Page 86 of Take Her

I didn’t plan on watching her all the time—but I liked knowing that I could.

I liked her knowing that especially.

I didn’t want to say I got high from being around her, because over the course of my four and a half decades on this planet, I had had access to some very excellent drugs—but the knowledge that she wanted to do everything I commanded came pretty fucking close. I’d played rough games before, but I’d never experienced the compliant type, and I had no idea how satisfying it could be.

And I liked the idea of there being something between us I could count on, as everything else in my life—because my life was Corvo Enterprises—was about to be tossed in the air.

I parked my Tacoma a little down the block from the house I was interested in.

House on either side is empty. Wife’s already left. Two kids, too

Sable texted me, using the home’s Ring system to keep track of outgoing traffic.

Should be just him now. And the six other nearest security cams are presently on a loop.

Good

I texted back, ready to get out.

How’s your girl?

Before I could respond she added,

She’s been putting some pretty gushy stuff up on her page.

I made a face at my phone, irritated that Sable was also tracking Lia’s Instagram feed. But I couldn’t tell Lia to cut it out, because I had a feeling if she knew I knew, she’d be mortified—and I did want to give her some private spaces that were safe, online at least.

Also, I wanted to let her feel like a girl. She’d had to spend her whole childhood so seriously, by virtue of being her father’s daughter and her erstwhile European tour.

Reading was apparently fun for her—and it was a better hobby for her than homicide, so who was I to judge?

And then a text came in from Lia’s PI.

She’s at some sort of old folks’ home.

Keep following her

I texted him.

Fine

Sable huffed when I didn’t text her back. I switched lines.

Do me a favor and listen in on police bands, in case I fuck up.

Sable was quick on the draw after that.

Awww, is true love making you soft, Prince Charming?

No, but I am doing this in broad fucking daylight

I complained to her, then put my phone into my pocket and got out of my car.

The first thing I did was pitch a tennis ball into the backyard of his neighbor, so the Airedale next door would chase after it instead of bark at me. Then I walked straight up to Mr. Piznos’s front door, let myself in quietly, and heard 80s hair metal blaring from down the hall, where I knew his office was.

I walked back there slowly, down a hall full of family photos, making a detour into a boy’s room that smelled like teenager. I pulled out my handkerchief and picked up a baseball bat there out of habit, then appeared at the man’s office door.

“Working from home’s amazing, huh?” I asked. I’d dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and I gave the baseball bat a meaningful thump against my shoe heel.