Some Day Somebody Read online

  Sam shook his head in denial. “The cop outside…and your dog—”

  Carrie rushed out of the bedroom to the back door, pulling it open. “You would have let us know, right boy?” Toto was still there, sprawled out in the same position as he’d been earlier. Carrie’s entire body clenched with dread. “Get up, Toto,” she pleaded, though she already knew in her gut that he wouldn’t. She reached over with her shoe to nudge him, and dropped to her knees.

  She passed both hands over the still, stiff form of the pet she, her children, and even Dave, had loved for eight years. Her mind replayed the day she saw a car stop and drop off the tiny white ball of fluff in the middle of a busy street. She’d doubled back, praying he wouldn’t get hit before she got to him, and finally found him hiding in a ditch. She’d pulled over onto a side street, opened her door and called to him. He’d run straight to her, scrambled up onto her lap and buried his nose under her arm, knowing immediately he’d found his niche, his home, his family. His first bath, the trips to two kindergarten and the second grade classrooms to show the kids, nights of bringing him outside to do his business, and laughing as the winter wind made his backside flip right over his head because he was so tiny…Memories flooded, soon replaced with the acute ache over losing a pet so loved.

  The room filled with a low moan that turned into a wail. Shocked when she realized the sound was coming from her own mouth, she cut it off by pressing both hands over her mouth. “No…No…” she groaned, after Sam let loose with a low, but steady stream of cussing. “The girls…Don’t wake the girls…” she sobbed, as she felt herself being lifted by the shoulders and pulled into Sam’s arms.

  Sam held on to Carrie, his jaw clenched furiously as she mourned her loss. What kind of man would do this? Not a man at all, but a sadistic son of a bitch. Awareness filled him with foreboding. It was an awareness that anyone who could do this under these conditions, and so easily, was capable of much worse. Feeling helpless, he muttered a low curse and held her tighter as she sobbed. He cursed again when he thought how heartbroken her kids would be. He glared up at the police officer on guard as he came around the back of the house.

  “Is everything all right here?” Cody asked.

  Sam cleared his throat and pulled the sobbing woman closer. “We think he was in the house last night and…” his voice lowered, “…we suspect he killed the dog.”

  The officer swore quietly and shook his head. “I never saw a thing. I never left my post and I didn’t fall asleep, Sam, I swear I didn’t. The second patrol car made regular passes with the search light on all sides at least every thirty minutes.” He pulled out his radio and ran to his cruiser.

  Sam listened as Cody called in the probable breaking and entering then walked Carrie back inside the house and away from Toto.

  After a few minutes the officer came back and stood inside the doorway. He cleared his throat and shuffled his black booted feet. “Ms. Jeansonne, I’m so sorry this happened, but the chief thinks we should perform an autopsy on the animal to discover the cause of death.” He stared down at the floor, shifted, and repositioned his clipboard. “Did, uh, did he have any health threatening conditions?”

  Carrie sniffed and wiped her nose with the tissue Sam handed her. She shook her head. “He just had all his shots and our vet said he was good,” she said, sobbing again.

  The officer shook his head and groaned. “I’m so sorry, ma’am. I really am.” He turned as the K-9 unit pulled into the driveway and left to meet it. He came back a few minutes later and introduced her to the unit’s officer, Heath, a young man in his early to mid twenties.

  The officer spoke to her in a quiet and respectful tone. “I’m sorry for your loss, Ma’am.” He pointed to the specially outfitted K-9 unit parked in her driveway. “I applied for this position because I’m a dog lover too. What’s his name, ma’am?”

  “Toto,” she sobbed.

  The officer nodded. “From The Wizard of Oz, huh? It fits him perfectly. How old was Toto, ma’am?”

  “Eight years…” She faltered and bit her lower lip, trying to stop the tears. “We raised him from a puppy.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Can you take him now, please? I don’t want my girls to see him like this.” She covered her mouth with her hand again to suppress a sob.

