Page 48 of Aftermath
“Better than I expected,” she muttered, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “I think it helped knowing you were down here.”
“You can stay here for the foreseeable future,” I promised her.
She shook her head quickly, her eyes narrowing. “I can’t stay here,” she started. “I have work and the cats to take care of, and Mallory would lose her shit if she found out I was staying here and not my apartment.”
“Mallory can get over it,” I retorted. “You have astalker.”
That sentence alone should be enough to scare anyone, but Len barely flinched.
“And I’m really grateful you let me stay here last night, because I was far too tired to be driving home, but I’m fine. I’ve survived three years without them coming for me. I’ll be fine.”
“They’ve been emboldened. It’s been three years with nothing, and now they’ve come out of their safety just to threatenyou. They’re playing with you, letting you know they know exactly where you are and what you’re doing. I cannot let that go. I dragged you into this. I’m going to make sure I get you out of it alive.”
“I can’t stay here”, she insisted.
I run my hand along my chin, trying to think of a better solution or way to convince Len this was the best option. When it came to her, my mind felt blank. Suddenly, every answer that always came so easily was barely within my grasp.
“I’ll stay at your place,” I decided.
“Absolutely not,” she argued. “Mallory will never allow that.”
“Again, I really don’t care what Mallory thinks,” I noted, stepping closer. “And Mallory won’t know. I’ll make sure of it.” I was only inches from her now. I could see the rapid rising and falling of her chest, even with her arms crossed to hide it.
Her hands slowly slid down to the belt holding her robe together. She looked hesitant, and her hands fidgeted with the tie around her robe, trying to tighten it. She let out a small grumble.
“I need to go home and change,” she said. “And I need to feed myself and my cats before my shift at work.”
I forgot it was the weekend, the busiest time for the museum. It’d be hard to keep an eye on Lenore while she was working all day.
“Can you take personal leave?” I asked. “Just until this all passes over.”
“Absolutely not,” she exclaimed. “Francis would have my head for that. I just got this promotion; I can’t take time off now.”
Her eyes were narrowed on me, her nose wrinkled a little bit.
Lenore Calder was the biggest challenge I had faced, but there had never been a challenge I couldn’t overcome.
My hand ran through my hair, pushing it back. A deep sigh escaped my lips.
“I’ll figure something out,” I muttered to myself. I didn’t have time to argue with her before she needed to be at work. I had far too much to get done, and I could tell she was growing impatient to leave and head to work.
“I’ll come with you,” I offered. “I can make your breakfast while you get dressed and ready for work. It’ll save you time.”
Practical excuse to keep a close eye on her.
“Let’s go,” she said and turned toward the front door, leaving the house and letting the door close right in my face.
I followed her out to the car, a small blue two door convertible. I had to duck and contort myself to fit into the car, my height a hindrance.
Len drove through town like she hadn’t been in a car in years. I held tight to the handle of the door as she took a corner quickly. I’d participated in car chases, following criminals, that felt less dangerous.
“Next time, I drive,” I said, swallowing hard.
“It’s not that bad,” she insisted.
“You almost just hit that curb,” I pointed out.
“Well, I don’t drive often. I can walk everywhere in Briarport. And Jake never-” She stopped herself. “I’m just rusty, that’s it.”
