by Leona Fox
When it opened they saw Bob, who was wearing a very loose-fitting bathrobe. If there had been a gust of wind Ellen would have seen far more than she would have liked. He was unshaven and in the background they could hear some music playing. His bathrobe was stained, and the stench of alcohol hung around him, but he seemed cognizant enough.
“Bit late for a house call, isn't it?” he said, squinting at them through beady eyes.
Ellen wondered what on Earth had possessed Kelly to flirt with this man, but she wasn't here to judge her friend’s choices.
“Can we come in? We'd like to have a word with you about a case we're working on,” Andy said.
Bob stared at them for a few moments before he turned around and left the door open for them. They walked into the lounge, and he turned off the television just before Andy and Ellen entered. From the short glimpse Ellen could tell he had been watching something unsavory, and the less said about that the better. He re-arranged some dirty dishes to allow them a place to sit down, and gathered up some newspapers and magazines, then dumped them behind a chair.
“And my ex said I'd never be able to look after myself,” he said, chortling. Neither Ellen nor Andy joined in.
“We're aware that it's late so we won't keep you for too long.”
“Of course, of course. Now, what case is this about? You didn't lose a child again, did you?” Andy and Ellen glanced at each other and rolled their eyes.
“No, actually this concerns harassment of Kelly. We understand you two had a little disagreement recently?” Andy asked.
Bob looked shocked. “Now, now, hold on there. Sure, we exchanged a few words, but harassment? I'll have you know I'm a gentleman. I love women, you know what I'm saying? And I'd never do anything to harm them. It was all just a bit of fun, that's all. Did she say something to you?”
“That's not any of your concern,” Ellen said. “What should be is that she has been receiving notes recently that allude to a stalker. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that?”
Bob's eyes went wide and he held up his hands in innocent surrender. “Honestly, I have nothing to do with this. I don't know what makes you think I would do something like that. Is that really what people think of me?” he said, leaning forward.
“Me and Kelly, you know, we flirted whenever we saw each other and it was fun but if I'm honest with you I was never that into her. I was just annoyed that I never got a chance. I mean, that guy she got married to, what's so special about him? I admit I got a little short-tempered with her when she said she was happily married and we'd have to change the way we spoke with each other. I don't like my fun being spoiled by other people.
We weren't doing any harm, but anyway, I certainly wouldn't go to the lengths of writing notes and things. Not really my style. I prefer the tactics of shock and awe, be loud so they have to notice you. That's the way I've always conducted myself and it's not going to change now. I've never become hung up on girls anyway, that way lies madness. Plenty more fruit in the bowl. And there are still some unmarried women in this place,” and as he said this he arched forward and flashed Ellen a sleazy smile. Andy noticed, of course, and coughed loudly. Bob cowered in his seat.
“Ah, yes. Well, anyway, my point being that you've come to the wrong place. Sorry that I couldn't be any more help,” he said, and rose to usher them out.
As they stepped out into the cool night air Andy cursed.
“I really hate riddles,” he repeated.
Ellen linked her arm in his as they slowly walked back to the car and paused before getting in. They were still no better off after talking to Bob. All they could do now was wait to see what the admirer would do next. That was not a position either of them wanted to be in because the next move could be dangerous to Kelly.
“Whomever is doing this has an endgame and he's working toward something. I hate to say it, but I think all we can do is wait it out.”
“I'm not used to being so reactive. It goes against all my instincts as a cop. I'm usually out there chasing down something...I don't think I can just wait.”
“Maybe I could make it easier,” Ellen said, stepping closer to him and wrapping her arms around his body.
“You want to get all cozy while there's a case going on? Who are you and what have you done with my Ellen Thatch?” he said, his eyes twinkling with good humor.
“With everything I've seen lately I know we have to cherish every moment we spend together,” she said, and kissed him deeply. “Plus, we have our cellphones. So if anything does happen we can be contacted. Let's just go for a stroll.”
The two of them walked, hand in hand, and spoke of things other than the case. It was pleasing to enjoy a romantic stroll, even though there was plenty on both their minds. The wan moon illuminated their night and while they strolled along they may as well have had the whole world to themselves. Soon enough conversation was exhausted and they walked along, simply enjoying each other’s company, until it was interrupted by a call on Andy's cellphone. He answered it and his brow furrowed.
“We'd better go,” he said, and they rushed back to the car, then drove to the middle of town.
When they arrived they saw a flood of gasoline seeping along the street. “Someone sabotaged the gas station. It's getting everywhere.”
“Gas again,” Ellen said to herself, and a thoughtful look came over her face.
“What is it?” Andy asked, but Ellen held up a hand so he wouldn't interrupt her train of thought.
The solution was so close and all she had to do was work it out. The mill, the gas, the clues that she had found. The picture that was taken. Her mouth fell open as the truth presented itself to her.
“We've been wrong this entire time,” she said.