  He crouched next to Toto’s lifeless body. “From here on out, he’ll be treated with nothing but respect, I can promise you that.”

  She nodded but remained silent, biting hard on her lower lip to keep the sobs at bay.

  Sam thanked the officer for her. “How soon do you think we’ll know something, Heath?”

  “If there are any toxins in his system, it could take a couple of days, depending on what…Was used,” he finished.

  “Toxins…” Carrie said, choking on the word. “That’s a pretty way to say ‘poison’ isn’t it?” She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue again. “If you rule out natural causes, it won’t matter what he used on him,” she said, turning toward Sam to muffle her sob on his chest.

  The officer stood up. “The identity of the poison may be used as evidence when we catch this guy. It could help us put him away or even link him to any other unsolved crimes.”

  Carrie nodded and crouched over her dog, giving his thick, white coat one last rub. “Good boy,” she whispered, before straightening. She backed into the kitchen and closed the door, then turned to face the one officer remaining in her living room. “Did Sam tell you why we suspect he’s been in the house?”

  “No, ma’am, I was waiting…until you were ready.” He pulled out a pad to take notes as both Carrie and Sam explained her reason for suspecting the stalker had been in her home. When Cody asked if he could check out her bedroom, she and Sam led him there. He opened the closet door and studied the inside before leaning over to pick up something up against the edge of the wall. He straightened, holding out a single, un-smoked cigarette.

  “You were right,” Cody told them.

  “That’s him, that’s what he smokes,” Sam told him.

  They did a quick check of the other rooms in the house and ended up back in her living room. Cody made some notes then tucked his notepad into his shirt pocket. “If this guy’s got the nerve, as well as the ability to do this, he’s one dangerous son of a gun. We’ll need to call in the troops on this one.” He walked to the front door then paused and turned to Sam. “I wouldn’t lose sight of her until we resolve this situation.”

  Sam closed the door then pulled Carrie to him for a hug.

  “I should trust my instincts more, Sam. I knew something was wrong in that bedroom.” She closed her eyes and remembered the feeling of being watched…remembered facing away from the windows and toward the closet. “Oh God, I undressed in front of him, Sam.” Carrie shuddered visibly, feeling violated and dirty.

  “You want me to call the office for you?” he asked.

  She turned to walk into her bathroom. “Yeah, go ahead and call for me. Report the cut line to the phone company, while you’re at it.”

  Sam watched the door close then heard the shower running. He stepped onto the front porch and went to Doug’s place across the street. He asked him to keep an eye on Carrie’s home while he made the phone calls.

  Fifteen minutes later, he returned to Carrie’s. She sat curled up on the sofa, wearing jeans and a different sweater from last night.

  “I called the office, and J.C.’s the only one there. He said he hopes we catch the bastard, and to give you this.” He reached over and gave her a hug.

  She hugged Sam back, imagining what her friend would have had to say. “I bet he said worse than that.”

  “He did,” Sam agreed. “But I was trying not to be as vile as he was.”

  Carrie gave him a bleak smile, remembering the string of curses that had come from his mouth earlier. “I want you to sit and listen to something I came up with.” She explained her plan, in detail, and watched as Sam’s face revealed his mixed emotions. “It’ll work, Babe.”

>   He stood and paced the floor. “It’s too damned dangerous.”

  “No more dangerous than having him lurk around here while we’re all asleep and completely defenseless,” she answered. “This is bullshit, Sam, and you know it. I won’t be his victim and I damn sure won’t sit back and let my kids, or your son, or you be his victims either.” She pressed her hands to her stomach. “When I think what could have happened while I slept, totally clueless that he was walking around in here…Oh God, I get sick inside.”

  Sam dropped his head and groaned, in acceptance of the inevitable, knowing she’d do this regardless of what he said. “Okay,” he finally agreed. “But I have a few suggestions…with your safety in mind.”

  She nodded when he finished speaking. “I have to admit, I’d feel better if you were a part of this.”

