Mr. Big Love (Mr. Big 2)

Chapter Five

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Alexa

Our trip up the coast of South America was everything I hoped it would be. After my stressful experience in Manhattan looking after Candace, I was so glad to be back on The Phoenix. Once I stepped foot on it, jumping off the dingy and onto the pontoon, I felt all my stress fade and a calm came over me. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed life on The Phoenix.

"I'm so glad to be back," I said and slipped my arms around Luke. "What a month." I shook my head, thinking about the time I'd been away and the delay to our plans.

"We're lucky we have the freedom to just pick up and leave," Luke said and pulled me against his body.

"We are," I said and sighed.

John, Luke, Greg and I made our way up the coast of Brazil to Salvador and then Recife, stopping in French Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago before making our way through the islands, including Barbados, St. Lucia, and Montserrat. We sailed through the Caribbean to the Bahamas and finally arrived at Miami where we stayed for a week, restocking and spending a few days enjoying the tourist traps. Our last big stop was Cape Canaveral for the SpaceX Falcon Heavy liftoff, which was scheduled for June. It had been delayed several times due to weather and other issues, so we were hopeful it would launch while we were there.

We arrived at Port Canaveral a few days before the scheduled launch and rented a slip at the Ocean Club Marina. We'd stay at the marina until the launch either went ahead or was delayed again. Luke was hopeful it would go ahead, but we wouldn't know until the actual day. The weather was fantastic, hot and humid and mostly clear, so Luke was sure things would be perfect for the launch.

The night before, we sat on The Phoenix and drank cold beer, grilling some steaks and shrimp, and life seemed perfect.

That is, until I got a text from Candace, and was shocked at the news she gave me.

CANDYC: Apparently, police received a tip that the man who pushed me off the platform was none other than Blaine...

"Oh, my God," I said and covered my mouth. I held up my cell and showed it to Luke. He took my cell and frowned.

"That sick bastard," he said and handed the cell back to me.

I read over the next text Candace sent.

CANDYC: Police checked the video from a CCTV feed across from my apartment and saw a hooded man watching the building on several separate occasions. After what happened with Blaine, they thought maybe he was trying to hurt me because I testified at his trial. I have a restraining order on him so if he does come within 100 feet of me, they can arrest him, but the detective who took my report says there's nothing else they can do. They have no proof, unfortunately. They have no reason to arrest him. It creeps me out, Alexa, to think of him hanging around waiting for me to come out. Maybe break in again.

I felt sick to my stomach at the prospect.

ALEXA: I'm so sorry. This is all because of me. If it was him, he did it to get back at me.

CANDYC: You just forget about it, kiddo. I'm fine. Jan is staying with me and watching out for me, so I'll be okay. I talked to the building manager and he promised give Mrs. Frankenstein the word and warn her not to put the cardboard in the doorway anymore, so hopefully, he won't be able to get in the building and break in to the apartment.

ALEXA: UGH. I'll be home in a few weeks, if all goes well. Hopefully, it was just a random thing and not Blaine...

CANDYC: Yeah, pretty bad when you have to hope that your attacker is just some rando psycho and not the one who knows where you live...

ALEXA: Take care. I'll call later and see how you are, okay?

CANDYC: I'm fine. Just wanted you to know. We may have thought we'd seen the last of Blaine, but if the tipster was right, we haven't.

ALEXA: Who do police think would have provided that tip? One of Blaine's friends?

CANDYC: Could be. Strangely enough, one of the detectives said it might have been Blaine himself. They went to interview him, and the landlord said he'd moved out and provided no forwarding address.

ALEXA: So, Blaine just vanished?

CANDYC: Guess so. Hopefully, he's gone back to Portland and will leave us and Manhattan alone.

ALEXA: Keeping my fingers crossed that he was gone. Where was he working?"

CANDYC: Apparently, he wasn't working. He sold some stocks and was living off them. Maybe one of his friends called in the tip once they knew he was gone.

ALEXA: Well, whatever the case, I'm glad you let me know. Text me if you hear anything else.