Page 114 of I'm Watching You

‘How do you know he’s the caretaker?’ By the brick front gate, Zack spotted a set of surveillance cameras. He pulled out his notebook and made a notation.

Lindsay thought Zack was being overly paranoid. ‘I’ve seen him here before.’

‘When did you first notice him?’

‘Easter. He was headed toward this direction with a rake as I was pulling out of the cemetery. I caught a glimpse of him in the rearview mirror.’

‘Have you two spoken before?’

‘Not before today.’

Zack’s expression was grim. ‘Did he seeyouat Easter?’

‘No.’

His jaw tightened as he surveyed the deserted grounds. ‘You shouldn’t have been out here alone.’

‘I never figured that the Guardian would know about this place.’

‘I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Harold was killed on Monday, which was the anniversary of your mother’s death, and Saunders was killed on your birthday.’

‘The Guardian is from my past?’

‘I think so.’

‘Well, it can’t be the caretaker. I’ve never seen him before.’

He tried to smile but failed. ‘Don’t worry. We’ll figure this out.’

‘Sure.’ Her knees felt weak. She watched as Warwick and Zack strode toward the headstone. They knelt by the grave, studied the flowers and the note.

Another deputy’s car arrived as Warwick pulled a pen from his pocket and gingerly lifted the flap of the note. He read it. His frown deepened. He spoke to Zack but she couldn’t hear what was said. They both glanced toward the front gate and the cameras.

Zack rose and approached her. ‘Is that Mom’s car?’

‘She let me borrow it.’

His annoyance seemed to be growing. ‘I’m taking you back to my parents’ house. And as soon as I can get a sketch artist scheduled you’ll talk to her.’

She shook her head. ‘I didn’t see his face. The sun was to his back.’

‘Can’t hurt to try.’

Unconvinced, she got into Audrey’s car and, with Zack following, drove the five miles back to the Kiers’.

When she parked the car, Zack was waiting. He placed his hand in the small of her back. ‘Do you remember the first time we met?’

Confused, she tried to follow his train of thought. ‘It was at the triathlon in Charlottesville. The awards ceremony.’

‘I saw you before that. I was on my second loop of the bike portion of the race when I came around a corner. You were about a hundred yards ahead of me. On the side of the road there was a kid, not more than fifteen. He’d dropped his bike and was holding his stomach. Five racers in front of you had just passed the kid. You stopped.’

She’d never noticed Zack. ‘He had stomach cramps.’

‘I rode ahead to the aid station and sent back a medic.’

‘What does this have to do with us and now?’

‘I fell in love with you that day, L. I knew you were the one for me. The problem is I forgot that along the way. I blew it. But I’m going to fix this between us.’

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