Chapter 5.
Followed
On Sunday Jay got a hold of me and said we were still on for the shooting range for the next day. With a skip in my step, I took a shower; doing everything I needed to do in there. After that, for the rest of the day, I cleaned the entire apartment. I just wanted the day to go by fast, so Monday would arrive, which was weird because I never thought I would ever be excited for that day of the week… ever. Maybe it was because I was off for the day. Or maybe it was because I was going to be spending time with Jay. Who knows but whatever it was I was excited for Monday.
I cleaned the entire house – besides my brother room, that was his mess, he was the one who was going to clean it up – only taking a break to eat and use the bathroom. Adam wasn't there so it was easier to get things done. He was always wanting to me to do other stuff and hung out with him because he said he didn't spend enough time with me. It was nice once in a while, but when things needed to be done it was pretty annoying. I always told him he could help me, but then he started whining and that was the end of those conversations.
Jay didn't get a hold of me Sunday, and I was starting to worry, but knew if he still wanted to hang out he would eventually text me. It was probably a good idea I didn't get his number or who knows what would happen. I would have been blowing up his phone by now, no doubt, and he wouldn't want to see me again. Which I wouldn't blame him, but still. He was probably busy, and there was nothing to worry about.
After my sixth time of thinking about why hadn't gotten a hold of me, I put my earbuds in my ear and started listening to music. The most I had on my iPod was country, so that's mostly what played through my earbuds.
Once I was done cleaning I thought it would be a good idea to go to the grocery store. I knew if I didn't Adam wouldn't have enough food to eat for the rest of the week; that is if he ever came home from Wendy's. While in the store, I could feel someone watching me. I was on guard the whole time I was there; looking down the aisle before actually going down them, and glancing behind me every time, I heard someone talking. There was no one there.
This feeling was starting to scare me. It was one thing feeling it when you were walking to your car once but when you felt it then and when you were in the grocery store, doing an everyday thing, then it was time to tell someone. Whenever I saw Adam again I was going to have to tell him about how every time I stepped out of the apartment I was feeling like I was being watched. I knew he probably wouldn't believe me, but once he saw how freaked out I was, then maybe he would change his mind or at least try to understand.
As I walked out the store and two my truck, I pulled out my gun and set it on my purse that was sitting in the child seat of the cart. I put on my best poker face, making my way through the other cars. I could still feel someone staring at me, but I did my best to try to ignore it. Putting my groceries in the truck took longer than normal because I had my gun in one hand, holding to one side, trying to hide it from view. I didn't want whoever was following me to know I had a weapon to defend myself. When I was done putting the groceries in the back, I put the cart away, and hurried back to my truck. Hopping in I locked my doors and turned on the vehicle.
The whole way home I watched behind me to make sure no one was following. From what I could see an all-black Range Rover was taking every turn I was and changing the same lanes I was. This was really starting to freak me out. Of course, I didn't go home; I didn't want to lead this person to where I lived – if he or she was really following me.
About a half hour of following me and trying to get rid of the driver of the Range Rover I really need help. I couldn't handle this anymore. There were a few people I could call and at the top of the list was my brother. I just hoped he'd pick up.
I pressed a button on my steering wheel and a voice came over the speakers. Sighing in relief I was thankful I bought the truck with the hands-free phone thing. Now I just had to figure out how to use it.
"Please say a command," Siri said.
"Call Adam," I told her.
The system took a few seconds, and all the time I my mind was telling it to go faster. Then a ping sounded over the speakers.
"Calling Adam on cell," Siri stated.
And then the phone started to ring. My damn brother didn't pick up the first time I called him, or the second… or the third… By the fourth I was about to say screw it and try Voight. He probably would be better help than Adam again way. Half way through the fourth try my brother finally picked up the phone.
"Why did you called me Roe?" Adam asked. "I'm kind of busy right now."
I could hear giggling on the phone and I was about to puck. If I wasn't freaking out right now I would have hung up the phone, but I was too scared to care if my brother was busy with his girlfriend. At the moment my life was more important than hers and I hoped my brother saw it that way too.
"Adam, this is serious," I told him, making my voice sound as scared as I could to let him know this wasn't a game.
"What's wrong?" he asked, worry was laced in his tone.
"I'm not sure. All I know is there has been this all-black Range Rover following me for almost an hour. I went to the grocery store to get food for the week and I felt someone following me there too. This has been happening for a while now and I thought it was my imagination, but now I'm not so sure."
"Calm down Monroe. Are you sure this person is following you?"
"No, I thought it would be a good idea to call you, so I could be a big pain in your ass… Of course, I think this person is following me. The car makes the same turns I do and changes the same lanes when I do. Trust me this person is following me."
Putting as much sarcasm in to my first sentence, I almost growled the rest. Adam should know I wouldn't have called him unless I thought I was in danger. Right now, was one of those times.
"Okay," my brother said. "Give me a second to think about what to do."
"We don't have time to think Adam. What do you want me to do?"
"Let me think."
