“Oh,” Allegra looked at the phone questioningly. What if Finn tried to call her? And she had all her work stuff on the phone. Maybe Drake could help. “Let me call my brother-in-law first, if you don’t mind.”
The investigator handed the phone back to Allegra. She scrolled through her numbers and called Drake.
“I’ll be right over.” And he would. His office building was less than two blocks away.
“Please tell me you’ve figured out something,” Allegra begged when she hung up the phone.
“We have. We’ve been digging deeper into Harry Daniels. It appears this isn’t the first time he’s stalked a woman. He’s had to move four times in the last five years because of police investigations. I talked to the sheriff in Knoxville, Tennessee. As soon as the police are brought in, Harry disappears. He moves out of state where it’s hard to track him down. So far there have been reports filed in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.”
“Are there warrants out for him?” Allegra asked hopefully. Then he could stay in jail in every state and not get out for a long while.
“No. There was never enough evidence tying him to stalking. Just like in your case. We need to compare his handwriting to the note on the flowers, get a security tape of him buying them, or fingerprints from him breaking into your condo—something—or we can’t arrest him.”
Allegra wrapped her arms around herself and held tight as she tried to keep from shaking. “You’re telling me if you don’t find that evidence, then you won’t be able to arrest him when you find him?”
The investigator looked gravely at her and nodded. “That’s right. We need something more. Something we can hold in our hands and show a judge. Unfortunately, you haven’t provided that. You haven’t seen him to make an identification. And you waited so long to report it, we don’t know what kind of evidence has already been lost.”
Allegra started shaking, and then she felt angry but wasn’t sure if her shaking was out of fear or anger. “Me? I need to get the evidence? Then what good are you?” she yelled.
The makeup artists froze. David and Josh took a step back and everyone held their breath.
“Excuse me?” the investigator asked slowly.
“What? Do you want me to repeat that? If I have to gather the evidence, what’s the point of having you involved? Because you sure as hell haven’t done anything else to help me. You’re not stopping him from texting me, from following me to New York, from breaking into my house . . . How are you going to stop him if he decides to take a knife to me instead of my bed? Would that be enough evidence for you? Oh, no, because then I’d be dead and
I
wouldn’t be able to identify him!” Allegra’s hands had dropped to her side, clutched in tight fists.
The photo shoot seemed to be frozen in place. No one moved. No one breathed as they all stared at the interaction between Allegra and the investigator. He didn’t seem to realize the danger he was in because he shot Allegra a condescending look as he held up his hands. “Look, you need to take a breath and calm down.”
The entire room sucked in a collective breath as they cringed. Allegra turned five shades of red. “You don’t tell me to calm down when you can’t do your damn job and find him,” she said in such a cold voice David and Josh took another step back.
The door opened as Elle and Drake walked in. Elle took one look around and immediately wrapped Allegra in a protective hug. “What happened, Leggy?”
Allegra tried to answer but she had started shaking again, and this time it was definitely in anger.
Nate cleared his throat. “Mr. FBI Dumbass over there decided to blame Allegra for not gathering evidence to arrest Harry even though he’s been investigated for stalking in four other states.”
Allegra felt Elle stiffen next to her. She pivoted slowly on her sexy designer heels. “You did what?” she asked the investigator.
“I just told her the truth. If she can’t handle it . . .” He shrugged.
Drake just shook his head. “It’s sad. You don’t even know what’s coming, do you?”
“I don’t think you understand stalker cases. They are very hard to prove, especially if the victim . . .”
“That’s right, the victim,” Elle cut in. “And you just criticized her. It’s time for you to leave.”
“Sorry, this is my case and I’m not leaving.”
“Yes, you are,” came a soft Southern voice. Mallory leaned against the door with her perfect wavy blond hair and natural makeup. “I’ve already called the director.”
“The director?” He laughed. “Just who do you think you are? The Director of the FBI doesn’t take calls from civilians.”
