Take the Money and Come

Chapter 5: Sisters and Stalkers

Chapter 5: Sisters and StalkersThe next two weeks passed. Olivia and Byron spent more and more time together, until they were spending most of their waking leisure hours side by side. Olivia wasn’t used to moving so quickly on the romantic end of things, but her consistent enjoyment of Byron’s company made her brush the worry aside.

One part of her life had suffered, though. She wasn’t seeing Rita or Nelly nearly as often as was her habit, and the thought made her ache. That’s why she was listening to her sneakers slap the pavement of a cracked and overgrown sidewalk as she made her way to Rita’s. Her sister assured her that she understood, that falling in love was the best thing in the world and Olivia shouldn’t worry about them. None of it soothed the ache in her stomach like a visit would. Byron had wanted to come, citing the neighborhood’s rough reputation, but she wasn’t ready for those parts of her life to collide.

The sound of her footsteps became hypnotic, the bright sun making her squint her eyes and push through the heat. Not that Rita’s little apartment would be any cooler. Her sister’s neighborhood was sketchy, and the landlords were even worse. Rita was always running space heaters in the winter, then boiling all summer.

Olivia stopped short in the middle of the sidewalk, eyes fixed on a navy colored sedan parked by the curb. The windows were tinted and she couldn’t see if anyone was inside. Normally she would have put it out of her mind, but she was almost certain she’d seen the same car outside the subway station by her apartment. In fact, she recalled noticing one was occupying her neighbor’s parking space earlier that week.

So what? She thought. There must be many navy cars just like that one on the streets of a city this size. Except, she’d had a feeling like a bug crawling up her spine for several days. All her attempts to ignore it until it went away had thus far been unsuccessful. It was easy to soothe the weary feeling at the office, where she was surrounded by armed guards, or at her own door-manned building, but something about the barred windows and graffitied doors surrounding her had her instincts on high alert. It wasn’t until her feet started to move again that she noticed the exhaust coming from the tailpipe. She stumbled, hesitating before starting to walk faster. The car pulled away and turned down a side-street.

By the time she turned down Rita’s road her pace had slowed, and she’d started convincing herself that the car was merely a coincidence. That is until a man in shined black shoes and a short white hat popped around the same corner she’d come from.

He followed her for about a block before turning onto one of the side streets only to pop out and follow her again at the next block. He always stayed so far back, she couldn’t make out much about his features beyond his sunglasses.

When she caught sight of Rita’s building she wanted to run, but the thought of tipping off her stalker made her knees her knees weak. She pulled out her smartphone and aimed the front-facing camera over her shoulder to check on him, but he was gone.

She immediately sprinted the final 20 feet to Rita’s door. Her head whipped around for any hint of him while she waited for the door to buzz. When it finally clicked shut behind her, muting the sounds of the street outside, she let out a sigh of relief.

Her legs felt a little wobbly in the stifling air of the entranceway. When she examined the facts in her mind, she couldn’t pin down exactly what it was that had made her so uneasy. She pressed her face against the safety glass of the door in an attempt to see up and down the street, but her vision was limited.

A thin, warm hand closed over her shoulder from behind. She spun to find Rita laughing with a gurgling Nelly on her hip. Olivia hadn’t even heard her sister coming on the old berber carpet.

“What are you doing?” Rita cried, pulling her into a one-arm hug.

Olivia’s face was suddenly full of fluffy toddler hair, and she felt something loosen inside her.

“Oh, I’m fine.” She groaned, scooping the increasingly heavy Nelly into her arms and cuddling her close. “I thought I heard something.”

Rita looked concerned, moving to peer out the window herself.

“What did you hear?”

Olivia let out a silent sigh. She hadn’t meant to worry Rita.

“I dunno, car accident maybe? Let’s go upstairs.”

The feeling of being watched wouldn’t leave her yet, and she didn’t want the man who’d followed her to see Rita’s face through the glass. Plus, she’d be able to get a better and safer look at the street from Rita’s windows.

“You took so long to come up, we came down to find you! Nelly was eager to track you down. Whenever she hears the door buzz she goes strait to sit in front of the door.”

