I am afailure. In three hours, I’ve fallen victim to old habits. As I stare at the ripped-open computer box at the end of the bed and the gentleman’s wallet I stole to buy the computer, I feel remorse. The address on the note beside me? That gives me hope.
Theo’s mobile was a dead end. As I suspected, he must have destroyed it after I texted him from Nolan’s mobile. Credit cards? Nope. I did that one to myself. It would appear that Theo has been paying cash for everything. However, a DMV search gave me his registration number and since then, I’ve accessed every traffic camera and building security camera starting in Savannah to piece together his whereabouts.
He’s in Lexington.
Where? I’m not sure yet but for the past week, he’s been caught on a bank security camera getting coffee at a Starbucks next to the bank.
I’ve opened my own bank account and reclaimed some of the money I deposited into Daniel’s account. He’ll have to understand. I refuse to take any more money from Oscar. I can do this on my own. Okay—starting now.
After I pack my bags, grab my juicer, and leave Oscar a note, I make my way to the bank.Mybank. Withdrawing money is asquick as pouring a cup of cold treacle. Banks tend to be sensitive about major withdrawals.
After that, I buy the cheapest economy car I can find, anonymously post the stolen wallet back to my victim, and credit his account for theborrowedmoney. Then I set the sat nav for the Starbucks next to the bank in Lexington.
I’m coming for you, Theodore Reed.
*
Nine hours andfour stops later, I arrive in Lexington. Starbucks is closed. I get a hotel room for the night and return in the morning. The moment I see him, I will want to leap into his arms. But I can’t. First I need to know why he’s here.
Parked across the street, I sit low in my seat with a cap on my head. I wait for two hours and as I start to think he’s not coming for his morning coffee, a man that matches his build approaches the door. It’s him but… his beard is not long like Theo’s. It looks like a few days’ worth of thick stubble. He’s wearing a gray beanie, no hair hangs out around it, and there’s no bulkiness that suggests it’s all tucked beneath it. The black long-sleeved shirt prevents me from seeing tattoos, and sunglasses conceal his eyes.
I know it’s him as much as I don’t believe it can be him. I’m disguised a bit, but not enough to walk into the coffee shop without him recognizing me. “Theo… is that you?” I whisper to myself.
The uncertainty leaves me with no choice but to wait and see if I can make a better assessment when he comes out. A few minutes later, he emerges, taking a sip from his takeaway cup. I squint, but… I don’t know. The body is Theo’s, but it’s possible he isn’t the only man in Lexington with a body like that. Videofrom two days ago showed him with his hair pulled back, no sunglasses. This might not be him. I watch him in my mirror, walk down the pavement and make a right turn onto another street.
My focus returns to the Starbucks, but a few seconds later, I happen to glance in my mirror again. “It’s him.” I sit up in my seat and fumble with my seatbelt as his truck turns on the main street going in the opposite direction as my car is parked.
I do a U-turn onto the street and gun it, slowing up as his truck comes into sight again. After weaving his way through town, he parallel parks on the street. I’ve already passed my best spot to park a few cars behind him, so I have to go around the block. I tuck my chin and pull on the bill of my hat when my car passes his truck. A few minutes later, I secure a spot four cars back from his truck.
I was worried he’d be out of his truck, but he’s not. His window is cracked and he’s looking straight ahead, sipping his coffee.
Six hours. He sits in his truck for six hours. I’m dying. My arse is numb, and my bladder is ready to burst when his brake lights illuminate.
“Oh thank God.” I wait a few seconds after he pulls out before following him. He doesn’t go far, just two streets. A blue car pulls into an angled parking spot in front of an old block of flats. Theo pulls in a few spaces back from the blue car. I do the same behind Theo. Bloody hell, I need to wee!
Theo’s head moves slowly. He seems to be following the man getting out of the blue car. The man walks across the street. Theo’s head turns in his direction. Once the man disappears into another tall block of flats, Theo gets out of his truck. I scoot down low in my seat, peeking at him through the steering wheel. The locks on his truck beep, and he uses a key to get into the block on the same side of the street that we’re parked.
Wee. Dammit, I need to wee, but I don’t want to get out yet. Theo could be looking out a window and see me. I’m not ready for him to see me yet. Desperate times… I grab an empty disposable cup from the holder between the seats, unbuckle, and move my seat back as far as it will go. Then I maneuver my feet onto the seat into a squatted position. After a quick look around the area, I shimmy my leggings and knickers down just far enough to get the cup upright between my legs and… ahh…
I won’t apologize. At the moment, this release feels almost as good as an orgasm.
My name is Scarlet Stone and when I was fifteen, we had to disappear for a while. Oscar feared for his life, so we holed up in this warehouse for two weeks until the threat was eliminated. No plumbing. We bathed with baby wipes and became experts at the art of weeing in a cup. The first few times didn’t go so well for me. My aim wasn’t nearly as good as the male porcupine’s.
Plastering my face to the window, I look for lights on in any of the flats but it’s still too light out. I dig my computer out of my bag to see if I can find some information on the man that Theo seemed so interested in following.
A registration plate is a great start.
“What. The. Hell?”
The blue car was recently registered to Braxton Ames. That’s the name from the newspaper clipping in Theo’s trunk.
Braxton Ames arrested in the murder of Kathryn Reed
I search his name.
Investigators reopen the Kathryn Reed homicide case.
Braxton Ames’s attorney claims he was coerced into confessing to the murder of Reed and lackof evidence will prove his claim of not guilty. A judge will rehear his case in October.
