Page 44 of The Starlet
“Hm. I don’t know. You hung up on me last time when I suggested that, and you never once came to the bar like I asked. Why would I do this favor for you now? I know you’ve sent the police after me. I know everything you do.”
I gasp, and my fingers land over my lips to keep my quiet.
“Please?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You sound so sexy when you beg. Say it again,” he lowers his voice, commanding me.
Bile rises.Pretend this is a movie. You’re just acting.“Please, will you meet with me?”
“I need to think about it. I’ll be in contact with you when I’m ready.” His voice returns to a normal volume.
What if he never wants to meet me? Will they be able to catch him? He’s very good with a computer and hacking. I wouldn’t even know how to start looking into something like that.That’s why the police are working on the case, dummy!The problem is, people don’t move fast enough for me, and when I’m uncomfortable, I want it fixed ASAP. Well, consider this situation agony!
“Please? I’m ready to meet with you. I just want you to promise me you will leave Bradley out of this. He doesn’t have to be part of this.”
The silence stretches between us. I hear him breathing, so I know he hasn’t hung up.
“Fine. Where?”
“My house. Friday night. You have the address, right?” Considering he already sent me a letter there, I know he does.
“I’m sure I can find it. I’ll be there at seven.”
I release a shaky breath. “Okay.”
“Good night, Elena.”
“Wait.” My response comes out quick, hoping he won’t hang up yet.
“Yes?” He draws the word out.
“Are you going to tell me your name? I’d like to know who I’m speaking with.”
“Hm.” He’s silent. Calculating. “Call me Jay. Good night.”
The phone disconnects, and I hold it in my hands until the screen goes black again. I squeeze my eyes shut, keeping the tears at bay, and push out a shaky breath. I have three days to get a plan in place. I text Jimmy, telling him I need to see him right away. It’s late, but I know he’ll respond, and I’m right. Not even two minutes later, I receive a text and he agrees to meet me at my house.
I get into clothes and call for an Uber to take me back to my house. I find a sheet of paper and leave it where Bradley will find it in the morning, and I sneak out of his house. An image of him waking alone, panicked, flashes through my mind, and the tears stream down my face. I know this is going to break his heart just as much it’s breaking mine. I look back at the front door and feel awful for running from him like this, but I can’t hide out forever.I’m doing this to protect him. I’m going to end this once and for all.
I unlock my front door as Jimmy pulls up and turns off the engine. He’s wearing a pair of sweatpants, a black t-shirt, and a pair of running sneakers.
“Jimmy, you look so relaxed.” I smile at him and wave him inside. I motion for him to sit on the couch, and he saunters into the house and sits where I ask. “Can I get you some water or something? I haven’t been back here since we got back, so I don’t have any food in the house.” I offer a shy smile.
He shakes his head. “How about you tell me what’s going on and we’ll go from there?”
I sit next to him, take a deep breath, and begin to tell him about my conversation. When I get to the part where I’ve agreed to meet with him atmyhouse, his jaw is clenched so tight I’m surprised steam isn’t coming out of his ears. I can feel the anger rolling off him, and I know I need to do something to help calm him.
“Jimmy, Bradley can’t know. I need your help with this. He won’t show if he suspects the cops are around, but I need to get him behind bars or in a padded room or something. I can’t keep doing this. You’ll help me, won’t you?”
He scrubs his hands down his face and then smooths his hands over his buzz-cut head as he leans back into the couch cushion. “You know how unsafe this is, right? You understand that?”
I nod but allow him to continue.
“We’re going to have to set up some microphones. I’ll need to be able to hear what he’s saying. We need him to confess to stalking you; otherwise, this is fishy because you invited him. Bradley isn’t going to like this, and he’ll fight you if he finds out.”
“I’ve already taken care of it.”
My heart breaks when I think of the letter I left him. It’s for the best, for now. I don’t want him poking around and getting hurt. If anything were to happen to him, I don’t know what I would do. When I’m with him, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. He sends tingles through my body with the slightest touch. Bradley Mathas might just be the first man to ever make me feel high. He’s my drug of choice, and I will do anything to keep him.