“Of course she does!” Olivia felt her voice brighten as she bounced Nelly on her hip in the elevator.

The two year old was much more interested in her own reflection at the moment, pudgy fingers groping toward the mirrored wall of the elevator. She was content to ignore Auntie, now that said Auntie was present.

When they entered the apartment, Olivia was quick to put Nelly down and peer out the window while Rita fluttered into the kitchen. There was no sign of the man who had been following her, and no sign of the navy sedan.

“Jude!” Nelly cried at seemingly supersonic pitch.

“Yes baby.” Rita told her from the kitchen, and as Olivia heard her sister approach them she crept swiftly away from the window. “Juice for Nelly and tea for us, so your Auntie can tell us about her new love!”

Olivia winced before following them into the kitchen. She had no right to keep Byron from Rita, not when her sister was so open and supportive of her love life. Perhaps she should have let him come. What was the worst that could happen?

It wasn’t Byron that Olivia was worried about, though, it was Rita. Her younger sister always talked about love in exactly this way, like it was a magical word and she had hearts in her eyes. It was that fanatic dedication to the concept of ‘one true love’ that had led Rita into a long list of relationships that had ended badly for everyone, but especially for Rita. Two abusers by the time she was twenty, then a smooth-talking insurance salesman that had married her, knocked her up and thrown her away.

Rita considered Nelly an incredible blessing and never let anyone talk about her marriage like it was anything but perfect. Mommy and Daddy just went their separate ways. Nelly was too small to notice now, but Olivia often wondered what she would think of that story when she started comparing Daddy’s penthouse with the slum she’d grown up in.

Somehow bringing Byron over felt like rubbing him in her sister’s face, her sister who’d never wanted anything but true love. This wasn’t a solution, though, and Olivia knew it. Her sister would have to meet Byron eventually, and the longer she kept them apart the more hurt they would both be by the refusal.

Nelly was strapped kicking into her high chair, a sippy cup of juice gripped in one strong little fist while Rita poured the adult’s tea. Once the sugar was added and the milk was poured her sister sat down across from her with an expectant look on her face.

“Ow!” Olivia hissed when a foot jabbed her leg under the table.

Rita just rolled her eyes.

“Well? Spill!”

Olivia laughed, forehead dropping to rest against her hand.

“What do you want to know?”

“Oh, well, I dunno. Everything maybe? What does he do, for a start?”

“He...” Olivia struggled. “He does a lot of work for charities and stuff. He helps causes find donors and investors, stuff like that.”

“Wow!” Rita responded. “I’m not sure whether to be happy that he sounds like he’s loaded or suspicious that you don’t know more about it than that.”

“Like what?”

“Like a job title?”

“I dunno! I don’t think he has one. He’s a consultant or something.”

Rita’s eyebrows were threatening to become a part of her weave. Olivia sighed.

“He explains it better than I do, I swear.”

“Sure hope so, or I’m going to start thinking your boyfriend is selling drugs.”

The thought of Byron as a drug dealer made Olivia laugh out loud. Rita shot her a quizzical look.

“You’ll understand when you meet him.”

That perked Rita up right away. She wiggled in her seat with excitement, job titles forgotten.

“When do I get to meet him? Like, not that it matters or anything but I think it should happen before the wedding.”

Olivia almost winced again, but resisted. She knew her sister was joking, but Olivia knew that Rita had started looking up to her more after Brad the insurance salesman had left her. Rita was struggling on her own, but the last thing she needed was to fall into the arms of another loser. Maybe she should put off their meeting.

“Soon, I promise. I’m swamped with work, so I’m hardly even seeing him that much right now.” Olivia hated lying, but she had no idea how to handle the situation. She needed time to think.

Rita nodded with a pleased smile on her face, and Olivia felt even worse. They went on to talk about Nelly for hours, because Olivia was suddenly starving for details about her little niece's life.

That night Rita walked her to the door and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“I’m glad you called a cab. It’s dark out tonight.”

