The Daily Novel

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Help me! If anyone can hear me, call 911! I’m in the closet, can you hear me! I’m at 465 Northrop. Apartment 121! I need help! Apartment 121! Someone’s trying to kill me—” she screamed and sobbed, trying to secure the door with one hand as she talked fast. She had to let go of the radio when the door was finally flung open and there was Charles! He looked insane as he grabbed for her. She hoped to God someone heard her.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Frannie. Why are you running from me?” Charles said, gripping her arm tightly.

Oh damn, Frannie thought, as a new production of tears rolled down her cheeks.

Dave Harvey was listening to his scanner in his new, expensive, but lonely home. All of a sudden he thought he heard Frannie’s address! He listened again, turned the scanner up. Yes! The police dispatcher had repeated her address! He jumped up and grabbed his jacket and ran out of the house to the garage. He hopped into his BMW and took off like a bullet.

Frannie was frantic as Charles held her in a chokehold by the throat. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” he panted near her ear, his hot breath searing her skin. “Be nice to me…I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Why?” she said in a strangled voice. “Let me go! I won’t run.”

“Promise? I’m not going to hurt you, I swear…I never intended on frightening you.” Charles let up a little on his hold.

“Yes, I promise,” Frannie gasped, her mind racing 100 miles per minute as to what to do to get away! Hopefully someone had heard her on the radio and help was on the way.

Charles released his grip on her slightly and steered her into the living room. “I just want to talk…I mean you no harm, Frannie. I want to explain.”

“You’ve been stalking me, haven’t you?” she said defiantly. This creep had been through her things! “Why? What do you want from me?”

“I want you. I want to marry you. Granted this was the wrong way to go about it—”

“I’ll say….” Frannie interjected.

“I’m sorry if I caused you fear and grief, but I couldn’t help myself. I’ve done this before, Frannie…followed the object of my desire. Never had anyone reject me. But they were never the right ones for me anyway…only you. And now you go and get engaged on me, for heaven’s sake!”

He led her over to the sofa and sat her down. “You see, it’s my way of showing how much I care…what lengths I’ll go to prove how much I could love someone. With all the others, it was a game, so to speak…I knew you were different from the start.”

She knew by the look in his eye he had to be insane! She closed her eyes and wished she were anywhere but here at this moment.

Pete was on his way…he was running through yellow lights, praying for a cop not to stop him. He knew the cops were on their way and hopefully were there already. He’d heard Frannie’s call for help and nearly leaped out of his skin at the terror he heard.

He’d just gotten ready for an early night, was in the middle of changing clothes, when he heard her plea. He threw on a pair of sweatpants and ran out of the house, pulling on a T-shirt as he raced to his vehicle. He had no time for shoes!

Now, speeding to her apartment, his heart was racing a mile a minute. She had to be okay…had to be! Miraculously, he heard other hams talking about racing to her apartment to help. Once again, he said a prayer of thanks.

Frannie held him off with her hand. “Charles. I believe you aren’t going to hurt me…but I need some space. I can’t have you right in my face. Please?”

“Okay, okay. Anything you say.” He backed off a bit. “I’m sorry for scaring you. But I’ve got it all planned out. We’ll drive to Reno—that’s not far from here, is it? Two-three hours?”

“Two. And I can’t leave right now—”

“Oh, yes you can. You can do anything you want. Just like I can. And we’re going. I suggest you pack an overnight bag.”

She looked at Charles like he was totally out of his mind…which he was…. “I can’t do that! I’m engaged to be married. I told you that… Look!” She thrust her left hand in his face, flashing the ring Pete had given her.

“Ha! I can do better than that. Out in the car I have a magnificent ring for you. I went to the trouble of purchasing some clothing for you too. I know what size you wear as…well, as you guessed, I have been in here before,” he chuckled.

“Um, I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll pack my overnight bag while I’m in there. Can I get up?” She had a plan.

“I guess so. You aren’t going to try any funny stuff are you?”

“Well, what kind of a marriage would we have if we can’t trust one another?” she smirked. “But I’m not about to go to the bathroom in front of you!”

“Okay…don’t get your panties in a bunch. You’re free to go.” He indicated with a sweep of his hand for her to go on into her bedroom. Frannie got up and walked swiftly across the room. The gun was in the nighstand drawer.

Looking back at Charles, she smiled sweetly at him. Then casually, she grabbed a small bag and opened a dresser drawer, taking out two pairs of underwear and a bra. She was taking her time and working her way toward opening the nightstand drawer.

Finally she could reach it. She opened the drawer swiftly, but to her horror, the gun was gone!

As she stood there in mild shock, Charles appeared coolly in the doorway, dangling the gun between his fingers. “Looking for this?” he asked innocently.

“When…how…?” she sputtered. How did he get it?

“I took the liberty while you were in the bath…just in case. I knew you had it, of course. I told you I’ve been here many times.”

Frannie was so angry, she forgot about being afraid. She lunged at him with a fearless fury. He was surprised and caught off guard. She slammed him hard in the chest with her outstretched hands and her momentum.

He staggered back but recovered very quickly. In a flash, she sailed on by him, but he was able to reach out and grab her about the neck. Abruptly, she was held fast and pressed tightly against him, his arm encircling her neck.

“Mmmph! Let me go,” she struggled to say as she fought to escape.

“Frannie, stop struggling. I’ll let you go, but I don’t want you trying anything like that again. Hear me?” Charles whispered in her ear.

She nodded her head as best she could.

