Page 32 of The Watcher's Bride

Oh god. That means I’ll have to talk to the cops, something I resolutely try to avoid.

“How did they find him?” I ask, unsure if I want to hear the answer.

“Some homeless guy found him under a bridge in South Bronx,” Tammy divulges, her eyes lighting up with the implication. South Bronx is a dangerous area, one that Mike would have no reason to visit, ever. “You and Mike were friends, weren’t you? Why would he have been there? Did he have a drug problem?” Tammy eagerly probes.

I shake my head in disbelief. “Other than the occasional joint, he wasn’t into drugs. At least not to my knowledge. Do the police think that’s what it was? A drug deal gone wrong? Or a mugging?”

“Maybe, but I doubt it, considering the state his body was in.” Tammy shudders at the thought.

“Tammy, enough chit-chat, it’s story time now,” Rose interrupts.

“Yes, Rose,” Tammy says, rolling her eyes. “I’m here if you want to talk, Nora,” Tammy adds, squeezing my shoulder before leaving.

I give her a small smile of thanks, but I wouldn’t confide in her if she were the last person on earth.

“Are you alright, Nora? I assume the delightful Tammy has filled you in if you didn’t watch the news this morning.” Rosedoesn’t care much for Tammy, but there’s genuine sympathy in her eyes as she looks at me.

“Yes, but do you mind if I take a minute in the break room?” I ask.

“You don’t need to stay. Tammy and I can manage, I know you and Mike were close,” she offers kindly.

“I’ll be fine. I think I’d rather be here, distracted,” I reply.

She nods understandingly. “Alright. Take all the time you need and then you can be on shelf stacking when you come back.”

“Thanks, Rose,” I reply gratefully before heading to the break room.

My hands are shaking as I pour myself a cup of coffee and I decide to put sugar in it, something I never do. I sit down on one of the least worn chairs, foam sticking out at the edge where there’s a tear in the fabric and pull out my phone to search for news about Mike.

I read in horror about how he had been beaten beyond recognition, several bones broken, including a break on his arm that was bad enough for the bone to pierce the skin. His testicles were crushed as if by being stamped on and then his skull was crushed. The police believe he had been alive for the entire assault. Police were only able to identify him from dental records, and that had been difficult as many teeth were missing. The body had actually been discovered a week ago, but it had taken them this long to identify him. Now that the media knew the victim was a well-respected librarian and not a homeless addict, the story had been more widely reported.

My blood runs cold as I realize that if Mike was found a week ago, it’s very likely I was one of the last people to see him alive. But how is that possible? He’d texted Rose after he was already dead.

Which can only mean one thing. The killer used his phone. They knew him and they didn’t want people to be suspicious. They didn’t expect his body to be identified.

My mind goes back to the last night I saw Mike. Max’s rage as he beat Mike half to death. He was like a different person then. Could Max have gone after Mike to finish the job?

No, I tell myself. He stayed the night with me. He was there when I fell asleep and still there when I woke up the next morning.

But then another, far darker, thought crosses my mind. What if my watcher did it? Could he have killed Mike out of some misguided belief that he was protecting me? I know nothing about the stranger I’ve invited into my bedroom. Like some nightmare from a horror movie, could he be a monster capable of doing this?

What the hell am I going to say to the police? What will I do after? I can’t avoid talking to them, but once I do, it won’t take long for my father to hunt me down.

I don’t want to run again, but if I stay, I could lose everything.

Chapter 19

Leo

Iknew it was just a matter of time until the police identified Mike’s body, and that Nora would eventually find out. I wanted him to be found, but I’d hoped it would be in a few more weeks. I covered my tracks well, so there’s no way the police would be able to trace his murder back to me, but still, it’s a complication I could do without.

I don’t doubt Nora will tell the police about the altercation between Max and Mike eventually, she may even feel the need to tell them about the mysterious man who watches her, though I doubt she’d tell them everything. Leaving town would be the best way to protect myself and avoid the police sticking their noses in and causing problems. That’s what any sane person would do, but I can’t leave Nora.

My uncle is getting impatient. When I didn’t answer his call today, he left a voicemail threatening that if I don’t provide solid evidence soon, he’ll find someone more capable who can. I can’t keep Nora hidden from him much longer.

Time is running out.

Whoever broke into Nora’s apartment hasn’t been back since, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone. I can only assume Quinn sent them. If my uncle has been onto him, then he could send them to retrieve her any day now. I’ve been careful to keep an eye out for anyone who might be watching Nora, and although I haven’t seen anyone, that doesn’t mean someonedoesn’t have eyes on her. If he or my uncle finds out the depths of my obsession with her, it could be used against me.

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