PART 2 — The Photos Changed Everything
I dropped to the floor.
My hands shook as I picked up the first photograph.
It was me.
Standing outside my office.
Another.
Walking my dog.
Another.
Sleeping on the couch.
Another.
Inside my own kitchen.
My stomach turned.
"Who took these?"
I whispered.
My brother swallowed hard.
"I did."
I looked up.
"What?"
"I was following you."
"You've been stalking me?"
"No."
He shook his head.
"I was trying to keep you alive."
Jane burst into tears.
"Tell her."
"Please."
Daniel stepped forward.
"I tried."
"You wouldn't listen."
I stared at all three of them.
"Someone better start talking."
My brother pointed to one picture.
"Look closer."
At first...
I saw nothing.
Then...
A reflection in a store window.
A man.
Always the same man.
Standing behind me.
Another photo.
The same man.
Different day.
Different clothes.
Watching me.
Another.
Parking lot.
Coffee shop.
Grocery store.
Every picture...
The same face.
Cold sweat rolled down my back.
"Who is he?"
Daniel answered quietly.
"We don't know."
"But he's been following you for almost two years."
I looked at Jane.
"You knew?"
She nodded.
"I hired your brother."
"You hired him?"
"I caught that man outside your apartment."
"He ran when I called the police."
"No one believed me."
"So I asked your brother to help."
I couldn't breathe.
"I thought..."
"I thought you two were..."
Jane looked horrified.
"Oh my God, no."
Daniel rubbed his face.
"That's why I kept telling you to stay away from Jane."
"You trusted everyone."
"You told strangers where you'd be."
"You posted everything online."
"I thought she was making it worse."
"I was wrong."
The room fell silent.
Then my brother reached into the envelope again.
"There was one picture..."
"I never showed either of them."
He slowly placed it in front of me.
It had been taken...
Yesterday.
Through my bedroom window.
Someone had been watching us...
May you like
From outside the house.
End of Part 2...
