Page 79 of (Un)Spoken

“So she must have changed her name,” I groaned, pressing my palms into my eyes. We all sat at the dining room table, studying different computers in hopes of finding more clues about this stalker. As we read the messages from Jack, it was easy to see how Theo made the connection between his former client’s experience and Adam’s. The words in the notes weren’t just similar; they were identical—the same threats and pleas. Everything had almost been copied and pasted. But now, Jack’s client was home safe, while Adam was out there in the world, still not answering his phone. I shook my head, trying to resume my focus. “What about social media? Does she have an online profile?”

“Nothing,” Calla said, her voice tense with worry. Her head dropped to the table. “We’re never going to find her. This woman is a ghost.”

Alex reached out, placing her hand on top of Calla’s. “Keep going, Cal. Did you see anything in the footage I sent over?”

She shook her head. “I can see someone skulkingoutside Adam’s cabin, but it’s completely obscured. It looks like they came prepared, wearing all black, and their face is hidden the whole time.”

I glanced over to the living room, watching Cole pace as he tried to work out a plan with Gray. We were all hopeful the name would lead us to more clues about who we were dealing with, but if it didn’t, I refused to waste another moment. Cole was furious I was putting a clock on our search, but time was of the essence.

“God, that gives me high school flashbacks,” Alex teased, trying to lighten the heavy mood. “I had a disastrous experience with trying to dye my hair neon blue and wore a hoodie over my head for almost a month until it washed out.”

“Wait,” Devyn said, her head popping up. She pulled over Alex’s laptop, searching through the messages. “In this one, she says she first met Jack’s client in high school.” She started furiously typing, her smile growing with each click of the mouse.

“Something you want to share with the rest of us?” Alex called out.

“A lot of high schools are digitizing their old records and yearbooks to make them more accessible to alumni. Between that and Facebook pages for high school reunions, all I need is to know where they went to school. And considering this town is a smaller suburb of Chicago, with an eagle as a mascot, we shouldn’t have to search far to find any records… Got it. And if we look through the pages and tagged alumni…” She grinned. “I’ve got her. Jennifer Portland, class of 2014. And if I click here, I should find…Oh,fuck.”

“What?” I snapped as I ripped the laptop out of her hands. When the image came into view, my stomachbottomed out, and I had to hold my hand over my mouth to keep the limited contents inside of me.

“Oh my God,” Calla whispered, “Is that…”

“That’s Eloise,” Alex answered for her. “Different hair, maybe a tweak to her nose, but that’s definitely her.”

“I’m going to be sick,” Calla said as she burst out of the room, slamming the bathroom door behind her. I wasn’t faring any better, all my fears and anxieties crashing over me like a riptide. Adam called her a godsend, singing her praises when we met the other day. Even Emilia had met her—Eloise hugged her after she gave my daughter a couple of pieces of candy. She’d integrated herself into all our lives while all along, she was plotting to hurt the man I loved.

Devyn leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “She’s been around forever. I met her when Calla was still living in the city.”

“I thought she had a boyfriend,” Alex said, staring off into space. “She said she followed him to New York, but…” Her voice trailed off as she lifted her gaze to meet Cole’s. “Then she said he wanted to leave the city. That’s why she was willing to follow Theo up here.” She held her hand to her face. “Do you think she was talking about Adam?”

“Right now,” Cole said, “none of that matters. We’ve got to assume she subdued Adam and Theo somehow, and now, she’s using them to draw Tori out of hiding.”

“Then that’s what we do,” I said, standing up from the table. “We know who we’re facing, so we already have the element of surprise on our side.”

“Absolutely not,” Cole insisted. “We need to call the cops and let them handle it.”

“If we do that, both of them are probably dead.” Everyone turned to face Calla, who returned from the bathroom with renewed anger on her expression. “This bitchhas been in my home. I hired her, let her into our lives. Irefuseto let her take Theo and Adam from us. I’ll kill her first.”

“This is what we can’t do,” Cole said, running his hand over his face. “Look, I still think we should call the cops. But if no one else agrees, then we need a solid plan. Neither of you are running in there and risking yourselves. Theo and Adam would never forgive us.” He looked at Calla with a resigned expression. “You need to stay here.”

“Not a fucking chance,” she spat.

“Please,” Cole insisted. “There’s more to think about than just you and Theo. You need to stay safe, or Theo will skin me alive when he gets back.” He stepped closer to her, taking her hand in his. “I promise we’ll bring him back to you.”

She stared at him for a long moment, her chin quivering as she looked into his eyes. “Fine,” she eventually sighed. “I’m holding you to that, Cole.”

“I’d expect nothing less,” he said. “You helped Theo design the office, right?” She nodded. “Then we’re going to know everything. Leave no details out.”

FORTY-SIX

“You know what’s sad?” Theo said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Of all the ways I thought I’d die, I always thought it would be stress-related. Heart attack at my desk. Maybe a stroke.” He chuckled as he turned to face me. “Being stabbed by the world’s worst assistant never even crossed my mind.”

I chuckled as I tested my hand restraints for the fiftieth time. After I escaped the last time, Eloise knocked me out with the butt of her gun and tied them in an even more intricate pattern. There was no escaping, not this time. “I’m not that surprised. Remember how many assistants you went through before Calla? Wasn’t there one who only lasted an hour before you fired him?”

“Oh yeah…” Theo sighed. “Tried to swap out my coffee for some green juice, vegan concoction. Always thought he’d be the worst of all time. But stabbing me? Definitely gives Eloise that honor.”

He coughed, and the sound rattled in his chest. I glanced over at him, hating the gray pallor his skin had taken. Theo was running out of time, and if we didn’t getout of here soon, no one would be able to save him. Even though my energy was draining and my head pounded from the subsequent blows, I refused to give up. I wouldn’t sit back and let my friend die all because some deranged woman decided she could claim me.

I lifted myself to check Eloise’s location. She’d been spiraling since she stole my phone, muttering to herself about why Tori hadn’t shown up yet. No matter the reason, I was relieved Victoria hadn’t come, hoping she realized that there was something wrong when Eloise texted her on my phone. That hope was a tiny ember in my chest, but I held onto it, nurturing it until the last possible moment. I had to keep it going, not just for me, but for Theo as well.

---