2. Kane

2

KANE

Every time I turn my car onto my parents' street, I feel a sense of relief. I've been home from the military for three months and the feeling hasn't lessened in all this time. There were times overseas that I wasn't sure I'd get to make this trip ever again and I won't take it for granted now.

I never imagined I'd look forward to Sunday dinners with my parents when I was thirty-five years old, but something is reassuring in the routine. If only my baby sister lived close enough to come home. I haven't seen her since I've been home.

Pulling up in the driveway I wave at my parents' neighbor, Hunter St. James. Star Mountain is a small town, and everyone knows everyone. When I was eighteen, I couldn't wait to get out, now I live for the connection.

I start to get out of the car, but my phone rings before I cut off the engine.

"Hello, baby sister, I was just thinking about you."

"Hi, Kane. I need a favor."

There's something off in her voice. Immediately my instincts are on high alert.

"What's wrong, Zoe? What do you need?"

"It's my best friend, Violet. You know about Violet."

"Of course." Zoe went to Los Angeles to become an actress. She didn't get many jobs, but made a great friend in Violet Scott, who was a famous teenager on television and now in movies as an adult.

"Someone is stalking her and they're getting close, Kane." Zoe's voice shakes.

"Have you gone to the police? What do you mean by close?" I start to think about how long it'll take me to get to Los Angeles. If they are getting close to Zoe's friend, that means they are close to Zoe. "I'll get there as soon as I can."

"No, Kane, that's not why I called. I'm working with a detective here to figure out who it is, but Violet needs to get out of town. It's starting to get to her, and she needs to be somewhere she can feel safe."

"Okay, what do you need from me?"

"I've arranged for her to stay in a cabin outside of Star Mountain. Can you go stay with her to act as a kind of bodyguard?"

"Doesn't she have her own security?" Surely someone as famous as Violet Scott has her own team.

"The letters from the stalker are being left on the steps of her trailer and last night there was one in her house. It's someone with access to her. I don't trust anyone, and she doesn't either." Zoe's voice shudders. "Kane, I'm scared, and I need to know that Violet is with someone who will protect her."

"Of course, I will. Send me the details and I'll do whatever you need."

We talk for a few more minutes. It's mostly Zoe reassuring me that she's being safe and giving me the information for this guy that she's working with in LA so that I can call to get the information he has on the stalker and make sure my sister isn't being messed with by some sleazy ex-cop.

My dad comes out to the car and knocks on the window. "You've been sitting out here a long time."

"Sorry, Zoe called, and something came up. I'm gonna need a raincheck on dinner."

"Zoe's okay, right?" Concern for his little girl is written across his face.

"Zoe's fine, but someone has been bothering her friend Violet, so she's coming to stay in a cabin here for a bit. Zoe asked me if I could get to the cabin before her to check it out and maybe stay with Violet, so she feels safe. No one can know where she's staying, so this stays between you and me."

"Violet is a good girl. Is she gonna be, okay?"

"It's all fine." At least I hope it is. "Can you let Mom know I'm sorry and that I'll call her in a day or two?"

"Of course, son. If you need anything you let me know."

"I will, Dad."

My dad watches as I back out of the driveway and head down the street. Thirty minutes is all it took for my night to change. I need to head home, pack my things, and in the morning, I'll head to the cabin. I know the owner so I can get the code for the door and make sure everything is good before Violet gets there.

Zoe said that she should arrive around six-thirty tomorrow evening, which is after the sun sets, so it'll be good to have a fire going and a light on so she can find the place.

I can only imagine how it feels to have someone invade her personal space leaving creepy letters. The cabin will be safe, I'll make sure of that.