Page 65 of The Stalker Snafu

“Again?” I squeaked, letting my arm fall to my side. “You mean this happened before?”

Julian winced, stepping back and dropping into a chair. “Not exactly.”

I frowned, but he didn’t seem eager to offer any answers.

“Explain,” I demanded, walking closer. Suspicion swirled in my gut as Julian averted his gaze, and another thought dawned on me as the pool of dread in my stomach deepened. “I overheard one of his calls with you, you know. Talking about money and a drop spot. What’s he involved in, Julian?”

He shook his head, covering his face with both hands and taking a long breath before he faced me again. Gone was the weariness and exhaustion, and I barely noticed the bags under his eyes anymore. “We can’t talk about it here.”

“Why not? It’s a private room⁠—”

“Do you have anywhere else to be today?” Julian asked over me, hopping up and reaching the door in two steps.

I gaped after him. “Well, my boyfriend is missing and currently labeled as extremely dangerous. My only plan is finding out what the heck is going on.”

“Come with me.” Julian opened the door and motioned me through. “I need to text a few people, but it’ll be quick. We can talk at my place, where I know there isn’t a chance of anyone overhearing us.”

My feet stuck to the linoleum floor. If there was one thing I’d learned from crime shows, it was to never go to a secondary location. That’s where the bad things happen.

But… this was Noah’s friend.

The same Noah who’d lied to me and was apparently a fugitive now.

What a disaster.

But Julian’s eyes shone with worry, and no way could I go running back to square one in my dorm. I needed answers.

So, I took a deep breath and walked out the door, but not before double-checking I had my pepper spray tucked safely inside my backpack.

CHAPTER 25

Apocalypse

It wasn’t until Julian’s car pulled into the duplex’s driveway that I realized where we were. Spotting the familiar red of Noah’s front door, I blinked at the windshield.

Hold up.

“I thought we were going to your place?” I asked, clutching the edges of my seat and darting a look out the rear window. “This is Noah’s house. We shouldn’t be here, right? The FBI will come if they haven’t already.”

Julian grimaced when my gaze flew to him. His grip tightened on the wheel before he put the car in park. “Shoot. Hate to break it to you, but this is my place. Not Noah’s.”

I blinked. The growing web of lies was turning me numb. “Noah lives somewhere else?”

Julian nodded. “A place further away from Westcroft.”

My brain felt like it was breaking as I struggled to comprehend. “So, he lied to me… again. But why wouldn’t he tell me that? Why would he bring me to your place…?”

Julian adjusted his glasses and looked at the duplex. “My guess is because I’m closer to your campus. He already spent most nights here because of his morning classes before he started bringing you by.”

I wanted to throw something.

“Noah texted someone before we came over that night I met you,” I said, remembering the first time I’d come here. “I teased him about checking in with his wife. It was you, wasn’t it?”

Julian winced and pulled his keys out of the ignition, propping his door open. “Can’t say I appreciate being mistaken for a wife, but guilty as charged. I’m awful at checking my phone, but I guess it worked out because I got to meet you.”

He winked before exiting the car.

“What did he text to you?” I called through the door, grabbing my bag and scrambling out my side.