Chapter 9 Nine

Eve's POV

The morning sun came through the curtains, but it didn't help me feel any better. I was still on edge, thinking about what happened last night. The noises at the door and the figure I saw on the street felt too real to ignore. I hardly slept, and when I did, my dreams were restless, leaving me even more tired.

I forced myself out of bed, jumping at every little noise in the apartment. Even though the sun was shining brightly outside, it didn't ease my anxiety. I went to the kitchen, trying to distract myself by making coffee. As I waited for it to brew, I couldn't stop thinking about Jake and the mystery surrounding him. Why had I let myself get so caught up in this?

My phone buzzed on the counter, making me jump. I grabbed it quickly, hoping it was Tom with news, but it was just a text from Samantha, saying she'd be home late again tonight. I sighed, suddenly feeling very alone.

I knew I couldn't just sit here all day, waiting for something to happen. I needed answers, and I wasn't going to find them by staying in my apartment. I decided to go back to the community center. Maybe I'd missed something, or maybe someone there knew more than they were letting on.

After a quick shower, I got dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and my sneakers. Before leaving, I hesitated by the front door, remembering the noises from last night. I took a deep breath, grabbed my keys, and slipped a small can of pepper spray into my pocket. It wasn't much, but it made me feel a little safer.

The walk to the community center felt different today. The streets, usually busy with people, seemed strangely quiet. I kept glancing over my shoulder, half expecting to see someone following me. But there was no one. I was alone.

When I reached the community center, I paused at the entrance, trying to calm my nerves. The building looked the same as always, but now I knew better. Something was going on here, something hidden, and I was determined to find out what it was.

I opened the door and stepped inside. The familiar smell of coffee and cleaning supplies hit me, along with the sound of people talking. Everything seemed normal, but I knew it wasn't. I looked around the room, searching for Jake, but he wasn't there.

"Eve, hey!" a voice called out, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Sarah, one of the regular volunteers. She was a few years older than me, always friendly and cheerful. But today, even her smile couldn't break through my tension.

"Hey, Sarah," I said, forcing a smile. "Is Jake around?"

Sarah's smile faded a little. "Jake? No, I haven't seen him today. Why, were you looking for him?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to say. "Yeah, I just wanted to ask him something. Nothing important."

Sarah nodded, but I could tell she was curious. "He hasn't been around much lately, has he? I noticed he's not been here as often. Maybe he's got something else going on."

"Maybe," I agreed, though it didn't sit right with me. "Did he say anything to you about where he's been?"

"No, not really. He's always been a bit of a mystery, though. Keeps to himself." Sarah leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "Between you and me, some of the others are a bit wary of him. Nothing solid, just a feeling."

I frowned, her words matching my own thoughts. "What kind of feeling?"

She shrugged. "Just that he's hiding something. But you know how people talk. Could be nothing."

"Yeah, maybe," I replied, but my mind was already racing. If even the other volunteers were suspicious, then something was definitely off about Jake.

I thanked Sarah and headed to the back of the center, where the offices were. If Jake wasn't here, maybe I could find something in his records that would give me a clue about who he really was. It wasn't exactly right, but at this point, I didn't care.

The office was empty, as I'd hoped. Most of the staff were out front, busy with the day's activities. I slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind me. My heart was pounding as I walked over to the filing cabinets. I had to be quick.

I started looking through the files, searching for anything with Jake's name on it. There were volunteer records, sign-in sheets, and old event lists, but nothing directly connected to him. I was getting frustrated when I finally found a folder with his name scribbled on the tab. I held my breath as I opened it.

The folder was surprisingly thin. Just a single sheet of paper and a small envelope. The paper was a basic volunteer registration form, with barely any details filled out. No last name, no emergency contact, nothing that could help me identify him. Just "Jake" and a phone number, which I already knew.

The envelope was even more puzzling. It was sealed, with no markings on it. My fingers trembled as I debated whether to open it. I knew I was crossing a line, but I had to know. I carefully tore it open and pulled out a small photograph.

The picture was of a man, but not Jake. This man was older, with gray hair and a stern expression. He was dressed in a military uniform, and something about him seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place it. Why would Jake have this photo?

Before I could think more about it, I heard footsteps coming toward the office. Panic surged through me, and I quickly put the photo and form back into the folder, shoving it into the cabinet just as the door opened.

"Eve?" It was Mr. Collins, the center's director. He looked surprised to see me there. "What are you doing?"

I forced a smile, trying to stay calm. "Oh, Mr. Collins! I was just looking for some extra sign-up sheets. We're running low out front."

He raised an eyebrow but didn't ask any more questions. "They should be in the top drawer. Just be careful with the files, alright?"

"Of course," I said, grabbing a few sheets from the top drawer to keep up the act. "Thanks."

He nodded and left, but I could feel his eyes on me as he closed the door. My hands were still shaking as I tucked the sign-up sheets under my arm and walked back to the main area. The photograph kept replaying in my mind. Who was that man, and what was his connection to Jake?

I knew I couldn't ask anyone here without raising suspicion, so I'd have to look into it on my own. The more I found out, the more questions I had. But one thing was clear-Jake wasn't just some guy volunteering at the community center. There was something much bigger going on, and I was going to find out what it was.

As I left the center, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me again. I glanced around, but nothing seemed out of place. Still, I walked faster, eager to get home and figure out my next move.

My phone buzzed as I reached my apartment, and I quickly checked the screen. It was a text from Tom.

*"Got some info on your guy. Call me when you're alone."*

Finally, a lead. But as I unlocked the door and stepped inside, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated. I dialed Tom's number, ready for whatever he had to say.

"Eve, you're not going to believe this," Tom said as he picked up, his voice tense.

"Tell me," I urged, gripping the phone tightly.

"There's something you need to know about Jake. And it's bigger than we thought."