Page 6 of Unmasked

There’s no one standing beneath the massive tree.

I blink a few times, feeling relieved and yet… unsettled.

Why do I care about some random weirdo staring at me through the window? I should be glad he’s gone.

CHAPTER 7

Stryker

Taking a long sip of coffee, I rub my tired eyes.

I spent all weekend hacking into the school system, obtaining Mallory’s home address, birth date, class schedule, and other data.

Mallory Faith Chapman. A gorgeous name for the stunning twenty-year-old strawberry-blonde goddess.

Leaning back in my chair, I glance at my phone and see a text from Ryker. Zayne Morine, a leading tech and security company co-owner, asked Ryker to contact me to see if I’d be interested in another contracting job at King Morine.

ME: Hell yes. I’m in.

RYKER: Awesome! I’ll let Zayne and Jaxson know. I’ll be in touch with more details soon.

Zayne Morine is a legend who was born and raised in Green Haven. Although we are nine years apart, he lived in the same trailer park that I did, and his father owned the nearby bar my motherfrequented.

I return my attention to my laptop, an idea forming.I could rent something near campus.

I feel disappointed when my search proves fruitless. With classes starting Monday, there isn’t anything available in the area.

Releasing a sigh, I continue searching. I lean forward in my chair, peering at my screen, when I spot something interesting. On the other side of the campus, a campsite surrounds the lake.

My fingers fly over the keys as I email about reserving the one closest to campus.

Grabbing my cell phone, I text Ryker.

ME: You think I can borrow your RV? I’m trying to rent a campsite in Stone Ridge Park.

RYKER: Hell, yes. I know the owner. Give me the site number and I’ll text him.

I text it to him. As I wait for his response, anxiety coils inside me. To distract myself, I study maps of the campus and the campsite. One trail leads directly from the woods behind my site to Mallory's apartment building.

My heart pounds as ideas swarm inside my head. I’ll have to disguise myself because I don’t want Megan to see me. Thankfully, she lives on the opposite end of the building from Mallory.

Even so, I need to be careful like I was yesterday when I visited campus. After obtaining Mallory’s class schedule, I walked through the buildings she had classes in, paying attention to the cameras, and finding vantage points where I could watch her without being seen.

My phone beeps, and hope swirls through me.

RYKER: The site is yours through December. Devyn and I can bring the RV down. She can drive me back home.

ME: Are you sure? I can drive you back.

RYKER: It’s only about twenty minutes from where we live. She can drive the RV and I’ll follow in my truck.

ME: Okay. Thanks. What time do you wanna meet?

RYKER: We’ll leave here at nine if that gives you enough time.

ME: Works for me. I’ll pack some things and see you soon.

Tossing my phone onto the desk, I hurry to my closet and grab my suitcases. My tech items will take the longest to pack since I need to unhook and unmount them. Ryker has monitors installed in the RV, but even so, I’m not leaving my equipment behind.

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