Turn Back Time (The Full Circle Series Book 1) Annette Anders (shoe dog free ebook TXT) 📖

cave is not yet accessible, and can only be seen through a narrow crack in the wall. All of a sudden, we were approached by a man wearing a police uniform and demanding to know our business in the tunnels.”

“A police officer?” Leo’s eyes widened and his thin eyebrows almost reached his receding hairline.

“Fuck, Leo, keep your trap shut,” Naomi grumbled. She glanced at Julia and said, “Sorry.”

Stella reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze, while Julia said, “Nothing I haven’t said myself a time or two.”

“We showed him our IDs, but also asked what he was doing there, since the tunnels are closed. Police units often use the mines for rescue trainings and drills for their canine units and SWAT teams, but none had been approved by us at that time. He got angry when we questioned him, and we reminded him we were the authority in the mines, not the police.

“Mr. Forrester was setting up his camera equipment and told him to let us work. He even said we weren’t interested in his business and pointed to the man’s duffel bag. This comment upset the man. When he reached inside his jacket, Mr. Forrester’s radar went off and he swung his camera at the man.”

“Mr. Forrester attacked him first?” Leo gasped.

“No, you moron, he offered him a lollipop and waited to be shot,” Naomi fumed. “Why can’t they put someone a little brighter than this idiot in front of the camera?”

She jumped up and glared out the window. “I can’t watch this any longer. And to imagine Rev is still with the creep.”

“Yes, it’s scary, but we have to believe in him. I’m sure he’s working on a plan for his escape,” Stella said.

Julia paced between the sofa and kitchenette. “If it’s true and the guy’s a cop, then it could explain why they haven’t shared his identity. I assume the authorities are trying to figure out if he’s working solo or if there’s a whole slew of criminal activities going on under their noses.”

“What a mess! And we can’t do anything but wait,” Stella said.

“You both promised friends or family members to keep them informed,” Julia reminded Stella and Naomi. “Why don’t you assure them you’re well and share what we just learned? I’ll write to Alexander, but I’m sure he watched this interview, too.” She typed a short text.

“And then?” Stella asked.

“Then we get out of the hotel and do what tourists do. Explore the city, keep ourselves distracted. Sitting here stewing about it doesn’t help anyone. Ask David and Kai to meet us for lunch. We’re a ragtag bunch of friends here, and we’ll get through this together.”

Julia looked at her phone, “Alexander says he watched the coverage.”

Stella sat on her bed and wrote her message to David,

Hey, did you see the interview? We’re still in shock. To stay busy, we want to do some sightseeing. Want to join us?

Stella’s heart gave a little jump when she saw three dancing dots on her message screen. He’d been waiting to hear from her!

You don’t need to ask me twice. The Montparnasse Tower is close to your hotel. Have you been there?

“David suggests going to the Montparnasse Tower. Is it something you’d be interested in seeing?” Stella asked Naomi and Julia.

“Sure,” Julia said and looked at Naomi.

“Works for me,” Naomi started typing on her phone. “I’ll text Kai, just because we told him we’d stay in touch.”

“What time should we meet?” Stella asked. “Is ten good? It gives us enough time to get ready.”

Naomi and Julia both nodded, then went back to their phones.

Stella typed,

Sounds good. Meet there at ten?

Yes. I’ll be there.

Then came another message,

I can’t wait to see you again.

Stella didn’t reply. She couldn’t wait, either. And she wondered if maybe it should bother her.

Seeing him yesterday and talking to him had felt so...normal. Almost as if the past year hadn’t happened—or had been nothing but a strange dream.

But it was real—twelve long months of silence. It couldn’t just be swept under the next rug and ignored.

Stella knew what Naomi’s advice would be. “Be sure you know what you’re doing. And do it for the right reasons.”

She didn’t know when she and David would have a chance to talk in private, but before she flew home on Saturday, she’d get answers to the questions which had haunted her for so long.

CHAPTER 28

Stella—July 2018

D

avid was already waiting for them in front of the tall, black glass and steel construction. He sat on a low wall in front of the building, looking up and down the street. Stella fought the urge to run to him.

“Have you been here long?” she called out as she climbed the wide stone steps from street level.

His face lit up at the sound of her voice and he stood. “No, only a few minutes. I wasn’t sure how busy it was at this time of the day and wanted to find a spot where I could see you. You still snuck up on me.”

He hugged Naomi and Julia and pecked their cheeks, then pulled Stella close and leaned down to kiss her. She turned her head just enough for the kiss to miss her lips.

“How are you today? You look beautiful,” David tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She wore it in a ponytail, the way she knew he liked it, but some of it had come loose and blew across her face. And she also might’ve picked the emerald-green dress because she knew he liked the color on her.

So what? Nothing wrong with wanting to look nice for the man you love…used to love…still love… Ugh!

“I’m fine. At least I was able to get some sleep last night. I think I was exhausted from all the walking,” Stella smiled. “And you?”

“I didn’t sleep much, but now I’m good,” he said for only her to hear before he looked at Naomi and Julia. “Are we waiting for anybody else?”

“No, you’ve got the three of