Joel nodded.“It’s probably for the best.”
“You guys have the man in custody?”Kaleb asked.
“Yeah, He’ll be going away for a long time.”
“Good.”Kaleb narrowed his eyes on the other man.“Tell me about the first attack?”
“We never found out where Clark first saw Myla, but he fixated on her.He didn’t stalk her in the ordinary sense.There were no notes or phone calls.But he seemed to be everywhere she went, or she could feel him watching.
“He attacked her when she was walking out of her office building.It must have been a spontaneous decision because it didn’t make sense to anyone.There were other people around.A few men held him down and called the police.I was the first on the scene.She was terrified, but not close to this time.But he did a lot more damage this time.It wasn’t the only time he’d done something like this, so he was sent to prison.He was supposed to be there for another few years.I’ll find out what happened.”
Joel rubbed his hand against the back of his neck.“I stayed with her through it and then helped her move to a better location so she could feel safe.”
“You two have stayed close?”
Joel’s gaze rose to Kaleb’s.“It’s not like you’re thinking, man.I was dating my wife Rebecca then.She helped move Myla and get her situated.She’s a suicide counselor and has a degree in psychology, so she was able to connect with Myla.Since then, they’ve become good friends.”
Joel stuck his hands in his pockets and watched the gentle, loving way in which Kaleb smoothed the covers over her.“You know the way she talked about you, I thought you two had been together for a while.”
Kaleb shook his head.“No, sometimes it feels like forever since I met her.I don’t want to remember a time in my life that I didn’t know her.”
Joel nodded.“I get that.I felt the same way about my Becca.”Joel cleared his throat.“The detectives in charge of her case will be stopping by tonight to ask questions.”
“I figured.”Kaleb looked at Joel.“I’m not sure she’s going to be able to answer them.”
“She’s stronger than you realize.She’ll get through this.I’m going to head out.I’ll be by tomorrow with Becca.”
“I’m not sure she’ll be here tomorrow.”
“She has a slight concussion, so they’ll at least keep her overnight.Becca and I will stop by in the morning.”
Kaleb nodded.“I’ll see you then.”
Joel set a card on the table next to the bed.“Could you call me if something changes or you need anything?”
“I will.Thanks.”
Kaleb closed his eyes for a brief moment when the door opened again, and the nurse quietly walked in.
“I’m just going to check her vitals and add a sedative.I won’t disturb her.”
Kaleb nodded.
Within a minute, they were alone again.Kaleb looked at the sofa and grunted.No way were they both going to fit on it.And the bed wasn’t much better.
He cursed under his breath when the door opened again.His brows snapped together when two cops came through.
“As you can see, she’s resting.”
One of the men nodded and pulled out a pen and a small pad of paper.
“We could ask you a few questions until she wakes up.”
“If you keep your voice down, you can stay,” Kaleb growled.
Both cops stiffened.
“Sir, we will ask her these questions, and we certainly don’t need your permission.”
