Page 1 of Echoes of Temptation

Chapter One

Maddy

This has been the hardest year of my life. At twenty-nine years old I’ve had to leave my apartment and move back in with my parents because someone is out to get me.

“Let me see it, Cookie,” daddy says. “Is it like the other ones?”

Shaking my head, I let my tears fall as I hand my dad the latest threat. Every single week I receive a letter in the mail from someone threatening to kill me if I didn’t give them the money I owed them or return what I stole. But I don’t owe anyone any money and I didn’t steal a thing.

At first, I thought maybe the letters were being delivered to my apartment by accident. Then one day the letter came with a warning that they would kill me and my parents if I didn’t call the number on the paper.

I didn’t call it, but I did take it to the police. They told me that there wasn’t anything they could do unless they had physical evidence of someone trying to harm me. I had never been physically attacked, no one had tried to break into my apartment, and the person sending the letters never acted on their threats.

“So, she needs to be beaten or killed before you have enough proof to protect my damn daughter?” my dad yelled. The entire police station grew quiet at his outburst but still, they said there was nothing they could do unless I was physically attacked. I gave them letter after letter each week and the results never changed.

My parents had all but demanded that I move back in with them after that and I didn’t bother arguing about it. I was more than happy to move back home because I lived in constant fear each day I was alone.

My dad’s face turns red as he reads the new threat. This one is more serious than any I’ve gotten before. He hands me back the letter and its contents before walking away. I know he needs a minute to process it.

Thirty minutes ago, this was delivered with my parent’s mail. The envelope was your basic white rectangle with my name and my parents’ address listed on the front. There was no return address. There never is.

I look down at the letter and read it for the second time.

I’ve found you, bitch. You thought you could hide from me? You’ve seen what I do to people who betray me. Why the fuck would you think I would let you get away from stealing from me? This is your last warning, Maddy. Give me back my merch or pay me the fucking money it’s worth. With interest. I’m done playing games with you, woman. I could so easily slit your throat along with your parents. Just look how deeply you all sleep. You have one week. Then I’m done.

W.

Within the folded paper were two pictures. One of me sleeping in my room here at mom and dad’s and the other one of my parents sleeping. Whoever took the pictures stood right next to our beds.

“Those were taken last night,” daddy says after returning. “Your mom just changed out the comforter before we went to bed. Whoever is sending these letters aren’t even sending them through the mail. They’ve just added them to the delivery stacks.”

“What are we going to do, Ben?” Mom asks. “How can we keep her safe if whoever this is can just break into our home regardless of our security?”

“That’s what I was checking,” he tells mom, pulling her into his arms. “The alarm was deactivated at four this morning using the damn code.”

“Wait,” I say, putting the letter and pictures back into the envelope. “This is proof, right?” I hold up the letter. “He took pictures while we were asleep. This has escalated to more than a mild threat. He could have killed us last night. The police have to do something now, right?”

Hope fills my heart. This could be the proof that they’ve been asking for.

“I’m not risking your life because of those idiots, Cookie,” he tells me. “They won’t take it seriously. I want this asshole dealt with in a way so he will never be able to threaten you again.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Well, Joyce,” he says. “We’re going to have to do a little dive on the other side of the law. I’m going to hire someone to protect our daughter and kill the bastard trying to hurt her.”

Before I can tell my dad how ridiculously stupid that idea is, he turns and leaves.

“Is he being for real?” I ask mom.

“I’m afraid so, honey,” she says. “And based off the fear on your face right now, I agree with him completely.”

“I just don’t understand what’s going on,” I cry, tossing my arms in the air. “I don’t owe anyone any money. I’ve never stolen a thing in my life. Why is this person so adamant that I did those things?”

“I don’t know, honey,” she tells me.

“I’m so scared, mommy. What if this person hurts you guys because of whatever he thinks I did? I would never forgive myself.”

“You just let your dad handle this part. We’ve been talking about this for days. Those pictures just cemented his plans.”