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For goodness’ sake, does this man know his kids at all? “This isJoshyou’re talking about, Ben. That boy wouldn’t scare a fly, let alone his sisters. And he doesn’t lie.”
“Bingo. Just got the payment. Later, Em.”
“Ben, hold on! I need to know who this guy—”
But it’s too late. The line goes dead and I’m left staring at the picture of Josh, Caroline, and Reagan on my screen, wondering if I should be panicking.
No need to panic. Just stay calm and gather more information.
Knowing that Ben is a lost cause, I call Amelia. She picks up immediately, but she’s not her usual chipper self. I want to ask what’s wrong, but I need to check in on the kids first.
“Amelia, can I talk to Josh, please?”
“Of course. Hang on.”
My knee is bouncing wildly when Josh takes the phone. “Auntie Em?”
“Hey, bud, I was just on the phone with your dad. He mentioned that Caroline was crying because some guy was following you? Is that right?”
Josh hesitates. “Yeah…”
My heart drops. “Are you sure he was following you?”
“He was watching us from outside the gate at school yesterday. And he followed us home today. He tried saying something to Caro at recess, too. I don’t like him.”
Okay, I’m very close to full-on Panic Mode. “What did he look like?”
“Um, I dunno, normal? Skinny and blonde. He just didn’t look nice, though.”
I want to vomit. That’s that reporter. Remmy something.
“The next time you see this man,” I say as casually as I can, “I want you to call me immediately, okay?” He’s quiet for a moment. “Josh? Did you hear me?”
“He’s standing out on the street, Auntie Em. He’s been watching the apartment since we got home from school.”
Panic.
Panic.
Panic.
I jump to my feet. “I’ll be home soon, honey, okay? Now, can you hand the phone back to Amelia?”
I arrange with Amelia to make sure she will stay with the kids until I get there. Then I grab my purse and beeline for the elevators.
“Where do you think you’re going, Ms. Carson?”
That icy snarl freezes me in my tracks.
Of course he choosesthismoment to step out of his office. I’m starting to think he has a security camera aimed at my desk so he can keep track of my every movement.
“I’m leaving.” The panic is eroding all my more diplomatic sensibilities. “I’ve got a family emergency. The kids need me.”
I expect him to go all “Hm” on me and threaten to fire me if I walk out in the middle of a workday. But instead, his eyebrows pinch together. “What’s the emergency?”
“It’s nothing. Just this reporter. Remmy. He’s been bothering—look, it doesn’t matter. I just need to handle it really quickly and I’ll be right back.”
The moment I mention his name, recognition flickers across Ruslan’s eyes. “Remmy Jefferson. OfTheBrooklyn Gazette?”
