Olivia smiled. “Well, I’m glad you called.”
The waiter appeared and they placed their orders. After their drinks came, they fell into easy conversation as if they’d known each other for years, although they were just beginning to explore each other.
“You sounded a bit stressed when I called earlier. Is everything okay?” Greyson asked.
Olivia sat her glass down. “I have a lead on another job.”
“Yay, that’s great,” Greyson encouraged. “Isn’t it?”
“Maybe,” Olivia said, “but I’m not sure about it. It’s for a private family who wants me to homeschool their son this summer and maybe through the school year. It could be enough if I don’t hear back about the other job.”
Greyson took a drink. “Okay, so it’s not a school. At least it’s a teaching job.”
“Yeah, but it’s in their home, and that creeps me out a little.”
Greyson frowned. “Why?”
“I don’t know, it just seems weird. I don’t like it. There’s been all that talk about those dead girls they found. The whole thing has me paranoid.”
“Well, I can’t argue with that. How many bodies have they said it is now? I think it was something like ten the last I heard.”
Olivia nodded. “And they’re still looking for more.”
“Any identifications yet?”
“They released the names of three women so far. All three were immigrants who went missing shortly after coming into the country. Each woman was reported by a family member who managed to gain legal status. They think more of the women may have been immigrants as well, but they haven’t been reported missing because the families haven’t come forward, probably fearing deportation.”
“That’s terrible.”
“I know, right,” Olivia said in disbelief. “I can’t imagine someone I love going missing and not being able to go to the authorities to try to find them.”
Greyson leaned back in her chair. “As awful as that story is, it doesn’t sound like this sicko is looking for people who are easily missed or likely to be reported. Doesn’t sound like someone who would hire you to look after their kid.”
“I know, but just because it might not be the person who killed those women doesn’t mean it isn’t some other sicko.”
Greyson nodded. “True.”
Olivia slumped. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Maybe you could meet with the kid at a community center or library or something, and not have to go to the house,” Greyson offered.
Olivia brightened. “Yeah, maybe. That would work.” She considered her options and what this could mean for her long-term goals. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to check it out. If I don’t like it, I can always wait tables for the summer.”
“That’s an option,” Greyson agreed.
“I want to wait and see what comes of my interview today, but I don’t know how long I should wait. Something has to pay the bills, and I don’t want to have to leave Knoxville.”
Greyson frowned. “Why would you leave?”
Olivia shook her head. “My parents are giving me a hard time about living in the city. They want me to move back to the farm, teach at the local high school, and settle down with a nice farm boy.”
Greyson’s eyes widened. “Oh.”
“Yeah,” Olivia agreed. “Oh is right.” Olivia pushed aside her drink. “Enough about all that. When do you leave tomorrow? Are you excited?”
Greyson smiled. “First thing tomorrow morning, and yes, I’m very excited. I’ve been planning this trip so long, it doesn’t seem real now that it’s finally happening. I can’t wait to get on the trail and put the rest of the world behind me for a while. I can’t wait to be outside, surrounded by fresh air, endless stars, and everything wild. I hate being cooped up inside. My job allows me to be outside a lot, but it’s not the same. I want to feel free.”
“You make it sound so romantic. I’ve done a lot of camping, but nothing like what you’re going to do. I can’t imagine being alone all that time, not to mention the work.”
Greyson laughed. The waiter came and Greyson paid the check. “Can I walk you to your car?”
Olivia shook her head. “No need. I just live around the corner in one of the lofts. It’s a small space, but I love living downtown.”
“Okay. Can I walk you home then?” Greyson asked.
Olivia smiled. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
* * *
The Recruiter pulled his motorcycle into one of the small spaces the city had created just for bikes along the narrow streets of downtown. The target was on the move. If something had changed, he didn’t want to be left in the dark. He wasn’t about to let this one get away. He was anxious to get started on his personal prize, but right now he had to secure the order for the Employer.
The blonde, Olivia, would present her own set of challenges, but he was a pro. She wouldn’t be a problem. This hunt would be different for him. He enjoyed bringing in a paying prize, but this girl was special. He would claim her himself. And when it came to his collection, he was patient. Only the right girl would do.
He secured the helmet to the bike and made his way to Market Square. Why was Greyson back here? She was easy to follow, but he wanted to stay close. He’d make contact if he had to, but that was only in extreme cases. She was out of her pattern and he didn’t like it. Most people never realized the patterns they created in their daily lives. The smallest clue would often lead him right to the one he wanted. Things like having lunch at the same place at the same time on Tuesdays, going to the gym every evening, having a regular girls’ night, or getting a haircut on a schedule. Everything made it easier for a man like him to find what he was looking for.
He followed Greyson to a restaurant. He spotted Olivia just as she turned to face Greyson. Ah, that’s why she came back to town. She likes the girl. Hmm. I do too. What a treat.
He took a seat at the bar, close enough to watch but not close enough to listen. He’d have to settle for being the voyeur. He couldn’t risk trying to get any closer.
The Recruiter paid his check and followed the women out. He wanted to make sure he could follow the target without being noticed, so he crossed the street and followed at a distance. With any luck he would have her in his den in no time at all.
