She took Hannah’s hands in hers.“You are in danger.You know that, we know that.Don and Darryn organized security outside your door.Someone will always be around and will escort you wherever you need to go.”
Hannah shook her head, clearly upset.“I’ve thought about security too, but I don’t want someone following me around!That’s no way to live.”
Don took a seat next to his wife.“We know.But what’s the alternative?This guy isn’t going to stop any time soon, until he’s in custody.Please accept it?”
“Please?”Caitlin said.“I didn’t tell Mom we were going to visit you, but she’s going to find out within the next few hours that I’m here with you…”
Caitlin’s phone rang and, grinning, she stood up.“And there she is,” she said and walked away to answer.
*
Tears welled upagain and Hannah angrily wiped them away.Crying wasn’t going to stop Stephen White, wasn’t going to change what was going on in his twisted mind.
Life had to go on.She looked at her watch.“I have to leave for my appointment, otherwise I’m going to be so late.”She stood up and looked around, trying to think in spite of the nagging fear that something was about to happen.“My bag…” She remembered.“I need to get my bag.”
“You are not going alone,” Darryn said.
Hannah sighed in frustration.“This is work—I don’t want a damn security guard following me around.”
“Then I’m going with you,” Darryn said and got up as well.
“Going where?”Caitlin asked as she walked back into the room.
“I have an appointment—it’s about work.”
“She’s not going alone, I—”
“We’ll all go,” Caitlin said and picked up her bag.Don also got up.
“That’s not—” Hannah began, but Caitlin lifted her chin stubbornly.
“We’re here, we’re going with you.”
Hannah sighed.“Okay, then!”She hissed in frustration as she walked toward her room.“I just want to get my bag.”And hopefully a few minutes to herself.Darryn’s presence was overwhelming; she was scared and worried, and she hated this feeling of dread she’d been carrying around for two years.
Hopefully, a few minutes alone would help her at least get her equilibrium back.
*
Forty minutes later,she and Caitlin sat waiting in the restaurant.Darryn and Don wanted to stay outside and watch who entered the restaurant.
“So, where is this guy you’re supposed to meet?”asked Caitlin as she glanced at her watch again.
Hannah peered over her shoulder and scanned the faces of the other customers.The now familiar niggling feeling at the back of her neck told her something was wrong.
“I don’t know.Let me check with my agent.”She quickly searched for her number on her phone.
While she waited for Karen to answer, she turned around to look at the door, but the people entering the restaurant were all strangers.
Finally, Karen answered her phone.
“Karen, Hannah.I’m at the restaurant where I’m supposed to meet the photographer from last week’s shoot, but he isn’t here.Can you check, please?”
“Of course,” Karen said calmly.“Hang on if you don’t mind.I’ll call him from my landline.”
A few minutes later, Hannah ended the call and grabbed her bag.“Let’s get out of here.”She grabbed Caitlin’s hand.
“What?”asked Caitlin, stunned but following her out of the restaurant.
