The man tilted his head to the side and pressed his ear against Kayleigh’s door, a smile visible through the hole in the sack covering his face. Kissing his fingers, he reached out and gently tapped the door before turning back to the camera to wave goodbye, after which they watched as he went back downstairs and out the front door, which he gently closed behind him.
Sean exhaled loudly and hit pause once the robed man was out of sight. “That’s not right,” he said, breaking the stunned silence that had fallen over the trio. “I think we should call the police.”
“And tell them what, Sean? That some guy came into our house and took nothing? That I probably permitted him to do so by signing that damn contract?”
“He broke into or house,” April wailed.
“And did nothing but leave an envelope and act weird for a minute. Open up the website. Let’s see what he’s up to,” Kayleigh said.
Sean sighed and typed in the URL. “Nothing will be happening. The clue is here now.” Sure enough, the page was black, the white cursor in the middle of the screen blinking away and waiting for some input.
“Dammit all to hell.” Kayleigh jumped up from the couch and went to retrieve the envelope that she had left on the kitchen counter. Fiddling with the string, she managed to get it open and extract the paper from inside. She read it, smiled, and then placed it on the table for her roommates to read. “At least he made this one easy for us.”
I imagine that you are all still a little shaken at having me in your home.
Don’t be. I think if you check your contract, you will see
YOU INVITED ME IN!!
You know, that reminds of the vampire legend. Those bloodthirsty creatures required an invite before setting foot in the home of their victims.
Believe me, Falyn is not so weak as those pitiful animals.
He takes what he wants without needing any invite.
But now, onto the clue. I shall make it easy. Three-digits:
The number in a pair
The number of days in a week
The number of people in your house (DO NOT count me. I am long gone)
The game ends tomorrow, one way or another!!
“I’d like it to end today,” April said after reading the message. “If they broke into our house today, what are they going to do tomorrow?”
Kayleigh grinned, and said, “You mean, what is Terry going to do, right?”
“You think Terry did this?”
“It makes sense. When he was here yesterday, I basically pointed out the cameras. Next thing you know, someone is in here, hamming it up in front of them.”
“He has been around a lot,” Sean said.
“What about the girl in the video?” April asked.
“He is taking acting lessons. Would it really be that difficult to rope in someone to play that part? Terry said that Diablo Games is paying him a shit ton of money to do this. It sounds like they have some cash to throw around.”
“Are we in agreement that the code for today is 2-7-3?” Sean asked.
“Yup. Hit it and close the laptop. I am going back to bed,” Kayleigh said, stifling a yawn.
“You don’t want to see what’s going on?”
“Not right now. I need some rest. I’ll be up in time to take you guys to work.
April stood and placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not going. I’m taking a sick day. No way you are staying here yourself. Game or not, that Terry freaks me out.”
“You beat me to it,” Sean said. “I’m taking the rest of the week off. I have a couple of personal days I can use.”
“There’s no need. I’ll be fine.”
“The decision has already been made, right, babe?” April said, kicking Sean in the shin.
“I already said I was doing it.”
“What about the dinner tonight?”
“I’ll call Gallagher and let him know that we’ll meet him there. Now, let’s all get some rest. I think we’ve earned it.” April shooed them both upstairs after checking to make sure that the front door was locked. Given how easy the robed man had gained entry, the lock seemed suddenly insufficient.
KAYLEIGH LOOKED AT April and suddenly felt underdressed. She had believed her slacks and somewhat dressy blouse to be adequate enough, but her friend looked like she was ready to take the stage for the formal wear segment of Miss Universe. “What are you wearing, April?”
“They say that you should dress for the job you want,” April replied, smoothing down the form-fitting little black dress. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail, her make-up perfect.
“Do I need to change?” Kayleigh asked, suddenly feeling frumpy.
“No. You are perfect. Do you want me to do your make-up?”
“I wasn’t planning on wearing any. I don’t need Gallagher thinking I got all dressed up for a date.”
“I’ll keep it simple, I swear.”
True to her word, April applied just enough make-up so that Kayleigh didn’t look like someone operating on very little sleep. As much as she had tried to get some rest, the image of the robed man standing outside her bedroom door would not allow her to.
Once they were dressed and ready to go, they headed downstairs, where Sean was waiting, arms folded, right foot tapping nervously on the floor. “I’m coming with you,” he blurted out.
“Babe, this is a business meeting that you are not invited to,” April said.
“I don’t mean that I’m going to be in the restaurant. I mean that I’ll be watching from across the street. I can spy on you from the rooftop patio.”
The dinner reservations were for an Italian restaurant called Nico’s, which sat kitty-corner to McGarry’s on the Lawrenceton Square. There was only one way in and out of the restaurant, so watching the entrance from the roof was a breeze.
“Well, how about that? I have my own bodyguard,” April said, fanning herself with her hands.
“Any excuse for a drink more like,” Kayleigh said.
“Come on, guys. I mean it. You have both been telling me forever that this dude is a creep. I want to make sure he behaves. April, you text me when the dinner is over, and I’ll meet you out front.”
“Don’t come to the door, though. Meet us across the street on the City Hall lawn. We don’t want to look like a pair of damsels in distress,” Kayleigh said.
Plans made, they hopped in the car and took the short drive downtown. They usually walked, but Kayleigh did not feel like making the trek in the heels that April has talked her into wearing. She still felt more than a little uncomfortable when they stepped inside the restaurant and approached the hostess station. Before they could say anything, Gallagher hopped up from the bar at the front of the restaurant and waved them in.
“I’m so glad you both could make it,” he said, pulling out a pair of bar stools to sit on. “The table isn’t quite ready. Can I get either of you a drink?”
“Just a water for me,” Kayleigh said.
“I’ll have the same.”
Gallagher leaned in conspiratorially, looking around the restaurant before he spoke. “This is going on the company credit card. Please, take something. I hate to drink alone.”
Peer pressure was not something that Kayleigh had ever adhered to, but if she was going to spend a couple of hours in the company of her boss, she realized that a drink or two might make the evening a little easier to take. “Well, if it’s on the company, I’ll have a rum and Coke.”