Olivia nodded, nervousness leaking down her spinal column like ice water at the sight of the blackened window of the building’s entrance. It was so bright inside that the unlit exterior looked pitch black, the headlights from passing cars barely making it through.

“Are you sure you’re OK?” Rita asked, gripping her hand. “I didn’t want to say anything, but you’ve been acting kind of strange.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Olivia answered quickly.

Rita didn’t look convinced.

“You’re strange.” Olivia added, popping her tongue out of her mouth.

“Ugh.” Rita sighed, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re the older one sometimes.”

Once her sister had entered the elevator to go back upstairs, Olivia cupped her hands against the glass of the door to better see outside. The street looked empty, but as she reached for the door handle something stopped her. Whether the chill she felt was from a draft or some premonition, she listened to it and stayed inside until the lit sign of the taxi pulled in front of the door.

She pulled the door open with a heave, keeping her focus on the yellow cab until she was safely inside.

“110 River Road, please.”

The taxi driver nodded, pulling out into the empty street. The uneasy silence followed them through the city. Even on the main roads, there were hardly any cars. The cab she was riding was even a hybrid, adding only a soft hum to the oppressive silence.

That’s when she saw it again.

This time she was absolutely sure it was the same car. The navy body might have been difficult to make out at this time of night, but the license plate was easy. Her heart seemed like it was sticking to her throat, making it hard to think. What if they followed her home? If the car she’d seen in the parking lot at her building was the same one, then they already knew where she lived. She couldn’t be sure, though, and she decided she’d rather be safe than sorry. She looked up and saw a familiar building gleaming in the city lights.

“Excuse me!” She squeaked to the surprised cab driver. “Could you take me to Providence road instead? Number 277.”

“Sure, but it’s full price for the detour.”

“Yeah, fine.” She answered, head already craned backward to see if the blue car was still behind them.

She pulled out her cell phone, the screen blinding in the darkness of the cab. Byron’s messages were already pulled up.

Can I come over right now? Some creep followed me from Rita’s.

After she sent the text she took a deep breath, hitting the lock button and smothering the light of her phone against her jeans. The clawing dread that was rising in her chest wouldn’t quiet, because even if she didn’t lead her stalkers home, she knew she’d already led them somewhere far worse: Rita’s.

The sweet little whistle she’d assigned to Byron’s contact still managed to make her jump.

Yeah of course. Are you OK? D:

Then, a second later:

I could come pick you up?

Olivia answered quickly, determined not to let him leave the safety of his high-end condo.

No. I’m in a cab, be there soon.

Her phone whistled again as soon as she put it down.

OK. Meet you at the door.

Even that made her cringe, but Byron’s building had security that rivaled Black Earth’s, so she didn’t object.

He was standing outside the door when they got there, and she almost wanted to jump out of the cab and shove him back inside. Se467r5he wanted to hide him from the people who were following her. She stopped herself, though, because the doormen were watching him closely through the glass and she didn’t want to make a scene that could escalate things.

Byron was paying the cabby before she was even out of the car. She emerged from -the taxi, head low and eyes straining in the night to catch a glimpse of her pursuers. Olivia could barely make out the road beyond the reach of the lobby’s bright lights.

Byron had his arms around her as suddenly as he entered her field of vision, her face smothered against his flannel shirt.

“Are you OK?” He asked against the mass of her hair, breath warm on her scalp.

She wanted to comfort him, but she couldn’t while they were still outside. Even here, there was a tension she couldn’t release. She stepped away, hand wrapping clumsily around his fingers as she pulled him through the glass door. No safety glass in this neighborhood.

Olivia’s plan was to yank him clear across the lobby and not turn back until they were safe in his condo, but one of the doormen stopped her.

“Miss?”

Olivia must have jumped, because his eyes turned kind.

“Miss, Mr. Duke said you were being followed? If you give us a description, we can keep an eye out and see to it that he stops.”

The door man must have been seventy if he was a day, but he squared his shoulders in a way that implied he’d be giving this creep the what-for himself. Olivia realized her mouth had gone dry somewhere along the way, and she struggled to answer.

“It’s a dark blue sedan. There was a man before that, he was wearing sunglasses and a hat. The car’s license is...” Her mind went blank, her mouth dropping open.

