Chapter 32
Link loved the rhythm they fell into. It was easy, like they were meant to be together.
They shared the task of cooking dinner and spent their evenings having sex before watching a little television before bed.
Ansley seemed to like her job, and from what she told him, it was going well.
On Wednesday, she sent him a text before he left base, telling him that she would need to head to DC in a week.
He was proud of her for doing so well in the interview.
She didn't have the job yet, but they really liked her for the role.
Ansley ordered delivery for dinner that night, and they made love while the food stayed warm in the microwave.
Her excitement for the job was easy to see. She seemed to enjoy teaching, too. While they were eating, she told him about one of her students, a young woman who wanted to become a doctor, but needed to learn English before she could get into college.
“I’m glad you’re able to help them.”
“I am, too.” She shrugged. “Staying at home all day is getting a little tough, though. I think I need to get a gym membership or find a group workout.”
"I understand that need." He liked being alone, but even when he spent time alone, he would go to a restaurant every couple of days or head out to the beach and have some conversations with random people he met.
“Tomorrow I plan on doing some grocery shopping in the morning.”
“We could go tonight.”
She shook her head. “No way, I want to hold you, not go out shopping in a packed grocery store while it’s filled with moms exhausted after a long day and their toddlers who are equally exhausted.”
Link chuckled. “Yeah, going grocery shopping in the evenings can be brutal.”
“We can finish that movie we started.”
“Sure, that’d be good.”
He liked hanging out with Ansley. She was easy to get along with, and when he had to do something after work, she didn’t get upset. He really liked that about her. It seemed like everything about their relationship was easy.
Ansley was excited about her prospects. Working part-time as a translator for the State Department, along with teaching, would satisfy her need to work and give her time to join a gym.
She enjoyed not having to leave the house and head to an office, but she needed to get out at some point during the day. Maybe she could join a book club or some other group.
After doing a quick workout in Link's garage, she showered and then headed to the grocery store. She saw a coffee shop on the way and stopped in, deciding that she could sit in the shop and have some coffee and a muffin before going to the grocery store.
She ordered her coffee and muffin and was waiting when she noticed someone staring at her. Instead of acknowledging them, she pulled out her phone and turned, trying to ignore them.
Her order came up, and she picked it up, taking it over to a chair in the corner. She sat, taking a sip and sitting back, glancing around. The group was still watching her, making her feel uncomfortable.
Normally, nothing made her feel uncomfortable, but there was something almost menacing about them. She could feel it coming at her in waves.
She focused on her muffin and coffee, trying her best to ignore the group. It was working. Until someone approached her table.
“You’re her,” the person said.
She looked up, unsure who they meant, but feeling threatened because of the way they were standing. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You killed Craig. We texted Pete. He knows where you are.”
Anger whipped through her, and she wanted to tell the lady to fuck off, but she held her tongue, trying to keep from lashing out in fear or anger.
“Pete is coming here,” the woman sniped.
She wanted to laugh at the woman and tell her Pete was in jail, but she didn’t know that for sure. People were released from jail either on bail or the charges were dropped. Anything could have happened.
Ryan didn't live in LA, and she wasn't sure the courts there would keep him informed if Pete was released. Anything could have happened. Now she had to worry about this group.
“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”
She blinked at the woman. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie. You’re that bitch who did it.”
“Excuse me? Can I help you?” One of the workers, a guy probably in college, came over and positioned himself so he was looking at the woman standing above her.
“She did it. She killed him,” the woman nearly screamed.
“You need to leave,” the guy said, his expression serious.
Relief pulsed through Ansley. It was short-lived, but at least she had a small amount of relief that someone was standing up for her.
A chair scraped, and a man wearing slacks and a button-down shirt who looked to be about forty stood and flashed a badge as he spoke to the woman.
“Excuse me, ma’am. I think you need to step outside.”
Ansley was relieved the officer wasn't talking to her. Instead, he was speaking to her accuser. Her hands were shaking, so instead of picking up her coffee, she clutched them in her lap.
Why was this happening? It had to be that damn podcast. Pete had made that fake video and was flashing it around, lying to people about what she’d done.
“She killed him!” the woman yelled as the police officer led her outside.
The man the police guy had been sitting with came over and sat at the table with her. This was getting ridiculous.
“Sorry, but I couldn’t help but overhear that woman. I’m a detective with the Fayetteville Police Department. She said you killed someone.”
Ansley couldn’t believe Pete was causing such a mess in her life. She shook her head and grabbed her phone, pulling up Ryan Lane’s information. She didn’t need to try to prove to local cops that she didn’t kill her boyfriend in California years ago.
“This is FBI agent Ryan Lane’s information. He can inform you what is going on.”
“FBI?”
“Yes, there is a fraud case he’s working on. The man she was talking about, Pete, was arrested in California for fraud and threats against me.”
“Okay. That’s a lot to take in.”
Ansley shrugged. “It’s a lot to deal with. I knew the crazies were out there, but it’s a lot more than I thought.”
“Crazies?”
“If you talk to Agent Lane, ask about Ansley and you’ll understand.”
“I think I will. Let me see if he answers.”
The detective dialed Ryan’s number, and it was obvious he answered on the first ring.
“Hello, Agent Lane, I’m sitting with—“
"Ansley.
"Ansley. She is telling me that you know something about a Pete."
The detective stopped talking, and his eyes grew wider the longer Ryan spoke. After a moment, the guy started nodding, then his lips thinned.
“Yes, sir. I’ll make sure to increase patrols around her house. I’ll get that information now, and we’ll keep her safe.”
Ansley was intrigued, and she sat forward when the guy ended the call. “What did he say?”
“He said that Pete got bail and promptly disappeared. He said he sent you an email.”
“Oh, I guess I didn’t check.”
"I need your information so we can increase patrols. The guy sounds dangerous. Agent Lane is sending me information about this Pete character, and we'll keep an eye out for him."
Ansley gave the detective her information, worry filling her. Pete obviously wasn't here yet. There wasn't any way he could have made his way from California to North Carolina. Or had he caught a flight last night? If he had, he could easily be here.
She needed to tell Link, but not until after he got home from the base. Then she would tell him what happened today. Maybe she wouldn’t join a gym. At least not yet. Not until Pete was caught and really behind bars for good.