Chapter 29
Hidden Secret
Leona Palmer Haag
Chapter 29
Jenn pulled into the driveway on Honeysuckle Pie Drive
and shifted the car into park. Of course the garage door wouldn't open because
she'd left the opener sitting on the counter in the kitchen. She wondered what
Kevin would think about her if he could see. There was so much to do, and she
hadn't done any of it—except arrive and buy a few necessities.
Jenn pulled the pink paper from the glove box and
shoved it into her purse. She had an address to burn. "And there are
combinations to change," she muttered to herself.
Jenn climbed from the car and pulled Katie out. Katie
had just dozed off and her little leg's wobbled. "Let's tuck you in for a
nap before we S-W-I-M," Jenn whispered, spelling the last word so Katie
didn't pop into awareness and beg to play.
Jenn grabbed what bags she could carry and then pulled
Katie to her shoulder and entered the house. With her foot, she shoved the door
shut behind her and heard the lock slip into place with a comforting click. Matt—Samuel—her
pseudo husband, smiled at her. "That has got to go—fast," she
grumbled as she carried her daughter past the family photos and deposited her daughter
on the family room couch. She dropped half a dozen bags to the floor.
Jenn turned one bag upside down and out tumbled
stuffed animals. The next one held the swimsuits. Jenn pulled the tag off
Katie's and was ripping off the tag on her new silver and blue number when the
doorbell rang. Jenn jumped off the arm of the chair she was sitting on and
dropped the swim top. She stared around the house like a siren had gone off,
then snatched Katie into her arms and ran up the back stairs.
"Kevin, someone rang the doorbell," she
hissed into the phone the moment he answered.
"Who?" Kevin asked as Jenn lay Katie on the
silk covered king-sized bed and crept toward the front window.
Jenn pulled the curtain aside. A moment later the
doorbell rang again. "I have no clue," Jenn whispered, choking back a
sob. "Am I expecting anyone?" She stared at the SUV in the driveway—a
clear indication someone was home.
"No. What doorbell rang? Front? Back?"
"How should I know? It's never rung before! How
many doors does this castle have?" Jenn frantically asked as she
remembered the store clerk asking about her name. Had the lady called the
police? Had they sent someone to check her identity?"
"Where are you?" Kevin calmly asked.
"Upstairs. I'm peeking out the front window. I
can't see a thing."
"What about a car? Is there anything parked in
front of the house or on the street in front of the surrounding homes?"
Jenn's hand shook as she moved slightly to see up and
down the street. "No. Nothing. Not even in anyone's driveway. What should
I do?"
"Don't open the door. Sit tight and watch. Tell
me if you see anything."
"Okay." Jenn slowly exhaled and then took a
deep breath. "There's a roof over the porch. I can't see if…wait, there's
a lady. A woman. She's walking away. She's carrying something. She's
wearing…"
"What is she carrying?"
"A box. No, a plate. A plate of cookies or
something like…"
Kevin started laughing. "Claudia, you're in the
west. Some areas are friendly and neighbors welcome newcomers with treats. Can
you take a picture with your cell phone to send me?"
"Uh…"
Kevin cleared his throat.
"Yeah, I already know. Learn how to use it. But I
only got it yesterday. What was I supposed to do, stay up all night reading the
manual that no one gave me?"
"Where is she going?"
"Across the street. She's walking up to the front
door across the street."
"Is she knocking? Could she be a
salesperson?"
"She walked in. Oh, she had a little boy with
her. Maybe Katie's age. Probably a little bit older. Okay. I think I got a
picture. Yeah, I did. But it's only of the front of her house. I'll send
it."
Kevin dryly said," Don't bother, but welcome to
the neighborhood, Claudia. I think you just offended the first person. You’re
off to a great start."
"That is not funny!"
Kevin laughed anyway. "Just be calm. Keep your
head if she returns. Nick says you're nice and friendly. Act that way, but
don't blow your cover. You're in the nicest house we've got, so don't make me
send you to a ghetto."
Jenn sank away from the window, releasing the curtain,
and settled on the carpet in a puddle. "I can't tell you how fast my heart
is pounding. I thought I'd have a heart attack."
"You'll be fine. Jensen said you've got a good
head too. He thinks you're smart. He said you have good intuition. Remember
that in situations like this. If you think you should run, do it. If you think
you ought to pull your gun, don't hesitate. If you think you should make a
friend, go ahead. Follow your instinct, but also stay alert. It will protect
your life and keep your sanity."
"Okay," Jenn whispered as she crumpled into
a heap on the soft carpet. "But maybe you should know I don't have a gun.
At least here. I left it at home in Dallas."
"Are you okay, Claudia?"
Tears tricked from her eyes. "Yeah. I'm fine now
that the initial shock has receded, but I left the car in the driveway and it's
hot out there."
"That's okay. You don't have to move it into the
garage until you feel like you're ready to go outside again."
"There are eggs, milk, steaks, chicken and cheese
inside and the windows are up."
"That's fine. If you don't think you should go
out for a while, don't. You can buy more later if they spoil. But you should
put the car in the garage and…"
"Don't lecture me. I'm not in the mood for
it!"
There was a pause before Kevin said, "I see you
bought Katie some toys, clothes and groceries."
"Are you spying on me?"
"Just your credit card purchases. Have you got
the lock combinations changed?"
"Yes," Jenn lied.
"It hasn't shown up here yet. Maybe you ought to
do that next."
Jenn wanted to scream. “Are there hidden cameras in
every room? Did you know your name Curtis will appear on the endangered species
list if I find out you’re watched me shower?"
He laughed. "There are cameras on the premises,
but only on the exterior. I've pulled up the video feed of the front door.
Sorry they didn't hook me up to the link before you arrived. It looks like your
neighbor was wearing tan pants, a white top and sandals. She's about
thirty-five, is five foot-four and weighs one-hundred eighty pounds. Short red
hair. Yep, she entered the house across the street without using a key, and
that’s the one she exited when she dropped by to greet you with a plate of
cookies. It looks like peanut butter cookies, to be exact."
"You saw all that?" Jenn gasped.
"And I see you left the car in the driveway with
the doors unlocked. Shame on you, Claudia."
"I hate that name," Jenn muttered.
"It won't last forever," Kevin said in a
soothing voice.
"I shortened it to Dia."
"I'll keep the video feeds to your security
cameras running. I won't let a pause or delay happen again—or someone will be
demoted to sanitation, in the sewers, not the restrooms. Contact me anytime you
want, whether you have a simple question or you feel uncomfortable. Is there
anything else you need? Something I can help you with?"
"Someone to come and unload my groceries for
me."
Kevin laughed.
"And someone to tell me how to
get the blanket off the swimming pool."
"I'll check on that and get back to you."
"Thanks," Jenn said.
Kevin hung up and Jenn slowly closed her phone.
She peeked out the window again and then sat back against the wall and took a
deep breath. This was not how she wanted to live her life—scared of a doorbell
and cookies.
End Chapter 29
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