Page 95 of Cornered

“Yes!” Ginny Allen gave her a gap-toothed smile. “My flamingo escaped.”

“Mine too,” her twin brother, Hudson, said. He waved Lahela closer and cupped his hands near his mouth. “Mom said that so Ginny would stop crying.”

“I didn’t cry,” Ginny protested and gave her brother a shove.

“Okay, well ...” Lahela knelt to get to their eye level. “Just think of all the new friends Pink Floyd has now.”

Lahela’s cell phone rang in her purse, and her smile tightened for a second until she remembered Briggs was getting their drinks and maybe had a question. She pulled her phone out and the hope that it was Briggs vanished.

“Are you going to answer that?” Hudson asked.

“Yeah, um, no.” She declined the call and was about to drop her phone back in her purse when she got the notification of an incoming text. She swiped it open, then regretted her action immediately.

It was more photos like last night. A photo of her outside her house carrying the muffins to Mr. Dunn. Unable to stop herself, she swiped to the next photo. Her and Briggs with their flamingos by the river. Them on the Ferris wheel. Her breathing turned shallow at the last one of her with Samson, Hudson, and Ginny from seconds ago.

Her gaze shot up, protectiveness surging through her as she stepped closer to her students. They were chattering about something, but she couldn’t make sense of it over the buzzing in her ears.

“Where are your parents?”

“Sitting over there.” Hudson pointed to a picnic table near the food vendors. “Samson came with us.”

“Okay. How about we head over there.”

Lahela walked them that direction, her eyes stopping on every person holding a cell phone up. She fought for any sign of recognition or at least some kind of awareness that they might be watching her. It wasn’t so much fear as it was anger pulsing hot beneath her skin.

Whoever was doing this to her had crossed the line. Harassing her was one thing, but taking photos of her students?She wasn’t going to let them get away with that. As soon as she found Briggs, she’d talk to him about going to the police station and filing a report.

“Why are we walking so fast?” Ginny asked, her freckled cheeks flushed.

“Sorry, sweetie.” Lahela took hold of her hand but didn’t slow down. Should she tell their parents about the photo? Guilt ripped through her.I should’ve listened to Briggs. I should’ve reported this last night. But would that have stopped whoever it was?

Mrs. Allen rose from her seat and waved. Lahela forced a smile to her lips and hoped she didn’t look as freaked-out as she was feeling on the inside. Where was Briggs? He’d know what to do.

“Hey, Lahela.”

She paused, looking over her shoulder at the familiar but unexpected voice of her ex, Trevor West. Once upon a time the sight of him thrilled her, but it was dread coiling inside of her now. What was he doing here?

Lahela shifted her attention back to the kids. “Go back to your mom, kiddos. I’ll see you on Monday.”

All three kids skipped off, unaware of the tremor in her voice. She searched the area again for Briggs.

“You look nice.” His hand wrapped around Lahela’s arm, and she twisted herself away from his light grip. “Real nice.”

He was holding one of those tall plastic cups some of the vendors sold, filled with colorful blends of alcohol. In the time they spent dating, she’d never witnessed him drunk, but from the slight glaze to his eyes, he was well on his way.

“I’ve missed you.” Trevor took an unbalanced step toward her. “I’m glad I found you here.”

An unsettling feeling shot through her.Found her?What did that mean? Her mind went to the photos on her phone and a sudden realization turned her blood cold. Was Trevorbehind the calls, texts, and photos? She started to step back, but Trevor caught her arm again and pressed in close to her.

“We were good together.” His foul breath was hot against her skin. “Why did you have to end it?”

Lahela reared her head back and tugged her arm free again. “What are you talking about? You broke up with me!”

Trevor looked confused. “Me?”

“I need to go.” She twisted on the heel of her boot and made her way through the crowd. The adrenaline was making her sweat and she felt nauseous. She needed to get away from Trevor and find Briggs. Her first thought was to go over to where Mrs. Allen was sitting with her kids, but if Trevor was behind the calls and photos, she wasn’t going to put him anywhere near her students.

“Hey, wait up.” Trevor followed. “Let’s just talk.”

---