Daffodil's Sunshine

Chapter 19 - Chains

"Hey, Mrs. Olsen!" Irene called, smiling ear to ear as she set some books down on the counter.

Each book was clearly not meant for herself. The Laws of Music, Guitar and its history, Essential Sheets for Guitar...the idea was there.

The tall girl was more than excited to share the good news with her librarian, especially since she had taken part in their relationship herself.

A certain look in Mrs. Olsen's brown eyes made that spark wither away.

"Mrs. Olsen, what's wrong? Did I forget to turn in a book? I'm pretty sure-"

"It's not that, Irene. Please don't blame yourself."

"Then...don't tell me you and Mrs. Aune had a fight."

"It's not that either. But..."

"But what?"

"You should go to the police station again. Are your guards still around? Please tell me they are-"

"Mrs. Olsen, what are you talking about!?"

"I-um..." The librarian's voice quivered. Whatever had happened...it had to have been something very serious.

"Sit down here, please."

Irene obliged and took the chair next to Mrs. Olsen.

"You see, Irene," Mrs. Olsen began. She couldn't bring herself to look into Irene's eyes. Not as her own were shiny with tears. "...I got a call in the middle of the night from...someone. I don't know who it was, but they were threatening t-to kill you. They said that they were watching you from your home...a-and I'm not sure if-"

"It's ok, Ms. Olsen. You don't have to continue," Irene reassured. She placed her gloved hands atop of Mrs. Olsen's, even as her own body shook. "I'll figure out who it was. Could you give me their phone number? I'll take it to the police station."

Tentatively, Mrs. Olsen took out her phone and wrote down the number that had called her. On the screen, the contact information said everything. The area code, the time of call...

Within her gloved fingers, she took the piece of paper.

"You can take as many books as you need, but don't put yourself in a vulnerable position. I'm begging you."

...

This was the second time Casper had to go to the police station, within weeks of each other, no doubt. To make matters worse, the most vulnerable person sat right next to him, fidgeting with the thick fabric of her gloves.

"So...what happened?" the detective asked.

"Mrs. Olsen got a threatening phone call in the middle of the night," Irene explained, interrupting Casper before he could even open his mouth to speak.

Detective Ingrid's mouth twitched. "I see...what did the phone call describe?"

"The caller said something about being able to see me," Irene continued. "According to her, they were threatening to kill me, and were l-looking at me at the time of the call."

"Do you have the phone number of this individual?"

"Y-yes," Irene confirmed. She handed the sheet of paper to the older woman, trying not to shake as she did so. She took one last look at the roughly written numbers. For a second, it seemed familiar somehow...

The detective wasted no time and clicked the numbers on the screen. They held their breaths, waiting for the ringing to stop, only for a voice to finally echo from the other end of the line.