Her headache kicked up a notch as anxiety dug deep claws into her. “I—I need to go home and—”
Angie leaned in. “Say, you don’t look so good. Want me to drive you?”
“No. You guys need a little together time. It’s your first official date.” She was surprised she managed a smile. “I’m really happy for you both.”
Angie beamed. “I know. I’ve liked him for like forever, but did he notice?”
“He has now.”
*
Every nerve was on full alert by the time Shay turned into her apartment complex. Why would Eric have anyone stalking her after she had confessed everything to Cadwallader Jones?
Her head hurt, worse than before. She’d checked her rearview mirror so many times her eyes had whiplash. Not that she’d know if anyone was following her. It was dark. The cars in her rearview were shadowy blurs behind their headlights. All she wanted was to get to the safety of her locked door so she could wait for James’s call.
She passed several lanes within the large complex of apartments and town houses. She lived toward the back. As she turned into her lane she thought she saw someone standing in the shadow of the stairwell that led to a block of upstairs apartments. There were always people coming and going, she reminded herself. Nothing extraordinary.
But her anxious mind kicked into high gear and wouldn’t let go of the sight.
Never wavering from gauging the man’s movements, she moved slowly down the lane to find her designated parking space. As she did so, the man reached the sidewalk right in front of her. He was wearing a jacket with the hood pulled up against the chill. And he carried a bundle under one arm.
As she turned into her spot, he suddenly stopped, pivoted, and ran past her, tossing something at her rear passenger wheel.
Shay slammed on the brake but it was too late. She heard the terrible screech of an animal in pain and then silence.
She scrambled out of her car. What had she run over? It made an awful sound. It must be—
“Oh … no!” A long-haired cat lay crushed beneath her rear wheel. She recognized it as belonging to a neighbor, though it was rarely allowed out.
A neighbor came up beside her. “I heard a noise. What happened? Ohhh. That’s the Sanderses’ cat.”
Shay straightened up. “There was a man.” She swung around straining in the dark for a glimpse of the figure but he had disappeared.
“What are you talking about?”
She turned back. “There was a man. Standing there.” She pointed to the sidewalk. “I saw him as I turned into my space. He threw the cat under my car.”
“I see.” The woman backed up a step. “I’ll just go ring the Sanderses’ bell.”
“Yes.” Shay turned and pushed her hips against the rear passenger door, as if to defend her back as she searched the dark. Who would do—no, why would anyone do such a thing?
The Sanderses’ father came running, with his daughter right behind him.
When he reached Shay, his face was a mix of trepidation and anger. “What happened?”
Shay heaved a shaky breath. “There was a man. He was on the sidewalk as I turned into my space. He ran past and threw the cat under my wheel.”
“Oh, Daddy! Gandalf!” The girl’s shriek of pain stabbed through Shay’s thoughts.
Gandalf. The wise wizard. Shay felt even worse.
The father turned and grabbed her to his middle, pressing her face away from the sight. “It’s okay, sugar. It’s okay.” His voice was tender for his daughter but the expression on his face when he turned his head to Shay was anything but.
Shay shook her head, her hands rising in protest of the rage on his face. “There was a man.”
“Who would do something like that?”
“I don’t— Someone.” It was a hollow finish.
“Come on, lady. You killed my daughter’s pet. You obviously weren’t looking where you were going. At least show her how a grown-up owns up to something that’s her fault.”
Shay glanced at the crying girl. The bottom dropped out of her stomach. “I’m so sorry. I really am. I couldn’t stop. It all happened so fast.”
The father ignored her and picked up his crying child.
“But there really was someone. He caused me to do it.”
“Do I smell beer?” He took a step toward Shay and she instinctively backed up. “You’ve been drinking!”
“Just one. That smell, a waiter spilled a tray of beers on me.”
“You’re drunk!” The expression on his face changed. It was worse than anger. Contempt. Disgust. Fury. “You’re lucky I don’t call the police. Driving drunk. Killing children’s pets. You’re disgusting!”
“I’m not drunk.”
He adjusted his child higher in his embrace. “Come on, sweetheart. I’ll come back and get Gandalf later.”
“I’m not drunk!” Shay took a step toward them. “And I didn’t—I couldn’t…”
He stiff-armed her out of his path. “Keep away from us or I’ll call the cops!”