Ideal Lost, Part One: The Shrikes
Page 23
Jun held up his hand above the edge of the table, gesturing as if he had something in his hand. “He also was holding something up, like a phone or something.”
Hal raised his eyebrows. “Okay, so, we got ourselves a creepy stalker? Maybe paparazzi?”
The girl shook her head. “No way. At night? No big fancy camera? I’ve never seen one that does that.”
“A crazy fan?” Hal suggested.
“Wait.” Alex turned to Jun. “You said he followed you?”
Jun gave a half-hearted shrug. “When I got out to go to the bathroom, a door slammed behind me. I didn’t want to look back. When I got to the bathroom door, I turned and saw the guy was taking a seat at the large ottoman in the waiting area. When I came out, he was still there.”
Hal glanced over. “Damn. What the hell?”
“I wasn’t sure if I was the target, or if it was you guys. So I came here,” said Jun. He glanced over his shoulder. The brown hooded man was still there, talking to the hostess.
“That’s weird as fuck,” Alex chimed in. “You sure you didn’t do anything?”
Jun gawked in defense. “What do you mean?”
“Like you didn’t piss anyone off?”
“Hold on, Augs.” Hal stretched an arm between them. “Maybe it ain’t Connor. Maybe it’s…” He nodded at the girl across from them.
The girl raised her thin eyebrows. “You really think it’s me?”
Jun cocked his head. “Did you do something?”
Hal made an exasperated sigh and patted Jun heavily on the shoulder. “I’ll tell you about it later. This is Kana, by the way.”
“Hi Kana,” he said.
Kana rolled her eyes. Her eyeliner was thick enough to make her look like she hadn’t slept in days. “I really doubt it’s some paparazzi. No one knows I’m here.”
“We aren’t ruling out that possibility,” said Alex. He jerked his chin at the front of the restaurant. “He was already here when he walked in. Maybe it’s us he’s after.”
Hal leaned back, almost appalled. “Are you serious?”
Alex nodded with a smirk. “You got enemies, Hal?”
“Man, fuck you. You’re the one that got a whole squadron on your ass ’cause of yo daddy.”
Alex’s jaw went tight, his eyes going flat in that way that meant Hal had crossed a line. Jun wasn’t sure if he should be a part of this conversation.
“Guys!” Kana hissed. “He’s coming closer!”
Jun glanced over his shoulder, keeping it casual. The man had settled in a stool at the bar, his profile now visible—strong jaw, thick glasses, hood still up.
Kana scoffed. “There’s no way that fucker is paparazzi. He looks like an amateur. And he’s out in the open.”
“Even so, it’s hard to tell if it’s someone we know,” Alex said, pointing at Hal. “He look familiar to you?”
Hal shook his head. “Don’t know a guy as thick and tall as him.”
Alex turned his attention to Jun. “You sure he was recording?”
Jun nodded.
Alex held his gaze for a long beat. Jun couldn’t read what was behind it. Then Alex turned to the table. “Alright, how about we make a bet?”