  By eight a.m. the phone company had reconnected Carrie’s phone line. With Sam by her side, she called Dave and told him she was bringing the girls home later that morning, then broke the news about Toto.

  Dave was quiet for a moment. “You told the girls yet?”

  “No,” she said, covering her eyes with one hand. “And I dread it more than anything I’ve ever done in my life. Is Grant awake yet?”

  “You’re kidding, right? Don’t worry, I’ll wake his lazy butt up around ten and tell him.”

  Carrie cringed. “Look, when you tell him, do you think you could do it without being so…” she stopped herself, searching for some word that fit the situation. “Crass?”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  Okay…a word he knows the meaning of. “Insensitive,” she said, shaking her head as Sam tried to cover a smile. “Try not to be insensitive when you tell him. Our kids grew up with that dog, Dave. Grant’s going to be hurting.”

  “Hey, I’m hurting too, you know,” he huffed, sounding insulted. “I liked that dog as much as you did, even if he didn’t earn his keep around here like my dog does.”

  “Toto was free. You paid big bucks for Lucas, and we spent another two hundred on…oh forget it, it doesn’t matter. I love your dog too, you…jerk…” she said, sobbing into the phone.

  Sam turned different shades of red, obviously furious at Dave. When he reached for the phone, Carrie put her hand up and shook her head.

  “Thanks, but I can handle this,” she whispered, regaining her composure.

  “Look, I’m sorry,” Dave said, his own voice breaking over the phone line. “I’m just pissed that he died that way. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

  “It’s okay, I understand.”

  “No! No, it’s not okay. I apologize for being a jerk. But that son of a bitch needs to pay for doing that to our dog.”

  “I know he does,” she said quietly, nodding to Sam. “And I’ve got a plan that can make that happen. Sam is letting me use his truck to bring the girls home, because I need to borrow something from you. It’s a lot to ask, I know, but I believe it may make the difference.” After she explained what she need from him and how it fit into her plans, he balked, but finally agreed.

  “Thanks Dave. Are you sure you don’t want me to tell Grant when I get there?”

  “No, you’ll have your hands full telling the girls. I’ll do it…sensitively…I promise.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “We’ll be there in a couple of hours. Tell no one about this, okay? Not even Grant. It’s important that we have the element of surprise on our side. We think he’s someone from around that area.”

  Once Dave agreed, she ended the call and rubbed at her forehead before facing Sam. “It’s time to tell the girls.”

  Sam nodded. “You want me to go in there with you?”

  “I think I should do this by myself, but thanks for the offer anyway.” She walked into the room where her daughters slept, and closed the door behind her.

  Carrie sat on Gretchen’s bed and held her daughters to her, one in each arm. She cried along with them as they mourned the loss of their beloved Toto. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so very sorry.” She rocked them, ached for them, while wishing she could take away their pain. Her eyes focused on a tiny spot on the bedroom door, as she told herself that Sam was out there, and waiting to help if she needed him. That thought gave her the strength she needed to comfort her children.

  Gretchen was the first to calm and pull away from her mother. She wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her pajama top and sniffed loudly. “If that stupid cigarette man poisoned our dog,” she said, her voice filled with anger and bitterness, “I hope we get to meet up with him one day.” She narrowed her eyes at her mother. “I’d sure like to beat the crap out of him.”

  Carrie couldn’t help but smile at her daughter’s determination and drive. “Sweetie, everyone feels the same way, even the local police. Don’t worry, we’ll get him, but we’ll always have good memories of Toto. He was such a character, wasn’t he?”

  Gretchen gave her mom a tearful smile. “You remember how we’d clean him up so he could stay in the house when it was cold outside?”

  Lauren joined the conversation. “Yeah, he’d fart and stink up the house. Remember the face he’d make?”

  Carrie chuckled. “He’d hang his head, almost like he was ashamed.” Before long, all three of them were laughing over other memories of Toto.

  Carrie reached out to smooth her daughters’ curls. “He’s not gone as long as we remember him.”

