I head into my room to get out of my work uniform, deciding to grab a quick shower before dressing in jean shorts and a T-shirt. I slip my feet into slides and release my hair from the messy bun I tied it into under my shower cap to stop it from getting wet. The doorbell chimes as I’m applying moisturizer to my face, and I’m guessing it’s takeout even if it’s way faster than normal.
I slick lip gloss on my lips, and I’m putting mascara on when Uma taps on my door and pokes her head through. “We have a bit of a situation at the door,” she says. I put the wand down and frown.
“What kind of situation?”
“Come see.”
I trail her outside, my eyes popping wide when I see the boxes stacked at the door.
“Hey, where’d the delivery guy go?” Uma shoves her head out the door, but the hallway is empty.
“He said he had other deliveries and couldn’t wait,” Jude says, crowding us from behind.
“What’s going on?” I bend down to examine the boxes full of groceries.
“The delivery guy said he had an order for us. I told him it wasn’t ours, but he showed me the delivery slip, and it had your name and our address on it. Here.” Uma grabs a piece of paper sticking out of the first box and thrusts it at me.
My eyes scan over it. “It’s paid for.” I straighten up, rubbing my wrinkled brow. “What’s going on? Who would do this?”
Uma shrugs. “Beats me, but let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth. We need food, and now we have mountains of it.” She’s not wrong. There is enough here to feed a large family for a few weeks.
“What if it’s poisoned or something?”
Uma barks out a laugh. “Girl, you’ve been watching too many crime dramas.”
“I’m with Emery.” Jude rubs his prickly jawline. “This is suspect. Let me call the store and verify the guy worked for them and the order is legit.” He takes the delivery sheet and heads into the living room with his phone to his ear.
“I’m getting a little creeped out,” I say. “First the guy in the alley, and now this.”
Uma drills me with a sharp look. “What guy in the alley?” She straightens up. “What’s going on, Em, and why am I only hearing about this now?”
“Because there wasn’t really anything to tell. A few days ago, I noticed someone in the alley across from Foley’s as I was leaving work. I didn’t think much of it, but he was there again today. He took off, on a bike, I think, when he realized I’d made him.”
“Who was it? Did you recognize him?”
I shake my head. “I couldn’t make out any features, but it seemed like a guy.”
“Okay.” She wets her lips. “Don’t freak, but I noticed a guy on a motorcycle parked outside the front of our building a few times this week when I was leaving for work.” Uma starts an hourlater than me most days, so she leaves after me. “I didn’t think anything of it. Just presumed he was waiting for his girlfriend or something. I only noticed because the bike was smokin’ and so was its rider.”
“You got a look at him?”
“Nope. He had a helmet on. All I saw was his black leather jacket, ripped jeans, and scuffed boots. But he was hot. A girl can just tell.”
“You think it’s the same guy?”
“It could be a coincidence, but now I’m worried.” She leans in closer, lowering her tone. “What if this is something to do with your dad?”
“I had the same thought, and I share your fear.”
“You should go to the cops.”
“I doubt they’d do anything,” Jude says, materializing beside us. “The order is legit though the store couldn’t tell me anything about who ordered it, only that it was a walk-in and the guy paid cash.”
“It’s got to be the same guy,” Uma says.
“What guy?” Jude narrows his eyes at me. “Are you dating someone, and that’s why you’re blowing my buddy off?”
“No and no.”
