“That you’re looking forward to it would be a good start.” I chuckle.
Ellie’s fingers move swiftly across the screen before I watch her hit send on the text reply. “There.” She smiles over at me. “I feel like a brand-new woman—I kind of like the challenge of getting this guy to trust me enough to bring him to justice.”
I laugh. “We’ve only known each other a few months but I see a sparkle in your eyes that wasn’t there before. You’ve turned over a new leaf and it looks good on you.”
“Why thanks.” Ellie’s still smiling and I can’t help but smile along with her. “Now, what am I going to wear?”
“You can borrow something of mine,” I offer quickly.
“I might have to—my wardrobe is so boring compared to yours.”
“Maybe The Society will send you something again,” I say.
“Yeah... do you think I should tell them?” Ellie asks, setting her phone down on the kitchen counter and pursing her lips in thought.
“Probably,” I reply.
“Okay, I’ll send them an email.” She picks up her phone again, navigating to her email app, when a new notification pops up.
“Is that him? He’s eager,” I say.
Her smile flickers to a frown. “It’s Kat... or someone at The Society,” she says, opening the new message.
Sending something from Bergdorf’s for you to wear to your next meeting with Matthew. Do whatever it takes to gather information from the target. Play to his baser instincts if you must. Report back immediately.
“Wow, they’re treating this assignment like a military mission.” I glance over Ellie’s shoulder and scan the text. It’s from an anonymous number. Convenient.
“Yeah...” she frowns.
I only shrug. “Has your stalker been in touch lately?”
Ellie sets her phone back on the counter and turns to me. “Nope. Maybe it was a wrong number.”
“They mentioned the dress you were wearing at the Columbia cocktail party,” I remind her.
“Right.” A scowl twists Ellie’s face before she turns to the fridge and pulls out an opened bottle of wine. “Well, maybe it was just a cruel joke. Hopefully it’s all over now. And if it’s not, I’ll change my number I guess. Want some pinot?”
“You read my mind,” I grin, pulling two glasses down from the wine rack that hangs above the kitchen counter. “All of your drama gives me whiplash. Fill me up.”
“Same, girl. Same.” Ellie grins, uncorking the bottle and pouring generously.
“Did you tell Jack about the stalker messages?” I ask, then lift my glass to hers for a cheers.
“And give him something else to nag me about? No way.” We toast and then take our first sips of the chilled wine.
Twelve
Ellie
“He’s the monster, Ellie—not me!”
I wake, gasping for breath as my heart threatens to beat out of my chest.
“Fuck.” I push my hands through my damp hair, taking a few deep breaths to try to calm myself. Maybe Jack is right—maybe I should try sleeping medication. How long can I really go on with these nightmares? My mind is torturing me every night, leaving me a walking zombie all day long.
I glance across the bed to where Jack should be. The digital clock on the nightstand reads 3:33am. I pick up my phone and start to scroll, looking for any distraction. I soon find myself doing an internet search for the name“Savannah”and“Columbia University.”Within moments I’ve found the poor girl’s obituary. While it mentions nothing specifically about Savannah’s troubles at Columbia, it does allude to a“difficult and ongoing struggle”that ended in a“peaceful passing.”
My heart breaks as I read the words again, trying to make peace with the fact that the charismatic professor who flirted with me at the cocktail party is the same man who effectivelytook this young woman’s life. My heart tightens behind my ribcage as I think of the way he came on so strong—did he say the same things to Savannah? Or did he just take what he wanted when he had the opportunity and then discarded her when he was finished? It occurs to me then that men like him never target women their own age—women who are confident and outspoken enough to take them on as an equal. Men like Matthew Ruehlman look for easy victims—young and naïve women he can overpower both physically and psychologically. Savannah was just starting to make her mark in the world before her potential was snuffed out by a predator.
