Chapter 16: Chapter Fifteen

The Pier Killer is still at large. Another unidentified body was found. Law enforcement has no comment on the victim. —The Seattle Tribune

Maya

Jac’s face looked pained before she made a cross over her chest then turned to face me. Forcing a smile, she clasped her hands together. “So!”

“Let’s just pick up where we left off last night, shall we?”

“Er, okay.” I scooted my chair to the side so she could sit next to me.

For an hour she explained the rest of the schedule, how to answer the phone when it did ring, and of course never to ask questions.

I was about to ask her if I was ever allowed to know what actually went on when Nikolai burst through the door, his eyes dark with dread. “Jac! A word.”

She patted my hand and stood, then followed Nikolai down the hall.

I was too curious to stay planted in my seat. Slowly, I inched my chair back and made my way toward the door.

Nikolai was shouting.

Jac was shouting.

But it wasn’t in English.

It sounded—Russian—like when I overheard my father’s conversations with some of his men, but the dialect sounded off.

Footsteps sounded so I ran back to my seat.

Jac burst through the door and snatched her purse off the table. She took one last look at me, shook her head, and left.

What had just happened?

I was afraid to go to Nikolai. By the sound of his voice he wasn’t happy and he’d just totally lost his indifferent composure and screamed at Jac.

I wrung my hands together and stared at the clock. This was ridiculous. If he needed help he’d ask for help, right?

Wasn’t it my job to assist?

I checked the schedule; the two girls Jac had mentioned were the only names listed for the evening.

My cell hadn’t gone off.

No texts.

Finally, I pushed away from my desk and stood. If he fired me over asking if he needed help then… at least I’d have Netflix, right?

Jokes. I needed to make jokes about my situation as I slowly walked down the hall.

Because if I really thought about it, I was terrified—more than terrified—that one day, I’d be like the girls checking in at the office.

Obsessed with the man in the doctor coat, only to one day, simply cease to exist. All because I fell for the danger.

And he was that… dangerous.

Every cell in my body was lit up like Christmas as I reached for the metal handle of the door and pushed it open, only to find the first room empty, the one he was usually in.

Backing up, I frowned, then I went to the next room.

It was empty as well.

One room left.

“Well, here goes nothing.”