I put the pictures back and turn my attention to Leo. We play fetch and then a text comes through from Saige.

You wouldn’t be interested in going to dinner at my parents’ this weekend, would you?

It’s like she’s doing my work for me. That will be perfect and will let me set the groundwork. Once I have the layout of the house and they feel comfortable having me there, everything will be ready to go.

I guess. Does it win me extra points?

I wish I could see her face when she reads the message. Hear her voice responding.

Oh I think I can find a few ways to reward you.

I can’t help but smile at how perfectly this is going.

I hope they’re naked ways.

I swear I can almost hear her laugh.

Maybe…

I chuckle a little as Leo paws my arm to get my attention. I toss the ball and he runs after it like a maniac.

Everything is lining up perfectly.

Saige is swamped for the rest of the week with tests and papers and so forth, so I don’t hear much from her. I get the apartment ready anyway. Just in case.

I also don’t hear anything further from my stalker. I’m half-tempted to send a message back, but don’t. With any luck, this job will be finished soon and we’ll be out of here. I’ll have a new identity and new phones and it will be done.

The guys found the angle where the picture was taken. The stalker had picked the perfect place to hide in an alley that opened up to the other side of the street so he had a clean getaway. There was no evidence to be found other than trash and dirt and empty cans. It isn’t like we had a forensics team on staff, so it’s another dead end. The only thing to do is keep our eyes and ears open and wait for whoever it was to make their next move. Because soon only sending texts and taking pictures won’t be enough.

The boys are fighting about where to go next. I’m thinking the West Coast, since we haven’t been there for a while. It would be good to get as far away from here as we can. It will mean moving Lizzy, but she’s pretty adaptable. She’s moved before and been fine. It’s tricky for me keeping that from the others, but I can manage.

I’m wondering if the dinner is still on with Saige’s parents when she shows up at my office on Thursday. I gave orders to Grace that if I’m not with a client, Saige is allowed to come in whenever she wants.

I’m just hanging up my phone when the door opens and there she is, wearing a black dress, a black scarf with skulls on it and a pair of killer boots. Black is never simple when she’s wearing it.

“Brought you lunch,” she says, holding up two large brown paper bags from a local sandwich shop.

“Perfect timing,” I say, moving the files on my desk to one side and locking my computer.

“How’s school?” I ask as she sets everything out. A BLT for me and a turkey wrap for her, fruit salad and Cokes for both of us.

“Kill me now,” she says. “You have no idea how much under-eye concealer I have on right now just to look normal. I’m also considering a caffeine drip.” She always makes me laugh.

“Well, you look rested to me. And I’m pretty sure the caffeine drip would be frowned upon by medical professionals.” She pouts her red lips and digs into her wrap.

“Well, people go to other countries for cheap plastic surgery all the time. Maybe I could do that.” I shake my head at her absurdity.

“I have another reason for bringing you lunch, other than to see you.” I figured. I cut my sandwich in half with the plastic knife and pick up a piece.

“I’m guessing this has to do with your parents and a certain dinner I agreed to go to,” I say before taking a bite.

“Yeah. Listen, you really don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. I can tell them you have the mumps or something.” I nearly snort into my sandwich.

“No, it’s fine,” I say after I’ve swallowed and taken a sip of Coke.

“I just didn’t want you to feel pressured if you really don’t want to go. I know family stuff is touchy for you.” Shit. I really don’t like her knowing my weaknesses. Especially that.

“Really, Saige. It’s fine. Just tell me where and when and what to wear and I’ll be at your place to pick you up.” She gives me a sly smile.

“Or maybe we could hang out at your place and I can get ready there and then we can come back to your place and I can show you how much it means to me that you’re willing to sit through a potentially awkward dinner with my parents.” I am completely on board with this plan.

“I think that can be arranged,” I say, rubbing my chin as if I’m thinking about it. I’ve started shaving again, but I know she misses the stubble.

“You’re the best,” she says, grinning at me.

The dominoes are set and it’s time to make them start falling.

Twenty-One

Saturday afternoon, I pick Saige up at her place. I can’t visit Lizzy this week, but I called her and let her know. She sounded sad, but she said it was fine. That she loved me anyway. Thank God someone did.

“Are you moving in with me?” I joke as Saige skips down the stairs with a garment bag over her arm and a huge bag full of who knows what.

“Hey, it takes a lot to get me ready to see my folks. My mother notices everything and if my makeup isn’t up to her standards, I’m going to get a lecture. My goal is to get out of there with only one, which is pushing it.”

She throws the stuff in the backseat and gets in the front, giving me a quick kiss.

“Your parents don’t approve of you?” I ask. I’m interested to hear her side of that story.

She snorts a little as I pull out onto the street.

“You could say that. I’m not exactly what they had in mind when they decided to have children. And then they only had me, so it’s not like they got one to be their golden child and another to screw things up.” I knew that as well.

“Why didn’t they have more?” Why am I asking this? It doesn’t matter. But I want to know more about her anyway. It’s like a compulsion I can’t stop.

“They tried. It didn’t work out.” She turns and looks out the window and I can tell there’s more to that story, but if she can respect my boundaries and not talk about my family, I can respect hers.

“Hmm,” I say, to let her know I’m listening. She turns on the radio and we pretend to fight over which station to choose. We’re still undecided when I pull up in front of the apartment and park.

“Wow. Swanky,” she says, looking out the window and up at the glossy building. It’s everything new and modern and chrome and steel and glass. Cold and unemotional. I got to pick this one and Cash absolutely hates it. He wanted a brownstone in a different part of the city, but we all vetoed that choice.

“Thanks. It works for what I need it for.” I get out and help her with her stuff. The bag she’s brought is much heavier than I thought it would be.

“Do you have bricks in here?” I joke as we walk up the steps and I swipe a card to get into the building. In addition to this place being cold and unemotional, it’s also high tech, which is another reason we picked it. You need a key card to get in and you need a key card to unlock your door and if you don’t have that, then a fingerprint.

“Brrr,” she says as the cold air blasts us. It’s always cold in here, which just adds to the whole persona of the building.

We head for the elevator and I take her up to the fourteenth floor.

“This isn’t what I expected,” she says, looking around as we step out of the elevator.

“What did you expect?” I say.

She shrugs.

“I don’t know. Something warmer. More homey. Maybe with a ratty couch you had from college or something. More of a bachelor pad than… this.” She motions down the black marbled hallway.