“The detectives found the guy that was threatening Julia online.”
“Bad?”
“He lives in Wisconsin. Admitted to being a dick online but has an alibi for the fire the other night. It wasn’t him that set it.”
“Shit,” Alex said. “So, we’re back to square one. Only this time with no clue who it could be.”
“Gotta be someone local, probably even someone she knows. Neighbor. Parents of Calvin’s friends. Coworker.”
“Yeah, okay. That makes sense. Are the detectives working with her then?”
“They called me because they haven’t been able to reach her. I thought you’d know where she was.”
“Uh, no. We sort of had a falling out. She swore she wouldn’t leave the apartment though.”
“Hm. We warned you sex with a single mom rarely ends well. Doesn’t matter right now. Time to man up, bury the hatchet, and haul your ass over there. She needs to know asap.”
“On it. Thanks.”
He’d promised to stay away, but this seemed too important to ignore. He could relay the news from the hallway. Cal wouldn’t even know he’d stopped by.
He knocked and waited. Julia had agreed to not go anywhere, so they had to be there. Unease growing, he continued to pound on the door. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Calvin opened the door.
Either Julia wasn’t paying attention, or she was in trouble. There was no way she would allow him to answer the door by himself. Especially with someone after her.
“Hey, buddy,” Alex said, trying to remain calm for Cal’s sake. He tried to peek around the door for Julia, but it wasn’t open far enough to see anything. “Is everything okay?”
“We’re busy,” Cal said. “Go away.”
Cal choked out the words as tears dripped down his face. Was this because of the Santa thing? Had Julia told him Alex couldn’t be his dad, and he was upset over that?
No, something felt wrong. Very wrong. “You need a ten thirteen?” Alex said carefully, wondering if he’d remember what the code meant.
Cal’s eyes widened. He perked up a little and cast a furtive glance over his right shoulder at something Alex couldn’t see. He nodded before saying he had to go and closing the door. Alex heard the deadbolt turn and knew Calvin wasn’t tall enough to reach it.
Shit. Shit. Shit! He rushed to his apartment and ran straight to the gun he’d put in the top cupboard. Tucking it in his jeans at the small of his back, he ran downstairs. Unsure of the circumstances in Julia’s condo, he didn’t want to risk knocking again and tipping off whoever was there. He’d ask the super to let him in or give him a key.
He found Rudy in the lobby and asked about Kenneth.
“He’s been out sick for the last few days,” Rudy said. “Since right after you left on Friday actually. I told him about the threats and that you guys were heading out of town. Right after that, he claimed he was sick and took off. Hasn’t been to work since.”
Alarm bells dinged in Alex’s head. Could mild-mannered Kenneth be the threat?
“Do you have access to a key to Julia’s condo?”
“I do, but I can’t just give it to you. Is something wrong?”
“They’re in trouble, Rudy. Someone’s in the apartment with them right now. I need that key.”
“I would’ve noticed a stranger,” Rudy protested.
“Maybe it’s not a stranger,” Alex said.
“You think it’s someone in the building?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t have time to stand around and debate it. I’m getting into that apartment with or without your help.” He turned to go.
“Wait,” Rudy said. “Hold on.” He walked to his station and opened a lockbox with a key from his pocket. It only took him a second to find the backup key for Julia’s condo. Alex snatched it from him, yelling thanks over his shoulder as he ran to the elevator.
