The man snorted. “Do I look like I carry around a cell phone?”
Derrick narrowed his gaze. “Just how were you going to call me?”
“I’ll use the phone in there.” The man nodded his greasy head toward the shelter.
“Not good enough. I’ll get you a phone. Meet me back here in an hour.”
After buying a cheap throwaway cell phone, he returned to meet up with Ronald. Then Derrick spent most of the night driving around the streets, looking for Jacey. By 2 a.m. his vision was blurring. He knew he had to go home and get some sleep before he became a hazard on the road.
Bloody hell, where was she?
***
Jacey shivered beneath the thin blanket she had covering her. It wasn’t that cold, yet she couldn’t stop shaking. Please, don’t let me be getting sick. Please.
She’d never had the most robust health, but she really couldn’t afford to get sick now. She swallowed, her throat aching. Jacey rolled over on the small cot. She’d chosen a different shelter tonight, needing to get away from Ronald and his unwanted attention. But although she had protection from the elements, it just didn’t seem to be enough to shake off this chill she’d developed.
She coughed into the pillow, hoping not to wake anyone around her. The cough was rough and crackly and she sniffed as she felt her nose run. This wasn’t good. Jacey had spent the last two days searching for a job. Perhaps she’d overdone things, but she was desperate. She didn’t have nearly enough money saved.
Her stomach cramped, stress making her feel ill. This wasn’t good for the baby or her, but she had no choice but to get up in the morning and start searching again. With a sigh, Jacey tried to relax, knowing she needed sleep.
A vision of Derrick entered her mind. She wondered if he was back from his trip yet. Had he been thinking about her? She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. The feel of his arms around her, how safe he made her feel, how easily he turned her on.
Jacey shook, only this time it had nothing to do with feeling ill, no the heat rushing through her blood was due to the memory of Derrick’s mouth on her pussy, licking her clit.
It was going to be a long, long night.
***
Derrick glanced down at his phone as it buzzed. As soon as he saw the number on the screen, he jumped to his feet, not caring that he was in the middle of a meeting.
“I have to take this, excuse me,” he managed to say as he walked swiftly out of the double doors.
“Ronald, you’ve seen her?”
“Yeah, just caught sight of her on Lavaca between 5th and 6th.”
“Follow her,” Derrick said urgently. “I’m on my way.”
“That’ll cost you extra,” Ronald replied.
“I don’t care. Just don’t lose her.” Derrick said as he hung up and ran out of the building sliding his cell phone in his pants pocket.
He pulled up to the curb and saw Ronald leaning against a crosswalk sign.
“Where is she?” Derrick asked as he climbed out of the car.
“About a block ahead of us,” Ronald said.
Derrick started to take off, when the other man grabbed his arm.
“Hey, where’s my money?”
With a mutter of impatience, Derrick grabbed his wallet from his pocket and thrust some bills toward the other man, not looking back as he raced down the block, his heart pounding.
He came to a standstill as he saw her. She was walking slowly along the sidewalk.
Thank God.