Chapter 22 - Shadows in the Parking Lot
Nobody moved toward the window.
The headlights from the newly arrived vehicle stretched across the rain-soaked parking lot before disappearing beneath the apartment building.
Mark remained seated, staring at the floor.
Rachel quietly closed her briefcase.
"I don't like surprises," she said.
Vanessa crossed the living room and carefully pulled back the curtain just enough to see outside.
"A black SUV."
"Only one?" Rachel asked.
Vanessa nodded.
"For now."
Emma wrapped both hands around the warm cup of coffee Helen had given her.
"I don't understand any of this."
"You aren't supposed to," Mark muttered.
Everyone looked at him.
Rachel spoke first.
"Then explain it."
Mark slowly shook his head.
"I can't."
"You won't," Vanessa corrected.
"No."
His voice was almost a whisper.
"I really can't."
Laura ended the call with Olivia after reminding her not to speak to strangers again without contacting her first.
"Stay with your neighbors tonight," she said.
"I will, Mom."
"And don't answer unknown numbers."
"I promise."
After the call ended, Laura placed the phone face down on the table.
"She's safe."
Mark visibly relaxed.
Only slightly.
Rachel noticed.
"So whoever these people are..."
"...your greatest concern isn't yourself."
Mark looked toward the family photograph still lying on the table.
"No."
"It's her."
That answer surprised everyone.
For the first time all evening, Mark sounded sincere.
Helen quietly sat beside Laura.
"I've known you for twenty years."
She looked directly at Mark.
"I've never seen you afraid."
"You haven't."
"What changed?"
Mark answered without lifting his head.
"I made one mistake."
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Only one?"
He looked at her.
"One mistake that created a hundred others."
Before anyone could continue, the apartment intercom buzzed.
Everyone froze.
The security officer answered it.
"Yes?"
A calm male voice replied.
"Delivery."
"We didn't order anything."
"I know."
The voice remained perfectly polite.
"The package is for Mr. Mark Dawson."
Mark's hands immediately began trembling.
"I didn't order anything."
Rachel looked at the security officer.
"Don't let anyone upstairs."
The officer nodded and disconnected the intercom.
Two minutes later, another buzz sounded.
This time it came from Mark's phone.
A text message.
Unknown Number.
He reluctantly opened it.
Only four words appeared on the screen.
WE KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.
Below the message...
...was a recent photograph of this very apartment building.
May you like
Someone outside had already seen them.
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