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Thursday
Sady awakened a couple times, her heart pounding from the nightmares, then she relaxed knowing she was safe. At one point she thought about Matt's question. The first time this happened she didn't have a strong support system, but now she did. And they had training in things she could only imagine. The day she met CJ and Harry she knew she wouldn't want them as enemies.
Like the blonde who was taking her place in Louisiana. Why wasn't the stalker down there? Or maybe he'd been there and seen her other half, realizing they weren't the same person. Uncle John would throw a shoe if that was the case. Someone should probably suggest the possibility to him.
She was sleeping when CJ checked later that morning. Matt had his feet propped up on the bed working on his laptop. He nodded when she asked if he wanted coffee. CJ raised one finger, and he shook his head... two. Sady was stirring from her position in the middle of the bed. CJ returned with the coffee mugs and set them next to Matt. She looked at his laptop. He was reading the file on Sady's stalker. Good- Morrow didn't waste any time. Matt lifted the long brown hair covering Sady's face. "You awake?"
She opened an eye. "If that's coffee I smell, possibly. If that's not coffee, then no."
"Harry wants to know if you prefer a tray brought up so you can eat in bed," CJ said.
Sady popped up, startling them both. "Just the coffee until I get moving. I'll eat after I get ready for the day. Tell Harry thanks." She looked over at Matt's laptop. "Anything new?"
He closed it and grabbed his coffee. "We'll talk over..." He looked at the clock. "Brunch."
Harry stuck his head into the room. "Want me to bring it up?"
"No, thanks Harry. We'll be down. Are you sure you don't have a twin brother?" Sady asked. It was a good sign that she could joke.
He shook his head and said, "Food's on the table in ten minutes, so make it fast."
When they sat, it was silent for once. No one knew how to start the conversation, so Sady did. "I don't know if this has occurred to anyone, but I'm supposed to be in Sinful and I wondered if... he hasn't already been there looking for me." She didn't have to connect the dots for them. Matt jumped up and told them to go ahead without him. He was calling Morrow.
"Morrow's checking that angle." Matt was back, and he sat down to eat.
Harry picked up the discussion, "Sady, if any of this makes you uncomfortable just say the word and we'll stop. You don't have to be a part of this if you can't handle it, but if you can then I think you should listen."
"I'm scared, but I'm not giving in, and I'm not letting him win without a fight. That's my way of saying I want to keep working. However, I'm not thrilled about going back to the apartment."
"That's being taken care of, Sady, along with the mess," CJ told her. "A new security system is being installed, and it's connected to the windows and doors. No more surprise visits from the likes of Irene or Leon." CJ had finally said it- the stalker's name. Irene was the other person who had recently broken into her apartment.
"It's a high-tech system not available to the public," Harry told her. "Morrow had it flown in this morning." Sady nodded, the relief on her face easy to read.
CJ gave Sady the details for which she had been waiting... and dreading. "Sady, the reason Leon's out is budget cuts and a moron who deemed him rehabilitated and no longer a threat. They released him about three weeks ago and no one has bothered to keep tabs on him... or let you know. I guarantee Morrow's chopping heads as we speak."
"We've gone through security camera footage from anywhere close to your apartment. We have a picture of him several blocks away, but that's the closest we can place him to you. He's good at avoiding cameras." Sady nodded- she already knew that.
"No luck on tracing the source of the call. It was from a prepaid disposable. We've linked your phone so we can hear him the next time he calls."
"He came through your front door. Security isn't great on apartment doors. They're easy to get through. The pictures were all accessible for someone who knew where to look- newspapers, magazines, photographer web sites, social media pages of other contestants."
"Law enforcement in the area now has his picture so he might try to change his appearance. You know people like this don't just give up and go away, right?" Sady nodded again. CJ passed around the surveillance photo which had a clear picture of his face. Sady didn't react other than to breathe deeply.
"Sady, you have to carry your phone. The more time he spends trying to reach you the better our chances of finding him. If he can't torment you, he might jump to the endgame." Which she would lose.
"When will my apartment be ready?" Sady asked. The guys looked ready to protest and CJ showed them her reputation wasn't a front.
"Don't baby her," she warned them. "It will only make things more difficult. If she wants to take her life back, she needs to be tough, and she needs to be prepared. She also needs to get back to her normal routine. If we keep her squirreled away Leon has more time to plan and Sady has more time to contemplate the worst. If you're not up to helping her, then get out of the way."
Harry and Matt looked a little sheepish, and CJ forgave them with a pat on the back. She looked at Sady and asked, "Are you ready to go back to work this evening? Our professor's still waiting."
"I can't do it," Matt protested. "They almost killed me yesterday, and that was before we knew Leon was back. Send Harry."
CJ narrowed her eyes, "Can you control yourself Harry? I don't want to get a call that I need to come bail you out again!"
"Again?" Sady asked.
"Uh, oh. Harry's been a bad boy? This I have to hear," Matt said. Harry shook his head no while CJ sat back with a smile.
"Give me some time," Matt said. "And good luck tonight. You'll need it."