“I’ll do it,” Grady said. “Why don’t you go straight home?”
“You mean you want me to go home and lock myself in my house until you can get there and protect me, right?”
Grady sighed. “No. I mean I would like to buy you dinner.”
“I’m going to let you buy me dinner, but only if you let me pick where,” Sophie said.
“Fine.”
“Good. What do you like?”
“I like everything.”
“Okay, why don’t you stop at that Middle Eastern place on the corner by my house? They have great humus.”
“That sounds good. What do you want?”
“Just get me a beef kabob dinner with rice.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a little bit. You can tell me about your day over dinner. I have a few things to tell you, too.”
“About John Madison?”
“Yeah.”
“Are these good things or bad things?”
“I’ll tell you over dinner.”
“Not even a hint?”
Grady sighed, she could almost picture the frustrated look on his face over the phone. “I’ll see you in a few.”
Sophie couldn’t help the smile playing at the corner of her lips. He was buying her dinner. He wanted to hear about her day. This was starting to sound downright … domestic.
Don’t think like that? He’s only hanging around until this is over.
Still, for tonight, things would be good. They would have a nice dinner, they would share important conversation, and then they would go to bed. Together. For now, that was enough.
Sophie started the car, pulling out into rush-hour traffic before merging onto the I-94 freeway to go home. She was lost in thought, but Sophie’s attention was drawn to the entrance ramp behind her. More importantly, it was drawn to the dark SUV that had pulled out of the gas station behind her as she passed.
Sophie tried to keep her heartbeat in check. There were thousands of dark SUVs on the roads during this time of day. There was no way it was the same one she thought was following her earlier. No way.
Sophie accelerated, testing her theory. The SUV sped up behind her. Sophie shifted lanes to the left, slowing down. The SUV stayed in the previous lane, but the driver decelerated, too.
Crap.
Sophie wasn’t sure what to do. She fumbled in the seat next to her, finding her phone. She pressed redial and held it to her ear.
“Do you want to change your order?” Grady answered, his tone flirty.
“Someone is following me on the freeway.”
“What kind of car is it?” All pretext of fun was gone from Grady’s voice.
“It’s a dark SUV. I think it followed me from the funeral earlier.”
“Can you see a license plate?”
“It’s behind me.”
“Can you see a driver?”
“The window is tinted.”
“Are you near an exit?”
Sophie glanced at the sign on the side of the road. “The Harper Road exit is coming up.”
“Take the south exit,” Grady said. “There are businesses there. Pull into the first one you see, and don’t get out of your car. Stay on the line with me. I’m on my way.”
“Okay.”
Sophie signaled, cutting back into the right lane of traffic.
“Don’t use your turn signal when you get off the expressway,” Grady ordered. “Wait until the last possible second, and then get on the exit.”
“Okay.”
“It’s going to be okay, Sophie. I’m coming.”
“I know.”
“Put the phone on speaker and put it on the seat next to you,” Grady instructed. “Keep both of your hands on the wheel.”
“Okay.” Sophie’s voice was shaking, but she did as she was told.
“Just keep talking to me,” Grady said, his voice soothing. “Tell me what you see.”
“I’m almost at the exit.”
“Just remain calm.”
“I know you’re trying to help,” Sophie said. “You’re starting to freak me out, though.”
“Okay. I’ll try to stop.”
“I’m pulling off now.”
Silence.
“He exited with me.”
Grady cursed. “Do you see a business?”
“Yes. There’s a gas station right across the road. I’m at the light.”
“Look in the rearview mirror. What do you see?”
“Nothing. It’s just a guy behind the wheel. I can’t make out any features.”
“Don’t worry about it. Focus on what’s ahead of you.”
“The light is still red.”
“As long as you stay in the vehicle you’re safe,” Grady said.
“It turned green.”