Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I absolutely did not cancel my service.”
His face is lined with confusion as he taps some keys. “It says here that you came into this store on Wednesday afternoon and canceled your service.”
“I was in the woods on Wednesday afternoon,” I inform him. “But either way, let’s just get it set back up.”
“Sure, that should be easy enough.” But when he taps some more keys, he loses the smile on his face. “Actually, it says here that you owe about six hundred dollars in fees, and I can’t reinstate your plan without you paying that first.”
I stare at him, certain I just heard him wrong.
“That’s impossible.”
“No, there are fees for canceling before your contract is up, and given that you’ve had this plan for less than a year, the fees are high.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I didn’t cancel.” My heartbeat picks up at the thought of spending that much money on something I didn’t do.
“The computer says you did.”
“Okay,” Tanner says, cutting in. “We won’t be paying that today, and we will contest it. In the meantime, add her to my plan.”
Justin looks like he wants to argue with that, but then he just shrugs.
“Yeah, okay. I’m probably not supposed to, but I don’t care.”
“Can I have my old number back, please?”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
As Justin taps away at the computer, I’m reminded how freaking long it always takes at the cell phone store, and how much I hate it.
Suddenly, Justin sighs. “I’m sorry, I can’t give you the number back because it’s been assigned to someone else.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” I protest. “Justin, it’s been turned off for a couple of days, not weeks or years. They must hold those numbers aside for a little while before reassigning them.”
“Usually they do, but if someone requests it, they’ll release it.”
Tanner’s hand on my shoulder tightens.
“Are you telling me that someone requested my number?”
Justin’s face pokers up. “I can’t give you that information. All I can say is that the number isn’t available.”
“Fine. Just give me a number, and I’ll figure it out.”
“Why would someone request my number?” I demand once Tanner and I are back in his vehicle. “It’s not special.”
“Someone is really dicking with you,” Tanner replies as he pulls out of the parking lot, his face set in grim lines.
“It’s a coincidence,” I begin, but when he shoots me a warning look, the one that says he’s pissed, I just shrug. “Okay, maybe it is, and maybe it isn’t. It’s mostly just a pain in the ass.”
“It’s harassment,” he mutters. “I think it’s time you got an attorney, Sarah.”
“For what? I don’t have proof of literally anything.”
“Then we’ll hire a fucking private investigator. We have to do something because I can’t just sit back and watch all of this shit happen to you, over and over again. It’s not okay, and it has to stop.”
“The private investigator isn’t a bad idea.” I tap my lips with the pad of my finger, thinking it over. “They might be able to dig something up that we haven’t.”
“I’m glad we see eye to eye on that one.”
“Do you know any PIs?”
Tanner nods. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
July 30, 2018
* * *
Dear Diary,
I found out about another affair. This makes six in the past ten years that I know about. Honestly, I just feel dead inside at this point. He doesn’t love me. I don’t think he ever did. I simply serve a purpose for him.
Obviously not well because he hasn’t had sex with me in more than five years and gets it elsewhere.
That doesn’t bother me. I have no interest in him physically.
I have no interest in him at all.
But I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’m stuck here.
I miss my friends and my brother. And I have so many regrets.
-Sarah
Chapter Sixteen
Tanner
“So, what now?”
The question comes from Scott. I’m having lunch with him at Three Sisters, filling him in on everything that’s been happening with his sister.
I have another motive for asking him here, but that’ll come later.
“I called Belle Lovejoy,” I reply with a shrug and eat my burger. “We’re meeting with her at the end of the week.”
“A private investigator,” Scott says in surprise. “I suppose that makes sense. Maybe Belle can find some answers for us. You know, some of this could just be coincidence. The tire, the phone, things like that. They may not be connected to the break-in at the house at all.”
“I know. I thought of that.” I set my water glass down and frown at the other man. “But what if they aren’t? Something just feels so off lately, and I can’t explain it. Sure, some of it could just be life kicking her in the balls, but something in my gut doesn’t think so. I’d rather be safe than sorry.”