  “I’ll always remember him, but he is gone,” Gretchen groaned. “And I’d still like the chance to beat the crap of that guy.”

  “I’d like somebody to hold him down so we could all beat the crap out of him,” Lauren added.

  Carrie smiled, hugging her girls to her, and prayed they’d end up with men who wouldn’t try to take that spark away from them. “I need to bring you back to your dad’s this morning. Until this is settled, I have to know you’re all safe. Are either of you hungry?”

  She patted their hands when they said no. “Get your stuff together and make the bed, please.”

  Sam and Nick stood in the kitchen talking quietly when Carrie exited the bedroom.

  Nick walked over to hug her and shook his head. “That’s messed up, Carrie. What kind of person does something like that?”

  “The kind of person who’ll get the crap beaten out of them if those girls have anything to say about it,” she said, taking the tissue Sam offered.

  “I’d like to be in on that,” Nick said.

  “And me,” Sam added.

  The girls came out the bedroom, fully dressed, eyes red-rimmed from crying. Carrie sniffed, her heart bursting with gratefulness, as they migrated straight to Sam. She watched as he held her daughters, whispering words of comfort. They moved to Nick, who enveloped them both in a consoling hug.

  “Nick,” Sam spoke softly after giving them several moments. “Take the girls over to our place until we get back. Carrie and I have to make a run to the police station.”

  Nick nodded and herded the girls out the door as Carrie and Sam prepared to leave.

  Ten minutes later, they sat in Chief Charlie Walker’s office, discussing Carrie’s plan. It took another thirty minutes to work out the details. As they got up to leave, Carrie held her hand out to Charlie Walker. “Thanks for your help, Chief Walker.”

  “You’re very welcome, Ms. Jeansonne. We’ll get this guy.”

  By nine-thirty, the twins sat in Sam’s truck, waiting for Carrie.

  Sam pulled her to the back of the truck for a talk. “I hate the idea of you going over there without me.”

  She placed her hand on his face to calm him. “I’ll be fine, Sam. I’m going straight to Dave’s, and then coming back here. No pit stops, I promise. I feel like I need to do this alone. It’s like getting back on a horse when you fall off, you know?”

  Sam frowned but gave her a hug, anyway. “I understand, but I don’t have to like it. I won’t relax until you’re back.”

  When Carrie turned Sam’s truck down the driveway of her old
home, Dave and Grant came out to meet them. Carrie stepped down from the truck and hugged her son tightly.

  “This really sucks, Mom,” he said.

  “I know, but they’ll get this guy.” She gave her girls hugs. “Ya’ll go on in the house now, please. I need to talk to your dad.”

  Dave waited until their children were inside before speaking. “Do the twins know about the plan tonight?”

  “No, I don’t want them to worry.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “When I think about him walking around my home with our kids in it…”

  Dave nodded. “I know, I’m sick about it too, but they’re fine. Listen, Carrie, I want to apologize to you again for acting the ass those other times. I’m the last person to be pointing the finger at you for anything, especially since we’re divorced now.” He leaned an elbow on Sam’s truck and crossed one booted foot over the other. “I got the scoop on you and Sam last night at the club in Gardiner.”

  “Yeah…who from?”

  “Your brother, Mack, was there performing with their band.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “He let me have it pretty good.”

  Carrie kept her silence as Dave told her how Mack had come to her defense as well as Sam’s. She watched as he ran his hands through his thick hair.

  “He said he’s a real nice guy and he makes you happy, so who am I to complain.”

  She nodded slowly as her brow furrowed in concentration. “That’s good to know, but what else is going on here?”

  He gave her what she was sure he thought was an innocent look. “What do you mean?”

  Her smile broadened. “I mean, I know you like the back of my hand, David James Jeansonne. You’ve met somebody else.”

  Dave’s eyes widened. “Who’d you talk to?”

  Carrie’s laughter rang out. “I didn’t talk to anyone. I just know you too well, that’s all.”