Page 61 of Embers of Torment

"I'm calling Reid." Sofie pulled her cell phone from her purse and dialed a number. "Reid, you need to call Braxton. I'm at lunch in the courtyard next door. The man Della told us about was here… We're all right, but Jace sprinted after the guy… I don't know. He hasn't come back… Okay, hurry, please." Sofie hung up and rubbed her forehead. Frowning, she scanned the surrounding area. "Reid's contacting Braxton, and then he's coming down here. He said not to leave."

"There's Jace." Adam pointed across the plaza.

Relieved, I watched Jace jog toward us.

"I lost him," Jace panted, taking his seat. "The guy got into the same brown Cadillac Eldorado he was driving when he almost ran me and a bicyclist down. There's still no license plate on the back of his vehicle, and the older woman who glared at me from the passenger seat that day was driving right now. I wanted to confront him and ask what his problem was, but he bolted."

Shocked by the turn of events, I shook my head at Jace. "No freaking way. That's the man I bumped into when I picked up Sofie's lunch."

"Wait a second. Were you watching him?" Jace asked.

"Yep. I saw the guy through the window when I was in the café. I was trying to photograph him because I thought it would help."

"Damn, I had no idea. I saw you on your cell and was coming over to see what you were doing when I spotted the guy. I recognized him right away because we'd made eye contact when I yelled at him for nearly hitting me. The idiot didn't even seem to care when he did it. He ran the stoplight and sped down the street, not bothering to slow down until he got behind a black sedan." Jace wrinkled his brow as if remembering something. He swung his head toward Sofie. "You and a man were in theback seat. It was at the corner on the other side of your building, and I assumed you were leaving work."

"He must have been following us. Oh God, I bet the woman you saw in the car was my mother." Sofie got up, walked several yards away, and made an animated call. She retook her chair minutes later, her face void of color. "I gave Reid an update, and he agreed with me. My mother has returned for some unknown reason and is conspiring with that man. There's no other rational explanation. And since she has her eye on us, Reid and I must be her target." Sofie reached across the table and touched my arm. "By the way, what you did was risky."

"I know, but this was my chance to snap pictures of the guy. I got six or seven before he saw me."

"You actually got photos of him?" Jace stared at me wide-eyed.

"Yeah, and I zoomed in on some of them." I grabbed my phone and clicked on my gallery. "This is the guy." I handed Jace my device, and he scrolled through the photos.

"Damn. These are incredible, especially the close-ups. I bet the police can use them."

"Let me see." Sofie took my phone from Jace. "I've seen this man before. I'm sure of it. I remember the scar across his lip and the tattoo on his neck. It's similar to a horoscope wheel chart, but that's not what it is. I wish I could recall when or where I saw him."

"Sofie!"

We all turned when we heard Sofie's name. It was Reid rushing toward us. Sofie got up and hurried to him. They met halfway. Even from this distance, I could tell by Reid's expression and behavior he was terrified something had happened to her. If he squeezed Sofie any harder, she'd probably burst. Reid finally let go of her, and they talked for a few minutes while she showed him the pictures on my phone.

Shifting in my chair, I spotted Braxton Hennessey hurrying toward Sofie and Reid. There was no mistaking it was him. He was the dark-haired version of Reid, tall and well-built, with a commanding aura that grabbed your attention.

Jace looked at me and frowned. "Who's that?"

"That's Reid's friend, Braxton."

After a lengthy discussion among the trio and more browsing of my phone, Braxton walked away and made a call. Then he, Reid, and Sofie joined us.

"Reid filled me in on what happened. Is everyone all right?" Braxton said, receiving head nods from the three of us. He zeroed in on me. "Della. That was some quick thinking on your part, although dangerous. Your photos are excellent and should help to identify the man. Do you mind if I text them to my number?"

"Nope, go for it." I took my device when he'd finished and gave Jace a little nudge. "Since you've never met, this is Braxton Hennessey with the police department, and the man with Sofie is her husband, Reid Morgan."

Jace stood and extended his hand to Reid. "Jace Welch. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Reid shook it. "Same here. Sofie's mentioned you several times."

"Ahh, you're the one who chased after the guy." Braxton stepped forward and shook Jace's hand. "I'll need to talk to you, Della, and Adam about what you saw. I know it's inconvenient, but it's also important."

"I should be heading back to work, so if you don't mind, I'll have to call my boss first."

"That's not a problem, but before you do, I want you to look at a photo I had my office send me." Braxton tapped his phone a few times and scrolled. He held his device toward Jace. "Have you seen this person before?"

"I have. She was the passenger in a car that almost hit me about a month ago. Who is she?"

"Bobbie Stevens. She's Sofie's mother. That's a mug shot we have of her that was sent to us by another agency." Braxton glanced at Sofie and Reid. "There's your confirmation. The next step is to determine what she's after."

"Hey, I'm going to make that call." Jace moved a few yards away and retrieved his phone from his pocket.

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