Page 70 of A Constant Reminder

Chapter 42 – Sam

The following Saturday, Tyler had left the house to go run some errands, and I was enjoying some quiet time to myself. I’d considered having Emily come over to hang out but opted to spend some time with a good book instead.

Walking on the front porch, I sat on the swing and took in the beautiful day. January in Boston was usually horrific, but that year, it was unseasonably warm. I dawned a pair of jeans and a hoodie and was enjoying every second before the weather decided to turn to shit again.

Opening my book to the first page, I got completely immersed in the words. Reading was something I always enjoyed because it helped me to escape real life when my reality got a bit too heavy.

My eyes scanned the pages for at least an hour when I finally set it down and leaned my head back. Taking in the comfortable air and listening to children playing in the distance was so peaceful I felt myself starting to doze off as the swing swayed back and forth.

I jumped as my phone vibrated in my pocket. As I swiped the message open, my heart stopped.

Wake up, sleepyhead.

And there, attached to the message, was a picture of me, leaning my head back on the porch swing.

My head jerked from side to side looking up and down the street trying to figure out where he was.

But there was nothing. No cars anywhere, nobody walking, nothing.

My heart was beating so loud I could hear it in my ears. As fast as I could, I grabbed my phone and book and ran in the house, hurrying to lock every bolt on the front door. Next, I ran to the back to make sure that door was locked too.

Mason ran behind me as I ran to every window in the house to make sure they were locked, carrying with me a fireplace poker in case he was hiding somewhere in the house.

But he was nowhere to be found. The house was empty.

Minutes later, I heard the garage door open and Tyler’s SUV pull in. My nerves calmed a little knowing he was home.

As he walked in, I immediately ran to him, jumping in his arms.

“Well, hello to you too, Kansas. What’s wrong?”

I grabbed my phone and showed it to him. My usually tan, half Colombian boyfriend went white as a ghost.

“When was this?’

“Just a few minutes ago. I was sitting on the front porch reading, and I went to rest my eyes, and I got this message.”

He pulled me in for a hug. “Where do you think he was?”

“That’s the thing. I don’t know. Nothing looked out of place. I couldn’t see him anywhere, and I even checked the whole house.”

“Okay. Let’s call the detective. He said to let him know the minute anything else happened.”

I used Tyler’s phone to dial the number. “Detective Macintosh,” he gruffly answered.

“Hi, Detective, this is Sam Flemming.”

“Ah, Miss Flemming, I was actually about to call you. What’s going on?”

I explained to him the whole story and sent him the message and attached photo from my phone.

“Shit. Okay. I’ll run this number too, but the last ones were both burner phones, so I doubt I’ll have much luck. But I do have something else to talk to you about.”

“Okay?” I asked.

“Remember me telling you I was working with the FBI on this? The agent I’ve been working with wants to meet with you. He’s an expert in profiling, and he thinks asking you some questions about James might help him figure out his patterns. Are you free this evening?”

I remembered Tyler had dinner with his father planned, but I didn’t plan on going, so I told him I would be home any time.

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