“Yes.A while back, I started getting weird emails from different accounts I didn’t know.The accounts had normal names, like Steve321 or Penny9, so I opened them.”
“What was in them?And did you print any out?I’d like to have a look.As far as tracing them, I’m sure they used a spoofing tool.It’d take the FBI using specialized programs to trace him, and this doesn’t yet rise to that level.”
The FBI?She shivered.She hoped not.“I can print them later.”
“For now, stop opening all your email, okay?”
“Yes, all right.”
“So, what happened next?”
“The emails said I shouldn’t be alive anymore.That I deserved death.Each one had the same icon of a blade dripping blood.I blocked the senders, but new ones kept getting through.The last one used my name.It said,Die, Sarah.”
His jaw hardened.
“Then, I got a lot of blocked-number cell phone hangups.”
He pulled off the gravel driveway onto the county road and they rolled toward town.“And yesterday you got the note on your car?”
“Yes.I came out of the grocery store and it was stuck under my windshield wiper.It had that same knife blade, and the paper had spots that looked like rust.”
“Blood?”
“Maybe.”She shivered again.“Ted King, our Police Chief, said they’d perform a presumptive test, see if it is blood.”
“Ted King’s office in town?I’ll have a word with him.”
“It’s in the square, close to where we’re going.”
“Has this sort of thing ever happened before?Ever had a stalker?”
“I actually have.”She fidgeted in her seat.“Five years ago.A man kept calling, telling me he loved me and we were meant to be together.He was sick.He ...he sent me pictures of himself.Then, candy and flowers.He showed up at my appearances.I didn’t know him.The modeling agency provided security, but he slipped past them, got into my apartment building and cornered me in the hallway.”
Ben turned to glance at her, frowning.“Tell me you kicked him in the nuts.”
“He—he ripped my blouse.”She stammered, remembering the violent attack.“I think he was going to rape me.He had a knife—held it to my throat.He started dragging me into my apartment.I screamed, fought him.Lucky for me two guys down the hallway were just getting home from work.They pulled my attacker off me, held him down until police were called.”
“Where is he now?”Beside her, Ben frowned.
“Prison.Turns out he was wanted for rape in two states.”
“None of this was in the press, was it?”Ben seemed to relax a little.“I bet I’d have seen it.”
“My agency tried to squash the report.They got it buried.They didn’t want bad press about their models getting assaulted.Not good for business.”
“I’ll need his name to make certain he’s still behind bars.”
She gave him the name.“Ridley Kemper.You think it could be him?”
“Don’t know.Gotta chase down every lead.Is there anything else?Any other situations like this?”
“No.It’s just...”
“Just what?”
“When I found the note, it felt like somebody was watching me.It was eerie.”
Surprising her, he said, “Humans can sense when we’re being observed.”He lifted one shoulder.“It saved my bacon more than once in Afghanistan.”
