Chapter 20 – Haley #2
“Hey, mon,” Mateo says to Philip. “Charlie and I can help you move Haley’s tings out of her dorm room and into the safehouse.” His th’s turn into t’s. “I’ve already got my duffle bag in my car. Got everyting I need to move in.”
“Then it’s settled,” Shane says, addressing Charlie and the guys directly. “Move Haley into the safehouse this afternoon and stay in touch. We’ll monitor how things are going from the office.”
“Are you sure she’ll be safe there?” my mom asks.
Shane nods. “With three professionally-trained and armed bodyguards at her disposal, she’ll be perfectly safe.
That place is wired like Fort Knox. If a neighborhood cat crosses the property, my people will know about it.
Try not to worry, Mrs. Williams. You can stay in touch with Haley, and of course we’ll provide you with regular updates as the investigation progresses. ”
I squeeze Philip’s hand beneath the table. “I’ll be fine, Mom. Really.”
As everyone stands, it finally dawns on me that Philip and I will be living together, under the same roof. A wave of heat sweeps through me as I realize what that might lead to.
“I assume there’s more than one bedroom in the safehouse,” my dad says to Shane. He’s clearly not happy with the living arrangements.
Shane nods. “There are three bedrooms, all located on the second floor.”
Mack redirects his gaze to Philip. He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to. I think Philip gets the message loud and clear. Watch yourself, buddy. You’d better not take advantage of my daughter.
* * *
I leave the McIntyre Security office building with Philip in his pickup.
Mateo and Charlie follow behind us in Charlie’s gray Civic.
We drive straight to campus. Philip parks his truck outside my dorm building, while Charlie parks in the nearby visitor’s lot.
We wait here at the truck for the others to join us before we go inside.
When Charlie taps on my window, Philip unlocks the cab doors.
I hop out, and Philip comes around the front of the truck.
He leads the way inside the building, while the other two walk behind me.
I’m practically surrounded. Philip opens the door for me, and I walk inside. Mateo and Charlie follow us in.
The community room is packed this afternoon as small groups of students sit chatting in clusters. Ryan, the RA, is leading one of the groups. When he sees me, he waves and excuses himself from the group.
“Haley, wait.” Ryan jogs over to us. “I just found out you’re leaving the dorm.” He looks perplexed. “Can I ask why? Is there a problem?”
“It’s for personal reasons,” I say, “and it’s only temporary. I’m sure I’ll be back soon.”
He smiles. “I’m glad to hear it. Good luck to you, and I hope you come back soon.” Then he nods at Philip. “Nice to see you, Philip. You’re helping her move?”
“Yes.”
Ryan eyes our two companions but doesn’t say anything. He reaches out to touch my elbow, giving it what seems like a friendly squeeze, but instead his touch makes my skin crawl. I’ve gotten to the point where I can’t trust anyone. I try to be subtle as I pull my arm away.
“Sorry, but we’re in a bit of a hurry,” Philip says to Ryan as he steers me toward the elevator.
The four of us ride up to the third floor. When we reach my door, I knock first in case Melissa is in. There’s no answer, so I unlock the door and step inside. Melissa is sitting at her desk, typing away on her laptop, presumably doing homework.
“Hey,” I say as I walk into the room.
When she doesn’t reply. I wave at her, catching her peripheral vision.
Melissa laughs as she pulls out her earbuds. “Sorry. I was listening to a class lecture.” Her eyes widen when she takes in my entourage.
“Philip and a couple of my friends are here to help me pack up my things. I’m moving out of the dorm.”
Melissa frowns. “Moving out? Why? Is it because of the magazine picture and that other thing?”
“It’s only temporary. I hope to be back soon.”
Melissa notices the time. “I’ve got to run to the library.” She closes her laptop and grabs her purse and phone. “I hope they catch whoever’s harassing you. I’ll miss you.” On her way out, she stops to hug me before she slips out the door.
The second she’s gone, Mateo takes a small electronic device out of his pocket and starts scanning the room.
