Ch 65: Wait here

***

Owen sat in a cab across the street when Abigail emerged from her apartment building. It was a dive, to say the least, and even though he didn't show it, it bothered him. Abigail was loaded with class and here she was living in a poorhouse just to get away from him.

There was a man passed out next to the stairs wearing ratty clothes. Of course, Abigail bent down and felt his skin to see if he was alive. She had a caring heart. He leaned his elbow on the door ledge and rested his chin on his fist.

It was hard not to exit the taxi and march across the street to drag her home, but something made her leave and he needed to find out what or he'd lose her forever. He knew Abigail.

She was stubborn, strong-willed, and he loved that about her. If it took him months to find out what the hell was going on, he'd do it even though it was tearing him apart not to touch her.

He was a patient man, except when it came to her. Ever since she turned sixteen his eyes have been on her. She started to blossom after that and by eighteen she was a sight to behold.

Joseph hadn't seemed to notice the way he looked at her and he was thankful. Knowing Joseph and how protective he was of her, he would have ended their lifelong friendship. Then when he went overseas he called him and asked him to watch her and protect her no matter what it took.

He made him promise. Though it wasn't hard because he had selfish motives where she was concerned, so he agreed instantly.

He was waiting for Joseph to come back from his tour so he could ask him for his sister's hand in marriage. "Follow her." He said to the cab driver without taking his eyes off of her. "Yes, sir." Normally he'd have his driver, and own car but it would have defeated the purpose of watching her without her knowing. A silver stretched limousine stood out in a neighborhood like this.

Hell, a station wagon would it was such a desolate place. It wasn't that hard to find her. She wasn't used to being traced or having a powerful manhunt her down. It took him four weeks which near killed him wondering if she was still alive. She had contacted her real-estate broker which he'd paid a lot of money to let him know when she did.

He traced the emails to an internet café several blocks from her place of work. When she showed up he started following her. It took a space of hours to discover where she lived and worked.

He clenched his jaw thinking about that. She was working as a cashier in a grocery store. He tightened his other fist that lay on the seat of the car while she went into her place of work. Well, at least this will give him time to search her apartment.

"Back to that building we saw her come out of." The taxi driver turned around and headed back in the direction they came smiling to himself. His fare was wealthy so he was anticipating a large tip. Right now he'd bark like a dog if he wanted him too. "Wait here," Owen said getting out of the car. "No problem." Came the response.

Owen shut the door and went into the building. The super wasn't hard to find and access to her apartment only cost him fifty bucks. He took his time going through her things and felt his heartbreaking at her meager belongings.