The Stalker Read Online Free PDF Page B

many times.”
    We both listened to the storm raging outside.
    “I meant to apologize earlier for what I said about your top this morning.” I said. “I was out of line.”
    “No, you were right,” she said. “What I wore wasn’t appropriate.”
    “Well, it did make me uncomfortable.”
    “I shouldn’t have worn it.”
    “No. I mean, I liked it. You looked nice. That was what made me uncomfortable.”
    She turned to face me. Our noses were only inches apart. “I wore it for you,” she said.
    I grinned. “Then I hope you wear it again sometime.”
    “I’ll think about it.”
    I could hear a smile in her voice. I leaned forward and kissed her in the dark. But she turned away as best she could in the cramped cave.
    “I’m sorry,” I said. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”
    She shook her head. “You like Sara.”
    “She’s married.”
    “She likes you.”
    I thought about Sara’s dress, the cookies she had brought me, the way she had smiled at me that morning. “She knows I don’t get involved with my employees,” I said. “Besides, I would never break up a marriage.”
    “But if Dave wasn’t in the way...”
    “But he is in the way. I’m not interested in getting involved with Sara.”
    “Because she’s married.”
    “Yes, because she’s married.”
    That didn’t seem to be enough for Liz. “And you don’t get involved with your employees,” she said. “I’m an employee.”
    “Fine,” I said. “Let’s just forget that kiss ever happened.”
    But after a time she backed up against me and I wrapped an arm around her. We didn’t make love or even kiss, but I held her body close to mine.
    “Do you think the stalker is still out there?” Liz asked.
    I paused a moment before responding. I wanted to reassure her, to make her feel safe. But I knew that, somewhere out there, a guy with a gun waited for us to come out.
    “I don’t know,” I said.

Chapter Eight

    As daylight came, the storm started to move on. But I still had no phone reception. Perhaps the cliff itself blocked the signal. Even so, there was no way I was going to step down onto the beach to check. The stalker might still be waiting with his gun on the cliff above us. One shot and it would be game over for me.
    Then I heard the sound of a motorboat heading our way. I climbed over Liz, waking her. “What?” she said, still half asleep. “What is it?”
    “A boat,” I said. “Someone’s here.”
    When I peeked over the rocky ledge in front of my cave, I saw Sara jumping to the shore from my motorboat. She tied the boat to a driftwood log. Jason leapt out of the boat after her. I stoodup, pressing my body against the cliff face, and called their names, waving my arms.
    Sara waved back until she saw Liz come out of the cave behind me. She let her arm fall.
    “Is everyone all right?” Jason called up to us. “You had me scared shitless. You phone to tell us some guy is threatening you, you say you’re coming home, and that’s the last I hear from you.”
    I looked back to the caves. Sam poked her head out of hers. Gerald stood up and stretched. “Yeah, I guess we’re all right,” I said. “But check out the kayaks.” Gunshot holes peppered the boat hulls.
    “Oh, my god,” said Sara. “You’re living that missing tourist story all over again.”
    “The guy shot directly at us, too, from up there.” I pointed at the top of the cliff above me. “He had us trapped in these caves all night.”
    “I don’t see anyone up there now,” Jason said. “I think it’s safe to come down.”
    We all scrambled down the rocks to shore. Despite our dry suits, we were wet, cold, and shivering. Sam and Gerald both went directly to their kayaks, looking for a change of clothes.
    “I’ll fire up my camp stove,” said Liz. “Make us coffee and something to eat to warm us up.”
    I hugged Sara and slapped Jason on the shoulder. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you two,” I said.
    “When you didn’t