AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I understand. Can you think of anything else that seemed off or out of place after Terry was here?”
She shakes her head then stops. “Actually, yeah. That’s the day I forgot my cell phone at home. You took me to the office and I had you tell Blaire I didn’t have mine with me, remember? When I came back home that night, I was taking a shower and noticed my phone on the bathroom counter, but I didn’t remember leaving it there. I thought I’d had it down in the kitchen with me and left it on the island. Maybe I just imagined that, bu—”
“Where’s your phone?” I interrupt her.
“Downstairs.”
“Go grab it for me.”
I head to my room, grabbing my laptop. When she returns, I plug her phone into my laptop, running a malware scan that returns what I’d expected. I grab a small pin from my personal mini tool pouch, popping open the SIM card slot and breaking the card in half.
“What was that?”
“The SIM card,” I say as I grip her phone on both sides with my bare hands and bend it until it breaks in two.
“What the hell, Alex?” She reaches for the phone, but I walk to the bathroom and toss it in the sink, filling it with water just to be safe.
“Your phone was cloned, Juliette. When they came into the house, they clearly moved it. They cloned your SIM card, which means they’ve been listening to your calls and reading your messages and emails, plus listening to your voicemails. If I had to guess, that’s how they knew about Talia. I’ll get you a new phone by morning.”
“How would they have known Terry would be here—that they could get in?”
I shrug. “Probably watching the house. That’s why I’m always here,” I say, reassuring her, “and why we have a top-of-the-line security system, but it only works if you’re honest with me about who has access to your house.”
She stares at me, then slowly sinks down onto the edge of the bed as tears stream down her face. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I caused all this.” She buries her face in her hands, her shoulders beginning to shake. “I can’t believe they went to Chloe’s school. Should Luka stay at her school while she’s there, or should I pull her out?”
“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” I say as I walk over to her. She wraps her arms around my waist, her tears soaking through my shirt. “I’ll keep Luka at her school, don’t worry about it. They sure as shit are going to hear from me about their lack of security on school property, though. No stranger should be able to access a child, let alone hand them something.”
“I—let me handle that, please,” she says, looking up at me for a second before nuzzling back against my stomach. I don’t tell her I will, because I have every intention of going there myself.
“I need to scan the rest of the house for any bugs or cameras.” She snaps her head up to look at me, fear replacing her tears. “I doubt there are any,” I say reassuringly. “That person wasn’t in here long enough, but still, I need to be sure.”
“Okay.” She wipes at her eyes.
“Juliette,” I crouch down in front of her, “I need you to get yourself together for Chloe, okay? Act like everything is fine, make dinner, and we’ll talk more about this later after she goes to bed. All right? But for now, I need you to put on a brave face.”
She nods her head, fanning her face and letting out a soft exhale. She looks so broken in this moment, so vulnerable. For once, the always confident and calm Juliette looks scared and it shakes me to my core. Whoever did this, whoever broke into her home—her safe space—and took photos of her, to blackmail or exploit her, will pay. I will destroy them. The speech I gave myself last night and all through today—that I needed to step back from her and keep things strictly professional—is pointless. I’m way past the point of letting this become personal, and I don’t think there’s a way for me to ever pretend like it hasn’t.
I lean forward, gently kissing her lips before standing up and heading to go sweep the rest of the house. I don’t tell Juliette, but I plan on going to Chloe’s school tomorrow to gain access to their security cameras. And if I have to threaten them with legal action because a criminal was able to gain access to one of their students on school property during school hours, then so be it.
I finish scanning the house and don’t find any other recording devices, so I make my way downstairs, where Chloe and Juliette are waiting for their frozen pizza to finish cooking.
“Hey, everything okay?” Juliette’s eyes are big as she tries to remain calm.
“Yeah, everything’s good.” I nod, reassuring her before turning to Chloe. “So, moreHe-Mantonight?” I take a seat on the barstool next to where she’s sitting, eating some carrots and dip.
“Yes! Mom said I can watch three episodes since I got an A+ on my math test, but I already watched an episode.”
“Sounds like that is absolutely a reason to celebrate. Is math your favorite subject?”
She nods enthusiastically. “And science.”
“Any thoughts about what you want to be when you grow up?” I look over at Juliette, who is watching us. I don’t think she even realizes that she’s smiling.
“I’ve got a few ideas. Either a scientist, like an astrophysicist who is preferably an astronaut for NASA, or maybe a science fiction author.” She says it matter-of-factly before swiping her carrot through the dip and taking a bite.
“Well, I think you would be amazing at either of those jobs, and who knows? Maybe you’ll do both, especially given how smart your mom is.” I look up at Juliette again. “I have no doubt you’ll do amazing things.”
“What did you want to be when you grew up?”
