Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 16

Carter

When Chief called me into the office, it wasn’t for what I had expected.

“We have a problem,” he said, staring at me, and clasping his hands together as he eyed me. “Someone is squatting at Jake’s place. I need you to go in and assess the situation.”

I groaned, “Why me? Can’t Mazzy do it?” I asked, the complaint obvious in my tone.

“No, because Mrs. O’Conner said she saw a female apparition on the long road (tha’ts what we called the road leading to the outskirts) and He requested you for the job. Jake had secrets. Mazzy doesn't know how to be tactful.” I glanced out the window of his office to see Mazzy giving some kids a hard time for skateboarding. I suppose he had a point. 

I sighed. “So what’s the deal? I gotta run her off or something?”

“No, he wants you to figure out who she is, and why she’s here, then report back. Report all your information to him; nobody else.” Cryptic and weird. It would feel odd reporting directly to him, but what else was I going to do? 

“Alright, I’ll head over this afternoon for some snooping,” I relented.

“Make contact if you find an opening. He doesn't want  you to spook her,” Chief added. Now that was strange. He liked outsiders about as much as the rest of us. He tolerated the tourists, like we all did, for the dollars they brought in. Some of us even catered to that, but for him to suggest not wanting to scare her off, he knew something the rest of us didn’t, and it was my job to find out who this woman was. “Whatever you have to do, Carter, stay close to her, don’t let her dig too deep,” Chief insisted. This had just turned into a “special” assignment. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or insulted. I had just been appointed babysitter of this unwelcome newcomer. 

It wasn’t as if I hadn’t had to play a part or two before. I’d done it, maybe too dutifully, a few times. Taking a random tourist woman under my ‘wing’ who had a notion to overstay her welcome; just to purposefully break her heart and send her on her way. All for the love of the community and shit, I didn’t like doing it but, someone had to, and though it had it’s temporary perks, sometimes I found I liked them too much. I was tired of ripping the proverbial band-aid off over and over again, when the endgame was to always get ‘em out. Being Divide’s most eligible bachelor was the pits. Most times, I got to cut to the chase and shoo them off. These “be friendly” assignments, though, were against my nature. I liked women a bit too much. Breaking hearts and being purposefully cruel wasn’t who I was.

Walking out of the Chief's office, I knew one thing for sure, I needed a beer and a sandwich before I went out there. No use showing up hangry and irritable, when I was told to be hospitable. On my way out, I waved Mazzy over. Her thick, top-heavy frame meandered over.

“What?” she asked, tartly. 

“I’ve just been put on an assignment, I need you to watch my rounds,” I let her know.

She scowled. “What sort of assignment?”

“I don’t know yet, suppose I’ll know soon enough,” I let her know without telling her the details. Otherwise, her panties would be in a bunch. “Oh, and Ole Mrs. O’Conner is seeing things again; might wanna stay clear of her til she quiets down again,” I let her know. Mazzy rolled her eyes. I usually took the in-town route, while Mazzy manned the more rural shenanigans.

“That woman is a pain in everyone’s side,” Mazzy groaned.

I left Mazzy without another word. I set my worn cowboy hat on my head and wandered over to Hannah’s to get a bite to eat before I headed out to Jake’s place.

“Ahh, li’l brother,” my sister said, as she beamed. I walked in and respectively removed my hat before taking my seat at the counter.

“What are you having?” Hanna asked, her brown hair tied up into a messy bun, and her stained apron covering her worn tee and jeans.

“Get me the special, I’m on a special assignment, and I need nourishment,” I grumbled.

“Oh, that’s interesting, anything I should know about?” Hannah asked.

“I don’t know yet. It may be a long week,” I mumbled. Hannah rolled her eyes. My special assignments were few and far between, and were usually menial things. This, however, could go either way. It could be a write off or something I’d have to stick through. The fact was that she went straight to Jake’s place, and she had apparently slipped through town unnoticed in the night, except by Mrs. O’Conner, of course. She was no apparition but flesh and blood, otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent me out. She was someone of interest or a thorn in my side, I didn’t know yet. I sighed and pointed to the tap. 

Hannah cocked her head, grabbing a glass. “So this is serious,” she mumbled, shaking her head, as she poured. When she came back, she held the glass away from me, forcing my hand. Hannah wasn’t a talker. She absorbed all the gossip and nonsense, but she didn’t spread it. I glanced around. Montgomery was absorbed with his laptop and Mrs. O’Conner with her grandkids, fussing over them as they ate.

I shrugged, “I'll know more later, not your typical get ‘em out,” was all I gave her. It was all I really knew on the subject of finding out who she was. Hannah set the beer in front of me, her lips pressing into a hard line. Outsiders were a hard subject for the locals here, they loved the income, but were skittish around anyone who didn’t belong or stayed too long. Tight smiles and an open hand; very two faced, if you asked me. I didn’t like it, and as the community policer of those individuals who stayed too long and over wore their welcome, it was my job to check it out. This was an unprecedented case. She was hiding something, whoever she was; but so was he.

Hannah placed my plate down, consisting of a burger, ribs, and cheesy fries, loaded with sour cream and jalapenos. I just dug in, I needed sustenance. I had an important job to do.