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Chapter 6

The solid wooden door closes almost silently behind us, which is surprising given how much it must weigh. It does feel a little anticlimactic. After having my identity questioned and my life threatened, a door slam would have felt much more appropriate. My head swims with everything I just learned, but I know that I won’t be able to fully process it until I’m safe in my little apartment.

Bea guides me back down the short hallway without looking at me or addressing me at all. She stays silent until we step onto the elevator and begin our descent to the main floor. I flinch a bit as she reaches around me, presses a button that brings the elevator to an abrupt halt, and turns to face me. I expect more of the professional abruptness she has shown thus far, but I am surprised to see an apologetic smile on her face.

“Listen,” she begins hesitantly, “I know this must be really overwhelming and confusing.”

Understatement of the century.

“I just want you to know that Caleb– Dr. Reed, I mean– is a good man. Clarisse did a lot of harm to a lot of people the last time she showed up. People died. Good people. He saw you and panicked. He never should have put his hands on you the way he did, though. I apologize on his behalf, and I want you to know that you will be paid handsomely for your discretion, should you be willing to keep his inexcusable behavior to yourself.”

“So you believe me, then? That I am who I say I am.”

“Maybe it’s naive of me, but I do believe you. Clarisse accomplishing everything she would need to in order to…” She fades off. “Well. It just seems a bit outlandish to me. Plus, I do see small differences when I look at you. They are subtle, but they are there. But this is so much bigger than just what I believe. We have to be sure.”

“So I am just supposed to go on and pretend that none of this ever happened? Show up to work and hope I don’t run into the man that had his hands around my throat a few hours ago?” The panic I am feeling at that thought bleeds into my voice.

“He won’t lay a finger on you again.” Her voice is soft and reassuring, and I wish I could believe her. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that if someone is willing to hurt you once, they will do it again. It is only a matter of when, not if.

“With all due respect, I’ll be keeping my distance.” My tone makes it clear that I think the amount of due respect is none. I turn away from her to face the front of the elevator, crossing my arms across my chest.

She takes the hint, and I hear the soft click when she presses a button to start the elevator again.

“He will have you watched twenty-four hours a day until we can confirm that Clarisse is where she should be. Don’t be alarmed if you see you are being followed. I will hand-select the men and women that will be assigned to you. No one else will harm you.”

I give her a noncommittal grunt, but I’m secretly glad for the reassurance.

“Just lay low and fly under the radar until we get this all cleared up,” she continues, “After that, if you want to leave here, I will personally help you to do so. Dr. Reed’s influence reaches far. I can help you get a new job, and see to it that your moving expenses are paid. Just get through the next week.”

I want to ask her why she is so willing to help me, or why she works for such an asshole, or what she and Reed are to one another, but the doors open and there are too many people around. She leads me back to the main corridor– which is somehow even more intimidating than it was this morning– and stops in front of a mountain of a man waiting at the corner.

Bea gestures to the man and says, “Cambree, this is Joseph. He will escort you to your vehicle, and then stay with you for the remainder of the day.”

Joseph’s eyes widen when he sees me, and his eyes flick briefly towards Bea, before landing back on me. Clearly he notices my resemblance to my newly-discovered doppelganger. He gives me a sharp nod, but says nothing.

I lift my eyebrows and quip, “Babysitting duty. Lucky you.”

He doesn’t smile, but I see the corners of his eyes crinkle just the slightest bit.

The man has a sense of humor. Good to know.

Bea says her goodbyes, and I am left alone with my new babysitter. The one positive to this is that I don’t have to find my way back through the hospital grounds again, since I have my very own guide. He maintains his silence as he walks an arms length away from me all the way back to my car. He waits until I get in, then walks a few rows over to a black SUV and climbs inside. When I pull out of the parking lot, he follows. He stays on my tail all the way back to my run-down apartment, then parks on the outskirts of the small lot. I make it to my apartment door, but peek out and give him an overly-sweet smile and a sarcastic wave before slamming the door shut.

Stripping out of my ill-fitting slacks and blouse, I make my way to my bed– or, more accurately, my sad little mattress on the floor– and collapse. Rather than processing this shitshow of a day like I should, I decide to pull out my phone and mindlessly scroll in order to distract myself. However, my heart sinks as I open my phone to see a single text message from an unknown number.

Where did you go?

I can’t stop my hands from trembling as I read the text again. No one has this number, apart from work and my landlord, and I have both of those numbers saved. No one should be texting me. The explanation that comes to my mind has icy fear rippling through me, memories of the man I ran away from flashing through my mind.

How did he find me?

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