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‘That figures,’ Mary said.
‘What did he do to you?’
‘Hard to say, exactly, but it feels like he’s muscling in on a long-term client of mine. He showed up at a meeting he wasn’t invited to, made some comments about his relationship with Mack’s – that’s the client – son.’
Ryan sipped his beer. ‘What will you do?’
‘Keep an eye on him. I’m not too worried about the likes of Ben Cox.’
‘Exciting day. There was the note, as well.’ He paused. ‘What did it say, exactly?’
‘I don’t remember the exact words. I went to take a look on the way home, but it was gone. It basically said that if you were reading it, you were being watched, and were now in the watcher’s collection. And then it said something about one of the collection being chosen, and their life changing forever.’
‘But no one was watching?’
‘No. I very much doubt it. It’s someone trying to mess with people. There was a woman reading it before me. That’s why I read it. She kind of jumped back and hustled away, looking terrified. That’s all it was about. Scaring people.’
Ryan nodded. ‘But what if it is someone actually making a collection? If it is, you want to hope you’re not the chosen one.’
‘Not funny, Ryan.’
‘I know.’ He paused, and took another swig. ‘Although when you think about it, there must have been someone watching.’
‘Why?’
‘Because the note was gone. So someone saw you – and this other woman – read it, then took it down.’
‘Not necessarily. Someone else could have taken it down. Someone who read it and didn’t want anyone else to be spooked.’
‘Possible,’ Ryan said. He looked unconvinced, and Mary’s neck prickled with a creeping, unsettled feeling. ‘But most likely it was the person who put it there.’
‘It was a prank,’ she said.
Ryan finished his beer and took another from the fridge. He shrugged. ‘You’re probably right. Trent seems a cool guy. Very modern. He’s got the beard and the hair. And probably the short pants that show his sockless ankles.’
Like the guy who was following me, Mary thought, and the unsettled feeling came back, stronger this time. No, she told herself. It’s a coincidence. And that guy didn’t look like Trent at all.
‘It’ll be fun to have a younger kid around. Perhaps Otis could babysit. I’d say Sally but – you know.’
Ryan nodded. ‘How old is his daughter?’
‘I don’t know,’ Mary said. ‘But I got the impression she was young. Did he say anything else? Where they moved from?’
‘No. We were only talking for a few minutes. I’d just got back with Wally.’
Something about what he’d said tugged at the back of her mind. ‘You were only talking to him for a few minutes?’
He nodded. ‘I came back, saw him pulling up, so I went to say hi. That was pretty much it.’
‘Did you meet him earlier this week?’ she said.
‘No. Today was the first time.’ Ryan frowned at her. ‘What’s wrong?’
It became clear to her what it was. ‘What did you talk about? In the few minutes you had?’
Ryan shrugged. ‘Welcomed him to the neighbourhood. Introduced myself.’
‘As Ryan?’
