Inside her office, Josh dragged the pile of unopened envelopes toward him. “I’ll open, and you deal with the contents.”
Ashley sensed her smile appeared shaky at the edges and appreciated Josh’s offer. “Thanks.”
They set to work and had opened and sorted everything by the time Nelson tapped on the door. No nasty surprises, which helped to settle her nerves.
Nelson opened the door. “We have news,” he said. “Robert scheduled photos to post on his social media page. We have a name for the other man seen with him. Ready to move? I’ll show you once we’re in the car.”
Later, she and Josh studied the man photographed with Robert. A selfie, judging by the angle. The brown-haired man stared straight at the camera, unsmiling, his face harsh with slashing eyebrows. In contrast, Robert beamed happiness.
“Did you recover Robert’s phone?” Josh asked.
“It was on him,” Gerry said. “If he’d taken photos, someone deleted them and the texts he’d sent. If this man deleted the photos, he wouldn’t have known Robert had scheduled a post. Our guys are looking at the call log and will contact the telephone company for more information.”
“Fingerprints?” Josh asked.
“None. Wiped clean,” Nelson said.
“This guy gives off a military vibe,” Ashley commented. “It’s his stance. His tough-guy look.”
“Have you found Robert’s car?” Josh asked.
“Not yet, but we will,” Nelson said. “You don’t recognize this guy?”
“No,” Ashley said. “He’s not familiar.”
Josh scratched his chin. “I think he was the heckler during your waterfront visit last week. He had stubble then and wore a beanie. Old clothes, but I’m certain it was him.”
“You should show this photo to the homeless guy who hangs out around my electoral office,” Ashley said. “He’d be able to confirm seeing this guy with Robert.”
“Already on it,” Nelson said. “We’re closer to catching him.”
What he didn’t say, but Ashley was intelligent enough to read between the lines, was that her stalker had escalated. He’d murdered Robert, and she’d be next on his list if he caught her alone.
19 – A Clue
A tap sounded on the door of Ashley’s bedroom. Josh glanced at her, but she didn’t stir. He climbed out of bed and padded to the door, glad of his impulse to retain his boxer-briefs instead of going with his usual naked self.
He cracked open the door. “Ashley’s asleep.”
“We have news,” Gerry said.
Josh slid from the room and followed Gerry to the lounge. Eleven-thirty. “What have you got?”
“Members of the public reported seeing Robert’s car. We got lucky with fingerprints. We have a full name. Stephen Blackwood.”
“Who is he?”
“He lived in the same country town as Ashley but moved to Australia with his mother when he was ten. He’s lived there ever since, joining the Australian army out of school before going into the special forces.”
“The man is more dangerous than you thought.” Josh read between the lines, saw Gerry’s worry.
“Yes,” Gerry agreed.
“Is it possible for me to have a temporary permit to carry a firearm?”
“Nelson and I will speak to our boss.”
“What’s stopping him from taking her out? If he’s ex-special forces, he possesses the expertise,” Josh said. “Why hasn’t he shot her?”
