Wildly, I glanced around and came to a horrible realization. Shaggy wasn't the only one invading our privacy. Around us, maybe a dozen people stood clustered within spitting distance.
I saw wide eyes, eager expressions, and more than a couple of cell phones, held out camera-style, just like Shaggy's.
"Oh my God," I groaned. I leaned my head down and covered my face with both hands. "This isn't happening."
I felt a hand on my elbow. "Chloe," Lawton said. "You okay?"
I heard myself laugh. A foreign sound with jagged edges, like it came from someone else. I heard it grow louder, drowning out everything – the murmur of voices, Shaggy's stupid commentary, and the beating of my own heart.
Too soon, laughter turned to sobs, quieter than the laugher, but infinitely more unsettling. Lawton's arms closed around me. He gathered me to his chest, shielding me from everything – the crowd, the sight of his car, and Shaggy with his stupid phone.
"God, this is all my fault," he murmured into my hair. "I'm so, so sorry. Baby, c'mon, don't cry."
Suddenly, his body tensed. When he spoke, his voice was hard, with an undertone of menace so sharp that I fought the urge to step away.
"You take one more shot of her," he said, "and you're gonna be out more than just another phone."
Anotherphone?
Oh God, wasLawtonthe psycho who smashed Shaggy's last one? Hehadto be. Shit. How well did I know this guy, anyway?
I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe. This was a living nightmare. Except I couldn’t wake up.
Lawton's arms tightened. He shifted his position as if hiding me from someone's view. "Get the fuck away from her!" he yelled.
And then I heard a new voice, ferocious and female.
Chapter 14
"Chester!" she yelled. "You son of a bitch!"
Startled, I pulled my head away from Lawton and looked toward the sound of the voice. And there she was, the petite red-head. She stood on the opposite side of Lawton's car, near the passenger's side door.
Her face was flushed, and her hair was wild. She was glaring at Shaggy. "I knew it!" she yelled.
I glanced toward Shaggy. His eyes were huge, and his mouth was half open. He glanced frantically around as if seeking the fastest avenue of escape.
"You bolt now," the redhead warned, "and you're walking home." Her voice rose. "And when you get there, guess what? You're gonna find the locks changed, because I've just about had it with this crap!"
Shaggy offered up a shaky smile. "Heeeey Jen. So what are you doing out here?"
"Me?" she shrieked. "What amIdoing out here? You're kidding, right?"
"Yeah. I mean no," he stammered. "I thought you were gonna wait for me."
She glared across the car at him. "You mean in the fucking restaurant? Where do you think I've been the last hour?"
"An hour?" Shaggy glanced toward the restaurant. "Oh c'mon, it hasn't been that long."
She reached into her big red purse and pulled out a foil-wrapped container. "Still want that romantic dinner?"
Shaggy took a step backward. "No, I'm good, but uh, thanks."
Jen laughed. "Oh, you haven't been good for a long time. And you wanna know why? Because of you and your stupid Web site!"
She dug through the foil container. "You know how many times you've left me sitting alone while you chased some stupid story?" Her hand emerged from the container with – was that a shrimp?
Shaggy took another step backward.
