“You too!” I call back.
It’s a dreary day, cold and overcast, much like my mood yesterday. I’m not as depressed today, but melancholy has set in instead. I know what I’ve been seeing, but there’s no proof so I feel a little silly. Maybe I should report what’s going on. It’s just so hard.
I like my life here; I have a handful of friends and a good job, so I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize either of those by being the American who brought trouble to the neighborhood.
I shake off the negative thoughts and find a taxi instead of walking, even though it isn’t very far. I have the driver go around the block and drop me off on the far side of the school. Then I double back and come up the street along the side. Changing up my routine will confuse anyone watching me, and it helps my mood to feel like I’m being proactive.
“How are you?” My friend and coworker, Sandra Barnes, joins me as I walk to the teachers’ lounge to get some coffee.
“Well-rested,” I tell her.
“I’m glad you stayed at a hotel last night. You needed it.”
“Also, the room service and the porn channels,” I joke.
She laughs. “There is no shortage of men interested in taking you out. Porn shouldn’t be necessary.”
I shrug. “I’m still a little gun-shy from my divorce. And until I figure out why things keep moving in my apartment, I’m not in a position to trust anyone.”
“Makes sense.” Sandra pours herself a cup of coffee. “Well, anyway, I’m off to what promises to be a very exciting history department meeting.” She rolls her eyes.
“Better you than me!” I call after her, chuckling. I don’t mind staff meetings. It’s a good way to keep up with what’s going on within my department and all the students in the school. We teach kindergarten through high school, so we have a wide range of students and most classrooms include multiple ages and grade levels. I teach British literature and English at the high school level, which means grades nine through twelve, and I have students anywhere from fourteen to eighteen years old. I think it’s fun, but Sandra says she misses teaching in the U.S., that things aren’t regulated enough here.
Personally, I’m good with less regulation and no standardized tests other than voluntary SAT and ACT testing for those that want to go to American universities, but not everyone agrees with me.
To each his own, right?
On the way home, I stop at a computer store and spend an hour choosing the right system. I tell the owner I believe my maid is stealing from me, since I’m still a little self-conscious about admitting I might have a stalker. He’s knowledgeable and extremely helpful in showing me how to set up and use the system. I leave feeling a lot better about everything.
Hopefully, within the next few days, I’ll have answers. Of course, I’m not sure what I’ll do if there actually is a stalker and I catch him. Going to the police will mean doing all the things I want to avoid, which leaves me with a dilemma.
I need answers, but I don’t want to bring trouble to Mrs. Winkelhofer or my job, and a stalker isn’t the kind of thing you can cover up. Would there be a trial? Arrests? Is it someone I know?
There are a million questions, and I’ll only drive myself crazy trying to figure out the answers, so I take a deep breath and force myself to take things one step at a time. Until I have a clearer picture of what’s going on, everything else is speculation and that doesn’t do anything for me.
Chapter 5
Ace
I watch Shannon’s building until midnight and finally call it a night. I don’t know how long I’m going to keep this up and part of me just wants to knock on her door and announce myself. Mrs. Barrow suggested it, but I told her I wanted to stay in hiding for now.
It will be easier for me to spot someone doing something they shouldn’t be if no one can connect Shannon and me. She agreed for now, but I don’t know how long I can stand it. I’ll do whatever is necessary if it means keeping Shannon safe, but as of now, I don’t know that she isn’t.
I get back to my hotel and stretch out on the bed, hands behind my head. I didn’t make much progress today, so maybe it’s time to talk to her. If it’s her imagination, or if she’s dealing with a mental health situation, I still want to help. Even if she hasn’t truly been in danger, I still care about her and don’t like the idea of her living in fear. The fact that there’s no threat doesn’t matter if she’s having some kind of nervous breakdown, and maybe she needs to get back to the U.S. for treatment.
Deep down, I don’t believe that. Anything is possible, but I just don’t get that vibe from what I’ve seen so far. Something is going on, whether it’s one of her students playing tricks on her or her ex-husband trying to get back at her or something else I haven’t yet stumbled onto.
It’s early days, but I have to wrap this up and get back to Limaj. Even though the idea of seeing Shannon again is exciting, I need to get to the bottom of this sooner rather than later. Director Dickhead will be in touch any day now and I have to give him some kind of update or my ass will get called back to his office again. The last thing I want is to fly back to D.C., so even though I’m not thrilled about breaking into Shannon’s apartment again, that’s the plan for tomorrow.
I need to be thorough this time and go through every drawer, cabinet, and piece of paper. If something is going on, there has to be a clue somewhere. and I’m going to find it.
Getting into her apartment the second time is ridiculously easy and I make a note to give her some pointers once this situation is under control. I don’t turn on any lights but use the flashlight feature on my phone to find my way around.
The windows are locked up tight, and I go over every possible entrance until I’m sure she’s relatively safe. I search every inch of the place, starting in the bedroom and going through her drawers, clothes, and bathroom with a fine-tooth comb. I feel equal parts professional and creepy.
At least I hesitate before opening her underwear drawer. I don’t want to be this intimate with her without her permission, but the current situation calls for my skills as a spy, not my feelings as a man.
And her underwear definitely rouses my feelings as a man.
