Page 128 of The One With the Mountain Man

"Mack and Scottie knew right away. And then we learned Karis knew for a while," Willow explained. "But most of us have only known for about a week or so. Maeve almost fainted. She thinks she's your biggest fan. So be prepared for that."

It was one shock after another. "But who is that man? It's not Cristobal. And he didn't recognize me like this." I swept my hand over my normal tank-top and shorts, no makeup, self. "Where did he go when he left the shop?" I'd had other stalkers but none as bold or committed as Cristobal. I found it hard to believe I'd spawned a new one that tracked me here, but it was possible.

"Who is Cristobal?" Travis asked.

Jackson vibrated beside me. "Marley's stalker."

"And I'm just hearing about this now?" Travis barked.

Willow's eyes widened. "I'm so sorry, Marley. Is it possible he's connected somehow to Timothy Patrick?"

"Who's Timothy Patrick?" Jackson asked before I could open my mouth.

"The creeper. I have his name from the fishing trip."

I'd never heard the name Timothy Patrick. "It's not familiar and I didn't recognize him." But that didn't mean anything. If there was one thing life had taught me, it was that there was no way to control or predict it. I repeated my question from before. "Does anyone know where he went when he left the bookstore?"

"That's what the TBCIMAs are on first. They're assembling a command center at Sharon's. You all should head that way. I'm gonna grab Scottie and we'll run down sightings from the whisper-net." Travis nodded towards Still Standing.

"That asshole isn't at the saloon," Jackson ground out.

Travis blinked. "Wait, what happened to lunch?"

"George canceled it."

So the man's name was George. I cursed him again with his name.

"George is in there? Where the hell is Scottie?" Travis went on alert and it was hard not to picture him in full football pads ready to slam into an opponent.

"That's what I was about to find out."

I remembered the phone in my hand and hit Eve's contact info. I didn't know where Scottie was, I didn't know who this Timothy Patrick was or why he was asking about my whereabouts, but I could damn well figure out what was going on with Eve.

Jackson watched me as he spoke. "I'll take Marley over to Sharon's and figure out where the hell Scottie went."

"Can I ride with you?" Willow asked while I listened to the phone ring.

"You closing up shop?" Jackson asked.

She nodded. "I've done my part of the whisper-net and I'm needed at Headquarters."

Eve picked up. "That motherfucker! Tell me he didn't ambush y'all."

"He did." The group all fell silent so I put the call on speakerphone.

"Asshole pressured Minna into texting me that she had a flat on the side of the motherfucking road! I'm so, so sorry Huk!"

He dragged his hand over his face. "Of course you went to help Minna. That's the good and decent thing to do. I hope our baby sister learned a lesson."

"A very valuable lesson. I swear sometimes she's so naïve it hurts. Anyway, I got the call and I'm headed up to Sharon's. See you there?"

Of course we didn't need to explain anything. Everyone already knew. "When we went shopping, you knew my career was bigger thanTaking Tampa,didn't you?"

"Sure did, Sugar Tits. You're adorable, by the way. See you soon."

The phone beeped with the end of the call and I tucked my phone away. "One mystery solved."

"If I don't get in touch with Scottie, I'll let you know." Jackson nodded at Travis who had the grimmest expression on his face.

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