, but there's no going back for me. I'll be raising the children for the next twenty years in one form or another. Are you really up for that?" He squeezed his hand, and Lucas wondered if Matthew thought so little of him. "And just so you know, I'm not being mean, and I don't think you wouldn't be a good dad, because you would. There are days that I wonder if I'm up for it, but it's a lot to take on, and there's no going back. Those kids already adore you, but they know you're leaving."

Lucas leaned close enough to fill his nose with Matthew's scent. "I didn't make the offer lightly. And it's a lot to ask. The kids would be taken away from everything they know, and they'd be starting over. But I want you to know that the offer stands. I want you and the kids to be my family, and if that means now, or later… I know it's what I want. I could see us taking the kids to Disneyland and Catalina Island. We'd visit all the national parks and see Europe… as a family."

"I know, and I want that too. But you said yourself you work all the time. When would we be able to do that?" Matthew asked.

Lucas pictured his schedule for the next year, and he lowered his head, knowing Matthew was right.

"It's not that I don't want to be with you. I've dreamed of it for years, but I can't expect you to change your life any more than you can expect for the kids and me to pick up everything and move. It's too big a step right now." Matthew hugged him hard. "But I love you for making the offer." Matthew kissed him gently as they pulled into the community and then up to the house.

Lucas had put his cards on the table, and while he'd known it was a long shot, he had played what he had. But the kids trumped everything… and they had to.