Page 12 of Reclaiming Chaos
There was a beat of a pause before he spoke. “You were watching me?”
“Yes, but not in some stalker way. I predicted your visit.”
“Can you really call it a prediction since you’re the one who told me I needed to dig deeper?”
“Good question, Ridge. Maybe I’m orchestrating all of this. But let me ask, did I orchestrate you asking Amy about helping Barbara out of the building? Did I orchestrate you figuring out that she’s on my side? No. I think you were smart enough to figure out that not everything is as it seems.”
“You’re right. I am smart enough to realize that. Just like I noticed you had a drawing of my hometown. Why do you suppose that is?”
Her heart tightened at his words. “The mountain. Of course, that’s yours. It explains why I didn’t know.”
“You’re talking in riddles, Carlee. How about I shake my tail and we meet somewhere to discuss all of this?”
“If only I could trust you and you actually trusted me, Ridge. I’m close to earning it, but I’m not there yet.”
“I found your book.” His words were both final and fishing.
“I’m aware. I left it for you. Think of it as a peace offering and gesture of goodwill,” she answered.
“What’s to stop me from just handing it over? It’s the item they said you stole.”
“Yeah? Why didn’t you?”
He didn’t answer.
“You didn’t because if there’s even a sliver of a chance that I’m telling the truth, then you might need it to do the right thing. Is that close to the reason why you kept it?”
“Name the place and time to meet.”
“No need,” she said. “I’ll find you after you pull over your tail and threaten them with impeding your investigation.”
“You don’t have to be a fortune teller to know that’s about to happen.” He chuckled. “Let’s meet soon. We need to discuss your book and the picture you drew of my mountain.”
“I’ll see you soon. Ridge. When you least expect it.”
“You must not know me at all, Carlee. I never let my guard down.”
“If you say so,” she said. Sirens sounded through the phone just as she hung up.
