"No. I blocked that number and a few days later I got other texts from another number. When I blocked that one, a new number popped up the next day. I stopped responding and immediately started blocking him after the third number appeared, but he hasn't stopped. He texted me over and over yesterday."
"You know for sure it's a man?" he asked.
Dylan shrugged. "I'm not sure, but a man did call me last week, asking me why I was hurting him. Or something along those lines. I just assumed the texts were from the same man since the same phone number showed up on the call and the first messages. The wording was very similar. And the tone."
Both officers nodded. "That makes sense. Okay, we're going to take your statement and a detective will probably get in touch with you to get more information."
"A detective?" Dylan asked.
"This seems like more than a simple breaking-and-entering situation," the woman said. "It sounds like this man may be stalking you."
Chills erupted on Dylan's flesh. "Stalking?"
The woman nodded. "It might be a good idea to have someone stay with you or to go visit a friend if you're able."
Dylan blinked several times. "Oh, my God."
The female officer put a hand on her shoulder. "It will be okay. We'll figure out what's going on and do everything we can. In the meantime, be aware of your surroundings and look into getting an alarm system."
Dylan winced. An alarm system was an expense she probably couldn't afford right now, but then again, she really wanted to be able to sleep at night without worrying about finding that man in her bedroom again.
"Let's get your information and take your statement."
Just as the officer said it, Dylan's phone rang in her hand. She gasped when she saw it was the number for the bookstore.
"Shit, I'm supposed to be at work right now!"
The female officer smiled sympathetically. "I think it'll be a bit before you can make it."
"Can you give me a second to talk to my boss?" Dylan asked.
The woman nodded.
Dylan shot Sylvie an apologetic glance and walked into her bedroom to take the call.
"Gloria," she said, answering the phone. "I'm so, so sorry. Some guy broke into my house this morning and I'm still dealing with the police and the mess he left."
"What?" her boss asked. Her voice pitched to ear-piercing.
"Someone broke into my house this morning," Dylan repeated. "I'm so sorry I'm late. It looks like it'll be a while before I can leave. The police are still here and they need to take my statement. Then, I have to board up my back door because he broke out one of the glass panes."
"Oh, my God, honey. That's horrible. Look, you do what you have to do. I'm already at the store because I'm catching up on paperwork. I'll just take over for you this morning. If you can make it after lunch, let me know, but I completely understand if you can't."
Warmth suffused Dylan's chest. This was why she was still working at the bookstore after seven years. Her boss was the best.
"I'm going to try to come in for at least half my shift," Dylan said. "But I may not have a choice. It depends on how long it takes me to deal with everything here and if a detective wants to talk to me or not."
"A detective?" Gloria repeated.
"Yeah," Dylan said with a sigh. "I've been getting these harassing text messages for a while and, last week, I got a phone call from a man. It's possible this is the same guy."
"Why didn't you mention this before?" Gloria asked.
"Because I didn't think it was anything serious. I figured that as long as I kept ignoring him, he'd stop texting me."
"Dylan," Gloria said. She sounded frustrated.
"I know. I'm taking it seriously now."
