“It’s a job,” I said. It was dangerous too, in its own way. “Can you be by yourself for a few hours?”
She shook her head, holding back the sobs that were busting at the seams, threatening to unleash. Then she threw herself on the bed, her arms spread wide, her breathing muffled. How could I help? What would make things right? Killing the stalker was an option, but I couldn’t do that yet. We needed to confirm the identity. And until then, there was only so much that could be done.
I went downstairs so that Hazel wouldn’t hear me. Then I did the unthinkable. I called her sister.
“Grant? Is everything okay?” Heather asked. I had never called her before, always choosing to go through Zaid. But this wasn’t his expertise. This was a situation only a sister could handle.
I fell silent. Lying wouldn’t do anything productive, but I needed a good way to explain the situation and its urgency without telling Heather about the driver trying to kill us. Hazel had been secretive about the stalker. Telling Heather any related information would be a betrayal. We were already standing on thin ice.
“Grant?” she asked again.
“Hazel is having a hard time,” I finally explained.
“How so?”
“She won’t leave the apartment.”
“What?” she asked. “Hazel? My sister? Won’t leave the house?” I sighed. I didn’t add anything. “What do you need me to do?”
“Talk to her.” It was as simple as that.
“We’re not on speaking terms.” I knew that. I remembered how upset Hazel had been after meeting her sister for lunch. How she had begged me not to go to the wedding. “I don’t think I’ll be much help.”
“Please,” I said. I hated using that word, but it was the only thing I could say. “She needs you.”
Heather took a deep breath. “I’ll be there in a few.”
I sat next to Hazel on the bed. She laid on her side, and I stroked her cheek, watching her stare off into space. When Heather knocked on the front door, Hazel froze. Not even her eyes moved. We needed to work on that defense mechanism.
“It’s Heather,” I said. Hazel’s chin jerked up at me.
“Why is she here?” she asked.
“I asked her to check on you.”
She sat up quickly, folding her arms in front of her. “Did you tell her anything?” she snapped.
“No.”
She glared at me, but she made her way downstairs, and I followed. She opened the door. Heather smiled and embraced Hazel, who politely pat her back as if she didn’t want to touch her. Ouch. Their situation was worse than I thought.
I backed away, excusing myself. As I made my way up the stairs, Hazel shot a look at me. Warning me. I knew it was a risk to call Heather, but it was a risk I had to take. If I couldn’t help Hazel, maybe Heather could.
Inside of my bedroom, I closed the door and dialed Kiley. She answered on the first ring.
“—it down,” she said, already speaking before she answered the phone.
“What?” I asked.
“I narrowed it down.”
“So?”
“But I’m not going to give you a name until I know for sure.”
That was fair. Irritating, but fair.
“I need to confirm it, but I’m almost there, all right? Gotta run.” She hung up. I stared at my phone. She might have been on the job, spying on the suspect at that moment.
