Chapter 4 - The Man Outside the Window
Vincent stepped in front of me.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
He turned.
“Emma.”
“If it's Raymond, hiding in this room changes nothing.”
“It changes whether he can reach you.”
“I want to see him.”
Vincent's jaw tightened.
“Why?”
“Because I've spent two years imagining this moment.”
“And?”
I took a breath.
“I'm tired of imagining.”
We walked into the diner together.
Raymond Fletcher stood outside the front window.
He looked almost exactly as I remembered.
Expensive coat.
Perfect hair.
Calm smile.
That smile had once fooled me.
Now it made my skin crawl.
He lifted one hand.
Waved.
Angela whispered, “That's him?”
“Yes.”
Vincent stepped toward the door.
I grabbed his sleeve.
“Don't.”
“He came here looking for you.”
“Then let him talk.”
“Emma—”
“Inside.”
Vincent understood.
Calder's had cameras.
Witnesses.
And Detective Brennan was already coming.
Vincent unlocked the door.
Raymond entered.
His eyes found me immediately.
“There you are.”
My stomach twisted.
I stayed still.
Raymond smiled.
“You look good.”
“Why are you here?”
“I've missed you.”
“I haven't missed you.”
His smile weakened.
“Still stubborn.”
Vincent moved slightly.
Raymond noticed him.
“Mr. Calder.”
“Fletcher.”
“Been a long time.”
“Not long enough.”
Raymond laughed.
Then looked at me.
“Can we speak privately?”
“No.”
“Emma.”
“No.”
His eyes hardened.
I remembered that look.
But this time, I wasn't trapped inside an apartment.
This time there were twenty witnesses.
“Derek told us everything,” I said.
Raymond's face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“Who's Derek?”
“The man you paid.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Vincent leaned against the counter.
“Good.”
Raymond frowned.
“Good?”
“Repeat that for Detective Brennan.”
Raymond turned toward the window.
A police cruiser stopped outside.
His confidence cracked.
“You called police?”
Vincent shrugged.
“You broke no rule of mine today.”
Raymond looked at me.
“You did this?”
“Yes.”
He stepped forward.
Vincent immediately moved between us.
Raymond stopped.
“You think he cares about you?”
I answered before Vincent could.
“I don't need Vincent to care about me.”
Raymond blinked.
“I needed someone to remind me that you don't own me.”
His jaw tightened.
“You think you're strong now?”
“No.”
I looked directly at him.
“I think I'm free.”
Detective Brennan entered with another officer.
“Raymond Fletcher?”
Raymond looked around.
For once, there was nowhere to control.
Nobody to intimidate.
Brennan approached.
“We need to talk about allegations involving stalking, harassment, and paying Derek Lawson to locate Ms. Reed.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Then you'll have no trouble answering questions.”
Raymond pointed at me.
“She's lying.”
Frank Delaney stood from his booth.
“No, she isn't.”
Angela joined him.
“Neither is Derek.”
Then another customer spoke.
And another.
Raymond looked around the diner.
The room he'd entered expecting to control had turned into a room full of witnesses.
Brennan escorted him outside.
Before Raymond reached the door, he looked back.
“This isn't finished, Emma.”
My old instinct screamed at me to stay quiet.
I didn't.
“Yes, Raymond.”
He stopped.
“It is.”
The door closed behind him.
My hands started shaking.
Vincent noticed.
“You okay?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Good answer.”
I laughed unexpectedly.
Then I cried.
Not for long.
Angela hugged me.
Vincent gave us space.
But Paul approached him.
“There's another problem.”
I wiped my eyes.
“What now?”
Paul held up a folder.
“Raymond wasn't only looking for Emma.”
Vincent's expression hardened.
“Who else?”
Paul looked at me.
May you like
“Her younger brother.”
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