Page 62 of Reid

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Reid pulled his mother into his arms and rested his chin on her head.

“He made me promise I wouldn’t tell you. He wanted you to think he wasn’t any good and didn’t care, he didn’t want you to know he was weak.”

“But being ill, mentally or otherwise, isn’t a weakness.”

“I know that, but he won’t accept it. He’s proud, and he loves you, all of you. He emails me every week for an update.”

“Is he doing okay now?”

“Yes, but it’s always around the corner for him, the fight is never ending.”

“Do you think he’d speak to me?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll ask.”

Reid shrugged. “All this time I thought I was like him. That I wasn’t good enough, that I flaked on you when you needed me.”

His mom looked up at him. “You are the best man I know, and any woman would be lucky to have you.”

He chuckled. “I think you’re biased.”

“Nonsense, now tell me about the woman who put the pain in your eyes.”

Reid had told his mother everything; then he’d listened as she lamented his idiotic behaviour, and told him to fix it, which was why he’d jumped the first flight home. He’d taken a flight into Heathrow so he was closer to Callie and he wouldn’t leave until he’d had his say and convinced her she was the love of his life.

Pulling into the underground car parking, he rushed from the car, not caring if he got a ticket for not having a parking permit.

As he raced to the front entrance his phone rang. He glanced at it and saw Lopez’s name on the screen. He was about to cancel the call when he noticed he had fifteen missed calls, some from Lopez, some from Jack, and his throat seized, the cold hand of pure terror washing over him.

“Lopez.”

“Thank fuck. Callie has a second stalker. We found the evidence this morning.”

“Who?” His gut twisted in fear.

“Claude Monet.”

“Fuck.” Reid headed straight to the concierge, he needed to get to Callie now.

“We found a second property in his sister’s name. Jack and Liam raided it ten minutes ago.”

“Why wasn’t I told? Forget it, doesn’t matter.”

“Reid, he has a room full of pictures of her. Some were taken from inside her apartment as well as other things, like some of her underwear.”

“Goddammit.”

“It gets worse. I have him on camera arriving at Callie’s place thirty minutes ago.”

“I’m here, I need to go. Find Clay and get him here. Tell him what’s going on and that I’m going in.”

Jack came on the line. “Goddammit, Reid, do not go in unarmed or alone.”

“No choice, I love her.” Reid hung up.

The concierge looked up at him. “Can I help you?”

“Yes, I need access to Calista Lundholm’s floor right now.” He flashed the ID badge he’d used before and prayed it still worked.