My ride just pulled past me despite me waving. My hand just got warm. I watch him stop a block away. I wait for reverse lights, praying he doesn’t decide to circle the block and leave me out here longer. I definitely don’t want him to leave.
Of course, I tell my friends I’ll wait right here. Fucking hell.
When the driver does nothing, I hurry up the block. As I cross a narrow street that’s more like an alley, I notice a shadow against the wall I approach. I can’t tell what it is, but it could definitely be a person. I sprint to the waiting car. I hear someone step out behind me, but I don’t look back. I don’t want to give them the time to get closer. Tonight’s not the night to confront anyone.
My heart’s pounding as I practically slam the door.
“Anneliese?”
“Ya.”
I twist to look back through the rear window as the driver confirms who I am. I watch a man in front of a couple walking away from me. I can’t tell anything about him besides there’s a person ahead of them who’s taller than most. I suppose it could be Jorge, but this has to be too much even for him.
Do I have a genuine stalker?
Do I think way too much of myself to believe I do?
Would he really go to such extremes to see if I’m the leak?
If it is Jorge, why?
I sit back with my eyes closed as I calm myself. By the time I reach my home, I’m not terrified. Unnerved, yes. Ready to panic, no. I thank the driver and get out. I look around for anything unusual. It’s my normal quiet neighborhood. I head toward my building’s front door as a car inches out of a parking spot.
That’s odd. At this time of night, you’d expect someone to come home, not leave.
As I prepare to put the fob against the pad, I turn back to look at the vehicle. The car’s windows appear tinted darker than usual. I step into the lobby of my apartment building and let the door close. The car drives past slower than it should, as though the occupant might be watching me.
I’m going nowhere alone unless it’s the middle of the day, and the sun is shining.
Chapter Six
Jorge
I couldn’t bug Liesel’s phone—not only wouldn’t my cracked moral compass allow it, but it also wasn’t practical—so I bugged her office. Amazing what a low-wage maintenance worker will do for an extra two thousand euros.
I don’t have confirmation yet, but Liesel could still be the leak.
Who does Liesel works for?
If it isn’t her, then maybe a conversation I overhear will give it away.
“Johan, I’m going to run a couple errands. I’ll be back in a bit.”
I listen to Liesel speak to her assistant through the intercom. I turn on the car’s engine as I wait for her to emerge from the building. I haven’t transformed my hotel room into some evil lair or covert government spy headquarters. But I am stalking her.
I fully admit that. Hell, I let her see me again yesterday, so she’d know I’m watching her.
Some of it is for my enjoyment. I acknowledge that and have no problems with it. She’s beautiful, and I’m hot for her.
However, most of it is because I know her father is the leak, but I want to know what she’s doing about it. I suspected there was another party involved that wasn’t a news outlet. Eventually, she’ll go somewhere or do something that’ll give it away.
In the meantime, I’m learning her routine. This way I’ll know when she deviates from it. The pastry after her run was unusual the first morning I followed her. She runs with her sister every week morning, then goes home to get ready. She goes directly to her office from her apartment. However, her sister wasn’t with her today.
I saw her boyfriend come home in scrubs a few days ago, but I’d already learned he’s Superman in a lab coat. He couldn’t be more different from me. He saves lives while I—don’t. Though I’ve never harmed a child who wasn’t a peer before I moved to the States when I was eleven. Just the opposite.
I focus on Liesel as she walks outside rather than letting my mind wander to Bastian or how I donate my time and money when I’m not being a monster.
She looks around before crossing the street. She doesn’t wait for a rideshare to pick her up or take another mode of public transportation. She stays on foot. I turn off the car and hurry to follow her. The sidewalk’s crowded, so I blend in. I’m also tall enough, and so is she, that I don’t lose sight of her.
