I went back to my notebook, transcribing them onto my laptop for safekeeping. Plus, it was where I was writing my report, so it was just easier. As I got back to the place where he wouldn’t answer about trophies, I stopped. Why wouldn’t he talk about those? Where did he keep them? Likely in his home somewhere.
A devious idea popped into my mind, and I did a quick internet search. Just to satisfy my curiosity. It wasn’t as though I’d actually buy a wireless video camera and hide it in his place so I could spy on him. And even if I did, was that really as bad as drugging me, breaking into my apartment, kidnapping me, and threatening me? Of course not. Spying was a lesser crime in comparison.
Before I could change my mind, I clicked the purchase button and put it out of my mind. It would be fine. I just wanted to see if he was hiding any trophies, and if I could just get a quick glimpse of them, that’d be it. No harm if he never found out.
All I had to do was find a good time to install it at his place.
23
Relationships
The package arrived the next day, and my heart was hammering so hard against my chest, I thought for sure my ribs would break. The camera only required batteries, and connecting it to my phone was the easiest thing in the world. Once I was at Jack’s place, all I needed to do was connect to his Wi-Fi?which I had the password for already?and find a good spot to hide it.
I checked the time; he’d be at work. My pulse sped as I checked my bank account and made sure I’d have enough money to cover a taxi all the way out to his place and back. I’d mentally noted the address and was just about ready to leave when I remembered something vital. I didn’t have a key to get in. I muttered a few choice words as I paced my living area, trying to think.
He opened the garage door with an app on his phone, but at one point, it hadn’t worked properly, so he’d gotten out of his car and pressed a button to the side. It was hidden under some vines. All I needed to do was get into the garage, and from there, apart from the basement, nothing else required keys from what I’d seen.
My stomach churned the whole drive there. I clutched at my messenger bag hard, the hard lump of the camera beneath my fingers. Making sure it was still there.
Forty-five dollars later, I stood in front of his home, the floodlight the only thing I had to illuminate me in the darkness of the night.
I wasn’t going to waste any time, though, so I strode down the slope toward the garage door. The vines were skeletal, most having only a few red leaves left, but the button was still well hidden.
“Not unless you know where to look,” I said in a sing-song voice as I pressed the button.
I winced at the loud scraping of metal as the door opened. Not that there was anyone around to hear; most places around her were businesses that were closed at this hour. But still, sneaking into a serial killer’s home?Jack’s home?was one hell of a risky move that could end very badly for me.
Only if I’m caught, which I won’t be.
I snuck inside, heart pounding. The door leading to the main area wasn’t locked, as predicted, and I smiled ear to ear. So far, so good. I rushed inside, then froze. What if he was here? He could’ve left work for whatever reason, and if I was caught here... I trembled, not wanting to imagine what he’d do. I didn’t think he’d kill me?not for something like this; he’d consider it too light a consequence. No, he’d just hurt me a lot for it. At the thought, my body tingled, and I pressed my thighs together.
“Seriously?” I whispered to myself. My body really did have a mind of its own, but I couldn’t argue I didn’t enjoy pain. Not when it was Jack doing it.
I shook my head, trying to focus. I had a mission, and I needed it done sooner than later. Definitely before he returned home.
Stopping in front of a bookshelf, I turned my back to it and looked around. From this angle, I’d get most of the main area?apart from the bed?which would be perfect considering the camera could move up and down and side to side remotely. All I needed was to hide it well enough.
I grabbed one of the stools and carefully stood atop it, reaching the last shelf. A few plants decorated that section, and I grinned when I realized I was right about them being artificial. No way would he water them constantly from this height, no matter how tall he was. Which was perfect since it meant he wouldn’t snoop around this area too much.
The stool wobbled a bit, and I clutched at the shelf, grimacing as a few of the items below toppled over.
“Shit...” I placed the camera, angling it already where I was pretty sure he was hiding something. A large black desk with a locked middle drawer. Every time I went near it, he’d tensed up and watched me more intently. It might not be the trophies, but it must be something.
I bent down, placing the trinkets that had fallen over back to their place or where I thought they went from the markings of dust surrounding them. It didn’t take long before the stool was back in place, and I was all done. All that was left was connecting it to the Wi-Fi, and... Voila! With a few taps on my phone screen, it was done.
Turning on the camera, I checked to make sure no lights were visible, and I relaxed when there were none. I’d checked ahead of time, but with my luck, once it was connected to the internet, suddenly, there’d be one. I placed myself in front of the ominous desk of secrets and waved up at the camera while staring at the feed on my phone. Perfect. This had been so easy.
My stomach knotted again, and I shivered. Too easy. And even if I didn’t get caught, I was spying. On Jack, of all people. The man I trusted more than I should. And cared for more than I should.
I pushed the thoughts from my mind. It was already done, and I wasn’t about to change my mind after all this effort. Instead, I took off, making sure to properly close the garage door behind me and leaving everything as it was.
The taxi took longer to arrive than I cared for, but as soon as it left his lot, I relaxed in the backseat. Despite everything having gone perfectly, I kept replaying everything in my mind, trying to find a mistake I’d made. The only thing that kept me from going insane was repeating to myself that even if I had fucked up, it was too late anyway.
Back home, I was restless, checking the camera feed every few seconds. He wasn’t even supposed to come home for the next four hours. I was being stupid. Instead, I texted him a quick message about perhaps revisiting the topic he didn’t want to talk about last time. I needed to put it in his head to think about the trophies and hopefully look at them.
The knock at my door made me jump, and I gasped as my phone fell to the floor with a clang. I picked it up and ran to the door, half-expecting Jack to be standing there. Had he found out somehow?
I checked the peephole and rolled my eyes as I opened the door a bit. Martin stood there with a charming smile.
