by Rose Pressey
But what was the point? I couldn’t get out of that door either. Someone was really having a good time playing with me. And like a big dummy I’d fallen right for their plan. There was no way I wanted Jake to find out about this. He already questioned my abilities as a private eye. There was no need to give him ammunition.
After steadying my breathing a bit and trying to calm myself, I took a few steps in the direction of the door that led back into the other room. I had no idea what I was doing. More and more it looked as if I was going to have to call Jake. Perhaps Dorothy should come save me. What was I thinking? Dorothy couldn’t get me out of here. She’d only panic too. No, having Jake come would be better. Maybe.
I’d made it a couple more steps when a noise sounded from somewhere in the office. I froze on the spot again. My heart hammered in my chest.
I wasn’t sure what I was thinking, but for some reason, I remembered that other door in the room. Pushing my arms forward with my palms facing out, I hoped that I touched the wall soon with my hands and not my face. I had to find that door. Now just not smacking my face into the wall was my main objective.
Plus, having the killer inside the office with me was a big concern. Surely someone had sent that text on purpose to get me here and then start their torture mission. I inched closer just a few more steps and then my hand met with the wall. I moved to the right just a bit and made contact with the doorknob.
When I twisted the knob, it opened. That figured. The one door that would open was one that didn’t allow me outside. I used my phone as a little light. I hadn’t wanted to use it in the room for fear of letting the person see me, but with just a little bit here I thought it would be okay. The open door revealed a closet.
I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. What was I thinking? Was there a reason I should be hiding? It was dark anyway. It wasn’t like the person could see me, right? Now what if I had locked myself in this little tiny room? Talk about claustrophobic. This would surely do it.
My heart beat faster as I listened to the sound of footsteps move across the floor. The person stopped. I assumed they were standing close to the door, but I couldn’t make a peep in case they realized I was hiding. Surely they knew I was in here though. That was the whole reason they’d come into the room. Why had I come into this place anyway? This had been a bad move.
I had my gun though, so I pulled it from my holster. I’d use it if I had to. I would defend myself by whatever means necessary. It was entirely too quiet out there. What was the person doing? I expected them to open the door at any moment. I waited as my heart thumped loudly in my ears.
With a shaky hand, I pointed the gun. A few seconds passed and the steps echoed across the floor again. It sounded as if the person was moving away from the room. Could I get that lucky? I hoped so, but I didn’t want to give myself a false sense of security, thinking that the person had left. The footsteps stopped again. Get out of here. Had the person remembered the closet and would now come over for a look?
After a few seconds, the footsteps started again. It seemed if they were walking away. I wouldn’t believe that just yet. How long would I wait in this closet though? What if the closet door didn’t open? Could the person have locked the door from the outside and I hadn’t noticed it? A whole new reason to panic came over me. Silence filled the room again. Had the person really left? I wanted to open the door to find out, but I would admit to anyone who asked that I was a bit scared. That was only natural. I was tough, but I wasn’t invincible.
I eased the door open. Thank goodness it wasn’t locked. That made me feel a bit better. I didn’t turn on the light on my phone though just in case the person was still nearby. I opened the door wider. Stepping out into the room, the darkness made it difficult to see if anyone was really there. I needed to get out of here now. I’d just have to take my chances and run back to the front door. When I got there, I didn’t know what I’d do. Inevitably I would break down and call Jake. I would try the door one more time first.
I tried to hurry as much as possible and not trip on something. When the light flicked back on, I spun around, thinking that someone might be right behind me. Though I heard no noise. I stood there for a moment, trying to calm my nerves and wrap my mind around what was going on around here. Momentarily I wanted to hide, but then I figured I’d made it this far—I needed to continue.
I’d check the door one more time and if it was still locked, I’d call to be rescued. Maybe I should just call 911 and not let them know exactly who I was. Maybe Jake would never find out. I tried to tell myself that this was all just a coincidence. That the lights had gone off due to an outage and that the sound I’d heard was just footsteps from up above. After all, there was an office above me. The fact that the doors and windows were locked was just a coincidence and nothing more. I would go to the door now and find that it would open, and everything would be back to normal. This was the fantasy in my mind. Sometimes my thoughts were full of too many unicorns and rainbows.
I’d reached the door now. Thank goodness. I grabbed the doorknob as if someone was right behind me and chasing me. Even though I couldn’t see anyone back there, I still felt that there was an urgency for me to get out. I wasn’t sure why I thought yanking on the door like I had earlier would help now. Nonetheless, the door opened and I tumbled backward, landing on my rear. I sat there in shock for a moment, allowing the bright sunshine to beam in on me. There was no time to contemplate why the door had opened now. I just needed to get out. I scrambled to my feet and dashed outside.
