Chapter 43

Alec

It’s been two months since she’s been gone, and truth be told, some days it was hard. Her clothes were still here, her perfume and lotions—everything we bought her. Dean and I had shifted back to our old routine: work and home. We didn’t go anywhere. A few weeks ago, we went back home, and we told our parents everything that happened.

To say they were worried was an understatement. Mom was worried about her, and she had every right to be. Diego and Mac didn’t find anything about the cameras, nor did they find anything on Topper Tony. He was arrested a few days ago on drug possession charges, so that excludes him.

It was late Sunday evening, and Dean and I were sitting out on the balcony quietly drinking when my phone started ringing. I looked at it; it wasn’t a number I knew. I let it ring out. Then it vibrated, and a message came in.

***“YOU SHOULD ANSWER; YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS.”***

The message said. I showed it to Dean, then the phone started ringing again. It was a video call. I answered it, and the first thing I saw was her. She was asleep on the bed.

“Dean,” he came over beside me and looked at the phone.
“Don’t you dare touch her,” I said, and this fucker started laughing.

***STALKER: She is beautiful in every single way. You see, I figured her out. She doesn’t care what happens to her, but if it’s you two, then she would do anything to protect you two. It took me so long to get her away from you two, and now, you’ll never see her again. Don’t worry, she won’t wake up; she’s deep asleep, and she won’t remember anything when she wakes up, so I can enjoy her to my heart’s content.***

***DEAN: When I find you, I’ll fucking kill you.***

He began undoing her shirt.

***ALECK: Don’t fucking touch her!***
***STALKER: Your loss is my gain. I guess I can enjoy her for a couple of hours.***

He ended the call, and I was left looking at the phone. I heard Dean on the phone talking to someone. I was too numb to think or even move.
“Aleck?” I looked at him.

“He’s going to rape her,” I said quietly.
“I know,” he said quietly, looking at me.

Layla

When I woke up, I had a headache. I sat up, checked the time, and realized I was late for work. I hurriedly jumped up and ran to the bathroom, quickly showered and got dressed, and ran out the door.

When I got to work, I apologized to Michelle for leaving her alone. She said it was okay and not to worry about it. During the day, I continued to feel tired and drained. I guess Michelle noticed because we were having lunch when she asked me:

“You look like you had a rough night. How much did you drink?” she asked me.
“That’s the problem. I didn’t drink much. I went to the lake, then back home. I had a glass of wine then. I guess I fell asleep and woke up this morning tired and sleepy,” I said.

“Hmm, that’s weird. I remember the other night when we went out; you drank a lot but still made it. So how did one glass of wine knock you out?”
“I have no idea; I was probably tired,” I said, laughing.

When I left work that day, while heading home, I passed the café and saw Chris sitting inside with a man. I acted like I didn’t see him and continued home. I guess he really was here for work. When I got home, I locked all the doors and windows. I grabbed my laptop and opened the camera recordings. I didn’t see anything or anyone on the outside. I didn’t have cameras inside because I knew that my stalker didn’t know where I was.

I went to the fridge and checked the bottle of wine that I had drunk last night and noticed the date on it. It was a really old vintage one that Mildred gave me. It wasn’t what I was used to drinking. I poured it out into the sink and threw the bottle into the trash. No more of that wine for me.

Wednesday morning, I woke up feeling the same way. I couldn’t understand why. When I woke up Friday morning, I knew something was wrong. My headache was worse, and I saw red marks on my thighs. It was as if someone marked me. Suddenly, I was scared. When I walked into work on Friday morning, Michelle knew something was wrong. She turned the closed sign on the door and dragged me to the back of the shop.

“Sweetie, I hate to say this, but you look like you were almost hit by a truck. What’s going on? Tell me. I’m going to help you if I can; you know I will.”
I pulled my dress up and showed her the marks and told her what has been happening.

“Sweet Jesus. Now you listen to me; it sounds like someone has been visiting you without you knowing. Here’s what we’re going to do. I’ll run down to the store and get you some cameras, okay? We’ll put them in your room, and I will speak to Andy, and we’re going to take the day off. I’m going to stay with you tonight just to be safe, alright? As it’s Friday, we can relax.”

“Okay. Thank you, Michelle. We don’t have to take the day off; I’m okay to work.”
“Are you sure, sweetie?”
“I am, I promise,” I said, smiling at her.
“Okay then. I’m going to run to the store; will you be okay alone for a few?”
“I will.”

“Okay then.” She grabbed her bag and left. I turned the sign on the door and took a seat behind the counter. I was mulling over the situation when the door opened, and Chris came in.

“Welcome to the pottery shop, good morning,” I said, smiling at him. He looked at me.
“Hey, I remember you; you gave me directions the other day,” he said.

“I sure did, sweetie; this place is small, we all know each other, and we know who the visitors are. How are you finding our little town?” I asked him, as I normally did with other people passing through.

“Oh, it’s quite amazing actually. I’m from New York, so the quiet is a different change,” he said, picking up a saucer set and bringing it over to me. Just then, the door opened, and Deputy Tyler walked in.

“Morning,” he said, nodding at Chris, who replied in kind. I looked at him.
“Now what brings you in here? I know it isn’t the pottery,” I said, looking at him.

“That doggone girl is going to get me in trouble. She almost ran me over; she’ll be here in a few,” he said, leaning against the counter. I shook my head. He and Michelle were cousins.
“Is this all for you, sweetie?” I asked Chris.
“Yes.”

I rang it up and told him. He paid, and I bagged the saucer set for him. Michelle walked in at the same time I was handing it to him.
“Now I know you didn’t come all the way here to give me a ticket, Tyler. I’m calling your momma,” Michelle said.

“Fine, you’re going to make me lose my job someday, and I’m going to tell your mama that you’re driving reckless,” he said, walking out. Chris stood looking at them. Michelle saw his reaction and laughed.
“Don’t mind us, sweetie. He’s my cousin.”

“Oh, I see. Anyway, thank you, have a good day.”
“You too, sweetie,” I said as he walked out of the shop.

After he left, I looked at her. “I got it,” she said, smiling.

When we left work that afternoon, we headed to my house. On the way, we ran into Shane and Lana, and our quiet night turned into a party. We were in the backyard, hanging out. Michelle said she would go and set it. She came back twenty minutes later and borrowed my phone. After a few minutes:

“Okay, it’s connected to your phone. It’s wireless and just plugged into the outlet.”
“Thank you, Michelle,” I said.

I woke up Saturday morning with a headache and Michelle next to me on the bed. We drank a lot last night and ended up going out at twelve, looking for food. After she helped me clean up, she left, and I slept the entire day.

I woke up Monday morning with a headache, and I knew instantly something had happened. I walked into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror and couldn’t believe what I was looking at. My entire breast and between my legs were covered in hickeys. I didn’t shower. I wore my clothes and went straight to work.