He nodded silently and turned to focus on the screen full of movie options.
Moments later, I pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the office park, which was less than five minutes away. The address the woman had sent me was for a small, three-story building that housed several businesses. Most of the windows were dark at this hour, but there were a few lights on in scattered offices.
I parked across the street and pulled my binoculars out of my trusty orange backpack. According to the information I'd been given, her husband drove a silver Lexus, and sure enough, there was one parked in the lot, right next to a red Mustang convertible.
The office in question was on the second floor, and through my binoculars, I could see two figures moving around inside. I grabbed my camera and zoomed in.
Bingo. The man matched the photo I'd been sent. He was standing very close to a woman with long blonde hair, his hand on her waist. As I watched, he leaned in and kissed her.
I snapped several photos in quick succession, feeling a mix of triumph and sadness. Another marriage on the rocks, another family that would never be the same.
Just as I was about to put my camera away, my phone rang. Drew's face flashed on the screen. My stomach dropped.
"Hello?" I answered, trying to sound normal.
"Elyse, where are you?" Drew's voice was tight with worry. “I remembered we had Find my Phone activated and it’s pinging nowhere near the restaurant. I never in a million years expected to hear your voice on the other end when I called it.”
I closed my eyes, busted. "Drew, I can explain?—"
"Are you doing what I think you're doing?" he interrupted.
Before I could answer, I noticed movement in my peripheral vision. The man I'd been photographing was walking toward the parking lot, the blonde woman on his arm.
"I have to go," I whispered into the phone. "I'll see you at home."
"Elyse, don't you dare hang up on?—“
I ended the call and sank down in my seat, hoping they wouldn't notice me. The pair walked to the red Mustang, stopping for several more passionate kisses before the woman got in. The man then walked to the Lexus and after looking around, folded himself into the front seat.
I started my car and prepared to follow at a safe distance. Just one more piece of evidence—where they were going—and then I'd be done.
But as I pulled out onto the road, I noticed another car pulling out behind me. A familiar car. Drew's car.
Oh no.
My heart pounded in my chest as I watched Drew's headlights in my rearview mirror. This was not how date night was supposed to go. I pulled into a nearby drugstore parking lot, knowing there was no point in running. Drew followed, parking beside me with surgical precision.
I took a deep breath and got out of the car just as Drew emerged from his. His face was a careful mask of control, but I could see the hurt and anger swimming just beneath the surface.
"Were you following me?" I asked, trying to sound casual, as if I hadn't just been caught red-handed doing exactly what I'd promised to stop.
Drew's eyebrows shot up. "Was I following you? That's really what you're going with right now?"
I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling defensive despite knowing I was completely in the wrong. "I can explain."
"Please do," he said, his voice unnervingly calm. "Explain to me why you lied about your phone being missing. Explain why you disappeared from our date night to—what—stalk some stranger? Take pictures of people for someone you don't evenknow and who has no bearing on our lives?" He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I knew meant he was trying to keep his composure. "I thought we were past this, Elyse."
"It was going to be the last one," I said, my voice small. "I promised myself. One more person to help, and then I'd be done for good."
Drew shook his head, disappointment etched into every line of his face. "Do you hear yourself? That's what addicts say. 'Just one more hit and I'll quit.' That's not how this works."
The comparison stung, especially with everything we'd been dealing with regarding my sister's addiction. "That's not fair," I protested. "I'm not an addict."
"Aren't you? Because from where I'm standing, you're choosing the rush of playing detective over your marriage. Over your safety." He paused, his voice softening slightly. "Over Holly."
That hit me like a physical blow. "That's not true. I love you both more than anything."
"Then why can't you stop this?" Drew asked, genuine confusion in his voice. "What are you getting from this that's worth risking everything we have?"
