The Journal: Fault Line (The Journal Book 5) Read online

  ***

  Henry slowly ate the sandwich Christine placed in front of him, carefully feeding bits of the crust to Holly.

  “Henry, where is everyone?” Christine pressed.

  “A few days after you left, Katie died from massive internal injuries that no one had thought to look for. When Joey got the news, he didn’t take it well. In fact, he went kind of berserk in the hospital, breaking things, threatening everyone. One of the security guards ended up shooting him. That’s when Jake broke. He love Katie and her death weighed heavy on him, and seeing his best friend gunned down was the last straw. He just walked out of the hospital and hasn’t been seen since.”

  “How sad. Where are Sadie and Michael?” Christine asked.

  “After Joey was shot, the uninjured were moved out of the hospital into a tent city thrown together and run by FEMA. We kept trying to reach our daughter, Sarah, Michael’s mother. She was at work in St. Louis at the time of the earthquake. We never did find her.” He paused to take a sip of juice, masking his sob. “As a last resort, Sadie called Michael’s father in Florida and he drove up immediately to claim his son. I always knew Sadie was devoted to Michael, I just never realized she would leave me to take care of him,” Henry paused, thinking of those last days. “My son in law and I have never gotten along, so when he took Michael, he said Sadie could go with them, but not me. And here I am, just me and Holly, both abandoned by those we loved. Excuse me.” He stood and moved slowly to the bathroom.

  Christine looked at her new fiancé.

  “Dr. Palazzola can stay with us as long as he wants, Christine,” Trevor said. “In fact, I think it’s a good idea to have an extra person here for security.” He looked lost in thought for a minute. “I think there was a bag or two of dog food at the Main Street store. It wasn’t something I would put out for people to take. I’ll see if I can find it.” He left the house, taking Christine’s car.

  ***

  “Where is that nice young man of yours?” Henry asked.

  “He ran to the store to find some dog food for Holly.” Christine took Henry’s hand in hers. “Henry, we want you to stay here with us. You can have my dad’s bedroom, I’m sure he won’t mind under the circumstances.” She looked at the elderly veterinarian closely. She knew he was in his seventies, but he seemed to have aged a great deal in a short time.

  “Thank you, my dear, you’re very kind. Would you mind if I take a short nap? It’s been an exhausting day.” Christine led Henry to her father’s bedroom and closed the door.

  ***

  “That’s a big bag of dog food!” Christine exclaimed when Trevor got home.

  “Yeah, it’s bigger than I remembered, and that’s a good thing, it’ll last longer. Oh, and look what else I found,” he handed her a rawhide chew toy. “Where’s Henry?”

  “Lying down. I think the day has overwhelmed him.” She slid her arms around Trevor’s neck. “I know this day has me overwhelmed.” She kissed him long and passionately.

  “Now that we have a houseguest, I’ll need to be careful about grabbing your butt,” he said playfully.

  Holly came skidding into the kitchen and sniffed at the bag. She sat beside it and whimpered softly.

  “I think that might mean she’s hungry,” Christine got a bowl from the cupboard and put in a handful of dry food, which Holly quickly scarfed down. Christine put a second handful in the bowl. “My guess is she hasn’t had much to eat these past few weeks either. Henry looks much thinner than I remember.”

  “What are you planning for dinner?” Trevor asked, picking up the bag of kibbles and setting it in the broom closet.

  “I thought I would open some of that stew. We can have it over noodles or rice to stretch it for three of us, whichever Henry prefers. Then we can water down any leftovers for Holly.” Christine ran her hand down the dog’s silky, honey colored head. She unwrapped the rawhide bone and held it for Holly to see. The dog promptly sat, happily accepting the chew toy.

  ***

  “That was delightful, my dear,” Henry told Christine, mopping up the remaining gravy with slightly stale bread. “I never had beef stew on linguini before.”

  “Yes, it was a bit unusual, but I liked it,” Trevor added.

  Christine cleared the plates and added some water to the pot the stew was heated in. She poured the slightly warmed mixture over another handful of kibbles for the dog.

  “Holly is such a well behaved dog, Henry,” Christine commented. “Did you have anything to do with her training?”

  “No, I didn’t. She had a special trainer. Holly wasn’t just Katie’s service dog, Holly is a therapy dog. Do you know what that is?”

  “Not really.”

  “A therapy dog is trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, disaster areas, and nursing homes,” Henry informed her. “They’re not usually also service dogs, although they can be. Golden Retrievers like Holly are exceptionally good because they are so good natured and take to strangers well. Almost all institutions recognize their value and the kerchief they wear, and allow them into places other dogs can’t go.”

  “Holly certainly is special.” Christine stroked the dog’s head again, sending her tail wagging in glee.

