Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

A lexandra

“Here is a full glass of wine. And I brought the bottle. Now, what the hell is going on?” Sherry thumped down on the chair a few inches away, curling her legs under her body.

I moved the wine from hand to hand, glancing up at the wide-open window. It was right now I wish I’d insisted on blinds. Thankfully, we were on the third floor, but I still had goosebumps crawling all over me. “I just…”

“Come on, honey. You’re scaring me to death. You were trembling when you jumped into my car. And you told me to floor it, while constantly looking behind us, which was terrifying. What is going on? You’re shaking like a leaf now.”

I took a huge gulp of wine, praying it would help keep me from screaming. I wasn’t certain anything could ease my nerves at this point. “I, um… I was getting a treat for Aunt Kim from her favorite little bakery. You know the French bistro?” Why in the hell was I stalling? This was nuts.

Sherry cocked her head, frowning at me.

“I wasn’t certain if it was closed, but I was there and was determined to purchase her favorite treat. I was too busy grabbing my wallet when I walked in and…”

“And?”

I closed my eyes, steadying my nerves.

“I watched a man being killed, murdered right in front of me.” I certainly wasn’t going to tell her the victim had been decapitated. She was about to take the bar exam, not enter the fourth year of medical school.

“Wha… What?”

“Yep. It was awful.”

“Did the killer see you?”

I groaned, feeling even antsier than before. “I was in the shadows, but the group of men knew I was there. I took off running, finally ending up in the bar.”

“You need to contact the police. Now.”

“And tell them what? I didn’t see the guy’s face who did the… act. I couldn’t tell you anything and you know how the DC police are.”

“But that’s crazy. Maybe you can help locate the killer,” she insisted. “You can’t run.”

“And maybe talking will get me killed!” I was a little angrier, more vehement than I’d intended, but I was certain doing so would put a larger target on my back. I sipped wine.

So did she.

A full two minutes passed by.

“What if they saw your face?” she asked, fear now creeping into her voice.

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

“What about your car?”

“I’m not stupid. I knew better than to try and run toward it. That’s why I called you. You can take me to get it in the morning.”

She nodded as if still processing what was going on. “O-kay. If you say so. Are you okay?” She was in disbelief, not processing anything about what I’d told her. It did sound more like a cop television drama, not real life. Things like that didn’t happen to nice girls like us.

“Just shaken. Obviously.”

“O-kay. I think I’m going to bed.” Her abrupt end to the conversation was surprising, but her face was pale.

As she got up slowly, I realized she might be in more shock than I was. I had a feeling mine was delayed. I watched her head to the bedrooms, stumbling a little as she was doing so. What could I say to her that would matter at this point? Nothing. I wasn’t certain what I’d seen had been real.

When I was alone, I gulped more wine, finally finding the strength to get to my feet. Just sitting here wasn’t going to do me any good. After turning off the light, I dared head toward the window, standing off to the side and peering out.

That’s where I remained for a full five minutes. There were no strange people, no SUVs driving by. Just the usual traffic on a Thursday night. Maybe I’d gotten away. Hopefully.

All I could do was go about my life. Right?

What other choice did I have?

Nothing extraordinary or weird happened either when Sherry dropped me off to get my car or during two of my three classes. This was it, other than finals beginning the next Wednesday. It would give me a break to hide behind closed doors. Great. Now I was hiding. How long could I keep that up?

I tried to concentrate as the professor clamored on about what would be on the finals, but I had a buzzing in my ears, images of the murdered victim rolling in my mind. I’d yet to see anything in the news, but with the numerous killings in the city, it might be considered low on the totem pole. I’d almost called the bakery to see if it was open, but thought better of it.

While I didn’t want to disturb anyone, I pulled out my phone. The ringer was already off. I carefully searched the internet, trying to discover any new news reports. It took a few minutes, but something popped up I hadn’t seen before.

A gangland-style killing at a small, local bakery. There were very few details because the case was an ongoing investigation, but what was reported was enough to chill me to the core.

I studied the limited photographs, one including members of the forensics team going into the small shop. Another icy hand of terror clawed at my neck this time.

The class needed to be over with or I might go crazy. I glanced at the clock, breathing a tiny sigh of relief. Finally, the professor was putting his last statements together and we were done. There were three hundred people in the class, all jumping up at the same time. That hid the fact a courier must have walked in.

I only noticed the young man in uniform when he was in front of the professor, who pointed to me seconds later.

My blood was now frozen. I tried to walk down the steps, heading toward the professor.

“Ms. Christian?” the young man asked.

“Yeah. I mean yes, that’s me.”

“A delivery for you. No tip needed. That was taken care of.” He handed me a manila envelope, half sheet size.

I found myself terrified to touch it, but I did. At least I made it outside before opening the flap.

At that moment, the entire world stopped moving.

The words were written in red, done in bold lettering and without mistake.

We Know Who You Are. There is nowhere to hide, little girl.

“Sherry. Pick up the phone.” I’d called her four times. No answer. It hadn’t even gone to voicemail. I was sick inside. To think my not going to the police had maybe gotten her killed was the worst thing in the world. I had to know. I had to see for myself. It was perhaps the dumbest move I’d ever made, but I needed to know if she’d been caught inside the condo.

Everything I owned was inside the small space. I didn’t want some thugs to derail my entire life.

You’re not thinking clearly. What you’re thinking is dangerous.

Yes, it was. But hiding for the rest of my life wasn’t an option.

