Page 82 of Betrayed

Logan led them out to the lobby where their parents met them. He didn’t envy those boys tonight. The likelihood they’d be at the skate park any time soon was slim.

AJ sat up from where she’d been dozing on Granny’s couch. She’d heard something, although she had no idea what. She reached in her bag for Harry, but the cold polymer did not meet her hand. She didn’t have the pistol. Because she didn’t have her concealed carry license, she couldn’t carry it out and about, so she’d left it in her apartment.

She listened but didn’t hear anything more.

It was only eleven o’clock. She had another hour before Zara even got off duty. Granny had gone to bed a while ago. With a shift starting tomorrow morning at seven, AJ needed to get some sleep, but she wasn’t about to go into her apartment on her own. Logan and Will were going to come home with Zara to secure it before the women went to bed.

Lying back down, she tugged the blanket up under her chin but couldn’t go back to sleep. Her mind spun with the idea that someone was out there hunting. Okay, maybe they weren’t hunting her but wasn’t that the next level of escalation this guy would likely take?

Adam had been very straightforward with AJ about the typical progression of stalking. He’d also told her he made a point to talk to Daryl this morning. Though Adam said he’d kept it casual and non-threatening, he’d been ready to slap Daryl in cuffs and bring him in if necessary.

But it hadn’t been. Daryl had denied any involvement other than the comments at the grocery store and out the car window. And he had shown Adam surveillance from his convenience store to corroborate he couldn’t possibly be the one who’d delivered the gifts on Friday.

Despite her doubts the stalker was Daryl, AJ didn’t know who else it could be. No one else had shown interest in her. And why would anyone? She wasn’t trying to be self-defeating, but it didn’t compute.

At least she was strong and had a clue about defending herself. Thinking about what maneuvers she would do if someone snuck up behind her, she finally dozed again.

She was dreaming about kicking a masked figure in the gut when her phone rang an hour and a half later. It was Logan.

He’d called her. Her heart sped up even faster than the pounding after being woken up from a crazy dream.

She answered, “Hey.”

“We’re about to pull into the driveway.”

“Thanks for the warning. I don’t have Harry with me, but if I did I wouldn’t want him to say hi to you.”

“Umm … Harry?” The unease in his voice was blatant.

“Oh right, you haven’t met my Smith & Wesson.”

His sigh echoed over the phone. She tried not to laugh out loud.

“I’ll meet you outside.”

They hung up, and she slung her bag over her shoulder. She exited the house through the back door, making sure to lock it behind her.

Waving to her friends and husband, she walked toward them but stopped.

Something was wrong.

She spun around. No one was there. But she had the distinct feeling of being watched.

Logan came up beside her. “What’s wrong?”

“I felt like someone was over there.” She pointed toward the darkness that hid Granny’s garden.

Will came over and shined a flashlight on the area. “I don’t see anything, but I’ll check if there is any evidence of someone traipsing about.”

“Thanks, Will.” AJ turned to Logan. “Work was okay?”

He nodded.

She wanted to greet him with a kiss, but she wasn’t sure she should. They hadn’t kissed good night or goodbye when they saw each other that morning. Just those intense ones in the kitchen yesterday.

Zara came over to them. “Staring at each other is cute and all, but I’d love to go to bed.”

AJ’s face warmed, and she looked away. “Same. Let’s get upstairs.”