“What are you looking for?” I ask.
“Bugs and cameras.” He systematically sweeps the room, skimming his device over every lamp, outlet, and fixture. “All clear,” he reports.
Charlie turns to me and says, “Have you got any boxes?”
“Under the bed,” I say.
Charlie pulls all the broken-down cardboard boxes out from beneath my bed. “Please tell me you have tape. I didn’t think to bring any.”
“Actually, I do.” I open one of my desk drawers and grab a roll of packing tape.
While Charlie reassembles the boxes, Philip and I gather my things and pile them on the bed. I’m not bringing everything, just what I’ll need for the short term. I can always come back to get something I forgot. It doesn’t take long for us to pack.
My phone chimes with a text notification.
UNKNOWN: DID YOU LIKE THE MAGAZINE PICTURE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY IT WITH ME? I PROMISE YOU’LL LOVE IT.
Philip peers over my shoulder to read the note. “What an asshole. I’ll screenshot this and send it to Bauer.”
Charlie steps close. “Let me see.” When I show her the message, she frowns. “What a pervert. I’d love for him to show his face right now. We’d make short work of him.”
Once all the boxes are taped shut, Charlie says, “Is this everything?”
I nod. “Thank you,” I say to all three of them. I feel so much better having them here with me.
We take the elevator to the ground floor. When the doors open into the lobby, Mark Hoffman is standing there, blocking our way.
His gaze goes to me, and then to Philip. “What’s with all the boxes?” He scowls.
“I’m moving out,” I say.
When Mark doesn’t budge, Philip loses his patience and pushes past him, clearing the way for the rest of us.
Mark follows. “You’re moving out? Why? Are you moving to a different building?”
“No. I’m moving off campus.”
“But you can’t do that. Freshmen are required to live on campus. You can’t just leave because you feel like it.”
My heart is pounding now. “I got an exemption.”
Philip turns and is headed back this way when Charlie inserts herself between me and Mark.
“On what grounds?” Mark asks.
“That’s none of your business,” Charlie says as she inserts herself between us, creating a buffer and essentially shoving Mark aside.
“Who the fuck are you?” he asks Charlie.
Charlie glares at him. “That’s also none of your business.”
We finally make it outside, and Mark follows us down the steps to Philip’s truck.
The guys set the boxes in the bed of the truck.
“Haley, why don’t you wait in the truck while I go get my car?” Charlie says. She walks me to the cab, and after I climb in, she tells me to lock my door.
While the guys are securing the boxes in the back of the truck, Mark stands on the lawn glaring at me through my window.
I face forward and focus on the road ahead.
I’m relieved when I spot Charlie’s Civic heading toward us.
She makes a quick three-point turn in the middle of the street and falls in behind us.
Mateo gets into the Civic, and Philip climbs into the driver’s seat.
When the truck engine starts up, Mark turns away, but the parting glare he gives me makes my stomach knot. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mark ends up at the top of Detective Bauer’s list of suspects.
“You doing okay?” Philip asks.
I nod, but don’t say anything.
He turns to face me and reaches out to cup my cheek. “You’re pale as a ghost.”
“There’s something wrong with Mark.”
“I’m not going to argue with that. But, Haley, you can relax.
You’ve got a whole security team glued to you for the foreseeable future—until the stalker is apprehended.
The danger is over.” He nods to the car waiting behind us.
“I’ve worked with Mateo and Charlie for several years now.
They’re good. They know what they’re doing. You’re in safe hands.”
“I hate that you’re going to all this trouble because of me. I’m sure you all have better things to do with your time.”
“Hey.” He gently grips my chin. “Nothing on this Earth is more important to me than your safety and happiness, Hale. And as for Charlie and Mateo, they wouldn’t have accepted this assignment if they didn’t want to. Like Charlie said, it’ll be a nice change of pace for them.”
Philip leans in and kisses me. It’s a gentle kiss, his lips lightly skimming over mine. And then he faces forward and puts the truck in gear. “Now, let’s go get you settled into your new home.”