Page 190 of No Need to Hide

But I don’t.

Me: Are you home?

Chaos: Yes.

Good.

She’s safe.

I set the phone down.

She got better today. And apparently, she watched me long enough to see exactly which notes I kept.

I should be concerned about that. Instead, I'm smiling again.

“Fuck.”

I fold the notes and slip them back into my pocket.

Chaos tried something. It didn't work. Tomorrow she'll try something else.

And for the first time in eleven years, the thought of someone trying to find me doesn't make me want to disappear.

It makes me curious.

What will you do next, Chaos?

CALLIE

I'm sitting in my rental car across from the grocery store when Roman's truck pulls into the parking lot.

I smile. “Got you.”

So the AirTag didn't work. Whatever. Technology is overrated.

Today, I'm relying on good old-fashioned stalking.

Just me, a rental car, a questionable disguise, and absolutely no professional training whatsoever.

My sidekick, Alibi, isn't with me today. He's home resting because apparently one surveillance operation and two walks require at least a three-hour nap. Plus, bringing a dog into a grocery store for stalking purposes feels like it might cross a line.

I have standards. They're low, but they exist.

Roman parks his truck.

I duck and wait, counting to fifteen, then peek over the dashboard. He's gone.

“Here we go.” I grab my purse and climb out.

Today I'm wearing my brown wig again, but I've improved the disguise. Different sunglasses. Different baseball cap. Different hoodie. And no Gracie-mobile.

Roman will never see me coming.

I enter the grocery store and grab a basket. Carts are too noisy. Professionals use baskets. Probably.

I find Roman in produce. He's standing beside the bananas.