Sherry was usually finished with classes at least an hour before me. This was her last day too. I made certain I wasn’t followed, changing routes three times. If anyone was, I couldn’t see them.

I parked in the small parking lot in the back of our condominium unit, fearful when crawling out. I’d done my best to keep my vehicle under a clump of trees. I’d watched too many cop shows. The back door was accessible and clear from where I parked if I craned my neck while looking out the windshield. I waited for five minutes before climbing out. There was no one waiting.

Or so I prayed.

Once inside, I leaned against the door, gasping for air. This was nuts. In and out. Period.

I sprinted up the stairs, my breathing labored the entire time. I kept thinking how dumb this was, but the push to know was stronger than my common sense at this point.

There was no outward appearance the door had been tampered with. I easily slipped my key inside, slowly turning the handle. But the moment I walked in, my world nearly faded to black.

The entire place had been tossed. Everything had been smashed or turned over.

Get out. Just leave.

But I couldn’t.

I was frozen at first, listening for any sounds. There were no voices, no snickering. And no boogeyman jumping out from behind the couch. I was sick inside, trying to keep my diet soda from launching onto the floor.

Go. Go. Go.

The kitchen was close and I moved in silently, grabbing a butcher knife. With it firmly placed in my hand and my mind chastising me every step of the way, I headed through the condo. There was no one inside waiting and no dead bodies.

But there was a message written on my wall in what appeared to be blood. My mouth dropped open, my heart nearly stopping. This was a freaking horror movie.

We will find you.

I went into survivor mode and within seconds, had a duffle bag packed and was out the door, running down the stairs to the back entrance. I was running on adrenaline and what most would consider stupidity at this point. I shoved the knife I’d grabbed inside the outer pocket, wishing I had a permit to carry a gun.

I zoomed off, almost hitting another car, still gasping every few seconds. No one was following me.

Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone, contacting Sherry again. “Sherry.” When she answered, I almost wrecked the car.

“What is it?”

“Do not go back to the condo. Go stay with your mother.”

“Why?” she asked, another wave of fear creeping into her.

“They found me. The condo is trashed. Just trust me. Okay? Please tell me you will.”

Her voice was shaking as she answered, “Okay. Go to the police. You can’t keep running from this. You know that.”

“I need to get to my aunt first. Be safe.”

“You too, but this is crazy.”

Yeah, it was.

There were far too many horrible thoughts racing through my mind. I was crazed and uncertain, trying to figure out what to do. I’d need to stay at a hotel tonight, but where?

My aunt would freak, but at least my cousin, who often stayed at my aunt’s house, was vacationing with friends.

My aunt didn’t have my same last name and technically, I wasn’t attached to her legally since the death of my mom and dad, but I had a bad feeling they’d find her anyway.

I flew down the highway, almost daring the cops to stop me and praying there wouldn’t be a traffic jam. Thankfully, I made it to the hospital without incident, doing my best to hide my car and running inside. She worked on the fourth floor normally, but she could be doing patient rounds.

I flew into the elevator, my entire vision foggy. The damn steel box couldn’t have moved any more slowly at this point.

When I came to a hard stop against the nurse’s station, the nurse was startled as hell. Thank God, they all knew me here.

“Jesus, Alex. You almost gave me a heart attack. Are you okay?” the nurse asked, her hand placed over her heart. Jaime’s eyes were open wide.

“Where is my aunt?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Jaime, can you please get my aunt for me? Please?”

She was in shock for a minute, but nodded. “She’s just getting done with rounds.”

“Thank you.”

Hurry. Hurry!

It took almost five minutes before Aunt Kim walked toward me, a concerned look on her face.

“Jaime said something is wrong. What’s going on, Alex?”

I pulled her aside, taking deep breaths. “I don’t have time to tell you everything, but promise me you will go stay somewhere else tonight.”

“What? What are you telling me?”

“Please! Just do it. Okay? Can you go stay with Margie?” It was her best friend.

“Yes, I could, but tell me what is going on. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

“In a manner of speaking. Leave the hospital and go there. Okay? I will try and call you later. I promise. I’ll explain everything then. Can you promise me that?”

“You’re scaring me.”

I was scaring myself.

“I’ll be fine. Please. Promise.”

“Okay,” Aunt Kim said, her voice exasperated. “I promise, but you better call me.”

“I will.” I backed away, becoming fearful I’d never see her again. It was all I could do to keep the tears from falling.

The race down the stairs to avoid the elevator was more like a stumble. I was more distraught than I’d been in years, holding back sobs because they wouldn’t do any good. After almost crawling to my car, I made it without being detected.

Once inside, the doors locked, I allowed a single tear to fall. I had to get some clarity, to be able to think. Maybe driving a little would help.

That’s what I did, driving to a less populated area, finally ending up parking in a little lot of a special park that I’d been to a couple of times. It was still risky being out in the open, but if the assholes hadn’t followed me by now, I doubted they would. Eventually they’d find me and I’d need some cash. I’d use my debit card and not use another one again.

I thought.

Maybe.

God, I wasn’t certain. What I did know was that I had to do something. Staying here wasn’t an option. A hotel would only be protection for a day or so.

What the hell could I do?

I dropped my head into my hands, gasping for air.

Seconds later, a name floated in my mind, the one man who could help. The single man who might be able to get me out of this jam.

I was hesitant to call, but I had no other choice.

With my hand shaking, I dialed his number.

And I said another prayer the powerful, dangerous man would help me.