“Adara, that guy broke my creep meter. Are you okay? You look deathly pale.” Maura wheeled her chair a little closer as her smile lent sanity to a loathsome day.
“I’m fine. Thanks. He just doesn’t understand the word no.”
“Oh, I think he’s gotten the message now.” Maura’s indelicate snort preceded her chuckle.
Adara offered a tentative smile as Julien came out of Nate’s office and headed toward his own. His expression remained tight, she didn’t know if she or Simmie was the source.
I can’t afford to lose this job.
“You haven’t received any more anonymous phone breathers, have you?” Maura’s nasal voice, though soft, obviously carried to Julien in passing. He stopped cold yet didn’t turn around.
“No. Nothing else has happened.” The sound of Julien’s knuckles cracking as he strode off made Adara shudder. Worry that she had become more trouble than she was worth kept her fidgeting with the flowers. “Here, Maura, these would look better on your desk.”
Taking the flowers, Maura added, “Maybe you should talk to Julien about it. Having repeated hang ups is one thing, but when you get a note on your car—that’s crossing the line. Do you think it’s Simmie stalking you?” Hushed tones still carried, as evidenced by Jackie and the other PA pausing their work for her answer.
“No, I don’t believe Simmie would do anything like that. He wants to date me.”
“Well, he’s no angel. He makes my skin crawl.” Maura’s lip curled while her frown further distorted her normally tranquil features.
“You know, girls, I think Maura’s right for once. That guy should have psycho tattooed on his forehead.” Jackie’s disdain could’ve sliced the stalker to bits.
The fact Jackie agreed and gave voice to her opinion sent Adara’s thoughts spiraling into a frenzy. The bitch didn’t even like her, which meant the other shoe had yet to drop.
“I’d hate to see our little angel floating up on the shore like the other two girls found in the last six months. Nobody deserves that.”
And there it is.
“Do they have any suspects? The paper said the murders weren’t related, except for the way the victims were killed.” The wheels on Maura’s chair squeaked as she rolled back to her desk and faced her computer once again. “I still think you should tell Julien. You know how protective he is of us. And if not him, tell Nate, Conner, or Marc. They’ll look into it.”
“No…no, that’s not necessary. Everything’ll be fine.” Because I’m gonna disappear within a week, as soon as I turn twenty-one.
Restlessness and an undefined apprehension suspended time to draw out Adara’s frustration. Obstacles thrown in her path, Destiny’s way of thwarting success or testing her resilience, received no marks for originality.
With increasing frequency, the glaring looks from Jackie narrowed her focus to the computer screen where she performed a last-minute spelling and grammar check on a document otherwise ready for sending. She had enough to worry about without the witch in the mix. If her uncle or cousin found out she had visitors while at work—she’d end up with more scars.
As luck would have it, with an hour left to go in her workday, her one true male friend dropped by to visit. A phone call always preceded previous visits, and like last week, she would sneak out for lunch with the excuse of running errands. The look on Graham’s face explained his impromptu visit. Expressive gray eyes held the weight of the world in their sad depths.
“Hey, sorry I didn’t call. How’s it going? You had lunch yet?” Graham’s detached voice echoed through the hollow depths of the office. Swollen, red eyelids, shaky breaths, and a slight runny nose portrayed his state of mind. A furtive glance around and his gaze landed on her face.
“Yes, but…what’s happened, Graham?” Going home late after work would earn another scar but Graham was the one person she’d called friend since grade school. In a world of pain and humiliation, he remained her rock, a staunch supporter, and port in any storm. Adara glanced toward Julien’s office. Not at his desk. Personal visitors would draw unwanted attention. “How about we meet after work?”
“I don’t want you to get in trouble with your family. How about tomorrow…I can meet you here.”
“Graham—I’ll see if I can take off an hour early.” She made to stand, unable to bear the pain in his gaze.
Golden, shaggy hair drifted across his face as he looked away. The rumpled shirt and trousers appeared slept in. His shoulders slumped. “No. Absolutely not, Adara. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
Unable to stop herself, Adara placed her hand on his arm, the sleeve wet from his tears. “Graham…” When his gaze met hers, she saw fear.
“I’ll see you tomorrow at noon. I’ve taken the next three days off. And, Adara—watch your back. Something weird is happening.”
“O-Okay. I’ll meet you at noon tomorrow, right here.” The air of depression, fatigue, and confusion lingered as he shuffled toward the front door. He had never partnered with paranoia or flights of fancy, nor did his moods swing to either extreme.
“Wow, Adara. He looks like he really needs a friend. Who is he?” Maura’s sympathetic curiosity weaved with her own.
Adara hesitated before leaning back in her seat. “That’s Graham, a good friend of mine from school.”
“Looks like he just lost his girlfriend,” Maura murmured.
“Yeah, the kind that pees standing up.” Jackie’s two cents worth earned her a special place in Hell.
Adara’s glare accompanied a mild retort. “That’s none of anyone’s business.” Dissing one of her two friends crossed the line.
“I’m sure Julien wouldn’t mind if you took off an hour early…” Maura supplied in a quiet voice.
“Um, no. I’d better not.” Reduced hours would show up on her paycheck. Her uncle monitored everything in her life and that would not escape his notice. Letting down a friend was just another sin in a long list of failures for which she could never atone.