Stranger in the Shadows

“You contacted the police?”

“Yes. They investigated.”

“And?”

“At first they thought I was being stalked by some of Jackson’s friends. He was part of a cult that I’d helped close down a few months earlier.”

“The Strangers?” Ben took another cookie from the pack.

Surprised, Chloe met his gaze, saw the interest and concern there. “Yes.”

“I remember hearing about it in the news. A computer forensics specialist was investigating a cult member’s death and found evidence that implicated the leader. He went to jail for money laundering, but they couldn’t prove that he’d killed his follower.”

“The deceased’s name was Ana Benedict. She started working as an accountant for the cult’s leader and was dead a few months later. Her death was ruled a suicide, but her parents didn’t believe it.”

“You seem to know an awful lot about it.” Jake was still writing, a frown creasing his forehead.

“I worked freelance for the private investigator Ana’s parents hired. They had her laptop, but there wasn’t much on it. I was hired to search for deleted files and I found plenty. Ana had documented everything. The Strangers were involved in the drug trade and were laundering money through their organization. I brought the information to the FBI.”

“And Jackson blamed you when the cult dispersed.”

“Yes.”

“You said that after the attempt on your life, you felt like you were being followed and that someone had been in your apartment. The police suspected other cult members?”

“For a while.”

“And then?”

Chloe grabbed mugs and poured coffee into them. Anything to keep from facing the two men who were watching her so intently. “They decided it was all in my head.”

“I see.” Jake spoke quietly, but Chloe knew he didn’t see at all.

She turned back around, handing a cup to each man. “Look, Sheriff Reed—”

“Call me Jake.”

“Jake, there may not be evidence proving I’m being stalked, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.”

“I don’t think I said it wasn’t.” He sipped his coffee, exchanging a glance with Ben, one that excluded Chloe and conveyed a message she couldn’t even begin to figure out.

“No, you didn’t, but I’ve been told it enough times to imagine that’s what you’re thinking.”

“What I’m thinking is that I don’t know what happened in D.C. Whatever it was, it’s not going to happen here.” He placed his coffee cup on the counter. “I’d better head out. If you think of anything else that might be helpful, give me a call.”

“I will.” Chloe followed him to the door, holding it open as he stepped out and started down the stairs.

Ben held back, the concern in his eyes obvious. “Will you be okay here alone?”

“I’ve been living alone since I was eighteen.”

“That doesn’t mean you’ll be okay.”

“Of course I’ll be okay. What other choice do I have?” She tried to smile, but knew she failed miserably.

“You could stay with Opal.”

And bring whatever danger was following her into her friend’s life? Chloe didn’t think so. “No, I really will be fine.”

Ben watched her for a moment, his gaze so intense Chloe fidgeted. Then he nodded. “All right. Keep the doors locked and be safe.”

He stepped out into the hall and pulled the door shut behind him, leaving Chloe in the silent apartment.

Be safe?

She didn’t even know what the word meant anymore. She sighed, grabbed a cookie from the package and collapsed onto the easy chair. Maybe she’d figure it out again. Maybe. Somehow she doubted that would be the case.

SIX

“Sounds like your friend has a big problem.” Jake’s comment echoed what Ben had been thinking since he’d walked out of Chloe’s apartment.

“Really big.”

“Unless the police in D.C. are right and the stalker is all in her head.”

“She seems pretty sure about what’s been going on.”

“Being sure of something only means we’ve convinced ourselves that it’s true. I don’t put much stock in it.” Despite the gruff words, Jake sounded pensive and Ben knew he was leaning toward Chloe’s version of things.

“You seemed to believe someone was at her apartment.”

“I do. I’m just not convinced it has anything to do with what happened in D.C. It could just as easily have been a kid, or someone out to steal a few bucks.”

“It could have been.”

“But you don’t think so?”

“I think there’s more to the story than Chloe is telling. I think that until we have all the information, it’ll be hard to know exactly what’s going on.”

“Agreed. I’m going call some friends that are still on the D.C. police force and see what they have to say.” He paused as he pulled into the driveway of his house. “Regardless of what they say, I’m treating this like any other investigation until I can prove it’s not one.”

“I didn’t expect anything less.”

“And I didn’t expect to be as curious about you and Chloe as I am.” Jake grinned, pushed open his door. “So, are you going to tell me what’s going on between you two, or am I going to have to speculate?”

“I met her at the wedding today.”

“And?”