Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Vanessa
I glanced out the window for what felt like the tenth time in the past hour and found the same car sitting by the curb. I wasn't sure who exactly was sitting in it this time, but I had a feeling I knew where they worked.
Willow Creek Security.
Those men didn't give up, despite me ignoring the calls from my previous employer and the insistent knocking at my door.
Yes, I was well aware how bad that sounded, and a normal person probably would've requested a restraining order at this point, but I knew they just cared about me.
Too bad their caring was interfering with my life and the things I was forced to do.
With a heavy sigh, I looked at the clock on the microwave and realized if I had any hope of making the meeting on time, I needed to get going. I would just have to sneak out and pray that whoever was in the car wouldn't notice me.
Heading to my bedroom, I slipped on some dark clothing. It was ridiculous to think I would be sneaking out of my own home, but what choice did I have? I couldn't miss this meeting. It was too important.
I turned off the lights and hoped whoever was outside would think I was going to bed.
When it was clear that if I didn't leave I would never make it on time, I slipped out the back door and made my way through the yard until I hit the alley. Checking to make sure no one was paying attention to me, I made my way back toward the front of the house like a thief in the night.
Fortunately the way I needed to go was the opposite of where the car was parked, so with one last look to make sure I hadn't alerted whoever was watching me of my presence, I slipped into the darkness.
I was four houses down when I got the sense that someone was following me. Looking over my shoulder, I didn't see anyone. I shook off the feeling and continued to move farther into the night until I was at the end of the block where I had parked my car.
I just managed to get it unlocked when the feeling of being watched came back. Knowing I was this close to getting away, I quickly jumped into the driver’s seat and turned the car on.
Just as I was about to put the car in drive, the passenger’s door opened, and someone slid into my car. I yelped, despite recognizing the individual immediately.
"You know"—Nolen locked the doors and slid further down into the seat—"most people don't usually sneak out of their houses unless they have something to hide."
I most definitely had something to hide, but I wasn't about to tell him that.
"Or they don't want the creepy person who has been watching their house to know their business." I unlocked the doors. "That's you, I assume. Sitting in front of my house like a stalker in the night."
At least I really hoped it was him.
Nolen merely shrugged. "Valerie's been worried about you since you left the shop in tears."
"Well, you can tell Valerie I'm fine." Lie!
"And while you're at it, can you please tell her to call off the dogs?
I prefer my privacy, and you're invading it.
" Another lie. I was a people person by nature.
I loved to be around them, and these last three weeks had been torture for me.
"Now if you could please exit my vehicle, I have somewhere to be. " Not a complete lie.
"I call bullshit." Nolen didn't give me the chance to do more than scoff at his declaration before he continued.
"Not about you having somewhere to be. I absolutely believe that's true but about the part of you being fine?
" Nolen scrunched up his nose and shook his head. "Nope, that's complete bullshit."
I didn't have time for this. "Nolen, while I appreciate you giving a shit about me, I really do have somewhere to be." As it was, I was going to be late, and there was no guarantee the person I was meeting would give a damn enough to stick around.
Nolen just looked at me like he was trying to figure something out. Well, good luck to him because there was no way I was going to jeopardize my sister’s life by telling him what was really going on.
"Okay." Nolen finally relented with a slap of his hand to his leg.
"I'll let you go, this time, but only because I can see how important this is to you.
" Oh thank God. "But don't for a second think this is over.
" I let out a sigh. Of course I should've known I wouldn't get away scot-free.
It didn't matter, though. If I drove really fast, there was a good chance I would only be a couple of minutes late.
"Sure, whatever,just please let me get going." I couldn't hide the desperation even if I wanted to.
I waited until Nolen got out of the car and shut the door before I took off at a high rate of speed down Main Street. The meeting location wasn't too far outside of town, and I managed to make it there only three minutes late.
Thank goodness the person I was meeting was still there.
I barely had the car in park before I was rushing out. "I'm here. I'm here."
"You're late," the person was quick to remind me.
"I know, I know. I ran into some trouble trying to leave, but I'm here now."
"Trouble?" Shit. I never should've used that word. "Are we going to have problems? Because you know what will happen if we do."
"No, no problems. I promise." I really needed to stop repeating what I was saying. It was becoming annoying even to my own ears, but dammit, this person made me nervous.
"Good. Did you get me the information I wanted?"
I took a deep breath. I knew this wasn't what they were going to want to hear, but the task I was sent on was impossible.
"I don't know who B. Feather is. I know it's not Valerie. I searched her office like you asked, but there was no evidence it could be her."
I waited for the backlash. It was inevitable, considering I wasn't able to deliver on the promise I’d made.
The strike was sudden and swift and it took me by surprise even though mentally I tried to prepare myself as my head snapped to the side. My cheek stung from where their fist connected with it.
"That was not our agreement."
Cradling my wounded cheek with my hand, I felt the tears begin to pool in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "I know it's not, but I'm doing my best to try and figure it out. Whoever it is has covered their tracks well."
"I don't want to hear your excuses. I want results."
"Please." I'm not too ashamed to beg. "I'm trying. I just need a little more time."
"I'll give you a week." The person growled. "If you don't have an answer by then, your sister is dead." They stormed off into the dead of the night and left me with tears flowing down my cheeks as guilt overwhelmed me.