The Hard Knock Life

Part 19

Stop stalking me.
I pressed send and instantly he replied:

No

I fell backwards on the couch and rubbed my forehead.
"He won't leave me alone! What does he want with me?"

"Ask him." Jessica said staring down at me from the other side of the couch.

What do you want from me? I said to him.

We sat in silence for a while before realizing that was a question he wasn't going to answer.

Who are you?
I tried again.

"What did you say?" Jessica asked.

"I asked him who he was?" I said staring at my screen, awaiting his reply.

"Now, why in the world would he tell you that?" She said, looking at me as if she was implying the question 'are you dumb?'

"I don't know, but it's worth a shot." I said.

Still nothing. We remained silent as the sound of the TV filled the void of awkwardness. I gave up in frustration.

"I can't do this anymore," I said, "he hasn't hurt me. All he's done is send a couple messages; what's the harm?"

"Umm, your baby remember? He threatened to take her from you."

I had forgotten about the letter, although I had kept it for evidence.

"Why don't you just call the police?" She said. "You have the messages and the letter; why not?"

"No!" I said, sitting up straight in panic. "We cannot call the police."

"Why?"

If we called the police, it would be too risky. Who knew if they were already looking for the killer of Mr. and Mrs. Price? I couldn't risk losing August.

"We just...." I tried to think of an alternative, "we can do it ourselves."

Again, she gave me the look, questioning my intellectual capabilities as she repositioned herself on the couch to get a better look at me.

"So say, by miracle, we actually catch this stalker," she said as she processed her thoughts, looking like The Thinker. "What do we do with him?"

I never thought about that, I thought.

"Uuuhh... I'm not quite sure." I said, tilting my head sideways as I thought about it.

"Now, what would the police do?" She said.

"Put him in jail, obviously." I knew where she was going with this.

"And um, what was your plan again?" She said.

"Look, we just can't ok? I need some time to put a plan together."

"But like, how are you going to track him? His number is blocked and you don't have the same equipment that the police has so...you're kinda screwed."

"I know, I know. I'll think of something; I will." I said, flopping back down.

"Well you better think fast before things get worse."

She took my phone from me and just as she had done it, it had chimed, notifying me of a new text message. I studied her face when it changed from mellow to confused.

"Who is it? Did he answer?" I said, struggling to look over at her while on my back.

"No, this is someone else. Name's Graeme. Who's that?"