He smiled when the women stopped outside the entrance to a set of studio apartments. He laughed. Greyson was doing all his work for him. She had led him right to the girl’s door. He would have to thank Greyson for that later.
He stood in the shadows as Greyson kissed the girl good night. The stab of jealousy filled him with rage. He wanted to beat Greyson. He wanted to make her hurt. He pulled back into the shadows, willing his fists to open. He’d teach Greyson a lesson. Soon enough she’d learn her place. The girl was his.
* * *
Greyson inventoried her gear for the last time and closed her pack.
“Well, that’s it,” she said tossing her keys to her best friend. “Thanks for looking after the place while I’m gone.”
Dawn Sawyer grinned. “Yeah, like that’s going to be such a hardship for me. I can’t believe you’re going to give this place up during the best part of summer. This place is a certified love shack, and I plan to take full advantage.”
Greyson shook her head. Dawn always talked big about her charm with the ladies, but Greyson knew Dawn was more the romantic fall-in-love-forever type. She just hadn’t found the right woman yet.
“Right, just make sure she stays afloat. I have to live here, you know.”
Dawn picked up a box Greyson had addressed to herself. “What’s this?”
Greyson glanced at the box as she pulled her pack over her shoulder. “Supplies. I’m mailing them to myself so I don’t have to carry everything. I’ll pick them up at my first stop and send more on ahead of me.”
“Man, that’s smart.”
“Pretty standard procedure. You might know that if you ever ventured out of the air-conditioning
.”
Dawn’s eyes widened. “Now you’re just talking crazy.”
Greyson laughed. “Come on, let’s get going. I’ll call to check in at each town, so you’ll know where I am on the route. That way if you don’t hear from me, you can send out the cavalry.”
Dawn nodded. “That’s good. I’m going to be bugging nuts with worry. I still think this is a crazy idea. I don’t like the thought of you being off in the woods alone with a serial killer on the loose.”
Greyson clasped her friend’s shoulder. “There’s no need to worry. I’ll be fine. That’s a couple of counties away from here, and where I’m going is even farther away. I’ll be back here cramping your style in no time.”
Dawn gave Greyson a playful shove. “There’s enough for both of us.” She paused. “Are you sure there’s nothing that will change your mind?”
Greyson thought for a moment, and the memory of Olivia flooded her mind. That was one thing that could change everything. She pursed her lips and shrugged. “Nope. Nothing.”
Dawn squinted at her as if seeing something Greyson couldn’t. “Are you sure you don’t have someone going with you and you just don’t want to tell or something? I’d actually feel better if there was someone going with you.”
“No one is going with me.”
Dawn picked a shirt up off the floor. “Good grief, what happened to this?”
Greyson took the shirt and tossed it into the trash. “Nothing. Just me being clumsy.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s nothing. I just bumped into this woman yesterday and wore her iced coffee home as a result.”
Dawn grinned. “Was she cute?”
Greyson frowned, suddenly recalling the rich chocolate color of Olivia’s eyes. She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess. I wasn’t thinking about that at the time. I was too busy dodging her insults. She was pretty pissed that I’d ruined her dress and she was late for some meeting or interview or something. Like I said, I just ran into her—I mean, I literally ran into her.”
“And?” Dawn pushed. “Is that your new way to meet girls?”
Greyson laughed. “I don’t recommend it. She wasn’t very nice.” Greyson cringed inside. She was being truthful, kind of, but Olivia had turned out to be more than just nice. And she was stunning. But Greyson knew if she gave Dawn the slightest hint that she was interested in someone, she’d never stop hounding her about it.
“I bet she won’t forget you, though. Way to make yourself memorable.”
Greyson squinted at her friend. “And you wonder why you’re single.”
Dawn grinned. “I have special charm.”
“Yeah, you could call it that.”
Dawn spread her arms and turned in a circle. “Now that I’ll be staying here, I have all the charm I need. The girls will be crawling all over this place.”
“Whatever, Casanova. Grab that box and let’s go. I don’t want to miss my flight.”
Dawn slid the box under her arm. “You promise you’ll call? I don’t want to have search and rescue looking for your ass and have them find you shacked up with some girl in your tent.”
“I promise I’ll call. Seriously, I’ll call. I know you’re going to miss me.”
“Sometimes you’re a real pain in the ass, you know that?”
Greyson patted Dawn on the back. “That’s what you’re going to miss the most.”
Dawn grinned. “I might not miss you as much when the girls get here.”
Greyson got serious for a minute. “Why is it so important to you to meet someone? If you ask me, relationships are overrated.”
Dawn shrugged. “One of these days you’re going to meet a woman who makes you want to stick around in the morning and find out what she likes for breakfast. When that happens, you’ll see things different.”
Greyson laughed. “I’m not that bad.”
“Yeah?” Dawn countered. “When was the last time you actually woke up in bed with a woman and saw her for a second date?”
Greyson stopped laughing. “That doesn’t mean I’m some kind of womanizer.”
