“No. I thought I’d show up here and poke around. Break into the back office and have a chat. But when she wasn’t there, I’d thought maybe I’d cut the lights and draw her out. I lead the bear in just as an added measure of surprise and I can’t believe how well that worked out.” Conrad rubs his palms together and the sight makes me sick.
“You’re an idiot.” Elijah lets out a laugh of his own. “I’m a cop and I have a recorded confession now.” He turns the flashlight off on his phone and replays Conrad’s audio. “I hear breaking and entering, trespassing, threats of kidnapping, endangering—”
“So take me to jail for the night. Ha, take me for a week or make it two.” Conrad’s laugh comes out in a huff. “That’s all they’ll keep me.”
Elijah’s chest swells and he seems somehow larger than before. His skin flushes an angry red and his breath is even and measured. “Oh Conrad, you’re in over your head buddy. Sure they might keep you awhile for tonight's charges, but it’s the embezzlement that will have you there for the long haul. Don’t think I’ve forgotten. I remember exactly how you got all that precious start-up capital. One phone call Conrad, that’s all it will take.”
This seems to catch Conrad’s attention. He takes a step backward and my heart rate slows in response. “You have no proof.”
“Maybe I’ll just take the letter and hand it over to your investors. Let them see what kind of man they are entrusting with their money.” Elijah puts his hand on his chin as if he’s deep in thought. “You choose? Time in prison or financial ruin of your company? Tough choice isn’t it.”
I narrow my gaze on Conrad and then whip my head back to Elijah. “What are you talking about?”
Elijah doesn’t look at me. Instead, he lowers his voice and inches ever closer to Conrad. “He knows exactly what I’m talking about.”
The two men stare at each other. Frozen. Elijah keeps closing the gap between them. Before I know it, they’re nose to nose. It strikes me how Conrad pales in comparison to Elijah in every way. Whatever passes between them is unspoken, but Conrad seems to get the message loud and clear.
All of a sudden, without a single word, Elijah straightens and turns away from us. He starts walking toward the woods and my heart leaps.
“Elijah, he’s just going to walk away.” My heart drops.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this,” Elijah whispers.
“No, you don’t understand how he is. You let him go and then tomorrow… He’ll just come back, he—” I stop talking.
A flash of blinding red and blue lights flick on in the thick of the forest. A voice on a loudspeaker calls out. “Conrad Swinder, you’re under arrest on the following charges, stalking, violating a restraining order, trespassing, breaking and entering, theft…” The list goes on.
“Like I said, don’t worry about Conrad.” Elijah winks at me and for the first time in a long time, a sense of calm washes over me. “I’ll always keep you safe.”
Happy tears of relief well behind my eyes and my taut muscles loosen. I look up at Elijah and am overwhelmed with gratitude for all he’s done. “Thank you for being here and doing all this. I’m sorry I pushed you away. I’m sorry I went out in the stupid forest alone and was so rude about it.” I lean my head on his chest. “It might take me some time to get used to… normal.”
“Sweetheart, you can take all the time you need. I’ll always be here. Never holding you back, but just making sure you get where you want to go.” He plants a sweet kiss on the top of my head.
As the police car holding Conrad disappears down the gravel road, I throw my arms around Elijah’s neck.
“It's been a long day, let me get you home,” he says.
I rock up onto my tiptoes and whisper into his ear. “You saved me twice in one night. You’re coming home with me so I can show you how much I appreciate it.”