  ***

  He walked the dark streets, pausing occasionally to push the button on the control hidden deep in his pocket. What an idiot that shop owner is, he thought. The guy didn’t even check to make sure his new employee had locked the doors of the cars left outside. When parking the PT Cruiser, he’d noticed the full tank of gas, and that the gas cap release was inside the car. Not locking the car up let him come back later and syphon out most of the gas for himself. The bonus was when he spotted the garage door opener. That hot blonde chick was in for a surprise… if he could find the right house.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “I think I’d like to go to the thrift store and find Henry a warm coat,” Christine told Trevor while their guest was in the shower. “I know it’s the middle of December, and it’s getting chilly, but he really should be getting outside more. He needs the exercise and so does Holly.”

  “That’s a very thoughtful idea,” Trevor answered. “I’ve got some errands to run and I need to check on the stores, even though they’re locked up. Would you like me to find a coat for him?”

  “Thanks, I’d like to get out of the house for a while myself though. Maybe I’ll take him with me. Are you taking the Mustang or do you want my car? I can use my dad’s.”

  “I feel strange driving the Mustang when there are so many limited now to walking,” Trevor lamented. “Tell you what, if you really don’t mind, I’ll take your car and top off the tank at Exit 31.” He didn’t want her to know what errands he had to run. Christmas was just ten days away and he had a special gift to find for her.

  ***

  “This should be fun, Henry. I love to shop and I’d rather do it with someone,” Christine said. “Besides, I want to find something for Trevor for Christmas.”

  “Sadie enjoyed yard sales and always dragged me along. I wouldn’t admit it to her, but I found them enjoyable and entertaining,” Henry replied. “Can Holly come with us? I don’t like leaving her behind. She’s adapted well to a new master, however there are times when I think she feels abandoned.”

  “Of course she can come.”

  ***

  They stopped at four sales that people had set up in their garages.

  “As I clean the house, I’m constantly finding things I don’t use or don’t need, so this is a perpetual sale,” one woman explained. “I figure if someone can use it, all the better. Besides, I need the money for groceries.”

  Christine smiled, feeling a bit guilty knowing they had money and still had plenty of food. The woman, not much older than Christine herself, was painfully thin, and probably didn’t have much weight to lose when supplies were shut down. Guilt seeped into Christine again. She had lost some weight too, though she and Trevor both still looked heal
thy and fed. She wandered through the garage and found a rack with men’s clothes. Flipping through shirts and jackets, she found several things in excellent condition.

  “Henry, try this jacket on,” she said, handing over a heavy wool jacket done in brown and green plaid.

  “It fits well, Christine. You shouldn’t be spending your money on me though,” he protested.

  “Nonsense! It’s only five dollars and you need a coat to walk Holly,” she countered. She picked up another, longer down-filled jacket in a deep hunter green that looked brand new, checked the size, and bought it for Trevor as a Christmas present.

  They followed a few more signs leading them to more sales where Christine insisted Henry get two shirts and another pair of pants. “You can’t keep wearing my dad’s clothes, Henry!” Then she whispered, “And these people need the money.”

  “Even though Holly is in her glory with all the attention she’s getting at every stop, it’s late and we should be getting back,” Henry said, reluctantly agreeing to the new, gently used clothes.

  ***

  He walked the streets again, picking a different neighborhood, one that was more upscale. Again, he pushed the button on the remote. This time he heard a door lifting and stopped the door with another hit on the button. He scanned the houses he was near, and spotted a garage with the door partially raised. Watching carefully, he touched the close button, and the door lowered. He smiled and jotted down the address.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “I promised the chief I would stop at his office tonight. I’m not sure what he wants to talk to me about, though I do know he’s overwhelmed with all the new people housed in the school,” Trevor said, slipping on his warm hoodie jacket. “He told me earlier half of his force is now patrolling the school, inside and out. There’s been a definite increase in crime.” He frowned. “I promise not to be long.” Trevor gave Christine a quick kiss and went out into the night.

  ***

  He had waited patiently for almost a week after finding the right house. Now he watched the PT Cruiser back out of the driveway and head north toward the center of town. One less person to worry about he thought, and it also meant that hot blonde was alone. Standing just to the side he used the remote to raise the big door a foot or so and slid under the opening, leaving it up for a quick escape. He pulled a flashlight out of his pocket and turned it on.

  “Bonus donuts!” he breathed, looking at all the stacked boxes of food. “These folks must be rich.” Grinning, he silently headed for the door to the house.

  ***

  “What was that noise?” Henry asked, coming out of his bedroom.

  “It sounded like the garage door going up. Trevor must have forgotten something,” Christine said absently, and Henry went back to his room, Holly at his heels.

  Christine filled the sink with hot water to wash the dinner dishes. Henry had insisted on fixing dinner for them and used quite a few pots in the process. She thought the real spaghetti sauce he made was worth washing every pot and pan in the house. The water splashed hard, drowning out the subtle noises.

  The door leading into the house from the garage opened slowly, and the young man crept quietly up behind Christine as she rinsed a plate. In a practiced move, he clamped his calloused hand over her mouth and slid his other arm around her waist, lifting her off the floor. Christine tried to scream but all that came out was a muffled whimper.

