Chapter 42

Dean

We were sitting on the balcony of our old apartment, drinking and looking out at the night sky. I couldn’t help but wonder where she was at this exact moment. Was she safe? Was she okay? The entire day I couldn’t focus on work, and I knew Aleck was in that same position. Yesterday, the others went back to their homes, and we came back here. Diego and Mac have been searching for her quietly. We thanked Marcella for her service and paid her. We assured her that we didn’t blame her, and it wasn’t her fault, that Layla can be determined sometimes; she has done this before, and this was no different. She left looking sad and dejected.

We were sitting there when Mac and Deigo walked out to the balcony, closing the door. “Boss?”
“Yeah,” I turned and looked at them.

“Remember she had asked me to install hidden cameras in the house?” Diego asked.
“Yeah, what about it?” Aleck asked.

“I was removing them when I found other cameras—cameras that we didn’t install, and they didn’t come with the house,” he said. I looked at Aleck.
“Where did you find them?” I asked him.

“Boss, they were everywhere. Name a room they weren’t in. There were at least two in every single bedroom, including both yours and hers, and they were facing the bed,” he said.

Aleck was looking at me. “No one had access to that house except us, the security details, and Mallory and the others,” Aleck said.
“There are no descriptions on them. I removed one to get it checked,” Mac said.

“Other details: I had Brian scouring CCTV footage. She was caught on camera going to Central Station, then leaving and going to the bank. After that, she disappeared and didn’t show up anywhere else. He’s still looking,” Mac said.

“Okay, make sure you still have everyone’s phone under surveillance. It must be one of them; one of them put those cameras, and I’ll find out exactly which one,” Aleck said.
“Okay, Boss,” Diego said.

After they left, we were looking at each other. “There were cameras in the room. What if the person had a video, and that’s what they threatened her with?” I asked him.

“That would make her run, and shit… that is it. That’s why she said she was protecting us. Fuck,” he said, standing up and pacing the balcony.

“It must be a guy. It can’t be a woman doing this shit. This person is too calculating. They’re using us as the reason to keep her away, making it seem like they want us when in reality they wanted her all along,” I said.

“He must be fucking obsessed with her to follow her all over the place and for this long too, since college days. That leaves her ex out of it. Andrew is with Mallory, and Chris is with Nella. Do you think it could be Topper Tony?” he said.

“I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot. This stays between me and you,” I said.
He nodded, showing he understood.

Layla

It’s been two months now, and no signs of Mac, Deigo, Aleck, Dean, or Mal and the others. Those two had enough money to do anything. If they’re looking for me, they won’t make a big deal about it.

After a lot of searching, I found the ideal place: Brenham, Texas, a small town that was perfect for me. I found a modest two-bedroom house and took it right away. The neighbors were kind and welcoming. After the second week, I knew the names of almost everyone on the street I lived on. I took the identity of a young woman who passed when she was twenty-three. I was no longer Layal Tavers; I was Samantha Russo, twenty-three years old and an orphan.

I found a job at a local pottery shop, and it was good. I didn’t need the money; I just needed to blend in and make it look like I was trying to survive. Andy, the owner, was kind enough to give me the job. It was just me and Michelle working here. We opened at eight and closed at five, which was good enough for me.
After my first week, Michelle and Andy decided to take me out to celebrate my move to Brenham, and I went with them. It would do me no good to stay hidden away and be a hermit; that would only lead to questions, and I didn’t want that.

By the end of the first month, I was somewhat known by some of the locals. They asked me about myself, and I would tell them the rehearsed story. I bought a laptop and a new phone. Every few days I checked on Aleck and Dean. I checked to see if there was anything about their business online, but everything was good. I had checked my emails and didn’t find anything from the fucktard, and that was good. This was probably for the best. I was sitting watching a movie

when I heard a knock on the door. I cautiously checked and saw the deputy sheriff standing there.
I calmed myself down and opened the door. “Good evening, Deputy Tyler, what can I do for you?”

“Good evening, Samantha, sorry to bother you. Mildred has a problem. Earlier today, someone broke into her house; she was robbed. While looking around, I noticed that you have cameras at the back of your house. If I may, could I see the recording from this afternoon?” he asked, smiling.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Sure, let me get my laptop. Why don’t you come in?” I said, making my way to the living room and getting the laptop off the charger.
“Thank you.”

“Oh, it’s no problem,” I said, opening the laptop and going to the recordings.
“You said this afternoon, right?” I asked, looking at him.

“That is correct, about four p.m.,” he said, leaning over me. I stood up and put the laptop on the coffee table. “This is from today,” I said, playing the footage. He took a seat and went over it. “I’ll kill that little bastard,” he said, standing up.
“Thank you. Could you send this to me so I can push it in his face when I arrest him?”
“Of course, I’ll send it to the sheriff’s office,” I said.

“Thank you,” he said, about to leave. He was almost out the door when he stopped and turned and looked at me.
“Why haven’t I seen you walking around town? You keep to yourself,” he said.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I know, but I work, and at the end of the day, I just want to curl up in the chair and relax with a good movie,” I said.
“Maybe you should invite me to watch a movie with you,” he said, and I knew where it was heading.

“No thanks, I prefer watching alone. I don’t mean to be rude, but please don’t be interested in me. I’m not interested in relationships. I just want to live a peaceful and uncomplicated life.”

“I understand that. Then maybe we can be friends; why don’t you think about that?” he said, walking out the door. God dammit, I didn’t need anyone being interested in me. I just wanted to be left alone.

As days went by, my routine didn’t change. Whenever Tyler saw me, he would stop and have a chat with me. A few days ago, Mildred had a barbeque and invited me over. I went, not because I wanted to, but to keep tongues from wagging. I met some of the neighbors, and we had some friendly discussions.
After that, I started going out more, walking around town, and going out with Michelle and her friends that she introduced to me. I became more social.
Michelle was teaching me how to sound more Southern to get rid of my accent, and it was a laughing fit some days.

I was home one Sunday, feeling bored, so I decided to go to the lake. I was sitting on one of the benches looking at the families and their kids splashing around when someone touched me on my shoulder. When I turned around, it wasn’t who I was expecting to see.

“Excuse me?” he said, looking at me. He didn’t recognize me. That was why I made sure to hide my tattoos whenever I was out. I lowered my voice.
“Yes, sweetie, what can I do for you?” I asked him in a Southern accent.

“I’m looking for the Blue Bell Creameries. I’m a bit lost,” he said, looking around.

“Why, of course, most everyone gets turned around looking for it. Just drive on down this road until you hit the intersection, then turn left and keep on going straight. It’s straight ahead; you won’t miss it,” I said.

“Okay, thank you. I’m here for work, and my girlfriend decided to make me her errand boy. Thank you once again; have a good day,” he said and walked away.

That’s when panic set in for me. Why was Chris here, and were the others here too? I grabbed my bag a bit too fast when I spun around. Tyler was standing there. Great, another one.