Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“Blame it on the hours and that pretty girl in the blue dress down the hall.” I nod and tilt my head toward the room where Demi went.
“So, there’s nothing going on between the two of you, is there?”
“I wouldn’t let you look at her with that puppy dog look if there was. Although I’d do whatever I had to do to keep my girl.”
I can see the wheels turning in his head, but their situation isn’t my problem. The dumbass had an entire year to fix that. I wouldn’t have waited an entire year to nab Andrea, and the fact that he’s waited this long makes me wonder if he deserves Demi or not.
“Excuse me,” he says, leaving me there, so I go back to work. Finally, I get back to work digging into the Center’s system, and I find a big fucking hiccup. There’s no luck in the footage. There doesn’t seem to be any cameras facing the audience, or maybe they haven’t uploaded them. I should have asked the detective how they film the programs. Are there mounted cameras, or man-operated ones moving around the theater? I’d been so damn distracted by Andrea’s beauty and plans on finding her that I hadn’t bothered to notice.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I bet they had cameramen, and the footage had been stationary. Although that doesn’t mean he didn’t ruin the footage. Quickly, I pack up my laptop and go looking for the detective. He’s just leaving the room Demi was in, and then I ask, “Detective Torres, is it?”
“Yes. Do you need something?”
“Yes. I was wondering if you all have the footage for the auditorium, and if it was in the system or if it hasn’t been uploaded yet.”
“It has gone missing. It was all loaded on drives that have disappeared. The only footage was the lobby, which is a standard security camera as well as the one that leads to backstage, but for a brief time, the footage had been deleted. Whoever he is, he’s good with technology.”
“Damn it. Is there any way I can get access to the footage you do have?”
“I can’t legally give that to you.”
“I’m the only one who has an idea what this asshole looks like. Never mind. I have my ways. Remember what I said earlier. If he comes after me, I’ll just be defending myself.”
“Understood,” he answers, throwing his hands up. “I didn’t hear anything, but I’ll just say be careful.”
Smiling, I nod and wave him off as I walk back to my perch in the waiting room where I attempt to get some more information on Andrea and her possible stalker. According to her bio, she’s been playing the piano since she was three years old, which is insanely amazing genius shit. Her parents sent her to several music schools, and she graduated from a special program at the age of nineteen, starting her professional career and going on tour last year. She’s just twenty and change. There’s no mention of any significant other. Andrea doesn’t have any pets, and she lives with her cousin in Dallas when she’s not traveling.
Chapter Four
Andi
I’m met by a nurse who takes me into a private exam room. I thank the police and tell them that I’m fine here. If I need anything, I’ll call, but I will take a cab back to the hotel. They try to argue with me, but I inform them it’s my choice and that I don’t need their services anymore for the evening.
As soon as they’re gone, an abnormally built doctor steps into the room with a strangely humorous demeanor on his face given the situation. He smirks and then says, “I’m Dr. Simmons. My friend will escort you and your cousin out of the hospital to Steeleville shortly after I give you a quick exam.”
“I’m not really feeling sick.” I blush, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible before my stalker finds me or the guy from the performance.
“You can lie to the police, but not to me, Ms. Cole.” He ignores me and pulls out the blood pressure cuff.
“I’m just really worried about the stranger who could be hurt because of me.” He continues to work while I speak.
He shakes his head dismissively. “Don’t worry about that guy. He’ll be just fine.”
“Do you think you can find him before the crazy fucker does?” Bee asks. She’s staring at him with the tough look she always has for anyone who has too much bravado around me. It’s clear the doctor’s married by the ring on his finger, and he’s not flirting with me, but he’s too smug for our liking.
“Yes.”
“You’re overly confident. Who are you?” Bee demands to know.
He whips his head toward her after wrapping his stethoscope over the back of his neck. “I just told you, young lady. I’m Dr. Joseph Simmons, but my friends call me Doc. The friends you contacted for help. So enough with the questioning. I’m sending you with William Brandon, who you will be perfectly safe with, although most of the people you’ll meet call him Beast. He will take you to his home with his wife and child. You’ll be safe there until tomorrow.”