The Chase by Amber Riel (books to read for self improvement TXT) 📖

we did a background check on him and it turns out that he rapes and murders young women and children as well.  We’ve been searching for him for a few years now and thanks to you we’ve finally found him.”

          “Yea if I hadn’t been there then Sam wouldn’t be here right now because that guy was in her hotel room.”

          The man’s attention moved from me to Sam with saddened eyes with a dark grim spark in them.  “I’m so sorry that you’re vacation isn’t turning out to be a nice one…. And that must have been scary for that guy to have found his way into your room.”

          “Yea but it does add a little excitement in a way,” Sam agreed.

          George nodded again.  “That’s true too.  Well, do you want to see what we’ve found so far because I’d hate that you had to drive all of this way for nothing?”

          “Of course,” I answered.

 

 

          George led us to a tree and he pointed at the tracks which sat on the ground.  There were footprints in the grass and dirt, telling us that someone had been there and stood there for a little while.  “We had a feeling that whoever was here wanted to make sure that the mansion wouldn’t last too long and of course by the time the fire trucks arrived, the ambulance arrived, and we all arrived the person was already gone.  Oh I heard someone say that there was a person in the mansion during the fire earlier.  Do you two know who it could have been?”

          “It was Kathleen,” I replied, saddened by the thought.  “I rushed in as soon as I heard that someone was trapped inside.  They had to rush her off to the hospital.”

          George nodded.  “Of course.

          “Was there anything else that I needed to know?”

          “Oh I forgot…. That taxicab driver he came clean when we were interrogating him he had admitted that he was the driver of the break in.

          I noticed Sam tense up with fear while something horrible had popped into her mind.

          “Sam, are you alright?” I asked.

          She looked at me and then moved a little closer to me.  “Just the thought about the taxicab driver being here is creepy.”

          I sighed and light kissed her left temple, letting her know there was nothing to worry about.  “You’re safe with me,” I whispered into her ear.

          She nodded.

 

 

          By the time we returned to Carmen’s cabin it was late.  Sam sat in the car, keeping her eyes on the dashboard while I worked my way out of the car and closed the door.  I moved to the other side and opened the door for Sam while she unbuckled herself.  “Come on out,” I whispered.

          She slowly climbed out of the car, thinking.

          When she was away from the car, I closed the door and grabbed her hand, leading her to up the steps.  “I’m used to seeing that kind of stuff happening all of the time.”  I opened the door quietly so just in case I wouldn’t wake up anyone, assuming Carmen and Lainie had been sleeping.  A light from the living room living room had been the only mean of light.  I closed the door silently and locked it.  “Go into the living room, I’m sure that Carmen’s in there waiting for us.  She worries about me when she knows what I have to go through during the day.  Her husband actually is one of my colleagues so she kind of worries a lot about him too.  I’m going to get some water.  Want anything?”

          Sam nodded.  “I’ll have some water too please.”

          “Okay.”  I nodded, letting my hand release Sam’s and we both head in different directions.

 

 

          I walked into the kitchen, switching on the light, and walked over to the cabinet.  I opened the cabinet and pulled out to a couple of cups.  I sighed while I let the scene of the mansion play in my mind.  Now where are Annie and Ron going to live?  And what about Kathleen?  What’s going to happen to that sweet kind hearted woman?  She can’t die.  She can’t leave them yet.  I shook my head at the thought.  I placed a cup under the facet and turned the nob which let the water spill out.  Once the cup was filled, I turned off the facet and repeated the action with the other cup.  I turned off the facet after the second cup was filled with water.  I picked up both cups and slowly worked my way out of the room, turning off the light while I walked passed it.

 

 

          I stopped in the hallway near the opening of the living room and listened to Carmen and Sam.

          “Imhotep,” I heard Carmen’s voice speak, “leave her alone…. I’m sure she doesn’t want you to bother her.”

          I didn’t know what was going on but I smiled when I heard Sam kind of laugh.

          “Sorry about him,” my sister spoke again.

          “It’s okay, my dog’s like this too.  I’m used to it,” Sam replied.  “Does that feel good?” I assumed she was speaking to the dog.

          I sighed and worked my way into the room and handed a cup to Sam.

          “Thank you,” Sam told me.

          “No problem,” I replied.

          Carmen began to stand up, trying not to wake Lainie up.  I noticed the child was asleep in her lap.

          “I’ll take her,” I told Carmen, placing the cup on the table and walked over to her.  I carefully pick up Lainie and began to head out of the room.

          “Thank you,” Carmen told me.

          “Not a problem, sis.”  With that I was out of the room and worked my way upstairs.  I made my way into Sam and Lainie’s room and carefully placed Lainie on the bed.

          “Uncle Louis?” her sleepy little voice asked.

          “Ssshhh.”

          “Where did---?” she had fallen back to sleep before she could finish her question.

 

 

          “Now changing the subject…. Did something happen between you two while you were gone?” I heard Carmen asked.

