Page 42 of Pride

I didn’t know what to say at first. I was paralysed and stunned into silence. But I managed to pick my jaw off the floor, and ask, “How did you find me?”

“Can you get in the car first and then we can talk?” He was starting to get wet himself, the rain leaving fat, wet splodges on his crisp, white shirt. “Please?” he added, pulling me towards the passenger side of the car.

I wanted to escape the cold rain, but I didn’t want to get into the car.

“I’m heading home,” I told him. “I don’t need a lift. I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. Look how wet you are. And you’re shivering. Please, just get in and I can take you wherever you need to go.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere,” I said. Then I peered at him, flashes of the murder scene I’d witnessed that morning scorching my brain, making me feel sick with fear. “How do I know I can trust you?” I asked, because at that moment, I didn’t know who the hell this man was. Not really. For all I knew, he could be S.K.A.M.

“Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?” he replied, looking startled and a little hurt.

He’d just shown up out of nowhere and tracked me down with whatever illegal means he had at his disposal, so in all honesty, I couldn’t say that I did.

“I don’t know you,” I stated. “And I’m not in the habit of getting into cars with strangers.”

Or psycho killers, for that matter.

“I’m not a stranger. You know who I am. But here,” he said, taking his watch off his wrist and handing it to me. “It’s a Patek Philippe. Worth a shitload of money. But you can hold onto it because I trust you. Do you think you can trust me enough to get in the car?”

Despite my reservations, I took hold of it, and the metal that’d been on his wrist warmed my freezing cold hands.

“I’d prefer a knife or a gun,” I replied, staring down at it.

“Why the hell would you need either of those? What do you think I’m going to do?”

“I don’t know.” I handed him the watch, and he sighed, reluctantly taking it back. “I don’t want your watch, Alex. Trust isn’t something you can buy.”

“I’m aware of that,” he said, his jaw clenching. “But I’m at a loss and I don’t know how else to get you to listen to me.”

At that moment, another car came down the road and stopped behind where Alex had parked. The street was narrow, and the car couldn’t get past, so the driver began to sound his horn.

“Emma, please,” Alex whispered, “Just get in the car. I’m not gonna hurt you. I can see you’re upset, and I want to help you.” He stood still, watching me, ignoring the other car as he waited for me to respond.

The other driver, waiting to move down the street, was holding his hand on his car horn, so it blared continuously as we stood there.

“I can call an uber,” I stated, and he threw his head back and groaned.

“Like fuck you will. I’m not leaving you here to get into an Uber. Not when you’re like this.” He took a deep breath, and in a softer voice, he added, “You’re gonna catch your death out here.I’m worried about you, Emma. Please, just get in the car and let me take you somewhere safe and warm.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” I replied. “I can look after myself. I don’t need you to take me anywhere.”

He growled, gritting his teeth as he hissed, “I am seconds away from throwing you over my shoulder and bundling you into my damn car, whether you like it or not. Either that, or we’re both gonna be stuck here in the rain all day arguing. Because I’m not leaving you. I’m going nowhere.”

Another car pulled up behind the one blaring his horn, and the driver stuck his head out of his window, shouting, “What’s the hold up, mate?”

Alex ignored them both and stared at me, waiting.

And that’s when I saw him.

Standing a short distance down the street on the opposite side to us, leaning against a wall.

He was wearing a dark hoody that was pulled low to hide his face. And when he saw that I’d noticed him, he put his hands together in the shape of a heart.

It was him.

It had to be.