Chapter 5 - SOMEONE WAS WATCHING ME
I stopped breathing.
Daniel noticed.
“What?”
I locked my screen.
“Nothing.”
It was a lie.
And he knew it.
“Rachel.”
“Not now.”
The family was still shouting around us, but suddenly they sounded far away.
Because someone had photographed me at work.
Someone who knew about the recording.
I looked at Evelyn.
She was arguing with Frank.
She hadn’t touched her phone.
At least not that I had seen.
“Who’s the man?” I asked.
She froze.
Frank turned.
“Yes.”
I held up my phone.
“Who was he?”
Evelyn wiped her tears.
“No one.”
“That’s not what the recording sounds like.”
“It’s none of your business.”
Frank laughed bitterly.
“I’d say it’s pretty damn close to my business.”
She looked at him.
“You don’t know him.”
“Then tell me his name.”
“No.”
My phone buzzed again.
Another message.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU HEARD.
I typed back before I could stop myself.
THEN EXPLAIN IT.
The response came immediately.
ASK YOUR HUSBAND.
My eyes lifted.
Daniel was watching me.
“What?” he said.
I felt sick.
“Give me your phone.”
His face changed.
“Why?”
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
Everyone grew quiet again.
Evelyn stared at me.
“What are you doing now?”
I ignored her.
“Daniel, give me your phone.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Someone just texted me.”
His expression barely moved.
But barely was enough.
I knew my husband.
I knew the way he looked when he was surprised.
This wasn’t it.
“You know who it is.”
“No.”
“You do.”
“Rachel, you’re getting paranoid.”
I laughed.
That word.
Paranoid.
A cheap word people use when the truth is inconvenient.
I turned my screen toward him.
“Recognize this?”
His eyes flicked to the photo.
For a fraction of a second.
Then away.
“No.”
“Who has been watching me?”
“No one.”
“Who?”
“I said I don’t know.”
Eric stepped closer.
“Dude, she got a picture taken through her office window.”
Daniel snapped, “Stay out of it.”
“No, seriously. What the hell is going on?”
Evelyn suddenly sat down.
Too suddenly.
Her face had gone white.
I noticed.
So did Frank.
“You know,” I said.
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I don’t.”
I walked toward her.
“Who is he?”
She backed away.
“Rachel.”
“Who is he?”
“Stop.”
“WHO IS HE?”
“GREG!”
The name exploded out of her.
Everyone froze.
Frank’s face changed instantly.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
Deep recognition.
“You mean Greg Mercer?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Frank staggered back.
“No.”
I looked between them.
“Who is Greg Mercer?”
Nobody answered.
Then Grandma Rose whispered from the corner.
“He was Frank’s business partner.”
Frank looked at Evelyn.
“My former business partner.”
I felt the room tilt.
Evelyn had been having an affair with her husband’s former business partner.
But Frank wasn’t looking jealous.
He looked terrified.
“Rachel,” he said.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Whatever Greg sent you…”
May you like
He swallowed.
“Do not answer him again.”
