Page 6 of The Operator

My breath caught in my lungs. “Wha—”

Then Nick stepped up to Skylar. “Sweetheart. Your mom looks to be running late. But Grace just arrived.”

“Grace is my best friend.” She smiled up at me then she was off in the direction of the picnic tables, and I glared over at Nick.

“Did you know?”

Without hesitation he nodded. “Everly was meant to be here by now. It’s not like she’s avoiding you. She didn’t know you were going to be here.”

I scowled at Nick. “You were going to blindside her?”

“I did—”

Just then a phone rang and Bex, still glaring at her brother, reached into her pocket. She nodded before answering. “You’re late.” Her body stiffened and eyes narrowed. “Where?” Another pause. “I know where that is. I’ll be there in thirty. Stay in your car.”

She disconnected the call.

I suspected who was on the phone. “What’s going on?”

“Evvie’s car broke down on Highway 1. Said there’s smoke coming out of the engine.” Bex pocketed her phone and startedwalking towards where the rest of the cars were parked. “She called Triple A but I want to check it out.”

“I’m going with you?” There was no other option.

Bex held up her hand. “I don’t think—”

Nick waved her off. “Bex, we're not going to stop him. But maybe we take two cars.”

4

EVERLY

The stream of smoke or steam coming from the front of my car was only slightly alarming. The fact that I was stuck on the side of Highway 1 by myself, and Triple A said they would be at least an hour, was more concerning.

At least Bex would arrive in thirty minutes or less. Of all my friends, male and female, she was the best option. Besides being the best mechanic I knew, she was also my only single friend. Her family had their first semi-annual company picnic and she had taken my daughter with her, knowing I would not make it until after lunch. I mean, it was mostly family since Salinger Security was a family business. The thing I had learnt, the Salingers had a rather liberal definition of the word.

I had a meeting with my manager in the morning, after which, I needed to chat with my parents. That was not a conversation I had been looking forward to and as usual, it went on longer than expected. Of course, my parents made sure to let me know that I was the one being melodramatic and that my concerns were unnecessary. Which was part of the point I had tried to make. I would not have them stomping on my daughter’s dreams the same way they’d tried to do to me.

There was a slight wheezing noise coming from the engine of my little Honda hatchback when I left my parents place. I made a mental note to have Bex check it out when I got to the farm where the family-slash-company picnic was being held. As it turned out, my little car didn’t have it in her to get that far.

The spluttering had started not long after I got onto the highway in San Diego, and a few short minutes later there was steam and more noise until the car stalled and wouldn’t restart. The woman on the Triple A helpline, as well as Bex, had both reminded me to stay inside my car with the doors locked.

As many cars sprinted past me not paying even the least bit of attention to the damsel in distress on the shoulder of the road, I didn’t think it was necessary. At least not until a silver sedan pulled up behind me.

I checked my mirror and could make out a man with blond hair sitting in the driver’s seat. I double checked the locks on my doors. Everything was locked up. I wasn’t usually suspicious but one could never be too safe. It didn’t help that a few of my friends and their partners were all former military or law enforcement and preached on and on about situational awareness.

Thinking about my friends in the military, I had yet to build up the courage to ask for the one favor I desperately wanted. Not just for me, but for my daughter too. I needed to see if Salinger Security and all their resources would be able to find Noah. The problem was that all I knew was his first name and that he was a Marine. I had tried to contact the friend he had at the party all those years ago, only to find out he no longer worked at The Dane and had moved on. Of course, no one would help me contact him.

I should also probably show them the slew of emails I had received recently. All by the same person. At first, it seemed harmless and I ignored them. But it seemed whoever it was, theperson didn’t like that I didn’t respond. There were also little creepy things that made me think he was following me. It had started to scare me.

A knock at my window had me startling out of my thoughts. The man from the car behind me leaned down and made a winding motion, asking me to lower my window. I pressed the button allowing just two inches.

“Sorry, but I cannot be too careful.” I tilted my head up making sure he could hear me. “I’ve called my friends. They’ll be here any minute. I called Triple A as well. I don’t want to be rude, but it's not safe for me out here.”

Yeah, I had a tendency to ramble when I was nervous. Not that the guy seemed to mind. He leaned his arms on the roof of my car and bent his head down to me.

“Not to worry my dear.” His voice was a little rough. Like he didn’t use it very often. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. I’m Trey, by the way.”

That was the problem with being a woman. We couldn’t fully appreciate the care and concern of strangers because so often predators lurked beneath that kind hearted gesture.

---