My master keys came in handy after all.
It’s not a bad office space either, considering the neighborhood, I might keep that appointment for Monday after all. Not to lease but maybe to buy. If my clients from earlier are still up for a deal, this would be the perfect addition to everything else on the table.
In the meantime, I find a decent position by the windows facing the street and Phoebe’s building and settle myself into an office chair, feet up on the window sill while I keep watch.
Not once do I ask myself what I’m doing this. If any of this is worth it.
I cancel all my other appointments while keeping one eye on her building, the other on my phone as I reschedule my previous plans.
The afternoon becomes evening, and there are more people coming than going from Phoebe’s building, but that makes sense. People coming home from work.
There’s nothing going into or coming out of the alley, but I keep my eyes peeled because I have no idea what to expect.
I’d prefer if I could see Phoebe from where I am, but I breathe a little easier after dark, seeing her lights come on.
Not soon after I spot her making her way out onto the street, which catches me unawares and I have to scramble to follow her.
What about Trixie, her baby?
I hadn’t thought about that, and it doesn’t look like she takes her little dog to work but I can’t be in two places at once.
I have to trust Trixie will be okay and follow my main reason for existing now.
Phoebe.
Who’s the stalker now, Max?
But it isn’t like that, this is different. I know there’s something between Phoebe and me. I’m just watching over her until we can have enough time alone to work on it.
With her long, golden curls and pink puffy coat, it’s not hard to spot Phoebe in the evening crowds.
It makes my job easier by blending in myself, but I can’t help notice her turning more often than not. She can sense someone’s following her.
Checking behind myself and to the sides, I figure I’m the only one tailing her for now.
At least, I hope I’m the only one.
Hard not to wonder if someone else is already watching her place too. Hard not to think about that little fur ball all alone, but first things first.
After tonight, I’ll have to tell her what I know. She needs to trust me if I’m going to help her, and part of that trust should mean knowing she doesn’t have to work a shitty job anymore either.
Too much too soon? Probably, but it’s how I roll. I have the patience of a saint.
For about twenty four hours, and then it’s gone.
I haven’t had to ride the subway in years, decades. I’m a little shocked by the experience, but at least I manage to keep up with Phoebe and follow her all the way to an industrial district, watching helplessly as she disappears behind a steel door she swipes herself through.
With no security pass of my own, and only one way in or out unless I’m a truck, I find a dark nook under a bridge opposite and resume my vigil.
Did she say something about a twelve hour shift?
Plenty of charge left in my phone, good.
I wonder if food delivery can find me under this bridge.
Chapter Seven
Phoebe
For someone who has to rest before work, I wonder if I’ll ever sleep a wink again.
Trixie is restless too, we both know something’s up.
I can’t get the image of Max out of my mind, how close he was to me. How good he smelled.
How strong he is.
But at the same time, I can’t help worrying about that note I’m sure I saw slipped under my door.
I could be overtired, mistaking Max’s kindness for interest in me, but another message in a yellow envelope. No way could I have imagined that.
Try as I might, I can’t sleep, dreading the hours as I watch them pass, glancing at the clock as I tell myself how much I need sleep.
Getting up and checking I did lock the door a half dozen times, I can’t help feeling like there are still eyes on me. On both of us.
I wonder if the creep who’s been leaving notes has actually started watching the apartment or maybe been watching us all along.
The thought does nothing to help me get any rest, but I must doze off eventually because just as I feel a deep sleep coming over me the alarm goes off and I curse loudly.
Time to get up and do it all over again.
Fuck.
The prospect of twelve hours at the box factory is enough to make me cry.
Giving myself five more minutes, I oversleep the second alarm, starting awake in a panic.
Running late now to top everything off.