“Then you’re safe.”
“Are you kidding?” I whispered. “I’m surrounded by criminals and scoundrels, and those are just the lawyers.”
“I’m pleased to see the experience hasn’t affected your sense of humor.”
“Trust me, it’s a defense mechanism,” I said. “I’m scared to death. I was on my way to find Inspector Lee when you called.”
“I want you to ask her for a police escort to walk you back to your car. Or, better yet, have someone drive you home. I’ll meet you there. We can come back for your car later.”
“I can’t,” I murmured. “I’ve got to go to work.”
He swore under his breath. “Then get a cop to walk with you to your car. Drive straight to the studio and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Okay.” I hated dragging him away from his own work to babysit me, but I wasn’t about to turn down his offer.
“Until the police investigate this brother or whoever he is,” he continued, “I don’t want you going anywhere alone.”
“Did I mention I’m scared?” I hated to sound so helpless.
“So am I, love,” he said softly.
“I’m sorry it’s all happening again.”
“Just stay safe. Don’t go anywhere without a police escort. I’ll see you at the studio in less than two hours. Call me if there’s anything you need.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, then whispered it again to convince myself. “I’ll be fine.”
“Of course you will,” he said calmly, for my benefit, no doubt. “Because once I get there, I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”
“Thank you. I love you.”
“I adore you.”
I ended the call before realizing that my eyes were damp with tears. “Idiot,” I muttered, and brushed them away. I hated crying as much as I hated feeling powerless and afraid.
I glanced outside and my heart literally jumped in my chest. The big guy stood leaning against the stair railing, less than twenty feet away.
I managed to make it through the long security line without screaming and ran to the elevator, pounding on the button until the door opened.
Inspector Lee was standing there, holding a bag in one hand and waving her cell phone in the other. “I can’t let you out of my sight for one minute without you causing more trouble.”
“Lug Nut has a brother,” I said. “They could be twins.”
“I know. Derek already called me. Come on,” she said, leading the way to another elevator that had just arrived. “I’ll drive you to your car. Oh, here. These are your shoes.”
“Thanks.” I took the bag from her. “I’ve got some video of the guy if you need it. He’s standing outside on the front steps.”
“Yeah, e-mail it to me. It might come in handy.”
We rode the elevator to the basement garage and Lee climbed into the driver’s seat of a black-and-white police car. I jumped into the passenger’s seat, and she drove up the narrow driveway, then out to the street and once around the block to see if the brother was still waiting for me.
He was no longer standing out front, but we saw him farther down the block, jogging toward a parking lot.
“Jeez, they really could be twins,” Lee said.
“If I hadn’t seen him with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it,” I muttered. I didn’t bother to add that if Derek hadn’t called Inspector Lee, I wasn’t sure she would’ve believed me, either.
As I turned in my seat to get one last look at the man, I silently calculated the length of time it would take me to earn a black belt in some kick-ass martial arts discipline. Too many years, unfortunately. But, anxious to get back some of my old self-confidence, I couldn’t wait to start Alex’s self-defense class next Saturday. I was tired of feeling like a weakling.
Inspector Lee dropped me at my car and then followed me to the studio. I hated to inconvenience her, but I was pitifully grateful for her presence. Once she saw that I was inside the studio gate and parked safely, she waved and drove off.
It was starting to rain, so I was glad once again that I had my new red raincoat with me. It was a gift from Derek, who had brought it back from the Burberry store in London a month earlier. I was a little hesitant to wear it in the rain, even though it was made for the rain. Duh.
I jumped out of my car, quickly draped the coat over my shoulders and pulled up the hood, then locked the door and ran across the lot to the studio door.
I was still nervous at the thought of Lug Nut’s brother watching and waiting for me outside police headquarters. I knew he hadn’t seen me in Inspector Lee’s car, but if Lug Nut had told him about me, he probably knew that I worked here at the studio every day. He could’ve jumped in his car and driven over here. He might’ve been watching me at that very moment.
Shivering, I yanked open the stage door and took one last look behind me before rushing inside to safety.