“I-I know,” I stammer. “I was busy.”
“Hopefully, living your life?”
My lips twitch. “In the best way.”
He chuckles, but it’s short and not nearly as warm as usual. “That’s good to hear. But we’ve got a problem.”
“Elias isn’t in California,” I say matter-of-factly.
“How do you know that?” he asks slowly.
I stare down at the table where my hand is gripping the cardboard cup like it’s my only lifeline.
“Because,” I whisper. “I’m pretty sure he’s stalking me.”
Davis’s nostrils flare as Collin lets out a string of curses.
“He found me.”
Collin exhales heavily.
“Tell me exactly why you think that,” he says, all irritation gone.
I swallow. “I found red roses on my porch today… Not to mention, my front door and bathroom window were open last night.”
Davis leans in, reaching across the table, motioning for me to give him the phone. I do.
“This is Officer Davis Baldwin with the Silo Bay Police Department,” he says calmly into the phone. His voice takes on a deeper, more professional tone.
With each word Collin says, Davis's jaw tics, fist clenching.
“She hasn’t had direct contact. Only speculation, but I believe her intuition is correct.”
I glance around the coffee shop, at the unwanted glances, fighting the urge to flip the nosy people off.
“I agree,” he says quietly. “I’ll keep her safe.”
He ends the call and doesn’t look away from me as he slides my phone across the table.
“It’s him,” he says gently, or as gently as he can.
I swallow. “What happens now?”
Leaning back, he takes a deep breath. “Everything becomes official.”
“What do you mean?”
“We file an incident report. We’ll push for an emergency protective order. Given the prior evidence your attorney has, which he’s faxing over, and today’s developments, it won’t be hard to approve.”
“And until then?”
“You don’t stay alone,” he says simply. “You stay alert, and you call me if anything feels off—even if you think it’s nothing. Day or night,you call.”
I nod, throat too tight to speak. I thought the abuse was my worst nightmare, but this… This is worse.
“We’ll increase patrols near your place,” he adds. “But you should consider moving back into your dad’s or staying with Jett for a while.”
My brow pinches. “I don’t want to leave my house.”
