Page 45 of Penalty Kill

“Hi Daddy!” they shouted.

“Hey, guys.”

“Snow cone time!” Finn cheered, and then Milo repeated it until they were chanting the three words.

“I’d better go before they stage a coup.”

“Okay, have fun. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” He laughed and hung up.

The boys were practically vibrating with excitement as we pulled away from the preschool. I’d seen a few snow cone stands open for the season and said that if they were super good last night and today at school, we could get one this afternoon.

It was the only thing they talked about since I brought it up.

“I want blue,” Finn announced.

“I want red and pink.” Milo rushed out as if he might not get his choice if he didn’t tell me now.

“Sounds good.” I’d have to figure out what flavors those colors meant when we got there. I turned onto the street and headed toward the closest stand I remembered seeing. This distraction was as much for me as it was for the boys. After Brandon called yesterday and told me that the worst case scenario had happened, that the press picked up the story about me being his mistress and they knew my full name. I had to do something to keep my mind off things.

We made him a welcome home sign last night while the boys told me all of their snow cone experiences. I tried to give them my full attention, but my mind kept wandering. How had they gotten my last name? In the quiet of the night, after the boys were asleep, I wondered if someone in the Pride told them but quickly dismissed it. The Pride and the team were Brandon’s family.

Maybe his ex knew? Did she ask when he hired me?

I was up all night worrying. Brandon said the press might be interested in me, but so far things had been quiet. We stayed at home and only ventured out for school. That was why I thought a treat would be a good idea. The boys were getting restless and deserved something to look forward to.

“I want one this big.” Finn held up his hands to frame his face.

I laughed and agreed as I got in the left turn lane. A gray sedan pulled behind me. I noticed it when I pulled out of the preschool. It had been going the same way, turn for turn.

Once was random. Twice was a coincidence. Three times was intentional.

I read that last night. I wanted to be prepared in case there were cameras following us. I read to make four right turns if you were in a city to see if they followed. We were already past four turns now. I took the next right turn and they followed. This was definitely intentional.

How could I call the police without scaring the boys? I turned up their favorite music and faded it to play just in the backseat. They seemed happy to sing along so I pulled out my phone and called nine-one-one.

“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency,” a woman answered

“I think I’m being followed in my car.” I tried to keep my voice as normal as possible. I told them about taking random turns and that it was likely a paparazzi.

“Can you get to the police station?”

That was another fact I’d memorized when I couldn’t sleep. We were quite far from it. “I can, but it’s about ten minutes away.”

“Head that direction. I’ll send an officer your way as well.”

I kept an eye on the car while I turned onto the road that headed straight to the station. I just had to get to the other side of downtown now. A red car turned out from another street and got behind me. I relaxed for a second thinking the gray car might get stuck at a light, but then I saw a camera appear out of the passenger window.

“There’s another car. They’ve got a camera sticking out of their window.”

“Try not to panic, ma’am. There’s an officer heading in your direction.”

“Okay.” There wasn’t anything else I could do. I drove the speed limit, staying in my lane, and hoped they would get bored and leave us alone.

“I have two four-year-olds with me,” I felt the need to mention, hoping it might get the officer here sooner.

“I understand. I’ve notified the officers so they are aware.”

“Thank you.” We were halfway there. If only the lights would work in my favor. I hated having to stop, knowing they were able to get closer to us.