Eyes of a Stalker by Valerie Sherrard Read Free Book Online

see this person’s face, how can you be sure it was a male?”
    â€œWell, the way he walked, and his build. And the way he ran when he took off.”
    â€œUh huh. And you’re quite certain he ran because you looked at him and not because he’d suddenly remembered he was late for something, or because he realized he was on the wrong street?”
    â€œIf you don’t mean to take this seriously,” my father’s voice cut in from the doorway behind me, “please let me know right now so that I can ask to have someone else sent out. My daughter is
not
the hysterical type and she is
not
imagining this. This person hasalready contacted Shelby twice. His messages have been disturbing and bordering on threatening.”
    â€œSir, with respect to tonight’s incident,” Mueller said, seemingly unruffled by my dad’s words. “I am simply trying to determine whether or not there is enough evidence for us to act on the complaint. I don’t doubt that someone has bothered your daughter. I’m just questioning whether or not this pedestrian is related to the earlier incidents. We can’t chase after everyone who happens to be walking down the street near your daughter.”
    My dad took a couple of steps toward him, his eyes blazing, but before he could speak, Officer Nash broke in.
    â€œOf course, Officer Mueller doesn’t mean to imply that we don’t plan to take Shelby’s complaint seriously,” he said. “We have her description and we’ll cruise around and look for this person, though chances are he’s disappeared by now. And we’ll see that your house is patrolled throughout the night. In the meantime, if you see or hear anything suspicious, and I mean
anything
, you be sure to call us right away.”
    Mueller looked kind of annoyed and I realized with a start that he’d actually been hoping for a confrontation. Not a good sign in a cop, if you want my opinion. He put me more in mind of a school bully than someone who was supposed to serve and protect.
    Dad, on the other hand, is pretty even-tempered. It takes a lot to get him angry, but Mueller had done itwithout trying. Even so, he calmed down quickly when Nash assured him they were going to follow up on what I’d told them.
    I wondered, if it had just been Mueller, what he’d have done. As it stood, I had a pretty good feeling that Nash would see to it that they did a thorough check of the neighbourhood. I did agree with him, though, that it was unlikely they’d find anyone.
    The main thing I’d been able to tell them was that the guy had the hood of his sweatshirt pulled up. It would be easy enough for him to take it down and tuck it inside. Then he could walk around as casual as you please without so much as drawing a glance from anyone.
    If only I’d been able to see his face. Just one glimpse could have ended this thing right there. It could also have ended Betts’s annoying repetitions that I must have
some
idea who it was, followed by questions asking who did I
think
it was, and what could this guy
want
, and on and on.
    â€œBetts, honestly, I have no idea. Not a clue.”
    â€œYeah, but do you think it’s someone from school?”
    â€œProbably, but I don’t know for sure.”
    â€œWell, he must know you from somewhere,” she pressed, determined to pin me down on at least one point.
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œSo, if he’s not from school, where do you… hey! Maybe it’s that guy who works at The Korner Store!”
    â€œBetts…”
    â€œYou know — the one with the crooked smile! That would be cool. He’s
cute
!”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous. It’s not The Korner Store guy, and anyway, who
cares
if the stalker is cute or not?” I asked, exasperated. “He’s turning my life into a nightmare. The phone rings and I jump. Every time I walk down the street I wonder if he’s