Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO FOLLOWED HER
Amy got off the train in Philadelphia before sunrise.
She didn’t go into the station lobby.
She walked directly outside, bought coffee with cash, and sat in a crowded diner where she could see both exits.
Her new phone rang.
Daniel.
Amy stared at his name.
Margaret must have given him the number.
She almost ignored it.
Then answered.
“You have thirty seconds.”
“I deserve less.”
That threw her.
Daniel sounded exhausted.
No arrogance.
No anger.
Just wrecked.
“Ryan had your itinerary.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t give it to him.”
“I know.”
“Then how did he get it?”
“I’m working on that.”
“Amy, where are you?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
She frowned.
“No argument?”
“No.”
“Who are you and what did you do with my husband?”
He let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
Then silence.
“Amy, I need to say something.”
“Go ahead.”
“I did not sleep with Vanessa.”
Amy looked at the people around her.
A truck driver poured sugar into his coffee.
A waitress wiped a counter.
Normal morning.
Normal lives.
“I believe you,” she said.
Daniel went silent.
“You do?”
“I saw pictures of Ryan and Vanessa.”
“How?”
“Anonymous source.”
“What source?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Daniel exhaled.
“Amy, please don’t trust some stranger texting you.”
“I’m not trusting anyone.”
“Good.”
“Especially you.”
He took that without arguing.
Then Amy said, “But whether you slept with her isn’t really the point anymore.”
“I know.”
That answer surprised her too.
“I let her cross lines,” Daniel said. “I knew it bothered you.”
“Yes.”
“I told myself it was harmless.”
“It wasn’t.”
“I know.”
“You liked the attention.”
Silence.
She pressed.
“Say it.”
“Yes.”
Amy shut her eyes.
Daniel continued.
“I liked that she laughed at everything. I liked that she made work feel exciting. I liked that she never asked when I’d be home.”
Amy swallowed.
“There it is.”
“I was selfish.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t cheat physically.”
“That’s a pretty low bar.”
“I know.”
She heard movement on his end.
Then his voice dropped.
“And I made you feel alone while you were pregnant.”
Amy’s throat tightened.
“That part is going to take me a while.”
“I know.”
“You missed everything.”
“I know.”
“You don’t get to keep saying that like it fixes something.”
“I’m not trying to fix it.”
“Then what are you trying to do?”
“Keep you alive.”
Amy froze.
“What?”
“I think the man who came to your hotel wasn’t Ryan.”
“Why?”
“Ryan’s in the hospital.”
Amy sat straighter.
“From your punch?”
“No.”
Her pulse climbed.
“What happened?”
“Someone hit his car twenty minutes after he left my apartment.”
Amy’s coffee went untouched.
“Accident?”
“Police don’t think so.”
“Why?”
“No skid marks.”
Daniel’s voice changed.
“Ryan is in surgery.”
Amy felt suddenly sick.
“Vanessa?”
“Missing.”
“What do you mean missing?”
“She left the gala after I confronted my mother. Nobody has seen her since.”
Amy stared through the diner window.
Across the street, a dark SUV was parked at the curb.
A man sat behind the wheel.
Baseball cap.
She stopped breathing.
“Daniel.”
“What?”
“I think someone followed me.”
“Where are you?”
“No.”
“Amy.”
“Don’t yell.”
“I’m not yelling.”
“You’re doing the low voice.”
“What low voice?”
“The one where you’re trying not to scare me.”
Daniel swore softly.
“Can you see him?”
“Across the street.”
“Description?”
“Male. Baseball cap. Dark SUV.”
“License plate?”
“Can’t see it.”
“Amy, walk toward people.”
“I’m already in a diner.”
“Stay there.”
The man stepped out of the SUV.
Amy’s heart hammered.
Tall.
Gray jacket.
Cap pulled low.
He crossed the street.
Straight toward the diner.
“Amy?”
“He’s coming inside.”
“Go to the kitchen.”
“What?”
“Tell the staff you’re being followed. Go through the kitchen.”
Amy stood.
The man reached the front door.
She grabbed her bag and moved quickly toward the counter.
“Ma’am?” the waitress asked.
“I need your back exit.”
The waitress saw her face and didn’t question it.
“This way.”
Amy hurried behind the counter.
The bell over the diner door jingled.
A male voice called from behind her.
“Amy Harrison?”
She didn’t turn.
She pushed through the kitchen.
A cook pointed toward a metal door.
“There!”
Amy ran.
She burst into the alley.
And stopped.
A second man was waiting beside the back door.
He looked directly at her.
Then smiled.
“Amy?”
She backed up.
May you like
He raised both hands.
“Don’t scream. Margaret Harrison sent me.”
