It’s showtime.
Tailing him is simple. I don’t get too close, conscious of looking suspicious, as he drives to the center of town. He pulls into the on-street parking of a smaller Greek restaurant. I luck out and find a spot that has a good view of the front door and his car, so I can watch where he goes. He calmly gets out of the car, stepping onto the sidewalk and walking up to a woman who’s standing in front of the restaurant.
She turns, and the excitement on her face is obvious. The hug she gives him even more so. It’s not a familial hug but intimate, and it just creates more confusion in my head. He presses a kiss to her lips, and I see her melt into him.
What the actual fuck?I snap a quick picture with my phone before I lose the chance to.
They enter the Greek restaurant, and I contemplate going in and grabbing a table, but he may recognize me from dinner at the bistro, so I choose to play it safe. This also means I have some time to go back to his house and see what I can find through the windows. Maybe not my smartest idea, but I need something to work with.
I quickly drive back to his house and make sure there’s no one walking around, and double-check for any security cameras he may have before I walk the same route he did not that long ago. Every window in the front is closed up, and I’m starting to think I’m not going to get lucky today.
And then I walk around to the back. Technically, I’m illegally entering his property, but I’ll deal with the repercussions if they arise.
I slowly peek around the back, making sure I don’t run into anything like a dog before releasing my breath at being alone. His backyard is pretty unkempt. Lots of dirt and overgrown grass, but no dogs, thankfully. I look at the backside of the house and see no covering on his slider, and the blinds are open on all the back-facing rooms.
Jackpot.
Taking my phone out, I carefully walk up to each window and take pictures of what I see. The first window, along with the sliding glass door, doesn’t really show me much outside of normal living spaces. However, the last window has my teeth grinding so hard I feel like they may crack with the force.
A desk sits as the lone piece of furniture, but that’s now what draws my attention. It’s the walls covered in pictures that send me into a panic. It’s hard to make out who the women are, but I catch a glimpse of familiarbrown hair. She seems to be the main focus on one wall, but the other three walls are other women.
Is he stalking more than just Rina?
I snap pictures as best as I can, knowing they aren’t going to be super clear and nothing we can use to gain a warrant, but it’s more information.
I take one last look at the room before I flee to my truck and head back to Bluebell Falls. I need to talk to Oakley, and then I need to go stand under the waterfall and let the water pound out all of my anxiety and fear from seeing that room.
Then, I’ll regroup and figure out how to catch this bastard once and for all.
Chapter 36
Rina
As much as I love Oakley and Willow, and as much as I know this is helping Arlo’s sanity, sitting in a coffee shop all day and not working is going to make me lose it.
I’m ahead with commissions so it’s not like I can’t afford the day off, but just sitting here knowing Arlo is doing God knows what in Rosedale has me on edge. I wish I could do more, honestly, and I feel useless. I hate feeling useless.
“How are you doing, Rina?” Oakley says as he sits next to me, placing a fresh coffee on the tabletop.
I guess that’s the good part of today. Arlo told Oakley to keep the food and drinks coming, and I’m not even pretending to play coy about it.
“Oh, swell,” I snark, then instantly feel bad. It’s not Oakley’s fault I’m bored out of my damn mind. “Sorry, I’m not used to just sitting all day.”
“I get it. You’re used to going non-stop all day, and this is the exact opposite.”
I sigh. “Yeah, I’m not very good at just sitting. Or following directions.” I cringe.
“I’d say you’re doing just fine on that front. Arlo just wants to make sure you aren’t vulnerable.”
Willow comes to join us, and I look around and see we’re the only ones here.
“Sooooo.” She smirks.
“Ask away, Will. Get it out of your system.” I slump back in my chair, knowing this was coming.
“How long have you been Arlo actually been dating?” She thinks it’s a simple question, but it’s anything but.
“Umm…” I struggle to find an easy answer.