          Here we go.  Poor Sam, I left her all alone.  I wondered into the room before Sam could answer.  “Not talking about me, are ya?” I asked, trying not to let the two girls know that I heard the question.

          “It depends,” Carmen replied, kind of laughing.

          “That’s nothing to worry about,” I spoke with sarcasm.  I took a seat in between the two women which the overgrown puppy didn’t seem to like.  Imhotep jumped up and sat in between Sam and I, moving his weight on Sam while he watched me, closely.  I stared at the mutt with disbelief.  “What’s that for?”

          The two girls began laughing.  “Apparently, he doesn’t trust you,” Sam spoke while she tried to stop laughing.

          “Apparently…. Look, Imhotep, buddy…. I know your name is from a movie and that the character was an immortal but that won’t keep me from pushing you off of the couch,” I told the dog as if he really understood.

          Ruff….

          “Really?” I sighed, taking a moment to think.  “Look I’m not trying to take over your territory but I think you’re confused.”  I pointed toward Sam.  “She just met you and I’ve known you for a few years now…. About three years to be exact so how could you just come and disrespect me like that?” I asked, laughing.

          The dog stuck his tongue out as if he were telling me that he was in charge.

          “I don’t think so.”  I grabbed the dog’s collar and pulled him down to the floor.

          The dog’s eyes stared at me with suspicion.  Sam covered her mouth to keep from laughing too loudly while Carmen laughed silently.

          “Don’t give me that look…. I won and you lost…. Better luck next time, brother.”

          Imhotep continued to sit on the floor, staring at me.  Eventually he grew bored and stood up, making his way over to a dark corner and curled up into a ball.

          I smiled; keeping my eyes on the mutt then turned my attention toward Sam.  “Did you tell Carmen yet?” I asked with half a smirk on my face.

          Sam shook my head.

          “Tell me what?” Carmen asked, raising an eyebrow.

          “She’s your sister,” Sam whispered, kind of smiling.

          “Okay then.”  I kind of laughed, taking her hand and raised it for Carmen.

          After a moment of figuring it out a smile grew on my dear sister’s face.  “Awe…. You two are together?”

          Neither Sam nor I responded right away.  We smiled at each other then I turned my attention toward Carmen.  “Kind of…. We’re working on it…. You think we could stay here for a couple of more nights?  I want to take Sam out on a real date…. Get to know her some more….”

          “We kissed,” Sam blurted out before I could finish my sentence.

          I looked at the woman with both of eyebrows kind of narrowed but wore a smile on my face.  “I wasn’t going to tell her that part.”

          “Awe…. You two kissed?  That’s so sweet…. Wait till Annie finds out she’s going to be so excited…. Samantha, I have to take you shopping tomorrow…. So that way you can get a few nice outfits, especially one perfect for your date…. And Louis, Eric will be home tomorrow so you two can hang out…. Actually, change of plans, I’ll have Eric make sure that you’re ready to go out on your date with Samantha….”

          I shook my head, kind of laughing.  I had a feeling she would sound like a school girl at the news.  “If it was up to Carmen, we’d be getting married at the end of this week.”

          “Be glad Annie’s not here…. She’ll have a field day,” Sam replied.

          I nodded.

          “Why don’t we all go to bed?  Samantha, we need to get up early tomorrow so that way I can bring you to the store and we can shop….” Carmen went on.

          “I’m not really one for fashion,” Sam began.

          “That’s okay,” Carmen quickly replied.  “I’ll help you find something nice to wear.  Now, be up and ready by ten…. Can you do that?”

          “I think so,” Sam answered, kind of nodding.

          “Good, good…. And Louis, when you’re out on your date, pick up some flowers for her or something nice….”

          “Carmen, I’ve dated before you don’t need to tell me what to do and how to do it,” I answered.

          “I know but it’s been so long…. I mean this is your first real date since….” Carmen stopped herself from ruining the happy moment.  “It’s just been a couple of years you that’s all.”

          “Well,” I replied, standing up and pulling Sam to her feet, and then looked down at Carmen, “I’m not going to mess this up besides I didn’t say that our date was going to be tomorrow anyways so why….”

          “You might not have,” Carmen replied, standing up, “but I’m telling you two…. Actually, I’m making you two go out on a date tomorrow besides after everything that’s happened you two need time to yourselves and I think tomorrow will be perfect and don’t worry about Lainie I’ll keep an eye on her and I know that when Eric comes home that he’ll visit with her.”

          I sighed.  “If you insist….”  I began dragging Sam out of the room.

          “And no sharing a bed you two until you’re married.”  Carmen laughed.

          “You don’t have to worry about that.”  I laughed in return.

          Sam smiled and shook her head while we left the room.

 

 

          I stopped at the door to Sam and Lainie’s room.

          “You walked right past your door,” Sam told me.

          I kind of laughed.  “But that would have been rude of me; I wanted to walk you to your room…. If Carmen said anything that might have embarrassed you I’m sorry….”

          “No,” she replied, shaking her head.  “She’s a lot like Annie…. As a matter of fact I could