Mallory smiled, and Allegra shivered for a whole new reason. Mallory’s smile looked deadly—like a long silver rapier cutting you to shreds without you even realizing it. “My name is Mallory Westin, and he takes my calls.”
The investigator’s phone rang, and when he looked at it, his face paled. “Hello, sir.”
He nodded a couple of times and then listened for a minute. “Yes, sir.” He hung up the phone and looked at Allegra. “I’m sorry I was insensitive to your feelings. I’m sorry for my behavior. Ms. Hectoria will be here shortly to look over your phone and discuss the case further.”
Allegra watched him turn and walk out the door. Once it closed, the whole room breathed again. “Oh, now I feel bad. I didn’t want to get him fired or anything.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Mallory said as she came to stand with her and Elle. “He’s had several complaints lodged against him. His daddy’s in politics, and he wants to be, too. The complaints haven’t gone very far up the ladder. It just so happens my daddy’s a bigger player than his.”
“I’m sorry you had to play your father card,” Allegra said quietly. She knew Mallory hated to depend on her father, one of the highest-ranking senators in Congress, for anything.
“Don’t be sorry, Allegra. Really. I would use it in a heartbeat to protect one of you all. You’re my sisters.” Mallory wrapped her arms around Elle and Allegra and squeezed. “Now, what happened?”
Allegra explained and then handed the phone to Drake. He looked at the texts. “He did have a point about leaving the phone on. But, I think it would be better if you were the one answering the texts. Have you ever thought about doing that?”
“I did at first, but then he just kept asking me out over and over again. I stopped answering and then the texts turned mean, and I didn’t want to respond. I’d just change my number, but he always seems to find me.”
“Stalkers are pretty smart. Smarter than most criminals in fact,” Mallory chimed in.
“It appears so,” Drake said as he held up a little chip between his fingers.
“Damn,” Mallory muttered.
“What’s that?” Allegra and Elle asked at the same time.
“It’s a tracker. He’s known exactly where you are at all times.”
Allegra felt the room spinning. “How?”
“I don’t know. He could have picked it up anytime you set your phone down. He could have broken into your house and put it in. He could have picked your pocket and then put it back. Either way, it means he’s been near you.”
“I knew someone was following me.” Allegra couldn’t describe it but she felt so violated. How had he gotten so close to her?
“I’m going to clone this phone. What should I do with the tracker?” Drake asked Mallory.
“I know. Get an old phone that matches hers. We know he’s watching. Allegra, when you leave here, I need you to make a very public display about dropping your phone and breaking it. Then give it to Drake. Drake can slip the tracker on it and tell you he’ll dump it in the garbage at his place and get you a new phone. That way he can have the tracker, and it won’t make Harry suspicious. But, he’ll try again to put another one on it, so we’ll have to be careful and hope we can catch him this time.”
Allegra’s phone beeped in Drake’s hand and seconds later Elle’s did, too. Drake cringed and covered the phone so Allegra couldn’t see.
“What is it?”
Elle sighed. “You’ve gone viral.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Finn ripped off his suit jacket and hung it in his locker at Tigo’s. He had to meet with Raven Eddie in an hour, but if he didn’t work out his anger on the bag, he wouldn’t be able to control himself around her.
He slid out of his pants and pulled up a pair of athletic shorts. Walking barefoot into the gym, he slid on his boxing gloves. “Anyone up for a fight?”
“Sure. Let’s do it, old man,” Hugo, Tigo’s newest boxing champ, said as he slid under the ropes.
Finn just smiled as he slid his mouth guard in.
Tigo leaned against the ropes as he watched Finn pulverize his newest protégé. Hugo was good, great in fact. But he couldn’t stand up to Finn’s extra weight and intelligence. Finn was a smart fighter. Hugo hadn’t learned that yet. Finn landed a solid uppercut to the chin, and Hugo went down.
