Chapter 36

I guess I’m the only Julie O’Brien in this house, because Paula and Javier are staring at me, waiting for a response. “Did they say who it was?” I ask. Paula frowns. "They said he’s a process server, here to serve a document to someone named Julie O’Brien. Said the address led them here, but security doesn’t seem to know of a Julie O’Brien on the premises, so they called for confirmation." Process server? Here? For me? There’s something about the way Paula said the last sentence that has me thinking she’s hinting at something mischievous. Telling me I can deny being here. It’s tempting. Really tempting. A process server showing up for me could only mean one thing: bad news. My mind races. How did they find me here? What’s in that envelope? As much as I want to take Paula’s advice and hide, I’m curious. "The gate, you say?" I ask, already standing up. Paula nods. I walk, slipping past the table, feeling Javier’s gaze track me the whole way. I open the door, stepping out into the hallway