every nook and crevice. Other runners and dog walkers emerge, making the calm continue to warm over me. They are few and far between, but there are enough people to make me feel safe.
However, my calm is short-lived when I realize there’s a man I recognize staring at me from a distance not far ahead of me. I don’t know where I’ve seen him before, but I know I’ve seen him somewhere. A part of me wonders if I should turn around and head back towards where I came, but then another part of me wonders why I should. I can’t run and hide every time I see a shadow that scares me.
With renewed determination, I push on, closing the distance between me and this oddly familiar looking man. He seems to be in his early thirties with slight signs of ageing around his eyes. His black hair is slicked back, and he’s dressed impeccably in a black V-necked jumper, which he wears over a white shirt and tie. I note he has a brown shoulder bag and is carrying his phone in one hand and smoking a cigarette in the other. As I close the distance between us, he suddenly smiles, making the lines of his eyes run deeper.
I should turn and walk the other way. Something tells me if I did, he would be in no position to catch up with me. His bag looks heavy and he’s dressed too smart to be running and getting all sweaty. But then again, why should I? Besides, there are still people milling around, so if I had to scream, it would certainly draw attention.
When I’m mere feet from him, his smile widens. I place my sternest face on so that he doesn’t note the fear creeping up inside me. When I pass him, I let out a little breath, but the hairs start to rise again.
“Hi, Ana. How are you today?”
My feet stop in their tracks, my heartbeat racing a million miles an hour. Who is this guy? And the even more concerning question: how does he know my name?
I spin round, equally hoping and fearing the answers I’m looking for.
“Who are you?” I demand, a small growl in my throat.
He seems to purposefully take a long drag of his cigarette before he finally stubs it out under his foot and closes the distance between us. His hand is soon out, expecting me to shake it.
“My name’s Phil Spector.” Again, the name is familiar, but I can’t pin where from. When I don’t shake his hand, he smirks before placing his hand back beside him. “I work for the Herald Newspaper and just wondered if you could spare me a few minutes.”
It’s then it dawns on me. He’s the man who was following me after all that business with Tony. I thought he had been long, done with me since the news about the Senator broke. However, that has died down quite a bit lately, so maybe that’s why he’s back? In any case, I don’t wait around to hear what he has to say. I quickly turn, hastily making my way back to Jessie’s, knowing full well he won’t just let me go that easily.
“Ana?” he calls. “Ana?”
Annoyed at him being personal with me, I flit my head back. “How do you know my name?”
“I know where you work and where you live—or shall I say used to live until recently? You’re quite the interesting character, Ana. Living and working with the same man. That must be quite difficult. Who’s the woman who lives there in place of you now?”
I stop momentarily and turn to face him. “That’s none of your goddamned business.”
Growling and frustrated at myself that he’s managed to get a rise out of me, I continue to walk briskly, trying my best to ignore him.
“She looks a lot like you, but older. Your mother, perhaps? Is she the reason why you left? Has she come to take your place?” He laughs at his own joke, and I seethe on the inside. How dare he follow me and get in to my personal business. Who does this jackass think he is?
“Mothers and daughters getting together with the same man under the same roof. That’s quite a sensational story. Care to confirm my suspicions?”
My anger reaching new levels, I stop again and turn to him. “My life is none of your business.” The man has the gall to smile at me again. “Why are you following me? I’m