“Okay, don’t kill my next prize fighter,” Tigo interrupted as he lifted the rope and walked onto the mat to slap Hugo’s face. Hugo’s eyes fluttered as he came back around. “Next time don’t call him old.”
Hugo moaned and rolled over onto his stomach and threw up. Finn smiled. That had felt good.
“So, you’re in a fighting mood today? Fighting here, fighting there, fighting everywhere,” Tigo said as he handed Hugo off to another coach.
“What are you talking about?” Finn asked as he spit out his mouth guard and held out his hands for Tigo to help him take his gloves off.
Tigo reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He handed it to Finn as he worked on his second glove.
“Holy shit.”
“That picture of you punching Hollywood’s sexiest man has gone viral. Apparently someone got the shot with their cell phone and it’s everywhere.”
Finn looked at the image of his fist connecting with Nate’s mouth and felt his whole world break away. Allegra would never forgive him. In one stupid moment of anger, he’d ruined everything. Of course, Allegra had already done that by cheating on him, but now the reality that it was definitely over hit him hard.
“When I said you could fight for your woman, I didn’t really mean to beat the competition up,” Tigo laughed. “Now, if it was the man terrorizing Allegra, that’s different. But, Hollywood Hottie, not what I was talking about.”
Finn rushed to get ready as all the guys teased him about punching Nate Reece over Allegra. It was everywhere. The radio, TV, and social media were all blowing it up. One of the online magazines was reporting she was pregnant with Nate’s baby, and that’s why Finn lost it.
He walked into his office, trying to shove it from his mind. Last time Raven came into his office, she’d dropped her coat to reveal nothing but a teddy. Finn had kicked her out of the office and planned to never talk to her again until she broke out the tears and the pleading. He agreed to one more meeting, but only if she proved herself to be a serious businesswoman. Finn wasn’t hopeful. However, he didn’t know why, but one of the cable stations actually thought a reality series with Raven had potential, and he was going to present it to her shortly.
“Well, now that you’re single, I think we have a lot more to talk about than just my new television show,” Raven purred as she slinked into the room.
Finn steeled himself for battle as she took a seat on the edge of his desk.
* * *
He couldn’t stop looking at the news. Allegra was everywhere. She had made a fool of him. She was supposed to be
his
wife, and she was caught in a love triangle. How would that make him look?
He clenched his fist and slammed it onto his desk. The wood splintered, and his hand throbbed as more and more commentary came from the dumb entertainment news correspondent. She’d embarrassed him, and now she’d learn her lesson. He opened the drawer and pulled out a knife. Oh, yes, she would learn she belonged to him and only him.
He opened his laptop and pulled up the tracker. She was still at the photo shoot. He’d see her soon . . .
* * *
Allegra walked out the door with Elle, Drake, Mallory, and Nate. The photos were amazing, and Bellerose was going to have one heck of a spring campaign. Allegra had her arms full of sample clothes and laughed when Mallory told her to laugh. Somewhere in the shadows he was watching. She felt it. He couldn’t know how upset she was, or he might catch on to the plan to draw him out.
“Let’s do something tonight to celebrate,” Nate said, following the script Mallory had given them.
“Sure, let me just check my calendar.” Allegra reached for her phone and as soon as she got it in her hand she stumbled. The clothes started to fall and she dropped the phone to the ground. As she tried to regain her balance, she dug a heel into the screen.
Drake reached out to steady her and Elle grabbed the clothes. “Damn,” Allegra cursed.
Mallory picked up her phone and grimaced. “Sorry, Allegra, but I think you broke your phone.”
“No. It has to turn on . . .” She fumbled with it for a second. “Nothing.”
“Let me see it,” Drake said, holding out his hand. He fiddled with it for a second and then shrugged. “It’s trashed. I have some phones in my office though. We can toss this one, and I’ll give you a new one.”
“Really? Thank you.” Allegra smiled at her brother-in-law as he slid the broken phone into his pocket.
“You go with Drake. I’m going to get back to work.” Elle gave her hug. “Great job. If he’s watching, he’ll totally buy it,” she whispered.