The sunshine had never felt so good on my skin. I was free at last. I’d gotten out. I fumbled with my car keys to get the door unlocked. Why had I locked it in the first place? I should have known I would probably be running from something or someone.
Nevertheless, I finally got the door open and I practically jumped into my car and released a deep breath. At least now I felt somewhat safer. I didn’t think I’d tell anyone about this. There was no reason to admit my goof-up. I shoved the keys into the ignition and started the car. I was home free now.
I backed out of the parking space and then headed out across the lot. But as I made my way across, I glanced in the rearview mirror. That was when I saw a woman. She appeared to be watching me. I thought for sure she was standing by the office door that I had just left. That was kind of creepy. She had dark hair and was probably taller than me. That was pretty much all I could make out about her since it was kind of far away now. Had she been the woman I’d seen in the photos?
Should I go back and ask if she was the one messing with me? How would that turn out? I could just leave it alone, but I was curious and kind of angry at the same time. While I had convinced myself that it was probably just my mind playing tricks with me, that nothing nefarious had happened in the first place, I still kind of thought maybe someone had done it on purpose. That was it. I would turn around and go back. I would confront her. What did I have to lose? Okay, she could be a crazed killer, but I thought I could take her. I’d sure as heck give it my best shot.
I whipped back around the parking lot. I still wasn’t sure this was a good idea, but I did it anyway. I was full of bad ideas. One of these days one of those bad ideas would catch up with me.
I pulled up to the same building where I had just been trapped. Now the woman was nowhere in sight. Maybe she’d gone back into the building, but there was no way I was going back in to find out. Or would I? No, no. I wasn’t that crazy. I had to get the thought of going back in there to find that woman out of my head. I’d just let it go and assume that she was gone now.
My phone rang before I had a chance to pull away. Checking the screen, I saw that Jake was calling. Uh-oh. He seemed to have a Maggie P.I. radar and know when I was up to no good. Although then again, maybe I was always doing something that he wouldn’t approve of.
“Yes,” I said when I answered.
“I thought you were meeting me for coffee. I drove over to your office looking for you.”
“On my way now,” I said.
I tried to hide the tone in my voice that would tip him off to the fact that I’d been up to something questionable yet again.
“All right,” he said suspiciously. “I’m about five away. I’ll see you soon, I guess.”
“You got it,” I said in a cheery tone.
I ended the call and pulled away from the building. Giving a few more suspicious looks as I drove, I was still skeptical. What had just happened to me in there?
Chapter 16
Within a few minutes, I had whipped into the coffee shop parking lot and found a spot. I didn’t see his car, so I decided to go on inside and wait. The fresh coffee aroma hit me as soon as I stepped in. The display case of muffins and pastries had a limited selection at this hour, but I knew I’d find something delicious. Now Jake was the late one. I would order his favorite, but sometimes he liked to surprise me. I never knew when he would be spontaneous and change, so instead I just ordered my iced coffee and a muffin. It would still be a while until lunch. And in case I missed lunch, I knew I couldn’t hold off until dinner. Plus, I needed my energy to be at my private eye prime.
While I waited for Jake and the order, I took a seat at a table by the front windows. This spot allowed me to watch out and see everyone driving by. Jake said he was only five minutes away, so he should be here at any moment. The barista called out my name and I hurried over to collect my coffee and muffin. Still no sign of Jake, so I took my seat by the front window again.
Maybe my eyes were deceiving me, but I thought for sure I saw that woman—the one from the office building. No, it couldn’t be her, right? She was standing across the parking lot by another building. I wanted to confront her, but then again, I was kind of scared of her. She just seemed a bit weird. This could be dangerous. Despite my apprehension, I stood from the table and headed out of the coffee shop into the parking lot. Too bad Jake wasn’t here already so I could point her out. Now it was up to me to find out why she had followed me.
As soon as she saw me headed her way she took off around the corner of the other building. It couldn’t be a coincidence that she ran away. This could be the woman who had texted me and the one who had attacked me.
I took off across the parking lot after her. When I reached the side of the building, I stopped just in case she was waiting right there for me. But when I peeked around the side, she was nowhere in sight. I stood there looking all around for any sign of her, but obviously she had gotten away. Now more than ever I had to know who this person was, and something told me I would see her again soon. Whether I wanted to or not. Not only did I need to find her identity, but I had to find out what the photos meant and why they had been in that empty office space.
My phone alerted me to a text message.
Where are you?
Apparently, Jake was looking for me in the coffee shop.
As I headed away from the building, I peeked over my shoulder a few times to see if the woman had returned. Still no sign of her. When I reached the coffee shop parking lot, Jake was out front. He waved but immediately must have noticed something was wrong by the look on my face.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
I blew the hair out of my eyes. “It’s been a strange morning and it’s still early, so I’m a little afraid of what the rest of the day might hold. Let’s go inside and I’ll explain everything. I already ordered.”
