Bequeathed

Chapter Fourteen: Increased Security; Decreased Safety

Claire sits in a booth by the window. She’s in Best Burgers, the burger joint that William brought her to. The city’s best burgers. She pulls her hoodie over her head, steals glances through the window. She slides to the end of the bench. Why did it have to be here? And in the open? Andrew seems to always suggest activities and meeting places that fill Claire with fear.

She takes up her phone. Another new phone and the calls have returned. Andrew tells her to answer each call. He tells her to listen. He will slip up, Andrew said. So far her harasser hasn’t slipped up. Answering the frequent calls, listening to him breathe, makes it hard for Claire to sleep at night. Her head pounds. She lifts the burger bun, lifts the beef patty with her thumbnail. The city’s best burger missed the mark today. One bite. That’s all she's had. A few fries and a few sips of milkshake.

Claire studies her phone screen again. No calls or messages. She breathes a sigh of relief. Her stalker has granted her respite. Where is Andrew? He hasn’t called or texted either, and it was his decision to meet in this booth…Fifteen minutes ago.

Claire slumps down. Andrew has better come with good news. It’s been a month and he’s found nothing. Claire’s old phone is still with the police; they’ve also found nothing.

Claire keeps her head down, examining the apricot tiles. The colour of the floor tiles, the straw wrappers, and crumbled napkins that litter some booths, give the eatery a grimy feel. Claire didn’t detect that before.

“Claire?”

Claire looks up expecting to see Andrew. Rob is walking over with Simone by his side.

“I thought that was you,” says Simone. “Rob didn’t believe it was you.” Simone leans into Rob, uses her hands to wrap his arms. Rob lets her hang on to him like a leech. “I didn’t expect to see you this side of town,” says Rob.

“I like the burgers.”

Rob eyes the food in front of Claire. “You don’t like burgers.”

Claire takes another bite, chews slowly. Why did it have to be her? “I’m really into burgers now,” she says while chewing.

“Have you been sleeping, Claire?” He steps closer, touches the table. Simone moves with him, her arms still suctioned to his hand.

“Do you think I’ve been losing sleep because of you?” Claire stuffs a few fries into her mouth. “I have bigger things to think about…” Claire mumbles then trails off.

“I don’t mean that you’re pining for me,” Rob says. “Your eyes are puffy and you’re cranky…things that happen to you when you don’t sleep.” Simone releases Rob’s arm. “I’ll let you two talk,” Simone says.

“That won’t be necessary.” Claire grabs her phone, bag, and stomps past them. Her phone rings. Finally! Andrew. “Where are you?”

“That must be the husband,” Simone says. Claire doesn’t look back. Simone can have r****f all the people he could have chosen, he’s decided on the one that made Claire most insecure throughout their relationship. Perhaps Rob never put Simone in her place because he needed her to hang around…just in case.

“Stay there,” Andrew demands. “I’m coming in.”

Claire walks back to her booth, slumps down.

“It was nice seeing you, Claire.” Robs taps the table before walking away.

Andrew meets them at the door. He stops them, engages them in conversation, then hands over one of his cards.

“What was that about?” asks Claire.

“I should ask you.” Andrew takes out his notepad, writes down Rob and Simone. “I was watching your little exchange from the window.” He looks up. “First run-in with the ex?”

“How do you…nevermind.”

“You’re paying me to know. At this point, everyone in your life, everyone you’ve come across is a suspect.”

Claire throws herself back. “You still don’t have anything.”

“Sadly, no. But there was a development.”

Claire leans forward; her hands are clasped together underneath the table.

“I intercepted a delivery of black roses a few days ago.”

“What delivery? Where? Why didn’t you tell me before.”

“They were sent to your house.”

Claire gasps.

“I wanted to look into it before I told you anything. The delivery guy wasn’t actually a delivery guy. He couldn’t give me any details of the flower shop. He was just a random cyclist. He was paid two hundred bucks to courier the roses to you. The cyclist said that the guy who paid him told him that he wanted to surprise his girlfriend. I asked the cyclist if he didn’t find any of it strange. He said two hundred bucks is two hundred bucks. There wasn’t a card with the flowers. It took some digging but I’ve narrowed it down to one of three florists, here in the city.”

“Are we going to check them out today?”

“What you’re going to do, is hire a bodyguard. Your stalker attempted to make contact. Through a third party, yes. But it was still an attempt at contact. That’s an escalation. You need security until all of this is settled. I know a guy.” Andrew uses his index finger to guide a card over to Claire. Joseph Johnson…and a number underneath. Claire flips the card over, searching for other details. All it has is the name and number at the front.

“I’ll walk you to your car.”