Any new leads? I’ve got nothing, but I’ll buckle down today when I get back and see if I can figure out where the messages are coming from at least. I have a therapy appointment in a few, but after that, I’m on it.
Oakley:
I’m already at your office, trying to look stuff up.
Me:
And you just happen to know the login to my computer?
Oakley:
… Arlo … it’s not hard to figure out…
I curse under my breath. Of course, all my passwords have Rina in them, and I’m sure it wasn’t hard to narrow down from there. Stupid ex-U.S. Marshal. He’s too good at his damn job.
Me:
We don’t talk about it … ever. Did you find anything?
Oakley:
The phone number pings in Rosedale, but that’s all I’ve got. That doesn’t really narrow things down all that much.
Me:
It’s more than we had. Can you write all of that down and leave it on my desk? I’ll stop by after therapy and see what I can connect, if anything.
Oakley:
Sounds good. Sorry I didn’t get more information, but I promised I’d take Willow out tonight and I can’t cancel.
Me:
No worries. I’ll keep you updated if Ifind anything.
The drive home is long, and my thoughts bounce between the progress with my back, my therapy session, and all things Rina. I know I need to give her time, but fuck if it’s not the hardest thing I’ve done in a long while. I’d do therapy every single day over not talking to Rina again.
The problem is, she has every right to never speak to me again. I beyond messed up, and not only was it a shock to her system, but she had just started to trust me again and I blew that all to hell too. I seem to be good at doing that.
I have to remember things won’t change in an instant. I’m working toward being the best man for Rina, but that doesn’t guarantee I get her in the end. It doesn’t make this journey any less important; it just adds a certain level of stress to my shoulders. A need to figure out how to make things right has definitely taken over my brain power over the last week, but now that the stalker has reached out again, that needs to shift too.
Never has Bluebell Falls been as busy and crime-riddled as it has in the last few months. I don’t know what the fuck is happening, but I will end it. This doesn’t happen on my watch. Tennison was a special case, not something many people see in their lifetime, let alone in their town, so I don’t put that on my shoulders.
This shit with Rina, though? One hundred percent my responsibility. No one should feel unsafe here. Hell, we haven’t had a break-in since I took over as sheriff, and the fact that it happened to Rina kills me on a level I don’t know how to move on from. I guess that’s why it’s a good thing I go to therapy now.
I finally get home, get my laptop set up, and dial my therapist.
“Good afternoon, Arlo. How’s it going today?”
“Hey, Doc. It’s going.” Dr. Ames pulls zero punches, and my very generic answer doesn’t go unnoticed.
“You want to talk about it?”
I sigh, knowing it’s better to just get it off my chest than keep it bottled up. “I just got home from the back doctor and things are going well there, so that’s positive. But when I was leaving, I got a text about some shit happening in town that I need to put an end to.” I keep it vague, knowing I’ll eventually get all the information out, even if he drags it out of me.
“Put an end to how? Violently?” He’s more curious than accusing.
If it comes to that.“No, nothing like that. There’s a stalker bothering one of the women here, and I don’t like how it’s escalating.”