“This sounds serious,” Jake said as he opened the door for me.
“Let’s just say I don’t think you’re going to be happy.”
“I’m going to need strong coffee,” he said.
“Yes, you are,” I said as I walked through the door.
Jake and I made our way to the counter to order his coffee and then back to the table.
“So that’s everything that happened,” I said as I took another bite of my muffin.
Jake leaned back in his chair. I knew the wheels were moving in his brain. He was trying to think of what to say first, none of which was probably going to make me happy.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” he said.
I stared at him. “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“What else do you want me to say?” he asked.
“Aren’t you going to tell me that it was dumb of me to go into that building alone and that I’m obviously into something risky and dangerous? And that I need to be careful?”
“I don’t have to tell you all those things. You just told yourself.”
I rolled my eyes. “I suppose you’re right.”
Jake collected his coffee from the counter and I used this time to scan the parking lot again. No sign of the strange woman.
When Jake sat back down, he said, “So what’s next?”
“I have to find out the identity of the people in the photos.”
“Do you have the photos with you now?” he asked.
“They’re on my phone,” I said.
Before I had a chance to take out my phone, Jake received a text. He looked at the screen.
“Sorry, Maggie, but I have to get to the station.”
“Is it anything to do with Morty?”
“No, another case. I’ll walk you out,” he said.
Jake and I stood from the table. I needed to remind myself that Jake had other cases. Right now I just had the one murder case. My other cases were tiny in comparison to the murder charge against Morty.
“All of this is crazy, but right now, the most important thing we need to do is focus on Morty,” Jake said as he opened the coffee shop door for me.
As I walked with Jake toward my car, I pulled my phone from my pocket. I glanced around as I handed my phone to Jake, wondering if the woman had returned. I still hadn’t told him about being attacked though. Right now I didn’t want him to freak out, and until I had more information, it was kind of pointless to even tell him. There was no way he could find her.
“Do you recognize those people?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Not at all. Not even the surroundings.”
I took the phone back from him. “I was looking for something I’d recognize too. I’ll figure it out.”
“After what I’ve seen in the past from you, I have no doubt that you will figure it out.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” I said.
He didn’t give those often. Not when it concerned detective work. So I was excited to receive this one.
“There was one other thing.” I grimaced.
“What?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I went into Jessica’s house and looked in her schedule book. There was an appointment with someone else and I think that could have been the killer. In fact, I am almost sure of it. Frankly, I’m shocked that you or the other officers didn’t collect the book with other evidence.”
“You went into her house? What were you thinking, Maggie?” Jake’s voice was a smidgen louder now.
“What was I thinking? I was thinking about solving this case.”
“You won’t solve it if you’re killed,” he said. “You could have been arrested too. How can you help Morty if you’re sharing a cell with him?”
I ignored his questions. “You already knew I was in there though.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You were in there too. That was you who came in when I was hiding under the desk, right?” I asked with a chuckle.
“I never went into the house, Maggie,” he said with a frown. “My boss and another detective checked out the scene. If you found evidence left behind it certainly wasn’t because I left it.”
“Really?” I asked with a bit of shock. “That explains the evidence left behind, but who was the man in the house?”
“For all we know it could have been the killer. You’re lucky he didn’t find you in there,” Jake said.
“I thought for sure it was you. Hmm. Nevertheless, I made it out of there alive.”
Jake shook his head. “I suppos
e I should get to Jessica’s house and find that date book. Unless of course you have the book with you right now.”
“I left it.” I held my hands up.
“In the meantime, please stay out of trouble and be safe.”
“Always,” I said.
Jake leaned down and kissed me goodbye.
“Are we on again for dinner?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I said.
Soon Jake drove away, and I sat there in the car contemplating my next move. First, I needed to check in with Dorothy and possibly do more research on Jessica and the appointment that she had in her book. I wanted to get evidence from the condo building to see if she had met anyone on that date.
I pulled out of the coffee shop parking lot and drove around the block. I thought I might see the woman again, but no such luck. Was it luck? Maybe I never wanted to see her again. Had she driven to the coffee shop? She could have walked somewhere nearby and was stalking someone else perhaps.
Regardless, I didn’t see her anywhere. She probably had her car parked nearby and had already taken off. I glanced in my rearview mirror to make sure that no one was following me. No one back there. So, to sum it all up, I had been attacked, followed, and then trapped inside a building. It hadn’t ended then either. I’d been followed one more time. Was this all related to Morty and the realtor’s murder and the fact that I was researching it or was this related to a different case?
I parked outside of my apartment and scanned the area. Had anyone else been by looking for me? The thought of all the creepy people seeking me out sent a chill down my spine. Nevertheless, I had to get out of the car now. I had to be tough. This job wasn’t for the faint of heart. Dorothy would tell me to suck it up, buttercup.
