章 98: Chapter 98 - Timing

'How did it go with my family? Did you guys get along?'

I smiled at her text. She genuinely was worried that we would not get along. 'Oh we got along pretty well. Your grandpa and I talked a lot about my time in the marine academy.' I got comfortable in the bed and stared at the wall just ahead of me. I felt the seeds of doubt begin to grow in my heart and coil around. The nerves making my heart making it beat fast and hard.

A few walls away was Celeste in her bed. I wondered how secure the windows to her room was, how strong the door was, how fast I could get to her incase something happened. If I could hear her scream.

That person who I have seen lurking twice was plaguing my mind. I recalled the details from the initial report. Her name was Irene Peterson. She was a young woman in her early twenties. She had thin brown hair and full cheeks. Based on her build from the moments I could see her she seemed like an average person of average height.

But the clothes stood out to me. Most people around the area wore clothes of various types. But the younger population mostly wore trendy styles and was mixed between streetwear and business professional.

For someone of her age wearing clothes like one was traipsing in Italy was not necessarily unusual, after all anyone can dress or express themselves as they like. But the fact that the man who came here to marry Celeste being from there and this girl sprouting up now that they have ended things does not bode well with me.

I have worked on hunches before and normally I am right. I have never been this hesitant but something keeps holding me back. My phone vibrated as Celestes next message came in. 'Ah thats right he loves to bond with other service members! Thats good that you got along thats one half down. One more to go.'

I tried to ward off the feelings I was experiencing but her message only lighted that nerve just a bit. 'Very true.'

Her next message came right after, however it was a voice message this time. "I know you have an early day tomorrow since you still work so I will let you go for now. Goodnight and sweet dreams." She whispered her message which instantly distracted me.

I recalled how she whispered in my ear that night. Her breathy gasps and whimpers as she dug her nails deep into my shoulder. I groaned into my pillow forcing the thought away before I had to take care of it.

'Shit.' I got up and went downstairs for some water to cool me down. As I poured myself a glass, surprisingly her dad came into the kitchen as well. "Oh sorry did I wake you?" Logically I knew I couldn't have, his room was in a separate wing of the mansion but the timing made me feel bad that by some small chance I might have.

"Oh no I just forgot to bring a pitcher up to the room. I usually get thirsty and in the morning I have to take a multivitamin pill which goes down easier with water."

He glanced over at me and chuckled. "So the old pajamas kind of fit." I glanced down praying that nothing was betraying me but thankfully nothing looked suspicious. "Oh haha yeah they fit alright we are pretty close in size I am just a bit taller."

He smiled warmly and grabbed a banana. "I also have late night cravings but lets keep that between us." He winked and punched my arm lightly in jest. "Actually I have a question well more so an issue I want to run by you."

I decided to just tell him. Worst case I was wrong and I take the loss. "I did not want to bring it up unless I knew the whole story but so far I have seen a strange woman lurking around the house. The last couple of days at least."

I paused to see how he would react but he ate his banana calmly. Just nodding along to acknowledge he hear me. "A woman? You sure it isn't a staff member?" I set down my glass and looked him dead in the eye.

"Listen honestly I am not sure but she was wearing clothes that looked European and she has hidden herself both times I saw her. I have a gut feeling she is not someone to be trusted and I am not normally wrong about what I sense."

He finally set down his banana and folded his arms across his chest. I have never really seen him as a strict man like I do my father. He normally seemed like a happy peaceful guy who was not quick to anger. But the way the aura of the room changed made me see how he could go toe to toe with my dad.

"European you say?" He tapped his finger against his forehead as he thought deeply. "Do you have a report? I know you have deep ties to that kind of stuff." I had my phone on me and closed out my messages to not expose that I was texting his daughter.

I pulled up my email and handed him the phone so he could read. "This is what I came up with so far." He just grunted in response as he read the report. "So you had this since the day you dropped of my daughter."

Oh shit. "Celeste told me about the guy she was seeing. We met coincidently when they were on a date a few weeks back. The clothes tipped me off since she mentioned that he made her uncomfortable."

I hoped he liked the answer because saying I was madly and deeply in love with his daughter would probably be a death sentence for me. "She is a friend and I take care of my friends."

He thankfully accepted my answer. "Thats good she needs friends like that who support her. Truthfully I was never on board with the situation to begin with but she insisted and saying no to her is the one thing I hate doing."

He gave me back the phone and rubbed his eyebrows. "I interview everyone that works here and her face does not come to mind. I have a good memory of people and I know everyone who comes into the house. What worries me is two things. One someone from the staff brought her in under my nose which is why security has not flagged her to me yet. Or two she is evading them which arguably is worse."