Page 114 of Under the Bed

They won’t be able to disprove it, ever. No cameras—no evidence.

“Professor Dempsey pushed me out of here and told me to go hide in the nearby office when the—” My sob is a wretched, shuddered one. “When the man started breaking the glass. Joe, my professor, he saved my life. I came back here to get my phone and call for help when it was quiet. I found him—him?—”

“I’m going to talk you through this. First, you have to go somewhere safe. Are you able to leave the office?”

Why, thank you, operator.

“Yes. But I can’t stay here. Have to get out. He could be anywhere. He could kill me.” My stepbrother becomes a tiny dot. He disappears into the darkness. If I don’t see him, I won’t be able to follow him.Shit. “I’m getting the fuck out of here. I’m leaving.”

“You have to stay there to be interviewed. Go somewhere safe. There has to be a safe place, like that office you hid in?”

“No. No, I refuse to die here. I won’t.”

“We’ll send officers to your apartment, then,” he resigns.

Not good enough.

“I’m going to stay at a friend’s house.” They’d never be able to track me down. Not when I’m leaving my phone in Dempsey’s office. “I’ll come down to the station first thing in the morning.”

“Miss Talbot, this isn’t how it works.” You’re in the middle of a crime scene. We need your testimony.”

“When you’re talking to me,thisis exactly how it works.” I raise my voice, still sobbing—gotta keep up the act. I start hightailing it in the direction Kaleb went. Our connection is so strong that it’s like I’m picking up on his scent. “I think I’m going to have a panic attack. So, you’re going to let me have this one night to regroup. My father will be distraught if I cause a scene.”

“It’s standard procedure, ma’am. You have to stay there for an interview.”

“Contact my father’s lawyers. Here.” I offer him the number Dad made me memorize. Anything to avoid a scandal, in case I ever find myself in one. “They’ll handle this. I have togo. I’m getting out of here. I’m leaving my phone, too, so he won’t be able to stalk me. Who knows what he has on us? Any of us?”

I add a few extra sobs for good measure and end the call while the operator pleads that I stay on the line. After sending a quick text to Dad’s lawyer, I run back to leave the phone on Dempsey’s desk. There’s nothing incriminating on there and I’ll have it back tomorrow anyway.

My clothes, pocketknife, and my bag are on me. Time to stalk my stepbrother.

I start jogging, smiling when Kaleb’s frame comes into view. My feet rush toward him. My heart does.

He doesn’t see me, doesn’t glance behind him. Walks ahead like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

This intense, unhinged man. This wonderful one.

After tonight, he’ll understand that he can’t be a loose cannon. Until we’re safe, he has to listen; otherwise, there’ll be consequences. He has to realize that two can play this game.

Adrenaline floods my veins and I hear everything. Sirens blaring in the distance. My feet pounding on the trail. My bag thumping on my side.

Kaleb’s heartbeats. I swear they’re just as audible.

Run, run, run.

The few people who are still here don’t give me a second glance as I bolt out the gate and into the street.

Kaleb has managed to get away. His large frame is nowhere to be seen. So instead of trusting my eyes, I open my heart to feel him.

There he is.

I follow my hunch, crossing the street, heading into a dark alley.

Sure enough, he’s there. He’s got balls, that’s for goddamn sure. Parking two cars behind me.

If I stay here a second longer, he’ll see me.

I’m quick to hide, flattening my back against the wall of the building that faces the street. I peek at him when I think it’s safe.

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