Page 22 of Killer Confections
She’s a smart girl and the alarm system is already a stretch.
I place the soap back down on the tub’s lip and my reluctance to leave it behind is pathetic. It’s like a way ofhaving her close without compromising anything.
I point at the inanimate object, “I’ll be back for you.”
I leave the bathroom and retreat to the living room before I do something stupid. I find a bookshelf next to the couch and use one of the higher shelves to plant the first camera. When it’s out of sight, I move to the kitchen.
I find a few good spots to hide the micro cameras before getting to work on the actual system. Once it’s secured on her door, I link everything to my phone on a separate account that won’t alert Loxley when I turn the system off. Everything was rigged up by Connor beforehand, so there should be no problems with keeping my girl in the dark during my home visits until I want her to know that I’m here.
I don’t place any cameras in the bedroom. Just the thought of spying on a woman while she’s in her room makes my fucking skin crawl. This is no different, but I don’t plan to watch her undress. This is purely for safety.
And maybe so I can see her while I’m out on hits.
I finish up, writing a small note on a generic sticky tab I found in the box in the kitchen before placing it over the screen of the monitor by the door. I lock up, leaving the building as I pull my balaclava back up and start my bike.
Chapter Nine
Loxley
I unpack a box, letting the metal trays clang against the alloy table. Almost everything is ready for my grand opening. I just have a few more things to put away and I’ll be good as gold.
“Jesus Christ, woman!” Addison shouts through the phone’s speaker. “It sounds like gunfire from this end!”
“Sorry,” I apologize quickly, having forgotten she was on the line. “You haven’t said anything in the last ten minutes. I forgot you were there.”
Addison is one of my long-standing friendships from back in Manhattan. We met the year after I moved back and have been inseparable since. Well, except for now. This is our first time being apart in years and my codependent friend is having withdrawals.
“Which is another reason I’m going to move out there,” she huffs. “If someone isn’t standing in front of you, they don’t seem to exist.”
I stack the trays into one of my rolling racks, my lips pursing at her judgment. I know she’s trying to make her rushed decision to move to Columbus seem like it’s totally her idea and not because she’s struggling without me, but that’s a little extreme.
“Addie,” I say, making my tone gentle. “It’s okay if you want to move here to be close to me. You can help me with the bakery. I’ve told you this.”
There’s a deep sigh over the phone. “Thank fucking god cause my boss is about to make me lose it out here.”
She works in finance, and while I know nothing about the job, she’s beyond stressed. Her boss is a dick who makes her work overtime every week. She hasn’t had a decent vacation in the last three years since she started at that soul sucking company. I’ve tried to convince her to quit, but she’s always been about the money.
It seems he’s finally pushed her over the edge.
“When are you coming? Do I need to set up a spot for you on my couch?” I ask.
“Nah, I’m looking at places now. I may end up in the same building.”
I laugh, putting my things away as I take a turn around the room. I make sure everything is where it should go before grabbing my purse and phone.
“Can you stay on the phone with me until I get to my apartment?” I plead with my friend as I turn the lights off and lock the door.
“Bitch, why didn’t you drive?” Addison asks, her voice angry.
I roll my eyes, “Because, mom, I wanted to walk. It’s just a few blocks away.”
“Uh huh,” she hums. “A few blocks away in the dead of night. You’re basically begging to be on the news.”
“This part of Columbus is quiet. There’s hardly anyone out on the streets.” As I say it, there’s a distant rumbling of a motorcycle that makes me jolt. The sound is frantic and loud as the driver speeds up the empty road ahead of me.
As the bike gets closer, I see a hulking figure behind the handlebars. Broad shoulders are covered in a black jacket, and a dark mask obscures the lower half of the face.
I quickly look away from the biker, keeping my eyes trained on the sidewalk as I absently listen to my friend lecture me over safety.
