Bailey took another deep breath as she typed away on her computer. She was mostly a data analyst, logging in enough information on the right platform. It was a tedious job, but this time she welcomed it more than anything. She droned on, music blasting in her ears to take her thoughts far away from Clay.
Although the first meeting did not quite go as she expected, she was still spooked. Yet, she managed to look him in the eye. She did not think she could do that. She shook her head and focused on it when she felt her phone buzzing next to her.
She glanced at the screen to see Talia, one of her former colleagues at the college calling her. She switched of her music and answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Bailey! Thank goodness! You answered the call," Talia's voice resonated through the call. "Listen, I think I might just be paranoid, but I also think I am being followed."
"What do you mean?" Bailey clicked the record button and placed her ear against the phone again.
"Do you know Ben is dead? You know, he …he, he died of, I of, um, of a heart attack. No, um a stroke…such a young age?" Talia spoke. "Do you think? Do you think they might still be coming after us?"
"Talia call the cops,"
"I did, I did every time I saw something suspicious, but I don't know, I don't know any more, what's real?"
"Talia, where are you? I need you to calm down," Bailey stood up and flicked her fingers to one of her co-workers, motioning her to come closer.
"Lutkin Central Train Station, um, but I don't think I should catch the train, they might get me on the carriage,"
"Do you see anyone following you?" Bailey asked.
"No, no, but I saw something, someone…" Talia said.
Bailey glanced at her co-worker. "I need you to call the cops to Central Lutkin Train Station, tell them a friend I know is on the phone with me there and that I think she is in danger."
"Bailey?" Talia's voice cried.
"I'm still here, trust me, you're gonna be fine," Bailey said. "Can you walk up to a security guard? Stay in public sight, ok? I'm having the cops called, they are on their way."
"I see him,"
"Who, Talia? Who do you see?"
"I see him,"
"Talia! Snap out of it! Who do you see!"
"Bailey, it's gonna be ok…."
"Talia what do you mean?"
"I am coming for you some day,"
Bailey's eyes widened as she realized that Talia was being forced to read the message. That whoever it was, was right there, with her.
"Don't you dare hurt her!" Bailey screamed on the phone.
"It's gonna be ok, Bailey," Talia's voice spoke. "You are last in line. I am coming for you, and you are mine."
Bailey froze as she heard deep breaths on the phone. She swallowed hard. "Don't you dare hurt her!"
"Bailey, I'm gonna be ok," Talia said. "Just perfectly…Peachy."
She heard a thud, screams in the background, and a sickening crunch sound along with the wheels of the train. However, the phone was not put down. Bailey shook in anger and shock. Her hands were shaking. "You're gonna pay for this."
The phone call ended, and Bailey stormed out of the building. She did not care whether she would get into trouble with work. She knew Talia was killed. She knew that sound. She climbed onto the bus at the stop. The ride to the agency was strenuous. She could almost hear the ticks of the clock. The bus stopped one block away. She started running and stopped at the edge of a coffee shop.
She then started running to cross the road.
A hand grabbed her arm and jerked her back. She gasped as a bus stormed past her, nearly striking her. She glanced at the man who grabbed her. "You,"
"Are you crazy? Running in front of a bus?"
Bailey tried to pull away, but Joe tightened his grip slightly. "What's got you in a tizz."
"I need to speak with Clay,"
"I practically had to beg you last time, now you want to waltz in..." Joe said.
"They got Talia, Silva's gotten Talia…they killed her, and I heard everything," Bailey shoved her phone against his chest, causing him to spill some of his coffee. He grunted as he let her go and grabbed the device. He saw that the screen was unlocked, and the recording was ready to play. He clicked on the button and placed it against his ear.
"Don't go anywhere," Joe warned her. But Bailey simply crossed her arms and stared at Joe's face. He did not flinch at all as he listened to the entire recording. He lowered the phone. "Can you send the recording to us? As well as all of Talia's details?"
"She's dead! She's dead! I need to speak to Clay! Don't you get it?!"
Joe placed his hand on her shoulder. "Bailey, take a deep breath here…breath in, and out."
Bailey followed his instructions. Slowly breathing in and out.
"I'll allow you to talk to Clay, but I need you to remain calm. Ok? I will set one of my men to look up Lutkin Station for any incidents…alright? But I can't do anything if you go around getting yourself killed."
"What does it matter? I'm a dead woman walking anyways, he's coming after me…you heard him,"
"Let's cross the street," Joe motioned for her to follow him. His walk was steady, but slow enough for her to keep up. She brushed her hair out of the way as they entered the building. She took a deep look again, realizing that the entire office was pristinely clean. She did not pay a lot of attention to her surroundings, but now she looked at every nook and cranny. A female with mouse brown hair tied in a bun, and the slim figure came walking in.
"Joe, what's she doing here again?"
"She's here to talk to Clay,"
"I thought she…"
"Not now," Joe interjected." He placed his coffee down on one of the desks and lead Bailey through the backdoor corridors again. The lights flickered, and she could hear the light buzz of electricity. She pushed open the door before Joe could say anything to her, but this time he walked after her.
Clay sat there, this time unshackled, but that did make much of a difference as Bailey swung. Her fist connected with his jaw, and he flew off his chair.
Bailey cursed as she jumped on top of him, swinging her arms, and striking his face. Joe grabbed her and pulled her off. Clay laughed hard.
"Talia's dead you bastard! You knew, didn't you? You knew!"
"Bailey, calm down!" Joe said. "I need you to stay calm." He pushed her to the side and looked at Clay who simply stood up and brushed himself off. He trailed his thumb against his bottom lip until he reached the blood. He shook his head.
"Wow! What a swing! You can try again tomorrow, it's such a joy to see your face," Clay said and winked.
"I might be dead tomorrow,"
Clay sat down again. "Perhaps, you could fall off a building, or in front of a train track, a stroke, or accidentally fall off the second floor and break your neck…"
Joe's phone buzzed and he glanced at it. He took a deep breath. "Son of a gun."
"What?" Bailey glanced at Joe.
Joe stared at Clay then Bailey. "You want to explain to me how you know Silva was gonna kill these students in each and every way you just described."
Clay only gave a brief glance to Joe before staring at Bailey. He stood up and took a step closer.
"Sit down buddy, or I will put you down,"
Clay stopped and tilted his head. "You're scared. When you're scared, you run to me." He winked at her. "I can keep you safe Bailey. I will keep you safe Bailey. And we can have so much fun together."
"You are going to prison, for the rest of your life," Bailey said.
"Says who? I only defended the good people in the college…I was a rescuer, not a killer…only thing that is a problem, is the backed-up court systems," Clay turned and took a seat. He leaned back in his chair. "I know how this game works."
"This conversation will lead us nowhere," Joe said.
"Silva is coming for you," Clay said. "But you won't be able to run. You won't be able to hide. He finds whoever he wants…and he will want you."
"Well, if you care so much about me, can you tell us where he is?"
"No, no I won't," Clay said.
"So you know where he is?" Joe asked, but Clay ignored him.
"Why not?" Bailey asked.
Clay leaned forward again. "Cause I want to take a knife, and I want to stick it in his one eye…then the other eye." He started laughing again. Causing Bailey's stomach to twist at how sick he was.