Page 133 of Exposé

Three.

Nate continued down the path, not sparing a glance at my car, and turned left into the complex office while casting a quick wave at a passerby.

I dropped the blinds and slumped against the half wall, my legs like jelly.

It's all in my head.

Liam's wrong.

After several minutes of trying to catch my breath, I jumped up, grabbed my keys from the orange bowl, and left, locking the door behind me.

I pulled into the parking garage twenty minutes later, thankful that Liam didn't have to replace another tire for me, and called him.

"Are you alone?"

"Yes. I-I think I am. I took my car to work. Look, I really don't think—"

"Just get under it and take a look."

I sighed and sank down to my hands and knees—the parking lot stained and grimy. "Okay, I'm down here. What am I looking for?" Pressing the speakerphone button, I placed my phone beside my tire and rolled onto my back, shimming beneath the car.

"They can come in different forms, but you should be able to feel something that's out of place. Something round or with edges. Like a small box."

I stuck my hands between the sidewall and the engine, running my fingers along the undercarriage, then hissed. "Fuck." I jerked back my smarting hand.

"What happened?"

"I burned myself on the engine."

"Be careful. Stay away from the hot parts. He wouldn't put a tracker where it's going to melt. And don't forget to look around the edges, too."

Switching hands, I traced the frame of the vehicle, then switched on my phone's light and did a visual sweep. I let out a sharp sigh as I shimmed out from beneath and sat up. "There's nothing there."

"Look with your flashlight. There has to be something under there."

"I did. Everything looks normal."

"I might've confronted him in time to keep him from putting it on. I'd still be careful, though. Promise me you'll keep an eye out."

I breathed in and nodded.

Trusting them both is like two rams butting heads.

"I will, I promise."

"Did you ask him what he was doing near your car?"

"No. I didn't want to make him suspicious."

"Good, keep it that way. Let him think he's convinced me he's not a stalking psychopath."

"Liam—"

"I'm only saying, Ava. Something isn't right here. You know I have good instincts for these kinds of things."

"Yes, I know that's how you made detective." I bit into my inner lip and stood, leaning against the car. "But what if you're wrong, and I end up throwing away the first real relationship I've had in a long time?"

"I'll make sure I'm certain before we confront him...together."

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