Heart of Gold

Chapter 31 Green Eyed Monster

Chapter 31

Green Eyed Monster

Jason's POV

My fingers tightened on the phone as I gritted my teeth to keep any curses from slipping out seeing how Sarah was sitting on the office couch playing barbie dress up.

"...it seems he's been following them all day but my men managed to scare him away before he could try anything." Pete said

That son of a bitch was at the mall, he must have been watching the diner if he followed Gracie to the mall. Pete said Ben has been around the diner everyday this past week which means he knows she's back at work.

"Did you figure out where he's staying?" I managed to ask through clenched teeth

"He's making checks out south of town but my men think he's staying at a friend of his only minutes from the diner."

My brows furrowed, why would he pay in checks across town when he seems to always be around Gracie. Something isn't adding up here.

"Do you think he knows your following him?"

"I'm pretty sure he does but no need to fear Jason I'm not a sloppy man and he won't be able to bust my men."

The investigation is not what I'm worried about, I know Pete will get what I want and leave no tracks behind. What I'm worried about is if Ben gets smart and manages to snatch Gracie. Today he was merely a few feet away from her. If Gracie had gone off on her own or been alone the son of a bitch would have had the perfect opportunity.

"What have you found on his past?" I whispered careful Sarah didn't overhear

She seemed engrossed in the dress up app I downloaded for her earlier.

There was a long release of breath from the other end "He's been arrested for drunk driving twice around his twenties and a few sexual harassment suits that never went through. But what I really wanted to tell you is about his first wife, she died almost twenty years ago. She was found in her home bleeding from her throat, at first police thought it to be a suicide but the angle was wrong..."

Pete sighed causing a loud whooshing sound to whip through the phone "I went through the file and I think he killed her but because he use to be an officer he has friends who just let the case slid as a suicide."

Without intending to I tensed at my old friend's findings. I expected something like domestic violence, or some drug or theft past. Hell the sexual harassment didn't strike me as something he wouldn't do but murder. This man obsessed with Gracie could have already killed a woman.

Pete took my silence as fear and said "I'll definitely go over the whole case again just to be sure."

"You do that." I replied

"Jason I'm going to give you this piece of advice as a friend, don't let your eyes off your girl for one second. I know these kind of men and they don't play, if he says he'll get her he will or die trying."

Dozens of possibilities flashed through my head all ending with Gracie screaming as that sick bastard takes her away.

Gulping down harshly I spoke "Thanks Pete keep me updated on his whereabouts."

"Alright and Jason.."

"Yeah?"

"Your a good man for helping them out." he said before hanging up

Placing the phone down I felt as if someone had punched me in the gut knocking all the air out of my lungs. Rubbing my hands over my face I couldn't help but hear Pete's words repeating in my head 'he'll get her or die trying'.