Chapter 35
THE STALKER
The hotel room overlooked the Kansas City Convention Center, and through the window, they could see crowds of conference attendees streaming between buildings like industrious ants. A slow smile spread across their face as they reviewed the past two days of perfect execution and practice.
No one ever noticed the staff.
Hiding as a server carrying trays of food and drink, moving invisibly through crowds of conference goers. Posing as volunteers with clipboards and name tags could easily become part of the background scenery, trusted and ignored simultaneously.
They'd been everywhere. At the keynote speech yesterday, standing to the side near the door to the kitchen in a catering uniform and holding a tray of water glasses, close enough to hear every word Rose said about the power of storytelling.
Close enough to see the elegant curve of her neck as she leaned toward the microphone and the way the stage lights caught the gold in her hair.
Today at the book signing, they'd worn the volunteer’s T-shirt and badge, moving freely around the perimeter of the packed hotel conference room.
Like so many of the readers, they used their cell phone to capture Rose's gracious smile as she signed books for hundreds of adoring fans.
The security team barely glanced at someone with proper identification.
Hidden in plain sight. Invisible among the army of people required to make such events function smoothly.
The euphoria was intoxicating. To be so close, to watch her animated conversations with readers, to see her pleasure at connecting with people who appreciated her work. It was everything they'd imagined and more.
But then reality intruded, souring the perfect moment.
The bodyguards. Not just Aldo Caspani anymore, but three additional men who moved through the crowds with the kind of professional awareness that made invisibility more challenging. Their eyes constantly scanned faces, looking for threats, for anything out of place.
They'd positioned themselves strategically around Rose like satellites orbiting their sun, close enough to respond to danger but far enough back to give her the illusion of normalcy. Professional. Competent. Utterly infuriating.
"Why is he still around her?" they hissed into the empty hotel room, hands clenching the camera strap until knuckles went white. "She's mine, and I just need to let her know that it's finally our time together."
Months of careful planning, weeks of patient surveillance, years of devotion, and this stranger remained obstinately present in Rose's life. What should have been a simple matter of revealing themselves as her devoted admirer had become complicated by his protective interference.
But tonight would be different. Tonight, at the awards ceremony, they would finally act.
"And I can do it," they murmured, reviewing the carefully memorized layout of the convention center ballroom. "Right under Aldo Caspani's stupid nose."
Big, tough man with his military bearing and watchful eyes. He thought he was so smart, so capable of protecting her from every threat. But he was looking for strangers, for obvious dangers, for people who didn't belong.
He wasn't looking for someone who had every right to be there.
"I'll show him," they whispered, turning back to the detailed plans spread across the hotel desk. Floor layouts, security protocols, staff schedules, emergency exits… everything needed for the perfect execution. "I'll show them all."
Tonight, Rose would finally understand that her true protector had been watching over her all along. Tonight, the charade would end, and their real life together could begin.
The camera sat on the dresser, memory card full of beautiful images from the past two days. Soon, those would be joined by pictures of their reunion, of Rose's face when she realized who had always loved her.
Everything was ready. Everything was perfect. All that remained was waiting for darkness to fall.