Freezing Point Read Online Free PDF Page B

hadn’t stopped the intruder. But then again, Mr. Spear wasn’t exactly an intruder and obviously had the alarm-system password. She’d have to ask Aunt Leann if she could change the password and how to do it. That would go a long way in making her feel safer.
    â€œThank you, Mr. Jesse Dufour. Who knows what might have happened if you hadn’t shown up.” She knew her smile was weak, but Jesse was the only reason she smiled at all. That is, Jesse and his dog, Simon.
    He jammed a hand in his pocket and held Simon’s leash, keeping the dog from her, then without warning, he released him. Simon came bounding at Casey once again.
    She knelt to meet him. “Come here, you.”
    When she looked up at Jesse, his expression had sobered. “I’m going to check around the rest of the house now to make sure there isn’t someone else lurking in a closet, though I doubt it.”
    â€œI’ll come with you,” she said.
    â€œNo, you stay with Simon. He’ll keep you safe if there’s any need.”
    Jesse finally returned. “The house is empty except for us. Listen, I gave you my business card today, but it doesn’t include my personal cell. Let me give you that number.”
    â€œI’ll get my phone.” Casey came back to find him standing halfway out the doorway, one foot on the deck. “Okay, what is it?”
    He gave her the number and she stored it in her phone.“Got it. But I’m sure I’ll be fine. It was just a misunderstanding, right?”
    â€œRight. If you get another intruder you should call the police. I was referring to the fact that you wanted an interview. That’s the best way to contact me.” He grinned.
    â€œI knew that.” Heat crept up her neck. Had she actually thought he would return to protect her if she called? Still, he’d already given a contact number for the interview. Why was he giving his personal number now? She liked that. Warmth spread through her but it quickly died. She couldn’t have called the police tonight if she tried. Or Jesse, either, for that matter.
    Next time she’d go for the phone instead of a figurine.
    â€œHow about tomorrow at nine?” he asked.
    â€œTomorrow? I thought you said a couple of days?” Casey had considered that Jesse would likely renege, considering how eager he had been to see her leave the ice company.
    â€œOkay, a couple of days then,” he said.
    Did she really want to wait that long? Not a chance.
    â€œTomorrow at nine o’clock.”
    â€œSee you then.” He completed his exit through the door.
    She watched him make his way down the steps and disappear into the darkness on the beach. Suddenly she felt drained—tired from running for her life, running from Will, and exhausted from her struggle with a friendly intruder.
    What an oxymoron.
    Long after Jesse left that night, Casey lay in bed, staring at a late-night talk show on the muted television while she held the phone to her ear. She’d left a message with Aunt Leann about the friendly but brusque intruder, then spent a few minutes writing in her diary. She’d kept a diary for years. All of her deepest feelings were poured onto its pages, including thoughts about everyone she knew. When she’d fled Portland, her diary had been among the most important items tograb. Journaling kept her centered, giving her the ability to laugh when life threw her the unexpected. Maybe one day she could read back over the events of the last few months and laugh.
    No. She doubted she’d ever laugh about this.
    Then, she’d jammed the book beneath a pillow and called Meg because she couldn’t bear to be alone tonight.
    â€œThanks for staying on the line with me, Meg. I think I’m finally getting sleepy.”
    â€œI’m glad you called. I was getting worried. But…I want to hear more about this Jesse guy. He really just barged into the place and tackled a