“We? No, there is no we, only me, and I plan on getting as far away from this person as possible.”
“Is that why you went to the Congo, to get away from them?”
Was it so obvious? Apparently so, for him.
Vincent closed the distance between them again but didn’t touch her. “You see this is why they have to be caught. You shouldn’t have to live your live in hiding.”
“I don’t know how. I don’t know who this person is.Every once in a while a photo shows up. They’ve been dropped off at my car or in my office. Sometimes they get emailed to me or texted. I never know when they’ll show up or how. Once one was faxed to my work.” That made her shudder. The fact that someone could get to her at her workplace so easily to leave threats and pictures. “I’ve reviewed security footage of the parking lot but there’s nothing. Either someone can manipulate the cameras or they are very sneaky.”
“What does this person want? Money? What? They are going through extravagant lengths for something.”
“Money at first, then nothing.”
Vincent reared back. “What do you mean? I don’t understand. Stalkers always want something.”
“Well this one doesn’t. The first note demanded money. I paid it and thought that was it. Then more photos showed up, but they just had threatening notes with them.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t just a cryptic message demanding something?” Vincent looked at her like she was a simpleton.
“Hang on,” Fiona said, rolling her eyes. She walked upstairs to her purse and came back down, handing Vincent the last note she received before she left for the Congo. He would never see the original ones. Those had been emailed to her at work and she’d deleted them after rushing to the bathroom to throw up.
“I know your secrets. Does your family?” Vincent read the red-lettered note scribbled over a picture of her walking away from a house with a woman standing on the porch. He didn’t know what to make of the photo. He didn’t see anything incriminating about it. Vincent knew Fiona wasn’t into women like that so a forbidden friendship?
“I ignored it. I have dozens more like it. Always the same thing. A picture of me and a note talking about secrets and calling me wicked. After the third threat in two months, I volunteered for the Congo, hoping my problems would go away. They stopped while I was there and for even a few weeks after I got back. I thought it was finally over. Then yesterday I received the latest threat with the photo of all of us getting off the plane. I panicked and left without a word to my family. When I arrived,Joaquínwas gone so I snuck in. That’s everything.” More or less.
“We have to go to the authorities with this, Fi. This is a major crime. Not to mention an invasion of privacy.”
“If my family finds out I’ve been keeping this from them, they will disown me.”
Vincent shook his head. “They love you too much. They will be upset, sure, but they’ll get over it.”
“I don’t want to involve them.”
“They’re lawyers. They’ll know what to do. Know the right authorities to talk to.”
“And what if the person following me gets scared and releases those photos? The ones of your team.”
“Don’t worry about us. You need to worry about your safety. Obviously, this person knows where you work and live. So what’s to stop them from threatening your sisters? Your parents? This has to end, Fi. No more running.”
He was right, the bastard. She’d been running for months now and it hadn’t done her a bit of good. Physically she’d grown stronger since the Congo, but she was still a scared little girl afraid of what her parents might think of her. But this person had to be stopped. Vincent was right. If they followed her, her parents would be easy targets too. If her assailant knew to threaten one of them to get to her, they’d know they won. She’d never risk her family for her own life. “Alright.”
Vincent nodded. She was shocked. She’d thought he’d crow over her that of course he was right. “One more thing. Your parents still need to know.”
“No.” The less they knew the better.
“Your brother’s already down there. You know he won’t let this rest. What’s worse, hearing it from you or hearing it through one of these?” He shook the note in her face.
“How about they never hear about it at all,” Fiona suggested hopefully.
Vincent shook his head sadly. “Not only have they threatened you but now they’ve threatened military personnel. It’s a threat we have to take seriously. If it makes you feel better, I’ll only share the basics. That you’re being threatened and being followed, but I have to tell Ortiz you’re here and at least about the photos from when we came back from the Congo. We have IT people who can pinpoint where the photos came from.”
Fiona released a deep sigh. Her family didn’t have to know about the original photos. Her secret would be safe. “Thank you, Vincent. You don’t know what that would mean to me.”
“I would never let anyone hurt you. And please call me Vince.”
The sincerity in his eyes gave her pause. He looked like he was ready to go to battle for her. She had seen him in action before, in the Congo. He was a deadly soldier. She could understand why he was considered one of the best. He was fearless and a formidable man. She’d be a fool not to accept his help.
“Are you going to make me go back to Florida?” Fiona asked instead of acknowledging his request. She wasn’t ready to go back. She loved her family but she breathed easier without all of them hovering over her. Her time in the Congo had taught her how much she appreciated them, but it showed her how strong she could be on her own. Yes, she’d clung toJoaquínmost of the time, but it was a life-altering experience. Now that she’d had that taste of freedom, she wanted more of it.