I gave Adam a few more seconds and before I was about to tell him the time to think should be over he finally started talking.
"Alright here we go. Listen Monroe. This is what I want you to do. I need you to come over to Wendy's and park in the front. I'll be waiting for you."
"I'm five minutes away."
"See you soon. Be careful Sis."
"I'm trying."
Without hearing if he had to say anything else I hung up the phone. I sped up a little to see what the person behind me would do. Sure, enough the car started to speed up as well. My heart started to beat faster and I did my best to stay calm.
Less than five minutes and I pulled up to Wendy's apartment. I could see Adam standing at the front doors with his gun drawn, as I pulled over, and parked my truck. I took a look in my rearview mirror, when I turned off the vehicle. The car behind me had slowed down but it didn't look like it was going to stop. Glancing back toward my brother he was starting to walk out of the building. From the corner of my eye I could see the all black Range Rover pass by my vehicle – even the windows were heavily tinted, I couldn't even see who was driving the car.
I watched the car drive up the road a few feet and then turn a right on the next street. A few deep breathes later, I was mostly calm until my brother knocked on my window. I jumped ten feet in the air and turned in his direction. He didn't look happy. Sighing, I rolled down my window.
"Did you see it?" I asked.
"No I didn't see that," he told me angrily. "What I did see was someone in a black Range Rover driving right behind you and turning the corner. That vehicle wasn't following you."
Staring at my brother's anger face, it took a while for me to understand that he didn't believe me. I wouldn't have even considered it if I didn't know him like I did.
"You've got to be kidding me," I finally cried out furiously.
His accusation was enough to piss me off. He was still glaring at me so I gave as much force into mine. There was no way in hell he couldn't trust me with something like this. I had never lied to him before, why would I start now. He always told me if I felt like I was in danger to come and tell him as soon as possible. So here I was right now, telling him I felt threatened, yet he didn't believe me. What kind of bullshit was this?
"That person in that vehicle," I continued, pointing in the direction of the black Rover, "was following me as I drove. Whoever was in that Range Rover, I'm sure was watching me at the store today. I could feel it."
"Stop this now Monroe," Adam growled.
"No! I will not stop this. I'm sitting here in front of you scared out of my mind about someone following me and you don't even believe me."
"That's because no one was following you."
"So, you're calling me a liar?"
"I think you're seeing things."
"That's bullshit and you know it."
I watched as my brother looked to the doors of Wendy's apartment. Shadowing his eyes, I could see, sure enough, the bitch was standing right there. If I didn't know any better I would have said that she had said something to Adam before I got here. The anger was getting hotter in my veins. Right then and there I knew exactly what was going on.
Looking back at my brother, I hardened my glare. She was the cause for this fight and many more before that. From the looks of it I knew where I stood. When Adam looked back at me I squared my shoulders.
"Okay then," I muttered. "I see how it is."
His face softened a little and he rolled his eyes. This just got me madder.
"Come one Roe," he groaned. "Don't be like this."
"No, no. I totally get it. I know exactly where I stand in this picture now. I will be sure to not let this happen again. Next time I'll call someone else."
"That's not what I'm saying Ro–"
"Whatever you say Adam. I'll be leaving now."
Glancing down, I turned my truck back on and put it into drive. I looked back to my brother and stared stoned face at him.
"I have one last thing to say," I told him. "Have I ever lied to you before? Have I ever given you a doubt about anything I have said?"
"No," he answered, "but–"
"Bye Bubba. See you whenever."
I made sure I didn't hit him as a started pulling away from the curb, which was easy because there was no one in front of me. Taking a sidelong glance at the door I saw Wendy was still standing there, but now I could see she had a smile on her face. Whatever my brother saw in her I would never know. She better not cause any more trouble, that has to do with me, or she would live to regret it. It didn't matter what my brother said or not.
~J&M~
It wasn't very late after I got home, but I wasn't in the mood for anything. I didn't want to clean anymore and I didn't feel like eating. All I did was put my groceries away, after locking the door, and went to my room to get into some PJ's, before getting into bet. Curling up with my body pillow was when I started to cry. My brother was never like this until he started dating Wendy. Nicole wasn't bad; she was quiet and didn't socialize much with the family, but she wasn't an evil conniving bitch, which was nice. The woman he's dating now is more like my mother and older sister. Which is good for them I guess, they'll get along just fine.
If Adam does marry Wendy I wasn't going to have anything to do with him. I'll move out of the apartment, and find my own. Wendy can have him, because I'm not going to put up with someone like her, when I already have two people who are exactly the same. Maybe it is true: when I man finds someone, that person is like his mother, and when a woman find someone that person is like her father.
I sighed at shoot my head, trying to find something better to think about. Today started out good, but it ended badly. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I stopped crying then… That's right. I was going to the shooting range with Jay tomorrow. Tomorrow had to be better than today.
With those thoughts in my head, I slowly started drifting off to sleep. Jay's blue eyes filled my dreams that night and I couldn't ask for anything better.