“What?” he said. “I couldn’t hear you.”

“Yes,” she gasped. “I won’t—”

“Good.”  He led her over to the sofa, still gripping her in a chokehold.

He let go as he sat her down. She rubbed her neck and glared at him. “What makes you think acting like this is going to win me over?” she said.

“You’ll change your mind. I know it. I have faith in you,” he leaned toward her and grinned. Holding the gun in his right hand, he aimed it toward the floor. She glanced at it out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t think she’d be quick enough. She prayed that someone heard her plea on the radio, but chances were slim to none since she had been in the closet.

Suddenly she heard loud, hurried footsteps coming up her stairway. A couple of loud bangs hit her door. “Frannie! Frannie, open up!” It was Dave!

She looked at Charles, who glared at the door. He took aim with the pistol and pretended to shoot.

“No!” cried Frannie.

Charles grinned and put it down. The frantic knocking resumed. “Frannie. If you don’t open up, I’m going to have the manager open it up for me. Come on! I know you’re in trouble—”

The door flew open, and Dave was yanked inside.

* * *

Pete was almost there. He saw a police car ahead of him with its lights going but no siren. Must be going to Frannie’s, he thought wildly.

He rounded one more corner, following the police car, and suddenly was surprised to find five pickup trucks and another Pathfinder jammed in the parking lot in front of Frannie’s apartment!

Their drivers were milling about like they were confused. The police car slid to a stop with Pete right behind. He hopped out and started to fly up the stairs.

“Hold it, sir,” said one of the men in blue.

“It’s my girlfriend—she’s in trouble,” he gasped, with his hand on the railing and one foot on the step.

“We’ll handle it, sir. Let us do our job. Just stay down here, and we’ll take care of everything.” The two cops unbuckled their guns and headed up the stairway, lit only by the stairway light. The sun had set a couple of hours ago.

Pete stood back, and the other men converged on him to find out what was going on. It seems they had all heard Frannie’s frantic call. One guy Pete recognized from the Radio Club meeting.

“Say, you all, thanks a million for coming…I don’t know what’s going on myself…but thank God we heard her.” He looked up at her door where the cops stood on either side with their guns up in front of their chests.

“Open up in there,” said the younger cop after three hard knocks. “Police!”

Nothing.

The police officer repeated his action.

* * *

“You’ve got to let us go!” Frannie begged. Dave was sitting in a chair across the room, with his eyes as large as saucers. “You won’t get into trouble if you let us go now. Please Charles.”

“Nope, too late.” He was peering through the peephole, then stepping back to the side quickly.

“Charles…think about it! We can say it was all a misunderstanding! Please! You won’t get into trouble! I swear!” Dave could only stare at her not, saying a word. How did Frannie get herself mixed up with this guy? He was crazy as a loon!

This whole scene was nuts! Here she was, pretty, yes, but not enough to warrant some loony, love-sick rich guy to stalk her, and an ex-boyfriend with a never-say-die attitude rushing to her rescue… and God knows what’s truly going on outside her door! She would have burst out in hysterics if she didn’t have such a grip on herself. She prayed for Pete… Pete, who had saved her life before, in the snowstorm…where was he now?

The three loud knocks repeated on the door. Frannie was afraid they might kick it in and Charles would go berserk!

“Please—”Frannie begged.

“Shut up!” Charles hollered. He was pinned against the wall next to the door, gun held up to his chin. He was breathing very hard. “You don’t know anything…..”

“What do you mean?” Frannie asked.

“I mean you don’t know anything! About me! I was arrested once for this, and I will not go quietly. Next time I get put away for a long time.” He looked over at her, and she knew exactly what he meant.

“Hey you—” Dave piped up. He was wiping his sweaty hands on his straining thighs. He didn’t think he could sit still a moment longer.

“Dave! Be quiet.” Frannie spoke sharply. She shook her head slowly at him. She was craving a glass of water.

They could hear the cops’ footsteps retreating down the cement stairs. Don’t go! she wanted to scream.

* * *

“Well? What’s going on?” asked Pete when the cops reached him. The other men were gathering around, looking very concerned.

“We need backup,” the younger one told him as the other officer spoke rapidly into the cruiser’s radio.

“Now, what’s your girlfriend’s name? And what do you know of this situation?”

“Nothing! I heard her on her radio, ham radio, just like these gentlemen did, and here we are. But I…well, I have to say, we think she’s had someone breaking and entering her apartment over the last several weeks–”

“And you didn’t report it?” the cop cut in.

“Well, she didn’t want to…said she really couldn’t be sure that someone had broken in. Nothing was ever taken that I know of. She did feel that she was being watched. I know she has an ex-boyfriend named Dave something or other, but she was certain he wouldn’t do anything like that.”

“Well, you never know about people,” replied the cop as he quickly wrote down all that Pete told him onto a small pad.

Pete nodded in agreement. “I tried to convince her to move in with me, but that didn’t fly.” He looked up at Frannie’s window, wondering just what the hell was going on in there. It took all his power to stop himself from running up there like some maniac and busting in the door.

“Look, what are you going to do? You’ve got to make sure she’s all right!” He ran a hand through his hair nervously. “I can’t just stand here not doing anything!” He started to pace. The cop placed a hand on his arm.

“I’m sorry, but believe me, we’re doing everything we can. We’re getting another team out here, and we’ll do what we have to do to get her out.”

“Hang in there, buddy,” said Jack from the Radio Club.

Just then another unit pulled up and two more police officers emerged.