CHAPTER 45
Robert Swiss sat down in the inner chamber of their home, lost in thought. A certain number had been calling him for some days now, and he didn't know what to make of it. Since getting to Miami, the number had been calling. With all the drama going on, he was worried that picking up could mean hearing threats over his family, so he ignored it. Today, he got a text from a number asking to meet. He didn't want to, especially since he hadn't told his wife about this. He wanted his family safe, and he didn't think getting them all worked up would do that. Adriana was already suffering from this, as it were. She had called last night, saying she had sent Noah out. It was a reasonable decision she had taken, but it meant she was home alone now with two kids, all by herself. Although her sister would be coming in later today, it still wasn't right. He reread the text, unsure whether he wanted to meet. He sighed heavily.
His wife stood at the entrance watching him. When he stood to walk out of the room, he saw her. "You're here?" he asked, not so surprised. His wife had always been one to walk upon anyone quietly. "Need something?"
"No." She said, "Are you okay?" He nodded in affirmation, but she wasn't convinced, "You've been staring at your phone."
He wasn't sure he should tell her. He sat down, and she sat beside him. Then he decided to let her see the message. "This number has been calling me since I got back." He said, handing her his phone. "Sounds a bit off to you?" He asked.
Before replying to him, Mrs. Swiss read out the message; Let's meet at the inn later today. Or tomorrow or any day you decide. Call.
"That's it?" Mrs. Swiss asked her husband. He nodded. "I don't see anything scary here" she handed him the phone so he could look at it again. "It doesn't sound like a threat to me."
Looking at the message too, he discovered she might be right. "You have a point. No threat here. But it's vague still."
"I just think whoever this wants to talk."
"True. But seemingly innocent acts have gotten people killed."
She agreed, "But this looks like someone with something to tell you." She read the last part. "You can decide when to meet. Even where if you so wish. Fix the time and have your men check out the location."
"Sounds like a good plan." he dialed his security team, "I'll get my men on it." He said to his wife while the phone rang on the other end.
*********
Done with the shopping, Evan and Zoe walked out of the boutique with a bag of clothes. She had been able to pick out some clothes, and Zoe had found a pink baby gown too, "If she's a girl." She said and had it wrapped up. Then she told the attendant to add the bill to hers. "My gift to my godchild." She said.
"Aww, thank you." Evan hugged her. "I love it."
"Because it's pink." She mocked as they exited the building. Zoe waved her and drove away in her car while Evan sat down to order a meal before leaving so it could be delivered about the time she would get home. Done, she started the car and moved out of the park. As she exited, she noticed the blue vehicle she had seen at her apartment earlier again. She wondered if the occupants were ladies since they came to BELLS too. This was a place women mainly visited. The store sells only women wears and access. However, some men have been known to come shopping for their ladies. Turning on the music, she forgot all about the vehicle and drove out.
Loving the healthy way the wheels felt on her hands, Evan bounced along as she drove home. It wasn't until she was about turning to her street that she sighted the blue car again. "Okay, that's odd. I have a feeling I'm being followed." She whispered to herself. Becoming instantly alert, she drove past her street and stepped on the accelerator. She needed to call someone. Her dad was the best choice. She dialed his number but, on second thought, ended the call. It would be weird asking him for favors when he hadn't been around for a long time. They hadn't even spoken since the dinner they shared.
As she turned the corner, she checked her rear mirror and saw that she was still being followed, so she called the next person that came to mind. Jason picked instantly, "Hi." He said so sternly, she was forced to ask, "Are you in a meeting?"
"Yes. But what's going on?"
"I hate to do this now." Her voice sounded panicked. She couldn't get the fear out of her voice.
He sensed something was wrong. Still, he calmly answered, "It's okay, Evan. What is it?"
"I'm being followed." She told him.
Jason was at alert instantly, "Hold on." He said. She heard him dismiss the people in the room with him and was back with her in seconds, "What does the car look like?"
Evan smiled, noting that he didn't ask if she was sure she was being followed. She felt happy he trusted her judgment to know she could tell when something wasn't right. "It's blue with tinted glasses."
"Good. Are you on the road?"
"Yes."
He swore angrily, "Stay on the phone while I get James. Drive carefully." Then he whispered, "Please."
Smiling, she answered. "Okay." She loved this side of him. He called James, and she listened to him asking about the blue car tailing her. She didn't hear what James said, but she knew he was instructing the guy to be in the situation instantly.
"Evan?"
"I'm here." She replied
"Drive somewhere busy and stay in the car, okay?"
"Alright." She drove straight to Madison Park. The place was always so hectic on Thursdays, with people coming in for boat rides and other fun events the park had planned. "Found one. I'm at Madison."
"I know."
He knows! She shrugged that off but didn't let it bother her. She tried to see if the car was following her. There wasn't any blue car in sight. She released her breath. "I can't see the car."
"That should be a good thing." He said, then spoke to James on the phone again, "James will come to get you. You're coming to Miami now." His voice was firm, not taking no for an answer
"But I'm yet to pack my things. Food too." She complained.
"Evangeline." He backed into the phone, "Please stay in the car till James comes. He'll get you home, and you can get your things."
"Alright."
"Will you?" He asked, unsure she would stay put.
"I will, promise."
"Thank you." He said, "See you soon. Don't end the call. Stay until James gets there."
"Is James in Miami?" She asked, but before he could come up with any reply, James knocked on her door. She wound down and smiled at him, wondering what he was doing in Miami. She would ask Jason later. Remembering she hadn't hung up, she turned to check her phone, but he had already disconnected. It made her sad. But she turned to James happily and told him the vehicle had left.
"We saw it." James told her, "Thanks to you, we have those men now." He said something to the earplugs he had on, and Evan realized he must have been communicating with Jason. He drove her home and sat in her living room while she packed her clothes and other essentials. The food she ordered had been delivered, but she was no longer in the mood for it. She packed that too. When she locked the door, she couldn't help feeling that it might be a while before she got back.
James drove them to the jet pad, where some guy came to help drive the car to the park while they stepped in. Throughout the trip, Jason was on a call with James. She listened to the little she could make of their conversation. He appeared worried about her, asking how she was from James. She didn't understand why he wouldn't just speak with her, though. It was a very long trip and boring too. The last thing she thought about as she dozed off wasn't anything fun about Jason.
