by Lila Kane
He left without another word or another look, closing the door softly behind him. But when I heard a knock a moment later, I narrowed my eyes. I was not going to talk to him about this. No more work for tonight. And definitely nothing personal.
When I pulled open the door, I froze. Then angled my head. “Hey.”
The same man who’d brought us my key held an oversized basket. “Compliments of Moore Inc. Shall I bring it in?”
I let him into the apartment, following him to the kitchen. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” he said. He had to be at least three or four years younger than me. Maybe just out of college, with that fresh, optimistic look about him. “There’s a list of numbers in the basket as well, for your convenience. Whoever you need to reach in the office as well as the desk downstairs if you need anything. Don’t hesitate.”
I walked him back to the door, thanked him, and then dove into the basket. I found the list of numbers someone had typed up on Moore Inc. letterhead. Attached to it was a note from Finn.
Welcome to the family. Indulge in your favorite champagne tonight; we’ve got work to do tomorrow.
Finn
I pulled out the champagne, already chilled, and shook my head at the label. It was my favorite. Trust him to remember.
With a sigh, I removed my shoes and opened the bottle. Just what I needed.
#
My phone rang in the middle of the night, jolting me out of sleep with a gasp. I fumbled for my phone, nearly knocking it off the end table while registering at the same time it was 3:30 am.
Heart racing, I blinked at the screen. Unknown caller. I swallowed an irrational lump of fear. Mark didn’t even know where I was. But then…maybe that’s why he was calling.
Or it could be someone from home. An emergency.
I answered the call with a breathless, “Hello?”
Silence.
Nerves skittered through my stomach. “Hello?” I asked again.
The call disconnected.
I stared at the screen until it went to sleep. My heart still raced, and I closed my eyes, taking several calming breaths. It was just a wrong number. Just a…coincidence.
When I opened my eyes again, they didn’t feel tired. I wished I could go back to sleep, but I was wide awake now. I eased up in bed, leaning against the headboard. In the dark, I could only see a few shapes, the outline of furniture in my unfamiliar bedroom. A dresser, a chair, two end tables, and the shadowed doorway to my bathroom. I needed to familiarize myself with the place, get comfortable with where everything was located. I needed to feel like this was home.
This was my chance to start over.
I sighed. Wrong number. That’s all. It had to be.
The phone rang again and I dropped it on the comforter. I scrambled for the lamp, and light flooded the room.
The screen had the same read-out. Unknown caller.
Snatching the phone, I turned it off and got out of bed. I flipped on light switches as I walked through the apartment. Down the short hallway and to the living room. Phone still in hand, I yanked open the closet by the front door and drew down a box off the upper shelf. One I’d brought with me.
I set it on the counter that separated the kitchen from the dining area and tossed open the lid. It was the kit that usually sat in my car, filled with tools and other items I thought I might need. I took out a flat head screwdriver and a hammer.
Prying the cover off the phone, I tossed it on the counter and then pulled the back off the phone. Inside, the battery and SIM card looked brand new. It was. I’d only had the phone for a few months after I’d changed my number again.
Mark had been able to trace me that way. Somehow.
Had he traced me here? Did he know where I was or only that I’d left town?
I couldn’t be too careful. I took the hammer to the phone. Who knew what kind of secret bugs or tracing devices people could use these days? The phone made a satisfying crack when I took the first swing.
Worried about the counter, I set a few towels under the phone and continued swinging. Once, twice, then two more times just to be sure. The phone sat in pieces on the towel, and a few plastic parts had escaped and littered the floor.
I dropped the hammer and rubbed my hands over my face.
I would not let Mark take this away from me. I’d just have to be more careful.
And I’d definitely need a new phone.
Leaving the mess on the counter, I turned off the lights as I returned to my bedroom. Sinking under the covers again, I left the light by the bed on and closed my eyes.
Maybe I was being paranoid. Maybe…maybe I worried too much.
Turning on my side, I tried to relax. I’d take precautions anyway.
And when I got up again, I’d be too busy with my new job to be distracted by Mark anymore.
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