Watcher in the Darkness, Book 3: Imprisoned

Chapter 34

Relief swept over me when Karen finally barged through the heavy oak doors. It had only been a few minutes since I'd seen her, but too much could've happened in that time. It was like she'd covered herself in chicken blood then swam through a lake of crocodiles. I guess, deep down, I didn't expect her to make it out.

She hurried passed me without a glance, rushing down the steep flight of stairs to the sidewalk.

"Hey," I called after her. "Karen, wait up."

Karen lifted her hand to hail a cab as though I hadn't spoken.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, really?" I jogged to her side. "Are we really going to do this?"

Karen fished her cell phone out of her purse. "Toby, no offense, but I don't have the time to deal with you right now." She dialed Trevor's number then brought the device to her ear, mouthing, "Pick up, pick up, pick up."

I watched, my hands in the pockets of my hoodie, as the phone rang five times. There was a click, then the generic-voicemail woman began to speak. Karen hung up, muttering curses under her breath.

"Damn it." She waved her hand as yet another yellow cab approached. "Taxi!" The car didn't slow. "Seriously? You're an asshole!"

"Karen, you're panicking."

"Oh, you think?" she said, her tone as sharp as a samurai sword. "Why isn't Trevor answering his phone?"

"He's not answering because it's one o'clock on a Wednesday. He's at school."

Karen made a face. "Yeah, condescend to me, Toby, because that's super helpful."

I hadn't been talking down to her, but whatever. "Okay, let's say you do get ahold of him. What are you going to say? That you're the real Karen? How do you think that conversation is going to play out, because it's a safe bet that he's with her right now. Actually, you know what? I'm kind of curious to see how this goes. Keep doing what you're doing."

Karen shoved the phone back into her purse, the line of her body tense. "Will you please just go away? No one is going to stop for me with you standing there. You've got the guy equivalent of resting bitch face."

I knew this. I looked mad even when I wasn't. "It's my face, Karen. What do you want me to do about it? You know, I could carry you there in less than ten minutes."

Karen gave me a cynical look, as though to say, Nice try. It was a genuine offer, but, again, whatever.

"Fine. Why are you calling Trevor, anyway? Bad Karen works for you. I assume that means you have a method of getting a hold her. Call her, since your problem is with her, for whatever reason."

Karen reeled. "For 'whatever' reason?"

I shrugged then said, "Okay, she violated her contract. I get that. Fire her. Do you really need to trap her in a statue?

"Yes," Karen said without a beat of hesitation.

"To be fair, what did you expect?" Karen's jaw tightened, her cheeks flushed in anger, and her hands balled into fists. I reminded myself that this girl had the power to face-plant me into the concrete. Still, I never know when to shut up. "And it's not like you have the right to be jealous anymore."

Karen took a step back. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You're all pissed off like Trevor's been cheating on you, when twenty minutes ago you were making out with a pimp."