Juliette snorted. “It’s my past that’s causing trouble. This mess with Peter is all on me.”
“No, it’s all on Peter. But I understand what you’re saying,” Hilary said.
“Well, yeah if you want to be technical about it.” Juliette rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you, Hil?”
“I think you should call Shooter and tell him what’s going on. This feels like a huge threat. The other flowers were a warning This is a direct promise of action. What is it he thinks you’ll be losing soon? ” Hil wrinkled her nose.
“I love you, Hil, but I think that writer’s brain of yours is running away with you.”
“No, it’s not. There’s a reason he’s doing this. Besides won’t it make Shooter pissed you hid it?”
“I’ll deal with it.” Juliette stifled a laugh. Hilary was clever.
Hil’s lips formed a straight line.
“Hil, the boys are keeping an eye on me. He didn’t up and completely abandon me. I’m being diligent. There have been no more notes, no suspicious phone calls. Even if I went to the police about the flower delivery, nothing would be done. I could try to get a restraining order but I don’t have any compelling evidence to get it granted…I checked.” Juliette watched the hustle and bustle of lunchtime on the street.
People walked to their destinations, talking on their phones without a care in the world. A few weeks earlier she’d been among them. Now she stood on the outside looking in, a child at Christmas with her nose pressed against a window display of something she desperately wanted.
“You okay, girl?” Hil asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Juliette nodded and forced her trembling lips into a facsimile of a smile. “It’ll pass. Hardest part was walking away, right?”
Hil placed her hand over Juliette’s. “Yes. We’ll get through this.” Hilary sighed. “Look, I’ve been doing some research. There’s a pattern with him. Girls have filed against him and it’s always dismissed due to lack of evidence, a judge I’m sure they had on the payroll or the woman retracting her statement. You aren’t the only one he’s done this too.” Hil shook her head. “This needs to stop before he kills someone…if he hasn’t all ready. I’m not sure what is going on here, but it goes far deeper than a singular obsession.”
Fear choked Juliette. Hilary was too smart for her own damn good. She can’t find out about the club. “Do you think he’s capable of that?” Juliette whispered, playing dumb.
“Intentionally…maybe not, but in the heat of passion when she’s not doing what he wants, absolutely. He’s a man who grew up with no boundaries, never hearing the word no and getting everything he wants. The tantrums of childhood have morphed into something truly ugly. With his parents’ enabling, he’s become a monster. Normally I’d be insisting we go to the police, but his connection and Shooter’s…disposition toward authority says that’d be the worst way to go. We have to fight smart.”
“And how do you propose that?” Juliette leaned forward, eager to hear what she had to say. The breath of new hope invigorated her.
“We keep documenting everything. Continue going through the nightly footage from your surveillance cameras, taking pictures of the flowers. I know they’re handled by the staff so there won’t be any prints, but it still counts.”
“I know, that’s why I placed it in a plastic bag. I’ve had a few hang-up phone calls I documented as well. I hate that he has all the power. It’s a waiting game.”
“Unless we can tip his hand, force him to make a move.”
“I can see the wheels of your mind turning and it frightens me. This isn’t a novel, Hil.” If you get too close they’ll put you down. I can’t let that happen.
“I know that. Doesn’t mean thinking out of the box is an awful thing.” She blew a curl away from her face.
Juliette instantly regretted the heated exchange. “I don’t want to fight with you. I didn’t mean that the way it came out.”
“It’s okay. We’re all on edge. I’d never go off half-cocked. If I come up with something decent, I’ll run it by you,” Hil promised.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now let’s talk about why you need to get emergency leave from work and go be with your man.” A determined expression crossed her face.
Juliette’s jaw dropped open. “What?”
“Girl, this situation is starting to get scary. When he gets back, laying low would be the best thing you could do.”
“No. I’m not going to hide away.” Juliette scowled.
“You don’t want to play hooky with your sexy biker?” Hilary asked in a singsong voice that dissipated the tension.
Juliette laughed. “Of course I do. That’s not the issue.”