by Tessa Walton
As Dove left, she wondered if she should’ve said yes. Spending a bit more time with Nate didn’t seem like a problem. Didn’t every woman want a man in a uniform? She knew she had. She thought maybe her father’s absence made her crave a strong male figure even more. Someone in authority who could control the family and take some of pressure off of her. Dove liked her independence, that was more than true, but she wanted someone who could do their fair share of work. Nate seemed like he could be that man.
Chapter Eight
Chapter
Nate walked back to the table where the cops were sitting. “Who was that?” Jessica asked.
“Harold and Dove. Seemed to be a post-marital dispute.”
“Well, isn’t Dove getting into a lot of trouble lately?”
“I don’t think this is her fault.”
“Do you think he’s stalking her?” Jessica asked.
“She says he’s not. She swears she saw the guy, and it wasn’t him.”
“Well, she would recognize him. They were married for three years,” Jessica said.
Nate frowned at the memory. What in the world could stand in the way of a marriage with such a pretty girl? He figured she must’ve been the one to end it. Heaven knew she could do better than Harold. Even the name seemed second-rate, at least according to Nate.
“Do you really think with everything that is going on with her that no one’s stalking her?” Nate asked.
“Do you really think all that is going on with her and she’s being stalked?” Jessica asked.
“I don’t think she seems crazy. Besides, she says she saw a therapist.”
“Isn’t that something crazy people do?”
“No, the therapist told her she didn’t seem paranoid. She thought she was probably being stalked. Aren’t we supposed to take all complaints seriously?”
“Some complaints should be taken more seriously than others,” Jessica answered.
Nate wanted to correct her, but he knew most officers would agree with her, and he was just a rookie. He didn’t know what to do next. Dove seemed kind and sane and beautiful. She may be being stalked, and yet she was cool and confident. Nate wanted a girl who could handle high-pressure situations. Dove seemed like one of those girls. He hated himself for it, but he desperately wanted the stalking to be real so that she was who she seemed to be. Who knew what would happen then.
“I think she may have been flirting with me.”
“What gave you that impression?”
“She called me her hero.”
“Well, go back and talk to her,” Jessica urged.
“What do I say? She’s a part of an active investigation.”
“It’ll probably be closed soon. I bet crazy girls are crazy in bed.”
“Don’t call her that!”
“Then go talk to her,” Jessica said, grabbing his plate. “You can have this back when you’re done talking to her.”
Nate sighed, but stood up and walked to find Dove. In truth, he did want to talk to her more. If he had a chance with her, it was worth pursuing.
“Hey, Ms. Babcock,” he called once he saw her checking out. She turned to look at him. “If I catch your stalker, will I really be your hero?”
“Yeah, I guess you would be.”
“Then you can trust that I’ll take care of it,” he promised.
Chapter Nine
Chapter
Dove went back to her house, locking the door securely behind her. She began putting away groceries, considering the events of the past week. Something shook her kitchen window. She turned, seeing a bit of a black mask hiding a sharp, strong nose, and deep, sunken eyes. She jumped back. He saw her as well, and she saw him take off running. She grabbed the phone. She tried to keep her eyes on the man. He was slim and tall and fast. Nothing that automatically set him apart from all the other men in Ashford Falls. As he was running, she snapped a picture of his back. Straight and black and useless.
The last people she had called were the police, and she only needed to press two buttons to call them again. The phone dialed and rang. She didn’t call 911, not wanting to make it into an emergency when it wasn’t one, but called the police station directly.
Chloe Fair, the receptionist, answered the phone. “Hello, how can I place your call?” she asked.
“It’s Dove Babcock again. The man, he’s back.”
“I’ll direct your call to one of the officers. Please hold.”
A moment later, Nate’s voice went through the speaker. “Hello, Ms. Babcock.”
“Dove,” she responded.
“Okay, fine, Dove. I’m assuming someone else is there. We’re on our way now.” Nate hung up.
Dove was surprised he had actually caved in and called her Dove, but she had more important things to worry about. The man was out and running away. He was in all black, including a mask, which Dove hoped would make him noticeable to the neighbors. Maybe this time someone would see him and the police would believe her.
Even after the man was gone, Dove had the feeling of being watched, almost as if there was someone in the room with her. She knew it was silly, but her home felt so unsafe after the constant surveillance. Dove saw a car pull up a moment later, and wondered if they were able to get a glance at the man before he ran.
It wasn’t the police, but rather Teressa. She came running in the house, entirely out of breath, and pounded on the door. “Dove! Dove, I saw him!” she called. Dove ran and opened the door. Teressa came spilling inside. “There was a man, Dove! With a black mask.”
“I know,” Dove answered.
“I was just going to stop by after work, and I saw him. He got in a red car and got away.”
“Did you happen to catch any of the license plate or anything?” Dove asked.
“Aw crap; I didn’t look,” Teressa said. “Crap, I’m such a horrible friend.”
“No, no, you saw him. That’s all that matters,” Dove said.
