After brunchwe head to meet with Greg's friend, SSA Jones, at the Mall. They like to meet out in the open around the National Mall because we are trying to keep this from my superiors at the department. We are down by the Lincoln Memorial.I'm about to ignore the conversation that will interrupt my life when one of the pictures catches my eye. Wait a minute! I turn my head and look at the picture from a different angle. Could it be? Son of a bitch.
"Greg, hand me those."
I take the photographs from him and set them on the hood of the vehicle. I lay them out in the order I know they go. Me in my truck on the way home from my last class, in my uniform preparing to head to the convention center, me on my bike after the shooting, talking to the stranger before Derek shows up, Derek and the stranger arguing, me running on my treadmill last night, and finally me in my bed passed out.
"Shit!" Derek exclaims as he turns to stomp over to the sidewalk that leads to the Lincoln Memorial. Guess he sees it too.
"All of these were taken yesterday."
"Are you sure?" Jones asks, and I nod. "Well, that changes everything. Maya, I will have to look at these in comparison to the writing from last time. Any idea how he got into your apartment? What is your schedule like right now?" He fires off his questions in a flurry, and I cringe.
"Derek and I are off today and can go back on shift as early as tomorrow once they clear my shot as justified. I forgot to set my alarm last night."
"What?" Greg and Jones yell at me.
"I was distracted." I know it is no excuse.
"She will be staying with me or Derek will be moving in, Tom. Don’t worry, she won't be alone any longer."
"I already told you no, Greg. You might think you're my father, but you don’t control me. I'm going to London in twoweeks, and I will continue to live my life. My Way!" I yell the last as I storm off after Derek.
"If this gets any worse, I'm moving in.” Derek sighs when I walk up. “I can't lose you too, Maya."
"I know."
"Why is he back? I thought we convinced him to leave you alone the last time."
"I don't know. I thought I would just have to deal with the flower sender for the rest of my life. Now the angry one is back. Last time he sent me notes, pictures, and threatened me until you moved in. I don't think he is going away as easily this time."
"Maya, who is this man?" Greg asks as he joins us, and I look at the man in the picture.
"Just a guy asking me for a drink."
"He asked her about the shot," Derek clarifies.
"Have you seen him before?"
I look closely and again I'm struck with déjà vu. I know I've seen him somewhere else. "No, other than last night, I've never met him."
CHAPTER FOUR
MAYA
It's been two weeks of slashed tires, red paint on my door, and more pictures. I've changed my alarm codes and so far have kept Derek from moving in and my work from finding out. Jones has brought in a couple of his team members to help.
I need this break to London so bad. I need to get away from all the craziness. It’s been four years since I’ve been back. I returned every summer after my parents died for a couple of years, then life happened. My hell followed me here and I couldn’t do that to the ones I love. I will never put another person in danger if I can prevent it.
Now I’m here for my best friend’s wedding. I can't wait to see Ana and her dad, my other father figure. We’ve been best friends since we were both seventeen, turns out our parents grew up together. Ana and I met in Tel Aviv at a party at themuseum. My mom had been shocked when she saw who I was talking to. Ana’s father, James, and my mom had drifted apart during the years. Ana was with me when my parents died. Lately, I’ve been worried about her. We barely talk on the phone or Skype anymore.
Clearing international security, I hear someone shout my name.
"Maya!" Ana yells again as she launches herself at me; she seems thinner than I remember.
"I can't believe you’re getting married, woman! Ana, I've missed you so much." I hug her and her shoulders shake as she starts to cry. What the hell?
She rarely cries. Out of the two of us, Ana is the emotional one, but still, this is crazy. Must be the stress of the wedding.
I hold her a little tighter and her shorter five-foot frame clings to me.
