Page 44 of Hard Limits

“Just tired, that’s all.”

“Busy weekend?”

On Saturday, I’d done the grocery shopping, and yesterday, I’d visited the laundromat and then gone out to catch a movie by myself because the occupant of the apartment next door was using power tools and I couldn’t hear myself think. Rules of Play had just won an award, so the theatre put on a special showing with themed snacks, which had seemed like a good deal, but I hadn’t expected the movie to be quite so scary. I’d jumped right alongside Violet Miller and spilled most of my popcorn, and maybe the residual fear was why I’d been so nervous about that man in the car last night?

Or maybe not.

It wasn’t as if I could call the cops, was it?

While my big brother, Raj, had followed my father into the family business, my younger brother had joined the Springfield PD. Not only would I be on the missing persons list, but Vimal would also be monitoring every available channel for any sign of me. If I popped up on his radar, then he and Raj would be dispatched to bring me home.

This morning, I’d packed extra clothes into a backpack and put them in the trunk of my car. If the watcher was there again this evening, I’d keep on driving.

“I didn’t sleep very well last night.”

“Is something worrying you?”

Everything was worrying me. The stranger outside my apartment, Meera’s relationship difficulties, the thought that this new life I was building could fall apart in a heartbeat.

The fear that I might have to leave and never see this man again.

In hindsight, Mr. Vale had been absolutely right. Things had been much easier when there was space between us.

“No?”

“Liar.”

His tone was mild, but his assertion was confident. He knew I wasn’t being truthful with him.

“It’s probably nothing. There was a man in a car outside my apartment last night, and it felt like he was watching me. But I went to see a horror movie yesterday evening, so I was probably overreacting, and—”

Mr. Vale already had the desk phone cradled against his shoulder, his mouth set in a hard line as he stabbed at a button. Speed dial one.

“Carissa, do you have a man monitoring Meera?”

I couldn’t hear the response, but anger clouded those blue eyes of his, and they turned a shade darker.

“Was he outside her apartment last night?”

A pause.

“Stop wasting my money and call him off. He’s scaring her.”

Mr. Vale slammed the phone down and took two deep breaths, then forced a smile. I knew it was forced because he couldn’t hide the turbulence in his gaze.

“If it happens again, tell me right away. Carissa’s behaviour is unacceptable.”

She’d sent the man? Boy, this divorce really was acrimonious.

“I will.”

“The work can wait. Take a nap on your couch or ask housekeeping to prepare a room on the second floor.”

“No, no, that’s not necessary.” I held up his mug, hating the way my hand trembled as adrenaline left my body. My father hasn’t found me. “This is enough.”

“Make sure you take a lunch break.”

Mr. Vale’s phone rang, and his work day began. I backed out of the office, still exhausted but limp with relief. Life could carry on as normal.

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