Page 85 of Betrayed
She ran down the area where they liked throwing the ball. It was shaded from the bright sun by tall oak trees. AJ caught the ball and quickly released it back to Brennan in a perfect spiral.
The longer they tossed it back and forth, the more she felt like she was being watched. It finally distracted her enough that she missed one of Brennan’s throws. The ball bounced off her hand and rolled toward the trees that lined the side of the fire station’s property.
She jogged after it. Once she’d grabbed the football, AJ glanced up.
A face stared back at her from behind a tree.
She jumped. And screamed.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Eric?”
“Hey, AJ. Is this the fire station you work at?”
“Yes.”
Brennan ran up beside her. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, this is Eric. He scared the tar out of me.” She looked back at Eric. “What on earth are you doing back here?”
He pointed over his shoulder. “I’m working on the cable lines over there. I dropped a nut and it bounced. I need to find it.”
“We can help you look.” She stepped closer.
“No, it’s fine. Oh, look, there it is.” Eric leaned over and reached his hand to the ground. “Got it. We’re good. Didn’t mean to bother your game.”
“It’s no bother.” AJ watched Eric hurry away. That was incredibly odd.
Brennan said, “Did you see him actually pick anything up?”
“No. Is it just me or was that strange?”
“It was more bizarre than an OMC song.”
She gave him a confused glare.
“Never mind. You’re too young.” He jogged away, backward. “Toss it.”
She released the football, and they resumed their exercise. But the disturbing notion that Eric had been watching her didn’t dissipate from her mind. Was he her stalker?
