Page 50 of You Found Me
“You’re too close to this,” Ward said.
“You mean to her,” Diggs said in a low drawl.
“Yes.”
“Screw you, man.” Diggs was so angry, spit flew out of his mouth. “You ask me, you ain’t close enough. You don’t care about her. You don’t care about what she needs. Can’t you see she’s wrecked? You can’t take her away from everyone she knows. You can’t take her away fromme.”
“Gentlemen,” Annie, the voice of reason and calm, said, “don’t you think a manly display of testosterone should wait until after this crisis is settled?”
Diggs’s jaw tightened, but he looked away.
“That’s it?” Della’s voice rose loud enough to command the attention of the room. “That’s all you have? You’ll just make it stop? Just like that?”
“Yes.” Ward watched Diggs until he was sure the man wouldn’t change his mind about some kind of showdown, then turned to Della. “What he did tonight was not only illegal, it was a big mistake.”
“How? You can’t see his face on that video. He came in here, past everything. He’s like a ghost.” Della’s stare challenged him. “How are you going to catch a ghost?”
“He committed an actual crime tonight. Breaking and entering. Trespassing. Assault. He left evidence of where he’s been, and what he’s done. We nowknowhe was here in this house on the day of the pool party. We’ll analyze where he was standing when he took those shots, how he got them printed, and with any luck, we’ll already have a shot of his face somewhere in all the social media posts. It’s a big break. We find him, the police will take it from there.”
“Our primary concern is keeping you safe,” Annie said. “We dothatby moving you somewhere he can’t find you. If you go with Ward, Spencer and I can focus on finding this guy.”
Ward expected an argument. His principal hadn’t wanted to stay put in this house. She’d expressed her contempt for hisentire strategy for the past five weeks, and she hadn’t given one inch.
Ms. Bellamy looked from him to Annie with resignation. “Where?”
Ward gave her a surprised but impressed nod of approval. Maybe there was an ounce of self-preservation in there somewhere.
“She can stay with me,” Diggs said instantly.
“No,” Ward said.
“Why the hell not?” Diggs’s voice rose in challenge.
Ward kept his tone calm and cool and hopefully firm enough to stop any further argument. “You’ve been on her detail for years. The stalker likely knows who you are. Where you live. If you’re in the way, you’ll be the next target.”
Diggs snorted. “He could try.”
“You want to help her? You help Spencer track this guy down and you keep this bastard from slithering away,” Ward said.
“Couldn’t Greg and I just go stay with Mattie or Lizzie?” Ms. Bellamy asked, her voice hopeful. “Mattie has that island. It’s remote. We could take the whole team.”
“No.” Annie sounded almost sorry about having to give that answer. “You shouldn’t go anywhere he expects you to be, and your sister’s wedding would be too easy for him to infiltrate. There’ll be too many unknown people coming and going.”
Ms. Bellamy nodded, but her gaze was distant. “If he followed me to Lizzie’s… Oh God. This is impossible. This is?—”
“Bullshit,” Diggs cut in. “You can’t just erase her like she don’t exist. You can’t do that. She’s Della freaking Bellamy, man. You can’t make her do this.”
“You’re right.” Ward spread his hands wide, trying his best to radiate practicality instead of command. “I can’t make her go somewhere she doesn’t want to go. But do you really thinkshe’s safer hiding out with you in that crappy apartment with the broken lock on the back door?”
“What the…” Diggs’s eyes narrowed. “You spied onme?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck you.” Diggs’s glare said he’d like to end Ward where he stood. “You waltz in here for two seconds, run one concert, and think you’re in charge?”
“Yes.” Diggs didn’t have to like it, but he damn sure had to live with it.
“Greg…” Ms. Bellamy put her hand on his arm. “Maybe he’s right.”