Facebook?”
“Well, I didn’t find Chase per se,” Jude explained. “He actually contacted me a while back.”
A while back.
What did that mean?
I cocked my head, my interest instantly piqued. “When?”
“Well, I’m not sure when exactly, but it’s been a while,” Jude replied. “But he was already on my friends list when I asked him if he could help you. I don’t remember adding him though, but then again I always accept everyone who sends me a friend request, which meant he could have been on my friends list for a long time, way before he even made that comment.”
“What comment?”
“Like I said, he was the one who contacted me,” Jude said. “I posted a Christmas picture of us two partying. He left a comment to say that we were beautiful. That was half a year ago. I thought it was cute, so I dropped him a message to say thank you. I never thought he’d write back.”
I shook my head, unsure if I should laugh or cry. “God, Jude. Catfish would have a field day with you. How many fucking Facebook friends do you have?”
She let out a laugh. “Too many. I think I’ve reached my limit.”
“There’s a limit?” I asked, surprised. “No, don’t answer that one. So he contacted you. What happened next?”
“He replied to ask me if I was your sister, and if you had a boyfriend, because a woman as beautiful as you couldn’t possibly be single. And—”
I let out a laugh, interrupting her.
“Oh, my God.” I winced in embarrassment, burying my face in my hands. “Please don’t tell me you bought that one. I can’t believe anyone could be so gullible.”
“I’m not gullible.” I could almost hear the annoyance in her voice. “Of course I bought it. Why wouldn’t I? Anyway, I didn’t think much of it. For all I know, he could even be in your friends list.”
God, what a creep.
Maybe he had escaped a psychiatric institution. It would explain why he was a stalker.
“Jude, I don’t like this,” I whispered. “He has all the details of my bank account, and a value estimation of my mother’s estate. That means he’s some kind of sociopath who plans ahead. I mean, six months? Hello? This guy, whoever he is, is driven by money and he had it all planned out. So don’t talk with him anymore.”
“But if he wants to know—”
“No, you don’t tell him anything. Do you hear me? If he’s standing outside the door, you don’t open. If he wants to know where I am, you don’t tell him. In fact, you block his calls and avoid him. You remove him from your friends list. You block him everywhere.”
“Okay,” she said, and for a moment I imagined her nodding her head as she digested everything I had just told her. “Okay, I can do that. Do you want me to call the cops?”
I let the thought sink in for a moment.
What would happen if she did?
They would listen to Jude’s story about Chase, but then what? According to Law and Order and all the crime movies I had ever seen, I knew they wouldn’t be able to charge him without some major proof.
Proof—the folder—I was sure would disappear, if it hadn’t already. I couldn’t believe I just left it behind rather than take it with me.
“No,” I said after giving it some thought. “Not yet. Give me time to figure something out.”
“All right.” She sighed. “Where are you, by the way? I’ll finish up early today and can get us some ice cream. We can figure it all out together over a movie.”
I sighed as I bit off a chunk of chocolate. The sickeningly sweet taste made me grimace. Our usual nights in. Ice cream and a movie. Under normal circumstances, I would have loved that. “Not today.”
Her voice grew wary instantly. “Why? Where are you?”
I tossed the chocolate on the coffee table and took my time swallowing the chunk in my mouth. “In Acapulco, but that’s not why.”
She let out a laugh. “You are where?”
“In Mexico.” I sighed. “Why are you surprised? It was your idea. And before you ask, yes, I listened to another one of your suggestions. I hope it does me more good than the last time. I’m sorry for not inviting you to come along.”
“So you’re not coming back today.”
“No.” I bit on my lip. My throat constricted. I took a sharp breath to calm the sudden tension in my chest. “Jude, I need this break. Clint, Chase, the whole