Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
But Xavier isn’t heading toward the exit.
He’s going deeper into the maze.
I swallow away the lump in my throat as I stride behind him and pause behind a couple of bushes when he approaches the bench beneath the tree. He waits until a man appears from the exit on the other end of the clearing.
Somehow, I recognize him, but I don’t remember why until it suddenly hits me. He’s in his civilian clothing. This is the cop who was stationed outside the front door to the main campus building.
What the … Did Xavier agree to meet him here?
Why would he? Unless he’s planning to spill the beans on Sunny’s killings.
My eyes widen, and I shuffle closer, wondering if I should intervene.
The off-duty cop stops midway there and frowns. “Hey, you’re not … I was supposed to meet a girl here. Who are you?”
Xavier turns and gawks at him as he lowers his hoodie and pulls something out of his pocket … something which sharply glints in the light of the moon.
“Your end.”
CHAPTER 17
Atreus
I grab my bag and head out of the station after I’ve wished everyone a good evening. I make my way to my car and sit down behind the wheel, content with a fruitful workday, but a revving motorcycle near me instantly sours my mood.
My phone suddenly buzzes.
Don’t tell me it’s someone from the office again.
I’m just about ready to go home to catch some sleep.
I pull my phone from my pocket and open the messages, expecting to be pulled right back into the office when the name in the corner makes all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Unknown: I’m impressed with your ability to discern that there’s a killer on the loose.
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: My name isn’t important. Do you want more information on your little killer or not?
Me: Yes. Just give me a name, an address, or a phone number. The reward is still available if it leads to an arrest.
Unknown: I don’t want the reward you’re offering.
I frown.
Me: Then what do you want?
Unknown: You’ll find out soon enough.
Now I’m getting ticked off.
Me: Don’t be so cryptic. Either give me the information or get out of my messages.
Unknown: Can’t do that.
Me: How did you even get my number? It wasn’t on the TV screen.
Unknown: I have my ways.
My eye begins to twitch.
Unknown: Don’t worry, DetectiveFoley, I’ll give you everything you’ll ever need.
Frowning, I turn my phone downward on the seat beside me. This has to be some fucking cruel joke from someone at the station, and when I go back in tomorrow, someone’s going to be sorry they tried to mess with me.
I hit the gas and race off to my house, but I keep glancing back and forth between the road and the phone burning a hole in the seat next to me. Whoever it is that just texted me has me so distracted I can’t even think straight.
It must’ve been some teenager egging me on after seeing me on television. That’s it.
I slam my car door shut and walk toward my apartment building to make my way to the top floor, which is all for me. It’s not too shabby for an agent of the law if I’d say so myself, and every day I step foot in my spacious loft, I feel at home. At peace.
Except today.
It’s quiet. Unusually, exceptionally quiet.
I place my keys onto the table beside my door and stare into the darkness for a moment, wondering if it’s just my heart palpitating or if something is going on. Something intangible … a shadow … that’s following me.
I glance over my shoulder.
The door behind me is already closed, and my lungs expand again for another breath.
There’s no one here except me.
I’m losing my goddamn mind.
Running my fingers through my brown hair, I turn on the lights and head into my bathroom, where I take off my jacket and place it on the chair behind me. I turn on the faucet and let the water fill the sink before I make a cup shape with my hand to splash my face.
I raise my head and look at myself in the mirror, only to spot a cabinet in the bedroom across the hall closing.
My eyes widen.
Someone’s here.
I immediately barge into the living room, only to stop in my tracks as the light next to my bed in the adjacent bedroom flickers on.
There’s a woman in a bunny mask casually lounging on my bed wearing a long-sleeve full bodysuit with a front zipper and a leather jacket.
What the fuck?
How did she get in?
The sliding window on my balcony is open just a smidge, enough for someone to have slipped through unnoticed.
Sweat drops roll down the back of my neck, while she tilts her head and smiles at me like a goddamn psycho, red lipstick staining her lips underneath the mask.