Case Reopened

Being Followed (Part 6)

OOOOHHHH would you look at that! Another part to this epic undercover saga!

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Before Mason or Donovan said anything, Carter felt something was off. It was in the way people looked at her as she walked down the street. It was in the way eyes caught onto her and lingered for a second before moving on. Every glance set her on edge and she felt herself gearing up for an attack, wondering if some ambush was in plan.

Despite the adrenaline starting to flow into her veins, Carter kept her pace natural and her expression calm. She didn't want to tip off whoever was behind this to know she'd spotted the obvious signs of an attack.

"Somethings wrong," Carter said quietly, but enough she knew Mason and Donovan would hear.

"We know," Donovan said. "You're being tailed."

"It's more than that," Carter said. "I think it's more than that. People keep looking at me. This might be an ambush."

Annoyance instantly flared in Carter as Mason burst out laughing. Once it died down, she detected a soft chuckle from Donovan as well, making her want to smack both of them. She knew what she saw, she was not being paranoid.

"Owens," Mason said, still half laughing. "It's cause you're in a sundress and your violent personality has been masked."

"Mason, don't be ridiculous."

Donovan spoke and Carter felt her face burn at his words. "Umm... he's right, Carter. You look..." He cleared his throat. "Hot."

"And nondeadly, that's the important part. You don't look like you'd kill someone just for giggles."

Carter decided to ignore Mason's nonsense. With the glances explained, it meant they could be dismissed. But that left what they'd told her. She was being tailed. A plan of action had to be decided on and put through.

"I'm going to face the person tailing me," Carter announced to them.

"What!" Mason yelled in her ear. "You can't kill someone in the middle of the street."

Carter had to stop herself from rolling her eyes but it took extreme effort. Mason constantly attacking her personality and the delusion she was likely to murder anyone at the drop of a hat was getting annoying.

"Mason, I'm not that violent, I'm not going to kill them. But I will kill you if you keep talking."

"And you say you're not a violent person. I think-"

Mason cut off out of nowhere and Carter almost faltered in her footsteps at the suddenness of it, imagining the van being attacked. But then Donovan spoke and Carter realized he'd been the reason Mason shut up.

"Find out what you can," Donovan said. "The man tailing you is white, early twenties, height 5'10", thick black hair, medium build. He's about three yards behind you."

"Thanks. Is he left or right-handed?"

A seconds pause. "Right-handed."

Carter had everything she needed.

Stopping abruptly, she spun around and quickened her steps as if she'd forgotten something. Everyone around her acted normally, going about their lives except for one person. He faltered for a half second but continued forward. Carter caught the slip but focused her attention ahead of her as if she didn't even see him.

When she got closer to him, she hurried her steps and angled herself into his path. They bumped into each other and Carter stumbled. As she tripped forward, she pressed one hand into the man's chest, focusing his attention there as she slipped the man's wallet from his right back pocket. Still feigning clumsiness, she staggered a few steps as if trying to catch herself. As she did, she tucked the waller into her purse.