Page 54 of Under Ground

I nod. “That’s right.” I eye Gareth. “Only Daddy.”

* * *

The police are wonderful. A female constable talks to Casey while she sits on my lap, and Casey makes me smile at the way she goes into graphic detail about everything.

“And then the lady said she was Daddy’s friend, and Daddy wants to see me.”

The police woman looks at me. “And this was no one you knew?”

I shake my head. “No.”

“Is her father here?”

I resist the urge to glance at Gareth. “Casey calls my boyfriend Daddy. He’s at work right now.”

“Daddy’s in a movie.” Casey clasps her hands together.

“My boyfriend is Alex Stone. He’s an actor, and he’s on set filming today.” I blow out a breath. “I don’t know for sure, but I do wonder if this is something to do with him.”

She frowns. “What do you mean?”

“There were photos of us on a website yesterday. TMZ?”

Her eyebrows rise.

“Anyway, I’ve been concerned about someone being out there watching us to take more, and then Casey said a woman was watching her yesterday, and now this today.”

The constable writes it all in her notebook and nods. “We’ll be in touch when we have any information.”

“Is it likely you’ll get her?” Gareth asks.

“We’ll do our best.”

It takes everything in me not to tell him to bugger off, but he’s taking us home and he’s got my car seat.

Maria swoops in and gives Casey a kiss on the top of her head. She straightens up and rubs my arm. “I know it’s hard, but try not to stress. See you tomorrow?”

“We’ll see.” I force a smile.

“I understand. Just let us know.”

“Thank you.”

For a moment when I step outside, I’m disorientated. My instinct is to look for my own car, but of course it’s not there, and I blow out a breath as Gareth walks past me.

When we get to his vehicle, I strap Casey into her car seat and get into the front seat.

“This not our car, Mummy,” she says.

I glance at Gareth. “No, sweetheart. Gareth is driving us home. Mummy was a bit shaken up about what happened.”

“Where’s Daddy?”

Raising my right hand, I rub the side of my cheek so I don’t have to see the look on Gareth’s face. “Alex will see us at home. He’s trying to get out of work early.”

“She already calls him Daddy?” he asks.

I cross my arms and shrug. “It’s not that Alex and I asked her to.” Meeting his gaze, all I see is a confused man—and yet one who has not take responsibility for his daughter. “She’s never had anyone like that in her life, Gareth. Casey chose this.”

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