Escaping Christmas (13 page)

“Sorry, I’m not an actress. You’ll have to come up with another plot, because I’m done writing for them.”

“The only plan I have is to win you back. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

The veiled admission wasn’t lost on her. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you don’t mess up my life.”

“You don’t mean that, Alexandra. I’m telling you the truth.”

“A little late wouldn’t you say? I did get a phone call from your wife, by the way.”

His faced turned ashen. “What did she say?”

She paused, staring at him intently before continuing. “She told me to stay away from her husband.” The realization hit her hard as her mind raced. She spoke the next thought aloud. “Salina said ‘they’ll ruin us all’.” She gazed at Owen. He was telling the truth.

“Now, do you believe me? Salina has been trying to call me all day. I’m sure she’s out of her mind with what I’ve done. You can’t say anything. We might all disappear.”

Could she be in danger too? Her stomach turned sour as she thought back to the horror of finding her picture knifed to the cabin and to the prowler stalking outside of it. She had to get out of here. Owen had made a huge mess and now she was in the middle of it. She didn’t know who to trust. No…she did…she needed Zach.

“I have to think. I’ll call you.” She walked to the door and opened it for him.

“We’ll be leaving for the morning show at six a.m. for our interview. They’ll be watching how we handle this.” He paused at the door, caressing her cheek. “We belong together. Now’s our chance to make this right.”

As soon as Owen closed the door, her mind went right to Zach. He would know what to do.

Her cell phone rang.
God, please let it be him!

“Hello,” she answered urgently.

“Alexandra Storm?”

“Yes,” she said with disappointment.

“This is Mike from the Camden Ski Resort. I’m returning your call.”

“Mike, has Zach mentioned me?” she asked in a rush.

“No, I’m sorry,” he responded, sounding confused.

“I was staying at one of Zach’s cabins.”

“Are you the one he was stranded with?”

“Yes,” she answered with a smile. “Could you give me Zach’s cell number? It’s really important.”

There was silence before he explained. “Miss Storm, I’d really like to, but it’s company policy not to give out personal numbers.”

“I understand.” Another dead end.

“I could give him yours, however.”

Every cell in her body jumped with gratitude. She rattled off the number and repeated it.

“Got it. I’m not sure when I’ll get in touch with him. He’s gone until after Christmas and the towers around here have been iffy. I’ll do my best,” he promised.

“Thank you.” At least she had some hope. Maybe he hadn’t seen the coverage. Mike said he wouldn’t be back until after Christmas—their original plan.

Alex rummaged through her bag for her things and started a hot bath. Her head throbbed with the anxiety of it all. How much of Owen’s story should she believe? And if any of this was true, how far would they go to silence them? She didn’t trust Owen as far as she could throw him. Was this some story he came up with, or was it the truth? She couldn’t get the warning on the picture out of her mind. Was she in danger? Or even Zach? She glanced at her cell phone willing it to ring.

She sank deeper into the hot, bubbly water, desperately trying to release some of the tension. With the shrill sound of her cell, she bolted upright.
Please let it be Zach.

Chapter Eighteen

She nearly tripped jumping out of the tub. “Zach?”

“No, it’s Tiffany and I want to know what the hell is going on. Are you seriously considering marrying that…that…” Her friend was so angry she couldn’t complete her sentence.

At the sound of her voice, Alex immediately choked back the sobs.

“Tell me what’s going on, Alex. I can’t believe you’d be that stupid to take him back after what he did to you.”

Yes, she could always count on her best friend to give it to her straight.

“Everything’s a mess and I don’t know how to fix it.” She sniffed.

“What happened? From the beginning. I thought you liked this new guy. I had high hopes.”

“I’m in love with Zach.” Alex said the words aloud for the first time.

“Okay. So, why is that moron going around to any news outlet that will listen to him proclaiming an upcoming engagement?”

“Tiff, you have to swear you won’t tell anyone before I figure out how to handle all this.”

“Don’t insult me, Alex. Spill.”

“My mother and Owen lured me here by having Lindsay say my dad was very sick. And guess who greeted me at the airport? My very in control mother and Owen. They arranged for the cameras, the reporters. They set the stage for all the reunion rumors.” Alex sighed. “Owen was here tonight.”

“Dear God, tell me nothing happened.”

“It’s complicated.” She was answered with silence “Are you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here. So, what are you going to tell me? You’re going back to Owen?”

“No. You have to trust me. I can’t tell you anything right now. If I do, you could be in danger.”

“You’ve got to be kidding?” The shrill tone in her best friend’s voice startled her. Tiffany rarely had emotional outbursts.

“All I will tell you is that he’s not married.”

“What?”

If this wasn’t so serious, Tiffany’s stunned reaction would have her laughing. She was hardly ever rendered speechless. She was two for two. Time to hit it out of the park.

“He has no wife and no kids.”

“Are you taking
his
word for it? Come on, Alex, you’re smarter than that.”

“I can’t tell you anything more. If anything happens to me go to the police.”

“You’re scaring me.”

Alex spoke a thought aloud. “It all fits. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were behind what happened at the cabin.”

“What things?”

Regretting the slip of the tongue, she had to end the call before she shared too much information. “I’ll call you when I can explain. Just don’t believe anything you hear.”

“What are you planning?”

“Maybe a deal for my silence.”

“Go to the police, Alex. Whatever’s happening, don’t handle this on your own. And where’s this Zach guy? Because if you don’t want him I’m booking a flight to Colorado.”

Alex appreciated Tiff’s attempt at humor. “Forget it. He’s mine…I hope.”

“It’ll work out. Just stay away from that...that…walking ego.”

