Page 13 of Unmasked

“With my parents.” Everleigh refrained from making a little face, but Sierra's shrewd expression told her she had heard the hesitation in her tone.

“It'll be nice to have a space of your own with some privacy.”

Everleigh nodded. “Not to say I don't enjoy spending time with them, it's just…”

“Believe me, I understand,” Sierra said as she leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. “I still live at home, and it can be exhausting.”

“Very,” Everleigh agreed. For the last thirteen years she had come and gone as she pleased in a city full of millions of people. She had been home for less than a month, and her mother fretted every time she left the house.

“Maybe we can find you a place close by so you can visit often.”

“Not too close,” Everleigh replied, earning a little laugh from Sierra.

Sierra pulled out a notebook from the binder in front of her, then flipped to a fresh page. “Tell me what you're looking for.”

Over the past couple of days, Everleigh had thought a lot about what Mason had told her. “I'm open to both apartments and single-family homes,” she said. “If it's an apartment, I'd prefer to be in the middle to upper level.”

She knew a home was a smarter investment, but for some reason, she had a difficult time envisioning it. A home should be full of love and laughter, a husband and kids. She didn't have any of those things. “As far as the house…” she trailed off. “I would just like it to have at least an acre for some privacy.”

She gave Sierra some price points and other factors to consider, and Sierra closed the book with a snap and stowed it away. “Sounds good. This at least gives me something to start with. I'll see what's available and give you a call soon.”

Everleigh grinned. “Fantastic. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem. I—” Sierra was cut off by the ringing of her phone. Her face twisted into an apologetic grimace as she pulled it from her purse. “I’m so sorry.”

“No worries.” Everleigh waved away her concern. “Go ahead and take that. I’ll finish up then head out.”

“Thank you so much. It was good to see you.” Sierra threw a little wave Everleigh's way as she scooted out the door to take the call.

Everleigh studied the patrons of the coffee shop as she sipped the rest of her macchiato. A few people threw curious glances her way, more than likely finding her face familiar but not able to place it. She returned their inquisitive looks with a smile, then pushed her empty cup away and stood. She reached for her purse—and froze.

Shock rooted her to the floor as she stared at a white corner sticking up from the inside of her bag. With shaking fingers, she grasped the corner and pulled it up just enough to see the picture. Her stomach rolled as her image stared back at her, this time from beside her car. She tucked it back in and threw a furtive look around the coffee shop. Who could have left this? And when?

She swallowed hard, replaying the last forty-five minutes in her head. Several dozen people had come and gone, but she couldn’t pinpoint any one person in particular who’d paid her any undue attention. Everyone had to pass her chair to reach the counter, so that didn’t help to narrow it down at all. Biting her lip, she dug out her phone and keys and hurried out of the shop, all the while keeping an eye on her surroundings.

As soon as she was safely in the car, she locked it and opened the screen on her phone. Her call to Mason connected almost immediately.

“Ms. Beaumont?”

“H-hi.” Her voice and hands shook in equal measure, and she forced herself to take a calming breath. “I got another picture. In the coffee shop.”

Mason let out a soft curse on the other end. “I wondered when I didn’t see the prick outside. How’d he deliver it this time?”

“It was right in my purse. He must have walked behind me and slipped it inside.”

There was a brief pause and what sounded like a low growl. “This is actually a good thing. The more he makes himself known, the easier it’ll be to catch him.”

It made sense, not that it made her feel a whole lot better at the moment. It was unsettling, to say the least. Whoever it was, he’d managed to walk right up to her without her knowing. A shudder worked its way down her spine, and the phone shook in her hand.

“Don’t worry,” Mason said, seemingly reading her mind. “I’ve been watching everyone coming in and out, so I’ll narrow it down.”

“Thanks.”

The word was little more than a whisper, but it was all she could manage at the moment. It didn’t seem to bother him, though. “Are you headed home?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Do you want me to follow you?”