Page 22 of Date Night

"Well last night, I came home, it was late at night. I didn't see anyone outside but there was someone in here with me." I look up at Alden but his expression doesn't change. It's almost as if he doesn't believe me.

"And you didn't notice this person when you walked in?"

"No, like I said it was late and I was tired. I came home got my clothes off and was about to get ready for bed. The person came up behind me and put something over my face. Plastic. I couldn't breathe. I passed out and when I woke up this morning no one was here." I shrug and look around.

"Was it a man or a woman?"

"I can't say for sure. I think it was a man. They were taller than me and much stronger."

"Was anything taken?" Alden asks shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"Not that I can see but when I woke up I realized whoever it was had written something on my body." My voice is low. I'm not sure why I'm so embarassed but just going through what I remember happening and what I found this morning is enough to make me cringe.

"What was written? Can I see?" He gestures with his hand to my body.

Slowly I lift my shirt, not enough for him to see my breast but there's enough written on my stomach that he can see the gist of it.

"Wow, that's sick." He shakes his head. It's the first real hint of reaction I've got out of him.

"Yeah, so what do I do now?" I ask ready to take the next steps in order to stop whoever was trying to get under and on my skin.

"Well, I think the most obvious answer is you stop this little movie you're making."

I stare at him in shock. "How does the documentary have anything to do with what happened to me. It shouldn't matter what I'm working on. No one has the right to come in here and terrorize me."

He raises his hand to calm me down, "You don't have to tell me that. I'm on your side, but it's obvious from the lack of serious injury and the fact that nothing was taken that whoever did this was only trying to scare you. It's not just me. This documentary that you're a part of is more than some people can take. It's dragging up a lot of bad memories."

I hear what he's saying, but that's not going to stop me from doing what I know needs to be done. "What about suspects? I mean, the brother of one of the victims was outside just the other day. Maybe he had something to do with this." I press my hands against my hips, desperate for there to be an option I can live with.

"You mean, Greg?"

I nod my head. I think that's his name.

"Nah, it wasn't him. He was in a town hall meeting last night."

Townhall meeting, that doesn't mean he didn't sneak in my home late at night. I keep my mouth shut about it. It's obvious the sheriff has no intention of doing anything more than what he's doing now.

"Well, I can send an officer to check the area tonight if that makes you feel more safe."

"No, it's fine. You're right. This wasn't anything serious." I lie. This feels very serious.

"Alright, well if anything else happens make sure you reach out." He walks to the door and I nod my head even though I know it's the very last thing I'll do. It seems to me that the sheriffis a little biased. I'm not sure why he's fighting me so hard to keep what I'm doing from happening.

Just as Sheriff Alden gets to the door I hear another car pull up to my house.