Chapter 5
FIVE
N aya wasn’t going to let anyone intimidate her into backing down from this story. If she had her guess, Tucker was the culprit behind this threat. Not some malicious outsider.
If she had learned anything during her time dating him, it was that his words were empty. He said one thing and did another.
So she definitely wasn’t going to be rattled by this.
Zack was waiting for an answer to his question.
“It’s just a stupid work thing. Nothing to worry about.”
Cars whizzed down the street and someone honked. Naya shielded her eyes from the setting sun and scanned the road, but thankfully, the driver’s impatience hadn’t been directed at her.
Naya sighed and turned back to Zack.
“I’ll be speaking with my boss about this tomorrow.” Naya took the paper from Zack. “Thanks for walking me to my car.”
“I could send it to my buddy at the station and have it run for fingerprints.” Zack frowned. “Or I could have, but we both touched it.”
She shook her head. “Don’t bother. It was probably Tucker.”
“Tucker who?” Zack scrunched his brow.
“My coworker who’s up for the same promotion. Our boss is going to decide who deserves the position after we finish our next story.” She lifted the letter once more to read it before folding it and placing the paper in her pocket. “Plus, the handwriting is sloppy. Indicative of a guy.”
“How can you be certain?” His eyes widened like he was a little offended by that.
“I’ve seen some of Tucker’s notes before. His writing looks like this.”
Naya shifted her stance and averted her eyes to the sidewalk. Zack didn’t have any right to know her history. It’s not like they were friends anymore. Still, an urge to explain herself swirled in her stomach.
She sighed. “We dated for a time, and although things didn’t end well, he did write me letters. So I’m familiar with his handwriting.”
“I see.” Zack cleared his throat like this conversation was uncomfortable for him too. “Do you still have a letter? We could compare the two.”
Naya appreciated Zack’s willingness to help, but this nuisance wasn’t worth either of their time. She’d talk to her boss in the morning and address the situation. Drew wouldn’t allow a fellow employee to harass one of their own.
“I got rid of those notes a long time ago. I’ll file a complaint with my boss, and it’ll all be taken care of.” Naya waved her hand.
Her phone vibrated in her bag.
“I need to get going.” Naya fished her phone out of her purse. “I forgot my friend Ingram is coming over to help me with something.” The words rushed out.
Naya offered a wave before climbing in her car then answered her phone.
“Sorry I missed your call.” Naya glanced at the dash clock. “I’ll probably be late. I saw Zack, then got distracted. What’s up?” Naya buckled her seatbelt and turned the ignition.
“No worries,” Ingram said. “I’m so sorry, but I’m going to have to cancel for our painting party tonight. Something came up at work I have to take care of.”
“Is everything okay?”
“They called a mandatory staff meeting. Apparently, we need training on how to handle the protestors. What we can and can’t say.”
“Sounds riveting.” Naya kept the car in park.
“I know. Did you get anywhere with your lead?”
“Nope.” Naya sighed. For every one person willing to talk, there were five more that proved to be dead ends. Each time, it only made her want to investigate further until she uncovered the treasure chest of information that would make the story. She just had to hang on long enough to hit the jackpot. “But I have a few more sources on my list to touch base with. Although, someone doesn’t want me writing this story.”
“What do you mean?”
“Someone left a note of warning on my car. Told me to stop or else.”
“Nay, did you report it to the police?”
“Why would I? They have much more pressing matters to worry about.”
“Your safety is important.”
“I think it was Tucker.” Naya ran through their conversation. He hadn’t been happy then. “There’s no one else who would know what my car looks like or that I’m writing this story. Plus, I’m going to address it with my boss tomorrow.”
“Just be careful, okay? You have a hunger for finding the truth for your stories, and sometimes people don’t want that exposed.”
Of course Ingram would allude to the one time a story had gone south. When she’d investigated the attacks on one of the dance instructors in town. The culprit’s father had begun stalking Naya to stop her from writing the story. He’d claimed his family had enough heartache to handle without a story being released with the details.
Sure, the situation had been scary, but Naya couldn’t stop working because one person wasn’t happy. If she didn’t find the truth, no one might. Just like her brother and the people sick in the hospital now. They would end up without the justice they deserved.
“Maybe you need a bodyguard. Someone to watch your back. I could put a bug in Zack’s ear.”
Naya glanced out the window. Zack still stood several feet away. He glanced up from his phone like he could sense her staring. “No need. I’ve got your number on speed dial if need be. He’s got his own life.”
“Well, back in the day, you two were tight.” Ingram chuckled.
Naya remembered all too well.
They’d both been in foster care and were next-door neighbors for five years. Zack had been in kinship foster care and lived with his grandma. She’d lived with the Tomlinsons, a nice enough family. During that time, Zack had been her big brother. Protector. Confidant.
But he’d hurt her once, just like every other guy she’d opened her heart to. Naya couldn’t risk adding more damage to her battered heart. If she did, it might just break her the next time.
The Lord would have to work a miracle to change her mind, and right now, He’d given her the gift of singleness. She didn’t have plans to change her status anytime soon. Even if Zack had grown up to be a handsome man. A hero.
She didn’t need a hero. She needed a lead.
“Are we still on for our hike tomorrow after work?”
“For sure. It’ll be nice to clear my head. I have to go. See ya tomorrow.”
A knock reverberated against her window, and Naya’s hand flew to her chest.
Zack peered in, his brow creased.
She rolled down the window.
“Everything okay?” He scanned the interior of the car. “Are you having car trouble?”
Naya couldn’t figure this man out. He was a good guy, and yet he’d abandoned her once. He leaned his forearm on the windowsill. And he sported her red, corded bracelet. None of it made sense.