  “Quiet! Or I will kill you,” he growled in her ear. She stopped struggling and went limp, just like she was taught to do, forcing the assailant to take on her full weight. He dragged her into the dining room that faced the long hall and dropped her onto a chair.

  Christine tried to stand once she was free, and he backhanded her, leaving a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of her mouth. Stunned, she sat there while he ran duct-tape around her wrists behind her back.

  “Just keep quiet and I won’t have to hurt you.” She nodded in compliance. “Good, now I’m going to check out what else you’ve got here.” He sneered at her and said, “I’ll be back for you soon, real soon.”

  He shoved a table napkin in her mouth and she got a good look at him just before he slipped a dark plastic bag over her head. He was rail thin, with long black hair tied in a ponytail. His dark gray eyes smoldered with evil, and the jagged scar down his left cheek added to the sinister appearance. She let go with an involuntary shudder.

  He walked down the hall snickering, thinking, “That was too easy.”

  Christine started to cry from the pain of being hit, and then she thought about Henry and Holly, hoping they stayed in their room. There was nothing holding the napkin in her mouth so she worked her tongue around the cloth, slowly pushing it out of her mouth. She couldn’t see because of the dark plastic, at least she could breathe easier now though, as long as she kept her face down and didn’t breathe heavily, pulling the plastic closer to her face. She slowed, forcing herself to concentrate. She could hear noises like drawers and closets being opened.

  “What’s going on out here?” she heard Henry demand. “Who are you?” Then she heard a couple of loud thumps and then the sound of something, or someone, hitting the floor. Holly barked and growled and then whimpered in pain.

  “Damn dog,” the stranger said, and a door slammed. The commotion continued as things were thrown about.

  With a pillowcase filled with Christine’s jewelry box, a wallet, a money pouch, and a laptop, he stepped over the still body of the old man. He stopped in front of the blonde and pulled the plastic bag off her head.

  “And now for you.” He rubbed his crotch and Christine recoiled, letting out a sob.

  ***

  Trevor pulled the Cruiser up to the garage, noticing that the overhead door was slightly ajar and he went on alert. He closed the car door quietly and silently moved up to the back door window. He couldn’t see anything at first, but he could hear the water running in the kitchen sink. Christine wouldn’t do that, not anymore. Something was wrong.

  He turned the knob and soundlessly opened the door, stepping into the brightly lit kitchen, just in time to hear Christine whimper in response to a strange voice. Trevor pulled his gun from the holster, his heart pounding hard in his ears. He inched around the corner to see Christine tied to a chair and a man standing in front of her, unzipping his pants. He aimed, and then realized he might also hit Christine at that angle. He needed a distraction to get the guy to move. He backed up and turned off the running water.

  “What the…” The assailant stepped into the kitchen doorway and Trevor pulled the trigger.

  ***

  Chief Mallory paced, supervising the removal of Andy Hicks’ body, declaring it a justified shooting. Sadly, the second gurney removed the body of Dr. Henry Palazzola, a medic giving an initial diagnosis of a heart attack.

  Christine sat on the couch holding a quaking Holly, and Trevor holding them both.

  Chief Mallory placed the garage door opener on the coffee table. “This was in his pocket, and was his way in. I have a suspicion but I want to follow up on a couple of things first. I know it goes without saying, but lock up and I’ll get back to you in a day or two.” He paused. “Trevor, can I see you for a moment?”

  Outside, the chief turned to his young friend. “Are you going to be alright? It isn’t easy shooting someone, even scum like that.”

  “I’ll admit I’m shaken. I’m more worried about Christine though. That asshole was just about to rape her.” Trevor’s fury built all over again. “Plus he beat an old man to death. I want to kill him again just for that!”

  “She’s damn lucky you came home when you did. Can I ask what you were doing out past curfew?”

  Trevor looked guilty. “She thinks I was with you, Marty. I was really out picking up her Christmas present.” Trevor showed the chief what he had purchased.

  “I’ll keep your secret, son,” Marty smiled.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  It was Christmas Eve afternoon when Chief Malloy had
enough information to share. He sat at the kitchen table with Trevor and Christine enjoying a fresh cup of coffee and some sweet rolls Christine found in the freezer. Holly sat by the front door, waiting in vain for Henry to come home.

  “I spent the morning tracking where this Andy Hicks has been. He was a busy guy.” Marty nibbled on the sweet pastry. “He arrived in town around the time you did, Christine. I can’t track him any further back. Hs driver’s license was issued in St. Louis, and I’m guessing he came from the earthquake zone. Although the car he had wasn’t registered to him, it hasn’t been reported stolen. It’s likely the owner was lost in the quake and Hicks took advantage of the situation.

  “He managed to get a job at the auto shop you go to, moving cars around, sweeping floors, running for parts, that sort of thing. We already know he was the one that took your garage door opener, which he had done to several of the vehicles being worked on. He would break into the person’s garage and take what he could pawn quickly, leaving the remote where it could be found. That way no one suspected the means of entry. They all thought they had just misplaced the gadget. This also explains the rash of thefts that have been reported lately. It was the first time he broke into the house when someone was there.”