Page 74 of Stalked

Rage that this bastard had terrorized Rosalyn for so long. And other women too, to the point of them killing themselves.

Relief that Rosalyn was gone, safe. Out of his clutches. She’d never be in this man’s clutches again.

Surprise. This wasn’t what he’d thought the Watcher would look like. He wasn’t sure exactly what he’d thought the Watcher would look like, but it wasn’t unkempt and sweaty like this man. But how did you put a face to a monster?

Either their plan had worked perfectly and the Watcher had grossly underestimated who Steve was and what sort of weight he carried in law enforcement, or the man had nerves of steel. He’d just pulled a gun on a cop in broad daylight with dozens of witnesses.

Or perhaps his intent had always been to kill Steve and he didn’t care who saw.

Over the man’s shoulder Steve could already see Lillian and the other Omega agents escorting the patrons out of the restaurant.

“Don’t let any of them go,” Steve said into his communication device. He didn’t care if the man across from him knew he had backup. Let him worry.

“We’re getting everyone’s info. Why don’t you worry about the guy pointing a gun at you.”

“I’m assuming Ashton has him in his sights.”

“Roger that, boss,” Ashton’s voice came through his ear. “But you’ll be scrubbing brain matter off yourself for a long time.”

Steve was tempted to tell him to take the shot. He had a gun, was pointing it at Steve, might turn and start shooting innocent people any moment. It would be considered an unfortunate but necessary kill.

Steve wasn’t even sure he’d consider it that unfortunate.

But something wasn’t right. Since his one sentence introducing himself, the man hadn’t said anything. His hands were shaking. He was sweating.

“Nervous?” Steve asked.

The man nodded. “I’m the Watcher.”

“Yeah, you said that.” Steve took a sip of the cup of coffee Lillian had given him while Rosalyn was here, more to put the other man at ease than anything else. “Don’t you have anything else you want to say to me? You know we have the place surrounded, don’t you?”

“I am the Watcher.” The man was sweating and the gun in his hand was shaking.

“Jon, you got an opinion of what’s going on here?”

“Obviously the guy is highly stressed. I don’t know, Steve. If I had to guess, I would say this isn’t him. But then why is he pointing a gun at you?”

Tears squeezed out of the man’s eyes. “I am the Watcher.”

Steve gestured to Lillian to come over and plucked a pen out of her pocket. The Watcher continued to point the gun at Steve, not paying attention to Lillian.

Because he thought she wasn’t a threat or for another reason entirely?

Like being given instructions to keep the gun pointed on Steve.

“What’s your name?” Steve asked the man.

“I am the Watcher.”

“How about I arrest you and we figure out your name once you’re in custody.”

The gun shook more, but the man didn’t pull the trigger.

Steve wrote on the napkin.Are you being forced?

He spun the napkin and pushed it over where the man could read it. Tears poured out of the man’s eyes as he nodded. He reached up and flipped his collar.

It was a transmitter just like he’d found on Rosalyn’s clothes.

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