“Who is she?” Lizzie asked.
“I don’t know, but I’ve been wondering if she’s the one who’s been following me around in a green wagon.” And I told them about it.
“Why didn’t you stop her and demand to know who she was?” Danny demanded.
“I think you were smart not following her,” said Lizzie. “It’s best to tell Ed about it and leave things alone. Trust me. I know.”
“That was grandma’s advice too,” I acknowledged.
Danny choked on his own breath. “Grandma knows about Carol’s little secret?”
“No. But she knows about the woman in this photo. She was the one who suggested I follow her.”
Danny was on his feet, his arms in the air. “Alright, I need details!”
Lizzie grimaced and slunk back against the cushions.
“I only followed her from a distance and after a few streets I decided calling Ed was a far better idea.”
“So, what did he say?” Lizzie pushed.
“Ummm, well, I haven’t called him yet. Before you go mad at me Danny, I’ll have you know that I’ve been very busy. And I did wonder what exactly I would tell him. After all I don’t know if it is the same woman who’s in this photo. I never got a good look at the driver of the car.”
Matt opened his mouth to say something, but his phone rang. I saw the caller was Sam.
“What are you going to do?” Lizzie asked as Matt stood and stepped away from the group.
“Well, I thought if ever I saw her again, I’d ask her who she is and what she’s doing.”
“I meant about Grannie Carol’s baby news. Are you going to tell dad?”
“Not yet. I’ll give Carol a chance to do that. Even though she was adamant I should get rid of my baby.”
A collective gasp resounded.
“She didn’t…?” yelled Danny.
I nodded as Matt ended his call and walked towards me.
“Is everything okay?” I asked as he rubbed his hand over his face.
“Work calls. There’s been an accident on the highway, and they need me and Sam to cover it. Sorry Molly. I have to go.”
“Oh sure.” I was relieved it was work. With the events that were happening recently the call could have been several things. “Will I see you later tonight?”
“I’ll see how late I am,” he answered, checking his watch. “But I’ll message you.”
“Okay. I hope everyone is alright and there aren’t any casualties.”
“Me too. That’s just a nightmare for everyone involved.” Matt leaned down and dropped a delicate kiss on my lips. His heat seeped into me and I instantly knew I’d made the right choice about our relationship.
Following him to the door, I hoped for an even better kiss, but his mind was already on the job, and he left me with a smile.
I waited until his car was out of sight before turning back to my siblings. As I did a flash of green caught my eye as a vehicle went under a streetlight. I spun just in time to see a green wagon disappear down the street.
“I…I just saw the car,” I stammered.
“What’s that?” Danny called.
“The green wagon. I just saw it!” My heart raced.
Lizzie was up and at the door in seconds. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. It was a green wagon.”
“I meant are you sure it was the same one that you saw earlier?”
I bit my lip. “I think so.”
“How many green wagons are running around Westport?” she asked as Danny joined us at the door.
I shrugged.
“A lot,” said Andrew. “It’s a popular choice.”
“But I’ve never seen one around here before,” stated Danny.
“Well that doesn’t mean anything.”
“What are the chances it’s the same one?” Lizzie asked.
I thought it through as I watched at least ten more cars follow it, three of which were green, but only one of which was a wagon.
“What if whoever is driving it followed me here tonight?” I suggested.
“That’s creepy,” said Danny, rubbing his arms.
“If they followed you then why did they just drive away?”
“Because Matt left.”
“But they’re following you, not Matt,” said Lizzie.
“But what if they’re only following me because of him? He leaves and now they’re following him.”
“Call him and let him know,” she finished.
I spun on my heel and grabbed my bag.
“Hey Siri, call Matt.”
“What you can’t press his number?” Danny said on a sigh.
“This is quicker,” I defended myself. Plus, this way no one would have to see how hard my hand was shaking. The call connected and I got his message bank. Damn.
I rubbed my stomach as a gnawing started to eat through its lining.
“If you’re really worried then we should go out to the highway and tell him,” suggested Danny.
Lizzie and Andrew looked skeptical.
“What?” Danny placed his hands on his hips and jutted his bottom lip out. “This way she can warn him about the car and we can find who’s driving it.”
“You sound confident about that,” I threw in.
“We’re great detectives.”
“Since when?”
“We went looking for Matt and we found him, didn’t we?”
“Ummm, Matt was in his own home. There wasn’t much detecting to do.”
“Sure, but we learned there was a woman in his room, and we learned he was already investigating Carol.”
“We didn’t learn a thing, Danny. We still don’t know who the woman was or what she was doing there.”
“Okay, fine, but it’s just another reason we should follow that green car.”
“That car is long gone,” said Andrew, looking out the window to the street.
Danny released a frustrated breath. “Then let’s go and find it!”
I bit my lip as I looked around the group.
“Until you get to the bottom of this, will you be able to sleep tonight?” Lizzie asked.
“Probably not.”
“I didn’t think so,” stated Danny, smiling triumphantly. Personally, I think he just wanted an adventure.
“Do we believe the driver of that car is the same person who is sending the photos?” asked Andrew.
“Possibly. Like I said earlier, I haven’t had a good look at them.”
“Do you think they’re a fan of Matt’s and are trying to break you up?” asked Lizzie.
That sounded plausible. “I can’t think of any other reason this would be happening.”
“Then maybe Danny’s right. Maybe we should go out there and see if we can find her. If she’s a fan slash stalker then she’ll be hanging around him for sure.”
“Yes! That’s the spirit,” sang Danny, standing. “Now come on let’s go.”
“Really?” questioned Andrew.
“Strike while the iron is hot!”
“But we won’t approach unless we know it’s safe,” warned Lizzie.
“Sure.”