Dawn put her hands up. “Hey, I didn’t say that. I’m just saying that you don’t usually want to stick around and get to know the women you…see.”
“There’s nothing wrong with sharing a little love,” Greyson argued. “I just don’t want all the headaches that come with that second date.”
“Hey, I’m not saying you have to get married and get a dog, but I’d bet most women would at least like breakfast.”
Greyson scowled. “I think this conversation just got offensive. I always remember their names and our arrangement is always mutual.”
Dawn shook her head. “Whatever you say.”
Greyson smacked Dawn’s shoulder again. “Ass. Get in the Jeep already. I have to be at the airport early.”
Dawn grinned and threw the box in the back seat.
Greyson would never admit it to Dawn, but the conversation bothered her. If her best friend thought she cared so little about the women she dated, how did she make them feel? Greyson stuffed her pack into the Jeep and sighed. “Breakfast is overrated.”
Greyson continued to ponder the conversation as they drove. It wasn’t that she was opposed to relationships, but she just hadn’t found anyone she connected with on that level. Maybe she was too picky. Maybe she had commitment issues. Maybe she was just waiting for the right woman to come along and sweep her off her feet.
She thought of Olivia. Olivia had come at her with fire and vinegar, but there had been something about her that had stirred her up. Once they got past the fear and frustration, Olivia had been smart, funny, and captivating. Greyson definitely wanted to see Olivia again. But they hadn’t slept together. Was that why? If she slept with Olivia, would the spark die out? Greyson frowned. She didn’t like where this thinking was taking her.
“What’s up with you?” Dawn asked. “You haven’t said a word the whole drive.”
Greyson shrugged. “Just a lot on my mind. I guess I was daydreaming.”
Dawn laughed. “Get used to it, buddy. You’ve got sixty days of sleeping alone and living in your head in front of you.”
Greyson decided she was right not to tell Dawn about Olivia. She had two months to clear her head before exploring anything with Olivia. Maybe they’d be good friends. Maybe they’d have good sex. And maybe, just maybe, they could even have breakfast.
Chapter Three
Greyson departed the airport terminal with a satisfied sigh. She was one step closer to the start of her journey. She slid into the back seat of the first cab waiting at the curb. From here it wasn’t far to Damascus, Virginia, where she would finally take her first steps on the Appalachian Trail. Then she would have eight glorious weeks of complete isolation from civilization—no computers, no television, no traffic, no phones, no distractions.
She let out a long slow breath, expelling the weight of her stress, and gave the driver the address as she settled into her seat. She allowed the gentle sway of the car to lull her into a peaceful reverie. She thought of all the months of planning it took to make this trip happen, and various friends who thought she was crazy to go out on the trail alone. She replayed her conversation with Dawn that morning. Greyson knew why Dawn was skeptical about her intentions with women, but she didn’t like it that Dawn thought she cared so little about the women in her life. She had always been respectful and honest with women about her feelings. She had tried the relationship thing and it hadn’t worked out. She didn’t want to be tied down. She liked her life the way it was. She liked her job, she had good friends, and she had plenty of adventure to look forward to, to keep things fresh. But something was missing. She thought of Olivia. They had shared one good-night kiss. And now that one kiss was all she could think about. Olivia kept popping into her mind like a craving.
“Welcome to Damascus,” the cabbie said, slowing for the now twenty-five miles per hour speed limit.
Greyson looked out the window
at the sprawling little town. It didn’t seem much different than the old towns she frequented in Tennessee. Places like this were special to her. It was like taking a step back in history to a time when life was so much simpler, and people moved at a different pace, ruled more by the rising and setting of the sun than a twenty-four-hour clock.
She spotted Quincey’s Pizza to her right and her stomach growled. It wouldn’t hurt to have one last indulgence before she set out on the trail.
“You can let me out here,” she said to the cabbie.
He pulled to the curb and waited as she fumbled with her wallet, handing him the fare and a generous tip.
“Thanks, man,” Greyson said.
He waved the bills in the air. “Thank you. And good luck out there.”
Greyson smiled and patted the back of the seat as she stepped onto the curb. She drew in a deep breath, filling her lungs with the smell of fresh-baked pizza. Her stomach rumbled.
Greyson settled her pack and slid into a booth along the wall. She ran a finger along the fake brick panel. The room was bigger than she had expected from the outside, but the place was clean and inviting.
A waitress appeared at her table with a smile and the usual ticket pad.
“Hey, sweetie, what can I get you to drink?”
Greyson smiled. “I’ll have a water with no ice and no lemon.”
The waitress eyed Greyson’s pack. “Let me guess. You’re heading out on the trail, right?”
“How’d you know I wasn’t just coming in?”
The girl smiled. “You’re too clean and you don’t look hungry enough. The ones who’ve been on the trail a week or so come in here looking wild-eyed and are barely able to hold the drool in their mouths. You still have that fresh look about you.”
Greyson held her hands up, as if in surrender. “Guilty. But thanks for letting me know what to expect in a few days.”
The waitress smiled. “Do you know what you want to eat?”
Greyson laughed. “I was going to have a small veggie pizza, but based on what you said, I think I’ll have the supreme.”
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