Page 57 of The Flame of Carson
Staying calm, she focused on what the man was now saying.
“You honestly think I was going to forget about you just because you left New York?I have plans and you play a major part in those plans.”
“Then what the hell are you waiting for?Huh?I’m right here.I’m not the one hiding behind a damned computer screen here.Are you scared?Scared of a mere woman?Is that it?”Stacey argued.
The man laughed again, his laugh taking on an almost crazy edge to it.“Me scared of you?I think not.You will soon find out what my plans are.Just know this, Stacey.The police cannot protect you.The Feds are laughable at best.And Blackout?Now, they might prove a challenge for me, but even they won’t be able to save you in the end.Soon, very soon you will find that out firsthand.”
Stacey cursed when he hung up.She dialed Ethan.“Damn it.He hung up.”
“Yes, we caught that.Tony wasn’t able to get a location on him.”Ethan sighed.
“Now what?”she asked.
“I don’t know.He’s thrown us a curve ball by calling you at work.However, that could work to our favor.It could mean he’s either getting desperate or...”Ethan broke off.
“Or that he’s just screwing with us again and this is just part of his plan.”Stacey sighed.
“Exactly.”Ethan agreed.“Tony will take the recording and what he was able to track to Elias.We’ll keep you posted on what they are able to find.”
“Should we tell Gage?About him calling I mean?”she asked carefully.
“No, let’s hold off.For now, at any rate.If he calls again, I’ll fill him in.Damn it!”Ethan hissed.“I want to keep him out but...”
“Now this guy has stepped it up and it might not be so easy.”She sighed, tilting her head back, eyes closed.“Alright.If you think it’s best, I won’t say anything and if he calls again, I’ll let you tell Gage, and we can go from there.You’re his boss and you know him better on how to break this new development to him than I do.”
“Yeah, which does not make it easier.Does your boss here in Austin know what’s going on?”
“Um, well...he knows some of it, but not everything.I know Walt told him a little anyway.”
“I suggest you tell him.Now.If we have to go in there for security and whatnot, he needs to know what’s going on here.It could also help to have the building’s security be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary.I know they’ve been keeping an eye out, but this is an evolution we need to get ahead of if we can.”
“I’ll go to Chase now and give him full disclosure.I’ll let you know what his reaction is and such after I tell him.I’ll also call Walt.This fucker went after Walt and I don’t want him put at risk again, or anyone else in New York.My gut is saying he’s here in Austin now, but I won’t take any chances.Talk to you later and have Tony call or text me later after he and his friend do whatever it is they do.”Stacey said.
“Will do.Watch your back.”Ethan replied.
After hanging up, she let out a groan.This was not what she wanted to do.Standing from her chair and squaring her shoulders, she left the office and headed down the hall toward Chase’s office.She knocked and waited until he called for her to enter before walking into the office, closing the door behind her.He was sitting at his desk typing away at his computer.She sat down in one of his visitor chairs.About a minute later he finished what he was working on and looked up.
“Hey Stacey, what can I do for you?”Chase smiled.
“Chase, when I relocated here, what all did Walt tell you about my move and the reason behind it?”She started.
Chase’s lips pursed and he shifted a little in his chair.“He, well, he told me that you had a...shall we say a persistent friend.”
“Yeah, we can say that.Anyway, not long after I moved here, he made contact again.”She said.
For the next ten minutes, she explained Blackout’s involvement, the attack on Walt, the attack on Gage and now the phone call.Chase’s eyes widened as she told him what was happening.When she finished, she just studied the young man.He opened and closed his mouth several times.She understood his shock.This whole mess seemed like something you would read about in a fiction book or see in Hollywood.
“Wow.And you’re still able to function?I’d be a nervous wreck.”He stated.“So, what do you need from me?”
“At the moment, nothing.Ethan just felt since this creep has now branched out to calling me, at work no less, that you should be filled in.Just in case Blackout has to add a man or two here.Ethan also suggested you have the building security keep an eye out for anyone or anything out of the ordinary, which we know you’ve already been doing.”She answered.
“Absolutely.If you need to work from home or anything just let me know and we’ll figure it out.”He agreed.
“Thanks Chase.I’ll let you get back to work.As for working from home, I will let you know.If it comes to that.”She smiled, pushing up from the chair.
“Just keep me updated, as need be.”Chase nodded.
Stacey rolled her shoulders as she made her way back to her office.She was not going to let this fucker get to her.That is what he wanted.Well, she had a surprise for him.She was not going to crack.He was not going to get to her that way.Work.That is what she needed to do.That’s what she would do.He wasn’t going to rattle her cage.No, Stacey would beat him this round.Reaching for the stack of manuscripts, she paused.Putting the manuscript down, she reached for the phone and called Walt as she told Ethan she would.
