Page 35 of Just for Her
“It’s Caleb. I think he found me. And Ally’s not answering her phone.”
“Where are you? Are you safe?”
“For the moment, yes. I’m in the park across the street from your building, in the trees behind the swings.”
“Stay put. I’ll be right there.”
I rushed out of my office, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. I jogged across the street and toward the swings, finding Miriam on a bench.
She jumped up when she saw me. “Thanks for coming. I didn’t know who else to call.”
“Take a deep breath and tell me what happened.”
She nodded. “After Ally left last night, I went to the bookstore to get some writing done, but I couldn’t focus, so I drove around until I found one of those all-night cafés. When I got back to my place early this morning, my lights were off. Ialwaysleave a light on in my apartment.”
“You went inside?”
“No. I check from across the street before I go inside.”
“Is it possible you forgot to turn it on this time? Or that a bulb burned out? Maybe a power outage?”
She vigorously shook her head. “No. Ally set them on a timer, so I wouldn’t forget. And the bulbs are practically brand-new. Plus, the security lights were on outside, so I know there was power to the building.”
I nodded. “Go on.”
“So, I went around the back of the building. There’s a common area back there with a gazebo. I can see my kitchen and bathroom windows from there.”
“And?”
“My kitchen blinds were closed.”
“I take it, you don’t usually close them.”
“No. At least, not all the way. I have plants on the windowsill, and they need the sunlight.”
“Did you contact the police?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
She looked miserable. “Because it won’t do any good. They take care of their own.”
It took me a few seconds to put the pieces together. “Your ex-husband is a cop?”
“He was. He got kicked off the force. That was part of the plea bargain. He agreed to leave the force and adhere to the restraining order in exchange for probation and no formal charges. Allison was livid. She ended up losing her job too. That’s why she moved to Boston.”
That, like the fact that Miriam’s ex was a cop, hadn’t come up in our previous conversations.
“You failed to mention that.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” She looked contrite and, worse, defeated. “Does that change things for you?”
“Not in the least,” I assured her.
Caleb’s connections might make things more difficult, but I had no tolerance for bullies or systemic corruption. One of the most important aspects of what I did day in and day out was ensuring everyone got a fair shake.
Maybe I had a little bit of protector in me after all.
