Chapter 115

The night was growing late. Emily sat on her bed after her shower, working on her laptop.

"Buzz buzz!"

Her cell phone suddenly vibrated. She glanced at the caller ID; it was an unfamiliar number. She frowned but answered the call.

"It's me," came Derek's voice. Emily's entire body froze. Why was he calling her at this hour? She pressed down her racing heart and responded calmly, "Mr. Scott?"

"I'm downstairs from you," Derek said.

Hearing Derek's words, Emily almost jumped out of bed. She took a deep breath. "Mr. Scott, are you serious?"

"You'll know if I'm joking if you walk over to the balcony and look out the window," Derek replied.

Emily set aside her laptop and got off the bed. 

Taking one quiet step at a time, she walked over to the balcony and pulled back the curtains slightly, counting. 

Her room was on the third floor, just high enough for her to see a tall sycamore tree under the apartment building. 

Derek, dr