JК
Ыоуве Been Warned :: Patterson James
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Where I get the courage – or is it stupidity? – to bark at a guy who’sbeen scaring the bejesus out of me, I don’t know. That is him, though, isn’t it?
He ducks around the corner, but yes, I’m almost sure that’s who it was. I’d be even surer if there hadn’t been something blocking his face.
Of all things…a camera.
“Are you okay, Miss Kristin?” asks Dakota, showing real concern. “Who was that? He looked scary.”
“Nobody, nothing… Yeah, I’m fine, honey,” I say. “Let’s get going.”
I want to run but I know I can’t. Not with the kids in tow. So we walk. Nice and easy, as we always do.
The only difference is that I’m looking back over my shoulder every ten seconds or so, a nervous wreck again.
Where are you, Ponytail?
What do you want?
With me?
With these kids?
What’s with the camera?
Chapter 96
THERE’S NO SIGN of the Ponytail and his camera now. Not on crowded Fifth Avenue. Not along Madison, not in front of the gates of the Preston Academy. I’ve got one sore and twisted neck to prove it.
I hug Sean and Dakota again, extra hard. I don’t want to let go. “I’ll see you right here this afternoon. Like always, okay?”
“Are you sure everything’s all right?” asks Dakota. “Are you sure, Miss Kristin?” She looks worried. About me. It’s sweet.
“Sure, I’m sure! Never been better,” I boast, forcing a bright smile. “Now, go have a great day!”
I don’t bother with a wink and neither do the kids. I just don’t have any cuteness in me today.
They both nod their little heads and scamper off across the tree-lined courtyard, bounding up the stone front steps to the school. So many mornings I’ve stood watching Dakota and Sean from this exact spot.
I’m about to turn away when I see them stop on the top step and look back. In unison, they wave to me, their smiles curled wide.
I want to cry, and I almost do. But I just wave in return, fighting back the tears.
With them safely inside, the tears come. Then I do one more three sixty, searching for the Ponytail.
Still don’t see him. The bastard. The creep. Is he dead too – like Delmonico?
Out of nowhere, the song is back in my head. I even catch a word, or I think I do -game? “What is that goddamn song?” I mutter as a couple of passersby stare at me.
I wipe my eyes dry, then check my watch while reaching for my cell phone. It’s high time I track down that other disappearing man in my life.
Where I get the courage – or is it stupidity? – to bark at a guy who’sbeen scaring the bejesus out of me, I don’t know. That is him, though, isn’t it?
He ducks around the corner, but yes, I’m almost sure that’s who it was. I’d be even surer if there hadn’t been something blocking his face.
Of all things…a camera.
“Are you okay, Miss Kristin?” asks Dakota, showing real concern. “Who was that? He looked scary.”
“Nobody, nothing… Yeah, I’m fine, honey,” I say. “Let’s get going.”
I want to run but I know I can’t. Not with the kids in tow. So we walk. Nice and easy, as we always do.
The only difference is that I’m looking back over my shoulder every ten seconds or so, a nervous wreck again.
Where are you, Ponytail?
What do you want?
With me?
With these kids?
What’s with the camera?
Chapter 96
THERE’S NO SIGN of the Ponytail and his camera now. Not on crowded Fifth Avenue. Not along Madison, not in front of the gates of the Preston Academy. I’ve got one sore and twisted neck to prove it.
I hug Sean and Dakota again, extra hard. I don’t want to let go. “I’ll see you right here this afternoon. Like always, okay?”
“Are you sure everything’s all right?” asks Dakota. “Are you sure, Miss Kristin?” She looks worried. About me. It’s sweet.
“Sure, I’m sure! Never been better,” I boast, forcing a bright smile. “Now, go have a great day!”
I don’t bother with a wink and neither do the kids. I just don’t have any cuteness in me today.
They both nod their little heads and scamper off across the tree-lined courtyard, bounding up the stone front steps to the school. So many mornings I’ve stood watching Dakota and Sean from this exact spot.
I’m about to turn away when I see them stop on the top step and look back. In unison, they wave to me, their smiles curled wide.
I want to cry, and I almost do. But I just wave in return, fighting back the tears.
With them safely inside, the tears come. Then I do one more three sixty, searching for the Ponytail.
Still don’t see him. The bastard. The creep. Is he dead too – like Delmonico?
Out of nowhere, the song is back in my head. I even catch a word, or I think I do -game? “What is that goddamn song?” I mutter as a couple of passersby stare at me.
I wipe my eyes dry, then check my watch while reaching for my cell phone. It’s high time I track down that other disappearing man in my life.