The Daughter

‘Shit!’

Reed rang the doorbell, then banged on the door. Ever since sweet Miss Ella Porter had left the garage, he’d been walking around with a hard-on. What kind of fool did that make him? He had wanted to lift her onto the desk in Briley Joe’s office, strip off her panties, part her legs and ram himself into her. When she’d stared at him with those big brown eyes, it had taken all his will power not to grab her and kiss her. And if he hadn’t read her wrong, he figured that she would have let him. Kiss her, that is. Not screw her.

Reed knocked again. The door swung open and Ivy Sims’ mouth spread into a wide grin.

‘Well, hello there, sugar. You’re early. I just got out of the shower.’

Reed visually raked her body from neck to knees. The short floral robe hung open just enough to reveal her thighs and parted above the belt to give him a glimpse of the inner curve of her breasts. Reed pushed her backward, came into the apartment and shoved the door closed with his foot. Then without saying a word, he grabbed Ivy, thrust his tongue into her mouth and lifted her up by her butt. She quickly wrapped her legs around his hips as he carried her through the living room and straight to her bedroom. She giggled when he tossed her onto the bed. He unzipped his jeans; then pulled a small square packet from his pocket. She squirmed and held out her arms when he opened her robe. He parted the fly of his briefs and freed his sex, then donned the condom hurriedly. Ivy cried out with pleasure when he impaled her.

He drove into her like a madman, all the while with his eyes tightly shut. The woman beneath him wasn’t the one he wanted, but he could pretend she was, couldn’t he?

6 (#ulink_8bbaa6bb-895a-5c87-85c0-891d3da53630)

Expecting a call from Heather, Ella answered the phone on the third ring. ‘Hello?’

Silence. Complete quiet. Eerie nothingness. Ella’s hand tightened on the telephone receiver as she said, ‘Hello. Is anyone there?’

Breathing. Deep, heavy breathing. Sensual panting. Just like the two unknown calls she had received yesterday.

‘If you have something to say to me, say it. Otherwise, do not call me again!’ Ella slammed down the receiver. When she lifted her hand, she noticed the slight tremble. Stop this! She tightened her hands into fists and slammed them down atop her desk.

Phone calls cannot hurt you, she reminded herself. Whoever is on the other end of the line is harassing you, trying to upset you. The caller had not done anything to warrant the fear that grew steadily within her. Ever since she’d received the letter three days ago, she had argued with herself over Reed Conway’s involvement. Was he or was he not the guilty party behind the letter and the phone calls? He was, of course, the most obvious suspect, but that alone could not condemn him. But if not Reed, then who? She had read through her files, studying every case over which she had presided since she’d become a circuit court judge. Had a disgruntled felon felt unjustly convicted? Not one of the men or women whom she’d sentenced to prison had threatened her or made any comments about injustice or revenge.

A light tapping outside her office door brought her back from her thoughts. ‘Yes?’ Ella’s heartbeat roared in her ears. Where was Kelly? Why wasn’t she running interference for her?

The door cracked open slightly and Roy Moses stuck his head in and smiled at her. ‘Morning, Miss Ella.’

She breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Good morning, Roy.’ Ella checked her watch and realized that it wasn’t quite eight. Kelly wouldn’t arrive until eight-thirty.

‘I was sweeping up along the hall and saw something lying outside your door.’ Roy lifted his meaty hand and held out a white envelope. ‘It’s got your name on it.’

Ella sucked in a deep breath as anxiety swept through her like a tidal wave. Don’t let it be another letter from him. ‘Please, bring it on in.’ She stood and walked toward the door to meet Roy.

‘You sure do look pretty this morning.’ Roy held out the envelope.

‘Thank you.’ Ella forced a smile, then grasped the envelope. She noticed that her name was typewritten, as on the first letter. Her stomach did a nervous flip-flop.

‘You have a good day.’ Roy plodded toward the door.

‘You too,’ Ella called after him. The moment he closed the door, she picked up the letter opener from her desk and sliced open the envelope. Willing herself to be calm, she eased the single page of unlined paper from its casing. As she spread open the folded missive, she prayed that it wasn’t what she thought it was.

Have you been thinking of me? I’ve been thinking about you. Bad thoughts. Dirty thoughts. Thoughts that would make you cream your pants.

