Page 57 of Taste of Addiction

“What kind of texts?”

“Ones stating my location. Or what I was wearing.”

“Fuck!”

“So you never sent me texts like those?”

“No, Angela. I was trying to get you to willingly quit the agency, not terrify you. I wish you would have told me this before.”

I snap my seatbelt on. “I obviously didn’t know. The numbers were all different and when I found all of your burner phones, I just figured you were the only person who was fake threatening me. I never thought there was a second person trying to cause me real harm.”

Graham sighs into the phone. “What do your recent texts say that you got while in Baker City?”

“A warning to stop interfering. And one about my back left taillight being burned out.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

“Dammit. Are you driving or in a safe location?”

“I’m at a gas station. I was visiting the location of the accident and was chased. Actually…” Tears burst out of my eyes, and I look to the passenger side to see James smiling at me. “Fuck. Make it stop.”

“What? Make what stop?”

“The visions.” I squeeze my eyes shut and lean forward to rest my head against the wheel.

“What’s going on? Talk to me. I feel helpless.”

I draw in a deep breath, then whisper, “I keep seeing him.”

“Who? Seeing who?”

“My brother.”

“How? He is dead.”

“I know. And I need help. I have a problem and it’s time for me to come clean with it.”

“Oh sweetheart, I wish I could be there with you to drive you back here safely.”

“I’m afraid to drive, Graham. I keep hallucinating. Seeing images that aren’t real. I thought I was being chased by my stalker but cannot even separate visions from reality. My taillight could have been burned out for a while and the person trying to harass me just chose now to let me know. I’m scared,” I cry out. “My head hurts. I’m a mess.”

“Have you taken any pills recently?”

I think about this question. Have I? I go back and forth in my head over all of the places I have been while visiting my hometown. “I don’t know. I can’t remember. I’m going crazy. How can I not even remember?” He confiscated them. But did I have any lingering in my purse? My head hurts, and I think my body needs them. I am dependent on them. Like I can’t even go now without having something to take the edge off the pain.

“Oh baby, just take a deep breath. This is all going to be okay. You are not alone. We are going to deal with this together. I have one of my men almost there in Baker City.”

“Did you track me?”

There’s a long pause. “Yes.”

I swallow hard. “I figured as much. How?”

“I use several different ways.”

I am surprised he is being open with me about this. I mean, I knew it already, but usually he shelters me in every way possible. “My car? My phone?”

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