“I woke up, Tiff. As soon as I get this sorted out, he’s history.”

“Finally. Really, Alex, you’re a slow learner. Go to the police.” Tiffany’s voice turned serious. “Call me if you need me and I’ll be on the first plane out. And you better let me know what’s happening.”

“I will. Thanks, Tiff.”

****

Goosebumps covered her body as she toweled off. The silence was creepy. She pulled the nightshirt over her head and stopped, putting an ear to the bathroom door. She swore a creaking sound came from the front of the suite. Must have been a door above her closing. She finished dressing and hung the towel on the rod. Alex opened the door and noticed the room was dim. She didn’t remember shutting the light off. Her instincts were warning her something was wrong, but all Owen’s talk about danger probably had her paranoid. She had checked the lock on the door before going for her bath…hadn’t she?

Something wasn’t right. Alex walked slowly down the hallway to the living room, struggling to see in the dim light. She strained to hear, moving toward the kitchen. She needed a weapon. She had no time to react to the gloved hand that covered her mouth. Alex slammed violently into someone’s stone hard chest.

“Listen carefully,” a menacing voice growled in her ear. “Finish your book and stay away from Owen Banks. He’s off limits to you, so don’t even think about a reunion. If he comes sniffing around again, you better convince him you’re through. And if you say one word about his marriage, a lot of people are going to get hurt. We’ll start with your boyfriend. You do get around, don’t you, Miss Storm? Are we clear on what’s expected of you?”

Alex nodded, biting down on her lip like the nervous child she used to be. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. Fear was at the forefront, but she was desperately trying to remember the voice. She swore she recognized the voice.

Her attacker grabbed a handful of hair close to the scalp and jerked her toward him. He threatened her with the heat of his breath in her ear. “This is your only warning. You call the police and you’ll be fish food in the Hudson River.” He shoved her to the ground and she fell on her knees. A man, dressed in black, ran for the door and she stayed put. Her legs wouldn’t hold her. What had she gotten herself into?

Alex crawled to the wall and leaned against it, shaking violently. A ringing in the distance brought her out of shock. Her phone. She ran for the bathroom.

“Hello.”

“Lexie, it’s Zach.”

She collapsed into tears and couldn’t speak.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

“Zach, I need you.” She barely got the words out.

“I’m on my way.”

The phone went silent and she stumbled to the kitchen, grabbing a knife. It never occurred to her how Zach knew where she was or how long it would take him to get to her. He promised and that she could count on. But, in the meantime, if anyone came in to this suite uninvited they’d be leaving in a body bag. She was done being the victim.

Who was she kidding? She moved to the couch and stared at the door, the knife clutched tightly in her hands. She was one unexplained noise away from hysteria.

Chapter Nineteen

Zach frantically waved down a cab. Lexie didn’t know, but he was already in New York. Her hotel was booked, so he was forced to stay a few blocks away. He had been following Owen Banks several blocks south of her hotel when he called her.

“What did you find out?” No polite salutations, just right to the point. He had to know what he was up against when he saw Lexie.

“It isn’t who you thought, Mr. Camden.”

“He has to be involved somehow.” He jumped in the cab, giving the driver the address and an extra-large tip to step on it. Lexie was distraught and if that S.O.B. had anything to do with it…he’d wish he was never born.

“It would seem Mr. Banks is involved, but not like you think. He was blackmailed into cooperation. He isn’t married and has no kids. I dug everything up that has his name attached to it.”

“How can you be sure? Do you have proof?” Protecting Lexie was at the forefront. He couldn’t risk her safety.

“Let’s just say Mr. Cohen doesn’t cover his tracks well, nor does he lock up any of his files. I have copies of a falsified marriage license and a picture of kids that belong to someone else…in a folder marked ‘Owen and Salina Banks’. I’ve got copies of public financial papers that don’t match the private ones.”

“There’s a difference?” Zach commented with sarcasm. He soaked in the information before asking, “How do we nail them?”

“I’m not the police, Mr. Camden. You asked me to get information on who was harassing and threatening Miss Storm. I’ve succeeded, complete with a file full of the portfolio pictures like the one that was hanging by a knife. Will any of it be admissible in court? I doubt it. Posing as a night janitor doesn’t give one permission to make copies of private documents. I can’t say who was actually doing the dirty work, only who is behind it.”

“I’d like the copies. I won’t drag your name into it, but I can’t let them get away with this.” It wasn’t lost on him that he might never have met Alexandra Storm if none of this had happened.

“I left the information at the front desk of your hotel. It’s sealed, don’t worry about privacy. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Camden.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He ended the call just as the cab pulled in front of the hotel. He went to the front desk and got her suite number. A bellboy escorted him up the elevator. He handed the young man a tip and walked to the door. It was eerily quiet. Zach knocked and the door opened slowly. What he saw almost dropped him to his knees. He would kill whoever did this to her.

She stood there, eyes swollen and her face wet with tears. In her hand, hanging at her side was a large butcher knife. “Lexie, give me the knife.” He spoke softly, careful not to frighten her. She dropped it to the ground and flew into his arms, crying hysterically.

“Listen to me,” he said in a whisper. “Is there anyone in there?” She shook her head and he lifted her, carrying her into the suite. “What happened?” It took every ounce of self-control to keep his voice even.

“Someone broke in.” She couldn’t stop sobbing. Trying to speak was useless.

“I think it’s time to call the police.”

“No! They threatened to kill you…and me…if I do.”

“Did you know the person?” He brushed the damp hair from her face.

“No, but I have an idea who’s behind it. And the voice…it sounded familiar.” She was gaining some control back.

“The production company is behind it. I know for sure the CEO is involved, but I don’t know how deep it goes.”