A Whisper in the Dark by Linda Castillo Read Free Book Online Page B

thought.
    “Have you received any strange phone calls? Any hang-ups? Unfamiliar cars parked outside?”
    “I’m usually pretty observant, but the shop has been busy and it’s possible I just haven’t noticed.” She raised her gaze to his. “John, do you think this guy is dangerous?”
    “I’m not going to sugarcoat this for you, Julia.”
    No, she thought, he’d never been good at that, but then that had always been part of his appeal. “So what am I up against?”
    “He’s stalking you. There are some strong emotions involved. That makes him dangerous.”
    “How dangerous?”
    “If his compulsion gets out of control, he could try to get to you.”
    “How do I protect myself?”
    “Don’t underestimate him. Be vigilant. Be alert. Take some measures to keep yourself safe.”
    “Like what?”
    “Commonsense stuff. Alarm system. Locks. Secure windows and doors. Keep someone with you at all times.”
    “Oh, jeez . . . like that’s going to be practical.”
    His gaze moved around the shop. “Do you mind if I take a look around?”
    “Oh, um . . . sure. I can show you around, if you’d like.”
    “Let’s start with the back door.”
    Her heart was beating a little too fast as she led him down the aisle toward the rear of the shop. She was keenly aware of him behind her, the steady tread of his boots against the floor, the rustle of his leather jacket. The faint hint of his aftershave reminded her of pine forests and summer storms.
    At the rear of the shop, she opened the door to the storage room, flipped on the light and stepped inside. “This is where I do most of the inventory work and boxing for shipping.” She motioned toward the exit door. It was a dented metal antique with a push bar and knob that rattled like old bones. “That door leads to an alley behind the building. It winds through a couple of courtyards and eventually cuts over to Bourbon Street.”
    John walked to the door, squatted to inspect the lock and shook his head. “This lock wouldn’t keep out a determined four-year-old.”
    “In the two years I’ve owned the shop, I’ve never had any problems.”
    “Yeah, well, you don’t want that first time to happen.” He straightened, turned to her. “I can arrange to have a new lock installed tomorrow.”
    “That would be great. Just . . . let me know how much I owe you.”
    “Did I hear you mention that you have an alarm system?”
    For the first time, Julia felt foolish, because she knew upgrading the old security alarm was something she should have done ages ago. “I do, but it’s not exactly state-of-the-art.”
    John frowned at her. “Tell me your security system is not a four-and-a-half-pound Chihuahua.”
    “It’s not.” She smiled. “It’s just . . . old.”
    “How old?”
    “Well, I’ve been meaning to upgrade.”
    “I’ll find a reputable company and get them out here in the next day or so.” He pulled out the pad and made another note. “Any other windows in this place?”
    “Just the display window at the front.”
    He scribbled, then slid the pad into his jacket pocket. “Your father mentioned your apartment is upstairs.”
    An uneasy quiver of nerves ran the length of her. “Oh, well . . .”
    As if discerning her reluctance, he said, “I figure the sooner we get this done, the sooner your father will get off your back.”
    “There’s an incentive.” But as she left the storage room and started toward the steps that led to the second level, she tried hard to remember if she’d cleared her desk . . .
    The only sound came from their shoes against the wooden steps and the occasional creak as she took him up the narrow staircase to the landing outside her apartment door. At the top, she inserted her key into the lock and swung it open.
    A quick sweep of the room told her she had, indeed, tidied things up that morning. “It’s small in square footage, but it makes up for it in character.”
    “Nice place.”
    Despite her apprehension, she felt a