CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHARLIE
Monday mornings suck, but I have been enjoying walking to work from the bus stop rather than having to take my car. The café on the corner near the bust stop is my saving grace! I walk, sip my coffee, and enjoy my surroundings. The city may be crowded with people, filled with car horns honking, exhaust spewing from vehicles, people shouting on their phones, and construction crews tearing up the street, but I can’t help but enjoy the view. Besides, if I get too irritated I just pop in my headphones and listen to an audiobook rather than the noise around me.
Once I get to the office building, I scan my badge to get into the elevator and press the number four on the wall. I have always enjoyed watching the little circle light up. As soon as the elevator doors open, I walk to my desk with an extra-extra-large coffee. It’s the largest the corner café had to offer. I’ve been staying up late researching the crime syndicates and Missy Graves so I’m exhausted. I need to drink at least half of this before Bill decides to have some kind of conversation with me.
I power up my computer to check my inbox and see something odd. It’s an email from “anonymous”. Goosebumps erupt all along my arms and the hairs across the nape of my neck stand up. I take a deep breath trying not to panic or become overly paranoid. This is a new job, of course there will be emails from sources I don’t recognize yet. I click on the email while internally rolling my eyes at the idea of someone emailing me as “anonymous” and start to read the weirdest and creepiest email ever.
From: Anonymous
You shouldn’t be in the city Charlie, it’s not safe.
Stop looking into the damn murders and just go home.
XXX
Wait. What?
I take a few seconds to reread the email and notice the writer called me Charlie. How do they know my childhood nickname? Okay, now I am a little freaked. I guess anyone could have guessed the nickname. It’s not like it’s that original, but it still makes my skin crawl. I decided not to say anything to Bill about the email.
I’m confused how an outside source even got my email address. I know Officer Keenly saw my press badge, but I’m a new hire, so my email wouldn’t even be on our business website yet. I know I didn’t hand out that information to anyone this weekend and there is no way they would know what my family calls me.
I shake off the eerie feeling and shove it to the back of my mind. I have too much crap to get done today to worry about some creep. I see the top of Bill’s head as he makes his way to my desk with a stack of folders with my assignments for the week that I am sure are going to make me want to stab my eyes out. At least they will make for a good distraction until I get home and see if I can figure out who the heck is trying to mess with me.
I finally make it back to the apartment building, grab my mail, and make my way upstairs completely prepared to start my Hunger Games marathon again. I just want to hide from work for the rest of the night, but I can’t shake that email. It really threw me off. No. I won’t let that stupid email bother me. I’m just being paranoid. I’m determined to relax tonight.
I go into the kitchen after dropping my keys by the door and setting my laptop bag on the counter. There’s nothing like a hot cup of lavender tea to calm me down.
Once my tea is ready, I start watching The Hunger Games, but I keep thinking about the email. Curiosity really did kill the cat because I decided to google how to reverse look up emails. This is totally outside my wheelhouse. I may know how to write and use the internet for research but I am not tech savvy.
There are a few ways to look up an email from an unknown source, but I’m not finding any of them useful. Sighing, I choose to ignore it for the moment and try to focus on the movie. Watching a movie series like The Hunger Games always has me thinking about Yuri. I have always loved Katniss’ close connection with Peta; their friendship always makes me wonder what mine and Yuri’s friendship would have been like if he hadn’t disappeared. Even if he didn’t end up moving to the city like I did, I hate that I don’t have the ability to reach out to him or confide in him. He’d help me figure out who sent this stupid email.
I decide to search his name online again. It’s really sad how many people are missing in the world. I only research Yuri for ten minutes because it only depresses me further. I shut down my laptop, put it on the coffee table, and decide to make some popcorn and simply focus on the movie before I head to bed.
I lay in bed tossing and turning constantly thinking about that stupid email that I can't seem to shake. With a groan, I roll out of bed and sleepily make my way to the kitchen to start the kettle. A cup of hot chamomile tea with honey and lavender is calling my name. Tea always helps relax me and I know it will help me sleep. I walk toward the wall of windows to take in the cityscape at night. It really is beautiful seeing all the lights reflect off the windows.
Within five minutes the kettle is whistling and I am steeping my tea. I head back to the windows again as I get a notification on my phone. I roll my eyes as I decide to ignore it and put it face down on the coffee table. I am just going to take in the night while sipping my tea so I can relax and maybe get some rest tonight.
I woke up not fully understanding where I was. I must have fallen asleep while looking out the windows because I woke up seated on the living room floor with my back against the couch facing the window. Now I have a wicked kink in my neck from the awkward angle I was sleeping in. Great!
I get up and yawn while stretching my neck at all angles hoping to release the tension. I make my way to the bathroom when a piece of paper on the floor by my front door grabs my attention. Weird, I must have dropped it last night after grabbing my mail. I make my way toward the door, reaching down to pick up the paper. It’s a pretty heavy card stock. I flip it open awkwardly still groggy from sleep and read:
I am just trying to keep you safe, Charlie! Just pack a bag and go home.
-XXX
What the hell is going on?
Okay, this isn't funny and I don’t have the patience to deal with this. Am I being PUNKed? I go to my phone to call my mom and dad but it goes straight to voicemail. I briefly consider texting Dominic, but I don’t want him to think I can’t handle life in the city. I roll my eyes because clearly I am being stupid. Someone has to be pulling a dumb prank on me, so I throw the note away and stomp over to the bathroom to shower.
After making the water as hot as I can possibly stand, I wash the night away. Thankfully, the heat of the water and the steam in the air helps relax the tender muscles in my neck. Sighing, I turn the water off and wrap myself in one of my extra large fluffy towels and make my way down the hall to the kitchen to start the water for my coffee.
As I walk into the living room, I see a man just casually sitting on my couch. I halt and stifle a scream not wanting to alert him to my presence. His back is to me, but he is standing board-straight and his confidence radiates off of him.
I am trying very hard not to scream and alert him to my presents. He looks familiar which sounds weird considering all I can see is the back of him. I need to do something and my nerves are getting the best of me.
I look around frantically for my phone with a death grip on the towel, because yea, I am standing in a damn towel with a stranger in my living room. He hasn’t turned around to look at me. I glance toward the couch and see he has my phone in his hand. Shit! Now I can't even call the police. Awesome, I am naked with no phone or weapon in front of a burglar.
Fan-tastic!
“Who the hell are you and why are you in my apartment?” I almost yell trying to sound confident, but my voice breaks at the end and fear starts seeping into my bones.
He turns his head and strides to the side of the couch turning around completely to face me.
“Don’t even bother screaming for help,” he says calmly, “You and I need to have a little chat, Charlie.” I just stare, wide eyed and brows pulled together very confused. My fingers are starting to hurt with how firmly I am holding my towel in place and my body begins to shake. His eyes are as dark as the night sky and I can barely breathe. No way. It's…
“Yuri?” I whisper, breathing his name in utter shock and confusion. A small smile tugs at one corner of his mouth as I keep staring, my eyes wide as saucers and I am fighting back the heat of tears making its way to my eyes. The silence is deafening. I must be sleeping. This is some kind of nightmare or dream. This isn't real.
He stands next to the couch and places my phone in his pocket all while walking slowly toward me as if approaching a wild cat. I count his steps. 1…2…3…4… Until he stops a good three feet away. He dwarfs my five foot frame and all I do is stare dumbfounded, my heart beating out of my chest.
“Hello, Malyshka . It's been a long time.”