Ella stopped reading. It was from him! Another sexually explicit, harassing letter. A crude, threatening love letter just like the one she’d received three days ago. Just like the two Reed had sent her from prison fifteen years ago.

This had to stop. She couldn’t continue ignoring the matter. Three heavy-breathing phone calls and two menacing letters. She’d thought she could handle the situation without involving anyone else, but she’d been wrong.

Ella picked up the telephone receiver, dialed the familiar number and waited.

‘Porter residence,’ the housekeeper said.

‘Bessie, this is Ella. Is my father there?’

‘Yes, ma’am. He’s in the library.’

‘I’d like to speak to him, please.’

‘Certainly.’

The moment she entered Callahan’s, Ella saw her father at the bar. She lifted her hand and waved. Smiling, he returned the gesture, then motioned for her to join him. Making her way through the crowd of waiting customers in the entrance foyer, she moved steadily toward the bar. The moment she approached him, Webb grabbed her and hugged her.

‘I can’t think of anything nicer than your inviting me to lunch,’ Webb said, then winked. ‘Unless it would be inviting me to your wedding.’

‘Now, Daddy.’

‘You know how much your mother likes Dan. She’s been after me to remind you that he’d make a great husband and father.’ Webb ran his hands down her arms and then grasped her wrist. ‘Sit. Our table should be ready soon. What can I order for you?’

‘Perrier with lemon.’ She took the bar stool next to her father. ‘Thanks for meeting me on such short notice. I hope Mother didn’t mind my taking you away from the house. I know how much she treasures your days at home with her.’

Webb’s smile faltered. ‘I realize your mother thinks I neglect her, but—’

‘She understands how busy you are and how important your career is to you.’

‘Your mother’s life hasn’t been easy. We’ve both done the best we could with the hand fate dealt us.’ Webb lifted his bourbon to his lips and downed the last drops, then ordered another when he asked the bartender to bring Ella’s bottled water. ‘You mustn’t worry. I told Carolyn that you’d invited me to lunch and she was delighted. You do know that your mother adores you.’

Ella sighed. ‘Yes, of course I know.’ There were times when Carolyn’s actions proved without a doubt that she did indeed adore her only child. But sometimes Ella sensed just a little envy coming from her mother. She understood that Carolyn often felt left out of the numerous activities Ella enjoyed with Webb. Things like tennis and golf and swimming. And being so acutely aware of her mother’s discontent broke Ella’s heart and made her all the more determined to be a good and loving daughter. There was nothing she wanted more than for her mother to be able to walk again. It had been her fondest dream since childhood.

‘So, to what do I owe this honor?’ Webb asked. ‘I know that you often eat lunch in your office, so why take the time today to have lunch with your old man?’

The bartender set Ella’s Perrier in front of her and then placed Webb’s second glass of bourbon on the bar. Ella lifted her drink and took a sip.

‘Before I tell you anything, I want you to promise me that you aren’t going to lose your temper and rush out of here half-cocked.’

Webb eyed her curiously. ‘Well, you’ve intrigued me, princess. I can’t imagine what you could say that would have that effect on me.’

Callahan’s hostess approached them. ‘Your table is ready, Senator Porter.’

Within minutes they were seated at the best table in the restaurant. Webb ordered for both of them, the way he’d done since Ella was a child. Even though she wanted to remind him that she was thirty now and not six, she didn’t protest. One of the things she loved about her father was the fact that he never changed. He was her rock, her support, her friend and her hero. She had always worshiped the ground Webb Porter walked on.

‘I promise not to lose my temper, so feel free to share this upsetting news with me. It isn’t something about Cybil, is it? If it is, I hope we can keep it from your mother. You know how she gets upset over her sister’s antics.’

‘No, Daddy, it isn’t about Aunt Cybil.’ Ella laid her purse on the table, opened it and withdrew two white envelopes, both wrinkled from having been crushed in her hand. ‘I received one of these three days ago and the other this morning. And I’ve had three phone calls where the person on the other end didn’t do anything except breathe heavily.’ She handed the letters to her father.

Webb removed the first letter from the envelope and read it slowly and thoroughly. His face darkened with rage, but he didn’t say a word. Then he read the second letter. His breathing quickened.

‘If you received one of these letters three days ago, why didn’t you tell me then?’ Webb slipped the letters inside his coat pocket.

‘I thought … well, I hoped that it would just be the one letter.’