“Are the police on their way? Do we need to call them?”
“I already did. I got a picture too, but it didn’t show anything really,” Dove answered. She was so relieved someone else believed her. She didn’t realize how heavy of a burden it was, believing all alone. Now that the weight was off her, she physically felt it. She wasn’t mentally ill. Now she had not only the therapist’s word, but actual proof. What more could she want?
The police pulled up outside and did one sweep around the house, checking bushes and corners. Apparently, no one was to be found. Dove saw it was Nate and Jessica and was somewhat relieved. She knew that people were laughing at her, were assuming the worst of her, and at least Nate had apologized. There were worse people to be helping her. It was only a few moments later when they knocked on the door. Dove opened it and invited them inside.
“There doesn’t seem to be anyone here,” Jessica said.
“I called from the kitchen window; I think he saw me and ran. I have a picture,” Dove said.
“A picture?” Nate asked, raising an eyebrow. Dove pulled out her phone and showed him. “Dove,” he said, “I’m sorry to say, but this could be of absolutely anyone. I suppose it shows he has a slim build.”
“I saw him,” Teressa added. “I swear I saw him this time.”
“Do you have a description of the man?” Nate asked, holding a notepad.
“Well, he had a mask on. He was in all black. He was tall and thin. That’s all I really know. He was running away.”
“He was wearing a mask?” Jessica asked, raising her eyebrows. “Last time you saw his face.”
“Maybe he heard she saw him and decided to be more careful,” Teressa said.
“Or maybe you’re agreeing with her so we’ll take her seriously,” Jessica said.
Dove couldn’t believe her ears. Someone else had seen him and still they didn’t believe her. How had this happened? She hadn’t done anything wrong. She had told the police as soon as she felt unsafe, just like she was supposed to. And yet, still, she was
being told she was making it up. It made her feel powerless.
“Even if that’s the case, shouldn’t we take it seriously?” Nate suggested. “If she’s willing to file a false police report, because that’s how much she believes her friend.”
“No one’s filed a police report yet,” Jessica said.
Dove hadn’t expected Nate to have her back. If anything, she expected that from Jessica, since she was another girl. But that wasn’t the case. Maybe Nate truly had had a change of heart.
“I’ll file a police report, if that will help you believe her,” Teressa said.
“I think it would,” Nate said. They went through it question by question, explaining how the man had been trespassing and stalking her. Dove hoped that maybe someone else filing the report would make it be taken more seriously. She thought he was getting bolder, pressing his face against the glass. She didn’t feel safe anymore. She knew if she asked Teressa the woman would be willing to let her crash on her couch, but what if the man followed? He needed to be caught if Dove was ever going to truly feel safe.
“Well, that’s all,” Nate said, finishing up the report and giving Dove a smile. “I’ll tell you what. I’m going to ask the chief about putting someone outside your house, at least through the night. I can’t promise anything, but I’m sure you’d sleep better with some surveillance.”
“Really?” Dove asked.
“Really.”
“Well, thanks, Officer O’Bannon. It’s nice to know I have someone on my side.”
“Anytime. And listen, if you need to call someone—” He pulled out his card and scribbled his number on the back. “Call anytime.”
“I may take you up on that,” Dove said, and she led the officers to the door.
Once they were out, Teressa jumped towards her, eyes wide. “When did that start?”
“What start?” Dove said, clearly playing coy.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about! That flirting!”
“Well, Harold was harassing me at the grocery store, and Officer O’Bannon came to help with that.”
“Who started it?”
“Well, I guess I told him he was practically my hero first, does that count?”
“Dove,” Teressa said, hitting her arm. “You little flirt!” She laughed. “This is great. An officer of the law. So much better than Harold ever was. I’m happy for you.”
“I think I am too,” she answered.
Chapter Ten
Chapter
“You’re not really going to ask the chief about putting surveillance at her house, are you?” Jessica asked.
“Why not?”
“Do you know what kind of reputation you’re going to get, bothering the chief over something so small?”
“A woman is being stalked. Multiple people have reported it. That doesn’t seem small to me.” Nate trusted Teressa. She was guaranteed to be mentally sound, and she was not the type to lie to the police. She was known for being hardworking, though a bit of a loudmouth, and she would do nothing to put her restaurant at risk, he thought, not even help her best friend.
“That was our fifth time visiting her house. Fifth. And we’ve seen nothing. The only complaining witnesses have been her and her best friend, and they’ve given different descriptions.”
“The descriptions haven’t been different exactly. The same guy could be behind both descriptions,” Nate said.
“Look, if you want to do it, that’s your own career on the line. I’m just not saying I’m with you on this one.”
Nate wondered if he was making a mistake. But someone else had seen him. Had filed a report. It didn’t seem like Teressa would make it up. Besides, she had been complaining about it often lately. It didn’t seem as if the man would leave on his own. Nate needed to make sure he left. Dove didn’t need anyone else after her. Nate was realizing she had had a hard enough time all on her own.
