The Hurt And The Healing: Bucky X OC

Chapter Twenty One: It's Not Paranoia If They're Really After You

The strange interaction with Mr. Smith had cost Mara some of her momentum, but the end of the day came quickly enough and she was eager to get home. She was unable to get a seat, but she did have enough room around the pole to plant her feet and not have people pressed up against her. Her phone was still struggling to stay alive so when she did grab a seat she decided against listening to music. She stared out the window, watching the cars and pedestrians.

By the fourth stop Mara realized that one of the men who had been standing beside her when she got on had moved closer to her and remained standing despite the open seat nearby. Mara stood up and moved closer to the bus driver, and at the next stop the man did the same. She took out her phone to snap a selfie and tried to get a picture of his face, but it was obscured by a baseball cap and sunglasses.

Mara waited for a busy stop and quickly exited in a crowd. She crossed the street and ducked into a deli. It was dinner time, and she melted into the hoard of hungry patrons. She allowed herself to be pushed towards the back of the room, keeping her head on a swivel.

A minute later the man from the bus entered.

Mara made her way to the counter and grabbed the attention of an older man.

"Do you have a back entrance I can leave through?" she asked, doing her best to be heard over the din without letting the man from the bus hear her. "My ex husband just came in and I really don't want to deal with his nastiness today."

The man behind the counter nodded and signaled for her to come with him. He led her behind the counter and through the kitchen. When they reached the back exit Mara thanked him profusely.

"Stay safe," he replied, opening the door for her. She exited and made her way back to the street. She looked at the street names and sighed. She had far too many blocks left to walk. A taxi was expensive, but days like this was what her emergency fund was for.

Mara hailed a taxi and breathed a sigh of relief as it pulled away. She could get out in a few blocks and catch another bus. If she and Nonna gave up take out for the next few weeks they would break even. It was okay. She was okay.

Several blocks later she realized that a black SUV had been trailing them for five minutes.

Mara debated what to do next. She took out her phone, planning to call Bucky or Nonna, but it was dead.

"Sir, do you have a phone charger?" she asked the driver. He shook his head.

"No, no charging," he told her firmly. Mara leaned back in her seat. They were still several miles from home, and it was starting to get dark. She looked back again. The black car was now separated from the taxi by a red one, but they were clearly still following Mara's cab.

"Sir, can you turn on Cruger?" she asked, keeping an eye on the black car. The red car turned and the black car came closer. The windshield was tinted.

"Why would I take Cruger? Pelham is faster!" The driver protested.

"You get paid more, that's why," Mara snapped. The driver grumbled but turned left. The black car did the same.

He turned onto Lydig, then Bronx Park East, then back onto Pelham. With each turn the black car followed and Mara felt the knot in her stomach grow tighter and tighter.

"Any other detours?" The driver asked in an exasperated tone.

"Drop me off at St. Barnabas instead of the address I gave you," Mara replied. He sighed but nodded and Mara slid back down. This taxi fare was going to be expensive, but it would cost less than her funeral. She didn't know who was following her or why, but she trusted her gut more than she'd ever trust the decency of humanity and right now her gut was in knots.