CHAPTER 3 – The Men Outside the Window
CHAPTER 3 – The Men Outside the Window
The café door never opened.
Not immediately.
Instead, the two men remained outside, standing beside the black SUV with the patience of people who expected others to panic first.
One of them spoke quietly into an earpiece.
The other never looked away from Margaret.
Marlowe felt the older woman's body stiffen.
Her trembling had changed.
It was no longer caused only by Parkinson's.
It was fear.
"They found me," Margaret whispered.
Adrian turned toward the window.
"You know them?"
"I've seen them before."
"Who are they?"
"I don't know their names."
Her voice became barely audible.
"But every time I moved... they appeared within days."
Marlowe frowned.
"You think they've been following you?"
Margaret nodded.
"For years."
Adrian's expression hardened.
His instincts, sharpened by decades of billion-dollar negotiations, told him one thing immediately.
This was no coincidence.
He quietly reached for his phone.
Instead of answering Ethan's call, he dialed someone else.
The line connected after one ring.
"Daniel."
A calm voice answered.
"Yes, sir."
"I need you at Copper Willow Café."
A brief pause.
"Is this business?"
Adrian glanced at Margaret.
"No."
"It's family."
Daniel did not ask another question.
"I'll be there in four minutes."
Outside, the taller man finally pulled open the café door.
The tiny bell above it chimed cheerfully.
The sound felt completely wrong.
The man smiled politely.
He looked like any ordinary customer.
Late thirties.
Neatly trimmed beard.
Dark blue jacket.
Friendly eyes that somehow made Marlowe even more uneasy.
He walked directly toward Margaret.
"Mrs. Collins."
Margaret flinched.
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
The man smiled wider.
"We both know that isn't true."
Adrian stood.
"Who are you?"
The stranger finally looked at him.
Recognition flashed across his face.
"Mr. Holloway."
He sounded almost amused.
"This is awkward."
"You haven't answered my question."
The smile disappeared.
"My employer would like to speak with Mrs. Collins."
"She isn't going anywhere."
"I'm afraid that isn't your decision."
The café manager finally approached.
"Sir... is there a problem?"
The stranger reached into his pocket.
Several customers gasped.
Instead of a weapon, he produced a leather identification wallet.
Private Security Services.
Licensed Investigator.
The badge looked genuine.
"We're simply helping an elderly woman return home."
Margaret suddenly shouted.
"No!"
Every head turned.
"I don't know him!"
The investigator's polite mask slipped for the first time.
"Mrs. Collins."
His voice became colder.
"You've been difficult to locate."
Adrian stepped between them.
"You heard her."
"She doesn't know you."
The investigator sighed.
"Mr. Holloway, I strongly recommend staying out of this."
"I strongly recommend you leave."
For several tense seconds, neither man moved.
Then the investigator leaned closer.
Quiet enough that only Adrian could hear.
"Ethan won't appreciate this."
The words landed like a punch.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"My brother sent you?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
The investigator straightened his jacket.
"This conversation isn't over."
He turned toward the door.
His partner followed.
Just before leaving, the taller man looked back at Margaret.
"You've been hiding for eighteen years."
His smile returned.
"You can't hide forever."
The door closed behind them.
The café remained frozen.
Only after the SUV drove away did people begin breathing normally again.
Marlowe looked at Adrian.
"Should we call the police?"
Margaret answered before he could.
"No."
"Why not?"
"They've never broken the law."
"They just appear."
"They watch."
"They remind me they know where I am."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"No more."
He looked directly at Margaret.
"You're coming with me."
She shook her head immediately.
"I can't."
"They'll come after you."
"They already have."
"They'll destroy your company."
Adrian gave a bitter laugh.
"They've apparently been doing that from inside my company for years."
Ten minutes later, a silver SUV stopped outside.
A broad-shouldered man stepped out.
Gray suit.
Military posture.
Calm eyes.
He entered the café and immediately scanned every exit before approaching Adrian.
"Daniel Mercer."
Former Special Forces.
Now Adrian Holloway's personal security director.
He nodded respectfully toward Margaret.
"Ma'am."
Then he looked at Adrian.
"I've reviewed nearby security cameras."
"So?"
"The black SUV has been circling this block since eleven this morning."
Marlowe's stomach tightened.
"They were already here before Margaret arrived?"
Daniel nodded.
"They weren't following her."
Everyone fell silent.
Adrian slowly turned toward Marlowe.
"They were waiting."
Marlowe blinked.
"For... me?"
Daniel handed Adrian a tablet.
Security footage from the street filled the screen.
At 10:42 a.m., Marlowe parked her battered scooter behind the café.
The black SUV arrived less than thirty seconds later.
It never left.
Margaret hadn't arrived until almost noon.
Adrian replayed the footage twice.
Then looked at Marlowe.
May you like
"They weren't watching Margaret."
"They were watching you."