The clues had referred to cases she had worked on before. She had been in the picture along with Kelly, and of course she had been in the news recently and had talked about all the old cases. So even if the admirer hadn't known everything before he would have now. Nausea swelled in her stomach and she struck out a hand to steady herself against the wall.
“What do you mean?”
“The notes, they haven't been for Kelly. They've been for me.”
Chapter 9
After the realization, Ellen and Andy returned home quickly, making sure all the doors and windows to the house were secure. Scampy leaped into bed with them and Ellen cuddled up to both of them, worried that she had been putting herself in harm's way ever since this had started.
“How did I not see this? I was so blind. It was right there in front of me. This is what I was talking about. I don't deserve to be thought of as a hero or to have articles written about me. I'm not anything special. I'm just a fool. There's someone out there who has been watching me and I've had no idea about it!”
“You were worried about your friend before yourself, that's nothing to be ashamed of. All the signs pointed to Kelly, and you wanted to protect her.”
“No, I should have thought about it more. I should have been more critical. I was just...I was distracted and I let my focus slip. I can't believe that someone has been watching and playing with me all this time. I bet they've been laughing at me. My God...they've probably been in the cafe as well, right under my nose. They could have been--”
Andy grabbed her and held her so tight that she was silenced. “Don't think about all this stuff. It's not going to do you any good. We just have to do the same thing as we did with Kelly, the same thing we do with all our cases; work through it together. You've got me here and you know I'm not going to let anything happen to you. You have the whole backing of the town as well. Whomever this person is, they're not going to succeed.”
“I really thought I was doing the right thing by protecting Kelly but I should have done more. I should have known it was about me. I just didn't think...it was her wedding after all. I need to tell her so she can stop worrying.” Ellen leaned over and grabbed her phone to send Kelly a quick message.
“It'll stop her w
orrying about herself but she's going to worry about you just as much as you worried about her,” Andy said.
Then Ellen sank back into his arms and let sleep come over them. Somehow her eyes closed and she was dead to the world, feeling safe and secure in Andy's arms, and with Scampy keeping watch over her all through the night. But out there, somewhere, someone had designs on her and she was playing on their mind. They were waiting, biding their time until they were ready to make their move and then they would strike. It wasn't going to be long. A reckoning was coming and Ellen was the target. How long did she have left? That was up to the secret admirer, who could have been working on a new clue as she slept.
And, of course, she could not stay in Andy's arms forever. She awoke the next morning and, despite feeling unsettled, carried on her day as normal but now she understood how Kelly must have felt upon discovering that somebody had been watching her. She could feel eyes on her at every moment and whenever she saw someone she eyed them with suspicion. Were they secretly hiding the fact they had been stalking her? It brought attention to the fact that, when it came down to it, other people were a complete mystery. They each had their own secret universe hidden within. The only things other people saw were what anyone allowed them to see. Could you really, deep down, trust anyone? It was a dangerous line of thinking. Usually Ellen was an open-minded person and took people as they came, but on this particular occasion she found it hard to not wonder what secrets people were hiding.
As the day continued she thought perhaps she should go to Andy and spend as much time with him by her side as possible. But to keep things as normal as she could she remained at the cafe, hoping it was a busy day to distract her. However, her mind was continually on the clues and she watched everyone as they came in. An ironic thought struck her; that she was watching people so carefully they may think that she had some secret agenda of her own!
More than a few people came up to her, still wanting to talk about the newspaper article. She tried to be as gracious as possible but her mind was skittered and she found it difficult to concentrate. Everywhere there were people trying to get her attention and any one of them could have been the person writing her the notes. She looked for any clues, eyes darting around the cafe for any sign. Did any of them have gas stains on their boots? Were any of them wearing an antique watch? She had the feeling that her admirer could be testing her and would be hiding in plain sight, waiting for her to accuse him.
Perhaps that was the end of the game, the grand reveal where she would 'win' by finally seeing him. Or perhaps there was something darker waiting for her, some final clue that would lead her to somewhere strange. She thought back to the park and the burned flowers. This person had taken her cases, her greatest accomplishments, and twisted them into some sick game. She wanted it done. Whoever it was, she just wanted to know who they were and put an end to it. She felt helpless, and it was the worst feeling in the world.
As people came in and out of the cafe Ellen kept a close eye on all of them, and was glad for Scampy's presence. At least she knew there was one thing in the cafe she could trust unconditionally. Whenever anyone asked her about her progress with the riddles the hackles rose on her back. She looked at them carefully, but she was in such a state that she wasn't even sure if she could trust her own judgment, and that was the worst feeling of all.
She always had prided herself on being a person of sound mind and strong intellect but now it had failed her. Ellen's powers of perception had been found wanting in the time when she needed them most. She wasn't sure if she was seeing what she wanted to see or if she was completely blind to the truth.
There was a strange feeling in the air that day, as though she knew that at some point something bad was going to happen. It was simply a matter of time. There was no sense being babysat by Andy, for the admirer was convinced he was an instrument of destiny. So whatever his actions, they were on an inexorable course.