“My friend was supposed to come to my house to help me paint one of the rooms. But something came up last minute.”
“I’m off the clock tonight if you still want company.” He shrugged.
Naya opened her mouth, ready to say no. You’re running away. He had helped her today. And if he was offering assistance, it would make the project go a lot faster.
“Sure.” She nodded.
“I’ll follow you.” Zack jogged back to his car.
Once back at her house, Naya led Zack to the garage where all the paint supplies were stored.
Naya grabbed some of the paint and trays while Zack picked up the rest, and the two headed inside. She’d dreamt of redoing the workroom in her house one day, and when Ingram had initially offered her assistance, Naya jumped at the opportunity. That and the freshness of the spring season had inspired the action, but now that work had piled up, she couldn’t decide if this was a complication she didn’t need or a reprieve from the stress.
Naya set the supplies down in the room, then crossed her arms. “It’s about time this room got a new look.”
“You don’t say.” Zack scanned the expanse.
“That bad, huh?” Naya raised an eyebrow.
“I’m kidding. Although, a new color always adds a fresh look.”
The overhead lights cast shadows from the curtains and darkened some areas of the lilac walls. It had probably been a girl’s room at some point before Naya bought the place. But at least the existing color was light enough it wouldn’t be hard to paint over with the cream paint she’d selected this go-around.
“Shall we?” Zack laid down the tarp.
There were a few more art pieces on the wall Naya had to take down. She took the frame off the wall, then grabbed a hammer and pulled out the nail.
The last picture was of her and her brother, playing with bubbles in their backyard.
“Who’s that?” Zack’s breath tickled the back of her neck.
“My brother.” Naya put the picture with the rest of the frames and cleared her throat.
Zack shoved his hands into his back pockets. “Do you ever wonder what life would be like if they were still here?”
“Before my mom ran off with another guy and my dad planned to move to the States?” Naya’s throat constricted and she swallowed. “Sometimes. But it feels like a lifetime ago, and it won’t bring them back.” She’d never shared the details of what happened to her brother with Zack. It was one thing to think about it and another to vocalize it, because then reality set in all over again. Naya popped open the first can and poured the paint into the tray.
“Loss is hard.” Zack picked up a brush.
“It’s one thing to grieve a loss. The betrayal of abandonment is another beast. But it fuels why I write. So the past doesn’t replay itself.” She’d made it her duty now as a reporter to track down the stories that needed to be told so others would be educated and empowered to create change. Because no one’s story should be silenced, forgotten the way her brother had been. She was the only one who remembered Dom, and Naya wasn’t going to let that happen to anyone else.
Zack’s gaze dropped. “I get it. It’s a way to save someone else from the same heartache you endured.”
“Exactly.”
“Have you found anything from your leads yet?” He slid the roller up the wall.
“Everything and nothing.” Naya wiped her brush back and forth on the wall. “Tensions are high for everyone, especially with the Green Warriors protests. Ethos, isn’t a fan of the publicity that’s being created either. I don’t understand why they won’t pull the fire extinguishers and foam sprays off the shelf. It would resolve the whole situation a lot quicker because everyone would realize those products are not what’s making people sick.”
“Maybe they’ll have to soon,” Zack said. “It would be a start, at least.”
“Let’s hope so.” The sooner Naya could find all the plausible leads and write this story, the quicker people could return to everyday life. And eventually all the turmoil surrounding the situation would die down because there’d be another story to tell, and people would shift their attention.
Naya turned to Zack. “Hey, watch the—” She lunged for the tray on the floor and slid it over just in time to capture the dripping paint from Zack’s brush.
“We’ve got the tarp for that.” Zack chuckled. “Makes any incidents easier to clean up.” Zack bent and dipped his brush in the paint. A gleam shone in his eye, and he flicked his wrist. “Like this one.” Paint splattered on Naya’s pant leg.
She squealed. “You didn’t.”
“We’ve got to have some fun at a painting party.”
“Oh really?” She stuck out her roller and caught Zack on the arm. “Guess it takes two to have a good time.” Naya laughed.
By the time they’d finished with the first coat of paint, the sun had set, and Naya let out a yawn.
They sealed the paint cans, then Naya headed to the entryway with Zack.
“Thanks for tackling this project with me.”
“You bet.” He flashed a smile, but it disappeared as fast as it’d come. Along with…hope? Naya couldn’t tell. She’d admit having Zack’s company had been nice. But a kind gesture was a far cry from establishing any kind of relationship.
She intended to keep her heart at arm’s length. For her own safety.
Naya opened the door and stepped onto the porch with Zack, who paused on the step.
“I know you said that note was nothing to be worried about, but please be careful.”
For his sake, Naya nodded. “I will.” A light breeze swept by. A shiver slid across her skin, and Naya folded her arms.
Zack walked to his car, then pulled out of the driveway. The single light bulb on the porch shone like a spotlight on her. Giving anyone with the cover of night full visibility of her whereabouts.
Naya shook her head. She was being paranoid now. The note on her car didn’t mean she had a stalker again. Nor would Tucker be staking out near her house right now. The idea sounded absurd.
She squinted and scanned the street. Shadows played off the trees and houses nearby.
Be careful. Zack’s reminder coursed through her mind.
She had nothing to fear. The Lord was faithful to watch over her. But even as she filled her mind with Scripture, she couldn’t shake the tickling of her sixth sense.
Naya pulled in a breath and scurried back inside, then turned the deadbolt. After a quick wiggle of the knob to be certain it was secured, she flicked the switch to turn off the outside lights.
If someone had their eye on her, where were they hiding and why?