I’VE TAILED A LOT OF vehicles over the past twelve months, and I’ve become quite proficient at it. There’s always an adrenaline kick. A buzz that comes with following someone, unbeknownst to them, in a challenge to find their deep and dirty secrets. But today is different. Today I’m following someone I know. Drew is family. He’s been with my sister since I was a teenager, and up until this last weekend I never doubted my trust in him. The pit of nervous energy in my stomach grows with each mile as he heads toward the address my sister gave us.
“Jon. You there?” I say into my earpiece when we’re less than two miles out.
“Yep. Hanging like a total fucking creeper.”
“Are you inside?” We did a preliminary drive-by yesterday, and learned the condos are connected with a gated common area. A parking lot surrounds the entire complex and won’t afford us much visibility, but Jon’s surprisingly sneaky for a six-foot-two wall of muscle. His years in the Army were the perfect training for a private investigator.
“Yeah, the courtyard was easy to get into. I only had to wait for some hipster kid to hold it open for me. There’s a unit for rent that has a direct view of the street entry. I’ll see everything unless Drew goes inside one on this side.”
“Did you break into an empty condo?”
“Nah. I called the listing agent and took a tour last night. Left one of the windows unlocked while she was raving about the stainless steel appliances. This entire place has shit security. If I have a daughter she’s never living alone. Ever.”
“I actually feel bad for any child of yours. Boy or girl, they aren’t getting away with anything. Still waiting to find out the baby’s gender?”
“Yeah. We want to be surprised.”
“Good. I’m following three cars behind. Drew’s heading in your direction. He’s two minutes out.” Part of me is relieved Drew’s traveling toward the same destination he has for the last two weeks because it will help us figure out what he’s doing. Another part of me is hoping he goes home to my sister.
“This is stupid.” Jon blows out a breath and it crackles through the line. “Why don’t we just ask him why he’s here?”
“Because he could lie and our cover would be blown.” Jon knows exactly why we can’t, unless . . . “Wait. You think Melissa’s full of crap, don’t you?”
“I know first-hand how emotional and temperamental a pregnant woman can be. I have no doubt she believes he’s cheating. I just don’t buy it.”
“It’s hard for me to picture, too. But how many clients have we worked for whose marriage seems fault-free, yet we find proof of cheating? It happens. No one is immune.”
“That’s so cynical, QT. What happened to your positive outlook?”
“This job. Too many cheaters and liars in the world. I’d love to be proved wrong this time.”
“What does Tate say?”
Drew pulls in the first entrance and I drive past. “Oh. Um . . .”
“You haven’t told him?” Jon’s shock comes through his tone and he lets loose a long whistle.
“You know I can’t discuss clients with him!” I flip my rental car around and turn in the far entrance. I spot Drew’s car immediately and pull into a far corner space. With shades and a hat he shouldn’t recognize me, nor should he need to walk in this direction, but I slink down in my seat just in case.
“Evie, this is your sister, not some random client. She’s not even paying us, which I have no problem with, but this is family and you haven’t told your fiancé?”
Through my side mirror, I watch Drew get out of his car, pull his laptop bag over one shoulder, and run his fingers through his hair before walking to the entrance. He uses the intercom and waits for the iron gate to swing open. His fingers tap along the sides of his pants and his gaze darts from side to side.
I sigh. “I’m hoping we find an answer tonight and can be done with this. Then I’ll tell him.”
“Not sure that’s a great idea, but—”
As Drew steps through the opening, I interrupt. “Jon. That’s Drew.”
“I’ve got him in sight. Wait in the car. We don’t want to spook him.”
“Damn it,” I grumble as Drew disappears from my point of view.
“What is it?” Jon says.
“Just the way he’s walking. Looking around, and . . .” I can’t even say it.
“Suspicious,” Jon finishes for me.
“Yeah.”
“He’s going to the second story.”
There are a few minutes in which Jon doesn’t utter a word and I wish we could switch places so I can see what’s going on. The photos he’s taking won’t be enough, because I don’t want to wait any longer for the proof that will either put my sister’s fears to rest or flip her perfect world upside down.
“Shit,” Jon growls through my earpiece. My mind races with the possibilities.
Shit, I dropped my camera.
Shit, I need to pee.
Shit, someone sees me playing peeping Tom.
Shit, Drew’s a lying sack of shit.
“What? What is it?”
“I’m staying up here until he leaves.”
“Leaves? Did he go inside one of the condos?”
“Unit 244.”
“Did you see anything? Jon, tell me what’s going on.”
“I’ve got photos. We’ll debrief after he leaves. I’ll watch the door, but you watch his car. Maybe they won’t stay in.”
Apprehension prickles my fears. “They?”
“Shit.” He swears again. “It doesn’t mean anything until we have all the details, but this doesn’t look good.” He’s trying to protect me, or maybe Drew.
“Tell me.”
He swears again and I hear a shuffle before he says, “A woman opened the door.”
“Woman?” Crap, crap, crap. “Please tell me she was elderly and grandmotherly.” I’m reaching, I know, but this just can’t be happening.
“She’s young, mid-twenties, maybe. And beautiful.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been telling you.”
I grab my cell from where it sits in the cup holder. “I’m texting Melissa.”
“No!” Jon barks and my fingers still over the keyboard. “We do this the right way. We treat this like any other client. I admit this looks bad, but we don’t bring an accusation we can’t back up.”
“But Melissa . . .”
“We’ve got this down to a science, Evie. Whatever Drew’s doing with this woman, we’ll know within a week. First, we find out who she is, and who she is to him.”
Jon’s right. I only hope what we uncover isn’t another cheating husband. Because it’s not only about proving good guys still exist, or that there are exceptions to every rule. This is my sister’s happiness at stake. Her security. Her world. I can’t even process what happens next if Drew’s not the man we all believe him to be.