Late in the afternoon, Kelly entered, and Ellen wondered if she had worn that same look of pity when she had told Kelly that someone was after her.
“Do you want to talk?” Kelly said.
“No, I'm rushed off my feet at the moment. There are so many things to do and I really have to get to them.”
“Ellen, stop,” Kelly said.
Ellen paused and took a deep breath. Her eyes welled up, the stress getting to her, and she relented as Kelly pointed to a table in a corner.
“I know exactly what you're going through. You're feeling violated, like somebody is watching your every move. It's horrible and I wish I could say I know how to deal with it but I can't. All I'm going to say is what you said to me. You're not alone and we can get through this together. You've got me, Andy, and Matthew, and even though you can't be sure of most of them you have the support of the town as well. Nobody wants to see you come to any harm Ellen and they won't let you. It's going to be okay.” She reached over and took Ellen's hand in hers, squeezing it tightly. It was a simple gesture yet it meant the world to Ellen.
“Thank you,” she said, sniffing back tears.
“Do you have any idea who it could be?” Kelly asked.
Ellen shook her head. “I never thought of myself as somebody people had crushes on. I know it has happened. When I first came into town there were a few guys who asked me out but I haven't seen anything, especially not since I've been with Andy. This seems completely out of the blue and whomever is writing these letters has made up this whole fiction for himself. I'm worried what they're going to do when I tell them the truth.”
“Well, try not to be left alone as much as you can. I know you don't want to live like you're under witness protection but it makes sense for now.”
“I know. I'm sorry this whole thing has messed up your plans. I never wanted you to get involved in something like this so soon after your wedding.”
“It's fine. You know what I'm like, easy come, easy go. Matthew and I still are having fun, although I'm still waiting for him to tell me where we're going on our honeymoon! That's the next big mystery to solve.”
“I'll get on it after I'm done with this one,” Ellen said dryly.
Although she was not in good humor, Ellen still appreciated the company. The two of them chatted for a while before Ellen really had to get back to work. Kelly offered to stay for a while but Ellen said that she could go.
“Just promise me you'll get Andy down here when you close up,” she said, and Ellen agreed.
A few hours later Bob came in and this took Ellen by surprise. Although she didn't think he was responsible for the notes he still had been associated with the case and the fact that he was here...it made her feel scared again. He acted as though nothing was unusual, however Ellen was shaking. There was nobody in the cafe she could trust but she couldn't very well throw everyone out. It wouldn't be good for business, and the last thing she wanted to do was show everyone that she was rattled. Especially not since she just had had a newspaper article written extolling her virtues and how determined and strong-willed she was. No, she had to try facing this herself.
Yet the sound of broken crockery could soon be heard and then all eyes were on Ellen. Her face reddened as she tried to shut them away but it was no good. They swarmed their eyes around her, suffocating her. She had to bite her tongue when all she wanted to do was scream out loud for them all to go away and leave her alone.
Breathing deeply, she craved a cigarette. It had been a dirty habit she had dabbled in when she was in her last year of college as a way to deal with the stress of finals and the impending future. She hadn't touched one in years but she wanted one so badly now. Her nerves were frayed. She'd taken a moment to step into the back, away from the front of the cafe. The sounds of chatter and laughter could be heard and she was glad that people were enjoying her establishment. Was this what it was to be a hero? To cower in the back and hide from the outside world, from that which scared you? She had scolded Andy for doing the same thing recently, and now she wondered if she had
been too harsh on him.
Pull yourself together Ellen. You've faced taking down murderers and kidnappers, she told herself. Yet this was different. None of them had been coming for her, and she never had been kept in the dark this long.
The evening had been busy but by the time everyone left and she was closing up things had begun to quiet down. She saw that Scampy's bowl of food was still full. Then it occurred to her that she hadn't seen him for a while, and a sense of worry tumbled through her mind. He was independent and often wandered around by himself, especially in the cafe, but she couldn't be sure of anything anymore. She called out for him and when there was no response her heart began to race. Surely nobody would ever do anything to him...
Ellen ran to the back, calling out for Scampy repeatedly, her tone getting more desperate every second Scampy didn't respond to her call. She thought about how the clues had referenced previous cases and wondered if the admirer knew about the very first one, when she had discovered George's dead body at the back of her cafe. She desperately hoped that history would not repeat itself now because if anything happened to Scampy she never would forgive herself.
She almost screamed when she saw Scampy's limp body lying on the floor. She fell to her knees and felt his body, hoping against hope there was still a heartbeat. Thank God. He was still breathing, but he was unconscious. She looked around but there was no sign of anyone else. She closed her eyes tightly, hating that somebody had gotten so close to her. She should have called Andy then, should have made him aware of what had happened but something caught her eye. It was another note, this time placed in Scampy's collar. A chill ran down her spine as she pulled the crisp piece of paper out and unfolded it. She wished that simply ignoring it would have prevented it from coming to pass, but whomever the admirer was, he was getting closer to her, getting closer to the endgame.