Page 21 of Prey

Riley: Were u the one who painted ‘traitor’ on my door?

This had me perplexed. ‘Traitor’ on her door. Why the hell would I…wait. It had to be Shaun and Callum. I gave them strict instructions to search the room and leave again because we still weren’t sure if Riley was Annika.

Me: No.

Riley: I don’t believe u. Don’t contact me again.

Me: U can’t stop me from contacting u

Riley: I can stop answering and change my number.

Me to Shaun: Why did u write traitor on Riley’s door?

Shaun: Don’t know.

Shaun: To scare her.

Me: What else have u done to scare her?

Shaun: Nothing. I wiped it off.

Me: Lay off her. I’ll sort it from this point onwards.

Shaun: Done.

Fucking moron. If she were Annika, the word ‘traitor’ would stir panic, making her clam up even more, or worse, hightail it out of Gothenburg. I needed her relaxed and chilled so she’d drop her guard. But then, I wasn’t helping by pursuing her halfway across campus behind a Scream mask.

I also followed her in my Stang and lost her after she boarded the bus in Cambridge Park. The bus traveled to the edge of Gothenburg and beyond, stopping in country suburbs.

I drove away for a while, then returned when the bus was due back, so I still had no idea where she went, but whereverthat was, she was only gone for a couple of hours and she returned with wet hair. Ronan’s voice persisted at the back of my mind, reminding me of my obsessive nature and that I’d been wrong before about other girls. Once I found they were the wrong girl, I cut the cord that kept me on her trail. I didn’t see myself as obsessive but as an investigator who was persistent in uncovering the truth.

Riley Laws was the latest girl under investigation and scrutiny by me, an amateur sleuth. I had a ski mask and a Joker mask in my room at the frat house, so I’ll wear one next time I step out from hiding to get close to her. And I did want, no, need to get close to her. Close enough to smell her hair and touch her skin, then I’d know if it was her.

Me: It wasn’t me who broke into your room and wrote traitor on your door.

It took several minutes for her to answer, even though she said she wouldn’t. I worked my charm until I read the message.

Riley: I never mentioned that my room was broken into.

Fuck, scrolling back over the message, and I realized that I walked into that one. Dumb move.

Me: It was a hunch.

Riley:

I needed that keycard to get into her room.

And there’s no time like the present.

While Ronan and Mikky are distracted, I’ll drive to Mikky’s apartment, where Ronan had been living, and search the place. It had to be there somewhere.

Me: Was my hunch correct?

Riley:

Me: U can’t ignore me forever.

Riley:

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