Chances Are

Prologue

London, England

He had been following her for days. She was young, beautiful, and deliciously unaware of anything outside her field of vision or interest. Without a doubt, she had no clue that her life was about to make a hairpin turn and dead-end abruptly.

It angered him that she was so careless and ill-informed. Did she not watch television news or read newspapers? How could she not know that the most horrific killer of the 21st century had invaded London? A modern day Jack the Ripper had paralyzed the city, bringing terror to every heart. Why didn’t she know about him? How obtuse could she be?

Ordinarily he liked his ladies worldly and intelligent. Smart women provided that extra spark of excitement. A combination of skills, intellect, and beauty was a must. This one would provide barely any challenge whatsoever. And though beautiful, her physical attributes didn’t fit his needs. Normally he wouldn’t even consider her. So why this woman? He didn’t yet know. Perhaps it was her complete disregard of his existence. It was as if she were deliberately snubbing him. He didn’t take kindly to such ill manners. He was no one to be trifled with or taken for granted. She would pay for the insult.

Her routine rarely varied. She left her home at seven in the morning, stopped on the way for a coffee and pastry at Louie’s Drive-thru and arrived at work at seven-thirty. The office she worked in was on the third floor. The light would come on at exactly seven thirty-three and he wouldn’t see her again until noon. That was when she came out of the office and dashed across the street for her take-out deli. Five minutes later, she’d run back to her office and there she would stay until she left at six.

When she arrived home, which was only five blocks from her office, she would be there until morning. She had no visitors and received very little mail. At ten o’clock, she would turn off the mind-numbing television show she had been watching or put aside the book she had been reading, visit the bathroom one last time, and then be in bed by ten-fifteen at the latest.

She worked too many hours, ate unhealthy food, didn’t get enough exercise, and spent too much time alone. Without a doubt, she needed a caretaker, someone who would work with her, shape and mold her, revealing her true potential.

When her time came to leave him, he would make sure he gave her a proper send-off. As she breathed her last breath, she would look up into his eyes and see his immense regard for her. In her last moments, she would know and acknowledge his greatness and be grateful he had chosen her.