The Stopover (The Miles High Club 1)

“You didn’t think to wake me?” I snap. “You piss me off.”

“Don’t start your righteous shit with me. I’ll leave when I fucking want to.” The phone goes dead.

I inhale sharply; nobody hangs up on me.

Nobody.

I clench my jaw and throw my phone onto the couch. This woman is fucking infuriating.

I walk into my office, open my laptop, and log in to my security footage. I take a seat as I wait for it to load. An image of my front door comes up, and I hit rewind and watch as it goes back in fast-forward. I catch sight of her leaving, and I stop the film. What time was it?

It was 3:58 a.m. She had to go to work early? Bullshit.

She waited for me to fall asleep and then immediately left. I sit back in my chair as my anger escalates.

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re playing at, Emily Foster, but I won’t have it. If you’re with me, you’re with me. And you’ll do as I fucking say.”

I slam my computer shut and storm upstairs.

She’s looking for a fight. She just found one.

An hour later, I walk through the foyer of my building and out to my car. “Good morning, Mr. Miles.” Alan smiles as he opens the door of my limo.

“Morning,” I say as I get in.

The usual pile of newspapers is on the seat, along with my coffee, and I begin my morning ritual. It takes us forty minutes to drive the thirteen miles to my building, so I use this time to keep track of our competitors. I flick through the pile and pick up the Gazette, our closest competitor, and I scan the front page.

“Their formatting is appalling,” I mutter under my breath as I flick it open. I read page one and two, and then I get to page three.

Breaking News

The NYPD has closed in on a top-secret investigation.

The murder was originally attributed to a man police had nicknamed Stoneface, who has been linked to more than 85 burglaries in Brooklyn, New York.

But with DNA evidence, investigators now believe the crimes were committed by the same suspect that has been called the Red Ribbon Killer in other parts of the state.

“With this filing, we have officially linked Stoneface to an individual known as the Red Ribbon Killer,” said Matthew Price, Brooklyn County district attorney.

Stoneface, an auto mechanic, is wanted after police tracked him down by matching his DNA with a genealogy website.

He has been accused of killing 5 and raping 45 people in what police are describing as a premeditated crime spree.

He was nicknamed the Red Ribbon Killer because the victims had a red ribbon tied around their neck after they were murdered.

Police have tracked his whereabouts, and an arrest is expected today.

“Fuck.” It’s Emily’s story, just worded differently. I take out my phone and call Tristan as my blood pressure rises to boiling point.

“Hey,” he answers.

“Page three of the Gazette,” I snap.

“You’re joking?”

“Nope.”

“Fucking hell.” He sighs. “See you soon.”