Chapter 111: The Real Purpose of The Decoy

[Ralph's POV]

12:35 p.m

Luke Paufertee, that son of a bitch. He was taking me on a merry-go-round ride. In the past thirty minutes, I'd gone to Queens Avenue, Orchard Street (a few traffic lights down), Mall Street (another few junctions away), and back to Queens Avenue.

Now, I'm on my way to Franken Street, which is right in the middle of the shady side of town.

I glanced at the rearview mirror, and the road behind me was empty.

But I knew that Ben was following me.

That asshole. Could he have figured out about Ben? So this was all to put him off my trail?

Panic and fear had cracked my patience. I slammed on the steering wheel. "Goddamn it!"

Where the fuck is that place?!

The car drove past the sign 'Franken Street' and I checked the time—I am five minutes early.

My phone buzzed briefly with a text: JUST FINISHED SWEEPING THE ENTIRE CITY, NO SIGN OF JULIETTE. FROM STALKER: REACHING LAST STOP.

A wave of anxiety shook me. I hugged the steering wheel as the worst poss