Page 31 of Hidden Gem
Chapter 15
Jason stared throughthe fence, his jaw slack. It was her. The woman. Beatrice – although he now suspected that wasn’t her real name. But it was definitely her, those chestnut curls framing her face, huge eyes reflecting the orange evening light. She hugged herself like she was cold or afraid of falling. Just a few steps away, she stood frozen like a statue behind two layers of fencing that guided walkers around a path that was being resurfaced.
Jason found his voice. “Hey.”
The woman stepped back. Was she going to run? Jason’s limbs flooded with adrenaline. Could he catch her? He shouldn’t be seen chasing a woman through a public playground. A group of teenagers lounged on the nearby park bench, vaping, their faces lit by their phones. They’d recognise him. Going after the youth vote, he’d given interviews to countless YouTubers. He’d taught at an inner-city high school. He had zero anonymity. Still, he couldn’t lose sight of her.
“Beatrice?” Jason tried again, like talking to a flighty cat. “Can I talk to you? Please?” He had to raise his voice more than he’d hoped. Pleading with his eyes, he gestured at the far end of the fence, the ridiculous detour the contractors had set out on the wet grass. He’d question the city council on this stupid setup. He’d shut it down.
She took a tentative step forward, hooking her fingers on the fence, peering at him through the gaps in the metal grid. “There’s no need. Don’t worry about it. You’ve been busy.” It was almost a whisper, but he heard the hurt in her voice.
“I’m sorry about—”
“I understand,” she cut him off with forced ebullience. “No hard feelings.” With a flicker of a smile, she turned and walked away.
***
ON THE BRINK OF NAUSEA, Marnie retreated from the fence. She’d done it. She’d let him go like she’d intended to, released him from any guilt or awkwardness over how things had ended.
His voice cut through her thoughts like a knife. “Wait!”
Marnie halted, her heart beating out of control. She turned to look over her shoulder. The teenagers on the bench looked up from their phones, their heads whipping back and forth between them.
“If you run, I will catch you!” His commanding tone held a touch of desperation.
Marnie shivered. How long would it take for him to run around the fence to reach her? In track pants and sneakers, he’d be fast. He must have been out for a run. She had a head start, but her legs felt heavy as lead, as if someone had amped up gravity itself. What on earth did he want from her? She was the obsessed one, the one who’d been stalking him.
Jason’s voice carried across the distance. “I know why you ran away.”
Marnie shook her head. “I don’t think you do.”
The teenagers lifted their phones. Were they taking photos of him?
“It’s Jason Hallett,” one of them gasped, shifting closer to him.
Jason voice crept up. “I do know. Do I have to say it?”
Marnie bit her lip. Could he possibly know about her health issues? It didn’t seem likely. Still, she was curious. “Go ahead. Say it.” If he knew about her condition, so be it. She wouldn’t apologise for it.
“Okay. I was selfish. I was a terrible lover! But I can do better, if you give me chance. I’ve been looking for you all over the place. I can’t sleep... I need you, Beatrice. Please.”
Marnie forgot to breathe; her eyes fixed on the young guy who’d edged closer with his phone. He was recording video! His face alight with glee, he filmed the scene like he’d stumbled upon a plane crash. Didn’t Jason see what was happening?
Jason raised his voice even louder. “I’m desperate! Please...”
“Stop!” Marnie raised her hand. “For the love of God, shut up!”
She grabbed one of the idle teens, a younger boy, and whispered, “Can you run to him and tell him I’ll meet him at his house? Tell him to just... stop talking, okay?”
The boy nodded and sprinted off, his sneakers squishing against the damp grass. Marnie took off in the opposite direction, running as fast as she could. She didn’t stop to look over her shoulder, simply pounded the pavement with her heart beating in her throat.
With a woozy head and low blood sugar, she barely made it to his house. By the time she reached the gate, darkness had fallen. She’d swallowed a mouthful of flying bugs – protein, she told herself. Out of breath and seeing stars, the figurative kind, she missed a step and fell.