“And the flirting? What was that?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Giving her your home number. Telling her to call you anytime. You’ve been taking my advice. Good for you.”
“Don’t tell anyone. I could get in major trouble.”
“My lips are sealed.”
When they got out and went into the precinct, Nate walked straight to the chief’s office. He knocked on the door, and, after a shouted “come in!” walked inside. The office was decorated with fish from his various expeditions. Nate looked past it all and at the man who sat behind the desk. He was a rather formidable man, Chief Diamond, and he had a look on his face that suggested he had no time to waste.
“Can I help you?” he asked, looking up. “Officer O’Bannon, correct?”
“Yeah, that’s me. I had a question about the Babcock case.”
“Ah, is that still a case?”
“Yeah. In fact, we just got another complaining witness. And today her ex-husband Mr. Dickens was heard by three police officers threatening Ms. Babcock.”
“So you think it’s him?”
“Well, no. She’s seen the man, and she said it’s not him. Maybe he’s hired someone, though. To intimidate her.”
“What do you need me for, then?”
“I was wondering if we could put surveillance around her house. Just in case, for a couple of days, to see if we see anyone.”
“And what would that accomplish?”
“We could stop her stalker! Who knows what he will progress to?”
“I’m sorry. I just don’t think we have the manpower for it.”
Nate didn’t think he looked like he was sorry. He felt anger well up in him, and remembered the cool collectiveness of Dove. Maybe that was the peace of the Lord. He nodded and turned to walk out the door.
Jessica was standing there, waiting for him. “Any luck?” Jessica asked.
“You know there wasn’t any,” he grumbled.
“No, but I had to ask. What’s plan B?”
“I don’t know that there is one.” He walked back to his desk and collapsed into the chair, totally giving up.
“Why don’t you invite her to your house?” Jessica asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Shut up,” he muttered, cheeks flushing.
“What a great comeback. Shut up. So you do like her.”
“She’s a victim!” He put a hand over his eyes as if he couldn’t even think of the idea.
“That doesn’t mean she’s not pretty. Isn’t she pretty?”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“You’re a man. They always notice.”
Nate frowned. Of course she would say that. As if men only ever thought about one thing. Of course, he had noticed. But that proved nothing. Just that one woman happened to be beautiful. And even if he did always notice, that didn’t mean he was going to do anything about it. Maybe she flirted, maybe she hadn’t. He had a job to focus on, and that would have to be enough. He couldn’t risk his job over just some girl. “Look, I’m not doing anything wrong.”
“I didn’t say you were. I’m just saying you like her. It happens to the best of us. Just don’t do anything stupid.”
“Yeah, I won’t.”
Chapter Eleven
Chapter
Dove struggled the next time it happened, trying to decide whether or not to call the police. She knew they would come, but that hardly meant they would believe her. Maybe the fight with her husband had made the difference for Nate. He certainly seemed to care more than he had before.
But the man had peeked into her window again, the black face pressed up close. And she swore this time he waved. It was just a small back-and-forth movement of the hand, but he had brought his hand up next to his face to do it. The motion was unmistakable. For some reason, that was what pushed her over the edge from calm to frightened. He had had the audacity to wave at her.
She couldn’t help it. She called. Maybe Nate would come anyway. Nate, in his uniform, who would protect her and believe her and not make her feel stupid. S
he wouldn’t mind seeing him more.
There was a knock on the door, and she rushed to answer it. Cops she didn’t know answered it. “Uh, hi, officers. He ran off to the left.” She pointed.
“We didn’t see him running away,” the man answered.
Dove floundered. “But he was! I think he might be ducking back behind the houses.”
“Look, Dove, let’s just be clear. Filing a false police report is a crime.” He pulled up his pants, then looped one thumb through the belt buckle underneath his sizable belly.
“It’s not false! There was a man at my window. He waved at me.”
“He waved at you? Oh, well, that changes everything. Look, Ms. Babcock, are you sure you want to file a report?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Well, I don’t think we’re going to, okay? If you insist on coming down to the station and filing one, I will see about having you arrested for filing a false report.”
“What?” she asked. Her hands had begun to shake. She didn’t know when that had happened.
“Filing a false report is a crime. Reports are for emergency use only. I haven’t seen any emergency here, did you, Treeger?” he asked.
His partner, a very thin, very quiet girl, seemed surprised to have been asked for her opinion at all. “No, I guess not.”
“Then that’s all there is to it.”
The next time Dove called the police precinct, Nate’s shift hadn’t started yet. By the time Frank came back, it had. “Any luck?” he asked.
“No, because there’s no luck to be had. I think it’s about time we stop going to check them out,” Frank said. “Put her down as a frequent caller, tell her if she keeps calling without anything being wrong we’re going to charge her with creating a false report.”
“How did she seem?” he asked.
“Too calm to really be being stalked,” Frank answered.
Nate knew better, though. He remembered her after her fight with Harold. She had been perfectly calm after. Of course she’d be calm after being stalked. That was just Dove. He realized that that was what he liked about her.