Do not panic. Do not change anything you’re doing. The man I’ve seen watching you is outside. I’m going to follow him. Please, stay with your group at all times. Go straight back to your office. Do not leave again until you’ve heard from me.
I keep one eye on the stalker and one eye on Eve as I remain seated. I see her flinch when her phone buzzes in her pocket, and I watch her closely as she reads the text in her lap.
She stiffens, and I doubt she’s breathing, but she manages to pull herself together, put the phone back in her pocket, and glance my way. Her fucking amazing brown eyes are freaking out. The rest of her remains outwardly calm.
I lift a brow.
She bites into her bottom lip and returns to the conversation on her left, but her hands are shaking and she tucks them in her lap.
I rise and exit through a side door, hating that I’ve left her unprotected. She’ll be fine. No one’s going to snag her from a group of people in broad daylight. That’s not how these people operate.
Her stalker is leaning against the building across the street, casual as can be, his phone in his hand while he pretends to peruse it. This is my first time getting a solid beat on him. He’s just over six feet, about my height. Built like a linebacker. Khaki slacks. White shirt. Leather jacket. Brown ball cap.
I’ve seen the leather jacket and brown ball cap several times. It’s definitely the same guy. Now, I just need to get a look at his face. I snap several pictures while I pull out a pack of cigarettes and light up. I hate this part of the job. I hate smoking. It’s disgusting. But it comes in handy when I need to stand around and keep tabs on someone, especially since no building allows smoking inside anymore.
I pace casually while I inhale from the cigarette as infrequently as possible and keep an eye on both my suspect and Eve. Finally, her party finishes. They gather their coats and exit through the main door. I ignore them and keep my eye on my suspect.
As soon as they begin to stroll back toward the office, he moves with them across the street. I move also, keeping a distance behind them. Luckily, the guy does not enter her office building. If he had, I’d have freaked the fuck out. Instead, he stops again as she enters. He sends a text, then lifts his gaze to her building as if he could see her wherever she is inside.
That’s the moment I get a good picture of him. Not great, but at least what I can see of his face.
He puts his phone away and starts walking. I keep up with him, following on the other side of the street still. Three streets away, he gets in a car parallel-parked. At least I get several pictures of his vehicle. If I’m lucky, the plates will trace to him and the entire mess will be that much closer to over.
I’m five blocks from my own car now, so there’s not a damn thing I can do to follow him. Fuck. As he drives away, I head toward my SUV, fuming. Who the fuck is this asshole, and what does he intend to do with Eve?
Chapter 11
Colton
I pick Eve up at six. She waits inside until I pull up and then rushes out to get in my SUV.
It’s cold out, and she rubs her hands together as I pull away from the curb. I’d rather take her pulse first, but I know she doesn’t want anyone from her office to see her coming and going with me. Not yet. How is she going to explain me without sending the entire office into a panic?
“What happened?” she asks the moment we start moving.
“Nothing. I got some better pictures of him, but I’m not sure it will be sufficient for facial recognition. Followed him to his car though and got the plates, for all the good that did. They were stolen. Shocker. There was no way for me to follow him. I was parked too far away.” I grip the steering wheel, still pissed.
“Well, fuck.” She’s fidgeting, rubbing her hands on her skirt, but when I squeeze and release my tight grip on the steering wheel, she finally reaches across and sets her hand over mine. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. It’s not your fault.”
I turn toward her, grateful I’m at a light. I thread my fingers with hers and hold them in my lap. “I’m sorry too. I’m just frustrated. I get this way when I can’t solve a crime fast enough for my liking.”
My anxiety has caused her to relax to balance things. She grins at me. “Maybe you should slow down the investigation. I kind of like having you around,” she teases.
I lift her hand to my cheek, though I should not. “Maybe you shouldn’t use words like fuck. I might go all Daddy on you and wash your mouth out with soap.”
She sucks in a breath and doesn’t move.
“Shit. Sorry. That was uncalled for. It slipped out before I could filter myself.” I release her hand, kicking myself mentally.
When I glance at her, she’s staring at me, part of her bottom lip between her teeth. She’s breathing heavily, and she slowly turns to face the front.
The light turns green. I keep driving. What the fuck is wrong with me? I couldn’t have said anything more inappropriate if I had tried.
When we arrive at her apartment, we still haven’t spoken another word. I help her down from the SUV and follow her inside and up to her floor. I take her keys from her hand and open the door. This has become a thing with us.
