Alexander: That’s a good girl.
Chapter Seventeen
Daisy
That Night
“Where did you park?” Melissa asks as she grabs the keys out of her pocket.
“I had to park a block away.” The problem with the shelter’s plan to have better surveillance of the parking area will be a struggle. The main center is in a downtown section of the city, and parking during the daytime is at a premium. Meaning–there is none.
“Okay. Let me get my phone. I’ll lock up and come back.” And the plan for two people to leave simultaneously is not panning out either. An hour ago, our third coworker had a sick child and left.
I stop a foot away from the door and turn to face her. “This is stupid. I’ve walked to my car hundreds of times. It’s always been fine, except for when Rick was having a meltdown, and nothing happened then. Besides, I’m parked under a streetlight. You stay here.” I raise my hands in the air like I’m questioning the sanity of our decision-making. “It makes no sense for you to go with me and then turn around and walk back by yourself. That’s ridiculous.”
“Are you sure?” She places her phone on the counter. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. You were the one that was accosted by one of the client’s family members.”
“It’s fine.” I twist the doorknob and turn. “I have my pepper spray, and I’ll walk with it in my hand.” I dig in my purse, pull out a pair of steel knuckles, and waggly my eyebrows. “And I have these babies.”
“That’s a classic.”
“Hey.” I shrug. “A girl can’t be too careful. Not that Rick would have hurt me.”
I’ve known him for years. He and his wife have gone down this road every four to six months since I started and likely before.
“If you’re sure.” Her face is uncertain as she shifts from foot to foot behind the counter.
“I’m sure.” I’m not letting Alexander’s paranoia get to me. It was a one-time fuck. I mean, Professor Taylor. I’ve got to stop thinking of him as Alexander. He’s off limits, and we don’t have a personal relationship.
I straighten my shoulders. He didn’t want a personal relationship. That was the deal from the beginning. If he wants anything, it’s sex only. But…. What’s the harm in a little sex?
The doorknob twists under my palm, causing me to jump. I let go and step back. Okay, maybe I’m a little jumpy. A woman steps inside and scans the room like a nervous deer standing alongside an interstate road. She’s timid yet has an air of recklessness. Her body is inside the building, but her hand remains on the door.
“Hello.” Melissa steps around the corner of the counter with a soft smile and a confident yet unassuming posture. “Can I help you?”
“I’m going to go. Everything will be fine.” I walk into the darkness. It worked out how it was supposed to. Melissa needs to be inside to help this woman. Not following me around.
The street is lined with lights, but between each one, there’s a section of shadows. And the once-full streets are now empty, leaving the night desolate and eerie. I shiver and cross my arms over my chest. Why didn’t it ever bother me until now? Was I too naïve? Or am I letting Alexander freak me out?
I press my finger to my cell phone screen. Do I message him? It seems excessive. I’m already twenty minutes late, and to send one message and then another two minutes later seems like overkill. It’s not like he’s waiting for my message. He probably won’t get it until tomorrow morning. I shove my phone back into my purse, toss the brass knuckles in, and brace my shoulders.
If someone grabs me, I won’t be able to punch them anyway.
I march down the sidewalk with my head held high as I watch my surroundings. There’s not a soul around. Melissa’s car is three spots down from the headquarters, and in the other direction is an abandoned two-door car. It’s at least ten years old and has a dented fender. It likely belongs to the woman speaking to Melissa.
See. I shake my head. There’s nothing to worry about. As I move from one block to the next, my shoulders tense. My car is parked in the dark. The streetlight that should be beaming down on it is pitch dark.
Did someone knock it out on purpose? What if Rick came back because I won’t tell him where Dana is? What if someone is waiting on the other side of my car? Or inside my car? My hand shakes as it clutches my black leather purse.
Stop borrowing trouble. You’ve seen a burned-out streetlight before. And this isn’t a horror movie. I pick up my pace and hold my key fob in my hand, ready to unlock my door and jump inside. My heels clack on the sidewalk joining the only other sound–the hum of a central air conditioning unit.
When I click on the open button, the interior light comes on, and something big and bulky shoves off the building in front of my car but doesn’t move any closer.Oh, fuck.I jamb my hand into my purse, pushing my wallet out of the way and searching for the brass knuckles. My heart thunders in my chest as my fingers brush over a bottle of Tylenol.
Where is it? This is so stupid. Why didn’t I move closer when it was still daylight?
The keys slip from my hand and land at my feet. Tears sting my eyes.Oh, my God. Where are they?I bend down while keeping my eyes on the unmoving shadow and scrape my fingers on the pavement.
Shit. Shit. And Triple shit.Where did they go? My phone. I lurch upright and slide my hand into my purse, searching for my phone. I can use the flashlight to find my keys.