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“Oh. Wow. I never thought he thought anything of me. I just thought he was being nice to me like some of the other security team had been in the past.”
“You always were kind of oblivious as a girl.” My mom pats my knee and smiles. “But I just… Like I said. There was something about him and the way he was. I didn’t like it. That he’s the one who’s here makes me really nervous. I’d tell your investigators to look into it, if not the cops.”
I think about it for a moment. The conversation we had when he came by the house to check up on things, the final sweep he completed of the house when Lizzy and I were there, and when he gave me his personal number and told me to call him anytime. After he set up cameras inside the house. He was able to watch us on all of them, knew our comings and goings, was able to access Cooper’s house whenever he wanted. Worse yet, he had access to the stadium too. He had access to everything the stalker would have needed because we trusted him. I’d naively assumed he was one of the good ones.
“Oh my god…” I mumble, feeling sick suddenly.
“What?” Madison looks at me.
“He’s the one who installed the cameras. I mean, him and his security team. Plus, he’s one of the heads of the same company that runs security at the stadium. He would have had access to all of the places the stalker had.”
“Oh, Bea,” my mom says, patting my knee again and giving me a reassuring look. “It’s my fault. I should have asked your dad.”
“I’m texting the investigator his name now.” Madison pulls her phone out.
“It’s not your fault, Mom. You couldn’t have known. What are the odds? Besides, it started before Dad ever got involved. Half the reason we used him after Dad suggested him was because his company is contracted with the Chaos’s stadium.”
“Still. I wish I had said something. I should have told your dad when it originally happened.” My mom starts to tear up, and it makes my heart hurt.
“Mom. Don’t be hard on yourself. You were trying to protect me and Dad at a stressful time. You thought you’d managed the problem. You had no way of knowing. I’m just thankful you’re here now. That it came up. It means we have a lead.” I pat the back of her hand to reassure her and then lean in for a hug when she starts to cry harder.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of this. Don’t worry.” Madison gives me a sympathetic look as we exchange glances.
The rest of the night is spent making sure the cops, investigators, and the current security team are on the right trail. My gut tells me it’s him, everything he said and did reframed in the light of the new information has me sure of it.
It doesn’t take long for him to find me. It’s only a couple of days before a note addressed to me shows up in Madison’s mailbox. She brings it in with the rest of the mail and hands it to me, a nervous look on her face.
It’s typed rather than handwritten this time, and I assume it’s an attempt to try to cover his tracks. That he doesn’t want us to have any more evidence; it’s him when the walls are finally starting to close in.
Beatrix —
I need to meet with you. I need a chance to explain. You’re confused about what I’m trying to do. He’s confused you. I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m trying to help you. I was there for you all those years. Watching out for your family. I’m still trying to look out for you now.
We were friends, remember? I think if you talked to me, if you let me have a chance to explain, to get to know me—you’d see that I’m right. You’d see that I love you and want the best for you.
I know it’s Cooper convincing you to do this. Making you have them try to ruin my life. Please just meet with me and let me explain.
I set the letter down as a chill runs down my spine. A number is typed at the bottom of the paper, and Madison shakes her head as we reach the end of it. I’m pulling out my phone to see if it matches the number James gave me at the house.
“We have to get this to the police. They might be able to trace the number. Him saying he worked for your dad, that’s more evidence that leads to him.” Madison reaches for her phone.
“Agreed, but this isn’t the number James gave me.” I hold up the contacts list where I entered his number next to the entry “Security James” when I met him in the house during his last camera check. “So I can almost guarantee that’s a burner phone.”
“It’s worth a shot. It’s still evidence that will help them put the puzzle together.” Madison plays the devil’s advocate.
“That’s true. I wish they’d hurry. It’s freaking me out that he’s already found me here.”
“Not to make it worse, but he’s been following you for a while. He’d have seen you at the stadium and here; he’d probably seen you with me plenty of times. If he works in security, then it’s not unusual that he’d be able to track down someone’s address.” Madison’s nose scrunches as she stares at the letter.
“That’s the thing about all of this. He works in security. It makes me feel sick that he thinks he’s protecting me. I’m worried, too, about the way he talks about Coop in this. I worry he’ll start going after him.” I press my hand to my stomach because it’s tumbling on the anxiety. I wish I could protect Coop in a more meaningful way instead of feeling so helpless.
“Cooper can take care of himself, and he’s getting new security set up at the house for him and Lizzy. I gave him information for another company. The one Quentin and I have been using is great, and they’re well vetted. It’s awful the stadium was employing him, but then I guess they get through the background checks sometimes.”
I feel some relief at that, knowing that Coop and Lizzy are going to be safer than they were before. It’s killing me not to be with them, but I still want to do right by them.
“I just want the cops to have enough to arrest him.” I sigh.
“I know.” Madison reaches over and hugs me before she dials the number to the local station. “We’re going to get this to them right now. Every step is a step closer to this being over.”
