Page 177 of Trick or Stalk

I straighten.

I can almost see the question forming inside her mind.

She reads the note again, then looks at the book. Her gaze drops to Penny before lifting to the window.

She pulls her phone from her coat pocket.

My pulse kicks as she stares at the screen, wondering if she’s looking at my name.

I reach into my pocket and wrap my fingers around my phone.

Come on, Presley. Ask me.

But my screen remains dark.

Instead, she walks slowly toward the window and stops, looking directly into the woods.

My mouth curves.

She has no idea I'm here.

No idea I'm watching her hold a gift I left on her porch.

No idea that whichever man she thinks sent it—she's right.

And she's wrong.

Because there aren't two of us.

There's only me.

Her stalker.

Her safe place.

And sooner or later, Presley is going to discover they're the same man.

I can't fucking wait to see what she does.

CHAPTER 25

Presley

By six thirty, Hollow Creek has been transformed into a Halloween paradise.

Festive lights glow from every storefront along the square, orange and purple strands wrapped around lampposts and stretched between buildings. Costumed families move along the sidewalks, and music drifts inside every time someone opens the door to The Crooked Spine.

Somewhere out there, my dog is having a better social life than I am.

I glance at the picture Gracie sent twenty minutes ago.

Penny is wearing her new orange sweater, black bats covering her tiny body, while Walter sits beside her in what appears to be a hot dog costume.

I zoom in, a laugh spilling out. “Oh my God.”

Margaret looks over from where she's shoving things into her purse. “What?”

“Walter's a wiener.”