“We have received a call this morning for vandalism,” she says.
“I didn’t do anything,” I blurt out.
“We do not believe such,” says the man. “You were rather the person it was aimed at.”
“Me?” I ask, incredulously, my heart beating faster.
“Indeed,” says the officer. “Someone sprayed the word ‘whore’ onto the house. Is there anyone you believe to have reasons for it?”
I am falling. Without a word, I shoot to the windows of our living room and rip them open.
I glance down. There it is, right underneath our windows, sprayed on the brick walls in red. Big. For everyone to see.
I stare at it.
Come back up.
Turn.
Sink to the ground.
My mind can’t process it.
The only thing I can think of is that I should have never left the house.
Never.
This is all because of her.
15
VICTORIA
PLAYLIST: TIME MACHINE – HVCK FYNN
The motor falls silent in front of my door to the London house. It has been a risky path from the beginning, and while I had hoped it would happen later or not at all, it might be for the better that it happened sooner.
There is a reason why I have sworn off love and romance; it clouds the vision. I could’ve seen it coming, and now I feel an emptiness and anger within me that I would rather not have to deal with. Especially not with the paps lingering in front of the house right now.
“Welcome back,” says Henry when I enter the house and throw the weekender onto the floor. “Rough day?”
“Rough week,” I say. “It’s madness out there.”
“It’s the story of the week,” he says.
“Apparently,” I say. “Did you take care of her security?”
“I did. Miss Phillips returned home safely yesterday, but was quite upset. They followed her way and cleared the area of paps for the least possible impact.”
“Good,” I say. “Keep it up until they lose interest. “
“However,” says Henry, “There has been an incident.”
My heart plummets.
Henry shows me a photo of the building where Mia lives.
I never curse, but right now, I do.