The doorman must have sensed her distress.

“That’s fine miss, that’ll do for tonight, certainly. that’s a better description than most people could give. Why don’t the two of you go upstairs, we’ll make sure you’re not bothered.”

“Thanks Gus.”

“Good night Mr. Duke.”

Byron ended up leading her to the elevator. She felt like her body had been electrified, her muscles full of raw power that made her want to run and collapse all at once. By the time they got to Byron’s floor she was chewing at her bottom lip, eyes darting around her.

The fireplace was lit, giving his living room a warm, safe atmosphere. That feeling doubled when Byron wrapped himself around her once more.

“Are you alright?” He asked again, voice softer than before, his grip less insistent.

She nodded numbly.

“I might have led whoever it was right to Rita and Nelly. What if it’s some psycho? What if..?” She broke down, one tear leaking onto the front of his shirt.

“Hey.” He told her, cupping her face in his hands. “I’m sure it’s not a psycho. Why don’t you call Rita? You’ll feel better.”

“I don’t want to worry her.”

“So you’d rather worry about whether some psycho got her, than let her know a car followed you here? You’re safe, there’s no need for anyone to worry about you here. You’re safe.”

Olivia wiped away her tears.

“I’ll text her. The baby’s sleeping.”

Byron sat patiently on the sofa next to her while she typed out an innocuous sounding text.

Hi! Just letting you know I got home OK. Can you call me in the morning?

There, Rita wouldn’t worry all night and Olivia could look forward to hearing from her soon. She settled herself more comfortably on Byron’s couch and tried to feel safe.

“Your doorman is nice.”

Her eyes were still closed when she said it, trying to procure some semblance of serenity. Though at that point she would have accepted sanity.

“Gus? Oh, yeah, he’s a real white night.” Byron tried to play along with my attempt at humor, but both of us realized it wasn’t working.

“Why would anyone follow me?” Olivia finally exclaimed after several seconds of awkward silence.

She was starting to get past her fear and finding there was just anger there, white hot and righteous. She threw her hands into the air, and the motion propelled her body up off the couch. Once she’d leapt to her feet she started to pace.

“I’m a glorified IT girl. I work for a mining company. The only people I hang out with are my sister the waitress, my boyfriend the charity worker and my co-workers. How on Earth am I the target of this kind of...!” She grasped for the word, ready to gnash her teeth with frustration. “NONSENSE!”

The shrieked word hung in the air between them like an awkward little cloud. Byron nodded solemnly in response, eyes wide.

“I agree, all this stalking nonsense is weird. Why it’s down-right jiggery-pokery...”

“Byron--”

“...absolute codswallop...”

“Oh my god---”

“...haberdashery I say!”

She finally laughed, and he stopped, pulling her close again.

“This is serious.” She pointed out softly, still chuckling.

“I know.” He assured her.

Olivia was glad he couldn’t see her face then, because she felt naked in her love for him. This man, who made her laugh directly following the most frightening experience of her life. Who found just as much wonder in the world as she did, who loved the wondrous parts of it with her. She’d never felt more safe, more loved, or more at home.

What had she been thinking, keeping him away from Rita. This wouldn’t show her that her independent role-model needed a boyfriend, it would show her what a kind, loving relationship was. She resolved to make sure they met soon. As soon as whatever the hell was going on was dealt with.

“If it’s not some psycho, then who...?”

“I don’t know,” Byron whispered, bending to kiss her softly. “but we’ll figure it out. I promise. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s collecting information.”

“OK.”

“I mean it.”

Olivia looked his in the eyes.

“I believe you.”

That’s when Byron offered her a glass of wine, and she accepted. She could hardly taste the alcohol past the bitterness at the back of her throat. She’d finished her glass when her phone trumpeted, making them both jump.

Will call after church. U OK?

Olivia felt the last knot in the pit of her chest loosen. The fact of her ordeal still floated over her head, but it could be set aside for now.

Yeah, just want to talk.

She didn’t need to wait for another answer, sliding her phone onto the coffee table.