“Thanks. You married a good one,” Allegra said a little wistfully as an image of Finn came to mind.
“I’ll come with you. I want to see what kind of toys Drake has in his inner sanctum,” Mallory teased as she moved closer to Allegra.
“I better be on my way. Thanks for today. I’ll see you tonight to celebrate.” Nate kissed her cheek and walked off with Elle as Allegra went into Drake’s building.
As soon as the doors to the elevator closed, Allegra let out a long breath. “Do you think he bought it?”
“If he was outside, he did. Who knew you were so good at acting?” Mallory asked as she tried to lighten the mood.
“On one hand, I hope he tries something. On the other, I’m scared to death he will,” Allegra told them as she wrapped her arms around herself once again.
Mallory dug into her purse and pulled out a stun gun. She turned it on and gave it a test zap. Electricity sizzled in the air. “Then you have this. Keep it within reach at all times—even at night. Now Drake, show me all the really cool stuff.”
* * *
He followed close behind. He wasn’t going to lose his chance. A lesson was needed and that was exactly what Allegra was going to get. He turned down a block that housed the fashionable
who’s who
of Atlanta. He walked on the opposite side of the sidewalk and had to duck behind a car a time or two. He had to be careful. He didn’t want to give himself away too soon.
The door to the townhouse closed, and he moved closer. He crossed the street and slid into the narrow driveway on one side of the home. He could see lights being turned on and a shadow passing in front of one of the windows above him. He tried to see, but the windows were too high off the ground.
Looking around, he decided to head for the small backyard. He followed the driveway and stuck to the shadows. It was still light out, and he didn’t want a nosy neighbor to spot him. The backyard housed a small garage with decorative evergreens on either side of the garage door. He looked back at the large French doors and waited until the coast was clear.
He darted across the pavement and slid behind one of the trees, pressing himself against the wall of the garage. He was shielded. No one could see him. He was so smart. He’d never get caught. He smiled as he pushed his hand through the tree and made a hole to watch through.
For two hours he didn’t move. He watched everything—picking out what clothes to wear for tonight, turning on the television, texting on the phone, undressing to take a shower . . . people really needed to learn to use their shades. Lucky for him, they always thought they were safe inside their home.
His time came as the door to the bathroom closed. His breathing was slow and steady as he unfolded into the darkness. He pulled up the hoodie and tied the strings so it wouldn’t fall down. He tugged his leather gloves up and walked around the tree. He strode across the small manicured lawn and up to the French doors. He slid his knife between them and with a flick of his wrist he heard the latch click.
He opened the door and quietly stepped into the house. He made his way to the bathroom in seconds. He slid his black-gloved fingers through the small crack of the door. Slowly he pushed the door open. The water turned off, and he stepped back quickly. Short shower, must be running late.
He pressed himself against the wall and waited. He heard her drying her hair and slapping her feet on the marble floor. The door opened wide and steam rushed into the bedroom.
His hand tightened on the knife, and he held his breath. A foot came into view and he made his move. Spinning around, he grabbed for the shoulder with his free hand as the knife slid into the freshly washed skin.
Screaming. He loved it when they screamed. But then a fist came at him. He had been enjoying the screaming too much and had lost focus. The fist slammed into the side of his head. The room tilted and the bathroom door slammed shut. He looked around quickly and saw the cell phone was gone. Then he heard talking on the other side of the door. Dammit! He’d blown it. He scrambled to his feet, shook his head, and then darted out the back door.
He pulled himself over the brick privacy fence and hurried through a couple of yards with no lights on. When he came out onto the street, he pulled the hoodie down and slowed his pace. He heard sirens in the distance. They wouldn’t find him. He was safely away in less than thirty seconds. He continued to walk to the small restaurant district and took a seat at the window of a bistro. He smiled at the cute waitress and ordered dinner. Maybe he’d fuck her tonight. Allegra deserved it after all.